Reviews.

present—an invaluable fact too often overlooked ; that tho longer tin time between tho signs and the change foretold , the longer sucl altered weather will last ; and , on the contrary , the less the time between a warning and a change , tlie sh' -. vtor will ho the cnuUtuvAuen ot

such foretold weather . " However , wo have said quite enough to prove our case , that this little book is both interesting and valuable , and those of our readers who are partial to watching tho signs of the woither will find sixpence laid out in tho purchase of Weather Wisdom a profitable investment .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

> Vc do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters west bear the name awl address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

" JACHIN AND BOAZ . '

To the F . ditor of the FKKIOIASON s CuiioNtcr . t :. DRAIS Slit AND BitoTiiiiK , —I trust Urn . Jacob Norton will pardou mo for suggesting that ho is somewhat hasty in jumping to tho conclusion that Dr . Oliver was wrong in his statement that this work was published in 1750 , and that in all probability Bro . Carson ' s copy of tho year 1762—as I have seen it stated in your contemporary , not

1700—is the original edition . As far as I can gather from his description of the copy in tho Masonic Temple , Boston , there must bo some imporfection just in that part of it which is most important in determining a point like this . I have , had a great deal to do with books—old and modern . I have conic in contact with many experts , and I have noticed how very carefully thoy examined the title-page

and preface , if thero wore one , so that they might he as certain as they possibly could of the genuineness of tho book or edition . But , even supposing it to be complete , the point on which Bro . Norton lays so much stress in fixing the date as not earlier than 1757 at least or later than 1702 , does not settle that this is i ]\ e first edition , any more than , without something definite in the way of evidence , it settles

the year between 1757 and 1702 m which it was published . A now edition , which had had any reasonable amonnt of caro bestowed on it , and was issued during tho Grand Mastership of Lord Abcrdour , would or should have his Lordship ' s name substituted for that of the nobleman who was Grand Master when the preceding edition appeared . Bro . Norton says " the pages of the first leaf are marked ( iii ) and

( iv ) , " and the first question an expert would ask would be , Where are pages i and ii ? For it is just those two pages that might have been looked for to supply the missing link in the evidence . Again , the title-page of the copy in Boston Templo describes the book as having been reprinted for Williamson of Dnblin , though originally " printed for W . Nicoll" of London ; but tho reprint may

have been issued years after the print , or the print and reprint may havo followed one another so closely as to be virtually ono and the same edition . Auyhow , if strikes me Bro . Norton has not helped forward a settlement of tho matter at issue , especially as "I believe there were several editions of this work issued by Nicoll ; and without pages i

and ii to guide us wo havo no means of knowing when this particular ono was issued . It may have appeared still later in tho century , and being a " reprint , " the retention of Lord Abcrdonr ' s name would not bo so strange . Yours fraternally , K . T . L .

THE A . & A . EITE AND A . & P . RITE .

To the Editor of the FJJKKMASON ' S CHKONICU :. BEAU Slit ANI > BIIOTHF . I :, — I havo r . o particular regard for those degrees which aro outside the sacred palo of Craft Freemasonry . Some of them , no doubt , are interesting , but none of them arc essential . They stand iu about the same relation to the Craft degrees as tho purple and fine lineu of tho king to tho kingly power . Theso

derive all their improssivoucss from the fact of their adorning or ; setting off the person of the monarch , yet are they nothing more than the outward and visible sign , not the inward spiritual force , of that monarch ' s power . Or , to use a more homely simile , they are excrescences which have gradually attached themselves to the pure structure of our Craft , and have been left undisturbed because it is

impossible they can ever injure the perfection of its symmetry . No doubt the A . & A . Rite is fair to look upon , but such virtue as it possesses emanates primarily from Craft Masonry , and the same holds good of the A . & P . Pile . It is the more amusing , therefore , to note the lofty-minded manner in which tho former ignore ; : the very existence cf the latter . I know that Golden Square etijovn

tho patronage of most of the lending members of Craft Masonry , while the A . & P , Rife is very far less fortunately circumstanced ; bnt that and tho seniority of tho A . & A , Rite in respect of age represent as nearly as possible the degrco of difference there is between the two bodies . But if Craft Masons feel disposed to study other than Craft Mysteries , what harm can follow whether fhev

incline more favourably towards the A . & P . Rite or tho A . & A . Rite , or even if they evince n derive to become acquainted with them both ? It would bo in better taste , J think , if the " Supremo Council " showed more forbearance towards the " Sovereign Sanctuary . " Neither of them forms part of ancient Masonry pure and simple , while both in

a certain sense exist on sufferance , because our Craft rulers are too liberal-minded to interfere with those subordinate members or members of their own standing who tako an interest in fancy , . side , or hig h degrees . Your faithful brother , CjiAi'ISJIA-V .

Correspondence.

P . G . LODGE BANQUETS .

7 o the Ethtor of the FISKKJIASOXS Cttuoxicr . E . VH ' . M ! Su ; \ xt « Rutmiv . i ' ., —T WAY take upon myself to say that I am a peripatetic brother , and having many Masonic friends in tho Provinces and somo leisure timo at my disposal , I deem it a pleasure to attend , whenever possible , at tho annual gatherings of our Provincial Grand Lodges . As a matter of course , it is in the order of

things that [ should attend tho banquet which follows , for a brother who has travelled , it may be , many miles , needs refreshment . As a rule , I find the expense of banqueting within the compass of my modest means , but thero aro not a few P . G . Lodges whioh fix thoir tariff of charges so high that , with all the will in tho world to make one at a very pleasant gathering , I am under tho necessity

of foregoing that pleasure . Now , I ask you , Bro . Editor , in tho simplicity of my heart , this plain but pertinent question , Is it necessary to our enjoyment that wo should pay a long prico for it ? I know there aro people who hold that an article is not worth purchasing which is priced at a modoratc sum , but I am also old enough to know that the enjoyment of a day ' s

pleasure is not dependent on heavy cost . I can dine comfortably—I may almost say sumptuously—at the Criterion , the Gaiety , the Holborn , tho London , and other equally well-known metropolitan restaurants for a few shillings , and having honourably accounted for n pint or bottle of wine , I return to my chambers a contented man . Am I better if I pay a guinea for my banquet , and that , too , at a hostelry

in a Provincial town whero charges—to uso a business torm— " rule lower than they do iu Loudon ? A guinea , let mo toll you , is a large sum to pay for a dinner at the Bluo Griffin in Little Poddington , especially when , if accompanied by a few friends , I go there informally , and find a very nice little repast provided for half that sum . I know it will be said that these occasions are exceptional , aud that the table is furnished with all the luxuries and delicacies of tho

season . But then I do not want all tho luxuries aud dolicacies , but simply a good dinner , and I flatter myself I know what that meaus . My opinion—it must go for what it is worth , and need be binding on no ono else—is that tho cxpou 3 es at these annual meetings should bo made as light as possiblo consistently with comfort . Ifc is the ono opportunity in tho yoar which brethron belonging to Lodges remote from one another enjoy of meeting each other . If all brethren wero millionaires it would mako no difference if the

prico of ii banquet ticket were fixed as high as five guineas ; but all enjoy not that good fortune , and I hold it is far better that a larger number of Masons should meet together and dine simply but well than that there shonld bo a gathering limited in numbers by reason of the expense . Fraternally , A PitoviirciAL M . M .

Approaching Prov. Grand Lodges.

APPROACHING PROV . GRAND LODGES .

Tlie Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk will bo hold on Wednesday next , tho 21 st instant , at Sudbury , when the Officers for tho coming year will bo appointed and invested , aud tho usual business , as to accounts , & c , transacted . The annual meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodgo of Hertfordshire } will bo held this year at tho Red Lion Hotel , Hatfield , on Friday , tho

23 rd instant , R . W . Bro . T . F . Halscy , one of tho M . IVs for the County and Prov . G . Master , will preside , and as Freemasonry is highly popular iu this shire , there will doubtless bo a very numorous gathering of the brethren . Tho Grand Treasurer ' s Statement of Accounts , as audited , is most satisfactory , showing , as it does , Receipts , iucluding Balance from last year , amounting to £ 157 Ids lid , while

tho Expenditure has been only £ 93 2 s 5 d , leaving a Balance in Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s hands of £ Gt 12 s 6 cl . There is also a sum of £ 110 5 s Gd invested in Consols , so that the Masonic condition of Herts is . a happy one . Among the motions that will be proposed arc —( lj by Bro . T . S . Carter ' Prov . G . J . W . P . M . Hertford , No . 403 , to tho effect that twenty guineas be voted towards the Funds of tho

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and bo placed on the list of Bro . John E . Dawson Prov . G . Sec , as Steward at the Festival of 1881 ; ( 2 ) that ten guineas be voted to the Craubottrno Lodge , No . 1580 , Hatfield , towards its expenses in entertaining Prov . Grand Lodge ; ( 3 ) that ten guineas be voted to the National Schools , Hatfield ; and ( 4 ) that the publication of tho Prov . Grand Lodgo Calendar be continued .

The Provincial Grand Ledge of Surrey , will be hold on Saturday next , the 2 dth instant , under the banner of tho Lome Lodge , No . 1347 , Sutton , at the Public Hall , Sutton , the hour fixed for tho brethren to assemble being ono o'clock iu the afternoon . The business will hoof the usual character , and will include the election of Prov . Grand Treasurer , and tho appointment aud investiture of Provincial

Grand Officers for the year . At 2 \ lo p . m ., in accordance with the request of the P . G . M . General Brownrigg , C . B ., tho brethren will attend Divine service in the pan ' ah church of Sutton , when a sermon will be preached by the Worshipful Prov . Grand Chaplain . Brethren , however , will not wear their Masonic clothing . Tho banqnet will bo served at 3 30 p . m .

On Saturday , the 31 st instant , will tako place at Teddington the general meeting cf the Provincial Grand Lodge over which Bro . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., so genially presides . Tho arrangements will bo in charge of Felix Lodge , No . 119 1 , Teddington , and the business transacted will , as a matter of course , include the appointment of P . G . Officers for the ensuing year .

Tho Old Concord Lodge , No . 172 , had its annual Summer Excursion on Tuesday , when , under tho presidency of Bro . Hoadley W . M ., Lite members and their friends went up tho river from Kingston Bridge so Suubury on board the Maria Wood , and spout a most delightful day .