Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

MASONIC CLOTHING . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In number seven of the very interesting series of articles now appearing in the Freemason , headed " Masonic Clothing , " the writer says , " lt may be remarked that it is not good form for the officers of a private lodge to wears aprons suitable for Grand or Provincial Grand Lodge while engaged in

their own lodge work . " I have the honour to hold P . P . G . rank , and am also a member and officer of a London lodge . I invariably wear my Prov . Grand apron , and the light blue collar of my office . I should be sorry to show bad form , and should be glad to have the opinion of yourself or any other authority on this matter . —I am , yours fraternally , P . M . 26 th February .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have read with much interest the very instructive article in your last week ' s paper on " Masonic clothing . "

There are , however , certain preliminary observations in regard to a recent circular issued by the authorities of Grand Lodge which leads one to infer that the writer of the article is not quite so well acquainted with the rules aid practice in regard to dispensations for wearing Masonic clothing as he is in regard to the clothing itself .

I would , firstly , point out that Rule 206 , Book of Constitutions , prohibits the wearing of any "jewels , clothing , or badges of thc Craft in any procession , or at any funeral , ball , theatre , public assembly , or meeting unless the Grand Master , Provincial Grand Master , or District Grand Master , as the case may be , shall have previously given a dispensation for brethren to be the re present in Masonic clothing . "

It will , therefore , be seen that in provinces in this country and in districts abroad it still rests exclusively with the Provincial or District Grand Masters to exercise their own discretion in determining what dispensations shall be granted . The circular issued by the Grand Secretary , at the instance as it appeared of the Grand Master ' s advisers , could , therefore , apply only to such cases as might arise within the London district , and consequently it must be only to that district that the observations of the writer of the article can apply .

" Up to a very recent date , " he observes , "there scarcely seemed to be any place or any occasion , where , subject to an easily-procured dispensation , it was not fit and proper to appear clothed as a Freemason . '' 1 What with Masonic funerals , church parades , foundation-stone layings banquets , and balls , Masonic clothing and jewels jwere becoming common spectacles to the profane . "

As a somewhat old Mason , and one who for many years has kept a keen eye , on such matters , I would respectfully ask the writer of the article to name a single instance within , say the last 30 years , when Masonic clothing has been worn within the London district at either a funeral or foundation-stone laying , or where Masonic clothing has bcen worn at what is known in the Army as " a Church Parade . "

I have myself had to do with the arrangements for more than one Masonic service in a place of worship within the London district , and I can testify to the fact that it was useless to apply for adispensation to wear Masonic clothing unless a stipulation were inserted in it lhat no procession or parade should take place outside the church , and that thc clothing of the brethren should take place within its walls .

I am prepared to admit that for some years past it has been a very common custom for many Masonic lodges once a year to invite ladies and others to entertainments given by the lodge , and on such occasions the members have been grateful to the M . W . Grand Master for permitting Alasonic clothing to be worn . The privilege so accorded was highly valued , and I have not heard that it was ever abused . It afforded enjoyment to the younger members of the Craft

who were excusably proud of their Masonic paraphernalia , and 1 am told that the gracious permission of the Grand Master was most highly appreciated by the ladies , who derived gratification in contemplating the Masonic splendour of their relatives and friends . It strikes mc that the writer of the article has , wilh imperfect knowledge , gone a little out of his way in characterising the granting of such dispensations as " an abuse which had attained such dimensions as to call for special legislation . "

I know that the intimation that dispensations to wear Masonic clothing on such occasions in London would be discontinued , has occasioned more disappointment and heart burning than possibly those responsible for the decision may be aware of . Whether the decision was a wise one or not I have no desire to discuss , thc object of this letter being only to set the writer of the article right on a subject on which , as I have shown , hc was imperfectly informed . —Yours fraternally , A PAST MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . February 27 th .

CHRISTMAS HAMPERS FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN . To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Sir , It is peculiarly gratifying to me to be able to inform you that , notwithstanding the severe demands made upon thc pur . se of thc charitable public at thc close of last year in consequence of the war , the friends of the crippled children rallied round me as usual , and , indeed , their liberality enabled me to extend thc operations considerably .

The usual banquet at the Guildhall , by the permission of tho Corporation , was given to poor children , and the Lord Mayor , Lady Mayoress , and Ihe Sheriffs and their ladies attended in Stale . In connection with this festivity wc were enabled to distribute 5252 hampers , which is positively a record , exceeding the number sent on any previous

. I am glad to say that our subscription list owed its length to the fact that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , as he has dune for some years , headed the donations . A small balance is left in hand as a nucleus of a fund which 1 hope tu raise for the same purpose in the autumn of the present year . Thc accounts have been audited by Mr . Deputy W . H . Pannell , F . C . A ., a » d

Correspondence.

show , including a balance of £ 41 17 s . 3 d . brought forward from 18 99 , a to' 1 receipt of £ 126 7 9 s . id . The cost of the hampers was £ 1050 8 s . gd ., and of the banquet £ 9 $ ios ., and the other expenses were limited to printing , stationery , advertising , postage and receipt stamps . May I take this opportunity of thanking you and the readers of your journal for the hearty support which has been accorded to me in this effort , and to express the hope that they will in due season again enable me to give to so many thousands of children , five-sixths of them cripples , an enjoyable Christmas-tide treat . —I am , Sir , yours truly ,

W . P . TRELOAR . Alderman and Sheriff . 6 9 , Ludgate Hill , E . C . February 26 th .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday next , the 7 th instant : — 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 5 th December for confirmation . 2 . To consider the following message from His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master .-

The Grand "Master , feeling that one eflect of the present serious war in South Africa must be to throw upon the local Masonic funds a pressure which they cannot possibly bear , ven ' ures to appeal to the Craft under the Grand Lodge of England to come to the assistance of the sorely tried loyal brethren in that distant part of the world . The Grand Master is aware cf the noble response which the Order has already made in favour of the general Patriotic and Refugee Funds , and is Ioth to

make any further call upon its generosity . But while the civil duty has been so excellently fulfilled , there yet remains unsatisfied that peculiar claim which the principles of Freemasonry inspire its members to have regard to . The Grand Master therefore desires that the sense of Grand Lodge shall be-taken upon the following resolutions - . ist Resolution . " That a fund be raised from which the several District Grand Lodges under the English Constitution in South Africa may be

assisted to relieve the distresses of their loyal members occasioned directly by the war in that quarter . 2 nd Resolution . " That the appointment and general management of such fund be entrusted to the Board of General Purposes of Grand Lodge . 3 rd Resolution . " That a sum of money be granted from the funds of thc Grand Lodge towards the said fund . 4 th Resolution . " That each Provincial and District Grand Lodge , and each

private lodge within the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge , be invited to subscribe to the fund ; subscriptions to be sent to the Grand Secretary . 5 th Resolution . " That it is earnestly hop-sd that subscriptions to the Fund will not be allowed to interfere with intended contributions or donations to the established Scholastic and Benevolent Institutions of the Order .

6 th Resolution . " That a copy of the Most Worshipful Grand Master ' s Message and thc foregoing Resolutions be sent to the several Provincial Grand , District Grand , and Private Lodges , with a request that the "Message and Resolutions may be read and acted upon at the first meeting after their receipt . " *? . Motions from the Chair thereon .

4 . Motion from the Chair— "That the sum of 1000 guineas be voted from the funds of Grand Lodge to the ' South African Masonic Relief Fund , ' in accordance with the foregoing message of his Royal Highness the Most Worship ful Grand Master . " 5 . Announcement from the Chair— " That the Most Worshipful Grand Master has been graciously pleased to confer the rank and dignity of Past Grand Warden ( Junior ) on the Most Worshipful Bro . the Hon . C . IL

Davies , Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of lasmania , and on the Most Worship ful Bro . his Excellency Idris Bey Ragheb , Grand Master of the Grand Lodgeof Egypt . " 6 . Election of M . W . Grand Master . 7 . Election of Grand Treasurer . —W . Bro . Harry Manfield , P . M . of Lodges 17 C 4 and 1911 , Northampton , the only candidate . 7 . Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants :

A brother of the Henry Muggeridge Lodge , No . i 6 / y , London ... ... ... ... ... £ 50 o o A brother of the Newall Lodge , No . 1134 , Manchester ... 75 o 0 The widow of a brother of the St . David ' s Lodge , No . 3 6 C , Miiford ... ... ... ... 50 0 0 A brother of the Lodge of Agriculture , No . 1199 , Yatton 50 o 0 . A brother of the New Concord Lodge , No . S 13 , London 50 o 0 The widow of a brother of the Mersey Lodge , No . 477 ,

Birkenhead ... ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the New Cross Lodge , No . 1550 , London ... ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Finsbury Park Lodge , No . 12 SS , London 100 o o A brother of the St . James ' s Lodge , No . 1571 ) , Enlield ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Southern Star Lodge , No . 115 S , London ... .... ... ... 100 o o A brother of the St . John the Baptist Lodge , No . 3 y , Exeter ... ... ... ... ... 50 o o

ij . REI ' ORT oi * THE BOARD oi * GENERAL PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . Thc Board begs to report that pursuant to a resolution passed by Grand Lodge at the last Quarterly Communication , it has very fully considered the proposal of V . W . Bro . the Rev . F . N . Bethunc Norman Lee , Grand Chaplain , that the following addition be made to Rule 165 , Book of Constitutions : " And if in any Lodge it should become impossible to hold the regular

ineetin-, ' upon the day named in the By-Laws for that purpose , the Grand Master , and in Provinces and Districts thc Provincial and District Grand Master , may grant a Dispensation for the holding ot such meeting upon a day not more than seven days before or after that day fixed by the By-Laws , which day shall for all purposes be deemed the regular day of meeting . " The Board beg lo recommend that the proposed addition be made to Rule 165 , and that Rule 130 , Book of Constitutions , be amended by expunging that portion of it , commencing with the word " If" in the fifth line on page 65 , and