A Case Of Distress.

this bo correct . ? If so , whether any other means of relief is available for her in England ? Tho particulars of tho case I would gladly furnish to any brother who would kindly take an interest in it .

Yours fraternally , SAMUEL LEE EYMEU . Whitgift House , Croydon , 15 th September 1880 . [ If our correspondent will kindly be afc the pains of addressing himself to Bro . James Terry , Secretary of the

Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , 4 Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , W . C , he will obtain all the information he can possibly desire . Or , if he prefer calling in person at the offices , as directed , Bro . Terry will receive him with his usual courtesy , ancl satisfactorily answer all

questions . In a deserving case , we do not imagine our correspondent or any other brother , on making due representations in the proper quarter , will find any difficulty in obtaining temporary assistance for a distressed frienct . Bro . Buss , the obliging Assistant Grand Secretary , will

give htm the requisite information . Onr brother ' s ignorance of tho laws governing the admission of male and female candidates to the benefits of our Masonic Benevolent Institution is excusable , as , from the nonappearance of his namo in the list of its subscribers

we presume he has not given it much of his consideration . However , as the poor lady in question is the widow of a Scotch brother , we wonld suggest to our correspondent that he should place himself in communication with

the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , Edinburgh . Bro . Murray Lyon , who fills that office , will doubtless answer all questions with the least possible delay , and , if necessary , direct our brother as to the course he should pursue in the circumstances . —ED . F . C ]

A Begging Mason.

A BEGGING MASON .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Some few weeks since one F . A . T , of Loyal Victoria Lodge , 557 , Callington , called on me , and is doubtless the same person alluded to by " SECRETARY 804 . " It would , perhaps , be interesting to those who have relieved him to know what the Secretary of 557 may have to say about him .

The "Begging Mason" is becoming an intolerable nuisance to members of country Lodges ; it is , I think , quite time that Grand Lodgo took tho matter into consideration , and devised some remedy . I have not the slightest doubt but that 99 per cent , of these persons are impostors ; they most frequently have no certificate , and when

they havo one it is seldom possible to decipher the signature . If some arrangement conld bo made that the Almoner or some other Officer of the Lodgo giving relief should report tho case to tho Secretary of the Lodge to which the applicant professes to belon " , it would then be an easy matter to give a warning when necessary , through the Masonic Press . Yours fraternally , W . M . 1410 .

[ Wo do not sec how Grancl Lodgo can devise a remedy which will effectually dispose of that " intolerable nuisance " the "bogging Mason . " The utmost it can do is to enjoin caution on its subordinate Lodges , which are all liable to have applications for assistance made to them . But the character ancl extent of the caution that is exercised will

necessarily depend ou the discretion of the Lodge applied to . One poor brother may have lost or mislaid his certificate ; another who ifc may be finds himself for the moment in a " pecuniary "fix , " may have left it at home , but , in any case , it is possible to prove tho applicant is a Mason ,

and it would be harsh indeed to suggest that unless he can then and there produce evidence of his reputability , he should be sent away empty . Our correspondent ' s sug . gestion thafc , in every case where relief is administered it

should be reported " to the Lodge to which the applicant professes to belong , " seems to be about the best we can think of to meet tlie undoubted evil of which he complains . —ED . F . C ]

Status Of P.M.'S Of Foreign Lodges.

STATUS OF P . M . ' s OF FOREIGN LODGES .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND B ROTHKR , —A question has arisen among us which perhaps may be of interest to others as well as tho Lodge to whom it particularly applies .

In the case of a P . M . of a Foreign Lodgo , joining a Lodge under the English Constitution , does he retain his rank , or is he returned to Grand Lodge as M . M . only ? Yours fraternally , ENQUIRER . [ A P . M ., of a Foreiijib Lodge ( Foreign Constitution ) ,

Status Of P.M.'S Of Foreign Lodges.

joining an English Lodge , would take no rank in the Lodge he joins ( as a P . M . ) , but would , if he had regularl y served the office of Master , be eligible to bo present at installation meetings , & c , but not to be returned to Grand Lodge as a P . M . —ED . F . C ]

A Masonic Trial.

A MASONIC TRIAL .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Will " LIVE AND LET LIVE " be so kind as to inform us which are the Eites , High Grades , Christian Degrees , " or whatever in the name of wonder their promoters choose to call them " that " were in full working order for half a century before the ' Constitutions , ' drawn up at the Union were known ? " I believe the

idea that the Ancient and Supreme Scottish Bite originated with Frederick the Great of Prussia has long since been exploded . The Boyal Arch , according to D'Assigny , dates back to about 1744 , but then that was recognised by the Union as a parfc of pure Ancient Freemasonry , and I doubt if sufficient ; is known of the Mark Degree to fix its origin with any amount of certainty . Moreover , the attempt

made about a quarter of a century since to incorporate it with the degrees of Masonry as recognised by the Constitutions proved unsuccessful ; Grand Lodge , at the instance of certain among its most distinguished members , entertaining conscientious objections to dis . turbing the bases of the Union , though at the same time ifc went so far as to acknowledge the degree had certain merits of its own . We

often read of Templar Masons having taken parfc in procession with Craft and Arch Masons , during the closing quarter of the last century , and I suspect Dunckerley had much to do wifch the establishment of the Order in this country . " LIVE AND LET LIVE , " however , should give us something definite in the shape of information on these points . Moreover , if they were in existence as far back as

he states , does thafc prove anything , when we know that even the slight connection which once may have existed between these degrees and Craft Masonry has been long since broken off ? It is not so very long since—the case is mentioned by Oliver—that a brother of position in one of the Provinces was deprived of his rank for having worn Templar clothing afc a meeting of his Provincial Grand Lodge

( Craft ) . I have had the privilege of inspecting the minutes of many Lodge books , and I have noticed mention of the Mark degree , in several instances , but even the wearing of a Mark jewel in a Craft Lodge is now bad form , and contrary to the Constitutions . The fact is our Side and High Degrees are eminently reputable and interesting , bufc they are not Masonry . Can " LIVE AND LET LIVE " be serious when he asks for a copy of

the Eitual of the " grade called the Knights of the Mystic Square Circle , " which are nofc to be found in " the Lexicons of Bros . Kenning , Mackenzie , and Mackey ? " Bro . " H . " has been poking a little harmless fun afc the Hig h Grades or Christian degrees , or " whatever in the name of wonder their promoters choose to call them . " I yield to none in my desire to " LIVE AND LET LIVE , " bufc I confess I am also anxious to LIVE AND LEARN .

To The Editor Of The Freemason's Chronicle.

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your last issue , re-addressed to me from town , was literally a " sea-side number , " not the least amusing of its items being the comical letter signed " LIVE AND LET LIVE . " Are there " two Eichmonds in the field ? " or is alliteration contagious and misrepresentation . a catching complaint ? We are

accustomed to these in a quarter which shall be nameless , but to what aro we indebted for their introduction into yonr columns ? Unless your correspondent is compiling a lexicon , based on his personal feelings , it is difficult to follow his several definitions : —to write a letter is " to lose temper ; " to object to legal proceedings in connection with a Masonic Lodge is " to become vicious in tone ; " to attempt a

joke is "to mistake abuse for wit , " and produce " obnoxious and unsavoury" reading ; to tell the truth is " to throw mud ; " to quote a few words from our laws is " garbling the Constitutions ; " in short , to think or write anything not previously approved by " L . and L . L . " is a proof of " bad taste , " " ignorance , " " foolishness , " " lack of good breeding , " " absence of knowledge , " & c . If so , it must be so ; but I hope to be excused from going to " L . and L . L . " for " pity and

compassion , " or from furnishing copy of the ritual he has been search , ing for , until I have completed my annual holiday , the enjoyment of which has been much enhanced by a perusal , during a shower , of the fnnny-osity by " Live and Lot Live . " Yours truly and fraternally , H .

Voigt V. Trevor And Others.

VOIGT v . TREVOR AND OTHERS .

To the Editor of the F REEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Defendant Bro . Trevor in this case has stated , both in your journal and also in thafc of your contemporary , thafc his costs will amount to £ 150 . May I ask him to inform your

readers—as I think they have a right to demand the information before responding to his appeal for help—how he has come by his knowledge in this respect ? Have the costs in the matter been duly taxed ? ° If not , would it nofc look more decent in the defendant to wait until this is done and the exact amount ; ascertained , before he

proceeds with his present premature request ? I think that this question should be answered in a satisfactory and explicit manner , before any assistance is given to Bro . Trevor in the matter . It certainly seems to me to be au uucliguified mode of