Secret Societies Of The Middle Ages.—Iii.

lieve one another . Every letter even is opened and read , so that no communication may be held with the outer Avorld . The very street on which the Aving of the conclave looks , is barricaded , and guarded by a picquet at each end ; and as , fortunately , there are no private residences opposite , no inconvenience is thereby caused . " X

FREEMASONS' CALENDAR FOE THE PROA ' XNCE OF OXFORDSHIRE . —A most useful little manual to every brother within the province , comprising the meetings of all the Masonic bodies ( Knights Templar included ) in Oxfordshire ; Grand Lodge ; Grand Chapter ; the Masonic festivals ; meetings of the gOA'ernors of the charities ; lists of the Prov . Grand Officers ; Masters and officers of the various Lodges in the province , & c , The book , AA'hich is very neatly got up , is edited by Bro . Spiers , D . Prov . Grand Master , and

printed by Bro . E . W . Morris , Hig h-street , Oxford . We AA-ould recommend it to the notice of the brethren of other provinces as a specimen for similar local calendars . It is published by Bro . E . W . U . HOBBS , St . Giles'sstreet , Oxford .

FREEMASONS' HALL ANU FREEMASONRY . —The proposed measure for devoting Freemasons' Hall solely to Masonic purposes , and for reconstructing it , is making progress , as a great number of lodges in London and the country have voted in favour of the alteration . One reason for this is the growing disposition of Freemasons to meet in separate buildings , for fear of the charge that in consequence of meeting in hotels and taverns for tho transaction of their business , they are given to habits of personal indulgence . Thia many of them feel very keenly , and

the consequence is there are now above a hundred toivns Avhere Alasonic meetings are held in separate Freemasons' Halls , or in toAvn-halls or public buildings . This is the case now in all our large towns , and in Scotland the contrary practice is the exception . Most of the present buildings are small , and arc of little architectural pretension outwardly or inwardly , hut , as the funds devoted to such purposes increase , Ave may expect to see some more buildings of importance . In India and the other colonies the building of Masonic Halls is likewise sedulously pursued .

The architectural offices connected with Freemasonry are BOAV more strictly filled , and they are now pretty generally occupied by architects and engineers , though occasionally by ecclesiologists . Many zealous members ' of the profession take part in these labours , and they have contributed plans of halls , lodge-rooms , furniture , and fittings . Among other subjects Avhich have attracted the attention of these officers have been more particularly the furniture and fittings , in ivhich many improved and appropriate designs have been introduced . It is knoivn that many

of the Masonic Halls are in the Classical or Italian stvles , as is , too , the Grand Lodge Hall at Edinburgh , just opened ; but there is a groiving disposition to keep up the rnediarval styles . The practice of giving architectural lectures to Freemasons is still maintained , but there is not so much activity in this respect . There is . hoAvever , always to be recognised such a participation in architectural pursuits as must at all times exercise a considerable influence on architecture , and particularly at this period . —vBisi'Mwr / News .