Original Correspondence.

who had been in office during the past year should continue in office during the coming year . " With all due deference to the authority of the Provincial Grand Master , it is not his prerogative to select the officers of any lodge , but the sole prerogative ofthe W . M . of the lodge itself . If the W . M . on

the present occasion chooses to accept the dictum of his superior officer , well and good ; but if he stands upon his own right , as he is entitled to do by the express words of the " Constitutions "— " he shall appoint his Wardens and other officers , except the Treasurer " —it is clear that no power in Masonry can enforce the decision alluded to .

Contradictions and inconsistencies in the practice of Masonry , whether they concern the administrative , executive , or ritualistic departments , will always occur until we have a better and more stringent regime of promotion , qualification , and admission . Apologising for trespassing so much on your space , I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , CRUX .

London , September , 12 th , 1870 .

A BELIEF IN GOD AND A FUTURE RESURRECTION , & c . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have read with much astonishment the letter of Bro . J . E . Wilson in THE FREEMASON of 20 th August , 1870 , and , it

would seem , he is entirely ignorant of Masonic jurisprudence . I know not what right Bro . J . E . Wilson has to interfere in the question between Bro . James Wallace and me . Bro . J . AVallace is surely able to maintain his own cause , if it is capable of being maintained ; I dislike the interference of a

third party . This third party takes a side at once , and expresses himself in a style more indicative of strong passion than of Masonic brotherly feeling . What does he mean by saying , " In Scotland we have P . M . ' s and P . M . ' s , but I had fondly hoped that those who could anonymously traduce a

brother ' s character had passed away , or been ' stamped out , ' like cattle plague or those P . M . 's who make sailors Freemasons in their tavern cellars " ? Bro . J . E . Wilson writes apparently in the height of passion , but will probably come to common sense by-and-bye . He attempts the

facetious , and supposes M . M . to stand for Mischief Maker . I am willing to allow him thc full benefit of his joke . The question of the truth or falsehood of the charge made by mc against Bro . J . AVallace is not to be decided by Bro . I . E . AVilson's assertion

that it is utterly false , as the least inquiry would have shown to any one . " Bro . J . E . AVilson says there are P . M . 's and P . M . 's . He puts in a most unnecessary apostrophe ; but he omits to observe the distinction between P . M . and Pr . M ., which every Freemason ought to understand .

I remain , vours fraternally , A PAST MASTER OF THE SCOTTISH CONSTITUTION .

FOREIGN TITLES . ( To ihe Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER ,- I am bound to believe that you will do mc the favour of inserting this note in your journal , as it bears very importantly on thc recent Rhodocanakian

controversy , as will be seen by the following extract addressed to H . I . H . thc Prince Rhodocanakis , by the Minister of Greece at the Court of St . James ; and which proves that even were an English Royal Duke ( for example ) to become a naturalised Greek subjectjhe would forfeit all his titular distinctions , but that on his renouncing such naturalisation , his titles

would bc revived . The inference is obvious , especially when we mark tue style by which the Minister addresses thc Prince . As I have , perhaps , trespassed on the prerogative of a friend , and made my extracts without permission , I may be excused giving the date publicity—although , for your editorial satisfaction , 1 enclose it . Yours fraternally ,

[ KXTRACT . ] Lond res . MON PRINCK , —Je m ' empresse a repondrc a la lettre que vous in ' avcz fait 1 ' honncur de m ' e ' erire en date d 'hicr . D ' apres Particle 3 de notre Constitution aitctin litre de

noblesse 11 est accorde ni reconnu aux ciloyens Hellenes . Mais ceux tjui se sont naturalises en pays etianger duraicnt & mon avis invoqucr a cc sujet la decision des atttlioriles de leur nouvelle prune . Si vous tics 11 c 011 naturalise sujet Grecvous ctcs naturellement soumis aux dispositions de l'Art 3 . Mais si par la suite vous avez obtcnu line autre naturalisation c ' est aux authorilcs dupays que vous

ave-j adopte qi \ il appartient de decider si voire line hcrcditairc pent vous etre reconnu Veuillez , agreer , clier Prince , les assurances de ma parfaite consideration . [ Minister ' s signature . ] A SonAltesse Imperiale Le Prince Rhodocanakis , & c , & c , & c .

Original Correspondence.

"A COUNTRY W . M . " AND "SCOTCH v . ENGLISH FREEMASONRY . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I think if Bro . Hughan had read my letter over a second time , instead of" writing at once , " he would have seen that 1 was perfectly acquainted with the regulation

violated ; as it contained the substance of the bylaw , which he gives in cxtenso . However , I trust good may arise from its publication , and that every province may be led to see the propriety of at once adopting a similar law . I would also inform him that the whole case had been laid before the Prov . G . Sec . of West York

previous to my letter appearing in T ^ IE FREEMASON , and I haveevery confidence that the P . G . M ., or his excellent Deputy , will deal with it according to its merits ; and however sceptical Bro . Hughan may be about the truth of the " statement" pending the decision of P . G . L ., I cannot furnish further particulars . I am , yours fraternally , A COUNTRY W . M . September 12 th , 1870 .

SCOTTISH MASONRY . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Bro . Hughan asks me for a copy of the By-Laws of Lodge United Brethren , No . 251 , S . C . I regret that I cannot lay my hand on my own copy , which has got mislaid in my removal from the West Indies , but he

may be assured that the fees are what I have said . He would probably be able to assure himself on this point , by asking the Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . Our own W . M . is now in England , I believe , and if this catches his eye , he

will confirm liiy statement . I am , yours fraternally , A MEMBER of Lodge United Brethren , No . 251 , S . C Hendon , N . W ., Sept . 8 th , 1870 .

( To the Editor of Thc Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Before any man can become a Mason , he has to declare that he is uninfluenced by mercenary or other unworthy motives ; why then should such be imputed to him ? As to the " labourer " being initiated , I can see no

objection to him merely as a labourer . If what I have been taught in lodge is true , then a great many labourers have been Masons . Bro . Hughan thinks that Masonry is not intended for such men . There I differ , though I make no pretensions to being a learned Mason , which Bro .

Hughan is without doubt ; still I think he has made a mistake there . AYhen kings " * exchanged the sceptre for the trowel , " I believe they meant to honour Masons , not to honour labourers by admitting them into an Order of which kings were members . I thought Masons make no distinction ; here is a

very great one . If a man joins the Foresters , Rechabites , or Oddfellows , he can demand a certain sum in case of illness ; but that an Order , " whose distinguishing characteristic is charity , " is to be composed of thc middle and upper classes only , I conceive to be an anomaly . Who are to be thc

recipients of theit * charity ? And why a working-man is to be excluded from the beautiful teachings of Masonry , I cannot make out . On one point I agree with Bro . Hughan , and that is , that proper inquiry should bc made before a candidate is balloted for , and that , at least , one month should elapse between thc proposition and the

ballot . Such inquiries to bc limited to his moral and intellectual qualifications ; not as to whether he is in receipt of 14 s . per week , or , £ 14 , 000 per annum . 1 once thought that the degrees in Freemasonry were ' ** conferred according to merit and ability , " I was wrong . I now know that they arc conferred according to rank and influcnce , and I have become resigned to the situation .

Any person can buy and read THE FREEMASON . ; do you think he will have a favourable opinion preconceived of the institution when he sees the bickerings of Masons ? When Masons will agree to accept thc teachings of the Craft without discussion , and to act up to their O . B ., then , and then only , will it take lhat dignified position in tiie world to which it is entitled . I am , & c .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I noticed the communication of" A Country W . M . " in your publication of last week ( page 429 ) , and should have commented thereon had I not felt certain lhat some

well-known brother is this province would take up thc matter , and deal with it more practically and fully than I could hope to do myself . Our justly esteemed and indefatigable Bro . Hughan , of Truro , with that fairness and courtesy

Original Correspondence.

which distinguish him , has not allowed such an occurrence to be mentioned as having taken place in a province so careful in such matters as West Yorkshire , without expressing astonishment at so grave a charge . As a West Yorkshire Mason I can assure Bro . Hughan , that besides the action of thc

By-Law he appends , every lodge in the province has been supplied by the Prov . G . Lodge with printed copies of By-Laws No . 47 and 48 , which questions annexed . Hence he will see that although the offence named is still more unjustifiable , the Prov . Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire is not undeserving his good opinion .

Bro . Hughan ' s remarks are otherwise so much to the point that I can only endorse his hope , that "A Country W . M . " will at once forward the name ofthe offending lodge to Bro . Henry Smith , Prov . G . S . for West Yorkshire , St . John's , Wakefield , in order that the matter may be inquired into and dealt with accordingly .

I remain , yours fraternally , JNO . R . RILEY , Sec . Airedale Lodge , 387 , Shipley Bradford , Sept . 10 th , 1870 .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Within the present mouth four applications have been made to me for relief by Scotch Masons ; two of the four had diplomas , which on the face seemed perfect . I examined the applicants casually in working , and

they were imperfect . The last one , to my surprise , told me something as follows : —That about eight years ago he and several others left a neighbouring county and went into Scotland ; that they were initiated in a lodge there , and on account of a number being together , were admitted , with the consent

of Grand Lodge , for a reduced fee—viz ., 30 s . That he was initiated and took the other two degrees three years since , and only obtained his diploma lately—dated April , 1870 . He appeared in want , was ostensibly seeking work , and told a brother Mason who relieved him that he had not been able

to get anything to eat since the previous day . Is there some imposture actively afloat ; or can it be true that men are admitted into Scotch Masonry under such circumstances ? As a Mason under the Grand Lodge of England only , I do not know much of Scotch Masonic arrangements , yet

I may reasonably expect that there is some similarity in the two institutions in the vital principle of financial selection . Yet if thc above statement is correct , the reverse is thc case ; as , with us , it is specially prohibited in the Book of Constitutions to make any remission of the prescribed fee , or even

receive it in instalments . I may observe that within the past few months , of seven applications for relief to my lodge , six were self-styled Scotch Masons , and were relieved . Yours fraternally , 31 st August , 1870 . A W . M .

Grand Lodge Of Iowa.

GRAND LODGE OF IOWA .

Thc Grand Officers elected for the ensuing year are as follows : M . AV . Grand Master , John Scott , of Nevada ; R . W . Grand Senior AVarden , O . P . Waters , of Muscatin ; R . W . Grand Junior Warden , W . E . Miller , of Iowa city ; R . W . Grand Treasurer , J . AV . AAMlson , of Newton ; R . W . Grand Secretary , T . S . Parvin , of Iowa city .

The next ancl most important proceeding was the recognition of thc newly-formed Grand Lodge of Quebec , which called up considerable discussion between Bros . Langrange and Gilbert—the former advocating the proposed resolution offered to the consideration of thc Grand Lodge , thc latter advocating its immediate recognition in an amendment ,

which was finally carried by a vote of 75 to 58 , which , wc think , is an honour to the Grand Lodge of Iowa and to thc brother introducing thc amendment . AVe subjoin the resolution ancl amendment , the latter of which was adopted : —

Resolved—That while this Grand Lodge considers the Grand Lodge of Quebec to have been regularly formed , it deems it but courtesy to thc Grand Lodge of Canada , with which it is in fraternal intercourse , to await ils recognition of that new Grand Lodge , which it does with the sincere hope that it will so recognise it at the next annual

meeting . Bro . Guilbert moved to amend the second resolution by substituting the following : Resolved—That this Grand Lodge recognises in ils fullest sense , as regularly formed , thc Grand Lodge of Quebec , and fraternally welcome it to the circle of ( hand Lodges .

BRO . WYNDHAM S . PORTAL will speak at thc Church Congress , at Southampton , on loth Oct ., on " The Organisation of Charitable Relief in ils relation to Church AVork . "

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY . —A preliminary meeting of the Founders of thc proposed Chapter of Improvement , will bc held at the Caledonian Hotel , Robert-street , Adelphi , at 7 p . m ., on Saturday , the 24 th inst . ; Comp . Brett will bc thc President of thc new chapter .