Original Correspondence.

I have already shown you how the word is used in the name of a lodge , the Alaster of that lodge is the Prov . Grand Mark Master Mason for West Yorkshire , the Wardens are Prov . G . Alark Wardens , the Treasurer is the Prov . G . Mark Treasurer , and others . This is clearly set forth in the Book of Alark Constitutions ( I have the

1872 editition before me now ) , and should be strictly followed . No possible advantage to Alark Alasonry could accrue by the usurpation of titles appertaining to an older body than Grand Alark Lodge , and let me assure "a P . P . G . O . for West Yorkshire " that there is not even the smallest intention or wish to do so .

Alark Master Masons are a powerful organisation , are daily increasing in numbers and importance , and have no neeel ( even if they hael the desire ) to seek adventitious aid by any questionable or dishonourable proceedings .

I am Dear Sir and Brother , Yours Fraternally , J AMES W . SMITH . G . AL Steward , Prov . G . M . Sec . ( Kent ) .

ROYAL ARCH CEREMONIES . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you grant me a small space in the Freemason to enable me to reply to the questions put by " Cheshire . "

ist . The first Principal " Z should never be addressed by himself . All communications should be made to the three Principals as if the three were one person . Their title is " Excellent Principals . " They are not entitled to the prefix " Most" either collectively or individually .

The summons should be issued by command of the " Excellent Principals , " not by that of the " Al . E . Z . ; " there is , in fact , no such person as Al . E . Z . in a private Royal Arch Chapter . With regard to Cheshire ' s 2 nd question , I will not , at present , offer any remarks , as it is a

subject on which I want more light myself . Yours fraternally , G . SHANKS , IS ° K . AL , Past J . of Prov . G . Chap ., Devon .

PROV . G . LODGE OF CORNWALL . To the Editor of the Freemason .

Dear Sir and Brother , — I have not the pleasure of knowing Bro . Hughan personally , though I have frequently derived much p leasure and information from a perusal of his Alasonic writings ; but ,

notwithstanding my high opinion of his Alasonic lore , what he has written at page 244 ( ante ) has not had the effect of changing my opinion , but rather strengthening it . Acting on his advice I have re-pernsed the report of this Prov . Grand Lodge , at page 202 ( ante ) , and I still find that it is there

called a meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge ; at which ( inter alia ) the Earl of Alount Edgcumbe the Prov . G . AL designate , and Bro . Reginald Rogers , Prov . D . G . M ., were present , the latter presiding by reason of the inability of the Prov . G . AL to do so , until his Installation , besides which all the other Prov . G . Officers arc described

by their official titles as present officers . The report in your paper seems to have mixed up the private meeting and the so-called Prov . Grand Lodge meeting which was held subsequently , and although the distinction is now pointed out by Bro . Hughan , it does not alter

my opinion one jot ; for no Prov . Grand Lodge can be held until the Prov . G . M . has been installed . It therefore follows that tlie election of Treasurer and the investment of . the other officers are invalid . I fancy a mistake has been committed , and I think Bro . Hughan is also of that opinion , for in the last ten lines of his letter he says , " I

am not myself clear on the point , but I rather incline to believe that the Province , Alasonically speaking , does not exist until the installation of the Prov . G . M . is an acceimplised fact . " That is it ; Bro . Hughan has hit the right nail on the head at last , for that is the sum total of my contention .

The Prov . G . AL has no legal status until he has been installed , and Bro . Rtigershas no official existence as D . G . M . until he has been invested by the Prov . G . M . in a legally constituted Prov . G . L .

Original Correspondence.

A familiar instance of this exists in the Mark G . L . Earl Percy is elected G . AL ; but as he has never been installed , he cannot act . Again .- a Brother can be elected or appointed to an office—say , for instance , the W . Al . of a Lodge—but he cannot exercise the functions of

that office until he has been installed . A justice of the peace may be appointed , or a town councillor elected , but they cannot act until they have qualilied , or , in other words , been installed . Again : a clergyman may be appointed to a living , but he

cannot legally perform all thc functions of his office until he has been inducted , or read in . I could multiply instances of the kind but I think it unnecessary . With respect to Bro . Rogers , the same icasoning applies ; for , as the old Prov . G . L . ceased to exist on the death of the late Prov .

G . AL ( see Book of Constitutions , page 55 ) , no Prov . D . G . AI . can exist until the new Prov . G . AL makes a fresh appointment , and that appointment is of no force until he has been

invested ; for it needs installation to complete the title of the Prov . G . AL to his office , and it needs investment to do the like for till his subordinate officers . The registering in London amounts to nothincc

I am decidedly of opinion that the laws passed at the so-called meeting are invalid , by reason of their having been passed at an unformed loelge ; and I would strongly recommend the Prov . G . Sec . to have them again passed at the first legally constituted lodge that may be held ; for no

fund of benevolence can be legally constituted , or laws passed , unless in the manner pointed out by the Book of Constitutions ( page 53 , Article 4 ) , which must be done at a Prov . G . L . regularly convened for that , purpose ; " and it naturally follows , that if the Prov , G . L . at which they are

passed is informal , they are not worth the paper on which they are written . In answer to Bro . Hughan ' s last question , it will be seen from the foregoing remarks that I am of opinion that no Prov . G . L . acquires a legal existence until ths Prov . G . AL has been installed .

Aly Cornish Brethren , especially Bro . Hughan , will , I hope , not feel offended with me , as I am only anxious that all things should be elone decently and in order , and that if a mistake has

been committed , it should at once be set right , rather than have an objection raised at some future time , impeaching the validity of these bye-laws . Yours fraternally , H .

FAITH LODGE , No . 141 . ' To the Editor of The hreemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — l'he attention of members of ' the above

Lodge has been directed to a statement in your Journal , tei the effect , that a widow of a member of the Faith Lodge , 141 , was voted the sum of ^ 200 .

l'he lodge not having had an application to the Board of Benevolence for any member or witlow , and the announcement having taken the lodge by surprise , 1 am desired to request you to rectify the error , it not being desirious of accepting honour where it is not due . The whole credit

belongs to the loelge making the application , and should be given there , and not to the Faith Lodge , Nei . 141 . Apologising for trespassing on your valuable ire Believe me to br - ours faithfully . j . ^ Hi ,.,., P . AI ., Sec .

THE INHABITANTS' LODGE , GIBRALTAR . To the Editor of 'The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am directetl by the W . Al , anel the

Officers of the Inhabitants' Lotige ( Ne ) . 153 ) , on behalf of their Leielge , to state that the Brethren have read with feelings eif surprise the report of the consecration of the new Lodge-room in Gibraltar , as contained in your issue ofthe 22 tiel nit .

Whilst paying a just and merited tribute to Bro . Alorgan for his zeal in Alasonry , the members of the Inhabitants' Lotige cannot but say that they fail to understand the reasons wh y (

Original Correspondence.

their Lodge has been made to occupy so secondary a position . In the negociations relative to the securing of the rooms , and other matters connected therewith , the services of the W . Al . on behalf of the Lodge were equally unremitting as those of the Brethren who are made to occupy so prominent '

a part in the report . The Inhabitants' Lo dge takes an equally important position as the St . John ' s Lodge as regards Alasonry generall y ; and the Brethren are assured that no one more than the Brethren eif St . John ' s regret that the claims of the Inhabitants' Lodge have been omitted .

There are other details that have occupied the attention of the Brethren relative to the report in question , but upon which it is perhaps not necessary to animadvert in your journal . They therefore desire , with your permission , to respectfully protest against the very partial renort .

and , what they cannot but consider as a want of judgment , and an exhibition of bad taste on the part of your correspondent . I am , Sir , Yours fraternally , F . J . WILLIAMSON . Sec . Lodge 153 .

UNAUTHORISED OFFICES To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Referring to the question asked b y B . E . T . A . as to whether " Senior Grand Warden "

or " Grand Senior Warden" is correct ( see Freemason for Alarch 1 .- , 1873 ) , the Bonk of Constitutions , under the head of Public Ceremonies , gives the title as " Senior Grand Warden , " and we , of course , ought to accept this as correct . Af . J . AI .

Obituary.

Obituary .

THE LATE BRO . F . W . ELLIS , OF LODGE No . 823 . Death has again struck down suddenly a brother in the Alasonic circle in Liverpool , causing a blank which will be realised for some time . Bro . F . W . lillis , of Rice House , Walton , who has been for about five years a highly respected .

esteemed , and valuable member of the Everton Lodge , No . 823 , died suddenly at Buxton , on the 5 th inst ., and in accordance with his express desire , the funeral , which took place at Walton , on Tuesday last , the Sth inst ., was attended by a large number of his Alasonic brethren of the

" Everton and accompanied by Alasonic cerememial . A lodge of emergency was held in the morning at the Alasonic Temple Hope-street , and was opened by Bro . J . Holland , W . M . who was supported by the following officers and brethren : —Bros . W . Crane , P . AI . ; T . Shaw , S . D . ; J .

Davies , J . Brooksbank , C . Tyler , S . It . Wild , J . li . Jellerey , J . Af . Browne , Cave , G . Graham , T . Bloomfield , J . Holden , W . Atherton , P . \ V . Oglesby , J . Moulding , E . Alorgan , C . C . Aledcalf , T . H . Careful , and others . After the lodge had been formally opened and the dispensation

hael been read , the brethren proceeded to Walton te > pay the last tribute of respect to their departed brother . Here they were joined by a large number of other brethren , anel the procession as it moved from the deceased ' s late residence to the place of sepulture attracted a large crowd of spectators .

The Brethren appeared in full Craft Alasonic clothing , and as they gathered round the open grave the sight was exceedingly impressive . After the W . M . ( Bro . Holland ) had directed the attention of the Brethren to the uncertainty of life , and its solemn lessons , he pronounced the

usual Alasonic invocations , to which the Brethren responded in fitting terms , anel with Alasonic honours . During the ceremony the Secretary advanced to the open grave , and threw in a scroll ( with the usual forms ) , bearing the following inscription . " Bro . F . W . Ellis , Alember of the

Kverton Loelge , No . 823 , of Antient , Free and Accepted Alasons , initiated anel raised to the sublime degree of Alaster Alason in thc year of our Lord , 1868 ; died at Buxton , on the 5 th day of April , 1873 , and was interred at Walton Church , on the Sth day of April , 1873 , Joseph