Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

A FREEMASON'S SUCCESS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In a recent issue of the Newark Advertiser appeared the subjoined paragraph :

"A "NEWARK FREEMASON ' S SUCCESS . —We are glad to hear of a munificent gift which has just been made to Mr . J . Morrison McLeod , of Newark , who has been for eight years secretary to the Freemasons' Instituet for Boys . It fell to Mr . McLeod ' s lot at the centenary of the Institution to hand over to the Prince of Wales , who was in the chair , a cheque for , £ 1 3 8 , 000 , which he had been

instrumental in collecting for it , and this amount by further exertions has been increased to , £ 141 , 000 . In recognition of his remarkable efforts , and of the brilliant way in which he has discharged his duties , the Governors and subscribers have just voted Mr . McLeod a thousand guineas , a liberal and noble reward for able and zealous work nobly performed . "

Permit me to ask for information of many anxious inquirers who take , and have taken . for many years an active and benevolent interest in Masonic Charities , when and where the handsome gratuity in question was granted to the " able and zealous " Secretary for " work nobly performed . " If substantially correct as reported , I purpose writing you at greater length in condemnation of that which I hold to be an unjust appropriation of money philanthropically subscribed by worthy Masons for the efficient maintenance of a noble Masonic Institution . —Yours fraternally ,

SACRED CHARITY . Nottingham Masonic Club , November 28 th .

QUALIFICATION OF P . P . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , "P . P . G . Registrar" has correctly stated in your last publication that it is quite clear that by " Law 32 " the First Grand Piincipal can request any R . A . M . to attend Grand Chapter to be invested as a Grand Officer—not being a subscribing member does not ( as it appears ) render him ineligible for the distinction .

But then . I contend , and this seems also the view of " P . P . G . Registrar , " after having been invested by the Law 2 , he cannot attend Grand Chapter , except by special command . It seems strange , but it is so ; and cannot be altered , except by amending Law 2 or Law 32 . Your other correspondent , " C . H . W ., " takes a rational view of the case , and quite proper , too—to leave it to "the dwellers on the threshold . "—Yours fraternally , AN OLD P . Z . Kilburn , N . W .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , If it is as reported by correspondents in your last two issues , that a companion has been appointed to Grand Ofiice , not being a subscribing member , proves that so very few take sufficient interest in R . A . to make themselves efficient in such distinction .

Perhaps the companion in question has rendered some great service to the Craft to have that honour conferred upon him , which would account for the exception made in this case . Otherwise , I feel sure , that such an appointment would not have been made , except by a mistake . —Yours fraternally , R . A . November 29 th .

ROYAL ARCH WORKING . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you kindly inform me if it is not the custom of most chapters to print the accounts of the year , and supply every companion with a copy ? I

have belonged to other chapters , and it was always done , and then every companion could discuss the same ; hut in Bournemouth it is ruled sufficient for the Treasurer to read his own account . This , I contend , is wrong . I wrote to the S . E ., and enclose his letter . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , THOMAS L . WELDON , Ss .

[ corv . J " Cumnor , Bournemouth , " November 25 th , 189 S . " Dear Sir and Companion , "I have consulted the M . E . Z . and other Principals re your letter of 22 nd inst ., and beg to repeat what was stated at the last convocation —' that it is not the custom in this chapter to print the balance-sheet for distribution , nor do

the by-laws make any provision for so doing . If , however , the companions think it advisable or desirable , it is open for any one of them to give notice in open chapter that at a subsequent chapter he will move the addition of a clause to the by-law to that effect . " Yours fraternally , " FREUK . T . CUTLER , S . E . "Comp . T . L . Weldon , "Dillon House . "

THE DUTIES OF D . C . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother I hope that my Bro . D . C . will not be able to obtain any little work on the duties appertaining to a Director of Ceremonies . In my opinion we have quite a superfluity of printed works on the ritual of Freemasonry , and the

" proper positions , forms , ceremonies , and honours should be learned by a regular attendance at lodge , by a diligent observation of the work , and by a constant endeavour to reason out for one ' s self the hidden meaning of all our traditional ceremonies . Further help should be sought by my liro . D . C . from skilled Past Masters , who are ever ready and willing to give the neophyte every assistance .

Correspondence.

I hope that my Bro . D . C . will receive this fraternal advice in the spirit in which it is given , and gain for himself , as he may do , all that his duties require of him by observation , reflection , and traditional " information from a well-known brother . "—Yours fraternally , PR . G . D . C .

To the Editor ot the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In answer to D . of C . ' s letter in to-day ' s issue of your paper there is a very useful little pamphlet written by W . Bro . C . G . Withell , P . M . No . 70 . I do not know the address of publisher , but the printer is J . H . Keys , Whimplestreet , Plymouth . —Yours fraternally ,

H . A . GRATTON BARNETT , Late Secretary and J . W . 1135 . Ilfracombe , November 26 th .

The Late Bro. Sir Frank Lockwood.

THE LATE BRO . SIR FRANK LOCKWOOD .

THE CLOUGHTON MEMORIAL . The little church at Cloughton , near Scarborough , will be rich in memorials of the late Bro . Sir Frank Lockwood , who regularly worshipped there whenever he was staying at his country residence . The fund opened by the vicar for the Lockwood Memorial now amounts to . £ 190 , and the subscribers include the Earl

of Rosebery , Lord James of Hereford , Lord Derwent , the Earl of Feversham , the Hon . Francis Johnstone , the Hon . Cecil Johnstone , Lord Grimthorpe , Bro . Sir Henry Irving , Mr . J . Kendal , Sir John Baron , Mr . E . W . Beckett , M . P ., Mr . J . Compton Rickett , M . P ., Mr . A . Morris , Mr . J . Dickens , and the Rev . R . J . Cooper .

It was at first intended that the memorial should consist of a stained-glass window in the church , but after paying for the window , there is asullicient sum to defray the cost of a lych gate , which is now being erected , and both will be dedicated by Canon Temple , of York , on the 7 th instant . The window , which is being placed in the south side of the church , illustrates the Judgment of Solomon , the subject having been suggested by a case at York Assizes , in which Sir Frank ,

soon after he was called to the Bar , ably defended a girl charged with having taken the life of her baby . Sir Frank was asked by the Judge to defend the girl , and his earnest and eloquent pleading won the day . At the east end of the church is a stained-glass window erected by Sir Frank to the memory of his parents , and on the wall at the north side is the brass tablet placed there by Lady Lockwood to the memory of her husband .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

St . John the Baptist Lodge , No . 475 . At the November meeting there were present Bros . G . J . Wardill , W . M . ; F . W . Faulkner , S . W . ; S . W . Smith , J . W . ; A . Grace , S . D . ; A . Hayward , j . D . ; W . H . McNamara , I . G . ; W . E . Dipple , Org . ; E . F . Green , P . M ., Sec ; H . Gates , I . P . M . ; H . O . Cavill , P . M . ; W . L . Gates , P . M . ; G . S . Duberly , P . M . ; W . Hoyle , T . B . Ellery , C . Amey , and A . J . L . Evans .

The minutes having been read , Mr . E . F . Walsh received the benefit of initiation , Bro . Cavill delivering the address and explaining the working tools . The death of the Pro Grand Master ( Lord Lathom ) being reported , it was agreed that a letter of condolence should be prepared and forwarded to the Prov . Grand Master ( Lord Ampthill ) for presentation to the family . It was -. esolved to hold a Masonic ball in January or February next , the arrangements being left in the hands of a Committee of Past Masters .

At the customary repast which followed songs were rendered by various brethren , and a recitation by Bro . Cavill was greatly enjoyed .

Earl of Mornington Lodge , No . 2000 . The regular meeting of this lodge was held at the Cafe Royal , Regent-street , W ., on Friday , the 25 th ult ., when there were present Bros . Wilfred A . Bowser , VV . M . ( who presided ); R . S . Fairbank , S . VV . ; W . Turner , J . W . ; H . R . Rose , P . M ., P . G . O ., Treas . ; j . II . Lavies , P . M ., Sec . ; H . T . Taylor , S . D . ; A . D . Jones , I . D . ; I .

Pollard , P . M ., D . C ; J . Davidson , I . G . ; W . J . Hart , Org . ; E . Dickenson and E . Henry Taylor , Stwds . ; and T . Bowler , Tyler ; also the following members : Bros . Lake , I . P . M . ; Gardner , P . M . ; Lewin , Probyn-Williams , Bartlett , Barrett , Robman , Budd , Bird , Sarson , Dallas , Acfield , Cummings , Parkin , and May . Visitors : Bros . C . Fox , P . M . yo ; Smith , P . M . 159 . 5 ; Shipley , P . M . 170 G ; Williams , 2 G 20 ; Cole , 2034 ; and Mayne , 2 GS 2 .

The lodge having been opened , a ballot was taken , and proved unanimous in favour of Messrs . Charles Ryal ! , George iBelben Flux , Gustave Isidore Schorstein , and Francis Alfred Hugh Walsh , who , together with Nadeisha Bamanji Vakil ( elected at the previous meeting ) , were then initiated by the VV . M ., Bro . Bowser , the charge to the initiates being delivered by Bro . Richard Lake , I . P . M . The S . W ., Bro . R . S . Fairbank , was elected Master of the lodge for the ensuing year , the Treasurer and Tyler were re-elected , the Audit Committee was appointed , and the

by-laws were read . TheW . M . called the brethren to order , and having addressed them in feeling terms respecting the death of the M . W . the Pro G . M ., the Earl of Lathom , the Organist , Bro . Hunt , played the " Diad March in Saul , " and a resolution of sympathy with his lordship ' s family was passed . A Past Mister ' s jewel was voted to the VV . M ., who then asked the brethren to accept a set of principal oliicers' gauntlets as a small token of his love for the lodge , and was heartily thanked for his present . ' Ihe I . P . M . invested him , and he invested the Wardens with the gauntlets .

Other business having been transacted , the lodge was closed , and the brethren retired at 7 . 30 to a superb banquet , served in the best style of the Cafe Royal , und ; r the personal superintendence ot Bro . Odenino , the manager . Dinner being over , grace was sung by a quartette of tho musical members of the lodge . The VV . M . then proposed the usual loyal toasts , and in proposing that of " The Grand Officers , " referred with great regret to the omission of the nine of the late M . W . the Pro G . M ., and to the serious loss sustained by the Craft through his death . The toast was drunk with silent fire .

The exquisite and most appropriate part song "The long day closes " ( Sullivan ) was sung in a most perfect manner by Bros . G . May , H . Parkin , H . T . Taylor , and Shapley . Bro . II . Rose , P . G . Org ., responded in appropriate terms . After the toast of "The Health of the VV . M . " had been proposed in laudatory terms by the I . P . M ., and received with enthusiasm , The VV . M . proposed that of "The Past Masters , " and subsequently that of " The Initiates , " remarking that he had that aftemjon had the privilege of initiating into

Masonry the largest number of candidates which any lodge was allowed to admit into the Craft on the same day—an event which was unprecedented in the history of that lodge—and that their work in lodge that diy had shown that , so long as a man is of good report , true , and trusty , and believed in T . G . A . O . T . U ., differences of race , of colour , of religion , and of politics , were no barrier to his admission into Masonry . He bade the initiates , one and all , a hearty welcomj , and hoped they would each make such progress in the noble science as would tend to their becoming useful members of the Fraternity , and rising to positions of honour and responsibility .