Correspondence

In conclusion , I submit the irregularities , omissions , aye , and the injustices I have indicated would be rendered impossible were the Colonial Board to insist on the strict observance of Article 95 . There are iltoge'hcr only some 27 districts to look after , and as lo the lodges where there are no districts an occasional

circular would wake them up to their duties and responsibilities . In a sentence , the Colonial Board possesses ample opportunities and powers towards proving the necessity for its existence , at all events , it can endeavour to show that it is something more than Ihe ornamental inanity it is popularly supposed to be . — Fraternally yours ,

W . F . LAMONBY Tunc 21 st .

Reviews.

Reviews .

MADRAS MASONIC CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR IS 93-4-This most useful guide , printed by Messrs . Addison and and Co ., Mount-road , Madras , who are the publishers of the " Indian Masonic Reviiw , " in which the lamented Bro . H . J . Whymper took great interest . The calendar portion cannot fail to be very useful , and the particulars concerning

the 22 lodges , 9 Rryal Arch chapters , and 10 Mark lodges , with additional Degrees , are numerously and carefully described . The " fees and subscription " noted under each lodge , chapter , & c . are not all necessary in such a publication , or even desirable , for they do not concern any but the members . Instead thereof the number of subscribing members might be inserted , as well as an analytical

table at the < in * l of each provincial body , so as to exhibit the statistical position from year to year . A little more space might well be permitled , so as to keep the various details as distinct as possible , the information as to No . 150 following on , as if a part of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and so with other lodges . More space and larger type for

titles or names of the lodges would assist much as facilities for reference . In saying thismuch we readily acknowledge the labour of the compilation , and consider the editor has done his part well . The recommendation is based on an inlimateknowledge of all the calendars published in England , and the alterations suggested would not increase the bulk , or add much to the duties of the zealous editor .

THE NORTH LONDON PULPIT , No . 4 . THE LOSS OF H . M . S . VICTORIA . This is a scrmen preached at the North London Synagogue , on June 24 th ( 'Sabbath 5 G 53—1 S 93 " ) , by the Chief Rabbi , and printed for the Wardens ot that place of worship for private circulation . It is a very reverent and tender composition , most suitable to the sad occasion , and

withal , composing and confident in character . Dr . Adler , as the mouthpiece of many minds , asks numerous questions which naturally arise , in view of this terrible calamity , most of which he prefers to pass over because better left untouched . " Let us forbear—short-sighted , purblind creatures as we are—from charging the God of supreme love with cruelty if we cannot at once discern the design of

the Deity in all the occurrences of earth , if we are unable at once to unravel the tangled skein of heaven ' s designs . " The learned Chief Rabbi also observes that ' God has so made the world that it shall work according to definite and ascertainable laws , and it is absolutely necessary for ourselves that it should be so Granted the assumption of fixed and certain laws we have at once the possibilities of disaster . The same law r . f gravitation which hurls the over-weighted warship into the deep , keeps

our earth and the whole solar system whirling in space with uncrringaccuracy . " Dr . Adler laments that "mankind , at the dawn of the twentieth century , should still have recourse to the savage aibitrament of war , " and concludes with a prayer to God " for heavenly aid , that when He layest His chastening hard upon us we may not murmur against His decree , that our heart may not break , nor our soul faint within us . " The sermon is brief , but eloquent .

T 1 IK TOWER OF LONDON . By T . C . WALLS . This very striking poem by our well known brother , T . C . Walls , will not have astonished those who have read his pretty eleey on the late Poet Laureate . It is written , like that elegy , in the Alexandrine blank verse , a metre to which we are not yet so well accustomed as we shall probably be in the near future . The poet has conceived

himself as standing near to that massive pile , the Tower , while through his mind , as he gazes , there float the memories naturally called up in the brain of an historical student by the contemplation of the Conqueror ' s famous fortress . To give an idea of the author ' s standpoint , we print the first stanza in full : " In thc moon ' s sheen I gazed upon the towers grey ,

Picturing in memory ' s mirror stories gay and sad Of London ' s fortress old . Methought the clash of arms , The charger ' s neigh , and trumpet ' s note rung in mine ear , Recalling scenes of daily life in Norman days . Lapping sweetly , Tamesa silvern kissed thy walls , Guileless of aught but regal state and knightly deeds , Hut soon thy turrets peaceful sent forth sounds of woe .

The poet then , in striking lines which we wish we had space to quote , gives us a resume , with remarkable accuracy , yet with a graphic touch , of all the leading events of the undeniably sombre history of the Tower . We think his description of the murder of the two Princes to be one of the most characteristic features of this very original tour de force . The elder of the two hapless children is

represented as calling his brother ' s attention to a " radiant moth , " which , as they sit in misery in their dungeon , "sails gaily in . " The boy , who is sufficiently older than the other to be able to explain so small yet so portentous a circumstance , wishes that he too might escape "on gulden wings , like yonder insect bright . " Bro . Walls then

passes on to describe how Nature herself seems to feel some sympathy with the awful murder that is about to take place . He tells us how the river , losing its mid-day smile , presents " an angry sullen roaring . " Then , when the feelings of the reader are becoming almost overwrought , " Hideous murder stalks and enters ; Innocence moans , dies , and to heaven is wafted . "

Reviews.

We will not attempt an elaborate criticism of the lhorough historical knowledge evinced by Bro . Walls in the too few stanzas of this most original poem . To use a colloquial phrase , "it speaks for itself . " We will make a few remarks on the concluding stanza , which we quote at length , as being , in our opinion , the best and most characteristic of

all" Luna in the sky is paling . The city great awakes . The rosy dawn salutes thee , O Tower of old days ; My dream of fancy with its glamour slowly fades . Modern life confronts me with its hum prosaic ; But for ages may thy Time-defying towers stand To tell the citizens of far-famed London town How sweet freedom thrived since first thy walls were reared , Romance , adieu ! Grim relic of the past , farewell ! "

We think that the reader who once peruses these lines will wish to read them again . The slow fading- of the writer ' s gleam of fancy , as the sun arouses the business world to its duties , is at once sad and touching . Modern life , with all its common place , all its work and all its play , greets him with its "hum prosaic . " Ah , how much is contained in this

pregnant phrase ! Wc here below cannot feed on fancy alone . Taking this short , but eoigrammatic , poem on the whole , we feel that the notes of sadness and of hope are not unfairly balanced in Bro . Walls' mind , and that it is with co nfidence in the future , as well as regret for the past that he wiites his concluding- line" Romance , adieu ! Grim relic of the past , farewell ! "

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Blackheath Lodge ( No . 1320 ) . —The installation meeting of this very flourishing and highly successful lodge was held at the Bridge House Hotel , on Thursday , the 15 th ult . Present : Bros . John Hooper , I . P . M ., as W . M . ( a telegram was received from the W . M ., Bro . Dr . W . St . Michael Raw , who was ill ); T . R . Cass , Acting S . W . ; A . W . Le Cren , Acting J . W . ; W . D . Morson , Craft flDasonrp .

P . M ., Treas . ; H . A . Stunt , P . M .. Sec . ; E . A . Rice , Acting S . D . ; G . Morson , Acting ] . D . ; W . Salter , Acting I . G . ; T . G . Hobley , Org . ; G . Harrison , Tyler ; J . M . Buckley , P . M . ; A . J . Martin , P . M . ; Thomas Tucker , T . W . Spencer , J . Piper , E . R . Mainwaring , A . Squire , Wm . Wright , Jas . Merrett , Wal . King . Wm . Orton , and H . C . Macmillan . The visitors were Bros . A . C . Wood , P . M . 15 S 6 ; F . Hilton , P . M . 1622 ; G . VV . Niblett , 1622 ;

Wm . Hill , 1512 ; E . Chamberlain , P . M . 87 ; A . F . Casperd , P . M . iCG 3 ; R . W . Philpott , P . M . 120 S ; C . H . Stone , W . M . 50 ; ; W . H . Dallimore , W . M . S 7 ; E . D . E . Rymer , J . W . 1 S 91 ; | . Loader , P . M . 1622 ; J . A . Smith , P . M . 1269 ; S . J . Derham , W . M . elect 1622 ; F . E . Choveaux , Org . 1 C 22 ; F . VV . Williams , P . M . 101 ; Rushton Odell , 2077 ; R . J . Heston , 2077 ; and VV . Cambdtn , Stwd . 2365 .

The minutes of the last regular meeting and emergency meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . John Hooper , l . P . M . and W . M . elect , vacated the chair and was presented b y Bro . A . J . Martin , P . M ., to receive at his hands the benefit of installation , which was most efficiently performed in a full Board of Installed Masters . Bro . J . Hooper , thc new W . M ., appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . T . R . Cass , S . W . ; A . W . Le Cren ,

J . W . ; W . H . Morson , P . M ., Treas . ; Hy . A . Stunt , P . M ., Sec ; E . A . Rice , S . D . ; Edward Salter , J . D . j Wm . Wright , I . G . ; G . C . Pike , D . C . ( deferred ) ; William Orton , Steward ; T . G . Hobley , Organist ; and G . Harrison , Tyler . The three addresses were most ably given by Bro . H . A . Stunt , the worthy Secretary , and in a very impressive manner . The Auditors' report was presented , received , and adopted , showing a substantial

balance in the hands of the Treasurer . Letters of apology for non-attendance were read and wishing the VV . M . a haopy and successful year of office . The business of the lodge ended , the brethren adjourned to a recherche banquet , superintended by Bro . Peace , the proprietor , which gave great satisfaction . The cloth removed , the loyal and Masonic toasts were given and right royally received .

That of " The Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was , as the W . M . remarked , a most important toast , and hc was sure it would meet at the hands of the brethren a reception which was worthy of them . The I . P . M ., Bro . Dr . Raw , next gave the toast of " The W . M ., " which he was sure would be received with acclamation . They all knew his worth , and the excellent manner he

carried out the duties of the chair , and the brethren , to show their high appreciation , had a second time so soon elected him again . They all welcomed him upon his proud position , and hoped he would have a most successful year of office . He asked the brethren to receive the toast as it deserved , which was done most enthusiastically . In reply , Bro . Hooper , W . M ., said such a reception almost overcame him , and was more than he felt he

deserved . However , he would thank the brethren , and promise to perform the duties to the very utmost of his ability . He would remark that they all deplored the loss of their esteemed Bro . Neville , J . W ., by death , thereby causing a break in the election for W . M ., but he ( Bro . Hooper ) had been again honoured by the brethren in electing him to the chair , and he would promise that his talents would be given to and for the benefit of the

Blackheath Lodge . He had every confidence in his ollicers that they would rally round and maintain its prestige . He most heartily thanked all for such a greeting . The W . M ., in proposing thc next toast , said it was a vi ry important one—that of " The Installing Master , Bro . H . A . Stunt , P . M . "—who had performed the ceremony for

some years past , but had excelled himself upon the present occasion . They all knew hissterlirigworth in his Secretarial duties and as the Installing Master ; in fact , whatever he was asked to do he was always most willing and competent . He thanked him personally and on behalf of the lodge for his able services rendered that evening . Bro . Stunt , in reply , said hc . was deeply pleased with such

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

a cordial reception . Certainly he had performed the ceremony on several previous occasions , but never more willing than the present . He had hoped the l . P . M ., Bro . Rj ' would have installed his successor , but through illness and his professional duties he was unable , therefore he had asked him . It gave him great satisfaction to know W endeavours were ap reciated , and his services were alwan

at the command of the brethren who desired assistance He thought it should be the aim of evi-ry Master to perfoi ' the installation ceremony on leaving the chair . He very heartily thanked the brethren for such kind expressions . Bro . Hooper , VV . M ., next presented the most important toast of "The Visitors . " The Blackheath Lodge always gave a roost cordial greeting- to them . He noticed several

were introduced by liros . Cass , S . W ., and Rice , S . D , and among them were some of the very best workeis and most enthusiastic Masons in South London . He could not ie . frain from remarking upon the excellent services rendered to the brethren of the Blackheath Lodge by Bros . ] . * . Hilton , P . M ., Preceptor , and C . II . Stone , Secretary , 0 { the Blackheath Lodge of Instruction , which had enabled

him and the officers he had selected to serve for the present year to perform their respective duties so efiicientl y , ( or which the brethren tendered their hearty thanks . The toast was received with enthusiasm . Bro . C . H . Stone , VV . M . 507 , in reply , said it was most unexpected to be called upon first , but he felt thereb y greatlv honoured for more than one reason . Since his in .

stallation it was thi first response he had made , and he could assure the brethren he hoped he had learned much from the Installing Master that evening . It also gava him intense pleasure to be present and witness the investiture of officers , and see some of the most worthy and enthuMastic brethren invested who were most capable . 1 he VV . M . was fully justified in his selection , for they had proved

themselves worthy of their position by dint of hara work and most careful and regular attendance at the lodge of instruction , which he most strongly recommended to the younger brethren to enable them to carry out th ; ir duties when they should be called upon for office . He was deeply sensible of the honour done to the visitors . Bro . Dallimore , VV . M . S 7 , said he was present at the

invitation of his dear old Iriend , Bro . Cass , S . W ., whom he had known long before he was a Mason , and whom he always highly respected . Now hc had seen him invested with that collar , he congratulated him , and trusted he would be spared to succeed to the chair of VV . M . in due course . He must say it was but a very few weeks since he was installed as VV . M ., and it was a proud position

indeed , and which should be every Mason ' s ambition . He hoped he might be present at the next installation to witness such excellent work and support his very dear friend . Bro . F . Hilton , P . M ., said as it was the hope of reward that at all times sweetens labour . On behalf of himself and the brother on his right , Bro . Stone , they werj there at the kind invitation of the lodge , for which they were very

grateful , and stated the pleasure it gave them at all times to serve the lodge . It was most gratifying to them to see the very capablerrianner that theofficers had performed their respective duties , and could testify to the zeal shown by them in the lodjje of instruction . In fact they were all capable of performing much higher duties than tney had been called upon to du . He was likewise very pleased at the excellent manner Bro .

Stunt had installed the Master that evening , and had adopted the modern form of working the ceremony . He congratulated the VV . M . upon the great honour done him , which did not often fall to the lot of a brother , that of election to the chair in so short a time , but the lodge had done well in that selection , forthe W . M . was one who performed his duties so ably , without any hope of reward . He was

most earnest , hard working , and rendered valuable service to the brethren in the Blackheath Lodge of Instruction . The oHicers whom he had appointed would most faithfully support him , he believed , and was confident at the end of the year the brethren would say— " Well done , good and faithful servant . " The toast of " The Treasurer and Secretary " was ably

given by the Worshipful Master , stating no two better ollicers could be ; and this was responded to by liro . Morson , Treas ., most suitably . The toast of the Past Masters " was given in terms of high appreciation , the Worshipful Masttr commenting ' upon the excellent services ihey had rendered the lodne . Hc had great pleasure in pinning to the breast of Bro . Dr . ftaw i tne i vuicu . «¦¦¦

, rne . * .. m ., -pienuiu jewel uuu the lodge , hoping he might be spared many years with health and strength to grace the Blackheath Lodge with his presence . Bros . Raw and Buckley most suitably acknowledged tie compliment paid them . The toast of "The O . Ticers" was next given by th : W . M ., who congratulated himself and the lodge upon such hii

an excellent array . He was confident no better c juld - " been appointed . , Bro . Cass , S . W ., in excellent terms , said it was not th : first time he had responded In that capacity , but never iviw greater pleasure than on the present occasion . He accepted the position of S . W . without tne slightest fear or treinuiuii , ' . having been so well drilled in his vaiious duties . He trusted that he should be enabled to carry them out to the honoui

and credit of the lodge . „ Bros . Le Cren , J . W . j Rice , S . D . ; Salter , J . D . ; and Wright , I . G ., also suitably replied , pledging to do their best for the lodge . n , _ The Tyler ' s toast cbsed one of theimst eventful mis .-ings in the annals of the lodge . ., An excellent programme ot music was arranged by oto . Rushton Odell . must efficiently assisted bv Miss Rusape w

Beste , Miss Annie Wilsjn , an J Broj . ri . Yates ani 1 . Hobley , Org . Shadwell Clerke Lodge ( No . i 9 ' ° ) ' 7 Th at regular meeting was held on Monday , the 26 th "' , ' : ' Mark Masons' Hall , with Bro . G . J . Keed , P- ^ : ' ^' "' the chair , and Bros . Gordon Miller and Balfour l-oc * * bu " as Senior and Junior Wardens respectively . l " * i ' [ j

Vernon Whitaker , having been duly elected , was »¦••* " in a very admirable manner by the W . M . lBC ,. J 0 I election then took place , with the result that Bro . UO "' Miller was declared W . M . elect , and the present »<•» popular Treasurer , Bro . Charles Belton , was « - ••¦"„ .. Two Auditors were then appointed , and Bro . Mills wa elected Tyler . „ ,. , ni Bros . R . Eve , P . M ., P . G . Treas . ; Mather , P . M . a k Gilles , P . M ., suppoited the VV . M . during the lodge 1 » , and at the usual banquet , which took place at Freema Tavern .