Correspondence.

sure , probably fictitious . The merest tyro m history is aware that the Order of Constantino was continued through a long line of emperors , until the sack of Constantinople by the Turks in the 15 th century , when Constantino Palaeologus , the emperor , was slain , and his brother succeeded to the rank of titular emperorandas stated by Bro . Matier , the

, , roll of Grand Crosses of these emperors is yet in existence , and , to the number of 501 , continued down to the present day by their heirs and successors . You will perceive also , that Lord Kenlis is the head of this dispensation , which receives fees to confer the decoration of the Paleologian Emperors ,

and that he is the " only legitimate representative of the Order in the world ! " The Supreme Council , for the modest sum of five guineas , creates its Princes out of humble tradesmen , and its Most Potent Sovereign Grand Commanders out of harmless nobodies who have the necessary yellow metal ; but has never

yet presumed , on the strength of its fictions about Frederick the Great , to claim either the Prussian monarchy or its Orders . These pretensions have been taken up by " Lupus " and he may be glad to see the folloAving letter , handed to me by Bro . > J < Prince Rhodocanakis . The letter

speaks for itself as regards any authority granted to the Masonic Order by Count Maffei , and I would merely point out that the Chevalier Cadorna , evidently believes that the Italian Government were merely asked to sanction the assumption of the name and Cross of Constantino by a " Masonic lodge" as a hadge , and never dreamt that it was the conferment of the decoration that they were asked to allow . Yours fraternally ,

11 JOHN YAEKEE , N . P . TJ . My Dear Sir and Brother , —I "have the pleasure to hand you herewith enclosed a letter which I received this morning from his Excellency the Italian E . E . and M . PL at the- Court of St . James ' s , in reply to the note which I addressee ! to himat solicitationa few days

, , your express , ago . Toil may make whatever use you think proper of the letter in question . Believe me to remain , with sincere regard and esteem , My dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , BlIODOCAXAXIS .

" Londres , le 9 Avril , 1870 . " 9 , Cavendish-square . "Monseigneur , —En response a votre lafctre du 26 Mars _ dernier , j ' ai l'honneur de vous faire comiaitre que d ' apres les recherches que j'ai ordonnees dans les archives de la Legation il est exact quo le Comte Maffei , Charge d'Affaires du Roiinterroge la Maconni

, par Loge qno qui s'intitulo de la " Croix Rouge de Constantin , " a ropondu que le Gouvernemenfc Italien n ' ayantpas reconnu les Ordres Conslanliniens de Naples et de Parme , il n ' y avait de sa part a- redouter aucune objection a ce que les membres de la Loge snsdite usassent de la fagon qui leur conviendrait des Ordres en question . Cettereponso a etc transmise au Secretaire de cette Lo"Magonniaue

c le 25 Mars , 1869 . Agrcer . Monseigneur , l'assuranc ' e do ma consideration distinguee . " ( Sign . ) CA . CADORNA . "A Son Altesse Impcriale , le Prince Ehodocanalds , " Park Bank House , near Manchester . "

Our Hindu Brethren.

OUR HINDU BRETHREN .

TO THE EDIIOK OS THE J-IiEErASOITS' jrAGAZII < "J 3 AJTD 3 TASOI * IO XlimOa , Dear Sir and Brother , —At page 181 of the Magazine I made a few remarks regarding the eligibility of Hindus as Freemasons - since then I have come across a very beautiful and highly commendable address delivered by a Hindu , which I append , as given

in a newspaper . Speaking as a Mason , nothing could be finer than the practical or experimental views enunciated they are such as might well cause any mere formalist to blush . I hope you may manage to find room for them . Yours fraternally , PICTUS .

- On Sunday morning a somewhat extraordinary sermon was preached at the Unitarian Chapel , Little Portland-street , Regent-street , London , by Keshub Chun der Sen , the well-known leader at Calcutta of the Brahma Somaja Society of Hindoo Theists , the chief object of which is the destruction of idolatry

and caste throughout the Indian empire . This gentleman has for a considerable period been the minister of a spacious church in Calcutta , where he regularly preaches to a large number of his countrymen , and there are about fifty other churches where similar religious doctrines are taught in different parts of India .

The announcement that one who holds so peculiar and interesting a position in relation to the Hindoo race and idol worship was to appear in an English pulpit naturally caused the congregation to be unusually numerous , and it included representatives of both Houses of Parliamentand several men

, of eminence in science and literature . After the usual service had been performed , the preacher of the day delivered his sermon upon the text , " In him we live and move and have our being . " He commenced by remarking that it was of the utmost importance to them that they should realise the presence of that

great holy God whom they professed to worship , and the solemn relation in which they stood to Him , as without this religion was almost powerless , and could not exercise any influence upon the life and conduct . There were thousands of nominal Theists , he Avent on to say , who entertained very accurate theological notions of the Divinitywho boasted of having given

, up idolatry , and who , consequently , thought themselves very near the kingdom of heaven ; but beneath their boasted theological scholarship there lurked unbelief in its milder , but not less insidious form . They thought of God as one who was remote from them , and very little to do with the direct administration of

the affairs of the world ; and when they professed to pray , it seemed as if their prayers went out into empty space , where there was no present God . If men were really anxious about their salvation they should not boast it of mere intellectual ideas of the Deity . It was one thing to say with the understanding that God

exists , and quite a different thing to say with the whole heart and soul , " My Lord is before me , and behind me , and filleth all space . ' It was one thing to talk of God as the eternal , infinite , majestic Sovereign of the universe , and another thing to feel Him very near our hearts , the living ancl loving Father . AVhen God had created tho universe , He did not go