Original Correspondence.

The present Master of a lodge is the Worshhipful Master thereof : But Past Masters are also present Masters of the lodge : Therefore , Past Masters are Worshipful Masters of the lodge ! Thus—according to the dictum of Lex Scripta—there may be at one and the same time as many present acting

Worshipful Masters in a lodge as there are Past Masters on its roll , and the W . M . to boot ! In the earliest Constitutions the " officers of a lodge " were the Master and his two Wardens . To these have been . added at various times several others ; so that in the revised Constitutions they are enumerated as follows-. * " The regular Officers of a Lodge consist of the

Master and his two Wardens , a Treasurer , a Secretary , two Deacons , an Inner Guard , and a Tyler . The Master may also appoint a Chaplain , a Director of Ceremonies , an Organist , and Stewards . - ' Some day Grand Lodge may add Past Masters , but certainly it has not done so yet . A Past Master requires rank by one year ' s service as

Worshipful Master of a lodge . To that rank is attached certain rights and privileges , which are retained so long as he continues a subscribing member in the Craft . If he forsakes the Craft for a longer period than one year , he loses all his rights and privileges as a Past Master . The rank itself he can never lose , as it was obtained by service and is part of his individualism .

But the rank without the rights and privileges is not of much practical worth . Lex Serif la ' s assertion , that " A Past Master represents his lodge in Grand Lodge , & c , " is , in my opinion , incorrect . The Constitutional Representatives of a Lodge are "the W . M . and his Wardens . " If thc W . M . cannot attend , a P . M . may attend in his place , and he would then be virtually W . M . for the time being , the same as in other

cases of absence of W . M . I have attended Grand Lodge a good many times as a member of that body by virtue of my Past Mastership ; but I can safely affirm that , except on one or two occasions , I never had any idea that 1 represented any body but No . i . Of course , a lodge may depute a P . M . to represent it , in which case his representative character would be an addition to his membership . —Yours very fraternally , E . T . BUDDEN .

BOYS' SCHOOL ELECTION . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reply to your remarks in this week's Freemason respecting the lad Knight at the Boys' Election , allow me , in justice to the lodge , to state that after the boy was placed on the list of applicants , two and half years ago , his friends unfortunately ( and I cannot but think unwisely ! decided to

withdraw his name , but not till the votes were recorded ^ for the first election , and consequently lost , since which time nothing more was done by the lodge on his behalf , and from some neglect , not of the lodge , of which his father was a respected member , his withdrawal was not officially made known . —1 am , Sir , yours fraternally , J . IRVING , I . G . S 7 . S , Michael-road , Wallington , April 17 th ,

ATHOL GRAND LODGE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I shall be oblignd if you will find space for the following remarks respecting Bro . Lane ' s letter , which appeared in your columns last week . It was by the merest chance 1 learned , when endeavouring

to ascertain if , in my first article on the "Early Organisation of the 'Ancient' Masons , " 1 had assigned honour to whom honour was due for the discovery of the first Athol Register Book , that Bro . Lane had written you a letter on the subject , which appeared in the Freemason of 2 ^ th October last . I had not previously seen it , but I at once inserted in mv article thc words " which was briefly referred to

by Bro . J . Lane in a letter published in the Freemason of the iSth October last . " How 1 came to make the mistake of substituting " iSth " for " 24 th " in the date of publication , I do not know , nor is it very material . I saw and read his second letter which appeared on the sSth November last for thc first time this week , when the fact of its having been published in your columns was

brought under my notice by the communication from liro . Lane on which I am now remarking . Had I seen it before 1 should have made a point of indicating it in my article No . 2 , in which I reproduced in full what he had previously made public , minus the names of the Masters , Wardens , & c , who were present atthe drawing up of the declaration . I am afraid that , in making these admissions , I lay myself

open to the charge of not being a very diligent reader of your admirable paper ; but I had better do that than leave Bro . Lane under the impression that I am at all desirous of robbing him o ( the credit of first making public the important declaration of " 14 September , 1752 , N . Stile , " & c . It was when I had occasion to look up some particulars in thc Athol Archives about the Domatic Lodge , No . 177 , that I

first heard of Morgan ' s Register having come to light . Let me state further that my short series of articles on "Ancient" Organisation cannot possibly interfere wilh Bro . Lane ' s " Alasonic Records , " the object of which , I am told , is to trace from its constitution onwards every Iodge warranted by one of our English Grand Lodges . I have . seen a specimen page of the work , and can fully realise how

valuable it will be to all who take an interest in the history of our Craft . I can also fully understand the immense importance of the newly-discovered Atholl Lodge lists to Bro . Lane , who will necessarily make use of them in tracing those lodges and fixing thc years of their constitution , just as they appear to have been used already for the latter purpose in Grand Lodge Calendar for the current year ; only hc , of course , will go minutely into details . But I have not thc

remotest intention of trespassing on the field of labour hc has marked out for himself . We shall no doubt have occasion to refer to the same records , but he will do so—or , I ought to say , has done so—for the purpose of tracing lodges , while they help me by confirming an opinion 1 have held for some time past , that the organisation of thc " Ancients " dates from the General Assembly at the Turk ' s Head in July , 1751 . * See Rule Dg .

Original Correspondence.

There are one or two matters of criticism 1 should like to have gone into , but they are outside the pale of this explanation , and , moreover , would prolong my letter probably beyond what you would care to find space For . —Fraternally yours , iiLondon , 17 * April , iSS 6 . G . U . ABUO'l'T .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

C 60 ] BRO . H . SADLER , RE OLD 63 . I am very much indebted to Bro . Sadler for his prompt response to my desire for the list of tbe early members of old No . 63—a grand list it is [ 65 ^]; also for the valuable information relative to Coxe and Price . I feel certain that if all the old Registers of Lodges prior to 1733 , say , were S- - by degrees , in the Freemason ,

th ey would prove a boon to many ; as we could then trace several names as members , just as I have been able to do now , through having the list before me ] so kindly contributed by Bro . Sadler . I shall be pleased to announce the discovery of any old Warrants before 1731 , that is , when they turn up ; but 1 fear such an event is not likely to happen , now that Bro . Sadler savs he does not know of any . W . T . HUGHAN .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Shaw , P . M . ; Barker , P . M . ; Oliver , P . M . ; H . Purdue , I . P . M . ; Crumplen , Bird , Williams , Morgan , Southwood , Scharien , R . Shaw , Cooney , Chambers , Hewett , Ward , Watel , Holland , Banks , May , Philips , W . Purdue , Newland , Stotwotthy , Spooner , Pritchard , Cartwright , White , Wicks , Iceton , Cliburn , Bowles , and others . Among the visitors we noticed Bros . Botley , W . M . elect 1976 ; Fletcher ,

Craft JHagoitrg . RANELAGH LODGE ( No . 834 ) . —The installation meeting of this highly popular and successful lodge took place at the Criterion Restaurant , Piccadilly , W ., on Tuesday , the 13 th inst . Present : Bros . Sims , W . M . ; Dopson , S . W . and W . M . elect ; Blake , J . W . ; G . Butt , Treas . ; J . Tuck , Sec . ; Coplestone , S . D . ; Doncaster , J . D . ; Burton , l . G . ; Walkley , Tyler ; Slack , P . M . ; Fisher , P . M . ;

P . M . 1 S 0 ; Pearce , 173 ; Austen , S . W . 1791 ; Ellis , 66 ; Madell , 1201 ; Cox , S . D . 1663 ; Coffin , S . W . 167 ; and many others . The lodge was opened by the W . M ., and the ballot was taken for Mesrs . Curties and Worth—that for Mr . Wicks had been taken at a previous meeting—which was unanimous in each case . Bro . Iceton was passed to the Degree of F . C . The installation of Bro . Dopson , S . W . and

W . M . elect , into the chair of K . S ., was then proceeded with , and he having been placed in that high and important position he invested his officers as follows : Bros . Blake , S . W . ; Doncaster , J . W . ; G . Butt , Treas . ; John Tuck , Sec . ; Coplestone , S . D . j Lucas , J . D . ; Craggs , I . G . ; H . Williams , D . C . ; A . Williams and W . Williams , Stwds . ; Oliver , P . M ., Org . ; and Walkley , Tyler . Bro . Sims ,

I . P . M ., then gave the three addresses in a manner which took all present by surprise , by the impressive and eloquent manner in which they were given . The reward of his careful studies , we are sure , must i have been the attention and appreciation which the brethren gave him . Messrs . Wicks , Curties , and Worth being in attendance , were admitted and duly initiated into Freemasonry

according to ancient custom by Bro . Dopson , W . M ., with that solemnity and impressiveness that the occasion requires , and which augurs well for the future career of the W . M . The balance-sheet and Auditor ' s report was then read by Bro . John Tuck , Sec , which showed the lodge to be in a highly successful state , and it received the satisfaction of every brother present .

Bro . Slack , P . M ., proposed , and Bro . Purdue , P . M ., seconded , that the same be received and adopted , which was carried unanimously . Bro . G . Butt , Treas ., complimented the lodge on its prosperous position , and trusted that Bro . Dopson , W . M ., would follow in the footsteps of his predecessor , and that the very handsome balance he had to hand over to him

would by the same time next year be doubled . Bro . Purdue , P . M ., proposed , Bro . Slack , P . M ., seconded , and Bro . Shaw , P . M ., ably supported , that the sum of five guineas be expended from the funds of the lodge for the purchase of a suitable jewel , to be presented to Bro . John Tuck , Secretary , as a slight recognition of the able manner he had carried out the duties of Secretary for the past six

years , which was carried unanimously . The most interesting event of the season was the presentation of a very handsome P . M . ' s jewel to Bro . Sims , the outgoing Master , as a mark of esteem and respect , and in recognition of the admirable manner hc had carried out his duties during his year of office . The Worshipful Master thanked thc lodge in a few

wellchosen words for the mark of appreciation it had given to his humble endeavours to give satisfaction to the lodge , stating he valued the jewel not on account of its intrinsic value , but of thc happy reminiscences of the many pleasant hours he had spent with the brethren of the Ranelagh Lodge . There being no further Masonic business , the lodge was adjourned , and the brethren retired to the banqueting room , where the banquet was served in a style whicii gave

satisfaction to all present , and reflects great credit on Spiers and Pond's able manager , Bro . Bertini . Due justice having been done to thc banquet , the usual Masonic and loyal toasts were proposed , received , and ably responded to , interspersed by some excellent songs and recitations by the brethren present . Thus ended at a very late hour one of the most pleasant and enjoyable evenings that it is possible to spend in a Masonic lodge .

JOHN HERVEY LODGE ( No . 1260 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday , thc 14 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , under the presidency of Bro . Gifford Thomas Salmon , W . M . There was a very large number of brethren present , and among them were

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Bros . Past Masters J . Brockett Sorrell , Charles Atkins , H . Evans , Dr . Jabez Hogg , Treasurer ; and Orlando L . M . Latreille , Secretary . Visitors : Bros . A . W . Stead , P . M . 1997 ; C . E . Wright , S . W . 1460 ; H . Carr , W . M . 10 S 5 ; Jacob Nufer , 69 ; John J . Bates , S 74 ; Mount Brown , 1997 ; H . A . Lovett , P . M . - . 79 ; R . Turtle Pigott , P . G . A . D . C ; C . W . Meiter W . M . 1671 ; George H . Hoyle , J . W . 19 ; VV . Richardson , S . W . 1 G 5 S ; J . J . Woolley ,

P . M . 15 ; J . Peart , 1614 ; C . Wilkinson , S . D . 1997 : G . Sneath , P . M . 19 ; R . J . Tucker , P . M . 933 ; W . S . Allen , I . G . 7 S 4 ; H . Massey , P . M . 619 and 192 S ; A . A . Pendlebury , P . M . 1056 ; W . R . Porcher , P . M . S 2 ; Jas . Pinder , 15 , 1662 , and 1997 ; Philip E . Clunn , 1997 ; Rev . John Edmund Cox , D . D ., P . G . C ; A . Bliss , 1572 ; VV Manger , P . M . 1314 ; E . Morris Gibson , 165 S ; Charles W . C . Hutton , P . G . D . ; T . J . Woolls , 147 c , ; A . D .

Roberts , 1598 ; Thomas J . Thompson , 979 ; and Henry A . Thorn , 21 S . Bro . Sorrell , P . M ., raised Bro . William Wallis to the Third Degree , and afterwards installed Bro . Frank Tayler , C . C , J . W . and W . M . elect , as Master of the lodge . The following brethren were appointed and invested as officers for the year : Bros . Samuel Hart Baker , S . W . ; Henry F . Frost , J . W . ; Dr . Jazeb Hogg , P . G . D ., P . M ., Treasurer ;

Orlando L . M . Latreille , P . M ., Secretary ; Frederick Dangerfield , jun ., S . D . ; William Henry , J . D . ; Walter F . Potter , l . G . ; Major Joseph Heaton , P . M ., D . C ; William Harris , Asst . D . C ; Robert F . Budd , W . S . ; George Collins , Asst . W . S . ; and Freeman , Tyler . Bro . O . L . M . Latreille , P . M ., Secretary , delivered the addresses . The W . M . subsequently initiated Mr . Alfred Bull . A handsome Past Master's jewel ( manufactured bv Bro .

George Kenning ) was presented to Bro . Gifford T . Salmon , I . P . M . After the closing of the lodge , the brethren partook of an elegant banquet at Freemasons' Tavern . The usual toasts followed . The toasts of "The Queen and the Craft" and "The M . W . G . M . " having been duly honoured , the W . M . gave "The Pro G . M ., the D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officeis , Present and Past . "

The Rev . J . Edmund Cox , P . G . C , who was the hist to respond , said he had for many years past been a Past Grand Officer of Grand Lodge of England , and during that time he had had the privilege of coming in contact with the rulers of the Craft , and he had never found in them a greater desire to promote the good of the Order than at the present moment , when the Grand Officers did whatever they possibly could for the Order , even by putting

themselves to inconvenience to occupy their places in the Order and by contributing largely and bountifully to the various Charities . In fact , one and all of them seemed as if they were determined to show how thoroughly and truly they appreciatad the good work of Freemasonry in every respect , and how they desire to fulfil the various duties which devolve upon them to the utmost of their power , and to promote the extension and enalrgement of that

influence . It is a great privilege for us to have as our chief the M . W . G . M ., who most earnestly sought to promote the interests of the Craft , and showed it in every way that could be devised , even to initiating his eldest son in Freemasonry , and bringing him forward so that he also might appreciate the value of the Craft in the same way as his father had done . Bro . Ex .-Sheriff Hutton , P . G . D ., said he really did not understand innovations in Masonry , but with that kindliness

of feeling which characterised the W . M ., he said that he ( Bro . Hutton ) was to say a few words in response to the toast , jt was a great pleasure to him , but he believed it was always a pleasure to return thanks for the Past Grand Officers of Grand Lodge . People had a great deal more than they thought of , not only in Masonry , but in social life , to thank the unpaid men and gentry of Great Britain , men who had obtained a

certain position in society and who were desirous and anxious to devote their experience , knowledge , and wit , to acts of benevolence and aid to their fellow creatures . Such in Masonry were the Past Grand Officers , and if the brethren wanted to know what sort of influence was exercised all the world over they might contemplate Freemasonry . They were an undivided body , a band of brethren and of men exercising an immense occult influence in the world ,

who were benefiting humanity without any ostentation , pursuing their course quite regularly along the world ' s surface , whether in Europe , Asia , Africa or America , regularly in one continuity and unity . They had every member of the Craft to thank , very much indeed Grand Lodge , for very many questions came before it , questions of great intricacy , from every quarter of the globe . These questions were such

that unless great care and caution was brought to bear in dealing with them all sorts of motives would be attributed to them . Masons managed to get through that and to keep the body as a united body , and hc believed that was more than any social body in the world could say , be it autocratic , democratic , or constitutional . He trusted that the principles that had characterised Masonry in the past would be kept up , though this was a most trying time by

the guardians of Masonry in the present age , and that they would be handed down unsullied to posterity . Bro . Dr . Jabez Hogg , P . G . D ., P . M ., in the absence of the I . P . M ., who had been obliged to leave , proposed "The Health of the W . M . " The W . M . was not a very old Mason , having been initiated only five ycars ago . He had , however , made very much progress , which accounted for the distinguished position he now occupied . The reason

he had been elected from the chair of Junior Warden was that next year he would be W . M . of another lodge , and as he could not be Master of two lodges at the same time , the Senior Warden had stood aside for one year to allow him to pass through the chair of this lodge before he became Master of the other lodge . The thanks of the brethren were due to thc S . W . for his self-abnegation , and he was sure the brethren of the lodge would recognise it .

But the W . M . had won the hearts of the brethren long ago . He had filled all the ju » ior offices to the satisfaction of the lodge . He had learned all the ritual , and was an excellent and valuable Mason . The brethren all felt that they had done themselves much honour in electing him . Hc was initiated in March , 1881 , and he had been so diligent in his attention to duty that he had now attained the

summit of his ambition , and become the occupier of the W . M . 's chair . He had shown that night how well he could work thc ritual by initiating Bro . Bull . He was acquainted with all the ritual , and such a man must do credit to the lodge . Many of the P . M . 's were not present . Seventeen years ago the lodge was founded , and he ( Dr . Hogg ) was the father of the Iodge . Though they had had 17