Original Correspondence.

after the opportunity has been afforded for the re-election of the incriminated persons on the Managing Committees of the School ? These are , I think , two questions which deserve a clear and prompt answer . I have been twitted by a much esteemed brother as to the probable terrible consequences to the Boys' School of my " final judgment" on this question of such an

unimportant being as myself . But may I say , in reply to this , and such like remarks , that we owe the present " scandal " almost , if not entirely , to the foolish fear which so many individuals have of openly expressing their own independent opinion—a fear which is created and kept alive by the domineering spirit exercised by wire-pullers , " ring " makers , and " close borough" promoters . I have just

heard , for instance , of the case of a recently-elected member on a very important Committee , who candidly admits that he was aware of many of the gross irregularities which were being complained of , but that he had not the courage so soon after his election to oppose the permanent officials and his comrades on the Committee of longer standing than himself .

As a member of the Craft , however—though a very humble one—I have , I conceive , an equal right with my more distinguished and exalted brethren to express an opinion , and to form a judgment on affairs Masonic , and I mean , therefore , pace those who think it impertinent for some other ' s dog to bark in their presence , to prosecute my humble endeavours to form a right judgment on this

Boys' School question , and any others that may come within my view . But of this I feel quite sure already , whatever may he the fortunate , or unfortuna ' e , result lo individuals of this Investigation into the affairs of the Boys' School , that to this Institution itself the greatest possible benefits will follow in every respect . And , lastly , if this be the consequence of " a Committee of Investigation , " I should strongly recommend similar

Committees on the Girls' School and the Benevolent Institution , in both of which , 1 have little doubt , there are some cobwebs to sweep away . I will mention one exempli gratia : What becomes of the balance over expenditure of the receipts from " Stewards' Fees , & c , " at each of the recurring Annual Festivals , and why is no detailed account of receipt and payments in connection with these Festivals annually published ?—Yours fraternally , TUDOR TREVOR , June ist . P . M . 2069 .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir , I am a Lewis , and my respected father constituted me a Life-Governor of one , if not two , of the Masonic Charities , and , I feel assured , looked forward with great pleasure to thi time when , as he said , he might initiate me ( three months hence , by the way ) into the

mysteries of the Order . On Saturday last ( the ist of June ) I agreed to meet a friend at the Freemasons' Hall , he having occasion to attend a meeting there of Life-Governors . The time appointed was between half-past four and five o ' clock , with the view of cur proceeding afterwards for a ramble in the country . When I arrived , I was told to proceed

along a dark corridor , where I proposed to await my friend . I had no sooner entered than 1 was made painfully aware of loud howling and shrieking emanating from a room at the extreme end of the conidor , which , by the way , seemed to have the effect of inducing several gentlemen who were in advance of me to retrace their steps and retire . The noise was so great and the violence so extreme

that it brought to my mind most vividly what I had read of the scenes in Paris during the Reign of Terror , only that there were no women . After a little time I ventured to push open the door , which was not latched , and the scene which I then beheld baffles my powers of description . Many were standing on tables and chairs , vociferating and gesticulating violently , and all speaking at the same lime .

I need not say I quickly beat a retreat , and regained the street , where I awaited my friend , wto arrived overpowered with emotion . I thought it prudent to make no remark as to what I had seen , but I made up my mind from that moment that , if such was the conduct of Masons at their meetings , I should think " once , twice , aye thrice , " before I became a Freemason , leastways I casually mentioned what I had seen and heard to another friend , who was kind

enough to say that I was a "Novice , " and that it was all quite right . He , however , suggested that it would be wise to send an account of what I saw to the Masonic Journal . Hence my sending this in the hope that it may reach the eye of the better class of Masons . I can , however , aver that the Freemasons whom I have occasionally met at my father ' s table were a very different class of men to those whom I saw on Saturday , otherwise I should never have thought of becoming a Freemason . —Yours faithfully , A NOVICE . June 5 th .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I think it right that the Craft should be made aware of what occurred at the meeting held on Saturday , the ist inst ., at the Freemasons' Tavern , which was supposed to consist of Life Governors of the Masonic Boys' School only , but from what I saw I hope they were not all

Freemasons , otherwise we have descended in the scale since I was initiated . It was much to be regretted that the Secretary , with his large experience , had not secured the larger hall , as the room in which we met was much too small for the assembly , but nerhaps he was unable to secure it . The room in which we met quickly filled , to the exclusion of

many whose presence there would have been most desirable ) , and in a shoit space of time they were packed literally like herrings in a barrel ; the heat was most oppress i ve , and the atmosphere became almost pestiferous , so as to render it scarcely endurable . I have , as a Member of Parliament and a magistrate of many years' standing , had some experience of political and other public meetings , where bitterness

and rancour had full swing , but I never saw a body of men behave more disgracefully than those who disturbed the meeting on Saturday last . Order and brotherly regard were out of the question . They stormed , howled , and shrieked , at the top of their voices , like raving maniacs let loose from a lunatic asylum , in fact , I doubt if the maniacal patients would not have paled into mildness itself by their side . Unfortunately , the Chairman was unable to con-

Original Correspondence.

trol the assembly , and very soon lost any semblance of authority ; in truth , one of the " shouters , " whose views were ruled out of order , took upon himself the right to call for a show of hands , and virtually declared the Chairman himself to be out of order . Now , I should have thought that the Chairman would then , when he found that his authority was not supported ,

have dissolved the meeting . The more especially as previously ( notwithstanding a motion was proposed to the contrary ) the minutes and other dicta , giving full power to the existing Committees and other officers had been confirmed by the meeting . Furthermore , in opposition to a motion for adjournment , the Chairman ruled that the election of

the Committees must proceed , and be completed that day . Then came the deluge . The Chaiiman and the gentlemanly element , being soon overpowered by the ravings of the malcontents , who eventually appeared to carry the adjournment , but not until after the hour when , by the rules , further business was inadmissable . —Believe me , very truly

yours , A LIFE GOVERNOR OF FORTY

YEARS' STANDING . June 4 . ' lo the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I and doubtless other provincial Masons went up to London on Saturday last to attend the meeting called to elect the House Committee . No voting took place , and the meeting adjourned for a

month . Now as I and possibly others cannot afford either the time or the money to goupagaii , cannotsome resolution be proposed so that the opinion ot provincial brethren can be taken without putting them to the expense of going up to London again ? Can we on the crucial question be allowed to vote by proxy ?—Yours fraternally , M . M . 236 . June 4 th . ¦ ' ¦ ¦ - — ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS AND THE CARNARVON LODGE , No . 1572 . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I can't make you out . Shameful ! is the word passed round the Carnarvon Lodge when the Boys' School is mentioned . Don't you agree with this , don't you think the case

against those connected with the management of the School is shameful ? What is to be done ? We say , call on the Committees to resign ; dismiss all implicated in the present state of things , and reform the School entirely . Make it a happy place for the children , and a place to which we can look with pride and pleasure . By this time you will have found we are not by any means alone in this desire . It is reasonable , and the men of the Carnarvon Lodge are determined

to strive lor it . Your jeering at our earnestness is in bad taste ; weak jokes about such an uncertainty as Midsummer weather in the midst of May are ill-timed in this crisis . You were in grim earnest when you were fighting for the brethren to have the right of electing the Grand Treasurer . This is a greater and deeper question , and one which , please God ,

the brethren will see righted . _ When the brethren of the Carnarvon passed the resolution to stop supplies till they had evidence of reform , they saw little or no hope ; the men in power were jeering at the Report , denying its truth , stubbornly holding to office , and exhausting every form to continue in power . It was

time , high time , to show these men that , if their tactics succeeded , they would bring about the ruin of the School . It is idle for you to accuse the brethren of the Carnarvon of seeking to injure the School . Nothing is dearer to their hearts than its prosperity and welfare . —Yours fraternally , JOHN PAIGE , June 5 . W . M . Carnarvon , 1572 .

[ If Bro . Page cannot make us out we are sorry for him . We have no desire to back up the old Committee , or to defend abuses and mismanagement that have been clearly shown by the Commission to exist , but could not the Carnarvon Lodge have waited until the Report was received and discussed before taking the extreme step of stopping supplies , and by causing the failure of the coming Festival virtually starving the Institution for the next twelvemonths ? It

will be quite time to do this if the Life-Governors , in whose hands the power rests , fail in their duty . We are sorrv too that Bro . Paige considers our remarks in bad taste , taking especial exception to the term "Midsummer Madness . " Surely he ought to know that it is a phrase often used to express absurd or unreasonable action , and not a joke , weak or otherwise , about the weather . — ED . F . M . ]

CURIOUS CERTIFICATE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I see in the Freemason of the 25 th ult . an article by Bro . Hughan , headed "Curious Certificate , " relating principally to the Red Cross Degrees . Bro . Hughan stated that these Degrees are conferred in the U . S . A . and Canada as preparatory or introductory to K . T .

This is not so in Ireland , however , where they are given after K . T . and K . M . I copy the following from minute book of Lodge S 34 : "Dundalk , March 23 rd , 1 S 31 . Lodge met on Emergency , visited by seven Red Cross Knights when the following High Knight Templars and Knights of Ma ta became Knights of the Red Cross , Mark , Link and _ Chain , and Patmos ; here follow the names of the Aspirants . "

I also received my Red Cross Degrees after the Temple or Malta in 1 S 62 , but in the certificate the Red Cross Degiees are named first . A few years ago , when our Temple Order joined that of England ( who does not recognise the Red Cross Degrees ) they were added to the Prince Mason Degree , thus showing their position to be between the Temple and Higher Degrees . Fraternally yours , Dundalk , May 31 st . JAMES HESSE .

Cottage Hospital For The Cure Of Consumption.

COTTAGE HOSPITAL FOR THE CURE OF CONSUMPTION .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , An effort is being made to open a Cottage Hospi . a | at Shanklin for the cure of poor consumptive patients h «

the system I advocated at Manchester , and I shall be much obliged if you will afford me an opportunity of calling attention to it . This new method of treatment has been followed by complete cure in half the cases and by very satisfactory results in the others . Contrast this with the invariably ultimate fatal results of the other modes of treatment , and the

urgent necessity for a place where the system can be thoroughly carried out is clearly established . It will be the means of saving many lives , of preventing much suffering and misery , and must lead to the general adoption of this system of treatment ; and I feel sure that , were this good work known to our brethren , we should have their cooperation in carrying it out . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally ,

GODFREY W . HAMBLETON , Physician , Dorchester-place , ( formerly No . 859 ) . Blandford-square .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

S 42 ] OLD CERTIFICATES . Dr . Crossle , of Newry , has kindly sent me copies of two clearance certificates in the possession of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 6 97 , VVarrenpoint , Ireland . The first of A . D . 17 S 2 , is of parchment , and was issued by authoritity of the Grand Secretary of the " Atholl" Grand Lodge . No . 6 , therein referred to , is the present " Enoch " Lodge , No . 11 , of London , originally warranted as for the 17 th July , i 75 i .

[ Copy of No . 6 Certificate , A . D . 1782 . ] UN 1 VERSIS quorum interest attesteuur Fratrem Gulielmum Major fuisse Societate dictae Masonria : secundum regulas Initiatum in Ccetu Numero 6 et in Regno Anglice . Et sicut Decet unum ex nostris ut mihi ex

Testimonis Ccetus ad quern pertuiebat probatum est cum omni morum honestate se gessit . Datum Londini sigillo Ccetus nostri Majoris et superscriptione nostra munitum die 22 Januarii Anno Domini 17 S 2 et a primitus Societatis 5782 .

CAROLUS BEARBLOCK , a secretis majoris Ccetus . To all whom it may concern . I do hereby certify that Brother William Major is a © regular registered Freemason in the Lodge No . 6 in the Kingdom of England and has during his stay amongst them behaved himself as became an honest and worthy brother as appears by the Lodge certificate to me . Given under my hand and the seal of the Grand Lodge in London the twenty-second day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred eighty and two and in the year of Masonry five thousand seven hundred eighty and two .

CHARS . BEARBLOCK , Gd . Secy . The second was granted by another " Atholl" Lodge , originally No . 47 , London , 24 Feb . 1756 . According to

Bro . Lane's "Masonic Records , 1717-18 S 6 , " it was issued to Macclesfield in 1764 , and got to Hinckley in 1803 . __ It is now the "Knights of Malta" Lodge , No . 50 , familiar to the readers of the R . W . Bro . W . Kelly's "History of the Province of Leicestershire . "

[ Copy of Certificate , No . 66 , A . D . 1 S 18 . ] To all whom it may concern . WE the Master and Wardens of Lodge Blue . 47 but on tne Union Registry of England 66 do hereby declare certify and attest that the bearer hereof our worthy Brother Blue . Henry Crawford lawfully Entered Apprentice in Lodge 66 in Hinckley Pass as a fellow craft and Raised to the Sublime Blue . degree of Master Mason and such we do recommend . Given under our To all the true hands and seal this and faithful ! wher-28 th day of October ever dispersed thro 1818 and of Masonry the globe . 5 S 18 . WM . LEE Mastr . WM . LEES Secy . •J ESSE KING S . W . Mico MACBRNAVEY . Blue . It is also of parchment , but in English only . I consider all such articles are well worth copying for the " Notes and Queries " department , and hope that other brethren will aid this portion of the Freemason in like manner , as opportunities arise . W . J . HUGHAN .

The Princess Louise , Marchioness of Lome , will visit Maidstone on Friday , the sSth inst ., for the purpose of opening the Hollingworth Memorial Building of the West Kent General Hospital . The 26 th Anniversary Festival of the Newspaper Press Fund was held at the Hdtel Metropole on Saturday last , under the presidency of the Chancellor of the

Exchequer ; Bros . Sir George Elliot , Bart ., M . P ., Sir Algernon Borthwick , M . P ., the Hon . E . Hubbard , M . P ., Sir E . A . Inglefield , Tomlinson , M . P ., Louis Desanges , and others being among the principal guests . The subscriptions announced by Bro . Hyde Clarke , Treasurer of the Fund , amounted to , £ 1350 . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . Wilhelm Ganz , Past Grand Organist .