Co Correspondents.

Co Correspondents .

OUR PORTRAIT GALLERY OF WORSHIPFUL MASTERS . In future numbers of the Freemason we purpose g iving a series of portraits of Worshipful Masters whe have been recently installed . Recognising the fact that no greater honour can be bestowed on a brother than to be elected the Master of his lodge , we

desire to do our part towards creating a permanent record of such event in his Masonic history by placing his portrait before our readers . We shall be pleased to furnish Secretaries of lodges and others who may take an interest in our project whatever information may be desired as to our proposed method of procedure .

The following communications , amongst others , unavoidably stand over : CRAFT LODGES . —CT cae , No . 176 ; Alexandra , No . 9 S 5 ; Islington , N \ 1471 ; Abbey , No . 2030 ; and Alan , No . J 368 , A . . \ DA . RITE .- —Border Chapter , No . 131 . Provincial Grand l ^ idye of Sussex . Consecration of the Colne I . odge , No . 3477 . VVe are also compelled to hold over a number of reports of l . od . es of Instruction until nest week-

Ar00701

SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 4 , 18 93 . — , +

Masonic Notes.

Mason ic Notes .

An important amendment of the Royal Arch Regulations was adopted , on the recommendation of the Committee of General Purposes , at the Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter on Wednesday . Hitherto it has been the law that onl y Master Masons of 12 calendar months' standing * could be exalted to the Degree of Royal Arch . Henceforth ,

however , it may be conferred on all Master Masons of " four weeks' " standing , who may desire to be exalted , and we trust the change will have the desired effect of strengthening our Royal Arch chapters and endowing the Order with a greater amount of vitality than it has heretofore enjoyed . * # " *

The new law is certainly more in consonance with what we are told at the very outset of our Masonic career is the character of Pure Antient Masonry . Article I . of the Craft Book of Constitutions tells us that " By the solemn Act of Union between the two Grand Lodges of FVee-Masons of England in

December , 181-3 , it was 'declared and ' pronounced that pure Antient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more , viz ., those of the Entered Apprentice , the Fellow Craft , and the Master Mason , including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch . ' " But notwithstanding this very clear definition as contained in our Book

of Constitutions , the long interval of 12 months which it was necessary should elapse before a Master Mason could be exalted has misled many brethren into the belief that Royal Arch Masonry was something separate and distinct from Craft Masonry . Moreover , though

the number of Royal Arch chapters has very largely increased of lale years , there are still hundreds of Craft lodges which have no chapters attached to them , and are therefore without the necessary facilities for obtaining initiation into the mysteries of this completing or perfecting purt of the Third Degree .

The absence of these facilities has not made itself felt to any great extent in London owing to the number of chapters within the Metropolitan district and the comparative paucity of houses or halls where these chapters were held . Thus the members of a lodge which was

chapterless seldom experienced any difficulty in taking the Degree , the chances being quite 10 to one that one or more chapters are held under the same roof as their lodge . But in the country it has been otherwise , and the re Craft Masons , in spite of their enthusiasm for

Masonry , have hesitated long and frequently , when it became a question of travelling sometimes as much as 20 or 30 miles across country in order to be exalted "nd take part in the proceedings of Royal Arch Masonry .

* * » We may ^ therefore reasonably hope that with the greater facilities now afforded , and , it may be , in store ' us in the future , Royal Arch Masonry will prove ¦ nore attractive , and that , as the Degree becomes more Popular , the time may come when every lodge will find a Royal Arch chapter an indispensable addendum to its Organisation .

Masonic Notes.

The reports that were presented and adopted at the annual meeting , at Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire and Rutland , on Friday , the 27 th ult ., were of a highly satisfactory character . The balance on the General Fund , amounting to £ __ 12 s . id ., was only about one half of the balance with which the accounts for the year opened .

I hat , however , is not due to any falling off in the amount of receipts , but to a heavier outlay for printing , the payment to the Charity Fund of half-quarterages for two years within the period of the account , and the contribution of £ - _ towards the testimonial presented to Bro . the Rev . C . Henton Wood . The closing balance in hand on the Charity Fund shows a slight increase over that of the previous year .

* » * Possibly thc 15 th annual report of the Leicestershire and Rutland Charity Association , which was also presented at the same meeting ; may be regarded in a less favourable light , not so much from any lack of success in furnishing , within its limited sphere of operations ,

contributions to the Central Charities , as from the moderate amount of support it appears to receive from the brethren of the Province . According to the Provincial Calendar , there are , without allowing for plural membership , about 700 subscribing members on the rolls of the 14 lodges , and of these we are told there are only 79

who are " active " members of the Association . It seems desirable that this number should be increased ; but one thing is clear—the paucity of members does not appear to stand in the way of Leicestershire and Rutland proving a regular and generous donor to our Charities . Dnring the past year 21 Life Subscriberships representing ^ 110 5 s . were drawn , of which ^ 105 was

received by the Boys School , and £ _ 5 s . by the R . M . Benevolent Institution , while , speaking roughly , the Stewards at the Boys' Festival in June raised amongst them , and including the ^ 105 already specified , no far short of £ 270 . Still , it would be a decided advantage if the Association were more generously supported throughout the Province . * * *

We are pleased to note that Bro . Sir Henry Trueman Wood , P . A . G . D . C , has just been ** elected an Honorary Member of the Garden City Lodge of Chicago , No . 241 on the list of Illinois Lodges , and the principal lodge in the city . Sir Henry has been in Chicago since March last , in charge of the British Section of the Chicago Exposition .

Reviews.

Reviews .

TRANSACTIONS OF THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE AND PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF DURHAM , 1 S 93 . The reports of the several meetings held of tho Provincial Grand Lodge , fix ., from iSth July to 2 Gth September have been printed in a neatly got-up pamphlet , and are ably edited by the courteous Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Robert Hudson . They furnish much interesting veadinsr ,

and will doubtless be eagerly read by the members of this large and very nourishing province . All the reports appear to be of a most encouraging character , and it is very gratifying to find that the Provincial Educational Fund is doing exceedingly well , and has alread y become one of the best , as respects management and efficiency , in this country . There are now 23 beingeducated at the present time , at an average cost of about £ S each . During the financial year

some & 130 have been contributed , and during its establishment some £ 2300 have been cither donated or subscribed . The summary of lodges is an able and laborious compilation , exhibiting under each lodge number of contributing members to December 31 st , 1 S 91 , the joining members and initiations since added , the resignations , and deaths during thc same period , and the net number left on the rolls on December 31 st , 1 S 03 , also the dues paid for the year 1 S 92 .

The total members amounted to 257 G at the end of Decernber , 1 S 91 , and 2 GS 2 on the conclusion of 1892 . There are 35 lodges , or rather were , for now there are 3 G by the addition of the Clarence , No . 24 G 2 , West Hartlepool . In nine years the province has increased by 424 members . There is also a remarkable compilation showing the progress of Masonry in the Province of Durham lrom the year

184 S to 1 S 71 , then to 1881 , and finally to 1892 . The totals for these lour periods are 372 , 1529 , 197 G , and 2 GS 2 members respectively , the average per lodge in 1 S 92 being as high as 7 G , which possibly is not exceeded in England . There are 450 subscribing Royal Arrh companions in the province . Bro . Hudson has done his part as Prov . Grand Secretary and Editor most ably .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

Nincof the elder pupils ot thisSchool went uplast week for the "School Examinations" that are now held under the auspices of the Associated Board of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music . Dr . Martin , of St . Paul ' s Cathedral , was the examiner ,

and we are , indeed , gratified to be able to announce that the whole of the candidates passed successfully and received certificates accordingly . This is the first essay Miss Davis has made in the above direction , and the result must be highly gratifying both to her and to the friends of the Institution ,

Craft Masony.

Craft Masony .

Bn ^* - ^^ g ^ 5 ^ l .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Peace and Harmony Lodge ( No . 60 ) . — 'The installation meeting of this lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Oueen-street , on the 27 th ult . There was a numerous attendance of members and guests . Among those present we noticed Bros . W . H . Kempster , M . D ., P . M . S 90 , 1420 , P . G . Stwd ., W . M . ; Cant . * T . C . Walls ,

P . M . 141 , & c , P . P . G . W ., G . St «* d ., ! S . W ., W . M . elect ; R . Masters , P . M ., P . G . Stwd ., J . W . ; H . Young , P . M ., P . G . Stwd ., Treas . ; F . Binckes , P . M ., P . G . Stwd ., P . O . S . B ., Sec ; W . H . Kempster , jun ., S . D . ; H . j . Lardner , P . M . 1745 , & c , P . P . G . D . C , J . D . ; Cotton , I . G . ; E . Rogers , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., P . G . Stwd ., D . C . ; Debenham , P . M ., Stwd . ; Horace Slade , P . M ., P . G . Stwd ., I . P . M . ;

Chancellor , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . ; R . Barton , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . ; and A . Altman , CC , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . Among the visitors were Bros . L . Gordon Robbins , M . A ., P . M ., S . G . D . ; J . Cockram 'Taylor , W . M . 141 ; J . G . Renaut , W . M . 1 G 23 ; C . G . Wetzlar , P . M . 141 ; J . Skinner , P . M . 53 S ; F . Egbert Roberts , P . M . 917 ; Thomas Simpson , P . M . 1 745 ; Nelson Prower , P . M . 1 745 ; H .

Godwin , I . P . M . 1763 ; R . Primmer , Union Lodge of Victoria ; and others . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken on behalf of Mr . John Henry Jacques , and it proving to be unanimous , he was duly initiated into Craft mysteries by the W . M ., and Bro . Jackerman was passed to the Second Degree . At the request of the VV . M ., Bro . Binckes , P . M ., then assumed the

chair , and impressively installed Bro . Capt . T . C . Walls as W . M ., assisted by Bros . H . Slade , P . M ., as S . W .,- R . Barton , P . M ., as J . W . ; E . Rogers , P . M ., D . C . ; W . J . Hakim , P . M . 141 , as I . G . ; and F . E . Roberts , P . M . 917 , as Organist . The following appointments and investitures were made : Bros . R . Masters , P . M ., S . W , ; W . H . Kempster , jun ., J . W . ; H . Young , P . M ., Treas . ; F .

Binckes , P . M ., Sec ; II . J . Lardner , P . M ., S . D . ; II . Cotton , J . D . ; Debenham , P . M ., I . G . ; Eliah Rogers , P . M ., D . C ; Polenz , Stwd . ; and Evendcn , P . M ., Tyler . The report of the Auditors ( Bros . W . J . . Hakim and G . Higgins ) was received , adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . A Past Master ' s jewel was then presented to Bro . Dr . Kempster as a souvenir of a very successful

year of office . Bro . Hakim having been elected to represent the lodge at the next Festival of the R . M . B . I ., upon the motion of the W . M ., a sum of money was voted to head his list of donations . The resignation of Bro . Balliston wa •> received with regret . Before the lodge was closed , numerous apologies for noi . attendance , principally caused by indisposition , were

communicated , notably from BIJS . George Everett , P . G . 'Treas . ; F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg . ; Thos . Fenn , P . B . G . P . ; E . Letchworth , G . Sec ; F . Richardson , P . G . D . ; J osling , P . M ., P . G . Steward ; and others . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet , which was admirably served in the drawing room , under the able and courteous superintendence of Bro .

Mantel ! , and which gave unqualified satisfaction . Upon the removal of the cloth , the usual loyal and Craft toasts received full justice . Bro . L , G . Gordon Robbins , S . G . D ., responded most ( 1 -ently upon behalf of ' * The Grand Oflicers . ln prefacing his remarks , he said that the proposer of the toast had spoken so exhaustively and kindly of the members of Grand

Lodge , that it left him but little to say , except to fully endorse the encomiums passed upon the Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , and particularly the oflicers forming the executive of Grand Lodge . Personally , he felt sorry that illness and the pressure of other engagements had prevented several of his distinguished colleagues from being present that evening , because if they had been in evidence

they would have been better qualified to respond to the subject toast than he . However , he would , as their humble representative , say that he had witnessed the working in the lodge with great pleasure . He also congratulated the W . M . upon his elevation for thc ninth time to the chair of K . S ., and trusted that he would have a most prosperous year of ollice .

Tne I . P . M . proposed "The Health of thc VV . M . " in most complimentary terms , and the W . M . briefly replied . In giving the toast of " The Initiate and Joining Member , " the W . M ., for their information , gave a fe . v details of thc history of this old lodge . liro . Jacques , the initiate , in reply , expressed his thanks to his proposer and seconder for introducing him to a lodge

distinguished by such glorious traditions . Ihe brethren might think him over bold , or somewhat premiture , but he hoped at no distant day to occupy the chair of the lodge that had conferred upon him Masonic light . liro . Capt . Baldwin , P . M ., the joining member , also said a few words in response . 'The toast of " Ihe Visitors " followed .

This pledge having been enthusiastically received , Bros . Taylor , W . Al . 141 ; Renaut , W . M . 1 G 23 ; T . Simpson , P . M . 1745 ; and N . Prower , P . M . 1745 , replied in very complimentary terms . In iheir respective speeches they spoke most highly of the working of Bros . Dr . Kempster , P . M ., and F . Binckes , P . M ., and forthe warmth of the receotion accorded to themselves and their co-visitors .

" 1 he Health of thc Past Masters" came next in order . The Worshipful Master , after thanking the members of that large and influential body for their cordial support that evening , particularly mentioned the name of the I . P . M ., whose year of oflice had been so brilliantly successful , Ilro . Dr . Kempster , on rising to respond to this toast , was

most heartily applauded , He brielly thanked them for their kind demonstration of goodwill , and trusted that no circumstances would ever arise to cause him to sever his connection with so old and distinguished a lodge . In giving the toast of " The Treasurer and Secretary , " the Worshipful Master spoke at length upon the great services rendered to the lodge for upwards of 29 years by Bros . Henry Young and Frederick Binckes , who had joined the lodge the same year , and who had been amicably run-