Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

LIBERTY OF THE PRESS .

To the Editor of the FKEEMASON ' S CHKONICLE . DEAU SIR AND BROTHER , —I venture to think you are unwise in advocating anything liko a freedom of the press in Masonio matters , and feel I cannot allow the remarks on this subject in your last issue to pass unchallenged , although I think I recognise in your own comments on this particular item an endorsement of my idea that liberty

mnst be tempered with caution and consistency . I do not know what has been done by the paper to whioh reference is made , nor waa I aware that the Grand Lodge of Scotland had had this phase of masonic literature bronght officially under its notice , therefore lam , like yourself , hardly competent to express an opinion on the merits of this case , but I suppose something unusual has hap .

pened , or there would not have been any necessity to invite the interference of the Grand Lodge . This , to my mind , is a great pity , as a very long experience in Freemasonry has taught me that the press is one of Masonry's best allies , and although I can boast of a somewhat varied and wide experience , I can safely say I hare never yet seen anything of an improper nature printed or otherwise made

public in regard to Freemasonry , and it 11 this knowledge which makes me all the more regret your apparent desire to preach Masonio liberty for tho press . I hope you do not even desire that the authorities should close their eyes to improper publication of Masonic motters , but I can hardly believe anyone connected with yonr paper wonld advocate such a course . I rather incline to the idea that you desire freedom of the press only for thoso who know just bow much

of Freemasonry can be made public , and that in reality no change should be made by Grand Lodges from the usages of the past in this particular , so long as the papers do not do anything different to what they have hitherto done . If that is your desire I imagine most Masons will agree with you , but you run tbe risk of being misunderstood when , as a special organ of Freemasonry , you seem to imply tbat you desire liberty for the outside press in Masonic matters . Yours fraternally , AUDI , VIDI , TACE .

PREACHING CAUTION .

To the Editor of thc FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . . DJTUR SIR AM BROTHER , —Allow me first to congratulate your now proprietor on tbo appearance of his iirst issue . I do not Jiko to hoar of changes in Freemasonry , but knowing as I do that tho change to which I now refer has been bronght about by the ravages of death I think there can be no harm in welcoming '' tho coming

guest , ' while paying a tribute of memory to tho depar ' od . Young blood is proverbially more vigorous thau old , and I consequently see no reason why the CHRONICLE should not benefit from the change , although , at the same time I regret the cause of it . I feel sure there is ample room for improvement in the matter of Masonic journalism , and hope tbe present conductor of the CHRONICLE will prove himself

capable of showing it to be possible ; bo may rely on any encourage , ment I can give , and I shall certainly recommend tho paper in my travels if I consider it deserving of special consideration at ray hands . Having got so far in the way of complimentary introduction I will now proceed to business . I want to know how it is that some of our Masonio rnlors apppar

to take so much delight in tempering their gratification at the numerical increase of Freemasonry with strong injunctions to use care in the admission of candidates ? I agree that a policy of extreme caution is most desirable , but equal caution should be used in urging it . A remark in your last week ' s report of the Provincial Grand Lodge of North Wales supplies an instance . The chief of that

district congratulated his Lodge on an increase of 256 members as compared with seven years ago , and in almost the same breath said he " could not impress too strongly upon them the desirability of looking into the character of the candidates ; of seeing tbat they were free and honourable men . " This seems to mo to imply that he doubted the character of his newer members , and I think his remarks

may have been very painful to some of those present , if they took the matter to heart . It seems to me it would have been just as easy to recognise that great care had been used during the past seven years in the selection of candidates , and still there had been an advance of 256 in the membership . This is probably what the Provincial

Grand Master meant , but I hope all concerned will excuse me it ' _ I say it was clumsily put , or at least clumsily reported , not only in your pages , but also in several general publications in the locality concerned . I would also like to suggest that those who preach caution might advantageously practise it in their critical observations . Query ! am I doing so on this occasion ?

Yours fraternally , " ON THE KOAD . Peterborough , 8 th August 1893 .

J . SMITHERS . —Wo will certainly do as you wish if you think any good will result , and you give us fair evidence of the genuiness of jour surmises .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

— : o : — Criterion . —The revival of the tuneful and attractive comio opera " La Fille de Madame Augot" will be welcome both to the old and present generation of playgoers , inasmuch as the musio is so bright and lively that it cannot fail to charm those who listen to it . Judging from the success that has been achieved during the

shoit time that has elapsed since its reviva ' , wo feel sure that Lecocq ' s opera will remain at the Criterion for some time to come . Tbe company selected by Mr . Charles Wyndham is a capable one , the principal character , Clariette , being entrusted to that charming actress Miss Deoima Moore , who not only sings well but acts with plenty of spirit . Miss Amy Augarde is splendid as Mdlle . Laoge , her

singing being excellent ; while Mr . Courtice Pounds readily works his way into favour by his tasteful singing . Miss M . A . Victor is as lively and amusing as ever , while Mr . W . Blakeley is exceedingly droll as Loachard , the police officer . Mr . Sydney Valentino is all that can bo desired as Larivaudiore , but the singing of Mr . Clins . DJVOU .

pott , as Pomponnet , did not do him justice . Minor parts are entrusted to Misses Haidee Crofton , F . Frances , Ellis Jeffreys , and Mr . Welton Dale . All praise is duo to the chorus and orchestra , who , under the ab ' e direction of Mr . John Crook , contribute greatly to the success of the performance .

One always welcomes the news that the fires of the mother coniitry are kept burning iu any land , however distant , where her sons may set tbeir feet , as a classic writer may say , and it is of interest to learn tbat when the Earl of Kintore , Governor of Australia and

Grand Master of the Freemasons of that Colony , installed Sir llobt , Duff , the lately arrived Governor of New South Wales , aa Grand Master of the Freemasons of his own part of Australia , no less , than four thousand Masons assembled to do honour to tbe occasion . The attendant ceremonies were very brilliant . —Gentlewoman .

LAW . ABIDING . —The charge that Masons are sworn to defend each other , " right or wrong , " is one of those mossy old slanders that , like red heads in families , come down from generation to generation . We find it like a mongrel cur , barking viciously at us through tha palings as we pass along , and while it can do no real harm , the grating sound of its tiresome yawp is annoying . Masons are in t so obligated , and were suoh tho case , in the placo of being a fraternity

of respectable men , gathered from the best classes of . humanity , ifc would be a fraternity of outlaws . Such is net tbe case , and there is nothing in any Mason ' s obligation which binds him to shield the guilty or condone the crime of llie criminal . We poii . t with p Mo to tbe men in our ranks and ask , could such men bo there were the r obligations suoh as to make them criminal after the fact p Fur v > hit good deed do ye stone us ?—An erican Tyler .

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CRITERION RESTAURANT , PICCADILLY .

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NO . 1 East ROOm—Cuisine Veritablement Fine , SPECIALLY DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF A LA CARTE DEJEUNERS AND DINNERS In the most Recherche Style of French Cookery , GUI SINE UNRIVALLED IN ENGLIANID . LARGE SELECTION OF CHOICE WINES .

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No . 2 East Room . ASPECIAL DINNER AT 10 / 6 EACH Will be served in this Room at Separate Tables , Between the Hours of 6 and 9 p . m ., Composed of a selection of Dishes from the Carte du Jour of the East Booms .