Correspondence.

Correspondence .

| We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessa ry limits—free discussion . J

LODGE OF FRIENDSHIP , No . 44 . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I fail to discover what useful purpose can be served by Bro . Chadwick and Bro . Lane attempting at this late hour to reduce the recitals in the present lodge confirmation warrant ( issued over 60 years ago ) to their original atoms . Have not these recitals stood the test of time ? Such an action reminds

one of skating on thin ice . When the United Grand Lodge issued the document , that body was in complete possession of the records ( since published in Lane ' s book ) , and elected to treat them as of no consequence . They are , in my opinion , mere uncorroborated quotations , and curiosities of Masonic literature .

At the risk of displaying " gross ignorance , " as alleged by my esteemed friend and Bro . Chadwick , and thc direct charge made by you , Bro . Editor , of being the author of an " incriminating article , " I am yet bold enough to assert : 1 . That the recital in the present warrant to the effect that the lodge was warranted on the 18 th of June , 1755 , is strictly in accordance with the fact . 2 . That the United Grand Lodge Calendar is correct in giving 17 SS as the date of the original warrant .

3 . That it takes a large amount of credulity to imagine that the lodge warranted on the 23 rd February , 1 S 03 , had no connection with old 39 , as there were 74 subscribing brethren on the 16 th of March following—a period of 21 days . The lodge minute book supplies their names , addresses , and occupation . A letter ( now attached to the lodge minute book ) , dated the 17 th ot June , 1884 , from the late Bro . G . P . Brockbank , of Bolton-le-Moors ( an authority on East Lancashire lodge records ) , to the late Bro . Gibb Smith , then a member of the Lodge of Friendship , reads as follows :

" I return herewith copy records of Reconciliation , and have copied same . Many thanks . I find your lodge was always Manchester , Warranted No . 39—18 th June , 1755—129 years old to-morrow . Blackamoor ' s Head , Old Churchroad , 25 th March , 1755 . Queen ' s Head , Manchester , 4 th March , 1 795 . Horse Shoes , Old Shambles , Manchester , 23 rd Feb ., 1803 . Reviewed and revised at recommendations of Nos . 275 ( Fidelity , died out 1832 ) and 278 ( Caledonian ) . The old warrant to be transmitted previous to revival . " It is clear the lodge did not exchange the 1755 warrant until 1803 .

Bro . Chadwick and I have arrived at opposite conclusions after considering the identical evidence , but that is not so astonishing as the little faith Bro . Lane reposes in the parchment documents and records which have emanated from the United Grand Lodge . Could a more complete chain of evidence be found to show that all

intermediate questions or disputes between the Lodge of Friendship and their superiors were bridged over and condoned than the recitals contained in the duly signed confirmation warrant giving the date of the lodge 18 th June , 1755 . Ut res magis valcat ijuam pcrcat . I do not for a moment doubt that the exchanging of the 1755 for the 1 S 03 warrant in 1803 was a transaction founded on mutual concessions relative to the dispute that had continued for seven years .

I maintain that Bro . Brockbank was correct in concluding that the lodge warrant of 1755 having been ( on mutual terms ) reviewed and revised in 1803 by the Athol Grand Lodge was in effect a complete waiver of all alleged forfeitures , and on that account the lodge maintained its original number until the date of the union and the consequent numbering .

Bro . Lane ' s method of arriving at a conclusion , after considering only a selection of the Grand Lodge records , is as ingenious as it is misleading . I am quite indifferent how the question is finally decided by enthusiastic record collectors ; but if the whole of the records be considered , they will not prove so contradictory as would at first sight appear . From my point of view , the Duke of Sussex , Lord Durham , and the Grand Secretary were not guilty of committing the errors Bro . Lane infers .

After setting pussy amongst the pigeons , Bro . Chadwick has neatly introduced me and Bro . Lane into the Masonic prize-ring , whilst he watches the fun from outside the ropes . The light , however , is over so far as I am concerned . Thc present Lodge of Friendship has met regularly from 1755 until the present time . My contention is that because they met for seven years without the sanction of the Grand Lodge their record is not broken ; as their warrant was revived and their proceedings reviewed . —Yours fraternally , NATHAN HEYWOOD .

MASONIC VAGRANTS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you please make it known through your columns that O . B .,

who is going about the country seeking relief by stating he is a member of St . John's Lodge , No . 34 S , never was a member , and is not known by any of the brethren . Yours fraternally , J . A . GREENHALGH , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Sec . 348 . 58 , Russell-street , Bolton , October 12 th .

TOE LATE BRO . G . H . REYNOLDS , P . M . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your kindly-written obituary of Bro . G . H . Reynolds , you say that he was London agent and manager for Messrs . Cope , Allman , and Co .,

of Birmingham . 1 his is correct in a sense , but the firm of Cope and Collinson , brass founders and metal art work , was the firm for whom he has laboured all his business life . Of course , the firm of Cope , Allman , and Co . a . re connected ; still his London friends would not know this name so well as Cope and Collinson . If you can see your way to alter this in your next issue , it will confer a favour upon a friend and brother , as well as a member of the firm . —Youcei faithfully , ;

WILLIAM ALLMAN . 5 ( . Berwick-street , Oxford-street , W .

ORDER OF THE TEMPLE . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am pleased to nute Sir Knight l . ovcgrovc ;' : > reply lu my letter in your lajt i ^ sue ; and although he i :. the uuly one who has jhown any interest in the subject of in ) letter , I hope there are many others who are thinking a great deal . Permit rne once more tu trespass a little on yor . r space to note two points in Sir Knight Lovegrove ' s letter . lie says that probably very little discussion

Correspondence.

will follow the acceptance of the new regulations at the next meeting of Great Priory . Is it to be accomplished by those who attend behaving like good children : or may it be regarded as a triumph of despotism ? I am sorry I cannot fall in with the idea of discarding all our present clothin ?

and adopting a simple sash of specified colours . If that is to be so , let us ask the Worthy Chief Good Templar of England to take us in en bloc , or the Oddfellows , Druids , or some other Friendly Society . I think such an alteration would destroy our identity , and smother our interest in what would be simply a social nondescript . I hope wiser counsels will prevail .

I do not see the indications of a desire to forward the best interests of the Order that I should like , but " where ignorance is bliss" it may be "folly to be wise . "—Yours fraternally , F . W . LEAN , P . P . V . C . Manchester , 14 th October .

A CORRECTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In my letter in your last week ' s issue re " Board of Installed Masters , " I find that I have written a slight error , viz .: In the last line of the second paragraph instead of " approved by Grand Lodge" it should read " approved by the Grand Master on behalf of Grand Lodge . "

It is obvious that Grand Lodge , where Wardens are admitted , could not discuss and approve of a ceremony referring exclusively to Installed Masters . —I am , yours fraternally , MANCUNIUM .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

West Lancashire Lodge , No . 1403 . The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday , the 9 th inst ., at the Commercial Hotel , Ormskirk , when the chair was taken by Bro . Thos . _ Wilde Rice , Prov . S . G . W ., W . M . The lodge was opened and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The W . M . appointed as Installing Officers Bros . T . H . Leeson , P . M ., Prov . G . Chap ., Chap . ; G . Alfred Myers , P . P . G . D . C , as S . W . ; Orrett , P . M ., as J . W . ; G . S . Smith , P . P . G . Org ., as ' . Org . ; and James Robinson , as

I . G . Bro . Rice proceeded to install his successor , Bro . George Lea , S . W ., W . M . elect , which he did in a most able and impressive manner . He was assisted by Bro . Peter Yates , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., who addressed all the officers . The first duty Bro . George Lea , W . M ., had to perform was to present Bro . Thomas Wilde Rice , I . P . M ., with a Past Master ' s jewel for the admirable manner in which he had managed its affairs during the last 12 months . It was an exquisite iS-carat gold one , with Bro . Rice ' s coat of arms emblazoned , with heraldic colourings on the ribbon and a suitable inscription engraved on the back . Bro . Rice acknowledged the eift in very appropriate words , and a very successful installation

was closed . The following brethren were present : Bros . Thomas Wilde Rice , Prov . S . G . W ., W . M . j Geo . Lea , S . W . ; Thos . Hesketh , P . M . ; Thos . RoWrison , P . M . ; John Robinson , P . M . ; Jos . R . Burrows , J . W . ; John Orrett , P . M ., Treas . ; 'lhos . Forrester , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., Sec . |; Arthur H . Rundy , S . W . ; A . Barker , I . G . ; J . H . Buxton , Stwd . ; Wm . Martindale , Tyler ; John Sellars , and R . Turner . Visitors Bros . G . A . Myers , P . P . G . D . C ; Rev . T . H . Leeson , I . P . M ., P . G . C . ; G . S . Smith , P . M ., P . P . G . Org . ; J . L . Clucas , C Buchanan Spittally , W . M . 5 S 0 ; P . Fasin , P . P . G . P . ; O . Knowles , and John Banks .

Islington Lodge , No . 1471 . The first meeting of the season was held on Thursday , the 10 th inst ., at the Cock Tavern , Highbury . It was presided over by Bro . Arthur Cox , W . M ., and the following officers and brethren were present : Bros . J . A . Blount , S . W . ; D . C . Ritchie , J . W . ; S . Napper , P . M ., Treas . ; E . Blinkhorn , P . M ., Sec ; E . J . Harrison , S . D . ; C Isler , J . D . ; C . Horst , I . G . ; C . M . Coxon , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Herts , D . C . ; H . Stafford Tretro , Ore . ; F . W . White . Stwd . ; G . Conchman , Tyler ; H . B . Harding ,

P . M . ; Hy . Cox , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of Wks . Herts ; E . H . Bury , D . C . Attwater , A . Henning , T . Spotswood , E . A . Wagstaff , W . Chetwin , G . A . Hopkins , A . Krische , J . H . Thurman , J . R . White , J . Amand , C . Weber , G . E . Walker , W . Goring , G . Yexley , W . J . Barnes , T . E . Newman , W . Pannell , T . Simmonds , and F . Marggraf . The business of the evening consisted of the raising of Bro . A . Krische and the passing of Bro . Albert Henning . A ballot having been taken for Mr . Joseph Johnson , he was afterwards initiated . The ceremonies were ably rendered and the ancient

charge was given by the W . M . to the initiate . After the reading of the bye-laws , the names of two gentlemen were propose as candidates for admission to the lodge . I his completed the business of the _ evening , and the brethren adjourned to the " fourth degree , " which was duly appreciated and enjoyed . The visitors present were Bros . W . Prevost , 861 ; Bailey , P . M . 1 S 05 ; R . Eddie , S . D . 742 ; and A . Oliver , P . M . 820 . of

Referring to the programme , which had been arranged by the musical director the lodge , Bro . T . E . Newman , one of the visitors aptl y styled it the fifth degree . « certainly was of sufficient excellence to merit the approving comments that were made , and the W . M . thanked the brethren for the pleasure they had afforded . Bros . Amand , Henning , Marggraf , and Newman contributed songs . Bro . Attwater was in excellent voice , and received a hearty encore for one of his songs . Bro . Coxon gave a recitation , and " Auld Lang Syne" wound up the programme and the proceedings .

Rose Lodge , No . 1622 . The installation meeting of this popular South London lodge was held at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , on Saturday , the 5 th inst ., when there were present Bros . Thos . Pickett , W . M . ; Dr . T . G . Webb , S . W . and W . M . elect ; S . W . Ballard , J . W . ; J . Dunn , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Loader , P . M ., Sec ; F . E . Choveaux , Org- , ' Wm . Dawson , S . D . ; W . E . Jeffery , J . D . ; Hy . Potter , I . G . j I . Parr , Stwd . ; Thos . Bowler , Tyler ; S . I . Derham , P . M . ; H . Vickery , P . M . ; L > . Rose , P . M- >

Wm . Jeffery , P . M . ; G . Thompson , W . J . Hogan , VV . T . Nelthropp , W . J . trammo " . T . J . Cohen , C . H . Mayo , W . H . Page , R . Richenheim , R . Brambleby , G . W . Niblett , J . Height , J . Meyer , C . Goddard Clarke , W . Wisdom , T . J . Smith , J . A . Reap , W . Shaw , Jos . Messent , W . McKey , Frank Williams , B . G . Squirrell , and W . O . Kirl >) The visitors were Bros . R . T . Godfrey , S . W . 141 ; ) as . Rickard , R . Elgar , Sec . i 3- "i ' R . C . Davies , P . M . 22 GG ; E . A . Rice , S . W . 1320 ; " T . H . Salmon , S . W . 1475 ! y Hurler , 13 C 0 ; Jos . Addington , P . M . 217 ; W . H . Webb , 1320 ; Robt . F . Macdonaio ,

J . W . 2513 ; W . Brycc , P . M . 30 ; G . Lewis , P . M . 220 G ; H . Burns , J . D . ; »•^ Webb , P . M . ; W . C . Page , P . M . 1475 ; T . H . Hicks , P . M . 1597 . ; H . Holman , 213 ; C . J . Sowton , J . W . 1 O 79 ; Thos . Grummant , P . M . and Sec . I 559 » ' , . ' Vincent , P . M . 1 C 41 ; ' H . C . Turner , W . M . 1 G 62 ; V . T . Murche , I . P . M . « ' 3 < R . J . Wisbart , P . M . 1789 , 349 , 515 , P . D . J . G . W . Malta ; J . T . Penney , /;*'; 1 G 79 ; T . R . Cass , I . P . M . 1320 ; H . R . Barber , 1 G 41 ; J . Edwards , P . M . 2204 arw 7 S 8 ; andC . H . Stone , P . M . 507 . .. , The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . W . J .. ' " > j > was raised , Bro . W . II . Page , passed , and Messrs . T . J . Smith and Wm . C . W's *^ initiated , thc ceremonies being performed by Bros . S . J . Derham , I . P . M ., and ' j

Pickett , W . M ., in a highly commendable manner . 1 he Auditor ' s Report was P V and adopted , which showed the lodge in a sound financial condition . Bro . S . J . L > er I . P . M ., next presented Bro . Dr . T . E . Webb , P . M ., S . W . and W . M . elect , w J " . Thos . Pickett , VV . M ., to receive the benefits of installation , which the W . M . con i «> _ in a masterly manner , and also thc delivery of the addresses . Thc new " •p '' . < iCtt , T . I '" .. Webb , invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . Thos . \ 'L . ¦

I . P . M . j S . W . Ballard , S . W . ; Wm . Dawson , | . W . ; Isaac Dunn , P . M ., --J . T . Loader , P . M ., Sec . ; W . E . JefTery , S . D . ; lly . Potter , J . D .: David L . I «* ' I . G . ; S . J . Derham , P . M ., D . C ; Francois E . Choveaux , Org . ; J . E . **« Wm . Shaw , Stwds ., and Thos . Bowler , Tyler . A brother was elected to represen ^ . ^ lodge in the South London Charitable Association . Three propositions were hanu for initiation at thc next meeting , which augurs well for the lodge .