Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

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

CEAFT : PEOVINOIAL . LODGE OF FREEDOM , No . 77 .

THE usual monthly meeting of this Lodge was held on Monday , at the Public Hall , Gravesend , when Bro . Joseph Davis the new W . M . presided , and opened the Lodge in due course . Owing to the death of the late Father of the Lodge , Bro . George B . Sharland P . Prov . S . G . W ., the pedestals and ornaments were decorated with crape , and the Brethren wore Masonic mourning . After the minutes had been read the ballot was taken and proved unanimous in favour of the re-admission into the Lodge of Bro . George Frederick Newman , a former member . Messrs . Albert Edward Tong and Charles Thomas Gibbins , who had been previously balloted for , were then admitted and regularly initiated into the mysteries and privileges of the Order . Bro . William Henry Vickers was passed to the second degree . Both the ceremonies were performed by Bro . Davis , and the Charge to the Initiates was delivered by Bro . George Masters . It was pleasant to notice that the duties of Deacons were , in the absence of the regular Officers , undertaken by two old Past Masters , and the work altogether was very creditably rendered . Upon the termination of the proceedings the Brethren partook of supper .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

. u . WHY SHOULD LONDON WAIT ? To the Editor of THE FBEEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —A vast number of Masons will agree with the sentiment expressed in your last issue upon " Self Government for London . " As you say , the question is no new one , but has been advocated by many

Correspondence.

scores of " working " Masons for years past . It would , however , appear that the subject is unpalatable to the Board of General Purposes , mosc of whom , are already in possession of the purple , either Metropolitan or Provincial . It is nevertheless a matter upon which very strong opinions are expressed , and the Board would do well to give it their serious consideration . It is very galling to those who devote so much of their tiuio to promoting the principles of the Craft to find their efforts unrecognised , while ID is positively absurd to see quite young country Masons sporting the purple of their

Provinces . I remember reading in the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE a few weeks ago that in one of the oldest and best working Lodges in Loudon the only person who enjoyed the privilege of wearing the purple was the Tyler , who was a Provincial Officer . Surely that is " reductio ad absurdum " with a vengeance . There is a Lodge in London which might with great propriety take the initiative in setting the ball rolling . I refer to the Jubilee Masters ' Lodge , the members of which are all Past or Present Masters . But perhaps it is a case of who shall bell the cat ? I am , yours fraternally , P . M . AND D . C .

OLD MASONIC ENGEAVING . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BRO ., —I have recently purchased an old Masonic engraving ( steel ) , presumably executed in the early years of this century , and containing no less than one hundred and twenty emblems peculiar to Freemasonry . Can any reader tell me its exact age ?

It was " Printed and Published for B . A . Neely , 41 Great Jackson Street , Hulme , by John Bradshaw , 6 Church Street , Manchester , " and is " Dedicated to the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Freemasons . " Fraternally yours , CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D ., F . B . S . L . 48 Hanover Square , Bradford .

In view of the necessity found for the appointment of a Committee by the Grand Lodge of Scotland to inquire , and report , on essentials in Lodge workings , it is interesting to notice that the Grand Lodges of New South Wales , South Australia , and Tasmania have each arrived at a uniform

system for their territories , and that New Zealand is taking steps in the same direction . It is not , however , so much uniform " working" in each Grand Jurisdiction that is wanted , although that is certainly an improvement on the present condition of things , but an agreed upon , recognised working in Lodges under any Grand Lodge . To secure this

a Committee or an Association of Grand Lodges would be necessary , and such a Committee should not be ritualists , but historians , who would confine their labours to the discovery of the oldest recognised and complete working , whether found in England , Ireland , Scotland , or America . — " The Mallet , " in " Glasgow Evening News . "

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Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution AGED FREEMASONS ANDMDOWS OF FREEMASONS . Offices—4 FREEMASONS' HALL , GREAT QUEEN STREET , LONDON , W . C . Grand Patron and President—H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., & c , M . W . G . M . Treasurer—JOHN A . FARNFIELD , ESQ . Bankers—LONDON & WESTMINSTER BANK , LTD . ( BLOOMSBURY BRANCH ) , HIGH HOLBORN , W . C . Upwards of 1672 Annuitants hatte received the benefits of the Institution since its foundation , 210 Men and 250 WidoWs are Annuitants at the present time ; 28 Widows are receiving half their late husband ' s annuity in addition . AMOUNT PAID IN ANNUITIES £ 17 , 016 . The 59 th Anniversary Festival will be held in February 1901 , under the very distinguished Presidency of THE RIGHT HON . THE EARL OF WARWICK , Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master of England , R . W . PROV . G . M . & F ESSEX , Brethren are earnestly solicited to accept the Stewardship upon this most important occasion and to kindly forward their names , as soon as possible , with full particulars to JAMES TERRY , PATRON , P . G . S . B ., Secretary , 4 FREEMASONS' HALL , LONDON ^ W . C ,