The Amenities Of Masonic Correspondence.

alleged or practical wrong , and pour forth the angry diatribe and the bitter sarcasm and the vehement retort , without the slightest consideration for the feelings of a brother , the habit of o-entlemen , or the welfare of the brotherhood at farce ? We have often said , and we repeat it

today , that Freemasons in print often prove that not only they are mortal—most mortal , with a venereance—but make everyone also come to the conclusion that they can be if they like it the most uncharitable , the most censorious , and the most implacable of mankind . We sincerely

hope that mutual friends in India will intervene to prevent the repetition of such a scandal in the pages of professedly Masonic journals , and which can only result in greatly lowering the prestige and popularity of Freemasonry in Hindostan . But

we think it well , having said this , to lay down certain laws in respect of Masonic publications , which appear to us to be both needed and most seasonable . It is quite clear , in the first place , that any brother has a right to start and conduct a Masonic journal , be there one or ' ' many Richards

already in the field , and that no publisher has a Masonic or moral right to object to the appearance of such an "interesting little stranger . " Masonry is free , and the Masonic press is free , and we are among those who consider , that under some proper restrictions and with some

necessary limitations , ( as must always be in the assertion of first principles ) , the exextension and increase of Masonic journalism , are good things " per se . " The Freemason , for instance , has no fear of competing interests , or open opposition . It would hail all properly conducted Masonic journals as

fair rivals in an honest race of industry and experiment , and we therefore cannot conceive why any other Masonic Editor or Publisher should feel aggrieved by the appearance of another creditable Masonic journal or magazine . But unfortunately , as the great Bard has it , " here ' s the rub . " In order to start a new

Masonic paper or magazine with " eclat , ' it is considered advisable too often to condescend to sensationalism , and to inaugurate a new venture , by a personal attack on an existing and perfectly legitimate Masonic enterprise . There may be room for two or three , one or moro than one ,

and no one objects to this new " petit sujet , " but that is not enough . In order to establish a footing it is needful to " abuse the plantifFs attorney , " and to cast stones at the existing publication , which has been long well conducted , and commands a considerable amount of Masonic support and

consideration . And no doubt it is very difficult for one who has laboured hard for years when he finds his property affected and his character aspersed , not to lose his temper , and to retort . But he had far better not do so . Such attacks are generally very petty and very worthless indeed ,

and often are , yes , even very dirty . For instance—a new publication has a right to say that it is set on foot , to endeavour to gratify the wishes of many friends , and to subserve the interests of the Craft , but it has no right to come before the Order with both a

" suppressio veri , " and a " suggestio falsi . " It has no authority , morally or Masonically , to put forward deliberately mendacious assertions , and publicly to impugn the motives of a brother , who has sought to conduct a previously existing journal with probity and ability . Thus

competition has always an indisputable right of existence , but personality and the vulgar twaddle of low malignity ought to be denounced and repudiated by all true Freemasons . We are always permitted to puff ourselves , but we have no pretence to depreciate the good

wares of our nei ghbours , either to undersell them in the market , or so " place" our own . As an illustration we would say this further . If the new applicant for farno states that it proposes to improve all Masonic journalism , and ignores its predecessor ' s efforts if it asserts that for itself it is immaculate , and that the actual

possessor of the position is animated by the lowest of trade considerations ; if it declares that it henceforth will devote itself to branches of neglected study , which very branches have long formed the staple of the intelligent pages of its older rival—then it commits every offence conceivable against ' ' good form , " Masonic

The Amenities Of Masonic Correspondence.

fair play , truth , and decency , and deserves to be left in that obscurity which is its natural position . It seems a great pity that such a state of things should exist in Masonic journalism , but so it does , and we have seen several instances of it , and always deprecate it , and always deplore it ,

alike for the honour of Masonic journalism , arid the good of the Masonic body . The Freemason has never claimed any special position for itself , or objected to any extension of the Masonic press . On the contrary , it welcomes all friendly journals which conform to the laws and spirit of

Freemasonry , and seek to uphold its cause and assert its principles . But it cannot , and will not , tolerate personality , open or secret , general or particular . It can hold and does hold no intercourse with , just as it lends no recognition to , such journals , which apparently are guided and

governed only by personality , which spare no taunt , and hesitate from no insinuation , and which can only serve to render Masonic journalism a bye-word and a discredit to the outer world . Conscious in its own good motives , strong in its own strength , the Freemason pursues its prosperous

career , hoping for better days for Masonic journalism , deprecating all unseemly and unmasonic words , ever remembering that it seeks honestly to represent , as before England and the world , that good old Order , whose unchanging teaching is ever best set forth in general toler ation and brotherly good will .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving oi * thc opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—wi'hin certain necessary imits—free discussion . —ED . *!

ROSLIN CASTf . E . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear iiir and Brother , — In your Masonic Notes ancl Queries in your valuable paper of the 2 nd inst ., a P . M . of No . 1 , S . C , asks for my authority for stating in my letter to you on Uoslin Castle , that the dignity of Grand Master Mason of Scotland

was conferred on William St . Clair by James II ., in 1455 . I simply quoted Bro . Skerr ' s own words as given by him on reading the piper on the above subject—as repoited in the Scotsman paper of December nth last , ( I think . ) If P . M . will peruse the Freemason of 2 ndinst ., page 6 S , in

the notice taken of Freemasonry in New Zealand , he would then see my statement repeated from another quarter of the universe . Will Bro . Skcrr he able to solve the subject ? With fraternal regards , I remain , yours truly , GEO . W . CHIRNSIDE .

COLE'S LIST OF LODGES . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Referring to an extract from the Gloucester Journal , in your last issue , I have selected the following three lodges from " Cole ' s List , " in my province ( Cumber

land and Westmorland ) : — 120 ( no name ) , at Whitehaven , in Cumberland , second Monday March , 19 , 1740 . 261 ( no name ) , at Whitehaven , in Cumberland , second Monday May 4 , 1761 . 289 ( no name ) , at Workington , in Cumberland , first Monday Sept ., 22 , 1762 .

No . 120 is now extinct , but No . 261 , which bears the title oi Sun , Square , and Compasses , is one of the most flourishing lodges in the north of England , although many years since it was on the rocks of oblivion , and only preserved from total wreck by the strcnuos self-denying , and pecuniary efforts of two or three Past Masters , not one of whom , I believe , is alive to tell the tale . Sun , Square ,

and Compasses Lodge celebrated its centenary in 1861 , but I am not aware they have a medal . The present number is though 119 , 14 . * appears on the firing glassesandgasglobes . With regard to No . 289 , in "Cole ' s List" that lodge is defunct ; but another ( now strong in ) numbers was constituted in 1863 , Sun and Sector , No . 926 . It is interesting to note that the furniture , archives , jewels , and bible of Lodge

289 , arc now used by Lodge 9 62 , ia fact , if I remember rightly ( I was not initiated till two years later ) , it was stated in thelocil prints at the time , that thc whole of the furniture , i-cc ., were accidentally discovered locked in a box at the Green Dragon Heitc-1 , in Workington , shortly before the new charter was applied for . We have another centenarian lodge in this province , No . 129 , Union ,

Kendal , instituted in 1764 , the year after the publication of " Cole ' s List , " referred to . A few days ago , casually looking over that magnificent work of Bro . D . Murray Lyon , the Grand Secretary of Scotland , on "The History of the Lodge of Edinburgh , ( Mary's Chapel ) , " I find it noted that the third oldest lodge in Cumberland and

Westmoreland ( Union , No . , 310 , Carlisle ) , oiiginally had its charter , elated 1784 , from the Grand Lodge of Scotland , the only instance , as Bro . Lyon observes of Scotch Grand Lodge coming over the borders . Thirteen years later , however , Union Lodge applied to the -Grand Lodge of England for a charter , under which they have worked since

Original Correspondence.

1797 . Another remark , and I have done . My mother lodge , ( Skiddaw , No . 1002 ) , was instituted , in 1 SG 4 , and about that time , I heard it mentioned that a lodge had existed fifty or sixty years previously in Cockermouth , thc name of which could not be remembered , although it was stated very authoritatively that the locale was thc Ship Inn . Referring to a newspaper clipping recording

thc consecration of Skiddaw , I notice that thc charter of thc old lodge at Cockermouth , is . stated to have been transferred to Batley , in Yorkshire ; Lodge No . 264 , in that town , dates its charter from 1788 . Dors any old brother in Batley know -whether there is any truth in such a statement . Has our energetic and erudite Brother W . J . Hughan , in his possession a later

list of lodges than 1763 , that is to say , approaching the last decade of thc eighteenth century . I had one myself years since , formerly belonging to my grandfather , a P . M . of Lodge St . John , No . 92 , Banff , S . C . ; but whether it was English or Scotch I cannot remember , being only a school boy at the time . However , it is lost , more likely destroyed . I have in my possession my grandfather ' s apron ,

now well on to a century old , but m excellent preservation , and a decided curiosity in its way . My object in mentioning these matters in connection with the lodges in Cumberland ancl Westmorland , but more especially the reputed old lodge at Cockermouth , is that it is my intention shortly to publish a little brochure on the history of Craft and Royal Arch Masonry in the two counties . Yours fraternally , W . F . LAMONBY , P . M . 1002 . P . G . Reg . Cumberland and Westmorland .

PROVINCIAL SCHOOLS . To Ihe Editor ofthe " Freemason " Dear Sir and Brother , — As your columns have been open to one 0 ! my provincial confreres , to permit of his making known his desire to sec more general and immediate result from our charitable donations , I have no doubt you will grant me

space to endorse his views . The brother in question has been stirring us up , as he states in his second letter . Some of us don't like it , but while we refrain from giving cut absolute adhesion to the project of a Provincial Educational Fund at present , we do not venture to offer very effective opposition . Wc seem to have a tacit understanding that something of thc sort is wanted , but who will

undertaketo put the affair in motion in face of that official inertia of the powers above , that quietly wears out the " go " in any movement not emanating from the aforesaid powers , by the simple method of putting it out of their consideration— " cutting" it , in fact . The brother in question has ventured to perform the operation commonl y known as " taking the hull by the horns , " ancl the rest of us watch

with some curiosity the result of his endeavour . * . If successful in leading the animal into pleasant and profitable pastures , we will go and share his honour . If the intractabiliytof the animal prove too powerful , and the cause is consequently relinquished , we can but afford the usual consolation— " I told you so . " But seriously , sir , I am one of those who arc of opinion that it is quite possible to effect

a great benefit by educating our unsuccessful orphan dependents in thc provinces , without diminishing the resources of our grand London Institutions , whose benefits are only too well-known to myself . For if it bc said that any provincial movement will injure the schools , hy taking away some of the subscriptions , may it not be retorted that by enforc ' ng such costlv and cumbrous elections

as have frequently been necessary to secure admission , they arc doing an injury to those who have a ri ght to their benefits hy the sheer waste of money ( in purchasing or securing votes ) which would educate a child during the whole period it would need education . The schools are now , or shortly will be , enlarged , and it will be known definitely how many children they will be able to

accommodate . Why not let that number be adopted as the maximum , so that the normal expenses may be ascertained and the various provinces may know what is annually required for their support ? I am sure the amount would never fall short , and thc local Institutions would receive the surplus contributions of the brethren . Let purchasing of votes be abolished , and

some means be adopted , say ballot , by which admission may be secured , without ths present turmoil , for any vacancies that arise . If , as you suggest , there could be schools , each to be maintained by one , two , or three provinces , from which children could be drafted by ballot to the central schools , and at which thc unsuccessful candidates could be retained until future election ,

or an opportunity for placing them out in the world , I believe there would be more real benefit accrue and less disappointment , not to say ill-feeling . The various " vested interests " will not see things in this light ; but the time will shortly come when the continued want of success will disgust the brethren , who now waste their energies and mean 1- , and isolated movements to remedy the evil will be inactive till the schools will find their own

resources falling off , from no reason but their own inaptitude to note thc signs of the times . Let the maiter be fairly anel impartially considered by the school authorities and some of our leading metropolitan and provincial Craftsmen , and an arrangement may bc come to which will effect mutual benefit to schools and provinces , without rausing * any one to fear they are treading on anybody else ' s toes . I am , dear Sit and Brother , yours fraternally , P . M . LINUS .

Recordership of London . —At Tuesdays meeting of the Court of Aldermen it was decided to make no alteration in the oflice and duties of Recorder , as defined in 1856 . The resignation of Mr . Russell Gurney , Q . C , M . P ., was referred to the Common Council .