Correspondence.

the same time , and ' Masonic Tradition' informs us that the Knights joined the Masonic Order in Palestine , and our traditions should not be doubted . With regard to Frederick ' s Charter , I have not the slightest doubt of its genuineness , and if intercommunication between tbfs country and Berlin had then ( between 1786 and 1802 ) been as

easy as it is now , and the then doubters of the authenticity of the said Charter had at once applied to Berlin for information , the authenticity of Frederick ' s Charter would undoubtedly have been at once confirmed . But the history of the Order of the Mystio Shrine was published in 1885 , when Masonic sceptics were numerous , and

when intercommunication between America and all parts of the world was easy , had any one doubted in 1885 the truth of our Mystio Shrine history , he would have at once written to Rizk Allah Hassoon Effendee , to the Khedive of Egypt , to the son of Garibaldi , to the Kin » of Italy , and others whose relatives or ancestors are named in

the history as honoured members of our Order ; and the very fact that no inquiries were made about the statements of our history when it was first published , is itself conclusive evidence that no one in 1885 was bold enough to question its authenticity . " You are always clamouring for authentic' contemporary histories . '

You disbelieve Anderson because the pre-1717 period of his history of Freemasonry is not supported by contemporary histories . Here , however , we have a contemporary history of the highest kind . When our history was published , in 1885 , the III . Wm . J . Florence 32 deg .,

who received his Shrinering authority in 1870 direct from Cairo , was still in the land of the living . Walter M . Fleming 33 deg . & c , ( who received his authority direot from W . J . Florence ) must have been satisfied that it was all O . K . Besides which , the history was

published by Bro . Robert Macoy 33 deg . P . D . G . M . of New York , who was doubtless intimately acquainted with all the then III . Mystic Shriners ; and do you suppose that Bro . Macoy would have published our history if he had not believed every word in it ? " Again , when our history was published , there was about a score

of high-toned Masonic papers and Magazines published in America , and one of our most luminous Mystio Shrine scholars assured me that not a solitary Masonic publication of the period had a word to say against the truthfulness of our history . "The most luminous paper of that period was the Keystone , and

Bro . MacCalla K . T ., & c . was its editor . That high Mason was a firm believer in the Grand Mastership of Solomon , and of Sir Christopher Wren , also in the Masonry of De Molay . In short , he was a firm believer in all kinds of traditions ; he never suffered anything to appear in his paper that was opposed to traditions , or which con .

flicted with his Masonic orthodoxy . Why ! he even gave a terrible scolding to the editor of the Freemason's Repository for reprinting from the London FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE one of Jacob Norton ' s articles , in which the antiquity of speculative Masonry was qnestioned . Well ! in 1885 an advertisement for a Mystic Shriner's picnic

appeared in the Keystone , and do yon suppose that Bro . MacCalla would have inserted that advertisement in his paper if he had not sincerely believed in the truthfulness of the then recently published history of our Order ? What ! you say , ' it was a mere business transaction / No ! Bro . MacCalla was a K . T ., and a K . T . never con .

mved at such a transaction for filthy lucre . " Besides , jnst look at the high Masonic titles of the members of our Order when the history was published , who , by assent and consent , bore testimony to the faith that was in them . There was J . W . Simons 33 rd degree and P . G . M . of New York ; the immortal

JVlcClenechan 33 rd degree , anthor of the most profound commentary on the A . and A . Rite ; the learned linguist and translator of the history , Professor Rawson ; the III . W . S . Paterson , whom the historian described as 'A Masonic student of no ordinary merit ; ' two Christian Ministers of high Masonic standing officiated in the

Impenal Council as ' Chief Imperial Rabban , ' and aa 'Assistant Imperial Rabban ; ' but above all the Thrice 111 . Henry L . Palmer Sov . Gr . Com . of the N . J . of the U . S . of A . was 'P . G . and Deputy ' in Milwaukee . Truly did our historian refer to them as 'Names distinguished in every branch of the Masonic Guild . ' Now , do you

think that all these great Masons were imposed upon ? Or that they were a confederation of impostors ? Why , if we reject the anthenticity of that history , then credibility in all kinds of History must in

future be abandoned . Besides which , you must not forget that membership to our Order was restricted to 32 nds and to Knights Templars . And can any one believe that Christian Masonic KnightB Templars were ever humbugged or deceived ?"

_ SCEPTIC . — "But why is your Order in America confined to Chris , tians only , while ' its membership iu all countries includes Christians , Israelites , and Moslems ? ' " ORTHODOX . — " That question I cannot answer . " ScEmc . — " What is your opinion of the Masonic writings of

Findel , Steinbrenner , Lyon , Hughan , and Gould ?" ORTHODOX . — " I have no opinion about them , because 1 have never read them , and do not care to read them . " I shall only add that although a reader endowed with common sense must at onco pronounce the history of the Mystic Shriucrs a gross

absurdity , yet in reality it is no more absurd than the thonsand and one so-called "Masonic traditions" which have at different times and in different places been imposed upon the credulity of the Masonic Brotherhood by means of a thousaud and one so-called " Masonic degrees , " and which traditions the high luminaries of the

respective rites and degrees have defended with the same kind of plausible sophistry as is exhibited in the above imaginary dialogue by " Orthodox . " Now , as it is undeniable that tens of thousands of our brethren are still sincere believers in the traditions of all the degrees they have taken ; it is , therefore , not unreasonable to suppose that if

future Masonic luminaries should continue to reason , as they have hitherto reasoned , and as tbey still reason , that a time may come when the above history of the Order of the Mystic Shrine may be claimed by its defenders to be the most authentic Masonic history that was ever written . Fraternally yours , BOSTON , U . S ., 20 tb Aug . 1885 . JACOB NOBION .

A Dearth Of Candidates.

A DEARTH OF CANDIDATES .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Among the reasons assigned by you last week to account for the anticipated dearth of candidates during the coming season is " the growing idea in the minds of those least worthv of being admitted to our ranks , that the benefits derived

from being a Freemason produce no sufficient return for the expenditure necessary to ensure admission to it in a respectable manner . " You may well say that Freemasons would be delighted if this feeling was to affect the supply of candidates , and I venture to think there is no true brother among us who would regret

his Lodge suffering for a time , if it suffered (?) from such a cause . Yon also say that there is a possibility of such a consideration really having weight in the future ; I sincerely hope your surmise may be correct . I can , unfortunately , testify to the ill effects of having in our midst a brother (?) actuated by

other than worthy motives . One of our members introduced a candidate , who was , to all appoarance , one worthy of being admitted , but we soon found it would have been much better for ns if we had never seen him . He has now resigned his connection with the Lodge , but it is really marvellous to think the amount of mischief and ill

feeling he caused among us , who previously had been a most nnited family . I have since heard that now he " cannot say anything bad enough about Freemasons and Freemasonry , " and looking at the matter from the point you raise , I quite see he is doing the Masonic

Order a good turn . It is very certain none of his friends will think of joining if he can have an interview with them , and under the circumstances Freemasonry will not suffer much if he does succeed in creating a dearth of candidates from among his acquaintance . I beg to remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , J . G . F .

An Employment Bureau.

AN EMPLOYMENT BUREAU .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am mnch obliged to " TRAVELLER " for his notice of my letter on this subject , and for the example he gives of what is being done at the present time in the way of assisting brethren to obtain situations . I shonld be very pleased to see such

a system as he describes recognised in o'ir home Lodges , but ab present I think a brother would almost be called to order if he brought such a subject as employment regularly before his Lodge . Perhaps the public notice of the system described by " TRAVELLER , "

which you have afforded , may be the means of classing itshonld it be suggested here—among the regular business of our Lodges . In snch case I think that a great amonnt of go' > d migH be done in a qnarter where it is much needed , and it would not be derogatory to the reputation of Freemasonry . Yours fraternally , A FREEMASON , PURE AND SIMPLE .

A Trip By Boat From Southampton To Bournemouth.

A TRIP BY BOAT FROM SOUTHAMPTON TO BOURNEMOUTH .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It is marvellous to note the cheapness of travelling and the great improvements made , and still going on with regard to Excursion Boats . Lately I had the gratification of spending a very pleasant day , amongst agreeable companions , on the

" Baby steamer Her Majesty ( only four months old , but strong and well setup ); her length 190 ft ., 20 ft . beam , while the decorations and fittings are perfection . This boat may be said to have been initiated on the 24 th of May last , when she made her fir 3 t journey from Southampton to Bournemouth , under command of Bro . Capt .

James Short , 359 , and if she continues doing her work as smoothly as on the occasion I refer to , and rftains the services of Captain Short , she soon will be able to assert herself as a " Past Master . " The steward , Bro . and Comp , Mark Smith ( better known at the editor of " French made Easy , " is a Mason that any brother will be

pleased to make the acquaintance of . His tariff is reasonable , and the viands he dispenses are bountifully supplied , the wines , & c , of the best quality . A cap' ^ l band , nnderthe di-ection of Mr . F-ed . Moancher , discoursed most nloqnentlv- On this occasion onr ror '"

returned to Southampton , after travelling a di-tanc >> of ove > - 100 miles , and this for the modest sum of three shillings . In conc . hs 'iii , I may state that we were allowed a stay of three hours at Bournemouth . Yours fraternally , A LOVER OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

The iEolus Waterspray and General Ventilating Company , 235 High Holborn , has received instrnctions to apply their comp ' ete system of Inlet acd Outlet Ventilation to the nevr composing-rooms and stereo foundry of the Morniwj Pout . This is the third London " daily " which has entrusted tbe ventilation of its printing premises

to the iEolus Company , the other two being the Daily Telegraph and the Daily News . Amongst other recent applications of the iEolus system are St . Raphael ' s House of Charity , Bristol ; the

School Board Offices , Wolverhampton ; Clifton Church , York ; tbe Commercial Bank of Scotland , Edinbnrgh ; the Post Office , Canterbury , for H . M . Office of Works ; the Ileneage Board Sjhools , near Grimsby ; Anerley Board Schools , & c , & c .