Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

as to how the D . Prov . G . M . has been acquainted with the " merits and abilities " of those eligible for Provincial Grand appointments . It fully accords with any previous statement that " the provincial management of Sussex is not to be compared with many other provinces . " I should have been better pleased , however , if Bro . Pocoek had stated howmanymonths the D . Prov . G . M . was suffering from illness

—as he has not done so , I can only repeat that many opportunities in the past two years existed for the D . Prov . G . M . to have visited the lodges , and since his last illness and return from the counties . In the next place Bro . Pocoek deems that he is a stranger to the lodges in the province , and parades himself as a member of six out of ten lodges . In reply , I must state

that in my previous letter I used these words , " almost ¦ an equal stranger ( speaking of D . Prov . G . M . ) to the lodges . " 1 have nothing , therefore , to recall , and , presuming that Bro . Pocoek occasionally visits the lodges mentioned by him , viz ., 64 , 338 , 390 , 1034 , 1113 , and 1153 , I sincerely trust the D . Prov . G . M . will , his health being restored , likewise visit such ( and all ) lod and by knowled gained

ges , ge , be enabled to speak in the first person . Bro . Pocoek further speaks boastingly when he adds " During tho last few months I have had the pleasure of installing the W . M . ' s of lodges 45 , 64 , 390 , and 1113 . This I cannot gainsay , but would add that he has performed those duties ,

solely because there is not , unfortunately , another brother in the province equally capable . Again , Bro . Pocoek acids , - " I am a regular attendant at my mother lodge . I cannot at the moment give you , say for the last two years , the number of his attendences , but until I have further satisfied myself , I decline withdrawing my previous statement . As regards the Brihton Lodge of Masonic InstructionBro

g , . Pocoek seeks to maintain that he has not deserted it , urging that he is still a member , that it is no longer a "bantling , " and that it numbers many well calculated to promote its success and maintain its usefulness . In reply I would add that since relinquishing the office of Secretary , his visits have been rare indeed , not twice , I believe , in ¦ ei ghteen months—that much surprise has been expressed

as to his non-attendance at a lodge which he was ono of the first to found , and for a time , by his presence and working , materially assisted , that the attendance is scarcely more than sufficient to fill the necessary offices ( generally the same brethren ) , and that for many months past the working has been confined to the three degrees and an

occasional installation . Lectures or sections would indeed be a treat . Bro . Pocoek lastly expresses his opinion that the new appointments would give general satisfaction . My best reply is give the following list of such appointments , by which it will be seen that the majority has again been given to members of' the Clarence Lodge , equally ¦ deserving brethren , and lodges being passed over : —

Lodge 45 ( 42 members ) , none . Lodge 47 ( 34 members ) , none . Lodge 64 ( 29 members ) , none . Lodge 426 ( 10 members ) , none . Clarence Lodge , 338 ( 91 members ) , Bros . Scott , Tayler , Pocoek , H . Verrall , Kuhe , Tatbam , Corder , Chittenden ( and Verrall and Ancock elected ) . Lod 390 ( 34 members ) BrosHearne and Turner

ge , . . Lodge 394 ( 72 members ) , Bros . Moppett , Freeman , and Challen . Lodge 1034 ( 25 members ) , Bro . Potter . Lodge 1113 ( 18 members ) , Bro . Moor . Lodge 1153 ( 18 members ) , none . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , OUSEUVEE . Brighton , September 11 th , 1861 .

Madras Lodges And Chapters.

MADRAS LODGES AND CHAPTERS .

{ From a Correspondent of the Indian Freemasons' Friend . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —At the last meeting of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Eoyal Arch Masons in England , the Committee of General Purposes handed in , as an Appendix to their Quarterly Eeport , a list of Chapters that have for several years neglected to make their prescribed Returns to the Grand Chapter , and which were consequently declared to be erased from the general list , with a few

Madras Lodges And Chapters.

exceptions in cases where there were good reasons to believe that work would shortly be resumed . Among those Chapters whose names have been thus erased , are : — 325 , Chapter of the Eock—Tricbinopoly , 628 , St . John ' s Chapter—Secunderabad , and 831 , Mount Horeb Chapter—Mount Eoad ,

all in the Madras Presidency , which , however , still bears credit in the Freemasons' Calendar and Foclcet Booh for 1861 for having three Chapters working in the town of Madras , viz ..-

—175 , School of Plato Chapter , 326 , Keystone Chapter , and 340 , St . John ' s Chapter . Now , if this be correct , Madras throws Calcutta , which boasts of but two Chapters , in the shade ; but I believe that it is incorrect , and that not more than one Chapter is at present working in Madrasif indeed there be one at all .

, I would be glad to believe that I am in the wrong and the Almanach in tho right , but it would be satisfactory to learn from the Provincial Grand Chapter of Madras how this exalted Degree is actually working in their Province . In like manner , I would be glad to know how the Craft or Blue Lodges are working in the Sister Presidency . The Almanach above quoted ives her credit at 124 under

g page , " Lodges in Foreign Stations , " to the following : — Bangalore ... 710 Bellary ... 684 Cannanore ... 619 Kamptee ... 664 , 734 i 94175326340634635636

Madras " ' ' ' ' > > ' mamas ... | ^ ^ ^ Mount Eoad ... 831 Ootacamund ... 622 Secunderabad ... 628 Tricbinopoly .... 325

And as this Almanach is affirmed , in its title page , to be "corrected from the books of United Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , " it is fair to conclude that these lodges all continue as " working" on tho Grand Lodge Books ; whereas I have been led to believe that in the town and suburbs of Madras there are but two lodges working ( viz . 175 , and , J thinh , 326 ) , at somewhat irregular intervals

, and that Masonry is not represented at all the stations , at any rate , given in the above list . _ In Masonic , as in all other matters , correctness is a principle that should be strictly maintained , and while I heartily wish Madras and every other part of the globe Masonic uccess , I would be glad to see her position in the Craft orrectly and properly reported . C T | TT Calcutta , loth June , 1861 .

TUB TIHJCEIE-BED was a small bed . placed by the side of the large , or , as it was called , the " standing bed ; " the latter being used by the master , and the former , which , during the day , could run under it , being occupied by his servant . There are references to these beds both in " Komeo and Juliet , " and " The Merry AVives of Windsor . " We suppose that from this custom of the favourite

dependent sleeping in his master ' s room grew the office of " Gentlemen of the Bedchamber . " Chamberlayne says that , in 1726 , they numbered eleven , and that each of these gentlemen in his turn waits one weeic in the king's bedchamber , there to lie by the king , on a pallet-bed , all night ; and , in the absence of the groom of the stole , to supply his place . Little wonder that crowned heads

lie so uneasily when neither day nor night brings seclusion ! It might have been very impolitic of James , as a king , sending his courtiers back from his court to the country , but , as a man , he was more than justified ; for one of the crowning curses of civilisation is that unrest of spirit that seizes upon to disturb , if not destroy , the unhappy and unconscious victim of over-refinement . —Englishwoman ' s Domestic Magazine .