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 .

MISS DAVIS'S PENSION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , By command of the W . M . of St . James ' s Lodge , No . 448 , I

herewith forward you a copy of the Lodge Summons last issued , on which you will find copy of resolution which was brought before the brethren assembled and fully discussed , and at the conclusion a vote was taken , when 23 voted for , and one against . By kindly noting the same in your next issue of the Freemason , you will oblige the W . M . and brethren of 448 . —Faithfully and fraternally yours , J . JESSOP ,

Freemasons' Hall , Halifax , 28 th August . Secretary 448 . The following is the resolution referred to in the letter : " That it be a Recommendation to those Brethren of the Lodge who are subscribers to the Masonic Charities to cease subscribing to the Girls' School , with a view of expressing their disapprobation of the manner in which the funds of the Charity are diverted from their proper course , more particularly with respect to the pension of , £ 225 per annum just granted to Miss Davis , the late Head Governess of the School . "

A SPECIAL MASONIC JEWEL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother Surely the suggestion in the letter of your correspondent , " W . M ., " in to-day's issue , is not meant to be taken seriously , when one considers how terribly overdone the Masonic jewel business already is . The only persons to be

benefited by the introduction of another jewel , would be the manufacturers . If it is considered desirable to establish some Masonic memorial of an event which has nothing whatever to do with Freemasonry let it be one which is creditable to the Craft , and alike useful to posterity . A sum of £ 2000 would endow an annual scholarship at each of the Masonic Schools , of the value of £ yt at least . The scholarship could be named to commemorate the event . —Yours faithfully and fraternally ,

J . H . L . August 29 th . SALUTING PROV . GRAND WARDENS . To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Should Provincial Grand Wardens be saluted during their year as such —( 1 ) when visiting private lodges in their province ( 2 ) in their own lodges ; and , if so , with how many ?—Yours fraternally , August 26 th . D . OF C .

Reception Of Bro. R. W. Shekleton, D.G.M., By British Lodge, No. 334 (E.C.), Capetown.

RECEPTION OF BRO . R . W . SHEKLETON , D . G . M ., BY BRITISH LODGE , No . 334 ( E . C . ) , CAPETOWN .

A grand and impressive ceremony was held on the 7 th ult ., in the Temple of the British Lodge , in Roeland-street . An emergency lodge was called for the purpose 0 ! welcoming to South Africa the Deputy Grand Master of the Irish Constitution , Bro . Robert W . Shekleton ; and to present Bro . G . E . O . Bennett , I . P . M . 334 , with his own portrait , handsomely framed , and with a suitable inscription . Among those present were the following : Bros . W . Ledlie , W . M ., R . Hazell , P . M ,, and G . McCann , P . M ., all of the lodge ; F . W . Smith , W . M . 39 8 ,

and J . Hockey , W . M . 654 ( S . C ); G . Bradford , W . M . 1735 ; E . Malzer , W . M . Lodge Zur Eintracht ; C . J . Cole , P . M . 654 ; C . J . Muller , P . M . Lodge de Goede Hoop ; F . T . R . Griesach , P . M ., and T . Parratr , P . M . Lodge de Goede Trouw ; C . Lewis , W . M . Lodge de Goede Hoop , Prov . G . M . of the Netherlands ; the Rev . D . P . Faure , Dep . G . M . National , N . C . ; T . Millward , W . M . 2577 , D . A . G . D . C ; G . N . Withinshaw , W . W . 253 8 , D . G . S . D . ; T . Healey ,

P . M . 2379 , D . G . S . B . ; W . E . Goodman , P . D . S . G . D . ; G . E . O , Bennett , I . P . M . 334 , D . G . D . C and A . D . G . S . ; J . A . Yallop , P . M . 1735 , P . B . G . P ; J . Andrews , P . M . 398 ( S . C ); Col . Morgan-Crofton , P . D . G . S . B . Gibraltar ; C J . Hogg , P . M . 1738 , D . G . S . W . ; J . B . Wheelwright , P . M . 2379 , and 2537 , D . D . G . M \; the Very Rev . C . Barnett-Clarke , D . G . M . South Africa , Western Division ; and Robert W . Shekleton , Q . C , D . G . M . ( I . C . )

The last-named , who was the guest of the evening , was received with most impressive Masonic ceremonies . Bro . the Very Rev . the Dean of CAPETOWN said he had been asked to present to the I . P . M ., Bro . G . E . O . Bennett , a " mysterious something" shortly to be uncovered . Twenty-three gentlemen who had gone through the ceremony of initiation during the term of office of Bro . Bennett had subscribed for a framed

direct photograph of him , executed in platinotype , attired in his regalia as District Grand Secretary , and it was his pleasant duty to present the photograph on their behalf , and to express their high appreciation of Bro . Bennett ' s services , and of the remarkable success which he had achieved in carrying out his difficult and onerous duties . The Dean concluded by inviting Bro . Bennett to " see himself as others saw him . " ( Applause . )

The inscription on the frame of the photograph was as follows : " Presented to Worshipful Bro . G . E . O . Bennett , by the brethren whom he initiated during his year of office , 1895-6 . " In reply , Bro . BENNETT expressed his warm thanks for so very kind a token of their regard , and also for the very appreciative remarks that thc Dean had made as to his Masonic career . No doubt his time had been ungrudgingly given to the British Lodge , but he was profoundly touched at so kind an expression of their regard . ( Applause . )

At a banquet held in the dining-hall at a later period , after the usual loyal toasts had been duly honoured , The Very Rev . and R . W . Bro . the DIST . G . M . proposed "The Health of their eminent visitor , Bro . R . W . Shekleton , " announcing that he had received a letter from the Grand Secretary of England , Bro . E . Letchworth , commending lheir visitor to their best behaviour , and adding that he was held in thc highest favour by the Grand Lodge of England . Nearly all the leading lights of Freemasoniy in Capetown and district were present at his reception , including

representatives of the English , Irish , Scotch , and Dutch Constitutions , and embracing also visitors from New South Wales and Germany . The Worshipful Master had been kind enough to take in hand the scheme of welcoming their guest , and that ledge meeting was the result . There was only one thing which he deplored , and that was the reason which their visitor had in coming to South Africa , namely , his ill-health . lt unfortunately happened that their right worshipful brother had suffered this detriment to his health two years ago whilst carrying on his Masonic duties . He met with an unfortunate accident , and had suffered the most excruciating pain ever since , so that his medical advisers

Reception Of Bro. R. W. Shekleton, D.G.M., By British Lodge, No. 334 (E.C.), Capetown.

had ordered him to take that voyage to the Cape . They all trusted that that voyage and a short stay there—to say nothing of the welcome he would receivewould cheer him up and greatly improve his health . Mr . Gladstone had always claimed to be a Scotchman when he was in Scotland ; when he was in Wales he announced himself as a Welshman ; and became English when in the company of Englishmen . He ( the Dean ) might almost claim to be an Irishman also , for he had Irish blood in his veins . As he had lived in Wales also , he thought he might

aspire to be considered a Welshman . In any case , his grandmother was " Oirish , " and his great uncle was a famous Member of Parliament , very kindhearted and lovable . He ( the Dean ) had inherited all those qualities . ( Loud laughter . ) It was therefore very natural to him , and certainly most agreeable to bid a hearty welcome , as he did once more , to their gifted visitor . ( Cheers . ) Bro . R . W . SHEKLETON , Q . C , said , in reply , that it afforded him very sincere pleasure in being present , and he warmly thanked those who had assembled to

do him so much honour . In Ireland they had great difficulties as regards Freemasonry on account of the Roman Catholic religion , the members of which were forbidden to take any part in the Masonic Craft . Nevertheless , the Irish lod ges were increasing in number , and the funds at their disposal were being augmented in amount . In Dublin they had a Masonic lodge , and some Roman Catholics had

joined it , and had stated their determination to remain in it at any cost . ( Cheers . ) The Grand Master of the Irish Constitution , the Duke of Abercorn , practically left the whole management of Masonic affairs in his ( Bro . Shekleton ' s ) hands , so that he had plenty to do . He would once more thank them for the high honours and the kind consideration with which they had received him . ( Cheers . )

The W . M . of the British Lodge , Bro . LEDLIE , next proposed "The Health of the District Grand Master of the English Constitution , the Very Rev . C . Barnett Clarke , " whom they all delighted to see so often at their Iodge meetings . In former years the visits of the D . G . M . had been most rare and formidable occasions , but happily that was now altered , and they desired to make the most of their good fortune in having the Dean with them .

•Bro . the Very Rev . Dean CLARKE , in reply , thanked them for their reiteration of a cordial welcome . It had been proposed to open an Irish lodge in Capetown , and he had been approached with a view to his co-operation in the matter . He had consulted with his colleagues , and they had all agreed that there was no objection to that being done , and no doubt steps would be taken at an early date with that object . ( Hear , hear . )

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next proposed the toast of "The Deputy Grand Master of the Netherlands , Bro . the Rev . D . P . Faure , " in a few graceful terms . Bro . Rev . D . P . FAURE , in reply , said that in matters of Charity the Dutch Constitution of Freemasonry had always been well to the fore . He would take the opportunity of assuring their right worshipful guest that however enthusiastic a welcome might be given to him by his English brethren , he begged to assure him in the name of the Netherlands that their lodges also would extend the rieht

hand of fellowship in a similar manner . ( Cheers . ) Some few weeks ago , when some brethren in Capetown wrote asking for his approval to their establishing an Irish lodge in this town , he very gladly replied that he had no objection , and adding that there was room for all . ( Cheers . ) If he had not given that reply he shuddered to think what would have been his position that evening . ( Laughter . ) It was a proud sight that they could not see anywhere else to see representatives of no less than four separate nationalities together in the most perfect amity and

friendship at a common table . ( Cheers . ) All these four Constitutions worked together in South Africa , and they did not share the desire of other countries to have only one Constitution . There were at that table , Englishmen , Irishmen , Scotchmen , and Dutchmen , and they had not been lighting one another . ( Cheers . ) If they might boast of anything it was this , that in South Africa all four of them were doing something towards preparing the day when all brethren would live in harmony all over the world . ( Loud cheers . )

Bro . Col . MORGAN-CROFTON , in proposing the toast of " The Visitors , " said that their Craft tended to the cohesion of all classes . In times past it had had a great influence on English history , and doubtless would continue to do so in thc future . In many foreign countries , unhappily , Masonry was merely a cloak for revolutionary organisations , but that was not so in England . ( Cheers . ) Bro . the Rev . REGINALD SMITH , in responding , said he considered that Masonry was more truly Catholic than was the religion that was called

Catholicism . Why the Roman Catholics wanted to quarrel with Freemasons he could not conceive . In Italy , no doubt , there was reasonable excuse for such hostility , but here , where Freemasonry was absolutely harmless , and in England and Ireland , he could not understand why any religion should fight against Freemasonry . He did hope that the day would come when people of all religions and all sects and all denominations would recognise that Freemasonry was ground

whereon they might all meet . He had no hesitation in saying when asked what benefit there was in being a Mason that he met people in friendship round a common board whom it had been utterly impossible for him to meet anywhere else . ( Cheers . ) They were so divided in regard to religion or in regard to politics , that he could not possibly see how they could meet together on any other conceivable point than Freemasonry , which bound them one and all together . ( Loud cheers . )

Other visitors also responded on behalf of their respective lodges , and tho brethren dispersed at a late hour , it being generally agreed that the occasion was of a highly satisfactory character . It may be added that of the 23 brethren who were initiated during the pij > t Masonic year by the I . P . M ., Bro . Bennett , and who subscribed for his portrait , only 13 have remained in Capetown . Of the remainder , two have left for the Transvaal , two for Rhodesia , two are mariners , one has gone to Englind , one to Port Elizabeth , one ( Bro . Kay ) was drowned in the DrummondCastle , and the las ' ( Bro . Audrey ) died suddenly whilst on a railway journey .

Phœnix Lodge, No. 1860, Simonstown.

PH ? NIX LODGE , No . 1860 , SIMONSTOWN .

The St . John ' s Tide festivities may be said to have finished on the 41 b J v with the installation ol the W . 3 L of the Phennix Lod ge , No . i 860 ( E . C ) , Simonstown . The pilgrimage to the Naval Station of the Southern Seas was undertaken by several of the Capetown brethren , some of whom beguiled the time by relating the difficulties of the journey in the past decade of this century , when a long and tedious journey by cart had to be undergone .

There was a good attendance of members of the Pheenix Lodge , including Bros . E . Turner and H . Crane , P . D . G . Wardens ; S . Craig , P . D . G . S . B . ; *• Hooper , D . G . S . B . ; and C . G . White , I . P . M . ; while the Scotch Simonstown Lodge—the Royal Alfrad Lodge , No . 420—was represented by Bros . A . Patterson R . W . M . ; W . Gillard , I . P . M . ; and other officers and brethren . Bros . V . »• Smith , R . W . M . 39 S ( S . C . ) ; J . Rutter , Orator Lodge de Goede Trouw ; and C .

E . Lewis , W . M . Lodge de Goode Hoop , and Provincial Grand Master of '" Netherlands Constitution in South Africa , testified to the cordial relationship 0 the sister Constitutions in Capetown . Bro . C . R . Goodspeed , P . M . 2379 . " : " ' G . S . B ., with many brethren of the various lodges under the English Constitutio ^ in Capetown suburbs and the old country , helped further to make the gathering thoroughly representative one .