Original Correspondence.

—why does he turn the plural into the singular ? The sweeping away process was to be applied to the whole of the officials , and not to one alone . " Vice-President" tells us that he " does not know of any country . Christian or Jewish , where crucifixion , & c . " I am not in a position to say whether such a punishment is practised anywhere , at the

present time ; but I must point out that there is no Jewish country . and if prophesy be true , will not be until the Millenium . The selection of the word formula ; ( plural , mark ) as applying to the words . " Crucify him , " is not a good one . I repeat , consult a better dictionary . AVhat on earth the trial of Christ before Pilate has to do with the

R . M . I . B ., I am at a loss to understand : but . quoting you ( in reference to the Secretary ) , " it seemed a cruel and unkind thing that he should have been required to read his own indictment . " Vice-President is guilty of gross blasphemy when he comments . •¦ I don't know that it is not even worse than its counterpart in the mock trial of Christ . "

Some people who were present at the Special Court , brethren well known to yourself , Sir , considered Bro . B . Baker ' s suggestion anything but sensible , prudent , or just . " Vice-President" is at liberty to form his own , but not other people ' s opinions , as to that suggestion : but he should not state , as a fact , that it was this , that , or the other .

What does " Vice-President" mean when he says , in reference to the chairman , Bro . AA . AV . Beach , " who conrenicntlg , and I think prudently , though unavoidabl y , did not catch the motion for a vote of thanks to the investigation ' committee . " If unavoidably , where do the prudently and conveniently come in . ' I am sorry ¦ ' Vice-President" finds it " difficult to select a suitable phrase . " I fancy he would do better to abstain from criticism

altogether if he can perpetrate nothing better than appears over his nom de plume in your Nos . 18 and 20 . I do not see how "fraternally" is accentuated by the use of the word " very , " so merely subscribe myself , Yours fraternally , IGNOTUP . P . S . —I should like next week to break a lance with your other correspondent who talks about the "temperature of the atmosphere ! "

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

II . S ., 1 ' Oiu . sT lln . r ,. —Certainly ; tlic Secretary to the Company will receive , if more convenient to you , the application ami deposit , and obtain and forward lo yon the Hankers' Receipt . Address to air . Lancaster , JIASOXIC ST . Ut , LIMITED , 13 and 11 , King Street , Cheapside , E . C .

Our Trestle Board

OUR TRESTLE BOARD

" For the Master to lay lines and draw designs upon . "

AVe are again compelled to ask the indulgence of our correspondents and readers in connection with several matters of interest , the particulars of which are in type . The absorbing interest which has been and still is taken in the affairs of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys must be our apology , if any be needed , for

devoting so much of our present number to reports and correspondence in connection therewith . AVe have Provincial and Colonial communications which must stand over , together with enquiries from several brethren . These shall have priority in our

next week's issue . Meanwhile , brethren , let us have the opportunity of knowing how far you are disposed to support the efforts being made for the increase of our size and circulation . The opportunity is before you . and you can , by a very trifling assistance , make w < uu " MASONIC STAR still further useful to the Craft .

The St . James ' s Gazette of Tuesday last announces the resignation by the Earl of Jersey of the Provincial Grand Mastership of Mark Master Masons of Berks and Oxon , a position he has held for some years ; and that Lord Valentia will probably be his successor as Grand Mark Master of that province .

AVe welcome our old friend and contemporary , The Freemason , in its new garb of highly finished paper , new type and general arrangement , by which it signalises its entrance upon the year of its majority . AVe contrast it with its first number , published in March , 1869 , and now before us . "Time is fleeting , " says the

poet . It is indeed 1 for it seems but as yesterday that our pen inscribed the very first column of general matter which appeared in our predecessor ' s pages . The contrast we refer to is encouraging at the present moment to ourselves as a modest attempt to vie with the masonic journals of England in the spread of interesting

instruction and general information upon all things affecting the welfare of the Craft . Very steadily and very firmly did our contemporary pursue the even tenor of its way , and it has set us an example which , perseveringly followed , will , we hope and believe .

at no distant date , be rewarded by an increase as much beyond the expectations we originally formed of our own venture , as the present number of The Freemason- must bo beyond those which actuated its spirited proprietor twenty years ago . AVe wish it and him every success . There is room for us both !

And for yet another ! In these days , when the rage for editions de lu . ee is constantly inviting authors and publishers to produce books and papers which might be presentable in the salons of the higher classes of society , it is not to be wondered at that an attempt

Our Trestle Board

should be made to introduce the literature of Freemasonry into the drawing rooms of the elite of our Order . Such an attempt is The Masonic Beview , "a Monthly Journal of Masonic and Social Events for Freemasons , " the first ( July ) number of which has been issued . It is a coincidence more or less worthy of remark that , in its turn , our successor , as did our predecessor , utilises our pen for its first

column ot general matter , and elsewhere distinguishes us by the reproduction of one of our early articles which appeared in the pages of this journal . In so far we are interested in this new " review , " but no further . Honest criticism compels us to admit that for stylo , get-up and general appearance , nothing but praise is merited for the work . The article on " Eminent Masons at Home . "

the subject of which , as the first of a series , is our Most AVorshipful Grand Master , is embellished by an admirable portrait , and the subject matter is interesting . An original paragraph referring to the MASONIC STAR is incorrect in some of its particulars . A poem having no masonic bearing is also an original contribution ; but beyond these we find nothing which is not , in a masonic sense

either " ancient history" or reprints from other journals , unless it be society gossip of no paramount interest to Craftsmen . AVe admit , of course , the many difficulties which must attend a first number in regard to pabulum- for its several pages , but if it aims to " lead the literature of the Order , " as stated in its preface , the Masonic Berieie must do something far different in its future issues . " Something which the existing masonic journals have failed to supply , " reads

to us as very vague , and we shall be greatly interested in learning in due course what that someth ing may be . If that be not produced "the'waste paper island' and the 'butter counter' rocks" may prevent the fulfilment of the expectation that its volumes will " rest as a monument of the Craft , cheek-by-jowl with the memorable volumes which furnish the oaken shelves of the Englishman ' s library . "

Our new contemporary remarks " we have nothing to sell . " AVhat can it mean . ' Does it not expect to obtain sixpence per copy , and to give value for it ? At any rate , venturing to speak for our old contemporary , and unhesitatingly speaking for ourselves , we offer our wares at a price , and for money ' s worth . The former sells at threepence , and we , not being quite so voluminous , expect the modest penny per week for our little brochure , failing to obtain which , we must , as a matter of course " go under . "

One thing in connection with the foregoing is certain . The English craft cannot say they tire not now catered for in resjiect of Masonic literature in a manner to suit their individual requirements . They have only to " pay their money and take their choice . " Competition is the soul of commercial enterprise , and a

geat feature in ensuring superior quality in production . There is a field for each and all who will strive to advance the progress of Freemasonry , and assist its scholarship . There is no race without a rival . In that in which we are entered , we may not take precedence , but we shall hope atleasfc to reach' the goal , in racing parlance , " a good second . "

We Notify That:-

We Notify that:-

The Panmure Lodge , No . 720 , Bro . Lewis Jones , MB ., AV . M .. will meet at the Balham Hotel , Balham , S . AV ., on Monday next , the 15 th inst ., at 5 p . m ., for passings and initiation . In consequence of the lamented death of Bro . Thomas A aughan Davies , the brethren will clothe in mourning .

The Wiener Zeitung of the 27 th June , contains the following announcement : — " His Majestj r the Emperor has been graciously pleased to confer the ' Franz Joseph Order' on Mr . Maurice Spiegel resident in London . " AVe congratulate our brother in obtaining this distinction .

DORSET MASONIC CHARILY . —The ninth annual meeting of the general committee was held at the lodge room , AVimborne , on Thursday , the 1 th July instant , AV . Bro . AV . D . Dugdale . P . P . J . G . AV .. the chairman of the charity , being supported by the R . AV . Montague J . Guest , P . G . M . ; AV . Bros . R . Case , P . G . Sec , treas . ; T . R . Baskett . P . P . G . R ., hon . sec ; AV . Mortimer Heath , P . G . Chap , of England ; L . H . Ruegg , P . P . S . G . AV . ; G . J . G . Gregory , P . P . S . G . AV . ; J . AV .

Luff , P . P . S . G . AV . ; J . AVhitehead Smith , P . P . J . G . AV . ; C . H . AV Parkinson , P . P . J . G . AV . ; AV . AV . Strickland . P . P . G . J . D . ; C . G . Targett , P . P . G . J . D . ; T . Giles , P . P . G . Supt . AVorks ; J . A . Atkins , P . P . G . Supt . AVorks ; A . C . Todd , P . P . G . Supt . AA orks ; J . S . Stroud . I . P . M . 417 ; C . J . AA oodford , AV . M . 137 ; J . Harold , AV . M . ( 122 ; E ' Mills , AV . M . 1037 ; and A . Taylor , J . AV . 114 ( j . Only three

lodges m the province were unrepresented . The half-yearly meeting of the relief and assistance sub-committee , consisting of one member from each lodge , was first held , and investigated the petitions for relief , five in number . At the meeting of the general committee several letters and telegrams , apologising for unavoidable absence , . vere read from various brethren , including AA . Bro . Z .

Milledge , P . G . D . C , the vice-chairman ; AV . Bro . C . J . Hambro . P . D . P . G . M . ; and other distinguished brethren . On the recommendation of the relief and assistance sub-committee , grants varying in amount were made to six petitioners , amounting together to . £ 85 . The draft report to provincial grand lodge was then considered , and showed a most satisfactory progress had been made

and it was ordered to be printed for distribution at the next P . G . L . viz ., at AVareham , on the 2 (! th September . Some slight alteration in the bye-laws having been proposed and carried , it was arranged that the Midwinter meeting should be held at Dorchester , and the meeting closed with the usual vote of thanks to the chairman on

the imposition of the P . G . M . On the invitation of W . Bro . J Harold , the AV . M . of the AVimborne lodge , who had thoughtfull y remembered that many of the brethren had come a long distance , the committee then adjourned to a substantial cold collation at his expense , under the presidency of the P . G . M .