Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible Cor the opinions expressed by our correspondent ? hut we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all . to permit—within certain necessary limits-*> ec discussion .

THE ADVANTAGE OF ATTENDING LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , It cannot be too often and too seriously impressed upon the brethren of the Craft to make it , as true Freemasons , their primary duty to gain a perfect

knowledge of and insight into the secrets and mysteries of the Order by attending as regularly as possible at least one lodge of instruction , and thereby making themselves conversant with the tenets and ritual of the Craft , so essential in order to fulfil their Masonic duties to their own satisfaction and to the honour of the lodge to which they belong .

It is often found that officers in lodges know little or nothing of their duties , and thereby not only cast ridicule upon themselves , but also lessen the fervour of other more zealous brethren , who , although of much younger standing , have yet , through their industry , achieved a full knowledge of such duties , but are kept back through the faulty and derogatory system of rotation , which in itself is totally un-Masonic .

It must , therefore , be readily admitted that this state of affairs calls for a thorough reform in the interests of Freemasonry in general and the welfare of individual lodges in particular . Let the brethren who possess the necessary merit and ability take the lead ; and only those can ultimately lead who , in the laudable desire to succeed , make

untiring efforts to perfect themselves in the ritual of the Craft by attending regularly a lodge of instruction and gaining thereby that complete knowledge of Freemasonry which should form the essential recommendation and t [ ualification of any incoming Master , enabling him with pride and sincerity fearlessly to pledge his sacred word that he is well able to undertake the duties and fulfil the obligations appertaining to the Mastership of his lodge .

May this appeal , therefore , awake in the hearts of junior officers and thc brethren generally a firm resolution to follow the laudable footsteps of the countless worthy and Worshipful Past Masters and Masters I May it induce them to go to work thoroughly , energetically , and promptly 1 A full list of lodges of instruction is regularly published in the Freemason , but the writer is personally interested in the West Smithfield Lodge of Instruction ,

No . 1623 , meeting every Wednesday at the City Scotch Stores , 27 , Knightnderstreet , E . G ., at seven p . m . punctually , under the able Preceptorship of Bro . F . P . Weinel , P . M . 1828 , S . W . 1745 , P . Z . 1 745 , and brethren desirous of joining will be heartily welcomed . —Yours fraternally , J . A . HOFFMANN , J . D . 1623 , Hon . Sec . 30 and 31 , Queen-street , E . C .

LIFE MEMBERSHIP . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your issue of this date , under the heading " Masonic and General Tidings , " you state that in Glasgow , Lodge No . 103 , the officers of that lodge have had under consideration the propriety of brethren becoming " life members . " I should like to recommend them not to do so . During my connection with lodges

extending over 39 years ( I was initiated in 1 S 61 ) , I have met Masons who , fortunately , were not life members . In one case a member—one they would call " a jolly good fellow , " and would have been a life member if such a law existedbecame a felon . He managed to evade the police , and got abroad . Another " i ° " y good fellow , " who would have been selected for life membership , was charged with felony ; he was . convicted , and got penal servitude . These two men were ordinary members , and were written off the books . Fancy either of them coming back to their lodge as life members !—Yours fraternally .

MAGNUS OHREN Burleigh , 4 , Garlies-road , Forest Hill , S . E ., October 20 th .

VOLUNTEER FORCES BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION . To thc Editor of thc " Freemason . " Sir , — May I venture through your columns to draw the attention of Volunteers , and those interested in their welfare , to the Volunteer Forces Benevolent Association , which was established 14 fears ago V

The patron of the Association is Field Marshal H . R . H . the Duke of Cambridge , K . G ., & c , t . ie president being General . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , K . d' ., & c . ; and it has for its objects the relief or maintenance of past or present Volunteers or their widows , and the care and advar cement in life of their orphai children .

The fund is now well established , and it is fell that , were its advantages more widely known , the membership would be largely increased , to the advantage of many who may need the help it provides . The subscription is is . per quarter for non-commissioned officers and men , and , £ 1 is . per annum for officers . Offers from Volunteers to act as agents will be gladly received .

Being a Benevolent Association , the members' subscriptions are quite inadequate to fully carry out the objects in view . Donations Irom officers and others interested in the welfare of the Volunteer Forcers , and offertories at church parades , are much needed , and will be gratefully acknowledged . Cheques should be made payable to the Association and crossed " London and County Banking Co ., Hanover-square , W . "

Further information will be gladly supplied by the Secretary , 3 , Cursitor street , E . C . ; or by Your obedient servant ,

BENJAMIN R . SHEPIIARD , Quartermaster-Sergeant 1 st City of London Volunteer Artillery , E . D ., R . G . A ., Member of the Executive Committee , Haycroft-road , London , S . W ., October 24 th .

I UK hrtfmason may lie obtained from any newsacent or bookseller . Where any difficulty is found , copies will be posted regularly direct from the Publishers , 16 and lfiA , Great Queen-street , London , W . C ., on the following terms : Twelve months ( home ) , 13 s . ( id . ; six months , ( is . ijd . ; and for abroad , twelve months , 15 s . fid . ; six months , 7 s . yd ., post free ..

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Beadon Lodge , No . 619 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . LORENZO A . J . FAULL . This lodge held its installation meeting on Wednesday , the 17 th inst ., at the I Iolborn Restaurant , under the presidency of Bro . Charles A . Hunton , W . M . There was a good sized paper of business to be got through , but it was disposed of by the W . M ., who took upon himself the whole of the work . He was strongly supported by members of the lodee and by visitors . Of the former there were present Bros . Lorenzo Faull , S . W .: M . Beedle , I . W . ; lames C . Hayes , P . M ., Treas .: Charles

Norrinirton , P . M ., Sec . ; W . Greenway , S . D . ; James Swallow , J . D . ; Simuel J . J . Wise , I . G . ; Charles Meierhoff , D . C . ; W . H . Lilly , Stwd . ; Henry Massey , P . M . ; Carl T . Fleck , P . M . ; Albert E . Austin , P . M . ; Moss Chapman , P . M . ; E . Croft Wise , P . M . ; George Perry , John H . Chapman , J . Taylor , George J . Randall , Edwin Still , A . E . Bodge , J . C . Ohlschlager , A . Caley , Arthur Johnson , | . D . Rose , S . H . Murray , M . Fannen . G . Campbell , J . VV . Harrison , F . J . Rawle , W . M . Foster , H . C . Phillips , G . W . Barnard , C . J . Jones , A . G . Gataedel . J . Cowling , R . Henchley , and

James R . Kent . The visitors were Bros . A . A . Grill , J . D . 7 66 ; J . Wright , S . W . and W . M . elect 2760 ; J . A . Fleck , 172 ; D . W . Fleck , 172 ; T . Levey , iSSG : A . G . Lennox Robertson , P . M . 2329 ; J . W . Avery ( late 6 irj ); H . Levy , iGjg ; C . H . Withycombe , 169 ; H . Harbord , P . M . yoi ; P . M . Faull , Org . 1 ( 125 ; George W . Beste . P . M . 507 ; A . P . Fleck , 172 ; Charles E . Milnes Hey , S . W . 16 57 ; Edgar H . Bowyer , 2264 ; C . J . Thornton , 24 ( 56 ; S . Levy , 115 S ; and Henry Almond , P . M . and Sec . 2622 .

The VV . M ., after the minutes of the regular lodge of August 15 th and of the lodge of emergency of September rejth had been read and confirmed , raised Bro . J . Henderson Chapman to the Third Degree . Bro . J . C . Hayes , P . M ., Treas ., gave the traditional history . After the ceremony of raising had been completed , Bro . C . A . Hunton , W . M ., installed Bro . Lorenzo A . J . Faull , S . W . and W . M . elect , as Worshipful Master for the year ensuing , Bro . Charles Meierhoff , P . M ., D . of C , having presented Bro . Faull for that distinction . The new W . M ., havine been duly installed , invested

Bro . Charles A . Hunton as I . P . M ., and after the W . M . had received the congratulations of the Board of Installed Masters , and been saluted in the Three Degrees , the following brethren were invested : Bros . M . Bredle , S . W . ; W . J . Greenaway , J . W . ; JamesC . Hayes , P . M ., Treas . ; Charles Norrington , P . M ., Sec . ; J . Swallow , S . D . ; S . J . J . Wise , J . D . ; Charles Meierhoff , P . M ., D . of C . ; W . H . Lilly , I . G . ; C . J . Jones , Stwd . ; and Thomas Bowler , P . M ., Tyler . The l . P . M . delivered the addresses , and completed his year ' s work in capital style . Trie Auditors' Report ,

which showed a balance of , ( , 214 is . id . to the credit of the general fund of the lodge , and £ s 5 S- to the credit of the Benevolent Fund , was adopted . Bro . C . Norrington . P . M . and Sec , informed the brethren that he was going to be Steward for the Girls ' School at its next Festival , and invited the assistance of the lodge and the brethren . The lodge hitherto had subsciibed only 15 guineas to the Girls' School , although it had voted altogether no guineas to the Old People , and 70 guineas tc the Boys' School . He hoped to get 25 guineas from the lodge to his list . Bro .

Hunton , l . P . M ., proposed 20 guineas , and Bro . Carl Fleck , P . M ., seconded the motion ; but the mo tion was postponed until the January meeting . The VV . M . said he was going to represent the lodge as its Steward at the Festival of the Aged Institution , and he hoped the lodge and the brethren would support him . Bro . James C . Hayes , the Treasurer , said the lodge had funds to support these two lists . Bro . Faull , W . M ., Drought forward his motion— " That the warrant of this lodge be used to start a Beadon Lodrje of Instruction , with Bro . L . Faull as Preceptor , at the Britannia Hotel ,

Highstreet , Peckham , S . E ., Bro . Williams , J . W . of the Temple Lodge , No . 101 , proprietor . " The motion was seconded by Bro . W . J . Greenaway , J . W ., but the consideration of it and the voting upon it were postponed until the next meeting . The W . M . afterwards closed the lodge , and the brethren adjourned to dinner . A musical entertainment under the direction of Bro . Bleevett Faull , Org . 1625 and 126 9 Lodges , 101 and 1216 Chapters , & c , was given by Miss Eugenie Faull , and Bros . Walter Churcher , II . Cribb , II . Langton , and the Ariel Quartette . The usual toasts were proposed and honoured .

Bro . C . A . Hunton , l . P . M ., proposed " the VV . M . " For himself he might say he had been eJethroned that day by a brother with whom he had run neck and neck in Masonry . They had both been made Masons years ago . They might not know as much as some of the old P . Ms ., but he thought he might say the W . M . had learned his lesson exceedingly well , and had done his work worthily of the good old Beadon Lodge . They also meant to rule , and they hoped the younger members of the lodge wouli support him . He asked the brethren to wish him a year of success and happiness , si that when he had to give up his ollice he might say the members of the lodge had been good brothers to him .

Bro . Lorenzo A . J . Faull , W . M ., in acknowledging the toast ( which was most heartily drunk ) , said he had always been curious about Freemasonry , which was not to be learned from the outside . He knew someone who got a little smattering of it , but it was such as to provoke roars of laughter , because of the groteseme side . He ( the W . M . ) enquired , but he found out very little ; some people told him one thing , and some another , and consequently his notions were hazy . He therefore resolved to become a Mason , and now that he had found out what it was he should endeavour to

do his duty to it to the best of his ability . The Charity box yielded two guineas . Bro . Faull , VV . M ., proposed "The l . P . M . " During the past year Bro . Hunton had taught ihe principles of the Craft , and expressed a host of sentiments for the guidance of the brethren of the lodge . If any misunderstanding might have occurred it was obliterated by his kindly disposition , and what all the brethren admired was tint the work had been admirably well done . He presented Bro . Hunton with a handsome Past Master ' s iewel .

Bro . C . A . Hunton , I . P . M ., in reply , said he had tried to the best of his ability during his year of office t ; do the lodge work as he had been taught , and if he ha 1 made mistakes he hoped the brethren would not blame him . They hat had a very happy year , and there had been no friction whatever . As sjn as he had the great honour of being Worshipful Master of the Beadon Lodge , he felt he would be remembered by the brethren with kindness , He

had a great amount ot diffidence when he took the chair , but he found tint with the help of the Past Masters and the officers he could carry on the work . He had not had the advantage th . it the new W . M . had had . He hoped that during the W . M . ' s year of office he would satisfy thc brethren . If he ( Bro . Hunton ) had satisfied the brethren he was satisfied himself . He thanked the brethren for the jewel ; he did not think he was worthy of it ; but he could assuee the brethren it would be transmitted to his children pure and unsullied as he now received it .

Bre > . J . Wright , S . W . and W . M . elect 27 C 0 , in replying to thc toast of " The Visitors , " said lie hoped to be Master next year oi the Aldermaston Lodge , of which Bro . C . E . Keyser was the first Master . That lodge had a ladies' day and all the members brought their wives . lie Imped to see some of the brethren there . Bro . A . G . Lennox Robertson , P . M . ( 117 , 2329 , Buenos Ayres , said he represented ledges / ceo miles away , in the capital of tne Argentine Republic He could testify to the good fellowship of the brethren wherever they met .

Bro . George W . Beste , P . M . 507 , and other brethren responded , and the other toasts followed before the brethren separated .

Nelson Lodge , No . 700 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . WILLIAM CHAMBERS . The wonderful progress in Masonry made by the brethren of the Woolwich and Plumstead districts , was fully evinced on Wednesday , the 17 th inst ., when the handsome and spacious lodge recom of the Masonic Build , ngs , Mount Pleasant , Plumstead , was crowded by the brethren of the lodge and visitors from far and near to witness , or assist , at the installation of the W . M . elect of the above Iburishing a"d prosperous lodge . The lodi ; e was opened by the W . M . Bro . W . Longwho commenced Ins arduous

, , task by pasting Bros . Norlham and Mjrden . lie then proceeded to the all important ceremony of installation , and Hro . William Chambers , S . W . and W . M . elect , having been presented , was , in accordance with ancient rite , placed in the chair ot K . S > a "" siluted . The W . M . appointed and invested his ollicers as follows : Bros . W . Loni ,, l . P . M . j W . | . Harris , S . W . ; E . Carter , J . W . ; J . II . Roberts , P . M ., Treas ., W . Lawson , P . M ., Sec ; J . Warren , P . M ., Consulting Sec ; H . Tufnell , P- '" y D . C . ; F . S . Folkes , S . D . ; W . Reynolds , J . D . ; H . Sanford , I . G . ; W . J . Uidh' 0 ° '