Original Correspondence.

"SOUTH LONDON , " "P . M ., Sc , " AND A TEMPERANCE LODGE .

To the Editor if the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — " South London " wants to be at home with his Masonic brethren in a lodge conducted on temperance principles , and asks for information on the subject . " P . M ., etc ., " answers his query by saying he is a total

abstainer himself , and " if side by side with total abstinence in himself he can tolerate moderation in the brethren who sit beside him , he may feel at home in any Masonic lodge . " I question if such an answer will satisfy our brother " South London , " or , indeed , would be such as to please total abstainers generally , or even Masons worthy of the name . " Ami Masonic lotlge , " I think , would not suit

brethren anxious to see the principles of the Craft duly observed , according to the spirit of our Order , and the cardinal virtues by which we shoultl be distinguished . 1 have been in lodges where—provided the members attend the meetings regularly , and stay to the banquets , suppers , and refreshments during the year , the Dr . and Cr . account would be as follows : — Bro . in account with the lodge No . —

Dr . s . tl . " Annual Banquet , " & c 12 6 Quarterly Suppers 7 o " Grogs , " & c , after lodge meetings 8 o Proportion of Incidental Expenses 10 0

£ ___ L _ Cr . £ s . d . Annual Subscription 140 Dues to Provincial G . Lodge 020 Dues to Grand Lodge 020 Proportion of Banquet ( paid by each Member ) 050 Balance , being loss to the Lodge Funds 050

£ 1 ' 8 o I could mention instances where the loss to the lodge funds has been considerably more , and we know of a lodge which went considerably in debt in consequence of the expenses attending its annual banquet , antl usually did so every year , the plan being to depend upon initiation fees to set them right again in a few months . Now ,

would such a slate of things suit either of the two brethren mentioned above . Surely neither " South London , " nor " P . M ., ULC . " would advocate the brethren who attended the banquets and " refreshments , " enjoying the entertainment cither at the expense of the lodge funds , or taking the subscriptions of absent brethren to balance the account ?

I do not speak now of those lodges wherein the custom is to pay a much larger fee than is required for lodge purposes , so as to meet the additional expense of banquets . My statements have reference only to the lodges whose annual subscriptions for the members vary from twelve shillings to about a pound , which sums would only be barely sufficient to clear the ordinary expenditure

of the lotlge for rent , taxes , printing and other incidentals . 1 say for all such lodges the only safe and Masonic p lan to pursue is for brethren to pay for whatever they may cat or drink ( unless visitors ) , and so long as they do so Masonically we cannot complain . I see no need for a total abstinence lodge in South London , or elsewhere , so long as there are lodges of the

same constitution as the Eclectic , No . 1201 , Freemasons ' Hal ) , London , the regulations of which provide that " As this lodge was chartered by the Most Worshipful Grand Master , thc Earl of Zetland , & c , & c , " under a proviso that no part of its funds should he appropriated to tavern expenses , or refreshments , this , the first by-law , clearly defines that no part of the moneys received by this

lotlge can or shall be used or spent in any other manner than the requirements of the lodge , the Order , or Charity may permit , and shall not be appropriated for tavern expenses or refreshments in any form , and that this law is irrevocable so long as the charter of said lodge exists and is in force . " I am not desirous to argue the matter on total abstinence grounds at all , and although I am

a life-long total abstainer from all intoxicating liquors myself , I cannot say my experience of society generally is such that I only wish to associate with total abstainers , neither do I believe that legislation for any particular class would accord with the spirit of Freemasonry . The ballot is our test of membership as respects admission to our lodges , and if a number of brethren who meet in their " sanctums" are in one case total abstainers , it is not likely

they will admit a publican , and if , 111 another instance , the majority happen to be connected with the beer and spirit interests , it would be an unlikely place for a temperance advocate to be accepted ; and yet both classes would be made welcome as Masons when visiting each other ' s lodges . " Birds of a sort flock ( together , " and so our brother in " South London " will , doubtless , soon

discover the neig hbourhood that will suit his tastes , but , setting aside individual opinions , and looking mainly at thc wants of the Society of Free and Accepted Masons , may we not ask , is it not needful to look more after those lodges wherein the members feast at thc lodge expense , and who do not pay their fair share of the expenses ? Is it right that lodges , making no provision for banquets

in the subscriptions , should be allowed to spend annually such large sums as several do at their annual festivals anil monthly meetings ? I lave we not in this fact the explanation why there are so many non-contributing members , who retire from their lodges in disgust at seeing their contributions in particular , and the fund generally , so squandered . The Temperance Lodge in Birmingham has a by-law

Original Correspondence.

prohibiting thc introduction of any intoxicating beverages at their festival gatherings , but that is not what I advocate . My desire is that the Grand Lotlge render it imperative that the funds of the lodge shall only be used for strictly Masonic or charitable purposes , a separate account being kept for festive occasions . Our Grand Masonic Institutions have much to gain if such were made the law of the Grand Lodge . Yours fraternally , W . J . HUGHAN .

MASONS' MARKS . To thc Editor if the Freemason . Dear Sir anil Brother , — In the Freemason for 12 th June Bro . Hughan mentioned the dates of four numbers ot the Builder , containing information as to Masonic marks , and said there

was another which he hatl unfortunately missed , the number for 27 th March , 18 ( 19 , contains some hundreds of marks , antl also Mr . Godwin ' s able article ; in fact , it is simply a reprint of the sessional paper of the Royal Institute of British Architects . HENRY T . BoiiAiiT , W . M . 10 S 5 .

MASONS' MARKS . To thc Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In my ncte on this subject ( p . 2 S 4 , ante ) the residence of the late ' Bro . Edw . W . Shaw has , by an error of the press , been given as Tamworth , instead of Farnworth , near Warrington . From a letter which I received from

Bro . Shaw , not long before his illness , it appears that the work was intended to be published by Mr . Vincent Brooks ( formerl y Day & Son ) , London , that it was to be foolscap size , with sheets ' of illustrations twice that size , including , in addition to the Masons' marks , " the plans of 70

Cathedrals , and the Pyramid at Gizeh , all on thc scale of 100 feet to the inch , and also drawings showing the geometrical principles on which the Mediaeval buildings were designed . " WILLIAM KELLY , P . Prov . G . M . M . Leicestershire .

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Bro . Squires's note iii yours of 2 ( ith ult . is easily explained . When His Grace the Duke of Wellington gave the reply in 1861 , referred to by Bro . Squires , "that he did not

belong to thc Order , " he was only giving a reply similar to that he had given twenty years before lo Lodge 494 , when that lodge applied to him to allow the lodge to be called the " Wellington Lodge . " In His Grace ' s reply to Lodge 414 he states his reason for refusing to allow the lodge to be so called , to be " that

he had joined Masonry when a vcry young man , and had for years ceased to belong to the Order . " 1 am glad to say the old 494 bye-laws , with 1 lis Grace's signature ( as given in the January Magazine ) is at present in tbe possession of thc W . M . of that lodge . Yours fraternally , JAMES H . NEILSON , M . M . 404 , and P . M . 620 .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF KENT . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In the last two or three numbers of the Freemason , you have been drawing attention to the financial position of some of the Provincial Grand Lodges in the United Kingdom , and specially as to the sums disposed for the

purpose of charity . As I think that we 111 the Province of Kent may justly feel proud of our position iu this respect , I herewith enclose the balance sheet of the Provincial Granil Lodge for the year ending the 1 st of April last , thinking that perhaps you might like to make use of it for the purpose I have named . The total funds for disposal at our annual festival , held

on the full inst ., amounted to £ 436 ds . id . There was one lodge in default , so that in reality there was more . On that occasion we voted £ 320 for the purposes of charity alone ; on the 1 st of April we had thirty . eight lodges in the province , wc have now forty . All the lodges that have been in existence six years are life governors of the three Masonic institutions , by fees paid out of the Provincial

Grand Lodge Fund antl Chanty Fund . 1 his is of course besitles the private subscriptions of brethren in the province , antl the subscriptions of individual lodges , and the list of Stewards appointed for the festivals of the institutions . We number about 2950 , antl the status of the initiates during the past year , will , I think , bear a fair criticism . Should there he any further particulars you would like to have possession of , I shall be vcry pleased to inform you .

I for one feel very pleased that you are bringing this matter into prominence , because , rightly or wrongl y ^ I think the claims of thc provinces or the position they occupy in supporting our noble Order are not sufficiently recognized in Grand Lodge and in the metropolitan area , in short , that they are falsely considered inferior to the metropolitan lodges generally . I am , Sir , your fraternally , ALIHED SI-KKCKII , Prov . G . Sec .

THE RYE HOUSE . 7 ' u the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — A report being prevalent that the Rye House is sold , anil that this is the last season ;—please allow me to

state , that there is no truth whatever in the rumour . The Rye Rouse is not sold ; there litis not been any treaty for its purchase ; this will not be the last seas-. m , and I hope to see my kind friends and patrons here a few more years yet to come . I am , dear Sir , yours very truly , W . H . TEAL- * ,

Original Correspondence.

BOYS' SCHOOL FESTIVAL , 18 * 15 . To the Editor if thc Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In your report containing the list of subscriptions read by Bro . Binckes at the recent festival , you have placed against thc name of the lodge 1 had the honour lo represent the sum of £ 151 14 s . od ., including * a donation of £ 10 10 s . from His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught .

1 he total amount is correct , but His Royal Highness was pleased to place upon my list the sum of twenty guineas , not ten , as quoted . You have also grouped the Hampshire Lotlges with those of the Province of Gloucestershire . By inserting this in your next issue you will oblige yours faithfully and fraternally , J . HACKEII , P . M . 72-j , P . G . J . D ., Hants and Isle of ' Wight .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . 7 ' u the Editor if the Freemason . Dear Sir antl Brother , — I have to announce , through you , for the information of thc Governors and Subscribers of this Institution , antl of the Craft generally , that the Rev . Dr . Morris , of King ' s College , London , has been elected Head-Master of this School .

I am , yours , faithfully and fraternally , F . BINCKES , Secretary .

THE HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND , 1875 . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — So as to counteract certain erroneous statements which I am informed are being maliciously circulated , to the prejudice of efforts now being made by the existing Local Hospital Saturday Committees , viz ., Chelsea ,

Hammersmith , Greenwich , Southwark , West Ham and Stratford , and Westminster and Pimlico , I beg you will permit me to state that none of the members receive , nor have received , payment for services rendered , or time devoted to this great movement . All work gratuitously , and in some instances , in addition to devoting all their leisure time , members also gave working hours for which they would

have been paid by their employers ; in addition , too , they freely contributed their mites to the Hospital Saturday Fund , This being so , and as we are now rapidly approaching this year's Hospital Saturday , 31 st July , ' let me earnestly beseech those earnest working men and women , whom it is the pride of the metropolis to call her own , to put their shoulder to the Hospital Saturday

wheel , so that our collection may be a worthy one . Collection sheets and books ( the latter may be carried in the waistcoat pocket ) , will be issued on application , I am , Sir , yours faithfully , ' ¦ 1 CHARLES MEIICCJ-H , 7 th July , 1875 , Councit Rooms , Chairman , 28 , Leicester Square , W . C . ' !

Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo ; or Masonic Notes and Queries .

Sin C 11111 ST 01-1 iF . 11 WREN . Was Sir Christopher Wren a Freemason ? At page 168 of the Freemasons' Magazine and Masonic Mirror ( ot Sept . 3 rd , 1859 , we read : — " The Post Soy , No . 5245 , from Saturday , March 2 nd to Tuesday , March 5 th , I 723 , states : — ' This evening the corpse of that worthy Freemason , Sir Christopher Wren , Knight , is to be interred under the Dome of St . Paul's Cathedral . ' "

Is it true that Wren was really a " Freemason , " and if so , when and where did he become one ? At page 595 of the Graphic for Dec . 19 th , 1874 , we were told that the Duke of Edinburgh was a Mason , but , as has been shown , that is a mistake -, consequently if the published dictum of a contemporary cannot be relied upon as regards a living celebrity , I feel justified in doubting the veracity of the 1723 oracle respecting a dead one . W . P . BUCHAN .

M INUTE B OOK , LODGE or INDUSTHV , GATESHEAD . As Bro . Hughan wishes it , I give a verbatim et literatim copy of thc page on which the word " Highrodiams " occurs , and I refer him and all my readers to the Magazines for August and September for fuller information as regards the minute book .

Brought forward 1746 . ( 25 ) . Bros . Hawdon , P . G . M .-, ( . Hawdoti , S . G . W . ; f . Lawther , J . G . W . ; J . Foy , Dep . G . W . M . 1746 ; Michael Hawdon , Perticuler Lodge , Master ; Sen . Thomas Eccles and Jun . Thomas Liddle , Wardens ; Wm . Gibson , Chris . Dod , Stewards . Memorandum . Highrodiams to pay for making in

that Order only is . Od .: — 1 . Hendk . Jones . 2 . Thos . Dalton . 3 . John Emmerson . 4 . Wm . Hawdon . 5 . Robert Hawdon . 6 . James Foy .

7 . John Lawther . 8 . John Payne . Paid 2 s . Od ., English , William Gibson . John Hawdon . Thos . Liddle .

SicJ- by side with this entry occurs the following entr > , "Name of the Highrodiams . " July ist , 174 O , Enacted at a Grand Lodge , held that evening , that no brother Mason shoultl be admitted into the Dignity of a Highrodiani under less than a charge of 2 s . Od ., or at the Domaskin or Fori *? , as John Thompson frorn Gatcside , paid at the