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 .

WHEN A W . M . REMAINS A W . M . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reply to your correspondent ' s enquiry in your issue of the 28 th ultimo re the abdve , I beg to offer the following remarks :

There can hardly be two opinions as to whether a W . M . of a lodge who continues in the chair for a second year without re-election is entitled to the rank of I . P . M . or remains W-M .

No W . M . under any circumstances known to me can be an I . P . M . until he has been so invested by the new W . M ., and I support this statement by a reference to the obligation in the installation ceremony , in which the M . E . promises to administer the duties of the office to the best of his ability , until the next regular period of election , and until a successor shall have been duly elected and installed in his stead , and as in the case in point there has been no succeeding W . M . installed to frpe the r _ rp . <_ t _ . nt W . M _ frnm surh nhliaafinrv he remains

W . M . until he has been invested with the collar and jewel of I . P . M . by the brother who succeeds him , no matter how long that period may be . Were this not so , and the W . M . ( because he was continuing in office ) adopted the position of an I . P . M ., it would leave the lodge without a duly installed W . M ., and this , of course , could not be . It is laid down in the Book of Constitutions that no brother can hold the offices of W . M . and I . P . M . at one and the same time , and , therefore , after a Master is installed into the chair he must remain until a successor has been not only duly elected , but installed in his stead .

Your correspondent is clearly the W . M ., but there is this difference that as he continues in the chair for a second year without re-election he becomes , strictly speaking , Continuing W . M . , and as such he should Masonically be designated . And as a continuing W . M . is a Master continuing the office of the chair he is not I . P . M ., and , therefore , is not entitled to wear the jewel of an office in which he has not been invested .

Your correspondent must accept this opinion for what it is worth , as being only a humble member of the Craft , my endeavour is merely to " assist" the enquiring ex-Secretary as far as my practical experience and theoretical knowledge of the ritual , and the written and unwritten rules of Masonry will enable rr . e . —Yours fraternally , HAROLD GRIFFITHS , I . P . M . Lome Lodge , No . 1347 . Sutton , Suirey . November ist .

WHEN IS A W . M . A P . M . ? To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Surely the only answer to the above question of " Ex-Secretary , P . M ., " in your issue of this date is , Never , unless he has previously passed through and vacated the chair of a lodge . A brother is elected and installed " . . . and until a successor shall have been duly elected and installed in his stead . "

A brother who has occupied and vacated the Master ' s chair is a P . M ., whether invested as I . P . M . or not , but no brother can be at the same time W . M . and I . P . M . He cannot be his own successor . —Yours fraternally , W . M . FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN SUCCESSION . 28 th October .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am of opinion that a Master having served his full year could receive and wear the jewel of a P . M . In some lodges where a brother has served two years a bar has been presented at the end of the second year . —Yours fraternally , H . LOVEGROVE .

THE OLD KING'S ARMS LODGE . * To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Any person reading Bro . A . F . Calvert ' s history of the Old King ' s Arms Lodge , and more especially that portion which deals with the loss of the red apron , will agree with Bro . Vielleville that a very serious mistake was made when this old lodge , which played such an important part in the early days of

Freemasonry , was robbed of the red apron , which they so well deserved and honestly earned , more especially when it is remembered , from the revival of the office of Grand Stewards , the very first signatory to the list of Stewards was C . xsar Collys , who was a member of the Old King ' s Arms Lodge , and who was also elected Chairman of that Board , and , further , Mr . John Revis , the second gentleman to sign the list , was also a member of the Old King's Arms Lodge ,

and that the members of this lodge having faithfully served the ollice of Steward for 124 years , it is impossible for anyone reading the correspondence to understand why it should have been treated in such a manner , and I , with very many members of the Craft who are not members of the lodge , take this opportunity of asMirincr them that thev have our full svmoathv . and exoress the earnest hone

that at no distant date the matter will receive the attention of those in authority . I feel confident that ( judging from the way in which the business is dealt with ) the present time is an excellent one for this matter to be brought to their notice . —Yours fraternally , A . WALLACE .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , I admire the " Wisdom-shall-die-with-us " sort of way in which Bro Hughan rtfers to the 18 99 St . John ' s card of the Lodge of Canongate . I do not intend to enter into any controversy with him as to conclusions

which are largely matters of opinion and inference from known facts . Such deductions necessarily give room for different conclusions by different minds , but I think that if lie had known me , as Bro . Allan Mackenzie and Iiro . Murray Lyon do , he would have hesitated before suggesting that I had , as the author of the booklet , concocted what was not true from purely imaginative and nonhistorical bases .

Correspondence.

When Bro . Hughan does not even quote the name of Bro . Murray Lyon's interesting work correctly , I am not surprised that he does not appreciate the fact that the history of Freemasonry in Scotland is not merely the history of Mary ' s Chapel , and that he has entirely misunderstood the nature of the meeting at Kilwinning in 16 77 , and the connection of the Lodge of Canongate with Mother Kilwinning ' . The connection is one of which both lodges are proud . There is historical evidence that it existed before 1677—and before 1599 , t 00 .

When Bro . Mackenzie ' s work on the history of the Canongate Lodge comes to its second edition I have no doubt there will be room for some additional chapters of the greatest interest , for which material is at present being carefully prepared and collated . In my very condensed notice ofthe history of the Burghs Lodge of Canonpate it was impossible to sav all that can even now be said of their history prior

to 16 77 and between 16 77 and 1735 . I have said enough , however , to dispose of the myth that Mary ' s Chapel was . the lodge which sprang from Holyrood . Bro . Hughan can hardly be expected to have any special knowledge of the Canongate , as I take it he knows nothing of Scots law or burgh records . Hence his supercilious dismissal of what is not within his own knowledge as a piece of modern antiquity . —Yours fraternally ,

ALFRED A . MURRAY . 20 , Warriston-crescent , Edinburgh . 28 th October .

"ART AND THE DRAMA . " To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Many members of the Craft , myself included , hive , no doubt , hailed with satisfaction the " Important Announcement" made in your last week's issue that you intend to devote in future a column dealing with the above interesting subjects . In the great realms of " Art and the Drama " there are many

distinguished brethren , and it will be gratifying to the Craft at large to peruse in your valued columns , from time to time , notices relating to them and to others , whose skill and genius with the pencil , the pen , the brush , and the'delineation of character , both grave and gay , on the mimic stage of life , are their country's pride . To the general reader a little light reading cannot but prove acceptable . Heavy literary matter , although dear to the zealous student , proves sometimes to others less enthusiastic an indigestible dish , and might engender a mental nightmare .

Dear Mr . Editor , by all means let us have a little spice with our pudding . I have heard that a well-known professional brother , with great literary and poetical gifts , will " give us a taste of his quality " in your new venture , which I trust will be successful . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , T . C . WALLS , . P . M ., P . Z ., & c . London , October 30 th .

Craft Masonry

Craft Masonry

Industry Lodge , No . 48 . There was a very interesting meeting of this lodge on Monday , the 23 rd ult ., at Gateshead , and a good muster of brethren . The VV . M ., Bro . John Armstrong , presided , and was supported by the following : Bros . W . C A . Holzapfel , I . P . M . ; A . Dodds , P . M . ; Robt . Whitfield , P . M . ; W . J . Jobson , P . M ., Treas . ; Wm . Brown , P . M ., D . C ; J . T . Pragnell , S . W . ; J . Lawson , as J . W . ; Rev . W . Bowker , Chap . ; H . H . Pitt , Sec ; J . Clapperton , as S . D . ; Robt . Laverick , J . D . ; R .

ferry , Urg . j 1 . H . Armstrong , l . U . ; U . 1 . Bootes and Joe Moltat , Stwds . ; J . Curry , Tyler ; W . Taylor , R . Dobson , R . Young , E . E . Elliott , J . Carr , G . Kindred , J . Cunningham , W , A . Woodeson , F . Hastie , S . Thompson , J . R . Lightbswn , S . Brown , W . Witherington , and others . Amongst the numerous visitors were Bros . R , Lee , P . M . 97 ; W . E . Moffett , P . M . 2418 ; J . E . Wheldon , W . M . 241 S ; J , Wharrier , W . M . 1712 ; Jas . Waters , S . W . 16 43 ; T . W . Redhead , 1643 ; J . T . Hunter , 1643 ; G . Davies , 1643 ; G . Hannay , J . VV . 1664 ; E , Scurfield , 2 G 74 : 1 ,

Pringle , 1643 ; W . I . Gordon , 1043 ; J . McUlashan , 1342 ; u . M . Donald , 1343 ; C Campbell , iS ( S . C ); W . Campbell , iS ( S . C ) j W . U . Sweeney , S . W . 1712 ; F . W . Holmes , S . W . 256 S j R . Holloway , S . W . 26 S 0 ; W . I . Heppell , P . M . 434 ; J . Howe , S . W . 424 ; and H . Bartlett , J . W . 406 . Alessrs . R . Marson and A . M . Blenkinsop , duly elected at a previous meeting , were initiated by the W . M . in excellent style , and the acting J . W . explained the tools and delivered the chartre with accuracy , after which the VV . M .. on behalf of the officers and

members of the lodge , in a glowing and eulogistic speech , presented to Bro . Robert Whitfield , P . M ., a handsome massive and elegantly-chased solid silver snuff-box , with suitable inscription , in commemoration of his connection with the lodge , and as a mark of their esteem , tor 25 years . The recipient , who was quite unprepaied for such a demonstration , acknowledged his surprise , and , in a felicitous speech , thanked the brethren for their kindly remembrance of his services . The annual lecture was afterwards delivered by the Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . Wm . Bowker , whose well-chosen subject was " The Morals of Masonry . "

The Rev . W . Bowker said : My address to-night will be confined to the contemplation of the duties which Freemasons owe to themselves , their families , their country , and the Cralt . On his initiation every Freemason proposed to himself , or professed to propose to himself , a noble ideal—to live in Charity with , and to practice Charity in , the widest acceptation of the term , towards every human being . If so practised by all who range under our banners , the virulence of political and theological controversy would be mitigated , if not altogether annihilated ; the bodily well-being and mental culture of

all it reaches would be assured . _ Its commands to inculcate the principles of universil brotherhood would be characterised by its intense humanity ; it would extend its arms from east to west , carrying with it the warmth of its own feelings to the denizens of the icy north ; and in the torrid south it would dig wells and plant shady resting-places for man and beast . The corn of nourishment , the wine of refreshment , the oil of gladness , each in its turn the emblem of God's bounty to , and providence for . His creatures , vvould be shared with those whom He . in His wisdom , had rendered lit obiects forourbenev .-ilenm

and care . An ideal so noble is half the battle of life ; it wants but courage , virtue , and perseverance to render the victory complete ; and although , owing to the inherent infirmity of human nature , it is given to few to realise in their own persjns an ideal so perfect , it lies within the compass of all to strive to reach it ; it lies within the power of every Mason so to live and so to adorn Masonic principles in his duly life and conversation , that his may be like a lieht shinintr in a dark ulace . illuminatine- ail around it .

The outer world would be more impressed by the Mason leading a moral , blameless , and useful life , because he is a Mason , than by al ) the disquisitions that ever were printed to show the antiquity , mystery , and moral teaching , and religious tendency of the Order . " Examples teach where precepts fail , And pious tongues may not prevail , VVt . ife actions tell a different tale . "

I will ask you to follow me while I attempt to define the way in which every true Mason will carry out the principles ot the Craft . As we find in the charge to every initiate , there is a foundation to be laid , and from the foundation there springs up the main building . Now , if builJeis never endeavoured to raise the building after the foundation had been laid , no one would be so foolish as to expsct that the building would erect itself , that lime and stone , timber and iron , would creep somehow into their several places , and when some morning we awoke , the building would be there for us to gazs upon . Well , at the initiation of many , does not a similar process go on : The foundation is laid , the expectation of a superstructure , perfect in all its parts a nd honourable to the