Correspondednce.

CORRESPONDEDNCE .

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 .

PEOGEESS OF THE AECH DEGEEE .

To the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIB , —Your article Appearing in the issue of the 17 th inst . is very opportune . The supposed advantage that would accrue from the reduction of the probationary period has apparently remained in the land of supposition . Personally I did all in my power to prevent such a change taking place , as I thought that real reform might be delayed through such action .

That there are certain serious disadvantages under which this degree suffers , compared with the Mark degree , is well known . In tho first place tho " Holy Royal Arch " is a constituent part of Craft Masonry ( vide Book of Constitutions ) . This mijht be a great advantage , but under present conditions that which should bo for good is just the opposite .

iVo « ' no body of R . A . Masons can form a Chapter unless they can get a Lodge to which it can be attached . There is therefore no opportunity for young , zealous R . A . Masons to extend their work . Again , the excellent staff in the G . S . E . ' s office must of necessity think first of the Craft , and afterwards of the R . A . It is needless for anyone to comment upon this . As a natural consequence the former will advance , and tho latter may do so .

Worse still , this connection entirely debars any R . A . Mason from making proper progress . In the Mark it is possible for a man to reach the chair without having been installed Master in the Craft . In the R . A . no man can reach the Principals' chairs without having passed that in the Craft . Probably there is much to be said for this . What there is against it , is never considered by authority , because no Officers of Grand Chapter can have felt the position in which many zealous R . A . Masons have been placed . I will quote two instances to show what I

mean—A worthy Brother was exalted ten years ago . He took oflice as A . S . in his first year , became P . S . in his second , and S . N . in his third year . For five years he then stood by until he reached the Master ' s chair in a Lodge ( not his mother Lodge , but one that he joined to get the office ) , when he duly passed on . He was zealous in attendance at a Chapter of Instruction ( or , as formerly called , of Improvement ) during the whole time , and is an excellent worker , as well as a good Mason .

The second instance is even worse . A Brother became P . S . in the second year after exaltation , and did his work very well . He has now stood still for over seven years , and at present has no hope of advancement . He can do all the work required in his Chapter , while some of his Principals have never done any . I have trespassed too much on your space , or I might have said more .

Yours , & c , 0 . W . To the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I would be obliged if you will permit me to make some observations upon the Article that appears under the above heading in your issue of 17 th inst .

The alteration of the old rule that required twelve months as the minimum interval to elapse for a Master Mason to be admitted as a Companion did not meet with approval , because it was felt that candidates who had merely served one month as M . M . could not possibly have gained sufficient Masonic knowledge to entitle them to the privilege of admittance to the Order . I am sure that most experienced exponents of the Arch are still of

that opinion , indeed , I know that in some Chapters the Companions will not propose a Candidate until he has served the full year as M . M ., or can otherwise prove his , proficiency . It is not unreasonable to suppose that a Master Mason has failed to grasp all the tenets of the third degree in four weeks ; but the Grand Chapter in their wisdom having passed the decree , it only remains to do everything that can lessen and palliate what may be regarded as a mistake .

I cannot agree with your penultimate paragraph . Attractive as the Mark Degree undoubtedly is , it cannot be compared with the wisdom , strength and beauty of the Royal Arch ritual , neither can it be fairly said that " the Arch makes little or no advance . " It may be true that " it is less zealously pushed by its adherents , " but that is because knowing the grand teachings of the Degree , a Companion hesitates to introduce anyone whom he deems unable or unwilling to understand them .

I am of opinion that the Degree might be greatly extended were the convocations held more frequently . Some Chapters meet only twice a year , others three times , and I am not aware of any that meets more than four times a year . Considering the high importance of the ritual , and the great lessons

to be derived therefrom , I venture to submit that every Chapter ought to meet at least six times during the twelve months , in order that the Companions may be better able to acquire the esoteric teachings of this grand Degree , and , I might add , make it worth the trouble of those Companions who have taken the pains to learn them .

Yours fraternally , P . S Southend . Essex , 21 st August 1895 .

"Feasting" As A Preliminary For Masonry.

"FEASTING" AS A PRELIMINARY FOR MASONRY .

To ^ FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . t - n Df ^ SlR ASD BROTHBK . —I do not know whether the correspondent of tne Echo , " who signs himself " Blennerhassett " has seen the correspondence in your pages the last two weeks , but that or something appears to " p . , y , n him a better 0 P inion of the Order , as in to-day's issue of the Jiciio he apparently replies to the query of someone desiring to join the watt , and says that after being proposed and vouched for by a friend it is " a

"Feasting" As A Preliminary For Masonry.

mere question of forms and fees . " Although this is hardly the correct term for a Mason of foity years experience to use , it is far less objectionable than his former method , when he included " feasting " as one of the essentials in the development of a candidate into a Free and Accepted Mason . Yours , & c , A PROVINCIAL .

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and -where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report Liodge or other proceedings . — : o : — CEAET : PEOVINCIAL .

LODGE OF FREEDOM , No . 77 . ON Monday , Bro . Jas . A . Whitfield presided at the first regular meeting of the Lodgo since his installation , at Gravesend , and was supported by Bros . Thos . Nettleingham I P . M ., R . C . Fowle S . W ., W . Gunn J . W ., Rev . A . Jackson Chaplain , G . Masters and John Solomon Deacons , Frank Hitchens D . C , R . J . Beamish P . M ., J . 0 . Biggs P . M ., Geo . Rackstraw P . M ., and a large attendance .

Messrs . Wyvel , Hartley , Lake and James George Prevost wore duly initiated into the mysteries and privileges of the Order by the W . M ., the ancient Charge being delivered by Bro . Beamish . A vote of sympathy ancl condolence was passed to tho family of the late Bro . George R . Cobham . Two candidates were proposed for initiation at the next meeting and there being no other business , the Lodge was closed and the Brethren adjourned to supper .

WEAR VALLEY LODGE , No . 1121 . ON Friday , 9 th inst ., the Officers and members of this Lodge presented Bro . T . H . Thompson P . M . Treasurer with a handsome jewel on his leaving for London . A large number of Brethren and Visitors were present . The W . M . ( Bro . De Lacey ) and Bros . B . Boulton P . P . G . T ., G . W . Jennings P . J . W ., T . Dunn P . D . C ., spoke in eulogistic terms of the interest Bro . T . H . Thompson had always taken in the Lodge .

The rest of the evening was spent in harmony , and the usual Masonic toasts were honoured .

o o o DUKE OF YORK LODGE , No . 2449 . AN emergency meeting was held on Thursday , the 15 th inst ., at the Palatine Hotel , Manchester , for the purpose of Initiating Messrs . Edwin Crowther , Electrical Engineer , Cheetham , and John Henry Crowther , Commercial Traveller , Heaton Moor . There was a fair attendance , among

those present being Bros . Fred Warburton W . M ., Wm . Boden I . P . M ., T . T . Hardicker S . W ., Clement J . Hall J . W ., Gates Rushton Treasurer , Robert Meggitt Secretary , John Kinsey Asst . Sec , Geo . A . Bowden S . D ., T . H . Stott J . D ., A . G . Bryce I . G ., J . T . Whittle D . C , Arthur Scarlett Chap ., W . T . Schofield P . M . P . P . G . D ., Rowland H . Whitham , and John Fairbairn . Visitor : —Bro . Jas . W . Abbott P . M . 1030 P . P . G . D . C .

The first ceremony was performed by the W . M ., and the second by Bro . Boden I . P . M ., the Charge in the N . E . being rendered by the J . W ., who also presented and explained the Working Tools . At the festive board which followed , Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , these being varied by songs rendered by Bros . Scarlett , Stott , Hall , Rushton , Fairbairn and others .

Brother Boden I . P . M . having proposed the toast of the Initiates , they responded . Brother Edwin Crowther expressed his regret that his initiation had entailed upon the Lodge tho necessity of an emergency meeting . Had he known this , he would have hesitated before trying the generosity of the members by a nomination that put it to the inconvenience of a meeting

during the vacation . That of course increased his obligation , and ho was grateful to them for the benefit he had received . He might mention as a reason for the emergency , that he was going out to South Africa in the course of a few weeks , for a permanent residence , and for reasons which perhaps it would be unnecessary to go into , it had been suggested to him

while in Africa that a certificate from an English Lodge would facilitate his Masonic career abroad . He congratulated himself that fortune had placed him in tho way of joining a Lodge of such distinction as the Duke of York , and he begged to thank all his newly-found Brethren for the kindness which they had extended to him that evening .

Bro . John Henry Crowther said that he also thanked the Brethren of the Duke of York Lodge for their kind reception of himself ancl brother . Personally he had often thought of joining Freemasonry , and he was grateful to all who had put themselves out of the way that he might attain his object .

Brother Whatham , in proposing the nealth of the W . M ., said he found himself in one of the most awkward predicaments . He was not often short of words by which to express himself , but now he felt that he was lacking in that direction . Upon his first acquaintance with Masonry , when he saw the gavel wielded , he was amazed at its power , and now that that instrument had been passed over to him he wondered what to do with it . He had ,

however , a duty to perform , and his Brethren would know that it was of a pleasant nature when he told them it was that of proposing the health of the W . M . The Duke of York Lodge had not a long history , but it had a tremendous reputation . Bro . Whatham spoke in eulogistic terms of Brother Warburton , ancl of the way in which he had performed his duties , saying that upon his termination of office he would prove to have been a compeer of those who had preceded him in the office .

Bro . Warburton W . M . responded , saying he thanked them for their kind reception of the toast of his health . It was gratifying to him that so far as his year of office had run , he had retained the good wishes of the Brethren so as to receive praise like that lavished upon him by Bro . Whatham . He had endeavoured to do his best in thc past , and would not relax his efforts in tho future . His success had been contributed to by his Past Masters , who , besides being members of other Lodges , had rendered assistance in this , and