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 all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . THE FESTIVAL OF THE EMULATION LODGE OF IMPROVEMENT . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reference to the approaching Festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , may I suggest that the above lodge might have one Festival in the year when the three Degrees are rehearsed and perhaps the installation ceremony if

time permits . I am speaking as a Secretary of a lodge of instruction situated at a considerable distance from London . We are using Emulation working as strictly as we can , but some of us would like to go up to London occasionally so as to be absolutely correct in every detail . It would take several journeys to hear all the ceremonies , exclusive of the lectures , and I think that the above proposition , if carried out , would greatly tend to improve the Emulation working in the provinces . February 22 nd . SECRETARY .

WHO IS MY BROTHER ? To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you kindly insert the list of contributions in support of " Our Brother ' s Bed " in the Free Home for the Dying , Clapham , with oui best thanks ? Further donations are much needed , and are specially asked from lodges , as well as from individual brethren . —Fraternally yours ,

W . PORTLOCK-DADSON , 1383 , Honorary Secretary Office—281 , Strand , W . C , February 27 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"THE FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF GLOUCESTER , 1896 . "—This beautifull y printed annual , which is issued from the press of Bro . John Bellows , of Gloucester , is commendably early , has been edited by Bro . R . P . Sumner , as usual , and is published by authority of the'R . W . the Prov . Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Lodge . This year ' s issue contains a choice print of the "Prentice ' s Bracket" in the south transept of Gloucester Cathedral , which is referred to in the admirable sermon by the Dean of Gloucester ( the Very Rev . Dr . Spencer , Grand Chaplain ) , delivered in June last , when the Provincial Grand Lodge assembled in the chapter room for business , and adjourned to the Cathedral for the

service . This was a memorable occasion , and hence the edition will be an interesting souvenir of that important event . The Directory also has numerous items of information besides , and is thus an excellent chronicle of matters Masonic in the county , as well as a most useful Directory for the brethren . The work is full of information , ably arranged and condensed , the Charities especially being well represented . There are 16 lodges in the province , returning 697 members , the voting strength being the large number of 4454 , being an extraordinary number of votes for a comparatively small province . During the last 10 years the voting strength has increased by over 1300 , and doubtless the excellent management of the Provincial Charity Secretary , Bro . R . P . Sumner , Prov . S . G . W ., has done much to secure this magnificent result .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday , the 4 lh prox . : 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 4 th December , 18 95 , for confirmation . 2 . Election of M . W . Grand Master . 3 . To consider the following Notice of Motion from the M . W . PRO GRAND MASTER :

That the Grand Lodge , with feelings of devoted loyalty , desires humbly and respectfully to offer to her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen this expression of deep and sincere sympathy on the great calamity that has befallen her Royal Highness the Princess Beatrice ( Princess Henry of Battenberg ) on the lamentable death , while serving his

adopted country in a foreign land , of his Royal Highness Prince Henry of Battenberg , K . G ., and this Grand Lodge earnestly prays that the Great Architect of the Universe will , in His compassionate mercy , vouchsafe to her Majesty and to the widowed Princess strength to bear with calmness and fortitude the irreparable loss they have sustained .

4 , Election of a Grand Treasurer . 5 . Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants : A brother of the Lodge of Joppa , No . 18 S , London ... ... £ 50 o o A brother of the Abbey Lodge , No . 945 , Abingdon ... ... 50 o o The daughter of a brother of the St . Hilda Lodge , No . 240 , South Shields , on behalf of five infant children ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Vitruvian Lodge , No . S 7 , London ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Wykham Lodge , No . 1 SS 5 ,

Winchester ... ... ,. ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Lodge Hope and Unity , No . 377 , Kidderminster ... ... ... ... ... 100 o o The widow of a brother of the Lodge De Ogle , No . 636 , Morpeth ... ... ... ... ... ... 50 0 o

6 . REI ' OIIT or THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board has to report that its attention has been directed to the fact that , in violation of the provisions of the Book of Constitutions , centenary jewels had been obtained for certain members of a London lodge elsewhere than at the office of the Grand Secretary . The Board accordingly summoned before it the W . Master , Wardens , and Secretary of the lodge , together with the brother—not a

member of the lodge—by whom the jewels had been supplied , and who had offered to procure them for a price less than that named in the Book of Constitutions . The Secretary having stated the lodge was not aware the jewels were not procured by that brother through the office of the Grand Secretary , the brother who procured them was admonished by the Board , and the lodge was cautioned not to permit further purchases of jewels to be made , except in the manner provided by the Constitutions .

The Board has further to report that it had felt it its duty to suspend from . ill Masonic rights and privileges for a period of three months a member of a London lodge for having , in violation of Rule 20 a , Book of Constitutions , given a certificate or recommendation , to enable a brother in an itinerant manner to apply to lodges for relief . The Board have to report that the following presentations have been made to the Library and Museum since the last meeting of Grand Lodge , all of which have been accepted with thanks :

United Grand Lodge Of England.

TITLE OR OBJECT . By WHOM PRESENTED . An" Old Masonic Apron ... ... ... George E . Fairchild , A . G . D . C . History of the Grand Masters' Lodge , No . 1 ... Charles Belton , P . D . G . D . C . The « Haddon " Manuscript of the Old Charges ... James S . Haddon , P . P . S . G . W . Somerset . Robert Burns and the Lodtre Canongate Kilwinning . William J . Hughan , P . G . D .

Transcript of the " Haddon" Manuscript ... Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , General Lawrence , Past G . M . & c , 1733—1792 ... ... ... ... Massachusetts . The Royal Arch in the Past Wm . Smithett , M . E . Z . 58 . Two Past Masters ' Jewels ... ... ... Edward Terry , Past G . Treas . By-laws of Nos . 84 and 330 , 177 S and 1765 , MS .... Mr . Henry Phillips , per Bro . Alfred Bannister .

" Dinner Scraps " from Table No . 657 ... ... C . de Broe , P . M . 657 . Human Sacrifices in India , & c .... ... ... Neville Green , P . M . 1962 . In consequence of the special value and interest attaching to " the Haddon Masonic Manuscript , " most generously presented by Bro . James S . Haddon , P . Provincial Grand Warden of Somerset , the Board resolved that a vote of thanks to that brother be engrossed on vellum , illuminated , and framed .

The Board also submit a statement of the Grand Lodge Accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 14 th day of February instant , showing a balance in the Bank of England ( Law Courts Branch ) of ^ 6994 7 s . 6 d ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for Petty Cash ^ 100 , and for Servants' Wages ^ loo . ( Signed ) RICHARD LOVELAND LOVELAND , President .

Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 19 th February . 7 . NOTICE OF MOTION , By Bro . W . F . LAMONBY , P . M . 962 , 1924—That the Grand Lodge of England in Quarteriy Communication assembled ,

hereby expresses its strong disapproval of the system of canvassing and touting carried on at the annual elections , and earnestly appeals to its members to discountenance and prevent the continuance of a practice which is contrary to the principles and tenets of English Freemasonry .

List of lodges for which warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge . No . 2591 , The St . Mary of the Harbour Lodge , New Shoreham . „ 2592 , The Waltair Lodge , Vizagapatam , Madras . ,, 2593 , The Hugh Owen Lodge , London . ,, 2391 , The Old Priory Lodge , Beeston .

,, 2595 , The Trinity Lodge , Buckfastleigh . ,, 2596 , The Eshowe Lodge , Zululand . „ 2597 , The St . Alban's Lodge , Christchurch , New Zealand .

,, 2598 , The St . Sampson ' s Lodge , Guernsey . „ 2599 , The Engineer Lodge , London . „ 2600 , The Stanley of Preston Lodge , Preston . „ 2601 , The Holloway Lodge , London . ,, 2602 , The Baring Lodge , Cromer .

Consecration Of The Hugh Owen Lodge, No. 2593.

CONSECRATION OF THE HUGH OWEN LODGE , No . 2593 .

A desire having been widely expressed among Poor Law officers that the Poor Law Service should have a Masonic lodge specially for its members , a Committee was formed to take the necessary steps to obtain a warrant for the formation of such a lodge , and it was determined , with his kind permission , to name it after Sir Hugh Owen , K . C . B ., the permanent Secretary of

the Local Government Board . For more than half-a-century the name of Hugh Owen has been honourably connected with the Poor Law Service , which owes a deep debt of gratitude both ^ to the late and the present Sir Hugh Owen for many acts of thoughtful kindness and consideration , and for their efforts to improve the position of . every class of officer in the service ,

and Poor Law Masons throughout the country gladly hailed the opportunity of associating their honoured names for all time with the service for which they had laboured and done so much . The Hugh Owen Lodge is the latest addition to the roll of the Order , and the consecration took place on Friday , the 14 th instant , at the Frascati , Oxford-street .

The Consecrating Officer was Bro . E . Letchworth , F . S . A ., G . Sec , assisted by Bros . Lieut .-Col . A . B . Cook , P . A . G . D . C , as S . W . ; F . Ernest Pocock , M . D ., D . G . D . C , as J . W . j Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . C ., as Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C . ; H . J . Lardner , as I . G . ; and H . Sadler , G . Tyler , as Tyler . The founders are the following : Bros . John H . Rutherglen , P . M . 164- i J . W . Hartley , P . M . 19 S 6 ; H . G . Holland , P . M . 2353 ; R . H . Nicholls ,

W . Chapman Grigg , M . D ., P . M . 10 , 1635 , and 1591 ; H . Roberts , J . W . Hunt , J . D . 2353 ; H . Ramsbottom , J . Elliott , C . G . Ridgway , E . A . Frith , H . T . Willis , A . E . Lee , R . Brown , P . M . 1558 ; F . C- Soper , H . Tull , J . A . Battersby , J . Claxton , J . R . Musto , T . Badcock , H . C . Russell , J . W . 1063 ; A . A . Hunt , E . C . Cryer , H . T . Kobelt , T . P . Warwick , J . D . M . i i T . L . Smith , M . D ., J . C . Glover , G . Clark , J . C . Morgan , C . Spencer , T . W . Norman , M . F . Cadman , H . D . Aslett , P . M . 1892 , P . P . G . D . C . Surrey and S . Fussell , J . D . 1579 .

The visitors present were—Bros . J . Harris , P . M . 1273 , P . P . S . G . W . Kent ; H . Black , P . M . 1273 , P . P . G . D . C . Kent ; G . Goble , P . M . 1273 , P . P . G . D . C . Kent ; H . Morris , P . M . 1273 ; N . M . Simmonds , P . l ' . G . S . B . Suffolk ; P . Newbould , P . M . 426 ; H . B . Spaul , 145 ; 1-Larkin , P . M . 3 ; Dr . R . D . Sweeting , S . W . 10 , P . P . G . O . ; R . Hendy , 1767 ; VV . B . Neville , P . M . 176 7 ; L , Beale , 1767 ; C . C . Piper , 2030 ; W . F . E . S . Step hens ,

1567 ; F . Deering , P . M . 2384 ; J . Patrick , 2353 ; M . Huish , W . M . 1642 ; T . J . Bolton , S . W . 1687 ; A . C . Binks , P . M . 46 ; B . Roberts , 503 ; R . Ridgway , 23 S 3 I J- Bartlett , 2030 ; W . Shurmur , P . P . G . Treas . Essex ; C . R . A . Grilhn , 2317 ; T . Hubbard , 829 ; R . J . Barradell , 2373 ; A . J . Brown , P . P . G . S . B . Hants and Isle of Wight ; V . J . Barlow , 1063 ; C . M . Collingwood , 1437 ; c-B . Shelswell , W . M . 2384 ; VV . Lawrence , W . M . 2168 ; R . S . Cummings , Stc . 2168 ; James Stephens , P . M ., Sec . 2150 ; W . Craddock , 2150 ; H . T . Dudman ,

1929 ; J . Scannell , 1384 ; P . Taverner , 1364 ; F . W . Hunt , 16 36 ; A . Timothy , P . M . 87 ; W . Curry , Treas . 2331 ; G . Paxton , 742 ; J . Gibson , 2030 ; E . J ' Badderly , 1624 ; C . F . Chamberlin , P . M . 353 ; C . H . Bestow , S . W . 2374 ; H ' C . Cuttriss , 217 ; G . F . Brooking , 1604 ; G . W . Donson , 1306 ; E . Sutton , 742 ; F . Shelton , P . M . 1366 ; A . A . Millward , 2168 ; J . Rexworthy , P . M . I 7 W . R . Stephens , 1642 ; J . Lee , 231 ; Ben . George , 1287 ; E . C . Mulvey , P- 2353 , P . P . G . D . C . Herts ; R . J . Morley , 2589 ; R . Clay , W . M . elect 7 66 ; Nathan