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' -pHE BRIGHTON HEALTH A CONGRESS . President-B . W . RICHARDSON , M . D ., LL . D ., F . R . S . Tuesday , December 13 II 1 , rSSr . OPENING ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT . Sections A , Wednesday ; li , Thursday ; C , Friday ; Presidents—Edwin Chadwick , C . B . ; J . R . Hollond , M . A ., M . P . j Alfred Carpenter , M . D . Evening Addresses by R . P . B . Taafe , M . D ., and Brudenel Carter , F . R . C . S ., in tbe Dome , Royal Pavilion . Wednesday Evening—Soiree by the Mayor and Mayoress . Many places of interest are arranged for to bc viewed by Associates on presenting their tickets , as well as The Domestic and Scientific Exhibition in thc Royal Pavilion and Grounds , with Electric Lighting , to be opened by the President of the Exhibition , thc EARL OF CHICHESTER . Associates' Tickets , ios . Od ., are being issued by the Congress Secretary , Brighton . Seats can be also secured . Chairman of Executive 7 W . H . HALLETT , F . L . S ., Committee , ) Mayor . General Hon . Secretary , WM . HAMILTON , Ship Street , Brighton . THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUSSEX ' Will meet under SIR . W . W . BURREI . I ., Bart ., , M . P ., Prov . G . AL , in thc Rov . w . PAVILION , On Monday , December 12 II 1 , at Seven p . m ., to welcome all Brethren ( Alaster Alasons ) attending the Health Congress . Bro . V . P . FREEMAN-, Bri g hton ( Prov . G . S . ) , will issue tickets , which include Admission to the Opening of thc Domestic and . Scientilic Exhibition .

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TWTASONIC HALL , CROYDON . HARF . WOOD HOUSE , 105 , HIGH STREET . This Hall has every requirement for Masonic purposes . It contains a large Organ , blown by hydraulic power , and has an excellent ' cellar for Lodges to keep their own wines . The following Lodges are held there , viz . —Frederick , 452 ; Addiscombe , 155 6 ; Mozart , 1929 ; Croydon ¦ Mark , 19 SJ Fiederick Chapter . For terms , & c , address—JOHN RHODES , P . M .. P . P . G . O . Surrcyj P . P . G . M . O . Middx . and Surrey .

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THE LATE Bro . FRANCIS ROBINSON HOOD , of Deptford , Ironfounder . The late Bro . F . R . Hoou , when he died , left his widow and his three children homeless and penniless , and they are at present enduring great poverty and distress . It is their desire to open a little business in the Fancy Wool trade , and to enable them to do this , and to defray certain expenses which their late illness from scarlet fever compelled them to incur , they appeal to the numerous friends of the late Bro . F . R . Hood for a little assistance j and Alessrs . ENTHOVEN & SONS , 17 , Gracechurch-strcet , City , have kindly consented to receive subscriptions on their behalf .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

BOOKS , Sec , RECEIVED . " Tenant Right in Tipperary , " " Der Long Islaendcr , " * ' The Cornishman , " " The New York Dispatch , " ' The Broad Arrow . " "The Citizen , " "The Libera ! Freemason , " "The Jewish Chronicle , " " The European Mail , " " Boletin Olicial del Grand Orient de Espana , " " The Exporter , " "Keystone , " " Boletin Masonico" ( Mexico ) , "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " "The Bedfordian System of Astronomy , " "Illustrated Book of Progress , " " Proreedings of the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Liberia , " " El laller , " "The Hull Packet . "

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THE FREEMASON . SATURDAY , DECKMBKR IO , ISSI . . _ A . .,, . —

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ Wc do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to iie ' rmit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . } ANTIQUITY OF DEGREES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . "

Dear Sir and Brother , — In your issue of the 26 th ult ., you stated in one of your leading paragraphs that it was thc opinion of Bro . W . J . Hughan and also Bro . D . Alurray Lyon , Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , that there was no Freemasonic system of Three Degrees until 1717 , nor any Grand Mastcr until the same year . I beg to send you a few

* extracts from the old book in my possession on this important subject , and give you times and circumstances when Grand Alasters were duly elected and exercised their functions as such , and also meetings of Lodges where the Three Degrees were represented hy Master Masons , Fellow Crafts , and Entered Apprentices .

The extracts arc as follows : 1 . "After thc expiration of the Roman vassalage in Britain , the Saxons cultivated Masonry , and Kenred King of Alercia , sent to Charles Alartel , the Right Worshipful Grand Mastcr of France , and he sent from thence some expert Masons lo leach the Saxons those laws and usages of the Craft that had been preserved from thc havock of the Goths . "

Original Correspondence.

2 . " In the time of King Stephen , Gilbert de Clare , Marquise of Pembroke , was Grand Mastcr , when St . Stephen ' s Chapel at Westminster was built , and when the laws and regulations of Masonry were revised . " 3 . " In the reign of Henry IV ., Thomas Fitz Allen , Earl of Surrey , was Grand Mastcr . "

4 . "In Queen Elizabeth ' s reign she discouraged Freemasonry for the reason that Freemasons had secrets which they could not or would not reveal to her . She became jealous of their assemblies , and sent an armed force to break up their annual communication at York , on St . John ' s day , 27 th December , 1561 , but Sir Thomas

Sackville , then Grand Master , took care to send some of the Great Officers of the Queen that were Masons , who then joining their assembly made honorable report to the Qu ^ cn , who ever after esteemed them as the cultivators of peace , friendship , brotherly love , arts and sciences . " >; . " In the reign of James I . of England , Inigo Jones

was Grand Master , and held the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Masters and Waidens , and the Annual General Assembly and Feast of St . John ' s Day , when he was annually re-chosen till 161 S , when William , Earl of Pembroke ,-was chosen Grand Mastcr , and being approved by the King , he appointed Inigo Jones his

Deputy Grand Master . " These are instances ( of which I could give you more ) conclusive to my mind that Grand Masters were duly chosen , and acted as such , prior to 1717 . I would also refer you to my letter , which appeared in your issue of the 19 th ult ., giving an account of a lodge

held at Canterbury , in 1434 , under the Grand Mastcr Chickeley , where-the Masters , Wardens , Fellow Crafts , and Entered Apprentices are there named . I do not publish these notes with a view to start a controversy on the subject with my two esteemed brethren , but merely to test

the authenticity of the statements given in this old book . I should also like to know if any brother has seen this book , which was published in Glasgow in 1771 . By inserting this in your valuable journal you will oblige , Yours fraternally , AN OLD P . M . OF i S .

CHESHIRE AND ITS CHARITIES . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 am obliged to your correspondents , "A Cheshire P . M . " and "One who knows , " for the courtesy of their replies to my letter in your issue of the 19 th ult ., and I

think the former has suggested in his eight and ninth paragraphs a mode wheieby the " Charitable duty of our Order" could he brought more immediately before the members of our lodges than it is at present , and so much more might bc done than is now . But 1 do not think cither of your correspondents has

quite hit my point yet . I fully endorse all they say of what has been done , but all that is of thc past , and wc are now reaping the benefit of it , inasmuch , to quote from the speech of thc R . W . Provincial Grand Master referred to , " all their candidates had been carried . " My enquiries more referred to what is being done 11010

by the individual lodges . If , as " A Cheshire P . M . " suggests , there were in each lodge a " Charity Officer , " I feel sure he could easily gather say sixpence a month , which , in a lodge of say fifty members , would amount to the handsome sum of £ 15 for him to work on , and a Steward could be sent at least to one of the Charities once in each j'ear .

But there are in Cheshire many lodges which could easily put together much more than that , as their numbers are much greater than fifty . Now , when I adopted a limn de plume to write over , I did not do so for any other purpose than that of not wishing to parade my name before your readers , or because I

wanted to write only , and ' not work . On the contrary , if you will kindly send my name and address to " A Cheshire P . M . " I will be glad to either correspond or meet him , and as many more as will communicate with me , and see if wc cannot hit on a scheme which , without interfering with any of our present Institutions , will enable us of the

present day to go on imitating the noble works of our predecessors . I would give my name and address here , only I am afraid my position in life would not help the cause . Thanking you for your kindness in inserting these letters , 1 remain , yours fraternally , CHESHIRE .

CURIOUS BYE-LAWS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In a certain lodge in the North of England the following bye-laws were approved of , and afterwards confirmed by the P . G . AL :

No . I . The lodge shall meet on thc Wednesday before every full moon , Sec No . IX . The Mastcr and Treasurer shall be annually elected at the last meeting in ' January , and at the next regular meeting , after the minutes arc confirmed , the Mastcr . elect shall bc regularly installed , & c .

Now , according to Bye-law 1 . our next meeting should be held on the 2 SH 1 December , and the following one on the 1 st February , and none should take place in January . How , then , is a new W . M . to be elected ? Perhaps you , or one of your readers , will inform we what ought lo be done under such circumstances : Yours fraternally , VERA PRO GRATIIS .

Original Correspondence.

OF REMOVAL OF LODGES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 shall be greatly obliged if ycu will let ine know definitely the correct interpretation of Clause No . 1 , p . 92 , in the Book of Constitutions , 1 S 67 edition" Of Removal

, of Lodges . " It toads , "No lodge shall be removed without the Master ' s knowledge , nor shall any motion for removal be made in his absence ; but if the motion be regularly made and seconded , the Master , & c , & c . What I want to know is—can the W . M ., by continued

absence , so obstruct the working of the lodge as to prevent any steps being taken during his year of office ? or , may the word absence be interpreted as absence from the country , so that the Master could not have a voice in the matter . If the former is the case it seems high time for alteration . I am , dear sir and brother , yours fraternally . VERA PRO GRATIIS .

THE RITUAL QUESTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Your correspondent , Bro . Palmer , seems to fancy he has settled the above

that question by giving a quotation from the Book of Constitutions . It is very evident to mc that this brother has not much studied the section he quotes , otherwise I cannot think he would wilfully try to mislead his brethren .

Thc quotation given declares " a priori " that the Senior or Junior Warden shall act as Master in summoning the lodge , and in the second clause of same section thc same brethren may rule the lodge . Now do either of the words here used , summoning and ruling , imply by any stretch of imagination the performance of the ceremonies of the

Order . Ihe Senior or Junior Warden , it will I think bc granted , cannot sit in the W . M . 's chair , never having been installed therein , but may in ruling thc lodge sit in' front of thc W . M . ' s chair ( in accordance with Grand Lodge usage ) , as a sign of his incompetency to perform the highest rites of our Order , the chair being for Installed

Masters only , and I again contend that no initiations can legally be performed from any other place in tlie lodge . If , as Bro . Palmer states , that " nothing can possibly he clearer " than his assumption of the dicta of Grand Lodge , 1 must acknowledge myself as ignorant of the English language , as nowhere in the Book of Constitutions can I

find language that will bear such an interpretation . Brethren , in considering calmly this subject , must not forget the statement made in my first letter to you , that in both the cases quoted I . P . M . 'and P . M . 's were present fully capable of doing the work . Until some higher authority than Bro . Palmer ' s decide the question , I

certainly should not remain in a lodge where such innovations were permitted . I feel quite persuaded that there are many brethren to whom this ruling of the Grand Registrar ' s will be a means of seeking to pass through the chair of a lodge , who , from diffidence never could , and , from inability to perform the ceremonies of the Craft , never would aspire to the chair :

but finding they may sit therein , and call upon any brother to perform the ceremonies , doubtless will now do so ; but that thc rulers of the Order ever contemplated such are innovations I very much doubt . Hoping some of the " Doctors in Israel" will throw their " wisdom and light " upon this difficult problem , I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours very fraternally , JOHN CHADWICK , Prov . G . Sec . E . Lane .

Reviews.

Reviews .

THE FREEMASONS ' . CALENDAR AND POCKET BOOK . Spencer's Masonic Depot , 23 a , Great Oueenstreet , W . C . This useful and essentia ! vade mecum for English Craft ' Masonry , and for the Craft Masonry of thc world , has appeared in due course , and we heartily welcome it . It appears to us to be a very great improvement in many

respects on the " Calendar" of some years back , and contains a great deal of information useful to the Craftsman , and , indeed , absolutely needful for him , where ' er his lot be cast . The "Calendar Committee" has evidently taken great pains with it , and we think that its appearance reflects every credit on the Committee and the publisher . To-dayi whetcver the faithful member of the English

G . Lodge wends his way or directs his steps , at home or abroad , in America or Canada , the Cape of Good Hope or the Antipodes , he finds " indickc " of Masonic lodges , which point out where he can light upon faithful friends or a sheltering " oasis " in the wilderness of life , kindly " brethren of the mystic tie" each ready to hail him gladlv as a welcome visitor , to set him forward on

his journey , to help him efficiently in time of need . Thus the " Calendar" may he called the " Masonic Passport" of the English Craft Mason , as it shows that he "hails , " his other proper papers being in order , from the mother of all Grand Lodges , the true parent of all Speculative Masonry among mankind . Among the items of information it contains , for the most part normal and utilitarian , wc find a statement of the grants of Grand Lodge

to the Chanties , of great value statistically , lt seems that from 17 SS to the present time Grand Lodge , in conjunction with Grand Chapter , in addition to £ 150 per annum , has granted to thc Royal Alasonic Institution for Girls £ 7730 , and to thc Boys' School , since 179 S , in addition to thc £ 150 per annum , £ 8 i So have been given by Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter . While to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Males , since its foundation in 1 S 42 , there have been paid b y Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter to the Male Fund , I £ 3350 ; to thc Widows' Fund , £ 2935 * ' " » all £ 6150 , if we