Masonic Notes.

The recent festival , at Southampton , in aid of the Hamphire and Isle of Wight Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution—a report of which appeared in last week ' s issue—proved a great success . The respected Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . W . W .

B . Beach , M . P . ) presided , and received the support of his Deputy and principal officers , as well as ^ of many brethren in the Province . The Stewards' Lists—with the exception of two that were still to be returnedshowed a total , as announced by Bro . Lancaster ,

Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary , amounting to ^ 345 5 s . This is an exceedingly good return , on which we take leave to congratulate the Provincial Grand Master , and the lodges and brethren he has long presided over , most warmly . The institution has already done good service during the few years that

have elapsed since its establishment , and , as it has a good round sum of ^ 2000 invested , we trust that , with the help of many more . such festivals as that held a short while since at Southampton , it may in time be made capable of rendering still more valuable aid to deceased brethren of the Province and their widows and orphan children .

It appears from the copy with which we have been favoured of the annual Report of the Finance and Audit Committee of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic and Benevolent Institution , that this Provincial Charitable Institution has been doing some

excellent work during the past year . The payments for education and relief amounted to £ 7 6 7 os . 5 d ., showing an increase of ^ 224 3 s . 5 d . over that of the preceding year . The sum devoted to annuities was / 104 , and / io was granted for a boy ' s advancement .

Establishment charges reached only £ 131 us . 5 a ., the sum appropriated to investments being . £ 3014 15 s . 1 id ., and the balance at close of account ^ 1058 8 s . 6 d ., as compared with ^ 1233 17 s . 2 d . at the close of 1 S 93

The ordinary receipts showed a falling off from £ 2335 14 s . Sd . in 1893 to . £ 1851 2 s . iod ., there being only 6 g lodges out of 108 subscribing to the Institution , as compared with 7 6 in 18 93 , but individual subscribers have increased from 75 to 226 .

These figures are by no means as satisfactory as might have been anticipated , an increased outlay having been met by a decreased income ; but the General Committee having decided to hold a Festival in aid of the

Institution , and Bro . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . G . Master , having kindly consented to preside as Chairman , it is to be hoped that the statement of Receipts and expenditure for the current year will show a considerable improvement .

Our worthy contemporary , " The Masonic Visitor , " which is the representative organ of Irish Freemasonry , and for twelve months past has done good service to the Craft generally as well as in Ireland , commenced its second volume last month . We , who have so often

expressed our regret that particulars about Irish Freemasonry should be so difficult to obtain , were greatly rejoiced when the publication of this welcome " Masonic Visitor" was announced , and now that it has surmounted the difficulties which beset almost every new

journal during the first year of its existence , we hasten to offer it our warmest congratulations on its success . We are not surprised to find that it has succeeded . Its articles have been uniformly well written , its excerpts from lodge records relating to Irish

Freemasonry in the past most valuable , and its news relating to current events most interesting . Though only a small monthly magazine , it reflects credit on Bro . the Rev . Charles W . Ganly , P . M ., its editor , and all who have had a hand in its publication , and we trust it may be as ably and successfully continued for many a year to come .

The three important offices in the Grand Lodge of Ireland of Senior Grand Warden , Junior Grand Warden , and Grand Secretary , which recently became vacant by the death or resignation of their respected occupants , have been filled by the appointment of the

following distinguished brethren—To be Senior Grand Warden vice the late respected Bro . the Marquis of Headfort , who had served the office for a long term o ( years—Bro . the Marquis of Hertford , who is Prov . Grand Master of Down , and in 1885 was appointed and

invested Senior Grand Warden of England ; to be Junior Grand Warden in p lace of liro . Lord Arthur Hill , M . P ., resigned , Bro . Viscount Templetown ; and to be Grand Secretary rice Bro . the Earl of Bandon , resigned , Bro . Lord Castletown , of Upper Ossery .

* * We learn from the report of the Proceedings of the Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Canterbury , New Zealand , which was held at St

Masonic Notes.

Augustmes Masonic Hall , Christchurch , on the 25 th October last , that the Committee of District Grand Lodge , appointed some time previously with reference to the division of the District Grand Lodge funds lying on fixed deposit with the Permanent Investment and Loan Association , have reported that an agreement had been arrived at with the representative of the

seceding Lodges , and that the amount due to the English Constitution would shortly be paid to the credit of the District Grand Lodge . It appears from . the Amended Statement of figures appended , that the amount , including share of accumulated interest , due to the seceding lodges , is . £ 382 15 s . 3 d ., and to the District Grand Lodge , including its share of same interest , £ 247 5 s ,

At the same Communication it was announced that a letter had been received from the District Grand Secretary of Canterbury , Scotch Constitution , to the effect that they had asked the Grand Lodge of Scotland to acccrd recognition to the Grand Lodge of Scotland ,

and were desirous of obtaining the opinion of the District Grand Lodge on the question . The District Grand Secretary , however , was instructed to reply that the District Grand Lodge was not in a position then to express an opinion upon the matter .

Corrspondence.

Corrspondence .

GRAND LODGE CERTIFICATES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reply to Bro . " Ex-Secretary ' s" letter—If the visiting brother was known to be the individual mentioned in the certificate , I am confident " no rule or canon of Masonic jurisprudence" would have been

transgressed by his being allowed to sign it ; on the contrary , I venture to think that any lodge objecting would be lacking in common courtesy and fraternal duty . In fairness to the present excellent staff in our Grand Secretary's office , permit me to say that the duplicate certificate referred to in my previous letter was issued in 1859 . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , fraternally

yours , EDWIN STORR , P . M . January 28 th .

AN IMPOSTOR . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Almoners in different parts are cautioned

Lgainst an individual calling himself Herbert Owen 31 ythe , who claims to be a member of the Fawcett Lodge , No . 661 , Seaham Harbour . We are assured > y the Secretary of that lodge that he is not , nor ever \ as been , a member of that lodge . —Yours fraternally ,

T . J . HOOPER , Chairman ) * ™? % ? t . iCirT . xTr-it » T / - » M c * t Committee at JAMES NEWTON , Secretary j Manchcster _ Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , 29 th January , 1805 .

A QUERY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I was visiting a lodge a short time ago , and noticed two visiting Past Masters , both from the same lodge wearing Past Masters' collars and jewels .

As this is unusual in this province ( VV . Yorks ) , I should like to ask ( 1 ) whether it is in accordance with : he Book of Constitutions , and ( 2 ) whether it is customary in other provinces ? I was assured by the brethren concerned that it was sanctioned by Grand Lodge . ¦ ' ¦ ' On referring to law 30 S , it is laid down that " the

collars of officers of private lodges are to be worn only in the own lodges , or when representing their lodges as Masters , Past Masters , or Wardens in the Grand Lodge , Dr in their Provincial or District Grand Lodges . " From this it is plain that neither Master , I . P . M ., or iny officer is allowed to wear his collar and jewel outside his own lodge . Then why should a Past Master ? —I am , yours fraternally ,

W . GREENWOOD , P ; M ;' 439 . Bingley , 28 th Jan ., 1895 .

[ Our correspondent appears to havejost . sight of ihe law which Was passed about four or five yearsteince , sanctioning a special kind of'collar to be . woijn at all Masonic meetings . —ED . FM . ] '• ' V '

"HEARTY GOOD WISHES . " To the Editor of the . "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will " M . O . " kindly favour us with his authority for saying that " none but a W . M . should irive Hearty good wishes from a loilgn they arc members

of" foi , in the absence of any authority or good reason 1 fail to see why he or the West Lancashire Province should make such an innovation upon what has been an established custum in Masonic lodges from time immemorial . Of course , if he can produce convincing reason , I , and I believe others , will be glad to adopt his views .

Corrspondence.

I am afraid M . O . 's area of experience must be very limited when he says that "Hearty good wishes " from Grand Lodge ( 1 presume he means Provincial Grand Lodge also ) . is not likely to be heard in any of the lodges . lean ' assure him that I have seen in lodges in several provinces Past Grand Officers give " Heart y good wishes" from Grand Lodge , and strings of Prov .

Grand Officer ' s , standing doing the same from Prov Grand . Lodge , although , as I stated in my last letter , I consider both , for the reasons . therein given , to be quite out of place , and I have invariably kept my seat while others have done it , and on several occasions have had

to explain my reasons for doing so , as it was looked upon as a slight to the lodge . However , as 1 stated in my last communication , I look upon the Hearty good wishes from a lodge to a lodge as somewhat different , and I should like to see some authority given lo decide the question . —I am , yours fraternally , P . P . G . W .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"IRISH FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE YEAR A ; D . 1 S 95 . "—This official annual of the Grand Lodge of Ireland is edited on somewhat similar lines to the one published by the Grand Lodge of England , hut nothing like the pains is taken in its compilation , as respects statistical information . The Craft in Ireland is mainly at a standstill in regard to the number of Lodges ,

but if the personnel of the Grand Lodge witnessed changes from year to year , as in this country , a great deal more vitality would be infused into its meetings and assemblies . Its list of Past Grand Officers only includes a score of names , and hence , although the management is undoubtedly good , there is really very little ambition—laudable as it is—that can be gratified , as to office in Grand Lodge , and the progress of the Fraternity U limited

accordingly . One feature of the Calendar is a most useful one , and that is the many particulars inserted as to the Provincial Grand Lodges . There are 38 lodges in the Dublin District , corresponding to the Metropolitan District in England . The Order of the Temple , the Rose Croix Chapters , and other Masonic bodies , recognised by the Grand Lodge and the Grand Chapter , are duly represented , and brief particulars are afforded of Grand Lodges exchanging Representatives with Ireland .

"GRAND CHAPTER OF MARYLAND , 1894 , " contains a complete record of the proceedings at an Emergent Convocation held at the Masonic Hall , Baltimore , on the 23 rd November , 1 S 93 , for the purpose of taking part in the obsequies of the late Comp . Robert K . Martin , Past G . H . P . ; and of the 97 th Annual Convocation held in the same city on the 13 th November , 1 S 94 , under the presidency

of Comp . William E . Howell , G . H . P . The particulars furnished are most ample , and show how the Grand Chapter is circumstanced as regards the number of chapters on the roll , the number of subscribing members , and its financial position . It contains also a list of the new Grand Officers , of whom it is only necessary we should mention Comp . Edward R . Trippe as the G . H . P ., and Comp . George L . McCahan as the Grand Secretary for the

current year . There is further an ample Report on Foreign Correspondence , in which the Proceedings of the General Grand Chapter of the United States , and 47 Grand Chapters are reviewed by the Committee , of which Comp . Edward 1 . Schultz is the Chairman . The Report has been well edited , and will be found of great use to all who seek information , especially of a statistical nature , as to Royal Arch Masonry in this and other jurisdictions in the States .

"PROCEEDINGS OF THE M . W . GRAND LODGE OF MANITOBA , " Volume HI ., Part V ., 1893-1894 , Winnipeg ; Mclntyre Bros ., Printers . —Bro . William G . Scott has inserted in this Report a note to the effect that these Proceedings were received from the printers on the 14 th November last , and that two days later , together with all other property of Grand Lodge , were destroyed by fire . Under

these circumstances , Bro . Scott claims some indulgence for the delay in issuing the report , a claim which will be readily conceded . The Proceedings included in this Volume III ., Part V ., are those of a Special Communication held in the Masonic Hall , Melita , on the 10 th August , 1 S 93 , when the corner stone of the Melita Public School , was laid with Masonic ceremonial by Bro . Richard D . Foley , Acting G . Master , and of the Annual Communication in Banff , District

of Alberta , on the 13 th J une , 18 94 . The information furnished as to the statistical arid financial state of the G . Lodge , the Reports of the different District Deputy G . Masters , the tabular statements as to lodges . Grand Officers , Committees of Grand Lodges , are so full and exhaustive that it is difficult to suggest any subject of interest to the genera ' reader or the student which is not dealt with . The present G . Master and G . Sec . are Bros . Thos . Tweed , of Medicine Hat , Assiniboia , and W . G . Scott , of Winnipeg . There is no Report on Foreign Correspondence .

"THE INDIAN FREEMASON , " published by Bro . W . Boughton Chambers , P . M ., at Municipal Office-streeti Calcutta , for December , 1 S 94 , contains , in addition to its usual monthly pabulum of lodge and other Masonic news , ' further instalment of the History 0 / the Stewart Loif'i No . jrjfio , E . G . by Bro . Capt . | . H . LeslieR . A . P . M "

, , , and a biographical sketch , accompanied by a portrait of Hro . Thomas Jones , Past Deputy District G . Master of Bengal ' The portrait , so far as we are able to judge , is an excelto ' one , while as to Uro . Jones's career in Masonry , we o > best describe it as having been in all respects most creditable to himself .

"THE CRAFTSMAN "—Cardiff—is a monthly iouii * devoted to the interests of Freemasonry in Wales and to ' Border Counties , and its issue for last month well maintain the credit it has won during its brief career . The content * comprise a biographical sketch with portrait of l ! ro . U ; " '

Thomas , M . P ., who was elected VV . M . of the Loyal La *' brian Lodge , No . no , in December last ; a brief accpii ' tf "WtUh Freemasonry in iS 94 , "an article on '' ' ' masonry in Paris , " obituaries of bro . Sir Morgan Morg ?" Cardiff , Uro . W . Pickford , of Newport , and Bro . A . IM "" Cardiff : together with the usual lodge and chapter « c > '