Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents but \\ e wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

THE ELECTION OF GRAND TREASURER . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , ' I have read the various letters in your paper on " The Election of

Grand Treasurer , " and I quite agree with your correspondents that it is fully time that these unseemly contested elections should be done away with . I would , therefore , suggest a very simple remedy—that the appointment of Grand Treasurer , like the appointment of the other Grand Officers , be left in the hands of the Grand Master . The Book of Constitutions would , of course , require to be altered ; but surely that is a simple matter . —Yours fraternally , COLONIAL .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"MASONIC CALENDAR FOR SHROPSHIRE , igoi-2 . "—( Shrewsbury , Bro . W . B . Walker , High-street ) . — The Editor of this very interesting annual is Bro . R . G . Venables , the esteemed Deputy Prov . G . M ., who has also enlisted the services of other brethren , the Directory in consequence having features met with in no other publication of the kind . A portrait and brief sketch of Bro . V . C . L . Crump begin the attractions , followed by an excellent and quite lengthy article on " Freemasonry in igoo " by Bro . C . H . Cowling , including a glance at the Craft under other Grand Lodges , and with respect to additional Degrees . Masonic literature is also duly remembered ; Lord Roberts ,

V . C , is referred to most appreciatively as a Freemason ; and the " Province in 1900 ' is ably tieated . An illustration in this portion of a loving cup presented to the Castle Lodge , No . 1 C 21 , by Bro . Alfred Gibbs , I . P . M ., adds much to the interest of the particulars afforded . "Masonic Notes " by Bro . A . S . Townsend should be in the hands of all Secretaries of lodges , and likewise " Masonic Memoranda , " by Bro . H . R . Giles . Their value is considerable . The information as to the 12 lodges in the Province , with 405 members , is most complete , and so as to the other Degrees . A full list of the votes for the Central Masonic Charities ( 540 ) is also appended , and many other items are given , to the great advantage of the Province .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

A meeting of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held on Wednesday , the 27 th ult ., at the Town Hall , Salford . The acting Grand Superintendent , Comp . C . R . N . Beswidie Royds , presided , assisted by Comps . A . Clegg , Buckley Carr , J . Newton , and other officers . Of the 41 chapters in the province all were represented save three . The Prov . G . Treas ,, Comp . W . H . Peel , presented the financial statement , which showed a balance in hand of . £ 146 . The balance sheet was adopted .

Upon the motion of Comp , E . WILLIAMS , seconded by Comp . T . PIKE , Comp . Walter R . Sharp , 935 , was elected Provincial Grand Treasurer . Comps . Clegg and Carr were retained in their olTices of Prov . G . H . and Prov . G . J . respectively , and the following were invested as Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year , viz .:

Comp . J . Newton ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ Captain J . Barlow , 42 ... ... Prov , G . S . N . „ W . R . Sharp ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ J . B . Pownall , 300 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ A . C . K . Smith , 317 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . Reg . „ T . Bushe . 1 , 317 ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S . ,, G . W . Davies , 26 S ... ... " . " t-D . A / -c ; , T . Southern , 935 j Prov . A . G . Ss . „ Thomas Pike , 325 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ J . Pollitt , 1055 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . S . B . „ J . W . Atkinson , S 15 ... ... ... " ) „ T . H . Hall , 1458 ... ... ... [ Prov . G . Std . Brs . ,, J . T . Hutchinson , 128 ... ,,. J „ H . Clulow , 993 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ F . Ferrand , 266 ... ... .,, ¦) „ R . Temple , 126 ... ... ... ( Prov . A . G . D . Cs . ,, J . N . Woolmer , 350 .... ... ... ) „ J . Fielden , 268 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Horsneld , 325 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . „ E . Roberts , 1055 ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor .

In accordance with notice of motion , Comp . C . D . CHEETHAM , P . G . S . N ., proposed that a grant of ^ 50 be made to Ihe East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution . Comp . F . W . LEAN , P . P . G . S ., seconded the motion . It was moved and seconded as an amendment that the grant should be ^ , 100 . After some conversation it was resolved that the grant should be £ 75 . An invitation was accepted to hold the next provincial meeting at Rochdale .

The Duke Of Connaught And Sussex Freemasons.

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT AND SUSSEX FREEMASONS .

The following is the text of a letter sent lo the brethren of the Prov . G . Lodge of Sussex : March 4 th , Royal Hospital , Dublin . Dear Sir and Brother , I am directed by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught to inform you and the brethren of the Province of Sussex thathaving been

nomi-, nated for the post of Grand Master in succession to his Majesty the King , his Royal Highness is compelled to relinquish the office of Provincial Grand Master of Sussex , which lie has so long held , and in which post he has always been so loyally supported by the brethren of the province . The severance of the ollicial connection which has so long existed between the Duke of Connaught and the Province of Sussex is a matter of extreme regret to his Royal Highness , but he

The Duke Of Connaught And Sussex Freemasons.

begs to assure the brethren that , in accepting the office to which he has now been called , his interest in all that concerns the welfare of the Craft in Sussex will ever have his most earnest and anxious care , and that it will always be a matter of extreme satisfaction to his Royal Highness to hear of its continued

prosperity and success . I have the honour to be , Sir , yours fraternally , ALFRED EGERTON , Colonel . Controller and Treasurer to His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught .

Marriage Of Bro. Kenning And Miss Carter.

MARRIAGE OF BRO . KENNING AND MISS CARTER .

The wedding of Bro . Frank R . Kenning , of Upper Sydenham , with Miss Hilda Carter , daughter of Mr . and Mrs . S . Carter , of 3 , Hillcrest-road , Sydenham , took place at St . Bartholomew ' s Church on Thursday , the 28 th ult . The bride was dressed in ivory white Liberty satin , trimmed with chiffon lace and orange blossom , with long court train . She wore a diamond and ruby bracelet , the gilt of the bridegroom ' s father , and a pearl brooch , the gift of the bridegroom . Her bouauet was composed of lilies and orange blossom . Her bridesmaids were the

Misses M . Carter and B . Umney ( cousins of the bride ) , Miss M . Mason ( niece of the bridegroom ) , and the Misses B . Lulham and Marian Page . Miss Umney and Master Umney acted as train-bearers . The bridesmaids' dresses were of cream poplin , trimmed with glace silk and lace insertion ' , heliotrope crepe do Chine sashes , and they wore large black picture hats , trimmed with chiffon and feathers , lined cream chiffon and heliotrope panne , and carried bouquets of purple iris and lilies ot the valley . They wore pearl crescent brooches , the gifts of the

bridegroom . Dr . K . Douglas was the bridegroom ' s best man , and the officiating clergy were the Rev . W . A . Moberly and Bro . the Rev . Dr . Scott . The bride ' s travelling dress was a coat and skirt of Navy blue , trimmed with white embroidery and black hat trimmed with chiffon . There were numerous presents , amongst them a handsome silver tea and coffee service , with tray , presented to the bridegroom by the staff and employes of Bros . George Kenning and Son . The happy pair sailed by the s . s . Saxon on Saturday , the 30 th ult ., for Madeira to spend the honeymoon . —Sydenham Gazette .

Royal Masonic Institution For. Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR . BOYS .

At the regular meeting of the Qouncil , held Friday , the 29 th ult , Bro . George Everett , P . G . Treas . in the chair , amongst those present being Bros . J . W . Burgess , Geo . Chapman , W . S . Emdcn , C . Pulman , W . Russell , J . Speller , and J . W . Woodall , a notice of motion was given by Bro . Charles E . Keyser , for the Quarterly Court on Friday , the 12 th instant , for the presentation of a humble address to his Majesty King Edward on the death of her late Majesty Queen Victoria , Grand Patron of the Institution .

The list of nomination for election to the Board of Management was closed . Bros . R . D . Cummings , Dr . W . H . Kempster , J . D . Langton , and J . J . Thomas , retiring members , representing London brethren ; and Bro . Alfred J . Thomas , being alone nominated as representing London brethren , the last-named brother to take the place of Bro . Rowland Plumbe , who retires from the Board owing to pressure of his business engagements .

For the provinces seven brethren were nominated for live vacancies , but Bros . B . A . Smith , nominated by Leicestershire and Rutland , and Thomas Taylor , by Staffordshire , havg withdrawn for this election . The five retiring members , viz ., Bros . Benson ( North Wales and Cheshire ) , Corbie ( Essex ) , Manfield ( Northants and Hunts ) , Margrett ( Berkshire ) , and Papworth ( Cambridge ) will thus be re-elected without contest , being the first time sincejthe Board was constituted ( in 1891 ) of there being no contested election .

Old Masonians' Association.

OLD MASONIANS' ASSOCIATION .

The 15 th annual dinner of the above admirable institution was held at Andcrton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on Saturday , the 30 th ult . By the term " Old Masonians " is understood the " old boys " of the Masonic Institution , who having been educated together , do not after leaving the Institution entirely lose sight of one another , but occasionally meet together to renew boy friendships and talk over past happy hours , and it becomes a bond of union between young and old , the more strongly , as many are fraternally attached as brethren of the Old Masonians Lodge , No . 2700 . The annual dinner is eagerly anticipated , and on this , the 15 th anniversary , there mustered upwards of 40 members of the Association .

The chair was taken by Bro . J . A . Farnfield , P . A . G . D . C , Treasurer of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and Vice-President of the " , 01 d Masonians , " in the enforced absence of Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , J . P ., P . G . D ., through illness . After the dinner , The CHAIRMAN gave the toasts of " The King , the Grand Patron of the Institution , " and " The Royal Family . " " God save the King" was sung . Song , " The storm fiend" by Bro . Patrick O'Doherty .

, The PRESIDENT , in giving " The Old Masonians' Association "—the toast of the evening—alluded to the oration of Bro . Brownrigg , P . G . C ., who at the consecration of the Old Masonians' Lodge spoke most highly of the Association , of its worthy objects to promote union , and to help those who were in want of aid-He mentioned he had met an old Cambridge Wrangler who was in dire distress ;

he spoke of the past and present condition of the Association ; he warned those present of the danger of cliques . They were all proud that some of their body had served their country with distinction in the present war , and concluded by regretting the illness of their Chairman , Bro . Vasaar-Smith , who should have presided that evening , wishing him a speedy recovery . Song , " Who carries the gun ? " bBro . ] . Sarjeant ;

y In response Bro . ROUT . STANLEY CHANDLER said that for the nth time he had responded for the Old Masonians' Association . As Treasurer he thanked their present Chairman , Bro . Farnfield , for his gift of three guineas to the Association . He also alluded to the gift of 10 guineas from Bro . Vassar-Smith , whose absence was regretted by all . He spoke of the events ot their past their

year as a mixed record , sad and joyful , that the Association had lost two of Presidents . He gave a brief sketch of the 15 years' existence of the Institution —the lodge , which was a Masonic bond—spoke of two of their members v /» ° had lost their lives on behalf of their country ; showed that the progress of the Institution was continuous and hopeful . Song : Bro . Rickards ; " Sally in our Alley , " and as an uncorc " Queen of 'he Earth . "