Masonic Notes And Queries.

of summons , and hear scot and lot in all manner of reasonable contributions of and to this fellowship . Tou shall be ready at all times to he at the quarterdays and every other assembly , matter , or causes that you shall be warned or called into for the affairs of this fellowship , unless you shall have lawful and

reasonable excuse in that behalf . " It is to be observed that the forms , if searched , will afford many points of observation . 5 . The Liveryman and Master takes an oath or obligation . 6 . The "Worshi p ful Master takes an oath or

obligation . 7 . Elections are held yearly . S . Contributions are payable quarterly . 9 . The presiding officer is the Worshipful Master . 10 . The "Worshi p ful Master is installed . 11 . The W . Master is installed by his predecessor .

12 . The "W . Master must have served as a "Warden . 13 . The "Wardens are two in number , sometimes three . The " Wardens have various names—Senior , Junior , Prime , Key , or Renter Warden . 14 . "Where there are three "Wardens the Senior commonly acts as Master , there being no Master . 15 . The Wardens preside in the absence of the W . M .

16 . The Wardens with the W . M . have the custod y and charge of the properties . 17 . The Wardens are installed . 18 . The W . M . uses a hammer . 19 . The W . M . is seated in a chair . 20 . There is a clerk or Secretary , who is not

necessarily in the category of the presiding officers . 21 . There is an Upper Beadle or I . G . 22 . There is an Outer Beadle or O . G . I consider these officers to have been formerly armed with ¦ swords . 23 . There is an office of Steward . This office is

sometimes held by the youngest liveryman or Master . There was a practice of appointing several Stewards each year . 24 The W . Master and Wardens in some guilds wear chains . 25 . Those who have passed the office of W . Master

commonly possessed privileges , including that of precedence . ' 26 . In some guilds there is a poor-bos . 27 . The assembly to which the W . M . is responsible is that ofthe F . C . in some cases , and of the M . M . in others .

28 . I consider the M . M . to represent the Liveryman , who must be a master tradesman , but the Freeman may be a journeyman . The Liveryman is a F . C . appointed to preside over others . I consider the W . M . to represent the W . M . 1 " am by no means assured of the alleged noA'elty of the M . M . degree ,

and the confusion in the accounts Ave have I conceive to be partly due to the distinction I have now pointed out , and partly to the difference between the London guilds having a library and the country guilds having no library . A careful investigation of the country guilds will

explain many points of Craft administration not yet illustrated . —HYDE CLAEKE . VISITORS AND CERTIFICATES . Will any of our learned brethren clearly define

Masonic Notes And Queries.

what , in the case of a brother visiting a lodc-e without a certificate , and where there is no one competent to vouch for him , would constitute proper vouchers of his having been initiated in a regular lodge ? If it may be taken to mean the ability shown by the visitor in his examinationhoAv do they explain the

, following : — "Tou promise that no A'isitor shall be received into your lodge without due examination , and producing proper vouchers of his having been initiated in a regular lodge . "—W . S . L .

THE EIGHTS OP VISITOES . My friend Bro . Hughan appears not to understand the meaning ofthe words " general Masonic business . " The reading of minutes is particular business , and I endorse the opinion given by Bro . Haye that no brother can claim a right of visitation during such

reading . Exceptional cases must never he the test of great questions , and the broad basis of right or no right of visitation during the reading of the minutes is what the Craft have to do Avith $ ie practice , and even the law of Scotland forbids any right of visitation during the reading of minutes . Of course a

brother of such distinguished abilities as Bro . Hopkins being refused admittance is no insult to him , although it is questionable if the Guernsey Lodge have honoured themselves by such a step . But even the special case of treason to the Grand Lodge of England cannot warrant any brother in demanding

entrance while the subject is under discussion . By a law of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , any member thereof can have it cleared of visiting brethren without discussion . Our sympathy for Dr . Hopkins must not blind us to the fact that the Guernsey Lodge exercised a just and proper right of exclusion . — J . H . M . BAIENSEATHEE .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . THE FORTHCOMING VISIT OF BELGIANS TO WIMBLEDON . TO THE EDITOB OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AST ) MASONIC SIIEKOE . DEAE SIR AND BROTHER—Some weeks since I

, addressed you on the subject of giving such of the Belgian visitors Avho are Masons a cordial and befitting welcome during their stay at Wimbledon , as a return for the truly fraternal greeting our English Masons received at their hands in October last . On all sides it was admitted that never were the principles

of Freemasonry more truly exemplified than on that occasion , and our Belgie friends , in the exuberance of their feelings , only found a difficulty hoAv sufficientl y to manifest them towards those whom they delighted to honour . As was truly said by Lord Mayor Phillips , Avhether within the portals of the Masonic

lodge or outside it , but one universal brotherhood of goodAvill reigned towards them amongst all classes of the Belgian people and when I last addressed you upon this subject I was in hopes that ere this some Masonic body would have taken the initiative to devise measures for receiving the Belian Freemasons

g with all the honours they deserve , and in a manner to do credit to the Craft to Avhich it is our common privilege and pride to belong . I have heard that the members of the Fitzroy Lodge , held under the