Correspondence.

before you , to incur all the penalties , ancl brave all the consequeneas , which the adoption of the Secretary's advice must involve ? "If the W . M ., in the exercise of his official functions , do wrong —if he violate any Masonic law , either by an act of omission or commission—he renders himself liable to prosecution before the B . of G . P . ; ancl it by no means follows that if tbe W . M . commit a Masonic misdemeanour , that the remedy is to be found in the Secretary committing a greater one b ing the authoritof

y usurp y the W . M ., and inviting the lodge to a lawless ancl unconstitutional assembly . Again , brethren , the ' copy extracts' which the Secretary quotes from the unconfirmed minutes , written after the lodge of the 3 rd instant was held , in justification of the rash and extraordinary course which he has thought fit to take , in nowise sanctions his assumption of the prerogative of the W . M . The question of adjournment was , as every brother ought to know , filiall

y settled in Grand Lodgo a few years ago , when that august body claimed the rig-lit to adjourn ancl meet again by virtue of the same summons . The question agitated the Fraternity throughout the empire , and Grancl Lodge , on reviewing its declared right of adjournment , ultimately reversed its own decision , and it rests now as a settled axiom of Masonic law , that no such power does or can reside in any Masonic body . AVhen , therefore , a lodge , whether the G . L . of England , or any private lodge under its jurisdiction , is closed , It cannot re-coinnieiice its duties without being duly summoned by the G . M ., or W . M ., as recognised by The Rook of Constitutions .

" Admitting tbe extract to be ' eorrect , for argument ' s sake ( although I do not in fact ) , it still needed the ordinary summons of the W . M . to give it legal -effect , whereas , no summons whatever has been . issued ,- and , therefore , any lodge which may be held under such ch-cumstances , will be illegal in itself and its proceedings equally of non-effect .

'I entreat you , brethren / not tobe betrayed by passion ancl party feeling into a course which must be disastrous in its consequences to our dear old lodge , but lot the present excitement subside , ancl the time may very shortly arrive when you can meet under more auspicious prospects ; when each and every brother ofthe lodge may , instead of seeking- a temporary triumph of his own individual wishes , endeavour , by forbearance ancl mutual kindness , to promote harmonious working in dear old 4 S .

" I am , Brethren , yours very fraternally , " Ratii , Jan . Villi , 1861 . " MASTER MASON . " [ A "WM ., whoever ho may be , far oversteps his duty when he takes upon himself to alter the ni ght of installation as laid down in the bye-laws . If the lodge was not properly summoned , he is alone to blame for not seeing that his subordinate officers did their duty . The comparison with regard to adjournment laid down by a P . M . would not bear examination , excepting by tho purest of casuists and special pleaders . —ED . F . ilf . ]

THE SEAKCIC ron EMPIOTMEXT . — Well I remember the uncertainty with ivhich I set out , ancl the adventures of that day . One of the most disagreeable things a working man has sometimes to do is that of searching for employment . Many an industrious man plods this vast city with aching heart , in the endeavour to obtain tho means of subsistence ; happy il but tbe opportunity be

afforded him of working out the sentence to " earn his bread by the sweat of his brow . " But how often does he meet with a rebuff—almost unbearable—for daring to ask the question if his services be needed . Too frequently is the door shut in his face ere he can venture to make known his request ; or he is looked at with a suspicion of being idle and worthless , and therefore has no

business to be out of employment . There are some people who really seem to think that " work , " in this vast commercial city , can always be had for the mere asking for it ; yet bow many are there who find it impossible to obtain it , and whose sufferings in consequence would , if tbey were but known , rouse the strongest feelings of commiseration . Employers of course have their cares ,

and perhaps an apparent harshness may sometimes result from losses which working men can barely appreciate . Still a little respect or something like attention to the unemployed applicant would often tend to alleviate that distress with which too many have to battle amid tbe fluctuations of this world of labour , and would engender a better feeling between master and man than sometimes prevails . —Recollections of a Working Man , by J . Rate .

The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS . The annual festival of the Etonian lodge of St . John ( No . 232 ) will take place at the New Inn , AVindsor , on Tuesday next . The brethren are summoned to meet at twelve o ' clock .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

IODGE or EJSITOATIOJT ( NO . 21 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge took place at the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street , on Monday last . The business before the lodge was one initiation , a passing , and the installation of A \ . M . There was a very large assemblage of Present and Past Grancl Officers , amongst whom may be mentioned Bros . T . H . Hall , Prov . G . M . for Cambridgeshire ; AV . H . AVhite . P . G . Sec ; Llewellyn Evans , Pres . Colonial Board ,-Albert AV . AVoods , G . D . of Cers . ; John Hervey , P . G . D . ; Hopwood ,

P . G . D . ; A . Leveau , P . G . S . B . ; AV . Jennings , P . G . D . of Cers . ; S . B . AVilson , P . G . J . D . ; ancl several others . The ceremony of installation was very perfectly performed by Bro . John Symonds , who installed the S . AV ., Bro . Clarke , as W . M . for the ensuing year and who was pleased to appoint Bro . Brackstone Baker his S . AV ., and the officers in rotation . The veteran Bro . AV . H . White , P . G . Sec , proposed three gentlemen for initiation , ancl the lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to the banquet , which was

served in Messrs . Staples ' s usual handsome style . Among tbe various toasts was that of " The Father of the Lodge , Bro . AV . H . AVhite , " who , in the course of his reply , stated that on that clay sixty years since he had been installed AV . M . of that , his mother lodge , ancl he hoped to be spared some years to remain amongst them . At a later period of the evening the W . Bro . requested that his name might again be placed on the list of subscribing members . For some years he had been an honorary member , but he wished to be present

more frequently than he had hitherto clone , and thought that lie should again like to be reckoned a full , member of the Emulation Lodge . ( Vehement cheers ) . The meeting was in every sense a most successful one , " ancl the social qualities of hospitality and good fellowship were warmly and kindly carried out . It was apleasing sight to witness therespect and tenderness with which every brother present treated the venerable Past Grancl Secretary of England . UNITED MABINUES' LODGE ( NO . 33 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held on AA'cdnesday , Jan . 1 G , at Bro . Harris's , tbe Three Tuns Tavern , Southwark . Bro . Jegells , AV . M ., having opened the lodge , he resigned the chair to Bro . Gibbs , tbe Installing

Master , who m a most able and impressive manner proceeded to install Bro . Johns , the AV . M . elect , into the chair . The W . M . next proceeded to invest his officers as follows : —Bro . J . AV . Harris , S . AA . ; Bro . Joseph Dyer , J . AV . ; Bro . Babies , sen ., Treasurer ; Bro . Richard Uaines , Secretary ; Bro . Geo . Dyer , S . D . ; Bio . Pickering , J . D ., Bro . Howe , I . G . ; Bro . Ablitt , Dir . Cers . ; Bro . Marsden , Steward ; ancl Bro . Young , Tyler . —Bro . Richard Baines proposed that the- thanks of the lodge should be

recorded in the minutes to Bro . Gibbs , P . M ., for his courtesy on all occasions , ancl for the very able manner in which he had that evening discharged the duties of Installing Master . The AV . M . seconded the motion , which was unanimously agreed to . —Bro . Gibbs , P . M ., said ho thanked Bro . Baines for having brought forward the motion , the AV . M . for having seconded , and the brethren for their kindness in agreeing to the proposition ; ancl if he hacl performed the duties of Installing Master to their satisfaction it afforded him

great pleasure . Tbepresent was the fourth time be had installedtheir AV . M . into the chair , and as long as he might be spared he woulcl do all in his power to advance the interests of the lodge ,- ancl he should be most happy to install future Masters , if they would allow him tbe honour of so doing . Tbe lodge ivas then closed , and tbe brethren adjourned for refreshment . After the removal of the cloth , the AV . M . gave "The Queen , " "The flight Hon . the Earl of Zetland , " and "The Earl of Dalhousie /' ' which were all dul y dut

honoured . —Bro . JEGOEILS , P . M ., said , it becamehis y to propose "The Health of their AV . M ., " who had been elevated to that honourable office ; ancl he felt convinced that tbey hacl now got a Master who would be able to attend to his duties , ancl carry out all their wishes and wants . He felt satisfied that they bad got the right man in the right place ; and in proposing his health , he hoped he might live long , to be respected , and when he died , to be regretted . —The AV . M . in responding to the toast said , he rose with

a great deal of pleasure to return thanks for the very kind manner in which Bro . Jegells had spoken of him as being the ri ght man in the right place . It would be his duty , if it pleased the G . A . O . T . U . to come amongst them , to obey every sign ancl summons , and fully