Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

THE MEETING OF GEAND LODGE . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SI a AND BROTHER , —Allow mo to make a few observations npon tho proceedings at tho last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge . A more interesting and instructive meeting has rarely occurred . The spacious hall was crowded almost to suffocation with representatives of London Lodges . Tho importance attached to

several of tho propositions on the agenda no doubb was the cause of this immense gathering . Ordinarily , the legislators at Grand Lodge have an easy task . As a rule it i 3 tho most pliable of assemblies . A tolerably able spoaker has but to propose , and the matter is disposed of by tho genial benevolence which surrounds him , sometimes with faint opposition , generally with unanimity and acclamation .

Widely different was the aspect on tho last occasion . Nowhere was apathy or negligence visible . All were eagerly attentive . The speakers fonnd thoy had to deal with men whose indulgence might , bo counted on upon minor questions , but who havo the capacity to think , and the resolution to act , when matfcors of importance aro submitted to them . Bro . John Havers betrayed unmistakable astonishmonfc

when ho found a storm of " no , no ' s , " greet the secoud part of his motion . The first part , which referred to the happy return of H . R . H ., was received with the utmost loyalty and enthusiasm . Bnt all his persuasive eloquence , earnest pleading , and reference to ancient traditions , were ineffectual , and a vast majority refused to supply the sum of £ 2 , 000 in aid of the restoration of two churches : at which

Bro . Havers got angry , and permitted himself to indulge in expressions which , I am quite sure , he will , upon reflection , be glad to recall . He taunted tho brethren with having gone there with foregone conclusions , and never intended to pay attention to any arguments , however potent or conclusive ; an insult the brethren , to their credit be ifc said , ignored , no doubt in consideration of Bro . Haver ' s many

years active and important services , for which tho Craffc cannot bo too grateful . Then ho attempted a kind of incipient coercion , by stating that the motion had been approved by the M . W . Grand Master . It may bo safely asserted that the lightest wish of H . R . H . would be law to every member of the Craft , provided it is constitutional and consistent . In this instanco , it was rightly judged that the name of

the Grand Master should not havo been brought int > a diseussion of this kind , especially wheu the feeling of the assembly was clearly manifested at the timo the motion was read . Eventually a division took place , and the proposition negatived by an immense majority . Upon which , Bro . Haver's thought ifc consistent with the . manners of a Mason and a gentleman to tell the majority that by this act they had

disgraced themselves . I think that our distinguished brother thero ODtirely forgot himself . Ho should havo remembered tho patient cheerfulness with which his truly eloquent remarks were listened to , and credited the brethren with the same honesty of purpose of acting entirely in accordance with their well-considered convictions which , I am sure , every one accorded to him . No one doubted for one moment that he was actuated by the highest and noblest of motives .

Why this accusation of baseness against others , unless it arose through impatience of unwonted defeat ? The Rev . Bro . It . J . Simpson very j ndicionsly withdrew tho motion to vote the sum of £ 1 , 000 in aid of tho restoration of St . Pauls' Cathedral , and bymoving an acceptable amendment turned defeat into conquest . He seemed to have truly gauged the feelings of Grand Lodge , and instead of being conquered , was crowned ¦ with the laurels of a conqueror . He became the man of the hour , and carried all before him . I wish Bro . Havers had been advised

to act upon a similar impulse . It should never be forgotten that it was himself who made the rod employed against him . It was he who ruled with similar eloquence that Grand Lodge funds must not be used for other than strictly Masonic purposes . Ifc was he who , by his powerful appeal , prevented Grand Lodge from voting £ 100 towards endowing the " Freemasons' Life Boat . " Decisions

like these are bound to be acquiesced in , but they are not forgotten . It was unjust and un-Masonic to refuse so trifling an amount only a year ago , when Grand Lodgo possessed a superabundance of funds similar to the one so proudly referred to by Bro . Havers , to au object a 3 truly Masonic at any rate as the restoration of

church or cathedral . But the rule was made and accepted , and to negative Bro . Havers ' s proposition was but to act in conformity with the regulation introduced by himself . His disappointment is ¦ anttoubtedly severe , and may-call for sympathy , bat it scarcely excuses injustice , uncharitable feeling , and want of generosity . Yours fraternally , E . GorrnEiL .

Masonic Jurisprudence.

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I think , after all , there is no real difference between the views of "P . M . 425 " and those of your correspondents of the previous week . All depends on the meaniug he and

they severally attach to the word " qualified . " The key to this meaning will be found towards the end of the second paragraph of "P . P . J . G . W . Staffordshire ' s " letter , whose interpretation of the Constitutions , p . 78 , clause 6 , agrees with Oliver ' s . Both carefully note the wording of the clause , bat Oliver more fully than your Staffordshire correspondenti If the W , M , is incapable , of clisoharging Ma

office , the duty of summoning the Lodge rests first with the S . " W ., then with the J . W ., then with the I . P . M ., and then with the S . P . M . If the chair is vacant , it shall bo taken i * the first place by tho I . P . M . or , in his absence , by the S . P . M . present . If neither the W . M . nor a P . M . is present , tho S . W ., or , in his absence , tho J . W . shall rule the Lodge . Thus a Wardon may summon a Lodge and rule a Lodge ,

but he may not take its chair , " in which , " says Oliver , " he has not been installed , " bnfc " ocenpy a seat in front or to tho right of ifc , in accordance with the practice of Grand Lodge , as a token of his in . competency to perform the highest rites of tho Craft ; because the chair is for Installed Masters only , " & o . This boing so , Oliver goes ou to say that a Warden may not " initiate , pass , or raise—for the

terms ' rule a Lodge' do not embrace the privilege of admitting candidates . " Moreover , " no initiations can be legally performed from any other place in tho Lodge " than from the chair . He thinks , however , that " in a ca 3 e of extreme emergency , the conferring of degrees by a Warden , in the absonce of any Past Master or actual Master , would not be held absolutely illegal , though highly undesirable . "

But , he says , " if a Past Master of any other Lodge bo present , ifc is for him to confer degrees , and not for the ruling Warden of the Lodge . " From all which ifc is manifest that only Installed Masters aro qualified to occupy the Master ' s chair , nor is it material if the Installed Master bo of the Lodgo in question or of any other Lodge , Thence it follows that if only au Installed Master can take the chair

in tho actual absence of the Master , none other is qualified to take ifc in his virtual absence , that is , when , through indisposition , embarrassment , or other cause , he feels it incumbent on him to momentarily vacate this seat . A W . M ., then , who was desirous of inviting assistance in the fulfilment of his duties , could only invite that of an Installed Master , for only such is qualified to take his place . Fraternally yours , "Q . "

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —If tho letter of " P . M . 425 " remains unanswered , some young Mason who reads it may consider that there is some truth in the erroneous statement that when a P . M . assists the W . M . of a Lodge in conferring either of the degrees on a candidate that the P . M . occupies a chair at the side of tho W . M . I beg to state

that the degrees should be conferred by tho W . M ., or the acting W . Mi , from the chair , and with the candidate in his proper position . Ifc is true that when the W . M . leaves the chair and hands over hifl gavel to another his authority is vested in that brother , who is tho acknowledged Master for the timo being , and should be addressed as such . Yours fraternally , MAGNUS OHREN , P . P . GJ . W . for Surrey .

Early History Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

EARLY HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN IRELAND .

To the Editvr of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Tho list of Masonic works referred to by "Masonic Investigator , " comprised the valuable collection of the lato counsellor , Thomas Hewitt , of Cork , an old friend and connection of mine . I purchased from him tho wholo , " en bloc ; " but he

withdrew tho MSS . Transactions of the Grand Lodge of Minister , 1726 to 1833 , & c . & c , which , I believe , ho presented to No . 1 Lodge , Cork , the first Lodge of Ireland , his mother Lodge ; deeming it their most fitting custodian . Concerning the Traditions , & c , compiled by the late Bro . Michael

Furnell ; though I was in constant communication with that eminent Mason , I do not remember his mentioning that they were founded on the MSS . of Bro . Hewitt . Ho presented his own valuable library to the Grand Lodge , Dablin . With hearty good wishes ,

I am , Dear Sir and Bro ., Yours faithfully , RICHARD SPENCEB , P . G . S . 26 Fentiman ' s-road , S . W . 6 th June 1876 .

Old Warrants.

OLD WARRANTS .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I note the remarks of Bro . Constable respecting the titles of the Duke of Athole , and have referred to the Almanack of Oiiver and Boyd ' s ( of Edinburgh ) , for tho correct description , which I append . To put the account in Warrant No . 159 as it should be , I havo given the titles in their order .

Duke , Marquess and Earl of Athole , * Marquess and Earl of Tullibardine , Earl of Strafchtay and Strafchardle , Viscount of Balquhidder , Glenalmond and Glenlyon , Lord Murray , Balvenie aud Gask , & c , & c , & c . From the Peerage and Baronetage of Debrett ' s we glean the following : "Created Lord Murray 1 ( 501 , Earl of Tullibardine 1606 , Earl of Athole 1629 , Marquess of Athole , Viscount Balquhidder ,

Baron Balvenie and Gask 1676 , Duke of Athole , Marquess of Tullibardine , Earl of Strathsay and Strafchardle , at ; d Viscount Gleualmontl and Glenlyon 1703 , Scottish Peerage , Baron Strange , Earl Strange and Baron Murray , Great Britain 1786 , Baron Glenlyon , United Kingdom , 1821 . " These particulars of a great Masonio family will , I hope , be of value to Bro . Constable . SCOTIA