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 limitsfree discussion . "INITIATION" CEREMONY AT THE CONSECRATION OF A

LODGE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have just been reading , with much interest , a report of the

constitution and consecration of the Lodge of United Pilgrims , No . 745 ( then ) , which took place on 14 th March , 1845 . The only point , however , that I wish to bring before your readers is the following line , which I copy from the circular convening the meeting : " Consecration three o ' clock . Installation four o ' clock . Initiations five o ' clock . "

And at the end of the report occurs the following statement : Bro . Jones having regularly closed down the Lodge to the First Degree , ' initiated ' three candidates as Entered Apprentices , " after which the brethren adjourned to banquet . In the report of the post-prandial proceedings , I extract the following : "One of the

newly-initiated brethren—a foieigner—in returning thanks for himself and his fellow Apprentices , made one of the most sweetly-allusive addresses ( the reporter ) ever listened to from a novice . He concluded by praying fervently for grace from God to enable him , in some measure , to perform the duties he had that day engaged to do , and thereby redeem the errors of the past . "

Not having before me any early edition of the Book of Constitutions , I am unable to ascertain the warrant or authority for " initiating " candidates into the Craft without previous " proposition , " as has been customary now for many years past . In the United Pilgrims Lodge , the circular referred to stated the business to be transacted at the meeting was " to consecrate the Lodge and instal the Master and Wardens nominated in the warrant . " Not a word about any candidates for initiation . ,

Will some of your readers who possess copies of the earlier Constitutions , as well as knowledge on the subject , be good enough to inform me and others who may read this communication , and be interested in the subject , the rules and regulations that existed ( say ) 50 years ago as to the admission of the profane to the light of Freemasonry P—Yours fraternally ,

J . T . LAST , P . P . G . Reg . West Yorks . Bradford , December 23 rd , 1899 .

AN OVERSIGHT CORRECTED . To the Editor ot the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As I have great faith in the Latin maxim , " Palmam qui meruit ferat , " I . wish to state , in compliance with Bro . Major Wall's request , that in

my poem , entitled " Repaid , " I am indebted for the incidents to his powerful story , " Saved by a Sign , " which appeared some years ago in the Christmas Number . This fact was omitted to be stated , and I have now much pleasure in acknowledging my indebtedness , at the same time regretting the oversight . — Yours fraternally ,

F . W . DRIVER , M . A ., Prof , ist January .

THE NEW CENTURY . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your issue of the 30 th ult ., you say 1 S 99 is the penultimate year of the century . I respectfully submit this is not so , and the Craft ought to " make no mistake over such a simple matter . The confusion arises over the so-called Christian era , and the first year of a century , A . D ., and the beginning of the century are separate and distinct questions , having nothing in common .

The first year of computation of the so-called Christian era is quite unknown , and has nothing whatever to do with any supposed birth of Christ , historical or otherwise . Canon Farrar , in his " Life of Christ , " settles this by saying " that all attempts to discover the date of the Nativity are useless , no data whatever exist to enable us to determine the Nativity with even approximate

accuracy . " Archbishop Usher , 1650 , and Bishop Lloyd , in the Great Bible of 1 7 , first put chronological dates thereto , and states that Christ was born four years bpfore our era ; but later commentators , down to Canon Farrar , have disputed these dates . This much is clear—that the Christian era and a new century are two different questions altogether .

Lord Kelvin declares that 1899 was the last year of the century , and I agree . A new century must begin with o . Example— If a pedestrian undertakes to walk 100 miles he has done so when he arrives at the 100 th milestone ,. but he must walk one mile before arriving at thi ; first stone , and the second 100 miles begin at the 100 milestone ; those who say the century begins 1901 simply reckon from the first milestone , which is an error .

The analogy of the 100 sovereigns to represent a century is misleading , because the first sovereign laid down must first be thought of as passing through the process of manufacture from the raw state before issuing from the mint , corresponding to figure o , even as the first year of the century is not so till the completed raw material of the 365 days of which il is composed has issued from the mint of Time . Thus A . D . I is not really so till the 3 6 5 days are completed , and whilst so completing is practically nought , or o , which is the start of a new century , then follows 01 , 02 , and so on .

Wishing you a Happy New Year and a prosperous XXth century , —I am , yours fraternally ,

T . MAY , 754 . Tottenham , January ist .

THE LAST DISTRICT GRAND 3 IASTER OF NEW SOUTH WALES . Dear Sir and Brother , To the Editor of the "Freemason . " In your Christmas number I observe you describe Lord Carrington as having " served as the last District Grand Master of New South Wales , under thc English Constitution . "

This is a slight inaccuracy , as his lordship , although appointed to that oflice by 1 I . R . II . the Grand Master , was never installed . See Article 82 , Book ol Constitutions . As a matter of fart and of history , the latt District Grand Master of New South Wales under the English Constitution was the late R . W . Bro . John William ? . —Fraternally yours , W . F . LAMONBY . December 30 th .

The Berkshire Contingent Of The Imperial Yeomanry Cavalry.

THE BERKSHIRE CONTINGENT OF THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY CAVALRY .

To ISE COMMANDED BY THE W . M . OF THE NEWBURY LODGE . We are authorised to state that W . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Gerald Craven Ricardos of Donnington , near Newbury , who is second in command of the Royal Berk , Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry , of which the Hon . Osbert Craven is colonel , has just been selected to command the Berks contingent of the Imperial Yeomanry . Some 70 members of the Berks Yeomanry and more than 30 civilians , including several who have been troopers , have volunteeeed , and it is expected

that the contingent will be ready to sail for South Africa about the middle of January . For some years Colonel Ricardo held a commission in the 14 th Hussars , and saw service both in India and Africa . 7 . he gallant officer , who is in his 50 th year , is a fine-grown active man , a thorough sportsman , a first-class horseman , and an ex-master of the Craven Hounds . He is a member of the Berkshire County Council , a magistrate for Berkshire , and a most popular country gentleman .

Yesterday ( Friday ) Bro . Colonel Ricardo was installed tor the second year as Worshipful Master ofthe Freemasons' lodge in this town , his re-election being intended as a compliment to enable him to preside over the lodge during the Jubilee year of 1900 , the Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope having been founded in 1850 . The event will be celebrated by the opening of the Masonic HaU , premises in Northbrook-street , formerly occupied as solicitors' oflices , but now in process of conversion for this purpose . The contract has been taken by Messrs . Elms and Son , builders , of Pound-street .

Bro . Colonel Ricardo has been busily occupied during the past week in connection with the medical examination and enrolment of those members of the Royal Berks Yeomanry Cavalry who have volunteered for active service at the seat of war . As an old officer of the 14 th Hussars , Bro . Colonel Ricardo is taking a keen interest in the movement which has been set on foot to look after the welfare and comfort of the wives and families of the troopers of that regiment who have recently left Southampton for the Cape .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

Saye and Sele Lodge , No . 309 . The installation meeting of the above lodge was held at the Masonic Rooms , Belvedere , Kent , on Wednesday , the 29 th November . The Iodge being opened , and the minutes read and confirmed , the W . M ., Bro . Dr . Greenwa , G . M . O . Kent , being called away professionally , requested Bro . Turton , I . P . M ., to assume the chair . The Past Master ' s jewel of the lodge having been presented to the retiring W . M ,, Bro . Turton proceeded to instal the VV . M . elect ( by dispensation ) Bro . Joseph D . Brooks .

and performed the entire ceremony , including the several addresses , in a most elopuent and able manner . The W . M . appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . Wood , P . M ., S . W .,- Selkhon . J . W . ; Robinson , P . M ., Treas . ( elected ); Bateman , P . M ., Sec ; the Rev . H . L . Fry , Chap . j Corbett , Reg . of Marks ; Jones , M . O .: Long , S . O . ; Raby . J . O . ; J . B . Wood , S . D . ; W . C . Taylor , P . M ., ( acting ) I . G . ;

Greig , P . M ., D . C ; and Gale , Tyler . A cordial vote of thanks was accorded the Installing Master for his very satisfactory rendering of the ceremony , and duly acknowledged . Much sympathy was expressed with Bro . Jolly , P . M ., who had recently experienced a somewhat serious accident . A Past Provincial Overseer ' s jewel was voted to the Secretary , Bro . Bateman , ; P . M ., in recognition of his long-continued secretarial services , on his 14 th investment , and the vote was gratefully acknowledged . Several gifts to the lodge were reported , and the lodge closed .

The Recent Washington Centenary Celebration.

THE RECENT WASHINGTON CENTENARY CELEBRATION .

We have much pleasure in publishing the following copy of verses , which accompanied the wreaths sent to decorate the tomb of Washington on the occasion of tlie celebration on the 14 th December , 18 99 , of the Centenary of his death , by Bro .

the Earl ol Londesborough , Past G . Warden of England , and the W . Master , officers , and members of Constitutional Lodge , No . 294 , Beverley ( Province of N . and E . Yorkshire ) , together with the inscription on the wreaths themselves :

VERSES To accompany Wreaths of Oak and Evergreen from Londesborough Park , East Yorkshire , SENT BY THE RIGHT HONBLE . THE EARL OF LONDESBOROUGH , I'M . 2 94 , I ' . Q ' . SENIOR WARDEN Ol' ENGLAND , AND THE WORSHIPFUL MASTERS , OFFICERS , AND BRETHREN OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL LODGE , No . 294 , OF ANTIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS , OF

BEVERLEY , EAST YORKSHIRE , ENGLAND , To be placed on WASHINGTON'S TOMB , on the occasion of the Hundredth Anniversary of his Death . I . An English Wreath we fain would lay Upon this mighty Tomb

to-day—Of laurel , ivy , oak , and yew , Which drank the English sun and dew On far oil Yorkshire ' s grassy sod ; Where once—we boast—his fathers trod , * Whom East and West unite to praise And crown with never-fading bays .

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* NOTK . —John Washington , the founder of ths American family of Washington , and great grandfather of the President , lived at South Cave , not far from Londesborough and Beverley , England .