Correspondence.

for on it rests the Avhole principle of Freemasonry ; and your answer Avill determine me as to Avhether I shall consider the whole system of English Freemasonry a gigantic humbug , or Avhether I shall still consider it as one of the sublimest and most useful institutions in our country . Apologising for thus intruding on you again , but hoping that your love for Masonry , which is so Well knoAvn , Avill excuse me , I am , yours sincerely and fraternall y ,

17 th Dec ., 1859 . A POOR MASON . [ We only asked the name of the Lodge and other particulars for our own priA'ate information . To our correspondent's question Ave have no hesitation in stating , distinctly and unhesitatingly , that no person professing to be a Mason under the so called Grand Lodge of Philadelphes , can be admitted as a visitor to an English Lodge ;

but any brother holding a certificate of the Grand Orient of Prance would be admitted , although the Grand Lodges of England and France are not on those terms of close communication Avhich we could desire . At the same time it is an admitted rule all over the world , that no Grand Lodge can issue charters for Lodges to be held in a foreign country where a supreme national Grand

Lodge or head is established . Were the plea once allowed , that because brethren think our fees too high for a certain body of men , they are at liberty to establish new Grand Lodges with lower fees , the whole unity of our body would be broken , and universal confusion ensue . —Er > , l

THE BLACKHEATH MEETING- OF AUGUST , 1858 . TO THE EDITOR 01 ? THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As you were present at the Masonic gathering for West Kent , on the 25 th of August , 1858 , which was ushered in by several grand announcements of the great good it was to do for Freemasonry , and the benefit the

charities were to receive from it , I beg to ask Avhat have been its results as far as the charities are concerned ? Having carefully looked over all the subscribers to each of the institutions , I have failed to discoA er that any one of them has reaped one penny advantage by the same ; and from the tone assumed at the time , I presume there must be a considerable surplus fund available in the hands of some of the most prominent leaders of the meeting .

These Avere , according to your report , ( page 415 , of \ ol . v . ) of the Freemasons' Magazine , Bros . Hinxman , M . D ., Bailey , Green , FigAvright , Crew , Thistleton , and H . G . Warren ; and I hope that yourself , or some one of those referred to , Avill come forward and tell us what were the expenses incurred , the amount received , and the surplus in hand to be devoted to the Masonic charities . T am , clear Sir and Brother , yours fraternall y ,

A MEMBER OF WEST KENT MASONRY . [ Our correspondent is Avrong in supposing that Bro . Warren had anything to do Avith the management of the meeting . He only attended as the representative of the Freemasons' Magazine . Bros . Crew and Thistleton were , we believe , merely present in their official capacities as secretaries of the two schools . What were the results of the gathering AVC kuoAv not—but Ave fear it Avas a failure . —En . ]

MASONIC HALLS . TO THE EDITOR 01 ? THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — It being so generally thought advisable that AVC should not only get our Lodges remoA ed from the public houses , but that Ave should also endeavour to erect Masonic balls in all places Avhere a sufficient number of members can be found to maintain themI Avould suggest that you invite

, the architects belonging to the Craft to furnish plans of the most suitable class of building for the purpose , embracing beauty and purity of style , Avith necessary accommodation , at a reasonable outlay . I have no doubt this Avould be cheerfully responded to on your offering to publish them in Aveekly rotation , and Avould , I think , induce many Lodges to take the matter into consideration Avbo otherwise miht not think of it . I Avould further suggest

g that the point aimed at should he to give accommodation to one hundred members ; and should embrace—a Lodge , refreshment , preparation , and committee , or instruction rooms , with closets and kitchens , at a cost for the building ( exclusive of land ) of not more than one thousand pounds , which could of course be increased

or decreased according to requirements . Should these suggestions meet your views , by drawing attention to them you Avill oblige , Dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , A PROV . J . G . W . [ We shall be happy as far as possible to meet the views of our correspondent , but Ave cannot undertake to publish designs of halls ! every week . —En , ]

The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS . AT the monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence , on "Wednesday last , twelve applicants wore relieved with various sums , amounting together to £ 110 ; and the case of . another applicant , recommended to Grand Lodge for a grant of £ oO . THE United Pilgrims and Domatic United Chapter of Instruction willin futurebe held at Bro . Hill ' sWest-square , Southwark , at

half-, , , past seven , each Thursday evening . The meeting of Thursday next will be held at half-past six precisely . ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED FREEMASONS AND THEIR WIDOWS . WE have been favoured with a copy of the following : —

" Grand , Secretary ' s Office , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . O . " Wth Dec . 1 S 59 . " DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — Herewith I have much pleasure in forwarding you an extract of the Minutes of the Committee of Management—unanimously adopted tin ' s day—which I trust will prove gratifying to you . " Believe me to remain , dear Sir and Brother , your fraternally , '

" To Bro . Joseph Smith . " W . FARNEIELD , Sec . " Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows . At a meeting of the Committee of Management , held on Wednesday , the 7 th day of December , 1 S 59 , at Freemasons' Hall , London . The W . Bro . John Udall , V . P . in the chair , "The Secretary read a communication he had received from Bro . Vvm , Gray Clarke , G . S . E ., of the 24 th of November last , whereupon it was " and

" Resolved—That the beat thanks of this Committee are due , are hereby tendered to the W . Bro . J . Smith for his exertions in the Grand Chapter on behalf of this institution , which have been attended with such satisfactory results—by a grant of £ 200 three per cent consols , to the trustees of tho stock for granting annuities to Aged Freemasons , and a , like sum of , £ 200 , three per cent consols , to the trustees for granting annui i ties to the Widows of deceased Freemasons . " A true extract from the Minutes , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . F & RXFIELD , See , mil Dec , 1859 .

METROPOLITAN . GRAND STEWARDS' LODOE . —Time was when this Lodge was regarded to a great extent as the standard and criterion of excellent working , and its public nights in March and December were looked to by tho brethren as periods of Masonic enjoyment , in which every one , more especially the younger Masons , were desirous of participating . At that period there were rarelless than one hundred or one hundred and fifty

y brethren present , but from some cause , we know not what , the interest appeared to die out , and the meetings of the Lodge became so unattractive , that it was no uncommon thing for the members to find themselves lecturing to empty benches—half a dozen visitors being looked upon as something extraordinary . Indeed , abont two years since , it Avas actually proposed by the then S . W ., that the public nights should bo abandoned , when he was resolutely opposed by two or three brethren ( including the

present most excellent W . M . ) , who had sufficient confidence in themselves to believe that there was yet enough vitality in the Lodge to restore it to somewhat of its pristine splendour . The brother who had proposed the discontinuance of the public nights resigned tho Lodge , and Bro . Johnston being reelected W . M ., the work of reconstruction and reorganization commenced . On Wednesday last Bro , Hewlettthe "VOLand the brethrenfully enjoyed the triumph of their

, , , exertions , there being upwards of seventy brethren present , including a large number of the best Masons in the Order , to witness the working of the second and third lectures ; and everything passed off with the utmost precision , notwithstanding that ( owing to the absence of two of the brethren AVIIO were to have worked sections , and the immediate Past Master ) , an undue amount of work was thrown on the shoulders of Bro . Watson , the Secretary of the Lodge . Bro . Hewlett took the chair

precisely at eight o'clock ; and the Lodge having been opened in the second degree , the lecture was proceeded with , the sections being worked as follows : —first—Bro . Watson ; second—Bro . Nutt ; third—Bro . Hinxman ; fourth—Bro . Mereweather ; fifth—Bro . Watson . The Lodge was then opened in the third degree , and thc lecture worked—first section by Bro . Hinxman ; second—Bro , Wan-en , and third—Bro . Watson . At