Correspondence.

it was present , the Journeymen Lodge of Edinburgh has generally carried the tools everywhere for the lasttwenty years , so that it may well plead use and wont on its behalf ; 5 th . It follows , therefore , that unless the Lodge of Glasgow Sfc . John , No . 3 bis , can show some better foundation for its pretensions than any

we have yet seen , the said pretensions were entirely groundless , while the action taken was eminently childish . ' Delta' says that the Glasgow operatives carried the working tools for the Victoria Bridge in 1851 , but whether these were members ) of St . John ' s or of the Glasgow Journeymen Operatives' Lodge I

cannot say ; however , as I see by Lawrie ' s History , it appears that the Edinburgh Journeymen Lodge was absent ; therefore there was no difficulty in the way ¦ in the Glasgow Operatives carrying the tools , as stated , in 1851 . the great fault of the St . John ' s Lodge is not the protesting—they could do so if they imagined they had a substantial reason—but the marching off the ground . They might have protested in a formal

manner , but for the sake of their own dignity , the credit of Masonic discipline , and the honour and good feeling of the province , they should have taken up their due place in the procession . The members of other lodges , whom I have met since , consider thc conduct of St . John ' s extremely childish—even some of their own members think so alsoaud although

; the body of the lodge retired , there were some who remained and took their part in the demonstration . I think that it may now be seen that the words 'unconstitutional and impertinent ' do not apply to the 'demands' of the Journeymen Lodge , No . ' 8 , but rather to the pretension of No . 3 bis . As to the idea of

No . 8 apologising for its past conduct , it will be time enough for it to do so when the Lodge of Glasgow duly apologises to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , the historians and citizens of Glasgow , and to tho public at large , for its conduct at the laying of the foundation stone of Nelson ' s Monument in 1806 , to which last week ' s transactions were a mere ilea-bitc . —I am , yours respectfully , MASONICUS . June 8 , 1870 . "

Masonic Literature And The Freemasons.

MASONIC LITERATURE AND THE FREEMASONS .

TO THE EDIIOI ! or THE IREEMASOXS' MACAZiyi : . on MASONIC MHIHOII . Dear Sir and Brother , —The remarks at page 4 G 9 , copied from the Keystone ( Philadelphia ) are worth thinking over . Generally speaking , Masonic literature seems to be very little encouraged by Freemasons . Whether this be because it takes so much to j water their stomachs that [

they have nothing left where- I withal to refresh their minds I do not know ¦ only the fact seems to be that Masonic literature and true , Masonic knowled ge seem to be rather at a discount . ' - However , we hope better things for the future . There \ is a spirit of inquiry abroad which we trust willin duo ! j , i ' -

, time expand amongst the fraternity , and make them j take far more interest than they have hitherto done j in the past history , present position , and future pro- j spects of the Craft . —Tours fraternall y , ' PiCTtrs . i : ! j :

Mark Lodges.

MARK LODGES .

TO THE EDI TOU OI ? THE PHEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC JIIIiROH . Dear Sir and Brother , —In your issue of the 11 th I inst . there appears a paragraph announcing the iu- ; tended establishment of Mark Lodges in connection \ ! ' ,

with the Indefatigable Lodge , No . 287 , Swansea , and the Cambrian Lodge , No . 3 G 4 , Neath . I am authorised to state that the E . W . Provincial Grand Master of this province has been pleased to approve of the establishment of a Mark Lodge to be attached pro forma to the Cambrian Lodge , No . 364

, Neath . This lodge will receive the support of the most influential members of the Indefatigable and Cambrian Lodges . The officers will be selected so that the various positions will be filled by representatives of both the lodges , and the brethren will have the advantage of being presided over for tho first year

by the Deputy Provincial Grancl Master , who is , I believe , the oldest Mark Master in tlie province . I have also authority for stating that it is not intended at present to establish a second Mark Lodge in the western end of this province , as the requirements of Mark Masonry will be amply met by the

formation of the new lodge at Neath . Tours fraternally , WALTER Winn ING TON , ' P . Prov . G . Sec . and P . M . No . 364 . Neath , June 11 th , 1870 .

Masonic Sayings And Doings Abroad.

MASONIC SAYINGS AND DOINGS ABROAD .

From the Maeonnih WceJcblad we learn that the Grand Master of the Dutch Possessions in South Africa has made a tour of inspection of the lodges under his jurisdiction . Order and activity reign everywhere . The Grand Master has considered it his duty ,

in order to reward the brethren for their' zeal , and as an incentive to further exertions , to establish several chapters , amongst others , at Graaf-Eeinsst , Eichmond , Bloemfontein , and Pretoria . The Monde Ma-QOiiiiirpte " cannot felicitate the Grand Master for his method of rewarding zealous brethren , as to the introduction of the hi gh grades into these places cannot fail to produce the most deplorable results . "

A now Masonic Monthly has been established in Seville entitled the Fraternidad . Under the title of "Freemasonry and its principles , '' its pages contain se-| vera ! discourses delivered on the occasion of iheinstallation of the Count Paraty as Grand Master of the

| Grand Orient of Lusitania . The following passages will enable our readers to judge of the spirit which animates the Masons of that country : — " Masonry should exercise a powerful influence upon the re-organisation of society . If tue majority of the le composed of Masonstho Jesuitic

peopwere , Propaganda would not make so many proselytes ; certain members of the clergy would not abuse their j mission of peace and love to their neighbours to de-I lude the masses ; sons would not be arrayed against their fathers ; the domestic hearth , tire scene of the sweet joys of family intimacy , would not be connected with scenes of grief and sorrow . Masonry should heal all these wounds of society , and should combat vile