Original Correspondence.

Now surely this is arbitrary . I know that in great public schools the Head Master ' s fiat as to dismissal is final ; but our Masonic Schools are not on the same footing—in the . me case there are " paid pupils , " in the other we have the care and charge of orphans . Everyone must agree as to the necessity for maintaining discipline and order , but in carrying this out , if the

management should err , let it be on the side of leniency . This controversy is greatly to be regretted , and by no one more so than mjself , but I trust that our "Boys' Charity " will not suffer one shilling by it—on the contrary—great good may come out of it . I think every subscriber will regret that a Special Committee of Inquiry was not granted and the matter set right . The friends are now

requisitioning for a " Special Court" to be held , and I do trust that whatever is to be done further in the matter will be done quickly and well . At all events let our motto be "Let right be done . " Apologising for thc length of my remarks which I trust you will in fairness insert in your next issue . — I remain , yours fraternally , GEO . CORBLE , P . P . J . G . W . Essex , P . M . 453 . 13 th March . ¦

THE DEPUTATION TO LODGE 119 , To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Bro . J . Clifton Thompson appears to be ill at ease with himself and others about a few of the Senior Past Masters and other members of Lodge 962 , Workington , having been deputed by an influential portion of the brethren to

visit Lodge 119 , Whitehaven , on the 18 th ult . ( in a perfectly constitutional manner ) , to invite the W . M ., officers , and members to sign a petition , which was subsequently signed by all present , and the petitioners congratulated upon their laudable undertaking . A few days afterwards the same petition received the unanimous support of the members of Skiddaw Lodge , 1002 . If his authority was not procured , and he was not a

party to the good work the petitioners had in view , perhaps it was the more to be regretted ; but it was not perceptible that his absence was any detriment to the cause . The ancient landmarks and constitutions were strictly observed . No "hole and corner" meetings were ever hinted at . And we have no doubt , as previously reported ,: uccess will crown their efforts to establish a new lodge , which is much required in Wcrkington . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , M . M . 119 .

OUR MASONIC CHARITIES .-A SUGGESTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I regret exceedingly that anything I have written should have given offence to Bro . Vallentine . No doubt it would have been better if 1 had discussed his suggestion seriously throughout , but in all future discussions in which

he and I may happen to engage , 1 will be careful to avoid that class of statistics to which he seems to entertain so great an objection . It is hardly worth while saying anything further on the subject after his letter of last week , but before taking leave of it , I should like to remark that I had no intension of making his proposal a hook on which to hang my own scheme for

exhibition . I had no particular scheme of my own to offer , and only suggested for want of something better , that , as regards the Schods , Grand Lodge might do for them what it has done for the Benevolent Institution , namely , increase the amount of its annual grant to each , which I pointed out has remained at the same figure for close on 50 years . But this was not meant as a substitute for his proposal which

concerned all three Institutions , and for the realisation of which he was anxious to enlist the support of private lodges . But possibly I did not make myself sufficiently clear in this respect . I share in the regret expressed by Bro . Vallentine that so little interest should have been taken in a subject which so nearly concerns us all . —Fraternally yours , 12 th March . ¦ n

LATE MEETING OF GRAND LODGE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Is thc decision of the Grand Lodge on the appeal of Bro . Heniy Alfred Michael , of the Emulation Lodge , No . 2071 , Sydney , N . S . W ., declaring that Bro . Joseph James Allen , J . W ., had been duly elected VV . M . of the

said lodge in accordance with the Constitutions , Rule 130 ? " Every lodge shall annually , on the day named in its bylaws for that purpose , proceed to elect its Master by ballot from among those of its members who have served for one year the office of Master or Warden in a regular lodge warranted under the English Constitution . The ballot shall

be declared in favour of the member thus qualified who obtains the largest number of votes of the brethren present and voting . " Was Bro . Allen qualified to be balloted for as W . M . in accordance with the above law , when he had only been eleven months a Warden ?—I remain , yours fraternally , R . W . O .

NORTH-WEST LONDON DENIAL INSTITUTE . — Extract from Kentish Town Magazine , for Apri ' , 1886 . — "The above-named Institute , under the special patronage of the Clergy Medical Men , Gentlemen and Ladies of the N . and N . W . districts , affords in its daily and extensive practice , wondrous exempli ! lication of the great progress that has been made in the science of dentislry during <| tiite modern days , and also proves indispntably the great boon which the above-named Institute con .

fcrs daily upon numerous sufferers . Defective teeth and gums arc well known to be thc foundation of the most painful complaints that alllict mankind , and that the several ailments of thc mouth need tlie skilled attention of eminent scientists , if they arc to be cured , or even alleviated , and in order that such skilled attention might be within the reach of ail grades , thc NOJUII -WEST LONDON DENTAL INSTITUTE was established . Situated at 80 , I ' ortess-road Junction-road , Kentish Townunder the superintendence of Mr

, A . W . I'URUEH , l . D . S , Royal College of Surgeons of England , assisted by a stall of sk lied and qualified gentlemen , this Institute supplied artificial teeth ; latest scientific improvements ; extracts teeth , and performs all other necessary operations painlessly , and bestows benefits that cannot be over-estimated upon this portion of our largely-populated suburbs that would not seek the aid of Hospitals and Charities in thc Metropolis . We may add that Mr

A . W . I'URUER , L . U . b ., K . G . S . E ., has had 20 years' experience in hospitals and private practice , is of a very kinoly disposition , and eminently fitted for the position that he holds , where lie has earned the golden opinions of all who have consulted him . Mr . PUIIIIER is also a well-known { benefactor , having devoted ten years ol his early practice to serve the poor , during which period his well-tutored and able hand relieved [ free of cost" ] no less a number than so 000 suffering patients . " —Fees at this Institute are moderate and Free to " the Unemployed . "

Reviews

REVIEWS

HISTORY OF THE LODGE OF SINCERITY , No . 174 , BY J NEWTON , F . R . A . S ., P . M . and P . Z ., London , 18 SS . We congratulate Bro . Newton most sincerely on the advent of his interesting history , and note , with pleasure , that he has dedicated the handsome volume " To the Past Masters and members of his mother lodge , " who will , we

feel assured , value thc compliment exceedingly . The principal object the author (" compiler , " as he modestly calls himselt ) has in view " was to preserve ( by publishing this book ) the annals of a good , old , and useful lodge . " In his opinion " not many lodges possess a more complete set of minute books than the Lodge of Sincerity , and bearing in mind that an unbroken record , extending over one

hundred years , was liable at any time to total loss by fire , & C , it must be admitted that its permanent preservation is the undoubted duty of its custodians . " The latter statement we steadfastly believe , and as respects the set of minute books for over a century , the distinction of having such is doubtless shared by few lodges in London , " the more's the pity . " In the country , however , there are

many lodges which possess their records for over a century , some even extending over a century and a half . We wish we could say as much for the Metropolitan lodges , for unfortunately wc know lamentably little about the senior ateliers . We are disappointed in the list of subscribers , the names not reaching to one hundred . The work is so readable and indeed , valuable , besides being published at

a mere trifle ( under cost we should say ) that we still hope that the copies which remain on sale will soon be applied for . At all events , we feel assured that the volume will be at a premium as soon as its merits are known and appreciated . The printer and publisher is Bro . C . E . Ferry , Crown Court , Old Broad-street , ' who has done his part well , the style of the book being similar to Bro . Ferry ' s own

history cf the Lodge of Prosperity , No . 65 , which lodge , however , though senior , has not the records preserved , for anything like so long a perbd as No . 174 . One attraction to us is the portrait of Bro . James Newton , the author , another being the excellent reproduction of the old plate for the summons . The figures depicted are most suggestive of the " Three Grand Principles " of our Society , the

fourth , apparently representing justice , may be intended virtually to do duty for " Sincerity , " for the latter can never be absent from the former . The design is certainly worthy of preservation , as is also the old form of certificate of early this century . The lodge was warranted April 23 rd , 1768 , as No . 423 , the charter being lost , but is supplied by another of 26 th December , 1 S 49 , a copy being duly inserted

in the history , as it should be ; likewise the centenary jewel warrant bearing date 16 th December , 1 S 69 . The minutes do not begin until March 10 th , 17 S 4 , but a page is devoted to its previous career , from which we learn that "the original members were chiefly mariners . " We are also toId ; that "the lodge was among the first to subscribe to the fund for the purpose of building a hall , & c , and in

1773 was credited with £ 5 5 s . for the said fund . At the termination of the year 17 S 5 , the lodge had subscribed in all £ 28 15 s . 6 d . towards the same object . " VVe should have liked a little more about the lodge prior to 1784 , if at all possible to obtain . VVe have examined a list of subscriptions and fees to the " Hall Fund " down to June , 1778 , and find that even at that

period , the lodge had paid £ 17 iSs . for that object , and we have traced other payments down to November , 1 S 12 , which raise its grand total to £ 115 12 s . 6 d . The lodge , however , did not subscribe to the Loan , as some others did , for had it so done , and lent £ 25 , without interest , the Master might even now have been officially wearing the "Freemasons' Hall Medal . " The Fees for the Hall , agreed to

1768 , consisted of 5 s . for each Initiate , and half that sum for Joining Members ; a "Liquidation Fund" being also started on February 7 th , 179 S , of two shillings annually from each contributing member , which payment ceased from 31 st December , 1810 . Many lodges and brethren subscribed very liberally to thc " Hall Fund , " Lord Petre having given over £ 360 , Rowland Holt £ 142 11 s ., and the

Duke of Beaufort £ . 90 . Bro . Newton states that "The lodge was called Sincerity during the year 1 7 S 9 , no record of that name occuring before J une , 17 S 9 . " We are pleased to inform him that we find in the Grand Lodge proceedings of November 13 th , 1776 , the lodge is therein called " Sincerity , " so that leads us to think it likely it was so named from its origin in 176 S ; and there are other

references to its title prior to the year 1789 . Bro . Jno . Lane in his "Masonic Records , 1717-1 SS 6 " * ( a work of immense value ) , gives 176 S as the year in which the lodge was so named , so that it has been called "Sincerity" from its origin . As a matter of fact , it is so designated in the "Engraved List" of 1769 , and onwards to now , and probably its name was noted on the original warrant . The

plan followed by Bro . Newton is to give under each year from 1784 to 18 S 7 , inclusive , the place of meeting , the names of the chief officers , and those of the joining members and initiates . Then the important events are narrated for the period , so that the chronological arrangement enables one easily to find any portion of the work without any difficulty , and thc order of the minutes is likewise

preserved . Many were the obstacles the earl y members had to overcome , but they were victorious nevertheless , and from a comparatively humble origin the lodge has become one of the most honoured and vigorous on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England . " The distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason's heart " has been always active in No . 174 , as its large donations to our Charities testify .

nearly £ 500 having been donated to our Institutions since 1 S 60 , besides many hundreds , thousands we might say , collected and given by members as Stewards . Thc lodge agreed to support our "Girls" from 1793 , and has been most constant to that noble Institution from then to now .

Excellent tables , exhibiting the names of the principal officers , " work " done , places of meeting , since 1784 , add much to the value of the volume , and the by-laws are appended , agreed to in 1 SS 3 . The lodge took part in the special Grand Lodge held on December 31 st , 1 S 0 S , when the foundation-stone of the new Theatre , Covent Garden ,

Reviews

was laid by H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex . This fact is not noticed apparently in the minutes . An " Ancient Mason " was " remade" in the three Degrees in 1795 , which leads Bro . Newton to explain that the terms "Ancient and Modern" were in consequence of the rivalry between " the Grand Lodge of all England held at York , and the Grand Lodge of England held in London . " This is an error

both rivals being held in London , the junior of the two known as the " Ancients , " being also known as the " Atholl Grand Lodge . " On this subject , Bro . H . Sadler ' s "Masonic Facts and Fictions" * should be consulted , as the information in that work will dispel any such notion with respect to York , and afford much light on the proceedings of that great rival , and the regular and original

Grand Lodge of England . We should like to allude to a number of very interesting details in Bro . Newton ' s capital History , but it seems scarcely fa ' rso to do whilst the work is for sale , so we shall hope again to refer to the volume , when the edition has been exhausted . Many of the personal references are most suggestive and instructive , for evi .

dently Bro . Newton has been in love with his task from the beginning even to the end , and for ourselves we regretted most sincerely when we arrived at the " Conclusion . " We also say " Adieu , " and in so doing , unite with the Author in the wish " That this lodge may continue its usefulness for many years to come . "

THE AUSTRALIAN KEYSTONE , VOL . I ., No . 1 Melbourne : H . G . Crocker , 87 , Little Collins-street East . Our new Masonic contemporary is issued monthly , and is intended to be the representative organ of Freemasonry

in Victoria , Tasmsnia , and the whole of the Austrian Colonies . It has made an excellent beginning , its opening number , published on the 2 nd January last , containing some well-written articles and a most readable budget of news . We wish it all success and trust its future career may be a long and prosperous one .

THE WOMAN HE LOVED ; 3 Vols . By A . N . HORNER . ( F . V . White and Co . ) We have seldom read a novel by an unknown author which shows greater merit than this , and , although our reviews , as a rule , are confined to something much more solid than fiction , it gives us great pleasure to be able to recommend this book to our numerous readers . We believe this

is the author ' s first essay , and if so we are justified in expecting great things from his future career . The narrative is forcible and continuous ; the pathos is natural , and the descriptions of character and scenery show considerable skill and talent . One of the best written scenes in the

book is the story of the shipwreck of the Indian mail steamer and the subsequent rescue of the hero and heroine . We will not enter into a resume of the plot , but leave our readers to explore for themselves , and will content ourselves by saying the author deserves every encouragement for the future , and praise for the present .

Masonic Notes And Queries':

Masonic Notes and Queries' :

763 ] AMITY LODGE , No . 137 , POOLE ( DORSET . ) The following particulars respecting the "Amity" Lodge , at Poole , taken from the History of that town by John Sydenham , will interest many , as the curious relic , or souvenir , is still preserved . The first notice states that" A roam in a private house in Barber's piles , has been set apart as a Masonic Hall j a lodge of Freemasons having

been founded here April 5 th , 1765 , being the Lodge of Amity , No . 160 . " As this number was not taken until 1832 , and was altered to 137 in 1 S 63 , enables me to judge that the History must have been written between those two years ( 1832-63 . ) I see that Bro . John Lane , in his " Masonic Records " mentions Private Room , Thames St ., as a place of meeting

from 1 S 06 until 1 S 62 , when it was exchanged for the 'Masonic Hall . ' I take it that 'Barber ' s Piles' is an additional title . The work adds , in a "note , " as follows ' * In this lodge is preserved a memorial of one of the most striking instances on record of the prevalence oi Masonic sympathy ; and which occurred in the experience of one of the brethren of the lodge . This memorial is a

biscuit of coarse bread preserved in a glass frame , and hung up in the lodge , with the following inscription : " ' This biscuit is preserved by the Lodge of Amity as a memorial of their gratitude and brotherly affection for Jacques de Bon , captain of the ' Junon , ' French privateer , of St . Maloes , who captured at sea , on the 13 th of December , at 11 a . m ., 1 S 13 , in lat . 49 ° 50 ' ., long . 70 W ., thc

brig 'Oak , ' of Poole , brother Stephen Pack , master , belonging to brothers G . VV . Ledgard and John Gosse , on the passage from Bilboa to Poole , who , after treating him and his crew with every mark of kindness , returned him his vessel , and sent on board a dog ( which before had been taken from a brother ) with this biscuit suspended by a string round his neck , signifying that he would not keep a

brother ' s dog in bondage nor see him want bread . ' " Thus the man who holds forth his hand for the relief ol his necessitous brethren is amply repaid by the gratitude of those whom he relieves by the approbation of his own mind , and by the favour of that Omnipotent Being who lilw all space , and whose omniscient eye cannot behold such a bright display of masonic virtues without asserting his

divine and everlasting approbation . " The occurrence thus commemorated was related at the lodge on the 19 th December , 1 S 13 , after another somewhat similar instance of—* ' The extent to which the fraternal regard and pl *» an " thropic charity inculcated by masonry had prevailed over the usages tf warfare in the conduct of the same capt . de Bon had been detailed . The relation is thus recorded

in the books of the lodge : , "Our R . W . M ., G . W . Ledgard , related another pleasing anecdote of the same person , Capt . J 1 " f ? g Bon , viz ., a vessel of his , having been cap tured by tne 'Junon ' about a week after the capture of our Guernsey brother ' s vessel , the master , Bro . Stephen Pack , instantly on the coming on board of thc prize-master )