To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

The followingstand over : — Annual summer banquet of the Upton Lodge , No . 122 ; The Langton Lodge o £ Instruction . Tohn of Gaunt Lodge , No . 523

BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , " "Thc Masonic Eclectic , " "Der Long Islaender , " "The Welcome , " "The Colonies and India , " " New York Dispatch , " "Thc Citizen , " " The Jewish Chronicle , " "Die

Baiihutte , " " * Ilie Freemason" ( Toronto ) , " The ' Hull Packet , " "The Sunday Times , " " The Broad Arrow , " "Keystone , " "Allan ' s Indian Mail , " "The Hebrew Leader , " " The Masonic Advocate , " " Figaro , " "United Methodist and Free Churches Magazine . "

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THE FREEMASON . SATURDAY , JULY 16 , 1 SS 1 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ Wc do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , hut wc wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . '*]

PRECEDENCE OF PROV . GRAND OFFICERS , To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have read Bro . "York ' s " reply with great attention , but fail to discover a valid answer either to the " reductio adabsurdum " of our able Grand Registrar or

liiy own more humble arguments . Bro . "York" makes the following concessions , if I read his words correctly : 1 . Bro . Newmarch originally contended for thc equality of rank of all classes of officers , saving only thc question of priority of appointment . Bro . "York " concedes thc direct precedence of Grand Wardens , and the inferential precedence

of other Grand Officers over Prov . Grand Officers of equal nominal rank . Junior Grand Wardens would " virtu te officii" take precedence of Provincial Grand Wardens , Grand Chaplains , of Prov . Grand Chaplains , Grand Treasurers , and Grand Secretaries , of Provincial Grand Treasurers and Secretaries . This is a concession .

2 . We then come to the question—what is the " status " of the Grand Officers , past and present , generally , in respect of Prov . Grand Officers generally ? Neither the Grand Registrar nor myself have ever contended , in any respect , that Prov . Grand Masters did not take precedence of Grand Officers in their own province , or anywhere , inasmuch as wc are governed by the Table

of Precedence , and also for . another reason . Thc Prov . Grand Master is thc representative of thc Grand Master in his province , his " alter ego , " and is therein a Grand Alaster " quoad " the province . He undoubtedly takes precedence in his province of all Grand Officers , except the Grand Master , the Pro Grand Alaster , and the Deputy Grand Master .

3 . But such an argument will not apply to the Deputy P . Grand Master . He has not equal rights wilh thc Deputy Grand Master , and the Book of Constitutions specially points out this fact , He is , to use familiar language , thc "Deputy's Deputy , " and has no rank except "quoad " the province , where he acts as a D . G . M ., but can claim no

precedence over Grand Officers , inasmuch as he is not only not one of them , but can , strictly speaking , only claim his provincial rank , which is superior to all Prov . Grand Officers . 4 , As regards the " reductio adabsurdum " of the Grand Master , the Grand Registrar clearly only used it to prove the logical incongruity of Bro . Newmarch ' s able and subtle

arguments . Of course the Grand Master takes precedence of all Masons , bc they who they may , anywhere and under all circumstances ; but if Bro . Newmarch ' s original conten tion was good , and the Prov . Grand Afaster was a Grand Master in his province , the Prov . Deputy Grand Alaster a Deputy Grand Master , and all ihe Prov . Grand

Officers , Grand Officers too , and their relative precedence only to be decided by priority of appointment , then even the Grand Master himself , if he was junior to the Prov . Grand Master , ( his own emanation ) , in appointment could not take precedence of him . But as Bro . Newmarch and Bro . " York " give up such idea , and as Bro .

"York " now concedes the precedence of Grand Officers over Prov . Grand Officers ( inferentially ) of ^ equal ranks , but which , if I am correctly informed , was not conceded at the Gloucester meeting , it seems a waste of time and words to dwell further on that topic . 5 . The illustrations Bro . "York" gives arc amusing , but

not , I think , to thc point , or at all on " all fours " with out present discussion . No one in Derbyshire could contend as to the rank or precedence of the Prov . Grand Master , present in person , and no such question could possibly arise unless the Grand Alaster , or Pro Grand Master , or Deputy Grand Master were present , either of them , personally . So we may dismiss that illustration as practically " out of

court . " G . As regards our distinguished Bro . the Deputy Prov , Grand Alaster for West Lancashire , the Rt . Hon . Colonel Stanley , . if presiding in the absence of the Prov . ( . rand Master , his rank and precedence could not be disputed , because he is Prov . Grand Master and quasi Grand Master , " pro tempore , " but if his Prov . Grand Master be present , and though he is to stand at his right , he would , I appre-

Original Correspondence.

hend , unless of Grand Lodge rank , have to concede thc " pas " to all present and past Grand Officers . 7 . Bro . " York " selects the case of thc Grand Organist as his " reductio ad absurdum . " But here another point comes in . The Grand Organist need not bc a Warden even , or a P . M ., like some other Grand Lodge Officers ,

and who , though his position gives him precedence in Grand Lodge , could not , I apprehend , take precedence of a Prov . Grand Lodge Officer , being a W . M . or a P . AL Thc whole subject is a most interesting one , and requires a careful and courteous appreciation of the whole facts of this " vcxata qutcstio . " Yours fraternally , LEX LATOMICA .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — A Provincial Grand Master on his appointment need only be a Master Alason , and as the appointment does not make him a member of Grand Lodge , it might be inferred that there arc Provincial Grand Alasters who are

not members of Grand Lodge . But when a Provincial Grand Alaster designate is only a Alaster Alason , the practice at the present time is to make him an Installed Alaster immediately before his installation as Provincial Grand Alaster . In this way he becomes a member of Grancl Lodge , and takes his place there , according to thc tabic

of precedence , between thc Deputy Grand Alaster and the Grand Wardens . Therefore a Grand Officer of inferior rank on visiting a province could not take precedence of its Provincial Grand Master , as in my ignorance of the present arrangements , I had supposed possible . Bro . Arnold , if I understand his letter correctly , wishes

to read the " Constitution " about which this discussion has taken place , thus : "Provincial Grand Officers shall possess in their district the rank and privileges of Provincial Grand Officers . " It needed no "Constitution " to reveal that fact to us . Yours truly and fraternally , YORK .

FREEAIASONRY IN ITALY . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Referring to the article headed " Italy , " which appears in your No . G 52 , for June 15 th ( extracted from Kenning's Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry ) , it may ,

perhaps , interest some of your readers to know that an English brother took part in Italian Frcernasoiiic gatherings during the years 1 S 61—1 SG 3 , at the lime when our Order was being revived and re-organised under thc influence of that grand national awakening which was brought about by the incomparable Cavour . I paid my

first visit to Northern Italy during thc winter of 1859-60 . In iSCr I visited lodges ( duly warranted by thc Grand Orient of France ) both at Turin , at Genoa , and at Milan . I was personally acquainted with several ofthe original founders of the first truly national Grand Lodge of Italy , at the time when Bro . thc Chevalier Nigra was elected

Grand Master , in the year 1 SG 2 . In thc autumn of 1 SG 2 I attended a Masonic funeral at Turin . On the Gth day of January , 1 S 63 , I visited the lodge "Amici Veri Virtuosi , " at Leghorn , and I have the vise oi the lodge bearing that dale , and signed by the Secretary , upon my Grand Lodge ( of-England' certificate . I well remember how strict was

the examination I had to undergo before being allowed to enter , and how I was conducted by il frat olio tcrribile to the door of the lodge , and made to enter under the arch of steel . The Third Degree was most excellently worked , and my Livornese brethren welcomed me , and subsequently refreshed me , in the most cordial and fraternal

manner . Our distinguished Bro . General Giuseppe Garibaldi was , at thc time , a subscribing member of the Amici Vert Virtuosi Lodge . 1 may add that Freemasonry in Italy at the present moment is exerting a most beneficial inllucnce on thc destinies of the countrv . The tenets of our Order are most undoubtedly

humanising the apathetic instincts of an intellectual and refined race , whose individualities have been gradually fossilised , whose spiritual intelligences have been paralysed , under the fell inllucnce of temporal power , who has sat gorging upon the good things of this world , nnd daunting its bejewelled and gilded wings in sensual , profligate godless self-complacency over the Vatican at Rome .

With your permission , Bro . Editor , I propose very shortly to offer for your acceptance for the pages of the Freemason a series of articles illustrative of thc development of Freemasonry in Italy , from the date upon which I first became personally acquainted with Italy and our Italian Freemasonic brethren—now twenty years ago—up to ( he present day . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , HENRY ECROYD . Aladn'J , July ist .

( "RAND LODGI' : DUES . To the Editor if the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Is it possible for a nun-subscribing brother to In able lo pay Grand Lodge dues otherwise than through a

lodge , i . e ., to Grand Lodge direct . ' Yours fraternally , P . M . [ The payment can only be made through a lodge . Lodge payment bears the one qualification of Grand Lodge membership . —ED . I ' . M . ]

King Kalakaua And The National Grand Lodge Of Egypt.

KING KALAKAUA AND THE NATIONAL GRAND LODGE OF EGYPT .

To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Thinking it may be of some interest to you and thc fraternity at large , I [ hasten to make the following

communication : Thc Supreme Council of Egypt had received some two or three months ago from the eminent and Illustrious Bro . Albert Pike , an intimation that Bro . Kalakaua , 33 , King of thc Hawaiian Islands , was about to visit Egypt . This longed for day at length arrived , and on the 20 th ult . the public

of Cairo could read in the newspapers of this metropolis that His Majesty King Kalakaua was expected by the French steamer arriving at Suez . Then a special meeting of the National Grand Lodge was resolved upon , and Bro . Kalakaua was invited by Aiost Worshipful Bro . Raph . Borg , G . AL , to honour it with his presence . Circulars were sent

to all lodges of the jurisdiction ; the wire was set to work in every direction . All lodges hailing from Grand Bodies in amity with the National Grand Lodge \ vere "' . requested to attend . The evening of the 22 nd ult ., at half-past nine o'clock , Bro . Kalakaua , marshalled by Bros . Abbate Bey , 33 , a member of the Supreme Council for Egypt , and

Grand Representative of Charleston ; Somi Pasha , P . M ., Representative of the Khedive ; and Charles Tudd , P . M ., His Majesty's Chamberlain , made his appearance among the members of thc Egyptian Grand Lodge and their numerous visitors . His good-looking air , unassuming countenance , and natural ; affability wrought thc best

impression upon each and every Alason present . Grand Lodge was opened in full and ample form by the Grand Alaster , assisted by the Office Bearers ; and in presence of the G . G . R . R . of several sister lodges , Bro . Kalakaua was ushered with thc high honours due to his Masonic and social rank . The National Grand Master

addressed him in behalf of Egyptian Masonry , with that fluency and effusion for which he is so remarkable , then he offered to Grand Lodge the following resolution , which was unanimously accepted : " Whereas Bro . Kalakaua , both as a King and a Alason , rendered many and important services to the cause of civilisation and humanity at large : 0

resolved , that Bro . D . Kalakaua , 33 , of Charleston , King of the Hawaiian Islands , may bc and is thereby proclaimed Honorary Grand Alaster to the National Grand Lodge of Egypt . " Bro . Kalakaua , in expressing his warmest thanks to the Grand Lodge and their Grand Alaster for an honour so unexpectedly conferred upon him , suggested the idea of

organising an Arclucologtcal Exhibition to beheld in Egypt . Several brothers then took the floor and greeted in the pe r son of King Kalakaua all thc Freemasons of the far cast , expressing the hope that this event might be the cause of a narrower and more intimate moral re-union between the newest and the oldest world . Bro . Kalakaua has in our

eyes an advantage which few Royal Masons of our time can boast of ; he represents the sacred and imperishable principle of self-civilisation , and is introduced and recommended to the fraternity by Illustrious Bro . Pike , the first and most eminent Alason in the world . A . 33 ° . Cairo , lune 25 th .

AIASONIC FUNERALS . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Taking it for granted that "A Secretary" would not have troubled you had he not wished for information other than contained in the Book of Constitutions— "

Masonic Funerals "—1 take the liberty , having recently advised in my mother lodge , to state what wc consider proper on the occasion of the death of a member of our lodge . I , as Secretary , issued , by command of the W . AL , a circular requesting the brethren , with him , to attend thc funeral , with notice of time and place of meeting , and a marginal

note as follows : "No Masonic clothing nor badge to be worn . " Each brother had a sprig of acacia , which , on leaving the grave , he dropped in on to the head of the coffin . Perhaps I should add that we "followed , " taking our places immediately behind the mourners . Faithfully and fraternally yours , P . P . G . R .

OLD BOOKS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — When 1 wrote my last letter to you I had merely glanced at " Old Livers , " since then I have read it through and through , and I am now convinced , first , that the author

may have possessed pounds of learning , but yet he was not endowed with an ounce of common sense ; and second , the passages in the above work , which some have misconstrued to refer to the then existence of higher Degrees , merely refer to the first , second , and third Degrees . I have also read "The Freemason ' s Accusation and

Defence , " of 1726 . For information of those who have not read the said book , I will briefly state that a young man studying law in London had written to his father in the country that he was about to join the Freemasons . The father had a strong antipathy to Freemasonry , and

consequently refused to sanction the son ' s intention . Among other rcasons , ' the son stated that the Alasonic secrets were never disclosed . Thc father denied the son ' s assertion , and referred him to the Post Boy ; he could not give thc date , but he was sure , he said , it appeared in the above newspaper when he was last in London , and he added ,