Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents . butwe wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion .

THE RE-ENDOWMENT OF GUY'S HOSPITAL . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I venture to solicit your powerful advocacy in furtherance of the appeal which I made in Grand Lodge last Wednesday to the brethren , to supplement by their individual donations , the magnificent grant of Five Hundred Guineas so generously voted from the funds of Grand Lodge to the scheme for the re-endowment of Guy's Hospital .

The sum of £ 1000 will permanently endow one bed , and as the special effort to resuscitate the financial condition of the hospital is being made under the most distinguished Chairmanship of our M . W . G . M ., it does seem a great opportunity for the Craft to show their interest in the fortunes of one of our great national Institutions , and to perpetuate their connection with it by providing this sum of , £ 1000 , at the time of its most urgent need of pecuniary assistance .

Can we express in a more practical manner our love and allegiance to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and our appreciation of the great services rendered by him to the Craft , over which he has now so ably presided for a period of twenty-one years , than by perpetuating the name of the Fraternity with this re-endowment scheme , at the time when H . R . H . is leading the gigantic effort to raise the sum

of ^ 500 , 000 , to consolidate the financial position of the hospital , and enable it to carry on in the future the splendid work of relieving the suffering and distressed , and , through its famous medical school , of disseminating throughout the world the improved scientific knowledge so necessary to enable the Profession to deal more confidently with the complicated diseases and accidents to which suffering humanity is subject .

I am in hopes a grant of One Hundred Guineas may be sanctioned from the funds of Grand Chapter , and as I am willing to contribute a similar amount , I feel confident that individual brethren will come forward and make up the small balance required to complete the ^ 1000 . All contributions forwarded to me to the address below , will be duly acknowledged , and , I need hardly add , will be most thankfully received and faithfully applied . —Yours truly and fraternally ,

CHARLES E . KEYSER , P . G . D . Aldermaston Court , Reading .

P . S . —I am authorised to state that any brother sending not less than a guinea on or before Sunday , will receive a card of admission to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ' s reception at the Imperial Institute next Wedne sday .

CRAFT JEWELS IN A ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Until the present year I have been accustomed to wear several

Craft and Charity jewels in our local Royal Arch chapter , but at our last meeting a P . Z . Companion informed me that it was only permissible to wear Royal Arch jewels in a chapter . The other day I attended our Provincial Grand Chapter , and noted that the Prov . Grand Asst . Scribe E . wore all his Craft and Charity jewels as well as those appertaining to the chapter .

I shall be greatly obliged if some experienced companion will kindly inform me as to the usual custom and strict etiquette in the wearing of Craft jewels at a Royal Arch chapter . —Yours fraternally , CRAFT AND CHAPTER . May 27 th , 1896 .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF SOMERSET , 1 S 96-97 . "—Bro . C . L . Fry Edwards , the editorof this comprehensive and accurate Masonic guide for Somerset , has again made the province his debtor , the present issue being No . 15 of the valuable series . It has been edited on the same lines as recent numbers , and is brimful of information of the greatest utility for the 1233 members of

the 26 lodges , the 11 chapters , the 9 Mark lodges , and the other Masonic bodies working in Somerset . The Charities are well represented , as usual , the total votes being 4099 — a most creditable record—and the Charity Organisation Committee is a real live Society , doing a grand work for the province . The frontispiece for the year is a portrait of Bro . C . F . Marshall , P . M . 53 , Bath , who was appointed lo the high office of S . G . D . of England in 1 S 95 . The Calendar is most complete and neatly printed .

" MASONIC YEAR-DOOK FOR THE PROVINCE OF SUFFOLK , 1 S 96 . "—The portrait of the R . W , Prov . Grand Master , Lord Henniker , appears in this issue , and will doubtless be eagerly welcomed by the members of the province , as it is a good likeness , and a most appropriate frontispiece . Bro . Tracy , the Prov . Grand Secretary and editor , has done his utmost to make this issue both interesting and instructive , for it is actually , as well as nominally , a Year Book for the province , able accounts being inserted of the Prov . Grand Lodge , held at Aldeburgh on July 20 th , 1895 , and the special meeting , at

Ipswich , on January lflth , 1 S 9 O . A balance-sheet is also given , which is of a most satisfactory character , as well as condensed reports of the 22 lodges , ths latter b ; in ? an excellent feature and worthy of general adoption . The membership has now rea : hed the four figures , the tolat being IOOI . The charities receive due attention , the votes amounting to 6114 , but , as these include the double votes for Girls and Boys , the net total is nearly 1600 less , which is , after all , a grand record . The paiticulars afforded concerning the lodges , chapters , Sic , are numerous and ably arranged , as usual , the annual being most reliable and to date .

" MASONIC FICTION EXPLODED . "—By Bro . Jacob Norton , Boston , Mass ., 1 S 95 , —This is a collection of articles and letters which from time to time have appeared in sundry Masonic periodicals , both English and American , over the well-known signature of " Jacob Noiton , " and we have no hesitation in describing it as one of the most interesting and most readable books that have ever been published in reference to Masonry . In saying this , we are very far from commending , as a rule , the opinions which the writer 50 freely expresses . On the contrary , it is difficult to say in what we agree with

him . 1 o paraphrase a familiar expression—There is no theory reasonable or unreasonable on any Masonic subject Bro . Norton has written about , which he has not set himself to demolish . lie seems to have made it the business of his Masonic life to attack everything and everybody , and there is no doubt that in the case of many of the absurd theories which were formerly palmed off by foolish writers on a credulous public as Masonic history he has succeeded in upsettine them as uncerem iniously as the skilful player knocks over his ninepins . In his time he has exploded much fiction , and

he has done it as effectually as the man of whom we read in the " Pickwick Papers , " who , on Ihe authority of Mr . Samuel Weller , practised shooting at a dead bird on a post to such good purpose , that , after the first discharge of his fowling-piece , nothing , not cvtn the suspicion of a feather , was ever again seen . But though Bro . Norton has blown away much fiction , he has never attempted to supply its place with anything in the way of fact . He has done much in the way of destruction , but nothing in the way of construction . And yet in his peculiar way he has donegcod service to Masoniy . There are but few men in the world who

Reviews.

have more carefully or more thoroughly studied the subjects he has written about than Bro . Norton , and we cheerfully add , there are few who have shown themselves more capable of more closely following up a definite line of argument . He is , indeed , a most able writer and we advise none but those who are as conversant as he is with the many difficult questions which are constantly arising in the treatment of Masonic subjects to venture upon crossing swords with him . He is a doughty champion to enter the lists with and unless you are well armed at all points , you had better think twice about engaging with him in any contest . As for the subjects about which Bro . Norton has written there

number is legion , as will be seen from . a cursory glance at the titles of some of the articles contained in this volume . The second treats "About the Ori gin of Freemasonry in Ireland , " and in this Bro . Norton has a merry bout with Bro . Dr . Chetwode Crawley , author of " Crcmentaria Hibernica , " to whom we are undoubtedl y indebted for much valuable information abDut the Craft in Ireland . Other articles treat " About Fictitious and Forged Masonic MSS ., " of the " Various Origins " that " are ascribed to the Royal Arch , " " How Bro . Sadler made much ado about nothing , " "Some hints to Bro . Sadler , " "How Masonic writers perverted Masonic History , "

" So-called Masonic Jurisprudence , " " Faith and Belief , " " Was Henry Price ever appointed Prov . G . M . over America ? " " Our two American Champions for Masonic Mothership , " Sic . All are most interesting , and the collection , as we have before said , constitutes a most valuable addition to our Masonic literature , though , as the articles have previously appeared in the " Masonic Review " of Cincinnati and other periodicals , the probabilities are strongly in favour of many , if not most , of our readers having met with them already . However , they are well worth a second , and even a third , reading , and for this reason is it that we are so thankful the spirit has moved our respected and able brother to issue them in collected form for the perusal of the numerous friends and admirers he has made in the course of his Masonic controversies .

Islington Lodge Of Instruction, No. 1471.

ISLINGTON LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 1471 .

PRESENTATION TO BRO . WALTER HANCOCK . The last meeting before the recess was held at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , on Tuesday evening , the 19 th ult ., when there was a numerous attendance . Much interest was created by the announcement that a presentation of plate was to be made to Bro . Walter Hancock , P . M . 2191 , Preceptor . The usual order of business being set aside , the proceedings took the form of a musical and social

evening . The chair was taken by Bro . C . M . Coxon , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Herts , one of the Secretaries of the lodge , who was supported by Bros . J . W . Clarke , P . M . 1512 , Asst . Preceptor ; J . Petch , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . Herts , Treas .: J . Duncan , P . M . 59 , Sec . ; and the following Past Masters and brethren : Bros . R . Philip Upton , P . M . 1328 ; S . Napper , P . M . 1471 ; G . T . Peall , P . M . 2361 ; W . J . Mason , P . M .,

P . P . G . D . Surrey ; W . H . Snelling , P . M . 1541 ; P . F . Holmden , P . M . 198 ; W Sergeant Lee , P . M . 2488 ; A . Wolter , P . M . 1791 ; A . Oliver , P . M ., Treas . 820 S . Abell , P . M . 2032 ; H . B . Harding , P . M . 1471 ; J . H . Wood , P . M . 145 ; H Hill , P . M . 1305 , Preceptor Finsbury Park Lodge of Instruction ; R . W . Nicole , W . M . 2278 ; D . C . Ritchie , W . M . 1471 ; H . Parkinson , J . D . 1328 ; C . Isler ,

S . D . 1471 ; T . Simpson , Sec . 2157 ; C . Smith , S . W . 1328 ; W . Rapley , S . D . 1987 ; C . W . Rayner , J . W . 1681 ; H . C . Rayner , S . D . 1681 ; J . A . Stone , I . G . 1298 ; M . Hepner , J . D . 59 ; J . E . Thomas , Stwd . 19 87 ; E . J . Harrison , J . W . 1471 ; T . W . Peart , I . G . 11 ; C . W . Austin , J . W . 160 , Sec . Finsbury Park Lodge of Instruction ; and many others .

The presentation was made by Bro . R . P . UPTON , on behalf of the Com ' mittee , who referred to Bro . Hancock's long connection with the lodge , the services he had rendered to it , and the success that had been attained under his guidance . Bro . HANCOCK thanked the brethren for their splendid gift , and for the good

will which had prompted the brethren . It was very gratifying to find that the services he had rendered were so much appreciated , and he hoped to be spared to ? assist in promoting the interests of Freemasonry in that lodge for years to come . Bro . Hancock ' s remarks were received with much applause , and he was greeted with musical honours .

The entertainment , which occupied the greater part of the evening , was a most excellent one , and the talent so abundant , that several brethren could not be called upon to contribute . The instrumental items of the programme were a pianoforte solo by Bro . H . Wharton-Wells , L . R . C . O ., and an excellent violin solo by Bro . H . C . Rayner , with songs by Bros . R . P . Upton , C . Isler , A . Henning , D . C . Attwater , W . F . Roberts , G . Wheeler , S . Abell , A . Donald-King , J . A . Stone ,

H . R . Bower , A . C . Little , C . Nicole , and W . E . Houghton , and recitations by Bros . H . Parkinson , W . Sergeant Lee , and Henning . Bro . T . E . Newman was the musical director , and the accompaniments were admirably rendered by Bro . Wharton-Wells . Where all was so well done , it would be difficult to select any one for special praise ; that the efforts of the brethren named were appreciated was evinced by the hearty applause accorded them . After a vote of thanks to the Chairman , briefly proposed , and as briefly acknowledged , this most successful evening ' s entertainment was concluded .

Outing Of The York College Of Rosicrucians.

OUTING OF THE YORK COLLEGE OF ROSICRUCIANS .

The above college met at Harrogate on the 16 th ult ., the fratres , upwards ot 40 , assembled at 2 p . m . at the Commercial Hotel and drove in four-in-hand coaches to Ripley Castle and the church , where the vicar conducted and explai " " the interesting features and pointed out objects of interest .

The fratres having passed a vote of thanks to the vicar for his kindness and courtesy , the drags were again requisitioned , and the party proceeded back by Knaresborough and on to the Masonic Hall , Victoria-avenue , Harrogate , where the college met at 4 . 30 p . m ., Frater W . N . Cheesman , the Celebrant , presided

three ( Selby ) brethren were admitted into the Order , and the regular work ol college over , the members repaired to the Commercial Hotel , where a capiw dinner was partaken of , and after the customary loyal toasts , , The acting Deputy Frater MONCKMAN , Bradford , proposed "The Health 0

the Celebrant , " who , in responding , congratulated the college on the succcssi ^ meeting , nearly evcr , y officer being present , and intimated that the August meetinfc would be in the north of the province , probably Durham or Middlesboroug h . Donations from the funds of the college were voted towards the Mickle Colliery disaster and to the Mount Grace Priory Exploration Fund .

THE DUKE OF YORK , attended by his equerry , dined with Lord Btl P . j onday . Honourable Corps of Gcntlemen-at-Arms at their mess in St . James ' s Palace on ivi l ( j Bro . Admiral of the Fleet the Hon . Sir H . Kcppel and Field Marshal Sir L > o Stewart being also present .