Correspondence.

Correspondence .

Wc 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 .

RETURNS OF MEMBERS OF LODGES . To tlie Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Bro . Hughan , in your last issue , under the heading of " The Largest Grand Lgdge , " is evidently the victim of an oversig ht when he observes " The latter ( lodges in the Colonies , & c ) , are not required to make any return of the names and numbers of their members . "

If he refers to Article 173 , " Book of Constitutions , " 1 S 96 edition , he will find that every lodge must transmit to the Grand Secretary a list of its contributing members once in each year . Article 176 also refers to these returns , —Fraternally yours , . W . F . LAMONBY . July 4 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1124 . J — CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES , Dr . W . J . Chetwode Crawley has done well to point out the usage ot the Grand Lodge of Ireland as to the Confirmation of Minutes . The Law of the Grand Lodge of Scotland is as follows : " 39 , Confirmation of Minutes of Grand Lodge implies that the res gcstm of a previous meeting have been correctly recorded , and not that the question discussed and disposed of at such former

meeting can be opened up at the succeeding one when the minutes are read . " This , my friend , Dr . Crawley , would say is according to " the rules of legal construction , recommended by the dictates of common sense , and consistent with the dignity of a legislative body . " Precisely so ; but in England there is neither such usage nor such a law , so the W . M . of a lodge , with the custom of the Grand Lodge before

him , cannot object to a proposition to confirm the minutes of a meeting excepting one portion which is objected to because not approved , though a correct record . We sadly need light on this point , and the Grand Lodge must be onr guide . It cannot be Masonically wrong for a Iodge to follow the Grand Lodge , and until a law is passed similar to Scotland , what else can we do ? W . J . HUGHAN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"T ORQUAY BV THE SHA . —THE PREMIER HEALTH AND PLEASURE RESORT . iSgS . "—This beautifully printed and lavishly illustrated souvenir of " lovely Torquay " is the work of Bro . W . Eliot Thomas , M . J . I ., and must be seen to be appreciated . 1 he views are reproductions of choice photographs by Valentine and Sons , Dundee ; Bro . J . C . Dinham , and other artistic experts . They leave nothing to be desired , being taken

guile recently , thus having all the numerous improvements duly introduced and rendering the choice volume " a thing of beauty , " and certainly a great source of pleasure to all who enjoy sketches and racy descriptions of the neighbourhood by an accomplished penman . Copies may be had from the author , Scarborough House , Torquay , at sixpence each , postage extra , twopence each . The first edition runs to 5000 and should be exhausted very soon .

"DEVON MASONIC DIRECTORY , IS S . "—( Exeter : Messrs . Besley and Dalgleish , South-street ) . —This is an annual publication and full of valuable and useful information ior the local Crait , and may be had from the printers and publishers tor 13 pennies , post free . There are some 150 pages of closel y printed matter , ably arranged , and all details looked well after by the editor . Devon is a large province of 57 lodges , with an average of 64 members to each . It has also 28 Royal Arch Chapters , 20 Mark Lodges ,

five Knight 1 emplar Preceptories , four Rose Croix Chapters , and other Masonic Bodies , about which the directory may be consulted , the particulars being ample as to all these Degrees as to ofiicers , places of meeting , dates of warrants , Src . lt also has an elaborate table by Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D . of England , giving all the / V-Union lodges , with their numbers down to 1 S 63 enumeration , which has been neatly printed and placed at the commencement . It deserves a large sale for its completeness and accuracy .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The children of this nourishing Institution went home for the summer holidays on Saturday , the 2 nd inst ., having on the previous Tuesday much enjoyed a visit to the Crystal Palaca kindly provided for them by the Stewards of the recent festival . On Friday afternoon they successfully brought off a series of races organised by Bro . Sir John Monckton , who officiated as Judge . Gwendoline Robson , the champion runner of the School , officiating as Starter in place of entering the competitions which were well contested by a considerable number

of g irls . The prize winners were as follow : The Derby Stakes—Violet White , 1 ; and Marjorie Pavey , 2 . The Oaks—Gertrude Templer , 1 ; and Ethel Goldring , 2 . The St . Leger—Dora Gallott , 1 ; and Dorothy Ruddle , 2 . Grand Master ' s Stakes—Violet White , 1 ; Gertrude Templer , 2 ; and Ethel McLeod , 3 . Royal Stakes—Ethel McLeod , 1 ; and Margaret Brown , 2 . Nursery Stakes—( under 12)—Julia Collingwood . 1 ; and Maggie Eastwood , 2 . Baby Stakes —( Junior School)—Daisy Shaw and Mabel Harding , a dead heat . The last-named fell at the turn but quickly recovered herself .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Social Friendship Lodge , No . 497 . A meeting of the above lodge , which is attached to the Royal Irish Fusiliers , was held at the George Hotel , Colchester , on Tuesday , the 21 st ultima , for the purpose of installing the W . M . for the ensuing year . The meeting was particularly interesting , Masonically , as there are only three regimental lodges left on the roll of the English

Constitution—this being one of them . 'The first warrant granted to the regiment wis in 179 S , when one was Lsued by the Irish Grand Lodge , which was allowed to lapse in 1818 . In 1 S 3 G a warrant was applied for to the English Grand Lodge , and , being granted , it continued to work under the name llibernia till 1 H 44 , when it also dropped . In the same year the 2 nd Battalion ( now stationed in Colchester ] was granted a warrant ( E . C ) , under which the lodge is now working , named Social Friendship , and numbered 497 .

Craft Masonry.

The installation of the W . M . elect , Bro . Major A . McD . Moore , was performed by Bro . H . E . Baker , I . P . M . 697 , who received the warm commendations of the brethren for the ability with which he carried out the duties . The officers invested { or the ensuing year were Bros . Wm . Woodham , S . W . j Charles Adams , J . W . ; Lieut . E . W . ; Shewell , Treas . ; W . Collins , P . M ., Sec ; T . Denton , S . D . ; C . Watson , iJ . D . ; J . | M . Hall , I . G . ; and A . Wright , acting Tyler . After the lodge the members dined together , supported by several visitors .

The visitors present were Bros . H . G . H . Elliott , W . M . 51 ; Robt . Emson , W . M . 697 ; T . J . Bailey , P . M . and Sec . 697 , P . P . A . G . D . C ., * W . T . Ennew , P . M . 2477 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; J . G . Renshaw , P . M . 6 97 , P . P . G . Stwd ., who acted as D . C . ; F . j . Motum , Prov . G . Org ., who kindly acted as Organist and accompanist ; Dick Ham , W . M . elect 2477 ; F . J . Lax , 2477 ; C . H . Archer , F . W . Richards , J . B . Connolly , C . Wake , E . W . McNay , E . C . McGuire , and others . Bros . Capt . G . K . Swettenham and G . J . Walker , of 497 were also present .

, The lodge furniture used on the occasion was lent by the United Lodge , No . 697 . It may be mentioned that this is the second time members of 697 have befriended a military lodge , the former being in 1874 , when the 5 th Dragoon Guards' Lodge ( LC . was in Colchester , their colonel being the W . M .

Weyside Lodge , No . 1395 . The installation meeting of this distinguished Iodge was held on Tuesday , the aSth ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Woking . The principal business was the installation of the J . W . as W . M . for the ensuing year , which ceremony was performed by the retiring Master , Bro . Robert Mossop , in a manner that evoked the highest praise from all

present . The following are the officers for the current year : Bros . Col . A . H . Bircham , W . M . ; A . H . Bowles , P . M ., P . G . D ., S . W . ; Rev . J . H . Robson , LL . D ., Prov . G . Chap ., J . W . ; Rev . H . West , Chap . ; Gilbert H . White , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., Treas . ; C . T . Tyler , P . M ., Prov . G . Sec ., Sec . ; S . S . Boorman , S . D . j C . J . Scott , J . D . j P . H . White ; Capt . G . T . Munro , I . G . ; and J . Chapman , Tyler .

There was a large attendance of members and visitors , and among the latter were no less than four reigning Masters of other lodges , viz ., Bros . Wellington Lake , 777 ; W . Brookes , 2120 ; and W . A . Shaw , 2317—all in the Province of Surrey—and Col . C . M . Malor . y , 1974 . The other visitors were Bros . R . F . Gould , P . G . D . ; Rev . J . A . Arnan Tait , 2101 , P . G . C . j J . H . Askham , P . M . 2317 , P . P . G . D . C . j H . J . lBidwell , P . M . 2 i 2 o , P . P . G . D . C . ; H . E . White , 2120 ; C . S . Kefford , 1260 ; T . P . Whately , I . P . M . 777 ; S . G . Kirchhoffer , P . D . G . D . C ; H . G . Clark ; 2101 ; and J . W . H , Littleboy , P . M . 2317 .

There were also present Bros . Robert Mossop , I . P . M . ; Alfred W . R . Sowman , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; Thomas Wakley , jun ., P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; F . C . Gayton , P . M . ; S . C . Knight , P . M . ; G . B . Smallpeice , P . M . 370 , Prov . G . Treas . ; W . E . Robinson , P . M . ; T . C . Martin , J . Smyth , H . H . Phipps , J . H . W . Cleave , H . Curling Hope , and W . Dickinson . Bros , the Earl of Onslow , Prov . G . M . ; Lieut .-Col . F . A . Bowles , R . A ., P . M . ; A . F . Asher , P . M . j Viscount Cranley , and other members were unavoidably prevented from attending .

All business being concluded , the brethren sat down to an excellent banquet , at the conclusion of which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were eloquently propi ; ed by th : W . M ., and most cordially received by all present . The toast of ' * The Officers of the Grand Lodge of England " was responded to by Bro . R . F . Gould , and that of " The Provincial Grand Officers " by Bro . H . J . Bidwell .

The toast of the evening— "The Health of the Worshipful Master "—which was received with much enthusiasm , was acknowledged in feeling terms by Bro . Colonel Bircham . The several Worshipful Masters of other lodges replied for " The Visitors , " and Bro . Robert Mossop , I . P . M ., for "The Past Masters . " Other toasts followed .

Avery choice musical entertainment was afforded by the | omi efforts of the members and visitors . The Tyler ' s toast brought a most agreeable evening to a close .

Claremont Lodge , No . 1981 . Theelectionmectingof thisflourishinglodgetook place at the Greyhound Hotel , High * street , Croydon , on Monday , the 27 th ult . Present : Bros . Thos . Bowler , W . M . j J . S , Pointon , S . W . j E . W . Treadaway , Hoare , J . W . ; H . E . Francis , P . M ., Sec ; W . Rogers , S . D . ; T . R . Dickason , J . D . ; S . R . Faulder , I . G . ; Benj . Williams , P . M ., D . C . ; W . Greenland , J . Lees , and Sam . Cooper . The visitors were Bros . M . B , Cohen , 901 ; Lorenzo Faull , S . D . 619 ; N . Cheese , S 69 ; and Chas . Hy . Stone , P . M . 507 and J . W . 1641 .

, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Lees was passed in a very perfect manner by the W . M . The election for the ensuing year took place , which proved unanimous in favour of Bro . J . S . Pointon , S . W . Also the election of Treasurer and Tyler , which was unanimous , and the appointment of Audit Committee . It was resolved unanimously that seven guineas be voted frou th : lodge fundi for a Past Master's jewel , to be presented to Bro . Thos . Bowler , W . M ,, on his retiremsnt from the chair , to mark their appreciation for able services rendered to th : lodge .

The business ended , the brethren adjourned to a capital banquet , supplie ] and superintended by Bro . Pease , proprietor . The cloth removed , the W . M . presented the customary loyal and Masonic toasts right royally . Also that of "The Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Ollicers , Present and Past . "

The toast of "The R . W . Provincial Grand Master , Lord Onslow , " was presented in most commendable terms , he being a nobleman of sterling worth in the jcause of Freemasonry . " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . F . West , " was next given . The M . W . said Bro . West was always to the fore in every good work , and most ably carried out his duties , together with the rest of the Provincial Grand Offi : ers . O . ie of them was present , Bro . E . Frances , P . Prov . G . D ., who had done good suit and service in the province .

In reply , Bro . Frances said he was somewhat of an old patriarch . He had done thoroughly whatever had fallen to his lot in Freemasonry , h aving at times been called upon to perform many duties , but whatever they had been , he had done them conscientiously . Promotion to the position of any Grand oilice was slow , there bein ? so m my lodges , but he certainly should like to see merit thoroughly rewarded . He wa > pleased to state that Bro . J . S . Pointon , S . W . and W . M . elect , had been placed upon the Charity Committee and was the representative of the Claremont Lodge and he hoped that it might

lead to the purple being conferred upon a brother in the Claremont Lidge before very long . He congratulated the lodge upon their choice of W . M . for the ensuing year and also the W . M . elect on having taken up to the Boys' Centenary Festival in the name of the Iodge 105 guineas , which was the record in the lodge . It showed the appreciation of the brethren for the services already rendered to the lodge by the W . M . elect . Bro . Williams , P . M ., next presented the toast of " The W . M . " in commendatory terms , and remarked upon the magnificent manner he hid performed his duties during the year . It gave him intense pleasure in proposing the same .

Bro . 1 . Bowler , VV . M ., who was most cordially received , said that it was his one desire to perform the duties to the best of his ability and to a successful issue which had been accomplished , and hc hoped the time was not far distant that it would be one of the best in the province . For the kind remarks he most heartily thanked them ; he was a Life Governor of all the Charities , which he felt was the duty of every Mason to be if it were possible . He hoped before long the Prov . Grand Master , with his valued Deputy , would visit the lodge and test its efficiency . He thanked the ofiicers for their valuable assistance during the past year , and that the lodije had been resuscitated

during the last year or two . His duty was not yet over to the lodge , but he hoped to be able still to render the W . M . elect any assistance he required during the coming year , and that he might remain a member of the lodge for many years to come . The Worshipful Master next proposed the toast of "Bro . J . S . Pointon , W . M . elect , " with extreme pleasure , as he had the privilege of preparing him for Freemasonry only seven years ago . He had made rapid progress in Freemasonry and the brethren must needs be proud of him , as he was most highly respected in the Selwyn , his mother lodge . He was confident the chair would b : honourabl / filled and nothing would be lacking during the coming year and that the W . M . elect would be a pattern and one to emulate .