Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do nofc 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 .

YIOLA . TION OF MASONIC LAW .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It may parhnps be urged that with so many and such varied orgnriieiitiom existing in connection wifch our Masonic Lodges and Chapters , that mistakes ia procedure may be expected , and that so long as thoso mistakes do not become more numerous than they have hitherto done there is no particular conse

for anxiety , bnt I venture fci think otherwise . A common fault , orr . t least tho one mott frequently bron » ht nidi r the official nctict ^ of the Craft relates to the infrnctiou rf the laws in rt-gnrd to the time that must elapse between tlio initiation and thu passing or raising of a Craft Mason , or fche exaltation of a Royal Arch Companion . It is only necessary to iefor . to the agenda ( or the Grand Chnpter to be

held this wetk , as published in your Saturday's issue , for practical illustration of what I mean . Thero are to be found there two instances of subordinate Chapters admitting membera before the expiration of the twelve months required by the Regulations of the Royal Arcb , and although I am willing fco admit thafc those two cases represent but a very small proportion of tbe whole number of

Craftsmen exalted dnring the qnartor under notice , I am yet inclined to think they are far two many to occur in so shott a period . I should have imagined that every Royal Arch Mason knew the rule as to 12 months Craft service , just as I imagine that every Craftsman knows ifc is nofc legal for him to introduce a candidate under twenty-one years of age , but ifc is absurd fco even imagine that

the Officers of our Chapters are not alive fco it , even if one goes so far aa to admit that ordinary members may be excused from knowing ifc . How then does ifc happen that mistakes so frequently occur ? I am no advocate for excessive punishments , bnt as the programmes and notices of our meetings go forth to the world at large , I think ifc very wrong that these infractions of the Masonic laws should be

allowed to continue , without any adequate notice being taken of them by the authorities , for although they may order the offenders to bo reprimanded , I consider such punishment by no means coincides with the gravity of the offence , whioh gives evidence of a laxity in procedure which we , as members of tbe Masonio Order , shonld not be guilty of .

Might I suggest to Grand Chapter fche desirability of requiring every candidate ' s date of Craft qualification to be entered on the summons with the usual particulars as to his candidature , just as in the Craft it is necesiary to publish the candidate ' s age . To do this would not entail any strious trouble to any cue , and would , I think ,

remedy a serious evil , which the record of Grand Chapter amply proves to exist . If this were done surely some one of the members of the Chapter concerned would notice the discrepancy , and the Masonio Order woull be spared tho pain of witnessing another display of that laxity in regard to our rules and regulations which is far from edifying , and is , iu reality , a blot on our organisation .

Yonvs fraternally , ON THE ROAD . Bound north , 31 afc July 1893 .

Women And Freemasonry.

WOMEN AND FREEMASONRY .

THE following , from the Voice of Masonry and Family Magazine , may interest our correspondent of last week , and others who take an interest in tho subject : —

EASTERN STAR CAUTION .

No man on earth has more profound respect for woman than I have . No one appreciates tbe tender care and helpfulness of woman more than I do . No one had a better mother to teach him that respect due woman than I had , and no one accords woman greater latitude of opinion as to what is for the best interests of this Order than I do . There are and have been many earnest , faithful

Bisters in Indiana to whom we owe much for their labours in behalf of the Order , and I would not if I could , and could not if I would , detract one iota from the meed of praise duo them for the time , labour and ( strength they have so cheerfully expended to advance this Order ; yet I trust that I may be permitted in this my final report , to remind you that the primary object of the Order of the

Eastern Star is to afford facilities to tho wives , mothers , sisters and daughters of Master Masons to make themselves known os such . Depart from or lose sight of that object , and you will ultimately destroy tbe groundwork upon which it is based . The primary object as stated being true , it follows as a natural sequence that yon shonld seek to obtain and retain the hearty co-operation of all Master

Masons , and you should ou all proper occasions set at rest and discountenance the idea that this is a woman ' s Order , ever bearing in mind that a Master Mason must preside at every initiation , and that they are endowed with equal voice and vote with you in the management thereof , and unless you do secure their help and interest them in the work you will materially interfere with its usefulness . How Can you make yourselves known to Master Masons unless they become

Women And Freemasonry.

members of tho Order ? If you can make yourselves known to Master Masons who have not become members of the Order , then I am willing 11 concede thatyou a'o in a position to entirely ignore the Mnsorie Frnt-rnity . I a : n glad to say , however , that the number of sistrrd wh <» look upon thia as a woman ' s Order only , are very few in number . Your chief source of strength will be fc ) adhere strictly to the pritivuy objeu * . WILLIAM II . SsimiE , G . S . Indiana .

Freemasonry In The West.

FREEMASONRY IN THE WEST .

THE annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall is to assemble at Wadebridge , on Tuesday , the 15 th inst ., afc 11 / 45 a . m . Afc 12 " 30 the brethren will wdk in procession to E _» lo 5 hayle Church , Bro . tho Rov . J . J . Gritri-x Provincial Grand Chaplain being selected to preach tho sermon . It ia anticipated that four ' Lewises" will carry the " Volume of the Sacred Law " on thafc occasion , as was the

oiso afc Truro last year , an ovei t in which considerable interest v a J taken , as the custom , usual in some Provinces , had never broa observed in Cornwall before . The Enrl of Mount Edgcumbe ( Deputy Grand Master of England ) , the esteemed Provincial Grand Master , kindly presented to each of t \ e lads on that occasion

a copy of tbe Bible , suitably inscribed , as a souvenir of their participation in the proceedings . A collection will be taken afc Egloshayle Chnrch , and appropriated fco certain Masonio and local objects , according to vote . On tho return to the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting the business will be concluded in time for the

luncheon , whioh is fixed for half-past three , and is to be held in a marquee near the Congregational Chapel , at whioh the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe will preside . If the attendance is in proportion to the gathering at Truro , the noble chairman will doubtless be muoh gratified . Arrangements have been made for the large assembly to

be held in the Public Buildings , and as the usual privileges will be granted to the brethren by the Greafc Western Railway Company , a large attendance is expected . The Moleaworth Lodge , No . 1954 , Wadebridge , is next to the junior Lodge in the Province , and waa warranted in 1882 . There are thirty Lodgea in the county , and all are in a flourishing condition , the oldest being the Love and Honour

of the year 1751 , and the youngest the Cothele , No . 2166 , Calstock . The Provincial Grand Lodge was formed in 1752 , the Provincial Grand Masters being William Pye 1752 , George Bell 1764 , Stephen Boll 1779 , Sir John St . Aubyn , Bart . 1785 , Sir Charles Lemon , Bart . 1843 , Augustus Smith 1863 , and the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe from 1872 . —Western Morning News .

Ad01104

CRITERION RESTAURANT , PICCADILLY .

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NO . 1 East Room—Cuisine Veritablement Fine , SPECIALLY DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF A LA CARTE DEJEUNERS AND DINNERS . In the most Recherche Style of French Cookery . CUISINE UNRIVALLED IN ENGLANID , LARGE SELECTION OF CHOICE WINES .

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No . 2 East Room . i ASPECIAL DINNER AT 10 / 6 EACH Will bo served in tbis Room at Separate Tables , Between the Hours of 6 and 9 p . m ., Composed of a selection of Dishes from the Carte du Jour of the East Booms .