Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

THE REMOVAL OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL . To the Editor of the '' Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I wish to add my protest against the removal of the Boys' School from its present position ; and , in doing so , would like to give my reasons for objecting to the course adopted by the Board of Management .

The present buildings have cost the funds a very large sum of money , which cannot , in any way , be recovered by the suggested sale of the land . The reasons advanced by the Board of Management are negatived by the records of the School .

In the first place , the site cannot be said to be unhealthy , as there has been no outbreak of illness for several years , and the occurrence of occasional sickness among the boys is much less frequent than in other schools of a similar character and size . With a little re-arrangement and slight alterations , the actual School building might be materially improved , if not made up to date .

Another plea put forward by the Board of Management is the necessity for rrorc playground accommodation . In answer to this , I maintain that larger playground space exists at Wood Green than in schools containing a far greater number of scholars . For example , Christ ' s Hospital and the Drapers' Co . ' s School at Woodford . Surely playgrounds sufficient for two football matches to

be played simultaneously ought to be sufficient for ordinary purposes ? Most public schools have their cricket field away from the actual precincts of the School , and there need be no difficulty in finding , within a radius of a mile and a half of the Wood Green School , several fields which could be utilised for such purposes as cricket matches , sports , & c .

I should also like to point out ( with reference to the resolutions passed by some of the Provincial Grand Lodges in favour of the removal ) , that a very small percentage of those members who voted for the resolution can be aware of the facts of the case , or can ever have seen the Institution . How many of the Jersey brethren ( who agreed to the resolution , quoted in your last issue ) have ever been near the School ?

There is another way , I venture to suggest , in which the funds of the Charity might be better disposed of , and by which any risk of overcrowding the present Institution could be avoided , i e ., by reducing the number of boys at the School from 260 to 220 , or even 200 , and by placing on the foundation of the Charity , a number of boys who might still remain with their parents , but receive an annual sum of £ i _ to £ -0 for their education and contingent expenses .

That this scheme is highly favoured by a large number of Masons , I instance the Mark Benevolent Fund ( where all the children are educated from their own homes by attending very good grammar and other Schools in their own districts ) . Whenever this Fund is mentioned the greater number of assembled Masons freely express their opinion that this is the better plan .

In many cases , it is quite certain , that the children ( both boys and girls ) , after having completed their education in the Masonic Schools , return to their families by no means pleased with their surroundings . The fact of their having been educated in advance of their brothers and sisters often causes dissension and unhappiness in the family circle , where none should exist .

I have , in common with a large number of Masons , been an active supporter of the Boys' School , but I shall certainly discontinue that support , as I consider the proposed removal is not justified by any of the statements made by the Committee . —Yours fraternally ,

THE SO-CALLED "FOURTH DEGREE . " To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , My attention has been called to your leading article on the so-called " Fourth " Degree , and all brethren must , 1 think , agree with you that refreshment after labour is most legitimate ; but I fear we lapse after our symposium into

another Degree—the " self-laudatory , or the " mutual admiration , " Degree . can understand that , once a year , when the Master of a lodge is installed , that those going out and those coming in should be either thanked or encouraged ; but at all other banquets the toasts might be reduced in number , and proposed in the ltast possible flow of words . The advantages of such meetings are to be found in the brethren of a lodge becoming acquainted with each other , a

desideratum which can hardly be acquired if speech after speech of " mutual admiration " has to be listened to , till the late hour obliges a quick retreat homewards , after the Tyler ' s toast . Let us have less talk and more brotherly communication ; more acquaintance between brethren than can possibly be attained under the present laudatory system , which wearies the heaters , and chills that good feeling which should prevail . —Yours fraternally , . A London , December 5 th .

THE NEW ZEALAND QUESTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Is not Bro . Whytehead labouring under some misunderstanding when he assumes that the Grand Lodge of England has already recognised the Grand Lodge ol New Zealand ? There are three important facts and incidents

which , to the minds of many of us who take an interest in the question , plainly prove that recognition has not yet been accorded . Firstly , at the special meeting in July last , Grand Lodge was merely asked lo " request the Grand Master to take such steps for the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand and for the establishment of fralernal good feeling with our New Zealand brethren as he mav consider consistent with the honour of this Grand Lodge , and with iust

consideration for those lodges which may desire to retain their connection with the Grand Lodge of England . " Secondly , a warrant has been issued for a new English lodge in New Zealand since the confirmation of the foregoing resolution . And , thirdly , the President of the Board of General Purposes , at the last Com . munication of Grand Lodge , is reported in the Freemason to have remarked" When the Grand Master had determined , it would then be laid before Grand Lodge , to ratify and confirm what the Grand Master did .

I would , therefore , suggest that the question of recognition is at present in embryo , precisely as it was in two other of the Australasian Colonies , namely , New South Wales and Victoria , and in both of which there were originally unrecognised Giand Lodges . The late Earl of Carnarvon , when Pro Grand Master of England , visited Australia , and it was , in a great measure , owing to his lordship's kindly , diplomatic , and Iraternal offices , that -Masonic Unity eventually

Correspondence.

became a reality in both Colonies by the establishment of the United Grand Lod ges of New South Wales and Victoria . Then , and then only was recognition by the Mother Grand Lodge of the world cheerfully accorded , and after such recognition had been refused to the respective local bodies more than once . In both these instances the movement was practically unanimous , only two English lodges in each Colony declining to join , and one each subsequently fell into line , leaving at the present time one lodge in Sydney and one in Melbourne .

That New Zealand will ultimately follow the example of New South Wales and Victoria may be taken for granted ; but until there be practical unanimity amongst the various conflicting interests , it is , in my humble opinion , idle talk of a United Grand Lodge of New Zealand . B \ it , doubtless , the influences that evolved order out of chaos , in New South Wales and Victoria , are at the present time at work in the southern colony . Meanwhile , one must be content to wait developments . —Fraternally yours , December 5 th . W . F . LAMONBY .

MASONIC VAGRANT . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , You sometimes insert cautions against impostors in the Freemason ,

and I shall be obliged if you will kindly mention the following as a caution to other brethren whom the individual in question may wait upon , and if any reader of the Freemason can assist in exposing this man by furnishing his address or name and number of his lodge ( if any V ) , I shall be glad if they will reply through your office . I would rather my name and lodge be not mentioned by you :

On the 31 st of July , a man giving the name as J . E J , and representing himself as being connected with a firm in the steel and iron trade at Sheffield , came to me as a brother , explaining that his letters and supplies had not arrived , but that they would be sure to reach him next morning . In the

meantime he wanted a cash loan—which I now regret to say he obtained—promising repayment the following day without any doubt . I have neither seen nor heard of him since !—Yours fraternally , W . M . Dorchester , 4 th December .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Lion and Lamb Lodge , No . 192 . A meeting of the above lodge was held at Cannon-streeet Hotel on Thursday , the 3 rd inst . Present : Bros . J . Smith , acting W . M ., D . C ; T . VV . Fisher , I . P . M . ; C . Garton , J . W . j Thos . Cohu , P . M ., Treas . ; H . Legge , P . M ., Sec ; William Baker , S . D . j T . Selby-Henrey , J . D . and Chap . ; J . G . Robeson , I . G . ; Thomas Stokes , A . D . C . J Goodes , P . M . ; Hughes , P . M . ; Mower , P . M . ; Peach , Dixon , Lloyd , Collins , Farr , S . Rippin , A . J . Rippin , Peirson , Lockett , Pitt , Wetton , Purbrook , Fishleigh , Welch , Virgo , Doody , and Crawshaw . Bro . W . Hawkins , 1382 , was a visitor .

Lodge having been opened and the minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed , Bro . Smith , acting W . M ., read a telegram received from Bro . Sarson , W . M ., regretting his absence through illness . Bro . Dixon was raised to the Third Degree and Bro . Purbrook passed . The notice of motion by Bro . William Baker , S . D ., that the bye-laws be amended as follows : " That neither the ceremonies of passin' or raising

be worked on installation night" was carried unanimously . A petition to the Board of Benevolence was signed on behalf of the widow of an old member of the lodge . Mr . Henry Williams was proposed as a candidate for initiation at the next meeting . A Committee was appointed to make _ arrangements for a ladies' night , consisting of a Cinderella dance , thc said Committee comprising Bros . Doody , Fergusson , Hughe ; , A . J . Rippin , Crawshaw , and the officers of the lodge . Lodge was then closed .

Whittington Lodge , No . 862 . The installation meeting of this prosperous lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall on the iCth ult . The members present included Bros . William Bradford , W . M . ; T . H . T . Jarvis , S . W . ; H . Kemp , J . W . ; Walter C . Tyler , S . D . ; A . Clarkson , J . D . ; T . J . Hester , D . C . ; James Weaver , P . M . S 62 and 1319 , P . P . G . Org . Middx ., Sec . ; S . Godden , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Irvine , P . M . ; Goddard , P . M ., Tyler ; A . V . H . Pauncefort , P . M . ; J . Greenwood Hartley , G . M . Field , P . Day , T . W . Lowe , W . A . Grayson , R . VV . C . Palmer , A . T . Chamberlin , R . Spencer , J . T . Southgate , Frank Heywood , A .

T . Taylor , W . Reynolds , S . H . Bradford , G . Green , and G . Palmer . Visitors : Bros . C . A . Walter , W . M . S 65 , P . P . G . D . Middx . ; W . M . Stiles , P . G . Treas . ; W . A . Scurrah , G . Std . Br . ; G . H . Rawson , 2028 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Turle Lee , 2264 ; Feed . Harrison , P . M . 27 ; Bertrand Grant , W . M . 2562 ; Capt . C . J . Knightley , P . M . 1744 ; J . S . Butter , VV . M . 45 ; Sidney Hill , Org . 101 ; Howard Reynolds , Org . 1309 ; B . Grant , W . M . 2562 ; F . Harrison , P . M . 27 ; W . J . Marchant , R . C . Davis , P . M . 2266 ; G . Collard , P . M . 1704 ; C . F . Winchen , 1209 , 2999 , P . P . S . G . D . Kent ; T . H . Mills , Sandford , 1402 ; H . A . Brock , 1402 ; S . C . Phillips , S . W . 2562 ; John Hart , W . M . 2146 ; and others .

After the confirmation of the minutes , Bro . Philip Greenwood was raised to the Third Degree , Bros . John Alortimer Field and William Geo . West were passed to the Second Degree , and Messrs . Stewart H . Bradford , Walter Reynolds , and Jabez Williams were initiated , after which Bro . T . H . T . Jarvis was presented , and duly installed into the chair of K . S ., and invested his officers as follows : Bros . W . Bradford , I . P . M . ; H . Kemp , S . W . ; W . C . Tyler , J . W . ; S . Godden , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Irvine , P . M ., Treas . B . F . ; James Weaver , P . M ., Sec ; A . Clarkson , S . D . ; T . J .

Hester , J . D . ; F . Heywood , I . G . ; J . T . Southgate , D . of C ; A . V . H . Pauncefort , P . M ., Org . ; and J . Gilbert , Tyler . The addresses delivered to the W . M ., Wardens , and brethren were given by Bro . J . Irvine , P . M ., in a perfect manner . After " Hearty good wishes '' had been offered by the visitors , the brethren adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern , where a recherche' banquet was served , at which the W . M . very ably presided . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts followed .

In giving the toast of "The Grand Officers , Present and Past , " the W . M . remarked on the exceptional presence of two Grand Ofiicers—Bros . Stiles and Scurrah . Bro . Stiles , P . G . Treas ., in reply , sail he was delighted to see his old friend , Bro . Jarvis , installed that evening as W . M . of the Whittington Lodge ; he also was delighted to hear Bro . Irvine as Installing Master . Brevity being the soul of wit , he theiefore congratulated the W . M ., Wardens , and brethren on the wiy in which the working of the different Degrees had been carried out , and thanked them for the pleasure afforded him to be their guest that evening .

Bro . Scurrah , in reply on behalf of the Present Grand 0 "Beers , slid no two brethren worked harder for the benefit of Freemasonry than Lords Lathom and Amherst . In Lord Lathom , whenever there was anything spec al on at Grand Lodge he was there , and the same might be said of Earl Amherst , who , although a younger officer , did his best for the benefit cf the Craft in everv way .

The I . P . M ., Bro . Bradford , in proposing " The Health of the W . M ., " said it was with the greatest possible pleasure he rose to propose that toast . Ever since Bro . Jarv ' . s entered the lodge he had been a zealous and hard-working member of it . He had the greatest Cjnlidcnce in him , and thought he would make one of the best W . Ms , the Whittington Lodge had ever had .

J ' he W . M ., in reply , said he thanked them all for the too flattering manner in which his heuli . li had been diunk . He had tried to do his best , and if he had succeeded he could only say it had been a labour of love , and anything he could do to promote the interest of the Whittington Lodge , he would do with the greatest possible pleasure . The W . M . next proposed " Ihe I . P . M ., " and in a lew words said all the brethren of the Whittington Lodge knew what Bro . Bradford had done for them in the past . I Ie had attended all meetings , and after each meeting a banquet , he therefore , inthe name of thc lodge , presented him with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel .