Correspondence.

reforms are necessary , in a spirit of brotherly kindness , and I only wish that "P . M . "hacl not diminished the effect of his excellent exhortation to charity , by an imputation of motives , and an offensive personality , such as I have searched for , in vain , through your columns . Charges of " egregious vanity , " and " intentional discourtesy , " do notcome well from the lips of this " self-constituted teacher ; " nor , let him believe , are all independent members of G L . necessarily guilty , either of" envy " or " ambition . " I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally ,

A LONDON P . M . To the Editor of " The Masonic Observer . " Province of Somerset , Feb . 27 , 1857 .

SIE AND B ROTHER , —Will you give insertion , in your next number ) to a few comments on a "Past Master ' s Letter , " which has been extensively circulated amongst the Craft ? I should have supposed , Sir , that the writer , belonging , as he evidently does , to that section of G . L . who practically maintain that " whatever is is right , " ought to know a little more of the temper of country Masons than his letter indicates A " P . M . " proceeds on the assumption , that it is only at a distance dissatisfaction existsthat at homeat leasttranquillity

; , , and contentment prevail . If this were so , if the Executive in its relation to English Lodges performed its functions with fidelity , earnestness , and a scrupulous regard to their interests , it would be difficult to understand how it can be that such widespread discontent and such universal distrust should be found in one and all of those Colonial Lodges which are in communion with us . No , Sir , let not a " P . M . " deceive himself ; there have been for years , in this country , complaints " not loud but deep" touching the manner in which the wants and the interests of the Craft have been the

neglected by Executive . It is not possible to enter a Lodge that has not its wellgrounded cause of complaint . It is a rare thing to meet an individual Mason , of any experience , who cannot furnish ample proof of unwarrantable neglect . Hence the deep interest evinced by the country Masons in this contest—their warm appreciation of the trying position in which the Colonial Lodges have been placed , and hearty sympathy manifested towards them in the wrongs and neglects they have so long and patiently endured .

As the " P . M . " is behind the scenes , he must be well aware that the baneful effects of official incapacity are not confined to the Canadian Lodges . Gibraltar and Malta , and many other provinces , may be cited as examples of neglect and misrule . There is not a province abroad that has not its unredressed , though oft repeated , grievances . Then , Sir , as these are facts undisputed by the " P . M ., " I would enquire how it can have happened that , with such watchful guardians of the Masonic weal as a "P . M . " and his coadjutors of the Executivethese evils were not arrested in their earliest stage ? How

, very , notwithstanding their ample knowledge of facts , their constant observance of the threatening state of affairs , the ceaseless pouring in upon them , from every quarter , of memorials and expostulations , we do . not hear of a single step having been taken , nor a single measure devised , to avert the unhappy consequences we have now to deplore ? Year after year the causes from which the evils spring have been allowed to expand and develop their natural results disregarded and unchecked . Remonstrances availed nothing . The hovering cloud portended

the coming storm which threatened to destroy the Masonic fabric , and still these " Jonahs" slept , and still they would have continued to sleep , if they had not been aroused by the vigilance and promptitude of that " party" in the hour of danger whom a "P . M . " so sedulously seeks to disparage . But by a marvellous coincidence , it may be learned from the " P . M . 's " notable composition , that it was at this very juncture that the Executive were about to la remedto the long existing

appy y evils . A new policy was about to be adopted . The dawn of a brighter clay was about to be ushered in , bringing contentment and happiness , by the removal of the sources of grievance and the concession of those privileges which had been so long withheld . I am inclined to believe , Sir , that this was one of the good intentions with which it is said the Dais is paved ; but , I opine , like many other good intentions , it perished in its birth . What , may I ask , are the measures proposed bthe Executive for the of terminating

y purpose those differences which exist between G . L . and its dependencies , to restore the fraternal confidence , which has been suspended by its own mismanagement ? In vain have these questions been asked in G . L . To no purpose have Brethren in G . L . entreated , exhorted . Measures having for their object the amelioration of irregularities and abuses ,

have met with no favour from the Governing Body , and sitch measures , when successful , have invariably been carried in spite of the combined opposition of the Executive and the Dais . Sir , the country Masons generally recognize with gratitude , the exertions of the " great constitutional party . " They feel convinced that if the Colonies are preserved to us , it will be mainly through the efforts and the eloquence of the Earl of Carnarvon , and those who have so ably supported him in the contest

. There is a prevalent notion amongst country Masons that the Head of the Executive is so much absorbed in his ail-engrossing pursuit , that he cannot give that attention to the duties of his exalted position , as G . M ., that the interest of so important a body as the F . M require . They are of opinion , that from their G . M . they were entitled to more courtesy and consideration than were manifested by his lordship on a late occasion ; when by a stroke of his pen , the inconvenience and mortificationattendant a visit to

, expense , , upon London , to assist in the deliberation of G . L . which his lordship afterwards declared to be illegal , might have been spared them . There is a class of Masons I am aware who think that to oppose the G . M ., and the Executive , amounts to a departure from the principles of the Order ; but an attentive perusal of the Book of Constitutions will render it abundantly manifest , that it is not only justifiable , bnt becomes an absolute duty to do so when that body fails to discharge its functions faithfully .

Those who contend that the G . M . is "King of the Craft , " i . e . endowed with absolute power , seem scarcely to have thought of the correlative responsibility which such a power implies . The power of the Executive is bounded by certain limitations , and it is only when any attempt has been made to go beyond them , that G . L ., by its inherent power , has ( and no doubt wisely ) interfered . There is a power unquestionably that the G . M . possesses , and a very important power it is , viz : that , as the head of the executive , of exercising 3 vigilant supervision

over his subordinates , and to punish those who neglect those important offices , on the proper performance of which , depends the effective and proper working of the Order . I am , Sir and Brother , Yonrs , very Fraternally , A COUNTRY P . M .

To the Editor of the" - Masonic Observer . " DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I was not present at the last G . L ., but I am informed , upon good authority , that the motion for giving G . L . the power to adjourn was strongly opposed by Lord Panmure . I understand that his Lordship , in addition to being the representative of the G . L . of England , at the G . L . of Scotland is a Provincial G . Masterunder the Scotch ConstitutionsIf I am correctwill

, . , you allow me through your columns to ask his lordship if he has ever read the Constitutions of the G . L . of Scotland ? for they give its members the power of adjournment , from time to time , until all business is disposed of ; and when he attends G . L . in Edinburgh , if he has ever advocated the same views as he did at the last G . L ., a few days since , on this subject ? His Grace the Duke of Athol , as G . M . of Scotland , does not consider that his Btethren show any want of confidence in him , by professing the power , and exercising the time immemorial ht of

rig adjournment , When will the G . M . of England act likewise ? Believe me , dear Sir and Bro ., Yours faithfully and fraternally , PERCY WELLS , P . M ., & M . E . Z ., 48 . Bath , February 18 th , 1857 .

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FREEMASONS BOYS' SCHOOL . —An election of four boys to the above school took place on the 19 th of Januarv . There were twelve candidates , and the numbers polled were as follows : —MACE , 1218 ; HOAKE , 791 ; ADAMS , 776 ; BERESFOUD , 718 ; HARVEY , 590 ; GuANziaom , 546 ; LANG , 222 ; ROGERS , 131 ; GRAY , 119 ; STARK , 19 ; TRAWLEY , 16 ; PAUL , 10 .