Correspondence.

Correspondence .

ARREARS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As Secretary to a Provincial Lodge of fnstruction , may I ask through your columns what is the proper course to take vvith brethren in arrears of

subscriptions . The above lodge of instruction has a fixed joining fee and the annual subscription ; a certain fixed proportion of the subscriptions goes in thc rent of the Masonic Rooms , and if brethren do not pay regularly the authorities complain of the smallness of the sum received by them . I am , yours fraternally

SECRETARY . Mary Street , St . Paul ' s , Birmingham , December 12 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1061 ] — WARRANTS No . 150 OF THE "ANCIENT , '

OR ATHOLE GRAND LODGE . Having been favoured vvith a sight of the practically unknown old warrant , a transcript of which was given by Bro . John Lane in the Freemason of the 17 th ult ., I have no hesitation in saying that it is quite regular and authentic , although it has the appearance of having been somewhat hurriedly issued , the signature

of the Junior Grand Warden , the day of meeting of the lodge , and certain other words , usually inserted , being omitted . There are two seals attached to the warrant by means of nariovv ribbons ( orange and blue ) after the manner of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , of vvhich the Grand Lodge of thc " Ancients" was undoubtedly ah offshoot . Thc warrant has also three

narrow ribbons ( light blue , purple , and scarlet ) attached to the top right hand corner , doubtless referring to the Royal Arch , vvhich was worked by the " Ancients " under the Craft warrant , and which Degree , the Royal Arch Register shows , vvas practised in this lodge from the beginning of 1 S 06 to the end of 1812 . It appears that two lodges under the No . 150 vvere

constituted by the " Ancients , " the first at Bridgwater by warrant dated pth Sept ., 1767 , vvhich i . s duly entered in the Grand Lodge Register ; the second for Dover , as shown by this warrant dated 3 rd October , 1767 , of vvhich there is no mention in the Grand Lodge records . Neither of these lodges returned any members to the Grand Lodge , nor did they indicate in any other way

that they had given practical eflect to their warrants . It was a frequent practice for the " ancients" to constitute a lodge under a number previously held by a lodge which had ceased to exist , but this is the onlyinstance I have met with of two lodges being constituted under the same number within so short a period . A probable explanation maybe found in the fact that

at the period when the first warrant , No . 150 , was granted there vvere serious dissensions in a lodge at Bridgwater under the "Modern" Grand Lodge , and one or two of the members may have applied to thc " Ancients " for a warrant with thc intention of forming a new lodge independent of their former associates ( an application of this kind to the " Moderns " would

probably have been refused ) . Assuming this to have becn done , their petition was granted , and the lodge duly entered in thc Grand Lodge Register , the names of the applicants being omitted , probably being insufficient to form a lodge ; before , however , the warrant could be made out and despatched , they had probably decided not to avail

themselves of it , but to endeavour to settle their differences amicably and retain their allegiance [ to the " Moderns . " Had this been really the case , the Grand Secretary of the " Ancients , " Laurence Dermott would , of course , consider the No . 150 vacant , and consequently give it to the next applicants tor a new warrant , vvho were evidently the brethren at

Dover , but he omitted to make the necessary alteration in the register , and as the second No . 150 made no return of members , he may have considered it unnecessary to make the correction , or the matter may have escapee ! his notice altogether . After Dennett ' s decease a printed list of the " Ancient'' lodges was issued ( in 1795 ) , doubtless compiled from the Grand Lodge

Register , wherein No . 150 vvas located at Bridgwater , no reference being made to the second No . 150 at Dover , which is not mentioned in the Records until 1802 , when some brethren at Folkes ' one , being desirous of forming a new lodge , intimated to the Grand Secretary that the old warrant No . 150 was in the hands of a Bro . Wallace at Dover ( probably the brother to

whom it was first issued , or a descendant of his ) , who was willing to give it up to the authorities , for the purpose of having it transferred to Folkestone . In order to evade thc Act of Parliament passed in 1 799 for the suppression of secret societies , which vvas not intended to apply to Freemasons' lodges then in existence , no new warrants were granted , at this period , for lodges in England , but the numbers and warrants

of defunct lodges wore utilised and made to appear as a continuation only . The petition from Folkestone being granted , the old warrant was sent to London , properly endorsed and signed , and the seal then in use affixed . Thc seal bearing the square and compasses and the flaming sword vvas affixed when the warrant was first granted , and was in uie from 1760 tu 1775 , while the larger one vvas used irom 177 s to 181 j . I he

Masonic Notes And Queries.

new lodge vvas constituted 4 th October , 1802 , under the title of the Temple Lodge , No . 150 . At the renumbering of the lodges after the Union of the two Grand Lodges in 1 S 13 , it became No . 183 , and in 1 S 32 , No . ' 34 i ¦ ' gradually declined for want of members , and was erased from thc list in 1 S 38 . HENRY SADLER .

Reviews.

Reviews .

" THE INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF SECOND-HAND BOOKSELLERS MANUAL . " { James Clegg , Aldine Press , Rochdale . )—This well known " and much appreciated work is now in its fourth edition , the new one just issued , being by far the best of thc remarkable tquartette . The title , comprehensive as it is , scarcely represents the great scope of the volume , as it concerns most intimately Bookbuvers , quite as much as Booksellers , \ iodk-makers , and

Book- publishers , Hook-readers and Book-printers . It deals vvith all points ot special interest to all these several classes , and is exceedingly well edited by Bro . James Clegg , the respected Bookseller , Printer , Publisher , and Collector , of Rochdale . It has neither rival nor equal , being entirely to itself , and completely fills a niche of its own , as all vvill discover on noting its varied and valuable contents . The Directory portion supplies some 10 , 000 addresses to date , of bookmen and book-buyers ,

institutions , & c , and is moreover full of literary matter , especially in relation to the departments vvhich Bro . Clegg has so thoroughly ma , de his own . There is an admirable and lengthy in ' roduction by Mr . Kineton Parkes " Concerning Books j" the contents of the well got up work embrace a wealth of particulars as to the preparation , publishing , selling , and reading of books in both hemispheres . Copies may be had from the publisher , vvho is also the editor , for 6 s . per copy , of considerably over 300 pages , neatly bound in cloth .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A very admirably carried out " reception" ( the last of the half-year ) was held at this Institution on Tuesday afternoon , when Miss Davis produced an enjoyable programme of calisthenics , marching , club exercises , singing , and pianoforte , to the great pleasure of a large number of visitors , among whom were the following brethren : Bros . Admiral Markham , C . B ., Dist . G . M .

Malta ; General Sir Charles Warren , K . C . B . ; the Ven . Archdeacon Sinclair , Sir John Monckton , Robert Grey , Frank Richardson , E . Letchworth , G . Sec ; C . Hammerton , Spaull , Abernethy , F . Mead , Henry Tobias , A . W . Duret , Dr . F . Turtle Pigott , Arthur Mitchell , Brough , Maltby , C . Wetton , F . R . W . Hedges ( Sec ) , and others . Mrs . Markham , Mrs . R . Grey , Mrs .

J . H . Matthews , and many other ladies were present . The girls , who are in perfect health , went through thc various performances with thc precision and charm that always characterises them , and at the conclusion Admiral Markham addressed them in very appreciative and kindly terms in the name of thc assembled company .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . COL . BENTHAM . We regret to announce thc death , at Ncwcastle-on-Tyne , on the nth inst ., of Lieut .-Col . Bentham , vvho has been long and honourably connected with the Craft in thc Province of Northumberland , having been initiated in 1869 . It vvas only in May last that our deceased brother

was appointed to the office of ist Asst . Grand Director of Ceremonies in Grand Chapter , and his friends had looked forward , not only to his filling that office for thc year , but to future usefulness and honours in other directions . The appointment gave great satisfaction to

his brethren in the province at the time as it was known to have been earned by loyal and consistent Masonic work . We gave at the time a full account of our late brother ' s Masonic career , to vvhich we canjonly now add our regret at the loss vvhich the province has sustained , and our sympathy and condolence vvith the family and connections .

BRO . JOHN CONNING , P . M . 168 7 . We regret to announce the death on the 3 rd inst ., of Bro . John Conning , P . M . 1687 . Our lamented brother was initiated in the Rothesay Lodge , No . 1687 , in November , 1886 , and having passed through the different offices with conspicuous ability , became VV . M .

in 1892 . Bro . Conning had been chief cashier for 14 years at the Cafe Royal , but a few months since he became the proprietor of the Cock Tavern , Marketstreet , St . James ' , W ., where he had already succeeded in gathering a good circle of friends around him , and seemed to be very successful . He vvas much respected

by all who knew him , especially by the brethren ot his lodge . The funeral took place at Hanwell Cemetery on the 7 th inst ., when Bros . Valeriani , P . M ., Sec ; Adams , P . M ., Treas . ; and Catten , as representing the lodge , attended to pay a last tribute of respect to thc memory of our late brother . Bro . Conning leaves a

widow and two children to mourn his loss , and thc former will carry on the business . Bro . Conning w ; is 11 Life-Governor of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and a Life-Subscriber of the Boys' Schoo 1 , serving as a Steward for the last-named Institution n 1803 .

Sin MICHAEL R . SHAW STEWART , Bart ., has intin at ; -J a sub : crip : ion ot £ 300 toward . ! the building of a Ma & um < : Temple lur Greenes * iti . John' :, Lod ^ e , No . 173 .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

EiFgEfgiisMig 1

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS Egyptian Lodge ( No . 27 ) . —This very old established and well-known lod ? e met at Anderton ' s I iotel Fleet-st ., on Thursday , the 6 th inst ., and vvas well attended There vvere present Bro . F . Brendel , VV . M . ; A . E Todd , I . P . M . ; TI . j . Macfarlanc , S . W . j D . Niven , J . W . C . J . Cuthbertson , " P . M ., Treas . ; Mat . IL Hale , P . M .

Sec . j Bull , J . D . ; C . J . Pallet , I . G . ; D . II . Jacobs P . M ., and C . R . Kemp , Stwds . ; F . Harrison , P . M . ; VV H . Libbis , P . M . ; C . B . Todd , P . M . ; Isaac Scartle P . M . j W . Notting , J . Bings , H . C . Todd , J . L . Dunford A . Lyons , S . Ullman , H . P . Robinson , R . Emery W . Winn , W . A . Pattison , F . Linfoot , and R . F Potter , P . M ., Tyler . Visitors : Bros . A . Stirling j H . J

Gabb , P . M . S 13 ; W . L . Downes , 65 ; J . C . Ashdown , 1158 ; T . Welham , 19 S 1 ; M . T . Tuck , 1343 , P . P . G . Std . Br . Essex ; W . D . Pinchin , 2374 ; J . Hands , S . W . 115 S j E Linfoot , J . W . 129 S ; and K . T . West . The lodge was opened and the minutes of the previous meeting having been read , the W . M . initiated Mr . Francis Linfoot . The VVorshipful Master's working of the ritual

was carried out in a highly impressive and perfect manner for which he is to be congratulated . A joining member having been proposed for election atthe next meeting , and after other business , the lodge vvas closed and the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , which vvas prepared in excellent style by Bro . A . Clemow , and admirably served under the direction of Bro . Evans .

The W . M . gave in brief but appropriate terms the customary loyal and Masonic toasts , vvhich were duly honoured . Bro . A . E . Todd , I . P . M ., proposed "The Health of the W . M . " He stated that Bro . Brendel ' s work that night was excellent , and no one would ever regret having elected him VV . M ., and the way he was carrying out his duties waj evidence that he would make one of the best VV . Ms . thc

lodge had ever had . Bro . Brendel , W . M ., on rising to respond , had a hearty greeting . He thanked the brethren for thc flattering reception , and for the kind remarks of Bro . A . E . Todd . He was proud to know that they thought well of his . work that night , but it did not come up to his satisfaction . In submitting the toast of " The Initiate , " the VV . M ., on

behalf of the Craft and thc members , extended to him a hearty welcome , and hoped he would become a useful member and an acquisition to the lodge , and that he would find the members good friends and always consistent . Bro . F . Linfoot responded in a speech given with much feeling . Hc said that hc hoped thc members would nol expect him to make a long speech , as he was a pool

speaker . When he entered thc lodge-room he was much impressed , but when he saw and heard what followed hc was charmed with thc ceremony , which he thought was most beautiful . He could not say more , as he had not the power to express what hc then felt , but he thanked his proposer and seconder for having introduced him to thc lodge , and thc members for thc honour they 4 had paid him

in electing him . The Worshipful Master gave " 'The Visitors , " observing that they were more than welcome , lie read out thc names of the numerous guests with a kind word for each , and hc hoped to be honoured again vvith their presence . In response , Bro . 'Tuck said that the members were to be complimented in having such a splendid W . M ., and he had never seen better working ol thc ritual . He had been

invited on many occasions , but that vvas his first visit , and it certainly vvas his great lost , that hc . had not been there before . Bro . Gabb also replied , bearingitcstimony to the excellent working and thc hospitality of thc members . He vvas always glad when invited to the lod » c , and to meet the veteran , their esteemed Bro . Jacobs , vvho was a good fellow ,

and he ventured to think that from the remarks of the initiate that evening , he would make a valued member of the Craft . Bro . E . Linfoot also responded , remarking that he had had a surprise that evening as the initiate , vvho vvas an old friend of his , and whom he had seen recently , did not mention that he vvas going to be made , and being present

at his initiation , vvas an agreeable but unexpected pleasure . In giving the toast of " The Past Masters , Treasurer and Secretary , " thc W . M . stated that the Past Masters were ever ready to do anything to promote the interests of the lodge , and he had to thank Bro . R . Douglas-Smith , P . M ., who at a moment ' s notice hid acted as S . VV . in the place of Bro . Maofarlane who had to leave early to attend a

Ladies' Night of the Mozart Lod ^ e , and referring to Bro . Cuthbertson , Treas ., and Bro . Hale , Sec , he said they vvere both efficient and painstaking oilicers , and they could not do too much for the members . Bro . A . E . Todd , I . P . M ., responded . He was proud that he had gone through the chair in such a distinguished lodge , and he would be p eased lo render any assistance if ever

required . bro . I ) . II . Jacobs said that it had bcen his honour to respond to the toast for over . 50 years , but when the W . Mdemanded a speech hc was compelled to go through the same ordeal . The Past Masters were always in attendance to assist in case of need ; but with their genial VV . M ., he was perfect , and required no aid from his predecessors .

Uro . Libbis stated that , after the remarks of his very old friend , llro . Jacobs , nothing more was required of him except to add that hc wished cvcij thing to tne members and the visitors who had honoured the lodge with their attendance . .. Bro . M . II . Hale , P . M ., Sec , also responded . He said that the Treasurer , Bro . Cuthbertson , had had lo leave

early in consequence ol his City duties . lie ( Uro . Hale ) never made a speech , but he was always delighted to see them all in response to the summonses he sent out as their Secretary . Bros . Harrison , P . M . ; C . B . Todd , P . M . ; R . Douglas-Smith , P . M . ; and Scarth , P . M ., alto suitably responded . The W . M . proposed " The Oilicers . " He stated thi-