A Plea For The Aged.

the widows of those who have gone from our sight into the valley of the shadow of death ! This is a practical commentary on the principles of the Order ; this is a sublime

fulfilment of the solemn engagements , into which we entered at our initiation . And let it be distinctly understood that no man is worthy of the name of a brother who does

not assist in this holy work ; no man can truly call himself a Freemason who can witness unmoved the distress of those who possess a peculiar claim upon his benevolence and aid .

Fora contribution of five shillings annually a vote at each election may be secured , and shall it be said that this small amount cannot be spared from the income of every member of the Craft in England ?

The approaching Festival of the Institution , which will be held under the presidency of Sir Daniel Gooch , M . P ., on the 26 th instant , will afford * an admirable

opportunity for all who wish to subscribe , and as , at this season of the year , the triple evils of age , cold , and poverty are more severely felt , let us hope that the response will be

such as to bring joy to many a troubled heart , and light to many a darkened spirit . Let each one feel that it is not only his duty

but his privilege to afford relief and consolation to his fellow-creatures in thc hour of their affliction * and more especially that we are bound to assist those who have

knelt with us before the self-same shrine , who were partakers in the same vows , and sharers of the same hope ; those who in the

past contributed to do unto others what it is now their anxious desire should be done unto them .

ON the subject of Uniformity of Working , a letter from our esteemed correspondent , Bro . Stevens , will be found in another column of this impression . It announces the commencement of active measures to

give effect to the motion which was so enthusiasticallycarried at the last Quarterly Communictaion of Grand Lodge . A preliminary meeting of thc supporters of the motion is to be held in London during thc

first week of February ( Wednesday , the 2 nd of February is suggested ) , at which the names to be submitted to Grand Lodge in March arc to be selected . We cordially hopc that brethren of all ranks will give in

their adherence to the pioneers in this great movement , which , if successful , must of necessity prove of great advantage to the

Order of Freemasonry , ancl the perfecting of which cannot but redound to thc credit and honour of all who may take ah active part in it .

Consecration Of A New Lodge At Exeter.

CONSECRATION OF A NEW LODGE AT EXETER .

The ceremony of consecrating a new loJge for Kxeter , "Semper Fidelis , " No . 1254 . took place on January 3 rd , at the Masonic Hnll , when the founder of thc lodge , Bro . Henry Lewis Brewster , P . Prov . Grand Registrar , Devon , was installed in ancient form as W . Master for the year .

The ceremony was performed by thc Very Worshipful Bro . William Cann , P . P . G . Treas ., Devon . The \ V . Master , Bro . Brewster , appointed and invested the following officers : —Bros . Samuel Jones , P . P . M . ; H . W . Hooper , S . W . ; Jcthro Tucker , J . W . ; J . H . Warren , Treas . ; Walter Hugo . Sec . ; James Stile , S . D . ; Frederick Horspool , J . D . ; Pelly Hooper , I . G .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

—*—RRO . " W . J . HUGHAN" AND "FRIENDLY SOCIETIES . " ( P * 2 73 *) Bro . Hughan says we take no " oaths , " speaking

as an " Odd Fellow . " I beg to distinctly state they take a solemn declaration to keep the secrets of their Order from the neutral world . The Druids also do the same . When I was admitted

a member of the Foresters , in a London Court , I took a solemn declaration not to betray the secrets . I cannot see any difference between an oath and a solemn declaration , but this may be a distinction without a difference .- —CIPES .

BRO . " LEO" AND THE SCOTTISH TEMPLARS . ( P- 7- ) Bro . Leo's accusation is unmasonic , to say the least of it ¦ he wishes to raise " a little smoke , " and charge me with what I have charged him as

a line of argument . Perhaps he and all other readers will again read page 273 of THK FREEMASON , in which I show the ridiculousness of any one giving opinions of orders to which they do

not belong . I again repeat , I am ready to dispose of the infatuation of those who fancy themselves acquainted with any order attached to Freemasonry that they do not belong to . —OPES .

BRO . " LEO AND THE MAIMED . A Freemason cannot uphold the recognised modes of recognition , if he cannot give them to any brother of whatever nation or clime . The

confession of Bro . Leo that tlie maimed are unable to understand a foreign brother ought to settle it in the minds of every intelligent Freemason that the maimed are ineligible as members of the Craft . On this I shall not again reply . —CIPES .

BROS . " LEO , " " CIPES , " AND THK " LANDMARKS" OI

FREEMASONRY . I have nowhere alluded to the Landmarks of Freemasonry as to the fixing of an exact date , nor yet have I thrown up the sponge , never having entered the arena as to a settlement of

dates in Speculative Freemasonry . I shall , however , at the proper time and in a straightforward manner , give my opinions to the Craft regarding the Landmarks of the Order , due notice of which I will send to THE FREEMASON . CIPES .

LODGE MINUTES . —CANONGATE KILWINNING . This lodge 1715-45 was a Jacobite Club ; according to Rebold , the present Royal Order of Scotland originated with them . The publication

of the lodge minutes and those of H . R . M . and R . S . Y . CS . S . would be most interesting , and I would beg , through your pages , to point this out to Bro . D . M . Lyon and others . J YAUKKK .

WILLIAM PRESTON AND " ANTIlJUARIUS . Would Bro . " Antiquarius" favour r . ountrj Masons with a fair copy of Bro . Preston ' s certi licate , through the medium of THE FREEMASON

No doubt Bro . Preston had / a ' .- * , and probably three , Craft certificates , as he was connected in his eventful Masonic life with three Grand Lodges . W . J . HUGHAN .

" . ST . JOHN' THE /( Al'TIST AND " CIPES . " Bro . '' Cipes" asks a question— "What would we think of a Freemason calling himself a Christian , saying in a Grand . Lodge assembled that lhe teachings of St . John the Baptist were

not worth a Iigr * It is a question so simple that any member of the Craft , even those that may be termed unintelligent could answer with ease , that the Freemason who said so was guilty of a gross violation of Masonic teaching

and principle , and ought at once to have been demanded by thc Master of the Lodge to retract his words and apologize , and on his refusing to do so , to have been at once expelled the

Order . How disgraceful it must have been to the Grand Master to permit this , and to all the members present to listen to such a thing and not to have checked it . —M . M . 78 , 419 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

— - *—[ Tlie Editor is not responsible for thc opinions expressed by Corr cspon d en Is . }

UNIFORMITY OF WORKING . ( To the Editor of Thc Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It is of course in thc recollection of the numerous brethren interested in the proposed endeavour to assimilate the several

modes of working in our various lodges , that at the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge the following motion , proposed by myself and seconded by Brother J . R . Stebbing , of Southampton , was carried , viz .: — -

" That with a view to securing greater uniformity of working and observance of the . ' same usages and customs' throughout the several lodges held under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England , a Committee of Past Masters be

appointed to enquire , into tlie merits of thc respectit > e systems of working now in practice , and to report to Grand Lodge thereon , with such recommendations as they may think necessary to prevent deviation from the established

mode , such deviations being , according to the Constitutions of Freemasonry , improper and not to be justified or countenanced : ' In consideration of the very important business before Grand Lodge on the occasion referred to , it

was deemed advisable not to encroach on the limited time at disposal by then appointing the Committee of Past Masters , but to defer the same until the ensuing meeting of Grand Lodge , and after the minutes of the meeting in December shall have

been confirmed . It is the earnest desire of the brethren who have associated themselves in this matter that the Committee to be appointed shall comprise members of the Craft , both metropolitan and provincial , having

ability ancl experience as Past Masters , and energy and willingness to promote whatever Grand Lodge may resolve in respect of the report and re ' comn-ieridations to be submitted . They appeal with confidence for thc support of brethren of all ranks , as

well Officers and Past Oflicers of Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodges , as Past Masters and Preceptors of private lodges , and as the most ready means of ascertaining who amongst them would desire to serve on the proposed committee , and to

prevent any possibility of a selection which might be deemed invidious , it is intended to hold a preliminary meeting in thc first week of February , at which the list to be submitted to Grand Lodge in March shall be prepared . To this meeting , which

will be held in London ( probably on Wednesday , the 2 nd February ) , will be summoned those brethren who will kindly address to me a notification of their willingness to attend . I shall also be happy to receive thc names of those brethren who , although

unable to be present at the preliminary meeting , would nevertheless serve on the committee if selected . There can be no doubt that thc proposed enquiry and the preparation of the subsequent report is a

business of considerable magnitude , as well as of great importance ; that the subject of revision will have to be approached with great caution ; and that much anxious attention and some valuable time must be given by those who seek lo do Freemasonry

the great service which success in this endeavour will certainly confer . But , nevertheless , wc hope that the undoubted zeal and acknowledged ability of many eminent members of the Craft will bring together such a strong and important committee

that the task before them , difficult as it may now appear , may not be rendered impossible by their despondency , but by perseverance in thc good cause ultimately result in securing , if not all thc desired good , still some amount of improvement sufficiently important to fully reward their labours .

I have , 111 conclusion , to ask that brethren desirous of taking part in this work will be good enough to forward their names and addresses to mc not later than the : 6 th inst ., and care shall be taken to in-