Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

VISITORS TO GEAND LODGE .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIB AND BBOTHBB , —The somewhat ungracious communication to the " Indian Freem'son , " a copy of which appeared in your last issue , which records t' c experiences of a Mason visiting Grand Lodge for the first time , is only worthy of notice because it exemplifies the erroneous ideas of some members of the Craft as to the duties of Freemasons . The writer is presumably a Past Master of an Indian Lodge ( though that by no means indicates ho has been a Mason for many years ) , and must therefore have some knowledge of our manners and customs .

Taking his charges seriatim , we come first to " the various placards that meet his eye in the corridors which point out the distinguishing rendezvous for Grand Lodge Officers . " Surely he should be aware that one of our first principles is that everything shall be done decently , and in order , and how could the Grand Master's procession be better organised than by assigning to each rank their proper position , for which purpose I take it the placards are affixed . Secondly , he infers discourtesy on the part of " personages

resplendent in the purple and gold lace of office , " presumably the D . Cs . arranging the procession , because they " scarcely deign to bestow a glance on the ordinary blue apron attired mortal in passing , let alone a salutation . " Could anything be more unjust—I had almost written absurd ? How could he possibly expect any Brother , whether a Grand Officer or even another " ordinary blue-apron attired mortal " to distinguish that he was a stranger , and was visiting Grand Lodge for the first time . Yet he complains

because he is not recognised and taken in hand by some Brother , although he does not appear to have made any attempt to make himself known . I venture to assert that had he done so , any member present would have been only too pleased to welcome him and have conducted him to a place due to his rank in the Craft . But among the thousands who range under our Banner it is quite impossible that all the Brethren are known to each other , and therefore it is entirely his own fault if he felt himself " something of a

derelict . " I have not the honour to be an Officer of Grand Lodge ; but I have visited several Lodges in various parts of this country , and have attended the Grand Lodges of Stockholm , Berlin , and Copenhagen , and that even before I had passed the Chair , yet I have always been most courteously , nay warmly , welcomed , because I took the simple precaution of presenting

myself , before the meeting , to the authorities , proving my identity , and requesting permission to be present . Had the Brother under notice adopted this course it is needless to say that his complaint could not have arisen . Even if Stewards were appointed to " extend attention to strangers ; " they would be useless from our Brother ' s point of view , unless the stranger made himself known to them .

His reference to the " tip system " in the same sentence is unpardonable , because it infers more than I believe he intends . I presume he alludes to the small amounts given to the cloak-room attendants , and which are deposited in plates laid on the table for that purpose . I am not aware whether this practice is sanctioned by Grand Lodge , but the donation is purely voluntary , nnd I have never heard it asked for or suggested , although I have attended on many occasions .

I am bound , to a certain extent , to agree with him as to the " abruptness " of the Brethren in charge of the Registers . But one must take into consideration the hundreds who attend , and who pass through the room where they are seated within tbe hour that precedes the opening of Grand Lodge . Everybody desires to get through as quickly as possible , and sometimes irritation is evoked by some trifling want of tact , perhaps on both

sides . At the last Quarterly Communication I heard a Brother giving vent to a most indignant protest , saying that he had been grossly insulted by one of the " Registrars " and vowing that he would never attend Grand Lodge again . I did not ascertain the cause of the quarrel , and only mention the matter to show that friction does sometimes occur . At the same time I would suggest that a little more courtesy on the part of the "Registrars " would not be amiss .

I trust I havo not encroached unduly upon your space by those remarks , but I felt that our Brother ' s letter should not be accepted by our Colonial Brethren as being likely to prove their experience when paying their first visit to Grand Lodge . I am , yours Fraternally , ONE WHO KNOWS .

Books Of The Day.

Books of the Day .

Books , rausic , & c . intended for review , should be addressed to the Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , at Fleet 'Works , Mew Barnet . — : o : — Evangelical Belief . The prize essay on the present conflict between evangelicalism and sacerdotalism . By John Broadhurst Nichols ( 6 s ) . — Religious Tract Society .

WE have seldom read a controversial work with so much pleasure . We fully expected that the invitation of the R . T . S . would produce a sufficiently able dissertation , but we hardly looked for such masterly treatment of a difficult subject . Mr . Broadhurst Nichols will receive the thanks of many who take an intelligent interest in matte : s pertaining to religion and theology . We do not say that "Evangelical Belief" does not sometimes reveal the hand of one who holds a brief on behalf of his theological clients ; but we have

met with no misrepresentation of his opponents' principles or practices . In several chapters dealing with the leading aspects of his subject , Mr . Nichols first presents , with ability and fairness , a series of propositions embodying the Romish doctrine and discipline in regard thereto . He then attempts to refute these propositions ftep by step from the standpoint of Evangelical Protestantism , and he has , we think , generally done so with singular success . He has certainly complied with the condition laid down by the R . T . S . ; for his book is exceptionally free from " controversial bitterness , " and we must bear in

Books Of The Day.

mind how difficult it is to preserve such an attitude in an argument of thia kind . Indeed , we think that Mr . Nichols' laudable desire to deal equitably with his friend the enemy has in one or two instances led to somewhat unsatisfactory results . We are much mistaken , for instance , if he has not stated the Romish case for tradition more effectively than he has answered

it . We heartily agree with almost every word in this book ; but venture to suggest , though with diffidence , that Mr . Nichols' replies sometimes take the shape of counter-propositions , rather than of refutations . However this may be , wo wish to tender our congratulations to the R . T . S . and to Mr . Nichols for this -volume . " Evangelical Belief " is a word in season . The vri . se man has told us how good a thing a word in season is .

Temple Classics . Laxdsela Saga ( 1 / 6 ) . —J . M . Dent and Co . ALTHOUGH the Sagas tell us much concerning strife and turmoil , these traits are rendered faint as we read them after such a long lapse of years . Such stories are the delight of all who find in literature its own exceeding great reward . Here , translated for the first time from the Icelandic by Mrs . Muriel Press , is a little volume about journeys taken or " deeds of valorous emprise " by Ketill Flatnose , Hoskuld , Kjarten , and other wild worthies of

the northern world ; and their goings and comings are told in a manner which would have delighted Longfellow or William Morris . In these degenerate days we mortals of comparatively bloodless temperament make much ado about "finish , " " style , " and so forth , but somehow the old chroniclers and bards , with their artless methods , found the true means

whereby to secure readers for all time . The Sagas , it is true , are not aa Homer , the first and foremost of the sons of time , but the composers and arrangers of the Sagas had to work in a different language from that of Greece , perhaps tbe most perfect language known to mankind . Spencer , could he have read the Laxdale Saga , would have fancied himself for a brief space at " the world ' s sweet Inn from care and wearisome turmoil . "

Until the day declare it . Prize story on the present day conflict with sacerdotalism . By Margaret Cunningham , illustrated by Lancelot Speed ( 5 s ) . —Religious Tract Society . COLERIDGE has told us that the best prose writers compel the attention of readers by reason of their matter rather than their manner . It is , perhaps , somewhat premature to speak of Miss Cunningham as one of our best prose writers , for it is necessary to produce excellent work in order to

earn such a distinction ; but as we read " Until the day declare it" and thought of Coleridge ' s remark we felt that Miss Cunningham would certainly have received the commendation of the poet had she written in his day . The story before us is unfolded with much skill , and we are led from point to point by a series of transitions so natural and easy that we are apt to . forget how difficult are the arts of transition , and how clumsily they are executed by less able hands . We do not intend to forestall the pleasure of readers by

giving any precis of this story ; but will leave them to discover for themselves how eminently readable it is from first to last , and how well the writer has served the cause which she has championed . It is nofc easy to choose among several characters very ably drawn ; but those of Grace Dangerfield and Austin Delamere are themselves sufficient to show the writer ' s gifts in the diagnosis and portrayal of character . We shall watch with interest for the appearance of another volume by this author .

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