Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents FREEMASONRY IN THE LEVANT .

10 THE EDITOn OF THE FItEElIASONS' MAGAZINE AXD MASOXIC HIREOH . SIR ,- —In your issue of the 31 st December there appeared an article under the head of " Freemasonry in the Levant , " which appears to have been conceived in anything but a friendly spirit for the lodges holding under the United Grand Lodge of Eugland , and Avhich it is easy to understand arises from

erroneous information . As no brother has as yet replied to the statement set forth by you , permit me , in common fairness , to mention a few facts which will serve to dispel the impression that the English lodges in the Levant have in anywise been wanting in their duty .

The W . M . ( Bro . George Treu ) of the Germania Lodge , holding under the Grand Lodge of Hamburg , wishes , in his friend ' s letter to the Freimaurer Zeitung , to put himself forward as the exponent of some very strange , if not very un-Masonic , views connected Avith the spread of the Craft in the East .

I aai not going to enter into any discussion as to the soundness or appropriateness of the propositions of Bro . Treu , although I am firmly convinced that they are neither sound or feasible in any degree . The worshipful brother writes to a German paper in a style that he Avishes to make his readers believe

suitable to a person occupying a high standing in Freemasonry in the Levant . He complains of the non-cooperation of the brethren of the English lodges , and boasts of proposing the formation of a series of Greek lodges . Unfortunately for Bro . Treu—perhaps he may assign it to the cause that a prophet has no honour in his OAVU country—his own lodge furnishes ample proof of the distaste Avith

which his visionary theories are regarded by the brethren over Avhom he presides . The Germania Lodge has dwindled down — it never Avas very numerous—to a mere handful , and these brethren nearly all complain in the strongest manner against their mischief-making W . M ., Avhose extraordinary avidity for Avriting on every possible occasion involves

him in the greatest disfavour , not merely amongst his own brethren , but those of the other lodges he continuously assails Avith the most unwarrantable charges . As to Bro . Treu ' s influence Avith the Greeks , they are so thoroughly aware of the dangerous tendencies of his hobbiesthat the two Greek

, lodges already formed , aud those now in course of formation , have unanimousl y determined to work under the United Grand Lodge of England . Can there be a stronger proof of the favourable position the latter holds ? As to the English lodges not cooperating with him in what he so unfoundedly calls

his work of progress , it is enough to state that on every occasion Avhen the lodges of this city made the slightest friendly advance to Bro . Treu , or invited the co-operation of his small lodge , they have been met either Avith the greatest discourtesy , misrepresentation , and , too generally , abuse . I may adduce another signal proof of Bro . Treu ' s utter Avaut of influence , in the fact that , with the exception of the

feAV brethren constituting his semi-political lodge , the Germans have joined the English lodges . In what I have already said , I feel that enough has been put forward to refute Bro . Treu ; but there remains the important question to solve—What actually are the-English lodges doing in the Levant ? In the year 185 S there Avas not a single English

Masonic , or indeed any other , lodge in the Ottoman Empire . In the year 1865 there are no less than twelve , all of which are iu a flourishing state . Iu addition to this there is a District Grand Lodge , holding under the Grand Lodge of England , having for Prov . G . M . the Right . Honourable Sir H . L-

Bulwer , G . Q . B ., her Majesty's Ambassador to the Porte ; and for D . Prov . G . M , Bro . Hyde Clarke , the most able , indefatigable , and useful Mason to be found anywhere , to ivhom the progress of Masonry in the East is under the very greatest obligations . His name will be handed down iii the history of

the-Craft as one of those lights whose influence cannot be measured by time , and whose services will be best appreciated hy those AVIIO will succeed us . Underhis admirable administration of the district , not merely have Ave formed so many lodges already , hut their number willwe have every reason to believe ,,

, rapidly increased ; and , with the co-operation of our Greek brethren , the day is not far distant Avhen every part of the Levant will have lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of Eugland . It is to be expected that in time , Avhen the Greeks have sufficiently multi plied their lodges , that they will look to forming a

Grand Lodge of their own ; but it never AVIU be forgotten that to the Grand Lodge of England the initiative of reviving the Craft in the East is due ; . and the name of the Oriental Lodge ( No . 687 ) , of Constantinople , the pioneer and most nourishing of all the Levant lodges , Avill rank highest amongst the numbers Avhich haveaud willspring from her . From

, , Avhat has been already stated , it Avill be easy to understand Avhether Bro . Treu's mischievous insinuations against the English lodges have a shadoAV of foundation . Not only under the English , but other jurisdictions —French and Italian—Masonry is advancing iu

the-Levanfc . The French haA e , in addition to two lodgesin this city , one at Smyrna , one at Bucharest , and- , auother at Alexandria . The Italians have a very flourishing lodge here , and four others in differentparts of the empire . The Germans have one lodgehere and another at Smyrnathe two not numbering

, fifty members together . I trust that you Avill do the brethren of the English , lodges in the Levant the justice of repelling theattack made so unfairly upon them by Bro . Treu .. There are many zealous , active , and hard working brethren AA-IIO labour indefatigably for the

advancement of the Craft in the East ; and it Avill be some satisfaction for them to find that Avhat they are doing is appreciated h y the brethren at home , and that they do not labour under the stigma Bro . True so unscrupulously attempts to place upon them . I am , Sir , yours fraternally ,

Constantinople , Feb . 4 , 1865 . [ " C . " will find , by reference to our number of Feb . 4 th , Ave have already answered the allegations of Bro . Treu . ED . ]!