Correspondence.

the Quarterl y 'Review , the article on the Talmud , by Emaune Deutsch , or if he had read Ronan ' s life of Christ , ho would have learned that the character of tho Pharisees was very much misrepresented by tho writers of the Gospel .- ' , that instead of tho Jews having degenerated at the time when Christ was bom they were " really more religious , more sincerely God-fearing , moral ,

jnst , and humane , than their ancestors had been during tho period between Moses and Isaiah . But assuming , for tho sake of argument , that all the Pharisees to which the Gospels refer were really nothing bnt hnmbugs and hypocrites , even then it seems to me simply ridioulous for an American Masonic luminary to point tho finger of scorn at tho hypocrisy of the Pharisees , while he is himself

partioipating and approving of the humbug and hypocrisy practised in American Masonic Lodges . The second artiole is headed " Light of Ages . " One brief specimeu from this will suffice for my purpose . Referring to tho marriage at Cana , in the fourth Gospel , tho writer informs us that" The miracle at Cana is an allegory of the sun producing the jnice

of the grape from water through the nsnal course of nature . " This Masonic luminary thns rambles through all ages , histories , and mysteries , perverting tho meaning of every writer , in order to prove that the Gospels , the Apocalypse , the Egyptian mysteries , Homer's Iliad , the monks of Thibet , the priests of Hindostan , of Samotbrace , of Eleusis , of Kome , of Chiua , & c , were all either

Masonio or Freemasons . Now , with all due respect to the admirers of that kind ot stuff , I ask whether such a commentator on history and the Christian Scriptures does not justify the sneers and ridicule heaped upon the Masonio Fraternity , as well as the abuse we receive from the Catholic and some of the Protestant churches ?

In conclusion , I sincerely thank yon for republishing the said articles , because they famish additional evidence to what I have repeatedly asserted , viz ., that Masonry in America is a mere mongrel . Fraternally yours , JACOB NORTON .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — ST . MARYLEBONE LODGE , No . 1305 . THE annual meeting of this influential Lodge was held on Wednesday , 23 rd inst ., at the Langham Hotel , Bro . Edward White in the chair . The business was the installation of Bro . Frank C . Mouflet as Worshipful Master ; to raise Bro . Walter Smith ; and to initiate Mr . Eichard Wright and Mr . James M . Hastie . The W . M . having completed the ceremony of raising , Bro . W . Smith proceeded to instal Bro . Frank C . Mouflet as W . M . for the succeeding year .

This ceremony he conducted in a most impressive and earnest manner . Bro . Frank C . Mouflet W . M . elect then proceeded to tbe appointment of Officers , viz ., Bros . Hill S . W ., Halliday J . W ., Smith S . D ., Durrans J . D ., J . L . Baker Secretary , Chaplin Treasurer , Spurgin I . G ., K \ ft as Organist . The Tyler-was re-elected . The next feature of the day's proceedings was the initiation of Mr . R . Wright and

Mr . J . M . Hastie , and in performing the ceremony the Worshipful Master followed well in the footsteps of hi 3 predecessor P . M . White , and gave earnest of the way in which the ceremonies would be carried ont during the ensuing year . A vote of thanks having been passed to tho Anditors , the brethren adjourned to banquet , and in the interval of the toasts a selection of music , nnder the direction of

Bro . Kift , was performed , the artistes being Madame Adeline Paget , Miss Pauline Featherby , Bros . James Kift and Egbert Roberts . The musical programme was a grand success , the ladies especially delighting all with their fine rendering of the songs . A handsome jewel , unanimously voted , was presented to P . M . White , not the first

he has deservedly won by his services to Masonry . Bro . Mouflet , in his reply to the toast of tho Worshipful Master , expressed a hope that ho might succeed in a measure in emulating the impressive manner in which Bro . P . M . White had conducted the ceremonies . He would do his best to make his year of office a prosperous and pleasant one . Several distinguished visitors were present .

EBORACUM LODGE , No . 1611 . THE regnlar meeting of this Lodge was held at York , on Monday , the 14 th inst ., when there were present : —Bros . J . Blenkin W . M . P . M . ' s T . B . Whytehead , J . S . Cumberland , G . Balmford , J . T . Seller , C . G . I'adel ; Sir F . Milner , Bart ., S . W ., and many Officers and brethren . At the conclusion of the business of the evening , Bro . J . Bleukiu W . M . moved aud Bro . Sir F . G . Milner , Bart ., M . P .,

seconded the following resolution , which was carried nnanimonsly : " That tho Worshipful Master , Officers and Brethren of the Eboracnm Lodgd of Freemasons , No . 1611 , desire to express the grief experienced by them in the loss of their Royal Brother the lato Duke of Albany , Past Grand Warden , and to convey to Her Most Gracious Majesty tho Queen , and to Her Royal Highness the Dncheas of

Albany , their heartfelt sympathies iu the deep affliction they have sustained , together with the hope that the Grand Architect of the Universe may console and support them in their bereavement . " It was ordered that copies of the resolution be forwarded to Her Majesty the Queen and the Duchess of Albany , as well as the Prince of Wales , Grand Mastor of England .

Prosperity Lodge of Instruction ,. No . 65 . —Held at Bro . Maidwolfs , Hercules Tavern , Leadenhall Street , on Tuesday , 22 nd instant . Present--Bros . Kich W . M ., Haynes S . W ., Mann J . W ., Dyson S . D ., Stafford J . D ., Mitchell I . G ., Moss Preceptor , Walker Secretary ; Bros . Daniel , Brown , Roberts , Webb , Weil , Buggiuy

Notices Of Meetings.

Ferry , Gildersleeve , Maidwell . After preliminaries , Brother Weil , having answered questions , was duly passed to the degree of F . C ., Bro . Stafford was elected a member of this Lodge of Instruction . Lodge having been closed , the brethren proceeded to form a Second I * rosperity Charity Association . Before proceeding , however , Bro . Brown P . M . and non . Secretary to the first , read particulars as to

the result of the first Association . In the four years the Association had paid into tho Charities , as follows : —Benevolent Institution £ 341 5 s ; Boys School £ 189 ; Girl 3 School £ 183 15 s . This amount had been raised with the small amount of £ 5 53 6 d for working expenses . It was then proposed and seconded that another Association be formed , to be called the Second Prosperity Charity Associa .

tion , with the followingOffioers : —Bros . C . J . Rioh W . M . 65 President , G . Schadler I . P . M . ( 55 Vice-President , John Roberts P . M . 65 Treaa ., W . Walker J . W . 65 ( 32 Laurence Lane , E . C . ) Hon . Seoretary . Committee—D . Moss 1275 , G . T . Brown P . M . and P . Z . 65 , C . Daniel P . M . 65 , Stafford 65 , Sainte 193 , Weil , T . J . Maidwell P . M . 27 , Terry

Secretary R . M . B . I ., W . C . Bush P . M . 185 , A . Mitchell 65 , J . Gilders , leevo 193 , Buggins 65 . Sixty-four brethren at once gave their names as members , and £ 12 15 s 6 d was placed in tbe hands of the Treasurer . The first ballot was taken for £ 10 10 s , Bro . C . J . Coe 65 being successful in securing the prize .

New Concord Lodge of Instruction , No . 813 . —The nsnal meeting of the above Lodge was held on Wednesday last , at the Jolly Farmers Tavern , Southgate Road . Brother A . Ferrar presided , supported by Bros . Weedeu S . W ., Dixie J . W ., Cusworth P . M . Pre . ceptor , Perl Secretary , Smith S . D ., Marks I . G ., Turner , and others . Tho usual preliminaries having been observed in opening , Lodge was

advanced to the second degree , and Bro . Perl proved himself efficient to be raised , and was entrusted . Lodge opened in the third degree , and the ceremony of raising was rehearsed , Brother Turner being the candidate . Lodge was resumed , and Bro . Turner acted as candidate to be passed . Bro . Weeden was elected to preside at the ensuing

meeting . A Committee was afterwards formed to take into consi . deration the propriety of removing the Lodge of Instruction . A motion to consider thi * 3 matter having already been made , the discussion will take place next week . Brethren interested will kindly accept this intimation to attend , if convenient , so that tbe Lodge may benefit by the free expression of opinions .

Kmgsland Lodge of Instruction , Mo . 1693 . —At the Cock Tavern , Highbury , N ., on Monday , 21 st instant . Lodge was opened , and after the minutes of last meeting had been read and confirmed , Bro . Bellis I . P . M . 1901 , who took the chair , with Bro . Hopper 1677 , was elected a member . Bro . Turner 1693 will occupy the chair on Monday , 28 th April . Masonio business being ended ,

the members and visitors ( nearly fifty ) adjourned to snpper , which was excellently served by Bro . Baker . A few toasts were honoured . The harmony of the evening was much assisted by Bros . Collings Org . 1693 , Townley , Akehnrst , Baines , Woodman , Probert , Lusk , Baker , Hawkins ; and a most enjoyable evening was spent . Bro . Isaao Chairman , Bro . Forge Vice-Chairman .

New Finsbury Park Lodge of Instruction , No . 1695 . —At the weekly meeting , on Tuesday , the 22 nd instant , at Hornsey Wood Tavern , Preseut—Bros . Giller W . M ., Gush Preceptor , Hale S . W ., Mercer J . W ., Berry Secretary , Moons S . D ., Oldis I . G . ; also Bros . Hubbard , Derry , Knights , Fenner and Gribbell . Lodge was opened iu due form , and the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed . After Lodge had been advanced , tbe first section of the

third lecture was worked by Bro . Gush , after which the ceremony of raising was rehearsed . The second and third sections of the lecture were then worked by Bro . Fenner . Lodge wa 3 then closed in second and third degrees , and Bros . Hubbard and Derry elected members . Bro . Berry was then elected W . M . for the ensuing week . All business being ended , the Lodge was closed , and adjourned to Tuesday evening , at eight o'clock .

AUSTRALIAN FORESTS . — "The Official Directory and Year Book of Australia , " issued by Mr . George Eobertson , the welJ-known Australian publisher , contains a large amount of practical information , and from it we learn that forests of mighty proportions , and offering many valuable descriptions of wood , add their quota to the natural products of New South Wales , and , year by year , new characteristics

and properties of them become discovered and devoloped , tending always to their increased commercial advantage . Foremost amongst the indigenous trees is the eucalyptus , or gum-tree , having about fifty varieties in all , yielding a most valuable wood for various purposes , not the least of which are its febrifuge properties . In the Northern parts of tho Colony the cedar-tree is to be found flourishing on the eastern side of tho Great Range , and is the most

valuable timber , as well as that in greatest demand , in tho country . Sheltering fig-trees of different kind 3 are of abundant growth , the fruit being poor and insipid , whilst an almost endless variety of ferns of nil sizes are to bo met with in every gnlly and sheltered nook at tho mountain ' s foot . The flowering plants of New Sonth Wales exceed thoBo of the whole of Europe , and number some 10 , 000 . Tho acacia , or wattle , with its fragrant yellow blossom , has about 300 different varieties .

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FIRE AT FREEMASONS' HALL ! LARGE photographs of the Temple , taken immediately after the tire , cm 1 th May ( suitable for framing ) , 5 s each ; or Framed in oak , securely packed , sent to any address in tho United Kingdom , carriage paid , on receiptor cheque for 15 s . Masters of Lodges should secure this memorial of tho old Temple for their Lodge rooins . W . G . PAEEEE , Photographer , 40 High Holborn , W . C Established 25 yearn .