Correspondence.

sion of laying the foundation stone of St . Paul ' s ; and and yet , in spite of the noble example of our Masonic brethren at Bristol , we do nothing—absolutely nothing . Is there no eminent brother who will move at the next quarterly communication that the sum of £ 500 be presented to the Dean and Chapter from the Grand Lodge of England for the completion of the

designs of our Grand Master ? In these days of utilitarianism it is to be asked , and asked pretty frequently by outsiders , What is the use of Freemasonry ? what good does it do ? It is no answer to say we feed , and clothe , and educate our own poor infirm and aged , for manj 7 societies with less

pretensions than our own do that , and don't make half so much fuss about it as we do . One of the many objects for which Masonry exists I submit should be that its professors be first and for & most in the restoration of those grand memorials of the past—those master-pieces of the old Craftsmen which adorn our land aud link us with antiquity . Yours fraternally , M 31 ° P . M .

Past Masters.

PAST MASTERS .

[ From the Masonic Record of Western India . ] Dear Sir and Brother , —I observe in the proceedings of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal , held on the 21 st March la ? t , the E / W . the District Grand Master ' s opinion regarding Past Masters , and about which I have" a word to say . I am sorry to say so high au authority as the District Grand Master of Bengaf is for once iu the wrong when he states that a Past Master ceasing to subscribe

for twelve months is no longer a Past Master . ISow , a Past Master ceasing to subscribe to a lodge for twelve months loses none of his privileges as a Past Master excepting his seat in Grand or District Grand Lodge . Once a Fast Master always a Fast Master . An Irish or Scotch Past Master , if he have ruled a lodge for twelve monthsalthough not entitled

, to a seat in the Grand Lodge , has all the privileges of a Past Master in our private lodges . You will find in the Freemasons' Magazine and Masonic Mirror , 7 th May , 1864 , page 276 , " A brother who has passed the chair of your lodge is a P . M . of it , though he should have resigned the lodge , and in

visiting the lodge has a right to stand up with other Past Masters in acknoAvledging a toast . " He has not lost his Past rank , only his seat in Grand Lodge . No law deprives him of more than that . Excuse me , B . "W . Sir , but your decision is contrary to law . If you refer this question to the G rand Lod

ge you will find it so . The decision ofthe Grand Lodge regarding honorary members is correct , but the addition of the District Grand Master of Bengal is not so . Again , if he loses his rank he must lose his privilege of election to the third chair of a chapter . He does not do so .

Faithfully and fraternally yours , A SUBSCRIBING P . M . [ A similar decision was given by the District Grand Master of Bombay a few months ago in the case of a Past Master and honorary member of Lodge Concord , and which we at the time pointed out as illegal and arbitrary . "What the merits of the case in Bengal maybe Ave are not aware , - but the decision in the case

Past Masters.

of the Past Master in Bombay we can stigmatise as nothing more nor less thaii a vindictive prosecution ; for the subscription paid hy the Past Master to the lodge for twelve months was returned to him , ancl the by-laws ofthe lodge ( after ten years ) declared by the District Master to be illegal . There is hut one opinion in Bombay as to the ultimate result of this ease , and the District Grand Master wisely resigned before the mandate from England arrives for him to annul his illegal and unjust decision . — ED . M . R . W . Ii ]

The Legality Of Our Lodges.

THE LEGALITY OF OUR LODGES .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE EREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —The Act of the . 39 th Geo . III ., cap . lxxix ., for the more effectual suppression of societies established for seditious and treasonable purposes , and for better preventing treasonable and seditious practices , contains a provision as follows : —

"And whereas certain societies have been long accustomed to be holden in this kingdom under the denomination of Lodges of Freemasons , the meetings whereof have been in great measure directed to charitable purposes ; be it therefore enacted , that nothing in this Act . shall extend to the meetings of any such

society or lodge which shall before the passing of this Act have beeu usually holden under the said denomiuation , and in conformity to the rules prevailing among the said societies of Freemasons . " Section 5 provides that " nothing iu this Act shall extend to the meetings of any such society or lodge

which shall before the passing of this Act have been usually holden . " According to this , all lodges established since the passing of this Act are illegal , unless it may be considered that they form part of the Grand Lodge of England , established previously , which construction ,

iu my opinion , cannot fairly be supported . This exemption , moreover , only extends to those " holden under the denomination and in conformity with the rules prevailing among the said societies of Freemasons ; '' consequently it is clear that the meetings ofthe new-fangled " Orders" are illegal , and the members thereof subject to the penalties of the Act . The second section provides , —

" And he it further enacted , that from and after the passing of this Act all ancl every the said societies , and also every other society now established or hereafter to he established the members whereof shall , according to the rules thereof , or to any provision or agreement for that purpose , be required or admitted

to take any oath or engagement which shall be an unlawful oath or engagement within the intent and meaning of au Act passed in the 37 th year of his Majesty ' s reign , intituled An Act for more effectually preventing the administering or taking of unlawful Oaths , or to take any oath not required or authorised

by law , and every society the members whereof or any of them shall take or iu any manner bind themselves by any such oath or engagement , on becoming or in consequence of being members of such society , and every society the members whereof shall take , subscribeor assent to any test or declaration not required

, by law , or not authorised in manner hereinafter mentioned shall he deemed and taken to be unlawful combinations and confederacies ; and every person who from and after the passing of this