Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . 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 .

—»• J * PHILADELPHIAN CLAIMS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRO _ . ICL __ . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Brother Norton's able and interesting letter in your lasfc issue suggests several considerations , to those who have studied the history of American Freemasonry , whioh seem to deserve a place in your columns . The difficulty as regards G . xe is

very great ; the more so aa there ia Httle doubt that a Patent tn 1710 ( Sth June ) of the Duke of Norfolk was granted fco Daniel Coxe as Prorincial Grand Master for North America . Bro . Gould , with his usual force and acumen , seems to think that the probable reason of his apparent " non user " of his Patent is to be found in fchat he

'never took up his office , " so to say ; that on his return to America from England he withdrew from Masonry , and that hia brethren therefore did not concern themselves about one who had so " turned his back " on his Order . But is there not another , and almost a simpler explanation P I

cannot indeed agree with Bro . Norton that Coxe ' s Patent was a regular " home rule deputation , " or that the English Grand Master " announced his right to appoint Coxe's successor . " Indeed , I hardly profess to know whafc Bro . Norton means , as I read and respectfully contend that this is exactly what the Patent of the English Grand

Master did not do . I do nofc see that Bro . Gould at all reads the Patent as does Bro . Norton . On the contrary , the Patent expressly delegated to the Province the power after two years , even proved by Coxe , of electing a Provincial Grand Master , without apparently any reference for confirmation to England . Bro . Gould truly

says thafc " Coxe's Deputation and Commission" differed " in somo important particulars from those of any similar instrument of the class . "

Indeed , fche Patent" served " no rights of tbe home authorities , but gave plenary powers to the new Provincial Grand Lodge after two years . It will be observed that this special Patent established a biennial election after June 1732 .

Coxe ' s Patent was then a limited Patent for two years . It was not certain that he would be re-elected , and it has occurred often to me that a popular election was then an " unknown force and factor . " Coxe practically " never exercised , " as Bro . Gould says so well , " any authority under it ; " but let it lapse , and left it to the brethren

—following the words of the Patent , not oven tha Provincial Grand Lodge , be it noted—to-elect his successor , he taking no part in it . Had he dono so , Franklin musb have known of it , and would have mentioned ifc when he first wrote to Henry Price . The passage in the " Pennsylvania Gazette of 26 th Juno 1732 seems to show thab tho

brethren knew of the Patent and acted under it . Franklin later seems to have been dissatisfied as regards tho legality of the proceedings , about which some question may fairly arise , and to havo wanted the sanction of some authority from home , to validate all that had been done .

The important fact thafc iu 1811 Dr . Mease saw the minutes of the Moderns would seem to point to tho pos .. ib ! o existence of these minutes still . They would be all important , as throwing fuller light on this obscure portion of American Masonic history . I do not attnoh much importance to the minuto book letter B as regards Allen and

Pringle in 1731 . All such books are often posted up later , not written at tho time , aud the mistake of a year or so often occurs ; probably the minute

should read June 1732 . The question is still sub judice , and so I siy no more to-day ; bnt there is nothing so far to preclude the possibility of Coxe having warranted a Lodge iu 1731 . Yours fraternally , A STUDENT or BKO . GOULD ' HISTORY .

CLIQUISH W LODGES AND CHAPTERS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAK SIR AND BROTHER , —I am surprised to s ^ e "COMPANION "] rushing forward once again to occupy space in your valuable Journal , spaco which could be better filled witVi matter moro interesting to the whole Craffc than his silly championship of one he falsely

Styles the victim of clique , combination , cabal , and boon companionshi p . The first letter I treated with tha contempt it deserred , and so I would have done his second effusion wore it not apparent thafc a _ plain statement by a Companion of the Chapter would show how httle cause there is for this stupid and uu-Masonic attack . The facts

& re simple ; however ' , it were better perhaps to tell " COM - PANION " what I do not think he knows , —that the members of Lodges or Chapters havo a perfect right to discuss the business of their Lod ges or Chapters and ballot for thosa they deem best qualified to discharge duties of tho same . His self-styled victim to cliquism is

a Companion weall esteem , but his " great abilities" were not sufficientl y prominent to warrant , in our opinion , tho electing him to the first chair . His abilities aro certainly not equal lo thoso Companions that have preceded him , uor of those elected in his place ;

consequentl y I fail to recognise the injustice done . I for one do not uream of making any excuse , and as for being ashamed of joining * Wnat 1 consider was for tho benefit of the Chapter , instead of nn ^ dividual , surely * ' COMPANION " must be joking . Tbe high reputa- ;

Correspondence.

tation of our Chapter has been secured by its Past Principals , who thonght no trouble too great to enable them to make themselves perfect masters of every duty appertaining to the chair . Moreover , what I and the other Companions have done , we did with the honest conviction of sustaining fche very proud position already gained . "A

COMPANION " alludes to a previous occasion ; he , in his discretion , evades stating the circumstances . I will . " A COMPANION " took office with the distinct understanding he should discharge its duties ; but , like many others , he could only find it convenient to attend on nights of election , when he hoped to be promoted ; bufc the lay

members thought those who did fche duty should secure fche honours , and expressed their opinion in very strong terms , which I am pleased to say carried conviction , with an eminently satisfactory result . Surely there is nothing to find fault with or censure in that ? We have acted on a conviction of the merits of the case , and are

prepared to attend Grand Chapter or any recognised tribunal . It is true the so-called " victim " did join the Chapter when ifc was young , bufc like most young Chapters there was a golden opportunity for a collar , whioh the " victim " did not hesitate to avail himself of . There were several P . Z . ' s in the Chapter who would hav « done the

work thoroughly , bufc desired the other Companions should have the earliest chanoo to get on , and that idea was adopted with the beat of motives . Again , I fail to see how the Chapter can be so deeply indebted to the Companion who was nob elected for his timely assistance . His statement that the P . Z . ' s knew and regretted that

cliquism existed in the Chapter , musfc be pure imagination on his part , and ifc is to my mind totally devoid of truth . Like " A COMPANION " I have been afc elections at Chapters and Lodges , and have been surprised at the result , bnt to rush headlong into print and condemn the action of my brother members , who ought certainly to

know their own business , I consider not only impertinent , bnt un-Masonic in every degree . The choice terms applied to us I think redound ' upon fche writer , and are 1 think a proper reward to him for his untimely and unprovoked attack on Companions whose honour and integrity is known to a large circle of Royal Arch and Craffc

Masons . I sincerely hope we shall not hear any more of the complaints of one who has taken up a cause he knows nothing about , and whole effusions call forth nothing bufc ridicule . Hoping you will find room for this epistle , and apologising for being so complete a novice in the art of writing ,

I remain , Dear Sir and Companion , Yours fraternally , A MEMBER OF THE CHAPTER

Ad00702

THEAMERICAN PORTABLEMUSICSTAUOS. J . I ' . WALTERS' PAT KNT . Iron , from 10 s 6 d . Brass , from 30 s each . ¦ 'PHESE Stands are unsurpassed in simplicity , strength , portability , 1 - cheapness , anil elegance of finish . They are suitable for Military Bands Orchestras , Reading and News Rooms , Libraries , Studies , and Drawing Rooms When opened to their full capacity tiiey stand 5 f . o . c . t hitjh , and cat' bo folded nd enclosed in a case 21 inches lonjf by 2 inches diameter . The wcightis about i lbs . 12 oz ., aud they will support a weight of 50 lbs . To be obtained of all 2 fuxic Dealers , and of the Manufacturersand Proprietors of the Patent , HARROW & CO ., MUSIC SMITHS , BRASS WORKERS , & C , 13 and 14 Portland Street , Soho , London , W . DESCRIPTIVE CIRCULARS FREE .

Ad00703

BRO.G_S.GRAHAM, 1 bio Popular Tenor and Buffo Vocalist , from St . James's Hall , Crystal Palace , & c . ( Provincial Grand Organist Middlesex ) IS OPEN TO ACCEPT ENGAGEMENTS FOR (!_ anm-. s , ( LHiiieriammmts tf iftVasomc ilVanqucts .