Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

A CORRECTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I shall be glad if you will allow me to make one or two corrections of , and additions to , your report of the proceedings of the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge . It was not Bro . Horton Smith , but I who rose to order during

Bro . Richard Eve s speech ; for it appeared to me that he was clearly inaccurate in asserting that the brethren had only four days' notice of the proposed increase of salary of the Grand Secretary , when it had been first broached four months previously at the Board of General Purposes , and , as I was informed , had been specially adjourned that it might be decided by a full Board . As Bro . Sir John Monckton afterwards stated , although that is also omitted from the report , on this occasion Bro . Eve was in a minority of one .

The R . W . Brother in the Chair passed over my point of order , and I would not for a moment suggest that there was anything absolutely out of order for a member of a Committee to re-open a question when it is placed before a full assembly . But Masonic regulations go further , and what I intended to imply was that Masonically Bro . Eve was out of order if only because he was transgressing that " ready acquiescence in all votes and resolutions duly passed by a majority of the brethren , " which was enjoined on him as an example of obedience when he wab initiated into the Order , and on such a ground , he would , I apprehend , have bee . ' j stopped by the W . Jf . of any private lodge .

May I also point out that your report omits Sir John Monckton's reasons whyi independently of the increase of work of the present Grand Secretary , owing to the increase of Masonry , the Grand Lodge could afford to give a larger salary , viz .- That when the late Colonel Shadwell Clerke was appointed , a pension of . £ 500 a year was awarded to Bro . Hervey . Moreover , that Colonel Shadwell

Clerke was also in receipt of military half-pay , whereas Bro . Letchworth had forfeited , on acceptance ot the appointment , a lucrative practice . Since your reports , generally so complete , are the only source of information to a large number of provincial brethren , and to others in more distant parts , I am sure you will be so good as to accept and publish these few words . —I am , yours fraternally , LENNOX BROWNE , P . Dep . G . D . C . December 8 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"A PALESTINIAN SYRIAC LECTIONARY . C . J . Clay and Sons , Ave Maria Lane , London . 12 s . Gd . net . —This deeply interesting Volume ( in quarto ) Studia Sinaitica , No . VI ., is edited by Agnes Smith Lewis , with critical notes by Professor Dr . Nestle , and the Glossary is by Margaret D . Gibson . The Introduction , though brief , is to the point , not a word is wasted , and thejparticulars afforded of the important MS . ( which is reproduced in the volume so carefully , as to be practically a facsimile ) enable one to fully sympathise with the valuable discovery made by Mrs . Lewis , and to share her joy

in becoming its purchaser in the spring of 1 S 95 , at Cairo . This gifted lady , _ pnorto actually considering herself the owner of the Lectionary , made all reasonable inquiries from the Sinai Monks , so as to be assured it had not been stolen from the Convent of St . Catherine , and so now she may , and doubtless , does , feel that it is her possession , beyond dispute . Her previous experience as an earnest student of the Palestinian Lectionaries , one of which she discovered in 1 S 92 , and the other was found by Professor Dr . J . Rendel Harris in the following year , fitted her most admirably as Editor of this

particular MS ., which consists of 22 S leaves , exclusive of 12 , which are missing , and which may yet be traced , as they " had been given away , one by one , by the dealer to various people , who regarded them only in the light of curiosities . " Possibly the last leaf thus taken from the precious vellum MS . may contain the colophon , and so that , at least , should be secured . It seems quite clear that the Lectionary was used by the Malkite branch ' of the Syrian Church , and as there are but three known of these Gospel Lectionaries—one only from 175 G discovery , and the other two , traced 1892-3 , as stated —that the scant light thrown on their origin and history of the dialect by the rubrics of

the present MS . are most welcome . Their caligraphy apparently belongs to a period when " Syriac held its own against Arabic as a spoken language . " The critical notes by Dr . Nestle are most helpful and extensively useful , and so also is the exhaustive and invaluable glossary by Mrs . Gibson , sister of the Editor . The occasional divergent readings from most of the Bib'ical MSS . are most suggestive , and open up a wide field of enquiry . The beauty of the manuscript is evident from the frontispiece , which is devoted to a facsimile of Deut . xi ., 7—10 , from a photo by Mrs . Gibson , and the whole " get up " of the volume by Messrs . C J . Clay and Sons leaves nothing to be desired .

"THE BOOKMAN" { Hodder and S / oughton , 27 , Paternoster-row ) . —This monthly which is always interesting and full of valuable information and advice for the three classes catered for ( viz ., Book readers , hit vers , and sellers ) , is particularly so in the Christmas Number , now circulating , and though a supplement is added , still published at the small sum of sixpence . It is the size of the Freemason , but No . 75 has So pages , with many illustrations , not a few of which are of a superior character , being specimens from the various works reviewed . A feature of this useful monthly is the

magazine and entertaining style of the text , and the frequent articles of ability , concerning took-makers , as well as careful reviews of the current work which from their excellence , value and interest command extended notices . An alphabetical list of new boiksforthe month , arranged in alphabjtical form , as well as in subjects , is a real boon for ordinary book buyers , as the prices and publishers are appended , and particulars of sales for llis previous mjnth , and liiU of bjaki wanted and for sale leaves nothing to be desired in this department , the first mentioned being supplied and guaranteed by the leading booksellers named . The more this monthly is known the better for all interested in general study , as it is a never failing aid for students of all kinds .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

Saye and Sele Lodge , No . 309 . The installation meeting was held at the Masonic Rooms , Belvedere , on the 24 * h ult . The VV . M ., Bro . VV . Campbell Taylor , presided , assisted by Bros . Greenway , S . W . ; Turton , J . W . ; and a gojd muster ot officers and members . After the minutes had been read and confirmed , Bro . VV . Long was advanced to the Honourable Degree , and thereafter the D . P . G . M ., Bro . F . IIughes-Hallett , l ' . G . I ) ., entered , and was saluted . The VV . M . elect , Bro . ! . Turton , wis presented by the senior P . M ., Bro .

F . Wood , and ably installed by the retiring W . M . The addresses were eloquently delivered , and the officers appointed as follows : Bros . Brooks , S . W . ; Wood , P . M ., J . W . ; Robinson , P . M ., Treas . ; A II . Bateman , P . M . ( for the 12 th consecutive year ) , Sec . ; Corbett , M . O . ; Messer , S . O . ; Solkhon , J . O . ; Greenway , R . of M . ; Jones , S . D . ; Long , J . D . ; and Greig , P . M ., acting I . G . The Past Master ' s jewel of the kdge was presented to the I . P . M ., and was well deserved after the splendid way he had carried out the work of a busy year . Two candidates were proposed for advancement , and the lodge was closed .

Mark Masonry.

Borough of Greenwich Lodge , No . 332 . At the last meeting of the above lodge the present W . M ., Bro . A . H . Bateman , P . M . 309 and 433 , P . G . M . O . Kent , was re-elected W . M . for another year . . This lodge —the oldest Masonic institution in East Greenwich—after a period of inactivity , is now becoming prosperous again , and has prospects of plenty of work for the new year .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Ancient and Accepted Rite .

CONSECRATION OF THE ALLEYN R . C . CHAPTER , No . 139 .

An important meeting of this august body was held on Wednesday , the Sth inst ., at their Masonic Hall , 33 . Golden-square , W ., for the purpose of consecrating a new Rose Croix Chapter , 18 , to be named the Alleyn Chapter , No . 139 , on the register of the Supreme Council , when the following distinguished members of the Order were present : Most III . Bro . Capt . N . G . Philips , 33 , Lieut . G . Comr . ; Very III . Bros . Frank Richardson

33 ; Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , 33 ; J . H . Matthews , 33 ; and R . Loveland Loveland , J . P ., Q . C ., 33 ° , of the Supreme Council ; also III . Bros . Sir G . Harris , 33 ; Sir F . G . M . Boileau , 32 ; E . Armitage , 32 ; and G . F . Tower , 30 ° .

Letters of regret for inability to be present at this meeting were received from M . 111 . Bro . the Earl of Euston , 3 V ; III . Bros . A . F . Godson , M . P ., 33 ° ; E . Letchworth . 33 ° ; Fenn , 33 ; W . M . Bywater , 32 ; R . H . Thrupp , 32 ; R . Glutton , 32 ; H . Ward , 32 ; H . H . Shirley , M . A ., 30 ° ; A . Stewart Brown , 30 ° ; F . Lawrence , 30 ; and H . Clutton , 30 .

Founders : E . and P . Bro . William John Songhurst , iS ° , Invicta Chapter , No . 10 ; III . Bros . John Read , 30 ° , P . M . W . S . Invicta Chapter , No . 10 , St . George ' s , No . 42 , Shadwell Clerke , No . 107 ; Fredk . Atkinson Powell , 18 ° , Ivor Hael Chapter , No . 34 ; Robert Coram Leversedge , 30 ° , P . M . W . S . Shadwell Clerke Chapter , No . 107 ; E . and P . Bro . John William Stevens , A . R . I . B . A ., 1 S , Shadwell Clerke Chapter , No . 107 ; and 111 . Bro . Capt . W . Portlock Dadson , 33 , P . M . W . S . Invicta Chapter , No . 10 . 0 0

Visitors : III . Bros . H . Lovegrove 31 ; G . W . Capel , 30 ; N . Goodchild , 30 ; and Geo . Powell , 30 ; Ex . and P . Bros . P . Laird , 18 ° ; and James Shilcock , 18 ° . A Supreme Council was formed , and the following brethren weie perfected to the 18 th Degree ; Bros . A . H . Thornton , 1383 ; A . Churchward , M . D ., P . M . 890 , 1139 , P . Z . 800 ; J . P . Norrington , A . M . I . C . E ., P . M .

2105 ; H . E . Herman , P . M ., P . Z . 2601 , 1293 ; W . H . Kidson , M . L . S . B ., S . W . 2611 , and J . F . Henley , 2647 . The ceremony of consecration of the Alleyn Chapter was then most solemnly and impressively carried out by the Supreme Council , the M . P . Sov . G . Commander in the chair . At the conclusion of this ceremonial , Ex . and P . Bro . W . J . Songhurst , iS ° , was presented by the III . Bro . Sir Geo . Harris , 33 , G . D . C , for installation as M . W . S . of the chapter , V . III . Bro . F . Richardson , 33 , performing that ceremony . 0

The M . W . S . appointed as his officers III . Bro . John Read , 30 , Prelate ; Ex . and P . Bro . F . A . Powell , 18 ° , 1 st General ; III . Bros . R . C . Leversedge , 30 , 2 nd General j and Capt . Portlock-Dadson , 33 ° , Recorder ; Ex . and P . Bros . J . W . Stevens , A . R . I . B . A ., Marshal ; A . H . Thornton , Raphael ; A . Churchward , M . D ., D . C . ; James Norrington , Herald ; and H . E . Hermon , Captain of the Guard . Ex . and P . Bros . W . H . Kidson , M . L . S . B ., was elected Treasurer ; and a Committee was appointed to frame the by-laws .

A vote of thanks was carried by acclamat on to the members of the Supreme Council for their attendance on this occasion and consecrating the chapter , perfecting the candidates , and installing the M . W . S . The Supreme Council were also pleased to accept honorary membersh p of the chapter . All business being concluded , the chapter was closed in ample and solemn form and a most successful meeting terminated .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . WILLIAM J . JUBY . Bro . William J . Jiiby whose sudden and lamented death we briefly announced in our last issue , was apparently in fairly good health . He was the hi ghly respected head master of St . Mary ' s Boys' School , Charlwood-road , Putney , and the sad event took place about three o ' clock on Tuesday morning , the 30 th ult ., the immediate cause of death being an apoplectic seizure . On the Monday , the day previous , he attended to his professional duties as usual , and in the evening

was looking after-the work connected with a Provident Bank , which was carried on at the schools , when at a few minutes after six he was seized with a fit , medical aid was summoned , and although all that was possible was done he passed away at the time stated without having regained consciousness to the intense grief of his wife and family , and the sincere regret of his many friends . Our deceased brother was initiated in the Rose of Denmark Lodge , No . 075 , and served all the

principal offices , and was installed Master on the 19 th ult ., a full report of which appeared in our last issue . Bro . Juby was known to us personally for several years , and we tender our respectful sympathy to his bereaved wife and family and to the members of the Rose of Denmark Lodge , who have sustained a very great loss , and the memory of his services to the lodge will be cherished for many years to come . The funeral took place on Friday , the

3 rd instant , the cortege proceeding from the late residence of the deceased , Charlwood-road , to All Saint ' s Church , Putney Lower Common . The chief mourners were the widow and son and two daughters . When the the church was reached there was a crowd of several hundred of the inhabitants of Putney and about 80 members of the Craft . A special service was solemnly and impressively performed by the Rev . W . F . Shillito , assisted by the Rev . A . K . Henley . The choir was under the direction of the choir Master

Mr . Harry Dancey , who also presided at the organ and at the close of the service played the " Dead March in Saul . " The cortege then proceeded to the Putney Lower Common Cemetery—where another big crowd awaited—the Rev . W . F . Shillito officiating at the grave . Many handsome wreaths were sent among others , the Rose of Denmark Lodge , Burgoyne Lod ^ e of Instruction , Bro . W . R . Williams , P . M . ; Bro . E . Clarke , P . M . ; Bro . C . Cowland , P . M ., and Mrs . Cowland ; Bro . W . R . Woolgar , Bro . Arthur Dulley , liro . and Mrs . W . Bishop , Bro . and Mrs . A , AlderLon and family , Bro , and Mrs . J . Porter and family ,