Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents but we wish , in a spirit ot fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

NUMBER OF LODGES ABROAD . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Referring to Bro . Hughan ' s notice of the " Calendar and Pocket Book " for the current year , surely he in error when he observes that there is a falling off of only / 6 ** ' * - lodges Abroad , compared with the year previous .

As a matter of fact , the total decline is thirty-nine lodges , including the 35 that jn March last year founded the Grand Lodge of Western Australia . However , it is quite easy to perceive that Bro . Hughan has inadvertently included in his calculation the 35 West Australian lodges which appear in this year's "Calendar" as a District Grand Lodge , in spite of the fact that they severed their connection with the English Constitutions nearly a year ago .

Being an official publication , one might reasonably expect the " Calencar to be up to date , which it certainly is not in this particular instance . —Yours fraternally , W . F . LAMONBY . January 26 th . Corres

VERBAL CHANGES IN THE RITUAL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Without entering into the question raised by Bro . Last , in your issue of the 19 th instant , as to whether the words " fear " and " faith " have dropped out in our present ritual as now used by the I . P . M . at the closing of lodge , the evidence he gives seems reasonable t ! oat they were formerly in use .

As to the second part of his letter , the words he once heard interpolated undoubtedly rendered the otherwise ambiguous wording of the sentence clear enough ; whether they , too , are relics of old time , I do not know . As the sentence is usually given , it implies that "signs" can be sent ; but if , as 1 have always held , a semi-colon pause be made after the word "signs , " the

true meaning becomes intelligible enough . —Yours fraternally , WALTER GRIPPER , P . M ., & c The Poplars , Wallington , Surrey . January 24 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"PROVINCE OV WEST YORKSHIRE CALENDAR 1901 . "—This handy compilation is by the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Herbert G . E . Green ; the size being iCin . by 5 in ., and folded for convenience . The details are wonderfully numerous and complete , considering the space at command , both sides of the sheet being utilised . The Si Ledges , 45 koyal Arch Chapters ( printed in red ) , 16 Mark Lodges , 10 K . T .

Preceptoiies , 4 Rose Croix Chapters , and other Bodies are all duly arranged , with their Numbers , Names , Places , Days and Hours of Meeting , Dates of Warrants , and Calendar for 1901 for each , besides other particulars . Subscribing members of the Lodges to 31 st December , 1 S 99 , number 42 S 7 ; the R . A . Chapters , 1 G 03 ; the Mark Lodges , 544 ; and the K . T . 250 .

" FREEMASONS' MANUAL I * OK KENT , iyoi . "—This well-known and much appreciated annual is in its 24 th year of publication , and is edited in quite a perfect manner by Bro . Frank Hitchens , P . Prov . G . Reg . ( of Gravesend ) . There are 65 Lodges , with 4550 members ( for 1 yoo ) , about which will be found a very full account , as respects their Warrants , Meetings , Olliceis , Past Masters , & c , arranged systematically and to date of publication . So also as to the 29 Chapters , 20 Mark Lodges , and other Masonic Bodies . Besides these , there are the Bye-Laws of thc Provincial Grand Lodges—daft and Mark , the Provincial Grand Chapter , & c . —and the statements ol

the Provincial Gtand lteasurers . lhe Votes in the Province for the Masonic Charities aic duly detailed , as respects the Lodges and other Bodies , amounting tu a total of C 174 . Doubtless it would require too much space to give those held by the biethrcn , but surely the total might also be printed . During the six years , 1 X 94-1899 , the Lodges and members have subscribed the handscm ; total ot £ 14 , 124 . Finally there is a comprehensive Calendar of Meetings for 1901 , in the preparation of which , and also of the Manual geneially , Bro . Hitchens Has done admirably , and deserves the hearty thanks of all the Province for his great labour .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Grand Masters Lodge , No . I . INSTALLATION OF BRO . JOHN DIMSDALE . This lodge met on the 2 ist ult ., at the Freemasons'Tavern , for the installation of the W . M ., who had been elected at the previous regular meeting . Bro . E . M . Morriss , W . M ., presided , and was supported by the following brethren : Bros . J . Dimsdale , S . W . and W . M . elect ; Colonel E . Pryce-Jones , M . P ., J . W . ; Dr . Ralph Gooding , P . M . P . G . D . Treas . ; C . Belton , P . M ., P . G . D ., Sec . ; B . W . Levy , S . D . ; Newton

, , Dunn , I . G . ; GeorgeRattclifTe . Steel , D . C , Percy Leftwich , Stwd . ; Henry R . Rose , Org . ; Grifiin , P . M . ; Sir Homewood Crawford , P . M . ; John Dimsdale , P . M . ; E . Knowles , P . M . ; John Brickwood , R . Recce , J . VV . Burton , H . Holt , J . W . Chard , W . F . L . Hall , A . E . Bember , F . Wyburg , F . B . Edwards . H . T . Johnson , H . J . Waterlow , G . Horegon , II . Bucknall , A . F . Blades , W . J . Shaw , J . C . Bell , M . C . Lumley , R . J . Thomas , C . S . Lcpine , Sir John B . Moncliton , P . G . W . ; and Under-SherifT J . D . Langton , P . A . G . D . C .

After the lodge had been opened and the usual formalities observed , donations of 10 guineas to each of the three Masonic Charitable Institutions , of 20 guineas to another charitable object , and of 10 guineas to another were voted . Bro . Ernest M . Morriss , VV . M ., then installed Bro . John Dimsdale , the brother of Bro . Alderman Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale , P . M ., and Past Grand Treasurer , as Master for the next 12 months . Bro . Morriss was invested with the collar of I . P . M ., and the other brethren

appointed and invested as ollicers of the lodge for the year were : Bros . Colonel Prycclones . M . P ., G . S ., S . W . ; Benn Wolfe Levy , J . W . ; Dr . Ralph Gooding , P . M ., P . G . D ., Treas . ; Charles Belton , P . M ., P . G . D ., Sec ; Cecil llolden-White , S . D . j Newton Dunn , J . D . ; Percy Leftwich , I . G . ; George Ratclilf Steel , P . M ., P . G . S , D . C . ; H . H . Rose , F . R . A . M ., P . G . Org ., Org . ; R . J . Reece , M . I ) ., and Harold J Johnson , M . U ., Stwds .

I hc proceedings of the lodge were followed by a choice banquct . iand the toasts which li . llowcd wereinlcispersed with some p leasant music . 1 lie speeches were tf the briefest description .

Craft Masonry.

The toast of "The Qjeen and the Craft" was given by the VV . M . simply in the words ; " I give you the Queen and the Craft . The Quean : G ) d bless her , God save her . " Her Majesty ' s illness was the guiding principle of the quietude observed during the evening . The to-vst of "The Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " was simply proposed in three wnrrl <* a

That of "The Grand Officers" —of whom there were many present , including several members of the lodge—was replied to bv Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W . Bro . Morriss , I . P . M ., in giving "The Health of " the W . M ., " said the office of Master of the Grand Master ' s Lodge was a very responsible one . It required an apprenticeship in the Craft to carry out the duties of the chair properly . Bro . Dimsdale was initiated in the lodge iS years ago , and he had successfully occupied the various offices to the satisfaction of the Master of the lodge . It was usual for a Mister of the

lodge to take the chair of another lodge first , but Bro . Dimsdale had chosen to wait until he was called to the chair of his mother lodge . Hi had , nevertheless , taken an interest in other Degrees of the Order , and had occupied several impDrtant oSi : es in them . They all knew him to be a gentleman , a worthy Mason , and the brother of their esteemed Past Master , Bro . Sir Joseph Dimsdale , who occupied the chair some years ago in an admirable manner . Bro . Dimsdale entered on his year of office when the lodge was in a most flourishing condition , and he carried with him the bast wishes for a prosperous year of office .

Bro . Dimsdale , W . M ., in replying to the toast , which was most heartily drunk , said he only hopsd he would be able to carry out all the duties of the chair to the satisfaction of the brethren . It was always his idea to do the work as perfectly as possible . The toast of "The Visitors " was responded to by Bros . Plant , P . M . 31 , and B Martin , 10 .

Bro . Dimsdale , W . M ., in proposing the toast of "The Past Masters , " said that without the P . Ms , the lodge would be nowhere . The brethren knew how thoroughly well the I . P . M . had done his work during his year of oflice . He thanked Bro . Morriss lor the splendid manner in which he had performed the ceremony of installation that evening . Bro . Morriss , I . P . M ., in responding to the toist , said it had given him the greatest possible pleasure to instal Bro . Dimsdale . On behalf of the Past Masters , he could assure the W . M . that they would give him all the support and assistance he might require during his year of office .

Bro . Steele , P . M ., said he could not let the opportunity piss w ' . thnut saying how pleased the Past Masters were with the perfect wiy in which ; the I . P . M . hid instilled his successor .

Lodge of Justice , No . ' 147 . CENTENARY FESTIVAL . A banquet was held at the Ship Hotel , Greenwich , on the 21 st ult . to celebrate the completion of 100 years consecutive working . Bro . the Rev . T . VV . Embleton Thomas , VV . M ., presided , and was supported by about 150 brethren and ladies . In a very interesting history recently compiled by the Secretary , Bro . W . E . Dilley , P . M ., it is shown that the lodge was formed 20 th January , 1777 at the " Fox and Goose"

King-, , street , St . Giles ' s , London . The lodge , however , was not successful , and there is no further record until 1 S 01 , when the lodge was revived , and the minutes are intact from this date . The dormant lodge was revived by a Bro . Larkin , on 21 st January , 1 S 01 , and was opened at the Baptist's Head , St . John ' s-Iane , St . John-street , West Smithfield . lhe lodge was originally constituted as a military lodge , in connection with the West London Regiment of Mititia , and its first name was the West London Militia Lodge . This at a subsequent period was changed to the " Jolly Potters' Lodge . " In 1 S 2 S it

was first known as the Lodge of Justice—the name which it still bears , its present No . 147—being given to it in 1 SC 3 . The West Lcndon Regiment being quartered between London and Deptford will account for the frequency of the lodge ' s removals . Its favourite , or , perhaps , its most convenient place of meeting was the Trinity Arms , formerly called the " Three Jolly Potters , " Church-street , Deptford . The removal from the White Swan , Deptford , to its present place of meeting , the Ship Hotel , Greenwich , took place on 13 th January , 1 S 97 , during the Mastership of Bro . James Balsdon .

In the early days the Master andofheers were appointed every six months , and all ollicers were elected by vote of the brethren . On nth December , 1 S 1 S , it is recorded that the Master was elected for the ensuing 12 months—a new departure . The lodge has always been to the fore in Charitable work , and grants for doctors' bills and luneral expenses were recorded in 1 S 07 . An interesting item was the relief—to the extent of £ 1 4 s . to two brothers , who were mariners belonging to the transport Eagle , which was taken by a French privateer . It was solely on account of their belonirinr' to the Masonic Order

that our distressed brethren were set free . The following sums stand to the credit of the lodge with the Masonic Charities : Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution—men £ -75 5 ? - > widows £ 303 ; Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , . £ 10 $ ; Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , f . 126 . The following extract from the minutes is worth repeating : " 4 th June , 1 S 05 , a Brother was fined is . for swearing , but refused to pay . He afterwards paid ; and swore again , saying that he would have his shilling ' s worth—for which he was again lined is . "

At the centenary celebration the banquet was followed by a musical programme and several toasts .

" fhe Oueen " was proposed by Bro . Rev . T . VV . Embleton Thomas , VV . M ., who said that at such a time it was not a complimentary toast—for all their good wishes were for the health of their beloved Queen . I'hey all loved her , and bowed down to her as a Oueen and as a woman . One of our greatest Cabinet Ministers hid referred to her Alajesty as one of our two greatest statesmen . She had been a great power for good , and as a Oueen had shown great judgment . The German Emperor had shown thc greatest compliment that one sovereign could pay to another by leaving his bi-centeniry festivals in order to express , by his presence , his sympathy to one whom he honoured as

Oueen and as one of hisown relatives . In her womanly q ualities her Majesty especially appealed to them , for who but a woman would ever of thought of allowing the soldiers to wear the green on St . Patrick ' s Day , and thus show her respect for their traditions ; who , except a woman , would have thought of visiting Ireland but a short period ago , and thus showing her faith in the loyalty of her Irish subjects .- As a woman her life had been noble and pure , and was at all times in sympathy with her subjects . Tney could only pray to the Almighty to spare her to reign over them , and grow more and more in the hearts and affections of her people . "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales " was next given from the chair , and heartily received .

I he Chairman then gave "Prosperity to the Lodge of Justice , " and said they could not receive the toast unless they knew something of Freemasonry , and the ladies did not . He was precluded from saying anything Masonic , but this was a special occasion being their centenary , and although he knew perfectly well that the ladies were blessed with perennial youth , they would not celebrate another centenary of the lodge , therefore he did not mind if he stepped across the bioad path he ought to keep and told them a few secrets about Freemasonry . He did it for the reason that no lady

piesent would ever utter a word to a single person outside . Freemasonry was in one word—a Society . If the ladies would be saustieu * with that simple answer to a simple question it would be all right . What sort of a Society . " - A very old Society , existing for years and years—they could not tell for how long , but beyond the memory of man , and records . lt was a peculiar Society extending over the whole world . Wnat were their Principles ' : Their principle was love—the lov ; for the brethren , and the sisters as well . 'I hey all thought there ought to be brotherly love and thev were bouml imreilw

in brotherly love with duties to be performed towards one another . Others might say they werc Socialists . They were not , because he had heard it said that tbe principles of Socialism were " what is mine , is my own , and what is yours you must share with me . " That was just the opposite to Freemasonry , the principle of which was | " what is yours is your ow » , and what is mine I will share with you if you want it . " They would , therefore , see a great difference between Socialism and Freemasonry . The ladies would still not be satislied and would ask what were their political opinions . Thev were

thoroughly conservative with regard to their secrets , and good old liberals with regard lo the feelings of others , and progressive concerning the wellare of the brethren . I hey combined all these things in one . He would say to the unmarried ladies " look out for a . Mason , " for if they had a good Mason they might be sure of a good husbind . I'hsy were told they always had good dinners . Looking into the history of the lodge he lound that in the old days the brethren regaled themselves with bread and cheese . Incy had improved upon that , but he could assure the ladies that the members had