Correspondence.

medals , aprons , certificates , by-laws , menus , or the modest but very interesting lodge summons . Few are so fortunate as to pull together a collection of the same merits as either Bro . Whymper ' s or the " Worcestershire , " and the Craft in India and " at home " must ever be indebted for such a means of

reference , costing as each has done an enormous amount of hard work and money . The latter form the primary and essential means of success for the collector , and no one may start now to pull anything like such a collection ( as either of the foregoing ) together without a well-lined purse , a

knowledge of Craft literature , and where to look for it . Anyone may collect , at little cost , a fairly representative library of modern Craft literature , but it is to last century that reference must be made for the more interesting and important items for the collector . Bro . Whymper is , I believe , the only collector who

favours his friends with a knowledge of the cost price of each article bought by him . I do not know how far the information may be useful , as , for instance , a copy of 1767 Constitutions cost £ y 14 s . gd ., and another of same year , 14 s . Bro . Whymper possesses many works of great merit

books that no single collector may ever hope to bring together again . Amongst the more imprtant may be - mentioned — "Life of Ashmole " ( 1717 ); "Multa Paucis " ( 1763 ); Constitutions 1723 and 173 8 ; "Cole ' s Constitution" ( first edition ); " Ahiman Rezon " ( 1756 ); "Plot ' s Staffordshire" ( 1686 ) : "Pocket

Companion" ( 1735 ); " Plain Dealer" ( 1734 ); ( Palser ' s set of seven coloured plates ); " Secrets Revealed " ( 1759 ); "Royal Order of Scotland ; " MSS . ( A . collection claiming to date from 1734 ) . How Bro . Whymper has managed I cannot even guess , for few of us at home , with everyday chances ,

can ever get a report of such books . Bro . Whymper appears only to want Constitutions of 1 746 , 1819 , 1865 , 1866 , and 1871 to complete his set , and it would be a graceful thing for any brother to help the completion of the onl y " set" that may be possessed by India . The Worcestershire catalogue is a more pretensious

work , and is " purchasable , " and ought to be in every collector's hands , as the compilation is most excellent , and the "notes" by Bro . W . J . Hughan of the most useful character . Differing from the general run of catalogues , the

titles of the books are given in cxtenso . There are few collections that can equal this for " rarities , " the perfect sets of "Constitutions , " "Ahiman Rezon , " "Cole ' s Constitutions , " "Pocket Companions , " the " Engraved Lists , " " MSS ., " hang like Aladdin lamps before the eyes of private collectors .

How were they brought together the collector may well ask . By great self-denial ! By the patriotic and painstaking brethren of Worcestershire whose names are given on page 171 , headed by Bro . Taylor , whose countenance stamps the man as an indefatigable Mason . When I look at Bro . Taylor ' s photo I know

him well , and yet I have no acquaintance of him , courteous , sincere , prompt , honest , and upright as the plumb of the J . W ., a very fitting " head" of such a library and museum . When Bro . Hughan ' s name is appended to a Masonic document one dare not criticise , but yet I would like to know whether the

Worcestershire Library contains the publications of the " Quatuor Coronati " Lodge , and if so why they have been omitted . I presume this is an oversight . I don ' t know that I have yet seen any catalogue record a " Hiram Abiff " Bible or a " W . M . ' s " Bible , both deserving of a place , and both expensive but obtainable books . I am sure

Bro . J . R . Dore , of Huddersfield , would willingly assist any collector to obtain them . The collection of medals I am informed is a great treat to view , and possibly no one but Bro . Shackles , of Hull , can equal them . 1 may add the cost of the Worcestershire catalogue is 7 s . 6 d ., and may be had of Bro . George Kenning . — Yours respectfully and fraternally , GEORGE W . BAIN . October 5 th .

LODGE LA C / ESAREE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I beg to confirm as the truth and nothing but the truth the letter which I addressed you on the 2 ist September last , by witnesses if necessary , and am ready to prove all the statements therein respecting this unfortunate affair .

Bro . IT . Becker , W . M ., in a communication to your paper , dated October 3 rd , asserts that " the mis-statements of facts which have been circulated through your columns by Bro . John Durrell , P . M ., call for immediate refutation . The whole controversy has arisen out of the refusal of Bro . John Durell to show his authorisation from his son asking for the clearance certificate . "

How can that be When the lodge met in January last to consider the Prov . Grand Master ' s request , asking the lodge to give Bro . Walter Durell ' s clearance certificate to his father , I asked Bro . Coffin , one of the P . S . W . ' s of the lodge , a brother who is highly respected amongst Masons and by the public in general , if he would kindly take the

letter and postscript with him and produce it to the lodge for all the members to see and judge for themselves whether I was duly authorised by my son to procure his clearance certificate from his mother lodge . This he did , but the lodge positively refused to hear Bro . Coffin , although they had met for the express purpose of considering the application . Their excuse

Correspondence.

was that the lodge had met for other business . What a lame excuse ! While I think of it , some short time after the January meeting , Bro . Coffin , in the presence of the Provincial Grand Secretary and myself , made a declaration in writing , to which he affixed his signature , stating that he had

produced the letter and postscript to the Lodge La Gesaree , No . 590 , in January last , but that the lodge would not listen to him , as they told him that they had met for other business . This letter was handed over by the Prov . Grand Secretary to the Prov . Grand Master some time before the June meeting

of Grand Lodge . Further , in November last , at the regular meeting of La Crcsaree Lodge , Bro . E . Bree proposed that my son's clearance certificate should not be given , unless he ( Bro . Walter Durell ) wrote direct to the lodge .

Some time alter , the Prov . Grand Secretary met Bro . Bree and gave him the postscript to read , so as to satisfy him that I had received the authority from my son . Further , the letter and postscript were produced and read before the representatives of the lodge , and in the presence of the Deputy Provincial Grand

Master and the Provincial Grand Secretary on February 6 th , 1891 , by the Provincial Grand Master . I must add to this that on this very day the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Secretary both told me that they perfectly well remembered that the postcript was read on that occasion

by the Prov . Grand Master . It is true I promised the Prov . Grand Master to take the postscript personally to the lodge at the February meeting , on condition that I should be invited to attend , and I would have kept my promise ; but knowing that one of the senior Past Masters had boasted in rather

strong terms that I would not be allowed in the lodge , I did not do so , especially as a few days before the regular lodge meeting , I accidentally met the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , who advised me not to go , as he had learnt that my admission was likely to be opposed by some members . It was then that I told him 1 had made another

application to the lodge in writing for my son ' s clearance certificate , and he understood at the time that I had sent the postscript . This makes all the difference . He told me this morning that he had misunderstood me .

Why should I have enclosed the postscript about three weeks before the meeting of the lodge , when at the meeting , in the presence of the Prov . Grand Master , the promise was made that I would be invited to attend , so as to produce the letter and postscript in question , as I had really done in January through Bro . Coffin ?

I did not enclose it with the renewed application in February , nor did I state to the Deputy Prov . Grand Master or to Bro . H . Ahier , the Secretary , that I had . Bro . Becker , W . M ., states that " On no occasion has the slightest proof been offered to myself or to the lodge that Bro . John Durell is authorised to ask for a clearance certificate on behalf of his son . "

What about December last , when the I . P . M ., Bro . E . Bree , read it for himself ? What about January last , when Bro . Coffin was silenced by the lodge when he offered to read the postscript ? What about February last , in the presence of the

Provincial Grand Master and his Deputy , and the Provincial Grand Secretary , when the Provincial Grand Master read the postscript in the presence of Bros . Becker , W . M ., Bree , Captain Le Scelleur , and the Secretary of the lodge , Bro . H . Ahier ? In conclusion , I will only state that this very Lodge La Ca : saree kept me waiting for two years for my

clearance certificate , although I applied for it on two occasions , when Bro . E . Bree was its W . M . I leave you , Sir and Brother , and the brethren who will read this , to draw their own conclusions as to the value of the remarks which Bro . Becker has thought proper to make in a bad case . —Yours respectfully and fraternally ,

JOHN DURELL , P . M . 590 , P . Z . 590 , P . P . G . Treas ., and P . P . S . G . W . October 3 .

A CORRECTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother ,

My attention has been called to a report of an address delivered by me on the 19 th of March last at the consecration of the Columbia Lodge , London , in which I referred to the case of , Sir Robert Stout , which had been before Grand Lodge a few days previously , and on reading it , 1 find 1 am reported as having assumed that the lodge in New Zealand working by a warrant from the Grand Orient of France under the

Mastership of Sir R . Stout , had originally been an English one which had seceded from our Constitution . I cannot now recall the exact words I used at the time , but as they apparently gave rise to that assumption , 1 hasten to withdraw them and explain that the lodge in question was in fact originally established by the Grand

Orient of France and had never any connection with English Masonry except through its Master . This matter was made perfectly clear by the printed proceedings of Grand Lodge of the 4 th of March last . — Yours fraternally , R . J . SIMPSON . October 5 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

953 ] — ORDER OF THE BLUES AND ORANGE .

I have seen a " List of the Members of the Order of the Blues and Orange , " dated 1801 , their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales , the Dukes of York Clarence , and Kent were Superiors . There were two Lady Patronesses , a Prelate , Deputy Superior , n

Wardens , and a Registrar . Ihe list contains about 250 names , all apparently naval and military officers . There were five " Public Days of the Order , " one being that of his Majesty ' s accession . Can any brother tell me what was the origin and duration of the Order , and what were its objects ? C . HENTON WOOD , C . C . 2076 .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft flDasom ^ . METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

Marquess of Ripon Lodge ( No . 1489 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Friday , the 2 nd inst ., at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , when a large number of members of the lodge and visitors were present . Bro . Thomas Dutton , W . M ., was in the chair . After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed , Bro . J . H . Clare , W . M . elect , was duly obligated and

installed as W . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremony being performed in a masterly manner by Bro . Edwin George " , P . M ., Sec . The newly-installed VV . M . then proceeded to appoint and invest his officers , the chief of whom were Bros . R . J . Campbell , S . W .,- H . Youngs , J . W . ; J . E . Walford , P . M ., Treas . ; Edwin George , P . M ., Sec . ; John Insch , S . D . ; T . B . Pugh , J . D . ; R . W . Huntley , D . C ; J .

Sparrow , l . G . ; Cause , Stwd . ; and J . J . Marsh , Tyler . Not the least pleasing feature of the meeting was the presentation to Bro . Edwin George , P . M ., of a Past Master ' s collar and a handsome illuminated testimonial testifying to the zeal and assiduity with which he had performed the duties of Secretary to-the lodge during the 11 years which he had held that office . Bro . George responded in feeling

terms , and heartily thanked the brethren for their kindness . Other Masonic business was disposed of , and the brethren adjourned to the banqueting hall , where a sumptuous dinner was provided . The toasts of "The Queen and the Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " were proposed by the W . M ., and duly honoured , as was also that of "The Grand

Officers ,. Present and Past . " In proposing " The Health of the W . M ., " Bro . Thos . Dutton , I . P . M ., said he could assure the VV . M . that they were all very pleased to see him in the " chair of the Marquess of Ripon Lodge , and the brethren knew him to be a very genial fellow . He would ask the brethren to excuse any little nervousness on the part of the W . M ., which could

be easily understood . He was sure the W . M . ' s working would be really good , and he was happy to see that at the next meeting there would be an initiation and they would then be able to see the working of the W . M . He would not take up their time by eulogising the W . M ., but he would ask the brethren to be upstanding and drink to the good health of their Master .

The toast having been enthusiastically received , the W . M . rose and said he hoped the brethren would look over any shortcoming on his part and he could assure them he would do all in his power to advance the interests of the Marquess of Ripon Lodge . He thanked them very heartily indeed for the way they had received him . The toast of "The I . P . M . " was next proposed by the

W . M . who alluded in fitting terms to the work Bro . Dutton had performed during his year of office . He had done something out of the ordinary and should be proud of it . After referring in high terms to his work , the W . M . presented Bro . Dutton with a very handsome Past Master ' s jewel . Bro . Dutton responded . He thanked them for the

manner they had responded to the toast so feelingly proposed by the VV . M . He had done all he could during his Mastership and he was glad what he had done was so well appreciated . With regard to the jewel the brethren of the lodge had been so good as to vote to him , the I . P . M . said he should always look on it with pride , and would remember the happy time he had had during his year of office . He

was deeply grateful for the cordiality with which the toast hail been received , and he thanked the brethren for their kindness . The Worshipful Master proposed the toast of " The Visitors , " which was responded to by Bro . Roberts , a Prov . Grand Officer of the Western Division of South Wales , on behalf of the whole of the visitors . He said he was very

pleased to visit the Marquess of Ripon Lodge—it was the only lodge , save his mother lodge , which he had visited in London tor over 20 years . The presentation of a jewel to the I . P . M . showed that he had done his duty , and had received one of the greatest prizes a Master could look forward to . He would say to all young Masons present , follow the example of the I . P . M ., and work well and

diligently . In conclusion , he thanked them for the kind reception they had given him and the visitors generally . The Worshipful Master next gave the toast of " The Treasurer and Secretary , " to which Bro . Edwin George , P . M ., Secretary , responded . He said he had had to respond to that toast so often that he was afraid he had to repeat himself . He thanked the members of the lodge most heartily for their kindness in presenting him with

the collar and testimonial . That was his eleventh yeai of office as Secretary , and during the years he had occupied the post he had spent some oE the happi eSlmoments of his life . In the Marquess of Ripon Lodge lie had received nothing but kindness and consideration fro "' the brethren with whom he had come into contact , and he . always should look upon the testimonial with the greatest ^ pride . He was proud of the lodge , in which they had novel had a schism or a clique of any kind . He hoped he shoulu live many years to respond to the toast .