Correspondence.

in the ease of the death of the Treasurer , as occurred lately in a neighbouring lodge . The sudden death of the Treasurer leaving his assets to be administered by non-Masons , added to the carelessness of the deceased brother in making his entries of lodge monies , rendered it a very painful proceeding to get even a portion of it by the lodge , every possible impediment having been p laced in the way of tho Masons . T therefore consulted onr Past Master as to the best

mode by which a Treasurer of our lodges could invest the money of the lodges . We went through the rules . We found that as our Society was not registered ancVour rules approved by Mr . Tidcl Pratt , we could not invest according to those rules . I suggested that the Treas urer might invest it as Trustee to the lodge . He said that could not be done . I then pointed out the Charitable

Societies heading , under which I thought we might invest , and ho did not think wo could ; at least , ho said the only way was in the Treasurer ' s own name . But though this did not give us the element of security the investment would have , as if invested in the name of the lodge , still I thought that was hotter than nothing at all . But again here came another objection : I was asked ,

was the Treasurer directly or indirectly connected with any other savings bank . I replied , the children of the Treasurer were depositors in the Local Savings Bank . He then said this was fatal , and no deposit could be made . But as I pointed out to him how large our Society was , and how many of our lodges would be able to avail themselves of the bank if it could be mads availableunder

, the Charitable Societies Chapter , he promised to stato the case at head-quarters , and let me know their decision . The decision came , and it was stated by Mr . Tidd Pratt that Freemasons' Lodges could not come under the head of Charitable Societies , or other Societies contemplated in the Act , and the deposit could not be taken . I then went to our local bankand they at ouce took

, it under the heading of Charitable Societies . But the Post-office authorities , hearing of this , got Mr . Tidd Pratt to write to the Secretary of the local savings bank , and ordered him to cancel the deposit , as contrary to law , and the Treasurer was therefore obliged to make the chmosit in his own and another name at the local bank .

Now , sir , if Bro . Sharman can . show us how those deposits can be done without treading on tho toes of the red tapes , and have the deposits securely invested for our lodges , he will be conferring a benefit on the Craft at large .- I should like , therefore , to see how to get over Mr . Tidd Pratt , who seems to mo a very imperious sort of bodieas thoy down horeas our

, say , local authorities seem to be iu great dread of him . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , A PEOVINCIAL TREASURER . Newcasfclc-on-Tyne , April 5 , 1862 .

Burn's Masonic Contemporaries.

BURN'S MASONIC CONTEMPORARIES .

TO THE EDITOIt OP THE I-EEEJTASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC SIinBOE . DEAE SIE A ^ D BEOTUEK , —Under the heading " Notes and Queries " you have in your last number devoted considerable space to an extract cut from an American paper and forwarded to you by "Ex . Ex ., " who remarks , _ ' Where its editor got it from I don't know . " I recognise m these extracts given by " Ex . Ex . " biographical

descriptions of the characters represented in a painting of great merit well known to Scottish Ereemasons , and engravings of which are found to adorn the walls of many of our lodge-rooms and private , parlours . These " descriptions " appear in a foolscap 8 vo . tome , of some 200 pages , entitled A Winter with Robert Burns , being annals of his patrons and associates in Edinburgh during toe year 1786-7 , and details of his inauguration as Poet laureate of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning ( No . 2 ) ,

Burn's Masonic Contemporaries.

and published m Edinburgh some fifteen years ago . The volume is dedicated to the Cannongate Kilwinning Lodge , and contains a lithographed key to the picture , the painting of which suggested the compilation ofthe biographical sketches just alluded to . It was on Bro . Stewart Watson ' s return from the continent in 1845 , where for many years he had resided in tho prosecution of his

studies and profession as an artist , that , at the special request of Lodge No . 2 , he was induced to undertake a painting of "the Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet-Laureato of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning ; " and for the benefit of those who may not have seen the painting . I take the liberty of appending a short description of it as given in an Edinburgh paper , when it was being

publicly exhibited in the Scottish metropolis : " This is the first attempt on canvas to illustrate the life of Burns . The plan adopted is the only true one , by presenting him in the actual light in which he was regarded by his contemporaries—the sort of men who were his friends and companions—in fact , giving a glimpse into the intellectual world in which he moved in the metropolis , after bis

first arrival , during tho year 1786-7 . The subject is striking , and awakens our finest sensibilities Burns is represented in a standing posture , in the act of being installed Poet-Laureate by tho R . W . Master . The lodge , at the moment , is filled by the most distinguished and notable men of tbe day , in groups , and so arranged as to shew tho friendship and remote , intimacies subsisting among them . , . . . Tho leading characters are evidently portraits , but they are animated , aud lighted up

by tho interest of the scene and the passing conversation arising out of it . The groups on the Master ' s left is composed of distinguished visitors , such as Lords Elcho , Torphichen , Gleneairo , Eglinton , and tho Earl of Buchan . On his right we havo Sir William Forbes , Sir John White-ford , Mr . Dalrymple , of Orangefield , Mr . Miller , of Dalswinton , & c . The next most prominent group of the

whole is graced by tbe interesting portraits of Lord Monboddo and Henry Erskine . The next presents Henry Mackenzie ( the " Man of Feeling " ) , Baron Norton , and Lord Kenmure , engaged in conversation . A prominent group now presents itself , amongst whom Dunbar ( Ratlin ' Roarin' Willie ) appears , supported by Nichol and CruickshankMasters of the Hih SchoolLewis Cauvin ancl

, g , Allen Masterton , who , being a composer of music , is addressing himself to the orchestra . We have then Dugald Stewart , William Smellie , and Creech , the publisher ; also Sir James Hunter Blair , Lord Francis Napier , the celebrated James Boswell , Alexander Wood , Captain Grose , with many more interesting and well known persons connected with tho history of the period .

Tho features of Burns arc admirable . Such a picture as the present imparts more insight into tho character of Burns and the relation ho stood in to tho world around him , than many common-place biographies , " If agreeable to you and your readers , I may , in the absence of Masonic news from the land of Burns , and during our Masonic " recess" send a few more

selec-, you tions from the biographies of Burns' Masonic contemporaries . I am , yours fraternally , D . MURRAY LYON . P . J . W . of Mother Kilwinning , ancl P . G . J . W . of Ayrshire . Ayr , April 7 , 1862 .

High Priests.

HIGH PRIESTS .

TO THE EDITOll OU THE EllEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AXD "MASONIC HIHHOH , SIB , AXD BIIOTHEE , —Please permit me to inform your correspondent ( see your February number , page 105 ) that the Priestly order of Melchisedech should , I conceive ,, belong to the Royal Arch degree . Over twenty yearsback I was anointed , in a Conclave of High Priests * .