Grand Lodge Appointments.

. also much needed , as suggested in the second quotation I have made from your pages . It cannot but be -regarded as an injustice to the many eminent men who do honour to our Order—that they have no means ¦ of rising to the rank of Grand Master except by the hand of death . One can understand this whereas

, in a monarchical government , the headship is hereditary , and the executive is vested iu other responsible persons , but not where , as in our case , it is elective . I fear that there is hut little chance of carrying ¦ this or other salutary changessince Grand Lodge

, is in the hands chiefly of tlie Loudon Masons , who act together , whereas the provinces are necessarily but scantily represented , aud have not means of working in unison and making themselves heard . The only remedy for this would be an occasional meeting of Graud Lodge ( say once a year ) in one of the large

provincial towns , as Liverpool , Manchester , Birmingham , Bristol , etc ., just as the Provincial Grand Lodges assemble iu rotation at different places . I see no reason why this plan should uot be adopted ; it would do much to produce union in our Order , and " to promote its primary objects .

Yours fraternally , A . PROVINCIAL P . M ., P . Z ., & c .

Masonic Impostors.

MASONIC IMPOSTORS .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE EREEMASOXS MAGAZINE AXD MASONIC MIIIROR Dear Sir aud Brother , —I find I am ri ght in waiting a little , and that my friend of St . Stephen ' s Lodge would crop again . If I am not mistaken , the AV . M . of St . Stephen ' s addressed his Grand Lodge certificate to a certain locality in a large seaport

town iu the south of England , and such locality in my young days was the resort and abiding place of a class called " travellers" ( not sojourners ) , as he produced the envelope which he said he had received it in , aud I then saw what made me suspicious that lie was one of wellI must not again use the

, terms I have done , and given so much offence ; but those are the class I want to get rid of . I hope I possess some small portion of that great Masonic virtue—I mean charit y—and I have found honourable and worthy men and Masons in the lower walks

of life , but never in all my experience have I known a worthy brother have to take to this trade for a living . Brethren knowing them are always ready to hold out a helping hand ; and , further , this character , I am sorry to say , is not confined to the humbler class of our Order , for I have met such iu persons who

have , from education aud appearances , been in good positions at one time , but now completely lost to all sense of shame and self-respect . But I do still adhere to my former opinion that there is not that due amount of care and attention iu the admission of candidates in the sister lod as

ges there should be ( I dont mean as far as regards pecuniary matters ) ; and I am sorry to say the ° very same mischief exists in our own lodges to a very great extent , audi trace a great deal of it to persons going to other places to be initiated , after being rejected by lodges in towns where they reside . If W . M . ' s oi

Masonic Impostors.

lodges were to direct their Secretary to inquire before such persons were accepted , it would prevent much ill-feeling , and bickerings would be kept out of the Craft , and many lodges have what they devontedly wish for—peace . I am sorry this practice exists to such au extent so near head-quarters .

I would like to draw the attention of Almoners to a Bro . Thomas AV . Eichards , of Lodge 349 , 1 . C . He came to me ou the 25 th ult . with a most p lausible story about losses in trade , and mentioned names of leading firms very glibly , aud that he was making his way to the west of England—PlymouthI think .

, He is well dressed , with a black Inverness cape and gloves , & c . ( " doing the gentlemau , " I think , is the professional name for it ) . I happened to see him one evening about a week after 1 bad relieved him , and I called the attention of one of our police officers to himand asked if he knew him" Oh ,

, , yes , Sir , he is a cadging Freemason ; I have been called to turn him out of two or three of our lowest public houses at very late hours . " I then made some further inquiries , aud found he had beeu reapiug a very rich harvest amongst the brethren . I must coufesswith all due deferencethat there can be no

, , charity in relieving such a character as this . Might I ask under what Grand Eoyal Arch Superintendent is that chapter worked which receives members by the lot so cheaply , as , by Article 21 , page 19 , of the Eoyal Arch Constitutions , it is laid down that no Eoyal Arch chapter shall exalt any person under the

sum of three guineas . Should not this warrant be recalled ? Yours fraternally , IS .

Freemasonry Criticised.

FREEMASONRY CRITICISED .

TO THE EDITOR Or THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AXD MASOXIC MIRROR . Eespected Friend , —Long have I known the society called Freemasons , of which thou art a member ; and , believing it to be capable of doing far more good than it is at present doing , I will , by thy permission , write thee—say a few fetters , perhaps , once a month ,

or oftener , just as the spirit moves me ; and so that thou mayest not be alarmed , for thy secrets I will tell thee thou hast no need to trouble thyself on that head , as the subjects on which I will write thee will be , amongst others : — "How thy society treats thy wayfaring brothers

( by some called tramps ) , and how thy wayfaring brothers treat thy society . ' ' "Thy society ' s treatment of other distressed brothers . " "Thy society ' s Grand Charities (?)—how supported , and how the elections thereto are conducted . "

"Thy society ' s banquets , and thy society ' s support to other charities than Freemasons ' . " If thou insert this in the next number of th y Magazine , I will then proceed with my next letter to thee . Thy esteemed friend , A QUAKER .