United Grand Lodge.

the matter in hand had been rejected by a majority 0 f seventy-five . He believed that when hands were counted that day there was a majority of seventygve . Bro . Stebbing had made a lengthy ancl most admirable speech , but he ( Bro . Havers ) was pained to find that there was nothing in it . He had told

them of the number of peers who had presided over Masonry during 62 years , he had told them that there were as many as ten peers on the dais at one time , but he ( the speaker ) challenged any one to prove that the circumstances of the two periods were alike . He ascribed the prosperity of Masonry

and the Masonic institutions to the long tenure of office by the late Grand Master , which was entirely owing to merit . He would boldly say that should the time ever come when a Grand Master did not deserve re-election , that he would not hold his office beyond his twelve months . He would not say that

it would be any reflection upon the Grand Master who is leaving the chair , or that it would be a mark of disrespect to thc present Grand Officer , but if they fixed a period during which a man might hold office it would attach a certain stigma if he were not to complete that term . He did not want to give

up any of the power he possessed . They now had the right of electing their Grand Master every year , why should they trammel themselves with a restriction of that power ? They must bear in mind that the qualifications for the office of Grand Master were peculiar : first he must be ofthe highest

rank , then he must be a man of influence , and again he must be a zealous Mason . These were no ordinary qualifications , and it behoved them not to make unnecessary changes . They must bear in mind also , that a rule of this kind applying to the Grand Master would apply equally to Provincial Grand

Masters , and amongst that body it would cause the greatest difficulty . Reference hacl been made to the Bank of England , but let them look to the hospitals , and other similar institutions ; did they not find , that when they had found a good man for president , they kept him as long as they could . After a few further words , Bro . Havers resumed his

seat . Bro . STEBBING would only detain them three minutes —( cries of " Divide , " )—but if they would not give him three minutes he would keep them three hours . He said he did not mean to bring this question forward every three months , but on thc last occasion the division was called in question ;

that was the cause of its being reproduced to-night . He purposed at a very distant time , however , to bring it forward again . He would never desert what he considered a right principle . The amendment was then put by the M . W . GRAND MASTER , and carried by a large majority . The lodge was then closed in ample form , and with solemn prayer .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

AVe have great pleasure in announcing that the following esteemed brethren have been promoted to superior degrees , as follows : — Bro . Frederick M . Williams , to the 31 . Bro . James Glaisher , F . R . S ., 32 ° .

Bro . Hyde Pullen , Asst . Secretary General , 33 . Bro . Percy Leith , 33 . The last-named brother has also been nominated as Deputy-Inspector General for India , an appointment which will doubtless give great satisfaction to the brethren in our Indian empire .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , —Having waited for the second publication of your paper , and seeing that no one has answered the letter signed "Strict Justice , " I would recommend him to make himself acquainted with the Rules of the Institution before

he rushes into print and states that which is not true . I scorn an anonymous libeller and should have taken no notice of it , but that it might do mischief to the Institution if it remained unnoticed . I remain , Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , JOHN UDALL , P . G . D ., 1 st March , 1 S 70 . V . P . ofthe Institution ,

THE CHAPTER OF PRUDENT BRETHREN

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your impression of Saturday last , appears a letter , signed " F . H . G . " as to thc formation of thc above Chapter , in which he states that " the present M . E . Z . Comp . John

Boyd was the sole origi nator of the Chapter , " an error which 1 wish to correct ; as though Comp . John Boyd , with Comp . George States ( in concert with each other ) formed the Chapter , it is only fair to add that Comp . George States took upon himself all thc preliminary duties of the Scribe , and thc

great success of the Chapter was , to a large extent due to his exertions , which can be easily proved by referring to the two last summonses , wherein it will be seen that the major number of the candidates were his own proposition , ancl I think it but

right to give credit where credit is due , and which was duly recognised by the M . E . Z ., who , on the ist regular meeting formally presented him with a very handsome Jewel , for the exertion he used in the formation of the Chapter . Yours fraternally ,

DOMATIC LODGE , No . 177 . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — My attention has been drawn to some letters in your paper with respect to the Domatic Lodge , complaining of certain omissions in the short notice of the proceedings ,

and it is inferred that there has been a wilful omission of facts that took place . Now , the truth is that the furnishing of the notice was entirely gratuitous on my pare , and I left before the presentation to Bro . Tanner took place , so that I was in ignorance of it , or from my respect to that worthy brother I should gladly hive included it in the

report . I may say , Sir , that I have often been complimented upon the accuracy not only of my reports of private lodges , but of Grand Lodge itself . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours truly and fraternally , C . E . T ., Masonic Reporter .

UNIFORMITY OF AVORKING

( To the Editor of The Freemason ) . SIR AND BROTHER , —Many Masons in this almost outlying province , are anxiously watching the movement now going on for promoting " Uniformity of Ritual , " and are indebted to you for your advocacy of it , and also for the support you are now giving

to thc pretty universally-expressed wish , that a Master should be required to prove himself capable of working the degrees and ruling a lodge before being installed . ¦ We trust you will not cease to wield your powerful pen in this cause until these points have been gained , and not even

then until they have become a reality even in the most distant provinces . A glance at thc working of the lodges in our town , will demonstrate the necessity of some organisation that shall have full powers to enforce these necessary , not reforms , but a return to ancient custom . AVe have four lodges , numbering

close upon 600 subscribing members , and at least as many more Freemasons who have ceased to be on thc Grand Lodge annual returns . Many of these would have been active and zealous Freemasons , and an ornament to the Craft , but have withdrawn from attendance at lodges , disgusted with the

careless working and management , and with the frequent spectacle of members totally incapable being pushed into office , while much more able brothers are left out in the cold . In each of these four lodges there is a different working , and thc examination before being passed and raised varies considerably ,

but a candidate is never turned back to learn better , however imperfect his knowledge . Very few of thc W . M . ' s arc ever able to raise a candidate , ancl some of them have a very limited acquaintance with the Book of Constitutions . Fora n instance of the many irrcgularit ies of

government that have crept in , take thc following recent one of many examples . An ordinarily minded person would generally suppose that calling a lodge of emergency to ballot for and initiate a candidate or candidates , should only be done when these candidates have no reasonable chance of being present

at a regular meeting of the lodge within the prescribed time . \' ct the W . M . of a lodge that claims to be the oldest here since the commencement of 1870 , called his lodge together on an emergency to ballot for candidates who could attend any night during thc six months , and after thc ballot ,

proceeded with the initiation of some of them , although thc circular calling the meeting did not contain any announcement , as usual , " to make , to pass , to raise . " How many ofthose who have brought discredit upon our Order have been admitted at similar Lodges of Emergency ? To show the discipline of another

of the lodges I visited lately , thc J . W . requested the W . M . peremptorily to proceed with his business . There is a talk of a warrant being applied for , for a fifth lodge here , and if rumour speaks correctly , matters of government are not likely to be improved there as two ofthe chief officers have been anything

but patterns of attendance in their mother lodges , and another one has frequently stated he considered it beneath his dignity to accept a Steward ' s position . Should not a brother learn to serve before he is called to govern ? It would I am sure prove for thc benefit of any lodge , he may be called upon to

preside over . Thc rank and file of Freemasons are usually overlooked . However much they adhere to our principles in every day-life , and prove to the world that Masonry is a reality and nota myth , they stand a poor chance of recognition unless they can get a foot within the charmed circle . Such should not

belongthe case . LongmayTHEFREEMASONflourish to open its columns for the advocacy ofthe removal ofthe many abuses and irregularities that have crept into the Masonic system , is the earnest wish of Yours fraternally , A LOVER OF UNIFORMITY & FAIR PLAY .

"THE . MASONIC TOBACCO-BOX . " ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —When I wrote to your private address and said that business would take me in a few days to London , and that I would bring the " Masonic Tobacco-box ' ¦ ' with me to show

Bro . Leo , if he were resident in London , I did not anticipate that the necessity for the journey would not then occur . I therefore , as Bro . Leo has again adverted to the subject in your journal , write a full description ofthe said box , that he and other brethren interested in the matter may know as much as I

do about the matter . The box is made of brass , 5 inches by 2 >_ , and 1 A thick , the lid and bottom are pannelled with an orolo or bead , and both beads and the fillet which surrounds the box are engraved with herring-bone ornaments . On the bottom of the box , is engraved

the heraldric bearing of the family of Drummond , Earl of Perth , having the motto "gang warily , " in a scroll . The crest is supported by the helmet of an esquire , and the shield , destitute of supporters , is ornamented on either side by Elizabethan scroll work similar to that often seen on the title pages of

old books such as " Fox's Martyrs , " & c . On either side of the armorial bearing are the letters I . D . I enter into these particulars before I describe the Masonic emblems on the lid , as they have much to do with substantiating thc date of 1670 , below the armorial bearings on the bottom of the box . It

will be noted that the box is of common brass , and that therefore if engraved at all would in all probability be so at the time of its manufacture , especially as tobacco was then an expensive article , and a plain unengraved box of so cheap a material would hardly have been made for it . Now , the

date and armorial bearings are on the bottom , not on the lid , giving great grounds for the probability , at the least , that the engraving on the lid was executed at the same time . The date 1679 is , however , open to thc objection that the box might have been made at any future time , and the date futurily

added . Theformand fashion of the box is undeniably ancient , and the intrinsic evidence of the coat of arms carries out the truth of the date . The only persons at that time that had a ri ght to the bearings , motto , and crest were John , or James , Drummond , John , being Earl of Perth , entitled to a coronet and

supporters , or if not then enjoying the earldom , still . as thc eldest son of an Earl would not use the simple helmet of an esquire . James was thc Hon . James Drummond , who a few years afterwards was raised to the peerage with the title of the Earl of Montfort ; so that only in 15 years , from 1670 to

1685 , could or would he have had an Esquire ' s helmet . So much for the affirmed truth of the date 1670 , now for thc insignia on the lid . I will simply describe them from right to left , as any stranger unacquainted with Masonry might do : — ist . A scroll of the same Elizabethan character as

that surrounding the armorial bearings , hanging from this above a square , below cross-keys , then a Doric pillar surmounted by a sun ; suspended on this pillar is a shield with a square , an obtuse angle , an acute angle , a right angle , and two right angles ; beneath this a ribbon with the square , Bible , and

compasses . In the centre is a Tuscan pillar , surmounted by the moon , having seven stars and three stars and a comet to the right ; on this pillar is a face blowing to the right ancl left , with thc letter E to its right , and W to its left ; beneath thc figure is the letter S , beneath this is a clock pointing to xii . ;

below the clock a ribbon with a square , mallet , and rule divided into inches . To the left a Corinthian pillar surmounted by a man ' s bust with a halo round the head ; on thc pillar a shield with a point , a line , a circle , and a square or cube ; below this a ribbon with a square , level , and plumb rule ; on thc extreme left an Elizabethan scroll with a ribbon

holding compasses , a joniomcter with a sun between the limbs of the compasses ; below this two quill pens crossed . Suspended by a cord between the right and centre pillar is a medallion , having engraved around it virtufe et silentia , within which is the capital letter G enclosing a ladder , gavel ,

square , ancl compasses . Suspended by a cord between thc centre and right pillars is a ring divided into inches , enclosing a tesallated pavement with the capital letter G in its centre . On the floor between the left and thc centre pillar is a rough piece of stone , and a squared cube ; between the centre and

right pillar , a squared cube with what appears to be a gavel on it ; behind both , rough ground with a tree or sapling growing on it . The above is a faithful description , which any draughtsman can reduce to a plan , and on which I make no comments . I am , yours fraternally , HORACE SWETE , M . D ., Lodge 1222 .