Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . 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 .

Equality Among Freemasons.

EQUALITY AMONG FREEMASONS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DJ ; AR SIR AND BBOTHER , —Ifc never struck mo that there could be any doubt as to what is meant by equality among Freemasons . The samo distinctions obtain among Masons when out of tho Lodge as prevail among other members of society , and there is nothing in tho Craft

ceremonies to warrant a departure from the ordinary conditions of social life . In the Lodge , the hig hest and tho lowest aro equal office holders , and Past Masters alono being inve-fced with authority , complete obedience to which is implicitly conceded in every well-2 'egulated Lodge .

My being a Freemason wonld not warrant me in approaching fche heir to the throne simply because both are members of the Craft ; nor would it justify tho expectation that I should bo preferred for any public office because i and many of the elective body might be Freemasons . All this is simplv a truism , the A B C of social and

Masonic ethics , and needs no enforcing by argument . There is a side of the subject , however , which is too frequently overlooked . Many brethren meet in Lodges of equal social standing who do not know each other in tho street , and those who happen not to bo vvealthy , or not so rich in this world ' s goods , are passsd by as if the tie of

Masonry was cut immediately the brethren left the Lodge . Such conduct is a libel upon Freemasonry , tho spirit of which breathes charity and brotherly love . I do not quite follow "A PROVINCIAL MASON " in yonr last issue . His letter would imply thafc a Mason was rejected because of the

gossip and scandal thafc would have arisen if the olectivo body , many of whom were Masons , had preferred him . If fche brother in question was as well qualified as any other candidate , then I say ifc was the bounden duty of the Masons in the Council to have elected him . Men in office , and who have the dispensing of patronage , are uo

worse than other men because they are Freemasons ; on the contrary , they ought to be better iu many instances because of tho teaching of the Craffc . It ia perfectly certain that they are as trustworthy as any other body of men , and wonld nofc appoint n brother fco any office unless he was duly qualified . But when all necessary conditions are

satisfied , then I say that Masonic influence should operate , and u Mason preferred to any other man . Freemasons do nofc live up to thoir faith . They give largely of their sub > fcmee , ancl our Charities are among the glories of a glorious laud , but there ia a charity that demands the sacrifice of time , tho incurring of trouble , and the

practical exercise of sympathy . Were wealthy brethren , especially employers of labour , to practise Freemasonty out of the Lodge , many a poor brother would be blessed . As an illustration of what I mean , I may refer to religious men , who are as keen in business as tho most worldly , but who invariably prefer a religions man 01

woman when opportunity offers . They believe , and rightly belifvo , thafc reli gion makes men and women better than they otherwise would be . I know that that belief is true , and is ifc not also true of Freemasonry , which is a religion without a creed ? While scouting all idea of a democracy in Freemasonry outside of

the Lodge , I contend that much more might be done to make the teaching of the Craffc more helpful , and more practical than it is now . A sensible man would always keep his position , and those who obtrude themselves could easily be put down whether Freemasons or not . If , however , there is an advantage to give , bestow

it upon a brother , and let cowans condemn as thoy may . I have yefc to learn that the outside world know enough of our proceedings to warrant them in judging our conduct , and I am certain that if we are faithful to the principles we profess , we can withstand any hostile criticism . I am , Dear Sir and Brofcher , Yours fraternally , WATCHMAN .

Preference Among Masons.

PREFERENCE AMONG MASONS .

To the Editor of the FKEKMASON ' OUEO . VICLE . DEAR SIR AND BKOTIIKK , —The subject mentioned by your eorre . spondenfc , " A PROVINCIAL MASON , " ns to the fuv--.-niling ' opinion that Freemasons hold together in matters of bu-iiiu ; ^ and public lifo is one which might profitably bo di .-: cus .-: r . d at tho present time , when

so much , justly or unjustly , is ascribed to " ,-ido i ,-lluoucc : \ " I quite Agree with yonr correspondent that there i > no . siwh unhol y compact among Freemasons aa ia gei . ondiv suppo ^ d to ;> vi .-t , " but when shall we induce those outside the Craffc to believe thin ? ' Only a few days since an instance of the " prevailing opinion'' came under my Notice ' '

, when in tho "London Letter ' ' ofa IS -vincial newspapei reference was made to a well-known politician , aro ! Huong hia qualifloat ions for an office to which ho hud beet' r . ppoiated it was recorded iat he was " a prominent Freemason . " j . r-iionoie thero was no reai harm in this statement , but I object to the ; . i Mucin tion of Five . masonry with auoh matters iu a public journal . rot , ! . " , A ; c , SALOPIAN .

Obituary.

Obituary .

THE LATE BRO . THOMAS A . DOYLE .

IN reference to the late Bro . the Hon . Thomas A . Doyle , for many years Mayor of the City of Providence , testimony is thus borne . As a Freemason he was highly distinguished , honoured , and loved . Now he is mourned as are but few who pass the Jordan of Death . His decease

occurred 9 th June lb 8 G , " and tho tolling of the bells that followed seemed to speak the grief of a community thafc now knew its loss . " All the city was in mourning . The body was removed from the house on Benefit Street , where death had taken place , to the old homestead on Chesnufc

Street , and there remained until the 12 th , when it was laid in state in the City Hall , whero thousands of the peoplo viewed it . The funeral occurred on the 14 th . The City Hall was elaborately draped in flowers , and , probably , never before were there so many and so magnificent floral

offerings at a public funeral in that city . The procession was immense , nearly every public officer , society , and . citizen boing a participant . The religious exercises were hold at the First Congregational Church . The Masonic services were under the auspices of the Grand Lodge , and

were held , first , iu St . John ' s Hall , and , second , at the grave , in the Cemetery at Swan Point . They were exceedingly well conducted and very impressive . Just as the Stewards uncrossed their rods the public school children

began rendering tributes . Each pupil passed the open grave and strewed flowers therein , and when their offerings were complete the masonry of the grave and the coffin were entirely hidden beneath the rich mass .

Illustrious H . L . Palmer Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Supreme Council of the Ancieut Accepted Scottish Rite in the United States , has sent to all tho Bodies TAndev his jurisdiction the subjoined appro ] r . ite memorial tribute : —

Tho solemn tolling of bells , a city swat bed in mourning , its inhabi . tants bowed beneath a great sorrow , accompany the tidinog of the death of a Chief Magistrate , our lamented brother Illustrious Thomas Arthur Doyle , 33 ° Mayor of the City of Providence , and for many years an active member of ihe Supreme Conned . Energetic in nil

tho affairs of life his efforts had raised the village of his nativity to be a cifcy which for nearly a quarter of a century 1 ad its pride in making him its Chief linler , and willingly oboyoil his wise counsel in directing its onward progress . "He died with his mmonr on , full Knightly . " As a Mason , ho

was Past Grand Ma-tor , and Past Grind High Priest of Rhode Island , and a pi \ uiiuent membi-r in iho Council of the Grand Commandery of Massachusetts and Ilhode Island , and it is Jittlo to say that in each station he discharged all his duties with freedom , fervency and zeal .

Suddenly find scarcely iu tbo ripeness of age , being yefc at the entrance of his sixtieth year , the destroying an ^ cl halted tit his tent aud ho has passed to the lifo leyoud , worthily and obediently as becomes a man , conscious of duty fulfilled and ever ready fco obey the summons that will surely come to us all .

Socially , few men had greater personal attractions than Illustrious Bro . Doyle . Cheerful to a degree , his pieseuco was like sunshine , dispersing the gloom of this weary life , and those admitted to his intimacy held him in such esteem as kings might envy . Strong in his convictions , aud ever ready to maintain thorn , no untoward

worusmarked his arguments , and even thoso most opposed felt and acknowledged the uprightness of his purpose , and that he desired only the greatest good of the Craft and of onr Rite in which he was so ardent a workman . Like fche community in which he lived and laboured , thousands of

the Craftsmen would willingl y havo participated iu the last honours paid to hia memory , bnfc distance and the demands of active life made that impossible , but I venture to believe that we all joined in spirit with thoso prlviledged to surround tho last resting-place and united with them in tho inexpressible regret that his place among

us must henceforth he vacant . Lot out warmest nyuipauhy go out to tho ouc most afflicted by his departure , a , id let bin ni'inrTy bo kept as that of ono upon whose liko w j may not look again . Mourning hi . s 1 OH . , in token of our respect tor his memory , ifc ii directed th : < . i these letters be read and entered

ot record in all the . Hodies ot tin ; Kite iu this jurisdiction , at the next meeting after they ; -hall ho received by Mich Bodica , and that the altars and woikir . g t 'ota bo draped with the violet badge of mourning , for the space of sixty days . Unite with me , brethren , also in wearing the personal violet badge for tho like space .

Trio members of tho North London Chapter of Improvement , No . 1471 , will re .-um- ! their meetings on Thursday lioxt , the " 2 ud September , at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , St . Paul ' s Boad , Cai . onbni'f . Royr , l Arch Masons avo kindl y invited to attend .