Masonic Impostors.

using some printed instructions for relief m a very improper manner , which , should they fall into the hands of any of the brethren , they would do well to retain . As he appears to be " on tramp , " I would strongly advise ail almoners and brethren to be on their

guard . Yours fraternally , G . GLANHELD , P . M . 328 .

TO THE EDITOR OFTI 1 E FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —In your number of Jan . 25 , p . 68 , there is a letter signed by '' A . Quaker , " and suggesting a plan by which unworthy brethren might be prevented from imposing on our society . A plan very similar to that has been for many

years successfully put into practice in my native city . The Amsterdam lodges , having experienced all the abuses and annoyances occasioned b y " tramps , " have appointed a general almoner , and provided him with the necessary funds to meet the wants of travelling brothers ; moreoverthey have prudently selected

, for that office a brother who is also a first officer of the town police . All claimants are directed to that gentleman ' s office , and of course none of them , when his conscience is not clear , cares to call there for assistance .

It would be hardly possible to tell how much money has been saved for private purses aud lodge ' s fund since this measure was adopted ; money that in former times was wasted to meet the exigencies , or rather the exactions , of nasty vagrants , and that could be used to relieve real suffering . Experience being the best teacherI ive here our

, g own experience to second the views and good endeavours oi' our friend the Quaker . Yours fraternally , J . YAN LENNEP , Master of the Wollem-Freclerik Lodge ,

Amsterdam , and D . G . M . of the Netherlands , Amsterdam , Feb . 24 , 1 S 0 S .

Lodge Music.

LODGE MUSIC .

, TO IHE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir ancl Brother , —In your number of this da }' , I observe at the bottom of page 152 a few excellent remarks on the introduction of music , both vocal and instrumental , into our lodges , in which I fully concur , ancl to which I desire to call attention . It is there assumed that the aid of the divine art ,

which formed an important part of religious ceremonies in the most ancient as well as in modern times , is beneficial , desirable , and praiseworthy , and that no objection to it can possibly be raised , alleging antiquity as its sanction , impressiveness and enrichment of our " services" as its object . Not so fastmy

, brother . Such was my own idea till very lately : but , fully recognising these considerations myself , I am now able to show that others are not willing to admit the premises , and that , in fact , so far as their power extends , they forbid the practice in lodge . I happen

to possess a most effective and appropriate musical accompaniment to the rituals of the three degrees , compiled by Bro . Charles Johnson , P . M ., formerly of Jersey , now of Leicester , which I have been the means of introducing into several lodges in different localities , in all of which it has been highly approved .

Soon after my settlement here and active participation in the work , I mentioned it to some of thebrethren of the Pleiades Lodge , No . 710 , who were most anxious for its adoption , not only as tending to promote the solemnity and impressiveness of the ceremonies , but also as a means of inducing a

moreregular attendance of the members at the meetings . After due notice a proposition to this effect was brought forward by the J . W . Iu the meantime , the W . M ., who does not approve of the introduction of vocal music , had obtained the opinion of the Prov . GMaster , who , beins ; at the time in London , consulted

several leading brethren on the subject . Unfortunately for us , their views aud those of the Prov . G . M . coincided with those of our W . M ., aud thus it has been impossible to entertain the project , in opposition to such authority . One London brother went so far as to say that , were he W . M ., if the proposer of the

resolution persisted in his motion , he should refuse to put it to the lodge . Despotic as a W . M . may be ,. I should consider such a stretch of poiver very improper , especially as exciting a spirit of unseemly dissension . The only reason I have been able to elicit for refusing consent to a musical ritual isthat

, while outsiders might , on the one hand , charge us with belonging to what is called the High party in the Church , others with equal impropriety would be apt to class us with some of those bodies where noise and excitement seem to take the place of real devotional feelinsf .

It may be added , for the sake of those who are un willing to increase the length of our ceremonies , that with the exception of very short opening and closing hymns , most appropriate in character , which might be omitted at discretion , the vocal music is introduced chiefly at times when the organ is at present used in most lodges , during the procession of the candidate ancl proper officers round the room , thus removing the objection .

The Prov . G . JMaster to whose adverse opinion I have already alluded , admitted that the case is very different at consecrations , funerals , & c , where he considers that vocal music is admissible . For my ownpart , I fail to appreciate the difference in the circumstances between these and the initiation of candidates into the Order , in which it appears to me that every adjunct should be brought into exercise , to give importance ancl effect to the solemn ceremony , and to produce a lasting impression .

Tae question being an interesting and important one , ou which many lodges have clearly expressed an opinion by introducing vocal music , I venture to write these few lines , in order to give an opportunity for its thorough ventilation by your correspondents , with the concurrence of our \ V ~ . M . to whom I have

men-, tioned my intention . Yours fraternally , H . H . Totnes , Feb . 22 , 1 SGS .