The Gravesend Lodge Of Instruction.

THE GRAVESEND LODGE OF INSTRUCTION .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . SIR AND BROTHER , — It is very amusing to see IIOAV emphatically the above Lodge " stirs up other Lodges" of Instruction to take in the Freemasons' Magazine . It would appear that the Kent brethren haA'e only just been restored to light , or they ivould have found that the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out is a very absurd thing . No Lodge of Instruction is

complete Avithout the Magazine and a goodly number of books , especially Dr . Oliver ' s , Preston ' s , & c , & c . Yours fraternally , Liverpool , Feb . ? , rd , 1859 . P . M .

Visitors To Lodges.

VISITORS TO LODGES .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASON'S MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Sin AND BROTHER—The Book of Constitutions enjoins upon Masters and Wardens , that so often as convenient they should visit other Lodges ; but does not state whether , when they do so , they shall wear their collars . Many brethren , therefore , assume that they should not . I will now , as briefly as possible , state the reasons that are given for that opinion and also

my own views upon the matter . Firstl y , they say , that upon entering a Lodge they ahvays look for the collars to denote the officers , and that if visitors also wore them great inconvenience ivould be the result . For myself , I ahvays look for his situation in a Lod ge to denote an officer , and wc all know that visitors have a distinct place assigned to them . Secondl y , I am told that the apron and jeivel upon the breast are sufficient to denote the rank of a Brother . I question much ivhcther such can be the case when find that in the Grand Lod

I ge of England the collar alone marks the rank ; for instance , Prov . Grand aprons arc admitted , but a brother must wear his collar as Master , Past Master , or Warden , othenvise he would be refused admittance , as not being in proper clothing . Thirdl y , it is said that there can he but one Master in a Lodge . True , but I have yet to learn that it detracts from the authority of the master of a house for masters of other houses to visit him ; orthat in order not to take from the dignity

, and authority of a Master in the chair , the Masters of other Lodges when visiting his ' Lodge , should divest themselves , not of their rani , which remains the same , but of a portion of their proper clothin" -. Duriii" - the last three years , as W . M ., I have visited many Lodges , both in the metropolis and also in the provinces , and I have ahvays , during that period , worn my collarand neversave oncehas it been objected toI have done so

, , , . , considering it far more complimentary to the Lodges I visited ; and I must confess that I have also felt it as a mark of respect when visitors to my Lodges have clone the same . I remain , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , London . FeuriMry hlk , 1859 . A W . M .