Correspondenoe.

CORRESPONDENOE .

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 i juaantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

THE SILVER WEDDING . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHKR , —I was much pleased with your article on the Silver Wedding question , and the report of last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , regretting my inability to attend and take part in the proceedings . Yielding to none in my loyalty to

onr Grand Master and his beloved Consort , I should yet have been disposed to move au amendment . It is so easy to be enthusiastically generous and charitable in voting money that does not touch our own pockets . Now , I should like to suggest , through yon , to Grand Lodge and the Craft generally , that it would be moro graceful and

more acceptable to the Royal couple , if the 2000 Lodges subscribed each 10 s , which , at a very low estimate of 20 members each , would be sixpence per member , raise a much larger sum and be a real silver offering , and leave the funds of Grand Lodge for tho purposes they are intended for .

Mosfc Secretaries of Lodges aro enthusiastic Masons , and would , I feel sure , gladly undertake the collection . Most Lodges are now meeting , and offer the opportunity . I would limit the amount to sixpence per member . If you think well of the proposal , kindly insert this in your paper , and oblige , Yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK T . C . KEEBLE , P . M . 1426 . Inverness , N . B . 19 fch December 1887 .

THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am desirous of correcting an impression which prevails amongst some brethren thafc Bro . A . Barfield , whom I had the honour to nominate for the offico of Grand Treasurer , is a Provincial man . This is a misconception . The brethren who

requested me to nominate him aro all members of London Lodges , and ifc is from their long acquaintance with Bro . Barfield as a London brother , and their knowledge that nearly , if nofc all , the services he has rendered to the Masonic Charities have been in connection with London Lodges only , that they have put him forward for the office

of Grand Treasurer . Ifc is true Bro . Barfield was initiated in the Medina Lodge , West Cowes , but he was only for a very short timo a subscribing member . Within tho last seven years he resumed his connection with that Lodge , having taken a residence in tho neighbourhood of Fareham . In the Province of Hampshire Bro . Barfield

has worked with fche same energy as in London , aud his services have been recognised by having Provincial Grand honours conferred on him . Doubtless he will receive much support from that Province , bufc we trust , as a London brother , to secure for him success at fcho forthcoming election . Yours faithfnly aud fraternally , GEO . READ P . M . 511 , 1767 , & c *

" WORK" IN LODGES OP INSTRUCTION . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Neither PUTNEY nor BARNES have , I think , hit tho right nail on tho head iu the matter of working other than degree ceremonial in onr Lodges of Instruction . I'll tell you why I think so .

there has been of lato years too great a rush for rapid advancement from initiation to Mastership , without the necessary qualification of a thorough preliminary understanding of tho entire Masonic system . The desire for rapid promotion has been also most unduly fostered in many Lodges withont consideration of that merit , as well

in the practice of Masonic virtues aa in the theoretical acquirement of ritual , which alone justifies promotion . Ifc has been too readily taken for granted thafc ability to repeat tho mere wording of the ritual , unacconipu > : i > - 'd thongh snch ability may bo by any understanding of tlio s ' . 'nse , is all sufficient for Mastership of a Lodgo ;

and that auy further knowledge of sectional explanations and lectures is more surplusage . Consequently , for tho most part , tho members of Instruction Lodges , tho majority of whom arc , in most cr . sea , those who havo yet to mako progress to tho chair of K . S ., eara moro for tho iteration

and re-iteration , night after night , of that portion of Masonio work which may euablo ' . hem to display , though bufc superficiall y , their acquaintance with tho mere form and verbiage of degree working . As to nny care for searching below the surface for tho hidden

meanmgs of ail they say and do , there are bufc very low who think ifc necessary . Hence thoy resist to tho utmost of their power the introduction of any deviation from their accustomed mode of receiv-• ug what they consider to bo Masonic Instruction , but which is in reality only the test of tho quality of thoir ability to receive , retain ,

Correspondenoe.

and repeat a certain formula of words , without knowledge of their corresponding meaning . I don't think any " select few , " referred to by PUTNEY , or any considerable number of fche Preceptors to whom BARNES alludes , are to be looked upon as the real obstructionists ; but rather those

majorities in our Lodges of Instrnction who will insist upon an unchangeable order of " work" which is just sufficient , and no more than sufficient , to prepare them for the perfunctory discharge of the duties of any particular office or offices they may be appointed fco in

their regalar Lodges . Beyond that preparedness they do nofc appear to care to go , and the result is that the highest position in fche Lodge is often passed without that enlightenment which is so essential to the practice of true Freemasonry . Fraternally yours , A Fossn ..

We have much pleasure in reproducing the following letter from a recent number of the Schoolmaster . VVINTONIANS .

SIR , —Will you allow me , through the medium of your columns , to ask all those Wiutonians who are members of any Lodge to please communicate at once with Mr . H . Maidment , 22 Loughborough-road , Brixton , S . W . ; or Mr . H . D . Asletfc , Marlesford Lodge , 253 Kingstreet , Hammersmith , W . ; or with the undersigned , THOS . PISKETT . 174 Albany-road , Camberwell , S . E .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

St . JOHN'S LODGE ( T . I . ) rpHE installation meeting of this Lodge was held on Thursday , the J- 15 th insfc ., at the Masonic Hall , Bolton , when thore wore present Bros . E . G . Harwood Prov . G . Reg . W . M ., John Partington P . M . P . P . S . G . D ., W . Wadeson W . M . elect , Nathl . Nicholson J . W ., W . Court M . O ., Robt . Phillips Conductor , Thomas Naylor Reg ., VYilPam Cooper P . P . S . G . D . Secretary , Robert Jones J . D ., Thos .

Nightingale I . G ., W . H . Brown Steward , Thos . Higson , Thos . Murphy , Henry Critchley , John Kenyon P . M . P . P . S . G . D ., Murray J . D ., John Hardcastle , John F . Skelton , William Greenwood , F . W . Brookbank , Charles Holgate , John Harwood P . P . S . G . D ., G . E . Greenhalgh , T . H . Heyes , J . Hibberfc , F . M . Millner , George

Stirling , J . Whitaker , J . Horrocks P . P . G . S . B ., aud John Booth . The minutes of the preceding meeting having been confirmed , the ballot was taken for seven brethren ; this being unanimous and all being present , they were advanced to the degree of M . M . M . by Bro . John Partington P . P . S . G . D ., who also delivered the traditional

lecture . The Treasurer ' s accounts were produced , ancl on report of fche Auditors , received and adopted . Bro . Wm . Wadeson , who was elected W . M . at the last regular meeting , was duly installed into office by Bro . J . D , Murray , aud proceeded to appoint the following Officers , who were suitably addressed by Bro . J . Kenyon P . P . G . D .:

—Bros . Harwood P . G . R , I . P . M ., Nicholson S . W ., Court J . W ., Barrett M . C , Forrester S . O ., Phillips J . O ., T . Naylor Registrar , Brockbank Treasurer , Cooper Secretary , Eckersley Conductor , Jones S . D ., Nightingale J . D ., Alcock D . C , Harwood A . D . C ., Johnson Organist , Hawksworth I . G ., Brown and Booth Stewards , and Higson Tyler .

Brother E . G . Harwood having been appointed to fche office of Prov . Grand Registrar at the last Provincial Grand Lodge meeting , was congratulated by the brethren , aud the fact of his promotion was entered upon the minutes of the proceedings . Brother Brockbank Treasurer (" who was absent through illness ) reported , by letter to

fche brethren , as to his action , along with fche Master , Wardens , and others , in obtaining a grant from the Mark Benevolent Fund for a Brother now resident in London , who twenty years ago was a

member of thafc Lodge . The brethren were much gratified afc fche liberal spirit evinced by the Board , and Bros . Harwood and Kenyon announced thafc they would serve as Stewards afc the next Festival of tho Mark Benevolent Fund . The Lodge was then closed .

WILTSHIRE KEYSTONE LODGE , No . 178 . ¦ " ! 1 HE Installation Meeting was held at tha Masonic Hall , Devizes , i- ou Wednesday , the 30 fch ult . The W . M ., Bro . F . S . Hancock , being unable , through illness , io bo present , his placo was taken by Bro . William Nott P . M ., who after advancing a candidate ( Brother W . J . Mann ) to tho degree , duly installed Bro . Thomas C . Hopkins aa

W . M . for tho ensuing year . Tho W . M . subsequently appointed ancl invested tho Officers for tho ensuing year , as follow : —W . H . Bush S . W ., H . J . Johnson J . W ., A . J . Bcaven MO ., A . F . Broreton S . O ., J . A . Raudoll P . M . J . O ., Rov . VV . Hnmphrya Chaplain , W . Nott P . M . Treasurer , W . J . Baldwin Registrar , H . I . Ward P . M . Secretary ,

J . Pocock S . D ., W . S . Bambridgo J . D ., H . Kowae P . M . D . C , J . H . Foley I . G ., F . Sloper ami E , J . Biggs Stewards , C . R . Barnes Tyler . An announcement that H . R . H . tho Grand M . M . had included Bro . W . Not ' ., P . M . cf thia Lodge , iu tho list of Jubilee honours , and conferred upon him the rank of P . G . J . Deacon , was received with applause .

Death.

DEATH .

WOODFORD . —On l-Vkiay morning , tlio 23 rd iiwt ., at 0 Listen Koad , Grafton flquai-j , Olai . 'liaiju , the Rev . A . F . A . Woocrona , V-dxi Grand Chaplain , aged i ) 7 .