To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

A reviesvof our eighth annual report of the East Lancashire Systematic Educational and Benevolent Institution svill appear in our next . A notice of the attack on Freemasonry by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Elphin svill appear next sveek . The continuation of Bro . VVhytehead ' s paper on " Lodge Duties , " thc first portion of svhich appeared in our last

sveek's issue , is crosvded out by the very full report sve give of the Festival of thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . It svill duly appear next sveek . The follosving communications have been received , but are not inserted in this issue osving to svant of space : — Craft Lodges—Industry , 4 S ; East Sussex , tGG ; St .

John ' s , 221 ; Arboretum , 731 ; Abbey , 11 S 4 ; Hemming , 1512 ; Creaton , 1791 . Lodges of Instruction—Star , 1275 ; Covent Garden , 1 G 14 , Royal Arch Chapters—Prince Edwin , 12 S ; Jerusalem , 1 S 5 ; Essex , 276 ; Tudor , 277 ; Windsor Castle , 771 . Correspondence—C . Lacey , P . M . 174 . Death of an Old Freemason . Masonic Funeral .

The Freemason

THE Freemason

SATURDAY , MARCH I , 1884 . ¦ - ¦ ? - © rtgmal GTovvesponlmue .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approvlnR nf , the opinions expressed hy our correspondents , but wc wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—svithin certain necessary limits—frse discussion !

THE ELECTION OF GRAND TREASURER . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , It appears to mc that thc excess of zeal of some of your correspondents on this subject has rather damaged than helped the interests of the candidate they advocate . Each one is entitled to have an opinion of his osvnas indeed sve all are ; but svhen , as has been the case ,

, unseemly epithets and sneering remarks are used to urge argument , and svhen money contributions to thc Charities are invidiously contrasted , then the contest degenerates into an undignified svranglc , disrespectful to both candidates and unbecoming to their champions . Bro . J . Havers ' s letter in your last issue puts the question on its right basis , asserted by Bro . Frank Richardson's circular , viz ., That an annual canvass on behalf of a nesv

candidate for the high office of Treasurer disturbs the harmony of Grand Lodge , and is othersvisc detrimental to the material affairs of Grand Lodge . it is not consistent svith common sense to suppose that thc partisans of cither candidate could , if they so desired , arrogantl y dictate to ( meaning coerce ) Grand Lodge , because the ultimate selection must rest svith the brethren svho attend it on thc 5 th prox ., svho are free to exercise their

franchise as they choose ; and no man can question or challenge that freedom—it is one of the prerogatives and landmarks of thc Order . Those svho put forsvard as a candidate Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall ( svho I believe to be a vcry svorthy and honourable Mason ) consist , according to report , of some five or six brethren , as the prime movers on behalf of the Craft in establishing thc doctrine of an annual change of

thc Grand Treasurership . The names of these brethren so far as I knosv have never been published and I do not knosv svho they are , but I hope 1 may be permitted without offence to remind them of Mr . Canning's story of the "Three 'Tailors of Toolcy-strcct , " svho on presenting a petition to the House of Commons for the redress of some grievance styled themselves ' * We , thc people of England . " On the other hand upwards of 300 brethren fairly

representing thc metropolis and the provinces have strengthened their advocacy of Bro . J . D . Allcroft by their signatures ; it is impossible to fix the choice by a plebiscite of the 25 , 000 Masons entitled to vote as Masters , Past Masters , or Wardens , scattered over the kingdom , but the signatures appended to Bro . F . Richardson's circular shosv at any rate the direction of the minds of a numerous body of tliem . 1 also concur in it for thc ' . rcasons stated , and am sorry that until quite recently I did not knosv that it svas in

existence . I hold that the test of the qualification of a brother to be thc chief executive officer of the Masonic Body , and thc ex officio Trustee of the three Charities , ought rather to be his experience and general fitness for thc ollice than thc sum total of his benefactions to these charities during four or five years . Abundant means do not necessarily imply an efficient Treasurer ; sverc it othersvisc the office svould be purchasable by a sufficient outlay of money , as medical

degrees svere once to be bought at obscure American Universities , or titles of nobility in Rome . I svill onl y add that Bro . Allcroft has this recommendation , that he is a Treasurer of Christ's Hospital ( the Blue Coat School ) , the annual expenditure of svhich charity is above ^' Go . ooo a year , and I presume is competent to fill a similar ofiice in the Grand Lodge of England . For myself I have never spoken to him in my life , and have only seen him in Grand Lodge . —Yours fraternally , February 25 th . BRACKSTONE BAKER .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , A very special engagement svill prevent my being present at next Grand Lodge . This svill not , hosvever , matter much to anyone , not even to myself , as I should not have voted on the question svhich svill claim special attention on that occasion , namely , the election of Grand Treasurer .

But as I took a humble bul decided part in that election last year , 1 desire , svith your permission , to say a fesv svords on "the situation" nosv presented tous in reference to this question . Let me say at the outset that for both Bros . Allcroft and Marshall I have the greatest respect as good Masons and good men , svith hearts and purses ever ready to help in time of need ; but I cannot shut my eyes to the

The Freemason

fact that there are other brethren svho have an equal claim to our regard , and , in my humble opinion , a stronger claim to thc appointment of Grand Treasurer of England , A stronger claim than Bro . Allcroft , because he has hail his turn and obtained his purple ( and most sviUing he svas to have laid dosvn his ofiice at the end of his year ); than Bro . Marshall , because many eminent Masons have been not only contributing to the Charities for years ( according to their ability ) , but svorking hard in Masonry not merely for

six , but for iG , 2 G , or 30 years . Nosv the principle that svas asserted anil acted upon last year of electing a nesv Grand Treasurer each year is so just , so reasonable , and so fair that nothing can imperil its maintenance , except the abuse of it by blind partiality , violent party spirit , or plutocratic auctioneering . And here let me add that in saying this , I do not for a moment

allude to Bro . Marshall , svhose noble and munificent gifts to our Masonic Charities svere dealt out svith the purest motives , and must have been bestosved svithout the remotest refcrence . to any honour such as the one nosv in question . For you ss'ill remember this appointment svas not then svithin a measurable distance of anyone except the svorthy brother svho held it , and svho svould and ought to have held it still if Grand Lodge did not unmistakably adopt thc principle

of a real—not formal—annual election . It is one thing to assert a good principle , and another to apply it svell . If Grand Lodge has only one opportunity in tsvelve months of honouring one Mason , and this in such a numerous and rapidly increasing body as our osvn , it is clear that such a selection should be made as svould bear the strictest scrutiny—not only in reference to high character and liberality , but also to Masonic service and

length of standing in the Order . Nosv , there is no doubt that there arc dozens of excellent Masons svho could fulfil all these conditions and svho svould esteem it a high compliment to be thus recognised aftera long and honourable Masonic career before they passed asvay from amongst us . And even if tsvo or more such men svere proposed as Grand Treasurer and svent on to election surely this generous rivalry svould be healthier far

than the peaceful but pompous policy svhich selfishly sanctifies stagnation and raises a single fortunate Mason to a dignity for life , leaving to our children or children ' s children , about every quarter of a century , the very rare honour of conferring this single rcsvard of merit on some very distinguished and fortunate brother , svho is nosv in petticoats but may be living at that lime ! Again , it has been asserted by some opponents of the new

principle , that there is in some dark corner a terrible conspiracy to propose and elect some paid officers of the Craft . I knosv not hosv it could have entered into thc brain of any sane man to conclude that our order svould in this way set at nought one of the most obvious canons of every svell constituted society under thc sun , unless it be on the supposition that svhen a man is driven to the svall for argument he svill knock his head against it , if only for the

purpose of shaking out some nesv idea . As to thc social status of a Grand Treasurer , the less said the better on this delicate subject . But I may say that in our country and times , and in all professions , sve sec men —and a glorious sight it is—rising from the ranks to eminent positions . In the Army thc private and the corporal of a fesv ycars since are to be found at tho officers' mess ,

a barber s son sat upon the Woolsack , an Archbishop is the son of a village draper , and a vendor of newspapers has presided over the Navy of England . If this principal of promotion holds good in other societies of men , hosv much more in Alasonry ? for Masonry , like the Great Architect , professes to be no " respecter of persons "; the only rank it recognises is that represented by its degrees and its officers . It holds svith the old

poet"An honest man's thc noblest svork of God , " and that even " Money 's but the guinea stamp ; 'The man ' s the man for a' that . " There is one other point on svhirh 1 svould say a svord ; it is this . The Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master at last Grand Lodge ruled that under the new Constitutions (

supposed to be confirmed tsvo minutes before ) , that particular night and that Grand Lodge sverc the time and p lace for the nomination of the Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . This took many of us , even official members of Grand Lodge , hy surprise , and prevented other nominations being made , one of svhich svould probably have claimed and received the unanimous suffrages of thc brethren , and so avoided this present crisis . Nosv , I venture , svith all due respect to the Pro Grand

Master , on the ground both of equity and lasv to question the validity of this ruling . 1 . Surely it is not equitable to consider the Craft bound by Constitutions svhich have never yet been printed , published , or promulgated amongst the lodges , much less the Masons of England , and svhich arc only very vaguely knosvn to the fesv brethren svho assembled at the Special Grand Lodges . 2 . Had the Constitutions as passed at these Grand Lodges been confirmed " en

bloc at last Grand Lodge they svould have become then and there ( hosvever unreasonable and unjust on the ground already named ) Masonic lasv ; but there svere several changes made , and therefore I humbl y contend that they are not yet the lasv of Masonry and svill not become so till confirmed , and that svithout alteration , at next Grand Lodge , for even on that day it is open to any brother to move the non-confirmation of any portion of the

Constitutions , and thus still further postpone their completion as a code binding upon the Order . Before I conclude , permit me as an old Mason to convey a humble svarning in regard to future elections to the office sve are discussing . Let us not make the possession or even the liberal expenditure of money for Masonic Charity the qualification for the ofiice of Grand Treasurer , even though the title is suggestive of gold . Othersvisc sve

may become more notorious than famous as svorshippcrs of the golden image , as having joined that ancient Craft at Thyatira , svhere " sellers of purple " p lied their trade , or liaving allied ourselves to thc silversmiths of Ephesus , svho , finding " the Craft in danger , " sought to retain their gains and posver by selfish " uproar . " Let Masonry in this , as in other respects , be , like Cresar ' s svife , " svithout

reproach . We have many opportunities of "uniting in the grand design of being happy and communicating happiness , " but in matters of public duty let us not study to please ourselves or gratify our personal feelings , but rather endeavour to promote the svelfare and maintain thc dignity of our Order . —Believe me , yours fraternally , R . J . SIMPSON , P . M ., February 2 Gth , 1 SS 4 . P . G . Chap .

The Freemason

To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I think your readers svill have hail quite enough of a most pitiable correspondence , much more than they svill care to read , and all of svhich they svill be glad to forget . 1 svould not , therefore , svittingly prolong a discussion svhich has led to such a melancholy display of unfraternal bitterness anil ross-dv vnln-.-iriK-. 'I hi * two < rrr * . il

offenders in this respect have yet to learn that ignorance is not criticism , nor abuse argument . Before that choice pair again venture to assert to lay dosvn the lasv or to shosv svhat proficients they are in "bad form " and studied impertinence , I recommend them both to " amend" tlieir vocabulary , to master the Queen's English , lo realize the

first lasvs of common courtesy , and to learn the fundamental principles of Freemasonry . One insinuates and the other servilely improves on the fact that I do not understand Latin , and make a wrong use of the svords " Obsta Principiis , " and talk of a " little knosvledge , " Sic Some people despise Latin and Greek nosv-a ^ days . They did not formerly , and some of your readers svill recall " Ovid ' s " old lines ,

Principiis obsta : scro medicina parutur , Cum mala per longas convaluere moras . " Hosv appropriate for our present controversy ? Aly tsvo ss * ould-be critics must be absolutely ignorant of both the " old adage " and the use of Latin . A peep into "Facciolati" svould have dispelled their silly blunder and improved their most imperfect

acquaintance svith the classics . Indeed , it is hard to believe alter such a blunder that they knosv anything about svhat they affect to discuss svith so jaunty an air of absolute svisdom . I leave them , therefore , to rejoice in their osvn absurdity and ignorance . So svell knosvn an " adage " hardly required , sve should have thought , a defence in the Freemason .

1 am told I am a " pestilent svriter , " and that " I never svas a Mason at heart , " Sic I leave out other vulgar epithets and even that asvful svord " sarccdodalism , " svhatever it may mean . I have been a Mason longer , I suspect , than cither of my assailants , and am happy to think that I have learned , after a long apprenticeship , both a truer lore and a greater a consideration for others

than thryare either apparently likely to possess , hosvever long their membership may last . But I pass by such a degradation and prostitution of the Masonic Press , to say a fesv parting svords . 1 am somesvhat inclined to think that this extreme virulence anil violence betray a very sveak cause . I djubt if the candidate svhose side they espouse svill cither be benefited by

their championship , or will approve of the " animus " displayed by them , lie may svell say , " save mc , oh save me from those candid friends ! " Those svho svith no question of persons have looked onl y to principles may appropriately repl y , " non tali auxilio , nee iLfcnsoribus istis tempus cget , and svill prefer simply to appeal to the svisdom , fairness , and common sense of Grand Lodge .

1 here the battle has to be fought out , and there wc shall go in full confidence in the justice of our cause . The circular , than svhich no more moderate , no moro logical , and no more able document svas ever penned or put forth , explains the viesvs of those svho signed it better than I can pretend to do . It is alike the defence of our

position and the justification of our proceedings . Those svhose names are subscribed to it have raised no personal question whatever , havo no end to gain , no party to support , no protege to serve ; they are simply acting as " amici curi : e , " old , true , faithful members of that great Order to svhich it is alike their pride and privilege to belong . —Fraternally yours , OBSTA PRINCIPIIS .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As this svill be the last opportunity of expressing an opinion before the election of Grand Treasurer , svill you allow me to say that the controversy svhich has been going on in your journal for the last fesv sveeks should not be allosved to mislead the brethicn . 'The question to be

decided next Wednesday is , Shall the Craft exercise their right annually by luinouring a deserving brother ? or shall they not ? 1 think a vcry good proof of the excellent svorking of the annual election system is the choice of the present Grand Treasurer . Would our Bro . Allcroft have had the honour othersvisc ? and are there not many more brethren deserving the purple , svho svithout this disinterested patronage

svill never reach that honour . But sir , the matter is entirel y in the hands of the Craft , and the next election svill prove if the principle so successfully demonstrated 12 months ago is to be continued or not . I am one of many svho think the introduction of an independent member annually svill be of considerable service to our Order . —Yours fraternally , FRANK IIEROLD , VV . M . 1056 .

To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Hosv pitiable it in that Bro . Havers , svho has alsvays been such a stickler for the Constitutions of our Order , and so much respected and looked up to by the Craft , should descend from his high position and pose , as he did in your last issue , as the vindicator of the nosv

notorious Golden-square circular . The general opinion is , so far as 1 can learn , that a more unconstitutional manifesto , or one doing greater violence to good taste , svas never issued than that specious document . It incites brethren to combine to prevent Grand Lodge exercising its undoubted right of electing a Treasurer

annually , according to the Book of Constitutions . There is no excuse for such a circular , and Bro . Havers ' s defence of it is inexplicable . The impression is that had the circular emanated from any less favoured quarter , and under less distinguished auspices , the aid of the Board of General Purposes svould have been immediately invoked for its suppression ; but .

" That in the Captain s but a choleric svord , Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy . " Alas ! that Bro . Havers should drasv the line at dinners . Better counsels svould doubtless have prevailed over the svalnuts and the svine , had he not been " unkindly left out , " and the mischief-making circular svould probably have been nipped in the bud . Unaffected , hosvever , by the exhilarating influences usually accompanying a good dinner , he deliberately takes