Consecration Of The Kingsland Lodge, No. 1693.

that of the Most Worshipful Grand Master . The health of the M . W . Pro G . Master , the Dep . G . M ., and the rest of the G . Officers having been duly honoured , a capital song— " The old House at Home "—was given by Bro . Hodges , and Bro . Terry took the gavel to propose the health of the Worshipfal Master . Ho did so at the request of the brethren who had been invested that evening . Bro .

Killick jun ., ever since the day he was initiated , had exhibited a vast amount of zeal in the cause of Freemasonry . He had worked hard and consistently , and he ( Bro . Terry ) was sure tho petitioners , as well as His Royal Highness the Grand Master , had made a wise selection in appointing him tho first W . M . of tho Kingsland Lodgo . After the duet— " All ' s Well" —by Bros . Hodges and DeLacy , Bro .

Killick replied . Tho position in which ho was placed that evening was ono of which ho wa 3 very proud . He sincerely thanked Bro . Terry for tho kind way in which he had offered tho toast for tho acceptance of the brethren , and them for the way in which they had honoured ifc . Ho would say that , though this was the last of the 100 Lodges that Bro . Tony had consecrated , ho hoped it would

not be tho least in hia esteem . After a song by Bro . Hodges , the W . M . proposed the health of tho Consecrating Officer . He referred to Bro . James Terry ' s indefatigable exertions in all matters Masonic . His zeal was known to all present , and ho ( tho W . M . ) felfc himself perfectly inadequate to do justice to his many sterling qualities . Bro . Mullord here gavo a capital rendering of the

popular song of the day— " Nancy Lee , " and Bro . Terry rose to reply . He did so with some amount of diffidence ; were it for the purpose of proposing a toast he should have no difficulty . As had been remarked , this completed 100 Lodges that he had consecrated during the past nine years . It was gratifying to know that successive Grand Masters had reposed trust in him ; he was thus in a position to

make this statement . He had installed many W . M . ' s , and somo brought the experience they had acquired while presiding in other Lodges , but the present W . M . had not yet acquired that experience . However , of this he felt assured , that when he made his report next day to the Grand Secretary , he could confidently assert that the brother who presided that day would carry out his duties conscientiously .

Bro . Terry then made happy reference to tho fact that Bro . Killick jun . had appointed his father , who is an energetic and esteemed P . M ., to the post of Secretary , and concluded his remarks by expressing his thanks to all , and offering hearty good wishes for the prosperity of the Kingsland Lodge . Bro . Vanderlyn replied for the "Visitors , " which was given from the chair . The next

toast was that of the Officers , which was acknowledged by each . Bro . Trewinnard saying that the proceedings of the day had been so eminently satisfactory that he was sure the most sanguine hopes of the promoters would be realised . Bro . Isaac gave a retrospect of the motives that had led to the formation of the Lodge , and promised that he would do all in his power to enhance its prosperity .

Bro . Secretary remarked that it afforded him great pleasure to see his son in the chair ; it was gratifying to his feelings as a father to hear the eulogiums thafc ^ vere passed on their W . M . Bro . Fenner spoke in a somewhat nervous style , but his remarks were well to the point , and exhibited a sincere and earnest desire for the welfare of

the Lodge . The other toasts comprised the heath of Bro . Fyshe , the Charities , & c . The preparation of the Toast List had been entrusted to Bro . Isaac , who made a capital selection of appropriate mofcfcos , ancl conti'ibuted some original sentiments , which were greatly appreciated .

Correspondence

CORRESPONDENCE

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

OF PROPOSING CANDIDATES . To the Editor of'THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —With your permission , I will furnish extracts from the bye-laws of two Lodges ; ono a Lodge of good Btanding , which can boast an unbroken existence of close on sixty years , and has numbered amongst its members many of the most enlightened brethren during that period , the other a young Lodge ,

warranted only a few years ago . The law , in the former case , is to the effect that — " Every gentleman desirous of being initiated into Masonry in this Lodge must be proposed in open Lodge by one member and seconded by another . His proposer shall deliver to the Secretary the Christian and surnames , " & c , & c , " of the Candidate , on the Lodge night immediately following" ( I have italicised the

words as showing that a full month and possibly even longer must elapse between the proposition and the ballot ) , " a ballot shall take place , and the candidate shall be elected , unless , " & c , & c . " A candidate so elected may be initiated at the next meeting of the Lodge , or at any subsequent meeting within three months , but the Worshipful Master may afc his discretion initiate him on the evening < f his election . "

In the other case , the law lays down " that any person desirous of being initiated into Freemasonry in this Lodge , be proposed and seconded in open Lodge by members , who shall at tho same time deliver , in writing , to the Secretary , the name in fall , age , occupation , and place of abode , " & c , & c . " A ballot shall take place afc the following Lodge , when , unless , " & c , & c " Should the candidate be approved , he may be initiated the same evening , or at any other

liQdge m 99 trog withiu sis mouths" I nw-y add tt » t » ia the latter

Correspondence

Lodge , tho chance of a candidate being rejected , is rednced to a minimum , as his merit 3 are fully considered beforo any proposition is made . Members aro thus informally consulted , and according as the proposer's representation * aro favourably received or not , so he

submits or withholds the namo . In these two instances thobye . laws are in accordance with tho Constitutions . But probably the sanio remark will apply to othor Lodges , where tho practices you speak of prevail . Yours faithfully aud fraternally , L . L .

THE BALLOT . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The following , which I have taken from tho Masonic Jewel , Memphis , Tennessee , will probably interest your readers . It figures in a summary of Foreign Correspondence , aud , in the first instanco , appeared in the report of the Grand Lodgo of Minnesota . Tho question to which it is a reply , was submitted with

a view to obtaining an opinion on the following circumstances . An application was mado for tho degrees in Freemasonry , but was rejected . Upon this , tho brother who proposed the candidate booamo indignant and declared , both in the Lodgo and out of it , that , in future , he would blackball every candidate for the degrees . Tho Lodge , in consequence , is sufforing grave inconvenience , and the querist 13 anxious to know what course should be adopted . The answer is to this effect .

" The making of such a declaration as the one abovo referred to h in itself a gross Masonic offence , and , in such case , charges should afc once be preferred and trial had , followed by expulsion from tho fraternity . Whenever a brother becomes so possessed by tho dog-inthe-manger spirit that ho will neither eat nor allow any one else to

eat , and disgraces himself and degrades Masonry by making ib tha vehicle of his personal spite , we havo no further need of his services ; we can do him no good ; there is no possible Masonic use to which he can be put 3 and he should , therefore , be driven very speedily from our midst . "

Comment is superfluous . I endorse the opinion stated in the answer most 'fully , aud remain , Fraternally yours , Q .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In an excollent loader on the ballot ia your issue of the 28 th ult . I find the following : — " It is impossible to set aside a negative vote which is known to havo been given mali . ciously , for the ballot is presumably secret , and it wero ultra vires to question the motives of an adverse voter or voters . " It struck mo ,

in reading the article , that you had got to know of an incident in Freemasonry which lately came to my knowledge . In a Lodgo , the locale of which I shall not mention ( but if any of the members of the Lodge see your splendidly-conducted periodical they will soon know the paternity ) , it had beeu the recognised rule , after a ballot had taken place , to allow tho Wardens or other member of the Lod < 'o

to carry round the ballot box ; so that each brother might , with his own eyes , see the result of the ballot . After some disgraceful squabble which took place over the management of Lodgo matters , three candidates were proposed—one for affiliation and two for initiation . The candidate for affiliation was balloted for on one Lodgo meeting . After the ballot tho Master refused , although asked to do

so , to exhibit the ballot box , and declared the candidate duly elected . Ifc has been stated since , and , as far as I am informed , never beeu denied , that there were several negative balls in the box . On the occasion of the two candidates for initiation being balloted for , they were declared duly electsd , and ifc has been stated publicly , and never denied , that there were negative balls in the box . When I was told

these facts I could hardly credit them , but on making inquiries I find snch was the truth . I should like to hear tho opinion of somo of the brethren on such conduct . I offer no opinion , hecanse , not having sufficient knowledge of the laws of Masonry , I do not consider I am qualified to give any . All I could venture to advance would be

this—that tho ballot is a secret proceeding , but if the Master of a Lodge has the power to declare a candidate duly elected , when in point of faot there are sufficient negative balls in the ballot box to keep him out of the Lodge , the whole proceedings of balloting are a farce . Yours fraternally , 30 th July 1877 . A CONSTANT READER .

BROTHER JACOB NORTON AND HIS FANCIES .

To the Editor of THE FREEJIASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have never read a " leading article " in any Masonic magazine with more pleasure than yours entitled " Credibility of Early American Masonic History , " and I think Bro . Norton will do well to carefully study your masterly analysis of the evidence pro and con as to Philadelphia versus Boston . That you give the preference to the former , whilst ifc must gratify

Pennsylvanians , assures me that the proofs submitted are not so trivial as Bro . Norton assumes , and had I not previously perused all the information submitted , my leanings would be to your view of the subject , in consequence of your freedom from bias , arid your known skill in the examination of rival claims and statements . Ifc will be well for any of your numerous readers , if inclined to agree with , Bro , Ronton ( if am mb Mitf ) , to clef or th , eir decision ,