Original Correspondence.

being totally at a loss to understand how so absurd an error could have been made . In proposing " The D . G . M . and the rest of the Grand Officers , " the W . M . was pleased to couple my name with the toast , and said that he should like to hear from mc how Grand Lodge honours were obtained , a question which no doubt presents itself to many of an inquiring

turn of mind . In replying to this part of his speech , my words were , as I now remember them , something after the style of the celebrated Mrs . Glassc , " First catch your hare : " — & c . " You must first of all become a Mason , then attend your lodge with the greatest regularity ; prepare yourself by hard work for any office , that in the course of time

you may be appointed to ; always act as a gentleman and a Mason in or out of your lodge . Be ready and willing if called upon to tajte the duties of a superior officer , if absent or incompetent , and if you are fortunate enough to become Master of your lodge , set a good example to your officers by punctual attendance , and attention to your own duties ; then , so far as your means may allow you without injury

to yourself , endeavour to find a trifle to give in support of the Masonic Institutions , for every little helps . Then , having gone so far , wait patiently for the arrival of any honours that may be offered , and if by any extraordinary and fortunate circumstance , after twenty or twenty-five years , your name should find its way into the Grand Secrelary ^ s Office , as mine did , you will be very lucky , the chances being some thousands to one against it ; but never

expect to be so fortunate , or so favoured , then you are the less likely to be disappointed . " How the words in italics could be so misconstrued is a marvel and a mystery ; they embody in your report an impertinence that , I think , I am not likely to be guilty of , my only connection with the Grand Secretary ' s Joffice arising from my visits as Treasurer of different lodges and chapters , to pay dues and rent . Yours fraternally , J BOYD .

A CORRECTION . To Ihe Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The figures quoted in the Freemason , from the daily papers , with reference to the receipts of the Masonic Charitable Institutions in 1873 and 1876 , are calculated to mislead the Craft . In 1875 the total announced , so far as the Girls' School is concerned , was simply the

amount collected in donations and subscriptions from lodges and brethren , viz ., £ 866 4 iCs ., excluding grants from Grand Lodge , & c , dividends , sums paid for purchased admissions ( £ 714 alone ) , and other miscellaneous receipts amounting to £ 2086 10 s . 3 d ., in all £ 10 , 731 Gs . 3 d . In 1876 the subscriptions , & c , the only real test of progress , rose to £ 10 , 000 17 s . 3 d ., while the miscellaneous receipts , owing to there being no purchase cases , declined to £ ' 4 . 14 9 s - ¦ $ ., making the total quoted £ 11 , 435 ( is . 71 I R . W . L .

LORD CHESTERFIELD . To Ihe Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In answer to Lord Limerick , I beg to give an extract from the Constitutions of 1738 , page 194 .

" Deputations Sent beyond Sea . " " LOVEL Grand Master granted one to noble Brother CHESTERFIELD Lord Ambassador at the Hague , for holding a Lodge there , that made his Royal Highness FRANCIS Duke of Lorrain ( now Grand Duke of

Tuscany ) an Eiiln * tl Prentice and Fellow Craft . Yours fraternally , ASTLF . Y TEHRY , Park Hill , Congleton , Captain 60 th Rifles , 14 th Jan ., 1877 . W . M . 333 .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

Lonu CHESTERFIELD AND FREEMASONRY . In the Rev . Dr . Anderson ' s Constitutions of 173 8 is an account of the initiation and passing of H . R . H .. Francis , Duke of Lorrain ( Grand Duke of Tuscany ) , which occurred in 1731 , under the Grand Mastership of Lord Lovel . The deputation was granted to the Rev . Dr . Desaguliers , P . G . M ., as W . M ., and Bros . Stanhope and Holtzendorf ,

as Wardens , and at the reception , the Earl of Chesterfield , Lord Ambassador , also the nephew of the Bishop of Naraur and others were present . It was not a regular , but only an occasional lodge which was held , and ceased when the purpose for which it was convened had been accomplished . In the list of deputations at the end of Constitutions , 1738 , it [ is stated

that the authority to receive H . R . H . into Freemasonry was conveyed to the Earl of Chesterfield , though Dr . Desaguliers acted as Master . The Duke of Lorrain was subsequently raised as a Master Mason , at another occasional lodge held at Sir Robert Walpole ' s house in Norfolk ( with the Duke of Newcastle ) , the Grand Master , Lord Lovel , being the Master .

In "Illustrations of Masonry" ( Spencer ' s edit ., 1861 , page 173 ) , Bro ; Preston declares the foregoing to have been " the most remarkable event of Lord Lovel ' s administration , " as it was undoubtedly . Bro . Findel in his " History of Freemasonry " ( a really excellent work ) has a special chapter on " Masonry in the Netherlands , " which seems to favour the opinion that 1734

witnessed the constitution of the first regular lodge in that country . In our list of lodges , A . D . 1734 , Masonic Magazine , Nov ., 1876 , will be found a register of 127 , French Flanders , but no other for the north . In my " Centennial letter , " however , to the Grand Lodge of Ohio , I give some excerpta from old newspapers , 1730—50 , in which it is stated : —

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

The Post , Holland , Nov . 4 th , 1734 . — " Besidesthe lodge of English Freemasons at Rotterdam , another is erected at the Hague , depending on the Gland Lodge hcic ( London ) , where six members were admitted on the 19 ' tli inst ., N . S . "

Other extracts I might give , but as the whole are to be reproduced in the Masonic Magazine for February , I forbear . Yours fraternally , WILLIAM JAMES HUUIIAN .

With reference to Lord Limerick ' s enquiry respecting the lodge at the Hague , on turning to the Freemasons ' Calendar for 1778 , I find the following entry , at page 34 , among the " Remarkable Occurrences in Masonry : "" Francis , Duke of Lorraine , late Emperor of Germany , initiated at the Hague , and afterwards exalted to the degree of a Master Mason in England , 17-51 . " The lodge

m which the Duke was initiated was doubtless one of the " occasional lodges " usually held for the admission of illustrious personages at that time , and for years afterwards . I cannot find any record . of his " advancement in the minutes of Grand Lodge , which alone possessed the power to pa ? s and raise brethren in 1731 , according to a note at page 35 of the same Calendar . R . W . L .

Grand Masonic Ball In Liverpool.

GRAND MASONIC BALL IN LIVERPOOL .

The Masonic enthusiasm which so largely exists in Liverpool , as the centre of the Craft in the province of W . Lancashire , was again clearly shown in that town on Tuesday , the 9 th inst . when the 28 th annual festive gathering of the fraternity took place at the Town Hall . The ball was in nearly every respect as enjoyable as any

which had preceded it , and fully sustained the well merited prestige which invariably attaches itself to thes e festive gatherings of the brethren , to which the public are Welcomed with cordiality . Of this privilege " outsiders " are notslow to avail themselves , and the general verdict has always been that the " Masonic " is the jolliest and most genial of all the balls of the season . That for ' 77 formed no

exception to the rule , and if it was not quite so largely patronised as some of its predecessors , this slight shortcoming was attributable to various outside causes , which were quite apparent , amongst these being the near approach of various other assemblies . The existence of the Masonic Ball for more than a quarter of a century has given the promoters an amount of experience which they invariably

turn to good use , in the direction of admirable arrangements and satisfactory carrying out of details , which go so much to make these gatherings successful and popular , and the result of the labours of the committee entrusted with this year ' s organization of the ball must have given complete satisfaction to most frequent visitors to these annual pleasant assemblies , as well as to those whose

expectations might bc more than usually high pitched . Following the example of previous years , the committee again made pleasure go hand-in-hand with charity , which is so dear to every true-hearted Mason , and the chief obj » ct in view , apart from the social and brotherly aspect of the gathering , was to add to the funds of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , a charity

which stands to the front amongst the like organisations of the Craft , and is most justly looked upon with pride by all the brethren in the province where it has been born , nurtured , and reared , until it has now become so sturdy and well developed . During its existence this institution has done an immense amount of good in giving education to the children of distressed and deceased Masons ,

and at present more than 100 little ones are reaping the benefits of the charity . The income for the past year amounted to £ 63 6 , the invested funds realised £ 313 , and after making all necessary payments there had been added to the accumulated capital the sum of £ 808 , making a total invested fund of £ 12 , 68 3 17 s . 8 d . The continued

and increasing demands on the institution , however , still call for the continued cordial support of the brethren in the province , and as it is in contemplation to widen the benefits to the children who receive education , this support is all the more necessary . The ball enjoyed the following highly distinguished patronage , giving it all the greater weight and

significance * . — Lady Patrons : The Mayoress ; Right Hon . the Countess Bective ; Right Hon . Lady Skelmersdale ; the Hon . Lady Constance Stanley . Patrons : His Worship the Mayor of Liverpool , Mr . Alderman Walker ; Bro . Right Hon . Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master England ; Bro . Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M . England , R .

W . Prov . G . M . West Lancashire ; Bro . Major Starkie , R . W . Prov . G . M . East Lancashire , P . G . W . England , W . P . Prov . S . G . W . of West Lancashire ; Bro . Right Hon . Lord De Tabley , R . W . Prov . G . M . Cheshire ; Bio . Hon . Frederick A . Stanley , W . D . Prov . G . M . West Lancashire ; Bro . Sir Gilbert Greenall , M . P ., P . S . G . W . England , and W . P . Prov . S . G . W . of West Lancashire ; Bro . Major

Horner , W . Prov . S . G . W ; Bro . William Sharp , Esq ., W . Prov . J . G . W ; Bro . Sir James Ramsdcn , W . P . Prov . G . S . W . West Lancashire ; Bro . Lieutenant-Colonel Birchall , W . P . Prov . G . J . W ; Bro . John Prescot , Esq ., W . P . Prov . G . J . W ; Bro . Earl Bective , R . W . Prov . G . M . Cumberland and Westmoreland ; Bro . Sir W . W . Wynn , Bart ., M . P ., R . W . Prov . G . M . Shropshire and North Wales ; Bro . John Pearson , Esq . ; W . Rathbone , Esq ., M . P . ;

Right Hon . Viscount Sandon , M . P . ; Colonel Ireland Blackbume , M . P . ; J . Torr , Esq ., M . P . The committee consisted of Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , P . G . M ., President ; Bro . the Hon . Frederick Stanley , M . P ., D . P . G . M ., Vice-President ; Bro . R . Wilson , P . P . G . S . D ., Chairman ; Bro . H . Nelson , P . M ., 673 and 1305 , Vicc-Chairman ; and Bro . J . Pemberton , P . G . S . of W ., Treasurer . The guests began to arrive shortly before nine o ' clock ,

Grand Masonic Ball In Liverpool.

- —«^ - * — ' — a . nd about midnight , when the splendid ball-rooms were crowded with about 7 do guests , the effect was very brilli ant , especially as all . th ? brethren appeared in full dress Masonic clothing ,, with the jewels and insignia of their rank and office . The ladies' dresses generally were in exquisite taste , and the general effect of the gathering was

striking in the extreme . His Worship the Mayor ( Mr . Alderman Walker ) honoured the ball with his presence , and after supper , when his health was proposed by Bro . Wilson , Chairman of Committee , his worship spoke in glowing and eulogistic terms of the many advantages possessed and produced by the noble Order of

Freemasonry . The music was furnished by the quadrille band of Bro . G . W . Phillipps ; and Bro . H . Molyneux , P . M . 823 ! again gave his valuable services as Master of the Ceremonies . Bro . W . S . Vines , P . M . 220 , provided supper and refreshments , and his catering gave general satisfaction . Bro . R . Brown , P . M . 241 , was the Captain of the

Stewards ; Bros . G . Broadbridge , P . P . G . D . O , and H . Firth , Sec . ( 16 7 , Assistant Captains , who were assisted by a strong corps of Stewards . The badges for this useful body of brethren , who did their work remarkably well , attracted universal admiration by the artistic way in which they were got

up . Much of the hard work of the ball fell upon Bro . G . Hutchin , W . M . 241 , the Honorary Secretary , and he deserves honourable mention for the really indefatigable way in which he strove to make the 28 th annual Masonic ball occupy an honourable place in the long and brilliant list during the past 27 years .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The Quarterly Court of the Governors and Subscribers of this Institution was held on Saturday last , in the Boardroom , Freemasons' Hall . Col . Creatnn , J . P ., presided . There were also present Bros . H . Browse , John Symonds , A . H . Tnttershall , H . A . Dubois , Dr . Ramsay , H . Dicketts

Thos . Massa , John Boyd , II . Massey ( Freemason ) , Z . D . Berry , S . Rosenthal , Thos . W . White , Major Finney , and R . W . Little , Sec . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Creaton proposed , "That the sum of £ 300 additional be granted to complete the amount required , agreeably to tender , for the new laundry . " He

said it was not necessary that he should weary the brethren with many words on this matter , because it had been so well considered and gone over often before . He would call their attention to the resolution of the 18 th Nov ., when it was determined by the Special Court to advertise for tenders for this new building , inviting builders to send in tenders for its erection . That had been done ,

and five tenders were sent in . Four of those tenders , as they had heard , were very greatly in excess of the amount authorised to be spent ; but one by Bro . Fish was within it . Consequently , the Building Committee had , subject to the approval of this Court , given the work to Bro . Fish . It was necessary that they should have £ 500 in excess of the sum already voted , and he therefore moved that that

£ 300 be now voted . Bro . A . H . Tattershall had much pleasure in seconding the motion . Bro . Z . D . Berry said he was very glad that the contract had been given to Bro . Fish , because , as he had said on a former occasion , Bro . Fish must be able to do the work cheaper , as he had his plant already on the

pre-. The motion was then carried . Two petitions of candidates for election were then passed ; The Secretary said he was sorry to report that Mary Nelson , one of the most promising girls in the school , who had received several prizes , had died while on her Christmas holidays , which she was spending with her

mother at Scarborough . The brethren expressed their great regret at the sad occurrence . The Secretary said there were now 54 candidates for the next election in April , and 13 vacancies , including that caused by the death of the pupil above referred to . Bro . John Symonds then rose and said he begged to

call attention to a subject he raised at the General Committee of the Boys' School , the difficulty that existed of getting a satisfactory certificate from the country of children ' s ability to read . He ventured to think if they adopted the educational requirement of the Privy Council ( not of the School Board , as he had been inaccurately reported to have said ) , but the Committee of Privy Council ,

presided over by the Duke of Richmond , where the power to read is made to vary according to age . If they adopted that , they would hardly go wrong . Those were applicable to the very lowest class of elementary schools ; but it seemed to him that if a child did not read in the standard required by the elementary schools , she did not read well enough to be

admitted to this institution . It was not a matter which the Quarterly Court could deal with , but he ventured to ask the chairman , who was such a regular attendant on the various committees , to request the General Committee to take that into consideration . It would be quite impossible for him ( Bro . Symonds ) to attend next week at the General Committee , and it was very rarely that he could attend any of these meetings on Thursdays . If the

Chairman would take it into consideration , any resolution the committee might come to could be adopted in the form of petition . The difficulty now experienced with the certificates would be got rid of . They now got such certificates as " can read tolerably well for her age , " and other uncertain certificates , granted , perhaps , either by the good nature of the person who signed them , for the purpose of letting the candidate down gently , or , it might