Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for thc opinions expressed by our correspondents , bnt we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitstee discussion .

THE CHRISTIAN ORDER IN CHURCH . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have been requested by the Chapter of the Calhedral of St . Saviour , Southwark ( through the Rev . Canon Bristow ) , to ascertain whether a large gathering of the members of the Ancient and Accepted Rite could be arranged at an early date . Such a gathering would have the merit of novelty .

Will members of the Order kindly inform me at once whether they will attend , also if dhey prefer Sunday afternoon or say a Friday evening . If a large number of names are sent in , a formal application will be made to Supreme Council for permission to hold the meeting , and to wear the regalia . I suggest that a large portion of the collection be given to the Mark Benevolent Fund , for which the Earl of Euston is this year Chairman of the Annual Festival . —Yours fraternally ,

HENRY LOVEGROVE Eboracum , Herne Hill . S . E .

THE NEW LODGE AT COCKINGTON . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , It may interest your readers who perused the account of the consecration in your last issue and the interesting address of Bro . W . J . Hughan to know that the town of Cockington possesses a very interesting parish church dedicated to God in the name of SS . George and Mary .

It is thought from existing remains that an earlier church stood on the site . Some remains exist that it is well known that the present church was erected in 14 S 0 . The church was well decorated internally before the application of Puritan whitewash . Some good screens remain . The floor of the church is lower than the surrounding ground . There are six steps in the tower , and the floor of the nave slopes .

The building consists of a chancel , with chapels , aisles , tower , and south west porch . Some fragments of the ancient stained glass remains . —Yours fraternally , H . LOVEGROVE .

Reviews.

IReviews ,

"OFFICIAL DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CORNWALL , 1900 . —This most usetul arid ably-edited annual is in the competent hands of Bro . J . C . R . Crewes , of Truro , and is in the 2 < jth year of publication . There is no better issued , for it is brimful of information , and capitally arranged . For an official Directory , it is a model publicati on , and it is simply indispensable for those who desire accurate particulars as lo the Prov ince ; there is no lack of statistics , and the information as to the lodges , chapters , ami other Masonic bodies is very full and complete . There are 31 lodges with 1084 members , the largest returns yet mwle ; 13 Koyal Arch

Chapters and 3 S 9 Companions , and 12 Mark Lodges and 403 Mark Misters . There ii also a Rose Croix Chapter and K . T . Preceptory , as well as a Royal Ark Manners ' Lodge . 1 he Votes for the Central Masonic Chmitie s number 5301 , thus exhibiting an advance on previous years . This is the lirst Provincial Directory that ( jives the new Grand Ofiicers of England , so it is very handy in th at respect . There are so many paiticulars else , historically , statistic illy , and generally , tint no more space can be devmed to this excellent publication , savs to congratulate the esteemed IV ov . G . Sec , Bro . B . F . Edjvean , on its issue . One of the lodges is suspended .

New Masonic Schools At Bushey, Hertfordshire.

NSW MASONIC SCHOOLS AT BUSHEY , HERTFORDSHIRE .

H . R . H . THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT LAYS THE FO UN DA TION-STONE .

On Saturday afternoon , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught laid the foundation-stone of the new Royal Masonic Institution for Boys at Bushey . His Royal Highness arrived at Watford Railway Station at noon , and received a magnificent welcome from the townspeople . An address was presented to him in the Market-place by the Chairman of the Urban District Council ( Mr . G . P . NEELE ) , and , in reply ,

H . R . H . the Duke of CONNAUGHT said : Gentlemen , I am , indeed , very sensible of the very flattering words which you have read in this address . I will not fail to convey to her Majesty the Queen the loyalty of the people of Watford ; in your reception of ms to-day I see this is put to a practical test . You have charmingly decorated your pretty town , and I have been received by the warmest acclamations by the inhabitants of \\ atford . This

is not the hist time I have been here . In 1 S 74 I was billetted here with the troops—with the 7 th Hussars on a match from Aldershot—and I am struck by the enormous increase iu what used to be a small and very pretty town . You have referred in very pleasant terms to the part I am to take in the ceremony of to-day . We Englishmen all look forward to the proper education ol our children , and a school like the Royal Masonic

School for Boys , which has been long crowded , required fuither expansion . 1 hope that the pretence t f this Set ool amongst you will be an additional iniertstin the town of Watford , atd that > ou will find the boys of the Masonic School boys who know how to behave themselves and will make good Englishmen in the future . Her Majesty ' s visit to Ireland was a pleasure to herself as il was lo us all , and you have read of the splendid

reception given to her . You have also refened in generous terms to the great pluck shown by the Irish troops in South Africa , and as the General Commanding in lhat part of ihe kingdom it is naturally a great satisfaction to myself to ki . ow that ( heir services have been appreciated , not only in Ireland , but in England , Scotland , and every part of the Empire . I thank you , gentlemen , very much for your loyal address . Accompanied by the Earl of Clarendon , Lord-Lieutenant of Hertford .

New Masonic Schools At Bushey, Hertfordshire.

shire , and Colonel Egerton , and having an escort of the Herts Yeomanry , under Captain E . Henry Loyd , his Royal Highness then drove to the site of the new Insiitution . Over 1500 people assembled at the stone-laying ceremony , which took place in a large marquee immediately in front of the new building . The scene was remarkably picturesque and striking . The covering of the huge

tent was tri-coloured , and full Masonic clothing was worn . From the gallery every one could see the ceremonial , which was performed on a dais , covered with red cloth . A flourish of trumpets heralded the approach of the procession of G . Officers in full regalia , which entered the pavilion on the right , headed by the G . Tyler . Three Masters of lodges , bearing a golden cornucopia of corn and ewers with wine and oil , followed , and

behind these came the G . Oflicers , the G . Superintendent of Works with ihe mallet , the G . Secretary with the plate , the G . Registrar with the great seal , the G . Treasurer bearing a phial containing the coins to be deposited in ( he stone , the Junior G . Warden with the plumb rule , the Senior G . Warden with the level , the G . Chaplain bearing the Volume of the Sacred Law on a cushion , the Dep . G . Master with the square , the Pro G . Master

and the G . Sword Bearer . The Duke of Connaught , Past G . Master , wearing a chain of gold and garter blue apron emblazoned with bullion , followed , and the rear of the procession was brought up by the Senior G . Deacons . His Royal Highness took his plice in the centre of the platform , their being a raised tier at each side , on the right being G . Officers and the members of the Board of Management , and on the left Provincial G . Officers .

Bro . VV . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial G . M . for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , and trustee of the Institution , welcomed the Past Grand Master , and requested his Royal Highness to lay the foundation stone . THE Duke of CONNAUGHT then passed to the stone and took up his position ; the vessels of corn , " . vine and oil , were deposited on a pedestal placed for their reception , the upper stone was raised and the lower one

adjusted , and his Royal Highness spoke as follows .- —Men and brethren here assembled to hold this ceremony , be it known unto you that we being lawful Masons , true and faithful to the laws of our country , are engaged by solemn obligations to erect handsome buildings to be serviceable to the brethren , in fear of God the Great Architect of the Universe . We have among us , concealed from the eyes of all men , secrets which may not be

revealed , and which no man has discovered ; but these secrets are lawful and honourable and not repugnant to the laws of God or man . They were entrusted in peace and honour to Masons of ancient times , and having bjen faithfully transmitted to us , it is our duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity . Unless our Craft were good , and our calling honourable , we should not have lasted for so many centuries , nor should we have had so

many illustrious brethren of our Order , tending to promote our laws and to further our interest . We are assembled here to-day in the presence of you all to erect this building for the promotion of education , and to the honour and glory of the Mist High , and we pray God miy prosper it as seems good to Him . As it is the first duty of Masons in any undertaking to invoke the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe , I call upon you to unite with our Grand Chaplain in an address to the Most High .

' 1 he Grand Chaplain offered prayer , and the Grand Secretary read aloud the inscription of the plate as follows : — " This stone was laid on the 12 th May , A . D . 1900 , with Masonic ceremonial , by H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , K . G ., ifee , ifee , & c , Sec , Past M . W . Grand Master , on behalf of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., kc , kc , Sec , kc , Grand Master , President of the Institution . "

The Grand Treasurer then deposited the phial containing the coins , and the Grand Secretary placed the plate of the lower stone . The cement was spread on the upper f-ice of the lower stone , and the M . W . the Past Grand Master adjusted it with a trowel handed to him , and then the upper stone was slowly lowered . The Past Grand Master proved the just position and form of the stone by the plumb rule , level and square , successively

delivered to him by the Junior Grand Warden , the Senior Grand Warden , and the Deputy Grand Master . In the first instance he said , " I find this stone to be plumbed , and lhat the craftsmen have prepared it true and trusty j " in the second , " I find this stone to bc levelled , and the craftsmen have laboured skillfully ; " in the third , "I lind this stone to be plumbed , levelled ' , and squared , and declare it to be duly prepared and duly laid , and the craftsmen have worked well . "

His Royal Highness gave the stone three knocks with the mallet handed to him , and receiving the cornucopia containing corn , strewed it on the stone with the words : " I scatter corn on this stone as an emblem of plenty and abundance , * may the blessings of morality and virtue flourish within this building , producing fruit a thousandfold . " Next , pouring wine on the stone

from an ewer , he said : " 1 pour wine upon this stone as an emblem of joy and happiness ; " and , sprinkling oil on it he said : " I sprinkle oil upon this stone as an emblem of peace and unanimity . " The actual ceremony of stone-laying concluded with the words : ' May prosperity , happiness , and goodwill ever prevail amongst those who are assembled in this Institution , to the glory of the Most High , until time shall be no more . " There was some applause at the finish of this sentence .

The architect stepped forward , and was presented to the Past G . M ., delivering to him the plan of the building . His Royal Highness handed them back , saying : " I now place in your hands the plans of this intended building , together with the necessary tools , not doubting your skill and ability as craftsmen , and desire that you will proceed without loss of time to the completion of the work in conformity with the plans now entrusted to

you . " The G . Chaplain having pronounced a blessing , the procession proceeded to the site of the chapel , where his Royal Highness laid with private ceremony , at which Mrs . Keyser was present , a memorial stone , on which the inscription was— " This stone was laid by the M . W . Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , K . G ., kc , kc , Past Grand Master of England , May mh , 1900 . " The trowel used by his Royal Highness was manafactured by George Kenning and Son , London .

THE LUNCHEON . Bro . RICHAI ' U En :, P . G . Treas ., Patron and Trustee of the Institution , presided at the luncheon , and submitted the first toast— " The Queen . " He said : This toast is one that is always received with the greatest amount of enthusiasm . For 50 years has her Majesty been Grand Patron of this Institution . She has always supported it , " and is the oldest annual subscriber lo it . ( Applause . ) Her M . ijesty has done much for our Craft and