Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor i $ not responsible for the opinions expressed by Corretpondents TO TUB EDITOR 01 ? THE PRKTHtiSOWS * atAGAZCNE AND MASONIC MIIillOB . MASONIC MUSICAL RITUAL . Dear Sir and Brother , Many brethren , having sent stamps to the

composer , and also lo the publishers , for copies of the " Masonic Ritual , " are surprised that the work has not reached them . "Will you kindly allow me to say that the copies will be ready for delivery in a few days . A mistake on the part of the publishers has caused the delay . Yours fraternally , FREDK . ATKINS .

Masonic Sayings And Doings Abroad.

MASONIC SAYINGS AND DOINGS ABROAD .

The Masons of St . John , New Brunswick , contemplate the erection of a hall suitable to the requirements of the fraternity in that jurisdiction . The committee , appointed for that purpose have secured a site , at a cost of 8 , 000 dollars . The estimated cost of the intended building will be about 40 , 000 dollars .

The Grand Orient of Hayti was founded iu 1822 , and controls all the degrees of Masonry in the Republic , from the first to the thirty-third . Bro . A . T . Boucheron is the present Grand Master , and Bro General E . Bourjolly , of Port-au-Prince ,

Grand Secretary . It has eighteen subordinate lodges under its jurisdiction , together with the lodges of perfection , chapters , councils and consistories appropriate to the Scottish Rite . It is composed mainly of coloured brethren .

At an especial communication of the Grand Lodge of Canada , held ; at Picton , Ontario , Aug . 15 th , the cornerstone ) of anew School House and Masonic Hall combined was laid by R . W . Bro . Machherson , of Owen Sound , assisted by Bro . T . H . Henderson

of Belleville , and a large number of the Brethren . A beautiful silver trowel was presented to R . W . Bro . Macpberson , and with it the stone was laid with the usual masonic ceremonies . Grand Lodge having been closed , the brethren repaired to Conger ' s Hall , where

a bountiful repast had been provided , and where , after ample justice had been done to the good things provided , the usual ,-loyal ^ and masonic toasts were proposed and heartily responded to The Grand Lodge of Texas abopted a resolution at its last communication , authorizing the M . W . Grand Master to appoint a committee of five , to be styled

the Committee of Masonic History , whose duty it shall be to collect short biographies , sketches , photographs , and anything of interest of distinguished Masons in Texas , and place them in the hands of the Grand Secretary for future

use-Some lodges have the photographs of all their members . Why not go a little further , and add a sketch of each , to be kept in a book for that purpose . If all Lodges would adopt this plan , what an interesting source of history it would be a hundred years

hence . A page or two devoted to this purpose for each brother would not occupy a great deal of room , or time in doing it , and even it did , would it not pay a lodge to do it . Some lodges adorn their walls with photographs of their members , and it looks very well ,

but it will not be so lasting as the one we suggest . ] It might be made an appointed office , and the one receiving it should retain it- We presume there are brethren in every lodge who would take pride in doing this , and by this means a full and correct biography could be kept of all its membership . —Landmetric

The Grand Master of Templars in the United States some time since granted a dispensation to a constitutional number of Sir Knights to open and hold a commandery K-T , at Honolulu , Sandwich Island . 'Ihe first petition for the degrees was received from the King .

A great increase in the Order of Freemasons has been shown lately in this country , by the multiplication of Lodges and the erection of new Masonic buildings- A census of the Order just taken shows that this increase is a real one- Over forty thousand new members have been initiated during the past year ,

the entire number now reaches nearly five hundred thousand- The reason of this prosperity lies probably as much as in anything else , in the social attractions of Masonry . The lodge supplies the place of a club to its members , and the entertainment it affords is an

acceptable relief to men wearied with the cares of business . To this are added the more substantial benefits of mutual assistance in distress , for which the Order is celebrated , so that the wonder is rather that it does not increase faster than it does . —New York Sun .

The American Freemasons have lost no time in organizing relief for their brethren who have suffered by the fire at Chicago . The Grand Master of New York has asked that contributions may be forwarded to him . The first amount received was 300 dollars from Central Lodge , Brooklyn . The Grand Commandery K-T . of New York have voted 1 , 000 dollars-