Correspondence.

by faith "—not the mere animal life of the man or the brute , but that spiritual life , " the righteousness which is of faith , " which will enable the just to stand upright and without fear when they hereafter " enter that kingdom prepared for us from before the foundation of tiie world . " JNTOW , there is no principle iu

Masonry laid before us for our acceptance urged more strongly than that of faith—not a mere belief that we exist on the bounties of nature like the brute , but a firm conviction of the existence ancl attributes of God , in whom we live , and move , and have our being , as will produce on the mind such a perfect love and

reverence for His name , a steady confidence on His word , and an entire obedience and resignation to His divine will ; and that this faith will lead us to the attainment of another virtue , to that firm and steadfast hope which neither the storms of affliction nor the sufferings of adversity can ever shake or alter

, even the hope of eternal life . That which might be termed the religion of Freemasonry , therefore , is a revealed religion , and not that " formed by man , with no assistance but that reason which distinguishes him from the brute ; " for Masonry not only prepares us for our last end , but directs our attention to the

progress of futurity , that mysterious veil which human reason is unable to penetrate , unless aided by that light which is from above , which inspires us with a holy confidence that the Lord of Life will enable us to trample the king of terrors beneath our feet , and lift our eyes to that briht morning starwhose

g , rising brfngeth peace and salvation to the faithful aud the obedient of the humau race . Every brother who has proceeded so far in his degrees as to have been confronted with a subject

which the most profound reasonings of man , or all the treatises of natural theology and ethics known by civilised nations , ancient or modern , or the wisdom of the ancient philosophers could never fathom , should remember that it was originally elucidated to the inquiring mind by the great evaugelist . But some

thirty years since , or thereabout , some clever natural theologist of the day succeeded in removing this from our ancient ritual , and supplied its place with that record of Moses in preseut use among us . However good in part the deductions drawn may appear iu an ethical point of viewthe text has no bearing

what-, ever upon the subject ; the idea must have arisen from " that philosophy and vaiu deceit after the rudiments of the world , " and not after that great and divine light of Masonry " which was in the beginning with God , and was God ; " to such , indeed , "the light shineth in darkness , but the darkness comprehended it

not . " The keystones were withdrawn , the impediments ¦ of philosophy ancl natural theology stood in the way , and the glorious rays of the suu of righteousness , even in its highest altitude , found no place in the heari and mind , which preferred the gloom and twilight of natural theology to the bright aud dazzling

light of revealed truth . I cannot but consider Freemasonry of a much higher character than your correspondent applies to it ; for while it lays before us all that is necessary for mau to know in a moral and social point of view , it likewise holds out a Limp to that path of life that

will lead us to the enjoyment of those hidden treasures to be revealed hereafter to all who diligently seek them . I am , yours fraternally , . T . J .

The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

* s All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury street , Strand , London , W . C .

Masonic Mems.

MASONIC MEMS .

Bro . Sir H . L . Bulwer , Prov . G . M . of Turkey , having resigned the embassy at the Sublime Porte , has quitted Constantinople in a very infirm state of health . Tbe new ambassador not being a member of the Craft , Sir Henry has addressed a letter to the-District Grand Lodge , stating that lie lias left the district in charge of Bro . Hyde Clarke , the D . Prov . G . M ., who has ad «

niiustered the province from its foundation , with full powers . In so doing Sir Henry expresses his confidence in the qualifications of the D . Prov . G . M . * The next meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Monmouthshire is announced to be held at the Masonic Hall * Progmore-street , Abergavenny , on the 7 th prox . The chair will ,, we understand , owing to the illness of the R . W . the Prov . G . M ., be occupied by the V . W . Bro . C . Lyne , D . Prov . G . M .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

UNITED MARINERS' LODGE ( NO . 30 ) . — This lodge held its--regular meeting on the 29 th ult ., at the International Hotel , London Bridge . The lodge being opened in due form , the "W . M ., Bro . Ablitt , assisted by his Wardens , Bros . Marsden and Wiseman , then passed Bro . Smith to the second degree ,, which ceremony was performed iu a very efficient manner-The thanks of tbe lodge was given to Bro . Jesse Turner , P . M . and Treas ., and recorded on the minutesfor bis kindness in

, superintending the make of tbe pedestals for the use of the lodge , and which had met the approval of the brethren . The visitors present were Bros . Bobert Shackell , Prov . G . Sec . Hants , and E . Hawkins , P . M . 15 . A communication was received from Bro . Richard Barnes , P . M ., and twenty-one years-Treasurer of this lodge , informing the brethren of his admission as a candidate for the benefits of tbe Royal Masonic

Benevolent Annuity Fund . The subjoined epitome of his assiduity and zeal for tbe welfare of the Craft and its charitable institutionswas read ; the following is a copy : — "That Bro . Richard Barnes was initiated in , and continued a subscribing member to , the Kent Lodge ( No . 15 ) for thirty-eight years , served the office of W . M . on two occasions , was thirty-five years Treasurer and father of the lodge , and that he has many times been presented with marks of esteem from his lodge . In the year 1 S-1-5 it was unanimously resolved , in gratitude for services

rendered to the brethren in qualify ing them for a long series of years in tbe efficient discharge of their respective offices , that his portrait should be taken by a competent artist , to be the property of the lodge . In tbe year 1 SI 4 was presented with a vote of thanks , handsomely framed and glazed , for his zeal for the Crafc , and the essential services rendered by him to enhance the prosperity of the Masonic Charities . That he acted as Honorary Secretary to the Committee for conducting

the excursions to the Nore , in aid of the funds of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , for thirteen years , during which period the sum of £ 1 , 032 16 s . was added to the funds . That be received from the same Committee , in 1 S 32 , an elegant snuffbox , presented by the Lite Colonel Forrest , with the following inscription— 'Presented to Bro . Richard Barnes , in testimony of his unwearied exertions as Honorary Secretary to the aquatic

excursions in aid of the funds of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Bros . Colonel Forrest , President ; Philip Broadfoot , Vice President ; I . J . II . Coo , Treasurer . ' Acted as Honorary Secretary to theatrical entertainments held at tho Grecian Saloon , on tbo 11 th of June , 1 S 39 , in aid of the funds of the above institution , when £ 55 Ids . was returned to the Charity . As Honorary Secretary to an excursion to Richmond , in aid of the above , ou the Sth day of June , 1810 , returned to tho Institution £ "G 6 s . As Honorary Secretary to a ball and gala , iu aid of the same , held at the Grecian Saloon , Sept . 22 nd ,