The Province Of Somerset.

shall be happy to unite with the Brethren of Somersetshire in giving him " afull , fair , and generous trial , " he must not be astonished if we should upon some questions take the liberty of criticising the manner in which he may discharge his duties , should we feel it necessary to do so ; though he may rest assured that we shall never exercise that power excepting in the most friendly and brotherly spirit , and with the view only of endeavouring

to enhance the prosperity of the province with which he has the honour to be connected . If we have spoken more of our second correspondent on the subject than of the first , it is only because we are more intimately acquainted with him ; though we have every reason to believe that the one was equally independent and trustworthy in his information with the other . —ED . ]

Country Lodge Accommodation.

COUNTRY LODGE ACCOMMODATION .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE EREE 5 IASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MTBE 0 B . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , —Such of your readers as are resident in the provinces will readily acknowledge a generally ardent desire amongst the Brethren , of their Lodges to remove their meetings from the tavern in which they too often take place , to a hall or temple devoted exclusively to Masonic purposes . But as a large section of your subscribers reside in Londonwhere many of the objections to tavern meetings do not hold good

, , it may be as well to enumerate a few of them . I fFirst , and foremost—the scandal undoubtedly entailed on the Craft . How many a young man , living perhaps in a town of six to 10 , 000 inhabitants —where every one knows the contents of his neighbour ' s larder , ami the way in which he holds his razor—is deterred from joining our ranks by a knowledge of the social glass and pipe which almost inevitably follow the labours of the monthly Lodge if held at a tavernand whichover the

, , maternal tea and toast , is construed into one of the horrid and demoralizing effects of Freemasonry . This may appear a frivolous objection to many - , but a young man's fair name is much more assailable and a much more constant source of solicitude in such a town than in a large city .

Secondly . —The expense ; banquets— " social glass and pipe , " aforesaidand often an exorbitant rental . Thirdly ; and this most serious — the bad adaptation of a market or assembly room to Masonic purposes , and the damage done to ornaments , furniture , and jewels , by continual moving and insufficient stowage . Fourthly . —The feeling of dependence and obligation incurred to non-Masonic innkeepers in many instances , and the direct and indirect

disadvantages thereof . These are a few only , and perhaps not the most serious objections speciall y applicable to meetings held in provincial hotels . It has occurred in a crude way to the writer , that where flourishing Prov . Grand Lodges exist they might , with convenience to themselves and advantage to the Craft , impart a life-giving impetus to small , struggling , but earnest Lodges , by assisting them ( under proper security ) to a home of their own ; giving them the chance , by long rentals , of purchasing it , or makingit a permanent source of income to their own treasury . £ 300 or £ 100 would M