Original Correspondence.

admit other members than abstainers ; but , as 1 said before , it is only natural that abstainers should unite in the same lodge as elsewhere ( the great wonder to me is that " socalled Temperance lodges" were not instituted 40 years or more ago ) . However that may be , far be it for me to presume to sit in judgment upon the decisions and actions of Grand Lodge . I do not attempt to defend teetotalism , of which our

Brother "Temperance " does not appear to entertain the highest regard . Total abstinence has become such a power in the world for good , and its beneficent results so apparent , that to attempt its defence in these enlightened days would not only be an entirely superfluous business , and a waste of your valuable space , but an insult to the knowledge of facts and common sense of your readers . Apologising for the length of my letter , I remain , dear Sir and Brother , fraternally yours , 2 nd December . OMNIA EXPLORATE .

_ To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The antagonism to lodges on temperance principles is unworthy of Masons . Surely a lodge may regulate its own supper table as best promotes the unity and harmony of the brethren composing it ? What is this dreadful catastrophe that is to happen to

the Craft if it does not " keep up its old reputation " in a matter which must be after all of secondary consideration ? The butcher who leaves his lodge because the Stewards find they can buy meat better elsewhere has no difficulty ( if in a prosperous position ) in finding in large towns one or more lodges willing to endorse his petition , and although he generally takes half a dozen members from his mother

lodge ( a most serious matter of itself ) , yet he succeeds in obtaining a warrant without much difficulty . Why should the meat and drink question rise up at the very name of One of those virtues with which , if we are Masons at all , we ought to be well acquainted , and lodges hold meetings to see how they can best suppress an effort to establish a temperance lodge ?

I am not an advocate for restriction on what is known as lodge hospitality . Where it holds its proper place in the minds of brethren , temperance will invariably be practised . I have a very strong objection to the ventilation of crotchets of any kind at a Masonic gathering , and should certainly ( though I never heard of such in any lodge ) tolerate teetotal crotchets least of any in my own lodge . Neither

am I a teetotaller , but object because I think such questions out of place quite as much as political and religious discussions . However , 1 am glad to see that you , sir , admit that these temperance brethren have an undoubted right to form lodges on temperance principles , and seeing that they threaten no landmarks , and interfere with no existing

lodges ( though I can quite understand that they will in time if such intolerance spreads ) , I am surprised than anyone should deny that right . In Yorkshire there is a common saving , " Freemasonry consists of three great accomplishments—eating , drinking , and staying out at nights . " Goodfellowship cannot be made impossible in a temperance lodge , and I object to the

inference that Aiasonic lodges cannot thrive without " good eating and drinking , " It is , moreover , immaterial to me what virtues Freemasonry includes in its morality if they are not practised . 1 know many brethren who are total abstainers , both in my own and other lodges . They have the greatest respect for the opinions of others , even on this vexed question , are enthusiastic Masons , and , I believe ,

good men . In the lodge or supper room they would scorn to introduce teetotal or other crotchets likely to be offensive to others . I speak of these as I have found them , but as a matter of fact the founders , or at least the active promoters of temperance lodges , are not the teetotallers . I find them to be men of long standing in the Craft , and who , not being

teetotallers , are willing to make personal sacrifices , which , whilst enabling abstainers to enjoy their lodge in a manner more agreeable to their mind , will also show the outside world that our grand Institution is not responsible for the conduct of individual members , and that its rites can be practised , and its work well done , without depending upon the attractions of the "knife and fork degree . "

I strongly approve of temperance lodges personally , on three grounds : 1 st . Because their primary aim is the good of the Craft . 2 nd . Because there are abstainers in every lodge in a large town , and are required , \ ust as reasonably as musical

lodges are formed ; and , 3 rd . If only that they will enable many good and highly cultured men to join our Order , who then would . I think it is the duty of every Mason to encourage this new departure , which can never assume alarming proportions . —Yours truly and fraternally , J . RAMSDliN RILEY . Bradford , Dec . 2 nd .

MASONIC MENDICANCY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The correspondence which has been going on of late in your columns with respect to mendicant Freemasons has interested me , as I too have not been altogether free from the unwelcome visits of these persons , whose desire

it is to lay claim on one's charity , on the ground that they are brethren in distress . It is hard to shut up our bowels of compassion against one who from some unforeseen calamity of misfortune may be reduced to penury and distress and claims our assistance , we cannot , I am sure , feel other than impelled towards practising a virtue we at all events once professed to

admire , and to turn him away without some temporary assistance seems a hard measure . Such were my thoughts a few weeks ago when a person calling himself Bro . John Bell paid me a visit at my place of business . He said that he was initiated in Lodge No . 444 , meeting at Star Cross , Devon , and of which he was still a member , that he had sought employment from that town to London , and begged of me to do something for him .

I promised him that 1 would communicate with the lodge named , and on his calling again in a day or two would give him employment if his statement as made was authenticated . I wrote to the Secretary stating the case , and enclosing a stamped envelope addressed to myself for his reply , but whether that worthy brother has ought else to do , or cannot bring himself to tell the truth of a brother " whose case I stated to him , " I know not , certain it is I nave not received a reply .

Original Correspondence.

If brethren will act in this way , and when appealed to , refuse to give a brother ' s letter the attention which ordinary courtesy demands , we are likely to have these mendicants prowling about , and the claim they appear at first sight to possess must remain unrefuted . —Yours fraternally , THOMAS PALMER , S . D . Lodge 73 . Lower Camden , Chislehurst , Dec . 8 th . Herewith is a copy of my letter :

" Grange Mills , Bermondsey , 15 th Oct ., 1 SS 4 . " To the Secretary Lodge of Union , No . 444 , Star Cross , " Devon . " Dear Sir and Brother , —A person in apparently very reduced circumstances has applied to me for help , his sole introduction being that he calls himself a Mason . I would willingly relieve any poor and distressed brother who seeks

my assistance , but having once been imposed upon I fight shy in the future , and make inquiries first . This person says his name is John Bell , that he is a member of the Lodge of Union , No . 444 , meeting at Star Cross , in the county of Devon . " Will you have the kindness to say whether you know such a person , and whether he is still a member of your lodge . "

THE PRESTONIAN LECTURE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your issue of 4 th October you published a letter from "G . L . H ., " asking for information upon the above subject . I am now in a position to give that brother answers to

some of his enquiries . 1 . Lord Zetland , G . M ., in Grand Lodge on the 29 th April , 1 S 57 , stated that "he should request the W . M . of the Royal York Lodge , No . 7 , to nominate some brother to deliver the lecture for the present year . " 2 . In January , 185 S , the lecture was commenced by the W . M . of the Royal York Lodge of Perseverance , and

continued by the S . W . at the same meeting as far " as time would permit . " 3 . In the "Freemason ' s Magazine" of January 27 th , 1 S 5 S , the editor complains that " the Prestonian lectureof which so much had been heard—was delivered in a private lodge , without the slightest notice being given to the Craft that such an event was to take place ; " and

then gives a history of the institution and revival of the lecture , complaining also of the manner in which the G . M . had caused its revival as failing to lend due importance , and to give proper publicity to its intended delivery . 4 . On the 17 th February , 1 S 5 S , the W . M . of the Grand Stewards' Lodge " informed the brethren that having been appointed by the M . W . G . M . Prestonian Lecturer , he

should appoint a special evening for the Prestonian lecture . " On the 17 th March he announced that the lecture would be delivered on the 21 st April , 1 S 5 S , and it was so delivered to an audience of " between forty and fifty brethren assembled in the Temple , by Bro . Johnstone , " the W . M . of the Lodge . The lecture was delivered in two parts , taking about 35 minutes each , and complaint

was made that the lecturer " read too much and spoke too little . " 5 . The " Freemason ' s Magazine" for May , 1858 , states that " Bro . Thiselton , the Secretary of Lodge No . 2 ( Antiquity ) has been appointed Prestonian Lecturer , " and accordingly the lecture was delivered by him at a meeting of the Lodge of Antiquity on the 27 th October of that year .

6 . Upon this occasion an introductory address was delivered , in which it was mentioned that Bro . Stephen Jones , P . M . of the Lodge of Antiquity , was the first Prestonian Lecturer , being so appointed by the Duke of Sussex , then G . M . and W . M . of the Lodge of Antiquity . Bro . Jones was reappointed annually for several years , and subsequently Bro . Laurence Thompson was nominated

Lecturer , and he delivered the lecture once in each year till his death . Bro . Thompson was the last surviving pupil of Preston . Upon Bro . Thompson ' s death , no other Lecturer seems to have been appointed till 1 S 57 , and I am unable to find trace of any appointment , or of any lecture having been delivered since October , 1 S 5 S . Upon these points I would note :

1 . No payment to the Lecturers in 1 S 57 and 1858 is recorded in Grand Lodge accounts for those years , nor even in 1859 . 2 . No entry appears in Grand Lodge accounts of the receipt of the dividends on the £ 300 Consols left by Preston , as far as I am able to ascertain . And 1 would venture to enquire :

1 . In whose names do the Consols stand ? 2 . What is done with the dividends ? 3 . Is any Lecturer now appointed ? 4 . Has any Lecturer been appointed , or and lecture delivered since 1858 ? 5 . Were the three lectures ' . delivered in that year paid for

or not ? 6 . Where can the lecture be found in manuscript or in print ? 7 . Can you furnish a brief outline of it , or refer me to any book in which such an . outline is given ? I am , yours fraternally ,

December 2 nd . S . M . M . C . O . [ Our correspondent is in error on one point . Bro . Henry Warren , P . G . S ., well-known to us all , was the last , as far as we are aware , officiall y recognized Lecturer . He delivered the lecture several times , as well in the provinces

as in London . We have , however , reason to believe that up to the decease of our lamented Bro . John Hervey other brethren were appointed , and received the interest of the trust , though whether they delivered the lecture we know not . They may have delivered a lecture privately in a lodge . Since that period , as we understand the matter , the interest has accumulated of the £ 300 . —ED . F . M . I

MASONIC EMBLEMS AMONG SAVAGES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Bro . Fenn , in his letter of the 29 th ult ., lias thrown considerable light on this difficult question , and has induced me to follow up the subject somewhat more closely . The Creek , Chickesaw , Choctaw , and Cherokee Indians formed

a group of tribes ranging over the greater part of Georgia , Alabama , and Mississippi , with Northern Florida . Of these the first three were united by blood and language ; the Cherokees belonged to a different stock , but were joined with the others in a federation , of which the Creek tribe was leader . During the War of Independence these tribes took different sides—the Creeks joined the Americans , while the

Original Correspondence.

Cherokees sided with the English . Of the other . two tribes I have no information ; but it is certain that all four were compelled to submit to the United States Government in 17 S 5-6—that is , abont seven years before the . appointment of Bro . VV . A . Bowles as their Provincial Grand Master , which office he held , according to contemporary calendars , from 1792 to 1 S 06 .

After 1 S 00 we find these four nations being gradually removed from their old haunts to the Indian territory , where they now reside , and , according to late reports , are the most settled and civilised of the aboriginal races . We must now turn to the Tuskarora tribe , from whom came the Masonic emblems which gave rise to this correspondence .

This nation originally inhabited the centre of North Carolina ; but in 1712 moved north into New York State ( where they are now ) , and joined that powerful federation of tribes which we know as the Iroquois nation . If the Tuskaroras , the Creeks , and their allies all received Masonry from a common source , it must have been before the exodus of the

former tribe in 1712 , and long before the advent of Bro . Bowles in about 1775 , when he ' first took up his abode among the Creeks ; nor have we any reason to believe that the Tuskaroras and the Creeks ever came into contact , as their territories were , at least , 150 miles apart . The balance of probability goes to show that the Creeks and Tuskaroras became acquainted with Masonry from independent

sources . My attention has lately been called to the following passage from the " Freemasons' Magazine " for 1 S 5 S , p . 555 : " The Rev . Leander Ker , G . Chap , of the G . Lodge of Kansas , in his report on foreign correspondence , states that he was informed ' by a worthy brother Mason and a worthy Minister of the Methodist Church , who had been for many

years a missionary among the Chippeway Indians , that he found Masons among the Chippeways , and was himself in their lodges ; and that their signs , tokens , and passwords were the same as ours , and that they could not tell when , or by whom . Masonry was introduced among them , but it was beyond the memory of their fathers . ' " This tribe inhabit the country about Lakes Michegan and

Superior , a tract about 250 miles from the present settlement of the Tuskaroras , and , at least , Soo miles from the Creeks . From these facts I think we may infer that we have , at least , three independent centres of Masonry among the American Indians ; but when or how the Craft was introduced is lost in obscurity . —Yours fraternally , Oxford , December 4 th . B . P . LASCELLES .

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES . To the Editor of " The Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you very kindly answer me the following question ? if possible in this week ' s issue . A motion affecting the funds of a lodge was brought forward after due notice and carried . At the next lodge meeting the minutes of the

previous lodge were put for confirmation , when the brethren who had voted against the motion on the previous occasion , moved to strike out the portion of the minutes referring to the motion . It was submitted by a brother that it would be out of order to again discuss the subject matter of the motion .

but that if the minutes as recorded were a faithful record of what taken place , it was the duty of the meeting to confirm , and that then a brother could at the proper time give notice of motion to rescind the resolution which had been carried . This was contested by several members . Will you please give your opinion upon this point , and and very much oblige , —Yours fraternally ,

SECRETARY . 2 S , Broomwood-rd ., Wandsworth Common , December 10 th . [ The two views have been always warmly contested , but what happened in Grand Lodge in December , 18 S 3 , when

certain distinct resolutions passed at previous special communications were non-confirmed , will incline many to regard the usual " confirmation of minutes" as affecting the business of which they are the record , rather than the question whether or not they are a correct account of that business . —ED . F . M . I

BOYS' AND GIRLS' INDUSTRIAL HOMES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Sir , —I venture to ask you to allow me to bring the present pressing needs of this old established Charity under the notice of your numerous readers . Owing to the great distress now prevailing , the applications for relief are most urgent and numerous , and unfortunately we cannot adequately

meet them , our funds being abnormally low . Our operations are not confined to any creed , district , or nationality , —want being the only qualification needed , —the deserving poor never being refused assistance . Upwards of 2000 persons are benefited weekly . The Treasurer , Wilfrid A . Bevan , Esq ., 54 , Lombord-street , will thankfully receive contributions , or they may be forwarded to—Your obedient servant , PEREGRINE PLATT , Secretary .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

4 63 ] THE , POET MASON . Perhaps Bro . Whytehead can tell me if there is any trace of the Poet Mason's membership of the York Lodge ? He was Prebendary of York and Rector of Aston . In 1775 , he says to Horace Walpole : " Though I am a Freemason , I am not a Grand Master , and therefore cannot myself call the lodge you wish me to call . "

MASONIC STUDENT . 4 BRO . HUNTER'S "LODGE OF JOURNEYMEN MASONS , No . 8 . ' Is this for sale ? 1 fail to find any notice of the fact in the review of the 8 th ult ,, and , if within my means , am desirous of obtaining it . G . WM . SPETH . 4 G 5 J THE LIBRARY OF THE GRAND LODGE OF

SCOTLAND . The few works mentioned at random by Rro . D . Murray Lyon { Freemason 22 nd ult . ) show the value of this collection , Will he kindly advertise the catalogue when completed ? as , if for sale , I am a purchaser , as would probably