Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

asrwwm-m-^ a^^^^^^^a

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

THB SUB-DIVISION OF LONDON .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The proposal of Bro . James Stevens , sub . mitted to last meeting of Grand Lodge , for the division of London into Provinces is a good one , and I hope it will be taken np in earnest at no distant date . I was for many years connected with a country

Lodge , which , however , assumed such large dimensions that it was admitted to have become unwieldy and unworkable ; so that there was little chance , amongst two hundred and fifty members , of any yonng Mason attaining to a position within a reasonable time . The result has been that since I left the place the then existing two

Lodges , which had both grown to enormous size , have resolved themselves into five , by the formation of three new ones , and had I remained there I might have reasonably expected by this time to have passed the chair , and in all probability have attained Provincial rank . In London it is almost a forlorn hope to strive aftor the purple

collar and apron , and that being so many good Masons are disheartened and dispirited by the hope deferred which maketh the heart sick . By the sub-division of London into Provinces I am

convinced , with many others , that a vast amount of stimulus would be given to the members of Lodges generally , the result of whioh would be the promotion of the best interests of the Craft in the metropolis .

Therefore , let us hope the matter will not be lost sight of . Believe me to remain , Yours very fraternally , AN OLD MASON .

MASONIC RITUAL AND CEREMONIAL . A FEW REMARKS ON BRO . STEVENS ' LECTURES .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am one of those who for a considerable time after the first introduction of Bro . Stevens ' s Lectures to the Masonic public entertained a firm belief that our worthy brother was "pegging away" at his pet scheme ( some of ns called it " fad " ) for

securing uniformity of ritnal throughout the Lodges under the English Constitution . As I look upon the attainment of one absolutely perfect and universal system of verbatim eb literatim ritnal , even if desirable , almost if not quite impossible , an 1 was not desirous of lending myself to any apparent support of the schemeI

, kept away from his earlier Lectures . Within the last year , however , the " tongue of good report , " as to the usefulness and , as I was informed , necessity of these Lectures , broke down the barrier of prejudice which had held me aloof , and on a recent occasion I had the gratification of hearing our brother

discourse . It is only in accordance with Masonic obligation that I should freely admit tbat my original belief was an injustice done to his purpose and interest , and I make that admission so freely that I say to every earnest Mason desirous of knowing more of the symbolism of Masonry than is expounded iu our so often reiterated

ceremonials , and of learning the common sense interpretation of our words and actions in connection with Masonic work , —Go , ancl hear him ! On the occasion I refer to his Lecture embraced the three Symbolic Degrees , and in the course of an address which fixed tho attention

of his audience for rather more than two hours , I could not discover an expression which did more than suggest a consideration of tho arguments ho advanced for improving certain portions of tho verbiage and practice in general use amongst ns . I anticipated a somewhat dictatorial enforcement of his views , but , on the contrarvheard a

, modest disclaimer of all authority , and an acknowledgment that a condemnation of thoso who might differ from him would be intrusive and narrow-minded . It pleased mo greatly , ancl induced me to think more highly of his efforts . My former prejudice waa completely swept away , ancl now I havo no doubt that Bro . Stevens is doin <*

a good and meritorious work , which surely , though perhaps slowly , will have the desired effect of purging and purifying our ritual in very many respects . His address ia extempore , and here and there tho

faults which seem natural to extemporaneous addresses are observable , bnt a fluency of language and an unhesitating delivery are set off against such defects , to the great advantage of the Lecture as a whole . These remarks of mine find an echo in the minds of many brethren of my acquaintance , and setting aside my personal regard for the

Correspondence.

Lecturer I have thought it well to make them , and ask you to publish them for the good of the Craft in general . I sincerely hope that Bro . Stevens's Lectures may become still more popular than even they me at present , as well iu distant provinces as near the centre of our Masonio organization .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , ONE CONVERTED .

LATE HOURS AT MASONIC GATHERINGS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIB AND BROTHER , —Eeading the article quoted in your columns a short time ago from the Freemasons' depository , under the above heading , suggests that our Masouic friends on the other side of the Atlantic are uncommonly " late birds . " Either thoy spend a vast

amount of time in the celebration of the ceremonies , or tarry long over the " social occasion , " seeing that the former are prolonged until after ton o'clock at night , and the latter " until midnight or later , before the brethren separate and depart homeward . " I am not acquainted with the modus operandi of conducting Masonic

business in America , but it would be au unusual thing iu this country for the working to be continued up to so late as ten o ' clock iu the evening , and there are very few cases indeed iu which the " subse . quent proceedings " are not concluded long before the midnight hour . It may be that the peculiarities of business in American towns

prevent the brethren from opening their Lodges , as we do here when there is much work ou the agenda , at an early hour ; but seeing thafc Lodges meet only at comparative loug intervals , it may surely be thought that members might snatch an hour or two , once a month or so , to attend to their Masonic duties . Hera , as you are aware , when

there is any work of importance , Lodges invariably meat at times ranging between three and five o ' clock in the afternoon •labour is usually got through by seven or eight ; and so there is ample time for refreshment and social enjoyment afterwards . All must agree with your contemporary that " it would be altogether better if the

work and business of every Masonic organisation could be so arranged as to close by ten o'clock ; " that " two hours are ample for a Masonio ceremony , if its full impressiveness is to be brought out ; " aud that " it would be better to increase the number of meetings rather than to crowd so much into one evening . " Do we not frequently see a

large amount of work done in our own Lodges , in the three degrees , and all the ceremonies impressively rendered , in reasonable time , leaving plenty of leisure for social amenity afterwards ? I am nofc in

a position to compare the arrangements which obtain in English and American Lodges , but certainly the impression conveyed by the article referred to would seem we " manage things better" here than do our respected brethren " across the pond . "

I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , Quiz .

MASONIC FANCIES AND FOIBLES

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR S IR AND BROTHER , —From some points of view your strictures last week upon the fancies of some of us , and the foibles of others , may hold good ; but you will admit thero are two sides of every question , and I will trust to your fairness and impartiality to

allow me to give one or two ideas adverse to tho general tone of your article . I wear a Masonio pendant to my watch chain , and now and then a Masonio ring , bnt so far from doing so as a matter of personal vanity or as a trade advertisement , let me assure you it is nothing of the kind . I am weak enough to believe that Masons , wherever they

may be , should make themselves known to each other as such , and ifc has not infrequently happened in my own experience thafc emblems worn in this way act as a mute but eloquent introduction to men with whom I ahould never otherwise have become acquainted . Travelling quite recently on the railway I was faced by a gentleman

whose ring bore the familiar square ancl compasses , ancl by mutual recocuition we at once became friends , enjoyed a mosfc agreeable , and I hope instructive tete-a-tete during a long journey , which under other circumstances might have been tedious and silent . " I perceive you are a Mason , " was the opening of au interesting chat , which

naturally opened up a great variety of subjects—the names auu localities of our respective Lodges , tho social and moral advantages of our connection with fche Craft , the probabilities attendant on tha then pending election of Graud Treasurer , the enormous value of onr Masouic Charitable Institutions , tho suggested Jubilee

Commemoration , tho Ledges we had visited , and a host of other matters in which we felfc a reciprocal interest . Had it not been for the simple emblems we each displayed we might have remained " strangers jot ; " as ifc is , wo became firm and fasb friends by tho timo we reached our destination . Singularly enough , wo were both going to

tho same town—a watering-place in tho West of luiglaud ; by arrangement wo met , aud I was introduced by my new acquaintance to two Lodges , and with the members I spent pleasant evenings , the most pleasant amongst all tho rest of fche ton I had occasion to sojourn in tho neighbourhood . If such a result is experienced iu our own home circles how much moro would a similar recognition be of

value on the Continent or abruad i My own opinion is that tho li flashing " of jewels , and " talking loudly in company of the advantages which accrue from connection with the Order" are more honoured iu tho breach than iu the observance . A man who coa . nits such egregious folly would bo scouted and tabooed in a commercial room , a restaurant , a billiard