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Some years ago , svhen the office of Grand Treasurer no longer had attached to it any duties or responsibilities , and became like the other Grand Offices to svhich annual appointments are made , a purely honorific one , the Freemason took upon itself to advocate the principle of annually electing a fresh Grand Treasurer , so that Grand Lodge might have it in its posver to confer honour upon brethre n

svhom it looked upon as being especially svorthy of being honoured . Our advocacy svas successful . The principle ss * as established , nor do sve see any reason for regretting the course sve adopted . Good men and true have been elected to the office , representative brethren , svhom no Grand Lodge need repent of having included among thc elite of its members .

Latterly , hosvever , the election of Grand Treasurer has created a feeling 0 disquietude among those members of the Craft to svhom , as to the tsvo correspondents sve have referred to , the dignity and reputability of the Order are preeminently the chief care . The picture is not overdrawn , svhich " A true lever of

Masonry" has presented to us , of the "touting and canvassing , " the "treating and drinking , " the " rivalries and jealousies" which attend these annual elections in March , svhich sve certainly never anticipated svhen sve began advocating the principle sve have mentioned , and svhich undoubtedly are " having a most mischievous effect in tending to extinguish the true spirit of Masonry . "

It is most desirable that something should be done to put an end once and for ever to these untosvard circumstances svhich attend these functions ; nor are we aware of any reason svhy the Craft itself should ; not take the initiative , and , by setting its face sternly against the practice of svhich our correspondents

complain , make it unmistakably clear to all intending candidates for the office of Grand Treasurer that it will neither permit nor suffer anything to be done , either by them or their supporters , svhich , es * en in the remotest degree , is likely to prove injurious tothe true interest and high character of Freemasonry .

As A true lover of Masonry very justly points out , it does not matter where the Grand Treasurer for the year hails from , svhether from London , the Provinces , or Abroad . The principal object is , or ought to be , the election of a brother who by his position , ability , and services shall be able to confer lustre upon the office , and through the office upon the whole body of English

Freemasons-If this object cannot be achieved under the present system svith its attendant " touting and canvassing , " its " rivalries and jealousies , " then it svere better that the office should be abolished altogether , as " A true lover of Masonry" suggests ; or better still , as proposed by a " Past Prov . Grand Officer , " that the existing lasv shoulel be amended , and the appointment of Grand Treasurer , as of the bulk of the Grand Officers , be vested in the Grand Master .

We gather from the proceedings of the District Grand Lodge ot Canterbury , Nesv Zealand , at its Quarterly Communication in St . Augustine ' s Masonic Hall , Christchurch , on Thursday , the iSth April , that " the svarrants of those lodges which were erased from the roll of lodges under the Grand Lodge of England by this District Grand Lodge on the 30 th August , 1 S 89 , have been handed to our

District Grand Master , Bro . Cunningham , unconditionally ; " and , further , that they " have been cancelled by the District Grand Master , and are held by him awaiting instructions from Grand Lodge as to the disposal of them . " The svarrants thus held are those of Lodges Nos . 604 , 609 , 760 , 1651 , 1856 , 1 S 57 , 1877 , 1918 , 1919 , 1925 , and 2236 .

We have much pleasure in announcing that the St . Martin's Lodge , No . 510 , Liskeard , svhich svas svarranted in the year 1845 , and has just completed an existence of 50 years , intends celebrating the jubilee of its constitution by a trip to the Dart and Dartmouth on Wednesday next , the 7 th inst ., and that a special lodge svill be held on Monday , the 19 th inst ., for the purpose of commemorating the same auspicious event .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk svas held at Aldeburgh , at the invitation of the Adair Lodge , No . 936 , on Monday , the 29 th ult ., under thc presidency of R . W . Bro . Lord Henniker , Prov . G . Master . There svas a full attendance ot Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers and of the

representatives of lodges , and the proceedings svere of a most satisfactory character . The reports , both statistical and financial , svere submitted and approved , the former shosving an aggregate membership of over 1000 brethren and the latter a substantial balance in hand . We shall publish the full report of the proceedings sve have received—but too late for the present week—in our next issue .

Freemasonry in the United States has sustained a grievous loss by the death ol one of ils most prominent members—Bro . William B . Isaacs , svho had been a Mason for npsvards of half a century , and had filled several important offices with honour to himself and signal advantage to the Craft . Bro . Isaacs , svho died at his residence in Richmond , Virginia , on Sunday , the gth ult ., in the 78 th year

of his age , svas initiated in 18 42 . Not long afterwards he svas appointed Deputy Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Virginia , under Bro . Dr . John Dove , Grand Secretary , and in 18 7 C , on the death of the latter , was advanced to the more important office thereby rendered vacant . He svas also Grand Secretary of thc Grand Chaptei and Grand Recorder of thc Grand Conclave of Virginia , as

svell as Genera' Grand Recorder of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar in the United Stales . He svas held in the highest esteem and respect both at home and abroad , and though his loss is not irreparable , it svill not be easy to

lind one svho svill exhibit the same elliciency and zsal in the discharge of such onero is duties as had devolved on him for the last 19 years . We offer our respectful sympathy lo the family of our deceased brother , and the Grand bodies in Virginia which he bad served so ' ong and laithfiillv .

lino , THE DUKE OF Ain-: i : roK . \* , the Marquis anJ Alarchioness of Londonderry , and Mr . Arthur Balfour and Miss Balfour visited the Imperial Institute on Tuesday even ng .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

I'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 limits—free discussion . ]

THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sii and Brother , I doubt if any of your readers svill question the accuracy of the representations of "A True Lover of Masonry" in his letter in last sveek's Freemason , directing attention to the evils connected svith the annual election of Grand Treasurer .

There is , hosvever , one suggestion svith which I do not altogether agree . The remedy he suggests is the abolition of the office , to svhich no duties are now attached . We all know how eagerly Grand Office is sought for , and hosv highly it is prized , and I confess I see no reason why it should be abolished .

I svould prefer to see the object in view accomplished by retaining the office , but vesting the appointment in the Grand Master . No one can have examined the lists of those svho have been appointed to Grand Office of late years without being impressed svith the care and scrupulous fairness svith which the selection has been made , and , although my suggestion may not find favour with those ambitious

spirits svho do not object to advertise themselves , and ivho dearly love the excitement of a fight , I am sure it will commend itself to the far more numerous body svho regard such contests as altogether opposed to the spirit of Masonry , and calculated to lower the Order in the estimation of the outside world , and who would svelcome any change by which the Craft could be relieved of the manifold evils attendant on these annual elections . —Yours fraternally ,

A PAST PROV . GRAND OFFICER

"OUR BROTHER'S BED . " To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In publishing the list of recent contributors to this bed in the Free Home for the Dying at Clapham , may I remind your readers that we still require

£ 41 to maintain it during this year ; no one need be ashamed of giving only five shillings ; it may seem mean but * ' little fish are sweet , " and 400 such donations svould provide all there is svanted for the "poor and penniless" brother in his dying hours . —Very truly and fraternally yours , W . PORTLOCK-DADSON , 1383 , P . M . 1771 , Hon . Sec . 2 S 1 , Strand , W . C , July 31 st .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"THE INDIAN F REEMASON . " 9 , Municipal Office-street , Calcutta . —The June number contains several contributions that are well worth reading . First of all , we note a further instalment of the " History of Freemasonry in Bengal , " compiled by Bro . Andresv D'Creig , jun ., from the Records of District Grand Lodge , the period dealt svith being from the close of 1774 to the close of the following year . This is followed by an interesting record of the Masonic career of Bro . James W . Browne , Past Dist . S . p . W ., Vice President of the Bengal Masonic Association , whose portrait accompanies the number . The other contents include reports of the meetings of the District Grand Lodge and District Grand Chapter of the Punjab on the 30 th March last , with Notes , Lodge and Chapter Reports , and other matter .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Lodge of Harmony , No . 220 . The installation meeting of this distinguished lodge svas held on the 24 th lit . at the Garston Hotel , Garston , svhen there svas a large assembly of brethren present ' Bro . Thomas Finch , W . M ., took the chair at the appointed time and opened the lodge * The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the W . M . raised Bro . Lloyd Jones , and at the close of the ceremony requested Bro . William Olver , P . M ., Sec , to occupy the chair for the purpose of acting as Installing Master . This ceremony

he has often performed before , and it is gratifying to see how he still maintains his former ability , as the svhole ceremony svas performed very impressively indeed . Bro . G . W . Lofthouse , S . W ., W . M . elect , was presented by Bros . Thomas Finch , I . P . M ., and H . Hatch , P . M ., Treas ., and was duly inducted into the chair . He svas then proclaimed and saluted in the various Degrees . He afterwards invested the following as officers for the ensuing year : Bros . T . Finch , I . P . M . ; G . W . Hughes , S . W . ; G . E . Jones , J . W .: Henry Hatch , P . M ., Treas . s W . Olver , P . M ., Sec . _ J . G . Watson , P . M .,

D . C ; T . H . Short , S . D . ; F . W . P . Ashton , J . D . j R . G . Mitchell , l . U . j Bernard Beard , Org . ; J . H . Ashton , J . H . Helsby , and John Wynn , Stwds . ; and John Lasvton , Charity Representative . Just previous to the lodge being closed a handsome Past Master's jesvel svas presented to the retiring W . M ., Bro . Mnch , which bore the follosving inscription * . " Presented by the brethren of the Lodgeof Harmony , No . 220 , to Bro . Thomas Finch , P . M ., as a token of their esteem and regard . July , 24 th 1895 . ' Bro . Finch acknosvledged the gift in a few svell chosen remarks .

oubsequently the brethren adjourned to a banquet , prepared in a large marquee placed on the Bowling Green , which svas somewhat agreeable as the weather was very close , whilst the festive board svas held in the usual room in the hotel . The following Urethren were present : Bros . Thos . Finch , W . M . ; J . G . Watson , I . P . M . ; Joseph Williams , P . M . ; Thomas Lawton , P . M . ; G . S . Fisher , P . M . ; G . W . Lofthouse ,

S . W . ; G . W . Hughes , J . W . ; Henry Hatch , P . M ., Treas . ; Wm . Olver , P . M ., Sec ; G . Jones , S . D . ; T . Short , I . G . j Robert G . Mitchell , Philip Lott , Tyler ; John Billingsley , P . M . ; John Lamb , J . Jackson , N . Edsvards , Bernard Beard , T . ' Gidlosv , M . Teare , C . Lloyd Jones , R . H . Bennett , A . L . Appleby , J . A . Edgerton , J . Dornent , and Jellicoe . Visitors : Bros . Wm . Goodacre , P . G . S . B . England , Prov . G . Sec ; Wm . Savage , P . P . G . Treas . ; Jas . T . Gallon , P . P . G . Treas . ; Jas . Pittaway , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . R . Bottomley , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; A . Cotter , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ) G . S . Smith , P . G . Org . ; R . VV . T . Hatch , W . M . O 13 ; E . Heaviside , C . A . Young , James Stopford , P . M . ; II . J . Pye , P . M . ; T . J . Robinson , R . Coates , T . S . Hunt , J . H . Hughts , P . M . ; Jas . David , P . P . G . O . Mon . ; J . Hick , G . H . Gibson , and others .

Lodge of Unity , No , 267 . The Festival of St . John the Baptist was celebrated by the above lodge at . the lodge room , the Macclesfield Arms Hotel , Macclesfield , on Thursday , the 18 th ultimo , when Bro . Charles Stoneley svas installed W . M . for the ensuing year . The following brethren sveie present : Bros . Geo . Fountain , W . M . ; James White , P . M . ; Charles Stoneley , S . W . ; Wm . Richmond . P . G . S ., I . W . ; Thomas Brouch , P . M ., Treas . ;

A . Frith , P . M ., Sec . ; Wm . Lockett , S . D . ; Geo . Kershaw , J . D . ; James Mobey , I . C ,. ; Daniel Mason , Tyler ; A . Cockayne , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; | ohn Wardle ; J ° >" Fosvler ; Win . Mellor ; W . Astle , P . M . ; C . A . Hordern , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . ; w * Harrison , P . M ., P . P . G . S . ; and John Dunkerley . Visitors : Bros . John H . Brookes , P . M ., Sec . 295 ; Richard Newhouse , P . G . Sec . ; Joseph James Mason , zejs ; J- 'A ' Wills , 23 SG ; J . Brough , 2532 ; Benjamin Pownall , 295 ; E . Moreton , J . W . 2 e _) 5 . i J ' Stephens , 295 ; ) . L . Slcbbens , 205 ; Wm . Dale , I . P . M . 941 ; James Kenyon , StsvrJ