The Weymouth Masonic Chair.

Sir E . N . Howard said as Town Clerk he was very pleased to support the Mayor on that happy occasion . The W . M . had very gracefully drawn a distinction between the Mayors of Weymouth who were Masons and those who were not . He himself could assure them that there had been a very good

string of Mayors who had been members of the Craft , and long might it continue to be so . The ancient chair before them , he thought , read them a lesson , for it showed that when the old Arimathea Lodge was broken up they paid reverence to the chair . They respected it , and as they declined to leave it in the

hands of private individuals they handed it over to the custody of these in authority at the time . For all these years it had been preserved sacred , and it ; was now handed back to its

rightful possessors in even better condition than when it was received . The Corporation of Weymouth had faithfully discharged their trust , thus setting au example to them which , as Masons , they well might follow .

The Worshipful Master , on behalf of the Lodge , then returned thanks for the generous action of the members of the Corporation , and said they wished especially to thank the Mayor for having used his influence to secure the restoration of the chair , and for his kindness in having caused a silver plate

to be affixed to it . They also thanked his Worship for the graceful way in which he had made the presentation . It might interest the Mayor to know that the Master ' s chair in that Lodge was presented many years ago by a Mayor of the borough who bore the honoured name of Weston , and whose statue was in the

Town Hall ; and the two Wardens chairs , occupied that night by Bros . Hetley and Sidney Milledge , were presented by the late Alderman W . Eliot , a very distinguished member of their Order . They proposed , therefore , to place the chair presented that night

in the banqueting room , and the generations of Masters who sat in it would no doubt often think with grateful remembrance of the generosity of the Mayor and Corporation in the present year of grace .

A portion of Scripture having been read by the Lodge Chaplain Brother Z . Milledge , the Mayor was conducted by the Chaplain round the Lodge and shown the many portraits and objects of antiquity of which the Weymouth Freemasons are the fortunate possessors . These included a magnificent black-letter

Bible ( 1640 ) , a " Breeches" Bible ( 1599 ) , and the mallet with which one of the piles of the first Weymouth bridge was driven , and with which the foundation stones of the present Guildhall , and Market house were laid . This was presented by the late Alderman Eliot , and an ancient accompanying trowel was given

by the late Bro . Gundry . The magnificent portrait of the late Provincial Grand Master Bro . W . Williams , which occupies such a prominent place in the Lodge , was pointed out , but with becoming modesty the Chaplain did not draw attention to the

handsomely-framed portrait of himself presented to him by the Lodge a few years ago . Other Lodge treasures were described in a very able manner by the Chaplain , and the Mayor was greatly interested .

The Mayor , who briefly expressed his thanks for the courtesy shown him , was then escorted to the banqueting room , where , the Lodge having been closed , he joined the W . M . and Brethren at a banquet . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , and the healths of the W . M ., the Mayor , and Town Clerk were received with enthusiasm . —" Soufchsea Times . "

The Chirgwin Memorial.

THE CHIRGWIN MEMORIAL .

FEIENDS and Masonic Brethren of the late Bro . Thomas Chirgwin have subscribed £ 140 for the' provision of a window and tablet in Truro Cathedral to his memory . These marks of appreciation are to be placed in that part of the nave already erected in the north side of the Cathedral . The window will be ono of the historical series , and underneath it there will

be a tablet which Mr . S . Trevail , F . E . I . B . A ., has been asked to design . A meeting of the Chirgwin Memorial Committee was held in Truro Town Hall , on Saturday , 5 th inst ., when the Mayor ( Mr . S . Trevail ) presided , and those also present included Mr . J . C Daubuz , Major Parkyn , Chancellor Worlledge , and

Sub-Dean Bourke . Letters expressing regret at inability to attend were received from Canon Donaldson , who is at Norwich attending the Church Conference , and Mr . E . D . Anderton . Cartoons for the proposed window were submitted and approved , as was the tablet inscription . — " Western Mercury . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

ON Saturday the remains of the late Captain Harry Harwood , Carnarvon , whose death occurred the previous Wednesday were interred in Llanbeblig Churchyard . The funeral was of an imposing character , and a large number of the deceased ' s comrades in tie 2 nd V . B . Eoyal Welsh Fusiliers , as well as members of the Masonic Older , attended to pay the last tribute of respect .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . 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 .

LODGE OF FEIENDSHIP , No . M , MANCHESTEE

To the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I was glad to note your spirited defence of the Grand Lodge Calendar . It is not a question whether its figures are right or wrong , nor a question oi dispute between Brethren , so far as you are concerned ; it is the official authority , and must be maintained . We are apt to consiclor such matters oi little innortancQ until after effects reveal the folly .

I do not see what objection Bro . Chadwick can possibly have to his Lodge ' s position as it stands . There has been far too much of this kind of un-Masomc warfare for the last seven or eight years , and it seems to me a paid Secretary might very well have tho sense to keep out of such petty squabbles ; but having got into the mess , any cur can flounder out without yelping loud enough to be heard at Torquay .

Bro . Hughan ' s letter in your issue of the 12 th inst . is quite beside the question ; moreover , he has not thought over the matter , being blinded by his own wishes , or he would never hint that the Calendar be revised to agree with " Masonic Records . " The thing hardly requires thought , and the letter itself reads throughout too much liko an advertisement to bo treated seriously . Yours fraternally , ' MANCUNIUM .

Catholicism V. Freemasonry.

CATHOLICISM V . FREEMASONRY .

To the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , DEAR SiR . —Having observed the controversy in your issues and in the "Weston Mercury" re " Freemasonry and Roman Catholicism" it shows plainly to me that the writers are not Freemasons and know nothing of our system of polity only from fictitious or other ignorant sources .

We acknowledge our system as a " peculiar " one , nevertheless of a very ancient date—dating far before the Christian era , yet to-day a greater power for good than ever , and that in point of antiquity we antidate the " Romish system " of Christianity , which is now-a-days a very peculiar system , indeed

by no manner of means the simple faith tho Lord himself delivered to the saints , which tho following reasons will conclusively show : — 1 st . The Lord by His death abolished the apostolic succession of sacerdotalism , inasmuch as He made every believer a king and a priest .

2 nd . Intercession could only be made through Himself , consequently invocation of the Virgin or Saints is unscriptural and without Divine warrant . 3 rd . " He that shall add or take away one jot or tittle from the Gospel shall be accursed . "—( Have tho Romanists not done so repeatedly ?}

On the other hand , tbe fraternity of Freemasons abide by the same rules , have the same objects in view to accomplish , the same ends as they did from the beginning , which is not Devil-Worship , nor conducive to intemperance or immorality , but a brotherly sympathy and help in all conditions of life , with a hope for that which is to come .

Hence our system is to benefit mankind in general without encroaching on the liberties of the individual , or his relig ious or political proclivities . But what do Roman Catholics seek?—to enslave the minds and consciences of men , to establish priestly autocracy . Further , past history , in which the Romish Church was notorious for intolerance and persecution , preclude any rapprochement between the Anglican or the Free Churches .

I would commend to those Catholic writers a study of the adage that " they who live in glass houses should not throw stones , " also to contradict the foregoing assertions if they can . Trusting you will kindly insert this in your next issue to oblige , Yours truly , H . H . Manchester , 16 th October 1895 .

Our Wicked (?) Designs.

OUR WICKED (?) DESIGNS .

THE following letter appeared in last week ' s issue of the " Catholic Times . " We reproduced the item referred to , in our issue of 28 th ult .: SIR , —Allow me some remarks on the above in the " Catholic Times " of 20 th September . 1 As to what he may have been told—I presume his lordship has heard of the words " Jura , perjura , secretam prodere noli . "

2 His lordship has been in the Masonic Hall ( probably arranged to suit the visitor ) , but did he see , or ever hear , of the " Sanctam Regnum " and its contents , and what takes place there , and of the book called " Apadno ? " 3 Did his lordship ever hear of Albert Pyke , or Phinens Walder , and his daughter Sophia ? She is said to have certain hopes as to her relationship to Antichrist , and renders Carducci ' s " Ode to Satan " as few others can . The above notes are taken from various French Catholic publications within the last few years . Yours , & c . OLD OSCOTT COLLEGE ( 1844 ) .

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We shall be pleased to [ receive particulars , of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send 9 > representative to report Lodge or other proceedings .