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 necessary limitsree discussion .

THE NEW ZEALAND QUESTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Bro . Lamonby has so well answered the letter of my good friend , Bro . T . B . Whytehead , by pointing out the mistaken idea under which Bro . Whytehead seems to have written that there is little for me to add .

I have only to say that if I erred tn using the word " loyal , i am content to err in excellent company . I find "loyal" defined in Webster ' s Dictionary as " Faithful or true to a prince or superior , " and this is what I maintain that those who wish to " adhere to their allegiance " most distinctly are . I refrain from defining those who do not wish to " adhere to their allegiance " to the Grand Lodge from whom they derive their Masonic existence . I leave that to Bro . Whytehead to do .

But when Bro . Whytehead says that " every Grand Lodge .... has been formed by lodges holding under other Constitutions " I am puzzled . Under what other Constitutions did the Four Old Lodges hold in 1717 ? Can he identify the lodges holding under " other Constitutions " who took part in the institution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1736 ?

I cannot better , I think , justify the position I take than by referring to the sixth paragraph of the letter of Lord Zetland to Bro . Harington , P . G . M . of Quebec and the Three Rivers , which is fully set out in the minutes of Grand Lodge of 3 rd March , 1858 , every word of which seems to me to apply to the present question . —Yours fraternally ,

LEX SCRIPTA 14 th December .

The paragraph referred to is as follows : " 6 th . Whilst I abstain from giving an opinion whether any or what circumstances can absolve Masons from their moral obligation , and justify them in separation from their mother Grand Lodge , I conceive it to be my duty to point out that' in the present unfortunate and conflicting condition of " Freemasonry in Canada , " it is impossible that I could consistently with my duty as Grand Master ,

and the obligation of my office , recommend to the Grand Lodge the recognition of either of the bodies which have recently assumed the power of erecting themselves into a Grand Lodge . To do so would be inconsistent with the first principles of Masonic unity . Of the lodges existing in the Provinces of Canada , and holding under the Grand Lodge of England , the warrants of seven have been returned by those who have joined the Independent Grand Lodge , whilst 34 have

been returned by those who have joined the Ancient Grand Lodge , leaving a large number of lodges of which some are known to remain firm in their allegiance , and of the secession of others there is no official record . It is plain that the Grand Lodge of England has no right or title to absolve from their allegiance the brethren who are anxious to preserve it ; it is equally clear that it is the duty , the sacred duty , of the Grand Master and Grand Lodge to support them in maintaining their allegiance and in preserving inviolate their obligation to their parent

Grand Lodge . Bearing in mind that there are already two self-erected Grand Lodges in Canada ; that there are many lodges which have not joined either ; that there are others who , having never wavered in their fidelity , pray to have a Prov . Grand Master appointed in the place of him who has seceded from them , and who desire to remain under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England , I cannot think that any reasonable Mason , will , upon a calm and deliberate review of the facts , come to any other conclusion than that recognition is impossible ; and that even were it accorded , it would lead only to increased confusion . "

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Technically Bro . Lamonby is right , but he knows as well as 1 dc that the confirmation of the Resolution of July to all intents and purposes settled the rr . alter . —Yours fraternally , T . B . WHYTEHEAD . Dec . 15 th .

REFRESHMENT AFTER LABOUR . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I trust that " Delta ' s " letter in your last number will have a good effect . The custom of going through a long list of toasts after every ordinary meeting is gettirg a terrible infliction , and , 1 am sure , keeps many members from

utiitdirg , pailiculaxly those who have had seme years'experience of Masonry , The tedious repetilion of the " same old tale , " and the "back-scratching" that rets en , especially with visitors , is positively nauseous in not a few lodges I know cf . Vi hy not make the refreshment interval what the word implies r Few lodges aie without a competent Organist to accompany vocalists , and if the W . M . would

ti qui tt biethren to bring thtir songs with ihem a really pleasant time might be passed , and meetings made more attractive and social . The W . M . has this in his own hands , and if he will persist in going through the whole list , with " firing" to each toast , he cannot expect the general body of members to care about putting in an appearance .

May I suggest , Sir , that you should discourage off-night chatter , and , except in very special circumstances , ruthlessly cut down exuberant verbosity . It is quite tare to read an after-dinner speech which possesses the charm of novelty , but I must admit that readers of the Freemason do occasionally take that pleasure . It is , however , to Ihe everyday lodge meeting that the criticism mostly applies . — Faithfully yours ,

AN OLD P . M K'ngston-on-Thames , Dec . 14 .

FREEMASONRY AMONGST THE NEGROES IN THE U . S . A . Tothe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In an interesting article on " Coloured Freemasonry , " which appeared in your issue of the 24 th October , I read the following statement :

" Bro . Prince Hall , a coloured man , who ( it was alleged ) had been , with 14 otler coloured men of Boston , U . S . A ., initialed into Freemasonry in an army ledge , warranted by the Grand Lodge of England , ar . d the first W . M . of the Alrican Ledge , No . 459 , warranted by the Grand Lodgeof England , issued a license to 13 black men , who had been made Masons in England , to assemble and work a lodge in Philadelphia , & c ., & c , " My object in writing to the Freemason is to enquire whether the records of the Grand Lodge of England go to prove that a warrant was granted to Bro .

Correspondence.

Prince Hall and other coloured Masons constituting the African Lodge , No . 459 , in 1784 . Further , is there any evidence extant in this country of the fact that the 13 black men licensed by Bro . Prince Hall to work a lodge in Philadelphia " had been made Masons in England " as alleged in the article ; if such were a fact there should be some record of it in this country . I had never before heard of anything of the kind , and would . like further information on the subject if your readers "n assist me . EX-SECRETARY . P . M .

A SUGGESTION . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The suggestion made by " P . M . " in the Freemason of the 5 th inst ., that there should be a Masonic thanksgiving service in St . Paul ' s Cathedral on

the completion of the tjoth year of her Most Gracious Majesty's reign is a most admirable one , and it is to be hoped that it will "catch on" ( as the Americans say ) . It should have the cordial support of all loyal Masons—and where is there one who is not loyal ?—throughout the empire , and will certainly be the grandest thing that can be done on the occasion .

We do not , however , want it as an answer to the Pope or anyone else we want it simply as a means for evincing our deep gratitude to the Great Architect of the Universe for having , in His Mercy , given us the Victorian era , and as an opportunity for displaying our devoted loyalty to such an estimable Sovereign . —Yours fraternally ,

PAST GRAND WARDEN OF DEVON . December gth . P . S . —If " P . M . " will exchange addresses through you I shall be glad to assist him to bring about the adoption of his splendid suggestions .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1091 ] AN OLD FRENCH CERTIFICATE . Bro . Crowe ' s interesting article on old and curious Certificates , in the Christmas Freemason , induces me to send you particulars of a very old French Certificate in my possession , even older than Bro . Crowe ' s . It is on parchment 13 J + 7 $ and wholly in manuscript as follows ; " A L ' orient De Marseille et De La Loge la parfaite Union .

" Aux R . Loges Regulieres De la surface De la Terre . Salut . Salut . Salut . " Nous Les Maitres En L ' art Royal Et officiers De la loge la Parfait Union , fille De Clermont Certifions que Le frere Fouque Membre De notre Loge y ' a travaille En aprentif , Compagnon Maitre et Parfait , et exhortons Les D . L . R . De l ' admettre En Cette Qualitii a leurs Sublimes travaux apres Les Epreuves Sur

Ce Requise et pour que Le present Certificat ne puisse Servir a Des Profanes avons fait signet Le Dit f . Fouque Sous L'emprinte De notre Sceau ; Demandons De plus Pour Luy aux R . Loges Accueil et Secours Ainsi que nous En Vons Envers Les membres Des Loges Dignement Constituees . Dalivre a L ' orient De notre Respectable Loge Le 6 De May En Plein Midy L ' an De la Lumiere 5761 . " At the foot are eleven signatures , viz . : L . F . Tarteirons , yblc . Mc .

Conte Pr . S' - Arnaud S ' - Sr . R . Beauregard Tresor . Chateauneuf Ora . Giraudel Src- par interim .

E . Vernet J . F . Brandenbourg . J . F" Laurent-Rieq-iier . Lequeulx . A . Ramband .

The signature of the Master ( V' > le- Me- ) has the compasses in front of it , and a square at the end , and just below it a small red wax seal ( device effaced ) . On the left margin is a large red wax Seal and the signature of the recipient , "J . F . Fouque . " In the top left corner is the endorsement— " Quaranteneuvieme frere Cote Vingt . six " ( Forty-ninth brother , No . 26 . )

The following is a free translation : " From the Lodge of ' Perfect Union , ' Orient of Marseilles . "To all Regular Worshipful Lodges throughout the World . Thrice Greeting . " We , Masters of the Royal Art , and Officers of the Lodge of Perfect Union , a daughter Lodge of Clermont , certify that our Brother Fouque is a member of our Lodge , and has worked therein in the degrees of Apprentice , Companion , Master and Perfect Master , and we request all Regular Lodges to

admit him to their labours in these degrees on this recommendation after due examination , and in order that this Certificate may not be used by the uninitiated , we have caused it to' be signed by the said Brother Fouque and sealed with our Seal ; we request also for him from all Regular Lodges a due recognition and assistance , as we also are prepared to extend to the members of all regularly constituted Lodges . Given in the East of our Worshipful Lodge , at noon of the 6 th of May in the year of Light 5761 . " J . T . THORP .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Nelson Lodge , No . 700 . The first meeting of the above lodge since the vacation was held at the Freemasons ' Hall , Plumstead , on the iSth ult ., when over 130 members and visitors were present . The new W . M ., Bro . G . Porter , carried out the ceremonies of the Three Degrees in an admirable manner showing clearly that the prestige of ihe lodge would not suffer at his bands . After the ordinary business was concluded the W . M . in a neat speech presented to the late Secretary , Bro . J . Warren , P . M ., on behalf of the lodge a handsome Past

Secretary ' s jewel and an addrr ss beautifully inscribed on vellum testifying the brethren ' s appreciation of his services du ing the nine years he s rved the lodge in that capacity and their regret on his resigning that appointment . A further mark of their esteem was shewn by the presentation to him of a line three-stone diamond li-ig , and ( for hi > wife ' s sccerJance ) a gold lever watch and chain wilh a suitable inscription , each of which were subscribed for by the members of the lot ' ge . Bro . Warren fielingly responded ,

assuring all present that the gifts would ever be cherished by his wife and himself , that he should ever remember that night , and although he had gwen up the important position of Secretary , he should always be ready , as he ever was , to do anything he could for the welfare of the Nelson Lodge and its members . After the lodge was closed refreshments were partaken of , and a capital musical programme cone through , everyone present being delighted at the evening ' s enj lym .-nt .