Corespondence.

bodied in that letter appear to us to he the most practical that have yet appeared . If uniformity of ritual is not obtainable on your side of the border , it is still more lamentably deficient in Scotland , for here , not only with respect to ritual , but also with clothing , "each one does that -which is right in his own eyes . " We cannot speak as you do of the Vlue

degrees , for here Craft Masonry assumes all the colours of the rainbow , and the materials of the apron may be either silk , satin , or lambskin . These , with other and more serious anomalies ( to which I do not wish at present to allude ) arise , as G . W . W . observes , from "the want of controlling power . ' ' Clothing

may be one of the non-essentials , but that , with other proofs of want of uniformity , has tended to make English Masons at times sarcastic on their Scotch brethren , though G . W . W . has ihe candour to say he has seen good working here . If Bros . Buchan , Scotus , Pictus , Melville , Smith ,

Lyon , aud other learned Scotch Masons , would join with Bros . Crux , Crescent , Hughan , Yarker , Hyde Clarke , and others , in devoting some of their spare time to improving the present position of the Order , it might be quite as profitable as speculating on the precise time that speculative Masonry dates from . The present honour and future prosperity of the Order are surely of more importance than guesses , however ingenious , concerning the history of the

past , especially when we know that our ancient brethren were so particular that no kind of written or printed documents should be allowed to exist that could in anv way impart a knowledge of our doings to the " pro ' fane !" Let us , then , devote ourselves to improving the

present position of the Craft ; let the three sister Grand Lodges take up the matter in earnest ; let the suggested plan , or some other to be evolved , be considered fully , discussed fairly , and , when approved of , acted on . Let us remove the reproach that at the present attaches to us allviz ., thatwhile

boast-, , ing of belonging to an Order whose branches are spread over the whole habitable globe , with brethren known to each other in every country of the earth , we yet are so ill organized that , not merely on different sides of the Tweed or Irish Channel do we work differentlybut even in the same townand

, , often even in the same lodge-room , there is a -marked distinction iu the ceremonies aud ritual . Here is a large field that wants cultivation ; here is a theme for your ablest correspondents . The cry has been started in England ; it is re echoed from Ireland , and it will meet with a response in the heart of every true

Craftsman who hails from Caledonia , as well as—Yours fraternally , A SCOTCH MASON . Glasgow , November 7 th .

OUR BROTHER BUCHAK TO THE EDITOR OP THE FllEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MinHOR . Dear Sir and Brother , —A distinguished Mason writes as follows : — " Our Bro . Buchan has great zeal , and , what is better , he has judgment and caution . He comes to no conclusion until he has got at the facts , and until he has ascertained the nature of those facts ; and ,

moreover , he knows well how to pull each fact to pieces , and thus more surely estimate its value , " ISTow , there is in D . G . M . Manningham ' s letter , Freemasons' Magazine , Vol . 19 , page 133 , this passage : — " I conversed lately with one old brother of 90 . This brother assures me he was made a Mason

in his youth , and has constantly frequented lodges till rendered incapable by his advanced age , and never heard or knew of any other ceremonies or words than those used in general amongst us ; such forms were delivered to him , and those he has retained . " This passagealthough at one time it attracted a

, good deal of notice , has never been critically examined . Will the able Brother Buchan undertake that task ? Does the passage constitute a fact worthy of consideration ? D . G . M . Manningham ' s letter is dated July , 1757 . Must it be taken that the " one old brother of 90 " was " made a Mason ' ' in the 17 th

century ? and , if so , can the " ceremonies and words used in general amongst us , " and the " forms delivered and retained , " be understood to mean speculative Masonry ? Above is verbatim what a distinguished Mason has writtenand I now forward it to the editor of our

, periodical , to be disposed of in such way as , in his discretion , he shall see fit . Yours fraternally , A PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER .

AUXILIARY LODGES . TO THE EDITOE OP THE PnEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIEBOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —Iu reply to ( JI B . ^ , in the Freemasons' Magazine of last week , I can inform him that in Calcuttawhere the lodges are worked as

, well as they are in England , that we frequently gave ( press of business requiring ) the three degrees on the same evening in separate rooms , the W . M . of the lodge presiding in one room and a P . M ., with competent staff , officiating in the other ; all the brethren being present when the lodge was

opened , and all also being present when the lodge was closed , the Secretary recording on the minutes the records of the officers officiating in each room . Of course the hall was adapted for the purpose , having separate entrances , & c , to each room . I cannot understand how the propriety of such an arrangement

can be questioned . Youis fraternally , P . D . D . G . M .

PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND . —An influential meeting was held in the large room of the Town Hall , Newark , on Monday last , for the formation of a local association in aid of the exploration of Palestine . The Eight Hon . the Speaker of the House of Commons occupied the chair , in which he was supported by the Bishop of Lincoln , Earl Manners , Mr . Hodgkinson , M . P ., Canon

Mackenzie , and the Bev . M . Miller . Besides these gentlemen the meeting was addressed by Mr . Grove , the Hon . Sec . to the Fund , and Captain CW . Wilson , E . E . The room was crowded , and the statements of the speakers were received with great demonstrations of interest . A powerful local committee was formed , and tho amount subscribed exceeded £ 60 , a large amount being annual subscriptions .