Masonic Notes And Queries.

to finish the business before he went aAvay . A poor man came to aslc charity and said he was made in a house near * * * really a Mason the box was opened and its contents , 12 s . iOk / ., was given him and * * * a verv good coat if he went for it . Letters were read " -

The water-mark of the paper is one used about 1740 . The leaf has been returned to your address . ] THE AFRICAN LODGE .

A gentleman initiated into the three first degrees of Masonry at the African Lodge , Cape of Good Hope , received the usual certificate , which was on parchment , in English and in Latin , from the hand of the then presiding R . W . M ., whose name Avas 11 . Wrnnkmore , witnessed by Richard Stone , S . W .,

Edwin Maudfi , J . W ., and the Secretary , J . P . Baffin , on the 23 rd of April , in the year of Masonry 5814 . The seal of the above-named certificate bore the impress on Avafer thus , A but no number is given ; and it is for this /~ \ reason that the individual alluded to / f f \ claims the aid of the brotherhood to in- i— ± ~^—> form him where he may obtain tidings of the said lodge . —J . T

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . FREEMASONRY IN THE LEVANT .

10 THE EDITOR Or THE EREEttASOXS' iIA . GA 7 . OTE AKD J 1 AS 0 XIC JIIRttOR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER —Under the above head , in No . 292 of the MAGAZINE , you have published a vindication of Euglish Masonry towards some remarks of a Naples correspondent in the Freimaurer Zeitung , on the state of Freemasonry in the Ottoman

Empire . I must agree with the author of this article that to the English Masons honour is to be given for laying the foundation-stone of Masonry in Turkey , and have not a mind to criticise all the statements of the said article . But , at the same time , I must regret the

language there used—not at all brotherly , and somewhat harsh—towards Bro . George Treu , W . M ., and the brethren of the German Lodge Germania am Goldenen Horn at Constantinople . I should believe

the intended vindication had been possible without unfriendly attacks on brethren united with the English Masons for a common work . If Bro . G . Treu has other views on progress , efficiency , and organisation of Masonry as the author—from this he has not yet a right to assert that Bro . Treu will " overturn

Masonry and substitute some nevc-fangled crotchets of his OAvn . " Far from becomiug " a new light , " Bro . 'Treu has only a vivid interest for all concerning the true welfare of the Craft , a warm love for the jirogress of Masonry , and an open heart and hand for it ; therefore , he is an ally of the numerous

brethren in Germany , France , America , Italia , and the Netherlands , Avho long for an earnest reform of the Craft , according to the spirit of our royal art and the time Ave live in . Neither Bro . Treu , I am sure ,

Correspondence.

nor somebody else has the intention to abolish " ancient and existing Masonry . " As there are many Masons not knowing more about Masonry than the mere ritual forms of it , these parrot-Masons , perhaps , could learn something from the German Lodge Germania am Goldenen Horn and its W . M .

Relating to the un-Masonic principle of Grand Lodge district rights , I don't knoAV whether the English brethren in the Levant did try to set them up , or not ; but I recollect that these so-called district rights have been put forward in the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINEwhen the Germania Lodge was

, about to be opened and consecrated , as it is the case in Jersey—not in a fraternal manner , not to the honour of the Grand Lodge of England , and contrary to the interests of the Craft . As all our German Grand Lodges acknowledge the Lodge Zur aufg . Morgenrothe at Frankfort , holding under English

Constitution , so the Grand Lodge of England should acknowledge the French Lodge l'Avenir at Jersey . With the dear Bro . J . Simpson , I say , "Let brotherly love continue , and if amongst us , as in every community of men , differences of opinion arise , let us agree to differ in a Masonic spirit , and ,

Avhile claiming the best motives for our own views and acts , attribute the same to our neighbour ; and if an angry word should drop from some hasty brother , let the soft ansAver turn aAvay wrath . " May the Masons in the Levant continue in brotherly love , and give a good example to the Masouic world ; and may the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE be the medium of reconciliation , instead of attacks . I am . dear Sir and Brother .

Fraternally yours , J . G . FINDEL , Editor of the Bauhiltte , Member of Eleusir , Bnyreuth , Honorary Member of Minerva , Hull , and many other , lodges .

"The Polite Letter Writer" For Masonic Stewards.

"THE POLITE LETTER WRITER" FOR MASONIC STEWARDS .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE jmEEJIASOXS' JIAGAZINE AXD MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER ,- —Many persons imagine that the old-fashioned "Polite Letter AVriters" of half a century back Avere long ago consigned to the trunk makers ; but quite in the spirit of this revivalist age , Ave haA'e just had a resuscitation of the supposed

extinct literature . I am not a SteAvard for the next Girls' School Festival , yet I have been favoured with three separate parcels , at a cost of fivepence for postage to the Charity , containing in the gross no less than fifty sheets of paper , one side of Avhich is devoted to the

following form of letter for the Stev ? ard : — ' •' ¦ Lodge No " 1865 " Bear Sir and Brother , "Having undertaken the office of SteAA ard to represent our lodge at the

ensuing-Festival of the Royal Freemasons' School for Female Children , Avhich will be held on Wednesday , the 10 th of May , at Freemasons' Hall , I need hardly say how anxious I am that the interests of this truly Masonic Institution may not suffer in my hands ; and that the character of our lodge may he fully sustained , permit