Correspondence.

"THE OLD MASONIANS . " I To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir , In reply to the letter of "Two Provincial Members" on the subject of the formation of a Masonic lodge in connection with the Old Masonians ,

we beg to inform them that the proposal has our most serious consideration . It would , however , form so important an epoch in the annals of the Associationwhich is already so closely connected with the Craftthat we feel that if an Old Masonians' lodge be established , it should be on a perfectly firm and substantial basis .

At present the Association is young , and its financial position , although steadily improving , would not bear the expenses incidental to the formation of such a lodge , which should at once hold an honourable position in the Craft , and maintain the high reputation and traditions of the R . M . I . B . —Yours faithfully ,

R . S . CHANDLER , - ) TT „ I W . J . PACKER , ) Hon- 6 e ( : s-Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , E . C .

THE FUTURE OF FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The future of Masonry will be based on what is being done at the present time . For 150 years the Society was worked on identical lines— " Jolly

goodfellowship and philanthropy "—and for the last 20 years attempts have been made to relay the lines on a broader and more lasting basis—philanthropy and education . Without the latter concomitant no society can hope to continue its existence , and in the words ( quoted in today's Freemason ) of the Grand Master of

Arkansas—Masonic ignorance can be no longer tolerated . " The Society appears to be emerging out of the days of " firing glasses , " and I have every hope in its future . "Toleration and sympathy" for our old leaders , on the one side , and " room and consideration " for the " young men of learning and industry , '' on the other ,

will right the Society . Masonry is not , from its constitution , a one-sided plane , but a well-constructed triangle , and place must be found for the exercise of the talents of every well-meaning brother . I have known many men of good position and excellent attainments who have disconnected themselves from

their lodge , hurt beyond measure and touched to the quick , at the disorderl y scenes of the refreshment table and the dull sameness of the lodge proceedings . The lodge of instruction , designed to satisfy the enquiring brother , has fallen into desuetude , and a wearisome jerked ritual occupies the sole programme the year through .

Matters , however , would never be remedied if all who were dissatisfied left the Craft , and it remains for those who recognise the situation to do their share in amending and re-organising the proceedings so as to attract instead of repel . It must be conceded by even those who are too

careless to think that to " do a Degree " " refresh " and engage in "harmony" is by no means an " elevating " aim for a Societ y ; it may be contended it is a " relaxation , " and I admit that it is . Now , there are three legitimate channels for a

Mason s energies to work in , and these embrace many minor channels in themselves . The ritual and landmarks , Charities , history , and literature of the Craft , all are honourable , and if well worked will give satisfaction ; most of our great leaders are proficient in all departments .

The ritual , the origin of which is lost in mystery and antiquity , is the most used and most misunderstood thing in the Craft , the sublimatic elements are never recognised , and many of our ancient leaders understood just as much about it as the " initiate , " and yet the ritual will repay the student for his labour- there

may be as much mental energy expended thereon as upon either the charges or "tracing board . " The ritual comprises at once the subjects of Scripture , philosophy , geometry , and history . While Masonry is not purely a Benevolent Institution , or much less a friendly society , there is great and grand scope for the benevolent brother ; apart from the o- reat and

minor Charities of the Order , there are the local philanthropic institutes , and a Mason should be practically in touch with every institute for the " relief " of distress . The obligations , if well studied , will allay a brother to every object that will carry out the o-reat principle of " relief ; " the hand will be extended ' , but the arm will not be seen . Surely there is scope here , and of the most honourable character

-When I mention that there is supposed to he upwards of 6000 books and booklets bearing directly or indirectly upon the history , ritual , and customs of the Craft , and that an enormous amount of information is wanted before the history of the Craft can be completed ( if ever ) , I have surel y said everything that

would imply there is room for every Mason who is desirous of work or obtaining information . I wish to impress the fact that every Mason ought to do something for the Order if it is to take an honourable position in the institutions of the nation , the plea that was made to the Crown when secret societies were

being suppressed for the continuation of the Masonic Society ought to be justified and more than justified , the calumnious reputation that hung round the Society , clogging its pathway , is being cleared , and while the secrets have not been revealed the public eye is more favourably inclined , while the voice of slander ( sometimes justifiable slander ) is dying gradually away .

Correspondence.

Candidates ought only to be admitted to the Order who are likely to take an honourable place in the ranks . —Yours fraternally , G . W . BAIN . November gth .

To the Editor of the Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I think the experience of your correspondent "A P . P . G . Officer" must be confined within very narrow limits—no doubt in a very small province . If he will only travel as far as Lancashire or Yorkshire

he will find that lodges are not so plentifully filled with " purple Masons , " and that there are hundreds of Past Masters who still wear the light blue collar , all anxious to change it for the purple ; but how far this part of his letter concerns the admission of undesirable members into our Order is a question rather beyond my

comprehension . Then the remedies he and your other correspondent " Latomus " suggest are quite impracticable . Let me just take one as an example— "A P . P . G . . Officer" thinks that the Provincial Grand Registrar ought to visit every lodge in the province to which he belongs , and as a reward for his

labours be promoted to the office of Prov . Senior Grand Warden . This possibly might work in the smaller provinces , but is it at all likely that the Prov . Grand Registrar of West Lancashire , who resides in Southport , could visit the 105 lodges in that large province ; to do so he would have annually to travel something

like 3000 miles by rail , give up at least 105 afternoons and evenings , and sleep away from home a considerable number of nights . Does your correspondent think that any professional man would do this for the sake of changing his badge of office from Registrar to that of Senior Warden V These remarks apply just as aptly

to East Lancashire , West \ orkshire , and several other extensive provinces . In the provinces I have just named lodge summonses are sent to the respective lrov . Grand Secretaries , who are salaried officials , and as a rule these worth y brethren pay frequent visits to the various lodges , but ¦

still undesirable candidates will creep in . I do not for one moment believe that the visits of Prov . Grand Officers will in the least degree deter the introduction of unworthy candidates ; such visits might possibly be the means of eliminating innovations and irregularities from the working of some of the lodges ¦

but to my mind so long as Prov . Grand Masters will go on recommending petitions for new lodges right and left , the evil complained of will assuredly continue . If the guiding officials of Grand Lod ge would make a determined stand in refusing ail applications for at least

two years , and Past Masters of lodges could be induced to take more interest in supervising the lists of candidates , I believe we should accomplish the desired object of stopping the introduction of unworthy men . — I am , yours fraternally ,

ANOTHER P . P . G . OFFICER . November 10 th .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . ' ' Dear Sir and Brother , I have read with great interest the letters which have appeared in your valuable paper on the above subject , and it certainly appears to me most extraordinary that you have not had many more communications on a matter which is so vital to the best interests of the Craft .

I suppose it is due to a natural aversion which the brethren have to write letters for publication , and I have that feeling , but I consider that the Freemason is to some extent sacred to the Craft and that we may express our ideas by its medium when we should not think of doing so by other means .

The brother who signs himself "Latomus" gives us a valuable addition to the correspondence so far , and I trust we shall see other contributions from brethren who by their rank and experience are capable of communicating light to their less fortunate brethren who , like the writer , are only members of the rank

and hie . I beg to add my testimony to those of Bro . Whytehead and Bro . Wiley as to the evil which most certainl y exists in many lodges of admitting candidates for initiation totally regardless of their position or their suitability , the only consideration which enters into the

matter being the payment of the fees , and I hear of some cases where this is dispensed with , and the money paid by the lodge . All the candidates that can be found by hook or by crook are swept into the Craft to swell the number of initiates , and give the lodge which can show the largest number a place of honour in the province to which they belong .

And , Bro . Editor , I differ with Bro . Whytehead as to the motive for this . It is not , in my opinion , done to get money for the Charities . The lodges which conduct their business in this way care nothing about the Charities , except in so far as an occasional donation may redound to their own honour and glory . If enquiry were made it would be found that the money is spent in other ways much less creditable .

But in my opinion the moving motive for this irregular making of Masons is an idea which appears to prevail largely that the lodge which can show the largest number of initiates will have conferred upon it

some signal mark of appreciation from the rulers of the province . I sincerely trust that there is no real foundation for this idea , but that it does prevail to a great extent I know , and the sooner our provincial rulers let it be

Correspondence.

known that honours are not to be bought by money payments , either to Charities or anything else , or b y numerical additions to the Craft , the better it will be for our noble Institution , and the sooner shall we see what every true Mason so much desires , a more healthy tone in our lodges , and a more hearty appreciation of

the true principles of the Craft amongst all its members . The evil will not be cured by casual remarks made at annual meetings . It will require much more drastic measures , and no time should be lost in it , as the fact of so many objectionable persons being admitted is

already having a most pernicious effect , and is keeping many good men from joining our ranks , and will certainly result in Masonry losing that proud position we all boast of , and which it ought to hold all the world over . —Yours fraternally , P . M .

Reviews.

Reviews .

THE ANTIQUITIES OF HERALDRY collected from the Literature , Coins , Gems , Vases , and other Monuments of Pre-Christian and Mediaeval Times , with a Catalogue of Early Armorial Seals , & c . By WILLIAM SMITH ELLIS , London .

This is a very remarkable and ably written volume , full of interesting and curious details , many of which are little known , and not a few quite overlooked of late years . To the studious Freemason it is invaluable , and we are glad to know there are still a few copies available , Mr . Henry Gray , of 47 , Leicester-square ,

having purchased the remainder , and will send those left at half a guinea each , post-free . It is quite impossible to indicate in a brief notice the varied contents of this massive book , which has been written with a definite aim . The object Mr . Ellis has before him throughout is to prove that modern heraldry was

m existence at the Norman Conquest , is an inheritance from the ancient Gauls and Germans , and from the nations of antiquity , as directly and in the same sense as the Italian language was derived from the Latin . This proposition he proves both deductively and inductively , and enforces his powerful arguments by

reference to a score of plates containing numerous figures drawn from various sources , ranging from the 10 th to the 13 th centuries . These are all most accurately drawn and form a special feature of the very entertaining volume . The banner of the Templars and other bodies , seals ,

coins , and in fact all possible sources tor obtaining light and information are duly detailed , and often most effectively illustrated , the originals of several well-known emblems being , though startling , apparently well established . The Tribal symbols are most curious , and the ensigns and devices , transmitted by

inheritance , succession , and adoption , are carefully considered , in relation to the general question . The arguments against the author ' s opinion receive fair treatment , and throughout the work the evident desire is to do justice to all theories , whilst attending particularly to the author's own views of the matter . !

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

959 ] OLD ROYAL ARCH BY-LAWS . Bro . J . H . Sillitoe , of Manchester , has kindl y sent me the by-laws of an ' old Royal Arch chapter held doubtless in connection with an "Ancient" lodge in Man Chester towards the end of last century . The Royal Arch Degree was first planted in that city by

the "Moderns , " in 176 9 , but the "Ancient" lodges had authority to work the ceremony from the time of their being warranted in Manchester , viz ., A . D . 1755 . The rules are small 32 mo ., of eight pages , five only being written on . The reference to " makg Ancient " was in the event of a " Modern " Mason wishing to be exalted .

W . J . HUGHAN . RULES AND ORDERS . RULES & ORDERS which are punctually to be observed & kept b y the United Members of the Right Worshipful Society of Royal Arch Masons , ist . That a Lodge be held at Manchester each Sunday six weeks or Eight times in the year to be

computed from nearest Sunday to Candlemas , May Day , Lammas , & All Saints , d . The time of meeting shall be precisely at 5 oclock <& sit till Eight , each member to spend at pleasure & put Two pence in the Box for a Fund & each absent member shall pay his dues to the fund .

A Visitor to bear equal expences with the Members . 3 d . The Officers shall be chose out of the Members on Trinity Sunday , which shall be the Festival . Every Person not attending , who resides in

I own or within 3 miles shall forfeit sixpence to the Fund ; sickness excepted . 4 th . Any Person desirous of becoming a Member shall pay for making , Seven Shillings & Sixpence . For mak'g Ancient 4 s . 6 d .

960 ] PICART'S "CEREMONIES . " I see that J . and M . L . Tregaskis , of 232 , High Holborn , have the Dutch edition of Picart ' s " Ceremonies , " 1727-1738 , for sale at three guineas . This is a good chance for any Masonic library , as the p lates are certified to be brilliant impressions . The text is by Moulach , and the six vols , are bound in three , folio ,