Correspondence,

Correspondence ,

We do not hoM r , \ u selves vej . pont . iMv ; for the opinions expvcsseit liy tun' cunc ^| ioinli-n ( j-, but \ vc wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , lo permit—within certain nece ^ ary limitsfree dit-cussion .

THE CRAFT IN NORTH LONDON . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , It has often been expressed by the brethren in the North of London that the trine has arrived when a Masoriic temple and club house for that district

should be inaugurated so as to avoid having to resort to licensed houses . I feel quite sure that the matter only needs to be mentioned to meet with liberal support . If it is possible to have such a place , it would be a very great boon to all concerned . I shall be very pleased if you will kindly publish this in your next issue , and shall be glad to . receive any communications from brethren residing in Noith , North-West , or North-East London . —Yours fraternally , WALTER BEAN .

P . M . 902 , Founder 272 S , S . E . 179 . 40 , Aldersgate-street , London , E . C . September 30 th .

CLONFERT CATHEDRAL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir , Some 20 years ago it was my lot to pay a visit to thc ancient shrine of St . Brendan of Clonfert , I had heard and seen pictures of its matchless doorway , and understood that there were other features of interest connected with

the building . I found that I had not been misinformed , and that the beautiful Romanesque east window and quaintly-carved chancel arch would Mone have repaid me for a longer journey . But the state of the church as a place of worship—discoloured plaster , mouldering woodwork , and the damp mephitic atmosphere of a vault—these were the features which irresistibly impressed themselves upon the most casual visitor . An attempt had indeed some time before

been made to commence the renovation of the chancel , but as this was chiefly evidenced by the painting red of the mouldings of the chancel arch , I could not regret that it had not proceeded further . Last month , being in the neighbourhood , I had the good fortune to re-visit the cathedral once more , and though I expected much from what I had heard of the restoration inaugurated by Canon M'Larney , and carried out by Mr . Fuller , architect , my expectations were far

surpassed by what I saw . As very full descriptions of the work have from lime to time appeared in the public Press , I need only add that the work , even in its incomplete state , has transformed the cathedral from a fitting abode of owls and bats into a temple worthy of the house of God . This has been done without in any way depriving it of its ancient and venerable character , and I can heartily

recommend all who are interested in ecclesiastical antiquities , who love the picturesque , or who wish to see an old church well restored and well appointed , to proceed to Banagher , and from thence , mounting car or bicycle , ride out some five miles of good road to Clonfert , and they will not be disappointed . — Yours , & c , E . D . ATKINSON .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM .

The gathering of Fieemasons which assembled at the Victoria Hall , Sunderland , on Tuesday , the 24 th ult ., on the occasion of the annual meeting of the above Prov . G . Lodge , the first held under the presidency of Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Barnard , Prov . G . Master , was a very large and imposing one . The brethren of the Sunderland lodges had formed a special committee under the presideccy ol the Mayor ( Bro . J . G . Kirtley )

and the secretaryship of Bros . IS . J . Willis and T . Harrison , in order to give a fitting reception to the l ' rov . G . Master and thc members of the Prov . G . Lodge . The Victoria Hall was suitably decorated , and the platform enlarged and covered with red cloth . The Prov . G . Officers occupied the dais , and the brethren occupied the area and a portion of the dress circle .

The Fund Committee held its meeting at the Masonic Hall , under the presidency of Bro . C . S . Lane , P . P . S . G . W . The Prov . G . Master , Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Barnard , P . G . W ., presided , and the Wardens' chairs were filled by Bros . C . de Pledge , P . P . S . G . W ., and \ V . N . Cochrane , Prov . J . G . W . Supporting the Prov . G . Master were

llros . Victor Williamson , P . G . W ., as Dep . Prov . G . Master ; R . Hudson , Prov . G . Sec . ; Dr . C . D . Hill Drury , P . P . S . G . W . j C . S . Lane , Babington Boulton , and Thos . Coulson , P . P . S . G . Ws . ; C . II . Backhouse , F . H . Bennett , IJ . S . Beckwitb , J . C . Moor , and John Joel , P . P . J . G . Ws . ; Wm-Brown , Prov . G . Treas . ; W . J . Anderson , Prov . G . Reg . ; Walter Beattie and J . R . Cutter , P . P . G . Treas . ; J . G . Kirtley , P . P . G . D ., Mayor of Sunderland ; and J . T . Dodd , T . Robinson , G . Harland , R . Hauxwell , and S . Fenny , P . P . G . Ollicers .

Bro . C . T . Johnson ofliciatiated very efficiently as Prov . G . Director of Ceremonies . Among the Prov . G . Officers present were Bros . R . Hauxwell , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . J . Goodenough , P . P . G . Purst . ; Samuel Fenny , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; Geo . Rutherford , P . P . G . Std . I ! r . ; the Rev . W . M . Wadsworth , W . M . ; the Rev . W . Bowker , P . P . G . Chap . ; Ed . Milburn , P . P . S . G . D . ;

T . A . Moffit , P . P . J . G . D . ; W . Watson , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; Fred . S . Cowper , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; C . F . Sutclille , P . P . G . Treas . ; Jos . Pringle ; George Harland , P . P . S . G . O . ; John Bennison , P . D . G . D . C ; Charles W . Anderson , P . P . S . G . O . ; Jos . Armstrong , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; J . D . Todd , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . J . Wilson , P . P . G . S . B . ; ] . C . Kktky , P . P . J . G . D . ; R . Walker , P . P . G . Stwd . ; T . R . Short , P . P . S . G . O . ; Wm . Brown , P . G . Treas . ; E . Lauteback , P . P . G . Std .

Br . ; Thos . Harrison , P . S . G . D . ; j . Thompson , P . P . G . Treas . ; David Cameron , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . H . Jackson , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . Howe , P . P . G . Stwd . ; W . J . Oldfield , P . G . Stwd . ; Johu Smith , P . P . G . S . B . ; H . W . Emerson , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; John G . Marshall , P . P . S . G . O . ; John Coulthard , P . S . G . D . ; J . Ridley Barker , P . P . G . S . B . Northumberland ; W . N . Cochrane , P . J . G . W . ; William Gray , P . P . J . G . W . ; Lemuel R . Davits , P . P . G . Std . - Br . ; Geo . Porteous , P . P . G . Org . ;

Babingten Boulton , P . P . S . G . W . ; C . H . Backhouse , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . E . Brown , P . J . G . D . ; W . J . Brown , P . P . S . G . D . ; James Lee , P . P . G . Purst . ; Joseph Lawson , P . P . G . Chap . ; 'Thomas Coulson , P . P . S . G . W . ; Robert Fanner , P . P . G . S . B . ; L . Winstorie , P . P . G . Org . ; James Robinson , P . P . G . Supt . of Woiks ; William Mitford , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . E . Muyshett , P . P . S . G . O . ; Isaac Burnell , P . G . S . B . ; Joseph Gillis , P . P . G . S . ; ' [ John Black , P . P . J . G . D . ; Robert Stewart ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

P . P . G . Treas . ; W . A . Lax , P . P . G . Purst . ; H . Soderberg , P . P . G . Purst . ; J Rigby , P . G . Std . Br . ; F . H . Bennett , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . Mitchinson , P . P . D . G . D . ofC . ; John Holt , P . P . S . G . O . ; G . F . Allan , P . P . G . S . B . ; John C . Moor , P . P S . G . W .: J . R . Cutter , P . P . G . Treas . ; John , Joel , P . P . J . G . W ., Prov . A . G . Sec . ; Thomas Robinson . P . P . S . G . O ; Richard Brown , P . P . G . D . of C ; W . J . Andeison , Prov . G . Reg . ; John Johnson , P . P . A . G . D . C ; T . Younge Tuck , P . A . G . D . C ¦

E . G . Watson , P . P . D . G . D . C ; A . S . Fowler , P . P . S . G . D . ; W . Hodgson , P . P . S . G . OW . A . Priestly , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Nicholas Lee , P . P . G . P . ; W . J . Jobson P . P . D . G . D . C ; R . Tinkler , P . J . G . D . ; Thomas G . Garrick , P . P . G . R . ; James Ross , P . P . S . G . O . ; John Robinson , P . P . G . R . ; T . C Jones , P . P . G . Stwd . ; R Jack , P . P . G . P . ; Thomas Grieve , P . G . Tyler ; F . E . Campbell and II . Havelock P . Ms . 2039 ; John Deans , P . P . G . P . ; lohn S . Roy , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; William

Barlow , P . P . G . D . of C ; Julian Jacobs , P . G . Stwd . ; Josiah Curry , P . P . G . Tyler ; Thomas James , W . M . 97 ; John Cameron , W . M . So ; Henry Darling , W . M . 1970 ; H . T . Halfpenny , W . M . 94 ; A . P . Stainton , W . M . 241 S ; Thos . B . Watson , W . M . 2104 ; Robert Scott , W . M . 949 ; David D . Smith W . M . 13 S 9 ; E . J . Willis , W . M . 2039 ; E . Atkinson , W . M . 661 ; T . ' Piper , W . M . 1230 ; John W . Simpson , W . M . 24 ( 52 ; John F . Purdy , W . M . 1 S 62 ; W . Amett , W . M . 7 64 ; Ed . T . Mason , W . M . 897 ; Thos . Putnam ,

l . P . M . 1397 ; Dr . Middlemas , S . W . 1379 ; W . M . Robinson , W . M . 1650 ; Walter J . Davidson , W . M . 424 ; Robert Stewart , W . M . 26 94 ; H . H . Richard , son , W . M . 124 ; R . W . Salkeld , W . M . 1334 ; J . A . Fleming , W . M . 1932 ; J . W . Daniels , W . M . 231 $ : R . R . Ferguson , W . M . 2019 ; Tom Pidd , W . M , 141 S ; W . H . Pye , W . M . 1119 ; Alexander Craig , W . M . 1643 ; T . W . Craig , W . M . 1121 ; Seymour Bell , P . S . G . W . Northumberland ; and other visitors were in attendance .

Bro . VV . BROWN , P . G . Treasurer , gave his financial statement , and moved it ' s adoption , which was seconded by Bro . J . D . TODD , and adopted . Bro . C . S . LANE , P . P . S . G . W ., proposed the adoption of the Fund Committee ' s report , which was seconded by Bro . BAIJINGTON BOULTON , P . P . S . G . W ., and approved .

The Committee recommended that sums be voted from Provincial Grand Fund to the Hudson Benevolent Fund ( £ 52 10 ; . ) , Durham Masonic Education Fund (^ 52 105 . ) , Royal Masonic Institution for Aged Freemasons , Royal Masonic Boys' School ( £ 52 105 . ) , and Royal Masonic Girls' School ( £ 42 ) . These recommendations were agreed to .

Bro . C . S . LANK , P . P . S . G . W . proposed , and Bro . D . HILL DRURY , P . P . S . G . W ., seconded , the report of the Charities' Committee , who stated in the course of their report " that the year 1902 will be the 25 th of this Charity , and your Committee desire to recommend that a festival be held early in the year , it also being the first year of our Provincial Grand Master , and the first yeir of our Grand Master presiding over the Craft . "

It was stated that if a similar sum was raised to what was obtained b y the festival of two years ago , at Durham , the two Durham Funds would be placed in a position to meet all applicants without recourse to vo ' . ing , and free from precarious subscriptions . Bros . F . H . BENNETT , P . P . J . G . W . ; ROBT . HI'DSON , P . G . S . ; and W .

GRAY , P . P . G . W ., supported the recommenditioii ; and tlu PROV . G . MASTER also spoke to the proposal , and offered to place such resources as were at his disposal at Raby Castle and Park to the aid of the proposed festival . ( Applause . ) The report was adopted .

The PROV . G . MASTER thereafter presented to the Prov . Grand Lodge two new standards for use in the Prov . Grand Lodge , and Bro . VICTOR WILLIAMSON , P . G . W ., afterwards intimated his intention to present a banner in remembrance of the Prov . Grand Mastership of his late brother , Sir Hedworth Williamson , such banner to be hung alongside of that presented to the Prov . G . Lodge by the late Marquis of Londonderry .

Bro . VICTOR WILLIAMSON , P . G . W ., accepted the standirds on behalf of Prov . G . Lodge which were presented by Bro . Lord Barnard . A deputation representing the Sunderland brethren , consisting of the Mayor ( Bro . J . G . Kirtley ) . Bros . J . D . Todd , J . C . Moor , H . J . Turnb . ill , Thomas Robinson , and IS J . Willis , then presented at the hands of the Mayor , Bro . Councillor J . G . Kirtley , an illuminated address in album form , bound in purple morocco leather , and engrossed in a very magnificent

manner . An illuminated title page bore the inscrintion " To the Right Honourable Henry De Vere Vane , Baron Barnard of Barnard Castle , in the Bishopric of Durham . " The illuminated address on the next page was as follows : " Sunderland , 24 th September , 1901 . Right Worshipful Sir and Brother , — On behalf of the six Masonic lodges working in the county borough of

Sunderland , we beg to tender you a cordial greeting to our town on the occasion of your visit to-day , to assume the duties of presiding , for the first time , over the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham . Your association with thc brethren in ths province , and the eminent position you have occupied as an honoured officer of the Grand Lodge of England , have hitherto been a source of pleasure to us , a pleasure which has been

enhanced by the gratification with which we hailed your designation and subsequent installation as the Grand Master of our province . In bidding you this joyful welcome we are actuated by motives of the sincerest regard for yourself personally , and of staunch loyalty to the higher Masonic powers represented by the M . W . Grand Master and the Grand Lodge of ISngland , and also to the Provincial Grand Lodge , by whom the ancient landmarks of Freemasonry have been so faithfully preserved in the province ,

and under whose beneficent regime we are proud to labour . That the G . A . O . T . U . may continue to inspire you with wisdom and zeal , and grant you health and strength to perforin the duties of your high oflice for many years to come , is the heartfelt aspiration of—Yours fraternally , J . G . Kirtley , chairman ; J . D . Todd , vice-chairman ; John Cameron , VV . M . 8 u ; H . T . Halfpenny , W . M . 94 ; Thomas James , W . M . 97 ; R . Scott , W . M-949 ; David D . Smith , VV . M . 13 8 9 ; IS . J . Willis , VV . M . 2039 . "

Lord BARNARD , in acknowledging the presentation , said that he coulu hardly lind words to express his thanks for the handsome presentation made to him . He could assure them that they need have no apprehensions as to the memories he should take away with him of his first Provincial Grand 1 . odge in the great and splendid county borough of Sunderland . ( App lause )

It assured him of the loyalty and the kind friendliness which they had so cheerfully accorded to him , coming amongst them more or less a strange > and also assured him that the true spirit of Freemasonry permeated the lodges of that town as well as the mare foiuul part of the business whiC " they conducted . He , therefore , thanked them most heartily , and he assuied them that he reciprocited from the bottom of his heart the K » woids which they had used in making the presentation . ( App lause . )