The Freemason

As evidence that mere numbers must not be accepted as a criterion of strength , we mention that the Board of Stewards for 1888 , which was some 276 strong , realised £ 15 , 000 , while the 188 9 Board , which was nearly 100 stronger , succeeded in raising only £ 13 , 500 .

* * * True , the latter were under a certain disadvantage . The Girls' Centenary had emptied the pockets of the cash available for donations and subscriptions , and the average per Steward ' s list was unusually low . * * *

However , for this year , the Board of Stewards seems to be fairly well constituted , and we are not without hope that the Returns of last year will be exceeded . There was a time when the appearances were not as

favourable as they have become lately , but increased energy has been put forth during these two or three weeks , and hence the increase in the number of Stewards , for which we are duly thankful .

* * * It will be seen from the report of the Committee of Management of the R . M . B . I . that the candidates are not quite so numerous as they were some weeks ago . One or two names have been struck off the lists , and

there have been sundry deaths in the interim , so that the numbers now are men—68 , women—8 3 , making a total of 151 , or seven less than we announced in January . However , the number is still 11 in excess of what it was last year .

* * * Bro . Clifford P . McCalla , who is now holding the office of Grand Master of Pennsylvania for a second time , delivered a long and eloquent address at the meeting of his Grand Lodge , on St . John the

Evangelist ' s day last ( 27 th December , 1889 ) , when he passed in review the principal events of the previous year , laying considerable stress on the assistance rendered to the Johnstown sufferers by the floods , and the exchange of representatives with certain other Grand Lodges . * * *

The Light of Kansas says "A reputable Masonic journal should not be permitted to eke out a miserable , starving existence , but should be liberally supported by the Craft , not only by subscriptions , but by

contributions of items of general interest to the Fraternit y . " The Sydney Freemason remarks on this that they ' receive the items of interest very liberally indeed , but the subscriptions , which are "items of interest" also , are not so promptly forwarded .

* * * This is a complaint from which many of us suffer . How easy it would be to remit the small amount due

on receipt of a memorandum from the office , and thus save all irritation and release the office staff from the dreary work of constant applications for payment . * * *

The Freemasons' Repository for December last has for its frontispiece a well executed , and we should imagine a truthful likeness of Bro . T . R . Patton , Grand Treasurer of Pennsylvania , and representative from the Grand Lodge of England at the Grand Lodge of

Pennsylvania . A biographical sketch is also contained in the number , from which we are able to judge that Bro . Patton , who was initiated in June , 1861 , well deserves the honour he has had confirmed upon him . We trust his future career may be as prosperous .

* * * Bro . the Earl of Kintore , M . W . G . M . South Australia , has been on a visit to New South Wales , and in November last , in company with Bro . Lord Carrington M . W . G . M . New South Wales , visited the Masonic

Hall , Sydney , where his lordshi p was received b y a number of the Grand Officers , and after inspecting the lodge rooms was conducted to the club room , when his health was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm , Lord

Kintore gracefully acknowledging the compliment , and at the same time thanking Bro . Dr . Tarrant , Pro Grand Master of New South Wales , and the other Grand Officers present for the very great kindness and cordiality of his reception .

* * * Bro . G . W . G . Barnard , Prov . G . Sec . of Norfolk , has just issued a neat and interesting report of the Prov . G . Lodge held at Norwich , on the 17 th Sept . last , at which Bro . Lord Suffield , K . C . B ., presided .

Added thereto is the Prov . G . Registrar ' s report of the lodges in the province , exhibiting the membershi p of each of the 17 lodges , the number of initiations , & c ., members of the Prov . G . Lodge ( 259 ) , and those subscribing in Norfolk ( 744 ) , with the fees paid to Prov .

G . Lodge . Also the Prov . G . Treasurer ' s statement of accounts , showing total receipts of some £ 200 , and payments in proportion , the substantial balance of £ 88 remaining in hand , notwithstanding the purchase of £ 100 Consols . A most satisfactory result , and creditable to all concerned .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

LODGE PRESENTATION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I regret to see in your Saturday ' s issue a letter from a brother , who signs himself " Also West Yorkshire , " because whoever "West Yorkshire" may be , he , at least has mv thanks for the consideration and

fairness he has exhibited towards the lodge in question . It is easy to take a very different line of criticism to that " West Yorkshire" has adopted , when actuated by animus in such matters . It appears I also am a member of the lodge , and , as a Past Master ( although I have , as it happens , had nothing whatever to do with

the presentation , and never was asked to subscribe ) have unconsciously deserved the just or unjust imputations of " Also West Yorkshire , " whose letter I am content to let stand as the arbiter , so far as your readers are concerned between us . I do not know who may be the writer of the communication , having kept aloof from

this foolish business as far as possible ; but he has evidently much to learn before he can pose as the lawgiver of any lodge and as the instructor of Past Masters . Some of these there have been before ; but they generally listen to wiser men and keep out of print . My mother lodge has still amongst its Past Masters

those who are as well able to guard it from error as " West Yorkshire , " and the protest by one of these which has given so much offence , and called forth an un-Masonic spirit against the entire body for trying to do their duty to the Craft is a proof of my statement . Your correspondent , " Also West Yorkshire , " I am

sorry to say , is not particular what he writes . He knows that the Past Masters were shut out altogether ; in fact , on expressing surprise to one of the " junior brethren " that I had never heard of it , and never been asked to subscribe , he unhesitatingly told me that from the very first it had been decided not to ask the Past

Masters , as they ( the subscribers ) considered the Past Masters had nothing to do with it . Yet he makes out there are only about three in the whole lodge who did not support the movement . He is confident what you ought to have done , Bro . Editor—or rather what you ought not to have done—because he records you were

misled by " West Yorkshire ' s " letter . So far as I recollect , your leaderette was written without reference to the members subscribing to the jewel , for that is not the point at all . I know several P . M . 's who would have subscribed had they been asked , and the affair carried out in a proper way . When the Past Masters of a

lodge attempt to rule the other members they are fools —but when the junior members set themselves up as so many Solomons , and are determined to make the Past Masters do as they are bid , and be ruled against conscience , they are rebels against the Craft , and rarely do any good , whilst they keep out better men from joining

decent lodges . I intended merely to acknowledge " West Yorkshire ' s " fairness . I have taken up so much of your space that I will only add that I am not inclined to enter now into that which has been fully settled , and

especially do I object to anonymous correspondents . But if " Also West Yorkshire" had signed his name , I would have shown what his communication is worth on his own statements . —i am , dear Sir and Brother , yours truly and fraternally , J . RAMSDEN RILEY , P . M . 3 8 7 . February nth .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Your correspondent , " Also West Yorkshire , " on his own showing , is the least likel y to be an impartial reporter of this matter , and he neither fairl y represents my letters nor sees their object . I cannot

be supposed to know whether the limit was this or that , who got up the presentation , or " how it was brought about "—nobody cares to know , and the less he says on the subject the better , after having alread y endorsed the important fact that the lodge had ( as a lodge ) nothing to do with this presentation . As I

have not the slightest personal object in this matter , I shall not follow him however ; it is not agreeable to mix up with matters which concern me so little , especially as there are brethren better able to take up the case if it be thought worthy of their notice . I am of

opinion that your correspondent sought to evade the main point , even whilst proving my case . When Past MasLers as a body are accused of a " dog-in-the-manger policy , " we know what it means , and I quite understand now how this has come about . —Yours fraternally , WEST YORKSHIRE . Sth February .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reference to the subject of " the conundrum " which was mooted in your paper some few weeks ago , I beg to forward copy of extract from a

letter addressed to our D . G . Secretary , Bro . Fenwick , by the Grand Secretary , Bro . Shadwell H . Clerke , and dated 28 th July , 1881 , which was read at the Quarterly Communication of D . G . Lodge , held at Brisbane , on 7 th September following :

Correspondence.

" I may add that certainly at present the views of our Grand Lodge are that a Past Master of a foreign jurisdiction is a Past Master in any lodge , and can pro tern , occupy the chair , if didy requested to do so by the Wardens , and in absence of all Masters and Past Masters of English Constitution : but he cannot be

elected Master of an English lodge without having served 12 months as an English Warden . " I see that the foregoing does not agree with what Bro . W . H . Cooper , P . M . 528 ( S . C . ) states in his letter appearing in your issue of 26 th October last ( just received ) , and as the " riddle " appears to be a puzzler to such a well-known and experienced brother as "Lex

Scripta , " I am writing in the hopes of soon seeing an authoritative solution , which I feel sure will be couched in terms similar to the extract I have made from Col . Clerke ' s letter . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , JOHN B . MILLS , P . M . 1680 and 2139 ( E . C ) , P . D . G . S . of W . Auckland . Bowen , Queensland , 27 th December , 1880 .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft flDasonrp .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Faith Lodge ( 141 ) . —This old lodge met on the 2 Sth ult ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , when there were present among others Bros . C . G . Wetzlar , W . M . j Langdale , S . W . ; Sheppard , J . W . ; W . Carter , P . M ., Treas . ; W . Stuart , P . M ., Sec ; Welch , S . D . ; Taylor , J . D . ; Ryan , I . G . ; Hakim , I . P . M . ; E . Hopwood , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . Middx . ; Charles Dairy , P . M . ;

Rumball , P . M . ; Capt . Walls , P . M ., P . P . G . W . Middx . ; Jordan , P . M . ; Fromholtz , P . M . ; Coop , P . M . ; Hudson , P . M . ; Cobham , P . M . ; and others . Among the numerous visitors were Bros . F . Smith , P . M . 1305 ; Clark , P . M . 2191 ; Barker , P . M . St . John ' s Lodge ( S . C . ); Jessuriur , 219 ; Joseph , 711 ; Hawkins , 1507 ; P . Cromin , 1512 ; Derham , J . D . 1622 ; Chouveaux , 1622 ; and Craigen , 1624 .

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bros . A . G . Swan and E . Steinfeld were ably raised to the Third Degree , and Bro . H . L . Brett passed as a F . C . A ballot having been taken for Messrs . E . Duck and J . Gluckstein , they were impressively initiated into Craft mysteries . The resignation of Bro . Chumley was ordered to stand over till the next meeting ; it having been suggested

by one of the Past Masters that perhaps he mi ght be induced to remain as a country member . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren and their guests adjourned to the banquet , which was ably served under the personal supervision of Bro . Arthur Clemow . The customary toasts received full justice . The I . P . M ., in proposing "The Health of the W . M ., "

regretted that absence abroad had prevented his attending the last meeting of the lodge , but he had heard from good authority that the W . M ., in his working in the lodge as well as his presidency at the banquet table , had won golden opinions from all . They had seen how well the W . M . had performed his duties that evening , and they could take his ( the speaker ' s ) word for it that Bro . Wetzlar would

continue to improve till the time arrived for him to vacate the chair , when there would be no room left for improvement , as he would be perfection impersonified . The W . M ., in his reply , said that his good friend and brother , the I . P . M ., had said a great deal too much in his favour . It was true that he had been preparing himself for years for the position of Master . He had been and was

still a constant attendant at lodges of instruction , and it was entirely through the kind assistance that he had received from various Preceptors that he had been able to fairly master the beauties of the different rituals . Some of the officers that evening had not done quite so well as he expected , but if they would only attend lodges of instruction more frequently , that state of things would soon be

remedied . He spoke in all kindness , but it was imperative that the officers should know their work well , and in accordance with the system of working that had existed so many years in the old Lodge of Faith . The toast of "The Initiates" followed , and Bros . Duck and Gluckstein spoke a few brief words in response . " The Visitors " came next in order .

Bros . F . Smith , Clark , Barker , and others in their respective replies speaking more or less in terms of high commendation of the working and hospitality of the lodge . The toast of "The Past Masters" was coupled with the

name of the I . P . M ., who made an eloquent and humorous acknowledgment . The toast of "The Treasurer and Secretary" drew from Bros . Carter and Stuart plain , business-like responses . The name of Bro . Langdale , S . W ., was coupled with the toast of "The . Officers . "

A pleasing feature of the proceedings was a musical trio , in which Bros . Godfrey ( flute ) , Derham ( violin ) , and Chouveaux ( pianoforte ) , were brilliant and effective . The proceedings terminated at an early hour . Lion and Lamb Lodge ( No . 192 ) . — Centenary Festival . —This lodge , which completed its 100 years' existence on the 24 th December last

, having , after some difficulty generally experienced in similar cases , proved an unbroken record for that space of time , a centenary warrant was granted in due course , allowing the members to wear the recognised centenary jewel . The members met on Thursday , the 6 th inst ., at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street , to celebrate the event , under

the presidency of Bro . Thomas Cohu , the W . M ., who was doubly honoured by being elected to the chair for the second time , and to preside over the lodge during the first year of its second century . The W . M . was supported by Bros . Marke , S . W . ; Goodes , J . W . ; G . Abbott , P . M ., Sec ; Legge , P . M .,