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 f juarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

Craft work , in many so-called Lodges of Instruction , that tho wishes or powers ' of a " select few" prevent the brethren from more frequently hearing certain ceremonies ' , I attribute tho absence of such instruction to another cause . I shall speak plainly , and having tho interests of Craft working

HI . " WORK" IN LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — " PUTNEY ' S " letter in your last issue deserves more than a passing consideration . Instead of inferring , as ho does from what was told him in relation to tho members of London Lodges being precluded from sharing iu certain instructive

far more at heart than the opinions of individuals who may choose to put on the cap , I do not hesitate to say that it is rather to the ignorance and prejudices of a large number of the Preceptors of our several Lodges of Instruction , than to any " select few , " that we owe fche absence of valuable information and instruction in the mysfceriea

of our Order . What do we find as a rule ? That the great majority of our Instruction Lodges are under the guidance of men , not perhaps totally , but to a great extent , devoid of thafc education and mental power without which I say it is impossible to understand the

beautiful ritual of our Order , and the hidden meaning of its symbols ; or of young men who , better educated and having good memories , have picked up , parrot-like , the wording without the sense ; and who , before they have even held a rnling office in a Lodge , set themselves to teach others that which they could not by any possibility

understand , much less appreciate . I grant there are exceptions to the above rule ; bnt the majority I allude to are the real hindrances fco the promulgation of much that is of interest in Masonic work . Thoy are so self-satisfied , so " ignorant of what they are mosfc assured , " that they permit no disputation as to

fche correctness of their working , no discussion on most interesting points . No ! the blind leader mast be obeyed , and followed ; and strange to say , the blind followers are many . Hence ifc is thafc "bad blood" — of course kepfc nnder by ordinary Masonio courtesy—rises between members of sundry Lodges who differ as to

the merits of the work of certain professors of Masonic ritual who have yet to learn what Masonry really is . It is in this direction we must look for tho cause of the effect of which your correspondent " PUTNEY " complains . For tho present , if you care to insert this letter , let these remarks suffice . I shall return to the subject at a future opportunity , aud meanwhile remain , Yours fraternally , BARNES .

LODGE No . 79 . To the Editor of the F REEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am very sorry that I can no move agree with Bro . Lane ' s last theory about the origin of No . 79 th * ui I did with his former theories about tho said Lodge . As , however , he afc last confesses that No . " 79 was an English Lodge , I shall trouble

him no further about No . 79 ; there is , however , oi ; e question I would like to seo cleared up—viz ., whether the name of one of tho members of No . 79 , of 1731 , was Pollcxsen or Pollex senior ? Ifc is my

impression thafc Bro . Sadler once informed me , either personiilly or by letter , that the name is written in the record Pollex Sen ., and I hope Bro . Sadler will inform you whether I am correct or not ; for if my recollection is at fault , I want to thank Bro . Lane for correcting mo . Fraternally yours , JACOB NORTON . Boston , U . S . ; Gth December 1887 .

A Special Provincial Grand Lodge will be held at noon on Wednesday , the 28 th inst ., at the Assembly Rooms , Royal Hotel , Plymouth , when , after the transaction of the ordinary bnsiness , the Brethreu will march in procession in their Masouic clothing to St . Andrew ' s Church , where a short special service will be hold . A 3

this is tho first time that a Masonic procession has taken place in Plymouth since 1874 , when H . R . H . the Prince of Wales opened tho Guildhall , the event will be of an especially interesting character . After Divine service the Brethren will march to tho new Masr-nic Club , No . 1 Princess Square , where Bro . Viscount Ebriugfcon , M . P .

Prov . G . M ., will lay the foundation stone of the new Masonic Hall — which will bo tho finest in the western counties—fco be erected at the back of the existing premises , which will bo utilised for the purposes of a Masonic Club . As thero aro seventeen Lodges in the Three Towns a very large gathering is anticipated . — Western Daily Mercury .

RED HOT . —Tho memory of the oldest member of the Fraternity runneth not back to tho time when Mnsnnry was booming in Utica as at present . At tho lat-fc Communications of the three Lodges here 20 applications for membership were received , nine by one Lod < - * e ten by another , and seven by the third . Wo nr . * dersf .. ind fhnt Faxton Lodge has added li . ' fcy members to its roster tbrii * fv-v . — UUca Herald .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The "Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , N . The Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar , Diary , and Pocket Book for 1883 . London : George Kenning , 16 Great Queen Street , W . C .

AOAIN we are called npon to say a few words in reference to thia handy little work ; handy in more ways than one , for not only can it be placed in the breast pocket without inconvenience , but ifc contains reliable information of every kind interesting to Masons . This year the Editor has pat together considerable fresh information respecting

different bodies ; such as tho dates of meetings , when consecrated , & c , & o ., while the names of fche Officers in all jurisdictions are care . fully arranged . There is fche usual space allotted for making notes for forthcoming engagements , also the names of the Brethren serving on the different Committees of the Institutions . The charges in fche

Craft degrees and the Entered Apprentice song are likewise given . In short , all information that a Mason ia likely to want is to be found within the pages of tho Cosmopolitan Calendar . If anghfc else ia wanted to recommend this work , wo need only say this is the eighteenth year of its publication , a fact alone that should recommend it .

1 he Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held their nsual monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday . Bro . Edgar Bowyer ,

Treasurer and Trustee , occupied the chair , and there were present Bros . Cottebrune , Brett , Bulmer , Hogard , Quitraann , Maudslay , Mickley , M . A ., M . B ., West , Newton , Daniell , Webb , Brooks , Daniel , Roberts , Pigott , Murlis , Farnfield , Tattersall , Berry , Stewart , Forsyth , M . D ., Fesfca ,

Perceval , Lacey , Driver , Dnrrant , Cubitt , Dr . Jabez Hogg , Hilton , Cotter , Ferryman , Belchamber , Berridge , and Terry Secretary . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and verified , the Secretary reported the death of one' male and one female annuitant . The Warden ' s report for the past month was read . The

Committee then took into their consideration 19 petitions , from 12 male and 7 widow candidates , with the result that the names of all were ordered to be placed on the list for the Election in May 1888 , thus raising the total number of candidates , so far , to 110 . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Our contemporary the Freemason announces that its Christmas number will be ready on tho 21 st inst , It will contain tales b y R . E . Francillon , George Manville Fenn , and John Pendleton ; also Masonic Articles by Bros .

R . F . Gould , W . J . Hughan , G . B . Abbott , and other Masonic writers ; together with a full-page illustration from a print b y Bartolozzi of a Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls iu tho last century . The

" special " issues of the Freemason invariably contain an assortment of sound Masonic information of a thoroughly reliable character ; great care is exercised in their

production , and wc feel assured that the number promised for next week will be up t ) ( he standard wo aro now accustomed to . The price will be 6 d , and any Bookseller or Newsagent will supply it .

Tuesday next is the day fixed for the Consecration of the Frederick West Lodge , No . 2 * 222 . The ceremony will be performed b y the Right Worshipful Brother General J . Studholme Brownrigg , C . B ., P . G . S . W ., Provincial

Grand Master Suney , at the Castle Hotel , East Molesey , Surrey , at four p . m . General Brownrigg will bo as-istcd by several distinguished brethren . Bros . R . T . Elsam

P . M . and Secretary 201 and 889 P . B . G . D . Surrey W . M . designate ; John Hughes P . M . 901 S . W . designate ; John Filler P . M . 1056 and 1793 J . W . designate .

The Yarborough Lodge , No . 422 , Gainsborough , has just elected Bro . F . Baines S . W . as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . Bro . Alfred Kirk , the P . G . Treasurer , was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Seott Tvler .

At a meeting of tho members of the Three Grand Principles Lodge , No . 267 , on Tuesday , the 6 th iust ., Brother Harty I . avin S . W . was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year , and Bro . Thomas Gill P . M . was re elected Treasurer .

At a meeting of Restormel Lodge , No . 556 , held ;> t the Old Duchy Palace , Lostwithiel , on Thursday , the Pt . h * : * ist , IN-o . W . R . Toms S . W . was unanimously elected W . M . f •«* - the ensuing year , and Bro . J . Hugill P . M . P . P . G . D . C . was unanimously re-elected Treasurer .