Proposed Masonic Hall At Brighton.

PROPOSED MASONIC HALL AT BRIGHTON .

TO THE EDITOK OF THE TKIEHASOXS XTAOAZIlfE A 2 U ) STASOXIC MIKEOB . BEAU SIE AJTH BEOTIIEE , —¦ At the latter part of 1860 , I impaired , through the medium of your MAGAZINE , what the . Brighton brethren were doing in respect to the proposed Masonic Hall , or rather the Committee appointed to consider and report thereon . The inquiry , up to the present time , lias not elicited a satisfactory replyand meanwhile I am

, ¦ informed the Committee have not moved further in the ¦ matter . I am at a loss to understand this apathy and unbusinesslike treatment of so important an object . If the Committee -care not to move , or are of opinion ( after a period of upwards of two years for deliberation ) that the scheme is not practicable , why do they not resign the trust reposed in themor

, report upon its non-advisability or impracticability . But , I imagine , no such report can be agreed upon . There still remains the same important reasons ivhy a hall should be obtained , as were put forward , very properly , upon their appointment . I will go still further , and add that continued experience shows more strongly that the project is a desirable one .

Again , I repeat , whence the delay , -which is the more singular , from the conversation afloat that ground in Brighton can be obtained , and that there are numerous -brethren who would become donors , or subscribers , or shareholders ( and that many of the latter class would be content with little or no interest , —at all events , for the first few . years ) .

In the hope that the Committee may rouse themselves , . and speedily present their long deferred report , I am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , PEOGEESS . Brighton , March 19 , 1861 .

How To Spell "Shakespeare."

HOW TO SPELL "SHAKESPEARE . "

TO THE ED 1 TOE OF THE FREEMASOXS MAGAZIXE AXD MASOHIC MIHROE . Sm AND BROTIIEE , —In your Notices to Correspondents in the number for March 16 th , you say— " It is a disputed point "—alluding to a communication from myself as to the spelling of the name of our great poet . Permit me to say that I think there can be no dispute on the subject , believing as I do that the name is derived from the words " shake "

and " spear . " In proof of this we have the crest of the poet , viz ., a falcon holding and apparently shaking a spear . Now , why neAv-fangled and whimsical commentators and others should convert those trul y English words into " shak " and . " spere , " which are neither English nor foreign , I am at a loss to conceive . Bro . Collier and the Shakespeare Society ( when the latter ivas in existence ) spelt tho name as

it ought to be , and as it will be spelt in all future ages . AVith respect to the autograph in the British Museum , whatever it may be , as well as to any other autograph that can be referred to , I consider it as no argument whatever , simply because the poet , like ai . thers of his time , ivas 'in no Avay particular as to hoiv he spelt his name , and we may see from his autographs that he spelt it several

different ways . In fact , there are no less than sixteen ways for spelling the name . As proof of the careless fashion of the time I may state that Ben Jonson ' s name was often spelt Johnson ; Edward Alleyn Avas sometimes Allen , Alleyne , or Alline ; Slater was often called Slaughter ; Philip Hen slow varied to Hinchloe , Hinchlie , Henchlowe , and several other ways ; E , obert Shaw always signed his name Shaa ; Stones

was written Sbounes ; Perkins , Perckymies ; Shakespeare , ¦ Sbackyspeare , & c . Even Charing Cross in those days ivas barbarised into Caylleng Crosse : and names of plays were transmogrified by managers into all manner of shapes . In Palomon and Areite the latter was written and printed Arcit , imd sometimes Arsitt or Arsyt . So much for spelling in the sixteenth centuryand also for the ridiculous modernised

; method of spelling the name " Shakspere , " which I submit is wrong , and in which there is neither sense nor reason . I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , G . B ***** . Doucaster , March 18 , 1301 ,

The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS . At a special meeting of the General Committee of the Boys ' School , on Saturday last , the report of the sub-committee , already published , was adopted . Bro . Jennings , on behalf of Bro . Thiselfcon , in a few well-timed and appropriate remarks , tendered his resignation of the office of Secretary . The only candidate who , so far as we know , has yet offered himself as a candidate for the situation

is Bro . Frederick Binckes , P . M . No . 11 . The installation of Bro . Col . Alexander Shafto Adair as Prov . Grand Master of Suffolk will , it is understood , take place in July . The Prestonian Lecture wlil be delivered in the Grand Stewards ' Lodge on AVednesday next , the 27 th inst . The Lodge will be opened at eight precisely . At the Lodge of Benevolence , on AVednesday last , eleven petitioners were relieved with different sums , amounting in the aggregate to £ 107 10 s .

Watson Testimonial Fund.

WATSON TESTIMONIAL FUND .

The preliminary meeting of the Stewards for the above Fund was held on Monday evening , the 18 th instant , at No . 7 , Salisbury-street , Strand . The brethren present on that occasion were Bros . F . Baker , Caulcher , M . Cooke , Dickie , Exall , Eraser , J . Gurton , Le Gassick , Gibson , Harrison , Newall , Palmer , Piatt , John Savage , P . G . D . ; Joseph Smith , P . G . P . ; AV . Smith , C . E . ; G . States , and H . T . Thompson . The following motions wereseverally proposed , seconded , and carried unanimously , viz ., " That Bro . Savage be elected

Chairman . " " That the forty-six brethren whose names have appeared in the advertisement inserted in the FBEEMASOXS M AGAZINE , as Stewards oi the AVatson Testimonial Fund , form a Committee to carry out the objects of the same , with power to add to their number . " " That ' Bro . Joseph Smith , P . G . P ., be Honorary Treasurer , and Bro . Newall , AV . M . No . 536 , be Honorary Secretary . " " That the meetings of the Committee bo held on the first and third Tuesdays in each month , at No . 7 , Salisbury-street , Strand , at

eight o ' clock , until further notice . " " That the Stewards be requested at the next , and each succeeding meeting , to furnish the Secretary with a return of the names of the subscribers , and the amount of each subscription , and to pay to the Hon . Treasurer all monies in hand . " "That the monies collected under this fund be added to the £ 200 voted by tlie Grand Lodge of England , on the 6 th instant , so as to increase the amount proposed as an annuity for Bro . AVilliam AA ' atson . " " That the form of circular recording the particulars of Bro . AVatson ' s Masonic career be adopted by the Committee . " A letter was read from Bro . Thos . A . Adams ,

regretting his inability to attend that night , but his desire or approving any measures the Committee might adopt . It was also mentioned that , as some brethren had declared it to be their intention to move the non-confirmation of the minutes at the next Grand Lodge , every well-wisher to the cause should take care to be in bis place early on that occasion , and use his utmost endeavour ? to secure the attendance of all brethren favourable to the good work . A ' otes of thanks were carried by acclamation to Bro . John

Savage for his kindness in taking the chair , and to Bro . AA" . Smith , C . E ., for placing his rooms at the disposal of the meeting . It was gratifying to hear that on all sides there were warm promises of support , and that no inconsiderable sum was already in the hands of the various members of the committee . Such unanimity prevailed , that this preliminary meeting must be looked on as a great success , evincing the firm determination of the Stewards to raise a fund which shall double , if not triple , the vote of Grand Lodge . The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Tuesday , the 2 nd of April .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

INSTRUCTION . FIDELITY LODGE ( No . 3 ) . —The fifteen sections were worked in this Lodge of Instruction , held at the Yorkshire Grey , Londonstreet , Fitzroy-square , on Thursday evening , the lT-th inst ., presided over by Bros . Adams ( G . P . ) , AV . M . ; Tyrrell ( P . M . 1006 ) , S . AV . ; and Caulcher ( P . M . 1055 ) , J . AV . There was a good attendance of brethren from all of the metropolis and its environsas is

parts , usually the case wherever Bro . Adams fills the office of AA . M . The sections were taken up by fifteen brethren of various positions in the Craft , from the veteran with a quarter of a century's experience to the tyro of a few months' standing , who all carefully performed their several parts , stuck to the good old paths , and were rewarded