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 limits—*>* : e discussion .

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The series of Articles appearing , of late , in the Freemason , under the above heading , are , doubtless very interesting and , in some respects , instructive , though the views expressed in them are not , in my opinion , always free from argument , ' and they would certainly carry greater weight if they were not " communicated " anonymously .

With reference to the article in your issue of 27 th instant , I should be glad to have pointed out where in the Book of Constitutions it is stated , either directly or inferentially , that " an opportunity for second thoughts and possible reversal of opinion should be given" in relation to "the Election of Master , Grants of money and Alteration of Laws , " or where " it is specifically declared

that there are three classes of question , to wit , the Election of Master , alteration , formation , or suspension of laws and regulations and financial matters , the importance of which is such that there should be an opportunity for reconsideration and that the voice of the Lodge should be heard a second time before such matters are treated as finally accomplished . "

In the absence of any authori t ative information to this effect , I submit that the conclusions arrived at by your correspondent are erroneous , and , as such , misleading . A confirmation of minutes , on all transactions , including each of those in question , is required for the sole purpose of showing that the brethren concern ed assent to them as a correct record of the proceedings , and , therefore , if a Master be elected at one meeting in conformity with Rule 130 of the Book of

Constitutions , nothing can interfere with his installation at the next regular meeting of the lodge ; but if , upon the reading of the minutes , a valid objection should t > e made , and substantiated , to the manner in which that portion relating to such election is recorded , the necessary correction must be made accordingly , the minutes confirmed , and the installation proceeded with . Were this not the case , there would never be any certainty of an elected Master being installed at the time appointed by the bye-laws .

By the same rule , if the rejection of a candidate for initiation takes place in conformity with Rules 184 , 185 , and 190 of the Book of Constitutions and with the bye-laws of the Iodge , it cannot be rescinded or upset on the reading of the minutes at the next regular meeting of the lodge , but I gather that , on this point , I am in accord with your anonymous correspondent . The same remarks apply , however , to " grants of money and alteration of laws . "

Rule 251 Book of Constitutions , which your correspondent particularly refers to and correctly interprets , is a special instruction to the Board of Benevolence on a specific matter , and I fail to see that it has any reference whatever to , or governs in any way , the votes or proceedings of a private lodge . —Yours fraternally ,

E . PRINCE , P . M . 209 , P . M . and Sec . 26 71 , D . C 2760 , P . P . G . S . of W , Berks , P . Z 771 , Prov . G . P . S . Berks . 68 , Wokingham-road , Reading , 31 st October .

To ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am extremely pleased to sec the correspondence that is now going on in your columns , and I hope that , beginning with one comparatively simple point , on which the rule is really very definitely stated , it will become both keen and

extensive , and open up the whole question of Masonic regalia . In this case Grand Lodge , noting that some feeling in the matter exists in the Craft , might see lit to thoroughly revise the regulations thereon . It is to be regretted that this was not done in 1896 when the last edition of the Book of Constitutions was published , for as Arts . 291 to 303 now stand , they are less well put than any others .

I came across some regulations for Naval Uniforms not long ago , and I was very forcibly struck by the minute descriptions of the cuff of the coat , the bullion on the cocked hat , the exact position for the wearing of medals and decorations , and so forth . Turning to our " Uniform Regulations , " I was equally

struck with their looseness . The aprons are especially badly done . For example , take the description of the Grand Officers' aprons on page 130 . They are to be " lined with garter-blue-edging , " whatever that may be , and are to be " ornamented ivithgold and blue strings . Even if it is only an oversight in proof-reading , surely it is inexcusable in the Statute Book of Freemasonry .

But apart from the actual description of the clothing , the rules for wearing it might be better defined , and in some cases altered altogether . 1 . —A definite ruling might be given as to the clothing of Prov . Grand Officers holding office in a private lodge ( a ) in their own province ( ft ) in any other province . Take the example of a Past Prov . Grand Officer settling in South Africa . He joins a lodge there , and is eventually elected W . M . What is his proper clothing ? There should be no question of "' good form , " on which there may be endless differences of opinion ; a rule is required .

2 . —Why should a Past Grand Steward or a Prov . Grand Officer wear two collars in Grand Lodge ? His apron proclaims his Steward ' s or Provincial rank , as the case may be , and his Master's or Warden ' s collar proclaims the office in right of which he attends as a member of Grand Lodge . 3 . —I note with pleasure W . Bro . Bowser ' s letter on the Past Master ' s collar , and with him should like to see a hard and fast rule in place of the permission implied in the word " entitled . "

4 . —Permission is given by the Book of Constitutions to officers of private lodges to wear a silver cha ' n collar , and there is no rule against its being worn round the shoulders in the way that chain collars are generally worn , as long as it is over the silk collar . I do not know who started the heathenish idea of sewing it

on to the silk collar ; but , to my mind , it looks absolutely out of place , and not very graceful ; moreover , it is certainly heavy and cumbersome hanging round the neck . The law might he laid down on this point , and , at the same time , its use might be restricted to the Worshipful Master , as practically it is restricted by custom at present .

5 . —Another alteration that I should like to see made is in the width of the collars . The four inches might well be reduced to two-and-a-half , the width of the Provincial R . A . collars , which always look particularly neat . A small nun is very literally " clothed " with the present four inch collars , and even the broadchested man is partially obscured by the two broad splashes of blue—an appearance which is very striking in a photograph of a group of officers .

Correspondence.

6 . —The distinction between " full dress " and " undress " clothing for Grand and Provincial Grand Officers has been now so firmly established by custom , that regulations recognising it officially might well be introduced . I enclose my card , and remain yours fraternally , W . M . 904 , P . D . A . G . D . C . Barbados .

To tne Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As a subscriber to the Freemason , and interested in the doings of the Craft , I have been much pleased with the articles appearing weekly under the heading of " Masonic Jurisprudence . " For want of leisure , and indifferent health , I have been prevented from aclose study of the writings which I hope to make . Mv

object in addressing you now is to request that your valuable contributor will in one of his articles deal with the question of the inspection of lodges and the books . As a lodge Secretary I should value an article dealing with this subject more especially if your contributor could treat it as from a District Grand Lod ge Officer . deputed by his D . Grand Master to inspect the lodges in his district . There are some 34 lodges in our district widely scattered , and they would be all

the better in many instances for advice by competent brethren . An article dealing with lodges and their relation with their District Grand Lodge , and the requirements of the latter in the shape of forms , returns , & c , would be a distinct benefit to the average Secretary . —Yours fraternally , W . G . South Africa , 23 rd September .

THE OLDEST LODGE IN WEST YORKSHIRE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your issue of the 3 rd instant , containing a very kind and complimentary mention of myself as Honorary Librarian of West Yorkshire and encouraging remarks respecting the newly-appointed Assistant Librarian , Bro . H . B . Wilson , W . M . elect 2 S 9 , 1 observe that Fidelity Lodge , No . 289 , is alluded to as the " Mother Lodge" of this province .

A slip of the pen has evidently occurred , as , although Fidelity , No . 289 , is the mother lodge of Leeds , and the Masonic birth place of our R . W . Prov . Grand Master and our Deputy Prov . Grand Master , the Lodge of Probity , No . 61 , Halifax , is not only the mother lodge of West Yorkshire , but by far and away the oldest lodge in this county , the next in age being that fine old lodge , Britannia , No . 139 , of Sheffield .

It was in 1738—the year of the founding of the Probity Lodge , No . 61—that William Horton , a Halifax gentleman of good family , was appointed as the first Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally ,

WILLIAM WATSON , P . P . S . G . W . and Honorary Librarian West Yorkshire . 10 S , Victoria-road , Headingley , Leeds , November 5 th .

FIDELITY LODGE , No . 2 S 9 , LEEDS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your article on the West Yorkshire Masonic Library in the

Freemason lor the 3 rd instant , you refer to " Fidelity Lodge , No . 289 , Leeds , " as " the Mother Lodge of the Province . " For information only , I would like to know the authority for such reference . I have consulted Bro . J . Ramsden Riley ' s valuable work on " The Yorkshire Lodges , " and under the title " Fidelity , Leeds , " find the following :

" Its Masonic life has been most vigorous and useful ; few lodges can boast of a more earnest and unceasing interest in Yorkshire Masonry than the Fidelitv . No . 28 9 . " " No reference is there made to Fidelity being the mother Iodge of the province —indeed , if such a claim had existed , it is to be supposed that Bro . Riley would have recorded it in his book .

Fidelity Lodge , 28 9 , dates from 1792 ; there are seven earlier lodges in the province , namely : Nos . 61 , Probity , Halifax , 173 S ; 139 , Britannia , Sheffield , 17 C 5 ; 154 . Unanimity , Wakefield , 1766 ; 149 , Peace , Meltham , 1777 ; 242 , 81 . George ' s , Doncaster , 1780 ; 265 , Royal Yorkshire , Keighley , 1788 ; and 275 , Harmony , Huddersfield , 17 S 9 .

Fidelity Lodge , I believe , has the honour of being the mother Iodge of the present Prov . Grand Master , and also of the present Dep . Prov . Grand Master . That circumstance , however , is , I take it , insufficient to establish Fidelity as " the mother lodge of the province . "—Yours fraternally . J . T . LAST , P . M . 2321 .

MASONS -e . BOXERS . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I read with interest a paragraph respecting a speech given by Bro . Henry Scott , No . 15 , upon the important question , " which was the first secret society of the world , the Masons or the Boxers ? " Which subject was recently referred to by one of the principal London daily papers .

As the question is one of great importance to Masons at large , is it not possible for Bro . Henry Scott to be prevailed upon to treat the subject iu cxtenso atone or more lodge meetings in London ' i as from his remarks it appears that he has for years made a hobby of collecting statistics upon the subject from all parts of the world , and has been in a position so to do , owing , as he states , to having been in communication with the rulers not only of Europe , but also those of the world at large .

I should esteem it a favour if you can see your way to give me a small space in your valuable journal for the insertion of this communication , —1 am , dear Sir , yours faithfully , LEX .

AN ARTICLE by the Archdeacon of London , Bro . the Venerable William MacDonald Sinclair , on the " Clan MacDonald , " will appear in the next issue of the London Scotsman . Archdeacon Sinclair is a great-grandson of the Lord MacDonald who entertained Dr . Johnson when on his visit to the Western islands . AUSTRALIA AND IMPERIAL PKN . NV POSTAGE . — Bro . Henniker Heaton , M . P ., has received cable advices to the effect that the question of including the Australian colonies in the Imperial Penny Postage Scheme will probably be settled very shortly in a satisfactory manner .