Masonic Notes.

having elected—in the exercise of his undoubted prerogative to do as he pleases—to go out into the cold , remains there as long as it suits bis purpose , and no one takes the slightest notice of him or considers his conduct reprehensible . Why cannot they follow the same course in the United States V

This is indeed just one of those cases in which " force is no remedy , " and for the best of all reasons , that you cannot compel a man to remain a Mason any more than you can compel him to become one . A man who offers himself as a candidate for membership of our Order does so of his own free will and accord , and it is nonsense to suggest that having been made a Mason ,

he thereby loses his freedom of inclination to remain or not to remain a member as it pleases him . Our contemporary is quite right in its belief that constant legislation against non-affiliates is a mistake , and that the right way to conquer the evil—if evil it be—is " the making of constituent lodges so good and attractive that no Mason would willingly be non-affiliated . "

Just as we are going to press we have received an urgent letter from a Provincial Brother , pointing out that the revised proposals of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution to confer ranks of Vice-Patron and Patron on Lodges , etc ., in perpctuityjdo not meet the views of the objectors at Grand Lodge in December last . Itwas then understood that the amounts to be paid

by Lodges should be ( as in the case of the Educational Institutions ) double those paid by Individuals , whereas they are still proposed to be the same . An objection is also raised by our Brother to the proposal to give extra voting power after a payment of 200 guineas—his contention being that such extra votes should only be given on payment of 400 guineas , as in the case of the other Institutions .

We regret we received the letter too late for insertion , but the above remarks practically cover the objections raised to the proposals which are to be submitted to the Special Meeting of the Benevolent Institution , on Wednesday next , 13 th inst ., at 4 . 30 o'clock .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

THE SO-CALLED GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I had scarcely closed my letter to you in reply to Bro . Whytehead , when in your issue of 14 th Septembei I find two more champions of the cause

both of whom have read with " much pleasure the able and suitable letter referred to , " one under the signature of "Justice , " and the other " Past Master , " E . C . They appear to have both visited New Zealand . By a curious coincidence , too , they employ the same language , and assert " that the so-called Grand Lodge of New Zealand has justified its existence . " It is very suggestive

how great minds can run in the same vein of thought , but at the same time it would be very much better were they able to prove their assertions . Bold statements , such as they have given voice to , may do very well as coming from the " man at the corner , " or the inspired wish that is father to the thought , but it will not bear analysing . Greater men than "Justice" and "Past

Master" have made a mess of it before to-day in writing about New Zealand . Anthony Trollope , Rusden , Froude , and others have essayed to stuff the fiublic , from time to time , with their wondrous knowedge of events Colonial ; but , unhappily , for some of thtm , their ' veracity has been impeached , and most successfully too . There is certainly a large army of

soft goods , " " hard ware , " and other useful trading professors annually visiting the Colony , not to mention " Globe trotters , " and , of coursr , all are entitled to their opinions ; still at the same time they must not leel offended if their travel-stained and highly coloured ideas are sometimes challenged . I therefore ask " Past Master E . C . "— " How does he

know that the Colonial Board of Grand Lodge is—to use his own words—not in touch with our brethren at the other side ofthe world V" As for "Justice ' s " idea that Grand Lodge should urge upon its lodges to transfer their allegiance , is about as absurd a proposition as adopting the role of Canute the Great with regard to the brethren , loyal and true , who are not of the

" jelly fish " type , and know how to respect their obligation . The puerile argument " that Grand Lodge will lose prestige unless they accord recognition , " is only what may be summed up in that new-coined phrase" flapdoodle . " What about the lodge warrants illegally " annexed , " to use a mild term I Can "Justice" and "Past

Master" justify such wilful contempt of equity and right ' r Do they argue that " might is right" ? Are they aware of the dictatorial conditions upon which it is proposed to approach Grand Lodge on the subject of their restoration ? An implied threat , in reality , a

command . Why , it would be derogatory to Grand Lodge to entertain such a proposal on such a basis , and an insult to Masonic reasoning and intelligence . Why , at this very moment dissensions are rife amongst them—even their recently-installed , so-called Grand Master , Bro . Bell , is the subject of animadver-

Correspondence.

sion and unfavourable comments in the New Zealand Craftsman , their own organ , and why ? Because he is not a puppet to be trotted round at the sweet will of the noisey and ambitious organisation . " Justice " and " Past Master" had better take another trip to New Zealand . They will , no doubt , be received with open arms , canonised and made

something " extra Grand of . In the meantime these over-zealous and self-opinionative brethren had better leave New Zealand Masonic affairs alone . I feel sure Grand Lodge does not require annonymous special pleaders to influence them in their deliberations , enjoying , as it does , the confidence of loyal brethren in the colony . —Yours fraternally ,

J . J . WILLIAMS , P . M . and P . Z . 1229 . Westland , N . Z ., Dec . 10 th , 1894 .

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , From time to time , questions regarding procedure and law are asked , which cannot be answered by a reference to the Constitutions , these latter being silent

on certain points . In such cases , the point at issue is , as a rule , referred to the Grand Secretary , who gives what we may term an authoritative ruling . But the ruling , excep ' t to the person referring the point , is lost to the Masonic world at large , unless , of course , it is a ruling on appeal to Grand Lodge , in which case it is

published in the Proceedings . Would it not be possible to have a book of such rulings published "By Authority" —a book which could be quoted as authoritative ? Did such a book exist , the letter from " Ex-Secretary , P . M ., " in your issue of December 1 st , 1894 , would

probably have never been written , as the question he asked was so admirably answered on pp . 122 and 123 of the Proceedings of Grand Lodge of December 4 th , 1889 , and also in 1874 . One question I should like to ask—At a regular meeting of a lodge , can business be transacted which

is not entered on the agenda ? The Constitutions say very little about agenda generally , except as regards initiations and joinings . Art . 166—last sentence—says that at a lodge of emergency the business to be transacted " shall be entered on the summons , and no other business shall be entered upon . " This is clear enough . But may one imply that at a regular meeting business

of all sorts , which is not on the agenda , may be transacted ? For instance , may , at a regular meeting , Second or Third Degrees be conferred upon brethren , if not on the agenda ? There appears to be nothing illegal in such procedure , though , at the same time , I imagine . universal custom would condemn it . On points of this sort , authoritative rulings of Grand Lodge would be invaluable . —Yours fraternally , J . H . LESLIE , P . M . Rawal Pindi , Punjab , January 6 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1062 ] A SPECIAL JEWEL . In a very rare work , entitled " Free Masonry in the Province of Durham , Sunderland , 1836 , " mention is made of a special jewel , which H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , M . W . G . M ., granted permission for the members of the " Lambton Lodge " to wear , which was founded in commemoration of the visit of the Grand

Master to Durham in 1822 . The lodge is now No . 375 , and still assembles at Chester-le-Street , where it was "instituted ioth April , 1 S 23 ; first number , 789 . " At page 19 it is stated : "His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , M . W . Grand Master of England , is a member of this lodge at his own particular desire ; and His Royal Highness instituted a mark of distinction ( in commemoration of his visit to this province

in 1822 ) for Master Masons , members of the Lambton Lodge , which can only be conferred by the Master . " Bro . J . G . Lambton ( afterwards Earl of Durham ) was the first W . M ., and when ( Baron ) Lord Durham occupied the chair again in 1828 . I wonder if Bro . G . L . Shackles has one of these medals in his wonderful collection , and whether if the lodge still exercises this privilege , which appears to have been of a permanent character . W . J . HUGHAN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"THE MASONIC GUIDE FOR THE COUNTY OF YORK A \ D EBORACUM MASONIC CALENDAR FOR 1 S 1 J 5 . "—This is an old friend come to visit us once again , and is certain to receive a very hearty welcome . Its last appearance was in 1 S 92 , and the present is its 17 th year of publication . The fcditor and donor from the first edition to that of the 17 th issue , has been Bro . T . B . Whytehead , P . G . S . B . of England , and P . M . ifin York , & c , Sec . ; and the handy little publication holds a unique position in consequence .

The Calendars for local and general purposes are ably arranged , and will prove useful aids throughout the year , and the various Lists of Grand and Provincial Grand Oflicers are indispensable in such a compilation . There are 7 6 ledges and 3725 subscribing members in West Yorkshire , and 32 lodges with 22 < p members in North and East Yorkshire , making in the county Go 17 brethren belonging to 10 S lodges . Though not so large a number as in Lancash . re , the figures are very suggestive of the spread and prosperity of the Craft in these two provinces . In the

Reviews.

West Riding , there are the large number of 40 Royal Arch Chapters , and 129 S companions on the roll of membership , and it ) chapters and 720 members in the North and East Ridings , making a total of over 2000 companions subscribingto chapters in the county . Particulars are also afforded

of the other Masonic bodies in Yorkshire , and as the compilation is so useful and much needed , it is hoped that Bro . Whytehead will be good enough to regularly publish it once a year as heretofore . In that spirit we thank him most warmly—tor the next !

"THE MASJNIC CHRONICLE "—Columbus , Ohio—for December , 1894 , is quite up to the average , its principal article being a further instalment of Bro . General John C Smith's history of the Knights Hospitallers of St . John of Jerusalem , in which the career of RaymDndd . i Puy , Premier G . Masterof the Order H . Arch , 11 iS-tiGo , is described , an excellent portrait ot the worthy knight accompanying the instalment . It contains also news relating to Craft , Arch , and Templar Masonry , and of general interest .

"THE KEYSTONE "—Harris and Son , Sydney , N . S . W ., and Brisbane—is a modest monthly of six pages without the cover , and does not , as may be imagined , throw much light upon the proceedings of the Craft in New South VVales and Queensland , especially as one of the pages is

occupied with an illustration and the two that follow with Ihe remaining portion of a paper entitled "Why Mrs . Herbert loved Masonry , " borrowed from " Our Home Companion . " The contents of the remaining half of the number are of no great interest Masonically .

"MASONIC TIDINGS , "—Milwaukee , Wisconsin—for last month is in strong contrast with the Keystone abovenoticed . It opens with an account of the " Grand Lecturer's Travels , " in which he recounts his experiences when visiting _ , th' ? lodges located in various parts of the jurisdiction of Wisconsin . In addition , we have noted Part IV . — " Male Quartettes "—of "Masonic Music" by Bro . William H . Gerrish ; an editorial article entitled ,

" Labour and Refreshment , in which the writer expresses his belief that much good would ensue if the social side of Freemasonry was more thought of . There are also brief biographical sketches of Bro . E . Kittredge , a veteran Mason of 40 years' standing , and Bro . L . Barrett , Grand Tyler , of Wisconsin , together with some interesting particulars relating to the introduction of Freemasonry into Milwaukee .

"THE LIFEBOAT . "—Journal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution , printed by William Clowes and Sons , Limited , Stamford-street , Charing Cross , and published at the offices of the Institution , John-street , Adelphi . The number for the current issue opens with a continuation of the article on " Lifeboat Crews , " which was commenced in the previous number—for November last . This portion of

the article lays stress upon the important part played by the fishermen along our coasts in managing our lifeboats , and illustrates the gallant work done by these men by recounting the service rendered by the lifeboat stationed at Staithes , on the Yorkshire coast , on 27 th November , iSSS . Anothet article treats of the " Lifeboat Saturday Movement , " and

there are the usual particulars as to Additional Stations and new Lifeboats , " services rendered by lifeboats during the past year , partly in detail and in tabular form , chronologically arranged , for the whole of 18 54 . The nexl quarterly issue—on ist May—will contain the annual report .

"MOFFATT ' . S Pui'lL lKACHERS' COURSE . " —Edited b ) Thomas Page . Geography and History . Parti . London : Moffattand Paige , iS , Warwick-lane , Paternoster-row , and 11 , Paternoster-square , E . C . —This manual is intended to meet the requirements , under the New Code—Schedule V . in Geography and History for first , second , and third years —this particular " Division 1 . " treating of the " Physical ,

political , and commercial geography of the British Islands , British North America , and Australia , " while the historical portion contains " Outlines of British History to the death of Edward I . " 'The compilation reflects great credit on the editor , who has arranged his matter in such a fashion that the student will have little or no difficulty in acquiring all the most important information relating

to the portions of the two subjects dealt with . This information is well classified and precisely set forth , and in addition there are Tables and an Index , and both a Geographical and Historical Paper of Questions selected from former Government Examination Papers , so that the student may test the progress he has made after consulting the manual . The price of the book is only 2 s .

"M OFFATT ' S REFRINT OF QUEEN ' bcnoi .. \ Rsim ' Q UESTIONS , " July , 1 S 94 , with ' answers to Arithmetic , Algebra , and Mensuration . London , same publishers . — This will be found of great use by those who contemplate offering themselves as candidates for future Queen ' s Scholarship and similar examinations . The price of the Reprint is sixpence .

"M OFFATT ' S HANDBOOK AND GUIDE , F OOTHAII ( ASSOCIATION ) AND CRICKET , 1 S 94 , 1895 . Same Publishers . —This is a useful little pocket guide , containing th ' laws of the two games , those of football as adopted by the Association , and those of cricket as revised by the Mary lebone Cricket Club , iSSo . There are also Registers for the two games , and particulars as to the chief results of the play during the football season iSyj-4 , and the cricM season , 1 S 114 .

"PUBLIC LEDGER ALMANAC , 1895 , " printed by ' ,, j Ledger Job Office , Philadelphia . This is the 2 G 1 I 1 annual issue of this excellent almanac . It is not published for sale , and is " presented to the subscribers to the Ledger as a " every-day companion for the year 1895 , " free ot [ cost , 'j is a most useful book of reference , replete with every k" )" of information such as business and public men 'J

Philadelphia stand in need of . Especial value must attach to this issue , as it contains a full biographical sketch ot tM late Bro . Geo . W . Childs , who commenced the publica '""! of the almanac in 1 S 70 , and who was one of the greatest u the many benefactors whom the City cif Philadelphia li ^ had the honour of enrolling among her citizens . '" sketch is accompanied by a well-executed portrait oi Uf 0 ' Childs .