Correspondence.

suddenly resigned his office and went yachting ; and from thafc period we have been without a governor , and the province has attained a sickly hue from which the brethren wish to be relieved . How is it to be done ? Our really excellent friend tho T . W . D . Prov . G . M . is so full of promises that one is actually deprived of all wish to interfere with his provincial pursuits , but iliey are -never performed ; and the

consequence is , the province contains a less number of officers than any other in tho list . There are many eligible for such mark of progress , and are desirous to receive such an honour ; but there is no effort made to effect ifc . " "What . seems everybody ' s business is nobody ' s ; " nobody begins , and those who have the power to move , are either ignorant of the desire of tho lodges in this province to see something

of them , or are indisposed to do what is really their duty . How many of them can boast of having made an official visit to any loclge within tbe district within the last ten years ? Alas 1 very few , owing as it is conceived , to the want or absence of direction from the superiors of Prov . Grand Lodge . If you can offer a few suggestions to disheartened labourers in the Graft ; how tbey are to inspire the governors of their

province with action , it would , I assure yon , comfort not a few within Bucks and Berks . Tours truly , D . R . Windsor , February 16 , 4861 .

The Higher Degrees.

THE HIGHER DEGREES .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASON'S MAGAZINE ASfD MASOXIC MIRROR . SIB , AXD BROTHER , —It would , I doubt , not , interest many to know what are the consecutive steps beyond those recognised by Grand Lodge , and fche advantages connected with them . To those living in remote places this information is not easily obtained ; still there are many who would gladly avail themselves of any opportunity to " progress in

the science were it better known . Perhaps some favoured brother will kindly , through your columns , inform us how this wish may be realized , and point out in what way the various degrees contribute to the improvement of their members and the general good of mankind ? It is from no idle curiosity that this question is asked , but from a sincere wish , which , I am sure , is felt by many , to become

acquainted with the hidden mysteries and benefits shared in by so limited a number of the brotherhood , and which , as I really believe , becomes more restricted tho higher it aspires . I can easily imagine thafc each step will unfold . greater beauties , and inculcate more admirable precepts ; but in carefully reading the accounts of meetings , as furnished in your journal , I have not been able to discover

by what means the works of charity are promoted by tho higher grades , but conclude they " do good by stealth , and blush to make ifc known . " If this be so , fche more they ai-e fco be admired , and the more anxious many good Masons will be to become members of the various orders . Trusting soon to be favoured with all the particulars that may be known to the uninitiated , ancl such information as may bo necessary to gain , a place amongst the privileged , I am fraternally yours , A FREEMASON . February 16 , 1860 .

The Royal Arch Degree.

THE ROYAL ARCH DEGREE .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FBEEMASOXS MAGAZIXE AXD MASOXIC HIBKO'l . SIR AXD BROTHER , —It is some satisfaction to sec the Eoj-al Arch Degree brought under notice in any form , and one may excuse its introduction in your last impression , even in a puffinrj letter , which informs us that there is one province with a "flourishing Grand Chapter , " of nearly two years' standing , in which Prov . Grand Officers have "

been installed , andthat this model Grand Chapter has actually held a second meeting , and been a means of strengthening and extending a knowledge of tho most holy rite . It is not my intention to cavil afc the impetus which it has given to the degree in that province , nor fo detract from the hi gh eulogiums which is evidently fche object of that letter to pass on its founder , nor to unveil the charit y subscription lists to test its fruitfnlnoss ; but will content myself by asking what the Roval Arch does to mako it deserving the position it assumes ? And I shall be glad if this

The Royal Arch Degree.

information is what is iuiphed in this liberal offer mado by fees and considerable emjiloyment of time . I do nob your correspondent . I do not ask for a list of its places ot meeting , nor a bill of fare of its banquets , nor the high sound - ing titles of its officials , nor the splendour and expensive need to be informed of the excellency of its ritual nor the holiness of its purpose , but practically of its

advantages while divided from what ifc professes to complete , character of its regalia—but simply the benefits it confers on its members , and the assistance it renders to the Graft , and lis great Charitable Institutions—with any other claims it has to rank as a higher degree , with additional and whether all the good ifc effects might nofc be accomplished , afc a great saving of time and money , by uniting ifc wifch the

Craft—in fact , if it is worth , in its disjointed and exclusive state , what ifc costs to Preemasonry . AYken this is established then will be tho time to inquire how best to increase its efficiency , and to follow the example so lauded by your correspondent ; but is not a lack of usefulness the very cause of so little interest being taken in it P Surely there are many members of " untiring , self-denying zeal and

liberality , " who would gladly lend their aid in " reviving and encouraging" the chapters in other provinces , and in establishing Prov . Grancl Chapters , could they calculate on a fair return for their labour ; but the adjoining province of iWest Torkshire holds its quarterly or half-yearly Grand Chapters without being able to give any great account of vts utility , though presided over by one possessing many

x-aluable qualifications . Is ifc nofc , then , an error in the system ather than a want of "untiring , self-denying zeal and iborality" in its members ? AA'hat matters fche splendour of its paraphernalia , or the Regal , Prophetic , or Sacerdotal assumptions of its principals , unless there is an equivalent in sound , solid , and permanent acts of beneficence and charity ? Without thisall the ilded litter of a chapter and all the

, g g flaunting eulogiums of principals are but as airy nothings . Let us be assured that fche Royal Arch can and does complete all that fche Craffc has begun , and then earnestly apply ourselves to increase , revive , and encourage it by every possible means . I am , truly aud fraternally yours , P . Z .

The West Lancashire Ball.

THE WEST LANCASHIRE BALL .

TO THK EDITOK OF THE FREEMASOXS MAGAZIXE A > 'D MASOXIC MIRROK . DEAR SIR XSD BROTHER , —In the number of the FREEMASONS MAGA' / . IXE for the 9 th inst ., some correspondent lias sent you an account of the Masonic Ball held , on January 15 , in this town . In concluding , he conveys the impression that it resulted in a loss , which I am happy to say is not tho case , as , in my capacity of Treasurer , I have paid over to the Treasurer of the AA est Lancashire Educational Institution

the sum of Fifty-five pounds , as the netfc proceeds of said Ball . I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , yours truly and fraternally , J . B . YOUSGIIVSRASD . Feb . 10 , 1861 .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

Interest seems to be growing in Prussia and Saxony for the instrumental music of Handel . His "Eire work" and " AA atermusic , "—the Oboe Concerto have been performed—and , the journals assure us , thoroughly well received . A Symphony by M . Abert , the young German composer , is about to be performed at a concert given by tlie enterprising " Societe des Jcvuies Artistes , " in Paris . The music of " L'Oca del Cairo , " Mozart's unfinished opera , is

about to be performed for the first time b y the members of the " Sing-Academic , " at Magdeburg . The prize of fifty florins , annually offered by the Tonhalle at Mannheim , is this year opened to competition for the best choral composition for the voices of men . The date , of award is May-day . Uerlin journals are strenuous in praise of Millie . Artot ; one enthusiast goes the length of asserting that her Amina , in "La Sonnambula" is onlba hair ' s breadth less admirable than Mdlle .

, y y Lind's Amina , which , it may be reeolleted , was thought Mdlle , Lind ' s best character . The music of "C ' amacho's ATedding" —Mendelssohn's opera , written when he was a boy—ivas performed as concert-music in December last , at Frankfort .