Correspondence

Correspondence

Wc do tint hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in n . spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits free discussion .

LONDON VOTING ASSOCIATIONS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dean Sir and Brother , Reading your remarks in your current issue as to the Elections to our Institutions , I notice that you are unaware of an organisation in London for the purpose of securing success to candidates hailing from our great city .

I may inform you that for seven years the " West London Election Association ( Masonic ) " has been in existence , and has been fortunate during that period in securing ' the election of about 20 candidates . This , of course , involves a large amount of work and seif-denial on the part of the Executive , but which is amply rewarded by the results .

1 enclose a copy of the bye-laws , and shall be pleased to give any information to any brother who proposes to found a similar institution in the other London Districts , if he will attend the meetings on the first Thursday in each month at the Town Hall Tavern , Kensington . There is also a "South London Masonic Association . "

I may add that where any brother wishes to support any particular candidate he should give all his votes to that particular case , and if he happens to have many , should not split them for two or more cases , as is sometimes done . Our association had no candidate for the Boys' Institution at the last Election . —I remain , yours fraternally ,

FREDK . CRAGGS , P . M . 834 , Sec . Kensington Lodge of Instruction . 1767 , and Ranelagh Lodge of Instruction , 8 34 . 4 , Shaftesbury-road , Hammersmith , W . October 28 th .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

At the regular meeting of the Council of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , held at Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , on Friday , the 25 th ult ., Bro . Major J . E . Le Feuvre , P . G . D ., Vice-Patron , was in the chair ; and amongst those attending were : Bros . Geo . Chapman , George Everett , J . Percy Fitzgerald , C . Pulman , W . Russell , J . Stephens , W . A . Scurrah , Alfred J . Thomas , J . W . Woodalland J . M . McLeod , Sec .

, A letter from Mrs . Pritchard , thanking the Council for its vote of condolence on the death of her husband , who had been a member of the Board of Management since 1891 , was read . It was reported that ex-pupil , Harry Douglas Aubrey Maidment , had been awarded the " Victoria Diamond Jubilee" Scholarship by the Board of Governors

of the R . M . I . B . Scholarship Fund , and had entered at the Royal College of Science , South Kensington , to undergo a course of studies to qualify as a mining engineer . A grant of ^ 20 was made to him for his assistance during his studentship . Bro . J . W . Woodall , P . G . Treas ., Patron of the Institution , was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy on the Board of Management created by the death of Bro . Henry Pritchard .

The SECRETARY reported that Lodge Victoria , No . 2329 , Buenos Ayrcs , in the District of the Argentine Republic , had made a special donation of 75 guineas to the Institution in memory of its late Grand Patron , her Majesty Queen Victoria , alter whom the lodge was named . A hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings .

The Oswestry Masonic Hall.

THE OSWESTRY MASONIC HALL .

FOUNDATION STONE LAYING . Upwards of 30 years have passed since the town of Oswestry last saw a public ceremory conducted with all the ceremonial oLthe Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . That occasion was the laying , in 1870 , of the Cottage Hospital by the late Sir Watkin Williams Wynn , Bart ., the Right Worship ful Master of the then undivided Piovince of North Wales and Shropshire . On the 17 th ult ., the foundation stone of the hall which the Oswestry Masonic

Hall Company , Ltd ., have decided to erect in the town , was laid with the same ceremonial by the Prov . G . M . of Shropshire , Bro . Sir Oflley Wakeman , Bart . The site of the projected hall is at the junction of Roft-slreet and Smithfieldroad . The building will consist of a hall 33 feet by 23 fett , and a dining room 23 fett by 18 feet , so arranged as to be capable of being thrown into the larger room , with retiring rooms and other conveniences . On the first floor will be the lodge room , 33 feet by 23 feet , which will be used for . 11 isonic purposes only , and a Tyler ' s loom 23 fee by 18 feet . The carttaker ' s house will corjtiin a sitting 6

room , kitchen , scullery , larder , and a large storerjjin , and there will » fi / e bedrooms , with a bathroom and sanitary conveniences . The Hall will have an imposing appearance as viewed Irom Ferrers-roid . This frontag ; is desig ted in the Renaissance style ; the rest of the building will be domestic Renaissance . The building will be faced with red brick and buff terra cotta dressings ; it will be heated throughtut with hot water and lit with the electric light . The cost , including land , fittings , & c , is estimated at about ^ 2000 . The Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . W . H . Spaull , K . R . I . 8 . A ., is the architect , and the builders are Messrs . Griffiths and Son , of Ellesmere .

A large number of members of the Craft attended the ceremony . Meeting at the Victoria Rooms at 12 . 30 , the brethren assumed their regalia , and at 12 . 45 attended a meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge for Shropshire . The Prov . Grand Master , Sir Oflley Wakeman , Bait ., presided , and the Grand Lodge was opened The weather of the morning had been marked by heavy showers of rain , and during a favourable interval a procission was formed soon after one o ' clock , and marched to the site of the new hall . A large spice was reserved for the members of the Craft , and outside this space there was on two sides of the square a crowd

of spectators , who were admitted by ticket . The remainder of the squ ire , which was lormed by Roft-street and Smithfield-road , was , if possible , still more thronged Dy those of the general public , who required no tickets . Sjon after one o ' clock the Mayor ( Councillor H . Daniel ) , wearing his chain of office , arrived on the scene , preceded by the mace bearers , attended by his chaplain , the Rev . J . J . Poynter , and the Deputy Town Clerk , Mr . A . W . Morris , accompinied by Alderman Lacon and Councillor Plummer . The Clerk of the Peace ( Major C . H . Bull ) was also present . The Masonic procession was constituted as follows :

The Oswestry Masonic Hall.

Two Tylers , with drawn swords . —Bros . John T . Wall and Charles Jones , 1124 . Brethren not members of any lodge in the province . —Bros . S . Hazlitt , P . M . 12 S ; G . M . Richards , 998 ; M . Gordon , 1068 ; R . Burdett , 473 ; W . Davies , 241 : A . B . Holland , 2284 ; H . W . Pritchard , 2609 ; George Price , 2114 ; G . ] . Dumville Lees , 357 ; J . Bayley , 1576 ; J . A . Byrne , 1035 ; T . Sumnal , W . M . 1336 ; R . I . Powell , P . M . 1336 ; and R . G . Evans , P . M . 1332 .

The Brownlow Lodge , No . 2131 . —Bros . A . Bate , J . W . ; J . Williamson , S . Williamson , l . G . ; J . S , Knight , C . Bullock , W . H . Cureton , L . Bathurst , and R . Walker , Tyler . The Audley Lodge , No . 1 S 9 S . —Bros . S . Davies , J . W . ; and J . Carrier Brown , S . D . The Castle Lodge , No . 1621—Bro . F . W . Gibbs .

The Fitz-Alan Lodge , No . 1432 . —Bros . R . J . Roberts , P . P . A . G . Sec ; G . Inglis , I . G . ; Wm . Felton , R . Bather , G . W . Lacey , T . Williamson , T . Holland Crowther , F . G . Davies , E . D . Nicholson , R . H . Mason , G . E . Yarnall , 1432 and Org . 305 ; J . A . Doody , W . J . Ouzman , J . T . Roberts , E . Richards , J . S . Cheeseman , P . M . ; T . M . Cottam , S . D . ; W . H . Pendry , E . Keen , W . Rogers , S . Raybould , T . Harding , B . M . Ledwith , Stwd . ; T . G . Roberts , and T . E . Thomas , S . W .

The St . Oswald Lodge , No . u 24 . —Bros . J . P . Sheather , S . D . ; J . Parry-Jones , R . Owen Perrott , J . D . ; W . T . Foulkes , I . G . ; B . F . K . O'Malley , R . P . Cartwright , W . Fletcher Rogers , Treas . ; and the Rev . G . O . Browne . The Lodge of the Marches , No . 611 . —Bros . E . S . Lloyd , S . W . ; L . F . Reese , l . G . ; John Palmer , Sec . ; and G . Griffiths , Tyler . The Salopian Lodge of Charity , No . 117 . —Bros . Donald Grant , J . Hudson Davies , l . G . ; J . Llyth , J . Withers , F . J . Lowe , Stwd . ; G . W . Brace , and S . Witherspoon .

The Salopian Lodge , No . 262 . —Bros . J . H . C . Barton , F . K . Pigott , F . G . Morris , W . Bell , and G . Higginson , l . G . Next came a long array of Prov . Grand Officers , Past and Present , arranged in the reverse order of precedence . They included Bros . Sir Oflley Wakeman Bart ., P . G . M . ; Rowland G . Venables , P . A . G . D . C , Dep . P . G . M . ; A . Graham P . M ., Sec . 262 , P . S . G . W , ; W . J . Ogg , 1621 and 2131 , P . J . G . W . j the Rev . Dr . Williams , W . M . 117 , P . G . C . ; the Rev . T . Redfern , J . W . 1124 , P . G . C .- W

Baxter , P . G . Treas . ; J . Peploe Cartwright , P . M . 1124 and 2131 , P . G . R . ; W . R Spaull , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., P . G . Sec ; Alfred C . Minshall , 1432 , P . S . G . D .: R A . Newill , 262 , P . G . S . of W . ; Wm . Adams , uj , P . G . D . C ; T . Poole , 2131 P . A . G . D . C ; W . B . Walker , 11 7 , P . G . S . B . ; J . V . T . Lander , 601 , P . G . Std ' . Br . ; Henry Byolin , 117 , P . G . Org . ; J- L . Upton , 1575 , P . G . P . ; Hy . Goodall , 1621 , P . G . Tyler ; and W . Crosskey , 601 ; E . J . Bennion , i 8 g 5 ; E . H . Rickards , 611 ; and C . H . Gwynn , 2 3 , P . G . Stwds .

The Past Prov . G . Officers present included Bros , the Hon . G . Ormsby-Gore 234 , P . P . S . G . W . ; T . H . Johnson , 1432 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; A . T . Davis , 262 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; J . H . Lockhart , 611 , P . P . G . D . C . ; S . H . Valentine , 611 , P . P . G . D . ; H . J . Skelding , 1621 , P . P . G . D . ; L . Rice , Oxley , 117 , P . G . S . B . ; J . D . Southam , 1432 , P . G . Purst . ; C W . Smallman , 262 , P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . ; R . Williams , 1896 , P . P . G . D . ; P . Lascelles Southwell , 1621 , P . P . G . W . ; , A . S . Townsend , 117 and 611 , P . P . G . W . ; Arthur Minshall , 2131 , P . P . G . S . B . ; Col .

J . M . Maltby , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . H . Parsons , 1432 , P . P . G . D . ; T . Owen , 1432 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; the Rev . ] . B . Meredith , 1124 , P . P . G . Chap . ; R . deC . Peele , 611 , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . H . Cooksey , 1621 , P . P . J . G . W . ; A . C Nicholson , 1432 , P . G . Purst . j H . Kenyon , 143 2 , P . P . G . Stwd . ; W . A . Lewis , 1124 , P . P . S . G . D . ; W . E . Sharp , P . P . G . S . B . ; William Martin , 1432 , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . Whitridge , 143 2 , P . A . G . Purst .: H . R . Giles , 21 3 , P . P . S . G . W . ; A . Gibbs , 21 3 , P . AG . Sec ; Henry H . Tims , 1432 , P . P . G . Org . ; G . Williams-Freeman , 262 , P . G . S . B . Eng ., P . P . G . W . ; and V . C . L . Crump , 117 and 2311 , P . G . Std . Br . Eng .

The visiting Prov . G . Officers present included Bros . Lord Harlech , Prov . G . Master of North Wales ; J . F . Edisbury , 1336 , P . P . J . G . W . North Wales ; J . H . Ellison , 1594 , P . P . A . G . P . North Wales ; C . Shuker , 998 , P . P . G . Std . Br . North Wales ; G . Walter Walker , Dep . Prov . G . Master Staffs , P . G . S . B . Eng . ; J . W . Dow , P . M . 1991 , P . P . G . Purst . N . andE . Yorks ; and J . Maclardy , 1432 , P . P . S . G . D . North Wales .

With brighter weather the last portion of the procession , which embraced the Provincial Grand Officers , Past and Present , wearing the collars and jewels peculiar to their degree , would have presented a brilliant spectacle , and notwithstanding the dull weather it formed a picture well worth going forth to see . Anongst those in this part of the procession who had duties to discharge in the course of the proceedings were the Prov . Grand Superintendent of Works , who carried the plans of the proposed Hall , the Prov . Grand Secretary , who bjre the inscribe !

plate which was to cover the cavity under the foundation stone , the Prov . Grand Registrar , who carried the scroll to be deposited in the cavity , the Prov . Grand Treasurer , who had charge of the vase , which was subsequently to be placed in the cavity , two Past Masters ( Bros . W . A . Lewis and ] . H . Parsons ) carrying small silver cups containing corn and wine , a Past Mister ( Bro . H . Kenyon ) bearing the column of the Prov . Junior Grand Warden , the Prov . Junior Grand Warden bearing the plumb rule , two Past Masters ( Broi . R . J . Roberts and W . Martin ) bearing a glass decanter containing oil and a silver cup containing silt ,

a Past Master ( Bro . T . Owen ) bearing the column of the Prov . Senior Grand Warden , the Prov . Senior Grand Warden bearing the level , the Prov . Jnnior Grand Deacon bearing the mallet , four Lewises ( Masters Cecil Inglis , Lester Minshall , T . Nicholson , and Oswald Roberts ) bearing the volume of the Sacred Law , the Prov . Grand Chaplains , the Dep . Prov . Grand Master with the square , the Vice-Chairman of the Masonic Hall Company ( Bro . Dr . O'Conor , VV . M . 1124 ) , bearing the trowel , and the Chairmin of the Masonic Hill Compaiy ( Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Harlech ) .

The approach of the Prov . G . Master was heralded b y the appeirance of the Prov . G . Standard Bearer , bearing the standard , and supported on each hind by a Prov . G . Steward and the Prov . G . Sword Bearer , carrying the sword ; the Prov . G . Master , Bro . Sir Oflley Wakeman , Bart ., came next ; the Prov . S . G . D ., supported on each hand by a Prov . G . Steward , followed ; and the procession was brought up by the Prov . G . Tyler carrying a drawn sword .

When the site of the hall was reached by the head of the procession , the brethren formed line on each side of the road , and through the avenue thus formed the Prov . G . Master marched , preceded by his standard and sword bearers , the remainder of the brethren falling in so as to invert the order of the procession . The Prov . G . Master , the Chairmin of the Masonic Hall Company , the Dep . Prov . G . Master , the Prov . S . G . D ., and the Prov . G . Chiplains , took

their place on the east side of the stone ; the Prov . S . G . W ., the P . M . carrying the column of the Prov . S . G . W ., the Prov . J . G . D ., the Prov . G . Supt . of Works , and the Vice-Chairman of the Masonic I ! ill Company on the west ; the Prov . Grand Registrar , tbe Prov . G . Treasurer , and tbe Prov . G . Secretary on the north ; and the Prov . J . G . W ., the P . M . carrying the coin nn of the Prov . J . G . W ., and the P . Ms , carrying the corn , wine , oil , and salt on the south .

Meantime the Prov . G . Organist took his place at the org in , and played a short voluntary , and when all had taken their places the choir and brethren joined in singing the hymn ,

" Grant , Lord , all we , who here to-day , Rejoicing , this foundation lay , May . 'be in very deed Thine own , Built on a lasting corner-stone . "