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and has really nothing to do with the question . It serves only as a peg to hang a slnr at the changes of form of ritual , which have heretofore occurred in this degree . The questions asked are—1 . Has a Past Master , duly qualified in his own Lodge , any right to occupy the chair of a Lodge into which he has not been installed ?

—Most distinctly yes , if requested by tho W . M . of the Lodge to do so . 2 nd . Has a W . Master the right to vacate his chair and request a visitor to assume tho authority thereof ?—Again , yes . It has been decided by the highest authority that the W . Master can call on any qualified brother to perform his functions , snoh brother being con .

sidered the mouthpiece ot the Master , who is responsible for what may be done . 3 rd . What becomes of the rights of the Past Masters , who in the absence of the Master resume certain powers ?—Onr worthy P . M . hero answers his own question , by presuming absence of tho Master to mean absence from the Lodge , which is the only common , sense view of the matter . Ho says the Master remained in the

Lodge , the Past Masters had therefore no rights , and nothing could become of them . Only one remark more . There was no P . M . of the Lodge present who could have performed the installation ceremony , and tho brother who kindly did it was thanked by the members and visitors for undertaking the dnty at a short notice , thus preventing the necessity , which has occurred ere now , of the larger portion being

read , I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , P . M .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BRO ., —In your paper of the 10 th appeared a letter , headed " A Matter for Inquiry . " For the information of the P . M . making the inquiry , allow me to observe : The Constitutions of Mark Masonry are based on those of the Craft . That the questions

propounded by a P . M . have been very clearly laid down by our acknowledged highest Masonio authority , the Grand Registrar . To the 1 st question , the reply , is undoubtedly , Yes—if invited by

the then W . M . To the 2 nd , Yes—provided the brother so invited is a P . M . In my opinion , the absence of a W . M . means absence from his chair , not necessarily absence from the Lodge . I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , A P . M . of M . M . M .

PRINCE LEOPOLD LODGE , No . 1445 . To tTie Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BRO ., —As the one " who still holds a very important office " alluded to in a communication addressed to you by " Query , " I am in duty bound to state that that part of it referring to the question asked by a Brother is not quite correct , as the W . M . did not mention that he was not a member of the Lodge , but after

I had explained to him that the matter had been introduced to the Grand Secretary , with whom I had au interview , the W . M . stated that no doubt he would bo able to inform the Brother at the next meeting of the Lodge , but he believed that the answer would bo in favour of the Brother , he having paid the founder ' s fee , and held offices under the first , second , and fourth Masters of the Lodge . I remain , yours fraternally , 14 Monnt-place , E . J . CLARK , S . W . 1445 . 13 th Nov . 1877 .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Upon reading a somewhat " hazy " letter nnder the above heading in your last issue , it appears to me that divested of the " fog " that surrounds it , the facts of the case are , that certain brethren associated together , to found a new Lodge ,

and , I presume , all deposited a sum of money to purchase the furniture , & c . Now some signed the petition to the M . W . G . M ., but not all , therefore those who did not do so are tho brethren that your correspondent " Query" refers to in his letter . I gather that some of these so-called founders were appointed to office on the occasion of

the Consecration , therefore the stigma rests upon the first W . M ., and not upon those brethren who unfortunately came after him in the chair of K . S . I have been informed by a member of the Lodge that the then

Secretary was considered quite an " oracle with respect to Masonic matters , it seems strange that he did not warn his protege , the W . M ., that he was doing wrong . That brethren of other Lod ges may not bo placed in the same dilemma is the reason of my troubling you with this letter . I also think the question should be ventilated . Yours fraternally , Tooting , 14 th November 1877 . E . H . N .

SIGNING ATTENDANCE BOOK . To tlie Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In glancing over the Times report of the trial of the Detectives , I find that one of the witnesses states that the

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signature book of Lodge waa taken into the banqueting room , so that brethren arriving early to the banquet might sign their names . I have always understood that the book was for receiving the signature of those members who attended the duties of their Lodge .

Is the banquet Lodge business ? Yours fraternally , A PROVINCIAL MASON 12 th November 1877 .

MEETINGS AT TAVERNS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Allusions have frequently been mado in tho columns of your valuable journal as to tho inoxpediency of Lodges meeting at taverns . The remedy for the evil complained of is in the hands of the Masons

themselves , and by a little co-operation the evil would soon disappear , and Masonry be freed from the imputations referred to by your cor . respondents . Private Masonio Clubs and Halls are established in most provincial towns , where Lodges can , and do meet , free from the influence of

taverns and tavern proprietors . London has hitherto been without a private Masonio Club . It now has one , in every way suitable for the meetings of numerous Lodges ,

and if Masons are sincere in their desire to remedy the evils arising from holding Lodges at taverns , they have it in their power to do so , by meeting at the London Masonic Club , where they will find every facility and accommodation for such gatherings .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , JOHN GEORGE DUNN , Secretary London Masonio Club , 101 Queen Victoria-street .

P . S . —The following Lodges have already availed themselves of the benefits offered : —The Felicity , No . 58 ; tho Pilgrim , No , 238 j the Langton , No . 1673 ; the Felicity Chapter , tho London Masonic Lodge of Instruction , tho Pilgrim Lodge of Instruction .

THE SURREY MASONIC CLUB .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —At length there seems to be a prospect that the vicissitudes through which the Surrey Masonic Hall has passed will result in a satisfactory disposal of the building to the purposes for which it was originally intended , and that , after all , it will become a useful adjunct to the Craft , and a credit and an

ornament to the Masonic Order . It is unnecessary to dilate upon the difficulties which have snr . rounded the undertaking from its inception , and it would be unwise to too closely criticise the hitherto lukewarmness of the South Metropolitan brethren generally , and the actions of the Directors of the late Company , which , together , have impeded the progress of the work .

Suffice it to say that the Hall is now in the hands , and under the con . trol , of one or more persons thoroughly interested in all that concerns the good of Freemasonry , and that he or they intend to afford to all members of the Order , at least the opportunity of proving that they are ready to practically evidence that unity of purpose which they so earnestly expressed before the completion of the building .

As a first step to this desideratum , the Surrey Masonic Club has been started , nnder excellent auspices , and will commence business on the 1 st of December next . I hope yon will give me space to enlarge on the facilities afforded by the building itself , for the successful carrying on of such an undertaking , and on the reasons why it should have unqualified support from the numerous brethren connected with the

important district having the Surrey Masonic Hall for its centre . And first , as to the building . It is situated in a main road from Westminster Bridge southward , close to the Camberwell Station of a railway connecting Victoria with the heart of the city , from either of which places it is but a quarter of an hour ' s journey . It possesses a spacious and comfortable temple , filled with all necessary Lodge

furniture , and accessories for the perfect working of our ceremonies , together with ante-rooms and a large dining-room contiguous thereto . There are also rooms to be set apart for the use of the Club , as reading-room , smoke-room , and billiard-room , with all proper offices and cellars for stowage of wines and provisions ; and , though last not least , the large hall itself , capable of accommodating comfortably

above 800 persons , and which , it is to be hoped , will speedily be required for Masonic purposes only , and not ( to quote the Sphinx ) for " mendici , mimce , balatrones , hoc genus omne . " So much for the excellent accommodation which can be afforded , as well for direct Masonic uses as for those of the new Club . Reasons why the Surrey Masonic Club should be thoroughly

supported are " aa plentiful aa blackberries , but I fear to risk your refusal of space by attempting to state them in extenso . Let me name a few of the principal , leaving my readers to supply others , according to their individual opinions . Freemasons only will be admitted as members , and consideration being given to their payments as subscribers to their several Lodges , the Club subscription has been fixed at only half -a-gninea per annum .

From and after the 1 st of January next a joining fee of half-a-guinea will be required from each new member ; but prior to that date all who may be accepted in proposition and ballot will be admitted with , out joining fee . The Club will be proprietary , and no member will have monetary responsibility beyond the amount of his subscription . For this subscription , the use of reading-room , supplied with leading newspapers , reviews , magazines , and periodicals , together with a firstclass circulating library , smoke-room , billiard-room , and general con-