Notes On American Freemasonry.

the Grand Lodge of Virginia and that of West Yirginia . He also notices the difficulty between the Grand Orient of France and the Grand Lodge of Louisiana . He asserts the doctrine so firmly held by

the Grand Lodge of this State , " that no Grand Lodge has the rig ht or power to dictate in any way to the Grand Lodge of another jurisdiction . " The report of the Grand Secretary shows that the cash receipts from the subordinate lodges ,

amounts to the sum of 10 , 723 dollars . The Committee on the matter of the erection of a Masonic Temple reported that the second storey of the building is nearly completed , the masonry done , and the joists being put in place .

The money already expended on the building amounts to 10 , 333 dollars . Number of lodges , 321 ; Master Masons , 10 , 506 ; initiated during the year , 875 ; passed , . 723 ; raised , 725 ; affiliated , 738 ; deaths , 221 .

Masonic Jottings.—No. 52.

MASONIC JOTTINGS . —No . 52 .

BY A PAST PEOVINCIAL GEAND MASTEE . ROMAN CATHOLICS , SOCINIANS . A Brother thinks that neither Roman Catholics nor Socinians were admissible into the English

Lodge until the year 1723 . REPUBLICATION OP NATURAL RELIGION . Brother . —See in pure Christianity — see in true Masonry , a Republication of Natural Relig ion .

NO PROGRESS . Brother . —No progress , is stagnation , and with stagnation comes decomposition , and with decomposition comes destruction . THE STARS .

The glimmering stars , heard by the deep ear of meditation tell in their midnight watchings of the glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth . THE ENGLISH LODGE , 1723-1738 . Brother . —The identity of the English Lodge

was in nowise affected by the great increase of 1723 and the still greater increase of 1738 . SPECULATIVE MASONRY , SPIRITUAL MASONRY . Brother . —It is not uncommon to find writers calling Speculative Masonry—Spiritual Masonry .

Masonic Jottings.—No. 52.

PROVINCIAL GEAND MASTER'S OBLIGATION . Although this obligation was administered to the contributor of these jottings , June , 1853 , and he was active in the administration of the like obligation to Bro . Benjamin Bond Cabbell ,

September , 1856 , yet his old memory does not permit him to answer the enquiry of an esteemed correspondent upon this subject .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor ia not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents : CHRISTIANITY AND FREEMASONRY . 10 THE BDITOH Off THE FBEElUSONS' MAGAZINE AND HASOKIC STIEEOHDear Sir and Brother . —The speech delivered by the Rev . Bro . Alexander Guthrie , as contained at

page 16 of your Magazine has led to a long continued discussion upon Freemasonry , in one of the Glasgow papers , of which the following is a specimen , and which will show the necessity for brethren , especially upon what niay be called public occasions , being very careful aa to what they say or touch upon . I am yours fraternally , OBSEEVEE .

TO THE EDITOE OP . THE UOBTH BEITISH DAILT MAIH . Sir , —I was much pleased at readinginyour columns on 28 th ult ., the able and sensible address delivered by Dr . Burns at the consecration of the St John ' s Lodge , Glasgow . There was none of that fulsome , pedantic nonsense about it , which we far too often hear from the lips of—I am sorry to — even

say reverend brethren , when addressing a Masonic audience . With his remarks on France , I entirely sympathise , and trust that after the fire her gold will be purified from its dross . As to the remarks of our Rev . Bro . Alex Guthrie , I was much disappointed with them , and consider them remarkably ill-timed . He

said" Freemasonry even showed an example to Christianity in many respects , " and " amongst Freemasons all was unity and harmony . They were the only body who experienced the blessedness of those who dwelt together in harmony . " Mr . Guthrie is wrong in his ideasand at fault as to matter of factfor onla few

, , y minutes after he was done speaking , the R . W . M . rose , and stated that they were not all in unity and harmony , for , says he , at present we have a little quarrel of our own on hand with the Grand Lodge of Scotland , which we hope will be settled in February . Then in Canada at present a quarrel on a grand scale

is going on ; and so on so that , when we look under the surface , where is all Bro . Guthrie ' s imaginary "unity and harmony ? " In fact , Freemasonry was hardly " out of its teens , " even if it was that length , when the great fight between the pretended " ancients" and the " moderns " took lacewhich

p , lasted for many years , and there have been many other quarrels besides it . Allow me a word in answer to a " No Mason " in to-day ' s " Mail . " I perceive he has made the mistake of accusing Dr . Burns , but he should have said Mr . Guthrie , as it was the latter who ,