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SATURDAY . NOVEMBER S , 1888 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

WHYMPER'S "RELIGION OF FREEMASONRY . "

_ To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your las . t number you review this thoughtful and thought-evoking work , and ask my consent to reprint the whole of Brn . Hughan ' s Introduction . I need scarcely say

that any objection on my part , or that of Bro . Whymper , for whom I act , would be most short-sighted and ridiculous , and that I shall be pleased to see the Introduction reprinted in your columns . Before quitting the subject , I feel constrained to take a rather unusual step , i . e ., thank your reviewer for his very

able article and for the scrupulous fairness with which he has criticised a book , with whose conclusions ( reading between the lines of his communication ) I fancy he is not altogether at one . Whether Bro . Whymper be right or wrong , the thorough manner in which he has handled his theme must redound to his credit , and to that of the student-lodge which has enrolled him as one of its members . t —Yours fraternally , G . W . SPETH , Sec . Quatuor Coronati , 2076 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

804 ] FREEMASONRY IN NORTH AMERICA . 1 have been interested on reading the leaderette in the Freemason , of Oct . 27 th , relative to the progress of the Crait in the United States and Canada , based upon the accurate statistics compiled by M . W . Bro . J . H . Drummond , whose annual tables respecting the total membership of the various Grand Lodges and Grand Chapters are

eagerly sought after , perused , and utilised from one end of North America to the other . The estimate in the leaderette as to the number of R . A . Companions was a very just one . According to the foregoing authority , in the 41 Grand Chapters , and the General Grand Chapter of the U . S . A ., with those of Canada ( Ontario ) , New Brunswick , Nova Scotia , and Quebec , there are 149 , 903

members ( practically 150 , 000 ) , all of whom , be it noted , are also Mark Master Masons . Bro . Stephen Berry , Editor of the racy little Masonic Token ( Portland , Maine ) , is the never-failing guide , as respects the Knights Templars , his figures placing the large number of members of that Degree in the United States at 75 , 313 ! Canada is credited with 947 , England and Wales with 2900 , Ireland with 1300 , and Scotland 450 , making a grand total of 80 , 910 , the

largest yet reached , I believe . The number of subscribing members in the United States and Canada is estimated at 615 . 136 , as noted in the leaderette aforesaid , and , as every brother is duly accounted for in all the Annual Returns , either as continuing on the Roll or removed from the cause recorded , the figures may be taken as exactly indicating the extent of out beloved Fraternity in the Countries or States noted .

W . J . H . S 05 ] ROYAL YORKSHIRE LODGE , No . 265 . In reply to many enquiries , this lodge was . warranted ( or it would be more correct to say it received a York Dispensation ) , as stated by the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Tew , on August 23 rd , 1788 . It never had any other name , and never left Keighley . " Milnes Lodge " was a

local term , merely used to distinguish the source of a lodge ' s constitution . For instance , an Atholl Mason would say , " / don't belong to a Milnes Lodge . " The term applied to Duke of York ' s Lodge , 529 , Hope Lodge , Bradford , 539 , Loyal Halifax , 549 , and others at Leeds and elsewhere , being " Milnes " lodges , i . e ., chartered by Rd . Slater Milnes , Prov . G . M . under the " Moderns . " The

first meeting of the Royal Yorkshire Lodge , No . 530 , was held at the Devonshire Arms , where it remained for some years ( I cannotsay how many years exactly , without special reference ) , but was much longer at another public-housethe Lord Rodney—subsequently . Bro . Tew ' s errors

through mixing up the Lodges 265 and 275 would easily occur under the excitement of such an occasion . They were corrected almost immediately , and I believe I am correct in stating that those errors will not appear in the Craft report of the proceedings , or , if they do , not without some explanation . ' J . RAMSDEN RILEY .

Freemasonry And Education.

FREEMASONRY AND EDUCATION .

There has been some correspondence lately in our pages Concerning the education of the sons of Freemasons who do not need nor desire to avail themselves of the Charity of their brethren , but apparently would be glad to make use of the great power of combination and have a School to

which they may send their boys In some degree connected with the Craft to which they themselves are proud of being members . A company has now being formed , under the patronage of distinguished brethren , to establish a Public School , offering special advantages to sons of Freemasons . ( See advertisement of Prospectus . ) We think the idea good , and likely to lead to great results .

Westward Ho , for sons of Military men ; Marlborough , for the Clergy , havebeen , and are , » ery successful ; whyshould not Freemasons have a great Public School of first-class rank to whi h ihey may send their sons at a moderate cost , and to which may be attached exhibitions and scholarships to encourage and assist the most deserving ?

We observe that the Rev . Dr . Morris , Head Master of the Royal Masonic School , is on the Directing Council , and that it is proposed to give exhibitions to boys leaving that Institution who deserve a lift up . The whole object of the movement is laudable , and in our judgment worthy of support ; moreover , as a business transaction it can scarcely fail to be satisfactory .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft Jlasonrg . PEACE AND HARMONY LODGE ( No . 60 ) . —This ancient and distinguished lodge met at Freemasons ' Hall , Great Queen-street , on the 26 th ult ., when there were present , among others , Bros . A . T . Layton , J . P ., P . G . S ., P . M . 181 , W . M . ; A . J . Altman , CC , G . Stwd ., S . W . ; Dr . Kempster , acting J . W . ; Henry Young , P . G . S ., P . M ., Treas . ; F . Binckes , P . G . S ., P . G . Swd . Br ., P . M ., Sec . ;

Rogers , S . D . j H . Slade , J . D . ; G . II . Kenning , acting I . G . ; Josling , P . G . S ., I . P . M . ; Kent , P . G . S ., P . M ., D . C ; Barton , P . G . S ., P . M . ; Chancellor , P . G . S ., P . M . ; T . C . Walls , P . G . W . Middx . ; W . H . Kempster , jun ., H . J . Lardner , P . A . G . D . C . Surrey ; Cotton , Balliston , ex-Sheriff Higgs , E . J . Altman , and others . Bros . Sillitoe , P . G . Std . Br ., P . M . 645 ; Whitmarsh , 1335 ; and Brown ,

22 S ( S . C ) , were visitors . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . W . H . T . Balliston was passed to the Second Degree . The ballot was taken on behalf of Mr . T . H . Alderton for initiation and Bro . W . Jacques , W . M . 1744 , as a joining member , and it proved to be unanimous . Mr . Alderton , being in attendance , was duly inducted into Craft mysteries . Bros . Nicol , P . G . S ., P . M ., and

James Moon , P . G . S ., J . W ., were absent through indisposition . The lodge was then closed . The banquet which followed was well served under the personal supervision of Bro . Madell , and gave satisfaction . The W . M ., being unwell , deputed Bro . J osling , P . M ., to officiate at the banquet . The speeches from the chair were terse , but . pertinent . Some of the responses were also good , notably those of

Bro . Stlhtoe for "The Grand Officers , " Bro . Brown , for " The Visitors , " Bro . Barton for " The P . M . ' s , " Bro . Young for "The Treasurer and Secretary , " and Bro . Dr . Kempster for "The Officers . " Bros . Altman , CC , Cotton , G . H . Kenning , Alderton , Young , and others , instrumentally and vocally entertained the brethren . The proceedings , which were throughout of a most successful and genial nature , terminated at an early hour .

FAITH LODGE ( No . 141 ) . —The installation meeting of this old lodge was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , on Tuesday , when Bro . George C . Hudson , the W . M ., installed his successor in the chair . Bro . W . J . Hakim , the VV . M . for the next 12 months , occupied the position of S . W . during the past year , and was unanimously elected to the position into which he was on Tuesday formally

installed . After the conclusion of the ceremony , which was very perfectly performed by Bro . Hudson , Bro . Hakim proceeded to invest his officers as follows : Bros . Steng , S . W . ; Wetzlar , J W . ; Carter , P . M ., Treas . ( for the 30 th time ) j Stuart , P . M ., Sec . ( a position he has occupied for 17 years ); Langdale , S . D . ; By ' e , J . D . ; Shepherd , I . G . ; Welch and Moles , Stewards ; Taylor , D . of C ;

Ryan , A . D . of C ; and Longstaff , Tyler . After the closing of the lodge the brethren and their guests dined together , and atter doing full justice to the elegant repast which was placed before them , the usual list of loyal and Masonic toasts was proceeded with , the intervals between the various speeches being enlivened by some excellent music , both vocal and instrumental . This department was entrusted to Bro . E . P . Delevante , who

was assisted by Miss Emily Davies , soprano , Bro . Henry Parkin , tenor , Bro . A . G . Pritchard , well-known for his buffo sketches , and Bro . Hy . Prenton , bass , each of whom in their several walks of art gave great satisfaction to their audience , lt should also be mentioned that Bro . E . P . Delevante , who was the pianist , performed several pieces during the course of the dinner , including an exceedingly pretty march ( "March de Concert" ) , of which he is the

composer . After disposing of the toasts of " The Oueen and the Craft" and "lhe M . W . the Grand Master , " the Worshipful Master proposed "The Health of "The M . W . the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , the Earl of Carnarvon ; the R . W . the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of

Lathom , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " In proposing this toast , the Worshipful Master said he had hoped to have had a Grand Officer present on that occasion whose name he might have associated with that toast , but , by reason of a pressing engagement , the worshipful brother in question was unable to be with them .

All three toasts were warmly received , and duly honoured by thebrethren present . Bro . Hudson , as I . P . M ., then proposed "The Health of the Worshipful Master . " He said , although it was the only time he had the pleasure of proposing a toast during the evening , he appreciated the honour of having to propose the toast of the evening . From the time when Bro .

Hakim was initiated in the taith Lodge the brethren had never once been disappointed in him , and that evening his progress through the offices in the lodge had culminated in his acquiring the highest honour which the lodge was able to bestow on any of its members . He wished Bro . Hakim a very prosperous year of office , and he had no doubt that Bro . Hakim would receive the same kindness at the hands

of the members as that which had been accorded to himself while he occupied the chair . The toast having been drunk with enthusiasm , Bro . Hakim rose , and said he had very great pleasure in thanking the brethren for the kind way in which they had drunk his health , and in thanking P . M . Hudson for the flattering way in which he had proposed itBro .

, Hakim went on to say that he should always do his best to carry on the work , of the lodge in a way to merit the approval of the brethren . Whenever he fell short he hoped they would attribute it to want of abilit y rather than to want of will . Since he had joined the Lodge of Faith he

had always had the interests of the Craft at heart . He feared that he was not as proficient as he should wish to be , because a severe illness which he had some years ago had impaired his memory ; but all that he could do by zeal and application , he would do . He hoped that the brethren had enjoyed themselves on that evening , and that

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

they would continue to do so during his year of office , and he felt quite sure that during the period that he should have the honour of presiding over the lodge , he should experience the same kindness at their hands as he had hitherto enjoyed . The W . M . then proposed " The Health of the I . P . M . » who was also the Installieg Master that evening . x 'L had all had the

brethren opportunity of seeing Bro . Hud . son ' s work in the various offices , and also in the chair and they all knew his excellence and his desire to be serviceable to the Craft , and to the brethren personall y , and he did not doubt that he , himself , should be indebted to Bro . Hudson for kindly assistance during his term of office The W . M . concluded by investing Bro . Hudson with a verv

linn / l _ -n «< n D T \/ T ' _ -. _! . _* . ? _ ... l _ r __ I _ I _ . ___ . JI * _ i J " handsome P . M . ' s jewel which had been unanimously voted to him by the brethren . Bro . Hudson having returned thanks for the manner in which his health had been proposed and received , and for jewel which had been presented to him , and which he should prize as an heirloom , The W . M . proceeded to propose "The Health of thc

Visitors , " which was responded to by Bros . Forge Edwards , Warren , and others . ' Toasts to "The Health of the P . M . ' s of the Lodge " and also to "The Health of the Treasurer and Secretary ' " to "The Prosperity of the Masonic Charities , " and to "The Health of the Officers of the Lodge , " were also proposed and honoured , before the Tyler ' s toast terminated

the proceedings of the evening . Among the visitors were Bros . Freeman , 55 ; H . T Warren , R . W . Forge , P . M . 1793 ; Edward Delevanti ! 2021 ; C . P . Edwards , 172 ; John Ramsay , P . M . 1707-Morton W . Glover , 16 94 ; H . Parkin , 1317 ; Edward Rosenberger , 2021 ; Pritchard , Org . 2021 ; and E . C . Massey .

UNITY LODGE ( No . 183 ) . —This lod ge met at the Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-street , on Monday , the 22 nd ult ., when there were present Bros . E . A . Francis W . M . ; H . Hooper , R . Corsham , G . W . Speth , J . W . Oliver , S . C . Hester , G . H . Lindsay-Renton , G . R . Langley , S . Richardson , G . W . Pinnock , J . D . E . Tarr , F . W . Zimer , A . J . Hirsch , A . E . Johnson , G . Pragnell . E .

Wareham , W . J . Godwin , A . O . Side , A . Cook , T . C . Tassell , F . W . Mcllwraith , W . F . B . Watts , and W . Birkett ; also the following visitors : Bros . W . N . Brown , 1567 ; Thos . Poore , 2105 ; Thos . Taylor , 1677 ; B . Ridge , 463 ; John Blackburn , 594 ; W . Hopekirk , G . Purst . ; Thos . Cull , 1446 ; H . C . Turner , 16 93 ; Richd . Eve , P . G . T . j R . P . Angel , 179 j G . H . N . Bridges , 772 ; H . Parker , 1706 ; R . Rowlands , 1658 ; and W . J . Edney ,

933 . Bros . A . Cook , E . Wareham , G . Pragnell , and W . J . Goodwin were , on a unanimous ballot , admitted joining members of the lodge . Messrs . T . C . Tassell , F . W . Mcllwraith , W . Birkett , and VV . F . B . Watts were , subsequent to a ballot unanimously in their favour , initiated into Freemasonry and admitted to the membership of the lodge . Messrs . Newbold and Watson were proposed and seconded

as candidates for the privileges and mysteries of ancient Freemasonry . The W M . announced that , as Steward for the lodge , he had been enabled to take up £ 87 to the Centennial Festival of the Girls' School . ' Private and routine business having been gone through , the brethren adjourned to the banquet room , where an exceptionally pleasant evening was brought to a harmonious conclusion at a somewhat late hour .

BURGOYNE LODGE ( No . 902 ) . —The instal . lation meeting of this lodge was held on the 22 nd ult . at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , E . C . There were present Bros . Charles Castell , W . M ., in the chair ; Cross , S . W ., W . M . elect ; W . Smith , J . W . ; G . Gabb , P . M ., Treas . ; H . C . Jefferys , P . M ., Sec ; Beddoes , S . D . ; White , J . D . ; Larter , acting I . G . ; Batty , P . M ., D . C ; H .

James , Org . ; Field , P . M . ; Byng , P . M . ; Pocock , P . M . ; Wilkins , P . M . ; Prince , George , Duncan , Rasleigh , Horton , Gill , Richmond , Vatcher , Pillinger , Nutting , Cowland , Stafford , Balfour , Terry , Fox , Burrell , Gillard , Dunn , Lewry , Hammond , and Bean . Among the visitors were Bros . Dr . Lott , P . G . O . ; I . Mason , P . P . S .

G . D . Middx . ; C . Smith , P . M . 1441 , P . Z . ; Cooper , P . M . 1441 ; E . H . Bramley , P . M . ; W . Drewett , W . M . 8 S 9 , S . W . 163 S ; J . Drewett , I . P . M . S 89 , P . G . S . ; H . Lynn , 217 ; Cromwell-Marsh , Jay , Ellis , Turner , 1767 ; G . Powell , P . M . and P . Z . 11 S 5 ; Richards , W . M . 1185 ; and others .

Lodge having been opened , and the minutes of last meetings read and confirmed , the Committee presented their report and balance sheet , which was unanimously received and adopted . This showed a balance in favour of the lodge of £ 103 odd . Bro . John Charles Cross , W . M . elect , was then presented by the D . C . to the W . M . to receive the benefit of installation , which Bro . Castell

carried out in his well known style , and elicited the well deserved approbation of the brethren . The W . M . then appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . Chas . Castell , I . P . M . ; Walter Smith , S . W . : J . Beddoes , J . W . ; George Gabb , P . M ., Treas . ; Jefferys , P . M ., Sec ; White , S . D . ; James , J . D . ; Prince , I . G . J Batty , P . M ., D . C . ; Larter , Org . ; Gearge and Balfour , Stwds . ; and Terry , A . D . C .

Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet , served in Bro . Clemow ' s well-known excellent style . The toasts of "The Queen and the Craft" and "The M . W . G . M . " havingbeeu proposed and honoured , The W . M . gave the toast of "The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , the Deputy Grand Master , the

Earl of Lathom , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and called on Beo . Dr . Lott , P . G . O ., to respond . Bro . Lott thanked the W . M . and brethren for the kind and cordial way his name had been received , as representing on that occasion the Grand Officers . He could only say that he had much enjoyed the very excellent working '

of the I . P . M ., and could also add that he had never seen the work done better . Bro . Castell , I . P . M ., in proposing "The Health of the W . M ., " said he was sure that the brethren could understand that , although he felt cross once or twice during the beautiful ceremony of installation , the feeling was only in the hand , for he experienced great p leasure in placing their unanimously elected W . M . into the chair ot