Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . AH Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for ptiblication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

THE FESTIVALS OF THE MASONIO SCHOOLS .

To the Editor ofTnv FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE , DEAR SIR \ ND BROTHER , —Onr Rev . Bro . Simpson deserves great credit for siicgcsting a means by which tho expenses of our Masonic Festivals may bo cnrtniled to the extent of about £ 100 per annum . I trust , however , he will kindly excuse mo for pointing out that in his zeal to effect a worthy object ho has lost sight of the real facts of

the case . This is all the more surprising as ho was himself a Steward at the recent Festival of the Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution . The Festivals cost the Institutions not one halfpenny per annum . The expenses are defrayed out of the Stewards' fees . Let ns take the case of the latest Festival for purposes of illustration . The fees , at two guineas apiece [ to which the fee is now reduced ] , amounted , for the

whole 2 R 0 Stewards , at the Festival of the Royal Masonic Bonevolent Institution , to 520 guineas , or £ 5 < I 6 . Of this sum , after allowing a guinea for each Steward who was present at the banquet , about four shillings for the rosette to which each is entitled , the cost of the skilled professionals , and all other expenses , such as complimentary tickets , See ., kc , incident to the occasion , there remained in hand a

balance of £ 47 . This was a'ill further reduced by the presentation to Brn . Marsh Case , President of the Board , of a Life Governorship to the Institution , the remainder being presented to Bros . Terry and Knill . in token of the valuable services they rendered in connection with the Festival . The whole of the amount collected was paid over intact into the coffers of the Institution . Thus the Stewards not

only undertook all tho labour of canvassing and collecting for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , but thoy also , as is customary on these occasions , shared among themselves all the expenses of the banquet and of the musical entertainment that followed , the ladies ' tickets being separately paid for by the brethen who invited them . How , under these circumstances , Rev . Bro . Simpson can affirm that

the engagement of skilled professionals costs the Charities close on £ 100 a year puzzles me . There have been Festivals at which sundry pupils of the Boys ' School were present , and sung a number of glees and part-songs , bnt considering the lateness of the hour at which the musical portion of the entertainment begins—in the case of the Royal Masonic

Benevolent Institution especially—I do not think it either wise or expedient that , onr boys and girls shonld be invited , as a general rule ; more especially as they have tho opportunity allowed them of exhibiting their musical talents at the public distribution of prizes which , in the case of the Schools , immediately precedes tho Festivals . There is one other point to be noticed , and I have done . If the

Stewards like to engage the services of skilled professionals , why shonld the Masonic public object to their doing so ? Wo all know they work hard enough . The immense contributions they have succeeded in raising during the last two or three years are evidence of this . T do not for one moment imagine that Rov . Bro . Simpson bad any such idea in his mind when be was prompted to write you on this

subject , but it seems to me it would be extremely churlish to deny the Stewards the privilege of expending their own fees in the manner that seemeth best to themselves . We must not scrutinise too narrowly an outlay which is so very profitable to our Institutions , especially when those who promote the outlay discharge it ont of their own pockets . Fraternally yours , T . B . A . G .

THE JEWISH QUESTION . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have seen , according to your valuable paper , that petitions have been presented from the Lodge of Montefiore , and also from Lodges in Warwickshire and elsewhere , respecting tbe refusal to admit . Tews into certain Lodges in Germany . Surely such intolerance ought not to exist in this enlightened age .

In almost all societies , as well as in tho Hotiso of Commons and municipal corporations , civil and religious disabilities have been removed . Why , then , should they be allowed to exist in one of tho noblest Orders in the world , an Order which has for its foundations Brotherly Love and Charity ? Those of our brethren who are privileged to attend tbe Grand Lodge of Benevolence know

full well , that applicants are always relieved irrespective of creed . We are supposed to be bound by our Book of Constitutions . The following therein refers to tho admission of candidates : —Name , age residence , and business or profession . Creed is never mentioned , and is but seldom known until the candidate is in the Lodge . There are four so-called Jewish Lodges in London , one in Birmingham , and one in Liverpool ; at the present time most of these have almost as many

members of the Christian faith as of the Jewish . Iu these co-called Jewish Lodges many brethren of the Christian religion have filled the several chairs with credit and ability , and with satisfaction to the Lodges . Under these circumstances I might suggest that the term " Jewish Lodges" has probably not been fully explained . The ritual is precisely the same . The only notable difference is that grace is said in Hebrew , while in supplying the viands proper regard is paid to the Mosaic Law . While the Lodges freely admit on

Correspondence.

proper recommendation , all classes and denominations , surely it is unjust to refuse the members of tho Hebrew Faith admission into Lodges in Germany . Let the brethren unite and bring the matter before Grand Lodge , where wo have the representative of the Grand Lodge of Germany , Bro . Wendt , and surely this blot will be speedily removed .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Youra fraternally , A PAST MASTER

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In reply to " Equity ' s " letter in your last week ' s issue , I beg to say that eight years ago I had the honour to be Worshipful Master of the Montefiore Lodge , No . 1017 , and then initiated at least five non-Jewish brethren during my year of office .

I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , S . POLLITZER , P . M Upper Brook ' s Wharf , Upper Thames-street , E . C . 19 th March 1877 .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — -For the guidance of our friends , allow me to ask you to insert tho following statement . Tho Lodgo of Montefiore , 1017 , was consecrated in November , 1864 .

Five of tho founders were not of the Jewish faith . During the years from 1865 to 1870 inclusive , fifty-four gentlemen not professing Judaism were initiated , several of whom are still members of the Lodge , one being our respected S . W . I may add , of the fifty . four previously mentioned , ono was a Hindoo gentleman .

I am , dear Sir aud Brother , Yours fraternally , Louis JACOB , Treasurer 1017

CRAFT MASONRY AND THE HIGH GRADES . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —An interesting relic , which is , perhaps , somewhat illustrative of this subject , was placed in my hands the other day . This is an old seal , which at some period has evidently belonged to a Masonio body , meeting , probably , IgF-the north of

England , if not at York , where , during la « t century , Craft Masonry seems to have been curiously intermingled with Templary , according to old records . The seal in question is of brass , round in form , and one and three-eighth inches in diameter . Upon the summit of a vaulted dome rests a passion cross , bearing the serpent entwined

round it , the three upper limbs of the cross surrounded by the letters I . H . S . On the left of the cross are a pair of trumpets crosswise , and on the left a pair of crossed swords . Below the trumpets is a Senior Warden ' s level , and below the swords a square and compasses , The manifest combination of Craft , Royal Arch , and Templar symbols

in tho device of a massive official seal of some antiquity , seems to me to be , if not of value , at any rate remarkable , and worthy of notice at this time , when there seems to be such a disposition to regard "Craft" Masonry as the only legitimate phase of Masonry , and the Christian degrees as modern innovations . I enclose for your inspection an impression of the seal in question .

Yours fraternally , T . B . WHYTEHIAD 18 ° , York , 19 th March 1877 .

Notices Of Meetings. &C

NOTICES OF MEETINGS . & c

The Kemeys Tynte Preceptory met at the Masonic Hall , 33 Golden-square , W ., on Friday , the 16 th March , at 5 p . m ., V . E . Sir Knt . Lieut .-Colonel H . S . Somerville Barney P . E . P ., P . Prov . Prior of Essex , E . Preceptor . Among those present were V . E . Sir Knts . Major General H . Clerk , P . Prov . Prior of Kent , and Captain N . G . Philips , Prov . Prior of Suffolk and Cambridge ; E . Sir Knt .

Captain Portlock Dadson R . B . G ., P . D . G . C . of Kent ; Sir Knts . Col . C . W . Randolph , Constable , J . Lewis Thomas , Marshal , Rev . P . M . Holden , Chaplain , Peter Laird P . E . P ., Almoner , Thomas Harrison P . E . P ., Registrar , J . Sandilands Ward , Sub-Marshal , John T . Gibson , 1 st Standard Bearer , Captain C . F . Comptou , 2 nd Standard Bearer , and Kenneth R . Murchisoo , W . H . Kempster M . D ., Captain Henry

S . Andrews , Robert Fyers , John W . Figg P . E . P ., Captain W . S . Gilbert , Frederic J . Macanlay , William Beattie , & c , & c . Visitors-Major George Barlow , Unity Preceptory , Rev . F . K . Harford , E . P . Holy Sanctuary . The Great Prior of England and Wales , V . E . Sir Knt . the Right Honourable the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , was received under the Arch of Steel , and saluted with tho usual honours on taking the throne . Sir Knights Captain H . S . Andrews , late 74 th

regiment , of the Calpe Preceptory , and Captain Metcalfe Studholme Brownrigg , 52 nd Light Infantry , of No . 12 Preceptory of Ire ' aud , were elected as joining members , and V . E . Sir Knt . Hugh David Sandeman , Bengal C . S ., P . Prov . Prior of Bengal , as an honorary member of the Preceptory . Comps . the Right Honourable Lord Henniker , Sir Thomas Douglas Forsyth C . B ., K . C . S . I ., and Capjain W , S , Gilbert , of the Frieuda ^ Coancil Chapter , and Frederic J .