Our National Finances.

0 i £ 3 3 2 , 6 9 5 on other items being counterbalanced by a deficiency of £ 433 , 000 . On the half year the increase is not large , for it only amounts to £ 4050 , still it is an increase and not a decrease , and we can afford just now to be thankful for " small blessings . " On the twelve months

ending fept . 30 th , the increase is A 3-3- - s .-J 5 I > with a decrease of £ 6 $$ , o 3 o . The whole amount for the twelve months ending September 30 th , 1879 , being £ 83 , , 022-, as against £ 79 , 797 , 671 , and though-, no doubt , the main increase is on the Income TaS , yet stamps give

us an increase of £ 163 , , the Post Office of £ 40 , 000 , and repayment of interest £ 183 , 004 . The loss on Excise and Customs amounts to £ 619 , 000— £ 189 , 000 for Customs . and £ 430 , 600 for Excise . Considering the exceptionally hard times we have lately gone through , for trade

has been very bad in almost every branch-, we are not surprised at such a statement , but we are inclined to believe from a comparison of the quarters ending September 30 th , 187 b , and September 30 th , J 879 , that good hopes may yet be entertained -cf a '' rally" before next April in the

Important matter of " Customs and "Excise . It would have indeed been strange if Customs and Excise had not fallen with the national barometer of prosperous or unprosperous trade , and we ought , we think , instead of complaining , to be glad that matters are no worse . We trust

tincerely that with 1880 we may witness renewed confidence and reviving trade , and that the onward tide of increasing national prosperity may float our good ship " Britannia" beyond tho gloomy breakers of deficits and debts . We

venture to think , not being politicians , that a good di al of exaggeration in view of a coming election prevails on such matters , and that , after all , the Chancellor of the Exchequer may yef , in 1880 , be able , if not quite to " balance his accounts , " to exhibit no very alarming deficit .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

* W » : tlo r . ot hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , tlie opinions expressetl hy our correspomients , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—Iree discussion . ] BRO . COLEMAN'S MASONIC CALENDAR FOR 1879 AND 1880 , AND HIS ACCOUNT OE MASONIC

IMPOSTORS , TRAMPS , etc ., IN AMERICA . To the Editor if the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Our R . W . Bro . Dr . Robert Morris , of La Grange , Kcntuckcy , United States , has most kindly sent me a copy of this most interesting and valuable annual , which contains the names and adtlresses of the fifty-four Grand

Lodges of America and Canada , also of their Grand Officers , and the names and location of the 10 , 000 lodges holding under them ; also the names and address of neatly every Grand Lodge , Grand Royal Arch Chapter , and Masonic Body over the whole globe . Amongst other interesting and valuable information is an article , by R . W . Bro . Morris , un the Jewish half-shekel , widow ' s mite , & c .

Ihe calendar also gives most valuable statistics , by M . lll . Bro . Josiah H . Drummond , and a list of all American Relief Committees . This short note of its contents will show how valuable this work will be to all brethren who have Masonic correspondence abroad , and how its perusal will well repay any brother .

Bro . Coleman , at page 05 , gives most interesting accounts of Masonic impostors , tramps , & c , and names a great many leading American ones , adding , " But I might accumulate page upon page of such notices . There arc not less than 500 of those leeches to djy sucking the blood out of our Masonic Charities . " Doubtless few of your readers will be prepared for such

a statement , but there can be no doubt of it from the facts stated by Bro . Coleman . Now , as our Masonic lodges will be renewing the ir meetings this month and next , I would like to call their attention to this matter . Bro . Coleman states from his own experience and that of thc many brethren whom he has consulted , and

amongst whom are our venerable and esteemed R . W . Bro . Theodore S . Parvin , Grand Secretary of Iowa , and R . Ex . Comp . Christopher G . Fox , Grand Seeretary of Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the United Slates , that the follow , ing are good rules to guard against these impostors , tramps , & c .

ist . To ascertain that there is the lodge the applicant states hc hails from , as American applicants sometimes hail from lodges which do not exist , or from what are called Black Lodges , which are not recognised in these countries . This can be ascertaineel from the proceedings of the respective Grand' Lodges , or Bro . Coleman ' s calendar .

2 nd . Always , if possible , to telegraph to the lodge to know the standing of the applicant in it , and if the applicant be an impostor or a tramp he will become very indignant , and make an excuse for his departure , and not wanting the relief at the time .

Original Correspondence.

Not long since an applicant sought to gain admission as a Grand Master to a lodge here , but who was found to belong to one of these Black Lodges , and of course refused , and being shown our Masonic buildings antl the matter explained to him , he was quite pleased and

satisfied . I need not say I am proud to find such brethren as Bros . Parvin , Fo * i anil Colerrtan approve of the system of telegraphing—1 long since urged it in a letter you kindly inserted ; and I would again most strongly- and from longer experience ; urge even more strongly than before its use before giving relief . 1 remain , yours , fiaternally ,

JAMES H . NEILSON . 32 , Lower Leeson-street , Dublin , 2 nd October , 1870 .

CAN WE NON-CONF 1 RM ? To the Editor ( If the " Preeiiiasoil . " Dedr olr add Brother ,- ^ A lodge issues a summons convening a regular meeting . Business : passing Bro . Brown ; raising Bro . Smith ; election of W . M . for the ensuing year . There are a majority of brethren desirous of electing a fast

Master , instead of the S-W ., who has tirade himself very un * populan The R . W . add his friends are at the posts at the hour nafhed on the summons , open the lodge , and read tbe minutes . Before any one else is admitted into the lodge the W . M . says they will now proceed to elect the W . M . for next year , and so gain the election by three votes before others are admitted knowri to be ill favour of

the P . M . Can the minutes be upset at the next meeting on account of the election not being taken in the order of business on the paper ? L Yours fraternally ) E . L . [ The minute of election can be non-cOnlinted at next meeting on any ground the voters think well to take , so far , that is , as is proper , legal , antl Masonic . If this

election , as it seems , is ihe result of a " trick , " it Will be properly non-confirmed by the majority . All oUr brother has to do is to move " the non-confirmation of that por . lion of the minutes relating to the election of thc W . Mj " Thc lodge will then proceed to ballot for a VV . M . This position is , however , to be deprecated , as the W . M . will not have served his twelve months—En . F ; M . ]

Reviews.

Reviews .

UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC RITUAL AND OBSERVANCE . By Bro . J AMBS STEVENS . W . W , Morgan , 67 , Barbican , We have never changed our opinion on this vexota quai-stio . We expressed it strongly years ago , and lime only confirms utir objections to meddlesome intetference with our established system . There never has le : n

perfect uniformity of ritual in our English system , and there never can be , owing to the imperfections of the human memory , unless , indeed , we resort to tbat most objectionable , and idle , and worthletj of all proceedings , a printed ritual . Before the Union in 1813 more that one system was in vogue in England , and since thc Union certain allowable differences may be traced by the careful observer

in the " working" in various parts of England . There is the Emulation working , for instance , based on Williams ' corrections , now very popular and widely used . There is the working , which our good old Bro . Muggeridge preserves so carefully in the Stability Lodge of Improvement , and which is the earlier stage of the Emulation . There is the Prestonian working , which was the predominant

working until 1813 , and which still prevails in many parts , and there are lodges , like the Lodge ol Antiquity , with special ceremonies . So long as in all these workings the landmarks of the Order and the aporreta of Freemasonry are strictly and studiously preserved , there is no reason why we should not allow these slight differences , and any attempt to reduce all working to one stereotyped form tould only result in a period of " cram " and

parrotlike performance . A Board of Ritual Preceptors would tlo more harm than good , and though we doubt not Bro . Stevens' zeal , in our opinion that zeal outruns his discretion , and we feel quite persuaded ourselves that Grand Lodge will never consent to any such proposition . It is alike unnecessary , uncalled for , and , in our opinion , will be utterly injurious to industry and energy in our officers , and to true , and educated , and sensible [ Freemasonry amongst us .

THE REALITIES OF FREEMASONRY . By Mrs . BLAKE . Chapman and Hall , 193 , Piccadilly . We rise from the perusal of this work , ( well printed as it is ) , with mingled feelings of wonder and curiosity . We cannot quite understand it—its •' raison d ' etre , " the caure of its appearance . For it tells us nothing we did not known before , and throws no new light on the realities , or

objects , or work of Freemasonry . It is practically a reprint of well-known Masonic document" , a statement of facts and views as regards Freemasonry , resting too often on the " picturesque" but unsafe authority of Clavel , and of works which in our modern criticism are not now acknowledged as reliable teachers or trustworthy guides . Indeed , it is to us nothing but what can be fount ! in well-known

manuals . Mrs . Blake , with some admiration for the benevolent aspect and work of Freemasonry , seems to lean , curiously enough , in much , at any rate , to the mittaken , most mistaken , Ultramontane theory of Masonic existence , formularies , and work . If we are to judge from her

words , she clearly does not recognize either the mission , or the need , or the benefits of Freemasonry at this epoch in the history of civilization and the annals of the world . Mrs . Blake accepts the Georgian era of Masonic life , and repudiates the connection between speculative Masonry and as Guild Masonry , She also accepts the Romish distinction

Reviews.

between Freemasonry in England add Freemasonry abfoad , and brands all foreign Freemasonry with the stigma of revolutionary and destructive principles . While , there- » fore , we note the publication of this work as a feature of the hour , significative both cf the curiosity of the reading public and the present prestige of our Order , we must beg respectfully to dissent from its supposed " reality" and

" realism " as explaining what Freemasonry is , and can only remember It among many aimilar publications , which have no real worth and no " staying power " asauthoritative expositions of a remarkable Order , beyond gratifying an idle love for exposition of " mysteries , " and an " ad captandum '' Sentiment of unsatisfactory " dram" in respect of recondite truths and mysterious symbolism ,

While we say this we feel bound to ' recognize the carefulness with which Mrs . Blake has collected and arranged her available authorities , though we cannct assent to her deductions , nor can we concur in her conclusions . The work is a remarkable work , even in its errors , omissions , and Weaknesses - , for A non-Ma' -on to have put together .

HOW I VOLUNTEERED FOR THE CAPE . By * T ; K . FENN . Tinsley and Co . This amusing work is the production of a son ( of otfr esteemed and vVell-known Bio . Thoriias Fennj for not to * know that good Masonic ritualist and teacher is really to argue oneself Masonically unknown , for his sake the * work would have deserved , had even its merits bCc ' ri

lessconspicuous than they really are , notice in the Freemason , But having read the book wc can safely commend it to the attention of our many readers , as containing a truthful and effective picture of striking events and a desperate struggle . If flily wish to know the real difficulties of " bush warfare , " if any arc desirous to realize the conditions of an encounter between civilization and

barbarism in a far-off land , if any seek to master the "facts of the case , " and to appreciate how well our soldiers , and sailors- and volunteers " went to the front" and " fought it out , * ' obedient to thc Calls of duty , let them open the interesting pages of Mr . Kenn ' s work , and master alike his lively illustrations and animated descriptions of " stiff service " and " hard blows . " We have in this book a

vcry lucid , but we feel sure , truthful description of what all went through who have taken part in the Zulu war , and we think that no cmdid reader can rise from it without feeling proud of numerous hemes of our race and land , ilnd Without thanking the writer of it for a most r . aiUble anil instructive Work . It says a good deal for

the author ' s pluck and patrotic feeling that , instead of leading an idle life at home , as too many do to-day , he volunteered for wrk , and danger , and rough doing , and bad fare , anxious as the son of a good Mason to demonstrate his loyalty as an Englishman , and his devotion as a volunteer .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

CHARLES MARTEL . My esteemed ftichd , Bfo , Hughan , is not ( for once ) tjuite correct as to Charles Martcl . He is referred to at lines 579 , 580 , 5 81 , and 589 in Matthew Cooke ' s MS . as Carolus Sccundus and Charles

the Second , and is , no doubt , the same as mentioned in all thc subsequent prose contributions . Charles Mattel did -jive laws and privileges to the French Masonic Guilds , as Depping shows us . There is no reference to diaries Martel in Halliwell's poem . A . F . A . W ,

THE QUATUOR CORONATI . Masonic students are indebted to Bro . Gould for reviving this interesting question . Findel ' s argument as to im-Teutonic origin of the " Ars Quatuor" of English Ma « sonry is clearly unhistorical . The allusions to the " Corov

nati' probably date even before 600 , though it would be interesting to hear when these names first appeared in the Roman Service Book . Perhaps some one can tell us what is the date of the " earliest service book" known in , England or at Rome . A . F . A . W .

" P . M . No . 1 ( S . C . ) " AND MELROSE LODGE , & c . I do not care to say aught as to the relative positions of the lodges undei the Grand Lodge of Scotland—which , existed prior to its formation—in the event of the old lodge at Melrose agreeing to enter its fold , but , doubtless , the members of Grand Lodge would do much for the sake of

peace and harmony , should the much-wished-for union occur , as they did in 1807 and since . The note of warning , however , which a writer has sounded under the signature of " P . M . No . 1 , S . C . " must not be disregarded , and , therefore , I trust that the authorities " across the bolder " will carefully consider his letter in the Freemason ot last week . As a member ( honorary ) of Nos . o , 1 , and 5 ,

Scotland , I may be excused saying this much , but yet I have so great a longing to see old Melrose Lodge fall into line that I fraternally advise the terms to be made as easy and honourable as possible to all concerned . Our Bro . Vernon will soon announce his complete account of his researches , which , it must be remembered , have culminated in the tracing of one of the oldest Masonic MSS . in Scot land .

W . J . HUGHAN . ANOTHER MASONIC M . S ., AND STILL ANOTHER ! In May , 1874 , our zealous Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., stated in the "Masonic Magazine , " relative to the reproduction of the " Halliwell MS . " ( modernised version ) , " It is just possible that this publication may lead to the search for , and discovery of , other Constitutions , and if so , Bro . Hughan ' s tfforts and mine will be