Correspondence.

Correspondence .

CANVASSING IN GRAND LODGE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , It has often struck me that the canvassing for votes in Grand Lodge is an anomaly that should not obtain among us as Masons . The very essence of all our rites and ceremonies is the submission of our

personal claims , and then submission to the good of the * lodge or of the Order . The members of our Order are supposed to act from disinterested motives , and to freely yield thc pu <; to any other brother , if , by general consent , it is thought the latter is the better fitted for the duties there to be discharged . Against all this system of canvassing for seats on the Board of General

Purposes and other Committees , the spirit of the Order protests , and the protest is felt io lhe full by many a brother , who , nevertheless , feels compelled to fall in with the " current , " unless he desires to see his lawful claims poached from him by others less scrupulous . The traffic in votes carried on in the most open manner whenever Grand Lodge proceeds to election is

something appalling to the severely-Masonic soul . " Let me look at your list : '' " I will support any brother you like to name upon your list ( known or unknown to me ) if you will support one ( equally unknown to you ) upon my list , " are heard on every hand . Then the appeals that arrive by every post , and are introduced in the shape of circulars , from Masonic friends . The

question of ll'ho is the best man f seems a purely secondary one , and is supplanted by " Who has thc must persistence 0 " I do not wish to be insidious in any sense , but if we look at some of the names ot those who have obtained the highest places on the lists for the

last few years , can any one say that they are , without exception , the mosl desirable candidates ¦* The general impression seems to be that they are not , and the mystery which enshrouds the process by which these results are attained keeps many leisurely , able , and well-qualified , but less pushing , candidates out of the field .

All this is freely acknowledged on every side , but one is met with the question , what substitute do you proposer I venture to submit the following , with the hope lhat it may lead to discussion , and that some reilly good and efficient system may be evoked by the united efforts of those who deplore the present . I would allow nominations in writing to be sent at stated

tunes to the Grand Secretary ' s office , such nominations should bear the names of , say , three brethren . The candidates should furnish such particulars ot their Masonic career as they may please , and these , after being ' * edited" in the office , should be published with the official minutes of the Grand Lodge immediatel y preceding that in which the election takes place .

Spare copies of these lists of nominated candidates , with a place for signature by qualified electors , should be distributed freel y to all members of Grand Lodge who care to apply for them , and they should be transmitted by post , or otherwise , to Gt . Queen-street , before or upon the day of meeting . A Committee would verify each voting paper and its signature , and

the result of the voting would be announced as part of the business of the evening . In fact , the voting should be assimilated as nearly as possible to what takes place in a university Parliamentary election , in the case of out-voters . I venture to commend this crude outline to those who dislike the present cumbrous method , which over-fills Grand Lodge building with a host of

members who stay only to register their votes , and then depart disgusted . By the process I am now advocating , no candidate would be kept out of the field , and every candidate elected would fe : 1 that he possessed the confidence of the brethren generally , and not of a clique whom he hail wheedled into attending at Grand I . odge on a

li irticular evening in order to support him . It is generally admitted that the work of these Boards is well and honestly done . This I think , among Masons , j ; oes without saying ; but I venture to think that a Board Selected after my pattern would , if possible ,

command siill more confidence in the Cralt , and when , as nn st inevitably happen , thc half-dozen able leading sp ' riis a-e taken from us , the work will still go on upon th : gcol old lines , and our beloved '' mystery" will g . vn slrength and favour . RIST PLANG , P . M ., P . X ., Sec .

Reviews.

Reviews .

KINGSTON LODGE OF FREFAUSONS ' , No . 1010 , DIRECTORY , 1 S 94 . Compi ' ed hy the SKCRKTAKV . l ! ro . J . Carlill Savill , the able Secretrrv of this inlluential lodge , has done well to edit another edition of this most iis-ful publication . The last , so Br > . Hugh in tells us , was ot the year 1 S 90 , previous editions being of 18 S 4 and 1 SS 7 . The work i . s on the same lines as the previous issues , and is printed in Hro . M . C . Peck ' s best style . The members are

arranged under years of election , the founders being given before the first admissi ms of 1 S 64 , They are ceiling less and less as the years roll onward , only four IVIW li " ing on the roll . The Karl of Londesborough was elected honorary member in iSfq , and so was liro . J . L . Seaton , a similar ompli-nent being paid two esteemed Masonic historians in

1 S 70 ( Bros . Hughan and Findel ) , as well as Bro . W . I ) , Keyworth . The next so honoured was Colonel the lion . W . T . Ordc-Poivlctt , in i . S . SO , the respected Deputy Prov . G . M . Uro . M . C . Peck , the ind . fatigable Prov . G . Sec , Wis elected another of the honoraiy members in 1 . S . X 0 , and the Rev . F . II . Duggins , M . A ., in 1 S 93 . Theie arc numerous paitieulars alfuided oi the lodge , chapter , and

Reviews.

Mark lodge . The interesting annals" of No . 1010 are brought down to 1 S 93 , and most carefully compiled by the model Secretary . If every lodge were as well supplied it would be a grand time for the Craft .

HULL MASONIC CALENDAR , 1894 . This indispensable annual of Bro . M . C . Peck ' s is to time , and most effective , as usual . The calendar includes the days of meeting of all the Masonic bodies in that most nourishing Masonic centre—Hull—as also information of other meetings in the neighbourhood . Handy , accurate , and well printed are invariable features 0 ? this publication

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

H ^^ jig ^ figQB & j

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Robert Burns Lodge ( No . 25 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Monday , the ist inst ., at Freemasons'Hall . Present : Bros . T . J . Robins , P . M ., W . M . j W . P . Barnsdall , S . W . ; T . Hawkins , P . M ., J . W . j J . S . Elliott , P . M ., Treas . j T . W . Farmer , Secj | . W . Harvey , J . D . j T . B . Fulwood ,

I . G . j G . Harding , P . M ., Tyler ; Geo . Deaton , P . M . 1 . J . Wilson , ' P . M . j J . W . Harvey , P . M . j F . ) . Deaton , P . M . ; H . C . Miller , A . Pinnington , G . Smith , and others . Visitors : Bros . G . Powell , 9 j W . Roots , P . M . 1273 j W . H . Mackley , 2272 j C . R . Williams

P . M . 22 G 2 j Lieut . Hy . XV . Pell , 100 j F . W . Spencer , P . M . j G . Skegg , 1441 j VV . Regester , P . M . 14 ; VV . F . Hammond , 565 j J . Culverwell , 1368 j J . Jacobs , 1 C 04 ; G . T . N . Farman , 177 ; VV . G . London , " 15 S 0 J H . A . Tildesley , 13 S 5 J P . Livingstone , 704 j VV . Looms , ISOJ H . Clarke , 1341 j C . VV . Dixon , 13 C 6 j and Henry Briggs ,

749-The lodge was opened , and Bro . Wilson , P . M . then assumed the chair for the purpose of installing Bro . Barnsdall into the chair of K . S- That brother having been presented was impressively installed as VV . M . The following officers were appointed and invested by the VV . M ., the addresses to each being impressively delivered : Bros .

W . C . Maynard , S . W . j 1 * . Hawkins , P . M ., J . W . j ) . S . Elliott , P . M ., Treas . j J . VV . Harvey , P . M ., Sec . j T . B . Fulwood , S . D . j F . J . Deaton , P . M ., J . D . j H . C . Miller , I . G . j T . ] . Robins , LP . M ., Stwd . j A . Pinnington , Org . j and G . Harding , P . M ., Tyler . The W . M . then presented , on behalf of the members of the lodge , to liro . Robins , I . P . M ., a handsome jewel , to commemorate

their appreciation of his services during the past year , this being the second time he had presided as Master of the lodge . Bro . Robins , I . P . M ., in a few well chosen words , thanked the brethren for the gift , which he said he should always prize . The brethren then adjourned to the banqueting-hall . After grace was s ing ,

The VV . M . proposed the usual loyal toasts , which were received with enthusiasm . Bro . Reges ' er , P . M ., responded to the toast of "The Grand Officers " in a very able minner . The I . P . M . then proposed " The Health of the W . M ., " wishing him every success during his year of olfice . The W . M . responded with an eloquent speech .

The VV . M . then proposed the toast of " The Visitors , " who were always sure of a cordial reception in the Robert Burns Lodge . They were generally fortunate in having a large number of visitors . He trusted they had all spent an enjoyable evening . The visitors , who respectively replied , spoke in high

terms of the working of the lodge and of having spent a most pleasant evening . Other toasts followed , and werc duly responded to . The harmony of the evening was greatly enhanced by the excellent selection of music , under the direction of Bro . A . Pinnington , assisted by the London Glee Singers ; also Miss Jessie Hoiine , Miss Rose Williams , and Bro . F . VV . Farmer .

La Tolerance Lodge ( No . sjS ) . —There was a heavy list of business to be transacted on the day ol * the installation meeting of La Tolerance Lodge , on the . ph inst ., when the brethren assembled at Freemasons' Hall to the number of Si to honour the occasion to the Mastership of Bro . Sydney George Kdridge . The outgoing Master was Bro . \ V . K . Willby , whose portrait appeared in the

Freemason 12 months ago , and who , after having had a very successful year and performed all his work with admirable s '' ill . put the copestonc to the edifice by performing on the last day he was in the chair two passings , th'ec initiations , and the installation . There was so much to do tiat the lodge met punctually at four in the afternoon , aid preliminary work having been disposed of , B : os .

Sidney Charles Cross and G ; orge Alfred Sturgess received the Second Degree , and Messrs . Edwin Archibald Harris , Harry Lee , and Frederick William Richard Hopf the First Degree . By this time the lodge was full , and among those who were present were , besides the Master and his ollicers and several lay members of the lodge , Bros . VV . ( i . Fenn , P . M . j T . W . Smale , P . M . ; E . ' | .

Humphrey , P . M . ; ) ohn Skinner , P . M . ; James Kench , P . M ., Treas . ; and j . W . Elvin , P . M . Visitors : Bros . Col . G . Noel Money , C . B ., Prov . G . M . Surrey ; Frederick VVest , Deputy Prov . G . M . Surrey ; T . Merey , 117 . * * ; Alfred J . Fuller , 1790 ; Kdward J . Palmer , 9 6 ; II . Massey , 160 , P . M . Oil ) and 192 S ; VV . ii . Rainom , P . M . 1790 ; V . Egerton Bennett , 2127 ; W . | . Stahlschmidt , | , \ V . rf . z ;

A . II . Cole , Sec . 1744 ; G . | . Allen , S . D . 1392 ; K I * . Ridpath , P . M . 2090 ; K . VV . Wilson , P . M . 20 . 54 * Hatton Shepley , S . O . 170 O ; John Kilvington , P . M . 1790 ; hied . Nicholls , 4 O 3 j John Paul , P . M . 12 N 7 ; Streeter , P . AI . 4 O 3 ; Dr . II . J . Strong , P . M . 1016 , P . A . G . D . C ; George Uidout , W . M . elect u-i ;; A . Young Hyland , J . I ) . 1351 , ;

Kdward White , I'M . 177 ; R . W . Puce , P . M . . 'a-, P . G . W . Surrey ; M . Taylor , 405 ; R . AI . Hauiino . ni , 463 J H . Bond , P . M . 1314 , P . P . G . D . C . Kent ; W . J . Day , J . W . 1790 ; Henry J . Knight , 1706 ; Fred . Ilraid-WOo I , jO ; ; iValter lloji ' eliirl . * , P . G . P . ; Peter Jodier S . 1 ' dibons Smith , P . P . G . D . Surrey ; 11 . J . Thompson

Craft Masonry.

P . P . S . G . W . Surrey ; John Durno , 23 S 1 ; J . Chumley , P . M . 1556 ; George H . Chapman , P . G . D . Surrey ; S . S . C . Reid , P . M . 1174 ; J . D . Langton , P . M . 1673 ; Frank Osborne , VV . M . 12 S 7 ; John Lloyd . S . W . 19 SC ; A . 1 * 1 . P . Snow , 2191 ; A . Hamtell , P . M . 1 = * - *<> . P . P . G . D . Surrey * John M . Montagu , J . D . 1556 ; W . It . Hayw . inl , S . D . 2096 ; James Terry . P . G . S . li ., Sec R . M . B . I . ; Bertram A . Williams , 1 P . M . 4 ( 13 ; II . M . L-m in , 4 6 3 ; VV . I lird ,

1 S 92 ; Sidney M . Cookry , P . M . 1 S 72 , J . Butten , S . W . 1790 ; VV . _ | . Russell , 403 ; G . II . Reyn il . ls , 21 9 1 , P . M . 1614 ; J . "Gilby , 21 S 2 ; George M iy , 2 oao ; A . Lehater , \ y $ \; Henry Guy , P . M . 170 a * , T . I *' .. Cit ^ y Bates , J . D . 12 ; VV . A . Scurrah , P . M . 1 ( 17 : 1 ! . I ' olbton , 4 C 3 ; Henry VV . Down , P . M . 19 S 2 ; and Edgar Barnes , 2345 . Bro . Willby then installed Bro . Sidney G-: orge Edridge as VV . AI ., from whom he received lb" collar of

I . P . M . Bros . VV . Hooker was invested as S . W . : | . J . P . Huran , as J . VV . ; James Kench , P . AL , P . G . P . as Treas . ; Smale , P . M ., lor B-o . James B . Sly , P . M ., as Sec ; G . T . Augspurg . as S . D . ; T . Clear , as J . D . ; F . Cambridge , P . M ., P . P . G . O . Surrey , a' Org . ; ' T . Ti * y , as I . G . ; J . VV . Elvin , P . AL , as D . C ; VV . G . Fenn , P . AL , P . P . S . G . D . Surrey , as Stwd . ; and J . H . Evenden , P . M ., as Tyler .

After Bro . Willby had delivered the addresses , for which he was awarded loud applause , the closing formalities were observed , and the brethren adjourned to Freemasons Tavern to a choice banquet . The toasts afterwards were interspersed with some beautiful vocal and instrumental music by Aliss Emily Foxcroft , Miss Teresa Blamy , and Bros . Henry Lee , May , Guv , Gilby , Shepley , and Baines , under the direction of Bro . F .

Cambridge , Mus . Bac , Organist of the lodge . Bro . Col . Noel Money , replying to the toast which includes "The Grand Oflicers , " complimented the lodge on having such an able exponent of the ritual of Freemasonry as the LP . AL , and afterwards said that he felt very much at home in the lodge , as every prominent face around him was that of a Surrey man , for the W . M . was well-known in that province , and thoroughly esteemed and appreciated

there . Lodge La Tolerance -. vas going to support him so strongly at the Festival of the Benevolent Institution , at which he ( Col . Money ) was going to preside , that it formed one more tie of affection and relationship between him and the lodge . Bros . F . West and Dr . Strong also replied . Bro . Kench said that Grand Lodgeof England was a tangible and visible embodiment of the principles of

Masonry , and the spirit of those principles , like as in a shining river , was ceilected in every province of Engla ml , and particularly in the Province of Surrey . It was beciusc those principles were in harmony with all the nobler impulses of one being , because they possessed in themselves an infinite capacity for good , because their tendency was . to create happiness in ourselves and to diffuse it to all around , tnat the iodge was proud and delighted to welcome the

provincial brethren , it was ever a source 01 much encouragement to those who were seeking to disseminate the genuine principles and tenets of the Craft , and to advance the progress and prosperity of the Order , to meet occasionally brethren like-minded with themselves , and exchange with them the kindly courtesies of goodwill and friendship . They hailed them as co-workers in the great aim of being happy and communicating happiness based upon the moral and

intellectual powers or man , and not the mere selfish pleasures of life , they believed that life had something more noble for its object than the mere heaping together of gold—to promote the well-being of their fellow men , to enrich his mind with genuine knowledge ,, to lead his wavering footsteps to the shrine of wisdom , and there to fraternise with him in searching after the real elixir of life , true happiness , l'hey believed that this object was to be gained not by sowing the

seeds of discord , but by unity of action in upholding the grand principles of brotherly love , relief and truth . The VV . M . in responding to the toast of " The Health of the Worshipful Master , " which was proposed by l * iro . Willby , said it now becam ; his duty to stand between thc brethren and the programme for a brief spac ; , to return them his most heartfelt flunks for the proposing and drinking of his health . He was fully alive to the

responsibilities of the oosition he had the honour to occupy . It was not an ornamental position , for it involved this , that every one who occupied the chair should step by step have adhered to the principles of the scjuare and compasses . He was an enthusiastic Alason , and he made no secret about it . lie looked for no Utopia that rested in the walls ofa lodge ; he knew no Utopia ; he looked to practical politics ; and hc was not going to overstep the limits of Freemasonry in

what he was about to say ; he felt that in I'reemasonry they had a force of law and order which should onc day make England ring with its influence . VVe were at present face to face with problems which would make all thinking men shudder , when there was a state of things in which every rule and principle of life was attempted to be put upside down ; when alt those rules of IOAV and order wire attempted lo be set at nought it would be simply idle for

thinking men to shut then * eyes to this eventually ; but he thought that in every centre and district where Masonry existed men should stand shjulder to shoulder , and if the principles of the Craft were not mere hollow mockeries and shams , as they were thought by the outside world to be because of their ingrained ignorance , the principles of tiw and order should be well to the front . Were the Masons the most loyal of her Alajesty ' s subjects r Were they not

that night in the ritual which every member of the Order should take care lo study as much as he possibly could , that loyalty lo our native country and the Sovereign of our native country was a cardinal principle of their creed ? I heiefore it vvas nut a question merely of enjoyment around the festive board , although he would be the last to deny the benefit of the friendship which this produced . Having thus dealt with the principle which he held most dear in his

enthusiism , he would like to point to one special fact to show them that with jumps up , with thanks , those that followed after other . Masons took up lhe noble Craft . When his la'her died , among his papeis , which werc kept in most scrupulous order , were application ;' made to dim from time lo time for assistance , and he found wrapped up in a drawer with the mint

scrupulous care the apron of a Alaster Mason , and a Alark Mason , and the insigna of the R . A . Degree , He never knew till then that his grandfather had been a Alason ; his father never told him about it ; but when he ( lhe VV . M . ) came to know those fads , hc joined the Craft . I le could not help thinking it a significant * ( act , following thu promptings of his conscience and what he considered