Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

VISITING WORSHIPFUL MASTERS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I was a little surprised on reading your " Notes" in last Saturday's Freemason upon " Perplexed ' s " letter on the subject in the previous week ' s newspaper of the existence of a custom that , when the W . M . and Wardens of a lodge

are officially invited as such to visit a lodge , " it is permissible for them to wear their collars " in the lodge visited . Such a custom if prevailing in the London district , does not , so far as I am aware , hold in the northern provinces . Interchange of lodge visits are of frequent and regular occurrence ; but I do not remember a single instance of the custom referred to ; indeed , the terms of Rule 303 of the Book of Constitutions clearly renders such a custom

as you refer to irregular , besides' there certainly ought to be only one W . M . and two Wardens in a lodge wearing-their collars and jewels of office at the same time . In a few isolated cases I have seen a W . M ., and occasionally a Warden of a lodge , when visiting wear the collar of his own lodge , but I have attributed it to the brother's ignorance of the Constitutions , and when Rule 303 was

privately brought to the attention of the brother he was readily convinced of his error , and ceased the practice . I do not see that the fact of the W . M . being an " honorary" member of the lodge makes the slightest difference . —Yours fraternally , 1 . T . LAST , P . M .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , With reference to your Notes on the 27 th instant upon the question raised by " Perplexed" in your issue of the 13 th instant , as to whether it is correct for a W . M . when visiting another lodge as an hon . member—such membership being by virtue of his office only—to wear the collar and jewel of a W . M ., I

submit that the word " only " in Article 308 of the B . of C . is conclusive . That Article states explicitly : * ' The collars of the officers of private lodges are to be worn only in their own lodges , " ( i . e ., of the lodges of which they are officers ) , " or when representing their lodges as Masters or Wardens in the Grand Lodge or in their Provincial or District Grand Lodges . " There are three places therefore , and only three , where a W . M . may properly wear his collar , viz ., the lodge of which he is the actual Master , and the Grand Lodge

and Provincial Grand Lodge , if any , where he represents his lodge . There can only be one Master in a lodge ; and it would be as unbecoming as , I submit , it is unconstitutional for the Master of , say Lodge A , to wear his collar in , say Lodge B , which he is visiting , either officially as a guest , or as an honorary member , whether by virtue of some service which Lodge A has rendered to Lodge B , or even of his own past services . As well might the I . G . of Lodge A wear his collar in Lodge B .

Another and more debateable point is this . Should a P . M . of a lodge wear his collar in another lodge which he is visiting ? Article 306 A states distinctly that he » iiy >; but the rule is of modern date , and , although it is petfectly legal to do so , it is considered by many to be " bad form . " It will be observed that , in previous Articles , it is provided that present and past Grand Officers " wear " { i . e ., shall wear ) certain collars ; but Article 306 A only says that P . Ms , " shall be entitled to vicar , " not that they "wear" the P . M . collar . The same remarks apply to P . Zs . of the Royal Arch . —Yours fraternally ,

WILFRED A . BOWSER , " Haslemere , " Amhurst Park , P . M . and Sec . 2000 . Stamford-hill , N . 29 th October .

Old Freemasonry.

OLD FREEMASONRY .

Early last century ( i . e ., the eighteenth ) it was customary for brethren to assemble in lodges , without any authority apparently save that of the usages and customs of the Craft as their guide . Certainly they had no warrants , as we understand the term , though evidently certificates were required under certain circumstances , as we know from the " New Articles " in the " Harleian MS ., 1942 , " and a few other copies of the «' Old Charges . "

In Scotland , to the year 1736 , there was no general authority , but then a Grand Lodge was formed , and some 33 lodges , under * the old regime , united in forming that body , but , for a time , still more held aloof . Many of these lodges had records of their meetings preserved dating back to the seventeenth century , and the senior of all , the Lodge of Edinburgh , has

minutes , which are still preserved , beginning so early as the year 1599 , particulars of which are to be found in my friend , D . Murray Lyon ' s " History of No . 1 , " published in 1873 , and anew edition is just now ready for circulation . In Ireland the Craft was at work in the seventeenth century , as Dr . Chetwode Crawley has proved , and a Grand Lodge was formed in 1725 , or earlier , prior to the Dublin organisation of 1729-30 .

In England we have records of lodges from 1646 , when Ashmole was initiated , until the premier Grand Lodge was inaugurated , in 1717 , by four or more 0 / 1 / lodges . Now , this means three sources for America to obtain a knowledge of the Fraternity , of the two systems , one dating chiefly before and the other after the Grand Lodge era . On this point an interesting and valuable article by

Bro . S . D . Nickerson , Grand Secretary and P . G . M of Massachusetts , should be consulted , published in the "History of Freemasonry and Concordant Orders " ( Boston and New York ) , having the suggestive title " The First Glimpses of Freemasonry in North America . " It is one of the best and most concise statements on the subject ever circulated , and deserves most careful reading , and though there is yet wanting actual

minutes of lodges which assembled prior to 1730 , still there is no reason really why such should not be looked for and found , for several brethren left Great Britain and Ireland for New England and other parts of America , and wire as fully entitled to open and work in lodges as any who succeeded them , even though they had no warrants to empower them so to do . As

time went on , however , there arose two classes of Freemasons , the one under the old system and independent , and the other composed of lodges constituted by Grand Lodges . The latter became known as Regular and the former as Irregular Lodges and brethren , but so far as a knowledge of the Craft was concerned , the one was as much entitled to work as the other .

Old Freemasonry.

Under the old system , apparently , lodges assembled in Pennsylvania from 1731 , or earlier , and so elsewhere . However , the only minutes preserved of such organisations are those of St . John ' s Lodge , Philadelphia , from 1731 , in what is known as " Libre B . " The " Libre A " has yet to be found and made public . This is the lodge in which Benjamin Franklin was initiated , and which developed into a Grand Lodge , just as the old York Lodge did , in England .

Quite recently another book has been discovered and described as " Leidger A and B , " which is of a most interesting character , and contains Bro . Benjamin Franklin ' s personal account against the " Lodge of Masons at B . Hubards , " in his own handwriting , 1734-37 . I consider this a remarkable find , and when taken in connection with the newspaper references to the Craft and other evidences , bring us in touch with the old Fraternity to an extent never hitherto possible .

It appears from this old tome that the reprint of the " Book of Constitutions , 1723 , " in 1734 , by Franklin , was sold at 2 s . 6 d . each , and not onl y were three sent to " Lan county " in 1734 , but also " eight by Reynells to Lancaster , " and the large sum is noted of ^ n 17 s . 6 d . for " seventy sent to Boston , " and 25 to " Carolina . " Now , these figures would lead one to

suppose there were lodges , or a lodge at least , at each of these places , and we know there was one ( or more ) in Philadel phia and another at Boston . The account is not carefully entered , and the sum for the eight copies is omitted , but evidently intended to be corrected in the margin by the insertion of 15 s . That amount , however , would only be for six copies , whereas the number is eight , beyond question .

A copy described as " a gilt Mason book " cost 5 s ., but unbound onl y half that , as already noted . The lodge , of course , had one of the former . I wish I had one also ! Would not mind paying even more for it ! There is one entry of "Postage and Commission , etc ., us . 4 d . and 2 S . Sd . = 14 s . " It is easy to surmise what this was far , as we know of the correspondence between Franklin and Henry Price . But whatever it may

mean , the lodge ( or lodges ) in Philadelphia at that time , was not placed on the English Register , though later on the Grand Lodge of England acknowledged the legitimacy cf the members , and as a matter of fact , the one had as good a right to work as the other , only the lodges which emanated through the Grand Lodges became " regular , " and , in time , the "irregular , "

or independent lodges , died out or were absorbed . This lodge at Bro . Hubards is , so far , the oldest of which we have any account for America , and all particu ' ars about it interest me much . The St , John ' s Lodge , Boston , is the oldest of regular lodges in America , but the one at Philadelphia was under the old system and thus the senior . —Keystone . W . J . HUGHAN .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Angel Lodge , No . 51

INSTALLATION OF BRO . JOHN E . CHEESE . The installation meeting of the above lodge was held at Colchester on the 25 th ult ., and was in every way a success . The lodge was opened at 5 . 30 by Bro . Willoughby John Bean , and three joining members having been duly elected , Bro . Bean said he would like to take the opportunity to thank the brethren , and especially the officers , for the loyal support they had given him during the past year , rendering it to him one of unalloyed satisfaction and

pleasure . As a crowning pleasure he was glad to have the opportunity of doing honour to a brother who was held in the greatest esteem by all the members of the lodge—he alluded to Bro . Ives . ( Applause . ) This brother , at the last meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge , received at the hands of Lord Warwick the appointment to the highest office in the province , that of Senior Grand Warden . ( Applause . ) The brethren felt that this was not only an honour to Bro . Ives , but was also an honour to the lodge generally . ( Hear , hear . ) And they had thereupon taken the opportunity to show to Bro . Ives

their satisfaction at the well-deserved honour he had received , and also their appreciation of the earnest efforts he was always making for the welfare of the lodge . Bro . R . Haward Ives , who was heartily applauded , said he hardly knew how to find words to express his thanks for the honour the brethren had done him , and the kind feeling- that had prompted this presentation . When the Prov . Grand Master appointed him to the high position of Senior Grand Warden of this great province he [ felt very deeply the honour that his lordship conferted , but that had been greatly enhanced by

the satisfaction that had been expressed to him by his brethren of the Angel Lodge . ( Applause . ) His heart was _ full of gratitude to his brethren for this mark of their esteem ; and the fact that this presentation had been made to him in open lodge , and in the presence of so many distinguished visitors , was one that he should always remember . The principal business of the day was then proceeded with , viz ., the installation of Bro . John E . Cheese , headmaster of St . John ' s-green Board School , as W . M . for the ensuing year ; the ceremonies appertaining to which were most ably

performed by Bro . Claude E . Egerton-Green , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . At the conclusion the officers for the year were appointed as follow : Bros . Rev . C . C . Naters , P . P . G . Chap ., S . W . ; Arthur J . O . Turner , J . W . ; Rev . C . Pierrepont Edwards , Chap . ; A . S . B . Sparling , P . M ., P . P . G . Treas ., I ' reas . ; Thos . J . Railing , P . M ., P . A . G . D . C , Prov . G . Sec , Sec . ; Philip G . Laver , S . D . ; W . R . Seabrooke , J . D . ; Fred . Nish , I . G . ; R . Haward Ives , P . M .. Prov . S . G . W ., D . C . ; Chas . Wood , Org . ; Chas . W . Denton , H . P . Gadsdon , and C . W . D < mto . i , Stewards ; and Arthur vVrignt , Tyler ,

Between 60 and 70 brethren afterwards dined together at the Cups Hotel , an excellent repast being well served by ths ho . t , Bro . Har ; . A feature of the menu was a haunch of venison in prime condition , presented by Bro . Claude E . Egerton-Green . . A most enjoyable programme of music was arranged by the Organist of the Lodje , Bro . Charles Wood , those taking part being Bro . Abel Hustler , Bro . H . J . Biynton , Bro . W . H . Heal , Mr . E . Genders , Mr . Hughes , and Masters Slade and AUbrs , of St . James ' s Choir .

De Grey and Ripon Lodge , No . 1161 . PRESENTATION TO BRO . JOB IRLAM , P . M . The regular meeting of this prosperous lod { e was held on Wednesday , the 17 th ult ., at Freemasons' Hall , Manchester . The lolloping were present : Bros . Walter Cockerham , W . M . ; J . T . C . Blackie , S . W . ; Sam Richards , l . W . : I . Schofield ,

I . P . M . ; O . M . Jones , P . M ., Treas . ; Buckley Carr , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C ., D . C . ; J . Brownhill , S . D . ; A . Bcntley , J . D . ; E . Zoebell , P . M . ; H . M . Massingham , P . M . ; Job Irlam , P . M . ; J . R . Ashworth , P . M . ; C . Vlies , P . M . ; J . W . Moss , P . M ., P . P . D . G . S . B . ; W . Clewlow , C . G . Bails , T . Thrutchley , E . A . Harriss , G . J . Critchley , W . Arnold , G . H . Tyler , Samuel Riir . s , and J . R . Fletcher , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . j . II . Chadwick , 0112 ; S . Beolym , 13 S 7 ; J . Cunningham , P . M ., and H . Morland , of 129

( S . C . ) . The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting bsing reid and confirmed , Bros . Thrutchley and Arnold were each raised to the Digree of Al . M . the two ceremonies were pjifurmcd by ISrus . J . lrlim , P . M ., and O . M . Jones , P . M ., in a most impressive manner , and in a style we lava seldj . n seen ec | jailed . Tne adjption of the balance-sheet for the previous year was put and carried . Bro . Buckley Carr ,

P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , D . of C , then pinned on the breast of Bro . Job Irlam , P . M ., a beautiful iS-carat gold Past Treasurer ' s jewel , and spjkeat length , in a most Mattering and eulogistic manner , of the wuik done liy liro . Irlam on behalf of in ; lodge , and ot the very high esteem in which he ( liro . Carr ) and all the bretl . rei of the lodge held Bro . Irlam ; and , in conclusion , he hoped , and he telt sure that he was speaking for all the brethren , that Bro . Irlam wjuli live a