Correspondence.

Correspondence .

Ve 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 limits—free discussion .

THE STATUS OF A PAST MASTER . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I shall be glad if some of your readers will inform me if Grand Lodge has at any time been required to put a construction upon , or to define the meaning of Rule 9 of the Book of Constitutions , as regards the status of a Past

Master as a member of Grand Lodge . My reading of the rule is that so long as a Past Master continues to be a subscribing member of any lodge under the English Constitution , or , for the purpose of my letter , let us say of an English lodge , he continues to be a member of Grand Lodge , and I contend also , that as such , he continues also to be a member of Provincial Grand Lodge , of the province that comprises the lodges of which he served the office of Master , and is

at present a subscribing member—although different lodges—indeed , it would appear that if the Past Master of a Colonial lodge came to reside within a province , and became a subscribing member of an English lodge ( having all along continued a subscribing member of a lodge under the English Constituti jn ) , he would , under Rule 81 , be a member of Provincial Grand Lodge . If this is a correct rendering of the Rules , let us apply the same to the following case : Bro . Smith ( shall we

call him ) , in 1882 , was a Past Master of " A" Lodge ( E . C . ) , of which he was an initiate ; in 1888 he became a founder of B Lodge in the same province , and for two or three years continued a subscribing member of both lodges , but in 1892 , preferring B Lodge , of which he was a founder , to his mother lodge , he resigned the latter , only to discover a few months later that he did not receive the usual notices of the meetings of Provincial Grand Lodge , and that apparently he had lost his status

as a Past Master , notwithstanding the fact that he had not ceased to pay his annual subscription since his initiation ; surely this is an anomaly which ought to be remedied . I venture to express an opinion that so long as Bro . Smith continued , without any break , to be a subscribing member of any lodge , whether of the lodge of which he had passed the chair or of any other lodge in the

province he ought not to lose his status as a Past Master , and as there are probably a number of Past Masters whose position is similar to that of Bro . Smith , the rule in question ought—if it be necessary—to be so amended as to prevent a Past Master under the circumstances from losing his status as a member of Provincial Grand Lodge .

My contention is that from a correct interpretation of Rule 9 Bro . Smith is still a member of Grand Lodge , and if so then under Rule 81 he continues to be also a member of Provincial Grand Lodge , and that the conduct of the Prov . Grand Secretary in ceasing to send him the usual notices of the meetings of Provincial Grand Lodge is unauthorised and wrong . Will some experienced brother kindly make this point clear r—Yours fraternally , EX . SECRETARY , P . M .

GRAND LODGE HONOURS—DISTRICTS ABROAD . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , We hear a great deal from time to time on the subject of the loyal feelings of all the lodges abroad ( belonging to the English Constitution , and working under some District Grand Lodge ) , towards the Grand Lodge of England . Sentiments of this description are frequently expressed in speeches at Masonic banquets , and I firmly believe that such loyal feelings exist .

But if , on the other hand , a foreign district ( or even a few lodges in it ) suggests the idea of forming a Grand Lodge of its own , the idea is at once laughed at , and all the old platitudes with reference to the above mentioned loyalty are once again trotted out , and duly expatiated upon . The whole thing is considered rank heresy by Grand Lodge .

Grand Lodge naturally docs not like to lose its districts and its lodges , but in the matter of bestowing Grand Lodge Office it cannot be said that the Grand Master errs on the side of extravagance towards the members of foreign districts . Of Grand Lodge honours conferred last week , including the Past ranks , not a single one was given to a brother out of England . Grand Lodge is indeed an

United Grand Lodge of England . I admit , of course , that all Grand Lodge offices ( Treasurers excepted ) are appointments by the Grand Master , but it is well known that the Grand Master can only act on the advice of others in such matters . It is not a question of what is right , or not right , but simply a question of how long the patience of the foreign districts can go on without being exhausted . — I enclose my card , and remain yours fraternally , A PAST DISTRICT GRAND OFFICER . May 4 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

-1 — "THE F REEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR DERBYSHIRE , " iSyG .-This annual publication is compact and carefully edited as well as neatly printed . The frcntispiece is df voted this year to an excellent portrait of Bro . Abraham Woodiwiss , Prcv . G . MaikMaslerof Derbyshire , of whom there is a brief and appreciative sketch . The

Directory generally has been prepared on the old lines , and must be a positive boon to the members of the province who have occasion to consult it . There are now 20 * lodges , eipht Royal Arch chapters , and six Mark lodges . The votes for the Charities have been ably arranged , the total being 4775 , which speaks most eloquently for the zeal and < nlhusiasm of the Craft in Derbyshire . The " Masonic Notes " are most helpful , and Bro . William Naylor , the esteemed Prov . Grand Secretary , is to be congratulated on the completion of another of his artistic little Masonic Annuals .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Moira Lodge , No . 92-VISIT TO ST . PAUL'S CATHEDRAL . By invitation , and under the guidance of , the Archdeacon of London , the member of this eld Cily ledge enjoyed the piivilege cf inspecting the masterpiece of Sir CIrislcpher Wrrn on Ihe alterncon of Tuesday , the 2 Sth ult . The party included ladies and also some visitors of the lodge . Among those who were present at the west steps of St . Paul's Cathedral at the appointed hour we noticed Bros . J . M . Mitchell ,

I . P . M ., R . F . Gould , P . M ., Wickham Noakes , P . M ., Harold Carter , P . M ., and G . Greiner , P . M ., c . f 92 ; J . C . Partridge , P . M . 1974 ; Edward Macbean , W . M ., G . W . Speth , Sec , S . T . Klein , S . D ., and W . J . Hughan , P . G . D ., of 207 ft ; and Russell Ardagh . There were also the following ladies : Airs , and Miss Mitchell , Mrs . J . C . Pailiidgc , Mrs . and Miss Bohm and Mrs . Ardagh . The W . M ., Wardens , Treasurer , and other me mbeis of the Moira Lodge were , to their great regret , prevented by business engagements from being present .

Craft Masonry.

The party , with the Tyler , Bro . George Couchman , in attendance—who was accom . panied by Mrs . Couchman—were received at the west steps of the Cathedral by the Archdeacon of London , at 2 . 30 p . m ., and then conducted throughout the building . The great mosaic decorations now in progress , from the designs and under the personal superintendence of Mr , VV . B . Richmond , R . A ., formed , of course , a leading feature of the very interesting spectacle which was gradually unfolded to the visitors . The designs which fill the apse proper , the flat domes , the spandrels , the panels that take the pWe and the windowswhich latter in the

of pictures , painted , are Romanesque style of the eleventh or twelfth century , were all carefully described in detail by the Archdeaon who asked his hearers to take particular note that every thing had been done on the spot by British craftsmen working under Mr . Richmond as mister , by Messrs . Powell ' s staff of mosaic-workers , glass-painters , and glass-cutters , and by Messrs . Macmillan and Houghton ' s staff of decorators . Nearly every portion of the vast building was inspected in its turn . The monumental beauties of the crypt , and particularly the memorial of Sir Christopher Wren , were greatly admired .

The inspection of the Cathedral terminated most appropriately with a view of the sacred edifice from the centre dome . At 4 . 0 p . m . there was choral service , and at 4 . 45 tea in the Chapter Room , after which , the thanks of the entire party having been conveyed to the Archdeacon , the ladies made their adieus , and the brethren proceeded to the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street , where a meeting of the Moira Lodge was held at 6 . 15 p . m . Present : Bros . M . A . Tweedie , W . M . j the Rev . R . I . Woodhouse , Chan S . W . ; W . F . Noakes , l . W . ; T . L . Wilkinson , P . M ., P . D . G . Reg ., Treas . ; R . V

Gould , P . M ., P . G . D ., Sec . ; J . Webb , S . D . ; C . E . Russell , J . D . ; A . W . Smith I . G . j J . M . Mitchell , I . P . M . j W . Bohm , P . M . j G . Gieiner , P . M . ; Harold Carter , P . M . ; J . P . Murrough , and Russell Ardagh . Visitors : Bros . Edward Macbean , W . M ., G . W . Speth , Sec , S . T . Klein , S . D ., W . J . Hughan , P . G . D ., and VV H . Rylands , A . G . D . C , all of No . 2076 ; H . Heydrick , 23 S ; J . F . Hall , W . M . i 50 gj the Rev . Montague Fowler , I . P . M . S 59 ; and the Rev . W . M . Sinclair , Archdeacon of London , P . G . C .

The ordinary business having been transacted and the cordial thanks of the lodge voted to Archdeacon Sinclair for the invitation to visit St . Paul's Cathedral , Bro . Harold Carter said they were honoured that evening by the attendance of several Grand Officers whose names would all come before them later , but there was one of the number who could not remain to the banquet , and it was that particular brother that he wished to say a few words about . Sixteen years ago , as some of them knew , the Prince of Wales laid the foundation-stone of the Cathedral at Truro in Masonic form . Bro . R . F . Goul d was one of the Grand Deacons of the year , and the Moira Lodge sent down its W . M

and Secretary to support Bro . Gould on that occasion ; the W . M . was himself , and the Secretary , Bro . Houle . They met with much kindness on all sides , and experienced especial hospitality at the hands of Bro . Hughan and his good wife . All this he gratefully recollected , and therefore desired to assure Bro . Hughan that his fraternal kindness to a deputation from their body in 1 SS 0 was very greatly appreciated by the members of the Moira Lodge . Bro . R . F . Gould , who next spoke , said that though Bro . Hughan was his oldest colleague in Masonic studies , something had always cropped up to interfere with his being present at a meeting of the Moira Lodge . Over and over again

during the many years they had been such close and intimate tnends he had hoped b see Bro . Hughan present at No . 92 . At last , however , their distinguished brother was actually with them , and he ( Bro . Gould ) would only say , in conclusion , that the presence in lodge of Bro . Hughan that evening afforded much satisfaction to them all . Bro . W . J . Hughan warmly thanked the lodge for the opportunity to be present at this particular meeting , especially as he had long hoped to attend out of compliment to his old and esteemed friend , Bro . Gould , the Masonic historian . He also appreciated the kind

references by Bro . Carter to the visit of the Moira trio to Truro on the memorable occasion of laying the foundation-stone of the Cathedral , and much regretted Bro . Houle ' s absence . Bro . Hughan expressed his indebtedness to the archdeacon for his most efficient and useful services at St . Paul's , and he stated it would give him great pleasure to return the compliment if any of the members visited Torquay . The lodge had long been dear to him historically and Masonically , and it had only been due to unavoidable circumstances that his visit had been so long delayed .

At the banquet which followed , after the toast of "The Queen and Craft , " and " The M . W . G . M ., " the W . M . gave ** The Grand Officers , " saying this is a toast which is always looked forward to and received by us with the greatest enthusiasm , as we include in our numbers two distinguished Grand Officers , but this evening , brethren , we are still further favoured . We have Bro . Archdeacon Sinclair , to whom several of our members are indebted for a most enjoyable and instructive visit to St . Paul ' s Cathedral . Then at lodge we had Bro . Hughan , who 1 much regret could not stop for our banquet , but even in his absence I shall express the pleasure we have experienced

at having with us ( even for a short time ) a brother who has attained such distinction a ; a writer in the Cratt . Then there is Bro . Rylands , Asst . G . D . C , P . M . of the Lodge of Antiquity ; Bro . Kupferschmidt , Assistant Grand Secretary for German Correspondence and Treasurer of the Pilgrim Lodge , which for upwards of a century has been working the ceremonies of freemasonry in the German language in this City , had also promised to be here , but has been unavoidably kept away at the last moment . There are likewise here this evening Bros . Wilkinson , D . G . R ., and Gould , P . G . D ., whom we all know

so well as members of this lodge . It gives me great pleasure to propose this toast , and to couple with it the name of Bro . Archdeacon Sinclair . The Archdeacon of London , in an eloquent reply , narrated many interesting circumstances connected with the decorations of St . Paul's Cathedral , the designs for which , he stated , were being proceeded with , as nearly as possible , in the precise way whicli had been marked out by Sir Christopher Wren . "The Health of the W . M . " was then proposed by Bro . Mitchell , I . P . M .

The W . M ., in replying , said : There is a certain well-known gift , which is generally spoken of in terms of scorn and derision , and looked down up as something contemptible—that gift , brethren , is commonly known as the gift of the gab . Now , for my own part , I should hail the reception of that gift with the greatest joy ; it would help me out of no end of difficulty , for it is always a labour for me to lind words which will adequately express my feelings . I will not attempt to do so on the present occasion , but will ask you to take my feelings as read , and accept my heartfelt thanks for your reception of the toast , which Bro . Mitchell , I . P . M ., has so very kindly proposed .

In proceeding with the next toast , the W . M . said : If there is one thing which increases the enjoyment of pleasure it | is the fact ot having others to enjoy it with us , and I feel that we owe our visitors a debt of gratitude for the great pleasure their society has given us this evening . Now , among the list just read by our Secretary , there are five members of the Qiutuar Coronati Lodge—a lodge between which and our own there has always been a strung tie , and one which is likely to be strengthened on Friday evening next , when our Bro . G . Grenier will read a paper before that lodge on "German Freemasonry in the Present Era . " I give you the toastwith the fullest confidence that

, ycu will give it thc reception it demands , and I will couple it with the names of the Worshipful Masters of thc VVhite Horse of Kent and the Quatuor Coronali Lodges , and I will also ask Bro . Speth to say a few words , who , 1 am glad to hear , will be appointed a Grand Officer at the coming annual festival of the English Craft . Bro . John F . Hall , VV . M . 1506 , who first replied , said : VV . M . and Brethren . -pn behalf of my fellow visitors and myself , I beg to thank you most heartily for the kind

way in which you have greeted this toast , there is one peculiar charm about Masonic hospitality . In the outer world a man must have distinguished himself in battle , either on sea or land , or in the world of art or science , or made money in gold mines , belorc he is invited to a banquet , but in Masonry the only qualification a man needs is that lie should be a brother Mason , and whatever his rank or station in life may be , his welcui " is equally cordial .

liro . Edward Macbean , VV . M . 2075 , said that , as he had on several occasions to forego , at the last moment , the p ' easuie of being present at a meeting of the Moira Lodge , it afforded h ' m much satisfaction to be among the brethren that evening . V ? , " ing round the table , he saw numerous friends , and several very dear ones , nor did he think that among any of his well-wishers in the Craft or outs : de of it , there was one witn

whom he was dcsiicus to remain on more intimate terms than several of the i " , ? . ' / brethren present , whose if riendship he deeply valued , and hoped ling to possess . I " tie between the Quatuor Coronati and the Moira Lodges was already a very close one , but it would be eliaivn closer still , he believed and anticipated , in the near fu ' . ure , by tj admission of a second Past Master of No . 92—their esteemed Bro . Grenier—inlo tn Inner Circle of No 2076

. . Bro . Speth , Sec . 2076 , said : I am far from bsing in the position of the last speake This is not my first visit to the Moira Lodge by a good many . It is now some 15 > ' * _ . * since 1 lirst came among you , and I trust that in the next 1 . 5 my visits may be no les frequent than hitherto . Ihe W . M . has truly said that one of the great P leasur . __ Masonry is that of being able to tender warm hospitality to brother Masons—may '