Correspondence.

The joining fee in a great many instances is exactly half the initiation fee , so that a brother wishing to continue his connection with the Craft or going to a different part of the world or country has to pay as much as a " profane " wishing to enter a lodge for the first time .

The same remarks apply to chapters as well as to lodges . The question of affiliation fees I will not enter into , as this note is already longer than I expected—Yours fraternally , v P . M . ( E . G . ) .

THE ROMISH CHURCH AND THE CRAFT . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , A contemporary has been much exercised of late over the utterances of the Rev . Luke Rivington , and it seems difficult to realise that this is the same Luke Rivinuton who , I remember , used to draw a

number of undergraduates to St . Giles' Church , Oxford , in the years 1864-5 to hear his forcible sermons . This gentleman seems to be hopelessly mixed , as so far as my somewhat extensive experience goes , the British working man has nothing at all to do with the Craft , certainly the cost of most Masonic bodies would be far above the wages of a mechanic . —Yours , & c , HENRY LOVEGROVE .

HONORARY MEMBERS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Referring to " Gavel ' s " query re " Honorary

Members , " appearing in your issue of July 7 th , I have much pleasure in handing you the following ruling on the subject , which appeared as an appendix to the report of District Grand Lodge of Queensland proceedings December ist , 1886 :

" Re Honorary Members . " Extract from the report of the Board of General Purposes of the 23 rd November , 1864 . Approved by Grand Lodge on the 7 th December , 1864 . " The Board have to report that their attention has been directed to the question of the status and

privileges of what are termed Honorary Members of Lodges who are not mentioned in the Book of Constitutions . Upon this subject the Board have received a communication from the Colonial Board , which embodies the views of the Grand Registrar , whose opinion the Colonial Board had consulted . The Board fully

coincide in the opinion expressed on the subject by the Grand Registrar and adopted by the Colonial Board , viz ., that the Book of Constitutions does not in any way recognise Honorary Members of Private Lodges . When that Book speaks of members it means only those brethren who are regularly contributing members

to the funds of the lodge to which they may belong . Such brethren only ought to be returned to Grand Lodge as members of private lodges . The status of an Honorary member must be strictly confined to the lodge which so elects him , and can in no way give him any position in the Craft outside the door of his lodge .

He cannot therefore hold any office in the lodge or vote on any subject which might even remotely affect the Craft at large . In short , his status and privileges as an Honorary Member entitle him to attend the meetings of the lodge and partake of its refreshments , without the necessity of being introduced by a subscribing

member , provided always that he lie a subscribing member to some other lodge . Honorary Members have no other right or privilege whatever . " ( Signed ) J . LLKWKLLYN EVANS , " President . " Freemasons' Hall , London , " 23 rd Novr ., 1864 . "

Doubtless " Gavel" will have received the information long ere this reaches you , if not , and you think the subject of sufficient interest , please make room for it in your correspondence column . —Yours fraternally , A . MEARS , P . M . 1978 , C . C . 2076 . Townsville , IV . Queensland , August 23 rd .

TEMPERANCE LODGES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . ' Dear Sir and Brother , I am a member of thc Prudence Lodge , No . i- 'ofiy , in the North-west Yorks Province . This lodge was founded , and has been carried on , as a lodge at

whose refreshment board or social gatherings no alcohol has found a place . I am desirous to find out how many lodges under the Grand Lodge of England are conducted on these lines . 1 am led to believe there are several ; I know of one in Bradford—the Acaciathere is one , I am told , in Birmingham and Portsmouth .

Can you kindly give me the information in the pages ol the Freemason , or can you inform me how I may lind it out'r 1 take a great interest in this question , and also

travel about the country , and should like to be able to learn more of the principle of abstinence as affecting the welfare of the lodges so practising it . Trusting I am not troubling yon too much . —J remain , yours fraternally .

LEWIS WATSON , M . M ., Sergcant-Major koyal Artillery . October iOth .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

205 s ] — THE ROYAL ARCH . Bro . Henry Sadler has written an excellent paper entitled , " Comments on Bro . Jacob Norton ' s Masonic History , " in the" Masonic Review , " Cincinnati , U . S . A ., for September , 1894 . Bro . Norton has had a few words to say lately about the origin ofthe English Royal Arch Degree , but has gone astray on some points , and Bro .

Sadler has corrected the errors thus made by our old friend . Dermott did not introduce Royal Arch Masonry into England , as so many claim , and I quite believe with Bro . Sadler that the " Modern" Royal Arch Chapter had an existence , probably of several years , prior to the year its preserved records begin ( 1765 ) ; and it is remarkable that the ceremony nourished

unofficially with the Moderns , when it quite languished with the " Ancients . " Thomas Dunckerley took the Degree at Portsmouth in 1754 , and knew the Mark in 1769 , working it in that town in that year . Bro . Sadler mentions a remarkable work of 1765 , now in the Grand Lodge Library , which I hope he will have reprinted , especially as it confirms in a wonderful manner his theory of the origin of the " Ancients , " and contains

some particulars of especial value . I am glad reference is maele appreciatively to the " History of the Fidelity Lodge , " Leeds , which is one of the best works of the kind ever published . We have not yet done with our discoveries as to the origin of the Royal Arch , and if the copy of the records at Stirling can be trusted , and it seems to me they are genuine and authentic , we can trace the Degree in Scotland back to 1 743 . W . J . HUGHAN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"THE M ASONIC GUIDE OK SOUTH AUSTRALIA FOR 1 S 94-5 . "—This very handy , accurate , and useful annual is published by Messrs . J . H . Sherring , & Co ., of 42 , Curriestreet , Adelaide ( price one shilling ) , and edited bv Bro . Philip Sansom , J . P ., Mayor of Semaphore , and Deputy Grand Master of South Australia . It is issued under the patronage of the Earl of Kintore , G . C . M . G ., the Governor of South Australia , as also the esteemed Grand Master

and by special request of the Masters and Wardens ' Association , and is in its thirteenth year of publication . It is one of the most complete , original , and varied Masonic Calendars published anywhere , and is now so well edited that the style of its present arrangement will likely be permanent . There are six pages of " Points from the Constitutions , " carefully selected and rigidly condensedtwelve oaees of "Memorable Notes , " of considerable

interest ; and of "Masonic Mems . " there are six pages , besides several devoted to particulars of the regular Grand Lodges throughout the world . There are now 40 lodges m South Australia , about which there is an aiundance of information , the oldest dating from 1 S 34 , and the junior was added to the roll 60 years later . The total m-mbership is 2430 , exclusive of the Leinster Lodge , No . 363 ( Irish Constitulion ) , which numbers 152 subscribers , lt is much to be wishi-d that the members of this estimable lodge would join

the Grand Lodge , and thus unite solidly with one of the best managed Grand Lodges that hail from the Grand Lodges of England , Leland , and Scotland . Depend upon it , brethren of No . 363 , more good will be done , Masonically and generally , thus by union than by isolation . The lodge was formed ini § 55 , would doubtless be awarded No . 8 bis , on the United Roll . Particulars are appended of other Masonic Degrees , and an interesting account is inserted of the " Ma-ters' and Wardens' Association , " which was formed in 18 S 7 to promote a closer fraternal intercourse among those ruling the Craft .

Masonic Farewell And Dinner.

MASONIC FAREWELL AND DINNER .

The imminent departure of Bro . Conductor John Bilton , P . M . 1536 and 2399 , for Hong Kong , on service , was the cause of a large and representative asiambly of brethren of the Woolwich and Plumstead districts , to bid him farewell and " God speed " on his journey . Bro . Bilton has , by his honourable conduct and

uprightness of character , won for himself the esteem of all who know him both as a man and a Mason . The proceedings were inaugurated by a dinner at the Earl of Chatham Arms Hotel , Thomas-street , Woolwich , which was admirably served . The chairman was Bro . E . W . Sinnett , W . M . 1536 , who was supported by the following : Bros . George Kennedy , P . AL , P . P .

G . S . B . ; W . Moulds , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; R . Gooding , P . M ., P . G . Std . Br . ; G . Ingle , S . W . ; Jas . Gee , Treas . ; T . O'Niell , Sec ; A . Hill , J . D . ; A . Simmons , D . of C . j G . Williams , D . Hickey , T . Challoner , J . Winsborough , C . March , S . Hackworthy , W . Ramsey , S . Groves , R . Cockrane , and A . Arthur , of 1536 : A . Deans , P . M ., J . Mattey , P . M .,

S . Russell , J . W ., and F . Harris , of 13 ; J . Jones , 199 ; T . V . Lee , S . W . 2399 ; F . Hully , J . W . 2399 ; W . Shackleton , J . W . 1789 ; G . W . Kennedy , P . M . 829 ; J . Dowsett , 700 ; J . Newsham , l . G . 2346 ; C . Jolly , P . M . and Sec . 1472 and 21 H 4 ; W . Redman , Org . 1472 ; and J . Robertson , 1789 . In proposing the toast of the evening , that of "The

Health and Prosperity of Bro . John Bilton and a Godspeed on his voyage , and a safe return to his native land , " the CHAIRMAN said they all knew the cause of their meeting , it was to do honour to their esteemed guest , Bro . John Bilton . He felt sure he was expressing

his and their feelings when he said they all regretted losing from among them one who was a paraxon of honour and uprightness , and a king of good fellows . They knew the good work Bro . Bilton had done , not only in the two lodges * ( the United Military and the Ordnance ) over which he had presided , but in their

Masonic Farewell And Dinner.

lodge of instruction . He hoped that when Bro . Bilton got to Hong Kong he would meet with such good friends as he was leaving behind , and that he would enjoy himself , and when he came back he might rest assured of as hearty a welcome as he now had a God-speed . The toast having been drunk with musical honours ,

Bro . BILTON , who was deeply affected , said he had been in a good many predicaments in his life , but never in such a one before . He could assure them that he had spent many happy moments amongst them , and he regretted leaving so many good friends , but he hoped in a few years to come back and meet the same happy smiling faces he saw around him that night .

Bros . MOULDS , KENNEDY , GOODING , GEE , DEANS , and J OLLY bore testimony to the worth of Bro . Bilton , and to the general regret at loosing so excellent a brother . Several other toasts were honoured and some good singing enlivened the proceedings , and the nucleus for a handsome testimonial to Bro . Bilton was subscribed by the brethren present .

West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution.

WEST LANCASHIRE MASONIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION .

Under the chairmanship of Bro . Dr . J . Kellett Smith , P . P . G . R ., one of the Vice-Presidents of the Charity , a numerously attended meeting of the annual Court of Governors of the above Institution was held on Friday evening , the 5 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall ,

Hopestreet , Liverpool . " The minutes of the last Court , the Finance , Schools , and General Committees having been confirmed , it was unanimously resolved to elect a large number of children ( recommended by the General Committee ) on the foundation of the Institution in connection with the

educational , combined , and advancement funds of the Charity . Bro . T . H . W . Walker , P . P . G . Treasurer , who resigned his ollice as one of the Honorary Secretaries after a valuable service of six years , was accorded cordial thanks , on the proposition of Bro . BROWN , a Vice-Patron of the Institution .

The various officers for 1894-95 were elected as follows : Bros . G . Broadbridge , P . P . G . D . C , W . E . Coxon , P . M . 16 75 , and J . H . Tyson , P . M . 1182 , Honorary Secretaries ; J . T . Callow , P . P . G . Trea urer , Honorary Treasurer ; J . K . Smith , M . D ., H . Y . Pitts , M . R . C . S ., J . E . Dunn , M . D ., J . H . Irvin , M . R . C . S ., R . P . White ,

M . D ., W . Challoner , M . D ., and Egerton F . Hall , M . D ., Honorary Medical Officers : and R . H . Leake , I . P . M . 1547 , Honorary Solicitor . The meeting then proceeded to elect 30 annual Governors to be members of the General Committee ,

the Auditors , and members of the Finance and Schools Committees . It was resolved that the annual festival and ball should be held in January , in accordance with longestablished custom , and the proceedings closed with a hearty vote ot thanks to Bro . Dr . Smith for presiding .

Scotland.

Scotland .

GLASGOW . Glasgow Chapter ( No . 50 ) . —This chaptei held its annual meeting on Thursday evening , the nth inst ., in St . Mark's Hall , Buchanan-street , for the election and installation of office-bearers for the ensuing year . Comp . Jas . Booth , M . E . Z ., presided . There was a large attendance of the members and distinguished visiting

companions . After the disposal of the usuil routine business , the M . E . Z . declared all the offices vacant , and called upon Comp , W . M . Denholm , M . E . Z . St . Andrew ' s Chapter , No . 6 g , Grand Soj ., to preside . There being no opposition to the nominations of the previous meeting , the following were duly elected , and those present were installed into their respective offices . Comp . Denholm called on Comp ,

) . MacNaught Campbell , l . P . Z . Go , Grand Scribe IN ., w install those below the Principals , while he undertook the duties of Installing Principal : Comps . James A . S . Kerr , M . E . Z .,- R . Morrison , D . M . E . Z . ; Thos . R . Richards , M . E . H . j Peter Robertson , M . E . J , j R . J ackson S . L . ! T . Chisholm , S . N . ; J . O . Stewart , Treas . ; J . Murray , ist Soj .,- J . P . Dodd , 2 nd Soj . ; Wal . Hardie , 3 rd Soj . i ¦

Jas . W . Craig , S . B . ; J . Fraser , sen ., Std . Br . ; I . •* ••Cummingham , Supt , of Wks . •Alex . Gray , Capt . isl Veil ; W . Anderson , Capt . 2 nd Veil ; J . M . Gondie , Capt . 3 rd Veil ; J . Fraser , jun ., D . C . ; and Geo . Muir , J anitor . At the conclusion ot the ceremany , Compi . Denholm and Campbell were accorded a hearty vote oi thanks for the able and interesting manner in which they

delivered the charges . During tne evening large deputations presented themselves to dj honour to Comp . Booth , who was vacating the chair after two years ot the most prosperous and eventful reign tnis historic chapter has enjoyed for many years . Comp . Booth has had a most distinguished career in Blue Masonry , and has filled the chair in his lodge for two long terms . He is also a l ' ^

Provincial in the Craft of some distinction , and has lile " all the elective offices in the province in the Arch Order . During his term of oflice more representative and distinguished Craftsmen have joined the chapter than for many years past , and he has left the chair with the deepest regret of the chapter , the bye-laws , which were frainw

during his term of olfice , forbidding him to hold ofli " for more than two years . His two predecessors were le ' fortunate ('„ omps . E . Macbean and VV . S . Hunter ) , nj-. i being widely known in the blue , their career was " . j * capped . Some tangible token of Comp . Bioth ' s valua 1 *" services to the chapter will be recognised shortly . . , The harmony was as good as in former years , for win ** ' ihe chapter is celebrated ,