Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents but we wish , in a spirit ot fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am glad to see this subject being again dissussed , and hope , with your assistance in finding space for the ventilation of opinion , that an alteratio n in system may be the result .

Rightly or wrongly , I have come to the conclusion that the office of Grand Treasurer cannot be aspired to by the most meritorious of men unless he has money , and is prepared to spend it freely . A lavish expenditure on printing and postage , hire of committee rooms , and unstinted hospitality on the day of the

election , with , possibly , generous acknowledgment in some form or other of the services of those who act as electioneering agents , would deter many excellent and praiseworthy brothers from entering into the contest . But this year another item of expense was added in the way of providing Craft clothing for the use of voters —only a small matter , but significant of what remains yet to be thought of .

Not only do 1 object to and protest against the cost attendant upon standing for the office of G . T ., but I strongly dislike the present system of touting for rotes , which is carried to an extent that is most objectionable . It gives rise to the suspicion that there is an element of professional agency introduced into the election . This ought not to be , and in the best interests of our Craft I earnestly desire to see an alteration brought about .

I will not enter further into the subject , for if I were to do so I should speak of the " open house" feature connected with Committee-rooms , which reminds me of the " good old days" before the passing of the Corrupt Practices Act . So strongly do I object to the latter-day mode of electing Grand Treasurer that I have refrained from voting for the past eight years , and shall refrain until an alteration is made . —Yours faithfully , PROVINCIAL P . M .

THE RECENT REPORT OF BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , On reading your report ( in the Freemason of the gth instant ) I was surprised at the inaccuracies which occur in the statements made when it was proposed to receive the Report of the Board of General Purposes . As the matter refers to me , and , therefore , I am interested therein , I feel sure you will in all fairness allow me to point out the same .

The gist of the matter lies in the fact that a charge or complaint was made by the Prov . G . Secretary against the Secretaries of two of the lodges for not issuing the summonses of Prov . Grand Lodge to the members of their respective lodges . This took place last August . At the meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge the Provincial Grand Master said that a charge ( "not a serious one" were his

words ) was before him , and asked that a Committee be elected to investigate the matter and report to him . It is therefore misleading to say " the Provincial Grand Master had sent the complaint to his own Provincial Board of General Purposes , " as such a Board does not exist . Your report also says the Provincial Grand Master , not wishing to be a judge in his own case , brought the matter before the Board of General Purposes . This is incorrect .

The real fact is , the matter was put before the G . Registrar before the Comviittce of Provincial Grand Lodge met , and the course advised and adopted made an appeal to the Board of General Purposes impossible . The Committee then met , heard all the complainant ( who was present ) had to say , and who also pressed prominently forward the opinion of the Grand Registrar , but , where were the accused—the defendants ? It is scarcely credible , they were not even informed

that the Committee was meeting to investigate the case . They were not heard . It is therefore quite clear that to say " the whole case was most carefully investigated " is the reverse of true . My defence has not been heard . The Provincial Grand Master does not , up to the present moment , know anything about it . It is clear , therefore , that he has " failed to adjudicate on a case brought before him . " The whole case hinges on the interpretation of the Bye-law which defines the duties of the Prov . Grand Secretary .

My defence is simply this . In 18 95 the Committee of Prov . Grand Lodge , after discussion , interpreted the bye-law to mean that the Secretary was to get all summonses printed , and issue them , charging the expenses to Prov . Grand Lodge account . The Prov . Grand Master would be the last to contradict this , as no one knows better than he that what I state I am prepared to prove . From that date ( 1895 ) up to August , igoo , this course has been followed by the Prov . Grand Secretary , and when ( on my arrival from a holiday ) I found a parcel of

summonses left for me to fold up , put in envelopes , and issue , 1 at once returned them to the Prov . Grand Secretary , as I consider it was his and not my work . I did this in good faith , that f was acting according to usage and precedent , and without an arriere pensce . Had the opportunity been given me to explain thisto the Prov . Grand Master , to the Committee of Prov . Grand Lodge , or to the Board of General Purposes—I feel sure a miscarriage of justice would have been averted .

There are many other minor points , but I leave them , as I have greatly exceeded the space I intended to occupy . —1 rsmain , yours faithfully and fraternally , "A VICTIM . "

SUGGESTED COMMEMORATION JEWELS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , May I be respectfully allowed to make two suggestions for the kindly consideration of the " powers that be , " with a view to one of them being taken , at least , into consideration . I would suggest :

{ a ) That a special jewel be designed in commemoration of the 25 years ' reign of our late Grand Master , to be worn oy all Masons , and that a bar be attached ( as in Jubilee jewel ) for those who are able to be present at the installation of H . R H . the Duke of Connaught as Grand Master ; or ( 4 ) That a jewel be designed and worn by those attending the installation ceremony .

I feel sure that either of these would be much valued , and I trust that I am not out of order in introducing the subject . —Yours faithfully and fraternally ,

SENIOR WARDEN . March 19 th . His MAJKSTV THE KING has graciously consented to continue to be patron of the Metropolitan Hospital , Kingsland-road , N . E ,

Reviews.

Reviews .

"FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OP GLOUCESTER , IQOI . " { John Bellows , Gloucester ) . —The esteemed Provincial Charity Secretary ( Bro . R . P . Sumner ) is the Editor of this handsomely printed Annual , which has been compiled on " the old lines , " because they cannot well be improved upon . The only new feature is a very appreciative notice of the " Visit of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge to Gloucestershire " last July , extending to some seven pages , which has been reprinted from the Cheltenham Examiner , belonging to one of the most distinguished

Masons in that province . It is a high compliment to the lodge , and cannot fail to advance the objects for which it was formed . The 1 ylodges in the province return a total of S 40 members , being in advance of all previous registers . The senior on the Roll is the "Foundation , " No . 82 , of A . D . 1 753 ; the next as to precedence being the "Royal Union " ot 1 S 13 ( "Ancient" ); and the last of the trio , prioi to 1 S 44 , being " Royal Faith and Friendship , " No . 270 , which dates from 17 S 9 , and has a remarkable history before it reached the province in 1802 . The votes for the Central Masonic Charities

make a grand total of 6234 , so that it will be evident that the sacred cause of Charity is well _ looked after in the county . Considerable space is devoted to particulars concerning the Institutions and the sums raised locally on their behalf . There are only four R . A . chapters in the province , but whether as respects that Degree , or any other of the regular series , Gloucestershire has better than numbers , as many of its members are included in the front rank for zeal , intelligence , and Masonic enthusiasm generally .

"BERKSHIRE MASONIC REGISTER AND CALENDAR FOR 1901 . " ( Market-place Newbury . )—This is a large annual , though published for rather a small Province , and is most efficiently edited by Bro . J . T . Morland , P . G . D ., the respected Deputy Prov . G . M . _ The Printer and Publisher is the indefatigable Bro . G . J . Cosburn , M . J . I ., the Proprietor of " Cosburn's Illustrated Directory for Newbury , " & c , so well known and extensively patronised . Bro . Morland has taken considerable pains to edit the Register most thoroughly , even the Returns from the 17 Lodges being subjected to careful

analysis . The net membership for iooo ( after deducting those who belong to more than one Lodge and adding " serving brethren " ) is 725 , being slightly in advance of the previous year . There are five R . A . chapters , with 153 companions , " including life members . " The Mark Lodges number five , with 148 brethren . . The feature of this Register is that the complete Roll of all the members of all these Degrees is printed and arranged in order , each Lodge , Chapter , & c , as well as lists of the Officers and P . Ms ., including the Rose Croix and Allied Masonic Degrees . Besides this there is an

alphabetical Register of the Province of Berks , Craft and Arch , and the Mark Province of Berks and Oxon , corrected to December , 1 9 , some goo names , showing the years of admission and whether Past Masters , P . Zs ., 18 , & c , with other particulars . Full information is also afforded as to the votes for the Central Masonic Charities , and likewise as to the Present and Past Grand Officers Craft , Mark , and Royal Arch . Last , but not least , should be noted the valuable historical information inserted as to the chief Masonic events which have occurred in the Province .

To A Shamrock.

TO A SHAMROCK .

If it were days when glad religious light Had not dispersed the darkness of the past ; When men were heathen , and the King of Night Upon them all his gloomy blackness cast , I'd be content to have thee for my god , To kneel with clasped hands and pray to thee ; To worship e ' en thy birthplace—that dear sod Which gave thee life and sent such ioy to me .

But , pilgrim-like , I still may haunt thy isle , And , kiss the emerald of thy glistening leaf ; While voices whisper— " Every bud's a smile , And every stem a comforter of grief . " Such is thy power to soothe the heart ' s dull ache , I'd almost be a Pagan for thy sake 1 CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D . Bradford .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

Borough of Greenwich Lodge , No . 332 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . HENRY JACOBS . The installation meeting of the above lodge took place at the King William the Fourth Hotel , Bro . Past Master George Burney ' s handsome establishment at East Greenwich , on Tuesday , the 12 th instant , and although but few brethren were present , they comprised some good and true Mark Masons , who love and work indefatigably for the progress of this beautiful Degree in Masonry .

The lodge was opened by the VV . M ., Bro . Frank Lever , and the minutes having been confirmed , Bro . Henry J acobs , S . W ., W . M . elect , was presented to the W . M . to receive at his hands the benefit of installation , and in due course Bro . Jacobs was placed in the chair of A . and saluted . He appointed and invested those of his olficers present as follows : Bros . Lever , I . P . M ., * J . W . Rozter , S . W . T . Hines , J . W . ; J . Hines , M . O . ; H . Watts , S . O . ; F . F . Marrable , J . O . ; G . P . Carter , P . M ., P . P . G . I . of

Works , Treas . and acting Sec . ; G . M . Airey , Reg . of Marks ; J . L . Thorpe , S . D . ; G . Burney , jun ., J . D . ; Chas . Morton Challender , P . M ., P . S . G . W ., I . G . ; and T . Piirday , Tyler . Bro . Lever then gave the addresses eloquently . He was presented with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , and was unanimously tenJered a vote of thanks for his services that day as Installing O . licer , for both of which he returned his sincere thanks . The balance-sheet , which showed a goodly sum in hand and no liabilities , was received and adopted , and then the lodge was closed .

The banquet was admirably served ; and "Bro . Gsorge" well deserved the eulogiums passed upon his catering . The usual loyal and Grand Lodge toasts having been honoured , that of " The Prov . G . M . M . of Kent , the Right Hon . Viscount Dungarvan , " followed , and was drunk with enthusiasm . The toast of " Bro . F . Hughes-Hallett , Dep . Prov . G . M ., and the rest of the Prov . G . Officers , Present and Past , " was coupled with the name of Bro . Challender .

Bro . Challender , in response , thinked them for the hearty minnec in which they had received the toast . He was proud to be a P . G . Oflicer cf the Province of Kent , and to serve under such an excellent Mason as their P . G . M . His duties he found so far to be very arduous . He had had to attend at one dinner , and that he did to the best of his abilities . ( Cheers and laughter . ) They all looked upon the ollice of S . G . W . as a reward for services rendered to the Order , and he had no doubt the handsone m inner in which he had discharged his duties had won him that distinction . However , he should endeavour to prove himself worthy of tha honour by doing everything in his power to promote the interests of that lodge and the success of the Order in the

province-Our excellent brother spoke in a jocular vein , and was cheered during and at the conclusion of his speech heartily . Bro . Lever , I . P . M ., then proposed the toastof "The W . M ., " whom he vouched ( ot as a good man and a Mason . It there should be work for Bro . Jacu ' 03 to do , he woul '' do it in a manner worthy of the lodge , and the proud position achieved by hion that day-He trusted they would pull together and help the W . M . to mike the lodge strong *' ' than it was at the present moment . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Jacobs briefly replied by saying that he did not know whether he should eyef 1 come up to the standard of his predecessors , but would try to prove worthy of the kind