Installation Meetings In Cornwall And Devon.

P . P . G . S . Wks ., E . Aitkon Davis P . P . G . S . Wks ., F . P . Holmes P . P . G . S . Wks ., F . E . Tomes P . P . G . D . C , II . F . Dearie P . P . G . A . D . C , W . Browning P . P . G . A . D . C ., J . M . Hiffiov P . P . G . A . D . C , C H . Stribling P . P . G . S . B ., J . Ferris , H . W . Thomas , J . B . Wainwrighfc , E . M . Andrews P . M . ' s 70 , John James AV . M . 105 , F . Hall P . M . 156 , T . 0 . Lewarn W . M . 223 , W . Harries I . P . M ., James Gidley P . M . 1205 , Elliot

Square W . M ., J . H . Keats I . P . M ., J . E . Lord P . M . and Treasurer , James RendloP . M . and Sec . 1247 , J . Pearso W . M . 1255 . Many influential brethren wore unable to bo present , amongst whom were Eight Worshipful Bro . J . Huyshe P . G . C . P . G . M ., E . W . Bro . L . P . Metham P . G . D . England and D . P . G . M . Devon , W . Bros . W . J . Hughan P . G . D . P . M . 70 , Charles Godtschalk P . P . G . D . P . M . 70 , J . Dupre

P . P . G . E . P . M . 70 , J . Evans P . M . 70 . At tho close of tho Installation tho W . M . invested tho following brethren as his Officers for tho ensuing year : —W . Bro . E . Pengelley I . P . M ., Bros . E . A . Lean S . W ., W . Odam J . W ., L . D . Westcott Treas ., J . B . Gover Sec , E . Tout S . D ., E . J . Eichardson J . D ., H . W . Thomas D . C , James Griffin A . D . C , E . P . Popkiss I . G ., H . H . Arnold O ., James Fox S . S .,

James Ferris J . S . In tho evening tho members of tho Lodge , with a largo party of visiting brethren dined together at the Globe Hotel . The W . M . Bro . S . Eoach presided , and among those present in addition to tho above Officer were W . F . A . Thomas P . P . G . S . D ., George Hilson P . M . 105 . Afc tho dinner a handsome P . M . ' s jewel was presented by the Lodge to W . Bro . E . Pongelley , as the inscription on the jewel

stated , " In appreciation for his Zealand fidelity during his year of Mastership , 1877 . " Bro . L . D . Westcott made the presentation . Bro . S . Eoach the W . M . also presented , on behalf of the brethren of the Lodge , a handsome P . M . ' s jewel to W . Bro . E . M . Andrews , in recognition of his services to the Lodge . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts wero given . In eulogies that wero warmlv received , Bro . J . B . Gover

proposed " Tho E . W . tho Eev . J . Hnyshe M . A . P . G . Chap . England Prov . G . M ., " nnd the W . M . " the E . W . Bro . L . P . Metham P . G . D . of England D . P . G . M ., and the Officers of tho P . G . Lodge . " VV . Bros . V . Bird responded on behalf of the P . G . M ., and E . A . Davies for the D . P . G . M . ancl tho P . G . L . The toast of tho W . Master was warmly

received . Bro . Eoach , replying , assured the brethren that he very highly appreciated the confidence shown him , and that he would uso every effort to continue the high prestige of the Lodge . The toasts Avere interspersed with songs , Tho banquet was served at the Globe Hotel , in Bro . Watts ' a best style , and altogether a very enjoyable evening was spent .

The Old Folks.

THE OLD FOLKS .

THE Half-yearly Entertainments at the Eoyal Masonio Benevolent Institution , at Croydon , are now looked forward to , both by those who have the welfare of tho Charity at heart and by the venerable inmates . The gathering of tho supporters on Wednesday last was of a most enjoyable character , and all present exerted themselves to make the old folks happy aud comfortable . Those brethren who had signified to Bro . Terry their desire to be present ,

assembled at tho Cannon-street Terminus afc 1 . 17 , where a saloon , carriage had been provided for their accommodation . On reaching the Institution , wo found Bro . Terry had provided a substantial dinner for his aged friends , and tho services of the visitors wero immediately brought into request , each vieing with the other to minister to the wants of those resident in the Institution . Our

Avorthy Bro . Dr . Strong , whose unceasing exertions are so well appreciated , presided , and the clatter of knife and fork soon told that anticipation , or the pure air of Croydon , had furnished our dear old friends with good appetites . Tho ample repast was done full justice to , and Bro . Dr . Strong gave the two or three toasts identified with these assemblages . The supplementary gifts were handed round , and

the inmates betook themselves to their several apartments , where they were joined by those ladies and brethren who , on these occasions , desire to have a peep at tho Old Folks at their firesides . At 6 o'clock the party reassembled , and the customary entertainment commenced by Mr . Smith singing a most amusing song . This gentleman was followed by Miss Terry , who sang a charming little ballad ,

which she rendered most tastefully . Mr . W . J . Dines then graphi . cally admitted he was prepared to undergo a series of almost tin . thought of pains and penalties rather than bo called upon to " Give up Flo . " We are not sure as to the identity of this damsel , but we know that more than one fair enslaver who answers to this appellation was present , and should any of our readers desire to know

Avhich lady was alluded to , we can only refer them to Bro . Dines . Miss Strong then tastefully executed a violin solo ; after which Mr . Smith , whoso time was limited , again most happily exercised his talents . After this a magic lantern display took place , superintended by Bros . E . G . Legge and C . H . Webb , while Bro . John Newton acted as Lecturer , taking the audience " Eound the World in Ninety

Minutes . " " Smart travelling , " we heard one old worthy exclaim ; " we could not move so fast in my time . " An evening ' s entertain , ment of this sort in the present day is not considered complete with - out a band of nigger minstrels , therefore the Bros . Dine had " coloured" for tho occasion . The efforts of these gentlemen were much appreciated , their jokes were smart and of the freshest , and

their singing was greatly applauded . They were most ably assisted by Miss Talmadge , who accompanied them on the pianoforte . Bro . John Constable next occupied the stage , and sang with his wonted vigour . Bro . Dr . Strong followed ; and then several other brethren appeared in quick succession . The proceedings were brought to a conclusion with threo cheers for Bros . Dr . Strong and for Bro , Terry . The

lady visitors present comprised Mesdamos Strong , Constable , Pearcy , Bowyer , Newton , Legge , Halford , Daniel , Verry , & c , Misses Strong , Hurst , Terry , Constable , Talmadge , & c . In addition to those enumerated above , the Craft was represented by Bros . T . Cubitt , G . Cox , G . Knill , E . Pearcy , G . S . Eecknell , J . Stock , G . Ward Verry , E . Bowyer , E . H . Halford , H . Massey , F . Stubbs , C J . Perceval , C . Daniel , W . H , Hall , W . H . Main , W . W . Morgan . & c .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cou respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

JOHN SUTCLIFFE .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR Siu , —For ever an endeared , not to be forgotten name in Lincolnshire . All Masons here in this county , especially Mark Masons , aro overwhelmed with the most poignant grief . " Multis ille bonis flobilis occidit ,

Nulli flebilior quam mihi , Virgili . " I may , without violating propriety , asserfc this . I offered a prayer over him when he was initiated into Mark Masonry , also when " ho was installed as Grand Mark Master of Lincolnshire . Among his last official acts , as Grand Master of the Scottish Order in Lancashire ,

he invested me , as his Grand Chaplain , and after the recent meeting of the Grand Mark Lodgo afc Alford , so accurately reported by you , I was his single private guest the night after that remarkable gathering—so comfortable , so genial , so full of promise for tho future ; a heart so overflowing with Masonio charity that death could

nofc bo suspected as being proximate , except as anguis in herba . His marvellous exhibitions of public charity , his munificent , nofc to say princely public donations , wero nofc outdono by his many unostentatious private acts of charity , unknown to the world , but known to his intimate Masonic associates . Our reason does nofc incline us to

contemplate ever again beholding his equal in Lincolnshire . To know him in his age , and to behold his bright Masonic example , was an ample reward for all the personal labours and self-sacrifices in Masonry . Bufc our faith must take its rise , and pursue onward our individual Masonio career . As the Christian poet accurately depicts our Masonio course : —

' •Still to things eternal look , And hasten on the glorious day , " when wo hope to rejoin him in the Grand Lodge above . Earth may be now our Lodge ; but heaven is our Home . We all of us , as Mark Masons particularly , thank you for your able paragraph in

last week s issue . If the charitable , the magnificent , the noble , the pre-eminent , warm-hearted Mason , of Lincolnshire , could now address any of us from a sublimer region , his language nnmistakeably wonld be this : — " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do , do it with thy might ; : for there is no Avork , nor device , nor knowledge , nor wisdom , in tho grave , whither thou goest . "

I remain , yours sorrowfully , DANIEL ACE , D . D . P . M ., P . P . G . Chaplain for Lincolnshire Laughton Vicarage , near Gainsborough , 2 nd January 1878 .

Bro. Jacob Norton's Plea On Behalf Of The Grand Orient Of France.

BRO . JACOB NORTON'S PLEA ON BEHALF OF THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I must say I admire amazingly the manliness of tone which marks Bro . Norton ' s article in your issue of last week . I do not agree with him , bufc I recognise the force of many of his arguments ; some of them indeed being well nigh unanswerable . He makes more than one good point , thafc in which he laughs to scorn

the notion that Freemasonry will be Atheised by tho recent act of the Grand Orient being as amusingly illustrated as it is forcible . What he says too , respecting Tyndall , Huxley , & c , & o „ and the welcome extended to them in the best circles of society , is a valuable support to his view of the case . But though I do not think his plea could havo been stated more powerfully , even by the Grand Orient itself , I am inclined

to believe that body has made a great blunder , and wo all know thafc , under certain circumstances , blunders are worse than crimes . Moreover , what he considers an act of magnanimity , I look upon rather as an act of weakness , and on this head I shall find one of Bro . Norton ' s statements greatly in my favour . Bufc let me place the case before you from my point of view .

I do not think it was a question of banishing religions disputation from Lodges which induced the Grand Orient to act as ifc did at its last annual assembly . The French Constitutions merely required of those who sought admission into its Lodges tho declaration of a belief in the existence of God , and supposing French Freemasonry to bo conducted on the same principle as ours , there could be no

religious , any more than there could be any political , discussion in a Lodge . Thus Eomanists , Calvinists , Lutherans , Jews , & c , & c , could meet in a Lodge on the same footing , in the same manner , and with the same freedom as could Imperialists , Legitimists , Orleanists , and Eepublicans , and just as Liberals and Conservatives do in England , or Democrats and Eepublicans in the United States of America . All religions , as all political , discussions are forbidden in the Lodge .

Speaking Masonically , I know nothing whatever of the religions views of the brother who sits next to me in Lodge , nor is it my business to concern myself about it . All I know is , that he believes in tho existence of God , and that is enough for me . Similarly , I know nothing of his politics , nor aro they any concern of mine ; but I know that he has sworn to respect the laws and institutions of his native country , or of that in which ho is sojourning , and that is enough for