Correspondence.

*~ For some weeks past we havo b ? en engaged in comparing the Revised with the Existing Code of Regulations for the government of the Craft , and tbe task is far from being completed . We are of the old-fashioned opinion that , if a thing is worthy doing at all , it is worthy doing

thoroughly , and hence the length to which onr comments have run , and are likely to run . Somo of our readers , perhaps , not being specially interested in , or impressed with the importance of , the proposed revision , may consider we should have clone better had we dismissed it briefly , and

devoted tho bnlk of onr space to the usual comments on passing events connected with Freemasonry . On the other hand , there are those who hold that we have acted wisely in the course we have adopted , and . it is from their many and kind communications

we have derived encouragement to proceed with our labours , so that when we have completed them , we have experienced tho satisfaction of having , to the best of our ability , contrasted the proposed with tho present IRAVS . There is another reason , of some slight importance ,

which has impelled us to do what we have done . Though there is much activity in the Craft during the present season , there are few questions which appear to demand

editorial comment , and in the absence of such questions , we cannot say onr space has been ill occupied with the series of articles , now current , on the " Revised Book of Constitutions . " It must be remembered that

Revisions of a work so essential to our well-being and good government cannot be engaged in at frequent intervals . It is close on ten years since the last Revision took place , and we cannot look forward to another until at least an equal interval of time has passed . Every care , therefore , should

be taken to make the proposed Code as thoroughly calculated to meet the necessities of the Craft as possible " . There is no doubt the work of revision has been carefull y done , and that in many important particulars the proposed Book of Constitutions is an improvement on the existing edition .

But there is equally no doubt—in our judgment , at leastthat amendments are needed in order to secure a nearer approach to perfection , and we are not without hope that some of our views may find favour with the Revision Committee .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . The three chairs of President and Senior and Junior Vice Presidents were occupied by Bros . Joshua Nunn , James Brett ,

and 0 . A . Cottebrune . There was a very large attendance of brethren , among whom were Lord Leigh , Prov . G . M . Warwickshire ; Frank Richardson , Rev . Edmund J . Cox , Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , H . G . Buss Asst . G . S . The Board

of Masters , which was first held , settled the paper of business for Grand Lodge of 6 th December . The Lodge of Benevolence was then opened , and commenced by confirming grants to the amount of £ 1 G 0 , recommended to

the Grand Master at the former meeting . The new list contained tho unprecedented number of fifty-six cases , Forty-eight of these were relieved , with a total of £ 1840 , One case was dismissed , and the remainder were deferred .

A Meeting of the Members of the Grand Master ' s Council , No . 1 , of the Degree of Royal aud Select Masters , will be held at the Masonic Hall , 8 A Red Lion-square , ou Thursday , the 30 th instant , at five o ' clock in thejaftcrnoon .

A meeting of the Old Kent Royal Ark Mariner Lodge , attached to Old Kent Masters' Lodge , will be held at the Masonic Rooms , 8 a Red Lion-square , on Wednesday next ,

the 29 th inst ., at -5 . 30 o ' clock p . m . Besides other business that will be transacted , the members will elect a W . C . N , in place of Bro . Henry Venn , who has completed his term of office .

A meeting of tho North London Chapter of Improvement was held on tho 23 rd inst ., at the Canonbnry Tavern , St . Mary ' s-road , N ., when Comps . Osborn filled the chair ofZ ., Hunter H ., Sheffield J ., Gregory S . N .. Edmonds

P . S . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , aftet which ifc was proposed by Comp . Edmonds , and seconded by Comp . Hunter , that tho entrance fee be reduced to IsGd ,

and on each night of attendance the fee be 3 d . This was duly curried by the Companions presold . The Convocation was then closed and adjourned until Tliunidiiy , the 30 th inrit ., at the hour of eight .

Festival Of The High Cross Lodge Of Instruction.

FESTIVAL OF THE HIGH CROSS LODGE OF INSTRUCTION .

fTlHE tenth anniversary festival of tho High Cross Lodge of In . *¦¦ strnction , was held afc the Coach and Horses , Lower Tottenham , on Wednesday , loth instant , when Brother W . M . Tegg the W . M . of tho mother Lodge officiated as President , with Brother E . Poore W . M . 1237 as Vice President . The first part of the programme was , as usual on these occasions , a dinner , and to this the brethren sat down at the appointed time . Great credit is due to the proprietor

for the way in whieh the viands were placed on tho table , and although this was , wo believe , one of the first attempts in this house , it showed he had acquired knowledge and experience elsewhere . At the conclusion of the dinner , the customary toasts were given and fnlly honoured , that of Prosperity to the High Cross Lodgo of Instruction coming immediately after the loyal ones . The

President , in proposing it , referred to the past history of the Lodge . It was established some ten years back , and during the whole of the time thafc had since elapsed had gone on most prosperously . Its objects and worth were so well known to those present as not to need special reference on tho present occasion , suffice it to say , that fche Lodgo was known , far and wide , and was considered one of the best .

He regretted he had not been able to avail himself of its instruction more than he had done , but recommended all aspiring brethren to regularly attend , as he had already learnfc to value its teachings . Another important feature in connection with this Lodge of Instruc . tion was , the work carried out by ifc so zealously on behalf of the Masonio Institutions . What it had done entitled it to foremost

rank as regarded our own "noble Charities . The toast having been enthusiastically received , was acknowledged by some of the fonn . ders then present , and then Bro . Poore proposed the health of the President . Bro . Tegg briefly replied ; he hoped he should merit the good words that hacl been . said of him . The toasfc of the Vice-President followed , being proposed from the chair . Bro . Tegg referred to

the respect and esteem in which Bro . Poore was held by all who knew him . Personally he had always found him a most genial and affable gentleman . He had visited the Enfield Lodge , of which Brother Poore was Master , and there he found the same sentiments expressed . Bro . Poore having replied , the health of the Officers of the Lodge was drunk . Good Officers were as necessary , or

perhaps more necessary , than in an ordinary Lodcre . Those connected with fche High Cross were mosfc energetic men , and contributed in no small degree to its success . Bro . Miller was the first to reply . He felt proud of the position in whieh he was placed , and hoped to enjoy the confidence of the members for many years to come . He felt that Lodges of Instrnction were most desirable institutions ;

without them he felt that Masters could nofc efficiently carry out their duties . Bro . Garrod also felt ifc a great pleasure to assist in fche working of the Lodgo . The present was the tenth anniversary of the Lodge which had been held in that house , and looking back during thafc time , one continued stream of prosperity presented itself . The Lodge had prospered in the past , and was still doing so , fresh mem .

bers constantly enrolling themselves . As regarded fche work done in fche Lodgo , thero were numerous instances to which he could refer , of brethren who hacl carried out fche work required of them in their respective Ledges most creditably , and who hacl learnt all in tho High Cross Lodgo of Instruction , while , as regarded its contributions to the Charities , as the W . II . of the evening had said , ifc had

won foremost rank in that respect . The President next gave tho toasfc of the Charities . The great idea of Freemasonry was charity , and this was thoroughly carried out in the High Cross Lodge of Instrnction . Three Charity Associations had already been formed in connection with it , from each of which large amounts had been sent np to the several institutions . He hoped tho charitable spirit of the

members would ever continue . Brother Fiddler , whose name was associated with the toast , replied , giving somo details of the extent ^ to which tho Lodge donations had amounted ; to the first association £ 500 was contributed , to the second £ 700 , while from the third , which was commenced in March last , fifty guineas had already been paid to the Institutions , with a further sum of twenty guineas voted

but not yet appropriated . The Vice President proposed the toast of tho Visitors , ancl tho President that of the Press , each of which were acknowledged , ancl then the neighbouring Lodges were complimented . The toast of the Mother Lodge was also honoured , as was that of the host and hostess—Bro . ancl Mrs . Barnes . In proposing this latter

toast , reference was made to the satisfactory way in which Brother Barnes had carried out his part of tho programme ; every thing he had done hacl given fcho greatest satisfaction . The brethren kept up the enjoyment till a late hour , most of those present trying their ability to add to the harmony by songs or recitations .

Union Lodge , No 414 . —A regular meeting of this Lodge was hold at tho Masonic Hall , Reading , on Tuesday , 21 sfc instant . Present—Bros . Mount W . M ., Ferguson S . W ., Wheeler jun . J . W ., Withers Secretary , Parry S . D ., Witherington J . D ., Butler M . C ., Blackwell I . G ., Martin Steward , Hemmings Tyler , Stephens I . P . M . ; P . M . ' s Morris , Bradley , Hounslow ; also Cave , Dodd , George ,

Tirbntt , Itiggf , Rayner , Tench , McDowell , Hawkes , Albtiry , Sherwood , Hart . Visitors—Bros . Dowsett , Ivey . Lodge was opened , and tho minutes of last regnlar Lodge wero read and comfirmed . In those minutes we noticed thafc tho Lodge had decided " nofc to approve of tho motion of Brother Clabon , " also that the Lodge had voted two miinens to the Roval College of Music . Lodge was

opened in the second degree . Brother Tirbntt being a candidate lor raising , gave satisfactory proof of his efficiency ancl was entrusted . After ho had retired , Lodge was opened in tho third , and Bro . Tirbntt was re-admitted and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason Tho ceremony \ va = t correctly performed by the VV . M . and his Officers ' . After clositi' *; to the first degree ancl balloting for members , Lodge waa closed , aec-unlim ; to autieut form , aud adjourned .