Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

THE WISCONSIN THEORY OF RELIEF . To ths Editor of the '' Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Bro . Aldro Jenks has undoubtedly been influenced in his convictions , as every Mason is who has long studied his own particular district with a view to its benejit , by a worthy intent . In ordinary cases it is the bounden duty of a Mason to concede thisand I do so sincerely ; moreover , 1 do not like to pit my

, judgment against that of a Past G . Master if I can help it . However , there seems to tne one grave objection to the scheme he favours—is not the lodge to which any brother belongs the best able to decide what its duty is , and a strange lodge the most unlikely to be empowered to incur an expense and responsibility on its behalf?—Yours fraternally , J . RAMSDEN RILEY . Liverpool , December 3 rd .

THE RIGHT USE OF THE MONEY SUBSCRIBED TO OUR CHARITIES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have read in to-day ' s issue your interesting article on the approaching " Old People ' s Festival , " and also in past numbers of your paper your articles and

remarks and letters on the sum of . £ 1050 voted to the Secretary of the Boys School . I have refrained until now from addressing your valuable paper ; but , from my position—owing to my profession—I have met many London , Provincial , and Colonial Masons , who have all unanimously expressed not only their great disgust of the sum of £ 1050 , subscribed by the Craft for a certain purpose , being otherwise appropriated , and their intention in future not to subscribe . Might I , therefore , suggest as regards both the "Old People" and " the Girls , " that it be clearly

understood that any monies subscribed by the brethren , for the purpose of their respective Charities , will be devoted to the purpose the money is subscribed for , and , further , that when the Stewards of the late Centenary Festival meet to settle what is to be done with the balance that remains from the Stewards' fees—that thesum of ^ 1000 , or as near it as the funds will admit , will be credited to " the Boys' School ? " Then , and not till then , will the Craft under the English Constitution throughout the world feel inclined to support our great and glorious Charities .

Bro . McLeod has done wonders for the Charity he has the honour to act as Secretary for , and I feel sure that he is the last man to wish that his own or the sister . Charities should suffer for a spontaneous burst of enthusiasm on the part of certain brethren . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , A LONDON , PROVINCIAL , AND COLONIAL MASON . London , December 3 rd .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"THE TEMPLE MAGAZINE , " December , 189 S . —The number for this month , " with an eye " to Christmastide , is a remarkable one , and even more interesting than usual , which is saying a good deal . Several articles are much beyond the average , notably " Parliamentary Wits and Wags , " and "Harry Furness Interviewed "; the caricatures of F . Carruthers Gould , and the reproductions of one of ou > leading cartoonist ' s sketches , being irresistibly comic and amusing . The "Temple Talk" is lively and suggestive as ever , and " Some Memorable Sabbaths , " by Silas K . Hocking , on perusal proves to be one of the best efforts in brief by that gifted author . There are

some too pages literally crammed with readable matter ; yet there is still another attraction , unique and valuable . The " Life Portraits of the Queen , " with biographical comments , is a separate publication , presented by the publishers as a Christmas supplement I In what may be termed panoramic form , the Queen ' s life passes before the interested reader j the striking portraits and historic pictures aptly preserving faithful souvenirs of her Majesty at every period of her remarkable reign . This volume , undoubtedl y , will give much pleasure , and be highly appreciated by all who love and honour the Queen . Ihe publishers are Messrs . Horace Marshall and Son , of Temple House , E . G ., and the lino handsome books can be had for one shillinir .

Dedication Of A Temple By The Honble. Sir Stafford Northcote.

DEDICATION OF A TEMPLE BY THE HONBLE . SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE .

IMPORTANT ORATION . A large number of brethren assembled at Torquay on Thursday , the 1 st inst ., for the dedication of the Masonic Temple erected by the members of the Jordan Lodge at Tor Hill-road .. Hitherto it has been under the banner of St . John ' s Lodge at the Masonic Hall in Park-street , but its remoteness from the centre of the town and the railway station made it inconvenient . The temple

is admirably situated In both these respects , and has been built at a cost of 1000 guineas from designs by Bro . G . S . Bridgrnan , P . P . G . Supt . of Works . A pleasing feature has been the generous manner in which the brethren have contributed to the furnishing of the lodge , which is of spacious dimensions , with a convenient ante-room adjoining , and banqueting hall and kitchen below . The three handsome chairs were given by the Master and Wardens , all the other

officers giving the articles connected with their respective offices , and , in addition , the strikingly beautiful pedestals were the gift of Bro . H . C . Goss , the table with tracing boards the gift of Bro . Ri ppinpille , thc costly working tools the gift of Bro . John Lane , and the fine gas fittings the gift of Bro . Fred Hall ; whilst the lodge is to be appropriately decorated by Bro . Charles Hill , the I . P . M ., during whose year of office the erection of the temple was planned , and carried to a successful completion ; also a line American organ was given by Bro . Wills .

The ceremonial commenced with a procession of the officers of the lodge and the Prov . Grand Master and his assistants , the other brethren having previously taken their seats . Tho procession was composed of Bros . J . E . Newton , Tyler ; F . Hall and

C . Burrow , Stewards ; W . Eliot Thomas , I . G . ; W . Winget , P . M ., D . C ; W . Grist , J . D . ; J . GJanfield , S . D . ; S . Wills , P . M ., Treas .,- R . D . Scholes , j . W . ; W . T , Gale , S . W . ; and C . Hill , I . P . M ., with the W . M ,, Uro . J . G . Turle ; and j . Dodge , P . M ., P . P . G . T ., B . Knight , P . M ., T . H . Wills , P . M ., P . G . S ., and J . Taylor , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., carrying corn , wine , oil , and salt . Next came Bros , the Rov . F . B .

Dedication Of A Temple By The Honble. Sir Stafford Northcote.

Saulez , Prov . Grand Chap . ; John Stocker , Prov . G . Sec . ; G . S . Strode , P . S . G . W . ; P . M . Deas , P . J . G . W . ; Major G . C . Davie , D . P . G . M . ; and the Hon . Sir Stafford Northcote , Bart ., C . B ., M . P ., together with the Past Grand Officers—Bros . W . J . Hughan , P . S . G . D ., and J . Lane , P . A . G . D . C . The lodge having been opened , and the brethren saluted the Prov . G . M ., the ceremony was proceeded with .

The PROV . G . CHAPLAIN said the dedicatory prayers and read the Scnptutes , and the dedication officers , the Prov . Grand Master , his Deputy , and Wardens , duly dedicating the temple with corn , wine , oil , and salt to Freemasonry , Virtue , Universal Benevolence , and Friendship . The following oration was then delivered by that world-renowned Masonic antiquary , Bro . W . J . HUGHAN , P . S . G . D . of England .-

To dedicate a building is usually associated with a Religious ceremonial , and to set aside a structure for an exclusive purpose is of time immemorial antiquity . Precisely when it became the custom to dedicate Masonic halls is not known , but probably it was not until early last century . The Old Charges which dated from the 14 th century were silent on the subject . The lodges , or covered sheds , erected in close proximity to the sites of the grand cathedrals in which their ancient brethren ( and ancestors ) assembled and prepared the stones for those

majestic edifices , were not likely to have been dedicated , because raised for operative and more or less temporary purposes . Cowans , however , were rigidly excluded . In later centuries , unfortunately , they had but few records to instruct them as to the usages and customs of the Fraternity until the 16 th century was reached . The ancient " Lodge of Edinburgh , first and principal Lodge of Scotland , " met in "St . Mary's Chapill" from 1618 to 1787 . The chapel was erected in 1504 ., and dedicated to the Virgin Mary , hence its name . The venerable

Mother Lodge Kilwinning met within the kirk of Kilwinning from 1599 , according to the statutes of that year , promulgated by Bro . William Schaw , Master Mason to the king . Frequently the gatherings of the Craft were held in the open air , " on the highest hills or lowest dales , " or in the upper rooms of members , and sometimes in the mansions of noblemen , many of whom joined in the 17 thcentury and held office . The regulations ot the Lodge of Aberdeen , of 1670 , provided that apprentices should be " entered , " i . e ., initiated , in their out-field lodge , with

the blue vault of Heaven for a covering—a Celestial Canopy , unequalled for beauty and unsurpassed for durability , " A Temple not made with hands , " and dedicated to the use of mankind for all time by the bountiful Giver of All Good . The Masons' Hall , Basinghall-street , London , was erected on a site obtained from the prior and convent of the Holy Church of the Trinity-within-Aldgate , London , in 1463 , in consequence of which it is supposed that that company carried a banner of the Holy Trinity ( founded in 1373 ) in their processions . The hall was rebuilt

in 1668 ( after the great fire ) , but , alas I was sold so recently as 1865 . It was in * : hat hall that the lodge was held iii 1682 , when it was visited by Elias Ashmole , the celebrated antiquary , 36 years after his initiation , and the " acception" met from 1620 , and doubtless earlier , composed of the Accepted Masons , who assembled under the wing of the company . The Freemasons' Hall , Great Q ueen-street , London , was dedicated to " Masonry , virtue , and universal benevolence " in 1776 . Preston tells us that " A new Ode , written and set to music on the occasion , was performed before a

number of ladies , who honoured the Society with their company that day . An Exordium on Masonry , not less eloquent than instructive , was given by the Grand Secretary , and an excellent oration by the Grand Chaplain . " It must not b * s confounded with the one adjoining , known correctly as the Freemasons' Tavern , but often described as the Freemasons' Hall . It was not exclusively used for Masonic purposes , as the other was . The former ( their own hall ) was one of the finest of its kind anywhere , whether considered architecturally , artistically , or

historically . The Fourfold dedication of Masonic Halls to Freemasonry was , firstly , because they were specially arranged for the working of its ceremonies , free from the unsuitable or questionable association of hotels , taverns , or houses of public resort . Their Society was not only ancient , but truly honourable , and when its principles were observed as they should be , it was one of the most beneficent and useful institutions in the universe , embracing millions of the human race as one family , " without regard to creed , colour , or clime . Nationally most

loyal and patriotic , Internationally for peace and goodwill , Locally a foe to narrowness , bitterness , and caste , Generally cosmopolitan and humanitarian , and virtually perfect in conception , though sometimes faulty in realisation . Freemasonry is ancient beyond question , and most honourable if brethren were as free from vices as they should feel free to follow the highest precepts and the best examples . Their ideal was the Scriptural injunction or definition— " Pure religion and undefiled before God and our Father is this , to visit the fatherless and widow

in their affliction , and to keep unspotted from the world . " Secondly , their halls were dedicated to virtue because the aims of the Fraternity were based upon the volume of the Sacred Law , had faith , hope , and charity for its three grand principles ; temperance , fortitude , prudence , and justice for its four cardinal virtues ; and Freemasons were required and pledged to obey the moral law . Thirdly , their halls were dedicated to Universal Benevolence , a broader term than Charity , and recognised not only the Fatherhood of God , but

the brotherhood of man . Our Charities are extensive , This year ( a record one ) we shall raise in England an average of at least £ 500 a day ; but ordinarily we do not exceed £ 100 , 000 a year in this country . The Grand Lodge of England and other Grand Lodges do not restrict their funds to Masonic uses , but always have been both ready and willing to aid objects of a general character . But let me point out that the principal or primary object of Freemasonry is not Charity but Fraternity , and if all the lodges in Devon would follow the advice of the

esteemed Prov . G . M ., Sir Stafford Northcote ( a household nam *; in the county ) , and the thoughtful addresses of the D . P . G . M ., Major Davie , there would be less need for their Charities , and much more of good fellowship manifested . Freemasonry was a luxury and a moral institution , and those who could not alford it , or were unworthy , should keep , or be kept , outside . It was not , and never would be , a benefit society . Lastly , Masonic halls were dedicated to Friendship , for one of the chief and distinctive characteristics of Freemasonry was the number of friends that were made through its medium—friends who united fidelity with

fraternity , and were true companions in prosperity or adversity . In the words of the first of the " Charges'' in the " Book of Constitutions " — " Thus Masonry is the centre of union between good men and true , and the happy means of conciliating friendship amongst those who must otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance . " In this handsome , commodious , and appropriately-furnished Temple may brotherly love , relief , and truth always prevail ; may the impressive service of this day be long remembered by all present , and prove an incentive to renewed faithfulness and devotion to the Craft ! Brethren , bear with me , as a member of over 35 years , when I remarK , in conclusion , that if we respect ourselves as Freemasons , the Craft itself will be respected , and then we miy sincerely pray

" May God prosper the Art ! " As an organisation , ours is one of the most perfectly-constitute J Societies in the country , and though , as brethren , we often fall short of our ideals , yet with all its faults , I love the Fraternity a much as ever , ani hope that as long as I live it will be my pleasure to continue a subscribing member of our Society , which has been constituted to

"Fear God , Honour the King ( or Queen ) , and Love the Brothcrho id . ( Hearty applause followed , renewed again and again , and especially when Bro . Hughan responded to the fraternal greeting of the brethren . ) The DEP . PROV . G . MASTER , in moving a voire of thanks to Bro . Hug ' . ian for his able and excellent oration , endorsed the sen ' . imsnt therein expresssi that