Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

THE WOLSELEY LODGE , No . 1993

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am desirous of drawing your attention and that of your readers to a printed circular relating to the consecration of the Wolseley Lodge , No . 1993 , Manchester , which , we have been given to understand , is to be conducted on so-called " Temperance " principles . This circular , which is quite a

curiosityand I should hope a unique one—in Masonio correspondence , has been lent me by a friend who received it in his offioial capacity as the Master of a Provincial Lodge which meets in a pretty little town not fifty miles distant from the metropolis . He is not aware that he is indebted for the circular to any acquaintance with either'the W . M . Eleot or the Provisional Seoretary of the Lodge that is to be .

Indeed , the faot of the oiroular being printed and addressed to the " W . M . or Secy , of the Masonio Lodge at " has induced both him and me to suppose that copies of it have been issued broadcast , for what purpose we are not , as a matter of conrse , in a position to state precisely , though both of us seem to be of the opinion that it is not exactly in accordance with Masonio usage or onstom .

The circular announces that the Wolseley Lodge will be conaeorated " at 2 . 30 p . m . on Wednesday , 28 th Maroh 1883 , at the Cathedral Schools , Corporation Street , Manchester , " by Bro . Col . Le G . N . Starkie the Right Worshipfnl Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire ; that Bro . Lord Wolseley , in addition to a large number of noble and distinguished brethren ( including Grand Lodge Officers

and Rulers of the Craft ) have consented to be present ; " and that " after the ceremony , at 5 . 30 p . m . a banquet will be held in the Free Trade Hall , Peter Street , the tioket « for which will be One Guinea each . " The document goes on to point out that " as the number of tickets will be limited , the Provisional Seoretary will be glad if the brother

to whom it is addressed will notify him " as early as possible ( and on the enolosed form ) , stating the number required for the brethren of his Lodge , so that proper arrangements may be made for their reception ; " and that , " if a goodly number of Brethren are coming " from his town , he ( the Provisional Seoretary ) " will endeavour to make some speoial railway arrangements . " It is added " no

application can be entertained after March 21 st , and directions are given in a footnote as to the remittance of the price of the tickets required , while a form of " Application for Tickets " is given , with blank spaces left for the number of tickets required , the amount for which cheque or P . O . Order is enclosed , the address to whioh the tickets are to be sent , the signature of the applicant , and the name and number of the

Lodge of which he is Seoretary . Underneath is a tabular form with room for the insertion of the names of eight brethren with their rank in the Craft , and the names and numbers of the Ledges to wbioh they severally belong . I have said that neither I nor my friend can divine what is the purpose in view in issuing such a circular . I will add that neither of

us , though connected with Freemasonry for some years , has ever yet heard of a like instance in which the " Provisional Secretary " of a Lodge about to be consecrated has issued suoh a circular " by request of the W . M . Elect "—by the way , the correct expression , I believe , is " W . M . Designate . " For my own part , I can see nothing whatever to justify the proceedings on the part of the said W . M .

There is nothing unusual in the consecration of a new Lodge , tbat outside brethren unacquainted with its constituent or intending members should be invited to witness the ceremony , and subscribe a guinea towards the banquet that customarily follows—to say nothing of the expense they must inour in travelling to and fro . It is , no doubt , a matter for sincere congratulation in Masonio circles that

Manchester , which is a large and populous city , should be on the eve of adding one more to its list of Lodges , but the chief interest in such an event of necessity centres in Manchester and its more immediate vicinity , or , at all events in the Province to whioh Manchester belongs . It has been announced publicly that this " Wolseley " Lodge is to be conducted on "Temperance "—that is , I presumeon

, Teetotal" principles—and "Temperance , " even though it may not exactl y amount to "Teetotalism , " is one of the virtues in the practioe of which all Masons undoubtedly take a warm interest . But why should circulars be issued indiscrimatcly , inviting brethren who are perfect strangers , whether teetotallers or not , to be present , unless , perchance , " the W . M . Elect" is dosirous of making the consecration

of his new Ldge an occasion for disseminating " teetotal" principles t If this is the idea which led to ( he issue of theso circulars , I can only say it is distinctly opposed to the spirit of Freemasonry , which absolutely prohibits our Lrlges from being made arenas for the discussion of political and religions questions . I cheerfully concede to my teetotal brethren their right to abstain from all

alcoholic stimulants ; but , in doing so , I claim for myself full liberty to en j ° y > undisturbed by any discussion as to the comparative merits of total abstinence and moderato indulgence , my glass or two of wine , beer , or spirit . I have spent , and hope again and agaiu to spend , many an enjoyable evening with teetotal friends . They indulged in their particular vanity of tea , coffee , toast and water , or what not , and 1

had my glass of wine or grog . Wo got on admirably together , because the subject of teetotalism was never alluded to . Had any one of us had the indelicacy to introduce it , there would have been an end of all enjoyment . I shall , no doubt , be told that teetotalism is neither a political nor a religious question , but a question of public moralit y , which all Freenisons are bound to uphold both by precjpt

Correspondence.

and practice . In replying to this objection it is open to me to adopt either one of two courses . I may deny it in toto , on tho ground that , as one-third of the national revenue is derived from tho consumption of alcoholic liquors , teetotalism is a question of politics , seeing that politics must necessarily include the fiscal arrangements required for tho government of the conntry . If , on the other hand . I concede

that teetotalism is purely a social question affecting public morals , it is open to mo to retort that , even in snch case , its discussion , or any attempt at disseminating its principles in open Lodn'e or at Lodge banquets , must inevitably partake of a controversial character . It is for this reason , and not because they are in themselves objectionable , that the discussion of religions and political questions

is forbidden m our Lodges , and it is on this ground that I most decidedly set my face against a Masonio Lodge being made a medium for the teaching of social principles to whioh I am altogether opposed . But why this flourish of trumpets in announcing that the Wolseley Lodge will be conducted on " temperance " principles t Is it because onr Lodges are notoriously hotbeds of intemperance , and that our

Lodge banquets are neither more or less than a series of drunken orgies , which are a disgrace to our boasted civilisation ? Every one knows this is absolutely untrue , and the mere suggestion that temperance is conspicuous by its absence from our Lodge gatherings is an insult to the whole Masonic community . Again , if Bros . A , B , and C , who are not teetotallers , accept the invitation , and each pays

his guinea towards the banquet , will they be denied their " modest qnenohers , " because an apostle of teetotalism in the person of the W . M . is in the chair , and sundry of his disciples are at the festive board ? If they are so denied , the teetotal doctrine is being forced upon them , while , if an exception is made in their favour , and the wine is forthcoming , then the temperance—that is ,

teetotalprinciples , about which all this fuss is being made , are being lost sight of . The Wolseley Lodge will be like any other Masonio Lodge , and the members of which , and visitors to whioh , are at liberty to drink wine or not , as it suits them . It will be suggested that none but teetotallers should accept the invitation , or if they do , that they have no right to accept anything else than is included in the menu

Then , why is a guinea charged for a ticket ? My experience of a banquet is that where wine is included the charge ranges , according to the locality in whioh the meeting is held , from about fifteen shillings to a guinea aud upwards ; but where it is not included , the price is about six shillings or three half crowns . If I am here met by the rejoinder—Though there will be no costly wines to undermine

your physioal and moral constitution , the cuisine will be of the most recherche description . In that case I ask , what becomes of these boasted temperance principles . It is morally wrong for a man to incur an intemperate expenditure where the banquet includes meat and wine , and morally wrong where it consists of meat only , the lighter drinks , of tea , coffee , and effervescing beverages , being common to both ?

I am afraid I have allowed this letter to run to an unconscionable length , and though there are ' other points I should like to submit , I will refrain from inflioting them on you aud your readers . No new Lodge need have the slightest doubt about receiving hearty good wishes from . all Craftsmen , but the proceedings in connection with the Wolseley Lodgo have been , in my humble judgment , a mistake

throughout . It was tantamount to casting a slight on tho Craft , when it was annonnced as a Temperance Lodge , as though temperance were a virtne unknown to or unrespected by Masons . It was a great mistake to puff far and wide the association of Lord Wolseley ' s name with tho Lodge ; I do not wish to suggest any

thing un-masonic , but censorious people might say it was done to make capital—I do not mean of course , pecuniary capital—out of the connection ; but the crowning mistake of all is the issue of this circular of invitation , ns though the Lodge were touting for outside encouragement of its so-called " temperance" principles .

I enclose my card , and remain , Fraternally yours , A PROVINCIAL BROTHER

The Late Festival Of The R.M.B.I.

THE LATE FESTIVAL OF THE R . M . B . I .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . 4 Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C . 15 th March 1883 . DEAR BRO . EDITOR , —Will you kindly correct an error whioh appeared amongst the list of Stewards of the recent Festival ?

Bros . Walton and Crosby , representing Lodge No . 1588 , are placed under the heading of East Lancashire . It should be West Lancashire . Your kindness in permitting this correction to appear will be muoh esteemed by , Yours fraternally , JAMES TERRY , Seoretary .

Masonry And Drink.

MASONRY AND DRINK .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — Referring to your issue of the 10 th inst ., will you allow me to state that a brother , who signs himself " FREEDOM , " immediately after using tho epithets " Hydropot , Milksop , and Goody-goody , " in reference to men who are not of the same

opinion as himself , does not appear to mo to know the meaning of die philantrophic title he takes to himself . The part of his letter which runs " to introduce tho question of total abstinence at all in our Masonic gatherings , is to impute excess , which does not exist in our Lodges , " finds a complete answer in the letter from " VIGIL , " who states having seen brethren in Lodges of Instrnction decidedly