Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

[ THE EDITOR does not hold , himself responsible for any opinions entertained bg Correspondents . ] THE NEW SELF-STYLED GRAND LODGE OP MARK MASONRY . TO THE EDITOR Or THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AXD MASONIC jrilUlOB . DEAIS , SIB AND BROTHER , — I am in debt a reply to

"R . E . X . " for his letter at page 52 of the MAGAZINE . Business of importance has prevented me replying earlier , and not any intention of being discourteous to him . He tells me there are Lodges " still in working , whoso officers have conferred this degree from 'time immemorial , ' and whose minute-book bear evidence of great antiquity . " This , I confessis informationbecause " time immemorial" is a

, , sadly indefinite phrase . Docs it mean before the revival in 1713 ? If so , how long ? AVhen any ono tells me of " time immemorial , " of course he means from , or through , all time , even before minute-books were in fashion .

I perfectly agree with " R . E . X . " that ive should not bo bandying mere words , and I am fully willing and eager to enter in an emulous spirit with him and promote every Masonic degree , but not to uphold , maintain , or disseminate that which is unmasonic . If he has sworn not to do it , how can he lightly regard that oath ? I will not . I am obliged to him for his desire that I should visit tho

Bon Accord Lodge , but as I happen to be pretty well posted up in its history , I shall never be one of its zealous Marks , nor do I ever wish to see the Mark degree a part of that esoteric Masonry which it never can attain . Neither was I aware when I read the proceedings , nor am I now , that there was or is a Grand Mark Lodge . " B ,. E . X . " should be more disingenious . Ho knows what I have all

alongprotested against—viz ., the right of any set of gentlemen to erect a new authority claiming to be Masonic . If I have anywhere acknowledged the innovation of this schismatieal sect , then " R . E . X . " might say I was aware there was a Grand Mark Lodge : but as I do not , and never shall , I know nothing of the body of gentlemen that call themselves a Grand Mark Lodge , further than recognising them as " the new self-styled Grand Lodge of Mark Masonry . " For the information of " R . E . X . " . 1 am not , and never was , a

member of one of the "Thistles" before alluded to . I reebprocate the friendly feeling of "R . E . X ., " and as ive have met before , so may wc meet again in friendship and brotherly loi'e . Now what is to be done with Bro . Finclel ? He seems to have mistaken mo altogether , and because I have opposed a sham , he wants to make me , by implication , repudiate all

but Craft Masonry . This I decline , and he must look for his Gato elsewhere . It is an oft repeated exclamation , " Save me from my friends ! " and Bro . Findel is one I must call a friend , and yet from whom I wish to be saved . I shall not iiresume to step forward to justify tho 111 .. Bro . Dr . Leeson , but what ho affirms is true , and not all the "daring" in the ivorld can shako the truth .

I ani glad to sec that our proceedings interest Bro . Findel , and I heartily greet him as a blue Mason , but he must not enrol me as one of the German reformed band of Brethren who , because of the illuminism and charlatanism which crept into some of the hi gher grades on the continent , have repudiated the highest and holiest of all—Christian Masonry , and contented themselves with a deism which has no means of leading them to seek that salvation necessary to bring them to tho " other and better ivorld . "

Another opponent , in the person of AV . Punshon , AV . M ., of 586 , thinks mo worthy of a flying shot from his petard . I shall not take his letter seriatim , because it is no answer to mine , but only his opinion and experience . AVill Bro . Pimshon , before he accuses me of ignorance , condescend to read my letter again ? In it ho will not find what ho assumes . I never said the Mark was uot on board the CraftBut

. I did say , and repeat it , that I hope no such crazy bark as the " new self-styled Grand Lodge of Mark Masonry , " maj- over bo moored alongside the Craft . I am deeply pained , as Bro . Punshon alludes to his being an aged man , and age always is honourable ; but ivhen ho hurls four lines of the most wretched doggrcl . ever penned at my head , I am constrained to accept his challenge .

Correspondence.

The mark set upon Cain , has given rise to various speculations , many of which would never have been broached , if the Hebrew text had been consulted . The words probably moan that God gave a sign to Cain , very much as signs were afterwards given to Noah ( Gem ix . 13 ) , Moses ( Exo " d . iii . 2 , 12 ) , Elijah ( 1 Kings , xix . 11 ) , and Hozekiah ( Isaiah iii . 7 , 8 ) . AVhether the sign was perceptible to Cain alone , and given

to him once for all , in token that no man should kill him , or whether it was one that was perceptible to Others , and designed as a precaution to them , and is implied hi our Bibles , is uncertain . The nature of the sign itself is still more uncertain , save that it pomted Cain out as a murderer •—a mark that , however Bro . Punshon may jest over , I have no ambition to obtain . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , ANTI-SPUMOUS MAKE .

Masonic Emblems.

MASONIC EMBLEMS .

IO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AXD MASONIC MIRKOE . DEAII SIR AND BKOTIIEB , —It is well known among Masons , and even to many of the uniuitiated , that when a profane seeks to be admitted into our honourable fraternity , he is required to declare that ho has no sinister inducements , no objects of self-aggrandisement , no mercenary or other unworthmotives for takinsuch a stepbut that he is

y g , actuated solely by a favourable opinion preconceived of the institution , a general desire for knowledge , and- a sincere wish to render himself more extensively serviceable to his fellow creatures . Yet , in defiance of alt this solemn profession , no sooner has he been admitted to some of the privileges of Freemasonry , than many a one forgets the lea which he set when offering himself as a candidate

p up , practically gives the lie to his own assertions , evinces that he has been guilty of deception , or , to put it in the mildest form , of thougtless rashness , shows that his real object has been to advance his own intei est , or at least , if such had not been his previous intention , that he is ready to take advantage of opportunities which he imagines are ojien to him for extending his connexions in trade . Little does he

understand the real intentions and high privileges of the Order , who thus abuses the trust reposed in him . Visiting a certain district some years ago , I noticed in several cases our most common emblems , the square and compasses , painted on a board describing the business of a shop , or in connexion with the sign of an inn . Imagining this to be contrary to what I had been taught in the early stages of my progress in the science , though then but a young Mason ,

I took the trouble to enter and remonstrate , though without any beneficial result . Further experience has caused me to abandon any such attempts , for one may be quite sure that a so-called Brother who has so small , a regard for the credit of the fraternity , and ivho acts thus from interested motives , little comprehends or cares for the Institution , unless it can be made subservient to his mercenary purposes , and will not

be amenable to any arguments which may be laid before him . AVhy should he incur all tho expenses of initiation and subscription to a Lodgo , unless he can get somethingout of it ? Such is the reasoning of no small number who belong to our ranks , especially of some of those who keep houses of entertainment , and hence the importance of urging the erection of Masonic Halls , and the severance of the

link which binds Lodges to hotels and taverns . To yon , sir , the Craft is deeply indebted for the manly and independent course you have pursued on this point , in spite of much obloquy and opposition . In few districts is the abuse of which I am speaking more prevalent than in that where I now reside , and I am induced , with your permission , to record in your pages , tho sense of

myself and others with ivhom I am accustomed to act , of the degradation to which our Order is thus subjected in the eyes of tho uninitiated ivorld . The fact I have mentioned is of itself sufficient to deter respectable men from joining us , and I have good reason to believe that such has extensively been its effect . I pray you , therefore , to lend your aid to put a stop to the practice i n one of your series of " Cursory Remarks on Freemasonry . " It is high time for Grand Lodge to take up the subject , and to pass a law absolutely forbidding such