"My Stars And Garters."

As respects the number of members in London of the Royal Order , I have been wrongly informed , but not as to the brother holding Provincial Grand office in England . In conclusion , let me repeat part of a conversation I Avas present and heard at a town in Leicestershire on Saturday last . A very honest-looking Leicester brother said it Avas a pity the Magazine allowed attacks to be

made without the signature of an individual calling himself a brother . It Avas an encouragement to break the M . M . obligation , and a proof that the Avriter had sacrificed every particle of title to be denominated a man and Mason . I am , dear Sir , yours fraternally , WILLIAM T . JONES , 18 ° , R . A . AND M . M .

[ Were five hundred brethren' to disoAvn the letter Avith the view of fixing the authorship upon one Ave Avould not publish the correspondence . The question has noAv become something more than a lodge squabble , as Bro . Jones will see by onr first article . Principles are involved of moment to the Craft , ancl Ave ha \ -e treated them as they deserve to be ; whilst Ave have every respect for Bro . Nicholson , Avho , as a young Mason , ought to have been warned by his superiors of the precipice on Avhich he was venturing . ' —ED . ]

Recent Correspondence.

RECENT CORRESPONDENCE .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASON ' S MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —There is a time of year when the various species of the lower animals are reputed to be afflicted with mania or " as mad as March hares . " Is the month of October specially devoted to such outbreaks amongst Masons ? Looking over the last two or three years numbers of THE MAGAZINE there appears to be a kind of insane epidemic raging amongst

your correspondents , at this season of the year , and your last number is no exception to this remarkable phenomena . All the indignation , repudiation , and threatened " nose pulling" arises , as such squabbles ahvays do , from the veriest trifle . Bro . Nobody goes to a lodgesees Bro . Somebodyen

, , grand tenue and enquires if it is legal ? Upon this Bro . Walker calls the letter and " N . Wf absurd , because he dislikes its sensation heading . Bro . Mott Thearle , the jeweller , sticks up for the right of Bro . Somebody to Avear the questioned jewels . Bro . R . E . X . treats your readers to a short course of phrenology and j-ou , brother , the Editor , throw up your cap , rush into the contest and

lay about , with your editorial shillaleagh , in right good earnest . Why all this sort of thing should regularly occur , about October , I cannot imagine . If the recent commencement of the game season has anj'thing to do with it , pray tell mo , and , until I can obtain some explanation of , or theory on , these periodical outbreaks , I shall

believe in the old text that says , — " it is a mad Avorld , my Masters . ' " Yours fraternally , A SANE BROTHER .

Who Have The Right Of Ballot?

WHO HAVE THE RIGHT OF BALLOT ?

-TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —J . H . will find in the Constitutions the following law : — " Tho Master in the chair shall be entitled to give a second or casting vote , excepting upon a ballot for a candidate for initiation , or a brother to join . " This seems to imply that five have the right of ballotas three black balls exclude . Bro . G .

, Oliver , in "Masonic Jurisprudence , " page 198 , says : —¦ " on the authority of the late Grand Secretary . " " And although it is true that five may legally hold a charter , and ballot for members , yet the candidate cannot be initiated unless seven are present . " I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , A . CLUB .

Ar01404

THE MASOMG MXRROH .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

KENT LODGE ( SO . 15 ) . —This lodge held its first meeting for tho present session on Wednesday , the 18 th of September , at Bro . Harris's , the Three Tuns Tavern , Southwark . Bvo . J . C . Bates , "W . M ., in the chair , assisted by his Wardens , Bros . C . A . Semiefct aud Hayworth . The lodge being opened , the minutes of the meeting in May , as Avell as the subsequent Lodges of Emergency , were severally read and confirmed . The

W . M . read a communication from Bro . Richard Barnes , P . M and Treasurer , of which the following is a copy : — " To the W . M ., Past Masters , Officers , and Brethien of the Kent Lodge , ( No . 15 . ) The time has arrived when I feel it a duty incumbent on me , from age and infirmity , to tender my resignation as a member of the lodge ; in so doing I cannot refrain from expressing my feelings of gratitude for the courtesy and truly fraternal kindness I have at all times received at tiie hands of

my brethren . It is IAOAV 3 S years since I was initiated in this lodge j within five years from that . time I Avas appointed Treasurer , and ever since the lodge has been pleased annually to elect me to that office , it has been my earnest desire to discharge the duties thereof Avith zeal for the welfare of the lodge and a fervent wish to enhance its funds . In retiring from the lodge , permit me to add that your future meetings , a retrospect of the happy moments I have enjoyed in the society of my brethren , will recur to my mind , and I sincerely pray it may please the Great Architect of the Universe to prosper the lodge ,

and that brotherly love and unanimity of action may reign among you for tbe dissemination of the tenets and principles , of our Order . With kind and fraternal regards to you , my brother , Past Masters , and brethren all , I beg to subscribe myself yours truly ancl fraternally , RICHARD BARNES , P . M . " On a motion made by Bro . G . D . Cossins , P . M ., seconded by Bro . C . C . Gibbs , P . M ., " On the occasion of the retirement of Bro . Richard Barnes , sen ., P . M ., as Treasurer of the lodge ,

which office lie had held for a period of 33 years , " it ivas unanimously resolved , —• " That the brethren , anxious to express their deep regret at losing so highly esteemed a brother , have determined to express in writing the affectionate regard and high estimation they shall ever hold his memory , on account of his zealous and faithful discharge of the duties of Treasurer for so long a period , his manifold kindness and general urbanity , his indefatigable and untiring exertions , on behalf of the

Masonic Charities , the Craft in general , and this lodge in particular . The brethren further desire to assure their respected brother they will fervently pray that it may please the Great Architect of the Universe that the remainder of his days maybe peaceful avict happy , and that when this life shall be no more he may ascend to that bright sphere where the world's Great Architect lives and reigns for ever . " It was further resolved , — " That the signatures of the brethren be attached thereto , and forwarded to Bro . Richard Barnes forthwith . Signed this Sth day of October , 1862 .

" Bro . J . C . BATES , W . M . „ G . D . COSSINS , P . M . „ M . MARINER , P . M . „ C . C . GIBBS , P . M . „ S . WnlTEHOITSE , P . M . „ E . HAAA ' KINS , P . M . „ H . S-AIITH , P . M . „ Jons- MANGES , P . M .

„ E . D . ROGERS , P . M . „ C . A . SENNEIT , S . W . „ S . HATWOETH , J . W . „ It . S-GNNETT , S . D . „ J . WOODHOW , J . D . „ J . P . MAT , J . G . „ JAMES SEEEJIAN , D . C . A . WEELSSteward

„ , . „ R , E . BARNES , P . M . and Hon . Sec . ' / All business being concluded , the lodge was closed in ancient form , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet . The usual loval toasts being given and responded to , Bro . G . D . Cossins , P . M ., proposed the health of the W . M ., Bro . Bates . He observed that the lodge had occasion to be delig hted ivith the selection they had made in the choice of a Master to preside