The Red Cross.

gratified if Bro . Little will tell the readers of the Magazine why he called that a " vision" which is known to be but a solar phenomenon , and which has been seen by others than Constautine . Again in the paragraph commencing " Siuce the Crusades no less than thirty-four princes of the Imperial House of

Comnenes have been Grand Masters of our fraternity . " "What fraternity does Bro . Little refer to , and what were the names of the princes ? Where did they reside when they were installed ? Where are the records preserved ? Are they to be found in the British Museum , or in the momument room of the

Grand Lodge of England ? And where can the declaration of the Abbe Giuistiniaui be found ? I hope and trust Bro . Little will give plain answers to these plain questions , and thereby clear away some of the mystery that surrounds the Order of which he is an able-exponent . Yours fraternally , KADOSH .

Uniformity Of Working In Lodges.

UNIFORMITY OF WORKING IN LODGES .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FItEEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In a recent communication I alluded to the difficulties which Masons in some parts of the country experience in obtaining accurate instruction in the correct form of ritual , to the accidental errors and want of uniformity which consequently ariseand to the capricious changes

, made by professed instructors , who conceive that there are some discrepancies in the usually recognised forms . I have always maintained that uniformity is so important , that it is better to tolerate these slight discrepancies , and to work strictly according to the lan adopted bthe Emulation Lod assembling at

p y ge , the Ereemasons' Hall , London , every Friday evening , than for individuals to introduce their own peculiar notions , which must in the end greatly interfere with correctness , and make it difficult for brethren from a

distant locality , when called upon , to take a prominent part in the proceedings of a lodge . As a remedy for this state of confusion , I suggested the desirability of the appointment by Grand Lodge of salaried inspectors and instructors , who should periodically visit all the lodges in the country , and report

thereon , and also of recognised local teachers . I was not then aware that this plan is adopted elsewhere , but I have just been informed by Bro . Col . Peyton , an accomplished gentleman and a distinguished American Freemason , that in Virginia aud North Carolina such au arrangement is in existenceand

, answers the purpose well and effectively . On his authority , I have permission to state that , in the district referred to , Bro . L . L . Stevenson was some years ago appointed as travelling inspector and instructor , at a salary of £ 500 per annum , and that the result has been most satisfactory .

I am , clear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , P . M . [ Our correspondent should first get somebody recognised by the Grand Lodge , and the system declared to be the only perfect one , before any ' lodge should be called upon to adopt a new system . — ED , P . M . ]

The Privileges Of Past Masters.

THE PRIVILEGES OF PAST MASTERS .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —YOU may recollect my

The Privileges Of Past Masters.

making an inquiry some time ago respecting the privileges of a P . M . and the operation of " Constitutions , " Art . I ., page IS . Your dictum , as I understood it , was that a P . M ., by ceasing to subscribe to any lodge for the space of twelve months , loses all the privileges of his rank , including his eligibility for

election to the chair * of K . S ., to regain which he must again go through the Warden ' s chair , and that , though not actually expressed iu the " Book of Constitutions , " this rule applies equally to a Past Warden , who may so cease to be a member of any lodge for twelve months . This appeared to me but reasonable , and

agreed entirely with my previous supposition . A case in point has occurred . A P . M . of a lodge at Goole resigned on leaving that town about eighteen months ago , and on coining to live here recently joined No . 761 . To his surprise he finds that he is not entitled to sit among the P . M . ' sor to be a

candi-, date at the coming election of W . M . He tries to regain his position by sending a year ' s subscription to his old lodge , but , having resigned , he cannot be re-admitted Avithout a ballot . On appealing to the Grand Secretary , that worshipful brother rules that a P . M . onlloses all the privileges he has obtained

y by sitting in the chair of K . S ., and not those he obtained through being once a Warden , i . e ., on rejoining any lodge at any subsequent period he is eligible for election to the chair of that lodge , unless there be a private lodge by-law stipulating to the contraryor that he must be a Past

, Warden of that lodge ; aud by natural inference the rule of loss of rank by non-subscription to a lodge for twelve months does not apply to Past Wardens nt , nil .

I must confess that I cannot see why a Past Warden should be allowed , under these circumstances , to retain his privileges , and not a Past Master . Many Past Masters know nothing of the rule , aud I think if it were brought more before the notice of the brethren , it would be the means of

keeping amongst us many Masons whose services would be of great value , Indeed , only this morning a highly respectable man Avho has held provincial rank , and been twice W . M . of a lodge , told me that if he had had any idea that he would lose his rank , he would certainly have kept up his connection with

some lodge . In your last I see Dr . Hopkins , a brother though only known by name , yet highly esteemed by many in the North , has mooted the question of the right of a lodge to request visitors to withdraw during the reading of the minutes . I cannot to lay

presume claim to the " rank , authority , and experience " requisite to form an opinion , but as I take great interest in the matter , perhaps you will pardon my presumption in saying a Avord on the subject . It is admitted that a lodge has a right to request visitors to Avithdraw during the discussion of private

matters , and as the minutes contain the record of such discussion and its result , is it not logical that the exclusion of strangers is as desirable in the second instance as in tho first , else what end is attained ?

I strongly disagree with Dr . Hopkins that the minutes are public property any more than any other * transaction of the lodge , and the restriction in the "Book of Constitutions" as to their publica-