Masonic Charities.

Sth mst . ; it evidently occurred iu numbering the provinces , as you will see Herefordshire standing No . 15 on the list ; that number was repeated by my mistake ; I much regret it , as there are only four lodges in that province . I find that the amount subscribed , as given in the tabular statement , is quite

correct . I am much pleased to hear that the province has now adopted arrangements respecting the Charities , as you state— " That , therefore , in future "we shall do more than we have done in the past . " Thanking you for the trouble you have taken in setting me right , I am dear Sir aud Brother ,

Yours fraternally , CHARI . ES SHERRY , P . M . No . 7 G . Bro . J . E . Hewitt , Prov . G . Assist . Sec , Ross .

The Study Of Freemasonry In America.

THE STUDY OF FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA .

CO THE EDITOE OB THE TBEEMASOHS' MAGAZIHE AND MASONIC 3 IIKEOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —Some time ago I was obliged to write to you a letter on Uro . R . Morris ' s journey , which can now be designated as a Masonic sale and money-making journey . In that letter , republished nearly by all American Masonic papers , I have said

" Our American brethren , it seems , take no interest at all in studying the real and authentic his-• tory ; at least , they have taken no notice of my work 'History of Freemasonry from its Origin to Present Day . ' ' " I am happy to be now in the condition to ive a

g better testimony to our American brethren , who more and more become convinced how necessary and useful is the study of the history of our noble fraternity . Since I wrote that letter , not only the " Masonic Monthly " ( Ed . Bro . S . Evans , at Boston ) —one of our best-conducted Masonic

periodicalsthe New York "Dispatch , " and other Masonic papers have reviewed my work in a very flattering manner , but also the sale of it in the United States has made so rapid a progress that now there are only very few copies of my work extant . I feel obliged

for this kind reception , which shows that only the want of a good agent and the American Grand Lodge Knownothings—the Masonic Popes—have prevented my work from being known ; and , strange to say , in the Masonic world the sun oi truth illuminates first the valleys—the Masonic people—instead

of the summits—the leaders . After having gained the public opinion in America , I am happy to say that my work is now acknowledged by the whole Masonic world as the only complete , reliable and authentic history of the Craft -, and I am sure the study of it will be of great benefit for our Royal Art aud for the

Fraternity , which , to be sure , still numbers far more " members of lodges " than real" Freemasons ; " the former only knowing the signs , words , and tokens , and the mere outer forms , forget that , to earn the honourable name of a Freemason , it is necessary to studthe true princiles of our Royal Art

y p , its idea , design , and elements on the one hand , and to become perfect in the practical application of' these principles on the other . The speculative Mason is , like the operative , engaged to build a holy temple , i . e ., the temple of the humanity , united in love , peace , and liberty , without regard of faith , nationality ,

The Study Of Freemasonry In America.

and other denominations . Therefore , the Mason must have , like the Architect , a perfect knowledge of the design and the materials , and he must build in accordance with the rules of his Art . This he can only do when he also knows the history of the Fraternity to which he belongs , its origin , rise ,

progress , and present condition . Therefore , I am of opinion my work—now extant in the English , French , and Dutch languages—should be in the possession of , or accessible to , every member of the Fraternity , especially of the W . M . ' s and officers of all lodges ¦ and the Masonic press throughout the

world should feel obliged to recommend it as often as possible . Yours fraternally , J . G . FlNDEI / . Leipzig , August , 1868 .

Antiquity Of The Third Degree.

ANTIQUITY OF THE THIRD DEGREE .

TO THE EDITOB OI ? THE EHEESTASOJCS' MAGAZIHE AND MASONIC KIKKOE . Dear Sir and Brother , — Were it necessary to strengthen the position taken up by your esteemed correspondent , Bro . D . M . Lyon , on this subject , I may mention that through the kindness of a brother I have presently in my possession the minute-book

of an old lodge , or society of Masons , bearing dates from 1702 to 1763 . I have perused it so far with much interest ; and , during this period , in all the transactions of the lodge , there is not a single reference made to the Third or , Masters Degree . The affairs of the lod were managed in a simple

ge very manner . The office-bearers consisted of the Masteror , as he is styled , "Preses "—the Clerk , and the Boxmaster . The entrants were all admitted as Apprentices and Fellowcrafts . In 1759 the first mention is made of Wardens , and , in 1763 , they had iu addition four Stewards and an officer . The

meetings of the lodge were held for the most part annually -, and , for a period of about 40 years , held at a village or hamlet , now extinct , called Houghfoot , in this province . After this date they were held sometimes there , sometimes in Galashiels , Stow , and Selkirkthe place of meeting being fixed

, upon the preceding St . John's Day . Yours fraternally , - ROBERT SANDERSON , Prov . G . Sec . Peebles and Selkirk .

A Lost Province.

A LOST PROVINCE .

TO THE EDITOR O . THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —Can you give me any information as to what has become of the ancient province of Rutlandshire , as I am not very well versed in the geography of English counties ? I cannot discover on pages 141 142 any lodges now existing in that county ; but it may be from my

ignorance of such matter and bow to set about finding the information in the " Freemasons' Calendar and Pocket Book . " Again , whilst I am writing , will you allow me to ask how it is there are but two lodges , 384 and 946 , to be found under the head of Middlesex ? for , although as I said before , I do not know much about division of counties , and still less of the