Annual Festival And Supper Of The La Tolerance Lodge Of Instruction, No. 538.

great taste and power " My Angel ; Bro . Bernard Dukes was equally successful and artistic in his rendering of " An Evening Song , " by Blumenthal ; Bro . A . Terry , Vice-President , caused great amusement by his recitation , " The One Legged Goose "; Bro . H . C . Parker sang Tosti ' s " For Ever and Ever "; and Bro . G . Hill , Treas ., completed the programme with " Come Lasses and Lads . " Bro . J . Alason acted as accompanist .

Among those present not already mentioned were Bros . T . Smale , P . M . 53 8 ; F . Jackson , P . M . ; W . B . Fendick , P . M .: W . Brixton , P . M . ; J . Manning , P . M . ; J . H . Evenden , E . Nice , John Cumming and three friends , L . Gunzel , Martin Gooneratine , G . A . Sturgess ( who had provided one of the musical contributors ) , S . C . Cross , T . A . Tidy and two friends , Gibbs and two friends , Rayner , Biddell , J . Leather , Smith , De Gal ' . o , Gwennell , Evans , Yates Bennett and friend , G . Cizzio , Podger , J . Levey , Keen and friends , and several others whose names are not recorded .

The programme , though long , was completed at a comparatively early hour , and the meeting broke up with general expressions of satisfaction and good augury for future festivals and the general success of the lodge of instruction .

Annual Dinner Of The St. George's Lodge Of Instruction.

ANNUAL DINNER OF THE ST . GEORGE'S LODGE OF INSTRUCTION .

This lodge signalised the close of its season by a dinner on the 21 st ult ., at the Portland Hotel , Greenwich , the occasion being marked by every sign of success . Bro . G . Brown , P . M ., President , and Preceptor , occupied the chair , faced by Bro . H . K . Lewis the W . M . of St . George's , and Bro . H . R . Ferryman , P . M ., Secretary . The gathering was representative of nearly all the professions and services , the local and many other lodges , and included Bros . Capt . G .

Morrison , R . E ., E . Shalless , C . Watkins , G . R . Grant , and Brazil ( solicitors ) , Dr . Burney , P . M ., & c , and G . S . Recknell ( Grand Secretary ' s Department ) VV . R . Smith , R . Wild , Anderson , John Dixon , P . M ., T . Bugler , E . B . Turner , and a goodly array of visitors , among whom were Bros . Townsend , C . Wood , Langford , Hayter , Adams , Tomlinson , and others , all of whom vied in making the evening enjoyable .

The CHAIRMAN referred to the many years he had been permitted to occupy the position of Preceptor , shadowing forth the early future when his place would have to be filled by a younger and more able advocate . Good singing , short speeches , and hearty thanks to the Committee closed the very pleasant evening ' s proceedings .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of North Connaught.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTH CONNAUGHT .

The purse of 100 sovereigns presented in Alarch last to the Deputy Prov . Grand Master of North Connaught ( the Rev . Dr . Clarke ) has been laid out in plate , and within the past few days sent to him from Messrs . Elkington and Co . 's works at Birmingham . The presentation consists of a massive silver bowl of Grecian design , in bas relief , on ebony pedestal , with shield bearing inscription .

One side of the bowl has the family crest and motto , the other a square and compasses . There is also a beautifully chased and very solid Louis XV . tea and coffee service , richly embossed . Each article bears the same inscription , viz " Presented by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons of North Connaught lo R . W . Rev . Francis E . Clarke , 31 , LL . D ., AI . D ., Provincial Deputy Grand Master , 12 th Alarch , 1895 .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

MASONIC VAGRANTS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In recent issues of your paper I have noticed that the Craft in England is interested in some scheme by which Masonic impostors may be exposed when

they apply for relief . Would it not be well if the English Craft would adopt the methods of the American and Canadian brethren , who organised an Association known as The Masonic Relief or Protective Association , by means of which the names of all impostor Cralt Masons are known to the subscribing lodges within 30 days after they commence to perambulate the country .

I have not the time , and I fancy that you have not the space to deal with this matter at length . I may , however , state that the Alasonic General Relief Association is an organisation formed for the purpose of protecting the Craft from the raids of the Masonic tramp . The Association is composed of two representatives from each Grand Lodge , or each Board of Relief , in any part of the United States or the Dominion of Canada affiliated therewith . The charge for affiliation

is one-half cent , per capital of the membership . For . instance , the Grand Lodge of Canada , with its 23 , 000 members , pays no dollars per year , and in return for this amount every lodge of the 360 on its roll receives each month what is called " The Warning Circular , " which contains the names of tramps , a description of their appearance , their previous record , their mother lodge , if any , and a plain statement of the facts concerning each for the information of

the lodges . All applicants for relief are referred to the Secretary of the Board of Relief , who hears the story , grants temporary aid at his discretion , and telegraphs for confirmation of the statements made to him . Should these be substantiated , relief is given to the applicant ; it not , his name , appearance , story , and the fact that he is unworthy , are reported to head-quarters and are duly chronicled on the warning circular . This plan has been found very effective and has been the means of saving a

large amount of money to the Craft in Canada and the United btates . All the leading grand lodges , including New York and Ohio , belong to this association , and I have no doubt that if any members of the English Craft will write to John R . Pope , the Secretary of the association , at 224 , E-25 th Street , New York , or to Bro . J . Ross Robertson , one of the Ex-Presidents , at Toronto , Canada , they would receive an amount of information which would be most useful to those brethren who are now discussing the matter in England . E . W . GARDNER , P . M . Toronto .

GRAND LODGE CERTIFICATES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The leaderette in your issue of the 18 th ult . throws no light

whatever on the above subject . The question I raised in a letter to the Freemason , and which appeared on May 4 th , was— " Is the production of Grand Lodge certificates indispensable when visiting lodges ' - "' This has not anything whatever to do with brethren in distress applying to Almoners for relief ; nor was it intended to refer to impostors , who , for their own ends , tried to procure one , but simply a

Correspondence.

question which ought to be easily answered by those in authority . That when a brother , who is not personally known , has presented himself as a visitor , and has offered to be Masonically tested—which ought to be done in ) accordance with our by-laws—and has given satisfactory proof that he is a Alason , then ought his Grand Lodge certificate to be demanded , and made indispensable , and , if So where in the Book of Constitutions is it laid down that such is the case ? You say the question "can only be answered fairly as connected with the

circumstances . " Thc circumstances referred to are clear and distinct , viz ., satisfactory proof by being Masonically tested . Then you quote , or rather you will excuse me saying misquote , par . 150 of the Book of Constitutions ; you say , " A visitor has the right of admission after due examination , provided he be personally known to , or vouched for by one of the brethren present , " but what the Book of Constitutions really does say is this , " No visitor shall be admitted into a Lodge , unless he be per . sonally known to , or well vouched for , after due examination , by one of the Brethren

present , or until he has produced the Certificate of the Grand Lodge to which he belongs , and has given satisfactory proof that he is the Brother named in the Certificate or other proper vouchers of his having been initiated in a regular Lodge . " Of course , I may be wrong , but it seems to me that if a visitor is " personall y known " that there is no need of " due examination , " or after " due examination , " " personally known " might be , and is , intended by Bylaw 150 to be dispensed with . Your correspondent who writes in your issue of the 25 th ult ., and signs himself " Past P . J . G . W ., P . P . G . Sec , " is of opinion that " the Grand Lodge cer .

tificate is quite indispensable when visiting a lodge for the first time without a personal introduction by one or more of the subscribing brethren of the lodge who can vouch for the brother . " This is simply an opinion , but coming from such an authority ought certainly to be of some weight ; but why does the Book of Constitutions not say so ? Why does it not bear this construction ? I wish it to be understood that I am now , and always have been , of opinion that where a visitor is not personally known , the testing aud Grand Lodge certificate ought to go together and be demanded , but what ought to be the rule is now the exception , and the sooner the by-law is clearly laid down and acted upon the better .

Speaking with an old and respected P . M . to-day on this subject , and one who has never let his interest for the Craft wane , he said , " I have been a Mason 44 years , and a P . AI . over 30 years , and I have visited many lodges , where I was not personally known , and I have never been pressed to produce my Grand Lodge Certificate . " Aly own experience covers more than 26 years , and with the

exception of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , never has my certificate been demanded . I dare undertake to find in this province alone , scores of Grand Lodge Certificates framed and hung up on the dining-room walls of brethren , showing that they either never intend visiting a lodge , where they are not personally known , or that they are ignorant that their Certificates should be produced when so doing .

Kindly accept my apologies for again troubling you , and believe me to be yours faithfully and fraternally ,

JAMES KAYE , P . M . 275 , P . P . G . D . C . West Yorkshire . Westbourne House , Dalton , Huddersfied , June ist .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"FREEMASONS'CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF DERBY , SHIRE , 1 S 95 . "—This most trustworthy compilation is edited by Bro . William Naylor , Prov . G . Sec , assisted by Bro . James Cutting , Prov . A . G . Sec . The frontispiece for this , the 20 th year of publication , is an excellent portrait of that zealous Craftsman , Bro . Percy Wallis , who appears in Alark clothing , as P . G . D . and Grand Treasurer of that prosperous organisation . The Province contains 25 lodges , having 1181 members , an

average of 47 to each ; seven Royal Arch chapters and 227 companions , and six Mark lodges , with 1 S 6 members . The figures are obtained by adding the membership noted of each Alasonic lodge , & c . The votes for the Masonic Charities in London amount to 4747 ( a creditable record ) , and 7 60 for the very useful Alark Educational and Annuity Fund . The Treasurer ' s accounts are also duly noted , as audited , and the annual fully sustains its well earned character for accuracy and comprehensiveness .

"DEPRESSION . " What it is and how to cure it . By A . E . Bridger , B . A ., M . D ., B . Sc , F . R . C . P . E ., Physician to the South London Hospital : and to the St . Pancras and Northern Dispensary ; late Physician to the Hospital for Diseases ofthe Chest : Author of " Man and his Maladies , " "The Treatment of Consumption , " & c , Sic . Sixth Thousand . London : John Hogg , 13 , Paternoster Row . 1895 . —The mere fact of Dr . Bridger ' s little book having reached its of its meritsand of its value

" sixth thousand " is a kind of guarantee , more especially as a guide to those who from various causes suffer more or less severely from this form of disease . Mental " Depression " is indeed one of the most difficult classes of disease to cope with successfully , and those who consult the pages of Dr . Bridger ' s thesis on the subject will be certain to gain much knowledge of its causes , and possessing that knowledge , will be more likely to bring themselves back to their former condition of health . VVe advise those who suffer from this malady to read his treatise .

" NIGHT AND DAY "— iS to 26 , Stepney Causeway , E . —We regret ^ to learn from the May number of this useful monthly that there has latterly been a serious diminution in the funds necessary to carry on the good work done in connection with Dr . Barnardo ' s Homes , and the Editor , who is none other than Dr . Barnardo himself , appeals most urgently for a return of that generous help which has enabled him to do such signal

service in the cause of the poor and outcast children of London and great provincial cities and towns . As the 29 th Anniversiry of the Homes will take place in the Royal Albert Hall on Friday , the 21 st inst ., possibly the { recurrence of this annual celebration will serve to bring the matter to the notice of the public and incline people to renew the support which is so urgently needed .

"T HE CRAFTSMAN "—Messrs . Daniel Owen and Co ., Ltd ., Cardiff . —The June number contains the usual quantum of news , correspondence , and quoted and original matter , and is as attractive reading as ever . There are also portraits of Bros . John Monday—the new Asst . G . D . ot C . in the Mark Degree—and G . Y . McLeod , of Cardiff , with particulars of their respective Alasonic careers . The most interesting portion

of the number is that which concerns " Professional Lodges , " respecting which there arc letters on the subject from Bros . G . VV . Soeth and Fred J . W . Crowe . We notice with pleasure that an article of ours on "The Power of Masonry " is quoted in full , but the Editor , in a fit of abstraction , has omitted to acknowledge his indebtedness in respect thereof to this journal .

"P OCKET GUIDE TO THK MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY OF ENGLAND . — Revised Edition . George H . Turner , General Manager . To be had at all Railway Bookstalls and Midland Booking Offices . —We strongly recommend those who may contemplate visiting any of the pleasure resorts with which the Alidland Kailway system is connected to lav out the modest sum of threepence in the purchase of this revised edition he

of the Pocket Guide . Not only does it contain particulars as to the lines of route to followed to different localities , and a capital map of the Railway and its numerous connections , but it lays before the reader , of course in outline , such an account of tne principal resorts and their historical and other associations as will not fail to prove instructive as well as interesting . »

THE DUCHESS OF TUCK opened a bazaar in the grounds of Coomb Court , Kingston Hill , on Wednesday , in aid of the New Maiden Church Fund , while the Princees Christian took the leading part in a similar function at Englefield Green , Surreyi on behalf of St . Jude ' s National Schools ,