Literature.

Professor ICinkel , ou Friday evenings up to tho 21 th of January . A course of lectures on subjects connected with tho Architectural Museum will bo given on alternate AA eduesday evenings up to tho -ith of April . These lectures will bo delivered by Sir AValter James , Mr . G . Godwin , Mr . W . AVhite , Mr . E . B . Denison , Mr . John Bell , ancl Mr . 11 . H . S . Smith . Dr . Lankestor will also continue his lectures "On Food . " A

course of lectures is also in preparation on the Science Examinations . Those will be delivered by the examiners appointed by the Committee of Council on Education . Tlio A / heiiceitni mentions that a transfer of two large ami important private collections of pictures of tho English school—the property of gentlemen of the legal profession , well known in artistic studios—has

taken place within the last few clays , without the usual intervention of the auctioneer . The particulars are surprising , even in these days of augmenting prices . These collections comprised pictures by Messrs . Leslie , E . M . AVard , Frith , Elmore , Webster , Egg , ancl others . ( No less than about twelve specimens of each of the masters named—think of thafc , Master Brook !) The two lots were in a few clays disposed of

, dispersed , and rehuug , although the aggregate value exceeded twenty thousand pounds . On the average , the original purchasers of these pictures are known to have realized on their recent sale more than a hundred per cent , ou their first outlay .

Cobeespooence

COBEESPOOENCE

? [ THE EDITOR does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . " ] MASONIC MISSIONS . TO THE EDITOR OP THE I'REEllASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR

Di 3 A . it Sin AND BROTHER , —In your review of Masonry in the province of Norfolk , you say ( vol . vi , p . 775 ) , "there ought further to be Lodges at Tbetford , Swaffham , " & c . I have recently obtained , possession ofthe minute book of " Swaffham . Great Lodge , at the Crown , constituted December 17 th ' , 57 C 1 , Captain Richard Gardiner , Master . " It then stood No . 329 on the registry . On 1 st January , 176 'D , it numbered twenty-three members on the

books , amongst whom appear some ofthe first men ofthe county , such as the Earl of Orford , Sir Clement Trailbrd , Sir Edward As'tley , Hon . George Hobart , member for BeeraJston , See . _ 'i'he last entry I find is of a meeting— " General Lodge , Feb . 5 th , o 770 . Present : Capt . Gardiner , in tbe chair ; 2 . Mr . AVarren ; S . Mr . Money . " The Lodge seems to have M-orked well and zealousl y , as , in February , 1769 , the Grand Secretary , Bro . '

French , wrote to the AV . M . by command of tho M . W . Grand Master , " who highly applauds the zeal so conspicuous in all 3 mm * proceedings for the honour of the society , being worthy the imitation as ivell as approbation ofthe whole Craft . " In the present state of the province , as shown in your account of it , is it not a great pity that some attempt is not made to resuscitate the old Lodge ? And it is in the hope that some energetic brother maybe

induced to make a move in the ri ght direction , that I have Avritten this account of SwaU'ham Great Lodge , No , 329 . Believe me , fraternally yours , mh Dee ., 1859 . E . B . AV .

Uniformity Of Working And Model Lodges.

UNIFORMITY OF WORKING AND MODEL LODGES .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE FttEGMASOSS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dn .-VTt Sin AXI > BROTIIKI ; , —I was somewhat surprised to see in a lctter , _ signed "R . E . X ., " certain statements assumed as contained in my communication respecting the Grand Stewards ' Lodge , at page 507 , of the last volume of the Freemasons' Magazine . " R . E . X . " makes me say , " sending forth missionaries to promulgate the working adopted in that Lod " a phrase in

ge ; no manner mine , for I never contemplated making a Lodge of gentlemen itinerating Masonic nostrum vendors . Again , "R . E . X . " says— " Such Lodge has no such privilege . " If he would once more read my letter , I do not think he will say that I suggested , much more stated , that they had . AVhat I intended I wrote when I said " it cannot be doubted ( the Grand Master ) would recognize the claim of the Grand Stewards' Lodge to carry out and

promulgate the system of a uniformity of working , " and that their Lodge "has been for more , than a century the depository of the working of the Craft . " . I , on the other side , as boldly assert as " R . E . X . " denies , tha "i the Grand Stewards' Lodge , and in that Lodge alone , rcsidct

Uniformity Of Working And Model Lodges.

the right of being the model which the Craft ought to follow , and to them only can the brethren " look up as of superlative authority . " " R . E . X ., " as a member of the Emulation Lodge of Instruction , is 110 doubt one of tho devotees to Bro . S . B . AVilson , to which I alluded in my letter , and however highly he may think of that brother as " ready to afford to the Lodge of delegates

any information they might require , " I gravely doubt his power of communicating anything beyond the ceremonies and stereotyped lectures ; and 1 say this , not out of any disrespect to the brother in question , but because I have heard him decline answering simple questions in a manner that has convinced me lie has no rig ht to be looked to as an authority upon the esoteric part of our mysteries .

One more word to " 11 . E . X ., " and I havo done . Can " 11 . E . X . " be serious in wishing the Emulation Lodge of Instruction to be placed in the van before any warranted Lodge V If so , that is a total subversion of all order in the Craft ; _ and ive may as well indulge the junior apprentices of a Lodge in being the ruling power , to the exclusion ofthe AV . M . and the P . Ms ., as to defer to a Lod of Instructionwhich isat bestbnt the

ge , , , recognized deputy of the parent Lodge , without whose sanction it is nil . I am , dear Sir and Brother , A G RATIFIED VISITOR TO THE GKAKD S TJSIVAKDS' LODGE .

Model Lodges.

MODEL LODGES .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PREEMASOKS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Permit me to make a few remarks in justification -of the argument I advanced in your columns ot ' December 31 st , -1859 , in reference to the object of marking and . numbering the materials used iu the construction of King Solomon ' s temple , at so great a distance from the site ofthe building . Your correspondent , " R . E . X ., " informs me that the object was

" to save the cost of freightage and inconvenience in conveying unnecessary materials to Joppa , where the landing was at all times difficult from the precipitous nature of the shore . " I do not attempt to deny that the difficulties alluded to by " R . E . X / ' did not then present themselves , but from a careful perusal of the sacred writings , I believe that the primary object was that which I have previouslstated . Upon this subject we have definite

y Masonic testimony in the second section of our first lecture . _ Thus far I have rendered my authority , and I trust , iu so doing , have not erred ; if I have , the fault lies not at my door , inasmuch as I have only reiterated what my instructor taught me , who acquired his knowledge from one of the then best working Masons of the day . It is to be hoped that before long some legal authority will be set up on orthodox principles , irrespective of

east end or west end systems , available at all times to all aspiring-Masons requiring its salutary aid . Until then wc must abide by the existing formula . In conclusion , I must mention that no argument advocating the principle of holding Lodges , at taverns has been adduced , haying the effect of relaxing or altering the opinions which I have at all times conscientiously avowed . I remain , clear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , Kent , January Wth , 1860 . F IDEMTAS .

A SHEPHERD ' REBUKE . — A friend has informed mo that the late Lord Rutherford often told with much interest of a rebuke which he received from a shepherd , near Bonally , amongst the Pentlands . . I ] . o hacl entered into conversation with him , and was complaining bitterly of tho weather , which prevented him enjoying his visit to the country , and said hastily and unguardedly , "What a d d mist I " Tho shepherd , a tall , grim figure , turned sharp round upon him . " What ails you at

the mist , sir ; it wats the grass , and sloekons tho owes "—adding , with muck solemnity , " It's God ' s ivnll ; " and turned away with lofty indignation . Lord Itutherfnrd used to repeat this with candour , as a fine specimen of rebuke from a sincere and simple mind . Something like tills is reported of an eminent professor of geology , who , visiting in tho Highlands , met an old man on the hills on Sunday morning . The professor , partly from the effect of habit , and not adverting to tho vory

strict notions of Sabbath desecration entertained in Rossshire , hacl his pocket hammer in hand , and was thoughtlessly breaking the specimens of minerals he picked up by the way . The old man for some time eyed tho geologist , and going up to him , quietly said , " Sir , ye're breaking something there forbye tho staues , " Dean Ramsay ,