Correspondence.

part of them not to agree with the state of things in England . First , as regards tlie oath question . I remember what struggles took place in the British Parliament with reference to the modification of the form of oath in favour of Hebrews . On the present day this form exists no longer , and yet old England has not fallen to pieces . It vail be the same ivith the form of oath in the Masonic fraternity ; the Order will continue to exist even wiih a rectified oath .

Should the brethren in some lodges insist on tfie preservation of the present formula , there is an easy way of getting over the difficulty- Let the old formula he read to- the candidate at his initiation as an "historical document , " aud let him be obligated on a new , short , and less horrid formula . The honest Mason will be as much bound bhis lain word of

y p honour as he would by the most dismal oatli ; the dishonest brother , on the other hand , will break his word notwithstanding ail possible oaths . This is evidenced by the many traitorous ivritings , laying open our rituals before the profane world , so that secrecy has become impossible in some countries

, after some hundred thousands of pamphlets had been published containing the rituals of all symbolical and high degrees . All booksellers supply them on the Continent , and I have no doubt in Englaud too . This horrid oath also rendered our Society suspicious in the eyes of governments , that used to say with

truth that no oaths of this kind were requisite to profess such sublime principles as those laid down in our laws ; that it was to be presumed that aspirations of a very questionable character were hidden under the cloak of humanity , charity , and education . But in order to attain some of our humane objects , we do certainly want a member to pledge his word of honour not to communicate to strangers anything taking place in the lodge , without the acquiescence of

the lodge , and to such a pledge nobody can object . The rectification of the oath should not , therefore , be looked upon as an enormity . Scripture itself says , " Let your communication be yea , yea ; nay , nay ; tor whatsoever is more than these , eometh of evil . " As regards the admission to lodges , it should be

borne in mind that some persons ivho have , for a certain reason , been refused in one lodge , apply for admission into another . We often see them , having been turned away at the door , walking in through the window . There ought to be a general law for the Eraternity , that every candidate for admission should

formally declare not to have ever before applied to any other lodge , and that no lodge in A should admit anyone from B without the previous assent of the lodge in B . Persons who have been repelled here on one day , Ave find a few months later ivalking in as visitors , with European diplomas in their pockets . This

irregularity , I have no doubt , might easily be put a stop to . As regards the mode of promotion , grave objections are urged in many lodges . The adherents of reform wish promotions to be aivarded gratuitously , as honorary distinctions of prominent merit " either for

, special labour for the benefit of the lodge , or for good works done in public , or for excellent moral conduct . In the ancient stonemasons' corporations no _ man was admitted as an E . C . or an M . M . without being possessed of a superior knoAvledge of the art .

Should promotions take place with us , Avithout a full previous knowledge of the moral and intellectual importance of the respective degree ? We are , therefore , of opinion that the shortest interval should be five months for raising to the degree of E . G ., and seven months for the degree of M . M ., but , as a rule , a full year should elapse betiveen two several promotions .

We should also wish a better agreement to be arrived at with reference to signs , watchwords , and grips . It is highly inconvenient in Easts like those of the Levant , where there are lodges of all systems at work , that there should be so much variation ia the most- requisite means of recognition that Ave get into the greatest confusion as to the degrees of the

various brethren . An agreement between the respective authorities might readily bring about this most desirable uniformity . As regards the mental cultivation to be fostered in the lodges , it is the wish of the friends of reform that the labours should not consist only iu initiations ,

promotions , ancl dinners ; every initiation , promotion , or Masonic festival should be endowed with an intellectual character by means of some instructive lecture , ancl thus the collapse ancl mental stagnation prevented to which many lodges are reduced by the mere mechanical recital of rituals and "Mason

making . " It is a very general complaint among brethren that since their initiation they have never received any authentic information on the history of the Craft , any proper explanation of the rituals , and that , notwithstanding their Mastership , they know so little about matters Masonic ( save

signswatch-, words , and grips ) , that they become discouraged and keep aloof . We have so many eminent Masonic authors , and enjoy such au excellent periodical literature , that even the most overworked W . M . might

do a little more in the direction pointed out . I do not mean to say by this that every loclge should cultivate philosophical reveries ; the kind of mental labour to be performed ivould depend ou the choice of the majority of the members . A loclge consisting of authors ivill require a different kind of instructive entertainment than one whose members belong chiefl

y to the military , commercial , or industrial professions . Surely our literature is rich enough in useful and beautiful books to bestoAv some intellectual charms and attractions upon our labours . Let Bros , read only Bro . Oliver's " Freemason ' s Treasury , " and they will admit that the tendencies of the adherents of

reform are not so very devoid of objects and purpose . As regards the appointment of officials , ive object to the too frequent re-elections , not to speak of permanent appointments , as practised in some lodges . This grievance hardly applies to our English brethren in most of Avhose lodges there exists the laudable

habit of renewing the lists of officials once every year . It is to be hoped that this practice will soon become general . With us there still exist difficulties in the relations between the Grand Lodges ancl working lodges . The present practice is that each lodge appoints a

representative residing at the seat of the Grand Lodge , whose duty it is to attend at the quarterly communications . The reformers want , besides the latter , au annual and general meeting to which each working lodge would have to depute a direct repre-