Masonic Notes.

It appears that the four largest lodges on the role of the Grand Lodge of Illinois are Covenant Lodge , No . 526 , which on the 30 th of June last was able to boast of a total of 555 members ; Cleveland Lodge ,

No . 211 , with 392 members ; Hesperia Lodge , No . 411 , with 360 members ; and the Garden City Lodge , with 352 members . We shall deeply regret if the day should ever come when lodges of these unmanageable proportions find favour in England .

The Chicago Times of November ist presents pictures of some of the most prominent Masons in the world—William James Hughan , the distinguished

Masonic historian , of England ; George W . Speth , the Secretary Quatuor Coronati Lodge , London , & c , who are honorary members of the Masonic Veterans ' Association of Illinois . "

* * * The gathering which takes place annually at " Smith ' s Inn , " the mansion of Bro . General J . C . Smith , the P . M . W . G . M . of Illinois , was held on the last Wednesday of October , Mrs . Smith being , as usual , the esteemed

and gracious hostess . A pleasant surprise was in store for the General and his lady , Bro . D . C . Cregier , ex-Mayor of the city , presenting the venerable chief ' s amiable wife with a handsome and valuable solid silver

tea service , on behalf of the veterans and dames who have been so often the recipients of their unbounded hospitality . Assuredly the gift was well deserved , and will be much esteemed .

The Commercial Gazette of Cincinnati is responsible for the statement—made on what authority we know not—that the members of the Masonic fraternity are about to present a petition to the Queen in favour of

Florence Maybrick ' s restoration to the world , " and that the said petition will be handed to her Majesty by the Prince of Wales in his capacity of M . W . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of England . It is to be regretted that our contemporary should have been deluded into

giving publicity to such a silly announcement . In the first place , the ' guilt or innocence of Florence Maybrick is not a question which mediatel y or immediatel y concerns the Masonic fraternity as a fraternity ; in the next place , the Prince of Wales is not in the habit of

usurping the functions of a responsible Minister of the Crown ; and lastly , if the Prince did present such a petition , the Queen would at once hand it to the Home Secretary , to be dealt with by him in the discharge of his duty .

* * * It is with very great pleasure we announce that the accounts of the great Masonic Bazaar which was held in the month of December last , in aid of the Scottish Fund of Benevolence , have been finally made up , the

balance available , for which a cheque has been forwarded to the fund , being , £ 14 , 449 I 0 S - 10 ^This is a grand result , and reflects the greatest honour on the Fraternity in Scotland , and Bro . Sir A . C . Campbell , Bart ., who will this month vacate the office of Grand Master in

favour of Bro . the Earl of Haddington , must be gratified to know that the term of his Grand Mastership has included an event which will be attended with such beneficial results to our brethren north of the Tweed .

* * * It is evident from the Eleventh Annual Report of the Dorset Masonic Charity , which was presented at the recent annual meeting at Poole of the Provincial Grand

Lodge of Dorsetshire , that the interest which the lodges and brethren of the Province take in their local Charity is as keen as ever . The members and subscribers are about the same in number as during the year 1 SS 9 , while there is a decrease in the number of donors . The

capital account shows a total of assets amounting to upwards of . £ 2530 as compared with ^ 2320 in December 188 9 , the increase during the year being thus £ 210 . We note also that four grants , amounting together to £ 10 , were made during the year , and appear in the

accounts for 1890 , while two others , amounting together to ^ 32 , will be brought to account in 1891 . We congratulate Dorsetshire on the state of its Charity , and trust the appeal made by the Committee in this report for increased and continued support will be generously responded to by the brethren .

We think it is due to Bro . Whytehead , whose letter on "The Future of Freemasonry" has brought out some interesting opinions from various correspondents , to remark that in a letter signed " P . M ., " in our last

issue , the writer does not quote Bro . Whytehead quite correctl y . Bro . Whytehead certainly did not say that •candidates were initiated to get money from the

Charities . What he did say was—that persons in a state of poverty were being run in for the sake of their initiation fees , and under the inducement that they or their families would mak ea profit out of Masonry .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

CENTENARY WARRANTS AND JEWELS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Replying to that part of "Lex Scripta ' s " letter which more directly concerns my book , I would remark that , in my opinion , no member of a lodge who

had been suspended could say , with any regard for accuracy , that his membership had been " uninterrupted , " and I am quite content to accept Mackey ' s definition as strongly supporting this view . A suspended brother ' s " rights are placed in abeyance , and he can neither visit lodges , hold Masonic

communication , nor receive Masonic relief during the period for which he has been suspended . " The point is not whether a brother , after suspension , is restored to the privileges of full membership or not , but whether "suspension " does , or does not , mean interruption . Now , what is interruption , in the every-day

acceptation of the term ? 1 urning to the Ency . Diet ., vol . 6 , p . 702 , we find : "SUSPENSION . I . Ordinary Language . . . . The act of holding over , delaying , interrupting , ceasing , or stopping for a time , as ( 1 ) the temporary ceasing or interruption of labour , toil , exertion study , pain , or the like .-...- ( 5 ) the

suspending or debarring temporarily from any privilege the execution ot an office , the enjoyment of an income , or the like . " This is just the opposite of " CONTINUITY , " which signifies " uninterrupted connexion , union , without a break or interval . "

I disagree in toto with " Lex Scnpta " in reference to the position of a " suspended " lodge after restoration , but as my book " Centenary Warrants and Jewels" does not specially deal with that aspect of the question , but refers more particularly to lodges that have suffered " erasure , " I will at once join issue with

" Lex Scripta" on that point , my contention being that " restoration " or " re-instatement" cannot by any possibility include the " continuity" of a lodge ' s existence . A lodge may be restored to all its privileges , but no amount of legislative enactments can over-rule the physical difficulty that for a more or less definite

period of time the lodge was practically dead . Let me give an actual illustration of the subject . Amongst the 25 or 30 lodges referred to in my book as having received centenary warrants before they were entitled to them , I will cite , for the present purpose , two only , viz ., No . 35 , Medina Lodge , Cowes , and No .

88 , Scientific Lodge , Cambridge . The former was erased on 23 rd April , 1773 , and not re-instated until 1779 , but received a centenary warrant in 1862 . The latter was erased on ist Feburary , 1786 , and re-instated on gth February , 1791 , but received its centenary warrant in 1872 . Now in both these instances the

lodges were erased and off the roll for upwards of five years , and I ask " Lex Scripta" if he can seriously contend that the " restoration" or re-instatement of these lodges , after that long period , could possibly give them a valid claim to continuity so as to enable them subsequently to prove " uninterrupted" existence 'i

In the ordinary and common-sense view of matters , no such interpretation is , in my opinion , possible . But " Lex Scripta" must not understand me to infer or to imply for a single moment that the Grand Master cannot exercise his prerogative by granting a centenary warrant to any lodge that cannot furnish evidence of this " continuity . " My contention is that the lodges

referred to , and many others , were not in a position to petition the Grand Master for a centenary warrant , inasmuch as they were unable to comply with the conditions of the " Instructions for applying for centenary jewels , " which require' not only that " the necessary particulars as to the orig in of the lodge" should be furnished , but also " proof ' of its uninterrupted existence for one hundred years , " which , of course , must be

consecutive . Finally , in regard to these "Instructions" I am aware that they do not form a part of the Constitutions as enacted by Grand Lodge ; but for all practical purposes they are the law for lodges and individuals to

obey , because , I take it , they are the M . W . Grand Master ' s own regulations , and , consequently , binding on all his loyal subjects , and in this sense one can but wish that they had been more carefully observed . — Yours fraternally , JNO . LANE . Torquay , November 14 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

" 33 " AND CENTENARY MEDALS . In reply to Bro . Lane , I am of opinion that such a lodge as he suggests , of say 1770 originally , and reissued about 1800 , is nol entitled to a centenary . May I ask if he alludes to No . 258 ' : I beg to thank Bro . " Lex Scripta" also for his kind reply to some of my

queries . I take his view entirely as to the effect of suspension , or say even expulsion or erasure , when not confirmed , for surely when a lodge or brother is reinstated , on appeal , all continuity is preserved as previously . I am not able to offer a strong opinion as to the " instructions " for applying for the Grand Master ' s

permission , never having thought of the point before . It seems to me , however , that the conditions are as much a law as any other part of the Book , so far as they must and should be respected . Bro . Lamonby ' s letter is also good reading , and so I consider was my first communication . 33 .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Graft flDa 0 onr . o . METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

Capper Lodge ( No . 1076 ) . —The installation meeting of the above excellent lodge took place on Thursday , the 12 th inst ., at the Guildhall Tavern , and was well attended by the brethren of the lodge and visitors from far and near . The lodge vvas opened by the VV . M ., Bro . J . Tytheridge , and the minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed , and certain other details attended

to , Bro . VV . L . Crow , S . W . and W . M . elect , was presented by Bro . H . Taplay , P . M ., acting D . C , to the W . M . to receive at his hands the benefits of installation , and in due course Bro . Crow was placed in the chair of K . S ., and afterwards appointed and invested his officers as follows : — Bros . J . Tytheridge , I . P . M . ; J . H . White , S . VV . ; F . C . Ward , J . VV . ; J . Dorton , P . M ., Treas . ; W . H . Ware ,

Hon . Sec . ; C . R . Sayers , S . D . ; J . F . Oates , J . D . ; C . R . Higgins , I . G . ; T . H . Maple , D . C . ; ] . B . Thompson and R . W . Magub , Stwds . ; M . Sherwin , Org . ; and A . K . Turbefield , Tyler . Bro . Tytheridge then gave the addresses , and concluded a well-worked ceremony , for which he was awarded a vote of thanks , the same to be inscribed in the minutes of the lodge . It was also resolved that a copy of

the vote of thanks should be inscribed on vellum , mounted , and framed , and presented to him at the next lodge meeting as some recognition of his services that day as Installing Officer . He was further presented with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel of the value of ten guineas for services to the lodge during his year of office , for which he feelingly returned thanks . Bro . Knox , P . M ., sent in his resignation

as a member , and was unanimously elected a honorary member , and then the lodge was closed . Among the other brethren present were Bros . H . B . Holliday , P . M . ; F . Brien , P . M . ; P . McCarthy , P . M . ; W . Dorton , P . M . ; VV . H . Harris , P . M . ; W . Watkins , P . M . ; VV . Temple , P . M . ; C . D . Mears , P . M . ; A . T . Dale , P . M . ; W . G . Crow , W . Robinson , W . Taylor , G .

VV . Buffery , H . C . Warmald , E . Cute , W . Thomas , B . H . Spence , G . H . With , J . Reynolds , VV . E . Cramphorne , C . Nicoll , W . Stockvis , J . Still , J . T . Simpson , R . Brown , and A . Hoeftman , all of the lodge ; A . Knight , W . M ., C . Fowling , S . W ., B . Curtis , J . W ., of 1472 ; T . Blest , W . M . 169 ; J . C . Main , W . M . 157 ; E . Chatterton , W . M . 11 S 5 ; VV . Hawes , W . M . 554 ; J . J . Woolley . W . M . 2191

and P . M . 15 ; R . Ross , W . M . 1 744 ; R . Walker , P . M . 159 S ; J . G . James , J . W . 792 ; J . Williams , 15 ; G . J . Vanderpump , 1507 ; E . Martin , 140 ; A . Eades , 2332 ; A . Jambrill , 1598 ; K . Bowden , 1107 ; J . Dippie and (__ . J . Thomas , of 159 S ; H . M . Hind , 14 S 9 ; C . R . Brightly , 163 S ; T . Morey , 117 S ; and C . Jolly , P . M . and Sec . 1472 and 21 S 4 .

The banquet , which was handsomely served under the immediate superintendence of Bro . Marchare , having been satisfactorily accomplished , the VV . M . gave the usual loyal and Grand Lodge toasts , which were heartily and loyally responded to . The I . P . M . then proposed the toast of " The Worshipful Master , " and , in so doing , said they all knew that although

Bro . Crow was not an old Mason , yet he was a good one . He ( Bro . Tytheridge ) had been in close proximity to their VV . M . in the working of the lodge for some years past , in fact , ever since Bro . Crow's initiation , and had always found him a zealous and hard working Mason . He was sure that during Bro . Crow ' s year of office the lodge would prosper , and that Bro . Crow would be of more service to it

than he ( Bro . Tytheridge ) had been . He asked them to drink the toast heartily . The Worshipful Master , in response , said he was sure the kind words that had fallen from the lips of the I . P . M . were very flattering , and all he could say in reply was that he should endeavour to do his duty by the lodge as his predecessors had done before him . He trusted they would give

him plenty of work to do , and that he should be able to do it to their satisfaction . He had studied the ritual , and had attended their lodge and other lodges of instruction to endeavour to perfect himself in it , and , in conclusion , could only hope that T . G . A . O . T . U . would spare him to carry out the duties of his office to their satisfaction and to the credit of the lodge .

The Worshipful Master then proposed the toast of " The Installing Master , " saying that Bro . Tytheridge was one uf the oldest members of the lodge , having seen some 21 years' service in it . He had that day passed through the chair of the lodge , and had installed him ( Bro . Crow ) into the chair of K . S . in a most impressive manner , and heasked them to drink the toast heartily .

Bro . Tytheridge briefly responded , and thanked the Past Masters , the officers , and the brethren , "one and all , " for their kindness to him while in the chair . If his work that day as Installing Officer had pleased them , then was he perfectly satisfied , and now that he was through the chair , tie should do all in his power to assist the W . M . in making his year of office a pleasant and successful one .

The W . M ., in proposing the toast of " The Past Masters , " eloquently referred to the many valuable services rendered the lodge by them . Bro . McCarthy gave him the first collar he wore in the lodge . Bro . Dorton had helped him to his Masonic knowledge . Bro . Taplay was , as they all knew , a hard worker for the sake of the lodge , more particularly as Director of Ceremonies at installations .

Bro . Holliday was the President of their Benevolent Association , and it was to his earnest work they were indebted for the proud position the lodge held as Patron of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons , and Vice-President of the Boys' and Girls' Schools . All the Past Masters had worked well for the lodge , and he proposed their healths in bumpers .

Bro . Holliday said he quite agreed vvith the observation of the VV . M ., that the Past Masters had the welfare of the lodge at heart , and he was glad to think that one of their oldest Past Masters , who had that day resigned his membership , had been elected a honorary member of the lodjfe . It was 21 years since he joined the lodge , and he had seen s . ome ups and downs in it , but was now proud of its position n the Craft . As their W . M . had spoken of their