Correspondence.

Correspondence .

THE RECENT ELECTIONS TO THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I , and many others I feel sure , will join with mc in entirely

sharing your regret at the recent failure of the senior candidates for both Funds . It is , as you most justly described it . nothing less than a -Treat " scandal . " I have always understood , and have been more than once assured , that no accepted candidate for either or any of our three Masonic Charities ever ultimately fails , and so 1 have hitherto implicitly sent my voting papers to be dealt with by the Charity Committee of my own province .

But this scandal tempts me in future to use my ivotes according to my own judgment . I sincerely trust , however , that something may be done for the old folk who have been so ruthlessly disappointed and deserted . —Yours fraternally .

A GOVERNOR OF THE THREE CHARITIES . May 28 th .

THE RIGHTS OF A PAST MASTER . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , 1 was very p leased ( as 1 think all Past Masters must have been ) to see the letter from " P . M . 32 years " on the above subject in the Freemason of the 18 th inst ., as it is a matter that much requires amendment . I quite agree with

all P . M . said , for unquestionably we Past Masters suffer a gross injustice by the present state of the law ; while , if we seek to recover our lost ground in Grand Lodge by getting into office in our present lodges with the view of again passing the chair , the natural flow of promotion in the said lodges is checked for a year at least . Our fraternal feeling towards younger aspirants for the Mastership therefore prevents us from seeking office , though I believe in most cases " ths highest honour the lodge can confer " would be gladly given to us if we desired it . I am

probably one of the worst sufferers , if not the worst , by the present law . I have now been a Freemason for 37 years , out of which I have only passed four years without being a subscribing member of some lodge . I am a Past Master of 24 years' standing , and have filled the office of W . M . in two Scottish ar . d two English lodges ; I am also a Past Grand Warden of a Province ; was the sole founder of one lodge , and am a Life Governor of all the Masonic Institutions , yet I have lost my right to sit in Grand Lodge I

I should not have lost those four years , but that ( while I was away abroad on Military service ) the lodge , of which 1 was then a non-resident member , raised the non-resident subscription , and , as that was undoubtedly breaking faith with the old members , I withdrew ; so it is easy to see that mine is a very hard case indeed . As " P . M . 32 years " says , we ought to be able to regain our right , to sit in Grand Lodge after a few years of renewed subscription to a lodge . Many a good and worthy P . M . is kept from joining by the law as it now stands , as well as by the

fact that when a P . M . joins another lodge he is practically a nobody , though he may have been a shining light and a " p illar ot the state " in his former one . A P . M . on joining another lodge ought to take rank and precedence just as if he had passed the chair in that particular lodge , except that he should be junior to those who , at the time of his joining , had held the office of W . M . in that lodge . The law on this subject is a great injustice to Past Masters and sadly needs altering . —Yours faithfully and fraternally ,

LEO . May 27 th . —

JEWELS OR BADGES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am not very well to do in this world , still I give to our cause all I can afford , and hope to continue to do so , and , in course of time , even more . I gave five guineas two years ago to the Boys' School , and paid the two guineas Stewards' fee and attended at Brighton , where I received the pretty badge or medal as a Steward .

1 was accosted by an old P . M . the other day , and told that 1 could not wear the badge in lodge . I should like to know if such is the case ; if it is , it seems rather hard and discouraging . I shall attend no more festivals if I cannot wear the badge . I think no W . M . ought to hurt the feelings of a brother by drawing such a fine line ; if an enthusiastic brother should occasionally wear a Festival Badge or Jewel , surely he is doing no harm . I should like to hear the opinion of a few brethren on this point . —Yours fraternally , / A'AL .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"Si . li'iioi . i'ii WITHOUT , ALDKRSGATK : " Its Chun li and Parish Records . By T . Selby Henrey , Curate of St . Botolph Without , Aldersgatc , in the City of London . Author of "The Nobility of Man , " "The Kingdom of Christ among Men , " "Modern Anglican Preachers . " London , 1895 . —We have read with the greatest pleasure the very interesting record of St . Botolph , Aldersgate , which our Rev . Bro . I lenrey , lately curate of the parish , has compiled with such loving and laborious care . There is , indeed , a marvellous fascination in those old chronicles , in which are described the deeds of our forefathers , their manners and customs , their everyday life , the laws , whether civic or

imperial , under which they lived , and the endeavours they made to ameliorate ( lie condition of the several communities , into which the nation was parcelled out . So great is this fascination , that even in the case of books which have been compiled Irom them , but hastily and in a clumsy fashion , the faults of style in the compiler are forgotten in the avidity with which the old materials he has brought together are read and digested . But Uro . I lenrey is entitled to our commendation as well as our thanks , not only for what he has compressed into the page ; of this volume , but for the able and lucid manner in which he has accomplished his task . In a series of some half . 1 dozen

chapters , he has traced the history ol the parish anil its church from the Anglo-Saxon days , when there is reason to suppose the church was founded , down to the present time , when , notwithstanding the tendency of Londoners to live outside the limits of their venerable city , there is still exhibited a marvellous activity in the parish , and the various institutions which have been handed down from former days or established within the memory of men still living are carefully tended and do an infinite amount of good for the poorer classes of people . Moreover , it must be borne in mind that six centuries ago , and for long afterwards Aldersgate was one of the most aristocratic parishes in the City of London , and many of those who have written their names boldly

on the pages of English history lived or were born within its limits , the most prominent being the Earl of Westmoreland of Oueen Elizabeth ' s reign , whose palace stood on the west side of Alderfgate-strect , where are now Westmoreland Buildings ; the Earl of Shaftesbury , who was Prime Minister lo Charles II ., John Milton who married his third wife in Jewin-strcet , where he is said to have composed the greater part of his "Paradise Lost ; " John Bunyan , author of the " Pilgrim's Progress ; " the Marl , and subsequently ihike , of Lauderdale , a colleague of the before-mentioned Earl of Shaftesbury in the notorious " Cabal , " ministry ; the Earls of Peterborough and Bridgcwalei , and many others . Not the least interesting locality in the paiish is Little Britain , so named from the Dukes of

Reviews.

Brctagne , who resided near the church , which from an early date was the home of printers and booksellers . Here it was that the Earl of Dorset lighted on a copy „ f "Paradise Lost" ; here the lirst daily newspaper , the Daily Conrant . was printed ; and here for a time lived the great Benjamin Franklin , who was engaged in a neighbouring printing house . But wc need not dwell on the past splendours of Aldersgate , or the merits of its present institutions . Bro . Henrey tells us what is needful respecting them , and in a style which cannot be too highly commended for its clearness and precision

and the methodical arrangement of its several parts . Those who take an interest in the parish and the past history of its inhabitants , its church , and its institutions , will do well to consult this little volume of Bro . Henrev ' s . It contains so much within its modest compass , is embellished with not a few illustrations of notabilities connected with St . Botolph's , as well as of t ' re Church buildings , is exceedingly well printed on paper of good quality , and , to crown all , neatly and serviceably hound . We thank the author for having afforded us the opportunity of bringing his work to the notice of our readers , and congratulate him on the success which has attended his labours .

" BROUGHT TO I . KIHT . " A Masonic Tale in three parts , by Bro . D . Willox , P . M . 12 S ( S . C . ) William Dalzlech , 499 , London-road , Glasgow , or from the author , 48 , Burgherstreet , Parkhead , Glasgow . We do not , as a rule , look with favour upon descriptions or tales of a brother ' s experiences , or supposed experiences , on taking the Degrees of Craft Masonry , or indeed , of any other Degrees which have been adopted as part and parcel of our Modern System . However , Bro . Willox has narrated his story of the

Three Degrees in so pleasant a manner , and , at the same time , exhibits such a spirit of reverence for the Work , that we have no hesitation in bringing his " Masonic Tale " to the notice of our readers . The Degrees are treated separately , each having a part to itself , and , considering that the subjects are difficult to handle , we hold that he has accomplished his task very neatly , and in such a manner as to conceal the exact nature of the ordeal which a candidate passes through at each step from the scrutiny of the over curious . * ' Brought to Light" is worthy of a place on the bookshelves of every Mason .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Clapton Lodge , No . 1365 . The election meeting of this well-known City lodge was held at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool-street , on Thursday , the iCth ult . Bro . R . E . Fairclough , W . M ., presided , supported by Bros . I ) . Campbell , I . P . M . ; J . D . Geddes , S . W . ; Arthur H . Church , I . W . ; W . Blackburn , P . M ., Treas . ; W . D . Church , P . M ., Sec ; F . C . Lintott , " S . D . ; W . Banks , J . D . ; F . Orfeur , D . C ; T . T . Gething , LG . ; R .

Devereux , Org . ; W . Pinch , P . M . ; W . Caton , P . M . ; C . E . Luker , P . M . ; A . Tucker , P . M . ' ; R . C . Flint , H . Green , E . J . Brooks , H . J . Dyer , W . Macklin , R . B . Chessum , J . Pariitt , P . Becker , E . C . Robinson , W . D . Seaton , H . C . Amendt , C . R . Campbell , F . J . Thayre , and J . Very , Tyler . The visitors were Bros . I . Hands , VV . M . elect 115 S ; James Bunker , P . M . 115 S ; J . W . Stevens , J . W . 2234 ; E . J . Wickenden , S . W . 1599 ; F . Bridge , 1 733 ; VV . A . Needes , 53 ; C . G . Diamond , 1327 ; J . E , Hill , 14 ( 30 ; and R . T . West , 1744 . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read , the W . M . raised Bro . H . J . Dyer to the Third Degree , and afterwards passed Bro . E . J . Brooks . Bro . Faircloueh ' s

working of the ritual was performed in a most commendable manner . Bro . J . D . Geddes , S . VV ., was unanimously elected W . M . ; Bro . W . Blackburn , P . M ., re-elected Treasurer ; and Bro . J . Very again appointed Tyler . In eloquent terms Bro . D . Campbell , I . P . M ., proposed that a Past Master ' s jewel be presented to Bro . R . E . Fairclough , VV . M ., in recognition of the ability with which he had discharged his duties in the chair , and this was carried with acclamation . It was decided to have a summer outing on July oth , and a Committee was appointed , with Bro . E . C . Robinson as Hon . Sec , to make the necessary arrangements .

After other business , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to a splendid banquet , admirably served , for which Bro . P . Becker was responsible . After the customary loyal and Masonic toasts had been honoured , Bro . D . Campbell , I . P . M ., proposed the toast of "The Health of the W . M ., " paying a tribute to the excellent working they had witnessed that evening .

Bro . R . E . rairclough , VV . M ., on rising to respond , had quite an ovation . In an earnest speech , he thanked the brethren for the way the toast had been proposed and received , which he ventured to think was evidence that the little he had done had given satisfaction , and he was proud that his efforts had been honoured by the members . It would ever be his wish and his utmost endeavour to help the lodge in every way , and he would do everything to promote its interests .

The VV . M . gave "The W . M . elect , Bro . Geddes . " He said he little thought that he would have had the honour to submit the toast because of Bro . Geddes' very serious illness , but his presence there that evening was a happy surprise to them , and they were delighted to welcome and congratulate him on his restoration to health . lie was very popular , and would make an excellent ruler . Bro . Geddes , who had a hearty reception , responded . He stated that their warmth had affected him to such a degree that although wishing to say much he felt almost

speechless . He was proud that he had been elected Worshipful Master , but he could hardly realise his position . He had been very ill , and never thought he would be in the lodge again , but during that trying time he had received every kindness from the VV . M ., which had hastened his recovery . From the great prestige of the lodge he trembled for the time he would be installed , because it would be impossible for him to follow the splendid working of the VV . M . and the I . P . M ., but anyway , he would do his best , which he hoped would be satisfactory to those who had done him the good honour of electing him Master of the Clapton Lodge .

In giving " The Visitors , " the W . M . remarked that their guests that night were not numerous , but what they lacked in quantity they made up in quality . On behalf of the lodge he gave them a hearty welcome , and hoped they had enjoyed themselves , and he coupled wilh the toast the names of Bros . J . Bunker , P . M ., and J . E . flill . Bro . Bunker said it was not the first time he had responded in their happy iodge as

a visitor , and he hoped it would not be the last . lie was there as a guest of the I . P . M .. and he was pleased beyond measure to see his old friend Bro . Geddes restored to health and able to be present . It had been his good fortune to see all the officers initiated , and no better example could have been set by the VV . M ., and he trusted the lodge would not lose any of its lustre by those coming on .

Bro . j . E . Hill also responded , thanking the W . M . for his kind invitation , and he was indebted to Bro . Banks for having introduced him to their lodge , which was one ol the very best . " l'he Masonic Charities " having been honoured , The W . M . submitted the toast of " The I . P . M ., Bro . Campbell , and Past Masteis . "

lie said that he could not speak too highly of Bro . Campbell , whose great services for the lodge would never be forgotten , and in following him he had a very difficult task . I le also referred in genial terms to the other Past Masteis , who were all good fellows . Bro . D . Campbell , I . P . M ., replied in a humorous strain , observing that all the Past Masters were fossils , and if he spoke with a stony voice , it would account for what he was coming to .

Bro . VV . Finch , P . M ., also responded . lie said that whither the Past Masteis were old fossils or not , they had the interests of the lodge at heart , and nothing would be wanting on their part to do everything to promote its prosperity . The W . M . ; , 'ave " The Masonic Press , " and he associated with the toast the name of Bro . K . T . West , who responded .

" ' 1 he Treasurer and Secretary " was the next toast proposed by the W . M . " stated that he could not find words strong enough to express his appreciation of the " services , but it would be impossible for any other lodtrc to have two butter oliicers , and the great prosperity of the lodge was due to their efforts , and he thanked them sincerely for their assistance to him during his term of office .

In response , Bro . Blackburn , P . M ., Treas ., said that it was pleasant to hear that he was appreciated , and at his being re-elected Treasurer , which was an honour , arm was , he thought , proof that the little he had done was satisfactory to the members . " | Krcat aim was to keep the lodge out of debt , and so long as he was the custodian of tlicir lunds , it would be so . Bro . VV . D . Church , P . M ., Sec , stated that if he had been of any service to thf VV . M . he was glad , but he had never acted under a better or more genial leader . " the 'joining K , —the VV . M . elect—honoured him by ic-appointing him Secretary he YH" ""