Correspondence.

Correspondence .

\\_ e do nothold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit ot fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion .

QUALIFICATION FOR MASTER'S CHAIR . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I do not like to allow an appeal addressed directly to me to pass unnoticed—at the same time , at the present moment I feel some diffidence in answering Bro . Mears question , for peculiar reasons .

I trust , therefore , it may be sufficient for Bro . Mears if I refer him to the appeal of Bro . Vaillant and others decided in Grand Lodge 5 th December , 18 77 ( Grand Lodge Proceedings , Vol . 3 , p . 117 ) , and the passage from Dr . Oliver ' s Masonic Jurisprudence therein referred to ; from which Bro . Mears may draw his own conclusions .

I would particularly draw his attention to the passage in the speech of the present Grand Registrar , V . W . Bro . Philbrick , as to constructive service , with which I am most thoroughly in accord . As to what view the Board of General Purposes would now take as to the two cases cited by him , I am inclined to think , from what I have seen of the usual

practice in English lodges , that if Bro . B were invested by proxy on the proper night , as , rightly or wrongly , I have frequently seen done , and regularly attended to his duties afterwards , he would be considered , on the principle of constructive service , to have served his year so as to be qualified for , the Master ' s chair ; though , of course , it would be safer for him to serve a second year . if possible .

As to the case of Bro . A , I do not like to express an opinion , but should hardly think the brethren would elect such a brother to the Master ' s chair . — Yours fraternally , LEX SCRIPTA . April 4 th .

SIGNING OF MINUTES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Surely the W . M . in the chair when the minutes are read , and who puts the same for confirmation , must be the proper person to sign them ? His signature is merely to the fact that they are confirmed at that meeting . —Yours fraternally , LEX SCRIPTA . April 4 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1081 ] THE STEWART LODGE , RAWAL PINDI . What may be termed the annual report of the Stewart Lodge , No . i 960 , held at Rawal Pindi and Murree { Punjab ) has just been published for " private circulation only . " I am not going to betray any confidences , but , as one of the trio of honorary members , am naturally anxious that its doings may be known to brethren in this country , who take a special interest in its welfare as one of the lodges to which my lamented friend , Bro . Henry Josiah WhymperCLE .,

, belonged . Bro . James Brown , the W . M ., has addressed the members as to the proceedings of the lodge during the past year , the survey generally being of a most satisfactory character , and the numerical strength of No . i 960 having reached its highest on 31 st December last ( some 70 ) , there is every reason to hope that there is a bright future before the lodge , the main difficulty being the paucity of the attendance , as so many are non-residents or on" field service . " The Charities are always remembered by the brethren , the past year adding some . £ 143 to the total

contributions , besides a large sum to the Punjab Masonic Institution . Major J . H . Leslie , R . A ., was the Steward for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and did well . The lodge has now 12 votes in perpetuity for the " Girls " and five for Ihe " Boys , " being a creditable record since its origin about 14 years ago . The W . M . thus speaks of a work that is certain to secure a wide circulation : " Wor . Bro . Leslie has in hand a History of the Lodge , with an Introduction b y Bro . R . F . Gould , and I believe it will be published during this year 1806 . " The

roll of officers is given to 18 95 from 1882 inclusive , and several other interesting tables , especially one referring to the membership under each year , the roll varying from 21 , in 1882 , to 71 , in 18 95 . I am very gratified to note that over 21 , 000 rupees have been collected or subscribed by the members on behalf of the Punjab Masonic Institution . A capital idea is carried out by the Secretary in an excellent digest of the business transacted and the attendance at all the meetings during

the year . The last meeting at which Bro . J . H . Leslie was present was on February 23 rd , when general regret was expressed on his departure for England . He has done good service on behalf of the lodge , and will long be gratefully remembered . 1 he list of brethren , with full particulars to date , of all the members from Ihe origin of the lodge , is a most useful compilation , and quite invaluable for reference . The important by-laws of the lodge I alluded to in a special article in the Freemason about two years ago . W . I . HUGHAN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"THE MASONIC YEAR BOOK FOR THE PROVINCE OF CAMBRIDGE , IS < JC > . " — The editor , printer , and publisher of this neatly-printed and ably-compiled annual is Bro . W . P . Sralding , Cambridge , who began this most useful pocket edition ^ nd Calendar ; ome 14 years rgp . Undoubtedly Bro . Spalding can claim most truly that his province has done a most satisfactory work for the Masonic Charities , considering there are but six lodges , having only 423 brethren as subscribers . The statistics exhibit the memb = r-! hip at 437 guiss , but there are 14 who belong to more than one lodge , thus leaving the total 423 m / t—a slight increase from the previous return . The average to each lodge is

unusually high , that of No . 855 ( Isaac Newton University Lodge ) having the large number of 193 on the roll . Ihe chief Masonic events in the province during 1 S 95 are carefully noted by the Provincial Grand Secretary , ISro . Oliver Papworth , P . M . 8 S , who does an immense amount of work in the province . There are four Royal Arch chapters , two Mark ledges , one Knight Templar preceptory , and two Rose Croix chapters , particulars cf which , roll of officers of eacb , and special dates are all duly noted . Another year the editor might well give the votes held for the province in the Central Masonic Charities , and thus complete the information looked for in such a handy compilation .

"DORSET M ASONIC CALENDAR , A . D . 1 X 9 6 . " — -This large and exhaustive work is edited , printed , and published by Bro . John A . Sherren , 70 , St . Marv-strecr , Weymouth , Irom whom copies may be had at one shilling each . It is really a ' wonderful compilation , and ir . ust have involved an immense deal of labour , for notwithstanding the ready assistance of the Prov . G . Sec , Bro . Robert Case , P . M ., & c , the arrangement , tables ,

Reviews.

and particulars must have all been duly attended to by the able editor . First of all there is a page calendar , then lists of lodge meetings , Royal Arch chapters , Mark lod ges Sic , are given on two pages , from February , 1 S 9 6 , to February , 1 S 97 , a most handy compilation ; the Masonic Calendar is explained on another page , and nine pages are devoted to the Grand Lodge , the Prov . Grand Lodge , and all the Past Prov . Grand Officers according to precedence . The abstract of the Prov . G . Treasurer ' s accounts is given in detail , and a list of Prov . Grand Lodges , 1 S 75-1 S 95 , appears on one page the

, other side having an annual summary of work done in the province during 1 S 94-5 , Thirteen lodges are returned with 6 S 6 members . There are really 14 , however , but the latest is only of 1 S 95 . The tabular list of votes exhibits a grand total of 2930 , which for under 7 C 0 brethren is surely a good record . Under each lodge will be found full particulars as to warrants , places and times of meetings , nam ; s of officers , roll of Past Masters , and names of all the members under the years of admission . There are seven

Royal Arch chapters , with 213 members , for which similar particulars are afforded , as also for the Mark lodges , the Knights Templar preceptories , and the Rose Croix chapters . The Dorset Masonic Charity is also well to the fore , the Hon . Sec . being Bro . S . R . Baskett , who has ably filled that office since its origin . There is not a more complete , or better directory published , and it is to be hoped that the brethren warml y appreciate the labours of Bro . Sherren as editor .

"FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF LEICESTER , SHIRE AND RUTLAND , 1 S 96 . "—This is an excellent and ever welcome annual , ably edited by Bro . B . A . Smith , M . A ., LL . M ., P . M . 523 , and printed in a perfect manner by Bro . E . Shardlow , of Leicester . This year the Portrait is that of Bro . the Rev . Canon Denton , M . A ., Vicar of Ashby-de-Ia-Zouch , who was initiated in No . 779 as far back as 1 S 59 , and has done eood service on behalf of his province . Thirty-seven years of active membership , the senior P . M . of his lodge , and still Secretary , our esteemed

brother well deserves the compliment thus paid him . The Calendar is edited on the same lines as later issues , and is now in its 24 th year of publication , being a credit to all concerned . Besides the usual information , the whole of the names of the members of each lodge , and a full Roll of Voters for the Central Masonic Charities are given . There are 743 subscribers to the 14 lodges in the province , 205 companions to the five Royal Arch chapters , ino to the same number of Mark lodges , and there are also Royal Ark

Mariners , Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine , Rose Croix , and Knights Templars ' meetings held , so that for a comparatively small province , there is no lack of Masonic attractions and activity , Leicestershire being one of the most compact and best-managed provinces , and possessed of advantages in other respects superior to many , such as a good Directory , edited by Bro . Smith , a really valuable Library and Museum , carefully looked after by Bro . J . T . Thorp , who is also the indefatigable Secretary of the " Lodge of Research , " the literary centre for studious Freemasons in the Midlands .

Dramatic Performance For Masonic Charities.

DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE FOR MASONIC CHARITIES .

A charming entertainment was given under the auspices of Bro . Sargeant Searle , the Worshipful Master of the Yarborough Lodge , No . 633 . Bro . Searle , who is ever ready to give a helping hand to those who are worthy , availed himself of the opportunity of a commendable offer from a friend who is the founder of the Manchester Amateur Players , and who offered to give the services of the

Society for an evening during Bro . Searle ' s year of office in the chair as W . M . Therefore Bro . Searle lost no time after his installation in making arrangements for the entertainment , which gave such pleasure to a large number of ladies and brethren , who assembled on Friday night , the 27 th ultimo , at the Gentlemen ' s Concert Hall , Peter-street , Manchester . Such splendid arrangements had been made for the audience that everything passed off without a drawback .

The company selected the comedy in three acts by Mark Melford . They all were- in fine form , and , indeed , without mentioning any particular name , all took their parts admirably , and very nearly approached the profession . They kept the large audience in a round of merriment from the rise to the fall of the curtain ; and we have now only to wait to see the result , but we are inclined to think , from the large quantity of tickets sold , there will be a considerable surplus to hand over to the Charities .

Bro . Searle had procured a dispensation for Craft and Royal Arch clothing , and amongst the brethren present we noticed the following : Bros . S . Searle , W . M . ; T . A . G . Wilson , I . P . M . ; D . Guymer , P . M . ; E . Pleasance , S . D . ; H . Pleasance ; Geo . Pleasance , Stwd . ; R . Hamilton , 2449 ; T . H . Stott , 2449 Wm . Finlay , H . Thompson , F . Burgess , and A . G . Burgess , all of 1459 ; C ,

Armitage Mellor , 1774 ; G . A . Myers , P . M . 1730 , P . G . D . C . West Lanes ; R . H Robinson , P . M . 1213 ; J . F . Sallon , P . M . ; Arthur Shann , John Hall , F . S Crippee , J . H . Heyivood , F . H . Davidson , P . M . ; J . Clegg , M . Rowlands , A Joynson , J . Ross , H . Hughes , M . Davies , H . J . Harrison , P . M . ; P . Davidson , J W . Abbott , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . ; Wm . Bowden , R . Fox , P . M . ; T . H . Stott , W Kay , and others .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . J . I . MILLER , D . G .. VI . NORTHERN CHINA . The Masonic funeral of the late R . W . Bro . John Irwin Miller , who occupied the important office of District Grand Master of English Masonry in Northern China , was an event long to be remembered in the Masonic history of Shang hai . Even the veriest scoffer cannot deny that Masonry in its corporate capacity has done much for our foreign community and deserves well of the public , and it is

not too much to say that its moral has not been less than its practical influence . It was a matter of satisfaction to the leader , who has no recently passed away that much of this development had taken place while he occupied the post of ruler of the Craft ; and the brethren in recognition of the fact that to his personal influence and tact was due much of the satisfactory position of the institution did not fail to express their sense of what was due by a numerous attendance . If the late

Bro . Miller ' s influence thus held together and fostered the lodges working under his own immediate control , it had the still more important effect of wielding into an united whole the body of Freemasonry represented in the place , and of exhibiting an almost ideal view of Masonry universal . Not only were the lodges workinfc under the English Grand Lodge represented , but the Ancient Landmark owning allegiance to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , the Lodge Germania holding 0 the Grand Lodge of Berlin and the Cosmopolitan under the jurisdiction of tne

Grand Lodge of Scotland , all sent their representatives with their banners an insignia of office . The special Grand Lodge thus called for the solemn occasio was a representative not of any particular section but of Masonry at large , half-past three on Thursday , the 20 th February last , the brethren , in response t the summons widely distributed amongst the Craft , met in the Masonic Hall perforin the last ceremonies to the memory of their departed and much-lov Master .