Original Correspondence.

pealed , the charter of New Zealand is seen to have been valid from the first ; and , to use his own words , " the whole affair , " which he stated to be " ludicrous , " ends in his own recognition of its genuineness 1 Yours fraternally , A 33 ° .

WARNING TO THE CHARITABLE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir anel Brother , — Knowing that your publication is as free to expose imposition , and thus protect the charitable , as it is to urge the true spirit of benevolence for any genuine case cf 1 istress , I wish , through your columns , to warn

brethren against giving charity indiscriminately to individuals going about pretending to be Masons in distress . A man was about this neighbourhood last week , calling upon various brethren , and calling himself Bro . Szapira , of Morning Ledge , No . 351 , Frankfort-on-Maine . He introduces himself by offering to sell books ( a history of various religions ) , but soon lets you know he is begging

for relief . We find that he has collected in this neighbourhood alone at least two pounds , in various amounts , although most of the older members refuseel to give , informing him that our lodge ( 1327 ) had a special fund ( collected at the festive board of our meetings ) from which such cases haei to be relieved by one brother , who held the fund . I referred him to that brother myself , but it

appears he elid not succeed in that quarter , as our good Treasurer had heard too much of him previously . When here I find he visited various public houses , where he spent money , anel boasted about getting money from Freemasons of the neighbourhood . No doubt when he left here he proceeded a few miles further to again carry on this very remunerative way

of preying upon the kind feelings of those he calls brother Masons . I hope , however , if he is , that this may put a stop to it , anel that he may meet with an introduction to the . nearest police station , if he is , as some suspect , obtaining money , not only by begging ( which of itself is unlawful ) but by fraudulent pTetences . Many brethren here have experienced the worthless ncss

of those ( and they have been several ) who go about obtaining money under the cloak of Masonry . In one case , a few years ago , nearly a pound was collected at our lodge of instruction anel handed to one who professed tc be anxious for employment . I offeretl him constant employment myself , and he was to start wcrk at eight o ' clock the next morning , but instead of doing so , he

went away , and was seen going towards London as early as six o'clock a . m ., and somewhat later was again begging of Masons at Tottenham . Our lodge has adopted a system now of having a fund from which to relieve cases that appear genuine , but individually { we are not supposed to give to such cases . 1 think in every lodge something of the sort should

exist , because when these people find they can only succeed in obtaining about three or four shillings in a neighbourhood , and not that without severe testing , they will not be so likely to make a trade cf it . Yours fraternally , l . P . M . 1327 . Waltham Cross , October 2 , 1878 .

THE PROVINCIAL CHARITY JEWEL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can you explain what this is ? Is it to be a special anil new provincial jewel , and under what authority is it to be conferred anil worn ? I do not unelerstand it .

There is a " charity jewel" worn by resolution of Grand Lodge , but have the Provincial Grand Masters the right to institute new charity jewels ? Or , is this only an adaptation and extension of the existing charity jewel ? Yours fraternally , ENQUIRER . [ At present we confess that we do not quite understand the proposition . —ED . F . M . ]

PRECEDENCE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Where in the toast list , and whether by itself , or jointly with any other , and , if so , with what toast , should

the health of the Past Prov . G . M . appear , and is he R . W ., V . W ., or W . ? Faithfully anil fraternally yours , H . S . T . [ Best in the toast of the Present and Past Prov . Grand Officers . He is R . W . ]

1 ETHE MARK DEGREE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . ' Dear Sir and Brother . In looking over a recent number ( August 31 st ) of the Freemason , my attention was drawn to the address of Bro . Lamonby , Chaplain 151 , in which he remarks , " It is high time the Grand Craft Lodge ( sic ) and the

Supreme Grand Chapter of England acknowledged the Maik Degree . " Now as Mark meetings rarely pass without some allusion of this kind , it may be respectful to that association that silence upon the subject should not always be retained , and , I trust , therefore , it may not be considered intrusive to ask our brother for some further information on the subject .

I think il will be concedeel that when a right is claimed , or privilege asked for , it is incumbent on those so asking or claiming to give some evidence of ist , what they are ? 2 nd , whence they come ? Also , in this case , thirdly , by what right they lay claim to affiliation with the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England ? It is further necessary that such statements be made in plain English , anil in accordance with common sense and truth . I presume that on this subject being brought before the

Original Correspondence.

Grand Lodge the first thing would be to produce the authentic history of Mark Masonry . Secondly , its ritual , and , indeed , a \ Uts professes to know , except its actual passw > rds . This would lie imperative , otherwise the Grand Lodge would be asVed to accept that of which it officially knew nothing . This woulel seem also to be the opinion of our brother ,

since in proof of his claims , he refers us to its history as he understands it , and the beauty of its ritual . As to this latter , it is satisfactory to have his assurance that it is beautiful , anel it may be so , yet , as tastes differ , others might question the grammar , the good sense , and the truth it might contain . Thus what is vouched for as beautiful by some might seem to others devoid of those

qualities in which true beauty alone consists . In giving the history of Mark Masonry our brcther has quoted two very unequal authorities , viz .: the Holy Scriptures and our late Bro . Oliver . Now , the writings of Bro . Oliver are excellent commentaries on the rules of Freemasonry , as practised amongst

us , but his authority as historian is simply nil , his pretendeel history absurd . The other authority to which our friend refers is that of the Holy Scriptures , giving from them an abstract of the dealings of Solomon , King of Israel , with Hiram , King of Tyre , a narrative beautiful in itself and true .

Now , may 1 ask our brother what this narrative has to do with Mark Masonry , since the Hol y text says not one word of Mark Masonry from end to' end . That Freemasonry is an ancient institution many truth speaking men agree , and surrounded as the subject is

with great difficulty , would gladly welcome any historical contribution towards the solution of the question , and when a man of learning approaches the suhject , it is with a sense of elisappointment that one finds no real assistance towards the resolution desired .

It may further be fairl y presumed that should he ever succeed in bringing his favourite topic under discussion at the Grand Lodge , hu might there find an audience less inclined , than the one he lately addressed , to give him credit for historical accuracy . Some , indeed , might think that had so zealous a man as was King Solomon founel any considerable number of his workmen forming themselves

into secret ass . iciations , he might have distinguished their leaeler by a mark of approbation , similar to that mark by which he distinguished his brother Adonijah . Indeed , it would be most easy logically to prove that such an association as a lod ge of Mark Masons would have been an impossibility in that nation and race , and utterly unknown in its history .

Leaving this proof of what our friend informs us King Solomon did " to detect impostors , " he leaves his argument like an ostrich egg in the desert to take care of itself , and carries us ( it almost takes away our breath ) rightover to the middle ages , merely remarking that " leaving the scriptural age we find ample proof , if any were needed , that Mark Masonry was coeval with operative Craft

Masonry , " evidently considering the proof of its descent from King Solomon as altogether beneath his notice . Glibly as all this is written , each line to the thinking man gives rise to important questions . Who can tell us anything authentic of Craft Masonry at the epoch to which he alludes ? Who really knows whether it ever was operative ? Surely a learned historian , who asserts that a certain institution was coeval with another institutionmust

, know and have it in his power to tell us something credible of both those institutions at the time he mentions , and of which he professes to have " ample proof . " This information , however , he keeps to himself , remarking only that certain " marks " made by the builders of certain mediaeval structures ( a long way indeed from the time of King Solomon ) are proofs—of what ? Our author does not tell .

The copies of these marks which I have seen and I have sought , are merely nonelescript figures , resembling no present Masonic signs , except so far as any other set of an ^^ lar scratches might be said to do , and it is not too much to 1 rAssert that they convey no meaning whatever , cither in history , philology , or philosophy . The question whether our present Masonry had an operative origin is settled by our friend on his mere

assertion , whilst of the connection of the Masons of King Solomon with those of the middle ages he gives us no pro-f whatever . Why the poor Welshman in showing the identity between Monmouth and Maceelon proved himself a better logician . Neither does our friend offer any proof of the connection of either with the Mark Masons , an association which arose "in this kingdom of ours" a comparatively few years since , and which we know all

about . I have no doubt our worthy brother is highly esteemed by all who know him , and his influence is only for good in his own sacred sphere . I would , however , ask him seriously ( as he thus steps aside from his own sacred character and assumes that of the historian ) , the question , whether he thinks such a paper would be accepted by any

learned society whatever , engaged in the research of truth . ' Such historical evidence might have indeed been accepted from a Preceptor of a lodge of instruction , but from a man claiming to belong to a learned calling it is inexplicable . Of course our brother and the audien : e he addressed are at liberty to believe whatever they please of King Solomon ' and his Masons , or Melrose Abbey , or" Time immemorial , '

whatever that may mean . We cannot however but remark th-it unle & s he is prepareel with a deliverence very different from the one here presented , he hael better defer his appeal to the Grand Loilcie- for the audience he desires , unto some future period of Masonic history , when every rule of evidence shall have been forgotten , and critical acumen be extinct . Yours Fraternally , W . VINER B . BEDOLFE , M . D ., P . M ., P . Z ., 1329 .

Original Correspondence.

THE CHARITY ORGANIZATION SOCIETY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Bear Sir and Brother , — The following is the last report of this Society , tc which I alluded in my last letter : — "The thirty-eight District Committees of the Charity Organization Society have dealt with 1013 cases , exclusive

of 372 vagrants and homeless persons , during the four weeks ending September 28 th . In Class 1 , 410 were dismissed as " not requiring relief" or otherwise ineligible . In Class 2 , 260 were recommended to the guardians , local agencies , or private persons . In Class 3 , 343 were assisted by grants , loans , employment , and letters for

hospitals , & c . " By this it will be seen that four-fourteenths were dismissed as not requiring relief , and 260 were recommended , 343 were assisted . It would be a curious fact to ascertain what became of the ' 410 , and how many of the 260 got relief . Yours fraternally , O MICRON .

MASONIC STUDENT . Dear Bro . Kenning , I see that Bro . Rob Morris , in the New York Dispatch , says that " Masonic Student" is Bro . Hughan . Now , with all respect anel regard to my excellent friend , Bro . Hughan , he is not " Masonic Student , " as he will no doubt confirm . But I atn , as the Irishman said , "

myself . " And more than this , I am a reality , and , as some of my friends say , " non let is umbra , " if only a shadow , as far as the Freemason anel Masonic Magazine , & c , are concerned . Though extremely obliged to Bro . Morris for what he says of me , I am sorry he finds the style of the Freemason " heavy . " Men ' s ieleas differ . Perhaps his style some may

think light . I venture to be of opinion that the Freemason hits the "juste milieu , " as the French put it—the " happy mean , " as we should say , and is neither too grave nor too gay , too heavy nor too light . Claiming , therefore , for my personal identity and existence an actuality , which is not that of my esteemeel confrere , W . James Hughan ( whose own merits are enough for anyone ) , I beg to subscribe myself once again , Yours fraternally and obliged ,

MASONIC STUDENT . [ Bro . Bickerton is not the publisher of the Scottish Freemason . Bro . George Kenning is the sole proprietor and publisher . —ED . ] —

QUERIES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Answers to the following questions in the next issue of the Freemason will be esteemeel a favour : 1 st . If a Worshipful Master at his installation appoints a brother , who is not a Past Master , to the office of

Secretary , is it compulsory that such a brother should serve the office of Secretary three years before being entitled to the office of J . W . ? 2 nd . If a Worshipful Master elect has promised the Secretary of his lodge ( who is not a P . M ., and has only served the office of Secretary one year ) that at the installation he will appoint him Junior Warden , but a Past

Master of the lodge comes forward , and informs the W . M . elect that such a Secretary must serve three years as Secretary before he ought to be appointed J . W . ? Would the W . M . elect be acting against the rules or customs of the Craft in still persisting to appoint the Secretary to the office of J . Warden , and thus carry out his promise ?

3 id . Is there any such law or custom as stated by the Past Master , viz .: that a Secretary ( not a P . M . ) must serve his office three years before being entitled to the Junior Warden ' s Collar ? Yours fraternally , VERITY .

1 . Certainly not . 2 . The W . M . can so appoint him if he thinks well . 3 . There is no law of the Craft on the subject . In some lodges service as Secretary is made preparatory to the Warden ' s chair , but it is merely a custom , and not law . —En . F . M .

Consecration Of The Pimlico Lodge, No. 1772.

CONSECRATION OF THE PIMLICO LODGE , No . 1772 .

This new lodge was consecrated on Thursday , the 3 rd inst ., at the Morpeth Arms , Ponsonby-street , Millbank . The brethren who were present on the occasion were Bros . J . Boyd , P . M ., P . G . P . ( Consecrating Officer ) ; H . G . Buss , Asst . G . Sec ., D . C . ; J . A . Ruckcr , P . M ., P . G . D . j P . de

Lande Long , P . M ., P . G . D . ; C . B . Payne , G . Tyler ; Col Peters , J . G . W . Middx . ; W . Coombes , P . G . S . B . Middx . ; Herbert Dicketts , 23 , P . G . S . ; J . Jermyn Boyd , 23 j G . R . Shervill , P . M . 25 ; Charles Atkins , P . M . 27 ; D . H . Jacobs , P . M . 27 ; A . Head , 27 ; W . Carter , P . M . 141 ; Cobham , P . M . 141 ; T . Bull , P . M . 14 s ; T . Baxter , 145 ; G . Everitt , P . M . 177 ; G . Stacey , P . M . 209 ; G . T . Carter , P . M . 382 ;

E . C . Woodward , 382 ; Alfred Dawson . 421 j E . J . Scott , P . M . 749 l C . C . Ewbank , J . W . 803 ; J . C . Cox , P . M . 1257 ; Howard Reynolds , 1319 ; G . F . Swan , P . M . 1321 ; Alfred Wade , P . M . 1449 ; J . R . Nicholls , S . W . 1567 ; W . Elliot , 1 . 5 6 7 J . Kiallmark , P . M . 1608 ; C . Brewer , S . W . 1608 ; T . H . Hartley , 1608 ; J . Lawler , 92 ; Montem Smith , 179 ; John Palmer , P . G . S . W . Berks and Bucks , P . M . ; Caleb Holden , P . G . Treas . Berks and Bucks , P . M .:

Jeihn Hunt , P . M . ; John Elliott , P . M . ; John Mason , P . S . G . D . Middx ., P . M . " ; F . A . Pemberton , H . Haycock , and H . Massey , P . M . 619 ( Freemason ) . The ceremony of consecration was performed by Bro John Beiyd , Past Giand Pursuivant . The S . W . chair was occupieel by Bro . John A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; and that of J . W . by Bro . Peter de Lande Long , P . G . D . Bro . H . G . Buss , Assistant Grand Secretary , acted as D . C . j Bro . Joh n