Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

A QUERY . To the Editor of the '' Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother At the regular meeting of the Egerton Lodge , No . 1030 , George Holel , Stockport , East Lancashire Province , Bro . James Wm . Abbott , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year .

Bro . Abbott was initiated in this lodge in October , 18 71 ; installed W . M ., 1 S 56 ; Prov . Asst . G . D . C , 1884 ; Prov . Deputy G . D . C , 1885 ; and Prov . G . D . C , 1 S 86 . On the day of his re-installation he will attain his 25 th birthday in the Craft , ' and during the whole of those years he has been present at every regular meeting of his mother lodge .

This I , along with my fellow members of the Egerton Lodge , consider to be " unique , " at any rate , as far as regards Freemasonry in East Lancashire , and should be glad if you could say if it is not so further afield . Kindly reply through your Correspondence Column to P . M . 1030 . Manchester , September 22 nd .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1086 — I have lately purchased a copy of Batty Langley ' s " Builders Compleat Chest-Book , or Library of Arts and Sciences . " London : Printed by H . Woodfall , 1 738 , 2 vols ., Svo . —Can anyone inform me if this is the ist Edition of the " Builders Compleat Assistant " ( title slightly altered for subsequent editions ) , as there are so many points of resemblance between the two works ? The reference to " Geometry " occurs on p . 61 in both . JOHN T . THORP .

Opening Of New Masonic Rooms At Truro.

OPENING OF NEW MASONIC ROOMS AT TRURO .

The inauguration ceremony of opening the new and commodious rooms in connection with the Fortitude Lodge , No . 131 , took place on Tuesday , the 15 th instant , at Truro , under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . Clark , who was supported by a large Board of Past Masters of the lodge and a considerable number of visiting brethren . After the lodge meeting , a capital spread was provided in the spacious anteroom , and there were afterwards speeches , songs , recitations , & c .

The Worshipful Master and Bro . George , the architect , were warmly congratulated on the convenience and excellency of the rooms , which in every way meet the requirements of the lodge , and which will well compare in their suitability with any similar suite of rooms in the county . The brethren of Fortitude Lodge can well be complimented on their possession , which , for completeness and accommodation , leave nothing to be desired . It was suggested by Bro . Fraser-Frizell that the names of Bios . Clarke and W . J . George , with a record ot the event , should be commemorated on the walls .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . D . D . Mercer , P . G . P ., Senior Vice-President , occupied the President's chair ; Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President , was called to the Senior Vice-President's chair ; and Bro . James Boulton , G . P ., occupied the position of Junior Vice-President . Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; Bro . W . Lake , Asst . G . Sec . ; Bro . W . Dodd and Bro . G . S . Recknell , represented the Grand Secretary's department . The other brethren present were Bros . Wm

Vincent , Henry Garrod , George B . Chapman , Wm . F . Smithson , W . J . Mason S . V . Abraham , George R . Langley , Wm . Fisher , Robert A . Gowan , T . Whitmarsh , Major-General Frederick Gadsden , W . Kipps , James Bunker , Henry Smith Syer , William Moulder , George Powell , James Linzell , Edward E . Ransom , W . E . Sutton , H . Massey , Frank Evans , T . H . Hobbs , Thomas Bugler , C . Wakefield , Charles J . Banne , J . R . Johnson , B . Sadler Wood , James Rutherford , C . M . Coxon , T . H . Barker , and R . H . Wimpey .

The brethren first confirmed a recommendation made at the August meeting to the Grand Master , which his Royal Highness had approved , that a grant of , £ 30 should be made to a widow . The new list contained 24 petitions , the presenters of which were qualified through three lodges in the London district , one lodge in Guernsey , and one each at Chingford , Leighton Buzzard , Walton-on-Naze , Thame , Southampton , Leeds , Lucknow , Crewkerne , Blyth , East Dereham , Callington , Secunderabad , Halifax , N . S ., Peterborough Sidcup , Stockport ,

Halifax , N . Z ., West Hartlepool , Jersey , and Sunderland . Out of th ese 24 petitions one case was dismissed , and the consideration of five petitions was deferred for further information . The remaining 18 were granted , or recommended to be granted , a tctal sum of . £ 555 . One petition was recommended to Grand Lodge for ^ 100 and one for , £ 75 . The Grand Master was asked to approve of two grants of £ 40 each and four of £ 30 each . Eight petitioners were granted £ 1 . 0 each and two / io each .

Allied Masonic Degrees.

Allied Masonic Degrees .

W . M . Sewell Council , No . 11 . ' 1 he regular quarterly meeting of this council was held on Monday , the 14 th instant ., in Ihe Frcenasons' Hall , Maryport , Bro . Jas Gardiner presiding , supported by his f fllcirs . One candidate was inducted into the Degrees of St . Lawrence the Martyr , Knight of Constantinople , and Knight of the Red Cross , which were beautifully worked by Bro . Cardir . er . The following also signed the attendance book : Bros . Col . F . R . Sewell , P . G . W . ; Jos . O . Scott , Jas . Anderson , Thos . Atkinson , P . M . ; Geo . Starkey , R . Brown , ] . Smith , and J . Messenger .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Fenn or Hesketh Lodge , No . 1350 . The installation meeting of this lodge was held in the New Masonic Hall , Bootle on Monday , the 14 th instant . The W . M ., Bro . F . J . Billett , appointed Bros . W . p " Robinson , as S . W . ; J . C Robinson , J . W . ; and Connor , I . G . ; after which the W . M ] elect , Bro . Ernest James Robbins , S . W .,- 'was presented to the W . M . by I 3 ros Armstrong , P . P . S . G . ' W ., and Taylor , P . A . G . D . C , for the benefit of installation . The ceremony was most ably rendered by the W . M ., assisted by Bro . John Armstrong The W . M . invested his officers as follows , viz .: Bros . F . J . Billett , I . P . M . ; E . W Armstrong , S . W . ; T . W . West , J . W . ; W . Taylor , P . M ., P . A . G . D . C , Treas . ; f

H . Gedling , Sec ; I . Bolton , S . D . ; E . H . Jones , J . D . ; E . E . Robin , P . M ., D C R . W . Jones , Org . ; F . A . Davis , I . G . ; J . L . H . Woods , J . Dilworth , H . G Lowther , and Ivor Jones , Stwds . Bro . John Armstrong , P . M ., was unanimousl y elected Charity Steward . Amongst thevisitors were Bros . F . K . Stevenson , P . P . S . G . W Cheshire ; VV . F . Arnott , P . J . G . W . ; J . C . Robinson , P . P . A . G . D . C ; A . Kirk ! Patrick , P . P . G . S . B . ; ] . Simpson , P . P . G . S . Cheshire ; J . Brotherton , P . M ., and J H Tyson , P . M . 241 ; T . Lea , W . M . 1473 ; J . Forsyth , P . M . 1473 ; VV . F . Robinson ] P . M . 2132 , W . M . 2433 ; Pearson Chambers , W . M . 2335 ; Thos . Gray , P . M . 22 S 9 ; and others .

After the lodge was closed , the brethren at once adjourned to a sumptuous repast provided by the caterer of the lodge , Bro . Holmes . After the usual loyal toasts had been proposed and duly honoured , the D . C , Bro . E . E . Robins , proposed "The Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , R . W . P . G . M ., and the Provincial Grand Officers of this and other Provinces , " to which Bro . F . K . Stevenson P . P . S . G . W ., replied on behalf of Cheshire , and Bros . W . H . Arnott , P . J . G . W ., on behalf of the officers of West Lancashire .

The Health of the Worshipful Master" having being proposed by the I . P . M . and suitably responded to , The Worshipful Master , in proposing " The Health of the I . P . M ., " alluded to the general satisfaction he had given during his tenure of office , which the lodge had marked by voting him a Past Master's jewel in recognition of its appreciation of his services , but the members privately desired to add their testimony by presenting him with a gold albert and seal , which he now handed to him . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . R . W . Jones , ably assisted by Bros . Forsyth , Wallace , Theo . Evans , I . Piatt , and others .

Clapton Lodge , No . 1365 . It is always a red-letter day in the career of Masonry to initiate one ' s son into Freemasonry , but it does not often occur for a father to have the privilege and great honour to both initiate and , some years later , instal his son as W . M . This has fallen to the happy lot of Bro . W . D . Church , P . M ., the esteemed Secretary of the above lodge , who installed his son , Bro . A . H . Church , on the 17 th inst . at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool-street , at which there was a good muster of the members and visitors present .

In the unavoidable absence of the W . M ., Bro . J . D . Geddes , Bro . W . D . Church , P . M . > officiated , supported by Bros . A . H . Church , S . W ., W . M . elect ; F . C . Lintott , J . W .: W . Blackburn , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., Treas . ; W . Banks , S . D . ; T . T . Gething , J . D . ; Henry C Muckley , D . C . ; F . Orfeur , Org . ; J . Holland and J . F . Thayre , Stwds . ; W . Finch , P . M . ; W . H . Caton , P . M . ; E . S . White , W . Macklin , C . G . Diamond , S . J . Edwards , A . W . Diamond , E . J . Livett , E . J . Brooks , G . Schilling , T . Boulting , S . Shipman , P . Becker , W . D . Seaton , W . R . Cathrow , H . C Amendt , ] .

Parfitt , H . J . Dyer , H . Green , J . Dolman , T . W . Vaughan , E . Wildash , E . M . Edwards , R . C . Flint , G . Minter , J . Whitehead , and J . Very , Tyler . The visitors were Bros . VV . Brookman , 175 ; A . Gibbs , P . M . 2101 ; W . Shurmur , P . M . 2374 , P . P . G . T . Essex ; Hamilton Scott , 1 C 70 ; R . Brookman , W . M . 1424 ; S . A . Stanger , P . M . 12 ; H . Firth , S . D . 209 S ; F . Cuzner , 2271 ; A . Cuzner , 2271 ; J . J . Howson , 1446 ; J . Bunker , P . M . 1158 ; W . Fisher , Sec . 2411 ; A . F . Thompson , P . M . 742 ; I . Morley , P . M . 1 S 91 ; T . Trounce , J . W . 453 ; E . J . Wickenden , W . M . 1599 ; P .

C . Campbell , P . M . 1670 ; T . Orfeur , 1312 ; J . Hill , S . D . 1460 ; E . T . Page , S 34 ; and R . T . West , 1744 . The minutes of the last lodge and emergency meetings having been read and confirmed , and the Auditors ' report received and adopted , the W . M . elect , Bro . A . H . Church , was presented by Bro . VV . Finch , P . M ., and installed into the chair b y Bro . W . D . Church , P . M ., in a most admirable manner . The following were appointed and invested officers by the new W . M . for the ensuing year : Bros . F . C . Lintott , S . W . ; VV .

Banks , J . W . ; W . Blackburn , P . M ., Treas . ; W . D . Church . P . M ., Sec . ; T . T . Gething , S . D . ; F . Orfeur , J . D . ; Henry C . Muckley , I . G . ; J . Thayre , J . Holland , and G . Schilling , Stwds ; E . S . White , Org ; and J . Very , Tyler . The usual addresses were delivered by Bro . W . D . Church , P . M ., and he is to be congratulated for the efficient manner in which he carried out the whole of the installation ceremony . Two gentlemen were proposed for initiation at the next meeting and letters were read from Bro . 1 . D . Geddes , I . P . M . ; D . Campbell , P . M ., and E . Luker , P . M ., regretting

their inability to attend through illness and other causes , and after other business the lodge was closed . A splendid banquet followed , which fully maintained the great reputation of Bro . Amendt , the general manager of the Great Eastern Railway Company ' s Hotel , and was everything that could be desired . After the customary loyal and Masonic toasts had been duly honoured , Bro . W . Blackburn , P . M ., in the absence of the I . P . M ., Bro . J . D . Geddes , proposed "The Health of the Worshipful Master . " He said he gave the toast at Bro .

Geddes' request , but he was sorry he was not present , as he would not be able to do it as well as Bro . Geddes . It was without doubt the toast of the evening , and none that would be proposed that night would be received with more cordiality . The Past Masters on the shelf had watched the Worshipful Master ' s career with much interest . They had seen him initiated , and had seen him take every office with credit to himself . He knew they had made an excellent choice , because he came from a good stock . They were glad to have such a leader—it would be impossible to have a better . He had worked hard to attain his position ; he would be able to do everything asked of him ,

and they all felt he would be a very great success . The toast was enthusiastically received , as was Bro . A . H . Church , W . M ., on rising to respond . He thanked Bro . Blackburn for his kind and flattering remarks , but said he did not observe them . He had the highest regard for Freemasonry , and he had tried to do his best in the offices he had filled , and it was his earnest wish to give every slt ' * ' tion as Master of the Clapton Lodge . When the msmbers who had not passed ths chair left the lodge room that evening , he had cone through what was a great surprise

to him , and he should never forget it . In conclusion , he thanked all for his election and the way he had been received . At the request cf the W . M ., Bro . Blackburn , P . M ., gave " Tne Installing Master , Bro . VV . D . Church , " observing that they had all seen the excellent way he had done the installation ceremony , and he ventured to think that no one present had evsr seen it performed better . That evening was their 25 th birthday , and he felt it was one ° y happiest since the consecration of the lodee . Looking to what Bro . Church had done

so well that night , it showed the great interest he took in the lodge . He congratulate " him on the way he had performed the ceremony , and he had fully maintained the wenknown reputation of the lodge for good working of the ritual . The toast was drunk with acclamation , and .. Bro . W . D . Church . P . M ., who was received with much warmth , responded . " , could not express in words what he felt in installing his son as W . M ., and whom h = « i initiated . lie was a gcod son , and he would be a splendid Master . He was perle" „ the ritual , ar . d when his year of office came to an end they would say it was w ui

finished . He had started * w ell with having two initiates proposed , and there were " coming on , and he was proud that his son was now W . M . , In submitting the toast of " The Visitors , " the W . M . stated that they had a g < w representative number , and they were proud to have them . He read out a list ° j ' names , giving a kind word to each , and he assured them that they were all weiw ^ ' He associated with Ihe toast the names of Bros . R . Brookman , W . M . I 42 "> . 11 ' Stanger , P . M . ; E . V . Page ; J . Morley , P . M . ; W . Brookman ; P . C . Canip u ""' P . M . ; and J . Bunker , P . M . 115 S . ¦ tthe Bro . R . Brookman , W . M . I 42 O , responded . It was always a pleasure to vl * . '' Clapton Lodge , because the working was ever the same—excellent . He was ci »