Correspondence.

formance of his " Drawing-room Operas , " ivhich have gained the good opinion of all classes of the community . I refer to Mi * , ( now Bro . ) "Henri Drayton . Animated by the enthusiasm ivhich characterizes reception into the Order , and desirous of evincing his gratitude for the benefits conferred upon him , he offered , after the close of Ins season , to give an extra public evening for the benefit of the projected templeto ivhich he hoped to be

, able to add a feiv stones . The proposition Avas heartily and thankfully received , and all necessary preparations and announcements were made , when , lo ! on the morning of the appointed day , tbe following letter appeared in one of tlie local papers : — '

' ¦ ' THE MASONIC BENEFIT , ' [ To the Editor of Tlie Independent . ] " S IR , —In your journal of to-day , 'I perceive that Bro . Drayton is about to give a gratuitous entertainment for the benevolent fund of the new Masonic Temple ; for which I tender to that brother my best thanks . But , as the announcement call . i on the public to giye their aid to the proposed erection , I thinlc ifc rny duty

to lay before them what Masonry is . In the first place , Masonry is universal all over the world , which it ought , in its spirit and practice , to be bore . To erect a temple devoted to Masonry in this island , is highly commendable , and no one would be more ready than myself to give my mite to such a laudable undertaking . But I must inform the public that there are five Masonic Lodges in this island . I have the honour to represent one . -It appears the Loclge 'LaCdsarde' Irishes to take the lead in this affair of the ' Temple . ' If it is intended for Masonic

purposes , how is it that the other Lodges have not been consulted by the Lodge " La Cdsarde ? " I suppose it Avould not answer their purpose . They appeal to the public to get their money , for the Lodge 'La Cdsaree' is building-. I wish to inform the public that the other Lodges have nofc been consulted on this matter . I am quite satisfied that , if consulted , they would have given their utmost support to such a project . At the Masonic festival that took place last year , I found all the Lodges in the island did their best to promote the benevolent object then hi

view . ^ My Lodge gave £ 20 to that fund ; and I may add , that our charitable contributions Inst year amounted to £ 11 lis . I , therefore , as the Master of fche Royal Sussex Loclge , wish to inform tho public that we have not been consulted iu this matter ; and as the public is now solicited by the Loclge ' La Cdsarde , ' I should recommend them to let the Loclge provide ancl pay for a building which will be exclusively the property of' La Cdsavfie . ' " I remain , your obedient Servant , •¦ Gloucester-street , June llth , 1859 . " ' S . JEWELL , W . M ., So . 722 . "

[ "Of course Mr . Jewell intends no reflection on Mr , and Mrs . Drayton , whose talents and liberality will command the public ' s appreciation , notwithstanding any differences in the Masonic brotherhood . Mr . Drayton , as a newly initiated Mason , cannot bo helcl as at all concerned in the question between 'La Cdsaree' and the other Lodges . — -Ed . Independent . ''' ]

It is asserted that , though desirous of being himself consulted , Bro . Jewell did not think it necessary to consult the members of his Lodge as to the course he considered it right to pursue on their behalf . Next day , in the Independent , appeared the following brief reply : — " THE FREEMASONS . [ To the Editor of The British Press . ]

" SIR , —The insertion of the folloiviug , which , is a copy of the bill exhibited in a ivindow of the Freemasons' Hall , Grove-place , ivill , I believe , be the best answer that can be given to the article signed' S . Jewell , ' which appears in this morning's number of your excellent paper;—