Correspondence.

Schaw was right ? Had the Stirling " David the First" charter anything to do with that ? Again , if Kilwinning Avas the first lodge , why does Schaw call it the second . In the expression , the Ileid and second lodge—the word " I leid " as applied to Kilwinning-Lodgemeans " I leid " over its district . The election

, is to take place at Kihvmning because Kilwinning Lodge is the I had Lodge of the district . I have seen nothing to lead me to consider that Kilwinning Lodge was ever head over all the other lodges iu Scotland ; neither that it Avas a mother to any of them before the 16 th century . If from

the loth century downwards the Grand Master of Scotland held courts sometimes at Kilwinning , that may possibly have given a starting point to the Kilwinning ideas . Firstly , to be head lodge and then to accommodate itself to further pretensions it got its name changed not so very long since to the

Mother Lodge , or Mother Kilwinning , and what is more , these pretensions have been swallowed as having something really in them ; and , Avho , then can blame Mother Kilwinning for being pretentious when it pays . Whatever Bro . Lyon may think of my other remarksthose about the real age of the abbey ruins

, are given with the hope that he may be led to examine into their- truth before he publishes his history of Kilwinning . Tours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN .

Compounding.

COMPOUNDING .

10 THE EDITOE OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC ATIEBOK . Dear Sir and Brother , —The crusade against compounding is partly dictated by a feeling of envy that wealthy brethren should pay a sum down and compound , instead of paying by yearly , half-yearly , or quarterly instalmentsas those of more limited means

, are compelled to do , and partly by the notion that further fees and contributions may possibly he exacted , but a very material consideration is omitted . One notorious evil we suffer from is that many of our initiates never subscribe , and these , with others who have discontinued their subscri ptionsremain

, absent from the jurisdiction of any lodge or Grand Lodge . It is , therefore , most expedient to preserve in every shape the integrity of the Masonic body , and there ought to be encouragement given to arrangements by which brethren became life members of the Order , as

they became life governors of the charities . A provision is required for the grand body of absentees , naval and military officers , and officers of the mercantile marine , persons employed in India and abroad , travellers , & c . Tours fraternally , E . D . T .

Bro. Rob. Morris And Freemasonry At Damascus.

BRO . ROB . MORRIS AND FREEMASONRY AT DAMASCUS .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —Bro . Hughan has not pointed out to you that the M . W . G . M ., Avith the best dispositions , has no power , under the constitutions , to grant a . warrant for the proposed lodge at Damas-

Bro. Rob. Morris And Freemasonry At Damascus.

cus , as it appears from Bro . Morris's interesting letter that not one of the petitioners is a registered Mason under the English constitution . Let us hope that in the return of the W . Bro ., Captain Warren , to Jerusalem , these defects may he remedied , and the object be accomplished .

Allow me to say Bro . Warren has been rapturously received by the public , but one of the best compliments to him and the Palestine Exploration Fund will be to furnish him with lodge contributions , in addition to those so liberally reported from Grand Lodge and other lodges . Tours fraternally , P . M .

Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonr And Bro. H. B. White's Correction.

ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND MODERN FREEMASONR AND BRO . H . B . WHITE'S CORRECTION .

TO THE EDITOR OP TnE PREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —I am much obliged for Bro . H . B . White ' s correction of an error in my last article on Freemasonry . How the mistake occurred I cannot imagine , as having both the edition of 175 © and 1764 of Ahiman Rezonin my library , I am well

, , aware of the Royal Arch degree being alluded to in each . My saying it was not in the edition of A . D . 1756 was wrong , and hence Bro . H . B . White was right in correcting me . There were also several others on the same part of the " analysis" some of which I noticed too late for

, alteration , and had a reprint of the corrected issue subsequently . The error , however , relating to Bro .. Dermott escaped my observation until Bro . White kindly pointed it out to me . If Bro . White will send me his address I shall be most happy to send him a copy of the article in

question , with the errors omitted , or marked out . Any time such friendly corrections will be esteemed as a . favour by Tours fraternally , WIIIUAAI JAMES HUGHAN . Daniel-terrace , Truro , 13 th June , 1 S 68 .

Masonic Orders.

MASONIC ORDERS .

TO TnE EDITOR OP THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother . —I find the folloAving paragraphin a New York paper : —¦ "THE BKOTIIEHJIOOD OE MAW . —The Grand Lodge of the Order of Good Templars of this State , at their recent meeting at Iowa City , unanimously adopted the following resolution -. — "Resolved , That the Order of Good Templars is founded upon

and recognizos the great Christian law of the universal brotherhood of man . Hence , like the gospel of Christ , it ought not and cannot recognize any distinction of race , colour or condition , in its work of Christian benevolence , but opens its door and offers all its privileges and help , whomsoever may come and accept its simple rules and regulations . " Possibly those eminent Craftsmen , who have recently

been so eloquent in extolling Templar degrees at theexpense of the Bed Cross Knights , can enlighten us as to these " Good " Templars par excellence-Possibly Bro . Harris , when he Avrote his amusing letter on the Knights of the Garter , Avas not aivare thai there once existed an " Order of Pools ; " for particulars of which see Chambers' " Book of Days . " Yours fraternally , AN OBSERVER .