Original Correspondence.

fess that I know nothing of tlie . chivalric orders nor have I attempted surreptiiiously to gain in formation as to their objects and l " orn > i : lar * cs . I Se'eins to be admitted , however , thai the' " present Order of the Temple cannot be' prnvi d in b the Iegnimate descenefmt of tlie Ancient < Irel . i

of that name . " By recent decision I see u Stated , that " the members discard lln-ir Mastmie relationship , " therefore , it is ' * neither ; t Chiv ; . ! ri . * Order nor a Alasonic . Poely . " As Bro . Hughan justly observes , " lei cut away ihe prefix Masonie : actually removes the only ground they can

possibly have for their continuance , or existence , anel with the views I entertain , 1 hope that such will prove to be the case . Sure- I am . lhat ; Alason who had a perfect knowledge , sue *' , areacli eif us shoulel aim at acepiiring . ol all the rituals and lectures appertaining to legitimate

Alasonry , Craft , Arch , and Alark , ( of course I am aware that the last is unrecognised ) bus quite * as much strain upon bis mine ! , thoughts , and memory as it is good I ' or him lo bear . There * can be no tibj . cion to tlie' leirniation ol any amount ofdegives and eirelers . hovve * ver

presumptuous , or i idictili , us ; but let th . in stane ! em their own respective' merits , anel not e * l dm an association and connexion wiih oilier hoelie-s ol undoubted character , with which t ' n-v have neihing tt ) do , depending on tins alle ge d alliance lor sue ! importance as ihev can obtain by such boLiciing

the amount of which mi g ht be verv ipiestionable . if they relied solely on their own indep . nel .-nt claims anel merits . Sortie of lluin might p rhrips take rank with the club of " snobs " to whiedi ii app . 'ars that the real Sir linger Tichl . - onic was albliated , as is stated in the repents eif the trial

now m progress . In the piovinoe to which I at present belong , no restriction , whateve'r . is put upon the- liieaiibers of lodges who openly anel constantly wear the badges eii ' the ' unre cognise el degree * s , and as these are showy , not maiking high honours or

skill , but merely membership , or at tin * most , ihe occupancy of one or other of tin- nuiin ** rous ollices , some of w hieh I fimev n quire v > ry lilik * knowledge or ability , such as . Standard Pi- - . ap .-r , Swore ! Beari-r , Caplain ol Lines , ixc , voting Masons , anel the many \ v ho know very

littleabout the several distinctions , as nr . irke'tl by ihe jewels worn , are apt to imagine that they se-e before the in brethren of distinguish ! el rank , supet ior Masonic experience , and - . » eprin-me wis . ! yaw aware that lhis is contrary io the Hook of Cuiistitutions , the n-gulations in which on ibis poini are here sysetmatically viol . itcel .

'Phe Alaik elegre'e is imfortunati lv not re 'cognised by the Granel Craft Li-elge of 1-injl . tn . l . though it is generally aehnilled to be a highly useful app'dielage to legit iniiite * Masonry , il ' not even an es . scnii . il pint of it , as verv many considered it It ) be . Certainly it is in . ikiii" sieadv

progress , but I fear Hint in sane * o-i s this is somewhat interfered with by the introduction of one or other e f the e hivalric e ! e * givi s ; in Led I know eif one instance in which such is clearly the case , anel the Mark Lodge is consequently i . i abeyance , preference being given te ; ihe high

sounding title , and handsome jewellery . It is to be feared that the impetus given to ihe Order of the Templars b y the recent proceedings at V ' . lis ' s Rooms , nnder hi g h auspices , w ill tonel Still farther ten enhance its popularity , unless

indeed the severe strictures wliii-h have appcare el in some of the public journals lentl lo neutralise ihe effect , anel make- our brethren shy of be ing belel up to ridicule . Yours fraternally . II . ' II .

ROYAL ARCH CKK I ' . Ml >\ I l *; s . Tithe 17 , ih . r if Tie It ; e iia . mi . Dear Sir and booth , r . I am niil o i-. I ii in v 11 r nd an . ! le . -I ' i-. i

Bro . Shai . ks t ' ,, i- b . s an-vv , r i . i : uv q i -n oil tha * ' , V , * -t . ii ] el i . i X * . Ji . ; -ill ' i |' . i . i I , obi :..- ; i ro Mi * o . Mil . glHI- ' - i ' . lle-ll , lo . Ill- op * - * ., * ..,-. ! i n ..... . li ) . Hut these bn-l ' iii n o . f . r e -oiii ; . a . o ; i . iii n . . so that I ie * iii . iiii in d . iti 1 ) - .. M . lea-ouior , no ii ' ne *

the' quc-liiiu i-, tl a * , a elisti-. igiii-lu d l ' o * up . tu ' ,. r . i de .-erve-di y hig h in the Ci all . ami iin . eli o s ,. erte el , recently told me that " M . E 7 was incorrect , but •> , ' when kindly acting as P . S . oue evening latch-, he \ used the term " Al . E . " when at that portion of

Original Correspondence.

the working in which the Soj . repudiates with scorn the idea of having lied when the Holy City was opprcs < el . anel assures the ALE . of his noble' ancestry ivc . I shouhl like to elicit further opinions on this ver ) - interesting stibjcet . Pre ) . Alagnus Ohren bas most ce-rtaiiilv thrown some light on the point

fretro , whieli no W . M . can materially err , but I woulel ask him why that is explanatory only to a Royal Arch Alason , as he seems to imply , since ir . is embraced in the Craft Ritual , and consequently ought to be intellig ible tt ) AI . Als . Yours fraternally , Cl ! 1 . * - Hill ,

' PROXIES IX GRAXD LODGE OF SCOTLAX 1 ) .

Tu the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Si . ' and Brother , — - Being" anxious for a thorough system of reform , not onl y in Granel Loelge , but in every lodge where reform is ri'quired , I am always g lut ! when 1 lind anything introduced thai * is capable of promoting the welfare of Masonrv .

1 laving for several years been fully convinced lhat the pioxv system of re pri'sontalion in Granel Lodge was unsatisfactory anel detrimental to the- best interi'sts of lodges , I elo heartily approve of liro . Douglas ' s motion ( see- Ereeniiisoii , vol . 6 , ii . 2 si ) , ami beti leave to support the

same * . ' ! lie pmxv system has not only bern tlie ' means of p lacing at the- head of the Crali a class ol ' brethren in many respects entire iy ignorant ol the * work of any loelge-, but bas also been the means of weak , niiig tlie power and authority

of Granel Lodge '; anel as it often h . ippe-ns that no regular enrre spoiuleiie ' e is k * pt up between the Proxy . Master anel tlie loelge he repivscnts , proxies can only be saiel to represent themselves . Since the proxy system lias unfortunately been the- means ol laisinga wall of separation between

Grand Lodge and he-r daughters—for lodges having no actual voice in the management oi Grand Lodge atlaiis elo not realise ills- fact lhat tlie-v are part ol it , and consequently elei not fUleitaiu tlvatfraternal feeling * anil respect for Grand Loelge , whieli is due when at the he-ad of the' Craft .

The expenses that would be mcurreel b y seneling the Aet mil Masters anel WareLns to Granel Loelge will form a siroii' argument with some lodges in favour of continuing proxy representation : tlie' inteichange eif thought and opinion , am ! the pa-sing of a lew- wise anil jmlicious law s ,

Wen . Id soon amply repay any expense that mi ght lie incunvd m that direction . Allow me through The Freemason te ) thank Ilro . Douglas for the circular that he has issued in ihe Craft in Scoil . tnil . and that his labours

may be crowned villi success is tlie earnest if sire of Yours fraternally , lvuBi-iRT WALKER , I ' . M ., Loelge 66 , S . C .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

j 'J'he General Committee of this Institution met j on Thursday , the 24 th April , lire ) . T . \ V . White , I iii the' Chair , whe'ii in accordance with the recom-| incndations of the House Committee , it was [ resolviil to increase the number of chilelren in

! the School to 120 , and to provide additional i aeeoinniodritioii by e * xteneling the school-room , ¦ and dining hall wings in fio .-it . tinil building extra dm milo ! 1 s over tbeiu . i-ixtecil bivtliieai were li-iii . iii . i ' . ed ba * tin- House' (' on 1111 it tee ' , twelve to I ; * el . fie : by 11 lr * ( i . II . ml ( . ' ii , 11 111 ilteee ill M . 1 y ,

111 ! li . V . il were plopo-ie ! iol * the Allllit Coinlire le ,- o ! w ! im ii iii . i .- will he i le el , tl al ihe- .-a i neni eli . lg . Willi rl Vole of ill . inks to ihe ei io ni ii . - . n . lb . proc-. viling-terminated .

\ in is io l-ivi . iiv 11 i .. * -t . iiiii . t ) . — Hui . ts , with t ' -. e- ee-le--b ..: ( -. -1 vv i . c-ciil . l-- 1 - -, e-. v . - i .- * t - \ ice ris lone ; ils in di'iru y Ii :. ether , ( sir tillages ; ren' cliililliai ' . s bunts will- ene-t . lllic ti } J-, which never vve-.-ir out ; u tlie- tecs , may be ; bail at must sliuc els-alcrs . Insist on givini ; these atrial , anil jutlye oa licit tiKiits . ;

Surrey Masonic Hall Company (Limited).

SURREY MASONIC HALL COMPANY ( LIMITED ) .

A special meeting of this Company was held on Wednesday , the 23 rd April , at the offices , No . 47 , Leipsic-road , Camberwell , for the purpeise of confirming a resolution passed at a prey ions meeting : — " To increase the share capital of the Company to £ 3 , 000 . " This will enable the directors te > build far more elaborate

ant ! spacious Alasonic Rooms , also considerabl y increase the size ofthe hall . From the reception the undertaking has met with among the members of the musical profession who are in the habit of giving concerts in the nei ghbourhood , and who are united as to its convenience and position , the directors feel no doubt that a fair anel remunerative income can be maele .

At the termination of the above a Board meeting was held , at which Bro . W . Ramsey was elected to a vacancy in the Directorate , lire ) . Ge'o . Kenning expressed his willingness to join at the next vacancy .

lire ) . Edward Worthington presided . There were also present Bros . H . C . Levander , Geo . Kenning , Jas . Stevens , Dr . Pinder , and Al . S . Larlham .

The Binckes Testimonial.

THE BINCKES TESTIMONIAL .

It will be seen from an advertisement which appears in our impression of this day , that the Committee of the " Binckes Testimonial Fund , " propose tt ) close the subscription list on the 30 th June next , and lo make tlie presentation at the ensuing Summer Festival of the Boys' School ,

te > be holden at Wood-green , on Tuesday , the Sth of July . The Committee express their belief that brethren who have not yet subscribed are anxious to elo so . We trust their belief is warranted , anel long before the 30 th June , the Testimonial Fund will be a worthy expression

ol the sense which the Craft entertain of the great abilities and unwearied labours of the Secretary of the Boys' School , whose exertions in its interest have been marked with unexampled success . The debt so long an incubus upon the Institution has this year been extingtiished . au

event anticipated b y the election on a late occasion of ten children in addition to those chosen to till the vacancies occasioned b y the discharge ol such pupils as had attained the maximum age at which they could be retained in the

Institution . \\ e trust that the friends of the successful candidates will not be forgetful of the source of their unexpe'cteel good fortune . As stated in the advertisements , subscriptions are to be forwarder ! to the Hon , Sec . of the Fund , Bro . Edward Cox , 102 , Chancery-lane , London .

Consecration Of A Royal Arch Chapter At Bury St. Edmunds.

CONSECRATION OF A ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER AT BURY ST . EDMUNDS .

'J'he consecration of a Royal Arch Chapter ( an unfrequcnt event in the provinces ) took place at the Angel Hotel , Bury St . Edmunds , on Monday ,

2 ist ult ., the ceremony being impressivel y performed by Comp . II . Wentworth Little , Secretary to the Royal Alasonic Institution for Girls , P . G . Scribe E ., Middlesex , assisted b y Comp . Smeed , P . G . F . A ., Aliddlesex . The Principals were

appointed as follows : —Comps . J . N . Yorke , Z . ; Rev . C . J . Alartyn , H . ; W . H . Lucia , J . The Z . appointed Comps . T . J . Huddlestone , Principal Sojourner , and W . Armstrong , Scribe E . 'J'he Chapter is called the " White Rose "

Chapter , out of compliment to the first Z ., Comp . Yorke . The companions afterwards sat down to a splendid banquet , provided in Bro . Guy ' s wellknown style . 'J'he collection in aid of the

Masonic charities was a very liberal one , and an esteemed companion maele the total up to ten gaitieas , which will rentier the Chapter a Life Governor ol the Royal Alasonic Institution for Girls .

'Phe Crystal Palace Company have communicated tei the Shah of Persia , through H . E . Il . ielji Mu-ahin Khan , their desire to olfe-r him a retvption of the same character as those which they have on former occasions given to the Sultan , the Khedive , the Prince of Wales , and other Imperial and Royal personages .