Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

"We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

MASONIC LECTDEBES . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — -Your reference to this subject interests me . When I think of the benefits realised by junior Brethren in a Lodge where lectures are given as a duty , I am almost led to overlook the success of the W . M . under whose auspices they are encouraged . Perhaps the same feeling slightly influenced you , Bro . Editor , but that side of the question must be considered , or your article , deserving as it does more than a passing thought , will be productive of little result .

I believe I am quite safe in premising that the time has come when the tide in favour of " more light " cannot be resisted . It has been flowing steadily for some years past , and there are some half dozen Lodges in which a lecture is given , or paper read , at every regular meeting ' . Many others are following in the same path , and the general adoption of the practice is now only a question of time . It is in fact only " rendering to Caesar the things that are Ctesar ' s " : it was an innovation to omit Lectures—not to give

them I Now I am strongly in favour of the W . M . for that duty , for many reasons . I will only name two at present . 1 . The dignity of the Chair rises appreciably . 2 . His success as a Master is thereby secured , even if it does not also prove a stepping-stone to Provincial and even Grand honours . So that I like to hear the W . M ., and besides , he ought not to be begrudged any honour or personal success during his term of office . The

I . P . M . is at least no better qualified for the post than he was as W . M ., and while I do not object to Past Masters , there are some difficulties often crop up that should be avoided if possible , and the same advantages to the members do not appear , nor is the interest so general , as when the W . M . discharges the duty . It seems , too , so natural that " light , knowledge and instruction " should come from him . I would , however , have no official Lecturer in any case ; we are not yet ripe enough for that .

In spite of complaints and protests , there are Lodges in which the reading of short papers on Masonic subjects is desired by the majority , but the question is continually shelved . Reasons are given for it , but they are very unsatisfactory . So far as I know , in two cases , the W . M . in each Lodge stands in the way on the ground that " he is not up in that kind of thing . " But why not arrange with some capable friend outside his Lodge to write him a series of short papers , and avoid such a confession ? Anyone can sufficiently make a paper his own to read it properly , by simply going over it

beforehand . It is the information—the new light , and not the author—that is wanted . What material difference is there between this , and a Principal paying a Preceptor to coach him privately in the R . A . degree ? I have no sympathy with the Masonic prudes whose dignity suffers by the act of asking someone to do for him that which he is unable to do for himself ; it is absurd , if not contemptible : on the other hand , I can conceive nothing more gratifying to an intelligent and veteran P . M . than the feeling he enjoys of Craft usefulness kept alive by work of that kind .

I daresay the field is limited , for there are no professionals in that line that I know of , and it is probable there never will be ; however , if I were W . M . I am confident that it would be possible to get all I wanted , as Parliamentary and many business-men do . Of course it must be paid for , and such services are worthy of good pay—but that makes the work your own just as much as is the copyright of a book you purchase from the writer , while nobody would expect , and certainly I would not have , such work done

gratuitously . However , this is a mere reply to an excuse , and outlies the main question . Lodges must be made more attractive . It stands to reason that if the monotonous ceremony has a little interest for the Officers engaged in it , that interest extends very little farther ; and it is foolish to imagine Brethren will attend regularly solely for other ' s gratification . It is

a consolation to know that many of such absentees attend other Lodges whenever they receive an invitation , and those Lodges will infallibly be found to be such as are in the habit of communicating the light missed in their own , by means of lectures or papers . Yours fraternally , A PAST PROVINCIAL OFFICER

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am Yery far from being unwilling to agree with your correspondent" Past Master " who favours ( naturally , I suppose ) the I . P . M . as the most suitable Lodge lecturer , and in theory I endorse his general sentiments . What he says respecting the W . M . 's duties ( and I allow the minor details are often more onerous than the work of the Lodge ) is true , but in many Lodges the I . P . M . has to be something more than " chief

listener , " lest his successor cannot find the " missing word " when it has passed out of his mind while engrassed with " minor details " outside the work ; but the actual duties are all shared by him , even to the preparation of the W . M . for the duty of installing his successor . Of the two it often happens that the W . M . is a sort of Constitutional Sovereign who takes the credit or blame , but leaves the government to the guidance of his Prime

Minister . I refer now to the practice of course ; in theory the W . M . has his very important installation of a successor on his mind from stepping into the chair—juniors gather this from after-dinner speeches—in practice he is the last to trouble about it , and he would be a very foolish , as well as undesirable President , who is so much interested in the end of his term of office as to be blinded to the responsibilities of its beginning and continuance .

I once knew the " fish out of water feeling . It was fashionable at the time to take to this ailment because some great man had experienced it . I soon doubted that now orthodox statement , and the most I can concede to say is that he was selfishly desirous of continuing top-sawyer . To find one ' s self work enough to do as I . P . M . is not at all difficult ; I have known many hard workers who had to confess their year of office as W . M . was far less onerous than that of . I . P . M . It was my experience , and I was a fish out of my own water only until the W . M . toasted the P . M . ' s , when the insignificant nature of my particular duties were briefly recapitulated in the

Correspondence.

" record-time " of ten minutes and fifty-eight seconds by Benson ' s Chronograph , No time was left me for any feeling at all during that year , and ever since my wife has kept stored up her reminiscences of it , from which there is to be no respite but the grave I After all , it is of little consequence who gives the lectures , provided they are given . There are quite young Masons that I know who could enlighten many of their elders on purely Masonic matters ; I would not like even to

keep these out . So that while I suggested the W . M . it was merely as the best man for the purpose—not the only one ; he might on occasion depute . My idea is that in addition to the influence naturally attaching to the position , it would give the W . M . an opportunity of disproving the statement that our Ritual is a delusion and a snare ; if the W . M . is not expected to give light and instruction , by all means let us cease to reiterate the contrary every closing . I consider this a very strong argument in his favour . Yours fraternally , TRY , P . M . P . Z .

An Italian Lodge , known as " The Italia , " and working under the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of England , in the Italian language , has been formed . Signor Francesco Gallizia , a well-known member of the Italian colony in London , is the first W . M .

Although the Grand Lodge of all Scottish Freemasonry in India embraces an area not covered by any other Grand or Provincial Grand Lodge in one country throughout the world , its subordinate Lodges , says the "Indian Freemason , " cannot complain of lack of vigilance on the part of its ruler .

We find the Officers on tours of inspection continuously throughout the year . The lion ' s share necessarily falls on the indefatigable Grand Secretary Capt . D . C . Wise , who

covers thousands of miles in the course of twelve months . He recently visited Lodges at Lucknow , Meerut , Sukkur , and Karachi .

New Music.

NEW MUSIC .

Piccaninny Mine , good-night ! Words by Clifton Bingham . Music by H . Trotere ( Cramer and Co . ) . A very pretty nigger ditty , bound to become popular . A banjo accompaniment greatly increases the effect . Away to Arcady . Words by Ashmore Russan . Music by Cissie Walther ( Boosey and Co . ) . A simple lullaby that should catch on with our younger friends . A very pleasing arrangement .

Sleep on ! ( Love ' s Serenade ) . Words by Edward Teschemacher . Music by C . Mawson-Marks ( Patey and Willis ) . One of the best songs we have met with for some time , with a good accompaniment , and splendid scope for a good voice . Particularly pleasing . Long ago in Alcala . Words by F . E . Weatherly and Adrian Ross

( with an additional verse by B . B . ) . Music by Andre Messager ( Chappell and Co . ) . The new and revised edition of this popular song attracts us as much as ever , and arouses memories of many pleasing renderings of the air wp have listened to in the past . It is likely to prove a lasting attraction for the future .

The Windmill . Words by Longfellow . Music by Herbert H . Nelson ( Chappeil and Co . ) . A splendid setting to Longfellow's words , affording good opportunities for forcible delivery . What care 1 ! Words by Mark Ambient . Music by Louis Laval ( Chappell and Co . ) . " A Vagabond's Song , " with plenty of go , a pleasing melody , and appropriate accompaniment .

" If . " Words by Harriett Stockall . Music by F . Paolo Tosti ( Enoch and Sons ) . Like all of Tosti's—good . A taking . melody , and possessing such all round excellence as to ensure success . Bonnie Jeanie . Words by Clifton Bingham , Music by Frank Moir ( J . B . Cramer and Co . ) . A bright and cheerful song which will speedily find favour .

Uncle Tom ' s Barn Dance , or Schottische . By Leona Lacoste ( Francis , Day and Hunter ) . A lively tune , with a pleasing air . A dance that will be sure to call for an encore wherever given . One Summer's Day Waltz . By Ernest Buealossi ( Francis , Day and Hunter ) . A very bright and cheerful waltz , which affords scope for brilliant execution in different parts .

Soldiers of the Queen Quadrilles ( Francis , Day and Hunter ) . By Karl Kaps , introducing a number of popular melodies ; tho liveliest among the comic songs of the day , and consequently pretty sure of the success it well deserves . Selection of Leslie Stuart ' s popular songs , arranged for the pianoforte by Ernest Allan ( Francis , Day and Hunter ) . Well chosen airs , admirably arranged by this capable musician .

Entertainment Notes.

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

Gar pick . —Mr . William Gillette and Mr . Charles Frohman's Company , who are at the present time playing the comedy " Too much Johnson " in New York , will arrive in England on board the St . Louis , with scenery and all accessories for the play , on Thursday , 14 th April , to commence their season with Bro . Brickwell , at this Theatre , on Monday , 18 th April . There is no foundation whatever in the report that Bro . Brickwell has settled for the " J . P . " to be produced at the Garrick Theatre ; indeed he now has so many plays under consideration that he is at the present time negotiating for the lesseship of another west-end Theatre .