Original Correspondence.

he Craft is adverse to the reception of all not born of ' honest parentage , " and in commenting upon the letter of " "Revircsco " you say , " There is no law on the subject , " and then speak of the " unvyritten layv , " and " the tongue of good report . " I yvould venture to remark that , on the contrary , the rule of the Craft is , in fact , clear and decided , " Every

candidate must be a free man , his own master , and , at the time of his initiation , in reputable circumstances . " I can find no reason for your putting the words " of honest parents " in inverted commas , as though it was a quotation from some written law . Masonry , as I understand it , has nothing to say as to the circumstances under which any applicant was born .

and , as regards his admission , " the tongue of good report " applies to him alone and individually . The sole requisites are that a man shall be free , his own master , and in reputable circumstances . Undoubtedly it is desirable for the safety and well-being of the Craft that he should be known as a good and moral man , and a believer in the Great Architect of the

Universe . * We refuse admission to those -who are under age , because in the eyes of the law they are not free , or their own Masters , but infants , and under the control of parents or guardians . At the age of twtnty-one , or in the case of royalty at the age of eighteen , a man becomes his own master , and is therefore free .

I contend , therefore , that a " respectable and well conducted man , " yvho is a believer in God , and against yvhose individual moral character no objection can be raised , is not " ineligible to be made a Mason on account of his being illegitimate by "birth . ' " The majority of members present at any lodge duly summoned , have an undoubted right to regulate their own

proceedings , provided they are consistent with the laws and regulations of the Craft " ( Const ., page So , sec . 4 ) , but I apprehend that unless on the ground of some collateral disqualification , by reason of ill temper , yvant of courtesy , or immoral conduct , which could hardly be expected in a " respectable and well conducted man , " no true member of a body yvhose actions should be regulated by the charity which is kind , which thinketh no evil , and which hopeth all

things , would ever raise his voice against a " respectable and well conducted man , " and one yvho might ultimately reflect honour on his choice , solely on account of illegitimacy , which could not in any way affect his conduct as a just and upright man . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , H . Join * HMXU , P . P . G . C . Essex . 18 ° , W . M . 160 .

CHARITY VOTING AND CHARITY ORGANISATION . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As a member ( since its first formation ) of the Charity Organisation Committee of one of , if not thc , largest Provincial Grand Lodges , I beg to be allowed to

most cordially endorse your article and Bro . Hughan ' s letter . I yvould not for a moment deny that Bro . Simpson may find fiayvs in the present system—but , then , yvhat system is , or can be , absolutely perfect ? But 1 must say that the experience of some years leads me to believe that the present system , supplemented by a charity organisation

committee in every province as suggested by you , and as already tested by us , is about the best that can be devised . The advantages are these , where this system is worked , and would be in all were it extended to them : — 1 . An absolute certainty that the best case in every province , and that one only , is brought to the front . 2 . That the entire voting power of that province is

centred in that particular case * , and , therefore , 3 . That such case is certain of election , most probably at the first trial . 4 . That from the number of vacancies to be filled compared with the number of provinces , all provinces ( especially if the weaker ones join in partnership ) , would return a fair proportion of candidates .

5 . That from the number of vacancies and the number of candidates being pretty well equalised , there would be fewer disappointments . 6 . That from every candidate being thus vouched for , after selection , by his province , there could be but little , if any , discontent among subscribers . 7 . That lists being issued as heretofore of all candidates , independent votes could be given from the description of

candidates contained in such lists with far greater certainty as to the bona-fide nature of the claim for help tnan is , or ever can be , now the case . I should have hesitated to have intruded upon your valuable space , but remembering that "a grain of fact is yvorth a bushel of fancies , " 1 beg to forward you the former , and to remain , with kindly greetings of esteem , Dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , P . P . G . C .

To lhe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I yvas much pleased with many of the excellent and pertinent remarks in the letter of our R . W ., Bro . the Rev . R . J . Simpson , published in the Freemason of May 1 2 th , in reference to our great Masonic Charities , and although

not yet prepared to endorse quite all he has written , there is . I think , very much in the scheme that mig ht be adopted with great advantage , and this without revolutionizing , our present system of election , as some brethren think any change yvould do ; I certainly was very glad to find he does not propose to deprive individual subscribers of their right ot voting and vest it in the hands of a Committee ,

Original Correspondence.

to do that would I think be simply to lose , after a year or two many individual subscriptions altogether . I quite think that more care should be exercised by the House Committees in their selection of candidates so that none are selected for election but those who are really deserving , and there can be no objection to the names of the most deserving and masonically stringent cases having a

prominence given them over others ; a feyv stringent questions put by letter both to the candidates and their nominators could soon settle this question , and I cannot help thinking that this plan might be much assisted and simplified if every province had a voice in the preliminary selection of their candidates , surely one or two " good men and true , " might be appointed in each province to

examine into and select from the list , ( yvhen more than one is brought forward ) , the most deserving case for recommendation to the House Committee , they must knoyv more of local cases than strangers , at the same time I would not give them power to yvithold the name of any candidate who was eligible , there yvould then be no necessity for the present plan of issuing cards and soliciting

votes , both productive of many evils , nor yvould it be necessary to do away vith the public polling day , as many of its evils would much mitigated , and all yvould then enjoy the extra security yvhich they seem to think this gives them , although there is but little doubt but that , even this under proper management might be dispensed with eventually . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours truly and fraternally ,

iM' . a . ij . yv . [ We shall allude to this matter next week . —En . ]

GRAND LODGE OF MUNSTER . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have read with pleasure our esteemed Bro . W J . Hughan ' s note in the Freemason of 2 fith ult ., as to the late valuable discoveries relative to this Grand Lodge . For these discoveries I deserve no credit , they having

been entirely made by our valued and esteemed brother the V . W . Robert Walker , P . G . S . W . Munster . I am glad to inform you matters are being arranged as rapidly as possible for trie publication oi the History of this Grand Lodge , the profits of yvhich are to be handed over to our Irish Alasonic Schools . The R . W . Bro . Cooper ,

P . G . M ., and Bro . Walker are most anxious about their being published . Yours fraternally , J AMES K . BILSON , P . M . 620 , I . C ; P . P . G . M . New Zealand , I . C . ; P . G . S . W . Grand Orient of Egypt , & c .

MASONIC UUER 1 ES . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I saw in an illustrated book sent to me by a brother , a copy of an antique Master Mason ' s Jewel engraven on the tyvo sides every emblem of Cratt Masonry . Tyvo or three brethren here ( myself included ) yvould like

to have one each , but the question arises could yve yvear it in lodge ? It is a gold jeyvel , and certainly very handsome . But I am in some doubt as to whether it could be worn in lodge ; for this I apply to you , and beg that you will answer this question in the Freemason . Whilst on the question of jewels , yvill you kindly inform me it there is any kind of jewel recognised by Grand Lodge for Past

Scribe or Past Sojourner in Royal Arch Chapter . Of course there are many good and zealous brethren yvho never pass the Principal ' s chair , but yvho may , nevertheless , have been Sciibe or P . S . for years . They yvould , no doubt , be glad to be able to yvear some such jewel if only to shoyv that they had done something besides simply

attending chapters or lodges ; and 1 think a Past Warden equally deserving some such mark of distinction . Trusting you yvill favour me yvith a reply to this ( I fear too long ) letter , I am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , SOJOURNER .

IRISH MASONIC NEWS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I rejoice to see some proofs in your paper that there is Masonic life going on in the " Green Island . " But why is it that you have so few reports from Ireland ? It is not that there arc none , because I continually read

reports of Masonic proceedings in Ireland in non-Masonic and even Ultramontane journals . Why , then , this reticence—this silence in the Freemason ' Yours fraternally , SHAMROCK . [ We are most desirous to publish Irish Masonic

intelligence , but the truth is , there is a great indisposition in Ireland , especially in official quarters , to publish anything . We suffer much fron the inconsistency alluded to , inasmuch as reports will frequently appear in the Freemuns Journal which we cannot obtain . We have often asked ourselves what is the reason of such a shortsighted policy . —ED . ]

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The General Committee of this Institution met on Thursday last at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . S . Rawson , V . P ., in the chair . The other brethren present yvere

Bros . John A . Rucker , S . Rawson , Joshua Nunn , Col . Somerville Burney , Captain Leeson , W . F . C . Moutrie , Herbert Dicketts , Rev . J . M . Vaughan , E . Hams , C . F . Matier , Peter de L . Long , Rev . P . M . Holden , Joseph Smith , H . W . Hemswocth , H . C . Levander , Thos . "W .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

"White , A . H . Tattershall , "W . T . Howe , Raynham W Steyvart , C . F . Hogard , H . Potter , R . B . Webster , Ben * ' Mallam , G . B . Wilson , Thos . Kingston , E . S . Snell , John "W . Dennison , Griffiths Smith , T . F . Peacock , W . Dodd , H . G . Buss , F . Binckes , D . Ramsey , Rev . J . Edmund Cox , Thomas Meggy , J . Sabine , Benjamin H . Syvallow , M . Levy , Thomas Cubitt , George Kennino- '

H . Broyvse , A . H . Diaper , H . "W . Hunt , Rev . Dr . Brette , J . Wm . Dosell , J . R . Kenyon , Dudley Rolls , Thos . Bull , A . J . Mclntyre , H . A . Dubois , John Faulkner , J . G . Chancellor , Charles Hammerton , Charles Lacey , F . H . Ebsworth , W . Paas , Charles A . Long , John Geo . Marsh , Henry Venn , Frederic Davison , "W . Roebuck , Thomas Bacon , Henry Norman , George Angold , W . A .

Malony , E . H . Thiellay , F . H . Hunt , G . R . Shervill , C . H . Waters , S . Rosenthal , E . J . Sears , J . G . Stevens , A . D . Loewenstark , J . Leyvis Thomas , J . K . Stead , F . G . Baker , Thos . J . Barnes , Sir Albert W . Woods , Charles Jardine , B . C . Marshall , John Gibson , M . Loewenstark , James Chynoweth , H . Pendred , Charles Daniel , F . Waterworth , H . Bishop , Hyde Pullen , Thos . Griffiths , C . E . Habicht ,

Edwin March , Alfred Richards , E . H . Steimmitz , L . Ruf , J . B . Monckton , H . J . P . Dumas , H . Massey ( Freenwson ) , and R . W . Little ( Secretary . ) After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , the brethren proceeded to elect the House and Audit Committees for the year . Bro . Dr . Ramsay brought on his motion for referring to the Board of General Purposes the want of

accommodation in the Secretary ' s office for the transaction of business of the Institution . The motion was seconded by Bro . Kenyon , and supported by Bros . Joseph Smith , J . A . Rucker , Rev . J . E . Cox , Raynham Stewart , and F . Adlard , all of whom testified to the deficiency of the accommodation afforded in the offices of the Secretaries of all the Masonic Institutions .

The moiion was theyy put avyd , earned unanimously . Several petitions yvere read and received , and the candidates yvere placed on the list . The following brethren were declared elected on the House and Audit Committees , at the close of the poll :

HOUSE COMMITTEE . Bro . John Boyd 146 „ John A . Rucker ... 128 „ Joshua Nunn 124 „ Benjamin Head 118 „ Lieut .-Col . James Peters ... ... 117

„ A . H . Tattershall 11 C „ Thomas W . White 116 „ Henry Browse . . . ... ... 11 J „ Griffiths Smith 115 „ Henry A . Dubois ... 113 „ Peter de Lande Long no „ Richard Jos . M . Vaughan ... ... 06

AUDIT COMMITTEE . Bro . Herbert Dicketts 133 j „ Henry C . Levander 125 „ Joshua Nunn ... 11 7 ' ¦ „ R . B . Webster ... m „ John G . Chancellor ... ios

„ "Wm . Roebuck 9 6 „ Thos . Kingston 94 ! „ H . M . Levi 90 „ Wm . Paas 60 j Votes of thanks to the Scrutineers and Chairman closed the proceedings . ¦ — * i

The Masonic Meeting At Dublin.

THE MASONIC MEETING AT DUBLIN .

Dublin yvas , on Friday , May 11 , the scene of a ceremonial , in yvhich a large number of the citizens took remarkable interest . The enormous Exhibition Building was filled , and the even greater desire shown than formerly to procure tickets could only be attributed to the attention bestoyved upon the Masonic Order lately by its

curious local enemies . The vigilant Freeman ' s Journal yvas represented , yve are sure , in the " function ; " and if its reporter did not wear a decoration he was the better fitted to discover yvhat the enthusiasm of others prevented them from seeing . He had ocular demonstration that many of the members are Reds , and they are sworn , ol course , to revolutionize Europe and abolish Cardinals .

What other yvorse iniquities lie in a lower deep of their guilty secrets he may have failed to fathom , but the crowd of ladies , and the gentlemen uninitiated , yvere thc subject of a perfectly shocking deception . They thought these Masons innocent and estimable people , from the Duke of Connaught to the humblest brother , on the same level , and — "if they only kneyv but all . " The pictures , pamp hlets ,

and philippics of our contemporary at any rate have not made Masonic spectacles less attractive to the community-The brilliancy of the procession pleased every beholder . The mystic ' jsigws might be enigmas , but the closest scrutiny sayv in them nothing deadly . The salutes , in admirable time , meant no harm to anybody . In a clasp ° the hand there is nothing- sectarian , and nothing politic *

in the piano-playing of an orphan child . The speakwgi if not sparkling eloquence , was genial , and in the inre " est of harmony and good will . There was no bitterness- " no returning of railing for railing—no anxiety about absurd attacks—the result of a jealous ' . ignorance or the * w ° r l

of a malignant rivalry . The evening passed over p » " antly , and the Order made new friends . We really condoi ^ with our contemporary on the disappointment which su ; an occurrence inflicts . The poisoned arrows of Ecc j street fall blunted from the Masonic buckler . Th £ > ou' : alist ' s club is wielded with just as little effect . Stie j pardonable sin of Masonry is that it brings men tog" ,