Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

— : o : — GRAND LODGE HONOURS .

with the utmost diffidence , to say a few words in reply to the manifesto with which I have been honoured . Yonr readers who have read Brother GottheiPs remarkable effusion hare donbtess not taken the trouble to turn over a file of the CHRONICLE with the view of ascertaining how far he has correctly expressed my views , in tho fluent string of invective which fills more than a closely

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I regret extremely that my letter on Grand Lodge Honours has had the effect of disturbing tho equanimity of your able correspondent , Brother Gottheil . My remarks were , I apprehend , quite legitimate and fair ; and as freedom of discussion has not yet been suppressed throughout tho fraternity , I venture , though

printed column of yonr valuable journal , and I am therefore constrained to tell them that I have no desire to replace the present governing body by a Red Republican administration , that I am not a traitor , and have not been preaching treason or rebellion , bnt have simply expressed views which , I believe , are held by many inde . pendent and thoughtful brothers . As an Englishman , I am not

inclined to give up my privilege of free speech , even at the behest of so distinguished a dogmatist as my critic , who seems determined to thrust his opinions down my throat whether I consent or not . My remarks wero directed against a system of government which I regard as a despotism , and , notwithstanding the quotation with which I had been favoured from the pen of tho author of those

" Masonic Portraits " which are so valuable a feature of your paper , I am still disposed to say that our " popular" government is a mere fiction . The members of Grand Lodge have , it is true , full power to accept or reject any proposition which may be set forth on the agenda paper ; but they are absolutely powerless to influence the nomination or the appointment of Grand Lodgo officers , who are

selected by a process which has been frankly exposed by Bro . Gottheil himself . He tacitly admits that the social position of candidates is always taken into consideration by our rulers , and he draws a singular picture of a condition of things which might arise if somo brother of high integrity , profoundly versed in the ritnal of the Craft , a subscriber to tho Charities , but ignorant of the " manners and

usages t > f refined society , " were placed in high office . The usages of refined society aro then a sine qua non . A man who cannot walk through the " Lancers" or " Caledonians" with ease and grace , and who cannot talk nonsense to brainless young ladies , is , in Brother Gottheil ' s opinion , not fitted for the dais of Grand Lodge , however great his Masonic knowledge may be . This admission , coming from

such a champion , of the existing state of things , is truly refreshing . Bnt I do not know on what authority my critic makes this remarkable statement . In what Book of Constitutions shall I find it laid down that the Grand Lodge Officers must , of necessity , be Brummells or D'Orsay ' s ? Were the leather-aproned Master Masons of the Middle Ages skilled in the etiquette of Court ? My reading tells me that

they were rough , sturdy men , who were skilled in the science of construction , and whose pay was too scanty to permit them to indulge in silken doublets and point lace . But Masonry in these days has become superfine , and knowledge of the Craft must be held in strict subordination to that superior knowledge which mnst bo learned in

tho social university of May Fair . I thank Brother Gottheil for his amiable frankness . It is something gained for the cause of truth when a man is bold enough to preach a doctrine of pure " caste . " Controversy is rendered easy indeed when our opponent is willing to confess his real creed before the whole world . Half our differences

arise from pare misapprehension of each other ' s meaning , but , thanks to Brother Gottheil , I and those who think with me are now informed , with some show of authority , that my charge against Grand Lodge was a just one . Rugged aspirants for honours must begin to polish np their manners . Young Masons who are ambitious must

study dancing nnder Professor Fandango , and people who never had a grandfather mnst go to Herald's College for coat-armour . Anything in the shape of arms will , no doubt , satisfy our chiefs , and even a band sinister , for lack of something more respectable , will be better than no blazon at all .

Brother Gottheil taunts me because I have not yet put my views into practice . He asks way I did not vote apainst the election of H . R . H . tho Prince of Wales . The question would be pertinent enough if I had declared myself opposed to his appointment ; I dealt with principles in tho letter which has excited my critic ' s ire , and did not think it imcumbent upon me to speak of individuals . Perhaps , had

I done so , he would have learned that I yield to no member of the fraternit y in respect for and loyalty to the Grand Master . That I have not yet sought an occasion to put my views into practice has nothing to do with the question . If I am right in holding that Grand Lodge honours are reserved for a select circle , and after Brother Gottheil ' s remarkable confirmation of my opinion I cannot have the smallest doubt , my silence in my place in the great council of the

fraternity is of little account . I ' . in not quixotic enough to fight alone in the face of apathetic r . mi indifferent brothers who care little for the issue I have raised . I am content to do my best to form a healthy public opinion , if that be possible , amongst the members of Grand Lodge . In my little circle I shall seek to restore feeling to the apathetic , and shall aim at compelling the indifferent to throw off their neutrality , My critic in au obacure sentence

appears to stumble over the words I have placed in italics . If he has confounded their meaning I would venture to refer him to Johnson ' s Dictionary which will at once set him right . That , however , is a small matter , but it is by no means a small matter to find a writer possessing so much strength and knowledge as Bro . Gottheil hopelessly stumbling over his own figures of speech . He likens me to Peter

the Hermit , because I have hitherto remained dumb , and appears to forget that his illustration is a most unfortunate one . Peter the Hermit contrived to make his voice heard alt over Europe , and perhaps the time may come when I , in emulation of his zeal and earnestness , may preach a crusade against the oligarchy of Grand Lodge .

But I am called upon now to enlighten my critic upon tho first principle of Masonry , and I shall do so in very few words . I hold that equality lies at the very root of our organisiation ; as Masons we aro , in theory at least , a groat democracy . That we are so in fact has been proclaimed over and over again to the outside world . Theoretically , it is held that any Mason may rise to the highest

position in the Order . But practically , and this is the ground of my complaint , the " common herd" are thrust aside , however deserving they may be , while gentlemen of fortune or position are pushed to the front . I demand for tho fraternity a voice in tho selection or the appointment of Grand Lodge officers . I care not for the sophistries of those who pretend that the present system

works welt . The present system exists in flagrant violation of the first principle of tho Order . It gives ns highly ornamental rulers it is true , but if these rulers are too high and mighty to permit plebeians to share the sweets of the Masonic Olympus , the sooner we return to common sense and equality the better it will be for the permanent welfare of tho Craft . I am , Sir , Yours fraternally , 22 nd March . ENQUIRER .

Smart Practice.

SMART PRACTICE .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am desirous of laying before your readers a curious instance that has lately come under my notice with regard to tho admission of members into a Craft Lodge , and to ask their opinion on the transaction . At the regular meeting , a fortnight since , of a certain Lodge iu a

cathedral city in the north of England , threo candidates wero duly proposed and seconded , and last week the summons gave notice that on Monday ( 20 th March ) tte ballot would be taken for tho three candidates nominated . In tho meantime it had been intimated to tho W . M . that if the names were submitted to tho ballot they would be blackballed , and that it would be better they should be withdrawn .

The time of meeting of the Lodgo in question , as announced on the snmmons , is 6 . 30 p . m ., but for years past it has always been understood that 7 p . m . should bo tho hour of Lodge opening , and during an experience of several years of membership I have never known ono instance of a brother turning up at tho Lodgo room before 7 p . m . On this occasion , the W . M ., on receiving the intimation with regard

to the objections of certain brethren , set off to hunt np certain trusty henchmen , and arranged to meet half a dozeu of them punctually at 6 . 30 ( the Secretary being one of the trusty ones ) , at the Lodge , open the Lodge , and hurry over the ballot before any of the rest of the members were likely to be on the spot . Accordingly , this was done , although in spite of the punctuality

trick , one black ball appeared in the box . However , as according to the bye-laws of the Lodge in question two black balls are required for a negative , tho three candidates wore declared duly admitted , tho Lodgo was closed , and a number of brethren who turned up as usual about 7 o ' clock were astonished to hear that all was over aud that they might have spared themselves the trouble of coming at all .

This cunons bit of smart practice took place in a Lodge numbering over 150 members , the only Lodge in a city of 50 , 000 inhabitants , and I should like to know whether you and your readers think that the conduct of the W . M . and the brethren who assisted him to open the Lodge by previous agreement as described was Masonic or not . As to the future of such a Lodge , I will leave you to imagine it . Yours fraternally . ONE WHO LIKES FAIR PLAV ,

The Marquis Of Ripon.

THE MARQUIS OF RIPON .

To the Editor O / T HE FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —May ¦ : ¦ k tho Secretaries of the Boys ' and Girls'Schools , through tho m _ . x an of your columns , why tho name of tho Marquis of Hip m is retained iu thn lists of V ' ioe-Patrons of thoso Institutions ? The noblo Mnrqnis has abandoned out

Order , and long since resigned his position oi' Trustee . By rooaitiing his name the Secretaries , or whom it may concern , are houourin " a man who has deliberately dishonoured us . Yours fraternally , « Q . "

PRIZE COMPETITIONS FOR CHILDREN . —The groat sucee ^ which attended tho recent Doll Competitions , in which a scries of < M-i 7 . es was given by tho Editor of "LITTLE FOLKS" for the best sets of Dolls' Clothes , has induced the proprietors to h M ( ivc new

competitions during the present year , in each of which valuable prizes will bo offered . The Competitions will be for ( 1 ) Wool Work , ( 2 ) Lace and other Fancy Work , ( 3 ) Scrap Albums , ( 4 ) Collections of Dried Sea Weeds , ( 5 ) Dried Flowers , Ferns , & o . Particulars of these competitions will appear in the April Part ,