Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents hut it wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits' . * . C discussion ,

VERBAL CHANGES IN RITUAL . Dear Sir and Brother To the Editor of the " Freemason . " In our modern lodges we are all familiar with the closing formula used by the I . P . M . concluding with the repeated " Fidelity . " In an old Masonic book , printed in the earlier half of the 19 th Century , I find the formula used was " fear , " " faith , " and " fidelity . " I think I have also seen the same in a Scotch

work pn Freemasonry . It would be interesting if any of your regular readers are able to state about when , and what led to the change in the formula to the present words " Fidelity , " & c . My own impression is that the two words of the formula , "fear" and " faith , " were in days gone by inadvertently—perhaps one at a time—dropped in the lodge and became disused and so lost . Practically I have found an illustration of this in the O . B . in 3 , as given in many lodges . I refer to the observance of " all regular ' signs' and summonses sent from a M . M . Lodge , & c . "

I used to try and think out how " signs " could be sent from a M . M . ' s lodge , but light came one evening when visiting Lodge 1221 at Leeds , where I heard the O . B . rendered "all signs and summonses given tome by a M . M . " or sent , & c , Now , it appeared that those words " given to me by a M . M ., " rendered the clause in the O . B ., that before then was difficult to me , clear and intelligible , and I have no doubt that , as regards lodges that omit the words referred to from the O . B .,

such words have been in former times in some of the older lodges inadvertently dropped and lost by desuetude , the younger members of such lodges , perhaps , never having heard them , and so , of course , did not transmit them to their successors . Not unlikely the words " fear " and " faith " in the I . P . M . ' s closing remarks have been yeais ago lost in a somewhat similar manner ; perhaps some of the readers of the Freemason can tell ?—Yours fraternally ,

J . T . LAST , P . M . and Sec . 2321 January 16 th .

Continental Cathedrals.

CONTINENTAL CATHEDRALS .

I should like to add to the lengthy review of " Bell's Cathedral Series " in the Freemason for 15 th December , 1900 , that Messrs . George Bell and Sons , of York-street , Covent Garden , are also publishing a series of Continental Cathedrals and Churches , in a similar style to the very handy and valuable set of the great English Fanes , Minsters , and Churches , illustrated profusely and neatly bound at half-a-crown each . There are two ready and Notre Dame , Paris , by Mr . Charles Hiatt ( author of Chester and

Beverley ( Minster ) who has Westminster Abbey also in hand ) , is onward . " Rouen , its Cathedral and Churches , " is by the Rev . Thos . Perkins , M . A ., F . R . A . S ., Rector of Turnworth ( author of several works ) , and is embellished with 50 illustrations , mostly from photographs , by the writer . The Cathedral is well attended to , taking about 6 o pages , and the Abbey Church of St . Ouen occupies some 30 pages more , followed by St . Maclou , and an appendix devoted to the minor churches of the city . CHARTRES CATHEDRAL . MASONS' MARKS 1 3 CENTURY . [ Soc . Arch . d'Ettre et Loirl )

" The City of Chartres , its Cathedral and Churches" is also lavishly illustrated , and is by Mr . H . J . L . J . Masse , M . A . ( Author of Gloucester , Tewkesbury , & c . ); the 120 pages being full of most interesting particulars , written by a master hand , and making one of the most attractive volumes of the series . Both these handsome brochures are very readable and instructive , and cannot fail to be of considerable value and interest to all lovers of Church architecture , and , as respects typography and binding , leave nothing to be desired , W . J . HUGHAN .

Consecration Of The Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge, No. 2837.

CONSECRATION OF THE SIR WALTER RALEIGH LODGE , No . 2837 .

With the object of fostering an interest in Freemasonry among those connected with the wholesale tobacco trade in Liverpool a new lodge was consecrated on the 12 th inst . at the Alexandra Hotel , Dale-street , by Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , P . G . W ., Prov . Grand Master of West Lancashire . Appropriately enough the title of the lodge is the Sir Walter

Raleigh , this bringing the total of the lodges under the rule of the West Lancashire Province up to 127 . The consecration ceremony was very numerously attended . The Prov . Grand Master presided , and at his request

Bro . the Hon . Reginald B . Wilbraham , P . M . 2682 , acted as I . P . M . ; Bro . J . J . Lambert , P . G . D . Eng ., and Bro . P . T . Shann , P . J . G . W ., occupied the Senior and Junior Wardens' chairs respectively ; and Bro . G . Harradon , P . P . G . Treas ., discharged the duties of I . G .

Consecration Of The Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge, No. 2837.

The founders of the lodge present were Bros . John Houlding-, P . S . G . DEng ., W . M . designate ; W . M'Lachlan , P . G . D . C . ; F . W . Knighti William Cantle , P . M . 1264 ; A . J . Weddell , Alfred Shawfield , H . J . B . Osterwald , W . R . Roberts , G . S . MacLaren , A . H . Stevenson , A . G . Baxter , T . J . Preece , P . M . 155 ; and A . Gore . Among the visitors were

Bros . T . Vernon , P . P . G . D . C ; J . C . Robinson , P . P . G . D . C . ; E . Pritchard , P . P . D . G . D . C . ; R . H . Webster , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . G . Boyle , P . P . G . S . B . ; E . C . Jones , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; R . W . Gow , P . G . Supt . of Works ; J . Bain , P . P . G . D . C ; W . Savage . P . P . G . Treas . ; and T . Edwards , P . G . Treas .

The ceremony was very impressively conducted , the Prov . G . Master being ably assisted by the Dep . Prov . G . Master , Bro . R . Wylie ; the Prov . G . Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . Edward Wood ; Bro . the Rev . Dr . C . T . Porter , P . P . G . Chap , ( who delivered the oration on the nature and principles of the Institution ); the Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B . ; the Prov . G ., Director of Ceremonies , Bro . P . Rawsthorne ; and the Dep . Asst . G . Director of Ceremonies , Bro . D . Gabrielsen .

The musical portions of the ceremony were ably rendered under the direction of Bro . Geo . Piatt , S . W . 2042 . At the conclusion of the consecration service the Prov . G . Master proceeded to instal Bro . Alderman John Houlding as the first W . M . of the lodge .

In the course of a few observations subsequently the W . M . mentioned that the lodge started under very favourable auspices . The founders and officers to be invested had presented the working tools and regalia , and they hoped by the end of the year to be not only out of debt , but in a position to hand something over to those magnificent Charities belonging to the Order . The Senior Warden designate and Junior Warden designate were

Bros . F . W . Knight and J . Coxhill , and they were duly invested by Bro . Houlding , who afterwards invested the following as the remainder of his officers : Bros , the Rev . T . J . Reece , Chap . ; A . J . Weddell , Treas ., pro tern ; J . T . Wilcox , Sec . ; J . Chesterman , S . D . ; W . P . Meredith , J . D . ; H . Osterwald . I . G . ; A . Wolf , Stwd . ; W . J . Guilbert , D . of C . ; and W . Railton , Org . As I . P . M . the W . M . appointed Bro . W . M'Lachlan , and Bro . Doran was elected Tyler .

At the close of the lodge the brethren sat down to a banquet , when the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . Lord LATHOM , in responding to the toast of" The Consecrating Master , " proposed from the chair , said he trusted that the Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge would prosper for many years to come , and that the members would look to their first Master for help and guidance . He also wished every success to the tobacco trade of the city with which , he understood , many members of that new lodge were connected .

A capital musical programme was contributed by Bros . Geo . Piatt , D . L . Davies , Henry Fairfield , H . Bayard Harrock , J . Lane , and C . Jones , and Master Guilbert . The collars , jewels , founders' jewels , & c , were manufactured by Bros . George Kenning and Son .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Warwickshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WARWICKSHIRE .

At the last meeting of the above Prov . G . Chapter ( as reported in our issue of the 17 th November ) it was decided to present a testimonial to Comp . F . G . Swinden , who has well and worthily held the office of Prov . G . Scribe E . for the past nine years , and at a representative meeting held on Friday , the nth inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Birmingham , Comp . Beech , Prov . G . H ., on behalf of the province made the presentation , which consisted of a very handsome oak sideboard and an illuminated address . In the former was inserted a medallion , very richly enamelled with R . A . emblems , the gift of Comp . T . E . Shaw , Prov . G . J .

In a few appropriate remarks , Comp . BEECH expressed the pleasure it gave him to make the presentation , which had been so well earned , and said he hoped the province would long continue to enjoy the benefit of Comp . Swinden's assistance and advice .

These sentiments were heartily endorsed by all the companions present , amongst whom were Comps . T . E . Shaw , P . G . J . ; Dr . N . H . Turner , P . P . G . S . N . ; W . F . Tolladay , Prov . G . Treasurer ; and the new Prov . G . S . E ., Comp . J . C , Stackhouse . Comp . SWINDEN , in graceful terms , thanked the companions for their kindness and generosity , and said what a pleasure the work had always been to him , and that he should still continue in every possible way to further the interest of Royal Arch Masonry in the Province of Warwickshire .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

Beadon Chapter , No . 619 . INSTALLATION OF COMP . GROSS . This chapter held its installation meeting at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , E . G ., on the 17 th instant . There was a large attendance , owing to the fact that several new candidates were offering themselves for exaltation . The exaltees were Bros . A . E Purkis , W . M . 1309 ; C . S . Mote , P . M . 1732 ; Arthur Payne , S . D . 1300 ; andG . W . ' Staplts , 22 . Comp . Alderman Etherington was also admitted as a full member .

Those present included Comps . H . Gross , G . R . Bolton , T . Lewes Sayer , J . C . K . Strong , D . H . Jacobs , W . E . Lane , A . Clarke , H . Mogridge , J . E . Jacobs , W . Seaman , F . A . Taylor , and Dr . Pridmore ; and the following visitors : Comps . William Pound , P . Z . 19 j B . Kauffman , P . Z . Melpol Chapter ; J . Jefferies , 1614 ; and E . Coste . The exaltation ceremony was admirably performed by Comps . G . R . Bolton as M . E . Z ., G . Lane as H ., and W . Seaman as J . The ceremony of installation of the

Principals was impressively rendered by Comp . W . S . Whitaker , 4 th A . G . D . C , Comps . Gross , G . Lane , and W . E . Lane being respectively installed as M . E . Z ., H ., and J . The following officers were then duly invested : Comps . T . Lewes Sayer , Scribe E .: J . C . K . Strong , Scribe N . ; D . H . Jacobs , Treas . ; J . D . Webb , P . S . ; H . J . Mogridge , 1 st A . S . ; Alfred Clarke , 2 nd A . S . ; W . Seaman , D . C . ; and A . E . Purkis and C . S . Mote , Stwds .

A well-served banquet followed , in the course of which a handsome jewel was pre sented to Comp . Bolton on his retiring from a third occupancy of the chair .

BRO . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OV DEVONSHIRE have been entertaining another house party at Chatsworth during the present week . Their guests included the Right Hon . J . and Mrs . Chamberlain , the Right Hon . H . H . and Mrs . Asquith , Bro . Viscount Chelsea , and Lady Maud Warrender . A repetition of the theatrical performance which proved so successful on Friday , the 1 ith instant , was given on Monday evening .