Correspondence.

not ? " Tho answer he received was , " That although he had received tho founders' jewel , and held different offices iu tho Lodge , he was not a member , and , at tho meeting of the Board of General Purposes , when tho Lodgo was fined , it was laid before them , but at present no decision had been received . " The case applies to other brethren also , who wero founders (?) ( one

of whom has passed tho chair ) , and ono who still holds a very miportaut office . Now tho Book of Constitutions , under tho heading of " Constituting a new Lodge , " says : every application for a warrant to hold a lodge , must bo by petition to the grand master , signed by at least seven regularly registered masons , and the lodges to which they belong ,

or belonged , must bo specified , " & c , & o . Now , if tho brethren referred to are founders , why did they not sign the application for the Warrant ? If not founders , why wero they not proposed as joining members in duo form before being allowed to tako office . ( Book of Constitutions , paragraph 1 " of proposing members . " )

This certainly seems a very loose way of conducting a Lodge , and looks very mnch like tho Warrant—at tho next installation—being handed down to tho new Master , anything but pure and unsullied . In conclusion , I should like to ask , aro not tho minutes of tho Lodgo meetings null and void from tho commencement , owing to these nonmembers voting ? Trusting I am not trespassing on your valuable

space , I remain , yours , & o ., QUERY .

The Sphinx Chapter, No. 1329.

THE SPHINX CHAPTER , No . 1329 .

THE Sphinx Chapter hold its usual meeting ou Saturday , 2 / th October , afc the Camberwcll Masonic Hall , in the presence of its stall * of Officers , and a full assembl y of the Companions . Comps . Dr . Bedolfe M . E . Z ., Vockins H ., Goss J ., Reynolds Treasurer , Temple E ., Cobbam N ., Middlemas P . S ., Bickerton aud Bryant Assist . S ., Comp . Nairno P . Z . being absent from town . Tho Chapter was opened

in dne form , and ou tho entrance of the Companions , the ordinary business was transacted . Tho M . E . Z . Dr . Bcdolfo then proceeded with tho exaltation of Bro . Jonas Duckctt . On rising for tho first time , tho election of Officers for tho ensuing year was proceeded with , resulting as follows : —Comps . Vockins M . E . Z ., Goss H ., Temple J ., Cobham E ., Middlemas N ., aud Bickerton P . S . It is satisfactory to

add that tho best feeling and entire unanimity prevailed throughout . Tho business of tho Chapter being ended , ifc was closed in dne form , when tho Comps . retired to enjoy the reasonable repast which tho provident care of the Stewards had provided . The M . E . Z . Dr . Bedolfe presided , and tho usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were fully responded to . In the absence of Comp . Nairne

P . Z ., Comp . Vockins proposed tho health of tho M . L . Z ., who , ho was sure , would carry with him , iu his retirement , that respect and good will which it was felt he had justly earned . The M . E . Z . Dr . Bedolfe , in reply , thanked Comp . Vockins for the kind manner in which ho had spoken , and returned very sincere thanks to all the Officers for the efficiency with which each and all

had performed their duties , and to tho Companions generally for the kind indulgence ho had met with on all occasions . Ho could recall tho timo when tho Sphinx Lodge stood as with its staff on tho banks of the Jordan , which severed it from tho promised land , but now it had become two bands . He believed the Sphinx had exercised a beneficial effect on Masonry ou this side of the water ; he claimed

that it was chiefly in tho Sphinx Lodge of Instruction that the resolution to found the Surrey Masonic Hall , in which they were assembled , was first formed by thoir esteemed Bro . Thomas and the ardent band of men by whom ho was surrounded ; and it was there the first shares were subscribed . Ho regretted to say this Hall had not quite answered expectations , for when it was proposed , the principle

laid down by Bro . Thomas was , that it should bo a structure to which the contributions of Masonic Lodges and Chapters should ( if necessary ) afford a sufficient revenue , and that ifc should never require tho aid of the glittering saloon , or the conjuror ' s show , as was the case now . It might be called , and undoubtedly was , a fine building , but let that pass : —

" What care I how fair she be , If she be not fair to me . " Ifc had already passed from under Masonic control . Tho Masonic Hall , or CEdes , should correspond to the Roman " Glides , " a building which might bo used equally for sacred , judicial , or municipal purposes , or , for whatever business might properly be opened or closed

with solemn prayer , as were all affairs of this kind amongst tho Romans . Whatever also was consecrated to the Muses found there an appropriate homo , and even the " decorous * Graces" found favour , but tho " mendici , mimco , balatrones , hoc genus omne , " f wero rigorously excluded . Tho M . E . Z . remarked further , that ho claimed for the Sphinx

Lodgo and Chapter high intelligence in Masonry , and especially did ho feel satisfaction at the accession of Comp . Holler and others connected with tho scholastic profession , possessing logical minds , skilled in tho research after truth . Under such care the esoteric teachings of Masonry might assume a moro rational and moro philosophic form , and its subject matter be taught in tho same terms as therest of our

knowledge . Ifc is undoubtedly true that the ritual , which ho considered a precious deposit , was the same for all , but it cannot be doubted that tho interpretation might , and perhaps ought to give rise to different schools of thought amongst us . Take , for example , our excellent brother Guyler , a Fifteen Section

The Sphinx Chapter, No. 1329.

man , perfect in tho practice of his art , with tho perspiration of honest toil on his forehead , there ho sits" A primrose by tho river ' s brim A yellow primrose is to him , And it is nothing more . "

Compare such an ono with somo of our scholastic brethren , fresh from collegiate strife , their brows and mantles alike still radiant with tho dust of tho Olympic arena , and lot us ask ourselves whether Masonry can be the same thing to two such types of men . Another very important subject is the future of tho Masonic Institution . Now , a Masonic Lodgo is a corporate body , a municipal

institution , and its only possible root in antiquity is , that it is derived from tho institutions of tho great Roman empire , itself a municipality mado up of an infinity of lesser ones , and from which source alone , all municipal institutions whatever havo sprung . Guizofc , the historian , tolls us that nothing has proved permanent in the world save Christian and municipal institutions ; there is , therefore , a prospect for us of an

enduring future . Honco our influence on tho world might bo great if the teachings of tho Craft bo rightly directed . Freemasonry is , indeed , now on its trial , aud tho question , ubi tendimus , whither aro wo going , must bo answered , and demands tho earnest study of thoughtful men , and it is our duty in drawing tho lino clearly between fact and allegory , not to ignore tho importance of that clear

definition of terms , now so imperatively demanded by tho scientific world . To do this , however , or to decide upon tho significance of a canon , is not tho business of our governing body , it must depend upon the development of intelligence among tho Craft at largo . Tho M . E . Z . then proposed tho health of tho Second and Third Principals , Comps . Vockins and Goss . Comp . Vockins had

honourably distinguished himself in South London Masonry ; everything to which ho had placed his hand had flourished . As a recent visitor afc tho Criohton Lodge , of which Comp . Vockins was at onco tho founder and W . M ., ho could only say that tho excellent tone , discipline , and working of tho Lodgo indicated a master hand . Of Comp . Goss he need only say how much they esteemed him , ready as he had

over been with his services at the instrumental or any other department of Chapter work . Comp . Vockins returned thanks to the M . E . Z ., and to tho Chapter for tho kind feelings manifested towards himself . Ho believed thero was a great future for Masonry , and that tho direction of its influence as a body conld not bo over-rated . For himself , ho believed that so

long as tho United Sphinx institutions existed , that the influence of tho Sphinx Chapter would always bo for good . Tho next toast was our newly-exalted friend , Comp . Duckett . The M . E . Z . said he know tho high esteem felt for him by somo of our excellent Companions , and that ho would soon find many friends in our midst .

Comp . Duckett , in returning thanks , said ho had boon led to join the Sphinx Chapter by the high estimation in which ifc was held by his friends . He felt highly gratified by all he had seen of its working , and tho social spirit in which it was conducted . The M . E . Z . then proposed tho health of their excellent Treasurer , Comp . Reynolds , a brother endeared to all , and whoso wisdom in

council rendered him the corner stone of the Chapter . Comp . Reynolds , in returning thanks , hoped he might be allowed to consider himself as a second " primrose" in the Chapter . Ifc was hia business as Treasurer to drink in the " dews" of the Chapter , and the more tho rays of its sun beamed upon him , the brighter ho should shine . May its shadow never be less !

The next toast was that of the E ., N . and P . S . of the Chapter , as represented by Comps . Temple , Cobham , and Middlemas , and he desired bo oiler his sincere thanks to Comp . Temple , for tho very careful manner in which ho had performed the duties of Scribe , and equall y * to Comp . Middlemas , who the Chapter would feel interested to learn bad been elected W . M . of the Crichton Lodge ; ho had at all times

abserved his work in the Lodge with satisfaction , and listened with pleasure to his speeches , —here as elsewhere , —at once concise yet luminous . He knew that the edge of his satire had afc all times been polished , but since he had become a Mason , whether in the inner or anter world , the wound it caused had never rankled . Comp . Temple returned thanks in suitable terms for himself and

colleague Comp . Cobham . Comp . Middlemas courteously replied , that having for two years performed tho duties of P . S ., he desired to express the interes the should always feel in the Sphinx Chapter , in its working excellence and general influence ; for himself , he felt that in it he found a social home , whero tho weariness bred of daily toil found healthy

refreshment . He wished for the M . E . Z . every happiness in his retirement for all must feel they had had a happy and successful year . ' Thus , and thus , did the evening proceed , amid the genial chat and social converse of the Companions , when the closing hour ( heralded by the Janitor ' s toast ) , like a brightly setting sun , gave promise to the retiring Companions of a future happy day .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

A QUARTERLY Communication of Grand Lodge was held iu Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , on Monday the 5 th inst ., when thero was a large attendance of tho brethren . The Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason , Sir Michael R . Shaw Stewart , occupied tho throne ; and Bros . Wm . Mann , P . G . W . and D . M . N : !;< JH S . G . D . acted as Senior and Junior Grand Wardens respective !\\ ' j ' ue other Officers

present were—Bros . Henry Inglis of Torsouce Ii . vi . M ., Colonel A . C . Campbell of BI ythswood Sub . G . M ., D . Muriciy Lyon Grand Sec , David Kinnear G . Cashier , the Rev . A . Thomson Grant G . Chaplain , W . Hay G . Architect , A . Hay G . Jeweller , Daniel Robertson G . Bible-Bearer , J . Coghill G . Director of Ceremonies , G . F . Russell Colt , of Gartsherrie , G . Sword-Bearer , C . W . M . Miiller G . Director of Music ,