Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

All letters must hear tlte imme and address 0 / the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Qor . respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

— : o : — PROVINCIAL ORGANIZATIONS .

To the Editor of the F REEMASON s CHRONICLE . Moulsoe Eectory , Newport Pagnell . 22 nd April 1882 . SIR , —The Masonic Charity Organizations are doing very valuable work in advancing the interests of many candidates who would other .

wise be friendless , but I fear that there are some deserving Masons who will be somewhat prejudiced by their action—I mean our Colonial brethren . With no English Province to sapport them , there is the danger that their claims will be overlooked .

I can at the present minute vouch for the urgency of one such case , that of Brother Thomas Sewell ^ a candidate for the May Elec tion . He iB blind , and very poor . I shall be extremely grateful if any brethren will send their votes for him to , Yonrs very fraternally , J . SiranoLME BB . owsEtGG P . G . C .

DISTRIBUTION OF HONOURS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In August 1879 you were kind enough to insert a letter of mine in the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , speaking of the unfair manner in which Provincial Grand Lodge honours were distributed , and also the necessity of large Provinces being divided . I am sorry to say in the Province of West Yorkshire the appointment

of Officers is very unsatisfactory , and it is most difficult to obtain recognition for past services . As I said in my previous letter , the long purse buys the position , irrespective of merit or ability . I again claim recognition for the hard working , energetio , and ever willing Past Masters , of whom I am glad to say West Yorkshire possesses many , but who unfortunately are every year passed over without

the slighest acknowledgment of the good work they have done for the diffusion of Masonic knowledge . At our last annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge , presided over by Brother Lieutenant Col . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., held on 12 th April , at Huddersfield , the position of Provincial Grand Junior Warden was conferred on a gentleman of good social position , and who is esteemed by all who

have the pleasure of his acquaintance , but , as wo are told that merit and ability are the principles on which honours are gained , I should like to know how to reconcile this , which to me is a paradox . I remember well the initiation of the present Provincial Grand Junior Warden , and also the offices he had held , which were Inner Guard , Junior Warden and Worshipful Master , and ho is now Immediate Past

Master , you will therefore perceive he is not yet five years a Mason , whilst we have in our town brethren who are far into the teens of years as Past Masters , and between twenty and thirty years subscribing members of their respective Lodges . Who can have done the most for Masonry ? The present Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies I also remember occupying the chair of King Solomon ;

lie is a very worthy man , and has , by gaining Provincial favour , found " LITE TO BE WORTH LIVING , " still my argument holds good that many older and more experienced Past Masters could be found t receive the long expected recognition of hard work and long services . Last year the Provincial Grand Chaplain was a gentleman who only held the rank of Senior Warden in his mother Lodge , of

which he is still comparatively a very young member . I also remember the Provincial Grand Junior Warden being promoted at the following annual meeting to Provincial Grand Senior Warden . I only speak of cases well known to myself , perhaps there are others which will not be pleasant to reflect upon . Of course the difficulty in a large Province to make a satisfactory selection is great , but

when there are eight hundred and sixty-five Past Masters to select from , I do not consider it equity to give preference to those who are so young in Masonry . It was well known in Huddersfield there was a surprise for us , and the secret was well kept ; it has come with a vengeance , but unfortunately without satisfaction . I suppose those brethren who are eligible will also be appointed to similar offices in

the Eoyal Arch . Why not confer Provincial Eoyal Arch honours on those who have not had Provincial honours in the Craft P then our lit . Worshipful Provincial Grand Master would not have to complain so much of being unable to confer Provincial appointments on so few . Do not let one gentleman enjoy both Craft and Royal Arch appointments at the same time , and let it be understood that the coveted positions can only be held in one degree , and he who has gained a

Provincial appointment in the Craft must not expect one in the Arch I am trespassing too much on your space , or would say a few words on the desirability of our large Province ( which consists of sixty-five Lodges , and three thousand one hundred and fifty-nine subscribing members ) being divided ; perhaps at some future time I may ask the insertion of a letter on this subject in your valuable paper . , I will still subscribe myself ,

Yours respectfully and fraternally , JUNIOR P . . 22 nd April 1882 .

Correspondence.

A VAGRANT . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —Almoners and others should keep a sharp look out for one James Baird , tall in stature , dark , and very shabbily dressed ; has no certificate , says he was initiated in the St . Mark ' s Lodge , No . 102 , Glasgow ; lately a member of the Dalhousie , No . 860

Loudon ; the answer from the latter respecting him is , " Know no . thing of such an individual . " He is making his way from here ( Havant ) , via Southampton , into S . W . Provinces , he was this way in June 1877 , and is probabl y a . professional vagrant , and should be given in charge of the police . Yours faithfully , SECRETARY 804 .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . J . P . SAREL . ONE of the most respected tradesmen of Chelmsford died on Monday morning , 17 th April—namely , Brother J . P . Sarel , proprietor of the George Hotel . For some time Bro . Sarel had been confined to his bed , and the complication of diseases from which he was suffering caused his medical attendant , Mr . E . H . Carter , to regard his case as a hopeless one . During his illness he was a great sufferer , but he

bore his affliction with considerable fortitude . He had conducted the George Hotel for many years , and was an exemplary laudlord , being generally regarded in Chelmsford as a model of what a tradesman of his class should be . Bro . Sarel , who was an excellent accountant , held for some years several offices in Chelmsford , in which he rendered very useful service . He was a prominent Freemason , and took an

active interest in the Lodge of Good Fellowship , No . 276 , of which he was a P . M . ; and also in the Essex Chapter , No . 276 , of which he was P . Z . The Chapter meets at the George Hotel . Bro . Sarel , who was in his 70 th year , leaves a widow , one son , and two daugh . ters . The funeral took place on the 19 th iust . amidst every demonstration of respect and esteem . The cortege was headed by a num . ber of the tradesmen and other inhabitants of the town , then came a

body of Fremasons , succeeded by a hearse conveying the corpse . The following brethren attended the funeral : — Dr . Nicholls , Andrew Durrant , C . Williams , J . Tomlinson , T . F . Woodard , A . G . Maskell , J . P . Lewin , W . S . Butler , A . C . Durrant , A . Mead , G . W . Pascal ] , ' F . Smee , A . F . Ginn , W . Wood , J . W . Hair , J . Lucking , W . J . Kent , W . E . Fuller , and J . H . Peacock , and at the close of the service dropped the usual emblems into the grave .

Bro. James Dann, P.M. Royal Jubilee, No. 72.

BRO . JAMES DANN , P . M . ROYAL JUBILEE , No . 72 .

ANOTHER worthy member of our Craft has been called from this sublunary abode , and a break has been left in the Masonio ohain by which we are united , by the death of Bro . James Dann P . M . of the Eoyal Jubilee Lodge , No . 72 , Secretary of the Skolmersdale Lodge , No . 1658 , from the time of its consecration , and Preceptor of the Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . 1558 . Our Brother departed this life

in St . Thomas s Hospital on Monday , 17 th inst ., of which institution he had been an inmate for several weeks , suffering under a frightful disease , and the day appointed for the amputation of one of his limbs was destined to be the day of his death ; but , so far fortunately , without undergoing the suffering of that dreadful operation . Our Bro . Dann entered the police force on the 24 th July 1818 ,

and from the intelligence he displayed in the discbarge of his duties on the 28 th January 1859 , he was promoted to the rank of inspector , and was from time to time engaged in some very important inquiries . In 1871 he was still further advanced to the position of Chief Inspector of the P division , under Mr . Superintendent Gernon , now Superintendent of the A division , who always entertained a hi gh

opinion of his promptitude and the faithful discharge of his dnties . With long services and a high character , in 1873 , with a liberal pension , he retired from the service . Our Bro . Dann was initiated in the Eoyal Jubilee Lodge , No . 72 , in 1867 , and in 1872 was raised to tho dignity of W . M ., and almost up to the time of his death was one of the most punctual of its members . On Monday , the 24 th , his

remains were consigned to their final resting place at Forest Hill , and the following brethren attended the funeral , viz .: —Bros . M . Larlham P . M . 1216 and P . Z . 720 , E . Dodson P . M . and P . Z . 72 , Cass P . M . 1658 , Earney P . M . 1658 , Boyton P . M . 1558 , Thorpe I . P . M . 1658 , Power W . M . 1558 , T . Thurston W . M . 72 , J . N . Bate S . W . 72 , F . Walker J . W . 72 , Wbiffin 72 , Read 72 , Salter S . D . 72 , Boyes J . W . 1658 ,

Bumsford 72 , Corpe P . M . 1839 , Walden 1658 , J . D . Smith S . D . 1658 , Taylor S . W . 1558 , Stokes I . G . 1658 , Hill 1658 Sec . pro tern ., W . S . Harvey 1658 , W . Benjamin 1658 , V . B . Hurt 1658 , and A . Stone 1658 . For many years Bro . Dann attended Lodges of Instruction , and was a highly esteemed member of the Crafc . His death has caused a void which will not readily be filled up .

The highly interesting Lecture Explanatory of the Eitual of tho First Degree in Freemasonry , and which has given so much satisfaction to those brethren who have had opportunity for hearing it , is to be delivered , by Bro . James Stevens , in the William Preston Lodge of Instruction , Jacob's Well , George-street , Manchester-square , on-Tuesday evening , the 9 th May ; and in the Kingsland Lodge of Instruction , at the Canonbury Tavern , N ., on Monday evening , the 22 nd May .

The installation meeting of the Old Kings Arms Lodge , No . 28 , took place at Freemasons' Tavern , on Monday , 24 th instant , when Brother Latreille P . M . was duly installed into the Chair .