Correspondence.

Masonic career I have absorbed into my being the grand truths our ritual teaches . I love the simple term " brother , " and all that it conveys to us , common to Masons all the world over . And amongst the many characteristics which should distinguish us , I have a

special regard for " sincerity" and " plain-dealing . What a good thing it is for the Craft that when one does make a mistake one is soon corrected ? Would that the same care were observed in regard to the grand princip les which underlie the ritual we teach . — Yours truly and fraternally , W . G . KENTISH . February 28 th .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I think W . Bro . Kentish will see that no higher compliment can be paid to the Emulation Lodge of Improvement than is implied by a jealous watch against any innovation being introduced under the sanction of

such a powerful , and usually correct , body . If W . Bro . Kentish looks back he will see that the omission to which " Not a Steward " drew his attention has been made—not one year , but every year since his name appears as Secretary , so far back as 188 S ; and also in 1887 , when Bro . Jones was Secretary ; and that

in 1886 , when Bro . Spaull was Secretary , no prefix was given to any brother . It would not therefore have been unreasonable to suppose that the omission vvas intentional , especially as the note to Article 6 appears , I believe , for the first time in the Constitutions of 1884 . I am glad to note W . Bro . Kentish ' s frank and courteous avowal that it was an oversight , and I am

sure he will see his attention is drawn to it in no captious spirit . I have failed to find the circular alluded to by " Not a Steward" in your columns for 1880 . It is , of course , of no great importance now , but I should be glad if you , or " Not a Steward , " or any other brother can tell me the exact reference in your columns , that I may note it up as a matter of history . — -Yours fraternally , ANOTHER PROVINCIAL . 27 th February .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I referred to the circular letters issued "by command" in 1880 , because it is the first authoritative pronouncement on the prefix "W ., " but both it and the note in the Book of Constitutions are defective .

The former omits reference to M . W . altogether , and the latter omits , qua " M . W ., ' ' Past G . and Past Pro G . Masters , and , qua " R . W ., " Past Deputy G . Masters . I doubt if you will think it worth while to insert this —but if you do , perhaps you will kindly allow me to add that "fngans" in my last letter should have been "fiigaces . "—Faithfully and fraternally yours , NOT A STEWARD . February 28 th .

VISITING WORSHIPFUL MASTERS . To the Editor of the "Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , Some misapprehension exists as tothe rendering of paragraph 308 , page 128 , Book of Constitutions ,

relating to a W . M . of a lodge wearing his collar and jewel of ollice when visiting another lodge . I hold that by this paragraph he is entitled to do so ; but my opinion is disputed . As a D . C . of a lodge , I am anxious to be correct . —Yours fraternally and faithfully ,

P . M . February nth . [ " P . M . " —You are in error . The collar of a W . M . of a lodge is only to be worn in his own lodge or at Provincial Grand Lodge and Grand Lodge ; not in any other lodge . Past Masters are entitled to wear their collars at all Masonic meetings . — Vide Rules 306 A and 308 . —ED . F . M . ]

THE BALLOT . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , If you can find room for the following I should greatly like to hear the opinions of some of your correspondents , learned in Masonic usages , thereupon :

A case occurred under my own notice the other day in which a ballot was taken for admission of a candidate into Masonry . He had been regularly proposed and seconded at the previous meeting of the lodfje , and his name sent out to all the members in the summons convening present communication . Now it appears that a certain brother had reasons for socially

disliking this frentleman , and for believing that he would not be a very acceptable addition to the lodge , at the same time , he did not consider his objections sufficiently Masonic to justify him either in privately objecting or using a black bean , he therefore solved the difficulty , as he thought , by not voting at all . So much by way of explanation of attendant circumstances .

There happened to bc a very small attendance of members , and on the W . M . inspecting the ballot ( which was " clear " ) it | was noticed that there was a bean short—in other words , some brother had not voted . A discussion then arose , some brethren asserting that the ballot was , by this omission , rendered

Correspondence.

null and void , others ( amongst them the writer ) denying that there was any rule or constitution compelling a brother to vote if it seemed good to him to abstain from doing so . Eventually it was agreed to postpone the matter until next meeting , the Secretary being desired to obtain the opinion of some competent Masonic authority on the point , which opinion wasthat the ballot was null and void .

The matter was never brought to a point in the lodge , for , before its next meeting , the Secretary received a communication from some member which obliged him to withdraw the candidate's name from ballot entirely . What do my English brethren think of the case ? Apologising for length of letter , I am yours fraternally , LEWIS ( LC . ) 28 th February .

A CURIOUS ADVERTISEMENT . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The following copy of an advertisement . which appeared in the London Daily Post and General Advertiser for 1736 , may interest your readers . — -Yours fraternally , ' W . DOUGLAS , P . M . H 75-February 27 th .

By Order of the Grand Master . The Annual Feast of the Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , will be held on Thursday the 15 th Instant , at Fishmongers Hill , Thames Street . Tickets to be had at the following Places . At thc Mount Coffee-House in Grosvenor Street ; Forrest ' s Coftee-House , Charing Cross ; The Horn Tavern in Kmg

Street Westminster ; fhe Rainbow Coff ie-House in York Buildings ; Oates's Coffee-House in Great Wild Street ; Mr . Moody ' s at Temple Bar : Mr . Aitcins ' s Stationer , at the Queen's Head and Half-Moin in Ch » apside ; Mourning Bush at Alderseate ; Mr . JeiTreys ' s , Hair Merchants on Snow Hill ; Swan and Rummer in Finch Line , Cornhill ; Hoop and Griffin in Leadenhall Street ; and The Theatre Tavern in Goodmin's-Fields .

N . B . Those Brethren who intend to go in the Grand Procession , are desired to meet at the Right Hon . the Earl of London's , Grand Master Elect , at his Lordship ' s House in the Privy Garden , Whitehall , at Twelve o'clock , at Noon precisely , thence to proceed in Coaches or Chariots to thc Hall above mentioned . No Hackney Coaches to be admitted in the Cavalcade , nor any Brother into the Hall uncloath'd , or arm'd .

Reviews.

Reviews .

FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF DURHAM . This most compact and well-filled volume is annually published by authority of Provincial Grand Lodge , and this year appropriatel y contains an excellent photograph of Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., the P . G . M ., who has held that high office from January , 1 S 85 . Bro . Robert Hudson ,

the energetic Prov . Grand Secretary , conducts this indispensable directory on the old lines , but all is brought down to date , carefully revised , and due attention paid to the minutest details . Thirty-jive lodges ( since increased to 36 , but No . 2462 only just granted ) , sixteen Royal Arch chapters , eleven Mark lodges , and other Masonic bodies , require a lot of pages to enumerate all their Present and

Past Officers , Prov . Grand Lodge , Sc , and hence it is not to be wondered at that over 160 are utilised for that purpose for Durham . The Charities are well looked after , but the local " Masonic Education Fund" does not progress so rapidly as many expected , the actual subscriptions from the members for the year only amounting to some £ 50 . True , there is a capital of over £ 1 joo , and it may be thought that a slirht addition annually is all that is needed . The

table of " Durham Stewards " for the Central Masonic Charities—1 S 79 to 1 S 92—proves how our Northern brethren work for the Institutions . Bro . C . S . Lane is credited with lists amounting to over £ 2000 , and other brethren are also honourably distinguished for the period named . The total voting power of the province is 33 n for the four branches of the Charities , and Bro . T . Bradley , Stockton , is the efficient Secretary .

FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF GLOUCESTER Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , D . P . G . M ., was the editor of this handsomely got-up annual , but is succeeded by Bro . R . P . Sumner . So far , however , as the text and general arrangement are concerned , no one would be aware of the change , and it is as well done now as it was under the

editorship of Bro . Vassar-Smith . There are 15 lodges with G 22 members , and between them there are 4089 votes for the Charities . This is an enormous total , and proves how ably the province is worked , and how ready the brethren are to respond to the appeals issued by the " Charity Committee , " through Bro . Sumner , the Honorary Secretary .

There is no better arrangement of the Charity votes in any of the directories , and , in fact , none could be fuller or more accurately and systematically arranged . All the Degrees worked are dul y cared for , and the result is a beautifully printed and ably edited annual , of which any province might well be proud .

The Cjuccn , accompanied by the Empress Frederick of Germany and the Princess Beatrice , left Windsor Castle for Buckingham Palace , on Monday , and the day following held a Drawing Room , at which a number of presentations , which had been previou-ly submitted to and approved by her Majesty , were made . On Wednesday her Majesty returned to Windsor . The Prince of Wales , the Dukes of York and Edinburgh , and Prince Christian visited her Majesty during her sojourn in town .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft fIDasjmn ? .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . United Pilgrims Lodge ( No . 507 ) . —The election meeting of this flourishing lodge was held at the Bridge House Hotel , on Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., when there were present Bros . C . Thomas , W . M . ;

C . H . Stone , S . W . ; R . B . Gilson , J . W . ; H . R . Grellett , P . M ., Treas . ; J . A . Laing , S . D . ; Geo . Beste , J . D . ; J . H . Dixcee , acting I . G . ; J . S . Terry , P . M ., Stwd . ; T . C . Atkinson , Org . j G . Harrison , Tyler ; S . Ellson , P . M . ; Thos . Noakes , P . M . j H . E . Joyce , P . M . ; H . E . Cockell , P . M . ; G . W . Terry , W . Lipscombe , C H . Gold , P . C Low , Wm . Chaney , W . Robin , and G . Casson . The

visitors vvere Bros . J , H . Laing , I . G . 231 ; H . T . Bing , P . M . 1962 ; and Alf . Norris , P . M . 1 997 . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Chaney was passed in a very complimentary manner . The by-laws were read . Bro . C . H . Stone , S . W ., was elected W . M . for the ensuing year . Bros . J . S . Terry , P . M ., Treas ., and F . C . Atkinson , were elected honorary

members . The Audit Committee was appointed . Bro . C H . Stone , W . M . elect , proposed his son , Mr . C . W . Stone , as candidate for initiation at the installation meeting in March . Apologies were tendered from Bros . C . W . Peters , P . M ., Sec , and Bowles , I . G ., for non-attendance . The business of the lodge ended , the brethren adjourned to an excellent supper , after which the usual loyal and

Masonic toasts were ably given and received , as also that of " The Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " Bro . Ellson , I . P . M ., gave the toast of "The Worshipful Master" with very great pleasure , and in that position for the last time . He had conducted the business of the Iodge with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the brethren .

The toast was drunk most cordially . The Worshipful Master responded in terms of high appreciation for such able remarks , and thanked all most heartily . The toast of "The VV . M . elect , Bro . Stone , " was given in complimentary terms by the W . M ., who stated the business of the lodge , he felt confident , would be ably

carried out in the coming year , and he congratulated him most highly on his election . In reply , Bro . C . H . Stone heartily thanked the brethren for the honour done him , and said it would be his utmost endeavour to emulate all who had preceded him in the chair , and keep up the prestige of the lodge . That of " The Visitors" was well given and received , and

responded to by Bros . Norris , P . M ., and J . H . Laing in some well-chosen remarks . The toast of "The Past Masters" received at the hands of the W . M . its due merit . Bros . Terry , P . M ., and Joyce , P . M ., responded , and stated their willingness at all times to render able service to the lodge , and specially promised the W . M . elect , as im aiuic matte

«_ .., pu ^ , LU me coming year cnorougniy successful . * ' The Officers " was next given by the W . M . in some well-chosen remarks , who expressed his thanks for their able assistance and punctuality . Bros . Stone , S . W . ; Gilson , J . W . ; and J . H . Laing , S . D ., responded . The Tyler ' s toast closed a very pleasant evening . Some capital harmony was given by Bros . Beste , Ellison , P . M . ; Joyce , P . M . ; and Atkinson , Org .

Doric LOdge ( No . 933 ) . —The installation meeting of this old and well-known lodge was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on Tuesday , the 14 th ult . Bro . Jas . Smith , W . M ., occupied the chair , the following being present : Bros . A . R . Walker , P . M . ; R . Tucker , P . M .: J . H . Brown , P . M . ; J . West , P . M . ; R . Ayton , P . M . ; T . Crane , P . M . ; T . G . Scott , S . W ., W . M . elect ; W .

A . Moss , J . W . ; A . Calver , P . M ., Sec ; F . W . Gates , I . G . ; J . Rushforth , D . C . ; W . Blakey , W . C Poole , W . A . Hine , R . Reed , VV . Caslake , J . Barber . C . Sherry , F . Barber , A . Dutfield , C . T . Sole , W . J . Harris , G . Heavens , and others . The long list of visitors comprised Bros . J . T . Camp , 16 95 ; W . Maxfield Mead , W . M . 1805 ; C W . Brock , 857 ; C . Eschwege , 1349 ; W . Bosher , 1001 ; IL

W . Clark , W . M . 1625 , Sec . 2409 ; A . Robertson , P . M . 2409 ; A . R . Trew , P . M . 2409 ; J . Boulton , P . M . 2 S , 1056 , and 2291 , VV . M . 2442 ; J . T . Wayland , 95 ; G . W . Scrutton , 2291 ; J . Mills , 17 G 5 ; E . H . S . Green , I . P . M . 1139 ; E . T . H . Seddon , P . M . 174 ; G . S . Ayres , P . M . 95 ; J . A . Abrahams , 1349 ; W . &• Goodwins , 2278 ; C . A . Reeves , S 69 ; J . West , P . M . 97 ; and R . Foskett , 1625 .

Thc lodge having been opened , and the . minutes read and confirmed , Bro . T . G . Scott , S . VV ., W . M . elect , was then presented by Bro . John West , P . M ., who acted as D . C , to Bro . J . Smiih , and a Board of Installed Masters having been formed , Bro . Scott was inducted into the chair of K . S ., and afterwards appointed and invested the following as his officers : Bros . W . A . Moss . S . W .: V . W . fall . * I . W . ;

R . Ayton , P . M ., Treas . ; A . Calver , P . M ., Sec ; W . Caslake , S . D . ; J . Rushforth , J . D . ; VV . Blakey , I . G . ; A . Dutfield , Steward ; and J . Rawles , Tyler . The Installing Master , Bro . J . Smith , then delivered the addresses to the W . M , me Wardens , and the brethren respectively . H ' performance of the beautiful ceremony was precise , and the delivery of the various parts of the rituil impressive .

All Masonic business beinij ended , and the lodge closed , the brethren adjourned to tne banquet room , where they paid adequate honour to the splendid repast provided . After the loyal toasts and that of "The Grand OlILers had been proposed and received with the usual . ilasonic fervour ,

Bro . Walker , I . P . M ., proposed in happy terms "The Health of the VV . M ., " and prognosticated a goad term ol office , and a renewal of success to the lodge . The W . M . responded briefly , but to the point . In proposing " The Past Masters , " the vV . M . said they had built up the lodge , and were a bulwark of strength W it . As in the past they had supported it , so would tney ui ) in the future .