Correspondence.

system ^ of a uniformity of working in English Lodges ; basing their right to this privilege on the ancient prerogative of then Lodge , which is a regular warranted assemblage—has been for more than a century the depository of the working of the Craftand is composed of a number of gentlemen of education , such as would not discredit many a greater assemblage , and to whom language is familiar , when written or spoken , from their liberal education

, knowledge of grammatical construction , and the manner ol address observed amongst them . Hoping soon to sec a uniformity of working in the Craft , and that it may be confided by the M . AV . Grand Master to the only legal and recognized body in the Order—tlie Grand Stewards ' Lodge , I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally ,

A GRATIFIED VISITOR TO THE GKAND STEWARDS' LODGE . London , Dec . 2 < jlh , 1859 . MODEL LODGES . 'i'O TUB EDITOR Oi ? TIIE FREEAIASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BUOTIIKK—In treading the chequered path of

, life circumstances frequently present themselves before us which prompt us to hazard suggestions and opinions without any certain prospect of success . Undaunted by such convictions , I addressed you three weeks since , upon the important subject of Model Lodges , ancl I trust that I may yet be spared to witness the sublime ceremonies of Freemasonry worked only under' the hallowed roof ' s of model Lod

ges . Your correspondent , " R . E . X ., " in your last week ' s impression , in alluding to my letter , refers to me as condemning the principle of holding Lodges at taverns ; this charge I plead guilty to , not "from any fancy of contagious vice , " but from stern reality—such feelings , I blush to say , engendered in a great degree through the levity of conduct which I " have so frequentl y and so painfully witnessed immediatel y after the conclusion of the ceremoniesunder the roof

, very , and almost before the sound of the gavel had ceased to ring . How can such a course harmonize with the feelings of the Mason who looks "through nature up to nature ' s God . " Is it Masonry ? If it is , may I never again witness the initiation of another candidate into its mysteries . My argument is , remove the cause , and the effect will cease . Separate Masonry from the tavern . For the just aud upright Mason , howeverI entertain the

, greatest respect , be he peasant or prince , publican or priest , I ivould not knowingly injure him myself or suffer others so to do if in my power to prevent it , and fully appreciate the manifold advantages ivhich the tavern offers to the hungry and the weary , and I maintain that no class of persons arc more entitled to support than the tavern keeper ; nevertheless I am not unmindful of the claims Freemasonry imposes upon its members concerning its rites and ceremoniesnor will I ever

, , revoke any or either of them in support of business or mercenary motives . The sacred volume , which ought to rule and govern our faith , distinctively points out to us that there arc times and places for all things—a princi ple I endeavour to inculcate in others , and strive to act up to myself . In support of this argument , I refer to that great , ivisc , and mighty king , with whom all Masons are or ought to he intimately acquainted , who in the construction of ins

magnificent temple caused the very stones to be carved , marked , and numbered , prior to their removal from tlie quarry ; the timber felled and prepared in the forest of Lebanon , and conveyed by floats from Tyre to Joppa , —the metals fused and cast on the plains of Zercdathah , & c . ; and , I ivould ask , for what purpose ? AVhy all this indomitable perseverance , this groat painstaking ! AVas this fancyhaving object in view ?

a , no Certainl y not . AVhat then ivas the object ? The answer every Mason ought to know , viz . ; that the sanctity of that holy place might bejircservcd , & c . Surety , then , wc , professing our admiration of this mighty king ( our pattern and example ) , ought at least to follow his steps in preserving the sanctity of our Lodges by performing its ceremonies in buildings dedicated only to Masonic purposes .

I also readil y admit that those who want refreshment will go where it is to be hacl ; but this is no reason wh y Freemasonry should be made the . channel for eating and drinking . It is the love of the good things of this life , not the love of Masonry , whicli induces so many to attend Lod ge on particular occasion ' s . \ V hat better proof can be adduced in favour of this argument than a perusal of the Lodge book containing the signatures of those who have attended ? And what wi ) f you sec ? Names there inscribed which arc not to he found except upon the occasion oi a banquet . So much for such professors of Masonry—whose

belly is their god—who luxuriate in the sumptuous repast at a trifling cost , caring not one jot for their poor and distressed brethren , who the voice of charity calls upou loudly to assist . I do not hesitate to say that , L delight in the good things of this life as much as many people , but I at- all times partake of them in accordance with the views ivhich I so fearlessly and faithfully , though feebly express .

I remain , clear Sir and Brother , yours respectfully and fraternally , Kent , Dec . 28 M , 1859 . FIDEI . ITAS . " INSPECTION " OF LODGES . TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR , DEAR Sin AND BROTHER , —I perceive by a letter iu the

Magazine of the 17 th instant , that a writer therein , signing himself " Z . " takes exception to the word "inspection , " which occurred in my letter of the . 'ird , under the signature of "A Friend to Model Lodges . " I can assure you , Sir , that I have no particular predilection for the word "inspection . " I care not under what cognomen the S 3 'stem is worked . I am not ignorant of the fact of AVorshiful Masters " beingand accounted to beperfect

Solop , , mons in ami within their own proper persons , " but ! cannot divest myself of the suspicion that the wisest of men is sometimes very inefficiently represented . The plan I proposed ivas simply for the purpose of starting the subject , in the hope that it would be taken up by the Craft generally , and that by discussing the question in your excellent journal , an effective system would be procured consequentlI am hihl leased to see that it is likel

; y , gy p y to become a general topic . AVith all due deference to Bro . " Z . " I fear his plan of appointing " discreet ancl learned brethren to make a tour of the provinces whenever invited , " ivould not be successful , if only the Lodges issuing the invitation had to pay the expenses . The majority of country Lodges being small , and generally poor , ivould therefore be unwilling to incur the expense of a visit ;

furthermore , any Lodge worked in a slovenly or careless manner would rather forfeit a trifle than have the presence of a critic ( I will not say " inspector" ) . " Z's . " proposition might answer , and no doubt ivould be very good , provided Masonry in the United Kingdom and Ireland was even in a tolerable state of perfection ; but under existing circumstances , I am of opinion that it ivould

not meet tne requirements of the Order , as it seems to me there is not that uniformity in the maimer of working ivhich should exist . If the plan suggested , by " it . E . X . " was carried out ( which I deem admirable ) , it would he the means of establishing a perfect uniformity of system as well as prevent a vast deal of omissions in the initiation of candidates , ivhich is a grievous wrong , and amounts even to injustice , not alone to the candidate , but also

to our cherished institution . How different is it in the United States , ivhere every candidate is closely catechised by the AV . M . in open Lodge as to his proficiency in the first degree ere he is entitled to receive the second , and so on . I may state that this examination is not a matter of form , as the pupil must know his lesson . By this means , when a brother has received the " sublime degree" he is truly a Master Masonas he is capable of

impart-, , ing those sublime virtues ivhich ho ivas himself so recently instructed in to others , and thus hand down to posterity , unimpaired , the signs and tokens of antient Freemasonry . Delegates might also be sent to visit the Grand Lodges from the States , or at least attend the congress proposed by " R . E . X ., " which ivould further tend to perfect that unity of action so much desired .

I may here remark that in your able " Architectural Chapter , " in referring to Lodge No . loS , atAVhitehaven , Cumberland , a sentence occurs which appears to me rather singular . You say you are informed that tbe Alasonic ceremonies of the Lodge " are performed iu a style that would do credit to any metropolitan Lodge . " A stronger proof for the necessity of reform cannot be put forward . There ought to be but one style iu the ceremonies of Masons . —I am , dear Sir ancl Brother , fraternally yours , Sldbberceii , Co . Cork , Dec . nth , 1859 . J . AV . P .

MASONIC HALLS . TO TIIE EDITOR OI ? THE FREEMASONS' MAUAZ 1 NE AND MASONIC luilillofl . DI ; SIR AND BROTHER , —I shall , as one of the Craft ., be most happy to respond to the suggestion of "A Prov . J . G . AV ., " and give gratuitous designs for the purpose of forwarding the movement for Masonic Halls . But as the only illustrations suited to your pages are pictorial , I fear the illustrating tbem so ivould not answer any good purpose . It would be better for brother archi-