Original Correspondence.

Pocket Companion , 1735 , which contains a List of 1734 , the lodge appears to have moved to the " Dolphin , in the City of Chichester " ( called a " Whale " in Smith ' s Pocket Companion of 1737 , in error ) , the Engraved List of 1734 also having " 31 , Dolphin , City of Chichester , Third Friday in the month . " In 1736 , while at the same place , the date of Constitution is for the first time noted as "Jul : 17 , 1724 . "

A MS . note on the official copy of the Engraved List of 1736 states " To the White Horse , " but as the 1737 List still has the " Dolphin , " the removal was probably not made until late in 1737 or ear ' y ' ' 73 8 , the Engraved List for the latter year recording " 31 , VVhite Horse , City of Chichester , Third Friday in the month . Jul : 17 , 1724 . " I shall be glad of any further information about this old lodge . —Yours fraternally , JNO . LANE . Torquay , February nth .

"A QUESTION OF CUSTOM . " To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Referring to the letters of "Past Master" and "An Installing Master" in your issue of nth inst ., in reply to the enquiry of "Cap" in a previous issue , it is

not a little surprising that the opinions contained in the two letters above referred to should be so much at variance . Book of Constitutions , Clause 141 , puts the relative positions of the W . M ., I . P . M ., and Senior P . M ., I think , pretty clear , yet I know there are some who argue that it does not apply in the case of an installation , though why it does not they cannot tell—and this difference of opinion ,

1 am afraid , leads occasionally to jealousy and unpleasantness . One affirming the W . M . has the power to nominate thc Installing Master of his successor . Another says it is a matter for the W . M . elect to decide ; a third that it is the prerogative of the Senior P . M . of the lodge who knows thc ceremony ; and a fourth , that it is the right of the I . P . M . In an instance of this kind recently—in which a

Senior P . M . threatened to take the work out of the hands of the I . P . M . at a certain part of the ceremony , I sought the opinion of the greatest Masonic authority in the land , and this was his ruling— "If the W . M . does not instal , and therefore hands over the gavel , it is the clear right of the I . P . M . to assume the chair and perform the ceremony , and

having begun it , he is entitled to fimsn it without interruption . " _ This is a thoroughly constitutional and common sense view of the matter , and needs no comment . —Yours fraternally , W . M . February 13 th .

THE MASONIC CHARITIES .-A SUGGESTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I think there is no doubt Bro . Vallentine has struck the right note in suggesting , in his letter of last week , that some general scheme should be formed and adopted for strengthening the permanent income of our Institutions .

If this part of their resources were enlarged , there would be less necessity for the tremendous appeals which it is the duty of the Secretaries to make annually for the funds required for the year . But I imagine his plan would be found difficult of execution . In the first place , the thing would have to be done voluntarily , and the proposition submitted to and approved by some 1500 lodg-es , the

Colonial lodges , I presume , Lemg excluded from the calculation . But will you succeed in inducing 1500 separate and distinct bodies to act unanimously in such a matter ; and if you do , what security is there that they will always be unanimous and the income required be permanently forthcoming ? You cannot compel a lodge , which has the right to alter and amend its own by-laws within the limits

of the general law , to give voluntarily a guinea per annum in perpetuity , and unless you can do this , or something of this kind , you will nut secure that permanency of income which is so desirable . Again , there are many lodges which may be said to be always giving , so frequent and so generous are their contributions , while others give nothing . But may you not , in your efforts to secure the

annual guineas of the latter , succeed in diverting from the coffers of the Institutions many of the periodically voted guineas of the former , which , though willing enough to give freely , may resent the notion of anything that esembles a forced levy ? Then there are sundry provinces which bear a great part of their own charitable burdens , to the relief of the Central Charities . Must these be

called upon to contribute equally with others which look entirely to the Central Charities for the assistance necessary for the distress in their midst ? I mention these things for the mere purpose of showing the difficulties in the way of adopting such a scheme as Bro . Vallentine suggests . But it is not because a thing is difficult that it should not be attempted , and if Bro . Vallentine thinks 1500 lodges

can be brought to agree upon his proposal , it would be worth making the trial . As regards the Girls' and Boys' Schools , which are less favourably circumstanced in the matter of permanent income than the Benevolent Institution , I think a better plan for strengthening them would be for Grand Lodge to increase its annual grant of X 150 , which has remained at

the same figure for half-a-century , while the Male Fund of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution has had its grant doubled since 1 S 42 , and the Widows' Fund has had its grant of £ 100 in 1 S 49 increased to ^ , ' Soo . When 50 years ago Grand Lodge arranged to make a fixed instead of a varying yearly contribution to the funds of each

school , the sum of £ 150 a year represented a fair and even liberal commutation for the varying capitation payments previously made ; but English Freemasonry and its Institutions have developed amazingly during the Victorian era , and £ 1000 would not be an excessive annual grant to each school now-a-days , while it might certainly be looked upon as permanent income . —Fraternally yours , 0 .

Prince Oscar of Sweden and Norway visited the West India Docks , on Monday afternoon , for the purpose of opening the Scandinavian Sailors' Temperance Home . His Royal Highness experienced a very enthusiastic reception , and expressed himself as being delighted with the jarrangements made for the comfort and convenience of the nmates of the new institution .

Masonic Notes And Queries':

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES' :

7 C 0 ] A NEW MS . CONSTITUTION . Students may be interested to learn that , having occasion to see Mr . Fenwick , of Cheltenham , respecting the so-called Wilson MSS . No . 1 and 2 , in his possession , I lately discovered a third version of the Old Charges in his extensive collection of 30 , 000 MSS . It is a thin Svo ., beautifully written in copperplate style , bound in a marbled paper

cover , and possesses some points of interest peculiar to it itself . It is catalogued Phillipps MS ., No . 18 , 851 , and probably of date circa 1750 . I am in possession of a transcript , which I have forwarded to Bro . Hughan for examination , with the request that he will report in these columns . The MSS . will appear in due course in Vol . III . of Quatuor

Coronati Reprints , which will contain in one volume exact transcripts of every known version of these documents . I am sorry to add that , for reasons too lengthy to enter into here , I am convinced that the version hitherto known to us all as the Wilson MS ., is not that celebrated document at all , which still awaits discovery . G . W . SPETH , Sec . Quatuor Coronal ! .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

( Craft jlasourg , ROYAL ATHELSTAN LODGE ( No . 19 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge ( date of Constitution 1769 ) was held on the gth inst ., at the Cannon-street Hotel . Ihere were present Bros . John Glenn , W . M . ; G . H . Hoyle , S . W . ; B . Starling , P . M ., Treas . ; C . B . Barnes , P . M ., Sec . ; £ N . Nicholson , S . D . ; Arthur Wormull , J . D . ; A . A . Angier , I . G . ; W . M . Bywater , P . M ., P . G . S . B .,

D . C ; William Pound , P . M ., Stwd . ; George Campion , P . M ., Stwd . ; H . Glenn , P . M . ; John Charles , P . M . ; G . Sneath , P . M . ; Daniel Nicholson , P . M . ; George Corderoy , P . M . ; James Dix , P . M . ; F . E . W . Collard , P . M . ; Arthur D . Green , A . R . Ramsey , W . Stauffer , F . Aires , H . Poston , W . S . Pound , E . G . Young , R . W . Bilby , M . Smith , F . W . W . Honischer , and others . Visitors : Bros . R . F . Gould , P . G . D . ; Dr . Woodman ,

P . G . Swd . Br . ; James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ; J . H . Scholfield , P . M . 3 63 ; J . E . Sheffield , 1 S 97 ; R . H . Hepburn , 671 ; T . Coote , 373 ; W . Iron , H . D . Marshall , 771 ; W . Heath , 766 ; Geo . R . Green , 173 ; Chas . Kempton , 12 S 7 ; H . G . James , 1724 ; Chas . Browning , 1491 ; J . A . Fielden , 373 ; W . Lord , 30 S ; J . R . Clippertcn , 66 ; H .

Clarke , 1 S 27 ; Geo . Challen , 211 ; T . Archer , C . J . Hinton , A . Hoare , C . H . Crook , Stanley Smith , 1765 ; and George Kenning , P . M . 192 , 1657 , P . P . G . D . Middx . The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The Auditor's report was received and adopted . A Committee was appointed to take into consideration the most suitable way , permanently , to record the esteem and

veneration which the brethren feel for the father of the lodge , Bro . B . Starling , P . M ., on his retirement from the office of Treasurer , after 30 years service . Bro . Starling was initiated November , 1841 , served as VV . M . 184 S . Bro . John Glenn installed Bro . George Hardman Hoyle as W . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremony being very impressively performed . The newly installed W . M . appointed and invested his

officers as follows : Bros . John Glenn , I . P . M . ; W . Nicholson , S . VV . ; Arthur Wormall , J . W . ; W . M . Bywater , P . M ., Treas . j C . B . Barnes , P . M ., Sec ; Athelstan A . Angier , S . D . ; R . W . Bilby , J . D . ; A . R . Ramsey , I . G . ; W . Pound , P . M ., Stwd . ; John Charles , P . M ., D . C ; and G . Gilbert , Tyler . Bro . John Glenn presented a

beautiful banner ( manufactured by Bro . George Kenning ) , to the lodge to replace the one that had been lost . The brethren were exceedingly pleased and grateful for so valuable a gift . The brethren dined together , presided over by Bro . G . H . Hoyle . Bro . R . F . Gould , P . G . D ., responded for "The Grand Officers . "

Bro . W . M . Bywater proposed the toast of "The Visitors , " to which Bro . Dr . Woodman , P . G . S . B ., replied . The toast of " The Charities " was proposed in a forcible speech by Bro . H . Glenn , P . M ., and responded to by Bro . James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Secretary Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . A programme of music was performed , under the direction

of Bro . A . W . S . Hoare , assisted by Bros . G . Hoare , John King , W . Kessell , S . Smith , and M . Wilkinson . The banquet was admirably served under the superintendence of Bro . H . P . Kilby . A gold P . M . ' s jewel was presented to Bro . John Glenn , in recognition of the able services rendered to the lodge during the past year . We congratulate the lodge on its election of Bro . W . M .

Bywater as Treasurer , in succession to Bro . Starling , father of the lodge , who has resigned the office after an unbroken tenure of 30 years . Bro . Bywater has not only achieved distinction in thelodge , and been rewarded for his long and faithful services with the purple of Grand Lodge , but he is also well-known in Masonic literary circles , by his biographical sketch of Lawrence , and , what is more to the

purpose on the present occasion , by his short , but admirable , " History of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , " which he compiled and read at its Centenary Festival on the 27 th February , 1 S 69 , and for which and for his other services he was subsequently honoured by the lodge with a special vote of thanks and testimonial . This history , though

written at a time when the same degree of interest as now was not taken in such compilations , is a creditable performance , being clear and accurate , without being overladen with detail , and we trust its worthy author ' s connection with the lodge , whose career he has so ably sketched , may be prolonged for many years .

ROBERT BURNS LODGE ( No . 25 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , on Monday , the 6 th inst ., when there were present Bros . Walter Wingham , W . M . j G . Deaton , S . W . ; E . J . Wall , J . W . ; J . Lindner , Treas . ; John

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

mmmm Dyte , Sec ; J . L . Jaquet , J . D . ; H . R . Maynard , I . G . j G . F . Smith , Org . ; J . C . Hodson , Assist . Sec ; T . ] Robins , P . M . ; G . Moorcroft , P . M . j J . W . Harvey P . M . j F . G . Baker , P . M . ; Thos . Hawkins , P . M . ; F . G . Deaton , R . S . Home , A . Wingham , and S . Burton . Visitors : Bros . J . Shipley , P . M . 30 J F . j ' Eedle , W . M . elect 1441 j and Wm . Roots , 1273 . The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the last

meeting read and confirmed . Bro . R . S . Home was raised to the Degree of M . M ., and Bros . Arthur Wingham and S . E . Burton passed to the Second Degree . After the despatch of other business the lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to the Freemasons' Tavern and enjoyed a capital supper , followed by a few short speeches and many excellent songs , amongst which Burns ' " Auld lang syne " was made a feature .

TEMPLE LODGE ( No . 101 ) . —The installation meeting of this old lodge was held on Tuesday evening , the 7 th inst ., at thc Ship and Turtle , under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . E . S . Lardner . The meeting was numerously attended , and the W . M . was supported byamong others—the following * brethren : Bros . T . A . Bullock I . P . M . ; J . Round , S . W . ; T . G . Beard , J . W . j J . ivi

nono , r .., rreas . j n . J . Keynolds , F . M ., Sec ; R . J . P . Wilson , S . D . ; S . Blofeld , I . G . j F . N . Isaacson , Org . ; F . Williams , Steward ; H . Brandon White , P . M . ; J . Henwood Thomas , P . M . ; T . E . Taylor , P . M . ; H F . Youle , P . M . ; H . J . Hastelow , P . M . ; and E . J . Altman , P . M . The visitors were Bros . Sidney Martin , I . P . M . 404 F . Oldfield , J . W . 134 ; W . M . Scarlett , I . G . 1471 j E Prendergast , 569 ; H . Massey , P . M . 610 and J 92 S ; E

Isaacson , iSS ; A . J . Berry , P . M . 1695 ; L . Lazarus , P . M . and Sec ; L . M . Myers , P . M . j and I . Myers , S . D ., of iSS ; A . Durrant , I . P . M . 569 ; J . M . Bastone , P . M . I 86 IJ H . C . Richards , 2029 j R . Birkett , 569 ; and J . K . Boddy , 1922 . After the formal opening of the lodge and the confirmation of the minutes of the last regular and emergency

meetings , the W . M . had presented to him by Bro . Hastelow , P . M ., Bro . John Round , who had been duly elected to serve as Master of the lodge for the ensuing year . Bro . Lardner then proceeded with the early part of the ceremony , and installed Bro . Round as Master of the lodge for the year . The following brethren were invested as his officers : Bros . Geo . Beard , S . W . ; R . 1 . P .

VVilson , J . W . j J . Henwood Thomas , P . M ., Treas . ; Edwin S . Lardner , I . P . M ., Sec ; S . Blofeld , S . D . ; Jas . Minter Flegg , J . D . ; H . Vernon , I . G . j H . Hastelow , P . M ., D . C ; Frank Williams , Stwd . ; Frank Isaacson , Org . ; and Robt . F . Potter , P . M . 749 , Tyler . The I . P . M . next delivered the addresses , and completed one of the finest performances of the ceremony of installation ever

witnessed , with as great success as he had commenced it . He was loudly applauded by the brethren when he resumed his seat to the lelt of the W . M . . Bro . Taylor , P . M ., next proposed , and Bro . J . J . Carney seconded , a vote of thanks to bro . Bond , Past Treasurer , and Bro . Reynolds , Past Secretary , for the admirable way in which they had served the lodge in their respective posts for several

years . The motion was most heartily agreed to , and Bros . Bond and Reynolds acknowledged the compliment in graceful terms , assuring the brethren that though they retired after many years of active duty , their only reason for doing so was to give other brethren a chance , and they felt assured that , in the hands of Bros . Thomas and Lardner , both P . M . 's of thelodge , the interests of the lodge would

be well looked alter . A vote of condolence to Bro . j . Horatio Wynne , on the death of his brother William , was also passed . The lodge afterwards was closed , and the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , provided by Bros . C . and A . Painter , and superintended by their popular manager , Bro . E . Ashby , with his accustomed activity and attention .

The usual toasts followed , interspersed with some beautiful singing by Miss Rose Jacobs and Miss May Isaacson , Bro . James Minter Flegg , and Bro . Frank Williams , with Bro . Isaacson , Organist , at the piano , who also played some lovely solos . After the toasts of " The Queen and the Craft ; " " The M . W . G . M . ; " "The Pro G . M ., and the other Grand

Officers , Present and Past , " had been honoured , Bro . Lardner proposed "The W . M ., " and in doing so he said that under the circumstance of being a king dethroned he occupied rather an awkward position . Perhaps one of the most peculiar positions a king had been known to occupy , was , when it was said "The King is dead ;" " Long live the King ; " but the position of a dethroned

king in a lodge was that he was still among the brethren to hear what the brethren had to say with respect to the monarch who had recently left the chair . He had to propose the health of the VV . M . The W . M . 's of all lodges required at the hands of all the brethren a help and guidance which could only come from experience , and he trusted the brethren would all be prepared to help the

W . M . through the coming year , in order that it might be a happy and prosperous year to the lodge . Of course he spoke in an interested view , having assumed new duties , but he felt it more to his heart at the present time that they hoped and trusted the coming year would a prosperous year , for the Master a happy year , and for the lodge a pleasant year , and that it might redound to the prosperity

of the lodge was his dearest wish . TheW . M ., in reply , said he had been onlv seven years in the lodge . He had filled thedifferentofficesof thelodge , and he had tried in each office to fill it in rotation . He trusted he had done so to the satisfaction of the brethren . He had attained to the position of W . M ., and in that position he hoped he should do so to the best of his ability .

If he attained to the position of P . M ., he should do his best to support the W . M . He hoped the officers would stand by him during his year of office . The Worshipful Master , in proposing " The I . P . M . and Installing Master , " said the way the work had been done that evening by the I . P . M . reflected great credit on the lodge . He was happy to find that the officers went on in rotation . He was sure no one would find fault with the

way in which Bro . Lardner performed his work , and he had much pleasure in investing him with a P . M . 's jewel , which had been voted by the members of the lodge , for there never was a lodge more grateful for the offices rendered , and never was there a jewel more worthily or properly earned . He now placed the jewel on Bro . Lardner ' s breast , and he could only say that Bro . Lardner had been a credit to the lodge . He was sure he would continue to be so ,