Correspondence.

Correspondence .

we do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but wc- wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitstree discussion .

FREEMASONRY IN NATAL DURING THE WAR . To the Editor ot the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Thinking a few particulars concerning Freemasonry in the Natal District during war time might prove interesting to your readers , I enclose the following incidents which you may perhaps deem worthy of insertion in your

valuable journal . In the first instance , I am permitted by the D . G . M . to make a transcript of a letter received by him from W . Bro . Capt . Hearn , Past Grand Sword Bearer of England , and an ollicer of the Army Service Corps , giving an account of Masonry in Ladysmith during its investment up to the 9 th December last , which was then the 41 st day of the siege . This letter only arrived after the

siege was raised last week , but the D . G . R . of this District made a flying visit to the town immediately after its relief , and he reports that the Klip River County Lodge , which has its headquarters in Ladysmith , had continued working right the way through , which completed something over four months of siege . The letter to which I refer is as follows :

" Ladysmith , gth December , 1 S 99 . " The 41 st day of the siege . " My dear Mr . Francis , " As I hope the siege is drawing to a close 1 am writing you a few lines . I have had a fairly roughish time of it . I was with the Dundee column , and since the siege commenced things have been very lively , but although the

Boers have heavily shelled the town the casualties have been very few . Everybody has behaved admirably , especially the civilians and the volunteers . In regard to things Masunic , the Klip River Lodge has had two meetings , a regular and an emergency . At the latter meeting over 50 brethren attended , nearly every lodge in your district being represented . Mr . Cairns , of this town , aged 55 , was initiated , a truly unique experience in modern Masonry . The military having

taken our hall for hospital purposes we had to meet at the Royal Hotel . I am applying to the D . G . S . for a covering dispensation , also to allow us to meet where we can until we can get back into our own building , which may be some time . Our new hall has so far escaped ; it is ready for the roof now . Poor Taunton , whom we were borrowing the money from to build with is dead , having been killed , so there will probably be a difficulty in getting the money now from his estate . Have you seen Harward , our W . M . ' r If you see him you might ask him to go

into matters . Mr . Lachlan , who was wounded at Dundee , is in the hospital just outside the town , and is getting on very well . I have not seen him for nearly a month . Waters is here and very fit . He desires to be remembered to you . We wish we had a few cases of whisky here . There is hardly any to be got in Ladysmith ; in fact money won't purchase it . We have had two meetings of thc Mark lodge and I have advanced live candidates . Hoping soon to see you . " Yours very sincerely , ( sd ) "GEO . H KARN . "

The stone of the now building was laid by the D . G . M . just immediately before ( he town was invested , and I am pleased to say the building has escaped damage . The Taunton referred to in the letter was . Major in the Natal Carabineers , and was killed inaction . McLachlan is an ollicer in the iSth Hussars , and J . W . of the Klip River Lodge , while Waters is an officer in the Army Ordnance Corps , and an officer of the Natalia Lodge , No . iGGs , Pietermaritzburg .

It may further interest your readers to know that four lodges belonging to this District are in possession of the enemy , but so far as we can ascertain no damage has been done to any of the buildings . This is the more noticeable in view of the fact that with only one exception every lodge in the Colony meets in its own building . The Masons of Dundee , one of the Natal towns in the possession of the enemy , have recently erected a very handsome Masonic temple there , and

it is an interesting incident of the war that this building has been scrupulously respected by thc Boers , although at one time some rebels attempted to loot the furniture . The only Englishman left in Dundee ( by the way a . Mason , whose wife was allowed to remain , as she was nursing a sick person , and lie with her , became aware of thc fact , . and notifying it to a Boer whom he knew to be a Mason , he at once reported the matter to the Commandant , who immediately stopped the

looting and placed a guard over the building , and it has remained intact ever since . Another incident . A prominent Mason in Dundee , who is at present in Maritzburg , informed us at a lodge meeting the other evening that he had just received intelligence from a friend of his remaining in Dundee , that , shortly after the town was occupied by the Boers ,

his friend discovered his Grand Lodge certificate lying outside his house in the mud ( the exodus from Dundee having been so sudden that everyone left with only what they stood upright in ) and on communicating this fact to a Boer Commandant , whom he knew to be a Mason , a guard was placed on the building , and that house is one of the very few whose sanctity has been respected .

I fear this letter will be considered inordinately long , otherwise 1 would touch upon our unfortunate brethren in the Transvaal , who , il is needless to say , have suffered far more than we have , but 1 will give you just one instance of the terrible effects of war there . 1 was informed at a recent lodge meeting held here ) that out of the whole membership of the Vryheid Lodge in the S . A . K . not one was left , all having been killed in action . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , FRED . C . LOVEY .

Dist . Asst . Grand Sue . Natal . March ioth . Addendum Jusl as I had concluded the foregoing , 1 received a letter from Captain Hearn saying he had sent y-ju an account of Masonry in Ladysmith during the siege . However , 1 thought 1 would slill send this , leaving you to make what use of it you might think lit , as there may be one or two incidents not

included in Captain lleani ' s communication . I may add that all the Judges here have had a considerable- strain put upon them in connection with the war , but all the demands have been cheerfully met , and it is satisfactory to know that the funds generously placed in our hands have been of material assistance in helping distressed brethren from the Transvaal and Freu Slate , while several of the lo . iges

have also . issisted the local hospitals liy monetary eontrioutioiis , lilting up beds , iVe . When the war is over , however , we anticipate having lar heavier demands made ii [ ioti » . > , u . i nitiiiy ui our brethren now serving wilh Die Volunteer and Irregular Forces will then lind themselves in a state ol penury , with occupations goneaiid homesteads probably destroyed .---1 '" . C . L . ¦ * ¦

KASIKK HOLIDAYS , SCOI I .. \ NI > . -- l ' or the convenience ot Scotchmen and others employed in ihe warehouses , a cheap special express excursion ( for 5 , 9 , or 10 days ) will leave King's Cross ( O . iN . ) on the 12 th ijiit ., at (« .. ; o p . m ., for Newcastle , Berwick , Edinburgh , Glasgow , Dundee , and Aberdeen . tickets can be obtained at the Great Northern Ollice , 44 , Bread-street , E . C , and from the representatives in the various warehouses .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Musgrave Lodge , No . 1597 . The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court , on the 17 th ult ., and was well attended , there were present Bros . William Cock , P . P . G . D ., VV . M . ; Percy Gray , S . W ., W . M . elect ; G . P . Gillard , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Treas . ; H . F . Bing , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Sec .-, J . Ward , J . D . j G . E . Pecover , I . G . ; Thos . Thomson , P . M . ; Walter Sykes , P . M . ; Oscar Rose , P . M . ; Robt . Thomson , P . M . ; R . Bel ] , J . N . Beattie , A . C . Clements , R . Langford , H . W . Merrony , J- Craig , C . H . Goldsmith , and H . Francis , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . R . W .

Barber , P . M . 19 S ; W . ; G . Smith , VV . M . 172 S ; A . E . Kipps , W . M . 1275 ; E , Dredge , 54 s ; H . Marriott , 1929 ; H . K . Ward , 1155 ; F . Page , 21 S 2 ; J . Morriss , 2264 ; A . Harper , W . M . 22 G 4 ; J . Huckell , J . W . 65 , - C . Frohlick , S . W . 2264 ; J . N . Smith , J . W . 2264 ; J . Wilson , 1 S 04 ; T . Gregory , 2345 ; W . G . Simmons , P . M . 1135 ; C . G . Butler , 414 ; J . Poignton , P . M . 1 S 61 ; T . J . Burgess , J . W . 45 ; F . C . Forward , 16 93 ; C . C . Gray . 1204 ; T . Grummant , P . M . 1559 ; H . Milner , 2264 j T . V . Goddard , 217 ; T . M . McKinlay , 767 ; J . D . Wilkinson , P . M . S 79 ; and R . T . West , 1744 .

the lodge was opened , and the minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed , the VV . M ., Bro . I Dr . Williams Cock , raised Bro . R . A . Langford to the Third Degree . The W . M . elect , Bro . Percy Gray was then presented by Bro . Walter Sykes , P . M ., and installed into the chair by Bro . Williams Cock . The new W . M . afterwards appointed and invested his officers and addressed them in very suitable terms as to their respective duties , but made special mention of the past services of the indefatigable Secretary , Bro . H . F . Bing , P . M . They were as follows : Bros . R . J . Suter , S . W . ; J . Ward , J . W . j G . P . Gillard , P . M ., Treasurer ; H . F . Bing , P . M .,

Secretary ; G . E . Pecover , S . D . ; H . W . Merrony , J . D . ; R . A . Langford , I . G . ; Dr . Williams Cock , I . P . M ., Director of Ceremonies ; and H . Francis , Tyler . The W . M ., Bro . Percy Gray , initiated Messrs . John Craig and Cnarles Henry Goldsmith . The excellent working of the W . M . was much appreciated by the members and numerous visitors . The report of the Audit Committee , showing a good balance in hand , was received and adopted . In moving that the sum of five guineas be expended in providing a suitable recognition of the excellent services rendered to

the lodge by Bro . Dr . Williams Cock , whilst occupying the chair of W . M . for the third time , Bro . G . P . Gillard , P . M ., stated that as there was no rjom on Bro . Dr . Williams Cock ' s breast for more jewels , the executive thought the present should tike the form of a brooch for Mrs . Williams Cock . The proposition having been carried unanimously bro . Gillard handed the brooch to Bro . Dr . Williams Cock , plying a well-deserved tribute for his excellent services that evening as Installing Master . In response , Bro .

Dr . Williams Cock stated that their presentation was quite a surprise , but a very agreeable one . The only recognition he required for the little he had done was the knowledge that hc had given satisfaction . It would also be a great surprise and pleasure to his wife , and when he came there in June he hoped to express more adequately , than he was able then , his thanks and also his wife ' s for their great kindness . Bros . R . S . Sly and J oseph Huckell , 65 , were proposed as joining members , and , after other business , the lodge was closed .

A good banquet followed , and at its conclusion , the W . M ., in very eloquent terms , gave " " The Queen and the Craft , " "The M . W . Grand Master , " and " The Grand Officers , Present and Past , " which were duly honoured . Bro . Gillard responded to the toast of " The Provincial Grand Ofliccrs , Present and Past . " Bro . Dr . Williams Cock , I . P . M ., gave " The W . M ., Bro . Percy Gray , " and said it was a ureal pleasure to propose the toast , especially as Bro . Percy Gray was a

wellknown Mason , and his reputation had reached them before he was a member of the lodge . They expected great things of him , and he was certain they would not be disappointed , as he would be an ideal Master , and one of the successes in the annals of the lodge . He was a very young man , and had attained his high position in four years , and , as they had seen from his excellent working that night , he was perfect in the ritual , and in wishing him a vcry happy and prosperous year of office he was expressing the sentiments of them all .

Bro . Percy Gray , VV . M ., on rising to respond , was received with acclamation , ln earnest terms he thanked them forthe hearty manner the toast had been received , and for the kind words of Bro . Dr . Williams Cock , l . P ; M . When he was elected he felt some diffidence in accepting the high office because he had to follow Bro . Dr . Williams Cock , who was a very eminent Mason and a great worker , but he was proud to be VV . M . A Master , however good , would not make a lodge a success without the assistance of the members , and he ventured to think that he would have their support , which would be very gratifying to him .

The W . M . proposed " The Initiates , " remarking that it was the toast of the evening . Bio . Goldsmith was one of his oldest and greatest friends , and he was honoured to initiate him . That day was the anniversary of the other initiate , Bro . Cray ' s birthday —( applause)—and he gave them both a very hearty welcome , trusting they would take to heart the ceremony of their initiation , and a great interest in thc Craft , to enable them some day to fill the office of W . M . in that their mother lodge . Bro . John Craig responded .

Bro . C . H . Goldsmith also replied , observing that he trusted to be able to do everything they could possibly wish . In proposing "The I . P . M . and Installing Master , " the W . M . stated that Bro . Williams Cock had occupied the chair in the lodge three years in succession , which was a record and spoke volumes . It was not necessary for him to extol his virtues , because he was so well known ; but he might add that whenever they saw his jovial face in the lodge they were delighted .

Bro . Dr . Williams Cock , I . P . M ., met with an ovation on rising to respond . He said he had been thinking what a change had taken place in the lodge , for the better , the last year or two , and he had no hesitation in stating that the VV . M . was the sole cause of the happy state of affairs . He saw before him " a chiel aming ye taking notes , and , faith , he'll prent it , " and it was the first time f . ir miny years thit the loige had been honoured by a representative of the Masonic Press , and it showed that the

lodge was becoming more known . His association with the lodge dated back many years , and he felt , from the way he did the installation ceremony that evening , he wis getting too old ; but he was not sorry he was out of the chair , because he thought he had done his '' little bit " in a Craft lodge , and he had tried to improve , if possible , thc tone of the lodge , and , in concluding a happy speech , given with much feeling , he said don ' t forget the Masonic Chaiities .

The W . M . proposed " The Visitors , " and said it was a toast which always gave pleasure to the members of the lodge , and it was ever received with great enthusiasm . Iheir guests that evening exceeded the members who were present , and he extended to tlieT'i a very hearty welcome . The W . M . associated with the toast the names of Bros . Hajnes , Temple Smith , Jas . Poignton , P . M . ; J . D . Wilkinson , P . M . ; T . Grummant , P . M . ; and C . C . Gray-brother of the VV . M . — -whoeach responded . The VV . M . gave "The Past Masters , " coupled with the name of Bro . W . Sykes , who responded in eloquent terms .

The VV . M . proposed "The Treasurer and Secretary" in felicitous terms , and he joined with the toast the name of Bio . 11 . F . Bing , Sec . Bro . Iiing , in response , stated that both he and the Treasurer would do in the future , as they hoped they had done in the past , their very utmost to promote the interests of their good old lodge . ' Die W . M . next gave " The Officers . " Bro . J . VVard , J . W ., suitably responded .

The l ' yler ' s toast brought to a close a most successful and happy meeting , for which the VV . M ., Bro . Percy Gray , is to be congratulated . Dining Ihe evening Bros . Kendal Ward , Harry Marriott , Tom Burgess , and VV . G . Simmons entertained the brethren by their vocal selections , which were much appreciated , while Bro . II . VV . Merrony proved vastly interesting with some clever card tricks . '

Stuart Lodge , No . 1632 . This nourishing lotlge held its March meeting on the until ultimo , at the Frascati Restaurant , the occasion being what is generally termed the Ladies' Niiiht . In the unavoidable absence of the VV . M . ( Bro . David R . Milch ) , Bro . J . M . Klempner , thc I . P . M ., occupied the chair ; Bros . John O'Connor , S . VV . ; C . E . Brooke , J . VV . ; Falkner , S . D . ; Bennett , J . D . ; Harp , I . G . ; Arthur Briscoe , P . P . G . O . Surrey ( who presided at the organ ); A . Bannister , and other brethren werc present .