The Office Of Grand Treasurer.

THE OFFICE OF GRAND TREASURER .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .

DEAR SIR BROTHER , —I shall feel obliged if yon can find room for fche following in your next issue : —I havo heard for some time past that brethren who aro going about canvassing votes for the office of G . Treasurer are reporting that my nominee , Bro . Cama , had withdrawn

his name ; this is corroborated by your contemporary , who says that ho hears , on what appears to bo good authority , that my nominee , Bro . Cama , intends to retire from tho contest . Will yon allow mo to contradict these reports ? which are circulated for the purpose of inducing tho brethren to promise their votes to tho other candidates ;

and who , bufc for these reports , would perhaps have shown thei r appreciation of the . good works of Bro . Cama by endeavouring to secure him the honourable position to which be aspires . Having given this denial to the reports , the matter must be left in the hands of the brethren , as neither Bro . Cama nor I shall canvass the voters .

But as an extract from the Freemason has been printed and sent to the Masters of Lodges by the Provincial brethren who are assisting Bro . Woodall , showing his support of tho Craft , I may shortly recapitulate some of the good deeds of Bro . Cama . He is Patron of our three Institutions—the Old People , tho Boys , and the Girls ; one oufc

fche only three Vice-Patrons of tho Mark Benevolent Institution , whilst Mrs . Cama is the only Patroness . She will also , during tho approaching Festival , be a Patroness of all the three above named Institutions , of which tho Secretaries were aware before the candidates for the Grand Treasurership were announced .

I am , Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , THOS . CLARK , W . M . 1178 . 26 th January 1885 .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your correspondent " A C OUNTRY EDITOR " has accurately expressed the feeling of surprise which will pervade the minds of many brethren by the arbitrary resolution which was carried by a small majority at the recent Provincial Grand

Lodge held at Exeter , " that no publication of the meetings of Freemasons or the business transacted therein shall be permitted without the sanction of the P . G . M . for the time being , in writing , and that no publication of the business of a private Lodge be allowed unless with the approval of the majority of the brethren in open Lodge assembled .

Speaking from a wide experience , would you permit me to state that probably in no part of Great Britain does Masonry flourish more ^ win ^ ha Wesfe of En " land ' ancl whilst paying dno deference to the K . W . P . G . Masters , Lord Ebrington ancl Lord Mount Edgcumbe , for their zeal and ability , fche proud position of Freemasonry in the West is

attributable not only to the great number of distinguished men of the Army , Navy , learned societies , professions , and tho leading men of commerce , found enrolled among the " free aud accepted , " but to the tact that tho Press of the West are " one and all " ever faithful to the Graft , and give generally such excellent and studiously cautious

reports of its meetings . And what Craftsman , seeing the names of these good and true men from time to time engaged in deeds of charity , brotherly love , relief , and truth , does not feel an impulse ot pride in kinshi

having a p wifch thorn ? And , in a somewhat similar lasmon , to the many excellent men yefc outside onr portals these names must over prove a mosfc powerful incentive to seek admission to " ye Mystic Tie . "

Nothing in ray . opinion , gives a good Mason moro pleasure , when unable to be present himself , than to get a fair copy of the reportable bnsmess of the Lodge he is interested in ; and as the vcars roll on how DOt

!&»? T - gefc an lnteresfc ia * ' Besic , e 3 > MaS 0 D r 7 being renmSi Z f T' T " afc se - - ^™ ecture , self-completion nZrZ ? •, ! kaoh \ md excrescences from our conduct and life . I reasonlht w ft v"^x ™^* whoS 0 condacfc ig sc l «™> ™ SS ^ hl 9 Mme fi s ™ « P ** - —« on with any

Our grand Order will live , and has already spread its beni < m in-« n ° ^ ery f . o ck > *** ^ ^ ^ *«* ^ iJriT ^ lm ! ™ V ^ ° f onr festivals , installations , & c , would

at K ? - m M ° ! ? e t 0 a ^*™ anc /' salutary ? es „ l ? ^IS^^^ZT^l^^JStS

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , WM . HARRIS , J . W . 1993 , Manchester , 27 th Jan . 1885 . ^ ^ ** ^ ^ ° ^

Past Masters' Jewels.

PAST MASTERS' JEWELS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Permit mo to convey to you a senti . nionfc which prevailed amongst a company of brethren tho other night in conversation upon the above subject . As you are awara , it is tho custom liow-a-days , when a Master has completed his term of office " with credit to himself aud satisfaction to others , " that ho

Past Masters' Jewels.

be presented with a Past Master ' s jewel , " as a mark of esteem and in recognition of the services he has rendered during his year of office , " and so forth . There is nothing much to grumble at in this , so far as I can see ; but ifc is suggested that , instead of making such a distinction and variety in these marks of esteem , they should be

uniform in design and value , thus preventing any " comparisons , which are at all times odious . Why , for instance , should one Pasfc Master have his jewel bedecked with diamonds or other precious stones , whilst another has only the plain gold ? It is not thafc the work has boon done better by the former than by the latter , bufc

simply that those who can give tho more valuable jewel are better able to afford it . Aud iu some cases I have known Past Masters vain enough to add the brilliants themselves . It was suggested in conversation that either all Past Masters' jewels should ba of one uniform size aud value , or thafc a permanent jewel should be obtained

for each Lodge , and emblematical of it , which should be handed down to successive Masters as they pass the chair , in the sam « manner as the Lord Mayor ' s chain ancl such like insignia . I see in your report of the Chiswick Lodge recently , a brother was presented with a jewel , " surmounted by a beautiful miniature picture of old

Chiswick Church . " Every Lodge has its history , from which an emblematical design of that character might be formed , and the permanent jewel could , as I have hinted , bo worn by each successive I . P . M . That would give a distinctive value and honour to fche decoration , and prevent the absurd variety we now see on the

breasts of our Past Masters , some of whom are bespangled with precious stones , whilst thoso who cannot afford such luxuries have to content themselves with the modest plain gold . I expect I shall draw down upon my devoted head the execrations of many Worshipfnl Masters who are looking forward to " the happiest

moment of their lives " when they shall receive the coveted reward of their year ' s labours ; bufc , as I have said , the suggestion is nofc mine ; it only came out in conversation . It was , moreover , hinted , in opposition to the elaboration now being attempted in

Founders' jewels , that such decorations are illegal , and cannot be worn in Grand Lodge . Ifc is not a Masonio jewel , and I question whether it is consonant with the Constitutions to wear it . Can you convince me if I am wrong in this assumption ? Yours fraternally , QUIZ .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

JOPPA CHAPTER , No . 188 . rpHE regular Convocation was held on the 26 th inst ., at tho Albion , -L Aldersgate-street . Present : —Comps . A . J . Henochsberg Z ., W . Littaur M ., J . Da Silva J ., M . Emannel P . Z . S . E , H . i ' . Phillips S . N ., J . Lazarus P . Z . Treas ., J . W . Dewsnap P . S . P . Z . 's S . M . Lazarus , H . M . Lory , L . Lazarus I . P . Z ., P . Dickinson H . P . Isaac . Amongst the visitors were Comps . J . A . Gartley 142 ,

Norwich 158 , G . Hobenstock late 188 . The Chapter was opened and the minutes wero confirmed . Ballots were taken for the admission of Bros . J . Jacobs 205 , S . Schmerl 205 , M . Bromet , and E . J . Ehrenhere , who wero unanimously elected , and duly exalted into R . A . Masonry . Tho working of the M . E . Z ., Principals , and Officers was

perfect . A sum of two guineas was placed on the list of Comp . L . Lazarus P . Z ., who will serve as Steward for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and tho Widows of Freemasons . Two brethreu wore proposed for exaltation , ancl Comp . Gartley 142 as a joining member . Hearty good wishes were given ,

aud tbe Chapter was closed until March . The Company now safe down to a sumptuous banquet , provided by Bro . Swayno , and superintended by Comp . M . Silver , after which the M . E . Z . proposed the usual Loyal and R . A . toasts . Comp . L . Lazarus P . Z . had great pleasure in proposing fcho health of the M . E . Z . Those who had seen

Comp . Henochsberg work must have felt a pleasure in hearing him . Ho had fulfilled the duties of the chair that evening most perfectly . He could recommend all who aspired to the chair to try and emulate him . The M . E . Z . said he could hardly find words to thank Comp . Lazarus for his kind expressions . Thoso who had preceded him had

done the work well , and he would try and emulate them . He trusted at the expiration of his year of office they would say he bad done his duty . The toast of the oxaltees was next on the list . The M . E . Z . felt they would be a credit to the Order ; they were all personally known to him , and he felt sure they would eventually strive to

bocome occupants of the chair . Comps . Schmerl , Jacobs , Bromet , and Ehrcnberg , in appropriate terms , severally responded . For the toast of tho Visitors Comps . J . A . Gartley , Norwich and Hobenstock replied , and tho M . E . Z . then announced that Comp , Gartley had signified his intention to bocomo a joining member . Iu speaking fco

tho toast of the P . Z . ' s , tho M . E . Z . said thoir working was famed . It was to them the success of the Chapter was dno . They had all done their duties well . Comps . II . M . Levy and L . Lazarus responded . Tho H ., J ., ancl Junior Officers were complimented . In duo course the Janitor ' s toast was given , and the company separated , after passing a very agreeable and harmonious evening .

Afc tlie North London Chapter of Improvement , at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , St . Paul ' s Road , Canonbury , on Thursday , the 29 th instant , at 8 o ' clock . Comp . D . P ,

Holness M . E . Z ., G . Gregory H ., M . Money J ., J . E . Sheffield S . E ., W . Radcliffe S . N ., J . Lister P . S . Tho respective offices were ably filled by the Companions . A very profitable and enjoyable evening was spent .