Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed b y our correspondents , but we winh , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

CANVASSING AND TOUTING AT ELECTIONS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , " P . Z . " commences by stating " all good Masons are agreed that canvassing and touting at elections constitute improper conduct , " and he seems to think Bro . Lamonby ' s motion relates only to the office of Grand Treasurer .

Has " P . Z . " ever attended Grand Lodge on a night of election of members of the Board of General Purposes . ? Was he present at Grand Lodge at the last election of such members ? Did he receive , in his Province in the North , cards of request to vote for a particular candidate ? If he answers all these questions in the negative then one would understand his letter . —Yours fraternally , LEX SCRIPTA .

COURTESY TITLE— " WORSHIPFUL BROTHER . " To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother The letter of "Secretary , P . M . " is " a startler ! " I take it the really correct mode of address is " Worshipful Past Master Smith " — " Worshipful Bro . Smith " being more colloquial , but equally correct . I cannot suppose an " old and experienced Preceptor of a North London Lodge of Instruction " would correct a Lodge he was visit ! ng without very strong

reasons . "Secretary P . M . " seems not to have asked for his authority , which would have been his better course before asking your readers' opinions . As , however , the Preceptor mentioned , is no doubt one of your readers , I would ask him to be good enough , through your columns , to tell us on what he bases his dictum ? Feeling sure he will willingly respond to my challenge , I will at once give him four reasons for my disputing his statement .

i . The Book of Constitutions , 1884 , Ed . Art . 6 , Note . " The title , or address of Worshipful " ( W . ) is " to be used by the present and Past Masters of Lodges . " 2 . In 1888 The late Grand Secretary , V . W . Bro . Col . Shadwell Clerke ( no mean authority !) , in enumerating to a Correspondent some of the " many privileges attending Past Mastership , " commenced with

" 1 . Right of Title of Worshipful . " 3 . The Book of Constitutions , 1896 , Edn . Art . 6 , Note , in the same words as in 1894 . 4 . The Official Reports of Grand Lodge Proceedings , up to date , which should be a correct guide . Anxiously awaiting the Preceptor ' s reply . — I am , yours fraternally , LEX SCRIPTA .

ANOTHER CLASS LODGE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sit and Brother , At the earnest suggestion of several influential Welsh Masons , I beg to invoke your valuable paper ' s co-operation in urging the desirable addition of a Welsh Masonic Lodge to the number of class lodges in existence . In the

columns of the press last week , a report of the recent consecration of a Cornish lodge has appeared . This is as it should be , and we heartily congratulate our Cornish brethren on their patriotism , wishing the new-born lodge God speed and prosperity . But assuredly gallant little Wales must not be found failing in this healthy spirit ol emulation , and the need of a Welsh Masonic lodge to represent our well-loved principality is so obvious , I feel confident , as a Cambrian myself ,

the suggestion only needs publicity to speedy entail the formation of a Cambrian lodge . I shall be most happy , as a P . M . as well , to lend my personal services in its initiative , and my Welsh brethren who wisb to becoms members of the same I shall be glad to hear from at my private address given below . —I remain , Sir , yours fraternally ,

J . BRINDLEY JAMES , P . M . 1441 , P . M . 2410 93 , Bridge-road , Hammersmith , W ., October , 13 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

no 6 ] HISTORY OF No . 526 . In the Freemason tor January 2 nd , 1897 , will be found an appropriate review of the "History of the Lodge of Honour , No . 526 , " Wolverhampton , by the Editor . The handsome little work is by Bro . Thomas J . Barnett , P . M ., & c , and was published for private circulation only . Since then the author has prepared and had printedwith the same interesting volume , an Appendix , competing the

, account of the lodge to date , with a full report of the memorable Jubilee celebration of the lodge , when the Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Dartmouth , Prov . G . M ., attended , with his Deputy , Colonel Bindley , P . G . D ., and the R . W . Bro . A . F . Gcdson , Q . C , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Worcestershire , and several other Grand Officers wire also present , with a large number of brethren belonging to the Province of Staffordshire and visitors , including Bro . Benjamin Hicklin , J . P ., the only survivor of the founders . By desire and vote of tbe members , Bro . Barnett has

had his portrait engraved and inserted as the Frontispiece to this important addition to his excellent History . Thc meeting was of a most satisfactory character , and is ably described by the author . Amongst the capital illustrations which enliven the book are two depicting the W . M . 's and the 1 . P . M . ' s chairs . They are very fine old specimens , and Bro . Barnett has discovered they belonged to the " Lodge of Friendship , " King's Lynn , Norfolk , which was warranted yth June , 1762 , and erased in 1838 . W . J . H .

f THF INFANT SON ol the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough will be baptised at thc Chapel Royal , St . James's , to-morrow ( Saturday ) , when the Prince of Wales will stand sponsor in person . The Rev . Edgar Sheppard , Sub-Dean of the Chapels Royal , will officiate .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Lion and Lamb Lodge , No . 192 . A meeting was held on Thursday , the 7 th instant , at Cannon-street Hotel , when there were present Bros . C . Garton , W . M . ; William Baker , S . W . ; Rev . T . Selby Henrey , J . W . and Chap . ; T . Cohu , P . M ., Treas . ; H . Legge , P . M ., Sec ; J . G . Robeson , S . D . ; T . Stokes , J . D . ; j . Smith , P . M ., D . C . ; C . C . Welch , I . G . ; C . Couchman , Tyler ; J . Smith , P . VI . ; Hughes , P . M . ; Fisher , P . M . ; Goodes , P . M . ; Mower , P . M . ; Abbott , P . M . ; Lockett , Williams , PageRawkins , Collins , Francis ,

, Fishlight , Lloyd , Farr , Bassett , Hipwell , Fergus ; on , S . Rippin , Wetton , Purbrook , Franklin , Roche , A . J . Rippin , Doody , Cranshaw , and Dixon . Visitors : Bros . Copestake , S 69 , P . P . G . S . B . Herts ; D . D . Reid , 1 % ; E . Anderson , VV . M . 715 ; D . Harlow , P . M . 65 ; H . Brown , 2024 ; W . A . Beer , 2547 ; C M . Randall , P . M . 1 799 ; J . Rose , 102 ; and Whitehead , 250 .

After the lodge had been opened , Bros . Francis and Page were passed to the F . C . Degree , and a ballot taken—which proved unanimous—for Messrs . Davies and Evans ( to be initiated next meeting ) . A Committee having been appointed to carry out arrangements for ladies' night , notice of motion was given for 20 guineas to go on Bro . Carton ' s list for next Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Lodge was closed , and the brethren dined together .

St . Pancras Lodge , No . 2271 . This successful Metropolitan lodge held its annual installation meeting at the Midland Grand Hotel , St . Pancras , on the 7 th inst ., when there was a good attendance of brethren . Lodge was opened by Bro . W . A . Scurrah , P . G . S . B ., W . M ., supported by Bros . J . Irvine , I . P . M . ; C . Jacob , S . W . ; T . Parkes , J . W . ; H . Longman . P . M ., Sec . ; C . W . Matthews , D . C . ; F . Cuzner , I . G . ; J . Jefferson , Org . ; R . G . Webster , M . P ., P . M . ; Wm . Stiles , P . G . Treas . j A . H . Scurrah , P . P . G . S . of W . Middx .:

C . Woodward , P . M . ; T . E . Mitchell , and others , Visitors : Bros . A . Shelton Hooper , P . D . G . S . of W . Hong Kong ; H . Stiles , P . M . 1507 ; W . Powell , I . P . M . 2206 ; J . Wilson , P . M . 132 S ; W . Fitson , 1549 ; C J . Veal , I . P . M . 1549 ; F . Walker , J . W . 1627 ; J . L . Apsey , P . M . 534 ; H . Abseil , 87 ; R . Ward , 1744 ; J . Liscombe , P . M . 1 S 1 S ; C . J . Knightley , P . M ., Sec , 1744 ; J . Nicholson , P . M . 12 ; C . Ortner , 176 7 ; C . H . Lea , P . M . 49 ; W . W . Lee , P . P . G . D . Middx .: and others .

The minutes were confirmed , and the Audit report adopted . The installation of Bro . Charles J acob as W . M . was then proceeded with , the ceremony being impressively rendered by Bro . W . A . Scurrah , P . G . S . B ., assisted by Bro . Wm . Stiles , P . G . Treas ., as D . C The following were appointed as officers of the lodge : Bros . Parker , S . W . ; Rice , J . W . ; Graham , M . P ., P . M ., Treas . ; W . A . Scurrah , P . G . S . B ., Sec . j Cuzner , S . D . ; Matthews , J . D . ; Higgins , I . G . ; Woodrow , P . M ., D . C . j J . E . Mitchell , Stwd . ; Ji fferson , Org . ; and Whiting , P . M ., Tyler . At the conclusion of the customary

addresses , Bro . Scurrah , I . P . M ., was presented with a Past Masters jewel in recognition of his eminent services . The I . P . M . expressed his sincere thanks for the gift , which he would always regard with pleasure , especially as it bore an additional token commemorating his Mastership during the Diamond Jubilee year . He hoped that the happy relations existing between the Past Masters and the members would continue for many years to come . Numerous letters of regret for non-attendance from distinguished brethren were

announced , and the lodge was closed . After an excellent banquet , the usual toasts received hearty recognition . Bro . VV . M . Stiles , P . G . Treas ., replying for "The Grand Officers , " said the brethren had frequently heard how much the Grand Officers appreciated the kind manner in which the toast was always received , and particularly in that lodge . It was a pleasure to the Grand Officers to attend lodges and see the work done so well .

Bro . VV . A . Scurrah , P . G . S . B ., said the Grand Officers did their duty , not only in attending lodges , but in hard work . At the Girls' School election , that day , if there was one Grand Officer present there were 25 at least , all hard at work securing the election of deserving candidates . That showed they were ready to work for Masonry , and several Grand Oliicers had asked him to make their excuses to the brethren for their absence , as they wished to wait and hear the result of the election announced . As he knew many of the brethren present were anxious to partake of the noxious weed , he

would at once propose " The Health of the Worshipful Master . " He had the honour of initiating Bro . Jacobs into Freemasonry , and had watched his progress from the commencement until the present time . The W . M . was not so conversant with the language as some of them , and it was , therefore , difficult for him to say all he would wish . Bro . Jacobs had done everything he could for Freemasonry in general , and their lodge in particular , having progressed step by step , and always performing his duty in any office with satisfaction and credit . The brethren would doubtless receive the toast with

enthusiasm , and wish the W . M . a very happy and prosperous year of office . Bro . Charles Jacobs , W . M ., thanked them one and all very heartily . He could assure them he was most proud , and was the proudest Master in the world . When he first came to London , and had seen a little of it , he thought there were two things he would look after . The first was an English lady for a wife , and the second was to be an English Freemason . He had obtained both his wishes , and it was his good fortune to be initiated in that most distinguished lodge . He was initiated by Bro . Scurrah , the father

of the lodge , and he had now attained the position of Master . He was most proud to think he was now in the chair of an English lodge . He had always been received very kindly by the brethren , and he thanked them very heartily for the toast . The W . M . then briefly proposed "The Installing Master and Past Masters , " and in response , Bro . Scurrah , I . P . M ., P . G . S . B ., said that whatever he did in Masonry he endeavoured to do to the best of his ability . He was always doubly careful when he had to install one of his own initiates and was naturally anxious to do his very b : st . If

he had done it to the satisfaction of the W . M . and brethren he was amply repaid foe any little trouble . He regarded this as a distinguished Iodje . It was true it was small , but size did not always conduce to prosperity , and he looked upon the St . Pancras as one of the best under the English Constitution . Bro . Longman , P . M ., returned thanks , and said that as he hid don * so on so miny occasions he would only thank them once again , coneratuhte the W . M . and wish him

a successful term of ofiice . Bro . J . Irvine , P . M ., also responded , expressing his pleasure at witnessing the progress of the lodge and at seeing the first initiate installed as W . M . The first Mister of the lodge was a most respected fine old English gentlemin and Mason , who hid since departed , and the chair during the past year hid been occupied by Bro . Scurrih , and a more worthy man they could not find . The working of the lodge was second to none , and they were prpud of it .

Bro . W . A . Scurrah , P . M ., Sec , proposed "The Visitors , " giving them all a cordial welcome , and especially Bro . Shelton Hoiper , from Hong Kong . Bro . Shelton Hooper , P . D . G . Supt . Wks . Hong Kong , said that was the first lodge it had been his privilege to attend in the metropolis . He was initiated 10 , 000 miles away in the most distant dependency of her Majesty , which in 1 S 41 was a barren island . In four years they were able to produce a lodge composed of men whom he would guarantee to do credit to any Masonic body in England . The science of Masonry he

regarded as Charity , and ahhough they had always subscribed to the Charities at home , they formed a fund of their own about six years ago to afford relief to cases coming before them from Masms passing through the Colony . In 1896 they had a credit balance of about £ 1200 . 'That would show them whit Masonry was in a place which TO vears ago was a barren island , and at the visit of the Duke of Connaught a few years

ago a Disttict Grand Lodge was called and 350 Masons invited to meet him . Wherever he had been he had always been cordially received as an English Freemason in the best sense of the word . Bro . Scurrah ' s name was known in Hong Kong , and therefore it was a great pleasure to be present at the Sc . Pancras Lodge as the guest of that distinguished member of Grand Lodge . lie should take back the liveliest recollections of his visit , and wished every success and prosperity to the lodge .

Bros . Nicholson , P . M . ; Lea , P . M . 49 ; Apsey , P . M . ; and Captain Kn'ghticy , P . M ., also acknowledged the toast . "The Treasurer , Secretary , and Officers" was cordially proposed . Bro . Webster , M . P ., replied . Bro . Parker , S . W ., also expressed his thanks for the kind words used concerning him . He looked forward to fill the Master's chair , which was a responsibility no man could feel without emotion . Bro . Woodrow , P . M ., D . C , also responded . The Tyler ' s toast closed a very successful meeting .

Bro . Jefferson presided at the piano , and Bro . C Ortner contributed several bas > songs with his usual ability and success . Mr . Sydney Isom also assisted in the programme .