Correspondence.

Private Soldier is a slave to "Her Majesty , her biers , and successors , " in such a sense as to come within the meaning of the clause in the Constitutions ; that the scum of manufacturing populations where the majority of our soldiers are recruited is not where we should seek brethren if they were not Private Soldiers ; and that the pay and rations and subsequent prospects of a soldier do not place him in very

reputable pecuniary circumstances , independently of the not very unlikely probability of an increase of the mendicity of which even now we have two much reason to complain . Tours fraternally , September 7 th , 1861 . SECRETARY NO . 162 .

Private Soldier Candidates.

PRIVATE SOLDIER CANDIDATES .

10 THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC : MIRR 0 II . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —When I wrote , as in your MAGAZINE , page 45 , that private soldiers were not prohibited from being members , I was from home , and under the impression that the restriction only extended to Military Lodges . — VERITAS , referred me to clause 8 , page 4 , of the Booh of Gonstitutions , I discovered my error , acknowledged it in all requisite

form , as in page 85 , FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , and did not anticipate Bro . Peter would have wished any further ventilation of the subject . Nevertheless at page 152 he appears again but does not go to the root of tho tree . The Secretary No . 162 , at page 174 , appears to avoid it , and I offer a few further remarks hereon . I am still disposed to think " that there be some that

would not be a discredit to their proposer , " and it is a pity such are not selected and permitted to approach the porchway under the usual requirements , when the W . M . generally the Colonel of the Eegiment , would have no difficulty in procuring the necessary dispensation upon his representation of the fitness of the candidate .

With reference to that part of the qualification which requires them to be " freemen , " and " their own masters " I am not aware that they are less free than corporals or sergeants ( non-commissioned officers ) who are not prohibited from becoming candidates . Doubtless Bro . Peters' question has been well considered byGrand Lodge ; and as a general rule it has determined that

such prohibition is a requisite and necessary part of that caution that every member of a lodge ought to exercise before he proposes a candidate . If Bro . Peter will remember the class from which our army is fed with private soldiers , he will probably discover that they come from the very scum of society , —lazy , idle , young menwho have not the disposition to work and earn

, their own livelihood in a reputable manner , who do not consider it an obligation to live a discreet life , or in the least observe those characteristics which everyone must possess before he can hope to be admitted as a member of our Ancient and Honourable Institution .

Some there are of reputable families , who , from a spendthrift life—reckless as to the consequences to the worldly fame of their relations—rush into the enlisting sergeants ' receptacles , declare themselves "free , able , and -willing" to serve Her Most Gracious Majesty , become one of those whom Bro . Peter is so anxious to admit within the S . S . They may be disgusted with their " Companions in Arms , " but

finding it has become a dire necessity , associate , and by a very common consequence adopt the mode , language , and deportment of their fellow chums , place their cap awry , and consider themselves fine creatures , and for want of other and better employment prowl about the areas or back lanes for immoral or other highly objectionable purposes . If there be amongst all the grades of society one more

unfit than another to form a portion of our extensive society , it is that of the coirvmon soldier , those that enlist as a dernier resort for their bare existence , the army being in such cases a refuge for the destitute ; but even amongst THAT class , I am still disposed to think there may be isolated cases of men fitted for the Craft , and Bro . Peter may rest perfectly assured that the propriety of conduct which at all times accompanies the "just and upright" man , would soon be observed by those immediately in command over them , and such would have no difficulty in making the

Private Soldier Candidates.

proper application for , and probably still less in gaining admission into the lodge attached to their regiment . Men , however , by nature endowed with fine and correct ideas , thoughts , and feelings , are not at all times blessed with that sense of propriety which teaches them that duo deference must be paid to those in command over them , or who are by good fortune placed in a higher scale than

themselves ; and this loss of proper bearing is more observable in that body which forms the lower class of our army than in any other within my observation : and although they , if admitted as members of a Masonic lodge , would be upon equality with the highest Mason present ( so far as the privilege of exercising those heaven-born virtues we so frequently declare to be the basis upon which rests all

our theory and practice , might they not be able , for want of that tuition which dictates to them right from wrong , to avoid familiarities after thoy left the lodge , with probably their commanding officer , " only to be repressed by confinement in the guard-room , " ending in a proclamation of disgust at their treatment and very probably a divulgenco of matters forbidden—and hence no doubt the propriety of

prevention , by . keeping all such persons without the pale of Freemasonry . If Bro . Peter , or any other brother or body of men , would in right earnest exercise their powers , and raise our common soldiers as a class to a higher scale than they now belong to , he or they would bo rendering the world a great and lasting serviceand then the common soldier would

, not be prohibited from initiation , but hailed with a hearty welcome , and become a harbinger of peace , a protecting arm in the din of battle , a fostering friend to the wounded , a good Christian , and hence a better man . I am , dear sir , yours truly , 9 th September , 1861 . E . ' E . X .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUSSEX .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —I little anticipated , when I addressed you , a fortnight ' since , that " Observer" would have elicited a reply from Bro . Pocoek , Prov . G . Sec . of Sussex , well knowing that , as far as Masonic doings are concerned , a more careful , guarded , brother , in language and conduct , is not to be found in the province , yet

withal , one , who professes the most profound esteem for the Craft and a general respect for the brotherhood . Bro . Pocoek , in evidently an angry tone , has impugned the accuracy of my statements , indulging in such remarks as "flat contradiction , " " mis-statements , " "disordered minds , " " strangely inaccurate , " & c . I do not profess the Masonic standing ( acquired in a few ) of Bro . Pocoek ,

years or to a similar knowledge of all that transpires in the province , but with an equal friendly feeling I will raise a lance with him , and endeavour to combat his assertions . In the first place , in contradiction to my previous statement , Bro . Pocoek states that " a thoroughly good and truly Masonic feeling prevails throughout the province . " Here we differ , and with due deference to Bro . Pocoek ,

I contend that he is in the wrong . I have yet to learn that a province can be said to work harmoniously , when the reins of power are delegated by the head to a brother , who for years past has exercised a partial feeling , and has shown in his recommendations for selection of Provincial Grand Officers , either what smacks strongly of favouritism , or a want of proper discrimination , which cannot be justified ,

and must be regretted . Hence , much dissatisfaction among the Sussex brethren , apathy upon the part of many past Provincial Officers deservedly entitled to promotion , and the little interest evinced by younger brethren ( unless members of & particular lodge or clique ) to attain distinction . In the second lace BroPooock deems me

p . ungenerous in reproaching the V . W . theD . Prov . G . M . for not having more frequently visited the lodges under his control , and assigns as a reason "illness for many months and residence abroad this year , " and urges this as an excuse for his " availing himself of the retiwns annually made by the lodges , and of the information supplied by the Provincial Grand Seeretary . " I am obliged to Bro . Pocoek for the unlooked-for admission