EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

ELKHART, IND., JULY 31, 1859.

DEAR ASHLAR: Of all days in the week, I believe Sunday is most acceptable to a man of labor. He who does not look forward to it with pleasure, and who finds it dull and tedious, is indeed to be pitied as "a drone in the hive," who thinks more of frivolous pursuits than the serious realities of life. To me it is ever welcome, and especially at this time. I left home three days ago, via the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad, and visited Laporte. There I was welcomed as in past years by Bro. J. B. Fravel, High Priest of the Chapter, and W. M. of a Lodge. I found Bro. F., as usual, filled with zeal in the cause, and by his kindness my short stay was rendered peculiarly agreeable. The Chapter in Laporte was recently placed in a queer position. One of its principal officers died, and the other two removed to a distance. By a dispensation of the G. H. P. of the State, the Chapter elected delegates to attend the Convocation of the Grand Chapter.

My next stopping place was New Carlisle, a prosperous village of about a thousand inhabitants, which has a flourishing Lodge three years old. The Masonic heart beats rightly in this place. The Craft has been for three years under the guidance of Bro. Abraham Pyle, a bright and ardent Mason, who has made the ritual a subject of careful and continued study. The fruits of his labors are evident in the zeal and interest displayed by the members of his Lodge.

At Mishawaka, a beautiful manufacturing village, I took quarters. at the Milburn House, kept by mine hosts Wright and Hartman. Their names do not belie them; one is certainly right, and the other is a man with a heart, and a large one. Bad as that attempt at a pun may appear, it contains a serious truth. For comfortable apartments, clean, palatable food, and attentive landlords, the Milburn House is not surpassed by any country hotel that it has been my fortune to visit. Mishawaka has a good Lodge, and not a few zealous and worthy craftsmen, among whom I may mention Bros. J. H. Whitson (who laid me under obligations by his kindness) and J. O. Evans.

At Kendalville, Ind., I found a flourishing village of about a thousand inhabitants, and was served with an excellent dinner at the Burnam House, kept by Bro. Judge Burnam, whose initiation dates back beyond the days of the Morgan excitement which tried men's souls,a worthy and venerable representative of those men who fearlessly

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braved the storm which, to the weak minded and ignorant, seemed about to overwhelm the Institution. At Kendalville there is no Lodge, although in the village and its vicinity there are about thirty Masons, and among them some competent and bright ones. In such a place, it seems to me, the Craft should not longer remain without a ground floor, a middle chamber and a sanctum sanctorum. A good hall is in the process of erection, and I hope ere long to be able to chronicle the birth of a new Lodge in the place. Through the kindness of Bro. M. H. Mott, I formed the acquaintance of many of the Masons in the village.

Yesterday I made my fourth visit to Ligonier, noted, as well as Kendalville, for being a head quarters of the Regulators, a society for the detection and suppression of horse thieves, gamblers and villains of all kinds, who for many years carried on their vicious and wicked practices with success. In January, 1858, the Regulators hung one McDugal; and since then they have arrested and handed over to the courts several noted rogues, who have been sent to State-prison. As in past years, I found among the Craft in Ligonier commendable zeal. A new Chapter has just received a charter in this place, and Comp. Otis Cole is High Priest. I did not have the pleasure of seeing Comp. C., but his praises as a bright and ardent member of the Fraternity were in every mouth. It cannot be doubted that under his auspices the new R. A. body will flourish.

To-day-the day of rest-after a drought of five weeks, rain causes the husbandman to rejoice. Pleasant indeed, after the dust and heat of a month, is this restorer of nature. It causes every one to utter exclamations of pleasure. I like the rain. I like the over-shadowing of the heavens after the many bright, sunny days. There is a solemnity, a pleasing, quiet sadness, that turns the thoughts from the trivial affairs of the world to those grand and noble objects which belong to a higher life and the boundless sphere of eternity. At such a time how poor, how worse than worthless, do the baubles of wealth, fame and pleasure appear! How small and insignificant are they when obtained! The man who will not reflect on such a day as this, whose thoughts are not carried above the world to the contemplation of the lofty themes of Deity, of life and death, deserves the pity, if not the condemnation of his fellows. A. W.

MONROE, MICH., AUGUST 2, 1859.

As you saw by a former letter, I spent Sunday at Elkhart, Ind. I had a very pleasant visit there, receiving kind attentions from Bro.

A. S. Davenport, a gentleman who is thoroughly versed in the ritual of the Blue Lodge, and has devoted much time to the study of Masonry. I had but little opportunity to see Bro. Main, the W. M. of the Lodge, and an old acquaintance, but I saw enough of him to know that he was as zealous as ever in promoting the interest of the Craft.

At White Pigeon, Michigan, I met Bros. Doughty and J. Eastman Johnson, two worthy and active Masons. I trust that the pages of the present volume of THE ASHLAR will be improved by productions from Bro. J.'s pen-ever fresh and vigorous.

Bro. Dart, W. M., extended to me a cordial welcome at Coldwater, giving fresh evidence of kindness of heart and a true Masonic spirit. The new Chapter in this place is doing well; its work is good work, square work, such work as we are authorized to receive. I should think the Craft were flourishing in the goodly city of Coldwater, and that Bro. Dart had abundant reason to be satisfied with his labors.

In Toledo, Ohio, I made but a short visit, which was rendered peculiarly agreeable, by Bro. D. H. Miner, a most kind-hearted Mason, and affable gentleman. I hope to visit Toledo again at no distant day.

In this place where I am now writing, I find many old familiar facesBros. James Darrah, Thomas Norman, W. W. Prentice, J. M. Oliver, B. Dansard, and many other members of the Craft. Under the auspices of Comp. Darrah, the new Chapter is progressing finely. Monroe has two Lodges, a Chapter and a Commandery. It is well supplied with Masonic bo lies, but it sustains them all creditably.

A. W.

Many can maintain themselves better in adversity than in perity. Trying circumstances-misfortunes-often prove what the man is, and show his true worth, while ease, wealth and honors make him effeminate, idle, and often dissipated. Let no one then in poverty and sorrow repine. There is a compensation for ills patiently borne, and although we may not see it at once, we shall finally realize it. We cannot judge the world truly by outward circumstances; we must look into the heart and soul of man to know what he really and truly is. That philosophy which teaches that all trials and disappointments are for our good, is certainly true in one sense, for we can make them instruments of improvement. Is it not then our duty to do so? Let those who think themselves unfortunate consider this with care.

NON-ATTENDANCE OF MEMBERS.

MASONRY cannot flourish well in any place unless the machinery by which it is guarded and its interests promoted, is properly cared for and worked. Lodges are essential to the Order; they must be sustained. Every person who desires to be initiated knows that he will be bound, when a Mason, to devote a portion of his time and study to the Institution. Every member of the Fraternity knows that he is so bound. Masonry does not interfere with any man's "necessary avocations, for these are on no account to be neglected;" but its interests imperatively demand that he shall, by every means in his power, aid and sustain the various subordinate bodies to which he belongs. He is, therefore, bound by the strongest moral ties to attend the meetings of his Lodge punctually; to take part in its proceedings, and above all, to deposit his ballot for or against candidates.

The delinquents to whom our remarks are especially addressed, compose a large class. We find them wherever we go, and not one in fifty can give a good excuse for his short-coming. Some say that business requires all their attention; yet they find time to idle away an hour or two in gossip or small talk; they find time to attend parties and other places of amusement. Is not Masonry of more importance than such objects? Others assert that "matters do not go on in the Lodge" to suit them, and so they leave it alone. This is the very reason why they should attend and give their influence to improve the condition of affairs. There is no need of repeating the familiar excuses, which generally are mere subterfuges. There are but few Masons living, who, if they value the Institution as they ought, will not find time to attend the regular meetings of their Lodge.

The attendance of Lodge meetings is the best criterion by which to judge the condition of the Fraternity. In any town where it is diffi cult to get a sufficient attendance to transact business and work, or where, out of a large number of members, only comparatively few attend, you may be sure that there is little zeal among the Craft, and that they are not true to the interests of the Institution.

We ask Masons who do not punctually attend Lodge meetings, can you reconcile your conduct with your ideas of right and justice? We think every candid Brother who will reflect an instant, will answer in the negative.

All Masons should consider this evil and endeavor to remove it.

Those delinquents who naturally like Masonry, will, on a proper representation, reform their ways; those who do not, may be stamped as drones"in the hive of nature, useless members of society, and unworthy our protection as Masons."

It is sincerely to be hoped that this subject will receive more attention than it has done, and that efforts will be made to effect a salutary reform.

A WORTHY MASON.-We have recently received a letter from Bro. Gilbert C. Bedell, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, whom we have known for years as a worthy member of the Order. Although his communication was not written for publication, we are satisfied he will not object to our placing before the readers of THE ASHLAR, the following interesting biography of himself:

"I was made a Mason ir June, 1810, in old Gen. Schuyler's Mansion House, on the battle-ground where Bourgoyne surrendered, at Saratoga, Gen. S. Derider being then the Master of the Lodge called Schuyler Lodge No. 218; and in 1824 I reached the topmost round of the Masonic ladder, which consisted of all the regular, honorary and ineffable degrees conferred in the United States, either in English, Scotch or French Lodges, numbering, in all, fifty; which, had I not written down by their titles at the time of receiving them, and a few words of explanation, in a dialect known only to myself, that would enable me to work my passage at some future period, I should, at this time, hardly know that I had ever been a Mason. But I still claim to be one, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot; and I never had any desire of connecting myself with any other sect or denomination; for he that liveth as a Mason, is taught to live by the rules of our Order, and continueth to the end the same, will receive eternal life. Therefore I must bid you an affectionate farewell, hoping that when our Supreme Grand Master shall summon us to appear in the Grand Lodge above, we shall be found ready to receive the Son of Righteousness, and with him ascend to those realms of bliss where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest.”