Freemasonry In The R.I.C.

to Mr . Healy ' s question in Parliament yesterday , which show a nice state of affairs in this ccunty . The strength oi the county force is 316 men—178 Catholics and 138 Protestants ; but of these somehow thirty-eight of the Protestants have been promoted and are wearing stripes , while only twenty-eight Catholics are wearing stripes , although far in the majority . Is this fair play ,

I ask ? The Inspector-General may deny that Freemasonry or religion has anything to do with promotions . If so , will he kindly exp lain the real cause of this glaring injustice in County Down when he comes to inspect us in a few days ? Perhaps he may also be able to say how it is that of the eight promotions to the rank of acting-sergeant during the past twelve months in this county only

three were Catholics , as admitted m Parliament . If he cannot , a hint might serve in putting him on the right track . It is a well known fact that for the past three years promotions , transfers , & c , were not in the hands of the proper authority , but were regulated by a Masonic clique in the Hall , Downpatrick . For example , one

man who was totally unfit to qualify was taken in hand by the Brethren , was promoted and transferred to another district , but as be was unfit to take the duties of his rank he was put to mind a railway station , all within a few days . Had fair play anything to do with this ?

Sir , this is little of the barefaced dodgery which has been carried on in County Down for somo years , and there is littlo sign of a change . Is it not a lamentable state of affairs to see the number of respectable Catholics now serving in Down from ten to twenty years without hope of getting promotion , while men with half their service and qualifications belonging to the Masonic

Order are promoted , and some glory in telling how they got it , through Major So and so , and Mr . So and so . Does it not appear strange that of the fourteen stations along the sea in this county eleven of them are in charge of Protestants , and in three minor ones are Catholics ? Many of these enjoy these healthy and generally remunerative stations for ten or eleven years , where

their families are comfortable , with schools , & c , at hand , while the Catholics are compelled to take the background and say nothing . Again , the married Catholics are similarly treated . The Protestants are selected for these seaside resorts and kept there . They get barrack quarters where it is to be had , while the Catholics must remain in out of the way places and pay heavy rents without

complaint . Now I hope our new County Inspector , whether he is a Freemason or not , will try and alter this state of affairs at once . I think it would answer better than looking after " dust on a shelf" or " minor points of drill , " & c , when on his rounds through the county . If he does not try to remedy this state of affairs I promise , Sir , with your assistance , he will hear more about it in the near future . —I am , Sir , yours , & c , SCHABO . 31 st August 1894 .

Autumn Excursions.

AUTUMN EXCURSIONS .

THE Midland Railway Company announces its last excursions for the season to Scotland , which will run from St . Pancras and other London Stations on Friday next , and will be available for eleven days ; or , as an alternative , for return on any day up to and including the 29 th inst ., while for certain stations tickets will be issued for five , eleven or sixteen days . The same Company also

announces excursions to Ireland , on E ' riday next via Morecambe , and on Thursday , 20 th inst ., via Liverpool ; all of which will doubtless be well patronised , in view of the increased popularity of these particular holiday trips . Numerous other excursions are included in the autumn programme of the Midland , which appears

to be extending its concession of allowing holders of excursion tickets to return on any day within a given period . We hope some day it will be possible to offer this advantage in both directions , so that a passenger may start or finish his holiday at any

timewithin certain limits—at the cheaper rate . In other words reduce the tourist fares to those charged lor excursions , which step would have very wide effects on the travelling public , and would , we think , lead to such an increaso of traffic as to recompense the Company that introduced it .

AS will be seen from an announcement elsewhere in this issue the London and North Western Railway Company intend to run special excursions on Friday and Satuida > next to Scotland , the Isle of Man , and , indeed , to most of the principal stations on their system . In connection with Friday ' s trip to Scotland it is worthy to note that third class tickets will be issued at a single faro

Autumn Excursions.

for the double journey , allowing of the return being made at any time within sixteen days of issue , a concession we have previously referred to as a great boon to the tourist , who cannot always arrange his holiday so as to exactly correspond with the departure

and return of an excursion train . As we have pointed out it would seem only necessary to extend this privilege for the outward journey also to bring the advantages of cheap holidays at a long distance frcm heme more within the reach of the general public than they have ever been before .

Next Week.

NEXT WEEK .

Monday . 1366 Highgate , Midland Giand Hotel 2426 Wood Green , Wood Green

d 7 Anchor and Hope , Bolton 40 Derwent , Hastings 61 Probity , Halifax 68 Royal Clarence , Bristol 75 Love and Honour , Falmouth 85 Faithful , Harleston 89 Unanimity , Duckinfield , Cheshire

• W 4 bt . John , Stockport 105 Foititude , Plymouth 106 Sun , Exmouth ion £ P - y > Newport , Isle of Wight 1 W Sincerity , East Stonehouse

Next Week.

237 Indefatigablo , Swansea 240 St . Hilda , South Shields 264 Nelson of the Nile , Batley 292 Sincerity , Liverpool 296 Royal Brunswick , Sheffield 297 Witham , Lincoln

303 Benevolent , Teignmouth 314 Peace and Unity , Preston 330 One and All , Bodmin 408 Three Graces , Haworth 411 Commercial , Nottingham 433 Hope , Brightlingsea 467 Tudor , Oldham

589 Druid Loveand Liberality , Redruth 613 Unity , Southport 632 Concord , Trowbridge 665 Montagu , L ) me Regis 721 Independence , Chester

Next Week.

797 Hauley , Dartmouth 884 Derwent , Wirksworth 893 Meridian , Millbrook 941 De Tabley , Knutsford 1112 Shirley , Shirley

1174 Pentangle , Chatham 1221 Defence . Leeds 1237 Enfield , EDfield 1260 Walden , Saffron Walden 1286 Bay on , Lincoln 1350 Feimor Hesketh , Liverpool 1380 Skelmersdale , Liverpool 1408 Stamford and Warrington ; Stalybridge

1436 Castle , Sandgate 1449 Royal Military , Canterbury 1496 Traiford , Moss Side 1542 Legiolium , Castleford 1575 Clive , Market Drayton

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 .

SEEV 1 NG BEETHEEN AND DUES TO THE EUND OF BENEVOLENCE .

To tke FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Kindly allow me to express through your columns my sincere regret to the Military Bro . who

spoke to me in the Hall last night after G . L ., but whose name I do not know , for my seeming abruptness , but it was absolutely necessary for me to catch my last tiain at 9 * 15 , with a night's journey before me .

I think Art . It 3 Book of Const , fully answers his question , as I understood it , without any difficulty ; but if he has any doubt , and will write me through you with a iuller statement , 1 shall be very pleased to give him any assistance in my power . Yours fraternally , LEX SCBIPTA . 6 th Septembor 1894 .

The new Masonic Hall to be opened at Exmouth today ( Saturday ) is a comfortably arranged and wellfurnished building , says the " Western Morning News . "

Although it has been erected chiefly for the benefit of the Brethren of Sun Lodge , those who have not been initiated into the mysteries of the Craft will not be altogether excluded from its walls . The Lodge-room will be a secret chamber , shut off from the rest of the

building and approached by a separate entrance , but the club will be open to any townsmen who may be fortunate enough to secure election . Already a number of the leading Exmouthians have been enrolled as

members , and during the next few days others are expected to join , especially as the first eighty will escape payment of an entrance fee . The accommodation provided is ample , and all the latest improvements in club fittings and furniture have been introduced . The onenine and

dedication of the new Lodge-room on Saturday will be an interesting function . The Brethren will assemble at their old head-quarters , the Beacon Hotel , and march in procession to the parish church , where service will be conducted by the Eev . Dr . Lemon Permanent Prov .

Grand Chaplain of Devon and P . P . G . J . W . Headed by the band of the Eifle Volunteers the Masons will afterwards walk to the hall , where the dedication ceremony

will be performed by Bro . W . G . Eogers Deputy Prov . Grand Master . In the evening there will be a banquet at the Beacon Hotel . Sun Lodge will meet in its new home for the first time on Monday .