Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

Thc Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by-Correspondents . TEMPLAR COMMANDERIES—ERRORS IN PRECEDENCE .

( To the Editor of Tha Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND B ROTHER , —I beg permission , and I trust for the last time , for a few more lines on this subject . As it has been brought under discussion in your columns , I think it may be convenient to enter into a short explanation , that your

readers may know how the case stands at present . In the Calendar for 1 S 6 S-9 , for the first time a number was prefixed to the Encampments showing their precedence , they having in previous Calendars been distinguished by a folio number , a reference of use only to the Chancery . This Calendar was issued

in September , 186 S . TheEx . G . V . C . resigned as from 31 st December , 186 S , and I was appointed to the office on ist January , 186 9 . In the Calendars issued in 1869 and the present year , the same numbers were g iven to the Encampments as in the Calendars for 186 S-9 . On the 6 th of August last , Sir Knt . Yarker

wrote a letter to Head Quarters , complaining of " the persistence in styling the Jerusalem Encampment No . 5 , after their having several times applied for correction . ' "' An interval of from three to four months only had elapsed between thc issue of the Calendar for 1 S 6 S-9 , the first one in which the

Encampments were numbered according to precedence , and my appointment as G . V . C , and Sir Knt . Yarker's letter was the first intimation I had received that any dissatisfaction existed in any Encampment with the arrangement of numbering . I wrote explaining practically what I have here stated , and asked to

whom these applications for correction had been addressed ; and , in reply to a strong observation in Sir Knt . Yarker ' s letter , assured him that no feeling whatever existed on the subject . Sir Knt . Yarker answered , that the attention of the previous G . A ^ . C . " was over and over again directed to the fact , that

the Encampment was instituted in 1780 and not 1795 . " This was a matter , it will be observed , for which I could not in any manner be held responsible , while at the same time it was a shifting of the ground of complaint , viz .. "thc persistence in styling thc Encampment No . 5 . " I replied that the dates of thc

two Warrants of 1786 and 1795 should be inserted in the next Calendar , and , briefly adverting to the difficulty in altering the numbers , stated that the subject should not be overlooked . Then came Sir Knt . Yarker ' s letter in your issue of 27 th August , and your readers know the rest .

And now I may fairly , I think , ask what more could I have promised , what more could be expected ? A numerical list cannot be altered in one particular without changing some , or possibly all , the other numbers , and without being understood here to express any opinion upon this particular case , the

other Encampments that would be so interfered with might wish to be heard on the subject , and if 1 had promised to " put right " the case of tlie Jerusalem Encampment in the sense intended by Sir Knt . Yarker , i might have promised a great deal more than I should have found myself able to perform .

Not that I am to be understood as refusing or declining to put right any matter that is wrong ; foi any such assumption 1 should unquestionably be highly blameable , and deserving of grave censure . Moreover , if thc numerical list was to be re-arranged , it might be necessary lo call upon certain

Encampments to show some cause for their retention as immemorial Encampments , and to inquire into tbe history of some of the older Encampments . This 1 could not do of my own authority , and was an additional reason why 1 should not commit myself to any promise in the sens . * already referred to . ' Sir Knt . Yarker has , however , before the appearance of

his second letter in your last week ' s number , brought forward the subject officially through the provincial authorities . I may add , I believe it will be found that the Encampments referred to by Sir Knight Yarker , viz ., the Abbey , the Mount Calvary , ancl Union or Rougcniont , do claim to have existed from " time immemorial . "

In conclusion , 1 beg to observe that I am really very sorry that , notwithstanding anything I can savin everything that is done or not done in this matter , Sir Knt . Yarker can only sec favouritism , a denial of justice , or a determination on my part to have all my own way . From a Knight of his standing and reputation , this is not very encouraging to an official

who is sincerely ancl conscientiousl y desirous to discharge the duties of a somewhat onerous ofiice in a proper and satisfactory manner , and is doing it to the best of his ability . I trust , however , that the general body of the members of the Order will do me more justice , and that Sir Knt . Yarker will hereafter sec cause to change his opinion . Yours very fraternally , AVM . TINKLER , G . A' . C , K . T . September 28 th , 1870 .

Hiram Abif.

HIRAM ABIF .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —I hope my motive in sending you any scraps of information may not bo misunderstood . I have no wish to enter the field as a controversalist—far from it . It is only that during my studies amongst some old books many little pieces that I come across may be of some value to those

brethren who are engaged in discussions , which , by the way , are of great use to thc young Masonic student , when carried on with prudence ancl courtesy . I find thc following in the Jewish Antiquities of Josephus , translated by Sir Roger S . Estrange and printed by Richard Sare , at Gray ' s Inn Gate in Holborn , 1702 : Book viii . p . 221 : —

Upon the death of David , and the succession of Solomon to the throne , Hiram , the King of Tyre , that ever had a great affection for the father , sent a gratulatory embassy to the son upon news of his succession to thc government , expressing great joy to see it continued in the family . Upon the return of those Embassadors , Solomon laid hold of the occasion and wrote to Hiram in these terms :

" 'King Solomon to King Hiram , greeting , Be it known unto thee , O King , that my Father David had it a long time in his mind and purpose to erect a Temple to the Lord , but being perpetually in war in his days , and under a necessity of clearing his hands of his enemies , and making them all his tributaries , before he could attend this great and holy work " , he hath left it to me in a time of peace both t obegin and to finish it ,

according to the direction as well as the prediction of Almighty God ; blessed be His great name for tlie present tranquillity of my dominions , and , by His great assistance , I shall now dedicate the best improvements of this liberty and leisure to His honour and worship . AVhcrcfore , I make it my request that you will let some of your own people to go along with some servants of my own to Mount Libanus to assist them in cutting down materials

towards this builtHnf : for the . Sidm-inns , imW . ; t •,,,, ! , ' f towards this building ; for the Sidonians understand it much better than wc do . As for thc workmen ' s reward or wages , whatever you think reasonable shall be punctually paid them . '

" Hiram was wonderfully pleased with this letter of Solomon ' s , and returned him this answer : "' King Hiram lo King Solomon , * Nothing could have been more welcome to me than to understand that the government of our Blessed Father is devolved by God ' s providence into the hands of so excellent , so wise , and so virtuous a successor ; His holy name

be praised for it . That which you write for shall be done with all care and ' goodwill ; for I will give orders to cut down and to export such quantities of the fairest cedars anil cypress trees as you shall have occasion for . My people shall bring them to theseasidc for vou ; and from thence

ship them away lo what port you please , where they may lie ready for your own men to transport them to Jerusalem . It would be a great obligation afler all this to allow us such a provision of corn in exchange as mav stand with your convenience ; for that is thc commodity we Islanders want most . '

" 1 lie duplicates of these letters are extant lo this day , both in ourownalid in the Tyrian record ; , and they that have a mind to he belter satisfied in the truth of this , let them only consult thc keepers ol those registries , and they shall find the matter of fact in these papers to be iust as we deliver il . I write thus lo acquit myself to the reader by way of precaution , that I do not intermix any inventions

of my own , or things curious or but barely probable for the ornament of the relation , hut that I " am willin" to put everything that I deliver to the stress of thc uttermost scrutiny , and in truth there can be no prevaricating in a subject of this quality without extreme impiety and scandal : and 1 shall not take it ill to be blasted for the worst of falsaries if there shall lie anything found in my papers that will not abide the uttermost lent . "

That is more than a good many authors of thc present day would like to saw ' Again , at page 223 : " Solomon had heard of a famous man in Tyre for working in gold , silver , and other metals ; his name was

Chimin . He was an eminent architect over and above . His mother was of the tribe of Xaplithali , and his father by cxli-acliou an Israelite . 1 le sciit for this man to Tyre , and employed him in his business , and whatsoever Solomon had to do that was dil ' li .-nlt or curious , Chimin was the doer of . He cast him two pillars of brass , " i . e .

I ne rest of the piece is the same as Kings , chap . vii . Then at page 1027 there is the chronology of Hiram . King of Tyre , as follows : " Upon the death ufAhibal , his son Hiram came to the crown , and lived to enjoy it 34 years . This Prince threw up a huge mount that joined ' Eurvcliorus to the city of Tyre , and dedicated a gulden pillar to Jupiter

, which was there deposited in his Temple . From this King ' s time now to the building of Carthage ihe computation , according to the I'ho-nicians , lies thus—Baleazar , Ihe son of Hiram , succeeded his father , and died in the forty-third year of his age , and seventh of his reign , " ivc . The rest is of no moment at present . 1 must

apologise lor thc length of this letter . Thc oldfashioned language will be easily understood by any student ; at the same time , by its showing that there were Hiram king of Tvrc ' and Chimin ( or Hiram ) the architect , it may throw a little light upon the subject . Yours fraternally , C . G . FORSYTH . Montreal House , Hamilton , Sept . 27 , 1870 .

Hiram Abif.

ELIAS DE DERHAM LODGE , No . 586 . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Absence from home prevented my seeing " Crux's" letter which appeared in your issue of the " 17 th ult ., relative to the above lodgeor I should have replied to it in your last

, number . I quite agree with him in his remarks respecting his surprise that the Founder of the lodge should be so little acquainted with the Constitutions as to consider it as binding on the lodge to elect the S . AV . to tbe office of Master , and , I will add , my surprise at his little acquaintance with the

By-laws of his lodge as well , wherein at page 5 , rule 7 , it expressly states :-- " The Master shall be elected on the first Thursday in December , in the following manner : As soon as the business of the lodge will permit , the Secretary shall read the name of every brother regularly qualified for the

office , and furnish every member entitled to vote with a paper or card with the names of the brethren so qualified thereon . The voter shall select the name of tbe brother for whom he votes , and deposit the same in the ballot box . A \ hen all have voted , the Master or Secretary shall scrutinise the votes

in open lodge , and declare on whom the ballot has fallen . If the highest number of votes given for any one brother does not amount to a majority of those present , the name of the brother having the least number of votes shall be cancelled ; and the process repeated until a majority of the whole number

present in the lodge be obtained in favour of any brother who shall then be declared duly elected . " Such being their own By-law completely sets at rest any difficulty as to the election , ancl gives to its members a perfect right to select the brother they think best qualified for the office . If it is a rule to elect the Senior AVarden , where docs it appear , and

of what use is the above law ? Again , at page 6 rule 8 , I read : — "The Master-elect shall be installed on the first meeting in January ; " again at page 9 , " Annual subscription payable in advance ; " again at page 12 , rule 20 , " Brethren in arrears of the lodge are disqualified from holding office or voting on any occasion . "

I have given these extracts as bearing on the whole question , for as I have been given to understand the difficulty arose at the confirmation of the minutes , when a number of brethren , the majority of whom had not attended for many years , came for the purpose of nullifying thc election , and amongst them

rive or six whose subscriptions were in arrears , and whose votes should not have been recorded , so that instead of its culminating in a casting vote there would have been a large majority for the brother elected , and if thc Provincial Grand Master and his committee had scrutinised them in the manner of

any contested election , they would have had no difficulty in declaring the election ancl installation valid . Again , the precise day and month is specially named for thc election and installation , with no provision for it to take place on any other clay in thc year . AA'ho is to appoint any other ? Again , the

Master having been installed and taken his O . B . to rule thc lodge , etc ., who is to absolve him ? And having as well appointed his officers ancl invested them , by what authority can they be deprived of their office ? 1 have failed to find either in the Constitutions or their by-laws anything bearing on the

case . Even in the pagesof THE FREEMASON , 1 should pause before I penned such a penalty as 1 should consider myself liable to , were I to have been installed and prevented from carrying out the duties of my office , but if any violation did arise I should

certainly attribute it lo the unmasonic clique , who in violation of all good feeling for thc welfare of the the lodge , has virtually placed it in the greatest jeopardy . I am , dear Sir ancl Brother , yours fraternally , AVILLIAM BIGGS , P . P . G . S . W ., Wilts .

Thc following is tne notice convening thc meeting of thc new Royal Arch Chapter on Thursday next , ancl wc specially commend it to the attention of our readers : — The Royal Arch Chapter of Imprcrvcment , under the sanction of the Chapter of Prudent Brethren , No . 145 . E . Comps . James Brett , P . Z ., President ; John Ilervey , P . Z ., Grand Scribe E , Treasurer ; John Boyd , P . Z ., Chairman of Committee .

7 , Gilbert-road , Kennington , 29 th Sept ., 1870 . DEAR SIR AND COMPANION , —You are requested to attend the Inaugural Convocation of the above-named chapter , in the Board-room , at the Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday , the 6 th October proximo , at seven o ' clock p . m ., precisely . By order , R . AA ' ENTWORTII LITTLE , P . Z ., Scribe E .

Business . —Thc chapter will be opened by Principals and Past Principals of thc Order . Thc companions will enter in procession . The minutes of the preliminary meeting and the by-laws will be read for confirmation . The chapter will then be consecrated . Thc three clauses of the ist section will be worked . The President will deliver a lecture ou the Platonic bodies . New members will then be enrolled , and all joining on this evening will be entitled to the privileges of founders .