Masonic Notes.

accident is far from satisfactory . We trust that a change for the better may soon jtake place , and that both of them may be restored to health as speedily as may be . * * *

We publish elsewhere a full account of the Masonic career of Bro . the Earl of Bective , Provincial Grand Master of Cumberland and Westmorland , but we should be wanting in our duty towards our late

distinguished brother and the Province whose fortunes he presided over so successfully for upwards of a quarter of a century , if we did not give expression to the deep regret which in common "with the whole English Craft we feel at the loss of so eminent a Mason . Nor must

we omit to discharge anotherand equally important duty , that of expressing our respectful sympathy with the members of his lordship ' s family , as well as with the brethren of the Province which had prospered so abundantly under his rule , and which is now lamenting

a loss , the memory of which time alone and the presidency of a brother of equal or similar merit will serve to efface . To these , accordingly , in the fulfilment of a sad yet imperative duty , we tender our sincerest and most respectful condolence .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

T We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed b' / our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to at' to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . '' Dear Sir and Brother , I have read with great interest your appeal on behalf of the above deserving Institution , and , personally , must express my regret that there are so many

applicants for relief . I must also express my astonishment at not finding the names of some applicants among the lists of subscribers to our noble Institutions . Of course that may be accounted for by their havingonly subscribed to Stewards' lists a sum or sums that ( unless lumped together ) would not entitle them to appear . It is a pity to see the number appealing for relief

continually increasing , and I cannot hut think it is , in some degree , attributable to the laxity observed in some lodges in accepting candidates for initiation—the object of the Master sometimes being to obtain a large number of candidates absolutely regardless of the fact whether they are fit and proper persons , or in a position financially to pay the lodge dues for any length of time .

In the lodge I have the honour of belonging to I have known in five years upwards of 20 members resi gn , all of whom were proposed for admission by one member . Cannot something be done before it is too late , to rescue our Order from the present state of things f Cannot Grand Lodge arbitrarily fix the initiation fee at such an amount as will ensure us only having fit and proper

members ? Increasing enormously in numbers , as we have in the last 20 years , would it not be for the benefit of our Order that this enormous influx should cease ? I would also suggest that the lodge subscription should be raised to a minimum of five guineas annually , and I think the Charities would enormousl y benefit from the increase . Apologising for troubling you , I remain , yours fraternally , A PAST MASTER .

Reviews.

Reviews .

CHINESE CENTRAL A ? IA . "A ride to Little Tibet . " By HP . KKV LANSMELL , D . D . London : Sampson Low , Marston & Co . In two bulky volumes the autV . or describes his great journey through Central Asia , occupying over two-and-ahalf years , and extending over 50 , 0011 miles of land and water . Proceeding over Russia to Merv by the Trans-Caspian Railway , Dr . Lansdell entered Bokhara , and from thence reached the Chinese frontier by way of Samarkand ,

lashkend , and Vierny . from this point Kashgar and Yarkand in Chinese Turkestan were passed through , and Little Tibet entered and traversed . The homeward route lay through India , Siam , Cambodia and Tonkinjr being likewise visited . Although the author ' s primary object was to spy out the land for missionary purposes , he has collected a mass of information valuable both to the scientific and general reader , to those interested in our North-West Frontier , his chapters on the Pamirs and the political condition of Chinese Turkestan are well worth a careful

reading . Dr . Lansdell aptly describes the plateau of the Pamir as the " orographical knot whence the mountains of high Asia spread like a network towards India , China and Turkestan , " it is in fact the heart and centre of Asia . Additional light is thrown on this much vexed question of the Russians in Pamirs , by the insertion of Messrs . Constable and Co . ' s new map of that region . The author pays a warm tribute to the courtesy and kindness everywhere

shown him by Kussian officials , moreover , lie appears to Have been afforded special facilities for persuing a direct ; md almost unbroken journey through Asiatic Russia to the Crinese frontier , Dr . Lansdell is evidently a warm admirer of Russian administrative ability in Central Asia . It is almost needless to say that the two volumes are excellently got up , and full of woodcuts taken from the author's original photographs .

The Peterborough Cathedral Restoration Committee announce that a fuither sum of £ 4000 is still needed in order to ci uiplcte the work of restoration .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

IggFgM & CM ^^ B

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Royal Athelstan Lodge ( No . 19 ) . —A regular meeting of this old lodge was held at Cannon-street Hotel on Thursday , the 14 th inst . The W . M . ( Bro . Green ) occupied the chair , and , amongst others , there were pres-nt : Bros . Bywater , P . M ., P . G . S . B . ; Corderoy , P . M . ;

Hodge , P . M . ; Sneath , P . M . ; Collard , P . M . ; Wormatd , P . M . ; Pound , P . M . ; and others . The lodge having been opened an 1 the miuutesof the last meeting duly read and confirmed , a ballot was taken for Mr . Arthur Collins Burnby as a candidate , and Bro . W . P . Campbell-Everden as a joining member . Both were unanimously elected , and the candidate was duly initiated , The election of Worshipful Master then

took place , and Bro . J . H . Whadcoat was unanimously chosen to fill that office for the ensuing year . The reelection of Bro . H . Gland , P . M ., as Treasurer was also by the unanimous vote of the lodge . Bro . Gilbert was reelected Tyler .

The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to a banquet . The usual toasts were proposed and duly honoured , Bro . T . Tucker , P . M ., responding for "The Visitors . " The office of Steward at the coming festival of the R . M . B . I , was entrusted to Bro . Whadcoat .

Lion and Lamb Lodge ( No . 192 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the 7 th inst ., at the Cannon-street Hotel , when there were present Bros . Fredk . Hughes , W . M . ; Jas . Smith , S . W . ; T . W . Fisher , J . W . ; Thos . Cohu , Treas . ; Henry Legge , Sec . ; Robt . Sarson . S . D . ; Geo . Goodes , D . C . ; A . J . Holmes , Stwd . ; Geo . Kenning , P . M . ; R . A . Martyn , Geo . Miner , J . W . Clarke , P . L . Simmonds , and H . E . Eggleton . Bro .

Chatterton was a visitor . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Miner was raised , and Bro . Clarke passed . Mr . Henry E . Eggleton was balloted for , and it being unanimous , was initiated . Messrs . J . G . Robeson , F . R . Kenning , and the Rev . T . G . Henry were candidates for the next meeting . The lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

St . Leonard Lodge ( No . 1766 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Great Eastern Hotel , on Wednesday 13 th inst ., and a great amount of work was performed on the occasion . The outgoing W . M ., Bro . S . C . Kaufman , took the chair at three , and with the exception of a brief " call off , " continued working until nearly eight . There was a strong muster of

members of the lodge and visitors . Among the brethren present were : Bros . S . C . Kaufman , W . M . ; W . Shurmur , S . W . ; S . Batcheler , J . W . ; B . Nicholson , Treas . ; Jos . Cox , P . M ., Sec . ; G . Bishop , S . D . ; G . H . Clark , D . C . ; B . Jacobs , l . G . ; E . Delevanti , as Org . ; F . Matthews , P . M . ; H . J . Thrower , P . M . ; J . A . Jones , P . M . ; R . Drysdale , P . M . ; W . Beasley , P . M . ; S . A . Matthews , John Smith ,

Jas . Tandy , H . Matthews , L . Nehm , A . Cunnington , and A . Kaufman . Visitors : Bros . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg . ; F . Dunstan , 1326 ; W . Samble , 127 S ; AT Ellis , G 51 ; A . Robertson , 32 G ; P . Jacobs , P . M . ; E . Ames , S 60 ; G . Bugler , 1 C 25 J A . R . Brunton , P . M 5 J . Bunker , 115 S ; G . Dyke 1275 ; H . Harris 1275 ; A . Robertson , 132 G ; O . C' -oper , 211 ; G . Cunnington , 1 G 07 ;

A . Jacobs , 23 yG ; C . H . Bestow , 2374 ; S . C . Bateman j 1707 ; M . Bluck , 2374 ; H . Steel , 172 ; H . Dehane , P . M . 1543 ; Walter Martin , P . M . S 79 ; George Corbie , P . M , 453 i John Geigenberg , 16 GS j W . Hawes , P . M . 554 ; II . Mass . ey , 160 , P . M . Gig and 102 S ; James Speller , W . M . 16 77 ; C . G . Cutchey , P . M . 1 GS 5 ; W . D . Church , P . M ., 1365 ; A . Budd , 144 G ; F . C . Edmonds , 1507 ; J .

Henderson , 1524 ; and W . H . town , W . M , 127 S . Bro . J . Tandry and J . Smith were raised and Bro . II . Matthews was passed , and afterwards Messrs . Patrick Ryan , Alfred Fisher , and Albert Barnes were initiated . The final work was the installation of Bro . Wm . Shurmur , who had courageously braved the fearful weather and come out for the first time after being laid up with illness .

Bro . J . Boulton , W . M . 2442 , actel as D . C . throughout the ceremony , and presented Bro . Shurmur to iiro . Kaufman after a dispensation bad been read by Bro . Cox authorising the installation , Bro . Shurmur being also W . M . of the Walthamstow Lodge . Bro . Kaufman performed his work admirably , and after the installation Bro . Shurmur invested the following brethren as officers of the

lodge for the e . isuing year : Bros . S . C . Kaufman , I . P . M . S . Batcheler , S . W . ; G . Bishop , J . W . ; li . Nicholson , Treas . ; J . Cox , P . M ., Sec . ; B . J acobs , S . D . j G . II . Clark , J . D . ; A . Cunnington , l . G . ; W . E . Abbott , D . C ; E . P . Delevanti , for 11 . Prenton , Org . ; and I .. Nehm and S . A . Matthews , Stwds . The Audit Committees' report was adopted , and it was resolved to petition

for a charter for a Royal Arch Chapter to be attached to the lodge . Thereafter the brethren adjourned to banquet , which was followed by the usual toasts , and singing by Miss Phyllis Hope , Miss Alice A . Andrews , Bro . Arthur Court , Bro . Bob Rae , and Bro . E . P . Delevanti . The Worshipful Master , in the course of proposing" The

M . W . G . M ., " said it must have been a source of great gratification and pleasure to the Masonic brethren that the Prince of Wales attended at and took part in the consecration of the Chancery Bar Lodge , for it was one more proof of the great zeal which he displayed in promoting the besi interests of Freemasons . In proposing " The Pro G . M ., the Deputy G . M ., and the

rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " Bro . Shurmur referred to the presence of Bro . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg ., who was everywhere held in the highest affection , esteem , and regard , more particularly in the Province of Essex . The Provincial Grand Master had now become Earl of Warwick , and it might perhaps be inconvenient for him to continue the Granil Mastership of Essex . In that event it was the earnest wish that his Deputy might be his sue-

Craft Masonry.

cessor . As Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch in the province , he reigned supreme in the affections and hearts of the companions , and as Deputy Prov . Grand Mister he had gained the love and respect of the brethren , and there could be no greater gift to the province . The same grace and dignity which had characterised his reign in the Royal Arch would also distinguish him as Prov . Grand Master , and the day he was appointed a wave of joy and happiness

would pass over the entire province . Bro . Philbrick , G . Reg ., in acknowledging the toast said if he were to trust to the flattering terms which had reached his ears he should be almost inclined to put himself in the clouds which bore Jove ' s chariots in the skies , and flatter himself he was one of the Royal Family ; but he was afraid the atmosphere of London was thick , and the gale of the past few days would send Jove ' s chariot in the air , and

an extremely dangerous mode of locomotion . Therefore he must , if he could not feel like Phoebus , descend to the surface of the earth and try to realise as best he could the situation . For the Prov . Grand Master , whose name and praise were in all the lodges , and for the Deo . Grand Master , who , since his appointment , had shown the most anxious care for the best interests of the Craft ; what . could he say but this , that no institution , was ever better served by those

who took a feeling interest in its welfare and evinced a strong' desire for its prosperity . For the other Grand Officers he would only say he believed from having seen the work of a great many of them they were sincerely desirous of doing their duty and of assisting to further the great interests of the Craft ; but he would be foolish if he ignored the kind personal application of the toast which had been made to himself . The Grand

Registrar had to fill an office which at times made serious demands upon the care and attention of any one . The brethren would be astonished if he were to take them into Masonic confidence and show them the immense piles of dispatches , and papers of all kinds that arrived from the Colonial possessions , for where the l \ ig of Great Britain and the United Kingdom was flying there Masonry under the Grand Lodge of England went . They had difficult

questions before them sometimes with regard to rights which were at least as complicated as some of the matters that the Foreign Secretary had to unravel with the aid of diplomats ; questions arose as to federal rights and rights of Grand bodies all over the world , and not the least embarrassing of the questions were those which cropped up when a new Sovereign Grand Body established itself in a territory which had hitherto been occupied by Grand Bodies

not originating on that soil but which exercised jurisdiction from a distance and claimed the right of ruling over their Masonic adherents . In such matters , as in all matters which appertained to Masonry in the Colonies of the United Grand Lodge of England andin countriesabroad they not onl y respected therightsof others butendeavouredthatthe Mother Grand Lodge of the world , viz ., the United Grand Lodge of England should be respected as the head and fountain of

Masonic right and order . He was afraid he was telling something which was not perhaps of immediate personal interest , but that which was almost parodying the initial phrases of a Queen ' s Speech at the opening of Parliament , but he was happy to say that with respect to all the Masonic bodies of the world , the United Grand Lodge of England stood in relations of amity to them , and occupied a justly and deservedly respected position . Turning to

another subject which had been referred to , he had never understood that because a man succeeded to a title , he therefore was another man . He had not Sir Albert Wood ' s ( Garter ) at his right to correct him , but he was sure that Lord Brooke ' s heart was in the Province of Essex , and that when they called him by the old and beloved name of Lord Brooke , or by the proud title of Earl of Warwick , it would make no difference in his lordship ' s feeling for

Essex . For many years , nay , ever since Lord Brooke had been Prov . Grand Master for Essex , he ( Bro . Philbrick ) had endeavoured to serve him as his Deputy . VVhat the Worshipful Master had said , and the brethren had kindly endorsed , induced him to hope , not without a feeling of kindness on their part towards him , the very last thing that ever entered his head , or ever would enter his head would be treason to his chief , or the supplanting of him . With

regard to another matter , the St . Leonard Lodge , he was happy to say it was flourishing , and was well accepted by the brethren of the district . It was a good omen that they had three initiates that day . The lodge had been established 15 years , and it had prospered , so much so that it wanted a Royal Arch Chapter . He congratulated the W . M , and the lodge on the position of the lodge . It was a proud position , and one which the Grand Officers

viewed with pleasure and satisfaction . On their part , while thanking the brethren for their kind recognition of their status in the Crait , lie most heartily and sincerely wished the lodge long and continued prosperity . iiro . Jones , P . M ., proposed "The W . AI . " It did not require any assurance from him , because all the brethren knew it , that a more zealous or painstaking brother than Bro . Shurmur could not bs found in London . Bro .

Shurmur had done more for Freemasonry in the east of London and in Essex than any other brother present that evening . They all knew him , and they wished him a happy and prosperous year of office , and they knew he would hold it and that at the end of his term they would have to congratulate him as they already had congratulated Bro . Kaufman . But there was one thing he wished to impress upon the brethren . Bro . Shurmur had been

nominated for the office of Grand Treasurer of England , and he hoped the brethren would woik for him ; if they would , he fek they would carry him at the head of the poll . He asked the brethren to do all they could for him . Iiro . .-ihunnur , W . M ., in response to the toast , which was most cordially received , said , until almost the last moment he was not certain whether it would be his privilege to be present that evening , and the brethren could

understand Ins deep sense of gralituJe to the G . A . O . l ' . U . tor having granted him the blessing of sufficient health to enable him to come out . lie had been a member of tne St . Lsonard Lod ge for very many years ; he had filled almost eveiy minor office , and it was a very great pleasure to him that lie had attained the chair . He had been very much impressed by the fervent hope of the Installing Master

that it would please the G . A . O . T . U . to grant him health and strength to discharge ihe duties of the high vocation to which lie nad been called by the unanimous vote of the brethren . I le humbly hoped it might be so . lie should endeavour conscientiously and strenuously to give entire satisfaction . He knew the brethren would bear with him , because he was not in his usual form . He should exert