Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The exceptional state of things described by " M . L . S . " is probably due to the Secretary being old established , and having come to regard himself as the lodge . '

" M . L . S . " says that the by laws were printed , & c ., without the knowledge of members , and then he says the Secretary showed certain minutes to the G . S . Minutes of what ? If regarding the reprint and alterations , then the trans action must have been before the lodge . If not , the reference to the minutes is beside the mark , and the Secretary ' s action is open to censure . Still , if the W . M . and the majority acquiesce in the Secretary ' s autocracy , brother " M . L . S . " has no remedy but one of the alternative ones he quotes , unless he writes to the Grand Secretary .

Re " cooking the minutes—he should have moved their non-confirmation , giving his reason . If brethren , in spite of him , persisted in voting for the confirmation , brethren who were present at the meeting in question , I am afraid " M . L . S . " has no remedy , since it becomes a case involving accuracy of recollection , in which the majority is bound to prevail . I hope I have not missed our brother ' s point , and that he will favour us with the promised sequel . —Yours fraternally , "MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . "

TIME IMMEMORIAL LODGES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I read with much interest the letter of Bro . Allan Mackenzie , the learned Historian of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning , which appeared in the Freemason of the 14 th of July , and have enquired into the matter .

The " Deed of Election , " to which he refers , is embodied in his history of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning , and it purports to be a certified extract of the first minute of Grand Lodge , under which that body was constituted in Scotland . It differs in several respects trom the original . It is unnecessary to go into details , but the statement contained in Bro . Gould ' s article of the 2 nd of June , is in all respects correct .

The lodges existing in Scotland , prior to the formation of the Grand Lodge , numbered about ioo . Only 33 appeared at the meeting at which Grand Lodge was formed .

As regards the Lodge " Canongate and Leith , Leith and Canongate , " as the name of that lodge shows , at its institution Canongate was its principal seat , but it also worked at Leith . The parish of Leith adjoins the Canongate . The charter of the lodge shows that its members resided both in the Canongate and at Leith . Its Canongate connection , owing to other lodges springing up there , diminished , and its head-quarters has for many years been at Leith , but it keeps up its connection with the Canongate by holding an annual meeting there .

As regards Bro . Mackenzie ' s remarks on the antiquity of the lodge , No . 6 , Inverness , it is unquestionably a much older lodge than that of Canongate Kilwinning , which can claim no pretension to existence prior to 16 77 , when the Mother Kilwinning Lodge authorised certain Masons to admit members into it in the Canongate .

The oldest minute book the Lodge No . 6 , Inverness , possessed when it applied for a charier from Grand Lodge opened in 16 7 S ; bat that minute book clearly showed that long prior to that date thc lodge had been in active existence , and Grand Lodge sets forth that fact as true in its charter . Some correspondence on this subject appeared in the Freemason about April , 1 SS 3 , a reference to which Bro . Mackenzie might find instructive .

I cordially endorse Bro . Mackenzie ' s expression of approval of Bro . Gould ' s laudable suggestion to institute a League of " Time Immemorial " lodges . Much ignorance prevails generally with respect to the antiquity and work of many of the old Scotch lodges , which still , in many instances , possess their old records . Bro . Gould is a fitting channel to dispel it , possessing ; as he does , the confidence of tho Craft at large , and from his acknowledged position as one of its leading historians , and having entered the portals of Scottish Masonry through one of its "Ancient" lodges . —Yours fraternally ,

WILLIAM OFFICER , Chairman Foreign and Colonial Committee of G . L . of Scotland . 21 , Castle-street , Edinburgh . 31 st July .

SHINERS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The omission of a few words makes my letter rather nonsense , which I trust you will allow me to correct . What 1 wrote , or intended to write , was —¦

' hull particulars are given in Bro . Stevens s ' Cyclop . - i .-dia of Fraternities , ' published last year , from which the above cxtraits arc taken . The only ' Shiners , ' tkc , > Sx . " "Shiner" in Cornwall is , I believe , a term for " sweetheart . " — Yours fraternally , S . R . BASKETT . 30 th July .

THE K . A . AND OTHER MATTERS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother 1 have reread my former letter in tin ; vain attempt to discover how " Ot !• whn ' , cch : > light " can state that I implied I li . id " rank " or was " a supeiior litinj . ' " who deemed " rank essential to knowledge . ' ' Bro . May ' s letter may have

Iji-en actuated by " dullest enquiry and genuine zeal fur the welfare of the Craft , " but it certainly n :. ul mure like " genuine < -. ea ! " tor his own premature advance ' merit as lie " hadn ' t the time'' lo pass through tin ; necessary period of probation which obtains in every well-regulated lodge . Ydiing brethren who are rapidly passed into the principal offices rarely prove sucressful rulers , and the very ejte u ( their progress makes them discontented that there are still worlds un « conquered .

Correspondence.

I would be the very last to check " honest enquiry , " but if so many loved and honoured brethren as we know of in almost any lodge are content to rise step by step to the chair of K . S ., surely Bro . May should also be content to do the same , and in due time he also will be " a father in Israel . " " One who seeks light" concludes his letter with the words " in haste , " so probably more mature reflection may lead him to recognise that a deliberate proposal to hold Masonic preferment up for sale deserves the good-tempered irony it evoked . —Fraternally yours , CYN 1 CUS .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

IMPORTANT SALE . The well-known and respected Masonic Publishing and Furnishing Company , of 63 , Bleecker-street , New York , U . S . A ., have instructions to sell the whole of the valuable Masonic Library of the late Bro . John . Haigh , of Somerville , Mass . The sale will take place in November , and catalogues are now being prepared of this great collection of rare curios and important works relating to Freemasonry .

Commissions may be entrusted to my old friend , Bro . J . G . Barker , one of the above firm , at the address noted , and applications should be made to him at one ; for catalogues , as many such requests are anticipated from this country and other Masonic centres in Europe . It is to be hoped that some of the rarities will find their way to this country , as Bro . Haigh was for many years a very persistent and successful collector . W . J . HUGHAN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"MY BONNIE LADV , BY Leslie Keith , " is printed and published by Jarrold and Sons , Warwick-lane , London ( also of Norwich , & c ) , and got up in a most attractive manner . It is one of a series of " New 6 s . Novels , " in the style of the well-known " Bonnie Brier Bush , " and quite able to hold its own by the side of that popular work , being already in a second edition , as well as bidding fair to become much sought after as its merits become more generally known and appreciated . As the title suggests , it is Scottish to the backbone—but surely none the worse for that—and the aim of the author throughout is lofty , without being didatic , and seeks to teach very pure morality

in so easy and pleasant a manner that the characters do all the instruction and moralise so naturally and often humorously , that from the first page to the end they hold the reader spell bound . The plot is simple in itself , but ably wrought out and in reality there is not a weak actor in the book from the Doctor and the Dominie ( " who were great cronies , and punctiliously took their toddy together , at least , twice a week , showing their affection for each by many a stiff argument over points upon which nobody has ever agreed , and which they , at least , are not likely to settle on this side of time , " ) to Tommas Sman , the Weaver , whose " birk was wars j

than his bite . " There had long been an ancient feud between the two chief families of Carmylic , until , when the tale opens , there were but the Laird M into and his wife , on the one side of the road , and the Lady Inglis on the other , left to battle for their imaginary rights . The " Bonnie Lady , " or heroine , was connected with the latter by marriage , and goes as a " Servant Lass " to the former . Of course , the heir of Lady Inglis appears on the scene , in due time , as a Captain returned from the wars , with one

arm temporarily injured , who saw at once through the disguise , but is most discreet , and yet lover like as opportunity offered . Many are the difficulties the brave girl overcame so as to bridge over the quarrel , and ultimately she triumphs ; the two families being united by the marriage of two of the principal characters . " Peace and goodwill " is thus " proved to be wholesomer things to discuss than spite and hate and jealousy . " So mote it be .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Cumberland And Westmorland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , College-street , Whitehaven , on Friday , the 27 th ultimo . Present : Bros . Col . F . R . Sewell , D . P . G . M . ; J . I . Lace , P . M ., P . S . G . W . ; J . E . Singleton , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . D . Greenhill Douglas , P . G . C . ; G . Darlymple , P . A . G . D . C . of England , P . G . Treas . ; J . Gardiner , P . M ., P . G . Sec . ; G . E . Cartmel , P . G . I . of

W . ; T . Milburn , W . M . 181 . P . G . Stwd . ; j . F . Hope , P . M ., P . P . S . G . O . ; Hy Bums , P . M ., P . P . G . M . O . ; J . M . Clark , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . ; W . D . P . Field P . M ., P . S . G . O . j T . Brakenridge , P . M ., P . P . S . G . O . ; W . H . Lewthwaite , P . M . 1 T . Atkinson , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W . ; G . F . Paton , J . O ., J . Shields , M . O ., J . Young S . W ., and I . C . Oliphant , I . G ., of 213 ; J . Dickinson , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W . ; Geo

Webster , P . G . D . C ; J . C . Hellon , W . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , and J . F . Stout , J . W ., of 421 ; R . B . Nattrass , Sec , J . E . Friars , S . W ., and G . Reed , J . W ., of 462 ; D , S . Thorpe , W . M . 6 o , P . G . S . B . ; S . Broadbent , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; W . Beck , 229 ; W . A . Creighton , J . O . 421 ; H . Baron , M . O . 195 ; John Casson , P . P . G . Tyler ; and others .

The Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , the minutes were confirmed . The report of the Committee of General Purposes , which was unanimously adopted , showed the province to be in a very satisfactory condition , and the number of members in the province larger than previously . The

Committee recommended that 10 guineas should be voted to the Mirk Benevolent Fund . Bro . George Dalrymple was re-elected Prov . G . Treasurer . The roll ot lodges having been called , all were found to be represented , and Bros . Dickinson , Atkinson , Hope , and Thwaites were elected a Committee of General Purposes .

'I he following Prov . G . Officers were appointed and invested : Bro . Thos . Brakenridge , 213 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . 15 . Thwaites , 4 G 2 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ D . L . Tnorpe , 60 ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ K . Monkhouse , 151 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ J . Coates Helton , 421 ... ... ... Prov . ] G . O . ,, the Rev . 1 ) . G . Douglas , 452 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . ,, G . E . Cartmel , 195 ... ... ... Prov . G . K . ot M „ G . D . ilryinple , 213 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, ( . Gardiner , 151 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ T . Milburn , 1 si ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ K . A . Claik . Oo ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ W . Coultliard , 421 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of VV . „ J . Young , 21 3 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, S . Johnson , 21 3 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C » „ J . C . Fothergili , 2 S 2 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .