Masonic Notes.

ot Nottinghamshire and the consecration of the Southwell Lodge . The sermon by the Dean of York at the Cathedral , and the address by the Deputy

Grand Master , Bro . the Rev . F . Vernon Bussell , were listened to with wrapt attention , and are distinct additions to the many valued contributions from the same brethren in praise of the Craft universal .

A complimentary banquet to the retiring W . M . has become an institution in the Aldersgate Lodge , and the entertainment to Bro . Alderman Renals on the 25 th ultimo proved to be one of the most pleasant of the series . Saloon carriages from Paddington

took the party to Taplow , whence they proceeded to the Ray Mead Hotel to luncheon . A trip in the electric steam launch " Ray Mead" to Henley vvas the next item on the programme ,

followed by dinner at the Red Lion Hotel at five , and then home—altogether a most enjoyable day . About fifty ladies and gentlemen were present , and the AV . M ., Bro . Hudson , presided .

* * * At the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge on the 4 th ult ., and more recently at the Anglo-American Lodge , the brethren had the pleasure of greeting the M . W . Grand Master of Canada , Bro .

Richard Walkem , Q . C , vvho Was also subsequently a welcome guest at the Consecration of the Cornish Lodge , and nosv , as we intimated some time ago , we are to be honoured with a visit from the Grand Master of Pennsylvania , Bro . Clifford McCalla , who

intends to visit London on September 2 nd vvith the object of being present at the Grand Lodge of September 3 rd , and afterwards making a tour on

the Continent as far as the Holy Land . Our worthy brother is an enthusiastic Mason , and is well known personally to many of our English brethren , and by reputation to many more .

* * * The M . W . Grand Master of the State of New York , Bro . the Hon . W . Vrooman , left New York by the steamer of the 26 th ult ., and is expected to reach

London this week . He will be accompanied by the R . W . Bros . Edward B . Harper and Frederick A . Burnham , both prominent members of the Grand Lodge of New York .

Our informant is Bro . Brackstone Baker , P . G . D . the representative in London of the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania and New York , svho has received official intimation of the intended visits . We feel confident

these distinguished brethren will receive a hearty and fraternal welcome from whatever private lodges they maybe able to visit during their brief stay in London . The Grand Master of New York will reside at the Hotel Victoria while in London .

* The special Provincial Grand Lodge of North Connaught ( I . C ) , called for the purpose of welcoming Bro . Surgeon Parke , on his safe return from Central Africa , was held at Carrick-on-Shannon , on Tuesday

last , and was a most interesting and enthusiastic one . It was a happy thought on the part of our brethren of North Connaught to do honour to their distinguished brother , and to fix the place ef meeting amidst his

home surroundings . Next to Mr . Stanley , Surgeon Parke is certainly the hero of the expedition , and as Masons we are proud of having on our roll of members a brother vvho has proved himself in every respect worthy of the honours that have been heaped upon him .

* * * Bro . Capt . Murrell , of the s . s . Missouri , the hero of the Danmark rescue , was married on Tuesday last , in Baltimore , to Miss McCormick , of that city .

Several of our English brethren received invitations to be present , and many more will wish him and his bride years of happiness and prosperity . AVe understand Bro . Murrell and his wife will be "At Home" about the end of the month , at Cardiff .

The Sind Gazette , of the 6 th June , says : " We are heartily glad to welcome Mr . Jehangir Kothari on his return to Karachi after his second completed voyage round the world . We have alread y drawn attention to points of interest in this enterprising traveller ' s wide

wanderings , and some ol the letters describing them have already appeared in these columns . Amongst other good tidings vvhich Mr . Kothari brings with him is the news of the sentiments expressed in England in

regard to our lateral communications and direct route to Delhi . " Many of our readers svill remember Bro . Kothari ' s visit to London and to London lodges some time since , and will be glad to hear of his safe arrival after his second " grand tour . "

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ] MASONIC MUSIC AT DARLINGTON .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As I am personally responsible for the music vvhich vvas recently used at the Marquess of Ripon Lodge , No . 1379 , will you permit me to reply to Bro . Dr . Spark's letter . Dr . Spark complains that in the list of music the name of the author is given in every instance but tsvo , and in these

tsvo instances he assumes that because he has written music to the well-known Masonic hymns , "Hail Eternal ! by whose aid" and " Now the evening shadows closing , " that his music was used without acknowledgment . This is not so . The tunes used were tsvo given to me by the late Bro . Brittain , P . P . G . Org . Norfolk , and are

those frequently used at the Norfolk Provincial Grand Lodge meetings . I have never heard them elsewhere , and I do not knosv vvho is the author , or you may be sure his name would have been given on the official programme . I had not seen Bro . Spark ' s " Freemasons' Liber Musicus" vvhen his letter appeared in

your paper , but I at once obtained the loan of a copy from a much respected Masonic brother , and I have carefully gone through every piece . Dr . Spark's tunes are both very good , but I hope he will not feel offended when I say I like mine better , or rather I should say mine are better adapted for general

use in the lodge . Dr . Spark ' s tunes will not be easily acquired by those svho form the majority of lodge members , viz ., those svho are not skilled musicians , and I doubt if he svill often find in a lodge many brethren svho can easily take so high a note as F sharp , svhich occurs in each verse of the tune set to " Hail ,

Eternal ! by whose aid . " I also think it a mistake to divide'the second verse into tsvo parts , adding two of its lines to the first verse and two to the third . By so doing he breaks the continuity of the second verse , leaves his first verse incomplete , and begins his second verse abruptly . He has made the same mistake in the

hymn Now the evenings hadows closing . Dr . Spark is , I understand , an enthusiast for music in lodges , and I am glad he is so , for nothing so much adds to the beauty of our solemn ceremonies as music , and no one could better foster its more general adoption than the worthy Organist of the Leeds Town Hall .

I hear that he is likely to give us a new edition of his work ; will he allow me , a great lover of music , but not a musician in any sense , to offer him a suggestion or two ? In order to encourage music in our lodges the singing must be as congregational as possible ; the tunes ought to be simple and as easy to acquire as is

compatible with beauty and harmony , remembering that few lodges contain skilled musicians or brethren trained vocalists . The voluntaries , marches , & c , ought to be simple and svithin the capabilities of amateur players . Beethoven ' s " Marcia Funetre , " in seven flats , and Mozart's Masonic funeral march , which Dr . Spark

introduces into his svork , are not within the powers of an ordinary lodge organist . May I also suggest that if possible the price should be lowered to 5 s ., and then probably a Iodge svould take three or four copies . In conclusion , I hope Bro . Spark svill not consider that I am in any svay finding fault

with his exceedingly beautiful and generally wellarranged work , svhich does infinite credit to his well known musical genius . I only wish to point out that it is above the capabilities of the rank and file ( amongst whom I class myself ) of ordinary Masonic lodges , and this forbids its use on any but extraordinary occasions . —Yours fraternally ,

C . D . HILL DRURY , M . D ., AA ' . M . Marquess of Ripon Lodge , Darlington , P . M . 85 , P . P . G . Reg . Norfolk .

TORONTO BOARD OF RELIEF . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Sir , In your issue of ioth May you publish an extract from the Craftsman of Toronto , reflecting upon the management of the Masonic Benevolent Board of

this city , and , as Chairman of the Board , I feel constrained to reply , and to ask you to publish the same . I refrain from going into a detailed statement of the matter , and must rest satisfied with stating that the writer of the article ( the Editor ) has allowed personal and private dislike for an individual member of the

Board to run asvay with his prudence and attachment to truth , and his article in the Craftsman of April , 18 90 , is simply a tissue of fabrications . In his issue of this month he has made a sort of explanation , which he expecls will be received as an apology , and the mere fact of his having gone so far shosvs how much farther

he would have gone , and proves that his attack is groundless and unfair . The Board is composed of a representative from each of the subscribing lodges , and is bound in its actions by a code of by-laws ( a copy of which I

enclose ) , approved by each of the lodges so represented , and no deviation from what is there laid down is desirable or possible . The affairs of the Board are managed by intelligent men of business , who give their services for nought , and from quite disinterested motives , their one desire being to act for the good of the Craft

Correspondence.

and for the assistance of the needy . The fullest information of the doings of the Board can always be obtained from the representative of the lodge at its monthly meeting , or from the Secretary of the Board at his office . The annual statement , of which I send you a copy ,

seems intelli gible enough for the meanest comprehension , and is as simple as is can be , seeing that the Secretary and Treasurer are separate and distinct offices , held by two brethren , who , while acting in unison , have separate books . —I am , Sir , yours Iraternally ,

COLIN W . POSTLETHWAITE , Chairman Toronto Ben . Board . Toronto , June 13 .

CONVENT GENERAL . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In looking through my Freemason of Saturday last I read your notice of the " Convent General " of K . T . in Glasgosv ; to one unacquainted vvith Templar Masonry in Scotland , your notice would convey the

idea that the " Convent General" svas the ancient and only governing body of Templars in that country , whereas the parent body from vvhich the " Convent General " sprung is still in active existence , as the enclosed cutting from to-day ' s Glasgow Herald will show you . —Yours fraternally , M . M'B . THOMSON . July ist .

land at its regular Quarterly Communication . 'The history of the Knight Templars is not without interest to the general student , but to the Masonic student it is peculiarly so , as in the esoteric teaching of his Order , he is shosvn that inner history of the Templars subsequent to the martyrdom of their Grand Master , Jaques de Molay , and

KNIGHT TEMPLARS . —An event of considerable importance among the Masonic elite took place in Ayr on Saturday last , svhen the Ayr Encampment of Masonic Knight Templars svelcomed svithin its assilium in the Masonic Hall , 20 , Nesv Bridge-street , Ayr , the Early Grand Encampment of the 'Temple and Malta in and for the Kingdom of

Scotthe dispersion of the knights to their ultimate absorption by the Masonic Society . The Scottish branch of the 'Templar Order , at present osvning as its Grand Master Major John Crombie , of Aberdeen , is one of the oldest at present existing in the world and claims to shosv " an apolistic succession" from the ancient Order . It has at present 15

subordinate encampments on its roll and has numbered amongst its members at home and abroad some of the best known members of the Masonic fraternity . At the quarterly meeting of Grand Encampment , held on Saturday , in the absence of the Grand Master , Grand Encampment svas opened by Matthesv M'B . Thomson , P . G . M ., assisted by

AVilliam A ' oung , Marshal ; Thomas Y . Leitch , C . G . ; and the office-bearers of Grand Encampment . Letters of apology ss'ere read from the Grand Master and various Knights Grand Cross . Reports of different Committees svere given in , and arrangements made for strengthening

the Benevolent and Propagation Funds . By unanimous vote of Grand Encampment , VV . J . Hughan , Torquay , and Maj . Irsyin , Bristol , svere elected honorary members and invested svith the dignity of Knights Grand Cross in recognition of Masonic services . After other routine business , the Grand Encampment svas closed .

[ MASONIC PILGRIMAGE TO PALESTINE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . ' Dear Sir and Brother , I have received letters from members of our

Fraternity in England who have learned of our proposed Masonic pilgrimage to Palestine from a kind notice in your paper , enquiring svhether the way vvas open for English Masons to join the party in England or on the Continent .

It will add to the pleasure of our tour to receive any brethren in good standing in the Order vvho care . to join us . We have contracted vvith the well-known firm of Henry Gaze and Son , 142 , Strand , London , to carry out European and Eastern portion of the pilgrimage .

Bro . Gaze svill anssver all questions as to cost , & c , from any point en route to the East . May I ask you to say this much to your readers . It will save some correspondence , and will be greatly appreciated by yours fraternally , C . F . THOMAS . June 20 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

908 ] ATHOL WARRANT , No . 217 , PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE WARRANT FOR YORK CHESTER , AND LANCASTER . A copy of this warrant was published many years ago by Bro . S . B . Ellis , of Sheffield , in the " Masonic

Magazine" for August , 1876 ( Vol . 4 , p . 84 ) , who added " The fact of this warrant being printed suggests that if others were not actually issued they were contemp lated . " No olher provincial warrant was ever issued by the Athol Grand Lodge ( or any part of England , but many were sent abroad , and it is a singular fact

that on the very day ( 5 th September , 1781 ) , on which this Sheffield warrant , No . 217 , was dated , two other provincial warrants were granted , namely , No . 218 , Provincial Grand Lodge , Fort St . George , Asia , and No . 219 , Provincial Grand Lodge , New York . They were evidently identical in substance and phraseology . A copy of the latter was published in the " Freemasons