Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.

G . S . Wks . ; John Chandler 355 , 663 , G . D . C . ; Alfred Plnmmer 1533 , G . A . D . C . ; JohnH . Chandler G 63 , G . Sw . B . ; S . M . Badham 663 , G . Org . ; R . N . Fowler 626 , G . Purs . ; John Savory Tyler . Tho R . W . P . G . M ., before closing P . G . Lodgo , took tho opportunity to congratulate the brethren on tho progress of Masonry in the province . Ho moro especially alladed to tho increased support of

tho Charities , towards which during tho year , Bro . Ganntlett had taken up £ 135 , as Steward for tho Boys' School , and Bro . John Chandler £ 120 , as Steward for tho Girls ' , and took the opportunity of heartily thanking those brethren for thoir services . He also thanked tho brethren of tho Province for tho very liberal support accorded to himself ( Lord Methuon ) as Steward for tho Benevolent Institution ,

which enabled him to take up such a largo amount as £ 282 , to tho Festival in February last . Bro . Capt . Homfray D . P . G . M . Monmouth , expressed his hearty thanks to tho Wiltshire brethren for tho cordial way in which ho had been received on this his first visit to them , and offered them in return a hearty welcome to his own Province .

Tho Provincial Grand Lodgo and Craft Lodge having been closed in ancient form , the brethren adjourned to the Bear Hotol , where a sumptuous banquet awaited them , served by Bro . Moore , tho manager of tho Hotol , in hia best stylo , aud including contributions of gamo and venison from Lord Methuen P . G . M ., and from Bro . Watson Taylor , of Erlostoke Park .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

THE VALLEY OF NEW ZEALAND . To the Editor of THE FREEJIASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am glad that you have alluded , in your last number , to the existence of a so-called " Supreme Grand Council , 33 , Valley of New Zealand . " It is a matter which should afc once engage the attention of the Supremo Grand Council in Golden-square ,

if already that body has not taken steps to prevent mischief . This New Zealand body has no right whatever to an existence . Its charter was , I believe , obtained from the Grand Orient of Egypt , which , of course , has no jurisdiction in New Zealand . Only a few months ago , a Rose Croix Chapter w & s opened in Auckland under its authority ,

and I think the least that could bo done would be to warn all Chapters , & c , and especially in the Colonies , against tho admission of Masons holding certificates from tho " Valley of New Zealand . " I should have thought that tho relations presumably subsisting

between tho respective bodies at home and abroad , would have prevented any such contretemps as this , but ifc is at all events important that the existence of an illegal Masonic body , exercising important functions , should be wisely known , in order that genuine members of tho Ancient and Accepted Rite may be on their guard .

I am , yours fraternally , ROSE CROIX . York , 5 fch November 1877 .

THE LATE ELECTION . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your last issue , Dr . Ace , in a letter dated 29 th October , congratulates himself and fellow-workers , to whom he refers as " brethren of Stonehouse , Devon . " To these brethren , thus specially referred to , all credit is due for tbe part they took in placing the lad Cox at tho top of the poll afc the late election .

I have tho honour of being intimately acquainted with each , and trust I possess their esteem . To their diligent and unceasing efforts during the past six months the success of the lad Cox is due , but be ifc remembered , the candidate emanated , and was the prot & gi , of a Plymouth Lodge , of which one of the brethren referred to is a wellknown P . M ., and was also an intimate friend of the candidate ' s

late father . Unsparing honour to whom it is due ; but surely some is due to others who aided this good work . I could mention a worthy brother in the west , whose name is " as familiar in their mouths as household words , " and that not only locally , for he has a world-wide reputation with the Craft . This brother did more for the success of Cox than all others put together .

Again , give tho Province who , six months previously met and engaged to support the boy to their utmost , a mite of credit . They earnestly supported the case up to the last moment . Give them credit also for exchanging every girl ' s vote they could command to swell the list for Cox . It is well known they were prepared to add to tho 551 votes already polled for the case the 400 boys' votes held

by me as Representative of tho Committee of Petitions for Devon . In that capacity I was prepared to obtain any number of rotes , had the necessity existed , to ensure the boy ' s success . While blowing a strain on your trumpet , Bro . Ace , give a blast for a hard-worked energetic brother , who toils unseen in all Devonshire cases that come

to our Charities in London . I refer to my respected friend Bro . J . B . Gover , the Secretary of the Committee of Petitions . Every case in the Province comes to him for investigation previous to its being laid before his Committee . Then his work merely commences . It procures Bro , Gover hard words , ill feeling , and no profit ;

Correspondence.

bnt it is done by him for love of tho Craft , and for tho sake of humanity ; not in a single case , but in all . This is not amateur philanthrophy ; this brother is but a poor man , who has himself and family to maintain , if not by the sweat of his brow by that of his brain . Surely these facts speak for the integrity and tho love of kind of

all concerned . Tho case of Cox is individual , not general ; but it has been used by Dr . Aco to raise a wind to inflate himself . Sheer earnest hard work diligently done , in a case of charity , is my estimate of true philanthropy—not mere shouting . Dr . Ace , nearly threo weeks after date , congratulates himself ou tho result , as though ho had had tho management of the case , whereas

ho had nothing to do with ifc , excepting tho self-imposed task of writing very indiscreet letters , and thereby doing harm to our Charities . Referring to the letter in your last issue , 3 rd November , Bro . Aco therein says : — " I shall not deign to further notice the allegations of wanton slander , " alleging tho words he nsed " fell in his hearing from tho complainant ' s lips . " Who this complainant is I know

not . In my letter in tho FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE of 13 th October I charged Dr . Ace that he , iu a public journal , did slander wantonly the members of tho Committee of Petitions of Devon , by charging tho active members of that Committee with obtaining votes under false pretences , i . e ., by getting the votes for tho boy Cox

" signed , but unmarked ; then at the last moment to throw overboard tho boy , and poll tho votes for somo ono else . "—Vide Letter Qth October 1877 . Such aro tho charges mado by Dr . Aco , and recorded in tho pages of your journal . It is therefore little nso for Dr . Aco to say , "I shall not deign to notice further tho allegation of wanton slander . "

Sneaking for Bro . J . B . Gover , who collects the votes of the Province " signed" but unmarked , " and for myself , as having tho ultimate disposal of them , still signed bnt unmarked up to tho last moment for polling tho same , you , Dr . Aco , never heard from tho lips of Bro . J . B . Gover or myself words that ever could be twisted into such

unwarranted assertions , unworthy a Mason . You refer to tho " income tax levied on all philanthropists for generous exertions . " Surely if your philanthrophy docs not shape its ends to a moro successful issue than yon have obtained in this case and correspondence , the amonnt of "Income Tax" that will bo levied on yon will indeed bo slight . '

I am , Dear Bro . Editor , Yours fraternally , CHARLES GODTSCHALK P . M ., P . P . G . D .,

Representative of tho Committee of Petitions of Devon . London , 4 fch November 1877 .

A MATTER FOR INQUIRY . To the Editor O / T IIK FUEKMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —A short timo since , being in tho West of England , I visited a Mark Masters Lodge . After the advancement and retirement of tho candidate , tho W . M . announced tho next business of tho meeting was to instal tho W . M . for the year ensuing , and as the V . W . Bro . had consented to perform the ceremony ,

he therefore invited him to occupy tho W . Master ' s chair . This ho did , and commenced tho ceremony of installation . After a certain prayer , I mentioned that this was out of place , whereupon he assured me that he should do nothing wrong . I can only say , iu general terms , that the greater part of the ceremony that used to bo done in a Board of Installed Masters was done iu ! tbe presence of the brethren ,

with the exception of tho secrets and penalties . These were reserved until the brethren had retired . On this plain statement I wish to ask for an anthoritalive answer from some one qualified to give ifc , so that it may be beneficial to tho Order afc large , and tho particular Lodge in question . 1 st . Has a Past Master , duly qualified in his own Lodgo , any right

to occupy the chair of a Lodge into which he has not been installed . 2 nd . Has a Worshipfnl Master the right to vacate his chair and request a visitor to assume tho authority thereof . 3 rd . If these questions are answered in the afh ' mative , whafc becomes of the rights of the Past Masters , who , in the absence of tho Master , resume certain powers . I presume absence of the Master to

mean absence from tho Lodge , and not merely absence from tho chair , he still remaining in the Lodge . I am induced to put these questions through you , as I understand the V . W . Brother had recently been in London , and was furnished with a spick and span new ritual , manufactured and turned out

somewhere near a raven ' s nest in the locality of Hammersmith , and presented to us with an air of authority . Can you tell me if this is another turn-aboufc or wheel . about of tho great authorities of tho Mark degree ? I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours truly , A P . M .

PRINCE LEOPOLD LODGE , No . 1445 . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , DEAR SIR , —Afc the meeting of the above Lodge , on Thursday last , the 1 st inst ., tho only business before tho members was a statement by tho W . M ., respecting the Lodge being fined two guineas for

removing the same without duo notice being given to the Grand Secre - tary ( See paragraphs 3 and 4 Book of Constitutions , on " Removal of Lodges . " ) ' It was then asked by a brother " If he was a member of the Lodge cv