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 .

28 TH APRIL , 1875 . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have waited week by week , so far this year , quite expecting some more influential brother would ask this question—On the above date our M . W . G . M . was installed ; what is to be done to commemorate the 25 years of prosperity , 11070 nearly completed , under a rule which has been kindly , impartial , and most beneficial to the Craft' {

That we owe some acknowledgment must be patent to everybody , as must also be the fact that it can be the lot of few Grand Masters to fill that office for a quarter of a century . We all know the M . W . G . M . ' s unselfishness ; but for that reason we cannot allow an opportunity like this to pass by .

Money , or money ' s worth , could not have purchased , nor can either pay for such services as his Royal Highness the M . W . G . M . has , without stint , freely rendered to the Craft at large , and , therefore , no such method could possibly satisfy my indebtedness as a Mason , and I am sure thousands share that feeling . Moreover , I trust those of "the powers that be" who are better qualified than myself , will be able to devise some better means , by which , at least , our Masonic

Sovereign may be made to feel in his own Royal breast how strongly the great heart of Freemasonry throbs with gratitude . This would not be mere loyalty , but it is an imperative Craft duty . —Yours fraternally , ] . RAMSDEN RILEY . February 5 th .

Help, O Help!

HELP , O HELP !

COPYRIGHT . ] [ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

By PROF . F . W . DRIVER , M . A . A Patriotic Poem . I . Our Mother England in her need Calls or . her children true and bold , To render loving help to her ,

And ne'er forget the days of old ; Those days of old though past and gone , Their truthful records still remain , However great the peril proved ,

She never yet has called in vain . No English son can Danger's fear appal No coward base , who shrinks at Duty ' s call . Help , O Help !

II . All , all can help their country's cause , All render aid , from far or near , The prosperous merchant by his wealth , The workman in his humble sphere ; Upon her Array , Navy too ,

Great Britain fearlessly relies , Uoth have before their courage proved , United force each foe defies ; Let Soldier , Sailor , and brave Volunteer , Fight for their country , which they love so dear .

Help , O Help ! III . Dear woman , crown of earthly bliss , Loved sharer of each anxious care ; Good son , fond husband , brother brave , At country ' s call their absence spare ; True English wives , then let them go ,

Part for awhile for Duty ' s sake , Assured of this , that God Above Will bless the sacrifice you make . Brave mothers , sisters , wives , repress your tears , Daunt not their courage by your loving fears ; Help , 0 Help !

IV . Ye buds of promise , dearly loved ' By fathers and by mothers true ; Even on you your country calls , You have your little tasks to do . Be good and gentle , kind to all ,

No waywardness , nor temper show ; Willing obedience be your aim , Thus will you all in goodness grow . Dear little children , by your loving care , Lighten the burdens which your parents bear .

Help , O Help ! V . On all , alike , our country calls , On rich or poor , on young or old , The old by counsel can assist . The young by manly courage bold ; . Banish all party , creed , or sect ,

One feeling actuates us all , Our Mother country to protect , Prompt to respond tc Duty ' s call ; Let envious nations learn what we well know , True to herself , Great Britain fears no foe !

Help , O Help ! VI . When all is done that Man can do , When Duty , Courage , yield their best , Though incomplete may be our plans , We humbly leave to God the rest ; He , in His Wisdom , will direct

Help, O Help!

Events , the future will unfold , O ! let us trust they'll work for good , As in the glorious days of old ; Almighty Father , Saviour , Prince of Peace , In Thy good time , let this sad conflict cease ! Help , Lord , Help ! 31 st December , 1899 . 62 , Lancaster-road , Notting Hill , VV .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Hemming Lodge , No . 1512 . A meeting of this lodge was held at the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court , on the 25 th ult . Among those present were Bros . C . Wheatley , W . M . ; H . Gale , S . W ., W . M . elect ; C . F . Davis , J . W . ; J . C . lessett , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Treas . ; Major T . C . Walls , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., Sec ; H . Webster , S . D . ; W . Hill , J . D . ; C . Boyce , I . G . ; G . Ransford , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., D . of C ; H . Wheatley , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , A . Z . Schultze , and R . S . Fox , Stwds . ; W . Spearing , P . M .,

P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Fisher , P . M ., P . P . G . T ., A . G . P . Eng . ; E . H . Trotter , P . M ., P . P . G . P . ; VV . Hopkins , P . M ., P . A . G . P . Middx . ; and P . Cronin , I . P . M . Among the visitors were Bros . C . Ransford , W . M . 2432 ; J . W . Hinton , Mus . Doc , P . M . 1503 , P . P . G . O . ; H . Wood , P . M . 101 ; F . W . Ford , P . M . 901 ; J . A . Harvey , P . M . 1314 ; T . Hobley , P . M . 1320 ; J . Mayo , P . M . 1614 ; G . Moorman , P . M . 163 S , P . P . G . P . Surrey ; F . P . Hill , P . M . 2146 ; H . J . Brook , P . M . 2540 ; J . Norris , 15 ; W . R . Williams , 145 ; C . Cassie , 405 ; H . P . Clark , ioin ; P . Hale , 1563 J J- C . Bates , 170 S ; J . Brett , 1733 ; F . Fleemon , 1743 ; J . G . Emmett , 2395 ; C . Sarnco ,

2424 ; E . Gratmert , 2432 ; J . Wheatley , 2540 ; and W . H . Grigg , 2644 . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bros . Singer , Jaquier , and Hopkins were raised to the Third Oegree , and Bros . Marchment , Wright , and Aspinall passed to the Second Degree . Bro . H . Gale , having been presented , was duly installed W . M . by the outgoing Master in a most admirable manner . The following officers were appointed and invested : Bros . Davis , S . W- ; H . Webster , J . W . ; J « sett , P . M ., Treas . ; Major Walls , P . M ., Sec ; Hill , S . D . ; Boyce , 1 \\ i . M «^^ U : 1 r \ . n . R-.-. rr— n c . n c Aer . ; .. *!! rw ¦ I-I

Wheatley , P . M ., ' Z . Schultze , F . Whicherj R . F . Ruff , a ' ndC . E . Page , Stwds . ; and J . Gilbert , Tyler . A vote of thanks was passad to the Installing Master and he was presented with a Past Master ' s collar and jewel . Bro . H . Wetton , jun ., having presented the lodge with an Alms Box , a vote of thanks was accorded to him . Apologies for non-attendance were received from Bros . H . H . Room , P . G . Std . Br . Eng . ; J . Small , P . G . Sec . Middx . ; and R . W . Forge , P . P . G . D . C . The name of a candidate for initiation having been handed in , the lodge was closed . the

A banquet followed , which was excellently ^ served under personal superintendence of Bro . E . Beltramo . Bro . William Fisher , A . G . P ., responded for "The Grand Lodge Officers" id exhaustive terms . Bro . W . Hopkins , P . A . G . P ., replied on behalf of "The Provincial Grand Lodge Officers . "

The I . P . M . proposed "The Health of the W . M . " In submitting the toist , he spoke of the interest taken in the lodge by the W . M . since his initiation . He had filled the subordinate offices , and had done justice to them all . In conclusion , the speaker hoped that the W . M . ' s year of office would be in every way a highly successful one . The W . M . having replied , gave "The Installing Master . " In-the course of his speech the VV . M . said that Bro . Charles Wheatley ' s working in all the four ceremonies of Craft Masonry had been excellent . He could not call to mind any P . M . of No . 1512 who had done the work better . The I . P . M . had justly earned the collar and jewels that had been presented to him that evening .

The I . P . M . having modestly expressed his thanks , the toast of "The Visitors " followed . Bro . Dr . Hinton expressed his acknowledgments , and congratulated the lodge upon its excellent working . The banquet had been a great success . It was his first visit , but he hoped to be honoured some day with another invitation . Bros . Wood , P . M . ; Harvey , P . M . ; and G . Moorman , P . M ., also replied . As the hour was late , the last toast was a comprehensive one— "The Past Masters , Treasurer and Secretary , and the Officers . "

Bros . H . Wheatley , P . M . ; Major T . C . Walls , Sec . ; and C . F . Davis , S . W ., responded . "The Health of Bro . Brigadier-General F . W . Hemming , " who is about to sail for Alrica , was enthusiastically drunk with musical honours . _ During the evening instrumental and vocal selections were given by Bros . G . S . Aspinall , F . P . Hill , C . Cassie , J . Chilcott , and others . Bro . Wall's poem , " Forward , ye sons of Albion ' . " was recited . The proceedings were in every way a great success .

Chine Lodge , No . 1884 . The installation meeting of this well-known lodge , famous for having promoted the great Masonic Exhibition held in iSSO , took place on Thursday , the 25 th ult ., when Bro . Alfred Grcenham , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D ., was installed in the chair for the third time . The Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Right Hon . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., was prevented by illness from attending and installing Bro . Alfred Grcenham in the chair . The ceremony was performed by the Prov . G . M . of West Aberdeenshire , Bro . Col . II . Lumsden . The

meeting was said to be the largest gathering of Masons at an Isle of Wight installation , the number jn the lodge exceeding 100 , amongst them being over 50 P . Ms . Every lodge in the island was represented . Amongst those present were Bros . R . R . Russell , W . M . ; H . W . Daws , I . P . M . ; Alfred Greenham , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D ., S . W ., VV . M . elect ; Andrew Brown , J . W . ; F . Cooper , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , Treas . ; E . Jefford , Sec ; C . J . Carter , S . D . ; F , Taylor , J . D . ; VV . T . Deeks , D . C . ; A . Kent , I . G . ; A . J . Cooper , Org . ; W . J ,

Meu , Tyler ; L . Colenutt , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of W . ; William Judd , P . M . ; G . H , Matthews , P . M . ; W . H . Willis , P . M . ; John Bailey , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; R , Young , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; H . J . Osborne , S . J . Clark , H . J . Foreman , W . B , Chase , J . Collinson , P . M . ; M . Gregory , F . Rayner , and A . F . Swayne , P . M . Visitors : Bros . E . Goble , D . P . G . M . ; Col . H . Lumsden , P . G . M . West Aberdeenshire ; Commander H . G . Giles , P . G . Sec . ; Major W . H . G . Gordon , P . M . 1 SG 9 , P . J . G . D . ; H . A . F . Smilh , P . J . G . D . ; A . Manistree , P . A . G . P . ; W . Jenvey , P . G . S . ; T . M .

Taylor , P . M . 35 . I'A ' . O . Stwd . ; f . King , W . M ., G . Brannon , P . M ., P . G . Pickering , P . M ., P . P . G . C , and } . G . Pir . nock , P . M . all of 151 ; A . Marlow , W . M ., J . H . Down , I . P . M ., J . W . Surgent , S . W ., J . Hansford , J . W ., A . E . Coombs , A . D . C ., F . Farrand , I . G ., C . A . Page , Stwd ., H . Durrant , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W ., Ernest Groves , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., C . Sweetman , P . M ., P . P . G . Stwd ., G . G . Stroud , P . M ., J . F . Harvey , E . R . Osborne , J . Ellery , P . M ., P . G . Supt . of Works , and W . II . Long , P . M ., P . M ., P . P . J . G . D ., allot 175 ; Wavell Knight , W . M ., W . J . Knight , I . P . M ., J . JolhfTe , S . W ., Earnest Wetherick , Sec , H . F . Grant , S . D ., J . Corbould , Org ., W .

D . Bidgood , P . M ., F . Sheppard , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , Geo . King , William H . Bull , Alfred Bromwich , Mark Lind / ield , P . M ., and H . Cloots , all of 551 ; Chas . Hy . Lloyd , I . P . M ., R . Fox , P . M ., H . G . Nutt , and A . T . Richardson , all of 69 S ; Thomas Ford , P . M ., T . E . Porter , P . M ., Arthur Firth , P . M ., P . P . G . O ., G . Withers , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , W . Garland , Chas . Fox , P . M ., Harvey Child , VV . R . Gordon , P . M . ( Ireland ) , and B . Frere , all of 1 S 69 ; Chas . Brown , P . M . 35 , W . M ., W . H . Brading , I . P . M ., H . \ V . Brading , S . W ., G . Coles , A . E . Sargent , and C . W . Leight , all of 2169 ; H . Gross , 1314 , P . G . D . C . Kent ; and W . S . Salean , Treas . 257 .

The lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . R . R . Russell , the minutes confirmed , when a telegram was despatched to the P . G . M ., conveying the deep regret of the members at his absence from illness . The Audit report showed in a marked manner the satisfactory position of the lodge , the debt on the building on mortgage being only X ' 250 . The W . M . elect , Bro . Alfred Greenham , P . M ., S . W ., was then presented by Bro . H . W . Daws , I . P . M ., to the Installing Master , Bro . Col . H . Lumsden , P . G . M . of West Aberdeenshire , who very impressively performed the ceremony , and installed him in the chair . The W . M . then gave the addresses to his officers , who were appointed