Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for tho opinions of our Correspondents . AH Letters must bear the name and address of tho Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good i'aith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

. v . UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC WORK .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AJJD BHOTHER , —As an old Mason , allow me to express my great pleasure on reading the admirable article in your last impression , under the above heading j and to give my humble opinion that a largo body of the Croft will feel that a deep debt of gratitude is due to yon for the able and argumentative sentiments in whioh your views

,: re conveyed . For some time past , at intervals , it has appeared that a small number of persons , instead of endeavouring more firmly to cement and consolidate the unity of our noble" Order—unanimated by the >• teat principles by which it has ever been distinguished—have taken some of the most petty and puerile objections to the phraseology used in various Lodges in working the different ceremonies , but with

Buoh an infinitesimal alteration as to bo unworthy of notioe , and well designated by yourself as raised between tweedledum and tweedledee . When we consider that tho Order to whioh it is our honour and privilege to belong is known , oherished , and hououred in every part of the civilised world ; when we know its humanising influences ; when we know how its signs have brought salvation to tbe sinking mariner

at sea , when all hope of human aid appeared to be past ; and when we know that the display of the Masonic sign has turned aside the raised weapon about to despatch a wounded foe , and converted his assailant into a firm friend , and bronght him succour where none was expected ; I would ask you is it not insulting to us , as the prolessors of a noble art ; as the channel through which flows some of

the greatest benefits ever conferred upon the human race j when they ask us seriously to listen , while they gabble about the uniformity of Freemasonry , and set up lip phrases to cause division amongst the inemborfl of the Craft , where none ought ever to exist , merely for tbe purpose of gratifying the vanity of some advocatos for change , and to

endeavour to form a little clique of their own . I should like to know by whom , beyond the few actors iu this absurd proceeding , haBany change been asked for ? What harm has Freemasonry , as it at present exists , done to a single individual in tho world ? What is the nature of it ; and if it does exist , what , when , and how is any remedy or healing measure to bo applied ?

I am , Door Sir and Brother , Yonra fraternally , A CONTENTED BROTHER . 12 th March 1890 .

Contemptuous Treatment Of Jews By American Masons.

CONTEMPTUOUS TREATMENT OF JEWS BY AMERICAN MASONS .

To the Editor o / the FREEMASON ' S CIIKONICXE . DEAR SIR AND BROTOER , —Outsido of a Masonic gathering the American Jow , when associating with any kind of decently behaving Christian society , is treated as gentlemanly as tho Jew is treated in similar good society in England . But in a Masonic Lodge tho Jew receives a very different kind of treatment in America to what he

receives in an English Lodge . In my younger days I imagined that a Masonic Grand Lodgo was a foons of wisdom and justice . I have , however , long since found out my mistake . I am now a firm believer that in America at least a Grand Lodgo is a compound of credulity and Jesuitism . Hence , under pretence of " ancient landmarks , " they assume a right to insult a Jew in a Masonic Lodge , which they

ffou . d not daro to do when not decorated with a Masonic apron , Sfjnare , Compasses , & c . Here is an instance or case in point . About two or three months ago the Jewish Congregation in Providence , Rhode Island , was about to build a Synagogue , and some of tho Hebrew Masons , I suppose , induced the officers of Synagogue to show honour to the Grand Lodge by inviting it to lay the cornor

stone of the edifice . And now read the following paragraph , which I copied from the Freemason of February 1890 , published iu Toronto Canada , viz .: " The last instance [ more properly , outrage on ] of Americau Judaism fairly beats the record ( as observed by one of tho Jewish journals ) . The corner stono of a new Synagogue was to bo laid ,

ln Providence , Rhode Island . Tho ceremony was to be in ¦ jwwdanco with Masonic rites , and the Most Worshipful Grand Master waa to perform the ceremony . All went woll till the presiding official came ont with the following declaration : — 'To the Klory of God and under tbe patronage of the holy saints—Saints ohn

« the Baptist and tho Evangelist . I declare tho stone to bo well formed , '" & 0 . Aa I bave roefcivod tho Toronto Freemason only two days since , I * now not how tho ceremony was rogarded by tho Jews of Provi-Jwnco , or what they said about it , I intend , however , to make 'uqniries , and will lot you know the result .

Fraternally yours , JACOB NORTON . BOSTON- , U . S ., 28 th February 1890 .

•v ^ ERALS properly carried ont and personally attended "j London and Country , by Bro . » . A . HUTTOST , 17 Newcastle f tT 9 et , Strand , W , C , Monuments erected , Valuations made .

Consecration Of The Clemency Lodge, No. 2341.

CONSECRATION OF THE CLEMENCY LODGE , No . 2341 .

THE consecration of the above Lodge took place on Thursday , the 6 th instant , at the Union Club , Union Street , Oldham . Some few months ago tbe first steps were taken to form a new Lodge by tho brethren of the three Lodges then existing in that prosperous town , namely , the Friendship , Unity , and Tudor , the most prominent in the matter being Bro . Clement V . Haworth I . P . M . 1868 , and from

whose name the Clemency ia derived , he being the first W . M . The brethren assembled at 3 o ' clock , and soon after that time the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Col . Le Gendre Starkie , was announced , and , followed by a numerous retinue of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers , took the chair , and appointed , as his Officers for the occasion , Brothers J . 0 . S . Thursby P . S . G . W ., N . A . Earls P . G . J . W ., Rev . E . T .

Wigg P . G . Chaplain , T . Woodcock P . G . Director of Ceremonies . C . E . Collingwood P . D . G . D . C , John Chadwiok P . G . S . B . P . G . Sec , W . 0 . Pettitt ; P . G . Organist , and J . Bridgford P . G . P . He was also supported by Bros . Geo . Mellor Deputy Provinoial Grand Master , and J . H . Sillitoe P . G . Standard Bearer England . Tho Lodge having been opened in the three degrees , the Consecrating Officer , Bro . Colonel

Starkie Provincial Grand Master , addressed the brethren , and said it was now 101 years since the first Lodge was consecrated in that worthy town , and it was a pleasant matter to all of them who wero connected with the growth of Oldham to know that , like other matters iu the town , had inoreased until there was plenty of room for a fourth Lodge to be added to tbe three already existing there .

The usual formalities having been observed , the P . G . Chaplain gave a short oration on the nature and principles of the Institution . The Presiding Officer proceeded to dedicate and constitute the Lodge , and the ceremony was brought to a close with the final Benediction . The Prov . Grand Master requested Bro . H . L . Hollingwortb , to take the position of Installing Master . Bro . Clement V . Haworth W . M .

designate , was presented . After the usual fctmula , a Board of Installed Masters having been constituted , Bro . Haworth waa dnly installed in the chair of K . S ., and invested his Offioors for the ensuing year , as follows ;—Bros . Herbert Andrews S . W ., J . T . Turner J . W ., T . J . Carson S . D ., Frank Lawton J . D ., James Hilton Treasurer ,

W . Seel Secretary , J . H . Anson I . G ., B . Seel and E . Buckley Stewards . Tbe ceremony of installation being complete , the Lodge was closed , and tbe brethren , with their distinguished guests , celebrated the occasion with a festival . The whole of the musical arrangements were splendidly arranged and carried out under tho conductorship of Bro . W . 0 . Pettitt .

The Committee of Management of tho Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution hold their regular monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday . Bro . J . A . Farnfield occupied the chair , and there were present Bros . J . Newton , Thomas Cabitfc , R . Griggs , James Brett , S . Brooks , G . Jones , G . Bolton , E . West . C . A . Cottebrane , Dr . Jabez

Hogg , A . H . Tattorshall , Hugh Cotter , C . J . Perceval , C . H . Webb , J . F . Lannan , R . Turtle Pigott , S . Wood , G . G . Fairchild , C . Daniel , J . Bulmer , W . H . Habberfc , A . Mullord , T . G . Bullen , A . Durrant , L . C . Haslip , C Kempton , J . S . Cumberland , C . G . Hill , W . H . W . Laking ,

T . B . Purchas , A . Forsyth , and Jas . Terry ( Secretary ) . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and verified , the Secretary reported the death of a male annuitant and two accepted male candidates . The Warden ' s report for the past month was read , and it was also mentioned that tbe members of the Duko of

Cornwall Lodge of Instruction had given a concert , on Monday last , to the inmates of the Institution , and had presented to them gifts of tea , tobacco , wine and spirits . The Secretary roported that the Annual Festival had fcakon place on Wednesday , the 26 th ult ., under the presidency of

Bro . the Earl of Euston P . G . M . Norths and Hunts , in place of tho Right Hon . the Lord Mayor Aldermau Sir . H . A . Isaacs , who had been obliged to be absent through illness , and that the subscriptions and donations amounted to £ 13 , 095 Is 6 d , with 19 lists to come in , which

had since been increased to £ 13 , 245 13 s 6 cl , with 11 lists still outstanding . It was unanimously agreed that a vote of thanks be given to the Earl of Eastou for presiding , and that it be engrossed on vellum , and piusonted to his lordship . The application by a widow of a deceased

annuitant for the half of her late husband ' s annuity was acceded to , and the proceedings shortly afterwards terminated . It has been arranged that the adjourned meeting of the Committee to consider what , if any , steps should bo taken to revise certain of the rules , shall be held on Tuesday , the 25 th inst ., at 4 p . m .

A very interesting and snccessfrtl meeting of the Bagshaw Lodge , No . 1457 , took place at the Public HalJ , Loughtou , on Thursday eveniug , under the presidency of tho W . M . Bro . James Shadrake . We intend to give a full report of the proceedings next week ,