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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 . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

MASONIO CRITICISM . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Reverting to the first letter I addressed to you on this subject , which appeared in yonr issue of the 19 th nit ., and to the counter criticism which appeared in the pages of your contemporary , I must admit that I feel not a little flattered that the

" inspired writer referred to seems to have deemed my remarks worthy of a little more consideration than he has vouchsafed to some of my follow " silly critics , " who , I consider , he has handled in a rather severe and unwarrantable manner . He appears to forget there is such a thing as honest criticism , and regards us all as if we

were making attacks upon the Institutions simply for the purpose of injuring their future , and the future of those associated with them . I suppose I must speak only for myself when I say that I am sincere in what I do , and that my object is solely to benefit the Institutions I critioise , or to the concerns of whioh I desire to direct public

attention . My remarks are not attacks , in the strict sense of the term , and I do not see by what line of argument they can be construed into attacks . If public criticism is to be disallowed , I would ask by what means is it possible to secure , or even suggest reform , or to call attention to supposed or actual faults ? It is useless to say that any

subscriber desiring to make his views public shall attend the quarterly or annual meetings of the Institutions , and then address his remarks to the company assembled . Personally it is not always convenient for me to attend , besides which the company to whom I should have an opportunity of speaking would be so small as to be

practically useless , in addition to which I do nob care to be boycotted ever after as the one who suggested this or that alteration , for , be it remembered , if there are abuses their removal must affect some one . Reforms are not brought about by such means , and the men who clamour for " open attacks" or " straightforward dealings , " as

they are pleased to term them , are often secure in the knowledge that when it comes to a question of open discussion , before a select and even " packed " assembly , they can rely on their own bluster and oratorical powers to carry them through . I fear I should make a sorry spectacle were I to attempt to address a meeting and defend my

case against some of those who I am sure would oppose it , but is that any reason why I should be refused a hearing , or that my ideas of right and wrong should be silenced ? I think not , and I rejoice that the customs of our country afford us , through the medium of the press , a means of addressing our remarks in any desired quarter .

I must apologise to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls for a word which appeared in my former letter , and which I see by the criticism of your contemporary bears a different meaning to what I intended . I asked if it would not have been possible to secure the sum of £ 6 , 000 deficiency on the Festival announcement of 1888 if a "

proper " system of collecting had been in vogue . It would have been better if I had said a " different" system . I did not mean to imply that I considered the arrangements of the Girls' Institution deficient in thia respect , but suggested , as a solution of the matter under discussion , the advisability of having a regular collector . I am satisfied

with the explanation afforded by my " inspired " friend , to the effect that the two Schools have a " collector " in fact , if not in name , and am pleased to learn that " one of the clerks varies his routine of duty in the office by a round of duty as ' Mr . Collector . '" There is one great advantage arising from thia system—the Schools do not

Bhow an outlay of £ 639 15 s 9 d for collector ' s commission , but on the other hand I may ask is it possible for the clerk or clerks , for matter of that , to perform the work in their spare time as efficiently as a regular collector would do ? Emphatically , no ! I am certain it would pay the Schools to have a good collector , provided some fair

and reasonable remuneration was agreed upon and enforced . I am sorry my other remarks havo not been deemed worthy of argument by my critic . I know the value of the Associations as well as he does , and so far from doing anything to stop tham , have and would now do everything in my power to advance them . I

suggested tho Festival of 1388 should havo been allowed to closo with the 31 at December , aa other years' Festivals have been allowed to do , but the self appointed advocate of tho Girls' School considers there is no law to compel this ( I know there is not ) , and no reason to enforce it . I will but repeat my previous remarks ; as the matter

now stands the Girls' School started 1889 with a deficiency on itg 1888 Festival return of about £ 6000 , which amount it is said will be made up this year , therefore when tho returns of 1889 are before tho Craft it will be right to deduct this amount as " received on account of 1888 ( Centenary ) Festival . " What will then be the total for 1889 ? I will not continue this discussion further on the present occasion , except to express a hope that the Anniversary Fcatival of tho Bone-

Correspondence.

volent Institution , shortly to be held , may prove an unqualified suocesa , despite the criticism that Institution , iu company with the others .

has lately had directed against it . With your permission , however , I hope , later on , to have an opportunity of expressing my views in regard to what I consider as Masonio matters needing reform .

Yours fraternally , A SILLY CRITIC . 7 th February 1889 .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

GRAND LODGE OE SCOTLAND .

/^ i RAND Lodge of Scotland met , on the 7 th inat ., in \ X Edinburgh , Sir Archibald Campbell occupying the throne . There was a very large attendance of the brethren . A Masonic irregularity was among the principal matters of business . It arose out of the recent action of Grand Lodge in expelling a brother for a grave offence—permitting

ladies to witness a part ot a JB nneral . Lodge ceremony . An Edinburgh brother , as Secretary of a committee who desired the brother to be reinstated , issued circulars to tbe

various Lodges in Scotland and members of Grand Lodge , requesting them to forward a petition to him for presentation to Grand Committee . The issuing of these circulars ,

it appeared , was contrary to a ruling ot urantt iiooge passed in 1851 , and re-affirmed last year . The brother , on being called in question by Grand Committee , refused to retract , nnA ohnrwAITH-HOTT 4-Tnaxr liflortmmonnon fn l-TT « Ji . rif 1 Tinnr / A t . ncvr . iVV ^ /* IV

« UU MVWlWlUglJ UJ-l ^ Jf mmvm ^ V ^ — ~ v , ~ « u ~ . « . . , he be suspended from Masonic privileges . He , on the 7 th instant , appeared and tendered an apology , which was accepted . The Grand Master referred to the Bazaar which is proposed to be held in aid of the Fund of Scottish Benevolence . He suggested that it be delayed till next year , owing to the fact that it would take some time ere colonial and foreign brethren could be communicated with .

These brethren , he was sure , were only waiting tor an opportunity to contribute to the fund in aid of old Masons , their widows and orphans . The matter was remitted to Grand ¦ 1 II J . I _ — — . u » — -J X A . > un < a * i n « l 4- *» * - » f \ **»•• I Innwti / wil « - » oommiiiee wim ami iu

¦ powuia , rupuri . uu uc . vu v ^ uaruonjr Communication . A letter was submitted from Lord Kintore , resigning the offices which he holds under Grand Lodge of

Kincardineshire , in consequence of his appointment to the Governorship of South Australia , and , on the motion of Bro . Crichton , cordial thanks were given Lord Kintore for

the good services he had given to the Craft , and heartfelt congratulations on his selection for so distinguished a post under the Crown . Bro . Colonel Henry Lumsden , of Pitcaple , was appointed Provincial Grand Master of

Aberdeenshire West , in room of Lord Saltoun , resigned . ABERDEEN CITY PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE .

A SPECIAL Communication of this Lodge was held m the Masonic Hall , Aberdeen , on Thursday , for the purpose , amongst other business , of appointing and installing the elective Office-bearers . Lord Saltoun Prov . Grand Master occupied the chair , and there was a very large attendance of the brethren . The following elective Office-bearers were unanimously appointed for the ensuing

year : — Bros . Adam Pratt - - - Treasurer J . T . Campbell - - - Senior Deacon Archibald Duff - - - Junior Deacon W- Smith .... Architect llobert Yule - - - Jeweller llobert Cooper - - - Director of Music F . L . S . D . Connon - - Organist John Cooper - - - Bible Bearer E . G . Palmer - - - Director of Ceremonies A . Callaghau - - - Sword Bearer John Mackay ... Standard Bearer

WS . Booth - ¦ - ) . stevvardg G . L . Grassick - - - ) William Bartlett - - - j M ^ W . E . Grassick . - - j A . M . Munro > - - Librarian Alexander Barclay - - Auditor Robert Durward - - ¦ I . G . D . Campbell - - - Tyler

These Officers were duly invested . Tho elections were conducted in the most harmonious manner , and after other business matters had been disposed of , Lord Saltoun expressed the pleasure he felt as Provincial Grand Master in installing the Officers into their respective offices . It