Literature.

states his opinion that the mode in ivhich these bodies wore buried , and the occurrence in certain cases of urns ivith burnt bones , may be taken as an indication whether the personage in life had been a , heathen or a Christian , cremation having been invariable in the former cases , but ordinary burial more common in tho latter . In one instance the person buried hael unquestionably been a Christian , and not improbably a boy

attached to the sacrerl service of tho adjoining Minster at Dorchester ; for by the side of this skeleton ivas discovered a most curious stoup , made of wood , wifch thin plates of bronze attached to its outside , as is not unusually the case in other Anglo-Saxon buckets . On this , hoivever , ivere stamped in relief scenes from the life of Our lord , as the Marriage of Cana iu Galilee , & c . On tlie same day , the Society of Antiquaries met under the presidency of J . Bruce . Esq ., " V . P . The proceedings were barren of interest : Captain AYindus ivas elected a Fellow .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

< - > . [ THE EDITOR does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ' ] THE BLACKHEATH MEETING OE AUGUST , 1858 . ± J 1 PIUSEMiSO

« " -o -. WUB UK THE -SS - MAGAZINE AMD MASONIC MIRROR . I ) j * , ' , r : Sri : AXD BJIOTHI'I ! , —In my letter , dated the 27 th ult . in i-clcrciicc to the Blackheath Meeting of August , 1858 , I appeal * ' to have given offence to the brethren of thc Lodge of Justice ; a 1 . JU . of that Lodge having- complained that I stated , "as Car as I can recollect / ' ( the meeting ) " originated ivith the Deptford brethren / ' lie says , the Lodge of Justice is the local Lodge , aud represents the tford brethren have

Dep . I promised him to write to you on the subject , to correct any error into ivhich I may have ljillcn . I beg now m explanation to state , that the meetino-s of t re committee were held at the Lord Duncan . Deptford Broactway thc hoiisc of meeting of the AVellington Lodge ; hence mv mistake if any , as I was not then aware that the members " of the v \ ellmgton Lodge were for thc most part resident in Lcivisham and not

m Deptford , as stated to me by the P . M . of thc Loih > -0 of , ) usttce . In conclusion , I would call the attention of the Deptford brethren , or such of them as feel aggrieved by the said letter , to the fact that I did not make a positive assertion , but guarded myself by the words " as far as I can recollect . " Hoping' this letter may prove satisfactory to the P . M ., I am , ilear Sir mid Brother , yours truly and fraternall y , If . J . Hl-N'X-AIAX , M . D ., Jan . Ulh , 1 SG 0 . P . M ., X 0 . 27 , & c , & c .

Authorized Reporting.

AUTHORIZED REPORTING .

TO THE I- niTOR OP THE FUMMASOSS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIMiOr .. Dr-Ai ; Snt AXD BiiOTiini ; , —I respectfully submit a notice of outlast meeting , hut without any desire that its length should st-md m the way of matter more worthy . It is countenanced by the Master , but it must be controlled hy y ° Ai- ' i -i *" y 0 " r ink or scissors ma y lot or clip at pleasure \ Miilc you have authority for such insertions , T must sniw-c myself sate hands

m your ; yet I ivould wish thc law in thc Book ol Constitutions was removed . Now that there is an authorized journal , ably and fraternally conducted , I hud an awakened interest among our ' local Craft for its perusal , find tins constrains mo to go a length ivhich I ivould otherwise wish to shorten . —Yours fratcniallv Feb . 14 , 7 , , 1800 . J ' T p

Bro. Distin.

BRO . DISTIN .

TO TIIE - GMTOR OF THE KUSEMASOirS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC JIIRROU . DEAI ; Sin A-xh Bno-riij-ii , —I read ivith much pain tlie touchiii " appeal of Bro . Distin , in tlie last number of the Maqarine and took the opportunity of calling attention to it at the banquet tabic of our f . ed ge ( the Domatic ) on Monday evening . I" had not thc opportunit y of doing so , howei'cr , until after several of the brethren had left , or I am sure that the to the appeal would

response have been much larger than it was . I . collected one pound tivo shillings and tenpence , which Bro . John Snow was kind encm-dr to take charge of , with the intention of increasing it by an appeal to some of the brethren v , 'iio were absent , und others . The sum evenJ . lien ivould be a comparativel y small orre ; but if a couple of Hundred Lodges would contribute thc same amount , poor Bro

Bro. Distin.

Distiu ivould be helped out of his pressing difficulties , and close hi -J days in peace . —Yours fraternall y , Tudor Mouse , Cheyne Walk , AVILLIAM C .- U-I-KXTIYR . Feb . Uth , 1860 .

St. John's Lodge , Liverpool.

ST . JOHN'S LODGE , LIVERPOOL .

TO THE EDITOR 01 ' THE rifflEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND IIASOIMC JIIKKOU . Di-Au Sin AND BnoTUEU , —Iii your last publication I observe a letter , signed " J . M . , " referring to a report in your Meti / uzine oi the meeting of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 971 , on the 4 th ultimo , which , if left unanswered , will leave an unfavourable impression of St . John ' s Lodge . "J . M ., " in his letter , refers to a resolution submitted to and rejected by the Loclge ,. relative to their removing

to thc Masonic Temple , and endeavours to shoiv that St . John's Lodge is favourable to remaining at an hotel in preference to a building specially adapted to the purpose ; he also produces some statistics to show that Masonry advances more when Lodges meet at private rooms than when they meet at hotels , with which I am not going to find fault , except so far as his statistics refer to St . John's Lodge , these I beg to inform him arc incorrect , mid should stand as follows : —

1850—1857 . 1857—1858 . Af embers . Initiations . Members . Initiations . : - ' -7 21 urn 40 1 S 58—1 S 59 . First half of 1859—1860 . Members . Initiations . Members . Initiations . HI 26 ' 124 16 showing that St . John's Lodge has steadily progressed , and is still

doing so . _ I also beg to inform him , in answer to his letter , that—so far from St . John's Lodge being in favour of meetina ; in hotels—although a young Lodge , they subscribed ( according to their means at the tunc ) to the building fund ; and thc reason wh y they decline going to the Temple is , that they are of opinion that the ground selected is not sufficientl centraland furtherthey

y ; , were very much opposed to a large sum of money being expended in alterations on an inconvenient building , ivhich has evidentl y had the effect of putting an end , for some years to eome , of any chance of obtaining a suitable place for our meetmjj-s . Hail the sum expended been added to the building fund , there can scarcely be a doubt but that a greater interest ivould have been excited , and by this time wc should have made considerable

progress with a proper and efficient building . IIopin- > - that this answer will satisf y " J . M . " and remove the unfavourable impression which is sure to be created by his letter in the minds ofthe Liverpool brethren , I beg to subscribe myself , yours fraternally , Lirerpool , Feb . loth , 1 SG 0 . ' ' " Jr ^ 'iCT

. IHE TRUE FIIF . RMASOX . —Tlie true Freemason can always be known , at home and abroad , in the social circle , or in the workshop , in his dealings with his follow man , and in fact iu all that he does and says At home a true Freemason will be a kind , affectionate , and devoted husband , a just and loving parent , an obedient and dutiful son , a fond and fraternal brother . -There is no mistaking these characteristic .-- ; aucl lie who prides himself upon his Alasonic acquirements because of his ability to make all the and

gesticulations manipulations , these no more bespeak the true Freemason than that more words of sympathy will supply the necessary wants of the hungry and destitute . It is the practical exemplification of the teachings of Preemasonry in our daily lite that constitutes the true 1 ' reemason . Abroad , away from homo among strangers , the true Freemason is readily known by the propriety ot Ins conducthis truthfulnesshis polite and courteous maimers

, , , and all that marks the genuine gentleman . He will avoid controversy on exciting subjects , ho will not give his fellow man cause nor opportunity to become angry , but just to himself and to others , he will pursue the even tenor ot Ins way , perform what he has to elo faithfully and truly , and when he returns to the bosom of his family he will have the consciousness- of having maintained his self respect without iiiniu-ni-- ' upon that of others . The true Freemason will be governed by the rules of propriety all his actions and in all his

m conversation . In the social circle lie will avoid all profanity , all jesting upon religious and serious subjects , all unchaste and indelicate allusions , and will in no wife attacltne prejudices or peculiar opinions of others , but will endeavour ' to direct the conversation so that it may be profitable and instructive •and m thc workshop , in the pursuit of his daily avocation , the true Freemason mil bo diligent and economic of time , uot trifling it away but AVill exercise his best skill to accomplish himself

a perfect master in his particular department . In his dealings with his fellow man the true Freemason will be just , upright , and honest . He will neither deceive nor misrepresent for gain . He will render a full and fair ccjuivalent for * all that he receives . In all that he doe , ; and says the true Freemason will bo governed by the eternal principles of truth and light amino circumstances will cause him to swerve therefrom for any purpose of sensual gratification or sain . —American- Mirror and Kemhne