Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

THE NEW LAWS (?) OF THE SCHOOLS

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR Sat AND BROTHER , —You will perhaps consider the inauguralion of a fourth epoch in Freemasonry , which particularly merits attention , of sufficient importance fer a brief notice in your columns . This great event is nothing less than the self-appointment by one of

the " Four Masonio Publications" ( The Freemason ) to the office of Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Masonic Jurisprudence . For the fnll text of his Lordship ' s first two learned judgments , yonr readers must refer to the " Leader " in last week ' s" number of that journal , tho re-issue in pamphlet form for future reference and guidance not having yet been announced .

Tlio first of these judgments is on " TitK POWERS O _ A QUARTERLY COURT , " and is opened in the following powerful sentence : — " As some misapprehension appears to exist on this subject at the various meetings of tho Boys' and Girls' Schools , it seems well to point out what aro the exact powers of the Quarterly Courts . In tho first place they are tho Supreme Courts of the two Institutions ,

the Supremo Courts of Appeal and of Legislation . They are completely superior to tho General Committee , whose decisions on nearly every subject they can approve or reject , and from their final decision , there is no appeal . They ultimntely approve of all the candidates for tho number of vacancies , and , in fact , aro supreme iu all matters aflecting the general interests of the Schools . "

"O wise and upright judge ! " Supreme is a very iino and expressive word , though perhaps open to the criticism that it is nonexistent in tlio Laws referred to ; and moreover , loses somewhat of its force when repeated three times in one short paragraph . Had the learned Judge referred to Clause 35 of the Laws , defining the powers and duties of the General Committee , ho might have read , "A

summary of their monthly proceedings shall be reported to the following Quarterly General Court . Seeing then that their proceedings are only to be reported to ( not confirmed by ) tho General Court , and that tho General Committee ( having three meetings to one of the General Court ) may confirm , and also carry out , their own resolutions long before the time arrives for reporting a summary of them , it

requires an intellect equal at least to that of the learnod Judge himself , to discover in tlio Laws a power of approval or rejection by the " completely superior" court . We aro further informed : " Indeed , thero aro practically no other limits to the powers of a Quarterly Court , except such as tlio laws of tho Institution provide , or the common sense regulations of public

meetings prescribe . Some ono has been pleased to contend , we believe , that the Quarterly Court cannot order au inquiry us to tho laws , appoint a Committee , or receive a report , but that all such arrangements must be left to the General Committee . But wo need not point ont to our readers that the Quarterly Court can appoint , from its own inherent authority , and from tho necessity of the case ,

any number of committees , and receive any number of reports , and that tho General Committee has nothing to do with the matter at all necessarily . " " 0 noble Judge ! " Truly , there are no other limits to the powers of a Quarterly Court except such as the Laws of tho Institution provide , but as six clauses of these Laws aro devoted to setting out

those limits , tho learned judge might havo omitted this weighty decision ; aud although the etiquette of journalism should have prompted the acknowledgment that tho writer was indebted to the CHRONICLE for the subject of his judicial wrath , ifc is to bo hoped that in cribbing its matter , but ignoring its existence , he has neither seriously injured tho digestion of tho editor , nor materially decreased

tho circulation of tbe paper . That ho " need not point out to his readers , as facts , conclusions that exist only in his own superior judicial imagination , is too obvious to need comment , as some of his readers ( iguorautly or obstinately , perhaps ) , may prefer to peruse Law 35 for themselves , aud retain the opinion that the language used

is precise and clear ; that it is tho duty of tho General Committee ( not of tho General Court ) " to appoint Snb-Committecs , receive tho reports of all Committees , consider and decide upon their recommendations , " without any other referouco to tho Quarterly Court than reporting a summary of their proceedings as previously referred to .

Tho context of tho last (( notation is quite too awfully sublime to bo passed unnoticed . Head !!! " Indeed any such view can onl y bo based on au impossibility of interpreting the objects of tho laws on the ono hand , or puro inability to understand tho Queen ' s English on the other . Any such objection is utterly fntilo aud ridiculous , and can neither could it bo ( sic )

seriously made by a sensible person , nor properly entertained by any competent chairman of a Quarterly Court . " "A Daniel come to judgment ! yea , a Daniel ! " "Whether wo contemplate the pure , heavenly spirit by whioh ouly such sweetly expressive sentiments could havo boon dictated , or muse on the elegant , scholarly " Queen ' s English " in which they aro couched , we

must be equally lost in wonder aud admiration ; doubting , possibl y , whether it has not been providentially granted that ono of the inspired writers of old should revisit the earth in disguise , with it special mission for the guidance aud instruction of our Craft through the columns of The Freemason , price two-pence . The peroration of this exhaustive judgment cannot fail to command universal applause , and will doubtless tako high rank in

Correspondence.

contemporary Masonic literature . From its opening phrase , " We hope wo havo heard tho last of this word-fonoing and hairsplitting "—0 ! Barberous—to its closiug words , " frivolous fault finding "—a charming illiteration that must have cost its author nights of study—the language of tho learnod Judge so abounds with

dignity and grace , as to give rise to serious apprehensions lest many such efforts might shatter a delicate constitution . Let us trust , however , that this Masonic legal luminary may long enjoy the

blessings of health and strength to discharge tho onerous , though self-imposed , duties of Lord Chief Justice , and to amuse us by his very funny , contradictory , and elegantly worded dissertations on Masonic Laws . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours truly and fraternally , H . London , E . G ., 10 th February 187 !) .

THINGS ONE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As your correspondent , " A J . W ., " in THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE of tho 25 th nit . is doubtful about the manner iu which joining members should be proposed aud described , take the opportunity of giviug him some more information ou the

subject , us ho may one day bo a W . M . —for W . M . ' s are responsible for the negligence of their Secretary . That before a joining member is ballotted for , his G . L . certificate must bo produced , and if he i _ not a member of any Lodgo a clearance certificate from the ono he was last u member of : and if he is alreadv a member of one or moro

Lodges they must bo communicated with , and tlie answers should bo read aloud in tho Lodge , so that tho members present can form au idea of the position he holds in the othor Lodgo or Lodges of which he is a member . Neglect of an euquiry in tho case of a joining member is both nncourteons and disrespectful to the Lodge of whioh tho candidate is already a member . I am , yours fraternally , " P . M . AND SECRETARl " . "

Soc. Rosicr, In Anglia.

SOC . ROSICR , in Anglia .

Yorkshire College . —A meeting of this College was hold on Saturday , in the Eboracum Lodgo Rooms , Queen ' s Hotel , York . The trying weather which has lately prevailed had visibly thinned the attendance , numeous letters of apology being read , amongst others oue from tho E . W . Ch . Adept Fra . S . B . Ellis , of Sheffield , who was confined to his bed . The VV " . Celebrant Fra . T . B . Whytehead V . worked the ceremonies of reception for two candidates , and he was assisted by

Fratres T . Blair V . P . S . G ., J . S . Cumberland III ., C . Eeauor II ., Rev . W . C . Lukis , T . J . Wilkinson and several others . A most interesting paper on " Tho Eolation of Ancient Magic to Credulity , " was read by Fra . T . J . Wilkinson , for which the sincere thauksof the College was voted , and it was resolved that the game should bo printed . The names of several brethren were submitted as candidates , and af , er the close of the meeting the Fratres met at refreshment and passed a social evening .

Amoy—China .

AMOY—CHINA .

THE following Officers wore installed on the evening of the 10 th December for the Ionic aud Corinthian Lodges of Ainoy . W . Bro . Sid . ford performed tho ceremonies of installation , assisted by W . Bros . Alabaster and Cox . *—

IONIC . T . D . Boyd W . M ., H . A . Giles S . W ., B . H . Pye J . W ., A . W . Bain Treas . and Org ., T . G . Harkuess Sec , J . Henniugson S . D ., J . G . Cas J . D ., N . Moallo I . G ., J . Mestiey Tyler . CORINTHIAN .

A . Loigh W . M ., W . do St . Croix S . W ., W . 0 . Howard J . W ., A . W . Bain Treas . and Crg ., J . G . Cass Actiug Sec , J . Kirkwood S . D ., G . A . Gorder J . D ., \ V . Palsen I . G ., J . Mesney Tyler . The ceremony of consecration was performed at 5 . 30 p . m . on tho evening of tho 11 th , by several District Grand Officers from Hongkong .

Tho E . W . District Grand Master has made tho following appoint meutsin District Grand Lodge , Hongkoug , for tho ensuing year : — W . Bro . II . _ E . SiclfordP . M . 1027 , 1433 and 1781 E . C . D . G . S . W ., XV Bro . T . D . Boyd W . M . Ionic Lodgo 17 « 1 E . C . D . G . J . D ., W . Bro . A

Leigh W . M . Coriuthiau Lodgo E . C . A . D . G . D . C . Thus the ofibrts of W . Bro . Sidford are rewarded iu tho honour of becoming tho third highest Mason in the Province , and both the Amoy Lodges are very efficiently represented iu District G . Lodgo , A Royal Arch Chapter will shortly bo added to tho Ionic Lodge .

HoLLOWiy ' s l-ii ,-. —These 1 'iH - arc moro cflleat-ious iu slrengtkeninjr , a debilitated constitution than nay other medicine in the world . Persona of nervous habit of body , and all who lire -ulTorinj- ; from weak digestive organs , or whose health has become decayed by bilious afl ' ections , disordered stomach , or liver complaints , should luso no timo in giving these admirable fills a bur trial . Coughs , colds , asthma , or shortness of breath , aro also within the riiti _ e of the sanative jiowers of this very remarkable medicine . The cures eft ' ectc I by these fills aro not superficial or temporary , but complete anil permanent . They aro as mild as they aro efficacious , find may be given with confidence to delicate females and young children .