Correspondence.

I may , write strongly , but I own I feel strongly . Ever since I have been a Mason , my heart ' s longing in Masonry lias been to assist in ornamenting those two noble temples of ours , the Boys' aud Girls ' Schools . My hearts' longiug , I say , for I can do but little ; but if I have written too stronglin

y W . D . ' s opinion , let me now assure him that it is in - . no disrespect to him , and that to him , as to you , I am , Yours fraternally and truly , W . N . . Km .

FREEMASONRY . CO THE EDITOTC OP THE EREEJIASONS' 1 IAGAZIXE A > 'D 3 IAS 02 IIC MIRHOE . : Of the various subjects which have occupied my time and attention , about which I have thought , -spoken , and written , during the last twenty years , there is probably no one which has so sustainedly

maintained a hold upon my mind as that of Freemasonry . To many it may appear a mystery that such should be the case , since its operations may be -considered as very limited ; nor ' can I myself satisfactorily explain it , for there are many other subjects , which , under the view generally taken of the Craft ,

. seem to be of far hi gher importance , unless on the supposition that it is more suitable to the constitution of my mind , added to the belief that if carried out in its integrity , it is capable of producing great . effects on the habits and morals of mankind , as well ¦ as on their intellectual powersthat it has elevating

, tendencies , secondary only and ministering to the effects of pure and practical Christianity . With this view , it has been my object , as far as my limited in'fluence extends , to endeavour to make the principles understood by our members , to induce higher aspirations among themto eradicate all that appears

, vicious' or calculated to bring our professions into -contempt , to show that the duties of Masonry are not confined to the ritual and ceremonies of the lodgeroom , but should be carried into all the circumstances

of social , professional , or commercial life , in fact , that its principles , which are perfectly in accordance with and based upon the revealed Word of God , should be the guide of all our actions . I cannot but confess that I have often been disappointed in regard to the accomplishment of my aims , that some of the difficulties which have arisen appeared insuperable

, and this to a great extent springing from a want of appreciation of the grandeur of our objects , from low views of them , from want of care in the selection , first of candidates for admission into the Order , secondly in the choice of rulers , and thirdl y in the administration of our rites . I much fear that with

very many of us Freemasonry is adopted as a profession and valued chiefly on account of the advantages it offers , hy introduction to persons from whom we imagine we have thus obtained a right to claim aid , patronage , and pother benefits , rather than from the opportunities we derive of doing good to our

fellow creatures , of "pouring the healing balm of consolation into the bosom of the distressed . " Further , I conceive that a large proportion of our members look mainly to the enjoyment of social intercourse and of a good banquet . I know nothing personally of the Craft as it exists in the metropolis , but in several instances I have received reports from provincial Masons after visiting lodges in London , conveying their impression that at most of the

meetings the banquet appears to he the mdiu object to which the work ofthe lodge ancl the inculcation of our princi ples are held as completely subordinate . If these surmises be correct , no doubt Freemasonry is generally misunderstood even by its members and admirers . Some colour is given to the opinion now expressedby reference tothe reports

, iu our pages of Masonic meetings , in many of which great stress is often laid on the variety and extent of the viands , the quality of the wines , the good management and liberality of the host , matters which in any accounts I send you are entirely omitted as irrelevant to the matter in hand and of no interest to distant

readers . That our charities exist in some sort of efficiency is so far satisfactory , but if wo may judge from the constant appeals for help made by those who have the conduct of them , they are by no means fully appreciated , they might be extended far beyond their present limits , the blessedness of their doing good

is not practically comprehended . It cannot be denied however that the progress of the last few years marks an increasing interest in them . That large sums of money are given away by members and lodges to relieve temporary distress we know to be the case , but if we are to believe a statement recently made

openly at a Masonic meeting by un officer of Grand Lodge , a very large portion of this is misapplied , so as to do positive mischief , thus seriously reflecting on the wisdom and judgment of the donors . In the course' of the last twenty years , I have resided and taken an active part in three Masonic districts . In the first , at the time I was initiated , there seemed to be great irregularities and deficiencies

in the mode of administering tbe rites in the several lodges , and so fully was this felt , that at considerable cost measures were taken to produce uniformity , and to instruct the rising officers , who up to that time had with difficulty obtained the requisite knowledge , which was monopolised by a few . I have every reason to believe not onl y that Masonic matters have

progressed satisfactorily ever since , but that the character of the Craft has so greatly advanced , as to treble the number of lodges ancl of members , and at the same time to attract the attention of men of high moral worth , social position , ancl intellectual attainmentswho had before held aloof . A powerful

, auxiliary in bringing about so satisfactory a condition has been the conduct of the nobleman who holds the office of Prov . Grand Master , who is not only worthy of all regard , but takes an active part in his province . The second Masonic district in which I was located for some years presents some discrepancies . Peculiar

circumstances have caused a great number of initiations , and numerically the Craft has made great strides . There are many most excellent men among them , hut in view of the manner in which the province has been ruled , the Order seems to some extent under a ban , for on no consideration will

many gentlemen of high character join it , or , having joined it , ' they decline to take any part in the proceedings . There , too , I found what to me was most repugnant , namely , that the chief instructor took upon himself to make alterations in the verbiage and mode of administering the rites according to his own notions . I am now in a third district , in which I find Masonry existing indeed , but iu a very languid state . There are Past Masters who have never been .