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why this should be so , as it is a mystery which it is beyond our faculties to unfold , and an enigma we have no power to explain . So it has been , so it is now , and so we fancy it will mostly be .

* * WE are glad to call attention to the pleasant " form " and literary position some of our York brethren are taking up , though what is done is accomplished mainly fortheRosicvucian Society . We

especially allude to the contributions of Bro . 'I . J . WILKINSON and Bro . the Rev . R . W . C . L UKIS —productions to which we have called attention elsewhere . But the same argument applies to Craft Masonry as to the Rosicrucian Society . We

feel sure that an immense amount of good might be done , and interest excited , if some of our brethren quite competent to do so , like Bros . WHYTEHEAD , HUKHAN , ROWBOTTOM , and others , would recommence a system of lodge lectures . Of course there are " lectures and lectures . "

* * WE call thc attention of our Rosicrucian Fratres to some letters ancnt Rosicrucian literature , which have appeared in the Antiquary , a new and most interesting magazine . It shows all students of Masonic

Archaeology , and those who like to pursue the mysteries of Hermelicism , despite frivolous objections and perverse antagonism , how much may be yet done in thc way of literary research and intellectual Masonry . The path is still open for us all ; the Temple of Truth has yet to be reached .

* * WE have thought it better on the whole , on reconsideration , as nothing is ever gained by a " suppressio veri " here , to give elsewhere , under the head "Communique , " a translation from the

Chaine d'Union of Bro . HUBERT ' S account of Father J ANDEL ' S attack upon Freemasonry . We originally thought the whole story too irreligious for our reverent pages , but we , perhaps , took too serious a view of it . It is , indeed , almost loo

ludicrous to translate or transcribe , but perhaps our readers had better read it for themselves , however painful and humiliating , to sec how far human folly , human impiety , and human intolerance can go . Another feature connected witli this painful

case is the absolute untruthfulness of the statement . But , alas , as we often sec and read , day by day , in the height and fervour of such frenzied attacks on principles or persons , "truth lies , indeed , at thc bottom of a well , " utterly disregarded and forgotten .

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[ Wc do not holt ] ourselves responsible for , or even .. pproviiv . of , the- opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to ail , to permit— within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

TO THE WORSHIPFUL MASTERS AND BRETHREN OF THE PROVINCE OK MIDDLESEX . Brethren , — As a great many of you were unavoidably absent from the Prov . Grand Lodge held at Teddington on Saturday last , 1 take this opportunity of thanking- one and all for thc very handsome service of plate which was presented

to me , through your Deputy Grand Master , Sir Charles Bright , on that occasion . I vainly endeavoured , on the spur of the moment , to express my thanks and gratitude for such a public expression of good feeling , which has , during the time that I had the honour of presiding over you , and since the formation of thc province , been so generously and so kindly evinced towards inc .

It must be most gratifying to the most exalted brother amongst us to receive so great an expression of approbation as I received on that day from the brethren of this province , and more so as this kind feeling has existed ever since the formation of the province , and I trust will continue as long as the G . A . U . grants me life ancl strength to carry on the duties that are sure to devolve or me , and 1 trust 1 mav do

so for the welfare and interests of the province , and for the comfort , and to the satisfaction of every brother in it . Believe me , brethren , yours gratefully and fraternally , ERAS . l-URDl . IT , Bart ., P . G . M . Middx . ; CSupt . ; P . S . G . W . ; Rep . P . G . L . Ireland . August 3 rd , i . SSo .

QUERIES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — . , In reply to my cjuery as to whether a District or l rovincial Grand Master is , ipso facto , a Grand Lodge Officer , you state— " Vcs ; by the Table of Precedence in the Book of Constitutions , " p . ifi , 17 . On referring , however , to thetable in question I find no mention of tlie ^ abovenamed dignitaries as officers , but merely a specification of thc order in which the members of Grand Lodge rank inter

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se . Thus , District or Provincial Grand Masters occupy the seventh , and the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of private lodges the last classification in the list . If , therefore , District or Provincial Grand Masters derive their claim to Grand Lodge office from being included in -this table , the Masters , & c , of private lodges ( as it seems to me ) are entitled to the like distinction .

In my perplexity I have turned to the Books of Constitutions of sister countries , and at page 0 of the Laws and Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Scotland I find " The M . W . the Grand Master shall be assumed and recorded as a member of every lodge holding of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , & c . " Now reasoning by analogy , if the seventh class of members of the Grand Lodge of England are ex

necessitate rei officers of that august body , clearly the members of highest rank in each Scottish private lodge must be an officer of the same , lt would be instructive could we learn whether Sir Michael Shaw Stewart , the present Grand Master of Scotland , on the occasion of his visiting private lodges under his jurisdiction , makes response to the toast of " The Officers . " In conclusion , I submit that no brother , however exalted

his rank in Grand Lodge maybe , is a Grand Lodge Officer , unless he fills or has filled some actual office in Grand Lodge . If 1 am wrong perhaps some brother will refer me to an authority bearing the other way , for which I shall be much obliged . I should not have dreamed of questioning the law as you laid it down , were it not for the interest of the Craft in general , and not of any lodge or individual Mason , that this point should be thoroughly sifted .

I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , BAVARD . August 2 nd , 1 SS 0 . [ We will allude to the matter more fully next week . — ED . EM . ]

"BAYARD" AND THE GRAND LODGE . In order to understand the position of affairs before answering " Bayard , " it is well to carefully note the Constitutions . 1 . Thelist of Grand Officers does not contain that of Prov . G . M ., or of District G . M . ( pp . 20 , 24 ) . 2 . Provincial and District Grand Masters appear in the

definition of what constitutes the "United Grand Lodge of England , " and so also do the Master and Wardens of lodges . file question is " Are Prov . and Dist . G . Masters Grand Lodge Officers ? " According to the evidence of thc " Book of Constitutions" they are not . If the " Table of Precedence" is proof that they are , I

submit that the Masters and Wardens are so in like manner . The fact is the table in question includes Grand Lodge Officers , and all other brethren who have a right to vote in the Grand Lodge of England ,-and are , therefore , members officially for the time being , or permanently , as the case may be . The other question must be answered also in the negative ,

if the foregoing view be correct , and so I reply , that at a banquet the toast of " The Grand Lodge Officers , Present and Past , " should be responded to by brethren of the rank mentioned , viz ., those who hold , or have held , office in the Grand Lodge , and therefore docs not include Prov . or Dist . G . Masters , unless they are otherwise qualified . Surely this view will commend itself to " Bayard , " as it does to

REVIVISCO . [ We cannot agree with our worthy correspondent , and must ask him to read our little leader next week . —En . EM . ]

39 GEO . 111 ., CHAP . 70 . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — At foot is a copy of a notice which my lodge receives yearly , and to its dictates we pay due obedience . Can any of your numerous readers inform mc if the same is observed in other provinces , and for what reason . ' Yours fraternally , W . M . 145 S . " 1 beg to call vour attention to thc provisions of the

above Act , which requires that every lodge of Ereemasons shall , on or before the twenty-fifth day of March , in each year , register with the Clerk of the Peace the names and descriptions of all the members of such lodge , or , in default thereof , such lodge is liable to a penalty of twenty pounds , half of which is payable to the informers . A fee of eight shillings and sixpence must accompany your return , otherwise the same cannot be registered and filed . "

THE LORD . MAYOR'S STALE VISIT . ' To the Editor of the" Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am inclined to think with " Historicus" that the Lord Mayor ' s visit to the Great City Lodge , in 1 S 75 , was not a state visit , and for the following reasons : — 1 . Because this was the first time a Lord Mayor of

London had ever , in his capacity as such , visited a Masonic lodge . 2 . Because this was the largest assemblage of distinguished Ereemasons ever brought together in the City of London . 3 . Because it took place at a critical juncture in the history of the Craft , when deep concern was felt at the defection of the M . W . G . Master , the Marciuisof Rinon . K . G .

4 . Because the transactions of that a uspicious occasion gave great satisfaction , not only to the Craft in England , but , according to the literature of thc day , to Masons all over the world , and created immense enthusiasm . And lastly , because not the slightest honouror distinction of any kind was conferred upon any member of the lodge in recognition or commemoration of the event . And I should

not be surprised if presently there be those who are quite ready to dispute , not whether the Lord Mayor ' s visit was a state visit , but whether he ever visited the Great City Lodge at all . Sic transit gloria mundi ! I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , A COUNTRY OBSERVER . Norwich , 2 nd August .

THE "MASONIC SERVICE" AT NATAL . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — On Sunday , 35 th ult ., a Masonic spectacle was witnessed in this city , the like of which , I think I am correct in saying , has never been seen before , either here or in England , and , I trust , never will be again . The brethren of the Natalia Lodge , No . 16 ( 15 , assembled at the Masonic Hall ( by-the-way , a consecrated building , capable of holding

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some 200 people ) , formed a procession in full regalia , under the Worshipful Master , Bro . Major Terry , of the 3—60 th Rilles , and proceeded to the drill shed ( a large store where Divine service is conducted by the military Chaplain on Sunday ) , the band of the 3—Ooth Rifles leading the way , and playing some stirring airs . Sir , it has been evident to thc most casual observer who takes any interest in the

Craft that Freemasonry in Natal has become more or less nauseous , not only to a large number of brethren , but also to the public , and it seems to me thc W . M . of the abovenamed lodge could not have chosen a more appropriate mode of making Freemasonry a laughing-stock than by parading the streets with his lodge decked out in their gaudy paraphernalia and headed by a military brass band .

Sir , I assert that on the shoulders of the W . M . of the Natalia Lodge , which turned out on the 27 th ult . in such an egotistical manner , must the blame lay , to a very large extent , for allowing the Masonic Fraternity in this city to be pointed at with ridicule and contempt . Freemasonry , above all other institutions in the world , is one that works with the strictest privacy ; its actions are unknown , and , as

a rule , the Order uses the greatest reserve in bringing its doings prominently before the public . I make this assertion without fear of contradiction , and yet we find a brother , who is a Past Master , and re-elected to the responsible position of Master of a lodge in this colony , not only so far forgetting- the principles and tenets of Freemasonry , in so far as quiet and decorum are concerned , but actually

going the length of desecrating the tranquillity of our Sabbath by holding a miserable pageantry , semi-military , semi-Masonic , discreditable to himself , the lodge he represents , and most objectionable , I believe , to the majority of his brother Masons in Natal . In confirmation of this view , I would mention there arc some 250 Masons living in this city and neighbourhood , and only some forty turned out to

take part m or countenance this absurd show ; one lodge out of the three established in this place even going so far as to pass a resolution forbidding its officers to take any part in the affair officially . Now , Sir , the presumable object of this turn-out was to attend Divine service , and there , I take it , to render thanks for past mercies , bow down in humility for past sins , and to supplicate the

Creator s blessing on future work . Is it right , is it Christianlike , is it modest or discreet to go to one's God with a shower of trumpets , decked out in finery and trumpery jewels ? Can such an example be found in the volume of the Sacred Law , God's holy witness , on which a Mason is obligated and charged to let its rich truths and precepts be the guide of his future actions ? Sir , I trow not ; therefore ,

I protest against any body of the Craft arrogating to themselves to introduce a custom which , I feel certain , must , and will , be condemned by Grand Lodge . It seems to me there is , unfortunately , a strong disposition in Natal to bring Masonry prominently before the public . If a banquet or ball is held , the proceedings are glowingly described in the Press ; while , on the other hand , if

any attempt is made to suppress or expose these absurd and glowing accounts , the Press do not sec their way to insert the letters . Such being the case , I feel I am only doing my duty to my brother Masons in England by pointing out the absurdities practised here , in the hope that

Grand Lodge will be induced to take some steps to prevent in future anylodgeof Freemasons from parading the streets on a Sunday with a brass band , thereby bringing discreet on the Craft . 1 enclose my card , and beg to remain , yours faithfully and fraternally ,

A PAST MASTER . ' Pietermaritzburg , Natal , July 3 rd . ~ i » [ Wi ; entirely disapprove of all Sunday Masonic work . — En . F . M . ]

A VISIT IN STATE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Allow me to say , in answer to " Historicus , " that , no matter what he may think now , the events which transpired five years ago . vill still remain the same . On the 3 rd April , 1 S 75 , the Graphic published a full page engraving

entitled , " Freemasonry in thc City of London : State visit of the Lord Mayor to the Great City Lodge . " This picture was exceedingly well executed , and I have a copy of it framed hanging in my library , lt will be seen then by this and the other records I before referred to , that the event is indelibly chronicled in the annals of the pastas a state visit , and , therefore , what was set forth in my last

letter is " historically " correct . " Terminologically " I should prefer not to enter into the matter ; for whether a " guard of honour , & c , " constitute the difference between a visit and a state visit to a Mason ' s lodge , and what is comprised in thc " & c , " I know not . But after carefully perusing numerous records of the proceedings at the Great City Lodge in 1 S 75 , I feel bound to

say I cannot find any mention of a "guard of honour , etc ., " on that occasion ; and 1 have also failed to discover that even the highest dignitaries of the Craft have ever been so attended on visiting Masonic lodges . Knowing that the President of the Board of General Purposes is W . M . of the Alliance Lodge , I shall not

presume to say that a military guard of honour to a lodge of Freemasons is un-Masonic or improner ; but I believe it is entirely without precedent , and , with all deference , I think the propriety of it is very questionable . 1 remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , ONE WHO WAS PRESENT . 3 rd August .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I should feel greatly obliged if you would inform mc what mode of procedure should be adopted under the following bye-laws , when taken in conjunction with Rule 2 , p . 62 , Constitutions , relating to private lodges ; and Rule 1 , p . 7 6 , Constitutions , relating to Masters and Wardens of

lodges . Bye-law 1 . — "The general meetings of the lodge shall take place at the -, on the second Tuesday in each month , " & c . Bye-law 14 . — " The Master of the lodgeshall be annually elected by ballot at the regular loderc held in the month of

November . The Secretary shall previously read over the names of thc subscribing members who are eligible for the appointment of Master ^ . vhen the ballot shall be taken , and at the lodge held on the anniversary of St . John the Evangelist , after thc minutes of the lodge relating to such election have been read and confirmed , the Master elect shall be installed . "