Correspondence.

auspices of the Honourable Artillery Company , and the members of the lodge attached to the Victoria Rifles are willing and anxious to see their brother Masons received in a proper manner , and I feel convinced , if the suggestion is once made known , that on a certain night there will be a grand Masonic gathering on Wimbledon Commonthere will be no

, lack of members of our Craft ready to concur in the idea , and give it all the assistance in their power . Recently it has been announced that the Prince of Wales has consented to become President of the Belgian Reception Committee , and there is little fear that the entertainments shadowed out to be provided ¦

for the Belgians will be carried out and that our truly hospitable guests will receive a heart y English welcome , —a welcome carried out in no niggard spirit , but one that shall do credit to a great and powerful nation . Shall it then be said that Masons , who above all others are bound together in one common

brotherhood by that silver cord Avhich unites them with those who are of the household of the faith , are wanting in their duty to their brother Masons . To entertain such an idea would be a libel upon the profession to which AA e belong , and I feel assured that when the time ariwesif this is rightly understoodAve shall

, , give them a great , glorious , aud hearty welcome ; and demonstrate to the world at large that the word brother , amongst Masons , is something more than a name . Tours faithfully and fraternally , P . M .

[ We concur in the observations of our correspondent , and hope that English Freemasons will prove to _ the Bel gian brethren that they have a vivid recollection of the kindness received at their hands . ]

Grand Conclave.

GRAND CONCLAVE .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE EliEEHASONs' MAGAZINE A ! fD MASOSIO 31 IRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The "fine Roman hand" of the irrepressible agent AVIIO conducts the business of the august assembl y known as the Grand Conclave is so plainly discernible in the report of the proceedings at the last meeting of that bod y , that I feel no hesitation in asking you to allow me to trespass

upon your space for the purpose of protesting against that report being taken as a fair or impartial account of what occurred on that occasion . A duly accredited reporter would at least have given a resume , hoAvever hrief , of the statement made by me when objecting to the adoption of the report of the Committeeso

, that something like a judgment could be armed at on the question at issue . The learned recorder , however , to whom I have alluded , with that impartial consideration Avhich has eminently characterised the conduct of himself ancl friends throughout the whole of this unhappy affair , contents himself Avith

stating"die ( Sir Knt . Binckes ) entered into an elaborate statement , giving his view of the subject matter , using many very harsh and totally unnecessary expressions , " & c . Doubtless the truths uttered by me were thus regarded by those to whom they were unpalatable , though I have the satisfaction of knowing they were

viewed in a different light by a very large number of those present . _ The report proceeds to give in extenso ( comparatively ) the many hostile remarks and unjustifiable inuendos indulged in by succeeding speakers —

Grand Conclave.

" wounding Avhere they feared to strike "—leaving the impression on the minds of uninformed readers that Captain Boyle ancl myself had committed acts of exceeding baseness , and worthy of the most severe condemnation . Pending full inquiry , I entreat both those who were present in Grand Conclave and those Avho

derive their knoAvledge of what took place from the report in your columns to suspend their judgment , and not be led into passing an unfavourable verdict by the specious allegations of those who , from the first , have ceaselessl y and vindictively laboured to take advantage of an error , inadvertently committed ,

to destroy , as far as their puny efforts can , the reputation of two gentlemen upon whom devolved a most thankless ancl uncongenial task . The remarks of the Grand Chancellor would lead anyone to imagine that the money received under the bill of sale ( £ 280 ) was applied to the personal use of Captain Boyle and myself . The amount Avas paid to Captain Boyle as Secretary of the Bedford Club ,.

and he must , and in due course AA'ill , I presume , account for its appropriation . The schedule was prepared , as I understood , Avith Captain Boyle ' s sanction ancl knowledge , and he must explain how it Avas that certain articles were wrongfully included . In the liquidation of the affairs of the Bedford Club I Avas joined with Captain Boylenot as a hostile

, check , but as a friendly assistance , and , having no reason to doubt , did not question his integrity . In partnerships , or in trusteeships , where mutual confidence exists , is it not a matter of constant occurrence that one discharges the active duties of the office while the other , in full reliance on the bona .

fides of his colleague , acts ministerially ? In the event of a miscarriage , the law may sternly regard both as culpable , but equity would induce a discriminating view ; and surely it is not unnatural to expect a lenient interpretation of conduct fully , freely , and openly explained by a body of men connected with various but convergent interests , in the management of one department of Avhich some mistake had been made or some carelessness exhibited . For

whose good , use , or benefit were the transactions in question entered into ? The obvious reply ought to shame into silence these Avould-be detractors . Sir Knt . Meymott contradicted positively certain statements made by me bearing naturally on the points at issue . These I am prepared to re-assert , and in every instance to prove their truth . The Grand

Director of Ceremonies may le , nay , I believe is , sole manager of the executive of the Order of K . T ., but it does not necessaril y follow that , because lie does not hear or know every remark that is made , or every fact that transpires , therefore such a remark was not made , such a fact does not exist ; and I would advise

him in a spirit of kindliness to shroud his egotism under some covering , so as to render it less palpable and prominent than it is at present , to the ridicule of some and the annoyance of others . The remarks of the Grand Chancellor at the close of the discussionto Avhich I Avas not permitted to

, reply , I shall only noAV notice by stating that I never was manager of the " Masonic Union , " though , at the formation of that ill-starred association , I acted as secretary , and , at a subsequent date , for a short time as secretary of the Club—in both cases AA'ithoufc