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To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

The following communications unavoidably stand over : CRAFT LODGESManchester , No . 179 . Scone and Perth , No . 3 ( S . C ) . ROSE C ROIXPercy Chapter , No . 113 . C ORRESPONDENCE"Old Provincial . "

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SATURDAY , J ANUARY 3 , 1891

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

We have given further careful consideration to the query submitted to us a fortnight since as to whether a W . M . can resign his office or not , and the conclusion we have come to is that the silence of the law—which , indeed , could not be otherwise than silent in the teeth

of the Master ' s obligation—must be held as determining conclusively that the resignation of a W . M . is out of the question . We may add that an Installed Master

becomes a Past Master on vacating the chair of his lodge , and that , too , whether he has performed the duties of his office wholly , in part , or after the day of his installation , or not at all .

* * * It should also be stated that in accordance with Article 9 , Book of Constitutions , a P . M ., who has ceased to be a subscribing member of the lodge for 12 months , remains no longer a member of Grand Lodge ,

and in order to regain his membership thereof as a P . M . must again serve the office of W . M . of some lodge under the English Constitutions . By Article 81 , a P . M ., who is not a subscribing member of some lodge

in a province or district , is not a member of its Provincial or District Grand Lodge . These are the only restrictions on the Past Mastership of a brother which the Book of Constitutions imposes . * * *

For several years past the Lord Mayor of London has also been a member of the Craft , and has occupied the position of Worshipful Master of his lodge concurrently with the Mayoralty . This year is not to be an exception in that respect , Bro . Alderman Savory

having been unanimously elected W . M . of the Lodge of Emulation at the last meeting . At the same time Bro . Robert Berridge , whom we heartily

congratulate on being restored to health after his recent illness , was elected Treasurer . We may also add that No . 21 , being a Red Apron Lodge , we may hope to see the Lord Mayor among the Grand Stewards of the year .

The Province of Derbyshire has always taken a s pecial interest in the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and it was therefore quite appropriate that the

late Secretary , as well as the present executive officer of that Institution , should have been closel y identified with the proceedings of the Prov . Grand Lodge , held on the 15 th December .

Bro . Percy Wallis , P . P . S . G . W ., had the gratif ying announcement to make that Bro . Binckes , on retiring fro m his office , had placed the whole of his " Boys " votes in the name of the Province of Derbyshire , as a

mark of his esteem for the unvarying and continued support received from that province . Needless to say that the announcement was received with applause b y the large assemblage , which accorded to Bro . Binckes a hearty vote of thanks for his generosity .

Masonic Notes.

Bro . J . Morrison McLeod , the new Secretary , who is not only a P . M . of the Derwent Lodge , but its present W . M ., was signalled out for the hig h distinction of Prov . Senior Grand Warden . The appointment was well received , and Bro . McLeod was paid some pretty

comp liments with kind remarks at the banquet table from the R . W . D . P . G . M . and other brethren . We congratulate the Boys' Institution and the province upon such a happy continuance of interest , which augurs well for the prosperity of all concerned .

* * * The Lord Mayor and Bro . Sheriff Augustus Harris had projected a state visit , to the Alliance Lodge , of which Bro . Sir John B . Monckton is the senior member , on Wednesday , the 7 th prox ., and a large

number of Grand Officers had accepted invitations to be present on the occasion , which promised to be of considerable Masonic interest . The sudden death , however , of the wife of Bro . E . F . Fitch , the

estimable W . M . of the lodge , has caused a postponement of the visit , which the Lord Mayor and Sheriff have kindly promised shall be duly paid somewhat later in the year . # * *

The announcement that the Lodge of Melrose has resolved by an overwhelming majority to relinquish its independence and become obedient to Grand Lodge will be hailed with acclamation by the Craft under the Scottish Constitution . Melrose St . John will , in

consideration of documentary evidence of its antiquity , take precedence on the roll of Grand Lodge immediately after the Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) , No . i , with the number ii , in terms of the conditions agreed upon by both parties . The Melrose records

date in almost unbroken sequence from December 26 , 16 74 ; Mother Kilwinning resigned its independence in 1808 ; Glasgow St . John ( No . 3 ) joined Grand Lodge in 1850 . There are now no independent lodges existing in Scotland . The union of Grand Lodge and the

Melrose Lodge will be formally ratified in the first week of February . The negotiations which have been so successful were , on the part of Grand Lodge , conducted by Bros . Dr . Middleton Stowe , Elliott of Wolfelee , General J . G . Boswell , and D . Murray Lyon , G . Secretary .

The proceedings of the "Grand Commandery" of Maine , U . S . A ., for 1890 , from the press of Bro . Stephen Berry , of Portland , make up an invaluable volume , not simply for the account of that body , which was held in

the city aforesaid on May 8 th , 1890 . The transactions are not of a special character , and are not likely to interest many beyond the confines of the State , ably written and beautifully printed as they are . * * *

The real interest lies in the report of the " Chairman of Correspondence , " Bro . Stephen Berry , the other members of the Committee being the renowned Bro . J . H . Drummond and E . P . Burnham . The report is bristling with statistical information , both suggestive

and startling , and revealing the extraordinary numerical increase of the Craft , Royal Arch , and Knight Templar Masonry in North America . We have frequently

alluded to this point before , but the latest compilation by the trio of Masonic statistical authorities deserve more than a brief notice , such as we are now compelled to rest satisfied with .

For 1890 the record is 651 , 028 Master Masons , 157 , 8 9 8 Royal Arch companions ( and Mark Masons ) , and 84 , 923 Knights Templars . This Degree of Knighthood is extremely popular in the United States especially , and also much in favour in Canada ,

the rate of percentage of Templars to the Master Masons being now 13—the largest yet noted . From 1870 , when the rate was five , it has rapidly risen year by year until it has reached the present high proportion . * * *

The largest Grand Commanderies are Pennsylvania , New York , and Massachusetts ( including Rhode Island ) , with over 8000 members each . The most numerous subordinate commandery is the Boston ,

held in that city , with 629 members , the Apollo , Chicago , being recorded with 608 , and our old friend Mary , Philadelphia , making a good third with 57 6 . These are extraordinary figures .

We offer our sincere condolence to Bro . Col . Marmaduke Ramsay , District Grand Master of Malta , on the great loss he has just sustained through the death ,

after only a few days' illness , of his eldest son , Bro . Marmaduke F . J . Ramsay . The latter was initiated , passed , and raised by his father and exalted b y him to the Royal Arch Degree .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ] ROYAL ARCH COLLARS IN CRAFT LODGES .

To the Editor of the "Freemason : Dear Sir and Brother , With reference to the letters which have appeared under the above heading in your issue of to-day's date and of the 20 th inst ., the writers do not appear to have the very faintest notion that Masonic

clothing has important mystic significance . That significance , anything in the Book of Constitutions to the contrary notwithstanding , is clearly and distinctly opposed to the introduction in Craft lodges of clothing other than white and light blue , or , if jewels , other than silver .

As a sidelight on this matter , let me remind your correspondents as well as the larger circle of your readers that in the Catholic Church , where , as we all know , ceremonial is rigidly observed wherever the Virgin , or feminine , principle is the prominent object

of worship , there the jewels are of silver , and the clothing is of white and light blue , whereas wherever Christ , or the masculine , personification is supreme , there the jewels are of gold , and the clothing , when correct symbolism is not departed from , is white and red .

In this matter the Catholic Church , as well as ourselves , has a " secret doctrine , " but with us , unhappily , few know it , or we should not have the spectacle of our lodges being , as they so frequently are , polluted with the " tinsel and tawdry " of what I , for one , cannot regard as other than spurious Masonry . —Yours fraternally , F . S . S . December 27 th , 1890 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

926 ] WARDENS AND MASTERS . " A Student" makes a very proper use of the Freemason by recording two errors in lodge working for the information of the Craft . Officers , undoubtedly , must be Master Masons , or else they cannot officiate as such in the Three Degrees . The appointment , therefore , that " Student" notes of a F . C . as a Steward was not

legal . The election of a brother as Master , who was not present to be invested as a Warden , and thus had not served the full term as such , is clearly opposed to the Constitutions , and in my opinion he should not be installed . Being his first office , it seems extraordinary that any lodge would act with such undue haste , but any way , his installation as W . M . when he has not been a Warden for 12 months would be illegal . W . ' j . HUGHAN .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Cratt flDasonry .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . New CrOSS Lodge ( No . 1559 ) . —A meeting of the above lodge was held at the Portland Hotel , Greenwich , on December 12 th , Bro . C . N . Melntyre North , W . M ., in the chair . There were also present Bros . E . Fry , S . W . ; J . Faulkner , J . W . ; F . D . Graham , I . P . M . j W . Cowley , P . M ., Treas . ; T . Grummant , P . M ., Sec ; J . W . A .

Sturdee , P . M ., Chaplain ; Carlo Grassi , P . M ., Stwd . ; R . Borrett , S . D . ; W . P . Makeham , J . D . ; J . S . Target , acting I . G . j Rowe , Tyler ; Gulfanti , J . H . Meyer , G . Manuel , A . Peria , Tinelli , Azario , Metham , Waters , Coccioletti , Boncey , Woodham , Unwin , Abba , and Frenguellucci . Visitors : Bros . G . G . Benedetti , P . M . 1 155 ; T . Prior , S . D . 7 65 ; J . Faulkner , 1567 ; F . R . Winter , 2332 j

and W . 1 . Winser , J . D . 1950 . The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and conlirmed . Bro . Tinelli was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason , and the W . M . gave the lecture in that Degree . Bros . Unwin and Abba were passed to the Second Degree . The Secretary then read the by-laws , and the brethren proceeded to elect a

W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . E . Fry , S . W ., regretted that press of business would prevent him carrying out the duties of W . M . for the ensuing yearj he asked leave to be passed over . This being granted , Bro . J . H . Meyer , Past S . W ., was elected for the office . Bro . W . Cowley was re-elected as Treasurer , and Bro . Rowe Tyler . Bros . Meffan , Firminger , and Azario were elected as Auditors .

A notice of motion was given to present a Past Master s jewel to the Worshipful Master on his retiring from office . The Secretary was instructed to write to Bro . Bell , on his retirement from the lodge , wishing him every success in his new sphere of action , and expressing regret at losing the services of so able a brother . " Hearty good wishes " were given , and the lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to banquet , and the toast

of "The Queen and the Craft" was afterwards received in the manner usually observed amongst Masons . In proposing ' Ihe Health of the M . W . the Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " the VV . M . said he was sure that every Mason would join with him in expressing- the gratification they must all feel at the additional proof H . R . H . had graciously given of his esteem for Freemasonry in not only appointing his son a Provincial Grand