Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We 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 limitsfree discussion .

THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION ELECTIONS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The following statistics may be interesting to those working the unsuccessful cases at the last Old People ' s Election , as it shows how many available votes arc unused . At the Men's Elections there

were—Votes . Polled for successful candidates ... ... 114 , 176 Polled for the unsuccessful candidates ... ,.. 30 , 175 Unpolled votes ... ... ... ... 22 , 95 1

Total votes brought forward and issued .,, ... 167 , 302 At the Widows' Election there were—Polled for the successful candidates ... ... 126 , 387 Polled for the unsuccessful candidates ... ... 10 , 393 Votes unpolled ... ... ... ... 31 , 476

Total votes brought fonvard and issued ... ... 168 , 256 showing a total of 54 , 427 votes unused for any candidate . It docs not say much for the exertions of those interested in thc unsuccessful candidates when three times as many Widows' votes are unused as those polled for thc unsuccessful candidates . —Yours fraternally ,

W . H . SPAULL , P . G , Sec , Salop . Oswestry , 5 th June .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1126 ] "A . AND A . RITE" IN PUBLIC . I am very glad to hear from my friend Bro . H . Lovegrove that only three brethren applied for the contemplated procession in public of members of thc " Ancient and Accepted Rite . " To use an expression of my boyish days , these three brethren were four too many . The day is gone for public Jlasonic displays

of any kind , unless for some extra special purpose , and then it should be that the Craft clothing only is to be worn . The less of such exhibitions of Masonic regalia the better , for the real objects of the Fraternity have never been , and never will be , advanced by putting thc Brotherhood on a level with our most excellent friendly societies , who naturally and wisely appeal to the public to recruit their membership , and seek to constantly introduce " new blood " into their ranks . W . J . HUGHAN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"B EKKSHIKIC MASONIC REGISTER AND CALENDAR IOK HJOO . "—( AVe . G . ¦/ Coslmrit , Caxton Printing Works , Newbury ) . —Though not a large province , Berks is well provided with a Masonic directory , ably edited by Bro . John Morland , the respected liep . Prov . G . M ., and printed and published by Bro . G . ] . Cosburn in a most creditable manner . Thc Prov . G . M . is Lord Wantage , V . C , K . C . U ., who succeeded thc lamented H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence , K . G ., in 1 S 9 S , the province in the interim having been well looked after by the D . P . G . M . Over 1 S 0 pages are devoted to the interests ot the province , the two pages of " Contents " proving how varied and complete is the

information thus particularised . For the 17 lodges all needful , one might almost say all possible , information is afforded , even to the names ol the Past Masters from the beginning and all the present members , with years appended of service or joining respectively . The excellent summary at thc end shows there are 75 6 subscribing members , or , deducting those who belong to more than one Iodge , 703 brethren , or an average nearly of some 44 to each lodge . Thc chapters number live , with 147 ^ companions , " exclusive of seven life members . " The Mark lodges are included in the province of Berkshire and Oxfordshire , with Viscount Valentia , M . P ., as | Prov . G . M . There is also a Rose Croix chapter and a council of Allied Degrees worked in the

province , but no K . T . preceptory . Surely Reading and Windsor , if the meetings were held alternately , could support a preceptory of Knights Templar , and thus enable thc brethren to complete the Masonic curriculum without going outside their county . The Central Masonic Charities , Craft and Mark , are well attended to , in fact , no where more so , and in few such publications are they so thoroughly looked after . There is also a remarkable register of members of the province of Berks , as well as a mass of valuable information printed as to the Province generally , so that the Editor has spired no pains to make thc directory most thoroughly worthy of his province , and one of the most useful publications of the kind extant .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of North And East Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

The annual convocation took place , on the invitation of the Marwood Chapter , No . 602 , on Tuesday , the 22 nd ull ., at the Masonic Hall , Middlesborough , when there were present : Comps . the Most Hon . the Marquess of Zetland , M . E . G . Supt . ; W . H , Cowper , 602 , P . A . G . S . Eng ., Prov . G . H . ; Rev . J . W . Dales , M . A ., 602 , Pruv . G . J . ; Jas . M . Meek , 23 6 , F . Prov . G . J . ; -M . C . Peck , 250 , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., Prov .

G . S . E . -, Robert McBean , 200 , Prov . G . Re ;*** . ; Geo . Bohn , 1010 , P . Prov . G . Reg . ; Thomas Bell , 1248 , P . Prov . G . Reg . ( Durham ); Edw . Smithson , 312 , Prov . P . G . Soj . ; J . A . . Manners , 602 , P . Prov . P . G . Soj . ; W . N . Cheesman , 566 , Rev . E . Fox-Thonias , 2 i 2 , andJ .. | Glcn , M . D ., Go 2 , P . Prov . Asst . G . Sojs . * . W . Richardson , 54 ; , Prov . G . S . B . ; R . Carson , 1010 , and Preston Cobb , 23 6 , Prov . G . Std . Brs . ; J . Wiiiterschladen , 602 , ( as . Barton , 1 C 05 , and Thos . Fidler , 543 , P . Prov . G . Std .

Brs . ; John Geo . Wailis , 1 5 , Prov . G . D . of C . ; W . J . Watson , 602 , P . Prov . G . D . of C . ; ] . W . Tinde . l , 1 C 05 , R . W . Williams , 602 , Geo . Petch , 1605 , and G . W . West , 543 , P . Prov . Asst . G . Ds . oi C ; Telali Harding , 602 , Prov . G . Org . ; Thos . 11 . Redlearn , 250 , Prov . Asst . G . S . E . ; and Charles Travess , 200 , Prov . ( 1 . J ; initor , together with many Principals , Past Principals , and members of the various chapters in . the * province .

The visitors included Comps . K . Hudson . P . G . Std . Hr . Eng ., Prov . G Scribe E . Durham ; IJ . S . Beckwith , P . P . G . Treas . Durham ; and Chas T . ] ohnson , P . A . G . Scribe E . Durham The 1 ' iovincial Grand Chapter having been opened in form , thc M . E

Provincial Grand Chapter Of North And East Yorkshire.

Grand Superintendent , the acting Prov . Grand Second and Third Principals , and the Past Grand Officers of England were saluted with grand honours . Letters of apology for absence were received from Comps . the Right Hon . Lord Bolton , P . G . S . N . Eng ., Prov . G . H . ; J . W . Woodall , P . G . T . Eng . ; T . B . Whytehead , P . G . Std . Br . Eng .: J . S . Cumberland ,

P . A . G . D . C . Eng . ; and Comps . Col . R . G . Smith , A . Farmer , Gilbert Wilkinson , Wm . Tesseyman , John Hudson , P . P . G . H . ; H . Onslow Piercy , Thos . Morrill , the Rev . C . E . L . Wright , M . A ., P . P . G . J . , * Jas . S . Moss , E . W . Purnell , Edw . Corris , P . P . G . N . ; Geo . Potter-Kirby , Tom Turner , F . Blackburn , P . P . G . Reg . ; Jas . A . Brown , P . G . P . S . , * T . T . Towler , F .

Creaser , Thomson Foley , H . Longford , M . D ., P . P . P . G . S . ; A . W . Cook , P . A . G . S . ; G . Ayre , W . S . Meek , H . Watson , G . W . Tindall , W . A . Hutchence , P . P . A . G . S . ; W . H . Winpenny , P . G . S . B . J . L . Spetch , P . G . Std . Br . ; T . M . Goldie , Joel Edgar , J . Buckle , H . C . Clarke , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; D . Morley , W . L . Carrick , S . Ridge , P . P . G . D . C ; and J . W . Marshall , P . G . O .

The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Chapter , held at Scarborough , on 3 rd May , 18 99 , were taken as read , and confirmed . The annual balance-sheet , having been audited and found correct , was taken as read , and unanimously adopted . Comp . Major Chas . Judge , P . Z . 1010 , was unanimously elected Prov . Grand Treasurer upon the proposition of the Prov . G . S . E ., seconded by Comp . Geo . Bohn , P . P . G . R .

Comps . T . B . Whytehead , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., P . P . G . H ., and T . Gerard Hodgson , P . P . G . C , were re-elected Auditors , upon thc proposition of Comps . the Prov . Asst . G . S . E ., seconded by Preston Cobb , acting P . G . Std . Br . The various chapters in the province having communicated , the following

Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year were appointed and invested , the Prov . Grand Third Principal being solemnly obligated . Comp . the Right Hon . Lord Bolton , 236 , P . G . S . N . Eng . ... ... ... Prov . G . H . ,, the Rev . E . Fox-Thomas , 312 ... ... Prov . G . J . „ Michael Chas . Peck , 250 , P . A . G . D . C . Eng .... Prov . G . S . E . „ C . Tweedy , M . D ., 236 ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ Major C . Judge , 1010 ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ J . W . Tindell , 1605 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ William Holloway , 602 ... ... Prov . P . G . Soj . ,, George W . Hudson , 566 ... ... Prov . ist A . G . Soj ,, Thomas Bell , 124 S ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . Soj ,, William Richardson , 543 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, Preston Cobb , 2 36 ... ... .., ) n .-. , , , , ,. ' . I H . J . CGodf 4 , 734 j Prov . G . Std . Brs . ,, John Geo . Wallis , 1511 ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, George Eccles , 2134 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C „ Telah Harding , 602 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, Thos . B . Redfearn , 250 ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . „ Charles Travess , 200 ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor .

The newly-appointed Prov ; Grand Officers were saluted with grand honours . The G . SUPERINTENDENT then delivered the following address : Excellent Companions , the recurrence of our annual convocation gives me an opportunity of again addressing you , and expressing my gratification at meeting so numerous an assembly of Royal Arch Masons on this occasion . I must allude to thc untimely death of our late Prov . G . Org ., Comp . W . Hepper , who was also

appointed last year to thc same office in Prov . Grand Lodge . He was an excellent Mason , and led a useful life , and I shall direct that our condolence be conveyed to his family upon the loss they have sustained . During the past year there have been no special events in connection with Supreme Grand Chapter , but in this province we have had the pleasure of seeing the Royal Arch resuscitated in the old town of Selby , the Salcbeia Chapter , No . 566 , having been consecrated by Lord Bolton on the 24 th April last . In connection with St . Germain ' s Lodge

there was a St . Germain ' s Chapter , which was founded in 18 72 , but discontinued in 1879 . Thc Royal Arch , however , seems to have been worked at Selby so early as 1802 , probably without a separate warrant , since an entry in the minute book of the ( extinct ) . Mariners' Lodge refers to the purchase of Royal Arch sashes in that year . A few words with reference to the Royal Arch may not be uninteresting to my hearers . As to the origin of the Order , opinions , formerly greatly divided , appear to be settling down and awaiting further information . The idea , once

prevalent , that the Royal Arch emanated from the Grand Lodgeof the "Ancients " ( founded in 1750 ) is now generally discarded , and Comp . Hughan , the eminent Masonic historian , " virtually dates the ceremonial of that Degree back to 1740 , or rather earlier . " But the fact is that as time goes on , old documents and minutes arc unearthed from the dusty obscurity in which they have long lain concealed , and each fresh discovery carries our knowledge of Masonry further back , and strengthens our belief in the great antiquity of the system .

An excellent summary of the history of the Royal Arch will be found in the valuable little book by our esteemed companion , the Rev . E . Fox-Thomas , which may be recommended as containing reliable and most interesting information concerning the Supreme Degree generally , and particularly in relation to this province . The more attention we give to the study of the Craft in its ethics , its philosophy , and its history , the greater will be our respect for the Institution , and our conviction that its establishment has been of the greatest service to mankind .

Having received an invitation from the Britannia Chapter to hold the next meeting of Prov . Grand Chapter at Whitby , I have much pleasure in accepting it , and shall hope to meet the companions next May in that interesting old seaport . 1 must now express my most sincere thanks , and those of Provincial Grand Chapter , to the Principals and members of the Marwood Chapter for their hospitality and kindness , and to assure them that their fraternal cordiality is fully reciprocated by all Freemasons who are fortunate enough to visit the " iron city . "

Comp . JOHN HARRISON , M . E . Z . of the Marwood Chapter , thanked the Grand Superintendent for the honour conferred on the chapter by his lordship ' s presence , and expressed the pleasure which it had given the companions of the Marwood Chapter to entertain Provincial Grand Chapter . Comp . G . BOHN , P . P . G . Reg ., having drawn attention to the diversity in colour of the ribbons worn by the companions , and suggested lhat the Directors of Ceremonies in the chapters should endeavour to bring them into uniformity ,

The PKOV . G . S . E . explained that the regulations of Supreme Grant ! Chapter prescribed the colours as follows : For companions white , for Principals and Past Principals crimson , and for Prov . and Grand Oflicers , garter-blue . " Hearty good wishes " from the province of Durham were conveyed by