Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

SJe Editor is not responsible for tlie opinions expressed by Correspondents , WHAT IS FEEEMASOJNTEY ? EO r __ H HDITOH OF THE HSSEIUSOXS' -IAGAZIJI-E ___ _) HASOXIC UI-BBOB . DEAB SIE AUD BEOTHEE , —This question is often ¦ asked by the uninitiated and I fear not fully understood

by a many iniatiated into our Order . I have no desire , if even capable , to occupy your valuable space , by entering into the beautiful teaching of our Institution , bub a circumstance which , I regret to say is becoming too general , occurred to me last week ivhich

induces me to trouble you upon the present occasiou . Walking with a friend in the north-western district of our metropolis , he called my attention to a shop with the square and compasses and level and glumb rule on the facia and the same on each of the £ wo windows . My friend remarked , " I suppose that

Mr , must be well up in Freemasonry to make such a display and thereby commanding the custom and trade of the fraternity . " I think you and all experienced brethren will judge my surprise when Ij tell you this brother has not yet taken his third degree . This I have only just learnt . I think it is

a great error in young Masons to make such a display before they are in possession of anything like a knowledge of our order . Such brethren are generally considered by good Masons as men not likely to promote ihe welfare of the Craft . We are told it should be

the constant study of every Freemason to prove to ihe world at large the beauties of our Institution that mankind may know it is something more than a name , but this is not to be accomplished by a display of painted or glass emblems ou our houses or shops . I ivould with all brotherlfeeling ask those brethren

y who adopt the system referred to to visit our lodges of instruction and "learn what Freemasonry is , " they S-ilL then see there is something more brilliant than the gilded letter , more valuable than £ . s . d ., and what must gain the admiration of our fellow men sooner and . firmer than the display on our door post , that

. Freemasonry is not a limited liability company of five guinea shares with calls every three months of fourteen or fifteen shillings for banquets . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Years truly and fraternally , I . P . M . jQondon , March 12-th , 1 S 6 G .

Provincial Grand Master.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER .

3 E 0 ______ -TDIIOB OI IHE FREEJIASOXS' MAOAZIS-E AND JIASO-iTC lUlUlOE . DEAB SIB AND BEOTHEE , —In common with many a constitutional Freemason , I have been much surprised and pained on reading a letter in your MAOA - ZISE this morning from " P . M . " From the moderate tone and evident interest in the Craft exhibited by the writer , one cannot help accepting the statements given as—if anything—even not so " strong" as they might be made . Of course I can only surmise as to

Provincial Grand Master.

the locality spoken of , and fancy almost is certainty in this instance , as the style of the letter enables me to recognise an old and valuable correspondent to your columns , and one whom I feel proud in having frequent communication with .

Surely , sir , this matter requires looking into . As an admirer of the constitution of the United Grand Lodge of England , I am most unwilling to believe that its laws are so defective in regard to Provincial Grand Lodges as " P . M . " would seem to represent , and would beg to remind him , through your columns ( as the subject is before the fraternity ) that the

" Book of Constitutions , " p . 45 , Art . 1 . Of Provincial Grand Master , expressly states tbat "the appointment of this officer is a prerogative of the Grand Master , by whom a patent may be granted during pleasure to any brother of eminence and ability in the Craft who may be thought worthy of the

appointment , " so that any cause for complaint should be made in the form of a petition , asking for an inquiry , and stating the objections made to the rule of the Provincial Grand Master in question . However unusual such a course would be , it should be preferred to allowing so radical an evil as the one referred to

by "P . M ., " to continue to interrupt the harmony and impede the progress of Freemasonry in tbe province . My learned friend , the " P . M ., " himself says , " A commission of inquiry sent from London to the province would , perhaps , be the best course in the special case . " Without doubt it would be so ,

and as that inquiry would only , in general , be in response to a petition from the agrieved parties , let " P . M ., " and die large number who think with him , take the initiative , and thus express their earnestness , and must probably have removed from the province a P . G . M ., whose retirement would be universally hailed with delight . Trusting the importance of the subject will be a sufficient excuse for thus trespassing on your valuable

space . I am , char Sir and Brother , Yours truly and fraternally , W . J . HUGHAS - , 13 ° , Editor " Devon aud Cornwall Masonic Calendar . " Truro , 10 th March , A . L . 58 G 6 .

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Misoxie SONGS . — -The true Freemason who has carefully perused tlie numerous ( so culled ) Masonic songs , must have been painfully struck with the low conception of the venerable Craft ivViich many of the rhyming members of the wide-spread fraternity have had . I have heard of one "Reed shaken by the wind , " who , on the initiation of a man infinitely his superior in every way , on learning that he was a teetotaller ami a vegetarianremarked"Then he'll never make a Mason !"—his

, , notion being- that Freemasonry ancl revelry wore identical ; and some of the miserable scribblers of songs , miscalled Masonic , have evidently been no wiser . Save uooi- Burn ' s ever-famous "Farewell to tlie Brethren of the St . James's Lodge , Tarbolton , " written when lie contemplated becoming an exile from the land of ivhich he was one of the brightest ornaments it lias overproducedand with a few other lorious exceptionsthe things

, g , miscalled Masonic songs arejmere bombast , doggerel , or drunken staves , scribbled by men who havo been totally unable to comprehend the beautiful system of morality , " veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols , " ivhich they profanely profess to defend and illustrate . —The Bards and Authors of Cleveland and South Durham , by George Markaui Tweddell , F . S . A ., Neivc .