Correspondence.

and archives , and diplomas and books , and MSS ., he gives his valuable collection to the Grand Lodge collection . No expense , Avorshipful brethren , and very great credit for our ancient Order . Then a whole lot more of the learned brethren

begins showering in archives and valuable collections , and at one quarterly communication up gets R . W . Bro . Havers , W . Bro . Stebbing , W . Bro . Spiers , or some other of the inspired , and call the attention of Grand Lodge to the

necessity of bestoAving more space and shelves , and calls for the valuable collections , and one brother seconds another , and the Deputy Grand Master says something , and the Grand Master says something else , and it is referred to the Board of

General Purposes , or to a new-fangled library and archives committee . Why not ? The House of Lords has a library committee , the House of Commons has a library committee , the Common Council has a library committee , every public

body has a library committee except the Grand Lodge of England , and at length we shall have one inflicted on us .

Thus the time of Grand Lodge , instead of beingemployed on strictly Masonic matters , such as attending to our Masonic duties and looking after our own property , will be devoted to questions about the archives , and the library ,

and Grand Lodge , instead of being an august and dignified body , will be very little better than any other scientific society . Up will get R . W . Bro . Lord Nobby , Prov . G . M ., to read a letter from his illustrious relative , the

Duchess of , who is , of course , the ' wife , daughter , and mother of Masons , and has a deep affection and veneration for the Craft , and begs the noble brother to offer to Grand Lodge a portrait of the late Duke , her father or grandfather ,

who Avas Prov . G . M . of his county , deeply beloved , and Avhose portrait Avas painted by an artist of eminence . Her Grace knew no place so fitting for the commemoration of one who was a model of public aud domestic virtues than the gallery of distinguished Freemasons .

Chorus of lords , baronets , and W . M . ' s acceptance of tho munificent offer . Vote of thanks to the duchess . Up gets Bro . Dobby , and in the fervour of the moment offers his collection of Egyptian antiquities , colossi , ' sphinxes , and

gigantic black beetles , or his collection of engravings or drawings , or something . More enthusiasm and more stuff to fill up that building which onr

forefathers and Bro . * * * have handed down to us . What would be their feelings , instead of seeing the anti-chamber of a lodge or chapter room decorated Avith wine and champagne glasses and

dessert plates , clean or dirty , as we have often seen , putting us in mind of that refreshment which is to come after labour ? They see lobbies and spare corners blocked up like Sir John Soane ' s Museum or the British Museum . Here a great

beast of an Egyptian is grinning at you ; there something to illustrate the Eleusinian mysteries or some Masonic emblem , presenting a most incongrous scene . When the thing Avas put in order , or being jmt

in order , Freemasons would be tormented by country cousins and distinguished foreigners for introductions and passes and orders to see the interesting and valuable collection , so far as it was accessible to the public . The time may come when

the position of a Freemason , particularly of a member of Grand Lodge , may become as troublesome as that of a member of one of the learned societies , or the College of Surgeons , or the United Service Museum , or any other of the gauds and shows Avhich the idle run after .

Of course , in the case of a distinguished foreigner a brother would be expected to accompany him to the valuable collection , and introduce him to the Librarian . Great compliment for a quarterof-an-hour in all kinds of languages on their

respective works betAveen distinguished foreigner and distinguished Librarian . Distinguished foreigner is conducted to several other distinguished persons , paid by the Craft , or by benefactions or bequests , to take charge of

Masonic collections , Egyptian collections , Mexican collections , engra-vings , medals , and all kinds of things . There will be the satisfaction of knowing that these people have been appointed by the Craft , for there is no chance of patronage in the

matter , for it is a part of the humbug of public bodies to compete for competent and distinguished librarians , and of course Grand Lodge must have distinguished and competent persons , like tho British Museum , Guildhall Library , Cheetham Library , London institutions , and so forth .

After a day spent Avith a distinguished foreigner in the valuable collections , and you have invited him home to dinner , instead of admiring your fact and your theory , he expresses to Mrs . P . his obligation to you for having obtained him a sight of the