Original Correspondence.

is a subscribing member to any Preceptory registered under the Great Priory of England and Wales , rank as a Preceptor and be a member of the Great Priory . " By this it would appear

that he virtually has past rank , retains his membership of , and has a right to vote on all matters in , the Great Priory . The questions I wish to ask tire , —ist , can any or all of the officers referred to claim to add

" past to the office they have held , or take part in the proceedings of , and vote on any and all questions submitted to , the Convent General and Great Priory ? 2 nd . Can Sir Knights who have served the office of Preceptor and obtained a diploma to that effect claim to attend , speak ,

and vote in the Convent General or Great Priory after he has retired from that office ? As I have already stated , there is a difference of opinion on the question amongst those who are expected to know what is or was intended by the framers of the Statutes , W . A .

IS THE POPE A MASON ? To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Could vou or any of your readers

inform me , through the medium of the Freemason , if it is correct that the present Pope was in his youth initiated into the Craft , and where . Yours fraternally , J UNIOR WARDEN .

To the Editor oj The Freemason . Di . ar Sir and Brother , A discussion has arisen between some eminent members of this club , as to whether the Pope was a Freemason and priest at the same time .

I suggested a reference to you on the subject . Would you kindly send me what particulars you can on the subject , and oblige . Yours fraternally , C . A .

[ In answer to these letters , wc beg to say that it is averred by some of the Italian Freemasons that the Pope , when a young man , was initiated into Freemasonry in a lodge in Italy .

But we are not aware of any actual or trustworthy evidence on the subject . Some Italian I lodges profess to believe this statement , and | have , on the faith of it , passed sentence of expulsion . —En . ]

ROYAL "VISIT TO PLYMOUTH . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —

Referring to the numerous letters constantly , week after week , appearing in your columns , and your editorial remarks thereon , I beer as a brother to state , I can vouch that there

are " many precedents of non-commissioned officer brethren appearing in uniform , with Masonic clothing " in England , and especially in India . 1 have marched with dozens of noncommissioned officers in their uniform with the usual Masonic badges of this Order , and felt

proud of so doing . As to the case being " referred to the Duke of Cambridge for his approval , " he is not only the " soldier ' s friend , " but especially is cognisant that the Queen ' s Regulation does not bring the Order of Masonry under the head of political meetings or discus-

sions , which Ma-onry at all tunes forbids , as you are aware . Whatever led to the c . mse of the Committee of Management debarring the members ( military ) attending in the procession at Plymouth is inexcusable , and the Order demands an ample apology , or we are not

brother Masons . Is it not another little hole for our enemies the Roman Catholics to injure our good and religious reputation ? Yours fraternally , K . R . C . York , October 13 th , 1874 .

Original Correspondence.

ROYAL PATRONAGE . To Ihe Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In reply to your correspondent " Reviresco " in your last issue , I beg to STTTC that the Masonic . A ews is under the

distinguished patronage of the following princes and noblemen : —Bro . His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Bro . His Royal Highness Prince Arthur , Sir Michael Shaw Stewart , Grand Master Mason of Scotland , Lord Rosslyn , Past

Grand Master of Scotland , Lord Ripon , Grand Master Mason of England , & rc . The proprietor of the Masonic Record of IFestern India , has simply misplaced my advertisements , which mistake I immediately corrected .

I am , Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , J BASSETT . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother ,

From Italy as well as from Buenos Ayres I have received letters , complaining that for a long time they have received no Freemason newspapers . Be kind enough to look into it . St . James ' s Union Lodge , 180 , has opened

the season the 13 th inst . with eclal and success , and attended by over 85 brethren , amongst whom many distinguished visitors and the V . W Bro . Hervey , Grand Sec . Two brethren have

been initiated 111 the mysteries of jthe noble Order j the ceremonies of Third and First Degree have been performed by Yours fraternally , A . GALLICO .

[ We are informed in the office that the Freemason has been duly posted to our one subscriber in Buenos Ayres , and to our two or three subscribers in Italy . —ED . ]

Funeral Of Bro. Denis Moore.

FUNERAL OF BRO . DENIS MOORE .

The funeral of the late much-respected Town Clerk of Exeter , 13 ro . W . Denis Moore , took place at the New Cemetery on Saturday , and was accompanied by a somewhat imposing demonstration of public respect . Most of the shops in the principal streets were partiall y

closed , and the funeral was attended by the Mayor and Corporation , in mourning state , and by the Freemasons , amongst whom the deceased gentleman at one time held the distinguished office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Devon , whilst the local volunteers decided also

to pay a last tribute of respect to one of whose body the deceased may be said to be the originator , and amongst whom , until a recent date , he held the rank of Major , The funeral cortege left the deceased ' s residence , Portland Villa , Pennsylvania , soon alter eleven , and the Mayor

and Corporation , the Freemasons , and the Volunteers having previously assembled at the Guildhall , the Royal Public Rooms , and the Castle-yard , respectively , marched to the London Inn Square , where they joined in the procession , which proceeded to the cemetery in the following order : —

The Volunteers . Lodges of Freemasons . Mayor and Corporation . Citizens . Hearse and Mourning Coaches . L'he Volunteers were under thc command of

I i Lieutenant-Colonel the Earl of Devon , and thc muster comprised Captain and Adjutant Courtenay , Major Rodway , Captain Richards , Captain Wilcocks , Lieuts . Fnlford , Peyton , Mortimer , and Davy , Assistant-Surgeon Harris , Sergeant-Major Hellier , Colour-Sergeants Bowden and

, ; ; Sanders , Sergeants Rippon , Peardon , Herbert , and Elmore , two buglers , and about seventy rank and file . Following these were Lieutenant Hayward of the Engineers , and Captain Brock , Lieutenant Edmonds , Lieutenant Turner ,

Lieui 1 i < 1 tenant Sharp , and Lemtenant Fulford of the local Volunteer Artillery batteries . The Freemasons wore their Masonic clothing , with black crape rosettes on their aprons and collars , and white gloves , and amongst them were r—Provincial Grand Officers ; — Bros . ^ Rev . John

Funeral Of Bro. Denis Moore.

Huyshe , M . A ., P . G . C , P . G . M . ; Samuel Jones , P . P . S . G . D ., P . M . ii 2 ; W . Cann , P . P . S . G . W ., P . M . 112 ; Major Woods , P . P . J . G . W . ; Henry W . Hooper , P . P . G . R ., P . M . 1254 , W . M . 444 ; H . L , Brewster , P . P . G . R ., P . M . 39 , and 1254 ; T . W . Gray , P . P . G . R ., P . M . 112 ; John Pope ,

P . P . G . R ., P . M . ua ; R . Robertson Rodd , P . P . G . R ., P . M . 189 ; the Rev . William Langley Pope , D . D ., P . P . G . C ; the Rev . C . R . N . Lyne , P . P . G . C , S . W . - John Heath , P . P . G . J . D ., P . M . 710 ; William E ' aston , P . P . G . S . W ., P . M . $ 9 ; J . C . Yelland , P . G . A . D . C , P . M . 39 ;

Thomas Dand , P . P . G . S . B ., P . M . 39 ; A . Soper Hexter , P . P . G . O ., P . M . 112 ; John Gould , P . G . Sd ., P . M . 444 ; and James Gregory , P . G . T . St . George ' s Lodge ( lixeter ) , 112 . — Brothers Sidney Hooper , W . M . ; Dr . Shaw , P . M . ; Edgar Tozer , J . W . ; Alfred S . Perkins- ' , S . D . ; Alfred

F . Luke , S . W . ; C . Lewis , and Henry Willey . St . John the Baptist Lodjre ( Exeler ) , 390 . — Bros . A . Thompson , W . M . ; W . F . Quicke , P . M . ; Alfred Bodly , I . P . M . J . F . Stone , J . W . ; John Stocker , Secretary ; Charles Adams , S . D . ; Henry Stocker , Organist :

James Jerman , jun ., S . S . ; John Alg . ir , G . W . P . Webber , Geo . Jury , Geo . Sercombe , and G . Curzon . Semper Fidelis Lodge ( Exeter ) , No . 1254 , —Bros . J . H . Warren , W . M . ; Jethro A . F . ' Tucker , P . M ., Frederick Horspool , S . W . ; Benjamin Barber , J . W . ; Charles C . Kendrick ,

Secretary ; William Brodie , J . D . ; George Huxham , Treasurer ; Wm . Pidsley , I . G . ; Ed . Thomas Fulford , Steward ; and Robert Nobbs . Lodge of Union ( Starcross ) , No . 444 . —Bros . Joseph Chadwick , P . M . ; Montgomery Hooper , Secretary ; and P . S . Blanchard , Tyler . Brent Lodge

( Topsham ) , No . 1284 . —Bros . Thomas Lascelles , W . M . ; Samuel Hodder , P . M . ; Henry J . Yelland , J . W . ; F . Pollard , S . D . ; Alfred H . Wills , J . D . ; Thomas Hutchings , William Godolphin , James M . Blanchard , ami VV . H . Boon . Visiting brethren . —James Westhead ,

S . W ., Lodge No . 710 ; F . H . H . Orchard , Lodge No . 372 ; J . Bishop , Lodge No . 6 ( Canada ); Uriah Evans and F . Thomas , Lodge No . 106 ( Exmouth ); and James Noitham , Lodge No . 710 ( Totnes ) . The Mace-bearers and the Sword-bearers , who preceded the Mayor and

Corporation , wore crape around their hats , and the maces and the sword were covered with the same material . The mourning coaches were three in number , the first containing Miss Moore , Mrs . Hirtzel , Mr . L . Kennaway , Mr . G . Mirtzel , and Major Hogg ; the second . Mrs . Hogg , Mr .

Harris . Dr . Cook , Mr . F . Hirtzel , and Mr . George Shorto ; and the third the servants of the deceased . A detatchment of about twenty police , under the command of the Chief-Constable ( Captain Bent ) attended as a body guard , and did great service in keeping the roadway

clear . Several hundred persons were assembled in the neighbourhood of the London Inn-square as the mournful procession moved off " , and the streets were lined with spectators as far as the Blackboy turnpike-gate . On arriving at the Cemetery , where also a large crowd had

congregated , the Volunteers and Freemasons formed in line on either side of the path , allowing the Mayor and Corporation , the general public , and mourners to pass up the centre . The corpse was met at the entrance by the Rev . C C . Turner , Rector of St . Mary Major , and the Rev .

J . L . Kitchin , Curate of St . James , and borne into the chapel , the first-named clergyman officiating in the chapel , and the Rev . J . L . Kitchin conducting that part of the service which is performed by the grave . The service having been concluded , the deceased ' s relatives deposited bouquets of flowers on the coffin , and the

Provincial Grand Master of Devon ( Brother J . Huyshe ) afterwards perfoimed the usual Masonic ceremony of dropping a sprig of acacia into thc grave , which act was also performed by each ofthe brethren present . The coffin was of polished oak , with black medireval mountings . On the bteast plate—a silver-plated shield—was the following inscription : —

" W . Denis Moore , " Born 27 th October , 1804 . "Died 2 ist September , 1874 . " and two Masonic emblems were placed on the lid , namely , a double triangle over the shield , and under the same the square and compass . The