The Masonic Section Of The British Association At Plymouth.

S . D . pro tem , C . Philp W . M . 1550 J . D . pro tem , D . Box I . P . M . 156 I . G . pro tem , I . Latimer P . P . G . J . W ., R . R . Rodd P . P . G . S . W . Cornwall , C . Godtschalk P G . J . D ., J . J . Avery P . G . Treasurer , F . A . Thomas P . P . G . S . D ., Rev . W . Whittley P . P . G . Chaplain , L . D .

Westcott P . P . G . Snpt . of Works , E . Aitken Davies P . P . G . Supt . of Works , G . C . Bignell P . P . G . Snpt . of Works , J . B . Gover P . P . G . D . C , John Dn Pre P . P . G . D . C , H . F . Hearlo P . P . G . A . D . C , F . P . Tomes P . P . G . D . C , P . B . Clemens P . P . G . O ., John Hele Mus . B . P . P . G . O . Cornwall , C Stribling P . M . 70 P . G . St , F . A . Thomas P . M . 1247 , T .

Goodall P . M . 954 , R . G . Bird P . M . 1550 , J . R . Lord P . M . 1217 , J . Rendlo P . M . 1247 , J . C Fly I . P . M . 1247 , R , B . Triplett P . M . 156 , J . P . Rogers P . M . 1550 , W . Harries I . P . M . 1205 , J . H . Stephens W . M . 159 , James Gid ' ey P . M . 1205 , J . Ferris P . M . 70 . Colonel Fitzgerald S . D . 189 . T . E . Peek I . G . 1205 , G . J . Firks J . W . 1247 . J . K .

Bond A . D . C 1247 , W . H . Crimp S . D . 1255 , A . S . Stuart J . W . 1550 , Samuel Roaeh J . W . 70 , T . J . Smith J . W . 1255 , D . Banks J . D . 156 , R . G . Tippett S . D . 1550 , A . E . Lean S . D . 70 , E . Hawkings 70 , 0 . D . Stentiford 159 , T . W . Hoppin 70 , and W . Canu 1255 . Tho St . John Lodge opened with the usual ceremonies , and the visitors wore introduced with the D . P . G . M ., escorted by the P . G . officers . The customary

honours having been rendered to their respective ranks in tho Order , R . W . Bro . Metham said , on behalf of the brethren of the vicinity , he tendered to their distinguished visitors a hearty Masonic welcome to Devonshire . For the last fifteen years ho had been a frequent visitor to other provinces , and had everywhere been received with the most fraternal welcome . Their brethren visited tho locality on an

occasion when they could not but feel additional pride m them . They came as distinguished members of another association that took the lead in the progress of the age , and whose object was the benefit of mankind in general by the improvement of onr knowledge in science and art . He had no occasion to introduce them or the questions before the Association ; they were now tho leading topics

of the day in Plymouth . He would like , however , for that meeting to benefit by the experience of their visitors , in the way of information respecting the custom of other provinces with regard to such matters aa the use of the ballot , candidates rejected in one Lodge obtaining admission in another a few miles distant , refreshments , the insolvency of candidates for office , and the effect of local

Masonio charities upon the London charities . R . W . Bro . Glaisher , explaining the rules observed in the London Lodges with which he was connected , stated that in the metropolis Lodges usually met only once a quarter , and that refreshments wero always provided , but that the proceedings were over at an early hour . Great care was observed with regard to the conferring of office , no

one being appointed I . G . unless he was a fitting man to pass through the whole of the chairs . If a brother got into pecuniary difficulties through misfortune , it would be well for him to retire temporarily from office , and then , when matters wore set ; right , ho should be received with open arms . No candidate should be admitted to a Lodge if his election would cause discomfort to a siugle member . Any

objection shonld be communicated to the W . M . and Wardens , who , with , out mentioning the name of the objector , should endeavour to got the candidate withdrawn , instead of allowing his name to go to the ballot . R . W . Bro . Bell handed around a little book published in 1769 , giving a list of English Lodges . Afc that time Plymouth possessed three Masonic Lodges , each of which met fortnightly . These were No . 67

founded in 1734 , which met afc the Oxford Inn , Plymouth Dock ; No . 232 , founded in 175 * , which met at tho Three Crowns , Southsiclestreet , Plymouth ; and No . 237 , founded in 1759 , held at tho Barracks of the 2 nd division of Marines . The power of the ballot , ho said , was a right , but should bo exercised with great care lest it did damage . That reception was a very pleasing event , and he saw no reason why thero

should not be a Masonic Section to tho British Association . During the evening the R . W . Bro . referred to tho position of the Lodge of which he was a member at Hull . Ifc contained 300 members , worked well , and had a capital stock of £ 2 , 000 , the interest of which was npplied to pensions and for educational purposes . R . W . Bro . Hyde Clarke , who has obtained the rank of P . G . M . in

Europe , Asia , Africa , and America , and exercised that function in the Holy Land itself , gave some very interesting information hised on his wide experience in Masonry . In France , tho Grand Orient was very particular about tho admission of candidates , and nofc only the members of a Lodge , but the visiting brethren wero called upon to ballot respecting the admission of a candidate , on the ground that

the person voted for would not merely become a member of a particular Lodge , but of the Order generally . The rejection of a candidate was communicated fco all the Lodges in the town , and no one had a right to enter a Lodgo in any place but that in which he resided . If , however , a rejected candidate succeeded by deception in obtaining admission in another town , discovery of the

fraud was succeeded by deprivation of all Masonio privileges . W . Bro . Dr . Ace gave his experience on Masonic matters in Lincolnshire , and urged that great care should be exercised in the selection of candidates . R . W . Bro . Hyde Clarke said tho Westminster and Key . stone Lodge , of which he was a member , while its initiation or joining fee was twenty-five guineas , had reduced its annual clues to

£ 1 . . No member was called upon to pay for refreshment against his will . Bro . Yarley , in reply to a call , gave an Admirable sketch of the recent progress of telegraphy , aud explained the important discoveries and improvements made by his brother aud himself in the telephone . During the evening the arrangements were curried out under the superintendence of W . Bros . Dr .-F . Aubrey Thomas , and

the Rev . W . Whittley . Refreshments were served by Bro . Thorne , and an excellent choir of musical brethren , under the leadership of W . Bro . Hele , gave some Masonic music , while W . Bro . Fiy performed a solo on tho cornet . At the close tho visi . 'ors unanimously expressed their warm acknowledgment of the fraternal reception they had received from the Plymouth brethren , aud their admiration at the progress Masonry had made in that town .

As Solomon ' s Tomple had many courts , so Freemasonry had many departments ,

Correspondence

CORRESPONDENCE

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . ill Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , no necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

THE BALLOT . To the Editor of Tn ? . FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I quite agree with il Student , " that thero is no law , written or tin written , which could compel a W . M . to exhibit tho result of a ballot to his Lodge , bur , I would ask him . It you wero W . M . of ' a Lodge , in which it hud always hitherto been the custom to exhibit the ballot box , would voti , after declaring a

eanilidate duly elected , refuse to exhibit tho ballot box if asked to do so by two or throo members of the Lodge ? My iuiprossii . ni is , that to refuse this request would be an admission that what had been declared from the chair was not correct . I cannot conceive any honourable man refusing such a reasonable request , unless he was afraid tho so doing would bring down npon him the censure of thoso

in authority . The statement in Oliver ' s Masonic Jurisprudence , is a very good rule , but I can easily understand cases where it would have to be disregarded . Take a case like this : A candidato is proposed , and by three or more of the brethren ho is considered unfit to bo admitted . They black-ball him , biit the Muster declares tho candidate duly elected . A request is then made in tho Lodge that

tho ballot-box be exhibited . This is refused . How is the fact of tho candidate being negatived to be proved but by the brethren using the negatives divulging tho fact P I havo heard ifc mentioned in some Lodges that , when there are objections to a candidate , that tho objectors should go to the W . M . and ask tho proposer of the candidate to withdraw him . I consider such proceeding foreign to tho

spirit of the ballot . The ballot is nothing if it is nofc a secret pro - ceeding . But how on earth can it be a secret if the brethren who object to the admission of a candidate into a Lodge have to make that objection known to the W . M ., who will convey ifc to tho proposer , and tho proposer to tho candidate , who would , iu ninety-nine cases out of 100 get to know who tho brethren were who hid been the means of keeping him out of the Lodge . Unless the ballot can

be used so that only those who use the negative ball can know thiifc fact , and unless a W . M . will state what is the exact position of the ballot , tho whole proceeding is a farce and a sham , and a disgrace fco any body of gentlemen using ifc . I qnito agree with " Student , " that tho case referred to in my last , should have been brought before the Board of General Purposes , but it was withheld out of charity to the W . M . Yours fraternally , A CONSTANT R _ An _ n .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DUAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have only jnsfc seen your very excellent article on " The Ballot , " and W . Bro . Matier ' s letter of " Proposing Members" published in your issue of the 23 th ultimo . There cm be of course no defence to tho utterly disgraceful practice which you so righteously condemn in your article , and which the Lodgo in

the case recently brought before Mr . Justice Field so fearlessly exposed , and so promptly and deservedly punished . But I wish to state , as a matter of fact aud with regard to Uw . Matior ' a very proper remarks , that in tho cases referred by Mr . Justice E'iekl for disposal by the G . M . the circumstances which caused tho emergency icere stated to the W . M ., if thev were nofc inserted iu tho' summons

for tho emergent meeting . I venture however to take exception to Bro . Matier ' s ruling aa to tho obligation laid on the W . M . by the Constitutions to publish the csmse of the emergency in the summons for the emergent meeting , as the rule in the Constitutions which regulates this matter leaves it , in my opinion , entirely to the discretion of the W . M . to do this , " if ifc be proper " —that I tako to mean " if he

thinks fit , " theactualwordingof the Bye-lavvonthesnbjecfcoi tho Lodgo to which reference has been made above . I quire agree with Bro . Matier that " tho law must be obeyed , " but only when possible ; aud ifc is not possible , I submit , to record anything iu the minutes of a meeting until those minutes have been prepared , which is usually done after tho business is over . Yours faithfully and fraternally , A CONSERVATIVE P . M , 16 th August 1877 .

Our ¦ worthy Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary , may be regarded for the time being—if he will allow us to use the expression—as the Consecrating Ollicer iu charge . Oa fuesday , he will officiate at the Evening Star Lodge , where he will be assisted bv Bros . H . G . Boss , Assist . G . See ., and

the Ilev . A . ¥ . A . Woodford , P . G . Chaplain . The meetings of this Lodge will take p lace afc Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , and lour p m . is the hour fixed for etie first gathering . Oa Wednesday , Bro . Hervey will consecrate tho Eleanor Lodgo , No . 1707 . Bro . Joseph . Tanner ,

P . P . S . G . D . Essex , is the W . M . designate , while Bros . John Howard Thompson , P . P . G . S . B . Middlesex , and Charles Lovebond , will be the Wardens . The meetings will be held afc the Angel Hotel , Edmonton , and f he brethren will assemble at three o ' clock ou the opening clay ,