Correspondence.

of Lathom , Deputy Grand Master of England , who had undertaken to preside at the opening ceremony , and has mora than once spoken strongly in favour of the Fund , in whose behalf the Bazaar was held ; the Earl of Rosslyn , Past Grand Master Mason of Scotland , who originated the idea which led to the establishment of the Fund , and promised to support his Lordship aud the Lord Mayor , Junior

Grand Warden of England , and Sheriff ' s of London , who , only at the last moment , were prevented by their civic duties from attending in state ? I hope it will bo a lesson to these G . Oflicers not to act discourteously towards a body of brethren whose acts they may uot approve , lest , as has happened in tho present caso , they should include somo of the most distinguished members of the Craft in such act of discourtesy . Yours sincerely , SUAVITER IN MODO .

ANCIENT AND PRIMITIVE RITE OF MASONRY .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I regret to find , from your issue of Saturday last , that I have unwittingly offended the powers that bo at Golden-square . Will you kindly permit mo to explain that , in giving an invite to members of other Rites than our own , I had no

other motive than that of affording to those who desire it an opportunity of witnessing the working of degrees which I understand havo not been generally worked in England ; and I thought that in opening our Chapter freely to visitors who possessed tho necessary qualifications for admission , I was only carrying out the grand

principle of fraternal communion so earnestly inculcated in our Craft degrees—the only real basis of genuine Masonry ? Interpreting as our Sovereign Sanctuary does in the most liberal manner the Masonic obligation of fraternity and brotherly lovo , they make no exception to any holders of these degrees under the thirty Rites detailed in its

ceremonies . In this country thero are numerous members of these grades under the N . J . ( Cemean ) , Mizraim , and also both in England and Scotland bodies of Templars who confer and practise all the degrees of the A . and A . Rite ; and it becomes no part of our duty

to separate Ancient priority of claim from that of moro modern numerical strength . I repeat we have no desire to attract members of the A . and A . Rite specially , but we cannot consistently shut our doors to any brother who has a legitimate claim to admission .

Yours very truly and fraternally , JAMES HILL , 32 ° , Secretary Rose of Sharon Rose Croix Chapter , No . 6 7 th July 1880 .

A WEEK'S WORK .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . Weymouth , 3 rd July 1880 . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Thinking an account of a week ' s work in this Province may be of some interest to you , I have taken the liberty of sending you a newspaper with some of the information . The work

commenced on Thursday , 17 th June , when tho W . M . elect of the Portland Lodge 1037 , Bro . S . A . Vickery S . W ., was duly installed , between fifty and sixty brethren from various parts of tho Province of Dorset attending . The ceremony was ably performed by the I . P . M . W . Bro . Waters , assisted by W . Bro . Smith P . G . M . C . After

the W . M . had appointed his Officers for tho ensuing year , he presented the I . P . M . with a Past Master ' s jewel , given by the brethren of the Lodge for his services as W . M . for the two previous years . The brethren afterwards adjourned to tho Victoria Hatel , to a splendid banquet , served in first-class style by Bro . Hodsdon , and presided

over by the W . M . Bro . Vickery , who took tho opportunity of pointing out the progress this Lodge had made during the past two years , during which -ime it had removed from an hotel to a now Lodge room of its own ; had increased the votes of tho brethren from eight to over sixty , had given thirty guineas during the past year to the

Masonic Charities , and had then about ten guineas in hand for the next Steward to take up , beside a balance of over £ 50 in banker ' s and Treasurer's hands . This for a young Lodge of about forty-five members looked well for Masonry in the Island of Portland , and showed that the brethren of that Lodge had the welfare of Masonry

at heart . In January last , a nnmber of old people , men and women , were invited , the day after tho Lodge of Instruction was held , to a supper ; several sat down aud enjoyed themselves ; to thoso that could not come from old age , comforts wero sent in tho shape of food , tea , money , & c . None that received this were under the age of

sixty-five years . After spending an hour or so theso poor old people went away expressing their thanks to the brethren , and believing that Masonry was not all mere outside show . The work that followed on Thursday , Friday and Saturday , in the week following , will bo found in the accompanying extract ; from the Southern Times of the 3 rd July .

Yours fraternally , SAMUV . I ; A . VICKERY W . M . 1037 .

Lady Charlotte Schrciber and Mr . Montague Guest , M . P ., Prov , Grand Master of the Dorset Freemasons , laid on Thursday afternoon the foundation stones of tho new church of St . Paul ' s , Poole . Lord

Wimborne had promised £ 500 towards tho fund . The ceremony was attended with full Masonic honours , many members of the Craft from all parts of Dorset being present , as were also tlie Mayor and Corporation of Poole . Tho new Church , which is to replace tho old structure of St . Paul ' s , is to be in the style of the Early English period of Gothic architecture , from a design of Mr . G . R . Crickmay ,

Correspondence.

of Weymouth and Westminster . The number of sittings provided for is 735 . Last WPek was a red letter time in tlio annals of Freemasonry iu tho Province of Dorset , for , in addition to the meeting on Tliur-day of the Prov . Grand Lodge to celebrate its centenary , the Prov . Grand Chapter of Dorset met on emergency on Friday at Portland , for tho purpose of consecrating a new chapter in connect ion with the

Portland Lodge , No . 1 , 037 , and ou Saturday the usual Prov . Grand Chapter was hold at the Masonic Hall , which day was tho centenary of chapter of Amity , No . 137 , it having first met on the 20 th of Juno 1780 , that excellent M-ison , Bro . Dunckorley , presiding on tho occasion . The original charter is still in existence , and kept at the Masonio Hall , as aro also tho old minute Books , with the minutes of that timo

carefully recorded and well preserved . Poole 100 years ago must have been celebrated for the activity of Freemasonry , as the Lodge of Amity was started as far back as 17 G 5 , and is still in a most vigorous and prosperous stato . Tho Royal Arch Companions met at Portland on Friday at two o ' clock , tho hall being well tilled . Many of the officers of tho Grand Chapter of England had promised to

attend , but unfortunately , this being tho height of tho London season , and thoir many pressing engagements , thoir non-attendance was unavoidable . The Prov . Grand Chapter having been opened , tho ceremony of consecrating the new chanter was then proceeded with by tho G . S . of tho Province , Mr . J . M . P . Montagu , tho P . G . H . and J . also taking part . The principals designate wore then installed—¦

viz ., Comps . R . N . Howard Z ., W . Smith H ., and J . Jesty J . Tho other officers woro appointed , and a large number of brethren wore proposed for tho degreo . Tho usual bnsiness was transacted , and tho chapter was closed at four o ' clock . A banquet , in tho form of a cold collation , was provided by Bro . Hodsdon , of tho Victoria Hotel , at which the brethren of the Portland Lodge woro admitted . A very

pleasant evening was spent under tho presidency of Comp . Howard , supported by the P . G . Supt . and other P . G . Officers past and present . Tho proceedings wero much enlivened by a glee party of the Weymouth and Portland brethren . As before stated , the Prov . G . Chapter met at Poole on Saturday , not only to hold its annual meeting , but also to celebrate the occasion of tho Chapter of Amity attaining its 100 th

year of existence . The Prov . Grand Chapter was opened afc twelve , and after the usual routine bnsiness had been transacted allusion was made to the occasion for which the P . G . Chapter had met , and tho Chapter of Amity received tho best wishes and congratulations of the Comps ., and resolutions wero ordered to be entered on tho P . G . Chapter minute book to testify to future generations the auspicious

occasion . This meeting was also rendered still more interesting by a presentation to the P . G . Supt ., Comp . Montagu , of a handsome vase for flowers , with a suitable inscription , on tho occasion of his late marriage with Miss Vigne , daughter of tho lato Comp . Sir Knight C . J . Vigne , who held the office of Grand Prior of Dorset for many years this office being now held by Comp . Montagu , as well as that of

P . Grand Supt . The presentation was made on behalf of the several orders by Comps . Rev . W . M . Heath , C . R . Rowe , and II . C . Burt . Comp . Montagu thanked them for the expression of esteem and good will shown towards him , and would ever preserve it and look on ifc as a great honour done him . The appointment of Prov . G . Officers for the next year was as follows : —P . G . H . Comps . G . H . Gutch P . Z .

137 Poole . P . G . J . H . C . Burt P . Z . 022 Wimborne , P . G . S . B . W . Chick , P . P . G . J . P . Z . 417 Dorchester , P . G . S . N . J . B . Cole Z . 170 Weymouth , P . G . P . S . D . Sydenham P . Z . 137 Bournemouth , P . G . first A . S . W . B . Rogers P . Z . 137 Bournemouth , P . G . second A . S . J . MicWilWam P . Z . 137 Bournemouth , P . G . Treasurer J . Jacob P . P . G . H . P . Z . 170 Weymouth , P . G . Registrar J . W . Luff P . Z . 022 Wimborne , P . G . S . B . W . E .

Brymer J . 417 Dorchester , P . G . St . B . J . A . Shcrren J . 170 Weymouth , P . G . D . C . W . Smith P . P . G . J . P . Z . 170 Wevmonth , P . G . Organist J . Whitehead Smith P . P . G . P . S . 022 Wimborne , P . G . Janitor " p . Long Janitor 707 Bridport . Tlie P . G . Supt . Comp . Montagu stated ho had given a large proportion of appointments to tho Poole Comps . specially to mark the celebration of their centenary , and had given them the

highest honour he conld confer on ono of them—viz ., Comp . Gntch as P . G . H . He also observed he should like this event to be specially marked by somo assistance to tho Masonic Charities , and offered £ 5 5 s to any Comp . of Poole or to their Chapter , to bo given to one of the great ; Masonic Charities , provided a similar sum was given iu addition . This was at once accepted by Comp . Sydenham Z . of that

Chapter , on its behalf . The P . G . Chapter was then closed . By tho kind invitation of tho Companions of Chapter of Amity , the Comps . enjoyed an excellent banquet at the Antelope Hotel , provided by Bro . Curtis . Comp . D . Sydenham took the chair , being supported by many distinguished Companions and Visitors from Wilts , London , ancl

other Provinces , this having brought to au end two or three days' hard but interesting Masonic work and duty . Such events as these can never again be witnessed by many Companions now living , as the next centenary in the Province will not take place till the year 1921 , when a future generation will look back , no doubt with pleasure , on tho interesting work so far completed by their forefathers .

Mark Masonry. Brixton Lodge Of Mark Masters.

MARK MASONRY . BRIXTON LODGE OF MARK MASTERS .

r | lHE election meeting of this Lodge will bo held on Saturday , tha J- 10 th inst ., at half-past six o'clock , at Andertou ' s Hotel , Flcetstrocfc , Bro . C . P . McKay W . M . Prior to tlie opening of the L-r . l ge there will be a meeting of Royal Ark } Iari- ; ei . v , when Bro . Geo . Clark will be installed W . C . N , by Bro . T . Poore P . G . T . G . assisted by Bro . II . Loveti-rovc P . P . G . S . of Works the retiring W . C . N .

CORRECTION * . —In onr report of tlio Earl of Latliom's speech , on page 18 of our last issue , -itli line from bottom of last column , for £ 30 , 000 read £ 3 , 000 .