Correspondence.

3 . "May the Tuscan Order support us , the Ionic guide us , and the Corinthian reward us . " 4 . " May Virtue be the abutment , and Wisdom the key-stone of this lodge . " 5 . " May each Mason revere the Book , Compass , and Square . " 6 . " May the disinterested friendship shoAvn by Freemasons to each other be universally diffused . " 7 . "May Beauty and Merit be the reward of Virtue and

Secresy . " S . "The Memory of old Cyraon . " 9 . " The Royal Arch that /' 10 . " To every beauteous , charming she , Who loves the Craft and Masonry . " U . " May she Avho'd Masonry revile , If e'er meet a Mason ' s gracious smile ; On earth be a neglected Belle ,

And when from this—lead apes in hell . " 12 . "All Knights Templar round the globe . " 13 . "All Royal Arch Excellent Freemasons . " 14 . "May none ever be admitted members of this lodge but such as shall be found worthy of the Mark . " 15 . "All Mark Masons round the globe . " 16 . "All Royal Masters who become pillars to each other . " 17 . "May the gallant Volunteers of Ireland invariably unite

in Brotherly Ties , and be as faithful to each other as Freemasons have ever been found to be . " 18 . "The Memories of our first three Grand Masters . " 19 . " May we never be unmindful of Judas' Fate . " 20 . " May the virtuous resolutions of Ireland be imitated by Great Britain ; and may the two nations ever go hand in hand , united in patriotic pursuits and liberal sentiments , to the glory of our Brother the King , the exaltation of our country , and the certain overthrow of our combined foes . "

21 . " The Memory ot our Sister All worth , of Newmarket . " And , as a last authority , take Dr . Oliver ' s edition of Preston's Flustratons , the very concluding paragraph reads : " The Royal Arch degree has been equally prosperous and significant of a healthy progression , as will appear from the preceding tables . Numerous warrants have been issued of late yearsand it is to be hoped that

, the time is not far distant when every lodge will have a chapter attached to it , as a necessary appendage to the complete development of the true principles of the Order . " In no single instance does the word "Order , " as applied to the Royal Arch degree , once crop out in these extracts . All tend to show that it was regarded as a necessary completion of the third degree , and when we

consider the words used in it , in our own time , quotations from Pope , Addison , and Steele ( the two latter Master Masons ) , we may be sure that no Order of the kind ever existed in times gone by . Giving Comp . Savage credit for his one grain of Avheat , what can we , as Royal Arch Masons , think of an opposition to your plan , M . E . Companion , but that it is a

narrowminded endeavour to keep brother Masons in darkness , unless they choose to pay heavily and leave the affairs of the Order , to the delightful twaddle of some half score would-be orators in that august assembly , the Grand Chapter of the Holy Order (?) of Royal Arch Masons . There are two proverbs Avhich I hope will encourage you to in endeavoursviz" little chink

persevere your , ., a doth let in much light , " and " the constant dropping of water will wear away a stone . " Apologising for the length to which this letter has extended , permit me to subscribe myself , Your fraternal Companion . EZRA .

TO THE liDIIOH OP THE PHEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIEKOK . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHEK , —I have observed with much ^ egret that your excellent and well meant motion in wand Chapter for reduction of R . A . fees has been negatived , I cannot say I am surprised , for alas , feAv men , even amongst Masons , having obtained a privilege at a certain sacrifice , have sufficient magnanimity to advocate the admission of others to a similar advantage at a less cost ; meanwhile , it may be as well that it should be

Correspondence.

generally known that the present regulations are in very many instances systematically evaded , for instance , a short time since , happening to enquire in a certain town how they had been enabled to keep up the number of their exaltations when the fee was so high , I was told that they never actually paid more than a guinea . I then asked how they reconciled such a course with obedience

to the Constitutions , the reply Avas , the candidate puts down three guineas when he leaves the preparing-room for the chapter , and takes back two of them on his return . Moreover , I knoAv an instance , in the North of England , where a chapter being in a languishing condition , sent an invitation to the W . M . of a neighbouring lodgestating that as they were anxious to their

, preserve warrant , it would , on receiving sufficient notice , exalt a stated number of M . M . s for one guinea fees . The invitation Avas accepted , and a posse of R . A . s made . Surely it would be better that the fee should be loAvered , than such practices should be resorted to . Meanwhile , unless the fee be reduced , or my wealth increase , I must , not being disposed to resort to subterfuge , remain content not to

be a R . A . Mason . I should , however , gladly vote iu Grand Lodge , that the absurd statement that the M . M . degree includes the R . A ., be at once and for ever ( unless converted into a verity ) , expunged from the Booh of Constitutions , that Truth , one of the ' principal points of Masonry , be no longer put to the blush . Yours faithfully and fraternally , EXCELSIOR .

Mr. Halliwell No Cowan.

MR . HALLIWELL NO COWAN .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PEEEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MXHEOE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I protest strongly against " Ebor ' s" phrase : — " Mr . Halliwell , who , as a cowan , speaks thus ignorantly of Masonry itself , " & c . He should have use more guarded language when applied to a gentleman known throughout Europe as an able expositor and editor of ancient books and writings . From more

than twenty years' personal knowledge of Mr . Halliwell , I can vouch that he is no cowan . He is no Freemason , but that Avill not be sufficient to brand him as a cowan , i . e ., a sneak , an eaves-dropper , whose punishment amongst the Freemasons of last century was " to be taken to the eaves of a house , and water poured in at his neck until it ran out at his heels . " No Freemason can say that a

gentleman who edits a work , and which goes far to prove the antiquity of the Craft , and speaks so Avell of our Order as Mr . Halhwell has done , is to be branded as untruthful . I think " Ebor " owes him a very ample apology , and am , Yours truly and fraternally , % < MATTHEW COOKE , 30 °

The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

THE GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

TO THE EDITOE OP THE PJVEEMASON S MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIEEOE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have been a reader of MAGAZINE for upwards of three years , and cannot find that any of the back numbers in my possession contain a parallel case to the following . , viz .: — I was initiated on the 3 rd December , 1859 , passed on the 7 th January , 1860 , and raised to the sublime degree

on the 14 th February same year , in Lodge St . Paul ( No . 389 ) , Mhow , near Indore , Bombay Presidency , holding of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and since the lastnamed date have been a paying member . I have repeatedly made application to the office-bearers of the lodge for my diploma , and learn from them that the document in questionwith several other dilomashas

, p , beeu so frequently applied for , and no answer returned , that they begin to give up all hopes of ever receiving it . I am also informed that during the current year four or five letters have been addressed to the Grand Secretary , Bro . Alexander Laurie , George Street , Edinburg , some of which have contained cheques for fees , documents , & c , and that no reply in any shape has beeu