Correspondence.

provinces , and might be easily carried in Grand Lodge , by members Avho are interested in the question , were it not that clistauce aud expense render it impossible for any very large number of those not resident near London to attend tlie quarterly communications . It may be said that the appointments in

Grand Lodge are made by the Grand Master ; then , Avhy should it not be the same in Provincial Grand Lodge ? Simply because the former is appointed annually by the brethren , and they have no control whatever over the election of the latter . I Avould

name a province where I am convinced that four out of five votes would be adverse to its present head , if the brethren had au opportunity of expressing their opinion . It cannot be doubted that the number of Freemasons unattached to lodges nearly equals that of

subscribing members , and moreover , thab iu a large proportion of cases , resignation has arisen from disappointment and disgust under circumstances of the kind pointed out . The matter is worth inquiry into , because tbe funds of Grand Lodge suffer , and the

Charities are not supported so Avell as they might be , AA'ere all AVIIO have been initiated to maintain their interest in the Craft by continuing their subscriptions . If the statement be found correct , a remedy should be sought , with a view to retain the influence

and assistance of brethren who have deserved well of tlie Institution during the early years of their connection with it . Having myself received long ago every possible mark of distinction , except office in Grand Loclge , aud the headship of a province , no one can accuse me

of AA'riting thus from interested motives . In truth , I am actuated ouly by a sense of justice and a desire to uphold the honour and purity of the Craft . At the same time I confess that in the province in which I now reside , OAA-ing to circumstances of the nature above adverted tothere has been no periodAvithin

, , my experience , when I Avould have accepted office , if it had been offered to me , not deeming it any honour , nor am I the only one who entertains such an opinion . Yours fraternally , August 21 , 18 G 5 . P . M .

The Masons' Company.

THE MASONS' COMPANY .

TO THE EE-ITOI ! OS THE EREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC initHOlt . DEAR SIE AIOJ BEOTHEE , — Observing scA-eral Queries in the pages of your MAGAZINE , from your esteemed and learned correspondent Bro . Pnrton Cooper , and being connected , by marriage , with an official of the Masons' Company , Avhose ball is still

standing in Masons' Alley , Basinghall-street , he has kindly sent me the folloAving information : — "All papers and documents in the charter room of the company , have been carefully examined , and nothing Avhatever has been found to connect the Masons' Company Avith tho body of Freemasons .

There is no "Book of Constitutions , " except the charter , temp . Charles II . There arc not , and never have been , any lodges . There are no ceremonies , signs , or pass words : no Grand Masters . Mark Masons , or

The Masons' Company.

Mark Masters . Sir Christopher Wren was never Master . " Yours fraternally , M . H . SnuTTiEWOTii , 33 ' . August 25 , 1 SG 5 .

The Origin Of Freemasonry.

THE ORIGIN OF FREEMASONRY .

TO THE EDITOB OF THE EltEEHASONS' MAGAZINE AND 3 IAS 0 NIC MinitOn . DEAE SIE ASD BEOTHEE , —There are two similitudes under Avhich it has pleased our Lord Jesus and the Apostles to depict the character of a Christian pilgrim ; the first is that of a builder , and the second that of a Temple dedicated to the Great Architect of the Universe . " He is like a man which built a house

, aud digged deep , and laid the foundation on a rock and when Avhen the flood arose , the stream beat vehemently upon that house , aud could not shake it , for it was founded upon a rock . " ( Luke vi ., v . 48 . ) " According to the grace of God , which is given unto me , as a Avise master builder ,

I have laid the foundation , and another buildeth thereon . But let eA'ery man take heed how he buildeth thereon . For other foundation can no man lay than is laid , which is Jesus Christ . " ( Cor . i ., chap . iii . v . 10-11 . ) " And Ave built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophetsJesus Christ

him-, self being the corner-stone . In whom all the building fitly framed together groAveth into an holy temple in the Lord . In whom ye also are builded together for au habitation of God through the spirit . " ( Epb . es . chap . ii . v . 20 , 21 , 22 . ) "To whom coming , as unto a living stonedisalloAved indeed of menbut

, , chosen of God , and precious . Ye , also , as lively stones , Ave built up a spiritual house , an holy priesthood , to offer up . spiritual sacrifices , acceptable to God by Jesus Christ . Wherefore , also , it is contained in the Scripture . Behold , I lay in Sion a chief

corner-stone , elect , precious , an he that believeth in him shall not be confounded . " ( 1 Peter chap . ii . v . i , 5 , G . ) " KUOAV ye not that ye are the temple of God , aud that the spirit of God dwellefch in you ? If any man defile the temple of God , him shall God destroy ; for the temple of God is holy , which temple

ye are . " ( 1 Cor . chap , iii ., A * . 1 G , 17 . ) And in St . John , chap . 2 , v . 19 , 20 , 2 L , our Saviour compares himself to the temple : " Jesus answered and said uuto them , destroy this temple , and iu three days I Avill raise it up . Then said the Jews , forty and six years Avas this temple in building , and Avilt thou raise it up

iu three days ? But he spoke of the temple of his body . " And again , iu Matthew , chap . xxi . v . 42 , he says , " The stone Avhich the builders rejected , the same becomes the head of this corner ; this is the Lord ' s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes . " Such , ray Christian brethrenis the stoneupon which tho

, , pious founders of our Masonic temples have raised our glorious edifice , aud accordingly the newly initiated Mason is placed at the north-east corner of the lodge to figuratively represent this stone , aud exhorted to raise upon this foundation a superstructure perfect in parts and houourable to the builder .

It is but natural to suppose that the Avarrior monks , to Avhom the privilege Avas given to tread in the A'ery footsteps of our blessed Lord , and ponder over the sacred Avritiugs under the shadow of the temples aud on the hallowed ground upon ivhich the Son of God had made himself manifest iu the flesh , aud Avho , during their wanderings in the desert , had received