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 .

MASONIC PATRONS

To the Editor 0 / the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have neither time nor inclination foi carrying on what is called " a paper war , " and hence will only trouble yon with this second ancl last letter on the above subject . Mysticism is oftentimes only another word for haziness , and

certainly yonr correspondent " Mystic" expresses what I should consider very hazy ideas as to the true principles of Freemasonry . His letter is a mixture of denials ( which are not ai-gnmenfcs ) , sneers , and not altogether thiuly-veiled insinnations as to my motives in writing my former letter , of which more anon .

Thero are , unfortunately , as I think , a number of brethren whose ideas of Masonry seem fco consist in belonging to a Lodge where the annual subscription ia very large , tha initiation fee an almost prohibitory one , and where the" working" takes the form of meeting some four or five times a year to enjoy a guinea banquet . If

your correspondent is , as I should imagine , a dilettante Mason of this kind , it may account for tho jobation he has been pleased to give me in yonr columns . Firsfc he charges me with a " mischievous application of Freemasonry . " If this charge be true , there is evidently something

wrong with the O . B . in the third degree . From the high ground , doubtless , of a comfortable income , uad entire freedom from pecuniary anxieties , he gpeaks of " only worldly preferment" as if this were a trifling matter , beneath one ' s notice . But is it not justifiable in any man to endeavour fco

rise m the profession to which he belongs ? And when one has tried to do so by all lawful means , and failed , through no fault of his own , it seems hardly fair to sneer afc him as " a disappointed man , " or to charge him with being influenced "by mercenary or other unworthy motives . " If " Mystic" were a hardworking cleric , who after

spending all the best years of his life in the service of the Church , found himself with an infinitesimal income , and no prospects , he would probably feel a trifle "disappointed" himself : and so long as the clergy , like other people , have to pay their tradesmen , " only worldly preferment" becomes a somewhat important

factor in tbe case . Like your correspondent "A Believer in Mutual Help , " "I did not join Freemasonry for what I could make oat of it ; " bat I entirely fail to see why a man who has spent scores of pounds in Masonry should be characterized as " neither a good minister of religion nor a

good Mason , simply because he advocates kind and fraternal action on the part of one brother towards another . On this point , at any rate , I practise what I preach , and in all my dealings invariably give the preference to a brother Mason , all other things being equal . According to "Mystic ' s" ideas , however , I am utterly wrong in so

doing ; still I venture to believe in , and especially in Masonic life endeavour to act upon , the teaching of One who said " Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you , do ye even so unto them . " One sentence in your correspondent ' s letter I cordially re-echo ; " Oh ! that a P . P . G . O . shonld have occasion to thus express himself

to the Craffc at large . " Herein we agree . If Masonic Patrons did what I humbly conceive to be their duty there would be no occasion for the expressions which have aroused such virtuous indignation and reprobation in the " Mystical " breast . I am happy to be able to set vour correspondent ' s mind afc rest on

one point , I do nofc intend " to Masonic-ally address tbe present Lord Chancellor , or any other Patron of Church Livings , " I never have done so , knowing but too well " it would be in vain . " As " Craftsman ' s" letter takes up much the same ground as tbat of " Mystic , " I need nofc refer to ifc further than to say , thafc I

distinctly deny his concluding paragraph , which entirely misrepresents the object I had in view in troubling you with my former communication . Finally , good brother "Mystic , " farewell . One of us musfc have sadly " misunderstood the lessons set , " or have been " wrongly

instructed . But , with all due respect to your superior knowledge and judgment , I mast stand by the letter to which you have taken such exception ; and further add , that there is a good deal of what

is vulgarly termed humbug , even in Masonry , as you , I am sure , " know full well . If proof of this were needed , I could mention the names of many good men and true , lay and clerical , who have retired from all active work in the Craft , solely on this account . Truly and fraternally yours ,

P . M . P . Z . P . P . G . C . 18 ° , & c . OUTSIDE TITLES IN FREEMASONRY .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I must decline "I . G . 's" invitation to open a correspondence with him throngh the CHRONICLE . The object of my loiter of the 3 rd inst . will be self-evident to those

* who desire to benefit by it , and I decline to go further into the subject , unless it be to advise " I . G . " to consult the P . M . ' s of hia Lodge , if he cannot , of his own good sense , see where fche line is to be drawn . Yours fraternally , P . G . A . D . C . Lower Sydenham , 13 th March 1888 .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

— : o : — ST . JOHN'S KILWINNING LODGE , No . 57 .

AT a meeting on Monday , tho 5 th instant , the R . W . M . Bro . G . Richardson , announced receipt from Bro . the Ker . Canon Wannop , on behalf of the Earl of Haddington , of an ancient seal of tho Knight Templar ? , and read the following letter which accompanied it : —

Dear Sir and Brother , —I send you herewith the Seal of the Knight Templars of tho Encampment of St . John of Jerusalem . This degree of Freemasonry was worked in Haddington in the beginning of the century , and the Encampment met in the Lodgo of St . John . The

seal is presented to the Lodge by P . G . M . the Earl ot Haddington , who bought it in Edinburgh , thinking ifc might be regarded as a curiosity worthy of preservation by the brethren of St . John ' s Kilwinning , Haddington . Believe mo , faithfully and fraternally yours , T . N . WANNOP .

Brother Eichardson then expressed fche pleasure which it afforded him and the rest of the brethren to accept the gift of the Earl of Eaddington , which they would be very happy to place amongst the other belongings of the Lodue , aud which would be mnch valued by ihem . He also said that they must all foe ! grateful to tho Earl if

Haddington for having , notwithstanding the many dut'ea which the ! ii"h position ho occupied in the Order involved , remembered hia mother Lodge in this manner , aud he moved that the best thanks of the Lodge bo conveyed to his lordc-hip for his gift . Bro . W . Sinclair S . W ., in seconding the motion , remarked that there was not

much credit in a poor man joining the Masonic Order , bufc there was much to be proud of in having as a brother a gentleman of such in . fluence as the Earl of Haddiugton . His Lordship devoted much lime fco pursuing the mysteries and practising the-virtues of Masonry . This last evidence of his zeal in the cause would be greatly

appreciated , as he had furnished for the brethren a most interesting memento of the early days of Masonry in Haddington . The seal is a handsome one , bearing several Masonic emblems in the centre , which are surrounded by the-bordered inscription , "Sfc John of Jerusalem Encampment , Haddington . "

ST . MIRREN LODGE , No . 129 . THE annual soiree was held on the 9 fch instant , in the Minor Town Hall , Paisley . Bro . Jack R . W . M . in the chair . There was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen , and an assembly succeeded the soiree . The Chairman , in the conrse of his remarks , made reference to the Craft and its aims . Speaking of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , he « aid that prior to 1877 it was nofc in a

flourishing condition , its affairs being somewhat out of order . At that period the Lodge had a debt of £ 18 , 000 , and to-day it was nofc only free from that burden bnt had property on hand the value of which was fully £ 20 , 000 . The immediate effect of this prosperity

was to renew the vitality of the Graft throughout the country , 47 , 000 Masons having been added , and Charters for 153 Lodges having been granted during the past ten years . They were now better able to attend more efficiently to the work which fell to their hands .

At the Quarterly Convocation of fche Unanimity Chapter , held on Thursday , the 8 th insfc ., afc Cheltenham , Comp . Jeffs , of Gloucester , gave to the Chapter a frame of curious engravings , designed and executed by Lambert de

Liutofc , R . A ., in 1787-1789 , which are in a choice state and

pronounced to be rare , lhe engravings are entitled : — 1 . Foundation of the Eoyal Order of the Free and Accepted Masons in Palestine , A . M . 4037 ; 2 . Freemasons at Work ; 3 . Grand Elected ; 4 . Chapter and Grand Lodge ; 5 . Night ; 6 . Freemasons Crowned .

Lambert de Lintot , besides being a distinguished Royal Academician , was famous in the Craft of Freemasons as one of the founders of the Grand Lodge of England south of the Trent , nnder the authority of the Grand Lodge of

all England afc York . The engravings are dedicated to His Royal Highness the Dnke of Cumberland , who was Grand Master of the Order from 1782 to 1790 . That of " Night " ( the Light shone out of Darkness ) records that on Lady

Day , the 20 th March 1 / 88 , under the auspices of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cumberland , Patroness , tbe " Cumberland Freemasons' School , " now called the " Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , " was founded by

Chevalier Ruspmi . The gift of Comp . Jell ' s is opportune , as it comes almost at the moment of the Centenary of the Girls' School . Underneath the picture is the following inscription : —

" Presented to tho Unanimity Chapter of lloyal Arch Masons , No . 82 , Cheltenham , by Companion Henry Jeffn P . Z , through M . E . Companion J . Brook-Smith , M . A ., LL . B ., Grand H . of tbe Piovince of Gloucestershire , and Past Principal Sojourner of Grand Chapter . March 1888 . "

Ad00302

FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended , in London and Country , by Bro . G-. A . SUTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W . C . Monuments erected , Valuations made .