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SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 18 , 1893 .

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

The arrangrments for the consecration of the Chancery Bar Lodge , in the Library of Lincoln ' s Inn , are , thanks to the energy and painstaking labours of the Secretary pro tem ., Bro . Gordon Robbins , in an advanced stage of preparstion . The most difficult part of the business we apprehend has been the

settlement of the list of visitors , which will , to a great extent , be confined to members of the Bar . Considering the limit of space , the number of distinguished Masons whom the founders would naturall y desire to receive , and the fact that the names of all are submitted to his Royal Highness the Grand Master for approval , the task must have been anything but an easy one .

* * That it will add another to the brilliant and successful functions carried out during the reign of the Most Worshipful Grand Master there cannot be a

doubt . The Lord Chancellor , several of her Majesty ' s Judges , and other 'great men of the nation " have accepted invitations , and a brilliant gathering of Craftsmen is expected . # # *

As before notified , the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , will undertake the principal portion of the ceremony , while the musical arrangements will be under the management of the Grand Organist and of Bro . E . Cutler , Q . C , Past G . Organist , who is one of the founders of the lodge , and a Bencher of the Inn .

* There is much force in the remarks of the Australasian Keystone on the subject of payment for refresh , ments . It appears to have been proposed by some members of the Craft in the Colony of Victoria that , as the times are hard , refreshments after labour should

be provided occasionally only instead of after every lodge meeting , while others suggest that those who attend should pay for their own instead of " enjoying themselves at the expense of those who [ are absent . " Our contemporary , while it takes no exception to the former suggestion , is dead against the latter , and in our opinion justly so .

Its argument runs thus : the duty ot the members of a lodge is to attend its meetings as frequently as possible ; and the more diligently they attend , and the deeper the interest they take in the work they are called upon to perform , the greater the probability that the career of the lodge will be a prosperous one . But to

require that those who absent themselves should pay less , and those who attend regularly more , is to put a premium upon inattention to duty on the one hand , and to indict a fine or penalty upon ; : eal and diligence on the other . We consider this a just view and a reasonable one that should be generally supported .

In this country , there are two systems in force Under one , each member pays a small annual subscription—sufficient to cover the working expenses and leave a small margin over for contingencies—and a stated sum for refreshments at each meeting at which he attendsand stays to partake of them . Under the other he

pays such an annual subscription as will suffice to cover lodge expenses and refreshments , either wholly or in part , nor have we ever heard of any serious objection being raised to this latter system , on the ground that those who attend , dine or sup to a certain extent at the cost of those who do not .

* * We offer no opinion upon the merits of these rival systems . Each has its advantages , and no doubt each is adopted according to the circumstances in which

a lodge finds itself p laced . But the idea that where the subscription covers everything , any portion of it should be remitted in the case of those who stay away from lodge and the reasonable refresh ment that follows appears preposterous .

According to a circular letter issued by order of the Managing Committee in September last , the Masonic Club in Melbourne is in a somewhat languishing condition , owing to the depression which so largely prevails throughout the Colony , and it was resolved by the members that for the next six months new members

should be admitted without paying the usual entrance fee , and that all Worshipful Masters of lodges throughout the Colony be admitted as honorary members during their term of office on payment of a registration fee of 5 s . We trust these measures may prove beneficial , and that the Club will succeed in tiding over the present hard times .

Correspondence.

Corresponocnce

f Wf * dn not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed bv our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to ill to permit—within certain necessary limit *—* r ^ e discnssinn . l

FREEMASONRY IN THE ARMY . To the Editor 0 / the "Freemason . '' Dear Sir and Brother , With reference to the letters which have appeared in your columns on the subject of an article from the" Indian Masonic Review , " on " Freemasonry in the Army , " I would point out that Captain J . H .

Leslie , R . A ., who wrote the article , did not profess to give an exhaustive catalogue of all the military lodges now existing . No doubt , such a list would be extremely interesting . In your issue of October 7 th , Captain Colvill gives what he thinks is a unique case of Irish seed producing an English plant , in that the members of an Irish Lodge ,

No . 322 , formed Lodge Astr . ea in Burma . May I point out no less than three similar cases in the history of Freemasonry in the Madr . is Presidency . In 1812 several of the members of Lodge No . 86 . 7 , Irish Constitution obtained from the P . G . Lodge of Madras a local warrant for a lodge to be called United Friendship . This was No . V . on the Constitution . Major Bowen

was the first W . M ., Lieut . R . Simpson and Captain C . Hall the Wardens . These officers and nearly all the members of the lodge belonged to the 27 th M . N . Infantry . The lodge was constituted on the 13 th July , 1812 , and worked till 31 st March , 1 S 19 , when its warrant was returned to the Prov . Grand Lodge . It never obtained a place on the books of the Grand Lodge of

England . On the 27 th December , 1817 , Lodge No . 227 ( I . C . ) , held in H . M . 46 th Regiment , petitioned for a local warrant as Lodge Social and Military Virtues , No . VII . This warrant they obtained in 181 S , and worked for many years under it . In 1821 it became No . V . From Madras the lodge moved to Ceylon ;

date uncertain . In 1836 a warrant was sent out for it by the Grand Secretary with a batch of other warrants , some of them for lodges which had been long extinct ( see Laws M . R ., page 190 ) . Lodge Social and Military Virtues became No . 634 , but was extinct before the belated warrant arrived . The third case is that of the same regiment mentioned

above , H . M . 89 th , who held a warrant No . 863 from the Grand Lodge of Ireland . In 1821 , they seceded from the Irish Constitution and became Lodge Hibernia and Union , No . XL The lodge was constituted on the 4 th October , 1 S 22 . They wrote to the Prov . Grand Secretary Madras to ask if it were necessary to imform the Grand Lodge of Ireland of their secession , and were

told to do so immediately . ' 1 his lodge also never obtained an English warrant . It was working in 1825 , but it does not appear from the records of the P . G . Lodge of Madras when it became extinct . With reference to the letter signed "S . D . " in a former number , I will point out that Lodge Unity , Peace , and Concord , now No . 316 , was erased in 1804 ,

and the warrant returned to the P . G . Lodge . The cause of the erasure was the conduct of the W . M ., Bro . Crucefix , in rebuking the Prov . Grand Lodge authorities . Was this Bro . Crucefix any relation to the well-known Mason of that name ' r The Royal Scots Regiment were granted the warrant of Unity , Peace ,

and Concord in 180 S . May I be allowed to state that I am writing a complete history of Freemasonry on the Coromandel Coast , which is being published in the " Indian Masonic Review , " but which I shall rewrite and publish as a separate and complete work early next year . —Believe me to be , yours fraternally ,

C . H . MALDEN , P . M ., Editor " Indian Masonic Review . " Fort St . George , Madras , October 24 th .

THE OLD BOYS' RE-UNION SOCIETY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Sir , I am an occasional reader of the Freemason , and in this week ' s issue , in your leader on " Our Provincial Charities " there is the suggestion that not only should the children of Masons be educated at the respective Schools but that in after life an interest should be taken in their future career .

I was at the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys for five years during Dr . Perrot ' s headmastership , and then under Dr . R . Morris' afterwards . I left in 18 7 8 and since then have been engaged in different businesses , but have not had the advantage of a Mason ' s interest . My father ( now deceased ) was one of the earliest members of St . Augustine ' s Lodge , Christchurch , New

Zealand , possibly this may account for my losing touch with Masons . I believe there is an " Old Boys' Re-union Society , " but 1 have never had a notice of its formation and objects , I think it was started many years after I lett the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . I thoroughly appreciate the education I received and have desired to join the Masonic body , but from lack

of means this has been impossible , as for 12 years I have had uphill work to help maintain my mother . I may say I should be glad of any information as to the " Old Boys' Society , " and on the interest and advice of any Mason . 1 beg to enclose my card . —I remain , yours , CHRISTCHURCH , N . Z . November nth , 1893 .

Correspondence.

THE ROYAL ARCH . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Companion , Supporting the letter of our E . Comp . Lovegrove in your last issue , and the intention of the Supreme Grand Chapter to popularise this Degree by

shortening the period of probation from 12 months to four weeks , which now only awaits the confirmation of these minutes at the February Convocation to become law , subject , of course , to the by-laws of any private chapter , which , as in our own case , will need alteration to comply with the regulations as amended .

I hope a little ventilation of this question in the interim may have good effect , and , in advancing my own opinion , suggest a closer adherence to the Articles of Union , 1813 , as a lirst rule in the Book of Constitutions , in dealing with any alterations of the Royal Arch Regulations .

I think four weeks is incompatible with the convenience of applying for , obtaining , and duly presenting in open lodge the Grand Lodge certificate to a Master Mason , which I hold is necessary to be produced in open chapter prior to exaltation—so , at least reads my chapter by-laws .

I would further suggest that the interval should be reduced from 12 months to 12 weeks or three months , and that a uniform printed form of enquiry be adopted , to be favourably filled up and received by a regular chapter with the proposition fee to qualify the brother's election and exaltation without any ballot ; for pure and antient Freemasonry consists of Three Degrees and

no more , including the Supreme or Holy Royal Arch . The ballot need only be retained in a private chapter for the election of joining members ; and where the brother ' s lodge report is not to hand , to prevent disappointment , may in the chapter ' s discretion be dispensed with upon the ballot being substituted forthwith . Being favourable the election would be quite in order . —Yours fraternally , AN OLD P . Z .

A CORRECTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I shall feel greatly obliged if you will please correct in your next issue an error which appeared in the report of the proceedings of the Provincial Grand

Lodge of Devonshire , in the Freemason , of the 4 th inst ., viz ., that " Bro . G . Festa was the first W . M . and founder of the Montague Guest Lodge . " It was my privilege of being the first W . M . and founder of that lodee . Bro . Festa was the first Senior Warden and also a founder . — I am , yours faithfully and fraternally ,

WM . H . DEAN , P . M . 417 and 1900 , . P . P . S . G . D . Dorset . 25 , St . Helen's-road , Dorchester , November Sth .

THE LATE BRO . GEORGE COOPER . To the Editor of the " Freemason , " Mrs . Cooper finds it impossible at present to reply to the numerous kind letters of sympathy she has

received , or to thank the many kind friends who sent flowers . She deeply feels their kindness , and takes this opportunity of thanking them . The Cedars , Brentwood . November 14 th , 1893 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Botes anb < SUtenes

1040 ] — AN OLD MASONIC CERTIFICATE . " In the name of the Most , Holy , Glorious and undivided Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost . "Amen . "We , the High Priest , Captain General Grand Masters , & c ., & c , off Lodge of Friendship , No . 484 , of that Magnanimous and Invincible Order of a Royal

Arch Excellent Masons Encampment , and Grand Assembly of Knights Templars and Knights of Malta & Mediteraneon Pass under the sanction of Lodge No . 484 held in the town of Belfast in that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland and on the Grand Registry of the same do hereby Certify that the Bearer thereof our true trusty and well beloved Brother the

Worshipful Sir . James Saunders having duly passed the chair of the aforesaid Lodge , was Arched a Royal Arch Excellent Mason , and subsequently dubbed a Knight of that Most Noble and Right Worshipful Order of a High Knight Templar by us in a Grand Encampment , he having with much Excellent Skill Fortitude and Valour previously withstood and resisted

the various Temptations attending his Admissions' & as such we Recommend him . Given under our hands and seals of our Orders in a Grand Encampment this 6 th Day of September island of Masonry 5813 . ' •{ Signed ) CHAS . DAVIS High Priest H . P . " J GLANCY C . G . " J GOWDEN F . G . M . " J M'CRAY S . G . M .

" J AMES HOOI > J . G . M . " J PATRICK Secretary . " [ The above has been sent me by Bro . James Smith , P . AL 63 , Dumfiies , & c . ( the Historian of that Lodge ) , and I am pleased to send it to this column for reproduction . There are several extant , some being earlier than this specimen . Bro . Smith tells me that the seals are attached on ribbon—one maroon , the other black , the seal of one being of black , the other of red wax . W . J . HUGHAN .