Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

$ . [ T IIK EDITOR dues not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained hij Correspondents . } MARK MASTERS' JEWELS . TO THE EDITOR 01 ' TIIK FREEMASON'S * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC Million .

DF . AU SU : AXD BTIOTIIKU , —The Past Grand Secretary , in his letter to Bro . W . Tucker , Prov . Grand Master for Dorset , dated 10 th November , 1 S 5 J , Avrotc , "Out of Lodge every one mtiA'Avear ivJmtCA-cr decoration he chooses ; " and it is notorious that his late majesty , George IV ., G . M . ; ll ' . lt . H . the Duke of Sussex , G . M .: and other of the royal dukes , Avorc non-masonic with Masonic full costumeand no objection AVUS made to such admixture—at least

, none that I can recollect . It is submitted that when a Lodge is closed and the brethren retire to another apartment , for any other purpose than that of Lodge business , the Mark Master's jewel , as well as the mantle or star of lv . T . or B . C ., or the elegant sash of K . D . S . H ., or any other jeAvel , maybe Avorn , Avithout the wearer being subject to the condign punishment of being summoned before the Grand llegistrar or the Prov . Grand

Master—Avithout infringing the Art . 22 , p . ( i ;! , Constitutions , or Art 3 , p . IS , both of Avhich arc , in my humble opinion , only restrictive to the extent of wearing jewels " in the Grand Lodge , or in any private Lodge . " Now a banquet is certainly not a part of a Lodge business , mighty agreeable as it often is , and AVUS on the 4 th instant at the Crystal Palace ; and if a Worshipful Master feels disposed to wear a medal or other devicehonourable to himself onl

, y , at a banquet , I for one should certainly not object to it . Yours fraternally , 13 th July , 1859 . R . E . X . [ We do not altogether agree with "It . E . X ., " but of course the Order of the Garter , or the Victoria . Cross maybe ivoni even in Grand Lodge . —ED . J

Dissensions In The Craft.

DISSENSIONS IN THE CRAFT .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE WllEEMASOIiS' . VAGAJUA'E AXD JIASOXIC MIRROR . Su ; AXD BitOTiiEii , —As one who was present at the last Grand Lodge , you must allow me , if ' possible , space for a few remarks which seem to be called for from all independent members of the Craft then present , by the recent letter of Bro . Binckes . . Not being a member of any Loudon Lodge , and simply a provincial brother , I might hesitate to express an opinion on proceedof which

ings I am not nu habitual spectator in Grand Lodge , did 1 not feel assured that Avliethcr by London or provincial brethren my remarks will be received in ' the same spirit by whicli they have been made by a brother Mason . For the information , then , of my provincial ' brethren especially , of whom very feAV Avere present on the occasion alluded to . I Avould say that I . Avas present at the Avhole of Grand Lodproceedings from the

ge opening to the close , but that I never attended any Grand Lodge Avliich filled mc with deeper disappointment , humiliation , mid regret . I Avould therefore , to-day , most earnestly ancl solemnly protest in your pages against the continuation of the unmasonic temper and spirit exhibited by a very small portion of the brethren ( I am happy to observe ) , when in Grand Lod ge—and that meaningless

yet pertinacious opposition to every semblance ot Masonic authority , and to almost every proposition emanating from the lefal executive . I hope , too , Pro . Editor , that our recent Grand Lodge meeting was the last occasion on which , as Masons , Ave shall have the time of our Grand Lodge taken up by Avhat—in more than one instance Avhich I could name—seemed to be a mere love of talking for talkmg's sake ; or that Ave shall witness , sadly enough , the di of the Grand Lodloweredancl its

gnity ge , authority impaired by the baneful influences of party organization , unworthy imputations , and unseemly personalities . As far as any one brother can venture safel y to express the sentiments of other brethren , I helieA'c I am not misinterpreting their feelings Avhen I say that a large majority of our brethren are sick and Aveary of this intestine strifeand in no sliht degree ashamed and indi also at these

, g gnant persevering endeavours by a little clique ( ready for ceaseless opposition or attack ) , to assimilate the great assembly of our venerable Order to an unruly vestry where party politics arc the abiding hindrance to all useful and bciieficial ' action . On the contrary , I feel quite sure that the prevailing sentiment of the Craft isto rally round the Grand Muster ami uphold his Masonic character .

Dissensions In The Craft.

position , and dignity , to give a generous ancl fraternal consideration to all the proposals of the executive , proceeding as they do—I firmly believe—from a genuine reverence for the landmarks of the Order and an earnest desire to promote the honour and dignity of the Grand Lodge . Surely the time is come tvhen Ave should all , as Masons , endeavour earnestly to put an end to proceedings calculated to inflict permanent injury on the Craft , and Avhen all AVIIO

IOA ' and A-enerafe the principles . of Masonry , should determine that they will no longer allow Grand Lodge to be made the opportunity of insult anil incrimination , handed over to the hateful demon of party strife for the amusement and self glorification of any Masonic Ishmaelite Avhose hand is against every man and every man ' s hand against him . I am , Sir and Brother , j-ours fraternally , A PAST PUOYIXCIAI , GUAXU OVVICKR .

Freemasonry; Its History And Publications.

FREEMASONRY ; ITS HISTORY AND PUBLICATIONS .

TO THE EDITOIt OV THE FUEF . JIASONS' MAOAZIXE AXD JIASOXIC MIRROR . Sir ., —Having been led into the consideration of that portion of the history of architecture iu England , called medireval , or Gothic , and especially of the transition of one style into another . the inquiry lias necessitated the perusal of a large number ol works , and the inspection of many illustrations and buildings . Among the publicationsthose relating to the fraternity of

, Freemasons Avere brought 'forcibly under my attention . The natural result Avas an inquiry into its history , as being likely to assist the object of my researches . Greatly to my regret , I fear I have been sadly wasting my time , and it is upon this point that I venture to intrude myself on your attention . I had always conceived that ilie present society of Freemasons had an established historical account of its descent through the

mediaeval period , tracing the gradual changes in the art of architecture down to the present time . I had heard of the Lodges , the signs , the marks , and of the Grand Masters , commencing from St . Aiban . But Avlien I came to read , to study , and to compare the A'arious Avorks published by the authority of the fraternity , and otherwise , I . grieved to find IIOAV valueless is the whole of them in respect of die earlier portion of their history . Mystification

appears almost to be the aim ancl end of all the Avriters . No author since the earlier years of the last century has attempted to clear away the obscurity Avhich evidently even then shrouded the subject . The account adopted at that ' time seems to be merely an attempt at a history of architecture , or of Masonry , as it is called in the Avorks . Names are brought forward , and titles are given to them for Avhich no evidence is adduced . Transactions are recorded Avithout sufficient explanation of cause and effect . " Old manuscripts , " that convenient expression , are referred to Avithout a prospect of any one , at the present day , having the remotest

chance of inspecting them ; the Avhole presenting , to me tit least , the appearance of having been put together to blind the uninitiated , and mislead the unwary . This is the impression I have , resulting from the perusal and comparison of the old Avorks Avith modern documents . At the period ' when the historical account Avas compiled , it must lurve been a very skilful production . It is greatly to be regretted , however , that so many succeeding writers should

have put such great faith in it ; perhaps they may not have been permitted to think for themselves . Though not a Freemason , I am not one of those who despise the Craft . If it had an object Avhen it commenced its modern development in 1717 , it has Avell pursued it , and is therefore Avorthyof all commendation . But as an architect , I am sadlydisappointed at this absence of a satisfactory history of the CrafL

I have sought for some account of the history of any of the old Lodges—say for instance that of the York Lodge , Avith its pretensions to date from the time of Atltelstan . I have not . hoAvever , met with any ; and have also been unable to see a copy of OliA'erV " Brief History of the Withani Lodge . " Some ancient charges have been printed at various times ; and , it appears to me , the Craft is especiallindebted to MrIlaHhvell ( who I is

y . presume not a Freemason ) , for his discovery and publication of the mediieval manuscripts on Masonry , Avhich he considers to be of the end of the fourteenth century : some Avriters referring to Avhich , I find , are pleased to call them " of the tenth centuny' to suit a purpose . Some of the present authors , I consider , are endeavouring to claim for ancient Freemasonry an existence distinct from that of

practical masonry—a position that the curlier writers clearl y did not . maintain . What is the cause of this seeming inconsistency ? The original York Lodge , I understand , censed to exist niany years since , Its paper ? and records , I presume , have not been .