Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

A SUGGESTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , With reference to the interesting and highly instructive articles in your journal contributed by the writer " Communicated , " it has ofte n occurred to me that some special emphasis should be placed on the cerem onies and meeting times relating to the seasons of the year . Am I too bold in throwing out the following suggestion for consideration of a useful reform in this direction ?

I think that it would be a good idea in keeping with the antiquity and tradition of the Craft if some special notice and signification were given to the annual meetings of lodges at , or nearest dates , to the Vernal ( March 21 ) Equinox and Autumnal ( September 20 ) Equinox , or to meet the tradition of our Hebrew brethren by making the special meetings coincide with the dates of the Passover and Day of Atonement , both these highly important and significant festivals , as is well known , being fixed near the two Equinoxes .

This suggestion would form a happy sequel to the present ritual but would accentuate or emphasise its truth . I would further suggest that at the March meeting it be the general custom to install the new Worshipful Master , and the September meeting , coming at the autumn or harvest time , might be appointed for some special Charity collection for Craft purposes .

I believe that some lodges make a festival of St . John ' s , or Midsummer day , but this date is more suitable for some out-door festival , whereas the spring and autumn evenings being dark are more conducive to our special purpose . The drift of the above suggestion would soon be seen and appreciated by the brethren if the lodges tf instruction gave a few lectures appropriate to the meaning and signification of above landmarks , showing past tradition and up-todate application .

In any case , I should like to hear what objections or difficulties are in the wa > of adopting above reform . —Yours fraternally , „ , t T . MAY , 754 . Tottenham , March 12 th .

THE RIGHT OF VISITATION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , There are few points on which I have a stronger feeling than this . I hope ere long to send you a full statement of my views hereon , for which I have for some time been collecting notes .

Meanwhile , I would simply say in answer to " P . M . 124 , " that to my mind , the RIGHT to Visit is a most important " Landmark , " and I do not know any dictum of your contributor " The Lodge Room , " with which I am more fully in accord than the one quoted by " P . M . 124 . " I would like "P . M . 124 " to explain what he understands by "properly vouched for , " and to distinguish between this and the report of the officer of the lodge who has made " due examination .

The Grand Lodge has approved a report of the Board of General Purposes containing a resolution— " That it is the undoubted right of every Mason , who is well known , or properly vouched , to visit any lodge during the time it is opened for general Masonic business , observing the proper forms to be attended to on such occasions , and so that the Master be not interrupted in the performance of his duty . " It is curious that the letter of Bros . Last ( 2 ) and Lovegrove . appearing with " P . M . 124 ' s" letter , evidently touch upon the same subject . —Yours fraternally , LEX SCRIPTA .

RECENT MEETING OF GRAND LODGE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Allow me to correct a statement in your report of the proceedings of Grand Lodge . Your reporter must have misunderstood me . I certainly did not ask what clothing the M . W . G . M . was wearing ! Nor did I understand his answer to relate to his clothing I

Had I been inclined to ask such a question I should not have done so , as I should not have considered it a respectful question to put there , 1 was too far off the Dais to see , but as a matter of fact I thought , and I have since been told others thought also , that the M . W . acting Grand Master was wtaring , and I think , rightly wearing , the clothing of a Past Grand Master ol Nova Scotia , covered with the collar of an English Provincial Grand Master .

If this were so , why were not Sir Albert Woods' instructions carried out if they were correct—of which , with all due deference , I am not yet convinced . — Yours fraternally , S . R . BASKETT . E \ ershot , Dorchester , March 19 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"I'KKKMASONS' CALENDAR . PROVINCE OF SHKOI'SHIKE . Kjao . " —This interesting annual is edited by Bro . K . G . Veni ' bles , P . A . G . D . C , the li . I ' rjv . G . M ., who has been assisted by Bro . Alexander Graham ( the Historian of the province ) , and other brethren . The dozen lodges on the roll return sone 40 a members . I ' ns names of all these are given , and carefully arranged under the lists of officers ; subscriDinj P .. M ,., with "year in chair , " and Prov . Rank j the subscribing members in order , according to date , with the yearsof initiation or joining ; and a separate list of the new members . Statistical tables are also appended , showing the number of members for each year

from iSy 3 . Similar particulars are afforded as to the Rival Arch and other Decrees , and the list of votes for the Masonic Charities , some 2 S 00 in number and other nutters , complete the Calendar . Bro . Graham briefly alludes to an old minute baok , lately found , of the Whitchurch Lodge founded in 17 S 5 , by Major ShenilT , and promises still more , and the sketch of the progress duri ng the year of the English Craft , is exceedingly well done . A portrait of the esteemed Prov . Grand Sec , Bro . W . H . Spaull , P . A . G . D . C , with short biography , adds much to the value of the publication .

" FREEMASONS' CAI . ENIMK ANI > UlRKCTOKV l'OR THE PKOVINCK OV ESSEX , lyoo . "—This ably edited annual has b < xn compiled by the respected Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . T . J . Railing , P . A . G . D . C . of England , and is literally full of information , care-

Reviews.

fully arranged , and artistically printed . It has no superiors , and is as accurate as it is useful . There are now 44 lodges in the province , the senior on the roll being No . 51 , Colchester , of 1735 . The province was established in the year 1776 , but there are only two lodges now on the Register earlier than that period , viz ., No . 51 , already noted , and No 1 G 0 ] Rochford . With Bro . Railing ' s talent for condensation and arrangement we think he might add the number of members under each lodge to the table at PP- 37-8 J and so for the R . A . companions on the list of 13 chapters at p . S 7 . The

votes for the Central Masonic Charities are most fully detailed , and are of a most gratifying character , the grand total being 12 , 249 ' ¦ tbe name of every subscriber and his qualifications being given . The events of the year 1 S 99 are duly noted in a concise and interesting manner , and there is an excellent portrait of Bro . George Corbie , the well-known and respected Clerk of the River Lee Conservancy Board , who is an enthusiastic member of the Craft . The Calendar has now been published for 16 years , and is a most welcome visitor everywhere that its merits are known .

George Steevens,

GEORGE STEEVENS ,

LATE FELLOW PEMBROKE COLLEGE , OXFORD , DIED LADYSMITH , 15 TH J ANUARY , 1900 . Frater , ave ! atque vale 1 Into the dark unknown he has descended , Nay I Into the light . Aught that was wrong was by him not once defended , Only the right .

His was the pen to tell of actions splendid , And foemen brave ; Of the gleam and the clash of arms , and when it was ended , Of the soldier ' s grave . The march to Khartoum , and the hero there depicted , And glamour of war , The Arab host from the Eastern town evicted , As seen from afar .

Only a war correspondent ! Never a braver Or kindlier man ; Let us think of this now , retain for aye the sweet savour , Of such , if we can . A modest but brilliant scholar , to few he has yielded , To wear the bays ; The pen of a ready writer , he might yet have wielded These many days .

Yet but three decades have passed , war shadows are creeping , His p . eah is sung ; " Whom the gods love , " we remember—Nay I no sign of weeping"Always die young . " EMRA HOLMES , Author of " At the Oakenholt , " " Valerian Varo , " & c . Dovercourt , February , 1900 .

Charity Committee Of The Province Of East Lancashire.

CHARITY COMMITTEE OF THE PROVINCE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

The above Committee met at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Friday , the 16 th instant . Three aged brethren were adopted for election at the next meeting of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . One jrirl was adopted for election at the next Girls' School Festival . Bro . C . D . Cheetham , P . P . G . W ., was again unanimousl y elected Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing 12 months , and Bro . J . T . Hooper , P . P . G . T ., was elected Vice-Chairman .

Ladies' Banquet Of The Burgoyne Lodge, No. 902.

LADIES' BANQUET OF THE BURGOYNE LODGE , No . 902 .

A very successful and pleasant evening was spent by the brethren of the above lodge at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , E . C , on Monday the 19 th instant , when ladies were invited and hospitably entertained . Bro . J . J . Fifield , the W . M ., in carrying out the idea was assisted in a hearty manner by his officers . Bro . Byng , P . M ., Sec , lent his valuable assistance in conjunction with Bro . Cowland ,

P . M ., and the following Stewards : Bros . S . Rashleigh , P . M . ; C . Butcher , Gabb , P . M ., Treas . ; M . T . Bryant , R . H . Marchbank , J . Bennett , A . T . Frost , I . H . Stanley , H . E . Fifield , and G . J . Brown . Other brethren present included Bros . Baldwin , P . M . ; F . Kedge , P . M . ; Damiral , Bean , I . P . M . ; and others . About 90 brethren and ladies sat down to dinner , during which a band under the direction of Bro . D . J . Dealler , performed a programme of music . Each lady was then presented with a choice bottle of scent as a souvenir of the occasion .

Three toasts were subsequently given , the first being "The Queen , " proposed by the W . M . He said he gave the toast with much greater pleasure than he did three weeks ago when they were not in such a forward position in South Africa . The way in which her Majesty had gone about visiting her wounded soldiers , and doing everything at the right time , had gone home to the hearts of all her subjects .

Bro . S . J . BYNG , P . M ., Sec , said he rose to propose a toast which would be received with acclamation , "The Presiding Ollicer , Bro . Fifield . " It had been Bro . Fifield's wish , during his year as W . M ., to have a ladies' night , and it must , therefore , be gratifying to him to see so many charming faces around him , showing they appreciated a visit to the Burgoyne Lodge . He ( Bro . Byng ) would not enter into any Masonic secrets , although , perhaps , the ladies would like him to , but he would tell them that the members never appointed an officer to preside

over them unless he had their full confidence . In their present presiding officer —some called him the Worshipful Master—they had an able and energetic brother , who discharged his duties with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of everybody . Bro . Fifield had in every way been a success , and they would , therefore , drink his health in a bumper , also coupling the name of Mrs . Fifield , and he would conclude with the quotation , " May their years of happiness be more than we can count . "

Bro . J . J . FII ' IKI . D , W . M ., in reply , thanked them most heartily on behalf of himself and his wife for the toast so ably proposed by the Secretary . He had been looking forward to this event since they had a ladies' night some three