Correspondence

CORRESPONDENCE

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 .

POWERS AND PRIVILEGES OF MASTERS .

To the Editor of THE F REEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR , —Unhappy " W . M . Regispons ! " He has received chastisement at the hands of " Primus , " and ought to be , if he is not , in fear and trembling . He asked a plain question , to which you , Sir , at all events , thought it worth while to give a plain answer j but the desperate " Primus , " who , for aught I know to the contrary , may bo

half a dozen indignant W . M . ' s rolled into one , haughtily advises your unfortunate correspondent " to seek to do his duty iu the high office in whioh he is placod , and not to attempt to shirk his work by putting it upon the Wardens' shoulders , before they are , by the training of a good example , fitted for the task . " Oh ! dear ! what can the matter

be ? To be beaton for a harmless query , to bo pummelled to a jelly for expressing an opinion ! For my part , I shall consider the requisite " thrice , " before I seek for information , or , with your permission , Bay what I think in the columns of your estimable journal . No , i'faith , my noble " Primus , " you area little too terrible !

Is this dread " Primus" whom I see before me , With cudgel in his hand ? Oh ! let me 'scape thee : — I hurt thee not , and yet I fear theo still . Art thou not , awful brother , sensible

To feeling , that thou smite ' st me terribly , Because I asked just a simple question ? I see thee yet—in fear and trembling too , Lest all too eager curiosity May bring me overwhelming chastisement .

Joking apart , J saw nothing in " W . M . Regispon s" letter suggestive of " deviation from the ancient customs , and established landmarks ; " nothing about a W . M ., who might allow one of his Wardens to utter for him the words used in our ceremonies , not being " up to his work sufficiently to teach them ly his example ;"

nothing about the "W . M . shirking his work . " I saw a simple question , which seemed to me reasonable ; a statement of fact which was undeniable ; and the expression of a hopo that the views which he had hitherto held were wrong ; as then , if occasion offered , a W . M . might give his Wardens " an opportunity of learning their future duties . " Surely thero was nothing in this to warrant so tremendous

a castigation as " Primus" has administered . Yours fraternally , COML'S .

FREEMASONS AT ISSUE

To the Editor O / T FREEJIASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIB . AND BROTHER , —I do not think that the statement of " THE DEFENDANT ' SOLICITOR , " in your last issue , places the case , which was recently brought before Mr Justice Fiefd , and held over , at his suggestion , for reference to tho G . M ., in a moro favourable

light . He says the P . G . M . " still ha 3 the matter before him for his consideration , and that he has not declined to adjudicate . " All the greater reason , in my humble opinion , why the " Freemasons at Issue" shonld have waited for the decision of the proper Masonic tribunal before rushing heedlessly into a court of law . Nor do I

think his description of the facts make it more apparent that the case was less worthy of being decided Masonically . He says , " The fact is , the action is brought , upon the Lodge summons , against the W . M ., the Secretary , and a third brother , " & c . I labour under the disadvantage of having no legal knowledge to back up my view ; but , as

a matter of common sense , it strikes me that a Lodge summons is intended for private circulation only , that its contents are essentially of a confidential character , aud that nothing respecting their nature should ever be divulged to anybody outside the precincts of the Lodge . Whatever the difference , ib was purely and simply Masonic , and it shonld have been settled before that tribunal which is provided by

the laws and constitutions of Freemasonry . I do not say that a Freemason has not the right to invite the decision of our courts of law re any squabble he may , unfortunately , be engaged in with another Freemason ; but , as far as I havo been able to gather , Mr . Justice Field acted very properly when ho stopped thi 3 particular case , in order that it might be referred to the Masonic authorities . Fraternally yours , London , 25 th June 1877 . No LATTER , HUT A MASON .

We have to acknowledge receipt of Cook ' s West of England Tours , arranged by Messrs . T . Cook and Son , Lndgate-circua . It contains programmes of a new system of Tours , embracing all the points of interest from Bristol to the Land ' s End , the magnificent coast scenery of North aud South Devon , Cornwall , and the Scilly Idles . All needful information is furnished about railways , steamers , coaches , and private vehicles ; times of arrival aud departure , fares , aud the like . The

principal towns iu the district are described and illustrated , mention being likewise made of the principal excursions in their vicinity . There is also a list of the first-class hotels at which Messrs . Cook and Suns' coupons—uniform rate of eleven shillings a day for meat breakfast , dinner , plain tea , bed , and attendance—will be accepted . These little ' Tourist Guide Books are very useful , and intending visitors to the West of England will do well to procure a copy of this itinerary .

Leyton College, Essex.

LEYTON COLLEGE , ESSEX .

SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT BY THE PUPILS .

THE question of Masonic innovation , so far as tho presence of ladies and non-Masons at our fostivo gatherings id concerned , is fast becoming or . e which will require grave consideration from such of our brethren who deem that , tho slightest knowledge of tho proceedings at our meetings will lead to the destruction of the Masonic edifice . Another phase of this , in our opinion , judicious innovation is , what may bo termed semi-Masouic gatherings . The

proceedings of somo of these it has been our pleasure to record , and certainly , if wo open our doors to the pnb ! ic , nothing is fairer than that wo should expect the public to open their doors to us . Anions the latter class , tho periodica , ! gatherings at Leyton College deserve a place , for there we are always sure of a true Masonic welcome from Bro . Wesifield , and wo are likewise certain of meeting , on thoso

special occasions , several well-known brethren . Part I . of tho programme on Friday , 22 nd inst ., commenced with a piano duet ( Eco di Napoli ) , which was admirably played by Miss E . Westfield aud Mr . W . F . Bradsbaw ; this was followed by somo capital songs , choruses , and piano solos , by Masters A . Di-lves , J . Slater , Brown , J . Cecil Jackson . H . Milton , Miss E . Westfield ( who

is fast becoming a most accomplished executant ) , Mr . Brailshaw , & c . Part II . comprised no lotis than fourte n items , prominent among which we may mention tho " Bird Waltz , " played by H . Brown ; " Nothing More , " sung by D . Bartlett ; " H . ppy be thy Dreams , " by J . Cecil Jacksou , & c . A recitation ( Tain O'Shauter ) was well given bv W . Walter * , although ho exhibited somo alight

amount of nervousness . J . Cecil Jackson was admirablo iu "Tho Yarn of tho Nancy Bell . " This part of tho evening ' s proceedings passed off very successfully , and clearly demonstrated that the musical tutor ( Mr . Bradshuw ) - conducts the training of tho boys in an efficient manner . By special desire , two of the pnpils sang " What are the wild waves saying , " and rendered it in a most creditable manner .

The specimens of drawing exhibited showed that tht ? pupils are making great progress in this art , and proro that tho efforts of the masters aro directed in tho right course . Wo especially desire to mention the efforts of Masters Delves , Webster , Milton aud Waters in Mechanical Drawing ; Masters Sayer , Slater , Wilson and Waters

in Architectural Drawing ; and Masters Waters , Delves aud Webster in Crayon Drawing . Many of these specimens aro above the average looked for from such young gentlemen . Those of the visitors who were not compelled to return by train spent a few hours in dancing , and universally expressed the pleasure they had derived from their visit .

Jamaica.

JAMAICA .

1 . HE installation of Master and Officers of tho Phoenix Lodge , Port Royal , took placo on 23 rd April , when tho following were dul y installed : — Wor . L . 0 . Hollon .... Master . Bro . G . P . Myers .... Senior Warden . „ D . Wilson .... Junior Warden .

,, J . & . Campbell- - - - Secretary . „ J . Thompson .... Treasurer . „ J . Campion .... Senior Deacon . „ R . Greenaway .... Junior Deacon .

„ J . Allen .... Inner Guard . „ F . W . Holleu .... T yler . The Installing Officer being W . Bro . 0 . Delgado jnn ., assisted by Bros . Alvareiga , Phconixj Ferren , of Glenlyon ; Suerlojh , Royal ; afterwards the brethren repaired to a bauquct and retired at a late hour .

No meetings have been held for tho Glenlyon Lodge ( Scotch ) , holding at Kingston , for some mouths , the W . Master refuses to call any meetings ou account of some disagreeableuess with the members . The members of the Sussex Lodge , holcliug at Kingstou , have purchased very large aud extensive premises , well adapted for a Lodge Room ; the necessary alterations will shortly be made .

No officers for the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter for Jamaica have been appoiuted for tho year . At Kingston the following are the officers : — Royal Lodge . - . Wor . W . Andrews jun . Sussex Lodge - - - ,, N . R . Lee . Friendly Lodge ... „ E . J . Brandon . Glenlyon Lodge ( Scotch ) - „ B . M . Dias .

At Port Royal : —¦ Phconix Lodge . . . Wor . J . C . Hollar . Royal Chapter . . Comp . J . Garsia P . Z . Sussex Chapter ... „ J . Francis , P . Z . Friendly Chapter - - „ J . J . G . Lewis P . Z .. Port Royal : — Phceuix Chapter - „ 0 . Delgado sen . P . Z .

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" A suitable gift from a Master to his Lodge . " NEATLY BOUND IN CLOTH , PRICE 8 s 6 d EACH . THE FREEMASON'SCHHONICLE . VOLUMES I ., II ., in ., IV . and V . Sent , Carriage Paid , to aay address in the United Kingdom , on receip t ol Cheque or P . 0 . 0 . London : —W . W . MORGAN , 67 Barbican , E . C . Cloth Cases for Binding the Volumes of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE can be had from the Offices , price Is t 5 d each ,