Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our € or . respondents . AU letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

CLASS MASONRY

To the Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —If I may be allowed tho expression I think you and some of your correspondents are harping too much on the string of Class Masonry . I cannot see the evils whioh you appear to recognise in the desire of certain Craftsmen to keep themselves

as far as possible , to themselves . I recognise a Masons Lodge as being as sacred from intrusion—not only from cowans , but also from members of the Craft—as an Englishman's castle , and I fail to recognise the right by whioh one Mason oan force his presence on a Lodge or assembly of Masons mot for the practioe of Freemasonry .

Freemasonry is essentially an exclusive Institution , and I do not think its members do wrong if they carry the same prinoiple of seclusion within their individual Lodge as they practise in the Craft at large . What harm can possibly arise from such a practice ? Or how is it possible to prevent it if a number of Masons band

themselves together for the purpose of carrying it into effect ? Surely if a number of " Class " Masons secure a Warrant and establish a Lodge for the furtherance of their particular crotohet , tbey cannot be accused of doing wrong . The wrong comes from those who would attempt to force their presence where it is not wanted , and where

iheir attendance might create a spirit of reserve in speech and action whioh I maintain it is Masonry ' s object to allow . Nowhere outside of Freemasonry do I consider it is possible for moro staunch friendships to be established , and I cannot see that Freemasons are wrong in fixing to the very fullest extent the limits within which they

will seek to make such acquaintanceships . This is a sufficient excuse—if excuse be needed—for so-called Class Masonry , which I think may , even with benefit to the world at large , be widely extended throughout the world , so as to give to every olass or section

of the commuuity a Lodge to which they may look for especial consiration . Hoping I am not trespassing too much ou your spaoe in thus expressing my views , I am , yours fraternally , TOLERATION .

ENTHUSIASM

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR Sin AND BROTHER , —I thank you for the publication of my letter , in your last issue , aud for the explanation you give of the title I referred to . I also think you are deserving of thanks for the views you express

in your leading article on the subject of enthusiasm . Too many brethren , young men iu particular , neglect to throw enthus i asm into their Masonic labours , while on the other hand there are some who , as you say , display such an amount of it , for the first year or two , as seems to exhaust their supply , and leave them as drones in

the bive of Freemasonry , which , to my thinking , ahould be a centre of industry . I do not lay claim to be a very enthusiastic Mason , but I take considerable interest in looking into its principles and praotices , perhaps because I live in an out of the way part of the country , far removed from the many forms of amusement which are

to be met with around our great cities . I assure you I find there ia a great deal more to be found in the study of the every . day doings of Freemasonry than many would believe , and I would strongly urge on my brother Masons the desirability of searching for themselves a little below the outside crust of Freemasonry . They should , in fact ,

enter more enthusiastically into the study of its principles , and try to discover a little more of its beauties than are apparent to the oasual observer . The concluding paragraph of your article exactly expresses my views on the subject , and I would , therefore , like to hear that it was read and acted up to by every member of our beloved Order . Yours , & c . STUDENT .

MASONIC PATRONS

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —May I crave a few lines of your vainable space to oall attention to a matter which somewhat exercises my own mind , in common with those of many of my Clerioal Maaonio brethren ? If Brotherly Love and Relief are , as we are taught , two of

the fundamental principles of onr Order , how is it that Masonic Patrons of Livings , in making their appointments , so seldom give the preference to the unbeneficed Masonio Clergy , and so frequently bestow their preferments upon comparatively young and untried men who are not Masons ? Of course , I do not for a moment wish to

imply that because a Clergyman happens to be a Mason he ought necessarily to have precedence of every one else . Far from me be any suoh intentions ; but I do venture to think that , all other things being equal , he ought to have the preference over outsiders—i . e ., if

Masonry means anything . No doubt many of our private Patrons , of whom we have a goodly number occupying high positions in the Craft , have relatives and personal friends whose interests they very justly feel bound to consider before those of anyone else ; but , after allowing for this , it

Correspondence.

would be interesting to know how many of them , when appointing some one who has neither olaim nor connection , ever think it worth their while to seek for a suitable nominee amongst their Brethren of

the Mystic Tie , though a little inquiry on their part would soon furnish them with the names of various good men and good Masons , only lacking preferment through want of persona ! interest , and not from any fault of their own .

Then , with regard to public Patrons . The present Lord Chancellor is , I believe , a member of the Craft . What of his preferments ? It is commonly supposed that the objeot of placing so large a number of livings at the disposal of this exalted functionary was to enablo him to promote the interests of thoso clergy who have no private or

episcopal influence . As a matter of fact , this patronage is almost universally dispensed as a reward for political services , or to oblige influential private or political friends ; but , as Masons , we may surely fairly look to a Masonic Lord Chaucellor to partially , at all events , break through this self-imposed rule , and thereby earn the

gratitude and respect of a large number of his poorer brethren . For myself , I can only say that , after about 25 years' aotive work as a Mason , while I cannot but acknowledge the truth and beauty of its

teachings , in theory , I am becoming sadly awakened to the fact that ( with the exception of the support rendered to our Masonio Charities ) there is little beauty and less truth in the practice of the tenets and principles of our Order . Fraternally yours , P . M . P . Z . P . P . G . C . 18 ° , & c , 20 th February 1888 .

OUTSIDE TITLES IN FREEMASONRY

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I desire to thank your correspondent " ETIQUETTE " for the advice he kindly offers me iu the letter yon published last week , and I assure him I will take it to heart . He must , however , excuse me if I say his reply is no answer to my

query ; he treats the subject purely as a matter of etiquette , while I desire a Masonio opinion . I do not mind using the titles to which I referred outside of Freemasonry , and I think I am as particular in honouring them as any one could desire ; but I wish to know if it is right to bring them into our Lodges ? and , if so , where we should

draw the line . I think , Bro . Editor , you are the cause of my publishing my ignorance to the world , as it was you who first objected to "Bro . Churchwarden This , Bro . Town Councillor That , or Brother Vestryman So-and-So . " Under these ciroumstances , I hope I may yet be satisfied , through your columns , as to what is right for me to do in my position as I . G .

DIBDIN'S GRAVE

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I think very many of your readers must be interested in what you published last week in reference to Dibdin ' s grave , and perhaps there are some of them who would like to be associated with any movement started to provide a monument

for so worthy an Englishman . Personally I would contribute a trifle to bring about the desired object , and other of your readers might also like to do so ; but considering the very many and severe claims Masonry has on its resources , on behalf of the living , I do not think the subject is one which ought to be taken up bv Freemasons

as a body , although it is one with which many Craftsmen might sympathise . As our good Bro . Cumberland—whom I have had the pleasure of meeting—is taking some interest iu the matter , ho may perhaps keep us posted , if we approve , through your columns , as to what is going on in reference to the memorial . Yours faithfully , A LOVER OF DIBDIN ' S SONGS .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

HOLT CROSS PRECEPTORY

AT a meeting at the Huyshe Masonio Temple , Plymouth , on Friday , the 17 th inst ., Sir Knight E . B . Thompson , M . D ., was installed as Eminent Preceptor for the year ensuing . The ceremony was ably rendered by the Very Eminent Sir Knight Eev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., P . E . P . P . G . Prior of Devon 31 ° . Officers were invested

as follows : —E . Sir Knights W . F . Westcott P . E . P ., W . Derry Constable , Fritz P . Eegar Marshal , Wm . Whittley Prelate , W . F . Westcott Treasurer , G . S . Strode Lowe Sub-Marshal , G . Whittley Registrar , R . Lavera Capt . of Lines , R . Pengelly Standard Bearer , J . Gidley Gnard , W . H . Phillips Equerry .

THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS . —Those who freqnenfc the Zoological Gardens , whether on the fashionable Sunday afternoons or week days , will learn with satisfaction that tho refreshment department will henceforward be placed iu the capable hands of Messrs . Spier 3 and Pond . Many children are taken to visit the gardens , and they

are naturally clamorous for buns , cak « s , and other dainties of a like nature . It is most important then that the sweets and refreshments supplied should be absolutely pure and wholesome , aud the

reputation of the firm is a guarantee that such will now be the case at the Zoological Gardens . Special attention , too , will be given to the beverage and the concomitants of Afternoon Teas , and these it is believed will be very fashionable at " The Zoo " during the ensuing season .