Correspondence.

after the M . W . G . M ., General Melhnet , had been enthroned and saluted , and after distinguished visitors had been previously received , including E . "W . Bro . Eobert Hamilton , A . and A . E . 31 ° , and District G . M . of Jamaica , it was announced hy the Grand Expert that a deputation of the Supreme Council ( sic ) had arrived . The M . AV . G . M . having called u ] ion all the

members of the Grand Orient to rise and pay " all the Masonic honours due to the representatives of a friendly Masonic Power , " the deputation entered , consisting , on account of the illness of the M . P . S ., of 111 . Bro . Yicomte de la Jonquiere , acting as M . P . S . G . C ., E . Barthe , Le Batteux , Cremieux ,

Geuevay , Malapert , Meurizet , Moitie , Schwabe , and Zegelaar . These brethren , entering the temple with their lodge standard at their head , Avere conducted to the pedestal under the arch of steel . The G . M . addressed them in " the most fraternal and sympathetic terms . '' He told them how happy he felt in the entente cordiale which thenceforth

united the Grand Orient of France and the Supreme Council ; and to seal , as he might say , this happy and fruitful union publicly , he received them Avith a tri p le battery . 111 . Bro . de la Jonquiere replied in the same terms and manner ; ancl it is then described that he was seated at the right hand of the M . W . G . M ., the other

members occupying seats reserved for them in the E . The Grand Orient afterwards adjourned to banquet in their fine hall , which was specially decorated . " The banner of the Supreme Council was placed in the E . alongside that of tbe Grand Orient of Franco . ' ' The second toast beiug that of the "M . W . G . M ., "

the M . W . G . M . gave the third toast , " The Eepresentatives of the Supreme Council , with the names of M . 111 . Bro . Viennet ( M . P . S . ) , M . 111 . Bro . Allegri ( L . G . C . ) , and M . 111 . Bro . de la Jonquiere , Happiness and Prosperity . " Bro . de la Jonquiere returned thanks ; and 111 .

Bro . Geuevay , of the Supreme Council , obtained leave to speak . He advocated combined action for the development of true Masonry , and for its defence against their common enemies . Bro . de St . Jean , President of the Council of the Grant Orient , responded in like terms , avowing that

the Grand Orient had invited reconciliation , which the Council looked upon as a great event for Masonry , " while preserving for each jurisdiction its autonomy and its independence . " The last toast was celebrated with " French " honours , and " Scotch " honours , in compliment to the two rites .

Then 111 . Bro . Cremieux , of the Supreme Council , the iamous advocate , arose and made a brilliant speech , celebrating the union between the Grand Orient and the Supreme Council . The G . M ., "whose emotion was great , responded to this brilliant improvisation by a few ardent words ,

which depicted the sentiments of which his heart was full ; aud then these two brethren , moved by a sympathetic impulse , gave each other , amid the plaudits of the whole assembly , the fraternal accolade . " - " The labours of the evening , " says the report of the Grand Orient , " closed under the impression of this fraternal kiss , the pledge of the candid friendshi p between the two Masonic powers . " And thus ended this thoroughly French scene : and

Correspondence.

thus have ended for the present these contests between the two jurisdictions ; and your correspondent is consequently behind the mark . He has lived in a strange atmosphere- , and if he lives till the French lodges of either rite adopt the English ritual , he may hope to live long enough in a world of his own . Tours fraternally , B . N .

The Fellow-Craft Degree.

THE FELLOW-CRAFT DEGREE .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —The Egyptians had so great a regard for silence and secrecy in the mysteries of their religion that they set up the god Harpocrates , ( to Avhom they paid peculiar honour ancl veneration ) who was represented with his right hand placed near

hia heart aud the left down by his side , covered with a skin before , full of eyes and ears , to signify that of many things to he seen aud heard few are to be spoken . * Lempriere says that he is also represented as holding one of his fingers on his mouth , ancl from thence lie is called the God of Silence , and intimates

that the mysteries of religion and philosophy ought never to be revealed to the people . The Eomans p laced his statue at the entrance of their temples . Might not Freemasons judiciously follow their example ? In " Tancred , " one of Disraeli's earlier works of

fiction , he says that the usual mode of salutation in the East is given by the hand being pressed to the brow and to the heart as a sign of fidelity . The latter sign is always given by guests and dependants to their host or master . Tours frcternally , 4 * 2 K 33 ° .

Masonic Bookmarkers.

MASONIC BOOKMARKERS .

IO THE EDITOR OF TIIE EREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —A year or two ago you kindly inserted a letter announcing the preparation of Masonic and other bookmarkers by myself for the benefit of the charities , which , however , appeared to receive no attention , as it did not bring any

communications . If you can afford space , I desire now to announce the progress I have made in the variety , the quality , and the pecuniary result , being prompted thereto by an inquiry about them made at your office , to which you reply in your notices to correspondents this day .

The sale hitherto has been almost restricted to the Channel Isles and Devonshire , in which I have resided , and to Manchester , Birmingham , ancl Kidderminster , which I have visited . These places are , therefore , pretty well supplied ; and I am desirous to make the project known in other districts , in the hope of being able to make further contributions , for ,

having much leisure , I purpose continuing the work as long as I can obtain orders . I always keep in hand a stock of about 200 , so as to prevent delay iu forwarding those Avhich are required . The bookmarkers are not , as is generally the case with such things , merely ornamental ; but I endeavour to utilise them , and with this view have formed the