Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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 limitsfree discussion .

MASONIC VAGRANTS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother I noticed an article in your last week ' s edition in relation to Masonic vagrants in Canada and suggesting that something of the kind should be adopted in this country . We in Sussex have appointed but one Almoner to each town so

that the itinerants come before one only . Now in Brighton we have io lodges and I have been appointed Almoner for the second year , and my system is to get the name of each applicant , together with name , number and address of lodge and Secretary , and then I request him to return in about two hours . In the meantime I send a reply-paid telegram to the address given , and if favourable , relieve him , but I am very sorry to say that in most cases the reply is either that the address is unknown or the applicant totally unworthy or cannot be traced on the books .

Out of about 30 applicants , one half have been proved unworthy of Masonic relief , while some reply that applicant trades on Masonry . At our quarterly meetings the names of applicants are submitted by the Almoners and the same traced from one town to another , and the different tales told by them compared , proving in most cases that they either have bad memories or tell untruths . We in Sussex hope that in future none but genuine cases will appear and the money saved by not giving to the undeserving will enable us to give more substantial relief to the deserving .

Hoping you will excuse me for trespassing on your time . —I remain , yours fraternally , T . H . CHALLIS , P . M . 315 . P . S . —I have had three telegrams returned by the telegraphic officials , as neither the addressee or address could be found .

District Grand Lodge Of The Transvaal, South Africa.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF THE TRANSVAAL , SOUTH AFRICA .

We have received for publication the following letters , together with the address ( to her Majesty the Queen on the completion of the 6 oth year of her reign ) to which they relate . [ COPY ] 57 , The Drive , Hove , 14 th July , 1807 .

Very Worshipful Sir and Brother , —Referring to the loyal address to her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , which , signed by the Freemasons of the Transvaal Republic , was sent to me for transmission to her Majesty , I would now call attention to two or three special points of interest in connection with the matter , which , I think , entitles this particular address to favourable consideration at the hands of those brethren through whom I would wish to forward it to our Most Worshipful the Grand Master for her Majesty ' s gracious acceptance .

1 . It comes from a State where the expression of loyal feeling from brethren of the Dutch Constitution is perfectly significant and encouraging . 2 . That as the address is signed by Freemasons of the Transvaal of al Constitutions holding there , it is offered for her Majesty ' s gracious acceptance as a general and spontaneous expression of gratitude for the long preservation of her Majesty ' s life , and the world-wide benefits enjoyed under her marvellous reign .

3 . I feel sure that the knowledge that her Majesty has been graciously pleased to receive the address , will tend greatly to the preservation of good feeling between Dutch and English brethren in the Transvaal , and will strengthen the sentiments of loyalty and gratitude as expressed in the address itself . I have the honour to be , Very Worshipful Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , ( Signed ) G . RICHARDS , District Grand Master ,

Very Wor . Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , Transvaal . Freemasons' Hall . | copyJ United Grand Lodge of England , Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , London , W . C , 23 rd July , 1897 .

Dear Sir am " R . W . Brother , —I am desired by the M . W . Grand Master to acknowledge the receipt of the loyal address of congratulation to her Majesty the Queen from the Free and Accepted Masons resident in the Transvaal . His Royal Highness has learnt with satisfaction that among the numerous

brethren who have signed the address , there are many belonging to the Dutch and other Constitutions , and he sincerely trusts that the Masonic bonds by which these brethren are united , may be the means of strengthening the kindly feeling , which it is hoped will always continue to exist between the various nationalities in the South African Republic .

I am to state that the address shall be laid before her Majesty the Queen the first convenient opportunity . I am , dear Sir and R . W . Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , ( Signed ) E . Linen WORTH , Grand Secretary . R . W . Bro . George Richards , Dist . G . M . Transvaal .

To her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria , Queen of Great Britain and Ireland , Empress of India , Grand Patron of Freemasons , & c , & c , & c . The loyal address of Free and Accepted Masons resident in the Transvaal , South Africa , Humbly sheweth That , on the memorable and auspicious occasion of your Majesty ' s reign ,

We , the undersigned Freemasons , desire to express our devotion to your Majesty ' s person and Throne , and to tender to your Majesty our loyal and hearty congratulations on the 60 th anniversary of your Majesty ' s accession , of a reign unparalleled in the British annals , not alone for its duration , but for its wealth of historic achievements , and for the world-wide expansion of the Empire which has signalised it .

District Grand Lodge Of The Transvaal, South Africa.

An appreciation of your Majesty s illustrious reign and the personal respec and affection in which your Majesty is held are cherished in the hearts as they are preserved in the annals and poetry of the people over whom your Majesty has exercised the prerogatives of Royal power of a period in time and over numbers of human beings of all shades and colour , class and religion , unprecedented in the history of the world . May your Majesty live long to contemplate and enjoy the result of your beneficent rule . Your Majesty ' s loyal and devoted servants .

Reviews.

Reviews .

Messrs . Whitfield , King , and Co . ( Lacey-street , Ipswich ) , thefamous postage stamp importers , have sent us a second edition of the "ABC Descriptive Priced Catalogue of the World ' s Postage Stamps , Envelopes , Post Cards , " & c . _ It is a very remarkable and most interesting volume , Part I . being devoted to Adhesive Stamps , and Part II . to " Entires , " i . e ., Envelopes , Wrappers , Post Cards , & c . These two run ti about Soo pages , closely printed and ably arranged , any Country or State being found with the greatest ease , though there is an Index to each portion of the valuable book . There is also a Foreign Money Table , with the equivalent value in English , ranging from Afghanistan to Zululand , and moreover there are about 5000 illustrations to guide

the enquirer and assist the memory of the expert , so that this handy and most compact volume is a treasure for philatelists , besides being of considerable interest to those whj wish information as to the value of stamps in their possession . To compile the work must have involved considerable labour , and certainly the small price it is published at , viz ., 25 . gd ., post free , cannot reimburse the publishers , unless its sale leads to other business , which doubtless it often will . The firm was established in 1869 , and their offices , erected in 18 S 7 , are declared to be "the largest in the world , devoted exclusively to the stamp trade , and are the onl y ones erected expressly tor that purpose . " There are seme 20 million of stamps in their vast collection .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Northumberland And Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM .

The annual meeting of the above Prov . Grand Mark Lodge was held on Monday afternoon , the 23 rd ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Jackson-street , Gateshead . The Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., presided , and was supported by Bros . R . B . Reed , Dep . Prov . G . M . ; G . W . Bain , Prov . G . Treas . ; T . J . Armstrong , P . G . Sec . ; J . Straksr Wilson , John Strachan , Thomas Purvis , W . F . Cannon , Dr . C . D . Hilt Drury , Robert Whitfield , J . Arthur Forbes , F . H . Bsnnett , John Mark , James Sedcole ,

H . S . Bird , Rev . Robert Mitford Ilderton , Ralph Thompson , J . Heppell , W . E . Moffett , Charles S . Lane , John Page , William Brown , Ralph Thompson , Thomas Laws , James Shaw , Charles B . Fard , Edwin Shewbrooks , Harry Brown , John Holt , Edward Hudson , and W . Thomas Tate . The report of the Committee of General Purposes was read , and was adopted on the motion of Bro . R . B . REED , D . P . G . M ., and seconded by Bro . THOMAS PURVIS , P . P . G . Treas .

The roll of lodges was called , when the several W . Ms , gavs reports , which generally showed an increase in membsrs . The Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Rev . Canon TRISTRAM , D . D ., briefly addressed the Grand Lodge . He expressed the pleasure he felt at bsing present at the close of another Masonic year . Personally , he was thankful to find himself once more amongst them , and , Masonically , he had to declare that it

would be difficult to find a more satisfactory report than the one sent in that day . The increase in new members was steady and satisfactory , and he was well pleased to see that they were again giving liberally to the three Masonic Charities—the Mark Benevolent Fund , the Mark Educational Fund , and the Durham Masonic Education Fund . Further , he was delighted to see that the Hudson Fund had reached over Xiooo , and that , it had been so

well taken up by the Northumberland and Durham lodges . He next referred to the retirement of Bro . R . B . Reed from the office of Dsputy Prov . Grand Master , and spoke in high terms of the great work accomplished by Bro . Rsed in that capacity . In conclusion , the Prov . Grand Master appointed Bro . Thomas Purvis to fill the important position of D . P . G . M . Bro . G . W . Bain was re-elected Prov . G . Treasurer , and with the other

Prov . G . Officers was duly invested for the year . The other officers were : Bro . R . R . Robson ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . Robinson ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ A . Dodds ... ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ F . F . Schnitzer ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ J . Redhead ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G O . . ,, Rev . J . H . Heywood ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ W . Stafford ... ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . „ J . Heppell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ J . Mark :.. ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ G . Blair ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ T . Black ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . Wilson ... - ... ... ... Prov . G . I . W . „ H . Paige ... ... ... ... Prov . G . O .

„ Alfred Simpson ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ E . Lauterbach ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ J . H . Hart ... .... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . Appleyard ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

A special vote of thanks of the Provincial G-and Lodge was pissed to Bro . R . B . Reed , Past Deputy Grand Mister , for his eminent services , and it was ordered that it should be entered on the minutes of the proceedings . Bro . J STRACHAN , P . P . S . G . W ., next , on behalf of the Provinc i al Grand Lodge , proposed a vote of hearty congratulation tj B .-o . Canon Tristram , Provincial Grand Master , on his recovery from his recent illness .

Bro . T . PURVIS , D . P . G . M ., seconded the motion , which , like the preceding one , was carried with acclamation . ¦ The PROV . G . M . and Bro , R . B . REED , P . D . P . G . M ., replied in appropriate terms . The PROV . G . M . announced that the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge would next year be held at Alnwick , under the banner of the Hotspur Lodge .