Masonic Notes.

are anxious for their election . Others can wait , but these poor children cannot ; they must win places in the Schools at this election or their names will disappear from the lists . # # *

Elsewhere will be found a letter which was recently addressed to the Pall Mall Gazette , on the subject oi the renovation of St . Paul ' s Cathedra ] , and in which the writer , Mr . W . Woodward , proposed that the F ' reemasons , out of respect to Sir Christopher Wren , who is included by Dr . James Anderson in the list of

former Grand Masters of the Craft , should subscribe towards the cost of such renovation , and that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., attended by his Grand Officers , should visit the Cathedral with the state befitting the head of the oldest Grand Lodge in the world . In connection with Mr . Woodward's letter

we have further quoted a paragraph from the Daily Telegraph , of Tuesday , the gth inst ., from which it appears that Bro . R . F . Gould has written to our contemporary traversing all the statements made by Mr . Woodward as to Wren's alleged membership and Grand Mastership of the Craft . We shall take an

early opportunity of referring to the proposal which Mr . Woodward has thus unexpectedly brought to the notice of the public in the columns of a non-Masonic journal . In the meantime , however , and without pausing to consider whether Wren was or was not a Grand Master , or even a Mason at all , we see no reason why the Freemasons of England , but more

especially of the Metropolis , should not contribute as a body towards the cost of restoring St . Paul ' s Cathedral , and why , in theeventof their raising a sum sufficient to defray the cost of a particular section of the work , the Craft , as a whole , should not take part in any ceremonial that might be considered appropriate when the Cathedral was restored .

* * * It will be in the recollection of our readers that when some years ago the diocese of St . Albans was constituted , and the famous Church in that City was transformed from an Abbey into a Cathedral , the Masons of England generally , and Hertfordshire in

particular , subscribed a sum of nearly ^ 8 oo towards the restoration of that venerable edifice . The money was employed in the erection of a new and very handsome pulpit , and when it was completed , Bro . T . F . Halsey , Prov . G . Master of Hertfordshire , attended by the Officers of his Provincial Grand Lodge , visited

the Cathedral , unveiled the pulpit , and formally placed it in charge of the chapter . The proposal that the Masonic body should thus assist in the restoration of this Abbey Church had its originwe arc speaking from memory , and subject , therefore , to correction - in the legend which , according to the

same Dr . James Anderson , ascribes the formation of the first Masonic lodge in Britain in 28 7 A . D . to St . Alban . No objection was raised to the proposal , nor was any ridicule thrown upon it , because of the mere legendary connection of St . Alban with the English

Cralt ; and similarly we do not regard it as a valid reason against the English Craft taking a prominent part in the renovation of our great Metropolitan Cathedral , that very grave doubts have been raised as to Wren , its architect , having been a Mason .

# # # The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has had the misfoitune to lose one of the ablest and , at the same time , one of the kindest and most genial of its Past Grand Officers . liro . the Hon . Richard Vaux , who was initiated in Lodge No . 3 on the roll of this Grand Lodge . on

the 20 th December , 1842 , was installed W . M . of Lodge No . i 2 i , to which he had affiliated the year previous , in 1845 , and , after serving successfully as Junior and Senior Grand Deacon , Junior and Senior Grand Warden , and Deputy Grand Master , and , after acting as Grand Master for a few months , in consequence of

the Grand Master ' s death , was elected and installed in the chair of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in December , 1867 , and re-elected the same month in the following year . Thus our deceased brother had been a member of our Society for upwards of 52 years , and a Past Grand Master of Pennsylvania for over a

quarter of century , while during the long period of his membership he had rendered such valuable services to the Craft as it falls to the lot of but few brethren to render . He died on the 22 nd ultimo , in the 79 th year of his age , and at the funeral , which took place in the South Laurel Hill Cemetery , Philadelphia , three days

later , there were present the Deputy Grand Master anil many of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , of Pennsylvania , as well as Bros . T . J . Shryock , G . M ., and John W . Carter , Past G . M ., of Maryland ; Bros . C . Belcher , G . M ., and R . W . Moore and C . H . Mann , Past G . Masters of New Jersey .

Masonic Notes.

Bro . Vaux , as we have said , rendered most valuable services to the Craft in Pennsylvania , among the most important being the part he took as one of the Committee appointed to revise the Ahiman Rezon of 1857 . He greatly distinguished himself in connection with the difficulty which existed between 30 and 40 years

ago between the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania and New York , and was the representative of the latter Grand Lodge at the former from 186 3 to 18 93 when the representative system was abolished . During the first year of his Grand Mastership he laid the foundation-stone of the Masonic Hall , Philadelphia , on the 24 th June , 1868 , while after having previously served

as Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Correspondence for several years , he was again appointed to the same office in December , 1875 , and retained the post till the very day of his death . Lastly , since the death of Bro . Clifford P . MacCalla , he had regularly contributed leading articles to the Philadel phia Keystone , to which we are indebted for the foregoing particulars of Bro . Vaux ' s Masonic career .

* * * From this brief outline of his achievements in Masonry , it will be seen that it is no ordinary loss which our brethren have just sustained , but on the contrary that of the most learned and most experienced of their most trusted leaders , and one which for some time to come it will be difficult , if not impossible ,

to repair . His addresses were always delivered with the utmost dignity and grace , and were as valuable contributions to the Masonic literature of our time as they had proved impressive to the brethren privileged to hear them . We deeply sympathise with both the brethren of Pennsylvania at the death of so eminent a Mason , and with the family and friends of our deceased brother .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

MASONIC VAGRANTS . To the Editor 0 / the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I read with great interest your article in the Freemason of the 30 th ult . on this very complex question , and am pleased to find Bro . Little has initiated a movement on this subject , and trust it will

bear good fruits . Though there are sure to be difficulties to contend with in any scheme put forward , still I do not see much difficulty in having a meeting of Almoners in each province ( or where there is no Almoner , a representative of each lodge ) , and let them talk the matter over and make suggestions , and choose one of their

number to represent them at a conference or central meeting , to be composed of delegates from each province . There is one suggestion on this subject which I should like to make . Though it will not meet all that is necessary , still it would be the means of tracing the movements of vagrants , and likewise give Secretaries

of lodges an opportunity of contradicting untrue statements of impostors . This is , to get every Almoner ( let every lodge appoint an Almoner ) in each week to send a report of any applications he has had during the week , and let these appear in a page of your widely-circulated Freemason set apart for the purpose , and ruled off under the following , or some such , headings , viz ., name , No . and name of lodge ; whither

travelling and for what purpose ; age and general description of applicant ; No . and name of lodge sending report , date , general remarks . I would further suggest that this page be a loose leaf sent cut to subscribers only , so that it would not get into the hands of the public through bookstalls , & c , and would also enable Almoners to paste in a book for future reference .

Of course , to make this plan a success , it would require comparatively all Almoners to join , which I think they would readily do , after it has been well started , for their own benefit . —Yours fraternally , W . FLINT , J . W . 2450 . April 4 th .

THE COLONIAL BOARD . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The proposal to do away with the Colonial Board and delegate its functions and powers to the Board of General Purposes , will no doubt give rise to the question in the minds of many brethren whether

the Masonic interests and requirements of the several Colonies would not be better and more effectuall y served by a thorough re-modelling and reconstruction on a more liberal basis of the existing Colonial Board . Consisting , as it has done for years past , of a very limited number ( 10 ) of irresponsible brethren whose acquaintance with and actual personal experience of

Colonial Masonry is of the most superficial character it is not surprising that from a wrong apprehension of facts or other causes , mistakes have been made in the past in dealing with Colonial matters , and our brethren in other parts of the world consequently complain — not without a cause—that the Colonial Board as at present constituted is not " in touch " with them .

Correspondence.

To ensure efficiency and satisfactory results under a reconstructed Colonial Board , a sine qua noil for membership should be a lengthened residence and Masonic experience—say at least 10 years—in one of the Colonies ; and , of brethren eligible for a seat in Grand Lodge who possess this qualification there must

be many among the London and provincial lodges . A register of brethren with Colonial experience should moreover be kept in every lodge ; and , in order to make the Board a fairly representative one , the number of members elected by Grand Lodge should be

increased , and not only collectively represent the principal Colonies , or groups of Colonies , but be thoroughly up to date in a knowledge of and personal acquaintance with the Masonic conditions and exigencies prevalent therein .

From a retrospect of my own Masonic experience in one of the Colonies , this appears to me to be the basis upon which the Colonial Board might , with advantage , be re-modelled ; and , having briefly outlined my views on the subject , some more experienced and influential brother will , no doubt , be enabled to elaborate the scheme . —Yours fraternally ,

THOMAS WILLIAM KITT , P . M . 655 ( late of 1530 ) , & c . Brixton , April 5 th .

W . M . IN THE CHAIR . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , May I , as an old P . M ., and one who has done " Some service " to the Craft , express a word or two . on the above subject referred to by the brother who

signed " D . C . ' I have never seen a ceremony performed with the W . M . in the chair , and he not conducting the ceremony . I cannot conceive it being at all practicable , and I think , would not be conducive to that smooth working which one expects to see on any of these occasions , but rather , would cause confusion to both the brother

working the ceremony , the Wardens , and other officers , more especially when any of these brethren had occasion to address the W . M ., and would have a tendency to make the W . M . ( in the chair ) feel in a very uncomfortable position as the " figurehead" only , whilst the real captain was commanding the " noble Craft . " I should like to see the opinion of the brethren on the subject . —Fraternally yours ,

J . WARDLEY , P . M ., Darwen , 2 nd April . P . P . G . D . C , East Lanes .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

"THE MASONIC YEAR BOOK FOR THE PROVINCE OF CAMBRIDGE FOR THE YEAR OF OUR LORD , 1895 . "—This nicely printed annual is edited by Bro . W . P . Spaldinp , assisted by the Prov . G . Sec , & c , and this year ' s issue is one of the best of this very useful series , the frontispiece being devoted to an excellent likeness of the esteemed Prov . G . M . ( Colonel Caldwell , M . A . ) . and an appreciative

review is added , A sketch of " Royal Arch Masonry in Cambridgeshire " by Colonel Caldwell , Grand Superintendent , will be acceptable to the province . Royal Arch Masonry began in 1792 at Cambridge , with No . Ss , and the province , it is said , in 1 S 10 . According to Bro . Hughan ' s " Origin of the English Rite , " however , the first Grand Superintendent was appointed in 1802 , viz ., Bro . G . ht

D . Harvey , the second being in 1 S 07 , Bro . W . R . Wrig , the Rev . G . A . Browne coming on the scene in 1 S 10 . A good idea is the list of " Chief Events during 1 S 94-5 , " the one for Cambridgeshire being by _ Bro . Oliver Papworth . There are six lodges in the province , with 430 members , full particulars being afforded as to these and all the other Degrees worked in the county .

" PROCEEDINGS OF THE NEW GRAND LODGE 01 MANITOBA . "—Vol . III ., Part V ., 1 S 93-1 S 94 . Winnipeg Mclntyre Bros ., Printers . , This part of Vol . III . contains the account of the Special Communication of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba , which was held in the Masonic Hall , Melita , on the 10 th August , 1 S 93 , when the corner-stone ol the Melita Public School was laid with Masonic ceremonia

by Bro . Richard D . Foley , acting G . Master on behalf of Bro . David J . Goggin , M . W . G . M . ; and a full report of the lyth Annual Communication , which was held in the Pavilion , Banff , in the District of Alberta , on the 1 . 3 th June , 1 S 04 , under the presidency of Bro . David J . Goggin , G . Master . At the latter meeting there was a full attendance of Grand and Past Grand Officersas well as of the

, representatives of lodges on the roll . The G . Master s address dealt with matters of local interest , and it is satisfactory to learn on such high authority that in Manitoba the Craft is in a flourishing condition , both financially and numerically . The Reports of the Dist . D . G . Masters , ot the Grand Treasurer , and of the Grand Secretary show tiisthose of the Deputy District Grand Masters

, relating to the lodges under their supervision , while as to the finances , there appears to be a balance t << the good of nearly 1500 ; and as to the lodges , the 4 in active work have an aggregate membership of 227 j-Various other Reports were presented , and the proceedand

ings terminated with the election and installation investiture of the Grand Officers for the ensuing 12 months , the new G . Master being Bro . Thomas Tweedy , and the G . Secretary , Bro . W . G . Scott , who was re-elected to office . The rest of the Part is occupied with statistical tables and memorials to deceased brethren , but there is no

Report on Foreign Correspondence . "SKETCH OF THE ORDER OFTHE H IGH P RIESTHOOD . By S . Stacker Williams , Past High Priest . Urban * Publishing Company , Urbana , Ohio . —Comp . Williams has collected together within the compass of a modes