Masonic Notes.

below the average . We are not expecting a Board so numerous as that of 1894 , but we are very anxious that the great effort which was then made shall not be in a great measure neutralised by any serious diminution of

receipts next month as compared with those of ordinary years . By the efforts of the Stewards of last year , the Institution was restored to its old condition of efficiency as regards funds , and we are most anxious that this condition should nnt he . weakened .

We are authorised to announce that the Most Worshipful Grand Alaster has been pleased to appoint the R . W . Bro . the Earl of Onslow , G . C . ALG ., P . G . W . to the ofiice of Provincial Grand Master for Surrey , in

the room of the late R . W . Bro . Col . G . Noel Aloney C . B ., and the R . W . Bro . the Earl of Yarborough P . G . W ., to the ofiice of Provincial Grand Master for Lincolnshire , in the room of the R . W . Bro . W . H . Smyth , resigned . # #

* We judge from the report of the proceedings at the regular Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Northern China , which was held at the Alasonic Hall , Shanghai , on Monday , the 7 th January last , that the Craft there is in a fairly prosperous state . There has

been no advance in strength , either in respect of numbers or funds , but the lodges remain in good working order , and the District Grand Treasurer ' s Report shows that if there is a slight weakness noticeable in one direction , there is a counterbalance of strength in another . Indeed , the positkn may be said to be unaltered from what it was the previous year ,

and so we heartily congratulate the District Grand Master- Bro . J . I . Miller—his District Grand Lodge , and the lodges and brethren generally on the work they have done in the past year . May their efforts in future years in maintaining , if not extending , the influence of Freemasonry be attended with at least an equal degree cf snrrpss !

The sad duty devolves upon us this week of chronicling the death of one of the ablest and most respected members of our Order , Bro . Thomas W . Tew , J . P ., who , for the last 20 years , had taken so distinguished a part in the proceedings of Freemasonry

in the important Province of West Yorkshire . A full record of his Masonic career will be found in another part of our columns , but in the case of one who rendered such services to the Craft as Bro . Tew had rendered , the mere details of his achievements in particular offices , though interesting enough in

themselves , constitute but a poor monument to his worth . If ever there was a man who devoted himself unselfishly , with all his heart and soul and strength , to the promotion of the truest and best interests of Freemasonry , it was the brother , who , only a year or two since , was the central figure in West Yorkshire

Masonry , and who resigned his exalted office from a sense of his duty to the lodges and brethren over whom he had been appointed to preside . When he found lhat his strength was waning , and that , having regard to his enfeebled health , he was no longer able to

patronise our mysteries and join in our assemblies , he at once resigned his trust , rather than that the Province he had served so faithfully , and whose interests he had laboured so diligently to promote , should suffer by his default .

* * * That his loss will be felt by the general body of English Freemasons , but more especially by that section of it to which , by long and intimate association , he had become endeared , is a statement which none will dream of contravening . Whether we

think of him as the Dep . P . G . Alaster who , under the late Sir Henry Edwards , helped so materially to reanimate our West Yorkshire brethren after the retirement of the Marquess of Ripon , or as the Prov . G . AL who , in all things and at all times , was the " guide , philosopher , and friend " of his Province : as the head

of its Royal Arch and icmplar Alasonry : as "the friend in need and friend in deed " of our Alasonic Institutions ; or as the generous patron of Masonic literature—in all these various capacities we cannot but realise to ourselves that his conduct was worthy of

the highest admiration . And as we loved to dwell upon his goodness and excellence while yet he lived and moved amongst us , so shall we best fulfil the sacred , if mournful , duty of respecting his virtues , by endeavouring to imitate them in every thought , word , and deed .

A correspondent , who signs himself " An Evangelical Presbyter , " in a letter he addressed last week to our contemporary The Rock , falls foul of Bro . Archdeacon Sinclair , one of the Grand Chaplains of United Grand Lodge , for his recommendation of Freemasonry in an article which our distinguished brother contributed to The C / iure / iiiuin . We shall not be so pre-

Masonic Notes.

sumptuous as to take up the cudgels in defence of one who is so capable as Bro . Sinclair of defending himself from this and similar attacks . VVe are merely going to propound the simple question Does Christianity as set forth in the Gospel according to "Evangelical Presbyter" forbid its professors from loving and associating in the practice of morality with

those who are either not Christians at all or belong not to that particular branch or section of Christianity which has the honour of including him among its members V If so , then with all deference to this correspondent of The Hock , and in spite of the formidable title he has bestowed upon himself , or had bestowed upon him by the members of his sect , we do not set a very high value upon his idea of Christianity .

It is our duty , as Freemasons , to avoid every topic of political or religious discussion . But we shall not be violating that duty if we state , on the authority of those who best understand its character , that the basis of Christianity is love—love of God and love of our

fellow-creatures ; nor , as regards the latter , is there , so far as we are aware , any line to be drawn , which shall distinguish those of our fellow men whom we are enjoined to love from those whom , for private and personal reasons , we are to consider it our duty not to love . We have never heard it laid down authoritatively , as constituting any part of the true doctrine of

pure Christianity , that the love we are theoretically enjoined to bear towards all our fellow-creatures must be practically limited only to those Christians who belong to our own particular sect . But then we are only benighted Freemasons , who earnestly strive to do our duty by loving and respecting every man , be his religious faith what it may , not " Evangelical Presbyters . "

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

MASONIC VAGRANTS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As Almoner to our lodge , 381 , Darwen , I am pleased to see your leader of last Saturday , re this tantalising and perplexing subject , and I think Bro .

Mutton ' s ( 1362 ) suggestion is a step in the right direction . I have held the position of Almoner for 15 years , and have adopted the following system : I keep a book with headings as follow , and insist upon every applicant signing the same—Name

No . and name of Iodge How long a subscribing brother Where going , and why travelling Where last relieved and when What degrees have passed Amount of relief

Signed The following sheet is also sent to the Secretary or W . M . of the lodge the applicant professes to belong to ( with stamped envelope for reply ) , as below : The undermentioned brother has obtained relief from me as Almoner . Please to fill in the queries and

return to me at your earliest—Name—Bro . John Smith . Says he has subscribed since 10 years . Did he leave you honorably and straight with subscriptions ' r Is this a case deserving our support ?

Signed During the period of time I have acted as Almoner , and relieved some 200 , I am certain , from the replies , that very few are genuine cases . If Bro . Alutton ' s suggestion is acted upon I shall

consider it a duty to forward the names of applicants for relief , unless some other equally good method can be adopted . I have an impression that one of the names mentioned by Bro . Mutton is also in my book three distinct times . 6 th April , 1 S 89—Ed . Burnett , 306 , Leeds .

22 nd December , 1890—Eli Burnett , 306 , Leeds . 31 st Alarch , 1893—E . Burnett , 306 , Leeds . On comparing the three signatures above , I am fully persuaded they are one and the same person . 1 may say

that from information received to the middle signature that I refused to relieve the third one , and especially so after seeing the signature . I shall be glad if we can adopt some system whereby we can minimise this objectionable vagrancy . —Yours fraternally ,

JNO . WARDLEY , P . M . 3 81 , P . P . G . D . C . East Lanes . Arch-street , Darwen .

To the Editor of the "Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , 1 was very pleased to read your excellent Article in last week ' s Freemason , and to see that the brethren in Kent are taking some steps towards remedying the great evil of Masonic vagrancy . Would

that all other provinces would act in like manner . I , with you , see the great difficulties in forming a proper organisation which would effectually do away with this social pest , and compel him to mend his ways and work for his living , but I do not think the difficulties are insurmountable .

Correspondence.

If every P . G . M . were to call a meeting at some central place , and invite each Iodge in his province to send a delegate , I feel sure some workable scheme could be arranged , or a very simple plan would be for each lodge to appoint an Almoner and supply him with a weekly copy of the Freemason , in which might be

published a black list , communicated to you by the Almoners , as each case came under their notice , and then for every other brother to absolutely refuse to relieve any applicant ( unless known personally to him ) , but refer all to the Almoner , then I think the Masonic tramp would find his occupation gone .

The William Dawson referred to in your Article called on me on the 15 th January , 1895 , and on reference to my diary finding I had previously relieved him in December , 1892 , I gave him one shilling only , on the faith of his being as he represented , a member of Lodge Newstead , 47 . I immediately wrote the

Secretary of Lodge 47 , Bro . R . Jackson , who very kindly replied at once : " This man is a fraud , if you can land him in gaol you will be conferring a favour on the Craft . " I then wrote Bro . C . Prior , Chief Constable of Tunbridge Wells , thinking Dawson might call there , which he did , and was promptly detained , but unfortunatel y our Alagistrate ' s Assistant Clerk refused to grant a

warrant , although it was a clear case of obtaining money under false pretences , and I was willing to prosecute . We therefore had to advise Bro . Prior to let the man go . I shall be pleased to give information respecting other vagrants who have called upon me , and whose names I will be glad to furnish to inquiring almoners . —Yours faithfully and fraternally .

ALFRED C . MUTTON , 47 , High-street , Redhill . Almoner , 1362 . To the Editor of the " Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , I have been reading with much interest your Leading Article and Bro . A . C . Alutton ' s "Caution "

inent a certain impostor calling himself Wm . Hill , W .. A . Foster , or David Allen , of No . 279 , St . John ' s Lodge , Leicester , and on other occasions W . Foster . and D . Hill , of No . 50 , the Knights of Malta andi Hinckley . I was Prov . G . Sec . of this province for eight years ,

viz ., 1884 to 1892 . During that time I had a minute acquaintance with the Prov Register and the lists of members of all the lodges of the Province . I have : not the books before me ; but I wish | to * say that I have no recollection of the names mentioned as being members of 279 or of 50 . I don ' t believe they ever existed . If I can do anything to expose these frauds I shall'be willing ; and I am quite sure my courteous and able

successor , Bro . Holmes , P . M . of 279 , will afford any assistance in his power . —I have the honour to be , yours ' faithfully and fraternally , CHAS . HENTON WOOD ( Clerk M . A . ) , P . M . 1560 , P . P . S . G . W ., P . P . G . Sec , P . Z . 279 , and Prov . G . S . E . 13 , Tichborne-st ., Leicester .

CLOSING UP OF LODGES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , It is now over 30 years since the . roll of

lodges was closed up , and during that time many lodges have been removed from the roll . I think it is quite time that the numbers should be re-arranged , and for my own part I cannot see why this should not be done . Why the delay ' r—Yours fraternally ,

COLONIAL GRAND LODGES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your issue of January 12 th , just to hand , appear two paragraphs—evidently what pressmen call inspired- but I do not intend to show their naked

incorrectness . Suffice it to say there has been too much of this " always understood" business in connection with the very important subject of Colonial Grand Lodges . I must , however—and I know what I am talking about—characterise the statements regarding the

Cambrian Lodge of Australia , No . 6 56 ( E . C ) , as absolutely untrue . I will not even trouble you to refer to your manly , outspoken , and unchallenged leading articles of the last six or seven years to convince you of the unreliability of the information contained in the paragraphs under review ; nor will I ask you or your

readers to take my unsupported word ; but I suggest that you , and any members who have the leisure , or who wish for light , though most instructive , reading , SEE for yourselves in Grand Secretary ' s Office , the ORIGINAL letters and ENCLOSURES sent from here in early November , iSSS , more particularly those of June , August , October ( two to Lord Carrington ) , a" - **

November 8 th , 1888 . I certainly have no wish to continue this correspondence , but I trust in fairness to my lodge and yourself , you will insert this letter , and , having perused the ccrrespondence alluded to by me , say whether the paragraphs I complain of are not deserving of complaint and accurately characterised . —I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , GEO . ROBINSON , . S . W . Cambrian Lodge of Australia , No . a * 5 s < 5 . ( E . C . )