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been openly avowed and deliberately entertained . It is quite possible , we admit , that all the brethren who were nominated did not accept their nomination in distinct opposition to the House Committee . Some we know disclaim openly any such intention ,

and wc fully believe them . But we beg to ask once again , why were letters written and circulars issued if it was not to carry out the unconcealed animus of some , and the antagonism of others , to the House Committee ? No , the " least said the

soonest mended , " we venture to think , and we hope that we have , for some time at least , put a stop to a course of proceeding by a little " cabal , " which was a parody on loud Masonic protestations , and an outrage on all Masonic sympathy and

precept . It seems that our word " cat ' s paw " has annoyed some very worthy brethren . We are very sorry for it . We did not intend to use it in any offensive sense personally , but simply to point out that they were rendering themselves

unconsciously the means to gratify the spleen , perversity , and impudence of others , of inflicting pain on some excellent men and good Masons . We hope that with this explanation , some good friends of ours will be satisfied , as they know us well enough now

to feel assured that we arc always sympathetic and never personal . But a very bad state of things has been existing amongst us for some time , a

sort of Masonic " gangrene , " which seemed spreading out wider and wider , and wc felt it to be our duty to speak out clearly , and honestly , and freely , as we hope wc shall always be enabled to do .

# # THE question of infusing new blood into a Committee by periodical election of fresh members is a very important one , and one which fairly may be considered without heat or prejudice . Such a rule

exists in many institutions or clubs ; but we arc not sure that it works well . As a general rule , the only effect of it is that when a man has thoroughly mastered his work he is removed , and a fresh hand ,

who has all to learn , takes his place . At the same time , many we know think quite differently , and it is quite competent for anyone to raise the question , and we feel quite sure that it will be carefully , fully , and dispassionately considered .

* * * THE more wc think of the last voting , the more complete and " thorough " appears the victory . And certainly no House Committee ever more fully deserved the support and confidence of thc

subscribers . Under its favouring auspices the Girls' School has arrived at a very remarkable position of efficiency and prestige , and we are glad to think that the good sense and steadiness to principle of the subscribers have saved it from

an untoward scene of personal antagonism . It will now go on its useful career and its beneficent aims , in all harmony , energy , and peace .

Wc should all wish well to it , and strive to help it to the utmost of our power in its efforts to uphold and develope a right useful and goodly Institution .

* * WE understand that there was a good deal of " cross voting" last week , which added greatly to thc work of the Scrutineers . Some of our worthy brethren do not yet seem to understand

tlie meaning and power of their own vote . We probably have read the good story where some worthy civilian voter , in thc Surrey election , objecting to a "lawyer , " put a " cross agen his name . " It almost seems as if some of our excellent

friends , m their hurry , forgot tnat they had twelve and nine to vote for respectively , and gave more or less votes . Such is an " on dit , " but , like all " on dits , " need not be true . We think that thc

Scrutineers deserve the best thanks of all who witnessed their courtesy and kindness to all , and were personally sensible of thc zeal and assiduity they displayed in making up that large return of votes .

* * WE understand that the Permanent Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution has before

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it the appointment of a Collector . There arc three candidates for the office—Bros . Webbe , Recknell and Worrell . * *

WE beg to call attention to thc " Masonic Magazine" for June , with its admirably executed illustration , and the famous Bro . Belzoni ' s notes on a most curious Egyptian wall painting .

* * WE beg to call attention to the short report of the proceedings of the St . Alban ' s Restoration Committee in another column .

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[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approvmg of , thc opinions expressed by our correspondents , but wc wish in a spirit of fair piny to ail , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

TRURO CATHEDRAL . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — My attention has been called to a letter in your columns , signed "A Past Grand Officer . " When an event wbich has awakened much interest and involved no little care and trouble has passed off well ;

when thankfulness and hope are uppermost in thc minds of those who have laboured to work out the plan ; when the Grand Alaster , on the part of the Craft , and the Bishop , on the part of the Clergy and of the people for whom the Cathedral is to be erected , have joined in prayer that brotherly love may be the outcome of that day's work , it seems hard to have to repudiate the language or a brother Alason

whose object appears to be to neutralise that prayer , and to set brethren and clergy at variance both with each other and among themselves . Nothing can be more contrary to my inclination than to enter into a discussion in the Press , but" A Past Grand Officer ' s " observations ought not to pass unnoticed , and , perhaps , no one but myself can answer them .

Thc writer tells you some things which he has no doubt heard , but which be cannot know , and about which he is mistaken . He seems to have heard that " when the request was preferred to " the Prince of Wales . " there was no idea whatever in the minds of the committee concerning Masonic rites . " So far from this being the fact : so far

from its being true that H . R . H . " made it a sine qua non " that either one , or both , of thc stones should be laid Alasonically , and that " this decision fell like a bombshell upon the committee and the bishop , " it was not until I had been authorised by an unanimous vote of the committee , and also by an equally unanimous vote of a meeting of

leading clergy ( both under thc presidency of thc bishop ) , that I asked His Royal Highness to perform the ceremony ¦ with Masonic rites . There being two stones was a subsequent suggestion of my own , adapted simpl y with a view to enable a larger number of spectators to witness the ceremony than coul be concentrated in the space available round the north-east

corner steme . The fact did , I believe , give rise to an idea that on stone was to be laid Alasonically by the G . AL , and the non-AIasonically by the Princess of Wales , or some o person , but no such suggestion was at any time made other Prince , nor was 1 asked to make it . It was , therefore , quite untrue that H . R . H . never had

occasion to express an opinion upon the subject , and the idea of any kind of controversy in thc matter exists solely in thc brain of the writer , and is to me utterly unaccountable . He then says that thc Prov . G . AI . and his ofiicers " took it for granted that they would be supreme " in all the arrangements . In reply to this , I can only say that the statement is absolutely groundless ; that every single item of the

arrangements was most carefully considered and determined by thc highest Masonic authorities ; that Sir Albert Woods , the Grand Director of Ceremonies , went into every detail respecting the procession and ritual , with a plan of the enclosures before him ; that , as far as I and my officers were concerned , our sole desire was to carry out bis directions to the letter ; and that

thc parts taken by bishops and clergy had been agreed upon , and thoroughly understood , weeks before . The clergy occupied the exact ground then assigned to them ; no attempt was made , or desire manifested , to alter the programme in any way ; and , although individuals may , ol course , have expressed opinions of which I have heard nothing , the general expression of satisfaction in the

proceedings on the part of thc clergy has been most marked . I can appeal with confidence tothe highest responsible authorities , Masonic and clerical , to confirm my statements against those of the anonymous writer , who is evidently ignorant of thc facts and also influenced by a strong personal animus . Personally he has to complain of three things—i . Having

had to pay five shillings for admission ; 2 . Not having been invited to the luncheon ; and , 3 . Not having received hospitality from Truro brethren . The charge of five shillings was made to cover the cost of the enclosure . It was cheerfull y acquiesced in b y the brethren in Cornwall , and paid by all brethren alike , except the actual Grand Officers , who came down to take their

posts as such in Grand Lodge , to whom tickets had been previously sent . I advocated it for the credit of thc Craft , because I thought it might cause invidious remarks if a thousand Freemasons were to claim gratuitous admission when others had to pay , especially if many who were

willing to pay were thus excluded for want of room , which ( although not the case ) was at one time anticipated , and 1 confess I hardly thought that Past Grand Officers , not actuall y on duty ( if 1 may use the expression ) would like a distinction made in this respect between them and any other members of Grand Lodge . If I was wrong I regret it . I only thought what I should feel myself . I now come to thc luncheon , and here I am conscious

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that there is much to regret . If your correspondent has seen my letter to Sir Michael Costa ho knows my feelings on that subject . I can only explain the circumstances , and ask others who were similarly aggrieved to accept my apology , as far as the responsibility rests with me , and I have no wish to shirk that responsibility .

Ihe luncheon was a public one , supplied by a contractor , the seats being all numbered . All that the Luncheon Committee ( which was not a Alasonic one ) could do was to reserve a certain number of tickets for those who might be entitled to special places . Beyond these ( which were much fewer than I had expected ) the only distinction recognised in allotting the tickets was the order in which they were

bought . The guests at neighbouring bouses would naturally sit with the friends who had invited them . There was great difficulty in allotting the reserved seats , and it must be remembered that there were civil , military , ecclesiastical , and municipal , as well as Masonic dignitaries to be considered . Not living in the neighbourhood I could offer no personal

hospitality , and I know that the hospitality of the neigh bourhood was strained to the utmost , and every house filled , but I endeavoured to meet the requirements of all actual Grand Officers , who were not otherwise provided for , ' by engaging rooms at an hotel ancl securing reserved places at the luncheon for as many as I believed would require them , and I was very sorry to find that the number had been

under-estimated . As regards Past Grand Officers I had no means whatever of ascertaining the probable number for whom luncheon tickets might be required . I quite feel , however , that had I not been somewhat overtasked I might , by greater foresight , havc done far better than I did . A simple notice as to how tickets were to be obtained

beforehand might have prevented disappointment , but the arrangements for the luncheon were incomplete when the Alasonic circular was issued . The feeling that thc leading officers of thc Craft should have come so far and returned with a sense of having received scant courtesy is one which will always be most painful to me , and , although I emphatically deny the

accuracy , and deprecate the temper of your correspondent's observations on the ceremonial , and feel sure that the brethren named in bis note ( with perhaps one exception ) will agree with me , I can thank him for having given me an opportunity of thus expressing my regret , which , if I knew bis name , I would do personally to himself , and , at the same time , repay him the five shillings , if he wishes it . I am , Sir , yours obediently and fraternally . MOUNT EDGCUA 1 BE , Prov . G . AL of Cornwall .

To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have read your excellent report of the great meeting on the 20 th inst ., in last week's Freemason , with extreme pleasure , but regret to find you have made me an Egyptian and a member of the Pheenix Lodge , No . 331 , Truro , whereas 1 wore on thc 20 th the clothing and jewels I

wear in my own Grand Lodge of Scotland , being that of a Provincial Grand Alaster . 1 also wore the jewels of the Lodge of Edinburgh , No . 1 ( S . C . ); and Canongate and Leith , No . 5 ( S . C ) . Of course I wore my Irish Past Master ' s ( No . 620 , LC ) , and the Centenary jewel of the Fortitude , No . 131 ( E . C ) , of which I have the honour of being a member , as well as being an honorary member of the Love

and Honour Lodge 75 , Falmouth , and I attended as a member of Lodges No . 75 and 131—not of 331—but 1 must add tbat I spent a most pleasant evening with that hospitable lodge on the 12 th . Having arrived at the Red Lion Hotel , Truro , on the 17 th inst ., I soon became aware of the question as to the ! aying [ of the memorial column in the Westernsquare , alluded to by " A Past Grand Officer , " but soon

knew that there was not any cause for uneasiness , as on my arrival I had the honour of meeting the Rt . Hon . the Earl of Alount Edgcumbe , our valued and justly esteemed Provincial Grand Alaster , at the Red Lion Hotel , hard at work , and as he stayed at the Red Lion certainly from Monday , thc , 17 th , until after Thursday , the 20 th , I had better opportunities of knowing that his exertions never ceased

from early morning until late at night , and that he personally superintended everything . I am also aware that he reserved a large room at the Red Lion for the members of Grand Lodge , and had it so marked on the door . He also had thirteen bed rooms reserved for Grand Officers , from Tuesday , thc iSth , until Friday , the 21 st , and what more could hislordship do to make the Grand Ofiicers comfortable ?

Of these thirteen rooms , only five Grand Ofiicers came to occupy them , and instead of arriving early on thc iSth , as his lordship expected , they arrived on the afternoon of the 19 th , although his lordship was awaiting them all the iSth . From the place I was honoured in being given ( quite close tothe R . W . Provincial Grand Alaster ) , not only in the

Provincial Grand Lodge but also in the procession , no brother had , or could have had , a better opportunity of seeing and remarking the great and invariable courtesy shown , not only by his lordship , but by every Provincial Grand Officer . In fact , nothing could exceed it , as they " one and all" left nothing undone to honour and compliment every visitor . I must , therefore , totally disagree with our brother , " A Past

Grand Officer , as to any brother being "treated by them with little else than scant courtesy . " The exertions of our esteemed Bro . Fenn were untiring , anel only equalled by his courtesy and unswerving determination to carry out the programme as printed . His management of the very difficult movement of marching the brethren up Lemon-street in reversed order , and then down

again , juniors first , and into their places in the enclosure , and again the Grand and Provincial Grand Officers back from the eastern to tbe western enclosure , was , to say the least of it , admirable . As to the charge of 53 . for admission tickets , it was most fully explained by his lordship to the Provincial Grand Lodge , and was required by the cathedral authorities to pay for the seats around the eastern enclosure . His lordship as

the Provincial Grand Master bad no option in the matter , and , in my opinion , the cathedral authorities made a great mistake in making this charge , as the eastern enclosure was not half filled , anil if thc cathedral authorities had given free admission , and relied on the assembled brethren to join in a voluntary collection , the amount realised would have been five times tbe amount the tickets produced , and not have looked so like black mailing . As to the treatment by the Mayor and Corporation of the