Correspondence.

doubt some may think , but which in the estimation of others may be considered not altogether valueless . TOWERS 01 ? PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTERS . In a late number you stated in reply to " a brother , " that a Prov . G . M . cannot legally appoint brethren to the offices of Dep . Prov . G . M ., orProv . G . W ., who are neither Masters nor Past Masters of lodges . Tour

correspondent complains that the Booh of Constitutions is " loosely drawn up . " Now the attentive reader of your MAGAZINE will have observed that a question similar to that put by " a brother , " has of late been occupying the attention of the Craft on this side the Tweed , and a charge of ambiguity has also been preferred against the wording of certain rules of Grand Lodge . But as the interpreter

of its own laws , the Grand Lodge of Scotland has declared that Provincial Grand Masters can choose from among the Master Masons resident within their respective Provinces , brethren to fill the office of Dep . Prov . G . M ., Substitute Prov . G . M ., Prov . G . W ., Pvov . G . Sec , and Prov . G . Chap . It follows therefore that your answer to " A Brother ' s " query , does not apply to the law as obtaiaing in Scotland upon the point above reforred to . *

THE DUKE OP ATHOLE AND THE LATE TRINCE CONSORT . On perusing the last issued volume of the FREEMASONS ' MAGAZINE , I find that in quoting a newspaper paragraph which mentioned that the Duke of Athole as Grand Master Mason of Scotland had protested against the late Prince Consort ' s laying the foundation stones of the Post Office and Industrial Museum at Edinburgh , in

November last , you express a doubt that the noble Duke could have taken such a step . While attending Grand Lodge lately , I learned that our M . W . Grand Master had indeed presented the protest in question : and in so acting he has given but another public proof of his devotion to the service of the Scottish Craft , and of his continued determination to uphold the dignity and

defend the ancient rights and privileges pertaining to the highly honourable Masonic office , to which he has by his fellow countryman been so repeatedly called upon to fill . It cannot for a moment be supposed that our Grand Master can find it convenient to perform in person the Masonic ceremonies at all public buildings throughout Scotlandand it is quite unnecessary that he should

, do so ; for every province has a Prov . G . M ., to whom the Grand Master can at any time delegate his authority in such matters . Considering that the Masonic Head in this country is believed to possess the right claimed for the Duke of Athole , as might be expected , the Craft here felt considerably annoyed that the functionaries charged with fixing the arrangement connected with the

laying of the foundation stone of the new Post-Office in the Scottish Metropolis , should have so offensively ignored the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and the noble Duke ' s pluck on the occasion adverted to has excited the warmest admiration of the Ssotish lodges . Tours fraternally , D . MURRAT LTON , P . J . W . of Mother Kilwinning , ' and Prov . G . J . W . of Ay shire . Ayr , March 4 th , 1862 .

Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.

ANCIENT AND MODERN FREEMASONRY .

LETTER IY . TO TIIE EDIT 0 K 0 E TIIE EEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MAS 0 XIC MIEHOIt . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —The bitter animosity shown to the High Grades by many Craft Masons is most extraordinary ; it is anything but carrying out the motto of " Brotherly love , relief and truth ; " at any rate it is not reciprocal , all members of the Christian degrees love and revere the Craft . I am sorry to find our

worthy and talented Bro . Findel is not exempt from similar prejudices . I trust , however , that it will not be long before his new History of Freemasonry will make its appearance in an English dress . The great source of error in existing histories is , I consider , the endeavour to prove that speculative Masonry , as taught in our lodges , is of the same remote antiquity

as the lodges or Guilds of Working Masons . The simple history of operative Masonry can be summed up in a few words , their lodges still exist , and their marks and traditions have been handed down through many ages . It is well known that guilds or fraternities of working Masons existed prior to the building of King Solomon ' s

Temple , governed by Masters and AVardens , as is still the case with the Skinners ' , Goldsmiths ' , and other ancient trading companies of the City of London , and having served their time the apprentices became Free or Guild-brothers of their Craft , in the same manner as the London apprentices became freemen . There is nothing extraordinary in royal personages hawig been Grand

Masters of Freemasons . The reigning sovereign of England is always Master of the Goldsmiths ' , Fishmongers' and Clothworkers' Companies . The alleged universality of speculative Freemasonry is of itself , in my opinion , a most powerful argument against its boasted antiquity . The operative guilds , or practical Masons , who

constructed the magnificent gothic cathedrals were protected by Papal Bulls and Charters ; now if the Craft admitted into its ranks , at that time , as it does at present , all who simply believe in one . great Ruler of the Universe , it is very difficult to imagine that Boman Catholic Prelates who were many of them skilful architects , or as a learned antiquary ingeniously argues , constructive , or what we call speculative , Masons , to say nothing of the monks who were often practical workmen , would in those

intolerant days familiarly associate , as they must have done , with any body of men who did not believe in Christianity , nor does the legendary history of Craft Masonry rest on a much surer foundation . There is no direct evidence beyond mere tradition to prove that our Master H . was murdered in the temple , but be is believed to have lived many years after its completion to enjoy the reward of

his skill and perseverance ; and I cannot help thinking it is more rational to attribute the Hebrew traditions so intimately interwoven in our ritual and lectures to the profound acquisitions of our learned brethren in Jewish lore , than to suppose they have beeen transmitted to ns through the medium of a mere body of idolatrous-T workmen .

yrean Little reliance can be placed upon a fancied similarity between Ancient and Modern Masons' marks , or geometrical symbols . A very cursory examination of the truemarks now publishing in the pages ofthe FREEMASONS ' MAGAZINE , will show that they are merely distinguishing marks or monograms of Masters of Lodges , few possessing any true geometrical form or recognised meaning . The

allegorical use of geometrical forms is of very great antiquity , and many , if not all , that are called Masonic emblems have descended to us from the Persian , Hindoo , or Egyptian Mysteries . And to this cause must most probably be attributed the universal language , or rather the universal interpretation of certain sacred signs and symbols instantaneously recognised by all Freemasons of

whatever clime , country , or period . It may be said that this is stripping off the halo ot antiquity , and destroying the poetry of the Craft . Not so ; the moral truths inculcated in the system of instruction pursued in our lodges -will still remain clothed m all their simple and pristine beauty . They are for all * ? » and the true and indestructable landmarks of the

" are Order , " and they will shine all the brig hter by the shrine they are set in being freed from an adventitious pretence it cannot support . „ Buckhurst Hill . M . H . S ., SO .