Correspondence

Correspondence

We ilo not liolil cursrlvtis responsible for the opinions expressed ' )> ' our conespontleiits , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play lo all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

A MASONIC HALL FOR NORTH LONDON . . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The suggestion of a brother in your issue of last week is a good

one , and if some influential brethren took the matter in hand and put it on a financial basir , I have no doubt that the project would prove successful . The hall , I would suggest , should contain not only a Masonic temple , but a library of Masonic literature , with rooms of a cosy character for study , reflection , or smoking snuggeries for conversation and quiet talks .

I may say that some two years or so ago I expressed to a well-known P . M . in the Northern district my surprise that no effort had been made to found Masonic temples for the four London districts , viz ., North , East , South , and West . Your correspondent refers to the " trade monopoly " danger at present in the Craft , and the hall project would be a good counterblast to one objectionable feature I have , as is usual with one of a minority , vainly protested against , viz .,

hotels where lodges are held supplying Craft furniture , pedestals , collars , chiirs , & c . I think this practice ought to be strongly protested against for several reasons ; it certainly places lodges entirely under the thumb of a landlord or proprietors who may not be members of the Craft , and who might , under certain circumstances , seriously cripple the free working of the Craft . 1 think every lodge ought to work and act freely with its own "tools" and symbols , and possess these implements as lodge property .

In one case this modern fashion has resulted in a humorous deadlock . A lodge possessing its own furniture moves to an hotel where the landlord runs the Craft as part of his business and supplies the furniture , of course , one set does for any number of lodges , but this particular lodge in its bye-laws says " the Auditors must inspect the furniture yearly , " the furniture thus lies idle , stored at

an annual charge , and can be neither used nor sold , and yet is eating its head off in cost of storage . No one has yet solved the problem of the use or disposal of this lodge fnrniture , and the deadlock , as you can see , is brought about by the pernicious principle of allowing the " trade" to boss the Craft on the Universal Provider system . Besides , it must be bad for trade for those who live by manufacturing Masonic tools , & c . —Yours fraternally ,

T . MAY . 154 , High Cross .

PROPOSED LONDON VOTING ORGANISATION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Out of the 13 ( 3 , 000 votes issued by the Royal Masonic Institution

for Boys for the last election 26 , 000 votes were polled by the London brethren , and not a single London candidate was successfully returned , the whole 20 vacancies being filled by provincial candidates . Surely the time his arrived when London cases should receive better attention through some kind of voting organisation .

Would it be possible to found a London Masonic Club as headquarters for the purpose ot dividing London into lour sections , each with " its Committee , Treasurer , and Secretary , and presided over by the most inlluential Mason possible to get in each section , its object being to secure the votes and support candidates upon the same principle as is adopted by the Masonic provinces to-day Y

No doubt a much better scheme may be suggested than this by some of your readers . 1 know many London brethren ready to support something of the kind , including yours fraternally ,

J . PERCY FITZGERALD . Linacre , Balmoral-road , Willcsden Green , 14 th October .

Virtues Developed By Affliction.

VIRTUES DEVELOPED BY AFFLICTION .

The colours first the artist ' s skill Upon the porcelain lays , But feebly shadow forth his will Nor merit present praise ; But long exposed to furnace glow , The varied tints arise ; And 'neath the heat more brilliant grow , To charm admiring eyes .

And thus , within the Christian's heart Rests , for awhile unknown , E'en to himself , some better part Where heavenly hues are shown ; God's vessel in Affliction dire ,

Bright virtues bring to view , Pure and unsullied by the fire And everlasting , too ! F . W . DRIVER , M . A ., PKOI .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

Solwyn Chapter , No . 1901 . INSTALLATION OF COMP . H . CORNFORD . 'I his beautiful ceremony was held at the Montpelier Hotel , Chouineit-road , Peckham , the well-known and appreciated hostelry ot Comp . I ' * . E . Pow , on the loth inst . Present : Comps . II . C . Turner , M . E . Z . ; 11 . Cornford , II ., M . E . Z . elect ; J .

S . Pointon , J ., II . elect ; E . J . S . Ware , J . elect ; Wm . Hoak , P . Z ., Treas . ; C . H . Stone , P . Z .. S . E . ; J . M . Wimble , P . S . ; C . II . Marrison , i £ t A . S . ; A . R . Jackson , 2 nd A . S . ; T . Bowler , Janitor , J . Lightfoot , P . Z .: E . Gauntlett , P . Z . ; Thos . Crunnnnt . P . Z . ( Hon . ); ' F . E . Pow , P . Z . ; C . N . Wedge , J . Brulon , J . E . Wiberg , and 11 . P . White . Visitors : Comps . J . Block , P . Z . 21 S 4 , P . P . G . S . Essex , and Blewett Faull , S . N . mi .

'The minutes ol previous convocation were read and conhrmed . A convocation of Installed First Principals was foime-u , and Comp . 11 . Cornford , 11 ., was installed into the chair cf Z . by Comp . II . C . Turner , M . E . Z . 'The conclave was dosed , and a conclave of Installed Second Principals formed , and Comp . J . S . Pointon was installed into

Royal Arch.

the second chair by Comp . II . Cornford , M . E . Z . Ihe conclave was closed , and a conclave of Installed Third Principals formed , and Comp . E . J . S . Ware was installed into the third chair by Comp . J . S . Pointon , H . The installatiuns were carried out in a most exemplary manner by the Installing Principals , it having become the custom in the Selwyn Chapter for some years past for each Principal to install his successor—1 circumstance which shows the excellent tuition of Comp . T . Grumnnnt , P . Z ., P . P . G . S . Essex , the worthy Preceptor of the Selwyn Chapter , held every fortnight at the above address on the first and third Mondays , except Bank holidays . Com 1 . C . Hy . Stone ,

P . Z ., presented the Principals . The conclave of Third Principals was closed . The M . E . Z . invested his officers as follows : Comps . W . H . Hook , P . Z ., Treas . ; Chas . Hy . Stone , P . Z ., S . E . ; J . Lightfoot , P . Z ., D . C . ; J . M . Wimble , S . N . ; C . II . Marrison , P . S . ; A . R . Jackson , 1 st A . S . ; J . R . N . Merrill , 2 nd A . S . ; J . Wiberg , Stwd . ; E . C . L . Hawley , Org . ; and Thos . Bowler , Janitor . The Auditors' report was presented , received , and adopted . The M . E . Z ., in well-chosen and appreciative remarks , said it gave him the greatest possible pleasure and gratitude for the exceptional manner in which Comp . H . C . Turner , I . P . Z ., had carried out the duties of the

past year , to present the beautiful Past Principil's jewel , which he had richly earned . He ( the M . E . Z . ) knew the l . P . Z . in other Degrees of Freemasonry , and the zeal he showed in all he undertook . That was fully exemplified that evening in the presentation to the chapter of the beautiful dais , in the form of the catenarian arch , to hold the three chairs . The M . E . Z . would assure him that he had the love and esteem of all the companions , and his receiving that je * el was the mark of their kindly feeling towards him , and he hoped that he would long weir it in the Selwyn Chapter . To still further show their appreciation the companions asked him to accept

the Past Principals collar and jewel with their cordial greetings . In reply Comp . H . C . Turner said he fully accepted the very kind remarks of the M . E . Z ., and thanked the companions for their kindly feeling ever evinced towards him . He received the Past Principal's jewel and beautiful collar and jewel with the greatest pleasure , and assured them he had great love for the chapter , and what he had done in the same degree he should always do towards his mother chapter , which he hoped would be for very miny years . It was resolved that a very hearty vote of thinks be accorded to the l . P . Z . for his handsome gift and beautifying the furniture of the chapter . Comp . H . C . Turner

again thanked them , and also expressed his best and warmest thinks to th e camoini m > of the chapter who so kindly supported him in making the ladies' ni ^ ht , held in April last , such a successful and happy meetinc and he hoped a similar one might berepeitej . Telegrams were received from Comps . Wm . Wills , P . Z ., and A . H . Fraser , expressing with regret their inability to attend , and wishing the M . E . Z . ' and compinions a very happy year . Also from several companions as visitors who were unable to attend from

various caases , and all expressing their kindly feelings . The convocation being closed , the companions adjourned to a recherche banquet supplied by Comp . F . E . Pow , the proprietor , in his usual very cipible style . The customary loyal and R . A . toists were given in appreciative terms by the M . E . Z ., and du ' y responded to ; as also "The Pro G . Z ., G . IL , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . "

The I . P . Z ., Comp . II . C . Turner , in eulogistic terms , presented the toist of " The M . E . Z ., " which was responded to most gracefully . Comp . Hy . Cornford , M . E . Z ., in cordial terms , proposed the toast of "His Principals , H . and J ., " who replied in excellent terms . The toast of " The Visitors" was presented by the M . E . Z . in terms of much cordiality , and responded to by Comps . Block , P . Z ., and Bluett Faull . Also the toast of "The Past Principals , " the M . E . Z . congratulating the chapter on having so excellent an array .

Comps . Ed . Gauntlett , P . Z . ; J . Lightfoot , P . Z . ; F . E . Pow , P . Z . ; and Thos . Grummant , P . Z ., most ably replied . The M . E . Z . next proposed " The Treasurer , S . E ., and OITicers of the Chanter , " in terms of commendation , which was replied to by Comps . Stone , Wimble , Marrison , and Wiberg . The Janitor's toast closed a very happy convocation . The jewel was manufactured by CompF . George Kenning and Son , and bore the following inscription : "Presented to Ex . Comp . 11 . C . Turner for excellent services tendered to the Selwyn Chapter as the ninth M . E . Z ., 1900 to 1901 . " A capital programme of music was arranged under Comp . Bluett Faull , ably assisted by Mr . Lawrence Harewood and Bro . Lamjton .

Ad00804

A METHODIST MINISTER

OF 40 YEARS' STANDING , SAYS

"iVor years I was troubled with Indigestion and Constipation , and suffered greatly from Giddiness Nervous Debility and . Sleeplessness .

SEIGEL ' S SYRUP

" The best medical skill seemed of no avail , and ( jtiite thought my ministerial work was coming to a close . However , a friend urged me to try Soigol ' s Syrup , and four bottles sulliced to make my cure complete . " —( I'ev . ) J . ISTKNSI . KY , Winterton , Doncuster ,

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