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 alt , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

COURTESY TITLE " WORSHIPFUL BROTHER . " To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , ¦ For several jears past it has been customary in my Provincial Lodge for the " Past Masters " in the lodge to be addressed by the courtesy title of " Worshipful Bro . Smith " in the place of the more common appellation of " Brother Past Master Smith" used in many lodges . Recently an old and

experienced Preceptor of a North London Lodge of Instruction was present and took exception to the designation , contending that no Freemason was entitled to be addressed or referred to as W . Bro ., unless he was an officer of Grand Lodge . Is this contention correct ? Even if it is , can there be any objection whatever to the practice of styling Past Master as W . Bro ., even if it be but by " courtesy . " I can see none , and I much prefer " W . Bro . " to Bro . P . M . Will some of your readers of experience inform me on the subject ?—Yours fraternally , SECRETARY P . M .

CANVASSING AND TOUTING AT ELECTIONS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother Inasmuch as all good Masons are agreed that canvassing and touting at elections constitute improper conduct , where does the necessity arise for adding new laws to our Book of Constitutions ? Bro . Lamonby should , I venture to think , in all fairness , let the matter remain in statu quo , or propose some new

method of voting for the office of Grand Treasurer . As matters stand at present , few brethren are able to exercise their voting power for a Grand Treasurer unless they are fortunate enough to reside in town , or in some of the home provinces . A perusal of the list of Past Grand Treasurers will conclusively prove that the present method of voting does not give the brethren in the North much say in the matter , and on that account canvassing and touting may some day be the outcome of the absence of equal representation .

If Bro . Lamonby is anxious for reforms , it is prudent they should be pro ceeded with in their entirety . P . Z .

Reviews.

Reviews .

Bro . W . Eliot Thomas , M . J . I ., of No . 1402 , Torquay , has written some excellent Holiday Guides for Torquay and Paignton , and has now completed the handy trio , with one for St . Marychurch and Babbicombe , well known romantic and marine suburbs of Torquay . This beautiful neighbourhood is a great favourite in the summer , and is lovely at any time . As the Guide is lavishly illustrated , and has a map of the locality , all will agree that it is practically given away for three halfpence , post free , from the author , of Scarborough House , Torquay , who facetiously observes— - 'With marine and moorland excursions and coaching trips , what more is wanted—saw this handy littk Guide and its specially-drawn map "—to make the attractions perfect . '

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Royal Victoria Lodge , No . 1013 . The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , on the ist instant . The proceedings were opened by Bro . J . B . Jones , the retiring W . M ., who was supported by Bros . W . H . Cooke , P . M ., D . of C . ; W . H . Thornton , P . M . ; F . Evans , P . M . ; W . M'William , P . M . ; George Broadbent , P . M . ; andG . Proudman , P . M . Bro . E . A . Davies , W . M . elect , was presented by

Bros . J . B . Jones , the retiring W . M ., and W . M'William , P . M ., and was duly installed W . M . of the lodge in an impressive manner by Bro . W . H . Cooke , P . M ., D . C . The remaining officers invested were Bros . 1 . B . Jones , I . P . M . ; J . R . Bromley , S . W . ; F . Holgreaves , J . W . ; J . Jack , Treas . ; A . J . Mackay , Sec . ; J . W . Worrall , S . D . ; W . J . Jones , J . D . ; W . H . Cooke , P . M ., D . C ; James Settle , Org . ; A . Shawfield , I . G . ; R . W . Pierpoint , E . Beeson , R . H . Perrin , and J . Cargill . Stewards ; F . Du Chemin , Tyler ; and VV . H . Thornton , P . M ., Charity Representative . The retiring

W . M ., Bro . J . B . Jones , was presented with a handsome Past Masters jewel in recognition of his services to the lodge . Amongst the visiting brethren present were Bros . George Broadbridgc , P . P . G . D . C ; J . Armstrong , W . M . 2651 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Roger White , P . P . G . D . C . ; W . Biiscoe , " W . M . 724 ; E . J . Robin , W . M . 1350 ; F . G . Billett , P . M . 1350 ; F . Wilkinson , I . P . M . 5114 ; A . Ferguson , J . W . 1325 ; D . Woodward , J . D . 1570 ; A . Hudson , 1 G 75 ; Thomas Ronald , 292 ; C . J . Jordan , late 1032 ; W . G . Davies , 1518 ; John Jones , S 23 ; R . VV . Johnston , 2290 ; A . Rowland , 292 ; S . Hawkins , 292 ; G . W . Barmard , 373 ; and C . H . Barmard , 2215 .

After the business was concluded , the banquet was excellently served by Bro . Casey . The musical programme was contributed to by Bros . Broadbent , R . W . Pierpoint , G . Proudman , W . J . Parkinson , E . Beeson , A . J . Mackay , and J . Settle .

Clapton Lodge , No . 1365 . The installation meeting of this distinguished lodge was held at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool-street , on Thursday , the iOth inst , when there were present Bros . A . H . Chuich , W . M . ; J . D . Geddes , I . P . M . ; F . C . Lintott , S . W ., W . M . elect ; W . Banks , J . W . ; T . T . Gething , S . D . ; F . Orfeur , J . D . ; W . Blackburn , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., Treas . ; W . D . Church , P . M ., Sec ; F . J . Thayre , P . M ., n i ~ . c \ cunt : —1 r- u r * 1—ai c ..., i » . \\ t w . ~ r . u la \ t . \\ r u / " ¦ . — aim \ wauiLiucuoi i i iiaiuu

_ u . vs ., v .. running « -. L . , nus ., ... IIIL . II , . m . , » v . . ^ , P . M . ; C . E . Luker , P . M . ; W . R . O . Cathrow , D . Campbell , P . M . ; P . Becker , E . Wildash , H . C Amendt , W . D . Seaton , Harry Green , F . G . Minter , E . M . Edwards , H . J . Dyer , R . B . Chessum , E . S . White , C . G . Diamond , J . II . Shipman , A . W . Diamond , F . W . Moore , E . Stanger , F , Brown , S . T . Green , H . A . Zoers , C . Sicnesi , and E . Mallett , P . M ., Tyler . Visitors : Bros . John J . Olley , W . M . 2511 ; W . Shuimur , P . A . G . Std . Br . ; Walter Martin , A . G . Purst . ; E . T . M .

Notcutt—Cape Town—P . G . Dist . Officer ; S . Rusby , J . W . 2 . 511 ; N . Orfeur , 1312 ; R . lirookman , I . P . M . 142 G ; J . H . Milton , I . P . M . 2511 ; T . Wilson , P . M . 132 S ; S . A . Stanger , P . M . 12 ; VV . Brookman , 175 ; J . Garrod , P . M . 754 ; J . C . Nicholson , P . M . 12 ; H . E . Swift , 2511 ; W . Fisher , Sec . 2411 ; W . H . Nolloth , 2511 ; VV . E . Robbins , J . D . 25 G 5 ; and R . T . West . 1744 .

The minutes of the last lodge and emergency meetings having been read and continued , and the Auditors' report adopted , the W . M . elect , llro . F . C . Lintott , was presented by llro . W . Finch , P . M ., and installed into the chair by the ontgoing Master , Bro . A . H . Church , in a manner that made it impossible to have been better carried out . The newly-installed W . M . in an impressive manner appointed and invested the following as his officers : Bros . W . Banks , S . W . ; T . T . Gething , J . W . ; W . Blackburn , P . M ., Treas . ; W . D . Church , P . M ., Sec . ; F . Orfeur , S . D . ; F . J . Thayre , J . D .

Craft Masonry.

G . Schilling , I . G . ; C . R . Campbell , D . C . ; F . G . Minter , R . B . Chessum , and H . J . Dyer , Stwds . ; E . Scullamore White , Org . ; and E . Mallett , P . M ., Tyler . The delivery of the usual addresses was very ably rendered by Bro . A . H . Church and he is to be congratulated on the efficient manner in which he carried out the whole of the installation ceremony . On the motion of Bro . W . D . Church , P . M ., a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . VV . llinks , S . W ., for the great things he did for the summer outing , which made it the gigantic success it was stated _ to have been . Bro . VV . Banks stated that he was deeply gratified for their kind expressions , but he was

at a loss to know what especial duty he had performed ; but the little he did was a great pleasure to him , and he was amply repaid by their thinks . The W . M . stated that he had a very pleasant task to perform , which was to present Bro . A . H . Church with a Past Master ' s jewel , as a small token of his brilliant year of office , and he hoped he would be with them for many years to wear it . He felt sure that the members would agree with him that no one more deserved it for his excellent working of the ritual . A proposition was received for an initiate , and , after other business , the lodge was closed .

The brethren subsequently partook of a choice banquet , for which Bro . H . C . Amendt was responsible , and it was admirably served under the superintendence of Bro . P . Becker . At the conclusion of the repast , the toast of "The Queen and the Craft" was proposed by the W . M ., and duly honoured . The next toast was "The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . " The VV . M . gave "The Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He stated that they were honoured that evening with the presence of two Grand Officers , who were well

well known for the great things they had done for the Craft , andthe members were highly gratified to have them there ; he had very much pleasure in coupling with the toast the names of Bros . Wm . Shurmur , P . A . G . Std . Br ., and Walter Martin , A . G . Purst . The toast was drunk with acclamation . Bro . W . Shurmur , P . A . G . Std . Br ., responded , and said that it was gratifying | to the Grand Officers to know that their services were appreciated . During the last 25

years Masonry had advanced to an enormous degree , and its great success was mainly due to Bros . Earl of Lathom and Lord Mount Edgcumbe for their great efforts , and they were ably supported by two excellent Committees—the Board of General Purposes and the Board of " Benevolence . He hoped to have met Bro . Bunker , P . M ., there that evening , who was a member of the Board of Benevolence , an earnest and zealous Freemason , a worthy man , and one they all respected . The two Boards he mentioned did really all the practical work of Grand Lodge . That was the first opportunity he had had

THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER . of responding as a Grand Officer in a Craft lodge , and he had travelled over 200 miles to be present to see his very old friend , Bro . F . C Lintott , installed into the chair , and the ceremony was performed in a most perfect manner by Bro . A . H . Church , who was also a very old friend of his . In conclusion , he stated " that he considered it a great honour to have been asked to respond to the toast of the Grand Officers .

Bro . Walter Martin , A . G . Purst ., also acknowledged the toast , remarking that Grand Officers were anxious to watch the working of lodges , and he congratulated the lodge on the excellent working they had witnessed that evening . As a Mason of 21 years' standing , he had no hesitation in stating that he had never seen better workin " than that of the I . P . M ., Bro . A . H . Church . In psoposing"TheW . M ., Bro . F . C . Lintott , " Bro . A . H . Church , I . P . M ., said

that it felt like old times to have the gavel in his hand once again . He had been deposed from a happy office by one who was able to do everything in the ritual as it ought to be done , and he hoped the members would do all to make the Worshi pful Master's year of office one of great success . He had come up specially from Sandgate to be installed that day , and he wished him everything he could wish himself , but he thought it went without saying that he would have a prosperous and happy term of office , and , he would add , with the best of health .

Bro . F . C . Lintott , W . M ., on rising to respond , had a hearty welcome . He thanked the I . P . M . for his kind words , which , he said , he did not deserve , but he would always do his very best , no one could do more , and he appreciated the high honour of having been elected Master of the Clapton Lodge . In submitting "The I . P . M . and Installing Master , Bro . A . II . Church , " the W . M . stated it was the toast of the evening . He was not only the youngest Past Mister , but the best , and his grand working that evening stamped him as one of the best Masters the lodge had ever had .

The toast was received with great enthusiasm , as was Bro . A . H . Church , I . P . M ., on rising lo respond . He said , " The King is dead , long live the King . " Never had the truth of that appeared to him until that evening . He appreciated the flittering remarks as to his working , and no one ever regretted leaving the chair as he did , as he revelled in the working of the ritual . If anything was doing he liked to be in the thick

of it , and he could have done with two more years in the chair with happiness . He was then relegated with the so-called fossils , but there appeared plenty of life in them yet , and , although they were the unemployed in the lodge , they were ever ready to do anything , but their services were never required . He thanked them all for their kindness to him while he was in the chair , and iiiight he say that he was satisfied with his term of olfice , and he hoped the members appreciated his small efforts .

'Ihe VV . M . gave " The Visitors , " and said they were only too glad to welcome visitors . 'I hey were honoured that evening with a good few , and he thinked them for their kind attendance , as he took it as a personal compliment to himself . The lodge was reputed to be hospitable , and they wished to be second to none in entertaining their guests . Time would not permit all of them to respond , but he made special reference to Bros . J . J . Olley , W . M . 2511 ; E . T . M . Notcutt , P . M . St . George Lodge . Cape