Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but wc wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

THE ROYAL ARCH DEGREE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother I was very glad to see S . E . ' s letter on this subject in your last issue , because it is quite time attention was called to the very grave and continually growing error of using the title Al . E . Z . in speaking of or to the ist Principal of a chapter . There is one , and only one , who is entitled to the prefix M . E ., namely , the M . E . the ist Grand Principal .

1 he Three Principals of a private chapter , and those companions who have passed through the three chief offices , are entitled to the prefix E . only , they are all E . Companions . All members of the Order who have not held office as Principal are Companions , not E . Companions . Most certainly no one who has not served as a Principal of a chapter is entitled to the prefix E .

The ist Principal should not be addressed by himself , but all reports , & c , should be made to the Three Principals as if they were one person , and should be addressed thus , " E . Principals . " I am a P . Z . of several chapters , and at the present moment am 'Z . of two , as well as H . elect of a third , and Scribe E . of a fourth , but I never use the erroneous expression M . E . Z . myself , nor do I allow it to be used in my presence without correction .

I remember writing to you on this very same subject in April , 18 73 , but thc error has been steadily growing lately , and it ought to be sternly repressed by Grand Chapter . —Yours fraternally , J . G . S ., Past Prov . Grand J . of Devon . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother ,

The First Principal is M . E . Z ., the other Principals and Past Principals are Ex . C . ; all companions below the third chair are companions only . I have never heard this point questioned before . —Yours fraternally , H . L . DUTIES OF D . OF C . To thc Editor of the " , Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother ,

Being just appointed a D . C , I should feel very much obliged if some brother would inform me , through your valuable paper , a proper and correct list of honours ; to whom they are entitled ; the number and description of method of taking example from one . —Yours fraternally , D . OF C .

THE CRAFT IN THE BOAT RACE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I think that it may be of interest to many of the brethren who read your world-renowned paper to know that the Craft was largely represented in the Inter 'Varsity boat race last Saturday .

In the Cambridge boat Bros . Fernie , Dudley-Ward , Howell , Bell , Campbell-Muir , and Hawkins , and the spare man Bro . Bullard , are members of the Isaac Newton University Lodge . The sister lodge , the Apollo University , was represented by the redoubtable Bro . Balfour , who rowed 5 in the Oxford boat . —Yours fraternally ,

R . PERCY F . W . SIMPSON , P . M Isaac Newton University Lodge . April 7 th ,

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The Quarterly Court of Subscribers to this Institution was held on Thursday at noon at Freemasons' Tavern , Bro . Henry Smith , P . P . G . M . West Yorkshire , P . G . D ., in the chair . He was supported by Bros . A . C . Spaull , Frank Richardson , Sir Reginald Hanson , ALP ., E . Letchworth , G . Sec ; C . E . Keyser , J . H . Alatthews , Robert Grey , and Oliver Papworth , The minutes of the former Quarterly Court having been read by Bro . HEDGES , Sec , and confirmed ,

Bro . HEDGES read the summaries of minutes of General Committees , in which the information was conveyed that Lord Llangattock , Prov . G . M . for South Wales ( Eastern Division ) , would take thc chair at the 109 th Anniversary Festival of the Institution ; also the announcement that Bro . Henry ^ Smith desired not to be re-elected as Treasurer of the Institution .

Bro . HENRY SMITH then said that the time had now arrived when it would be the duty of the meeting to elect a Treasurer , and he Vas happy to say that there was only one nomination . Consequently hc ]| declared Right Worshipful Bro . Alderman Sir Reginald Hanson , M . P ., P . G . W ., Vice-Patron of the Institution , duly elected Treasurer of the Institution . ( Applause . ) He ( Bro . H . Smith )

retired from the office with regret , but he had felt it his duty to do so . . He thought the office should not be monopolised by one brother for a long period . He was glad Sir Reginald Hanson had consented to take tbe ofiice , and he was sure that he ( Bro . Smith ) and all the brethren would be glad to render him assistance in his office .

Bro . Sir R EGINALD HANSON then took the chair , and in acknowledging the election said he thanked the brethren for their unanimous election to an office of such high position , certainly , and of great importance in this Institution . He felt the more pleased to take the office because he was succeeding so good a Alason and so excellent a supporter ol the Girls' School , and , in fact , of every Institution connected with Freemasonry , as Bro . Henry Smith . Bro . Smith had said he felt bound to retire . They were all sorry for it . However , having

occupied the position several years he said he must retire . All the brethren would receive the resignation with regret . For his ( Sir Reginald Hanson's ) own part , as far as his numerous other avocations permitted he should endeavour in every way lo attend as often as he could the meetings of the Institution of the Girls and to assist it by every means in his power . Before he sat down he would call upon Bro . Spaull , as Chairman of the House Committee , to propose a resolution which all the brethren would expect .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Bro . A . C . SPAULL then said that during the 109 years which the Girls ' Institution had existed the brethren would all agree with him that no one had discharged his duties to it so faithfully , so zealously , and so well as Bro . Henry Smith had during the last seven years . He was sure it would have been the very great pleasure of the brethren to re-elect him if he had not expressed himself unwilling to be nominated . Bro . Smith had endeared himself to all the brethren attending those Quarterly Courts by the courtesy and urbanity he had

shown to all . On the present occasion when they parted with him as Treasurer of the Institution , they could not do better than thank him for all he had done in the past and express the hope that they would still have in him a friend and supporter as long as he was in that mortal sphere . He would ask the brethren to pass with unanimity the following resolution : " That the hearty and sincere thanks of this General Court be given to the W . Bro . Henry Smith ,

P . G . D ., P . Dep . P . G . M . West Yorks , and Vice-Patron of this Institution , for his fraternal , kindly , and sympathetic services as Treasurer for the last seven years , during which period of office he has neither grudged nor spared any effort to do all in his power for the welfare of the School and the happiness of those within its walls . In his retirement his Brother Governors wish him health to continue his long career of Masonic usefulness . "

Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , P . G . D ., in seconding the motion , said he had worked with Bro . Henry Smith for many years in the Masonic Institutions , and he never wanted to work with a more amiable and distinguished brother in Masonry . It would be hardly possible to find one . He could add nothing to what Bro . Spaull had said , and he seconded ^ the motion with very great pleasure . The motion was carried nem . con .

Bro . HENRY SMITH , in acknowledging the vote , said he had to thank Bro . Spaull and Bro . Richardson very much , and he felt rather embarrassed by their kind words . He felt he should be wanting in gratitude and appreciation if he did not say how much he felt the extremely kindly words of the vote . It had been a very great pleasure to him to preside on those occasions , and to render what service he could to the Institution .

The interest of the School and of all the Masonic Charities was very near to his heart , and what he had done in the past he should be pleased to do in the future . He hoped the Institution would go on as prosperously as it had gone on . His first introduction to it was in 1857 , before the appointment of Miss Davis as Head Governess . It was a long time to look back to , but he always took great interest in that Institution and all the others . He assured the brethren that he highly appreciated the vote .

The brethren then proceeded to elect 20 girls into thc Institution out of a list of 28 candidates . The following are the unsuccessful candidates . The successful will be found in our advertisement columns .

Name . Votes . Name . Votes . Woodward , Mabel Elizabeth ... 2 G 12 Orr , Ethel Alay 806 Newsom , Edith Louisa Frances .,. 2157 Sutton , Constance Marion 785 Stephenson , Victoria Florence ... 1541 Stickland , Gwynedd Mary 79 Brown , Annie Mabel 107 S Scholes , Alberta 30

Lodges And Chapter Of Instruction.

Lodges and Chapter of Instruction .

PROSPERITY LODGE , No . 65 . A meeting was held on Wednesday , the 7 th inst ., at the Weavers' Arms , 17 , London Wall , when there were present Bros . D . Harlow , W . M . ; E . Croft Wise , S . W . ; A . J . Rippin , J . W . ; J . Greig , LP . M . 65 , Asst . Preceptor ; Harriss , P . M ., Treas . ; Meadows , P . M . 1571 , Sec . ; Graham , S . D . ; Huckle , J . D . ; Dobbs , I . G . ; Roberts , P . M . 65 ; Schadler , P . M . 65 ; J . Smith , P . M . 192 j Montague , Garton , W . M . 192 ; Rix , William Baker , Spencer , Carter , John G . Robeson , Farr , Sargeant , Kinipple ,

W . M . 65 ; Downes , Brooks , Knight , and Collins . A more than usual enjoyable and instructive evening was spent on Wednesday last by the brethren assembled , which will be readily understood when we state that the Preceptor , Bro . D . Harlow , P . M . 65 , occupied the chair of W . M ., and had Bro . Charles Garton , W . M . 192 , as a candidate for passing , and Bro . Meadows , P . M . 1571 , for raising , and was supported b y a' strong muster of brethren on this occasion . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed . Bro . Garton then answered the usual questions , and was entrusted ,

after which the W . M . opened the lodge in the Second Degree , and Bro . Garton was passed to the Degree of F . C . Bro . Meadows then answered the questions leading from the Second to the Third Degrees , and the lodge having been opened in the latter , Bro . Meadows was raised , the W . M ., in addition to the usual ceremony , giving the traditional history in his peculiarly admirable form , and , being seldom heard , it was thoroughly appreciated by all present . The lodge was then closed in the Third and Second Degrees respectively , and the W . M . rising the usual times and the dues collected , Bro . E . Croft Wise was unanimously elected as W . M . for Wednesday next . Three brethren of the mother ledge were elected joining members , and the lodge was closed .

LA TOLERANCE LODGE , No . 538 . A meeting was held on Wednesday , the 7 th inst ., at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxtord-strcet , W ., when there were present Bros . E . Homewood , W . M . ; A . A . Butcher , S . W . ; H . Raphael , J . W . j J . Paul , P . M ., and J . Thorn , P . M ., Preceptors ; Geo . Hill , P . M ., Treas . ; W . E . Willby , P . M ., and T . Smale , P . AL , Sees . ; J . Leather , S . D . ; M . Beedle , J . D . ; H . C . Parker , I . G . ; W . Proctor , P . M ., Tyler ; F „ Jackson , P . M . ; F . A . Zeppenfeld , H . Cross , H . E . Mullins , J . C . Goldstein , T . L . Bowden , and C . Pinnell .

The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes were read . The ceremony of initiation was rehearssd , Bro , Goldstein being the candidate . Bro . Cross answered thc questions leading to the Second Degree , and the ceremony of passing was rehearsed , Bro . Cress being the candidate . The lodge was resumed in the First Degree . The 4 th Section of the Lecture was worked by Bro . Leather . The W . M . rose for the first

time , when Bro . H . Cross , of St . Michaels Lodge , was elected a joining member . At the second rising , Bro . A . _ A . Butcher , S . W ., was elected W . M . for the ensuing week , who appointed his officers in rotation . A vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Homewood for his excellent work in this lodge for the first time . After the third rising , all Masonic business be'ng ended , the lodge was closed . It was decided to hold the annual festival on Wednesday , May iyth .

STAR CHAPTER , No . 1275 . The usual weekly meeting was held at the Stirling Castle Hotel , Church-street , Camberwell , S . E ., on Friday , the 2 nd inst . Present : Comps . C . Plant , M . E . Z . ; S . J . Derham , H . ; H . Hardman , J . ; Thos . Grummant , P . Z ., Preceptor ; C . H . Stone , P . Z ., S . E . ; T . R . Cass , S . N . ; G . Benedetti , P . Z ., P . S . ; Addington , Longhurst , Dawson , Sobel , Elgar , Cureton , and Dunn . The minutes of the last convocation were read and confirmed . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Longhurst personating the candidate . Comp . Sobel , 1622 , was elected a member . Comp . Derham , IL , was elected M . E . Z . for the next meeting . The chapter was then closed .

THE LORD CHAMUEUI . AIN IS authorised to state that the ( Ju : en has , under the special circumstances of this year , been graciousl y pleased to sanction an extension of the number of presentations at the cominer Drawing Rooms in Alay . This will enable thc Lord Chamberlain to include in the lists all the ladies who have , up to this date , submitted their names for presentation . No further applications can , under any circumstances , be accented .