To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

The following communications ^ pmonEst others , unavoidahlj . « tand over : CRAFT LODGES . —Pattison , No . QCJ , ? nd Eleanor Cross , No , ' 1 * 4 Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland . Pro incial Grand Lod-ie of Warwickshire . Provincial Grand Lodge of St ^ ibrJshire . Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex .

Ar00501

SATURDAY , NOVEMBER n , 18 93 . *

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex , which was held at Brighton on the 26 th ult ., was largely attended , and , although not graced by the presence of its Royal Grand Master , an address was received from that

genial and energetic ruler , which showed that he was fully alive to his Masonic responsibilities , and that his absence was in no way due to any lack of interest in Freemasonry . A report of the proceedings still stands over , we regret to . say , through want of space .

An attempt , which we hope will be successful , is being made to organise the lodges and chapters in South London with a view to centralising their voting power , and preventing the waste of votes which takes place at every election . A similar association was

formed some years ago , but probably from the fact that it attempted to cover too wide an area and thus lost that homogeneousness which is so great a factor in such combinations , and possibly also for want of proper management , the scheme fell through . The

promoters of this association , of which Bro . Perceval Nairne , P . G . D ., is the Chairman , are wise in confining their operations to South London , and there is little doubt that steps will soon be taken to place

the north side in possession of a similar organisation . Bro . E . Janau is the acting Secretary , and will send notices to all representatives of lodges whose names are sent to him for the meeting on the 13 th prox . His address is 02 , Elms-road , Clapham Common , S . W .

Very sad , indeed , is the news it is our duty to record this week that Bro . George Cooper , P . G . D ., died after a brief , but , as it proved , a fatal , attack of typhoid fever , at his residence , Brentwood , Essex , on Saturday last . Bro . Cooper was one of the kindest , most genial , and

most courteous of men , and in his Masonic career a brother of infinite zeal and capacity for work . Quiet and unobstrusive in his demeanour , his co-operation in the work of lodge and chapter , council and preceptory , was eagerly sought ; nor was it ever sought in

vain . The Institutions owe him a debt of gratitude for his support and services as Steward , while among his friends and familiars and the general body , there are few who have been more sincerely or deservedly respected and beloved . In fine , he was one of those of

whom it may justly be said that , though the Angel of Death may have taken him unawares—our deceased brother was only 55 years of age at the time of his death—it did not take him unprepared for the Eternity , upon which , to the grief of the relatives and friends who mourn him , he has thus prematurely entered .

» * * It will be seen from the memoir we publish elsewhere that Bro . Cooper had won distinction in well nigh every branch of our Masonic system with which he was associated . Not only in Craft and Royal Arch

Masonry , but likewise in tbe Mark Degree , the Order of the Temple , and the Ancient and Accepted Rite he was a prominent member , and there are many lodges and other bodies which will deplore his loss , not only

as that of an esteemed and valued member , but as well from the difficulty they will experience- in replacing him . * * *

The brethren of Didsbury have arranged a scheme , which they term " A Masonic Cabinet , " lor the practice of the Emulation working , and which appears to be of considerable advantage to those who wish to acquire not only a complete knowledge of the rit ual , but of all

the proceedings which go to make up the full work of a lodge . A syllabus has been arranged , distinguished as A ., B ., C , and D ., which includes every detail of lodge work , the full agenda occupying four nights . The dates on which the respective programmes are

Masonic Notes.

carried out are given for the whole season up to June next , so that those who are not able to attend as frequently as others may s . till be able to make themselves acquainted with the whole working of a lodge in its minutest detail . We commend this scheme to the consideration of other lodges of instruction .

* * * We understand the Most Worshipful Grand Master has appointed the Earl of Dartmouth to the office of Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire . Lord Dartmouth is exceedingly popular in the county of Stafford , of which he is Lord Lieutenant , and we have reason to

believe the appointment will give the greatest satisfaction to the brethren of the province . The office had been vacant for nearly two years—since the death of the late Bro . Col . Foster Gough in the early part of last year—during which period the province has been under the charge of the gonial and popular Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Lieut .-Col . John Bindley .

# # # The report of the proceedings at the Quarterly Communications of the District Grand Lodge of Canterbury , New Zealand , which were held at the St . Augustine Masonic Hall , Christchurch , on the 20 th

April and 20 th July respectively , contains n ithing but what is of purely local interest , except that at the former meeting Bro . Peter Cunningham , District Grand Master , who was about to sail for England , not only

received the heartiest good wishes and God-speed from the brethren present , but was likewise presented with a gold District Grand Master's jewel "as a slight token of the real and heartfelt esteem and respect in which he was held " by the brethren in the jurisdiction .

# # # In acknowledging the presentation , Bro . Cunningham having expressed his gratitude for the kindness they had shown him , remarked that during the time he had presided over the District Grand Lodge " he had tried to guide the Craft in a quiet spirit , and so as to avoid

any harsh feelings that might arise , " and , from what had just taken place , he felt justified in assuming that in this effort he had been successful . Ho had also the satisfaction of knowing that during his period of office the aggregate membership of the lodges under his control had increased by 151 .

We should judge from the report of the proceedings at the Quarterly Communication held at Freemasons ' Hall , Brisbane , on the 6 th September , of the District Grand Lodge of Queensland , that Freemasonry under the English Constitution in that jurisdiction is exceedingly prosperous . Bro . Alex . Corrie , Past Dist .

S . G . W ., who had been invited to visit the lodges in the northern part of the colony , had visited as many as 13 lodges , and in nearly every case bad found the Craft prosperous , and that the working , though here and there a little faulty , was on the whole satisfactory . # # *

We regret to hear that an accident has befallen Mrs . Terry , the wife of our worthy Bro . James Terry , the indefatigable Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . On Monday , the lady in question left her home for a walk , and had only gone a few yards

when she slipped or stumbled over some gravel that was lying on the pathway , and falling heavily , not only sustained several severe contusions , but had the additional misfortune to break her wrist . Owing to the swollen state of the arm , it was not till the following

day that it was found possible to set the bone . We understand that all is going on favourably , and we trust the limb will in time be as sound as ever . Both Bro ' and Mrs . Terry have our sincere sympathy in the circumstances we have described .

Correspondence .

Correspondence .

I we do not hold ourselvei- responsible for the opinion * expressed tw our correspondent !* , but we wiBh in a spirit of fair play 10 'II to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . 1

THE ROYAL ARCH . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have given considerable attention to the matter of want of interest in the Royal Arch , and feel sure that the alteration in the regulations of the Order will do much to benefit the various chapters .

Mcmbeisof the Order will do well to remove the impression in the minds of so many brethren that they should defer taking the Degree until they have attained the chair in the Craft , as in very few chapters can office be obtained at once ; in many it takes four or five years to reach the Third Principal ' s chair . —Yours , & c , HENRY LOVEGROVE , P . Z . 72 , 1549 .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

gf ^^ feWfifiiin ^ I

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Faith Lodge ( No . 141 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleetstreet , on the 31 st ult . Among those present were Bros . J . Ccckram Taylor , W . M . ; J . Trott , S . W ., Master elect ; A . C . White , J . W . ; W . J . Hakim , P . M ., Treas . ; W . Stuart , P . M ., Sec . ; R . T . Godfrey , S . D . ; A . G . Swan , J . D . ; J . Gluckstein , I . G . ; H . O . Sharpley ,

Org . ; J . Welch , l . P . M . ; Charles Dairy , P . M . ; G . Rumball , P . M . ; Capt . T . C . Walls , P . M ., G . Stwd . ; R . Jordan , P . M . ; G . Coop , P . M . ; Hudson , P . M . ; Fromholtz , P . M . ; C . Wetzlar , P . M . ; Langdale , P . M . ; and LohgstafT , Tyler . The visitors were Bros . R . Coffin , P . M . 1572 , P . P . G . D . C . ; S . Derham , W . M . 1622 ; G . Body , 72 ; E . Horton , 72 ; W . Cutting , 193 ; R . Sohwergh , 425 ; J . Bote , 660 ; T . West , 1310 ; J . T .

Packer , 155 S ; and C . Mallett , 1572 . I he minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . J . Trott , was duly presented as Master elect , and was ably installed into the chair of K . S . by Bro . Taylor , assisted by Bro . Wetzlar , P . M ., as S . W . ; J . Welch , P . M ., as J . W . ; Capt . Walls , P . M ., as D . C ; and VV . J . Hakim , P . M ., as I . G . Ihe following appointments and investitures were made : Bros . I . C . 'Taylor ,

l . P . M . ; A . C . White , S . W . ; R . T . Godlrey , J . W . ; W . J . Hakim , P . M ., Treas . ; W . Stuart , P . M ., Sec . -, A . G . bwan , S . D . ; J . Gluckstein , J . D . ; J . Moss , I . G . j S . N . Isaacs and H . O . Sharpley , Siwds . ; A . Salnon , DC ; E . Sti-infeld , A . D . C ; and G . Longst-ff , Tyler . A vote of thanks was passed with acclamation and ordered to be entered on the mi 'Utes in recognition of the services of the Installing Master . A sum of money was voted

from the funds to assist the candidature of a poor widow for the benefits of the R . M . B . I . An important resolution , bearing upon the financial positiun of the lod ^ e , having been passed , the lodge was closed . The brethren adjourned to a well-served banquet-Trie preliminary toasts having received full justice , The l . P . M . proposed "The Health of the W . M . " In the course of his remarks he said that Bro . Trott uas an

initiate of the lodge , he had filled the minor offices satisfactorily , and was in every other respect worthy of the position of Master of the old Lodge of _ Faith . They were all doubtless pleased at the maimer in which he had invested his offi ers that evening . The VV . M . having , in reply , said a few modest words of thanks , the toast of "The Installing Master" followed . The propo > er of the pledge , at the conclusion nf his speech ,

said that Bro . J . C . Taylor had well earned the Past Master's jewel , which the lodge had unanimously voted to him , and which he ( the speaker ) had great personal plea = ure in affixing to his breast . This toast and presentation having been duly acknowledged , the toa ? -t of " 'The Visitors " came next in order . Bro . Guflin , P . M . 1572 , in response , made a most eloquent speech . He congratulated the l . P . M . upon the installed his and

manner in which he had successor , complimented the latter upon the workmanlike manner in which he had invested his •ubordinates . He also expressed his thanks to the strong body of the Past Masters for their hearty reception of himselt and co-visitors . A visit to the Faith Lodge installation was a matier to be pleasingly remembered . Bros . Hudson , P . M ., and Wetzlar , P . M ., responded in happy terms on behalt of " The Past Masters . "

In giving "The Treasurer and Secretary , " the W . M . expressed a hope that Bro . Hakim would hold the position of Treasurer as long , if not lunger , than his lamented predecessor ( Bro . W . Carter , P . M . ) . who was elected 33 times to that office , and died universally respected . The l . idge owed a good deal to the Secretary , who bore his fourscore years well . The tuast was drunk with enthusiasm . Bros . Hakim and Slu-irt brufly responded , the latter brother causing much amusement by the quaintness of his

utterances . Bro . C . Dairy replied on behalf of " The Masonic Charities , " and Bros . White and Godfrey lor " 'The Officers . "

An interesting and varied programme ot music was lurnished by Bro . Sharpley , assisted by Mr . Walter M . George and Mesdames Phyllis Hope and Theresa Kellaway , tne vocal morceanx ot the ladies being particularly appreciated and re-demanded . Lion and Lamb Lodge ( No . 192 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held on Ihursday , the 2 nd inst . at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-sireet , when there were present Bros . F . Hughes , W . M . ; J . Smith , S . W . ;

T . W . Fisher , J . W . ; Thos . Cohu , P . M ., Treas . ; Henry Legge , P . M ., Sec . ; J . M . Mower , l . P . M . ; R . - Sarson , S . D . ; G . Goodes , D . C ; A . J . Holmes , Steward ; C . Couchman , Tyler ; J . G . Marsh , P . M . ; Geo . Abbott , P . M . ; Garton , Bevan , Martyn , Lendon , W . Baker , G , Miner , Cobb , J . W . Clarke , and P . L . Simmonds . Visitors : Bros . James Plae , 351 ; H . Johnson , 2409 ; H . Kemp , S 62 ; J . S . Purser , 07 ; and E . Chatterton , 11 S 5 .

The lodge was duly openeu , and after the minutes had been read and confirmed , a ballot was taken for Professor Peter Lund Simmonds , 2 iyo , as a joining member , and that brother was declared duly elected . A ballut was taken for Mr . John Wm . Clarke , who was then initiated in due form . Bro . Bevan was raised , and Bro . Miner passed to the-Second Degree . 'The Secretary announced that he had received a letter from Bro . Everett , Treasurer of the Domatic Lodge , P . G . Treas ., stating that the Domatic

Lodge at its last meeting had , up jn a resolution proposed by himself , and seconded by Bro . H . Price , unanimously agreed ihat the old minute book of the Lion and Lamb Lodge recording its earliest proceedings should be restored to the Lion and Lamb Lodge . The VV . M . stated that the old minute book had been placed in his hands that evening , and in recognition moved the following resolution , which was seconded by Bro . Smith , S . W ., and carried unanirnouily : " That the thanks of the lodge be given to the Domatic