The Lodge Of Charity (No. 223).

THE LODGE OF CHARITY ( No . 223 ) .

SO IHE EDITOE OP THE _ . II- _ E _ IASO _ . S' MAGAZINE __ 3 . D MASO-flO XIBXOII . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —A short time since I was on a visit to an old friend in Plymouth , who had been recentl y initiated in the Lodge of Charity , of that town . He , knowing I was a Mason , invited me to accompany him ¦ to his lodge . I put my Masonic '

clothing in my pocket , and went with my friend accordingly . On entering the ante-room , I was accosted by the Tyler , who demanded my certificate . I replied that I was not in the habit of ' carrying it about with me , but , if he would introduce me to the J . W ., I would prove myself a Mason hy answering

any questions he mi ght be disposed to put to me , and , further , that my friend who had brought me there had known me for upwards of twenty years , and that I was the I . P . M . of an old lodge , ancl showed him a jewel that had been presented to me on the occasion of my having installed my successor in the

chair of King Solomon , with an inscription on the back of it relating thereto . The Tyler ( who , by the way , appeared to be WM . and all the other officers combined in one person—in fact , a multum in parvo ) said he was sorry , hut he could not admit me without the production of my certificate , as it was so laid

down in the "Book of Constitutions . " I assured him it was not so , and he produced the said hook ; I read the rule referred to to the brethren present , and , although there is not one word about a certificate , they refused to try me or prove me , hut went in to open the lodge , leaving me to argue the point with the Tyler . " Sot being disposed to do so , I retired , but my friend called to me to return , and , on again ascending the stairsI found the outer door

, shut and properly fcyled . I waited nearly twenty minutes on the winding ( I should rather say windy ) staircase , for tlie wind was Mowing through the place , and threatened to extinguish the solitary gaslight on the landing , which , had it been the case , would have left me in a dilemma as to finding my

way out . I was on the point of lighting my cigar when the door opened to let one of the brothers out . I then ventured to ask the T yler the reason of my being called back . He said he had no doubt in his own mind that I was a brother , but that he had received no communicafcion as to admitting me , hut

suggested my waiting a little longer . I declined doing so , being , as you may suppose , somewhat annoyed at the ivant of courtesy exhibited by our provincial brethren . I have written thus much , as I consider that it concerns the Craft generallywho areor should be

, , , guided by the " Book of Constitutions" in this as well as other matters affecting our Order . I admit the necessity of caution , hut I maintain that no brother should be refused admission into a lodge who can prove himself a Mason . We are asked by those skilled in the noble science how we know a brother .

The answer is—not hy seeing his certificate and reading it , but one well understood by all Masons . I mentioned what had taken place to my old friend , Bro . " Watts , of the Globe Hotel , Plymouth , who , with his usual kindness and good-feeling , invited me to attend his lod ge , the Huyshe Masonic Temple , when I was most hospitably received , and highly delighted with the magnificent appointments of the said Temple . A TOUNG P . M . OE AN OLD LODGE .

The Lodge Of Charity (No. 223).

[ We think our brother has just reason to complain of the way in which he was treated by the Lodge of " Charity , " ancl we would advise him immediately to lay all the circumstances before the Board of General Purposes . It is not usual for a brother visiting a town at a distance to carry his certificate with hiin ,

and , even then , it is expressly stated in the face of it that its production will not entitle any brother to admission into a lodge without due examination , conclusively proving that the mere production of a . certificate is hut a minor consideration . —ED . F . M . ]

A Bud Of Promise.

A BUD OF PROMISE .

TO TlfE EDITOR 02 TKS l . l ' . F . E ^ .-SO'Xs' 5 Ai . GA __ r _ . __ _ . X __ ^ IASO- _ tIC "__ raUOK . DEAR SIE AND BROTHER . — "Will you permit to present you with a hud from that garden of roses which is so heniguantly cultivated hy the brethren , to their eternal honour . It was culled by accident at the festival in the hall , on Wednesday , 8 th May , 1867 by lady visitors .

, One inquired of a passing little girl , who had probably seen some eight or ten summers , if she knew , mentioning the name of another little girl . The little one hesitated , as if challenging her memory , and then calmly replied , " Tes , I know her , " and , after a slight pauseadded" but she is not in the

, , school now , " which closed the topic . Shortly after , the dear child had glided to the side of another lady who was in company with the questioner , and said in a subdued tone , " The little girl for whom your friend was inquiring is dead ; I did not like to tell the lady so lest it might disturb her enjoyment here . "

Such disciplined considerateness in * one so young may , when better known , originate , or induce confidence to renewed exertions in that noble work which excites so much admiration . " By their fruits shall ye know them . ' ' "WIUIJIAM EATHORNE Gnu .

"Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat."

"PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT . "

TO THE EDITOI . OP THE FREEMASONS MAGAZIIfE AX 1 J _ . _ ASO : _ . IC HII-IEOI * . DEAR SIR AND BEOTHEE . —The readers generally of the Magazine of the 4 th inst . will doubtless have learned with much pleasure that the eminent Masonic writers , Bros . D . Murray Lyon and W . J . Hughan , have been elected members of the distinguished Societof Literary Freemasonsto which the

paray , graph in your "Notes ancl Queries " refers ; permit me , however , to draw your attention to the fact , that in the number of Bro . Findel ' s Masonic paper , Die Bauhiitte , giving the names of the two distinguished brethren above mentioned , the names of three brethren are giventhe third being our respected Bro . Dr . H .

, Hopkins , of Guernsey . The Masonic triad , thus formed is a very happy one . I have to apologise for thus troubling you , but I feel assured the Craft generally will , through the medium of your pages , be glad to learn that not two , but three , of our most zealous workers in the cause of Freemasonry in Great

Britain have been thus honoured by a foreign Masonic Literary Union . Ancl , personally , I can , with much pleasure , bear testimony during the time of my connection with tho FREEMASONS' MAC . AJ _ INI _ ANB MASONIC MIRROR , to the indefatigable labours of each of the three brethren named as contributors to its pages . Tours fraternally , JAMES STEVENSON .