Correspondence

CORRESPONDENCE

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must hear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , lut as a guarantee of good faith .

BEO . MACCALLA'S LIFE OF DANIEL COX .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR . SIR AND BRO . —I sincerely thank you for publishing , 29 th September , " Criticism Criticised , " bnt as I havo read , since mailing the above , Bro . MacCalla ' s Life of Cox , permit mo therefore to make somo remark upon the biography . First . —Bro . MacCalla says , " Original materials for his [ Cox's ]

full biography are not lacking , " & c . ; and ho afterwards proves , from tho Records of tho Grand Lodge of England , that Bro . Cox attended that Grand Lodgo on 29 th January 1731 . Tho next mention of Cox Avas in 1734 , Avhen ho Avas appointed Associate Chief Justice of NOAV Jersey . NOAV , I Avant to know , Avhero Bro . Cox was between 1731 and 1734 ? Surely tho advocates of tho Cox Philadelphia theory

ought to prove , at least , that Bro . Cox returned to America ere the time limited by his Grand Master's Deputation expired , or in other Avords , that Cox returned before 24 th June 1732 . And , second . —Bro . MacCalla describes Daniel Cox as Commander of tho Forces in West Jersey ; as a member of tho Council ; Speaker of tho Assembly ; and Associate Chief Justice of tho Supremo Court ;

as the author of a book printed in 1702 , 1727 and 1741 ; a statesman , a man of Avealth , and " a leader of men as well as of Freemasons . " Bro . Cox died in Burlington , New Jersey , 25 th April 1731 , and was buried thero beside his wife , Avho died in 1725 . The distance from Burlington to Philadelphia is less than tAventy miles ; the news of tho death of so prominent a personage must have reached

Philadelphia at least within a Aveek or a fortnight after it happened , and Benjamin Franklin , tho editor of tho " Pennsylvania Gazette , " must doubtless havo heard of it . Now , if Cox was the founder of Freemasonry in Philadelphia , Franklin must have been intimately acquainted Avith him . In that case , some evidence Avould have been left of such intimacy , bnt the ten volumes of the lifo and letters of

Franklin , by Jarcd Sparks , contain no reference whatever to Daniel Cox . Supposing , however , that Cox had had nothing to do with Masonry in Philadelphia , bnt the mere fact of his having been appointed G . M . of some part of America had been known to Benjamin Franklin , we Avould naturally expect , from such a zealous Freemason as Franklin

Avas , that ho would have paid tho last tribute of respect in his news , paper to tho memory of tho deceased Grand Master , Bro . Daniel Cox , but it seems that Franklin took no notice whatever of Bro . Cox ' s demise . Our Pennsylvanian brethren have donbtless ere this examined thoroughly tho Pennsylvania Gazette , but neither tho " Dedication Memorial , Bro . MacCalla's pamphlet on the Masonic Mother Question ,

nor his articles in the Keystone , furnish any intimation of Franklin's notieo of the demise of Daniel Cox . The inference , therefore , is , that Cox had had nothing to do Avith Philadelphia Masonry , and that Benjamin Franklin did not even knoAV of Cox's appointment as Grand Master at tho time of Cox ' s death , in 1739 . The futile efforts of our Pennsylvania brethren to prove the Philadelphia Masonic Mothership , reminds mo of a scene in Cinderella ,

Avhich I once saw performed at Covent Garden Theatre . The story of Cinderella is too familiar to need description ; suffice it to say , that tho scene I refer to Avas where tho sister Avas trying with all her might to force her foot into tho glass slipper , at the same time , manifesting the painful torture she Avas being subjected-to , exclaim , ing , at tho same timo : " It is all in ; all in , my dear ! yes , all ! all ! all !"—but , with a long breath and desponding look , she added— " all —lut the heel . " Fraternally and respectfully yours , Boston , U . S . JACOB NOKTON , 12 th October 1877 .

KNIFE AND FORK MASONS .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BRO . —Yon have more than once alluded to the oft heard insinuations of the outer world , that Freemasonry was simply an association for the purposes of eating and drinking . It is to be hoped that tho very munificent gifts of late mado by the Craft to objects of national charity , as Avell as the handsome sums annuall y

conti ibuted by Lodges as well as individual brethren , towards the support of the Masonic Institutions , have gone a long way towards disabusing the public mind of this erroneous idea . Still I fear there are many Masonic Lodges whose members have entirely forgotten the objects for which they exist , and Avhich still furnish too good a ground for the allegations of detractors . The other clay there was

put into my hands tho balance sheet of a certain Lodge , not a very old one , but manifestly in a very prosperous condition , financially speaking , and I will , exempli gratia , analyse its contents . I find that tho income of tho Lodge for the year ( excluding a balance of £ 142 brought over from tho preceding

year ) Avas £ 400 . The expenditure ( excluding £ 137 balance carried forward to next year ) was £ 405 . Out of this only £ 50 Avas expended in " relief , " £ 35 went in presentation jewels , & c , £ 195 in eating and drinking , and tho rest in Lodge expenses . Of course I do not know Avhat may have been privately subscribed amongst the members for the Masonic Charities . There is no

Correspondence

mention of any contribution from the Lodge funds . Surely this is an instance in which tho entire scope and aim of the Society has been lost sight of . The other day a brother , who had been staying in tho South of England , told me of a Lodge he had visited where a banquet was given at tho expense of tho Lodge funds on the occasion

of every regular meeting . Of course no one has any right to object to any body of mon feasting at their own expense as often as they choose , but it seems to mo that to appropriate Lodge funds to tho purpose is an error fatal to the reputation ancf prosperity of Froomasonry . I am , yours fraternally , T . B . WHYTEHEAD , 1338 , 23 G , 1611 . York , 25 th October 1877 .

LODGE FUNDS . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —W . M . asks if Lodgo Funds may bo appropriated to the payment of Founders' jewels ? Some of yonr readers may knoAV Avhat these aro . I havo hoard of Loclgo jewels , and havo seen a list in tho Book of Constitutions , and I have also heard of P . M . 's jewels ,

Centenary , and Royal Arch jewels ; but must acknowledge my ignorance of Founders' jewels . Thero are , unfortunately , many Masons who seom to delight in decking their honourable carcases with every conceivable device , adorning ( or disfiguring ) themselves by wearing Master Masons' and other bastard jewels , amongst which

category I suppose Founders' jewels must be classed . Founders ' jewels would be private and personal ; and would , were the brother " properly clothed , " havo to be removed prior to his entrance into the Lodge . It Avould , to say tho least , seem strange and anomalous wero the

Lodge to pay for jewels which the laws of the Craft would not alloiv to bo worn , and I should challenge tho Lodgo accounts if they possessed any items for such jewels . Why should not the Founders provide Avatch chains , rings , lockets , & c . out of Lodge funds ? Happy thought J I am one of the founders of a Lodge , and Avant a set of

gold studs . Would it he right , Mr . Editor , to take from tho funds of the Lodge to provide " Founders' Studs ? " Perhaps the argumentum ad absurdum will help your correspondent . It seems to mo , Sir , that if our brethren would seek tho adornment of their minds more , " and that of their persons less , the outlook on the rapid progress of Freemasonry would be more satisfactory than it is . Yonrs truly and fraternally , REYNAKDO , P . M .

SEVEN DAYS' NOTICE . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —At my Lodge recently , a brother was proposed as a joining member at seven clays' notice . I demurred to tho ballot being taken , and argued that tho Constitutions provided that only in the case of an initiation a Lodge of Emergency could bo called at seven days '

notice , or that seven days notice could be given prior to the rcular Lodge ^ meeting , but that there could bo no emergency or need of haste in a joining brother . Kindly let me have your opinion whether I am right or wrong . Mind , I do not want to know whether it is done or not . We Masons seem , too often , to think that repeated violations of the law make it less heinous . But such is not the opinion of " AN ANTE - PENULTIMATE PAST MASTER , " 23 rd October 1877 .

Masonic Football Club V. St. Philips' Rovers.

MASONIC FOOTBALL CLUB v . ST . PHILIPS' ROVERS .

THE above match was played on the Rovers' ground , at Battorsea Park , in the presence of a very fair muster of spectators , Avho were rewarded by seeing a well contested game . The Rovers won the toss , and elected to kiok off , the School having choice of goals . The leather was put in motion at 3 . 50 , and was quickly returned to the centre of the ground by Mr . Gardner . After many good scrimmages ,

Hunt , who was conspicuous throughout the game for his running , got away and secured a try for the Rovers ; the kick from the place by Featherstone , however , being a failure . From this time till the conelusion , four other tries were made , only one of which resulted in a goal . Some good runs Avere made by Mr . Brocklehurst , Mr . Gardner and Ellis , although these were marred through a predilection of the

Rovers for collaring by the jersey . Among the forwards Mr . Humphrey and Godsmark were conspicuous . The match resulted in a victory for the Rovers by 1 goal and 4 tries to nothing . ROVERS' TEAM . —Hunt ( Capt . ) and Featherstone , half-backs ; Sparpool and Daniels , quarter-back ; Jackson , Rutter , Meachin , Adkinson ,

Pearce , Woodard , Tarplett , Dyson , Grey , forwards . MASONIC TEAM . —Hart , back ; Gardner and Brocklehurst , halfback ; Ellis andPai'ker , quarter-back ; Godsmark ( Capt . ) , Humphrey , Scurr , Sparkcs , Davies , Parrett , Molinoaux , Howard , Wood , East , land .

We regret to have to announce the death of Mrs Frederick Binckes , -which sad event occurred on Monday evening last . Members of the Craft will naturally sympathise with Bro . Binckes in his bereavement .