The editor and manager of this Magazine has had but very indifferent health during the last month, and many letters of a business character and otherwise have been left unanswered. The indulgence of brethren in this regard is asked for. During the month of March we hope to be able to pull up lost ground, and get ourselves straight with our constituents. This is no easy matter when we have first of all to attend to the daily bread-winning. It takes all the poetry out of it. The same reason will account to a great extent for a lack of original matter in this number. This, however, by some of our readers, may be consdiered not altogether a loss.

Masonic.—Occidental Lodge, No. 40, A. F. and A. M., elected officers last evening (January 5th, 1885), as follows: W.M., W. L. Milligan; S.W., Thomas C. Fullerton; J.W., Wm. H. Stead; Treas., H. C. Nash; Sec., A. M. Hoffman; Tyler, Alex. Hanna. The senior and junior deacons, stewards and chaplains are to be appointed by the W.M. This being the 39th annual communication, the W. Master, W. L. Milligan, delivered an able and eloquent address on the early history of Occidental Lodge, of defining the duties of the brothers to the lodge, to each other and to themselves. He recommended that a memorial be presented to the Grand Lodge of this State, praying that body to endow a home for widows and a school for orphans of all Masons in Illinois. The address was well received, and the recommendation as to providing for widows and orphans highly approved and a committee appointed to act in the premises.

We should be wanting in the proper feeling did we not specially acknowledge fraternal correspondence when coming from a long distance. We have before chronicled with pleasure the receipt of a letter from W. Bro. W. L. Milligan, of Ottawa, Ill., U.S.A. We are now favoured with a second letter from him, dated January 9th. Bro. Milligan has been the recipient of the highest honours within the gift of his brethren. He says: "I have held the office of H.P. of my Chapter four consecutive years, and was recently elected for the fifth year. And, as an evidence of their further appreciation of my labours, they have re-elected me, W.M. of my Lodge, H.P. of my Chapter. Thrice Ill. M. of my Council, and promoted me to the office of Generalissimo of my Commandery of K.T.; and I am the recipient of a certificate of honorary membership in Fortitude Lodge, No. 42, La Grange. Ky., my name having been proposed by my esteemed and venerable brother, the Poet Laureate, Dr. Rob. Morris. You may have thought it strange that one so far away, and unsolicited, should subscribe to your valuable Magazine; but let me tell you, in all sincerity, that next to God and my little family, I love the grand old society of free and accepted Masons. My devotion is universal, and not confined to the narrow limits of my own vicinity or country. I love to receive "glad tidings of great joy" from the faithful craftsmen who are labouring in the great quarries of brotherly-love in the Old World and the Isles of the Sea. Permit me to congratulate you on being able to present to the Craft such an able and intelligent literary production as the Craftsman. That "God may speed thee on thy way" is the earnest prayer of your "Distinguished brother of the Great Republic of the West." On the receipt of the November number, I forwarded my subscription, and requested you to forward back numbers of Craftsman, and receipt my subscription from date of first number. Wishing you a Happy New Year, I remain, fraternally thine, W. L. Milligan, 32.° P.S.—In your complimentary note you mentioned my father's name, W. R. Milligan (all honour to his silver locks). I am first Deputy-Sheriff in his office.

A Babylonian Expedition.—Dr. Ward, editor of the New York Independent, and several Oriental scholars, have just left America on an expedition to the lower valley of the Euphrates for the purposes of exploration. The whole expense of this expedition to Babylonia is being borne by a lady named Wolfe, whose name the expedition bears, and the object is to discover some records of a people who were contemporary with Abraham.

The Grand Lodge of England, with that stubbornness that characterises it, and which promises to endanger its relationship with Masonry in the colonies generally, has met the again repeated request of Quebec to withdraw the three Lodges under English rule in Quebec with a refusal. It would be a graceful act on the part of such a powerful body as the Grand Lodge of England to concede the—to it—trifling affair, but which is to Quebec an all-important matter. The American Grand Lodges are pledged to support Quebec.

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The Grand Master of South Australia, Chief-Justice Way, is at present in Melbourne on a visit, and it was the intention of the Grand Master of Victoria, Bro. Hon. George Coppin, M.L.A., to have given a Masonic banquet in honor of the occasion to welcome the representative of the sister Grand Lodge. In consequence, however, of the recent death of Bro. Way's father, and at his request, the idea of the larger gathering has been abandoned; and Bro. Coppin has merely asked some dozen of the leading officers of his Grand Lodge to dinner at his private residence, Pine Grove, on Tuesday next, to meet the distinguished brother of S.A. Doubtless some interesting Masonic subjects will be discussed.

The Masonic Grand Lodge of Ohio have adopted a resolution that selling intoxicants is a Masonic offence, and should disqualify the offender for membership of a Lodge.

During a recent visit to Skane, Bang Oscar of Sweden initiated two new Lodges of Freemasons.

We should very much like to see a Masonic Veteran Association started in New Zealand, the early history of the Craft in this colony wants writing, for future reference, and no one can do this so well as those who were on the scene. Lodge minute books are generally meagre sources of supply for such a purpose. Will not some of our old veterans in various parts start a correspondence on this subject?

Childish Masonry.—We see it stated that the French Masons in San Francisco, Cal., of La Parfaite Union Lodge, No. 17, of that city, under the Grand Lodge of California, on November 6th inst., baptized thirty of the children of its members. Did they escape squalls? We have no patience with such a childish performance. The Orator for the babies was Jules Simon. He is beyond envy. And this was called Free and Accepted Masonry. We should like to hear from the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California on this subject.—Keystone.

A Latin Masonic Congress.—In the official organ of the United Grand Lodge of Colon and Cuba for October 1st, appears an invitation from that body to all Masonic bodies of Spanish nationality, in America and the Peninsula, which govern symbolic lodges, to a Spanish American Masonic Congress, to settle with binding force the landmarks and certain Governing laws of Masonry, including jurisdiction. Venezuela is suggested as a central point for assembling. We cannot but too highly approve such an assembly, as it can settle at once many important points which American Grand Lodges have spent half a century in reconciling.—Masonic Token.

The centenary of the Swiss Grand Lodge, under the Scottish Constitution took place recently in the presence of a large number of Brethren and distinguished visitors. Bro. Duncommun gave a history of the progress made during the century, mentioning the dangers attending Masons and their meetings during the occupation of the country by foreign powers, when death was the penalty to Masons if found together, and ended a splendid oration by stating that Masonic funds on hand amounted to 240,690 francs, or about 9,000 pounds sterling.

The Grand Lodge of New South Wales is making great headway in the matter of recognition by foreign Grand Lodges, notwithstanding the fact that the Grand Lodge of England still withholds its countenance. Amongst the latest recognitions are Delaware and Peru.

The Grand Lodge of South Australia was recognised by the Grand Lodge of Montana on 1st October last. The Grand Lodges of Delaware and Ohio have also entered into fraternal intercourse and extended recognition. England has postponed the matter of recognition in its usual cold-blooded way.

On the 3rd December, Bro. W. J. Hughan, P.G.D., and well known as a most learned Masonic writer, was the recipient of a presentation in recognition of his great ability and his efforts in the interests of the Craft. Sir J. B. Monckton, P.G.W., took the chair at Freemasons' Tavern, and proposed the principal toast of the evening, concluding with handing to Bro. Hughan a packet containing a cheque for £364, and also a very handsome writing table.

Re the difficulty, between the Grand Chapter of Quebec and the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England, the latter body has stated its willingness to assist in every way to induce the three Mark Lodges in Quebec to come under the authority of the Grand Chapter of Quebec as soon as the Grand Chapter has placed itself in a proper position, as recognised by the Government of Quebec.

The Grand Lodge of England will not hearken either to the appeals or threats of Quebec and is determined—or perhaps it should be said its leaders are determined—to ram the British Lion down the throats of its own children. It is very bad when the lion has to roar at its own offspring. The Grand Lodge of England might have made a great point over this business, and won universal admiration by a little give.