Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

ERRATIC SHILLINGS . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I confess I am at a loss to understand why the shilling difference between a guinea and a pound should be described by your correspondent " ALPHA" as an " erratic " shilling . He very properly advocates the conversion of tho pound subscription to the R . M . B . I . into a guinea one ; but the shilling which is

needed to change the former into the latter has no existence , and cannot therefore be erratic , or anything else . It is simply , as the present Sir Robert Peel , I believe , once said in the House of Commons of something , " conspicuous by its absence . " However , I fully recog . nise the propriety of tho change which " ALPHA " recommends , and the justice of the grounds on which he recommends it . The man who

contributes a pound would as readily contribute a guinea , and these insignificant shilling differences must , in a subscription of ( say £ 10 , 000 ) , increase tho total amount by the very handsome sum of £ 500—that is , of enough to pay for additional 12- £ ¦ male annuitants at the increased rate of £ 40 , or of about 20 at the rate of £ 26 per annum . There is , so far as I can see , no reason whatever why tho terms of subscription to the Benevolent should not be assimilated to

those of the Girls' and Boys' Institutions . Let it be " guineas" in tho case of all three , and I do not doubt the extra shillings will be " erratic " enough to find thoir way into tho coffers of tho Benevolent , as they do now into those of the other two charities . So far I recognise the propriety of ALPHA ' S suggestion , and shall be delighted beyond measure if between now and the month of February next so excellent a change is made . But the proposal to elect additional male annuitants at an inferior rate should not bo made too

hastily . For my part , I think it would be a far better plan to increase the invested property of the Institution , so that it may be better prepared to guard against" a rainy day . " We cannot always reckon on the annual festivals yielding their £ 10 , 000 or £ 12 , 000 . A war , the rumour of war , the momentary depression of trade , or other cause , will be sure to affeot people as well in their bestowal of alms as in their ordinary oxpeuditure . In any one of these contingencies

arising , thero will , in fact , be less to give , and consequently less for our Institutions to receive . However , lot us take a leaf out of Mrs . Grundy ' s book . Let us first catch these " erratic" shillings . It will be time enough then to consider about their disposal . At all events I am wholly for the guineas , as I am wholly and fraternally yours , "R . C . "

Order Oe Proceeding At Lodges Of Instruction.

ORDER OE PROCEEDING AT LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I belong to a Lodge of Instruction , one of whose bye-laws decrees that on the first meeting of the month the ceremony and Lecture of the first degree is to be worked . At the meeting , this week , our worthy Preceptor was unavoidably

absent . The W . M . having concluded the ceremony of initiation , no one present was competent to put the questions of the sections . Thero being yet an hour to spare , and no initiate present , it was suggested that the Lodge should be opened in a higher degree , and either the W . M ., or some brother by his appointment , shonld rehearse

another ceremony . Exception , however , was taken to this proposition , on the ground that such a course was contrary to the bye-laws , and , if adopted , the matter , if brought under the notice of the Mother Lodge , would undoubtedly incur censure . After somo discussion , tho W . M . offered to vacate tho chair in favour of any brother who

would work the 1 st degree , but no ono volunteering , he went through the ceremony again . Will yoa kindly permit mo to ask , through your columns , whether , under the circumstances , wo w oro bound to remain in the first degree ?

We had complied with the bye-laws as far as we were ablo , and certainly there is nothing in its wording which limits us to the first degree . If wo are to be thoroughly consistent with the literal rendering , we ought always to work tho seven sections , as well as tho ceremony , instead of a portion only of the former , as is usually done .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Tours fraternally , T . W . OCKENDEN 7 lh December 1876 .

" A Mason " On Freemasonry.

" A MASON " ON FREEMASONRY .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Tho thanks of every true Mason is due to you for tho very able leading article in your issue of the 9 th inst . It hardly seems possible that a member of our Order , of 25 years ' standing , could so mistake our tenets and the teachings of our whole

system , as to assert that " Masonry is antagonistic to Religion . The question is , what does tho individual making the assertion understand by religion p Very many are apt to look upon outward form and ceremony as true religion , utterly ignoring the pure sentiment itself which Freemasonry so forcibly teaches by inculcating Brotherly Love

" A Mason " On Freemasonry.

and Charity . Viewed in this light , I believe that Masonry is antagonistic to the spread of sectarianism , so often miscalled religion ; for it teaches a man to look beyond the trammels of prejudice , and the uarrow mindedness of sect , and to found his religion on a surer and broader basis . As an example of this , we need only refer to our Jewish brethren ; surely they cannot be called an irreligious body , and

yet we see with what zeal they enter into our mysteries , casting aside much of what was traditionary bigotry . As a proof of this I may mention that last Friday night the son of the Jewish minister of Newcastle-upon-Tyne was exalted in the Chapter "De Sussex , " in the presence and with the consent of his father . Knowing the great

sanctity with which the Jewish Sabbath is observed , we can hail this as a great fact to show that Masonry and religion can go hand-in-hand j and as an answer to . the gross calumny that onr Order is antagonistic to the spread of religion . Yours fraternally , B . A . 12 th Deo . 1876 .

Which Is Correct ?

WHICH IS CORRECT ?

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICA * . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — I hope our Bro . Stevens has not lost sight of , nor exhausted this subject . These differences of opinion are of service to those who take any interest in the Craft . Yours fraternally , VIGILANT ,

The Cape Of Good Hope.

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE .

THE following officers of the Chapter "De Goode Hoop , have been elected for the ensuing year : —R . le Sueur President , J . C . Wcssels Inspector , J . T . C . Inglesby S . W ., H . P . du Preez J . W ., J . G . Maynard Orator , J . Wocke Treasurer , T . Pybus Chancellor , R . W . Robins Examiner , Q . Manuel M . of C , K . N . de Kock Ambassador , E . Brandt Organist .

From the Diamond Field we take the following gratifying incident in connection with tho Masonic Lodge " Peace and Harmony , " at Dutoitspan : — " Before the departure of the Junior Warden of this Lodgo for Cape Town , on Wednesday week , the following address , beautifully engrossed by Bro . Charles Martell sen ., was presented to hini :-

—"To Bro . William Glendeircing Welch , Junior Warden , Lodge 'Peace and Harmony , 'Dutoitspan . " DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —WO , the undersigned , officers and other members of the Lodge ' Peace and Harmony , ' working under Charter of the Grand East of the Netherlands , beg to express our regret afc your departure from amongst us j and we desire to assure you that

our most kindly and fraternal wishes will follow you to whatever sphere you may be called upon to labour in . " From the time you first saw tho light in our Lodge you have been most regular in your attendance at labour , most intelligent in assisting the Rulers of the Craft , and unceasing in exertion to promote the true principles of the Order . By the zeal you have

displayed others have been induced to emulate your action , with advan . tage to our Lodge and to the Fraternity generally . As Junior Warden of the Lodge ' Peace and Harmony' you have given the brethren unqualified satisfaction , and we regard with affectionate approval tho hearty manner in which at all times yoa practically showed your devotion to those beautiful principles of our Order : —

" BROTHERLY LOVE , RELIEF , AND TRUTH . "Wo trust that the Great Architect of tho Universe may be pleased to bless you in all your undertakings , to direct your footsteps in the right path , to guide your thoughts always to the true concep . tion of man ' s mission here , so that in endeavouring faithfully to fulfil God ' s will as revealed , you may be rewarded hereafter by a seat in

" THE GRAND LODGE ABOVE . " To this Bro . Welch made the following reply : — " WoKsuiiTUL SIR AND BRETHREN , —I feel grateful to the brethren of the Lodge ' Peace and Harmony , ' for the expression of their kind wishes on my leavingDutoitspan , and thus necessarily ceasing to be an active member of the Lodge . From my connection with the Lodgo

'Peace and Harmony I have derived much profitable instruction , and from my intercourse with the brethren no ordinary pleasure . Whereover I may bo , I shall watch with unceasing interest the progress of my Mother Lodge , and I trust tho precepts impressivel y inculcated by its Masonic teachings may never be forgotten by mo . " I would wish to mako special acknowledgment of tho trul y

fraternal treatment I have always received at tho hands of my brethren , and of tho kindness which they invariably have extended to me . If , as Ono of the principal officers of the Lodge , I havo succeeded in winning your approval , the fact is , in a great measure , due to the support my brethren have always accorded . to me . . " Yours gratefully and fraternally , . "W . G . WELCH . "

HOLLOWAT ' S Puts . —In variable temperatures , cold wet weather , and damp , foggy atmospheres , what is to bo done to keep tho human b irty healthy , to pro . toct tho weak , to renovate tho diseased ? The reply ia : supplement the suppressed action of the skin , through an alterative like these Pills , by a freer action on tho bowels , Iivor and kidneys ; this will preserve tho delicate ' internal structures from congestion , irritation , and inHammation , and carry off thoso noxious matters ordinarily transmitted through the integument . A course so natural must commend itse'f , and elicit tho unqualified approbation of all who think and understand how nature invariably aids a defective organ by accent " pushing ita unperformed , functions by moans of iacreasea activity elsewhere .