Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

-r [ T HE EPITOB does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained bg Correspondents . ' ] THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HEREFORDSHIRE .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE FEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . SIR AND BROTHER , —The proceedings at the late meeting at Ross as reported in the local journals and also in your columns , AA-ould lead the public and the Masonic readers to imagine that under the Provincial Grand Master , Masonry had reached to a g lorious state of perfection in that province . I pledge my Masonic honour that the following is the true state

of the Masonic matters ; and if the Provincial Grand Master , instead of preparing a grand speech to attract vain ' glorious approbation , would give some time to the Masonic working of the province , then these eulogistic remarks would be more in place . NOAV for the real business of the meeting . In the first place the AA' . M . of the Vitruvian was ordered to open his Lodge in the first degree : this Avas clonebut afterwards this was thought

un-, necessary , as the matter was treated ivith indifference , and the Lodge was never closed ! The Provincial Grand Master who lias done so much for the revival of Masonry could not open his Grand Lodge and read from a memorandum the formula . - How does this agree with the first step in Masonry ? NOAV for the Officers—the Deputy Grand Master , no doubt a very worthy Mason , but resident in London , and the Provincial Grand Master

being also non-resident , it does not appear that we have officers to aid the cause of Masonry in the province . The Provincial Grand Secretary is also a resident in London . As for the Provincial Senior Grand Warden , Archdeacon Freer , a more worthy gentleman could not be found , but his appointment is in direct violation of the Book of Constitutions , as lie has never served the office of Master of a Lodge , and is thus quite ineligible ,

masonically speaking . But more is to come—he is appointed Assistant Deputy Grand Master ! and although never a Master , wears the Past Master ' s levels on his clothing . This is a specimen of the state of things . There were also gentlemen invited to the banquet AA-IIO were not Masons ; and the reporters ( not Masons ) of tivo local papers AA-ere invited and attended in order to give the Provincial Grand Master ' s prepared

speeches to the world . Luckil y for the sake of Masonry they were not present within the Lodge , although they could have easily gained admission , as tlie brethren Avent in and out of the Provincial Grand Lodge during business without any challenge ; in fact , the Provincial Grand Tyler remained within the Lodge . I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , Ax OT . D P . M ., AND ix TIIE PROVINCE .

MASONIC CHARITY . TO THE EDITOR OE THE EREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It gave me great pleasure to read in your report of the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting for Warwickshire , that the noble sum of one hundred and fifty guineas was voted to the metropolitan charities , viz .: £ 52 10 s . to the

Boys School ; £ 52 10 s . to the Girls School , and £ 52 10 s . to the Royal Masonic Annuity Fund—the effect of this being that the R . W . Provincial Grand Master ( Lord Leigh ) ivill he made a vicepresident and governor of each of these charities- for life . In the Provincial Grand Lodge for Worcestershire , held at Dudley in 1858 , a similar motion AA'as brought forivard by a Dudley brother , hut having reference onlto one institutionthat of the Girls .

y , This was opposed , if my memory serves me truly , by a Worcester brother , hut ivas carried hy a large majority . At the Provincial Sleeting at Kidderminster , in September last , a further donation of £ 52 10 s . was proposed to the Boys School , but again opposed hy some brethren from the city of Worcester , though unsuccessfully . Next year I hope that a similar sum ivill be likewise voted to the Royal Masonic Annuity Fund . Why the Worcester

brethren should so systematically oppose these grants ( or rather the brethren of one Worcester Lodge only ) is a mystery to the brethren in other parts of the province . In the four Dudley Lodges , and at Stourbridge and Kidderminster , the notice of motion Avhich was given was freel y discussed , and an unanimous resolve made to support so desirable an act—an act liaving for its object the furtherance of true Masonic charity . They also highly

approved of the honour it would confer upon their much respected Prov . Grand Master , Bro Henry Charles Vernon . But in order to disarm opposition on the score of a too liberal grant from the funds , it was resolved to insure the life of the Prov . Grand Master , so that when his life should " fall in " ( as the actuaries have it ) , the Provincial Grand Lodge should have , without trenching any farther upon its fundsthe wherewithal to

, benefit the charities again in like manner , and again to confer honour upon their R . W . Prov . Grand Master . This , hoivever , one Worcester brother declared would be a malappropriation of the Lodge funds—a proposal , by the bye , that was made by the head of one of the first legal firms in the country—and therefore , one would have thought unobjectionable on the part of legality . One objection was that the grant would become a " dangerous

precedent . " That it will become a " precedent" is sure enough , and the Warwickshire-meeting is likely to make it a still stronger one , hut IIOAV it can be a " dangerous " one " deponent knowetli not . " I should lilce to know IIOAV the exercise of Masonic charity can ever become al " dangerous " act—perhaps some of the Masonic lights ofthe good old city of Worcester will kindly and charitably ( for it would be charitable if indeed there was danger ) , inform us .

I hope to see other Provincial Grand Lodges following in the footsteps of Worcestershire and Warwickshire , and thus assist in the enlargement of the operations ofthe " metropolitan charities , " so called by a Worcester brother—the folloiA'ing list of boys , elected at the last meeting of the Boys School , Avill SIIOAV with what correctness : —London boys , five : Dutton , Wintle , Wesson , Jayand Carlin—Country boysseven : StarkJohnsonKilpin

, , , , , McDowell , Gregory , Saunders , and Hand . In the face of this , how can the institution be stigmatised as purely " metropolitan ?" I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , II . WIGGINTON , S . W . No . 819 , October 2 dth , 1859 . and Prov . G . Asst . Dir . of Cers .

WAILE o' WIGS . —A facetious and acute friend of mine , ivho rather leans to the Sydney Smith vieAV of . Scottish wit , declares that all our humorous stories are about lairds ivho are drunk . Of such stories there arc certainly not a fciv . One of tho best belonged to my part of the country , and to many persons I should perhaps apologise for introducing it at all . The story has been told o £ various parties and localities , but no doubt the genuine laird Avas a laird of Balnamoon , and that the locality

AA'as a Avild tract of land not far from his place called Munrimmon Moor . Balnamoon had been dining out in tho neighbourhood , whore , by mistake , they had put doAvn to him after dinner cherry brandy , instead of port wine , his usual beverage . The rich flavour and strength so pleased him that , having tasted it , he would have nothing else . On rising from the table , therefore , the laird would be more affected by his drink thau if ho

had taken his ordinary allowance of port . His servant Harry , or ' ' Hairy , " AA-as to drive him home in a gig or Avhisky , as it AA'as called , the usual open carriage of the time . On crossing the moor , hoivever , AA-hother from greater exposure to the blast or from the laird ' s unsteadiness of head , his hat and wig came off and fell upon the ground . Harry got out to pick them up and restore them to his master . The laird was satisfied Avith the hatbut demurred at the wi " It ' s no wigHairylad ;

, g . my , , it's no my wig , " and refused to have anything to do with it . Hairy lost his patience , and anxious to get home , remonstrated swith his master , "Ye'd better tak it , sir , for there ' s nae waile o ' wigs ' on Munrimmon Moor . " The humour of the argument is exquisite , putting to the laird in his unreasonable objection , the sly insinuation that in such a locality , if he did not take this ivig he Avas not likely to find another . Then what a rich expression , " vi-aile o' wigs . " In English Avhat is it ? "A choice oil aile

perukes . " There is nothing in the English comparable to the " AA-o ' wigs . "—Dean Ramsay . ITALIAN PROVERBS . —Says Guiceiardini , "Do all you can to seem good , and the better shall it be for you . " In another place , speaking of gratitude in return for favours received , he says , " Look for assistance only to those who are so situated that they must needs serve you , and not to such as have served" & c . How infinitelhiher and nobler

you , y g is " Gianni ' s " standard of moral worth when he says , " Goodness takes up no room ; " and better still , " Whoso cloeth good , hath goods ; " or , ivith honest trust in hia felloiv creatures' gratitude , " Service kindles love "— ' ¦ ' He that gives discreetly sells dear "— "Almsgiving never made any man poor "— " Helpfulness neA'er comes home Avithout his wages . " Aud Avhat a noble refutation we find of Guiceiardini ' s perfidious counsel "Deny stoutlAA'hat ivould not have knoAvnor affirm in like manner

y you , what you wish to be believed , because though there bo many contradictions , nay , almost certainties against you , your doing so may gain over the judgment of him at least who hears you . " NOAV listen to Gianni ' s homely jingle on the other side of the question , "Clean lips and even hand , go free through every laud , "