The Magazine In A New Character.

THE MAGAZINE IN A NEW CHARACTER .

That mob excitement discards reason , and that lynch-In w is far from pleasant to contemplate , one of of " your ¦ own , '" correspondents , who was trying to enjoy a stroll in the fields on Sabbath , lav-it found to his consternation . ITe went to get tho dust and smoke blown off him at a form-house on the banks of the Ayr on Saturday ; and

on Sunday , when the guidman of tho house showed him the proper example of going to church , he preferred fco luxuriate in the fragrance of a hay field , his only com ^ ¦ panion the FREEMASONS MAGAZINE . Tired of reading , and rambling over the mead , he slipped aside to explore tho ruins of an old coal-pit , trailing the MAGAZINE in his

hand . The pit was left partly uncovered , and having taken a look down he pocketed his companion and retraced his steps to the hay-rick , on the shady side of which , under the balmy influence of the perfumes of the grove , a bright sky , aud the melody of birds , our quid nunc kept dozing away deliciousiy . When he opened

his eyes , he was as much astonished as ever Rip Van Winkle could have been . He knew that ,, there was a perfect colony of miners in the nei ghbourhood , but ho could not conceive why , half naked and savage looking , every man , woman , and child in the place should have taken the field against him , with menacing gestures ,

distributing their detachments with more than military precision , so as to cut off his retreat in every direction . Nor were his nerves much soothed by the advance of about a dozen , the leader with a head like a bearskin , holding a savage cur by the neck , and threatening to let the brute off if the murderer did not give himself up quietly , and tell how he had disposed of the " wean " he

was seen by a crowd of watchers to have had in his hand . A few words unravelled the mystery . One of the superabundant children in the black diamond colony had gone amissing . A woman who had passed the

hayfield said she saw a " black man " lead a child ( the MAGAZINE ) to tho old coal pit and come away without it . The report that a deliberate murder had just been committed spread like wild fire through the village , a crowd of people soon collected at a spot commanding a- view of , but a considerable distance from , the scene of the supposed murder , and

the conclusion jumped at was , that tho part ; , - reposing near the pit could be none other than the child-stealer himself . In vain the Sunday recreatiouist pleaded his innocence ; every word he spoke confirmed his guilt to a hundred mothers , and although the suspected one ' s colour did not , on a nearer approach of the excited mob , tall } ' with the woman ' s description of the kidnapper , the

interesting ceremony ' of ' - ' laying on of hands , " accompanied by a formula of words not quite in accordance with the decalogue was about commencing , when one of the farm servant-men came to the rescue by certifying thafc the stranger was his master ' s guest . Still ifc was doubtful , and although tho bands of volunteer detectives retired from the fieldthe commotion continued . At

, last the only woman apparently who bad been left in charge of the colony came running to proclaim that the child had merely stepped into a neighbour ' s cottage and was found . Thus ended tho hubbub , so illustrative of the danger of acting on hasty suspicion . Eeturning to the farm-house , a dram from the gnidwife ' s bottle and the reading of a passage of Scripture had the effect of

restoring to his usual equanimity the luckless wi ght whose . appearance in the hay-field , MAGAZINE in hand , had led to so flagrant a breach of tho third and fourth commandments . So great was the excitement at one ¦ time , that a clergyman who had appointed to preach to the colliers and their families could only got his precentor fcr his audience .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . WEST LANCASHIRE MASONIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION . 10 THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —Be good enough to correct

an error which appears in the report of the meeting of the Lodge of Harmony ( No . 267 ) , respecting the funds of the above Institution . It is now nearly £ 4000 , not £ 1000 , as stated in last week ' s publication . Faithfully yours , C . J . BANISTER , Sec . of Lodge 257 .

Sudden Death.

SUDDEN DEATH .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR , DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —I regret to have to call your attention to the following melancholy and distressing circumstance . On Thursday , the 11 th inst ., a respectably attired and gentlemanlike person , took up his abode at the Wellington Inn , a very respectable house , On Tuesday , the 15 fchI ivas sent for between 11 and 12 A . M .,

, to see the gentleman above alluded to ; being close to the inn I soon saw him , but he was too insensible to answer any questions . Seeing the case was hopeless , I enquired who he was , but none in tho houso knew . I then searched his pockets , and in the loft hand pocket of his trowsers I found a florin , ancl a half sheet of blue note paper , on one side of which was written as follows : —

"Paris , June 15 , 1862 . "MR . GEORGE THOMSON , " DEAR SIR . —I herewith forward you a Bank of England ( sic ) for £ ' 10 , which I beg you will acknowledge the receipt of , arid on the ISth July , I will forward you a similar sum . When are you coming over to see me ? I am living at tho same address . ' * ' I remain , yours truly and fraternally , "W . ROBINSON . "

( A pen and ink imitation of the square ancl compasses was placed under the name of the writer . ) In the waistcoat pocket I found two shillings , a pen knife , and two short pieces of black lead pencil . In the breast pocket of his frock coat there was a meerschaum pipe , with one of Horsey ' s india-rubber tobacco pouches , also a white pocket handkerchief ; but no mark upon it . In

the hind pocket I found a Master Mason ' s apron , made by Webber , Silver-street , Lincoln , and two pairs of well worn white kid gloves . His suit was black and ofthe first quality . He had only a hat-case in the shape of luggage ; a high-crowned hat and a wide-awake . There were also some shirts , collars , and socks , but no marks on any of them . In size he was very stout and tall , bald , dark hair

, and dark bushy whiskers , fair complexion , and delicate hands ; but nothing peculiar in his general conformation . As I anticipated , he very soon died , and I placed the affair in the hands of the police , and soon received an order from the Coroner to make a post-mortem examination of the body , ancl the result was , that the cause of death was found to be "fatty degeneration of the heart . "

I need scarcely say that the brethren of Adams Lodge provided a suitable coffin and -funeral for our deceased brother , and I ask you to insert this letter , in order that we may find out who the deceased was , as well as to impart the distressing news to his relatives . Should any brother on reading the above , recognize in tho description who the deceased was 1 hope he will

in-, form me thereof , at his earliest convenience . I remain , dear Sir and brother , Tours faithfully and fraternally , J . S . KEDDELL , Sheerness , July 20 th , 1862 . P . M . and P . Z . 184 .