Correspondence.

more serious defect than the want of an arm ; or , as he sets so little value upon " good moral character , " he might enter a " sound and perfect" scoundrel . Besides , he overlooks the fact that many men who have only one arm can use it to far more advantage than hundreds who have two . However , to the honour of Scottish EreemasonryI am glad to be

, able to state that what I referred to at page 45 was in accordance with the sanction of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; and to-day our P . M ., Bro . J . B . Walker , informed me that three years ago , before initiating a candidate who came forward minus a hand , he wrote the Grand Secretary , and received a letter back

permitting him to do so , which letter Bro . Walker caused to be inscribed in our minute book . Therefore , Bro . " W . L ., " it is yon who are mistaken and out of order , while I have been acting upon the square . The Grand Lodge of Scotland having said—never mind his hand or his foot , or any such outward trifle , look at his head and his heart .

In the first legislative assembly m the world , I find a gentleman ( Mr . Kavanah ) , a member , who , I am told , has neither arms nor legs ; therefore , say I , if he be admissible into such a noble sodality as the British House of Commons , he and such as he , clear in head and honest and true at heart , are surely much more admissible into a Mason's lodge .

As a speculative Mason , I beg to say that I am thoroughly ashamed to see such childish ideas promulgated as those of " W . L ., " they smell more of the nursery than ofthe world , more ofthe child than of the man . I long to see the day when we shall have first class

men of ability , learning , and intelligence ruling in our lodges , when it may be truly said—that , as the sun rises in the east to open and enliven the day , so stands the Master in the east to open and enlighten his lodge . Yours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN .

Decapitation Of Bro. Melville.

DECAPITATION OF BRO . MELVILLE .

TO THE EDITOE OP THE FBEE _ HASOITS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR , _ Dear Sir and Brother , —Bro . Melville is so cunning of fence that there is no laying hold of him . I shall give in , as I could as soon hold an eel . lie says he has not seen the prayer-book of 1642 with King Charles' martyrdom , instituted after the Restoration in 1660 inserted in the calendarHe

, . has never seen it , which I am glad to hear , but he refers those who wish to see such a marvel to the British Museum . _ It is also comforting to find that he has discovered title-pages to Bibles , after the date when title-pages came into printing nseIt is a ity tbe Jesuits did

. p not tear out or stop title-pages in 1514 , instead of before . Bro . Melville is quite welcome to prove , as he is now prepared to do , that Charles' history is astrologically written , and the more welcome as he has alreadstated he knows nothing of astrology

y . A lucid statement of Bro . Melville ' s is that his M . M . 's certificate is in Latin and English ; apropos de quoi ? In presence of such a fact , and of the others , I re ™ e- Yours fraternally , M . W .

Masonic Mems

MASONIC MEMS

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

* , * All communications to be addressed to 19 Salisbury-street ; .,. _ Strand , London , W . C .

UNIVERSAL MASONIC CALENDAR POR 1869 . —A few remaining copies of the second edition are for sale at a reduction of 25 per cent . THE EARL OP DURHAM LODGE ( No . 1 , 274 ) will be consecrated on Wednesday , September 8 tb , at three o ' clock P . M ., at the Lambton Arms Hotel , Chester-le-street , by R . W . Bro . John

Fawcett , Prov . G . M . for Durham . The officers named in the warrant are Bros . W . Brignall , jun ., W . M . ; It . Linton , S . W . ; andT . Robson , J . W . EOYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION POR BOYS . —OCTOBER ELECTION . —Votes are earnestly solicited in behalf of Frank Loud , aged eight and a half years , No . 49 on list of candidates . Girls '

School votes will be equally acceptable for exchange . His late father , Bro . William Loud ( who died suddenly on the 23 rd of May , 1869 , leaving a widow and nine children ) , was initiated in . the Prince Edwin Lodge ( No . 125 ) , Hythe , in which he held the office of Warden . He was also a member of the Invicta Lodge ( No . 709 ) , Ashford , from its foundation , in 1857 , until

his decease , and has been a subscribing member to Grand Lodge for eighteen years . His widow and eight of the children are entirely dependent upon their friends for support . The case is strongly recommended .

Votes are earnestly solicited on behalf of George Albioc Coombs , son of the late Bro . George Albion Coombs , who was a member of No . 700 , and a licensed victualler , at Shooter ' s Hiil , Woolwich : died 18 th May , 1866 , leaving two orphan children depending upon their friends for support ,, Proxies thankfully received by Bro . J . Ewart , Eoyal Carriage

Office , Royal Arsenal , Woolwich . The death of Bro . Wm . J . Newman , long connected with , and oi late years Superintendent of tbe Exhibition Department , Crystal Palace , and member of the Crystal Palace Lodge ( No . 742 ) , whose talents and amiability endeared him to all who enjoyed tbe pleasure of bis acquaintance , lias deprived bis family of their

means of support , as well as of their best and dearest friend . His brethren in Freemasonry are desirous of testifying their respect for tbe memory of their late brother by presenting one of his sons , who is of suitable age , for education in the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . In furtherance of this object votes are earnestly solicited in favour of his son Herbert Horace

Newman , for tbe election in October next . The case is stronglyrecommended by several influential brethren as a most deserving ofle . Proxies for Girls' School , [ or the Benevolent Institution , thankfully received for the purpose of exchange . Communications and votes may be forwarded to Bro . W . H . Harper , Crystal Palace , S . E .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OP SUSSEX . —The annual meeting will take place on Friday , tbe 27 th inst ., at the Music Room of tho Royal Pavilion , Brighton , at half-past two o'clock punctually . The E . W . Bro . Lord Pelham , the Prov . G . M . will preside . The banquet will be held at Ave o ' clock at the Banqueting Eoom of the Pavilion . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OP DORSET . —A meeting will be

held at Sherborne , ou the 30 th inst ., at twelve o ' clock , undex tbe presidency of Bro . J . Gundry , the Prov . G . M . BRETHKEN are reminded that the Lodge Music publis & afi . in several issues of the MAGAZINE , has been re-published la a , onvenient form for Lodge use , price 2 s , 6 d .