Original Correspondence.

Grand Lodge itself , I submit that the Grand Lodge is the only body competent to alter it , and I am not aware that the question has been discussed in Grand Lodge . ^ submit further that the alterations are open to objection . \ will deal with the first case only in my present letter , so as to keep within a reasonable limit of space .

There are three material points of difference between a " District " and a " Provincial " Grand Master ; I place the District before the Provincial Grand Master advisedly , as , if any distinction be made ( a distinction which I would deprecate ) , I think that he should rank the first . One point of difference is that , ordinarily speaking , a

I rovincial Grand Master is , socially , the superior . He is , say , a brother of noble birth , of old county family , or otherwise of high social position , whereas a District Grand Master , although of the best available social rank , may be unable to boast of the same illustrious antecedents . But I have been always told that

Freemasonry teaches the " useful lesson of natural equality ; " that " all preferment among us is grounded upon real worth and personal merit only , " and that although we aie very properly enjoined to give honour where honour is due , yet that as Masons we arc "all on the same level . " Indeed , it seems to me that any departure from this

wholesome rule is an infraction of a first principle of our Order . The two should therefore be equal . Another point of difference is that a District Grand Lodge and a District Grand Master have more extensive powers than a Provincial Grand Lodge and a Provincial Grand Master . Therefore , if there be a distinction a

District Grand Master should rank first . A third point of difference is that whereas a Provincial Grand Master not unfrequently works his province through his deputy , a District Master invariably does his work himself . Perhaps , therefore , on this score he should rank the first .

But I would only ask for equality—an equality which has hitherto existed . Indeed , it is but 20 years since there was any distinction even in title by the introduction of the word " District , " all such Grand Officers , whether at home or abroad , having been previously known as " Provincial , "

and I tear that the alteration of which I complain is likely to cause grave dissatisfaction in our colonies , where , as at home , our brethren are jealous of anything affecting the prestige or position of their immediate chiefs . —I am , yours fraternally ,

May 2 nd . DISTRICT GRAND MASTER

GRAND LODGE APPOINTMENTS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Several brethren who were present at the Grand Festival considered that as there are so few appointments and so many candidates there might very well be a change

in one or two of the offices . Thus there should be a Deputy Grand Registrar , to enable a deserving barrister or solicitor to be promoted each year . Then there can be no reason why the office of Grand Superintendent of Works should be held for more than a year by any brother . The duties attached to the office are very slight ; any qualified architect

and surveyor could design and superintend an alteration to Freemasons' Hall . It any work is required this year it is doubtful whether the Ipresent distinguished holder of the office could receive any remuneration for his service , owing to his official position . Bro . J . Gibson held office for two years only , and it would be well to change every year . It has also been suggested that there should be a Deputy

Superintendent of Works . Passing from Grand Lodge to Grand Mark Lodge , can the rumour be correct that a certain noble and gallant peer who was advanced to the Mark Degree last week , and a relative of the Grand Master who was affiliated at the same meeting , are to be the Grand Mark Wardens of the year ? —Yours fraternally , OBSERVER .

OLD KENT LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The writer of your report of the proceedings on the occasion of the introduction to the above lodge of Lord Wolseley of Cairo has , however unwittingly , done gross

injustice to such poor modicum of common sense as I may claim to possess . In the few earnest words I addressed to the brethren assembled , with the consent and the request of the W . M . in the chair , I said no more than I should have said had the opportunity been afforded me while presiding at the customary banquet ( on the occasion in question

refreshment did not follow labour ) to propose the toast of "The Newly-Advanced Candidate . " I recognised the position and services of our distinguished brother , but with all the respect I feel for men of "light and leading " whose adhesion to our ranks must always be matter for congratulation , I appreciate and value the

privileges of our Order far too highly to think of proposing a " vote of thanks " to anyone who may offer himself for participation therein . —1 am , dear sir and brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES . 8 A , Red Lion-square , W . C , April 30 th .

A TEMPERANCE LODGE FOR LONDON . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I feel confident that there must be a number of Freemasons in London who are total abstainers and who

Original Correspondence.

would be glad to belong to a 1 cmperance Lodge such as has been formed in Manchester . Three brother Masons , friends of mine ( one in an influential position ) , are willing to join in forming such a lodge , and I should be pleased to hear from any brethren who are abstainers who would be willing to assist . —I remain , yours fraternally , HARRY TIPPER , 1 S 5 . 11 S , the Grove , Hammersmith .

CHARITY VOTING . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As the supporter of a London case , which will not apparently prove successful , I wish to call attention to a little matter which is seriously affecting the interests

of our London candidates . It is this : The Provincial Committees are , as many of us may know , both well organized and powerful and their votes given to Provincial cases . I donot blame them for thus seeking to help their own particular cases , far from it . But in addition to theirown " compacts" and committees , very powerful , as I said before , they are applying for and obtaining in many cases London

v otes , which of course renders the chances of success still more dubious , and the work of those engaged in such elections still more severe . 1 do not write in terms of complaint or fault finding , but simply to suggest that London subscribers , seeing that the provincial cases are so well cared for , send on sympathy and London votes . —I am , dear sir and brother , yours fraternally , THE SUPPORTER OF A LONDON CASE .

Reviews

REVIEWS

READY MONEY , & c . An Essay . By MAURICE HI . IIE , LL . D ., Head Master of Fryle College , Londonderry . VV . H . Guest , 20 , Warwick-lane , Paternoster-roiv . The good advice contained in this well - printed " brochure" cannot be too widely read or too highly valued . It is undoubtedly most realistic and

seasonable in the highest sense and meaning . It would be a very good thing for all best concerned if ready-money payments were universally adoped and made a " sine qua non . " The realization , however , of such a system in our highly composite and artificial state of society is , perhaps , impossible to expect , and some may contend unreasonable to wish for . Indeed , as all trade and commerce more or

less rest on credit , it is not likely that any great change in this respect can permanently be enforced on the monetary dealings of mankind . But for the great mass of our readers who are not concerned either with the calls or exigencies of commerce , its rules and laws , its normal arrangements or its abnormal developements , the advice of Bro . Himeis most valuable in every respect . Many of

us all may well lookback with regret to the time when they first were initiated into the accommodating mysteries of " tick , " of living on credit , of forestalling and mortgaging the future for the pressing requirements , follies , weaknesses , and extravagances of the day . The ever lengthening chain of indebtedness has wound round and round them , until numbed and paralyzed , crushed and

overpowered by the load of accumulated liabilities , they have to cede their places to others , and leaving the sunny highway life have to wander lonely and dispirited wanderers amid its tortuous bye-ways , shrouded in mist , drearily and gloom . The advice of the great Duke of Wellington to his sons beginning life ought always to be before the minds

and in the recollection of old and young : "Never buy what you do not require . Never purchase what you cannot pay for . If you have not money to get what you want , go without until you have . " We commend Bro . Dr . Hime ' s useful and unpretending little book to all our younger friends . Many even of our older friends may peruse it with pleasure and profit to themselves .

FREEMASONS' CALENDAR FOR SOMERSETSHIRE . Conpiled by Bro . C . L . Fey Edwards . This is another of our admirable little local Masonic guides , which are most useful in themselves and throw a valuable Iight . on Masonic work and life amongst us .

THE LOCKE MS . In one of Horace Walpole's letters to Mr . Cole occurs an allusion to this document in which he mentions "Peter Gower , " being really Pythagoras , and laughs at the ignorance of the scribe . Curiously enough this one point is a matter which seem to bring out a certain amount of

reality in this generally discredited MS . Peter Gower was no doubt a corruption from " Petagorc , " "Pitagore , " " Pytagore , " old French , and rather seems to suggest a transcription by an ignorant scribe . The so-called Locke MS . is probably made up from an Hermetical tractate and a lodge catechism . In its present form it isof course a " pious fraud . " DRYASDUST .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

175 ] IHE EMPERORS OF THE EAST AND THE WEST . By a typographical error clearl y the expression " Empires of the East and the West" is substitued in a recent review , for " Emperors of the East and the West , " from a

French conclave called " Les Ilmpereurs d'Est d'Occident , " which assembled in Paris about 1756 , and which was the precursor of the" Grand Lodge of St . John and Jerusalem of Perfection , & c , " if it was not the same body , which pave Stephen Morin his credentials in 1761 . h * MASONIC STUDENT .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

17 C ] FREEMASONS AND ILLUMINES . In Lord Malmesbury ' s remarkable dispatches appears a reference to the successor of Frederick the Great on the throne of Prussia , not without its interest for Masonic students . Writing home in 1793 or 1 704 Lord Malmesbury says the King " of Prussia and also his Oueen are " Illumines , " governed by the teaching of what he

calls " that foolish sect , " and for ( his reason , that they have been taught to believe the doctrines of the Illumines were " more moral '' than those of " Freemasonry . " Now considering the Illumines were founded by a Roman Catholic Weishaupt , most probably a Jesuit , who found Freemasonry two loyal and religious for him , and who under mystical verbiage and childish paraphernalia put forth

the utmost of revolutionary and attentical destructiveness , this statement of Lord Malmesbury gives us a clue to what has always been a " Crux " for the student . What was the meaning and end of Vlluminisin ' . It stems clear that it was nothing but an addition of Masonic theory and ideas , to

carry out certain pernicious principles , which would find no place or scope in true Freemasonry . The higher alleged mysticism and morality of Illumism attracted at that " seething epoch " the minds of those , who , were unable to perceive the " mystery of iniquity , " veiled by specious phrases and delusive dogmata . BOOKWORM .

177 ] PROVINCIAL G 1 UND CALENDARS . Just "a last word " as to the above subject until I examine the series for 1 SS 3 . Have just heard of another , viz ., Somersetshire , which is "in the press , " so my dear friend , Dr . Hopkins , tells me . This venerable and venerated brother informs me that he was editor and originator ) of the "Jersey Masonic Calendar "

in 1 S 65 , and so claims to he as old an editor as myself . All I have to say about the matter is that this is guile correct , but my statement referred to the present editors of these manuals , and of these I believe it falls to my lot to be the senior ol" the staff . That being so allow me to suggest as the " Father of the corps" the

desirability of exchanging copies of these directories with each of the editors . I do so and should much like all to do so , by which plan we shall see what is done elsewhere and mutually benefit by a friendly comparison being instituted . If I am correctly informed the only two awaiting publication for 1 SS 3 are for Somersetshire and Durham , but should there be any others shall by very glad to hear accordingly . \ V . J . HUGHAN .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

( Craft Jftasonrjj . FAITH LODGE ( No . 141 ) . —The last meeting for the season of this old lodge was held at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , on the 24 th ult . Among those present were Bros . T . C . Walls , P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., W . M . ; Clark , S . W . ; Fromholtz , S . D ., acting J . W . ; Carter , P . M ., Treas . ; VV . Stuart , P . M ., Sec ; DippieA . W . S .

, , acting I . G . ; Ii . Hopwood , P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., P . M . ; C . Dairy , P . M . ; Morrison , P . M . ; Cobham , P . M . ; Longstaffe , Tyler ; and others . The minutes of the previous meeting Having been read and confirmed , a number of letters apologising for absence were read . The lodge was then closed and the brethren adjourned until the last Tuesday in September . There was no banquet .

ROSE OF DENMARK LODGE ( No . 975 ) . — Ihe first meeting of this loJge was held on Friday , the 20 th ult ., at the Greyhound Hotel , Richmond . The VV . M ., Bro . E . Ayling , presided , assisted by the following officers Bros . Richman , S . W . ; M . Graham , J . W . ; Garnar , P . M , Treas . ; Noble , P . M ., Sec ; Williams , S . D . ; Brown J . D .-Bugler , I . G . ; Monk D . C ; Campbell , andPlowmanStwds . ;

, Hinton , P . M . ; Wrigglcworth , P . M . ; Phillips , P . M . ; Lee , P . M . ; and a large number of brethren . The lodge having been opened and the minutes read and confirmed , Bro . Grylls was raised to the Third Degree , Bros . H . Bishop , VV . Bishop , and Homan passed , and Messrs . Margason , Messum , and Griffin were initiated . Bro . Clifford , 1733 , was elected a joining member . The

sum of £ 10 10 s . was voted from the lodge funds to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , after which the lodge was closed and the brethren adjourned to banquet , to which about So brethren sat down . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and cordially responded to . During the evening the W . M . was heartily congratulated on the prosperous position of the lodge the excellent

, manner in which its proceedings were conducted , and the perfect harmony that prevailed among the members . The visitors included Bros . Featherstone , VV . M . 1656 ; R . Griffin , J . W . 1572 ; Jennu , 455 ; Bingley , 13 S 1 ; A . Moore , 173 ; Buck , 1540 ; Bray , P . M . 1 155 - Clayton 155 S ; J . B . Griffin , 354 ; J- Radford , S . VV . 1420 ; R Dunn , 1305 ; VV . Cowley , P . AI . 1550 ; VV . Schutz , 172 ;

,,, „• • 1 >' ' - Harnett > l '" rcd . VV . Smith , C . Fry , G ! Wa'lis , Gardner , 177 ; J . Walker , P . M . 27 ; A . Currie , W . M . 1733 ; Hards , 155 SJ Sapsworth , 1056 ; T . Richards , 15 S 5 ; Dare , 1 C 15 ; Harlock , 1 O 01 ; Morgan , 1475 ; E . Roberts , 1623 ; Probert , 340 ; and W . Clifford , 1733 . An excellent programme of music was provided under the direction of Urn . Egbert Roberts , assisted bv Bro . lohn Piobert , Miss Amy Beresford , and Miss Coyte " Turner , and a very enjoyable evening was spent by all present .

ISLE OF MAN . —Lodg-e of Mona ( No . 212 i . C ) —A meeting of this lodge took place at Castlcdown ! on Monday , the 23 rd ult . There were present Bros . L . Genesta VV . M . ; Robert Garside . l . P . M . ; Mylchrist , S . W . ; rrustorim J . VV ; lorn Jefferson , S . D . ; Victo ol'F" ^' . J-D , 5 „ - Clac l . I-G- ; Wchard Watterson , P . M . Visitors : Bro . Paitison , P . M . of the Medway Lodge and Friendof the Athol

Bro . , Lodge . The principal business before the lodge was the appointment of a Committee to consider the propriety of transferring the lodge from the Irish to the English Constitution and th « n joininir the three Iodgcs-the Athol , Tynwald , and St . Mangholdin getting a Provincial Grand Lodge for the Island . It was generally felt that a Provincial Grand Lodge would be a decided advantage , and that the Masonic Charities in and