The Sewing Machine.

perform ? Take the Grover and Baker machine at the present day , which affords , perhaps , the best illustration of the advances made in this branch of the mechanised arts , and there is no kind of sewing , plain or ornamental , which the most skilled needlewoman can perform that it will not execute equally well as regards strength and durabilit much neater and

y , ¦ move beautiful in appearance , and in a tenth of the time . The "Grover and Baker" or "Elastic Stitch " machine has no shuttle or bobbin , aud the seam it produces is formed by the harmonious action of tAvo needles—an upper or vertical needleand an under or

, circular one ; each loop of thread passed hy the upper needle through the fabric is secured by a loop of under thread , which passes through and around it , tying it twice , thus making each stitch independent of its neighbour , forming a stitch that will not rip though every sixth stitch were cut . The crossing of

the two threads are not drawn between the fibres of the materials to separate them—as is done by the "Shuttle" or "Lockstitch" machine—hut drawn tight by the vertical action of the upper needle ,

compressing the material vertically but never longitudinally ; hence there are no intervals between the stitches , and the material is not puckered . "When the seam is drawn up , the loops of the under needle thread disappear from the under side of the material , and the loops from the under side thread are tightened and embedded in the form of an in-wrought

braid upon the under surface ; and it is this braid on the under side which produces the elasticity characteristic of this stitch . There are no points in this stitch which there is special wear or friction upon the threads . It gains its strength and elasticity chiefly from the under threadwhich divides the strain

be-, tween the several threads , and permits the upper one to compress the material between the stitches , whilst each loop gives or yields to the force which the under stitches feel , instead of concentrating the strain upon a single point of thread , as is the case with some other machines . Another feature in the " Elastic

Stitch" machines consists of the great range of work to which it is adapted . In addition to sewing perfectly it is capable of doing the most intricate aud elaborate patterns of embroidery .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

SISTERS' MASONIC CLOTHING IK PRANCE . A lady correspondent will find my communication on this very important matter , vol . ix ., page 158 , of the EREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . It gives me pleasure to learn that her husband , whom I know to be a very active and useful member of the Craft , is a

subscriber to that publication . —CHABI / ES PUBTON COOPEE . CREED 01 ? A CANDIDATE FOE INITIATION IN A LANCASHIRE LODGE . The Master of a Lancashire Lodge has _ sent me a Paper entitled "Creed of a Candidate for initiation "

, and . he requests my opinion in regard to its sufficiency . This Creed is very skilfully drawn . It consists of two articles only—one is negative , the other is affirmative . The effect of the first is , that the Candidate denies Atheism . The effect of the second is , that he

Masonic Notes And Queries.

affirms his belief in the Soul ' s Immortality . The insufficiency of this Creed is manifest . The Candidate denies Atheism , but he may have adopted some Eeligion which English Ereemasonry does not tolerate , as Pantheism , Polytheism , or Eetichism . The belief in the Soul's Immortality does not help here ; as the

Pantheist , the Polytheist , and the Eetiehist , each has his doctrine of a Life to come . —CHAELES PUETON COOPEE . PEEEMASONEY WITHOUT EELIGION . —A COMPARISON . My good Bro . * * * must excuse me , for I am in a humour somewhat critical . I would Avrite ,

first , " Ereemasonry undertaking its great and sacred task Avithout religion ; " next , "The Great Fastem proceeding on the voyage for laying down the Atlantic cable without her steam engines . " With these alterations the comparison cannot , iu my judgment , be deemed inappropriate—CHAELES PIJETON COOPEE .

NATURAL RELIGION . —PEEEMASONEAT . The answer to the question of the brother "just commencing his Masonic studies , " is that natural religion is necessarily the relig ion of that Ereemasonry lvliieh has assumed the character of universality , and admits into the lod Avithout distinctionthe

folge , , lowers of Jesus Christ , of Moses , of Zoroaster , and of Mahomet . My brother should look at my communications to the EEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE . " Eeligion of Ereemasonry as a Universal Institution , " vol . xiii ., p . 391 . " Ereemasonry as a World-wide Association" vol . xiv . p . 69 . " Why Ereemasonry

, , is called Universal , " vol . xiv ., p . 447 . "The Voltairians , " p . 6 of the present volume . " Great Architect of the Universe—Natural Theology , " vol . xiv ., p . 6 . " Proof of the Existence of God adopted in Ereemasonry , " vol . xiii ., p . 111 . "Existence of God —Proof thereof , " vol . xiv ., p . 125 . " Eiual

Causes , " vol . xiv . p . 409 . " Metapiiysieal Proofs ot the Existence of God , " vol xiv ., p . 165 . "Immortality of the Soul and Ereemasonry , " A'ol . xiii ., p . 71 . "Immortality of the Soul—Belief therein , " vol . xiv ., p . 32 S . " The Moral Law and Ereemasonry , " vol . xiv ., p . 290 . " Pi \ -vyers in Loclge , " vol . xiv ., p . 306 . — CHAELES PURTON COOPER .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed hj Correspondents . EEEOEM IN MASONEY . 10 THE EBITOS OE THIS UHEEMASOXS' llAaAZn ** " A 3 D SIASOHTC MIRKOE . II . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —I now beg to say a feAv words in reply to the letter on page 310

, vol . xii ., of your journal . You Avill find , on calm consideration , that my views are not so dangerous and execrable after all . On account of the near relationship between Germany aud England , I should really be glad to see pleasant consequences for our harmony iu future arise from the unpleasant

discussions of the present day . Will you kindly bear in mind that among the large number of continental brethren who are in favour of reform , there are surely some combining great love of Masonry with intelligence and a practical turn of mind . It may , therefore , be assumed that , at all events , some good might be derived from , reform proposals , supposing eveu