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 . ]

A QUERY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother " Perplexed " cannot interfere ; the present W . M . can either instal the W . M . elect , or appoint any other qualified brother to do so . It is frequently arranged for some friend to perform the ceremony if the retiring W . M . does not wish or cannot do so , but there can be no doubt about the right of the W . M , —Yours fraternally , H . LOVEGROVE , P . G . S . B .

To the Editor ot the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In answer to the query of " Perplexed , " as W . M . elect he must have heard the following : " He must have been balloted for , selected by the Master , Wardens , and brethren in open lodge assembled , and presented to a Board of

Installed Masters to receive from his predecessor the benefit of installation , " & c . I take it the W . M . elect has no voice in the matter ; it is clearly the duty of the W . M . to install his successor , and , failing him , I should say the I . P . M :, but certainly not a personal friend , to the exclusion of the Past Masters of the mother lodge , although , possibly , able and willing to undertake the ceremony . —Fraternally yours ,

T . H . JARVIS , W . M . 862 . 10 , Anson-road , Tufnell Park , N ., May 29 th .

OFFICERS' POSITIONS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Your correspondent , Bro . H . H . Thiele , has raised a problem which will be best understood by a diagram , and which can never be settled in a way that is entirely satisfactory . It is , therefore , unfortunate that any one should

have discovered the anomaly . The records of ancient Egypt inform us that at some immensely remote period the earth formed a complete summersault , and as Freemasonry , under some name , no doubt existed at that date , Higi may give that as a reason , and allow things to remain as they are . As a mere matter of something , the present position would be correct anywhere , but fails when we consider the J . W . to represent H . T . —Yours fraternally , JOHN YARKER . West Didsbury , May 29 th .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Gloucestershire And Herefordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND HEREFORDSHIRE .

A special meeting of the above Prov . Grand Mark Lodge took place at the Masonic Hall , on Monday , the 24 th ult ., by command , and under the presidency of the Prov . G . M ., Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , for the reception of the Pro G . M ., the right Hon . the Earl of Euston , and the Deputy G . M ., the Right Hon . Viscount Dungarvan , who had intimated their intention to visit the province , attended by other officers of Grand Lodge . The gathering was one of the largest assemblies of the Order yet held in Gloucestershire .

The present officers of Prov . Grand Lodge in attendance were Bros . Orlando Shellard , D . Prov . G . M . ; A . V . Hatton , Prov . S . G . W . ; W . Powell , Prov . J . G . W . ; E . Shaw , Prov . G . M . O . ; R . H . Shrapnell , Prov . G . S . O . ; J . L . Butler , Prov . J . G . O . ; Rev . Dr . Lynes , Prov . G . Chap . ; J . Balcomb , Prov . G . Treas . ; Col . R . Rogers ( Mayor of Cheltenham ) , Prov . G . Reg . ; G . Norman , P . G . D ., Prov . G . Sec : O . W . Wiltshire , Prov . J . G . D . ; R P . Sumner , as Prov . G . D . of C ; H . J . Gadd , Prov , G . S . B . ; F . Forty , Prov . G . Org . ; and G . W . Starr , Prov . G . I . G .

Prov . Grand Mark Lodge having been opened with the usual formalities , the reception of Grand Lodge took place . The local members of the Order who took rank in Grand Lodge , viz . : Bros , the Baron de Ferrieres , P . G . O ., P . Prov . G . M . ; W . Forth , P . D . Prov . G . M . ; G . Norman , P . G . D . ; Dept .-Surg .-Gcn . Ringer , P . G . S , B . ; W . C . Ferris , P . G . I . G . ; and E . Lea , P . G . Stwd ., were deputed to meet

the Deputy Grand Master and the brethren accompanying him , viz .: Bros . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec ; C . Belton , P . G . O . ; Maj . C . W . Carrell , G . D . of C , and attend them into Iodge ( and then the Right Hon . the Earl cf Euston was himself received with the honours due to his high rank as the first representative of the M . W . G M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . Similar formalities were observed when the Grand Lodge Officers withdrew from the lodge room . The interval had given the opportunity for a kindly

exchange of fraternal courtesies between the Pro Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Master , the latter expressing , in graceful terms , the appreciation of himself and the province of the honour Lord Euston had done them in thus paying them a visit , and the former thanking the Provincial Grand Master , on behalf of the Grand Lodge , for the cordial welcome which Provincial Grand Mark Lodge had given them , and congratulated them on the vigour and good organisation of the Province .

After the Grand Lodge officers hid retired , Provincial Grand Mark Lodge resumed its usual course , and was closed in due form . Among the brethren present other than those already named were : Bros . Marsh , Prov . G . M . of Monmouth ; W . R . Porcher , P . Prov . S . G . W . ; Tudor Trevor , P . Prov . G . Sec . of West Yorks ; Major-Gen . Viz ird , P . Prov .

G . S . B . ; Rev . P . Hattersley Smith , P . Prov . G . Chap . ; W . B . Wood , W . M . 439 ; J . L . Tickell , P . Prov . G . D . ; T . Cadle , P . Prov . G . R . ; Jas . Bruton , P . Prov . G . O . ; Conway Jones , P . Prov . G . S . B . ; C . Roberts , P . Prov . G . O . ; LI . Evans , P . Prov . G . I . G . ; F . H . Rea , J . W . 10 ; J . Waghorne , M . O . io ; C . William J . D . 10 ; J . Bowie Evans , J . Hall , P . Loveridge , E . Dening , J . Herbert , A . Wilson , G . Dimmer , J . F . Bushnell- Palmer , and many others .

Later in the evening the brethren dined together in the banqueting room of the Hall , under the presidency of the Prov . G . Master . The tables had been elegantly decorated with flowers by Mr . Cypher . The after-dinner proceedings were pleasantly varied by a musical pro-

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Gloucestershire And Herefordshire.

gramme , under Bro . Forty's direction , both speeches and music having appropriate colouring from the fact that the day was the birthday of the Queen in this memorable year of her reign . In reference to one toast , that of " The Mark Benevolent Fund , " responded to by its Secretary , Bro . MATIER .

The PROV . G . MASTER stated the interesting fact that so well had the Fund been supported and so well was it administered that no election had ever yet been necessary , while no deserving applicant entitled to the benefits either of its old age or educational branch had ever been refused . The London visitors were the guests of Bro . Vassar-Smith , at the

Queen ' s Hotel , and on Tuesday , the 25 th ult ., Bro . Vassar-Smith invited a lew members of the Craft to meet them at breakfast . The party included Bros , the Baron de Ferrieres , Rev . Dr . Childe , G . Chap . Eng . ; J . B . Winterbotham , Sumner , Jas . Bruton , Dep .-Surg .-Gen . Ringer , Butler , and some others .

At noon the Earl of Euston left for Bristol , to attend a special meeting of the Provincial Priory of Knight Templars . of which Order he is the Grand Master . He was attended by a numerous party of London and Cheltenham members .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .

CONSECRATION OF THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LODGE , No . 504 .

There was a good attendance of Mark Masons at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen Street , on the 27 th ult ., when the above double function took place . The consecration ceremony was first taken , the founders of the new lodge being Bros . Col . A . B . Cook , Prov . G . M ., W , M . designate ; Sir

Reginald Hanson , Bart ., Dep . Prov . G . M ., S . W . designate ; J . C . Fitzroy Tower , J . W . designate ; L . Mieville , E . Nash , H . M . Lindsell , B . A . Smith , P . P . G . W . ; A . Larcom , R . A . B . Preston , G . H . Dunsmure , R . J . Carthew , C 3 p ^ . G . B . Preston , P . D . A . G . D . C , Bengal ; S . H . Hargrove , S . A Mavrojani , P . P . G . Ins . of Works ; J . W . S . Godding , H . J . Rope , P . P . G . D .

D . Urquhart , P . Noble Fawcett , and M . C . Hayward . Bro . the Earl of Euston , Pro G . M ., was the Consecrating Officer assisted by Bros . Viscount Dungarvan , Dep . G . M . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , as S . W . ; F . Richard , son , G . Reg , as J . W . ; Rev . V . P . Wyatt , as Chap . ; C . Belton , P . G . W ., as I . G . ; Major C . W . Carrell , as D . C . ; and C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec . Other brethren present included Bros . A . Stewart Brown , P . G . D ., Prov . G . Sec . Middx . ;

Capt . C . J . Knightley , P . G . S . B . ; S . C . Dibdin , P . J . G . O . ; L . Gordon Robbins , P . G . O . ; P . Colin M . Smith , P . G . D . ; R . Loveland Loveland , Pres . Gen . Bd . j R . Berridge , P . G . W . ; W . M . Stiles , P . G . S . B . ; Clement Godson , P . G . D . ; A . H . Scurrah , P . G . Stwd . ; Gordon Miller , P . G . Treas . ; W . Bradford , W . M . ; James Hill , S . W . ; Murray Haynes , P . M . 59 ; Geo . Graveley , P . G . S . B . j F . A . Jewson , P . P . G . Org . ; S . F . Norris , S . W . ; W . Bailey , P . M . ; J . Irvine , W . A . Scurrah , and A . L . Gisling .

Lodge having been opened , the Pro G . M . and Grand Officers entered in precession and were duly saluted . A hymn having been sung , The PRO GRAND MASTER , addressing the brethren , said they had met to perform a pleasing duty—to consecrate a' new lodge to the Order to which they belonged . A lodge which was supported so well , and supported by

men who had gone through the two Universities , could not fail to be a great success , and he congratulated the founders on their endeavour to increase the Mark Degree , and on getting a warrant from the M . W . G . M . M . He was certain his Royal Highness was very pleased to give his conser . t . He would at once proceed with the pleasant duty of consecrating and constituting them as a regular lodge ,

The founders signified their approval of the officers named in the warrant . An oration was then delivered by Bro . Rev . V . P . WYATT . The ceremony was proceeded with , and the new lodge dedicated and constituted with the usual formalities .

The chair was then assumed by Bro . ViscDunt Dungarvan , D . G . M ., who installed Bro . Col . A . B . Cook , Prov . G . M ., as W . M . The officers for the ensuing year were appointed as follows : Bros . His Honor Judge Masterman , D . C . L ., Dep . P . G . M . Notts , acting P . M . ; Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . W ., Dep . Prov . G . M . Middlesex , S . W . ; John Charles FitzRoy Tower , J . W . ; L . Mieville , M . O . ; E . Nash , S . O . ; H . M . Lindsell , J . O . ; B . A . Smith , P . Prov . G . W . Leicestershire

and Rutland , Treas . ; A . Larcom , Reg of Mks . ; R . A . B . Preston , Sec . ; G . H . Dunsmure . S . D . ; R . J . Carthew , J . D . ; Capt . G . B . Preston . P . Dist . Asst . G . D C . Bengal , D . C ; S . H . Hargrove , I . G . ; S . A . Mavrojani , P . Prov . G . I . of W . Berks and Oxon . and J . W . S . Godding , Stwds . ; and K . J . Mills , Tyler . The WoRsmpi'UL MASTER proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Pro G . M ., Dep . G . M ., and Grand Officers who had honoured them by their presence and consecrated the lodge . They all knew how well and efliGently the Pro G . M . did his work but on this occasion he had excelled himself .

The PRO G . MASTER returned thanks for the compliment and expres-. ed the great pleasure it afforded the Grand Officers to carry out their work . Other business was transacted and the lodge was closed . Provincial Grand Lodge was then opened by the Prov . Grand M tster and the minutes read and confirmed . The Report of the Committee of

General Purposes , which was unanimously adopted , showed a bilanc ^ in hand of ^ 46 6 s . 3 d ., on the General Fund and £ 7 125 . 4 d . on the Cnarity Fund , and also recorded that the total membership in the province had increased . Bro . W . M . Stiles was proposed for the office of Prov . Grand Treasurer , and there being no other candidate nominated , he was declared elected . The roll of lodges was called and the following Prov . Grand Officers were appointed and invested :

Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., 504 ... Dep . P . G . M . „ Col . Clifford Probyn , 448 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . ,, George Graveley , 350 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ R . A . B . Preston , vu ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O .

„ A . L . Gosling , 3 ' ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . ,, Fred Humphreys , 199 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ The Rev . J . Russell Finlay , 448 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ W . M . Stiles , 494 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, D . Urquhart , 448 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg .