Correspondence.

have arisen in the minds of some Mark brethren as to the propriety of joining this ancient fraternity . The degree of Eoyal Ark Mariner , I may further state on the authority of Capt . Irwin and Bro . Hyde Pullen and several others , is not the same as Ark , Link or Chainand Wrestleand is mentioned in print 118

, , years ago . The Eoyal Ark Mariner stands in the same relation to the Mark as the Royal Arch does to the Craft ; and all these degrees , including the Mark , lead up to it . Certain Ark lodges or vessels are working , and have been so for years , in various parts of the country , and applications have been made

to the Grand Eoyal Ark Lodge for information and leave to establish Ark vessels in six counties . A London vessel will be launched on the 21 st June , at six o ' clock , at Bro . Gosden ' s , Mason's Hal J , Mason ' s Avenue , Bnsmghall-street , E . C . Any brother wishing to join or take that degree can , by previous

application to me at that address , receive the necessary instructions . I enclose you notices of the meetings . They may he interesting to some of your readers . Yours fraternally , Scribe Eoyal Ark Mariners , Registrar of Mark Lodge Thistle , No . S .

MASONIC DEMONSTRATION IN GLASGOW , AND THE GLASGOW ST . JOHN'S LODGE . TO THE JiDITOlt OP IHE raiEEMASOrs' 3 IAGAZI 3 TE AID MASOi-IO aillWOH . Dear Sir and Brother , —At the Masonic demonstration on Friday , June 3 rd , the Lodge of Glasgow St . JohnNo . 3 bisAvas conspicuous bits absence . The

, , y cause of this was not because the brethren did not turn out , for they did so largely , as they generally do , to the number of about 100 ; but because the Grand Master decided that the Journeymen Lodge of Edinburgh were to carry one half , and the Glasgow St . John ' s Lodge the other half of the working tools .

This decision of the Grand Master did not please the W . M . and office-bearers of St . John ' s , so they all marched off the ground , refusing to take any part whatever hi the proceedings . This , under the circumstances , was scarcely in good taste . They should , if not satisfied , have simply protested iu a formal manner , so that the affair could be formally brought up again and duly settled for all time coniinff , and then '

taken their due place in the procession . The St . John ' s Lodge wished to carry the working tools because it was the senior lodge in the province ; but that is not the reason wh y the Edinburgh Lodge gets that labcinput upon them , but because it is the Journeymen Lodge of Edinburgh , Its number is No . 8 , ' while the

senior Edinburgh Lodge is the Lodge of Edinburgh , No . 1 , viz ., the Master ' s Lodge . Now the Lodge of Glasgow , No . 3 bis , is , or was , also the Master ' s Lodge ; consequently the duty of carrying the working tools should not devolve upon it , but upon the Journeymen Lodge of Glasgow .

Therefore it appears tome that the Master and officebearers of No . 3 bis have compromised the dignity of their lodge , to have disobeyed and even insulted the Grand Master , and that , too , in their OAVU province , where a proper feeling of hospitality should have re ., strained them , and also to have exhibited anything hut a creditable example of that good Masonic and

true brotherly feeling which is supposed to characterise all Masonic actions . If the Masters' Lodge of Edinburgh thinks it beneath them to take the labour of carrying working tools , surely the Lodge of Glasgow—the Masters ' Lodge—might also have good reason to adopt the

same course , and consider it- beneath them to quarrel about such an insignificant matter . Let the Glasgow journeymen look after the point if they choose , but let the Masters look to something higher . Let them try what they can do so as to carry into practice the noble princiles of the Orderand thus do something to raise

p , the status of the Craft higher than it has ever been in the province . Yours fraternally , MASONIC trs .

MASONIC SAYINGS AND DOINGS ABROAD . A proposition has been made for a division of the Masonic territory of Illinois into two portions , with a Grand Lodge to govern each , but some difficulties as to the mode of division seem to be in the way of its accomplishment .

The Masons of New York do not seem quite unanimous in their willingness to contribute to the erection of their Grand Masonic Temple , as will he seen , by the following . - — " Owego , N . Y ., March 0 , 1 & 70 . " At a regular communication of Friendship Lodge .

No . 153 , F . and A .. M ., held on Wednesday evening . March 2 nd , 1870 , the communication from M . W . Jas . Gibson , Grand Master of Masons of the State of NeAV York , asking from the subordinate lodges of the State for contributions in aid of the Masonic Hal . and Asylum Fund , having been laid before said lodge and

a full and free discussion of the subjects alluded to in the letter of the Grand Master having been had , the following resolutions Avere unanimously adopted : — " ' Resolved ,- —That this lodge respectfully decline

to respond to the request contained in the letter of M . W . James Gibson , Grand Master of Masons of the State of New York , for contributions in aid of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund . " ' Besolved , —That our representative to the Grand Lodge be requested at the next annual session thereof

to introduce a resolution having for its object the relief of the various subordinate lodges under this jurisdiction from the payment of the sum now annually levied upon them in aid of said fund . " ' Resolved , —That a committee bo appointed to lay

this action before the other subordinate lodges of the State , to such an extent as they may deem proper . — E . W . SEYMOUR , W . M . ; A . H . GOULD , Sec ' " The committee appointed by virtue of the above resolutions beg leave , in handing you a copy of the same , to state that the action of our lodge was based