Correspondence.

I must refrain from encroaching further upon your space ; and , therefore , handing back to Bro . Melville his glove , I would , on behalf of myself and other Masonic students and readers of the Magazine , say to him—either write more sensibly and lucidly or not at all . Au rcxoir . Tours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN .

Bro. Melville's Articles.

BRO . MELVILLE'S ARTICLES .

TO THE EDITOR OF TEE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIREOR . Dear Sir and Brother , —I must ask room for a few more words to exhibit another instance of the mis-statemeuts or mistakes of Bro . Melville as put forth in his paper , No . 6 , in your last number . I am not meditating auy reply to the marvellous

absurdities exhibited in that paper . Prize or Eriz , Eriga or Prig , may rest in peace as far as I am concerned , and so may the " only one crooked or bent sword in the heavens , that of Tyler ; the full blade of which the Masonic laws place with Eriga on Good Fridayor , to be minutel y correct , it is placed within one

degree of the Goddess . " " Can such things he , and overcome us like a summer cloud , without our special wonder ? " I have looked for a date to these papers in the vain hope of finding some clue to the place from AVhich they come , but have been disappointed , and cau only give a random guess . Is it Hanwell ?

or is it Eai'lswood ? The mistake which I wish to point out iu this last paper is so glaring , so conclusive as to the ignorance of Bro . Melville , or , at all events , some of the subjects of which he treats , that it requires but a very few words in contradiction . The statement is that

the Order of the Bath Avas derived from Masonry , and the proof given is that Companions of the Bath wear sashes pendant from their left shoulders and Companions of the Royal Arch do the same ! Again , Companions of the Bath wear stars ou their left breasts , and Companions of the Eoyal Arch wear a

double triangle on theirs ! Oh ! Jam satis ! I have only to say in reply to this sad rubbish that it is contrary to fact—that Companions of the Bath do not wear sashes pendant from their left shoulders , nor from any other part of their august persons ! There is no such thing , nor anything approaching to it , Avorn

by them at all ; and , as I happen to be oue of them myself , I suppose even Bro . Melville will admit I do not speak in ignorance , when I say so . Tours fraternally , SENEX . P . S . —One word in reply to Bro . Danum . He is quite right . Chap . 2 , v . 19 , of course . A lapsus pernios , I infer , either by printer or myself .

P.M.'S And The Working Brethren Of Lodges.

P . M . 'S AND THE WORKING BRETHREN OF LODGES .

TO THE ED 1 T 01 X OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —I thought the correspondence on this question AVQS closed , but it seems to be revived in your number of this clay by " O . P ., " whose remarks require notice . I suspect that he has an advantage in knowing ivho I amwhereas

, , with respect to him , I am still iu ignorance , beyond au assurance that his Masonic position and knowledge are such as to entitle his opinion to respect , and having his own testimony to the same effect , I freely accord it to him .

I am quite aware that , as appointments are too often made , a brother Avhose Masonic powers and experience are very limited may be able to append a string of letters to his name , and I have repeatedly commented in your pages on the impropriety of giving rank to brethren who have not merited it by regular

attention to duties , by acquirement of the rituals , and b y study of the Constitutions of the Order . I never vote for brethren to take the chair of a lodge who are deficient in these respects . Therefore , I should not think of citing the opinions of such men as authorities ; indeed , iu referring to those whom I

have consulted , I said as much ; and thus " O . P . " has no right to insinuate to the contrarj ' . I can assure him that the brethren whose opinions I have sought do not belong to this class ; aud , in reply to the charge of partiality in preferring the conclusions of > J < B to hisI think I am safe in observing that

^ , I recognise the signature , aud that , if correct , I place great reliance on his judgment , as one of the most practical , skilful , thoughtful , ancl intelligent Masons I know . I ivas silent on Avhat " O . P . " terms the main

point of his letter , because it was of no use to repeat the remarks upon the subject , previously dealt with in my letter on page 270 , and 1 have in my possession documents from others expressing similar views . Permit me to add that I have not set at defiance any laws , as I have read them and appreciate their

object ; nor , I trust , have I shown any disrespect to my superiors . In this I am sure the R . W . the Prov , G . M . of Devon will bear me out ; for , though I know it to be the common practice , I have not repeated that to which he " called my attention , " a phrase with which he corrected my remarks on what I considered a censure . On the contrary , I have in vain endeavoured to ascertain his Avishes on several

matters , by puttiug definite questions to him for my guidance , in order that I may act on his replies , butsucceeding only on one point , wliich I ivill mention , especially as " O . P . " charges me Avith childishness . I agree AA'ith your correspondent as to his opinion of " the baby Avork of placing a second pedestal in front

of the AV . M . " This is not my proposal , but which I am told that I must adopt in this province , being compelled thereto by an authority ivhieh I am bound to obey ( notwithstanding the charge of defiance on my part ) , aud by the AV . M . of a lodge in which I have been called upon to render assistance . When

I inquired what I was to do in Avorking the installation ceremony , in place of the retiring Master whose duty it is , in any lodge in AA'hich I have not served as W . & ' L , I was informed by the same authority , that " two raised seats are usually prepared for such a ceremonial . " I can only say that I never saw such a provision made , nor is ' there one platform iua hundred on ivhieh there is sufficient space .

That the original object I had in view may not be forgotten , of wliich there appears a risk , allow me , in conclusion , to repeat that I have not claimed a right to preside in a lodge , of which I am not a l' . M ., in prededence of its own P . M . ' s , though a member of it , aud P . M . of other lodges ; but I feel that I may occupy that positionwithout impropriety , when

re-, quested to do so by the AV . M ., with the sanction of the I . P . M ., P . M . ' s , and Officers . In this view I am supported by the opinions of the Grand Registrar and Grand Secretary , conveyed to me in writing . Never-