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 limitsfree discussion .

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . Tothe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you do me the favour to insert the enclosed letter in your next issue , and I trust that other Provincial Grand Masters may see it in their power to follow the example of Lord Harlech , that a collection may be made to render the Diamond Jubilee | year of her Majesty ' s reign a memorable one in the history of this

Institution . —Yours truly and fraternally , JAMES TERRY , Secretary 4 , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , February iSth . Brogyntyn , Oswestry , iSth February , 1 S 97 . Dear Sir and Brother ,

I am issuing an appeal to each of the lodges in my province ( 20 in number ) , suggesting that they should subscribe . £ 10 each , at least , to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons , & c , in celebration of the Queen having reigned 60 years . This Charity I have selected because it is more in accord with her Majesty ' s advanced years .

Believing that some suggestion may occur to you in reference to this that might be of great value , you will much oblige me if you will let me know anything that strikes you . 1 remain , yours truly and fraternally ,

HARLECH , To J . Terry , Esq . P . G . M . North Wales . A MASONIC RECORD . To thc Editor of the '' Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , May I , through the medium of the Freemason , call attention to the report of the installation ceremony of our Lodge Harmony and Industry , 3 S 1 ,

which contains a statement that our highly-esteemed and talented Bro . F . Thomas , P . M . of 345 , Blackburn , and Prov . Officer of E . Lanes , and also of Oxon , did , on the 1 Ith inst ., perform the ceremony of installation for the 36 th year in unbroken succession in Lodge 3 S 1 , Darwen , and in a style so finished in alt its detail as can onl y be reached by one of vast experience . Bro . Thomas is an

honour to his Blackburn lodge and also to East Lanes , as well as a credit to his mother lodge in Oxfordshire . He is in the 80 th year of his age , and from appearances may still run freshly on for many more , while he has been a member of the Craft for 56 years . I particularly wish to be allowed to report this statement through the Freemason , as I look upon it as a Masonic record . —Faithfully and fraternally yours ,

JOHN WARDLEY , P . M . 381 February 13 th .

THE WEARING OF "THE BADGE . " To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In the issue of the Freemason of this date I find two photographs of eminent brethren—one the Grand Master of Scotland and the other Bro . J . Herbert

Marshall , J . P ., M . P ., who appear to be wearing the badge under the coat . Will any experienced Freemason kindly inform me if this is the correct form , as I have a distinct recollection of being once turned back in Grand Lodge for this disrespect to the badge , or is it to produce " photographic" and not " Masonic " effect ?—Yours fraternally ,

AN OLD PAST MASTER February 13 th . ——

THE LODGE WARRANT AND CONFERRING DEGREES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I had arather novel experience a few days since . I was present at the first meeting of a new lodge , when several candidates were admitted into the Order , and in the course of the ceremony , the W . M ., in the usual manner , referred to the lodge warrant as the authority under which they were working , and which ,

he explained , was " in the custody of the Secretary . " The remark struck me as peculiar , and upon enquiry afterwards , I ascertained that the warrant was away being framed . Note the position—the lodge having been opened and conferring Degrees upon candidates in the absence of the lodge warrant ! Is it not an irregularity f Does it affect the validity of the Degree conferred ? What says "Lex Scripta" or any of your othei correspondents on the subject ?— -Yours fraternally , EX-SECRETARY , P . M . ¦

SOME RARE CERTIFICATES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , By an accidental oversight , 1 described the first certificate in my article on "Some Rare Certificates" in the Christmas number of the Freemason as of the Lodge now known as " Douglas Lodge of Fellowship , No . 8 4 . "

It is , as I have since discovered , of Lodge No . 1 " Town ot St . Helary , in the Island of Jersey , " warranted in 1765 by the " Moderns , " named " Union " in 1807 , and erased in 1813 ( Lane ' s Masonic Records ) . I would ask those brethren who have copies ol my " Catalogue of over 500 Masonic Certificates " to kindly rectify the same error in that list . —Fraternally yours , FRED J . W . CROWE . Marsden , Torquay .

A QUERY . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Having read , in your issue of last week , with much interest , of the record attendance of Bro . E . L . P . Valeriani , who was initiated on 5 th December , 1877 , and has never missed a lodge meeting since that date , I am pleased to tell you that one of our Past Masters ( Bro , F . W . Prior ) , who was initiated on nth

November , 1878 , was Director of Ceremonies and Secretary of the lodge for over six years , has never missed a meeting , and has , therefore , beaten Bro . Valuriani ' s record , for , whereas the Rothesay Lodge , No . 1687 , meets five times aye . tr—which would make Bro . Valeriani ' s attendances number 9 8—our lodge ( St . John ' s , No . 90 ) meets six times , thus making Bro . Prior ' s attendances 7 / 5 , including three lodges of emergency . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , ST , JOHN'S , No . 90 . London , February 16 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"'IHE I ' REEMASONS' CALENDAR ANO DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF DURHAM , 1 S 97 . "—This very compact and accurate Annual cannot fail to prove a great boon to the members of the Province of Durham , as the contents are so varied , useful , and interesting . The Prov . G . Sec . is the indefatigable Bro . Robert Hudson , who is assisted by Bro . John Joel , of North Shields . Every endeavour is used to make this Calendar reliable , and , so far [ as we have tested the compilation , it is wonderfully free from inaccuracies of any kind . There are 3 G lodges , 13 Royal Arch chapters , 12 Mark lodges , and several Knights Templar preceptories , Rose Croix

chapters , and other Masonic bodies represented in the publication , besides a mass of information also as to the Masonic Charities and other matters appertaining to the province , the whole being neatly and ably arranged in some 160 pages , the printers being Messrs . Beck and Inchbold , of Leeds , as usual . The directory is full of all needful particulars , and as its preparation must have involved considerable labour , time , and patience , it is to be hoped that it will be appreciated

accordingly , and its honorary and efficient Editors be gratified to find that their services have been most thankfully accepted by the brethren generally . The oldest lodge is the " Industry , " No . 4 S , Gateshead , and the junior is the "Clarence , " No . 2462 , West Hartlepool . There are several chapters of the last century origin , and the Craft in Northumberland is also duly noted , and many particulars are afforded as to tbe higher Degrees in the adjoining county .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Urban Lodge , No . 1196 . The installation meeting of this good and well-known lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on the gth inst ., when there were present Bros . J . S . Mountford , W . M . ; Percy B . Hollick , S . W ., W . M . elect ; J . Tickle , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., Treas . ; F . R . Farrow , P . M ., Sec . ; Paul Alliston , S . D . ; J . T . H . Baily , J . D . ; Jno . R . Roberts , I . G . j Chas . Braid , P . M . ; Fred . Eckstein , P . M . ; W . E . Haycock , P . M . ; Chas . Hawksley , P . M . ; J . W . Tacon , P . M . ; R . S . Oakeshott , P . M . ; P . Haddon Davy , Harry Wildman , C . E . Blore , Thos . Hunt , Alfred R . Hall , Saml . Hunt ,

T . C . Edmonds , P . M ., acting Tyler ; and many others . Among the numerous visitors were Bros . E . Hobbs , 453 , P . J . G . D . Essex ; J . J . Thomas , P . P . G . Treas . Bucks ; Clement Alliston , W . M . 2047 ; Arthur W . Hunt , 425 ; T . E . Comins , 720 ; C . Nelson , W . M . 1702 ; G . J . Anderson , P . M . 7 S 1 ; W . Hibberdine , P . M . 2470 ; Harry Lloyd , 2409 ; Jno . Drake , 1997 ; F . Barker , 507 ; A . Bailey , of New York ; A . Webb , P . M . 119 G ; A . J . Turner , W . M . 1707 ; and R . T . West , 1744 . The lodge having been opened , and the minutes of the last lodge meeting read and confirmed . Bro . T . C . Edmonds , P . M ., was unanimously elected Tyler in the place of

Bro . James Very , who had been compelled to resign through ill-health , and two guineas was voted to the Scholarship Fund for the Boys' Institution , and the balance sheet was received and adopted . Bro . W . E . Haycock , P . M ., stated that it was known to many of them that the lodge had voted a jewel to the W . M ., Bro . Mountford , which was so good so far , but having regard to his grand year of office , it was not considered an adequate return . When Bro . Mountford went into the chair—just 12 months ago—he did everything for the lodge and brought it to a good financial position and his extraordinary services—which were set out at length—deserved special recognition . Noble

deeds required eulogy from them as he had during his year of oflice become , if anything , more endeared to them , and the great things he had done would ever be remembered by them all . He then moved , " That the best thanks of the brethren of the Urban Lodge , No . 119 G , be hereby tendered to Bro . J . S . Mountford , W . M ,, prior to his leaving the chair , for the masterly way in which he has succeeded in rescuing the lodge from the financial difficulties in which he found it at the commencement of his year of office , 1896-97 , and the brethren desire to express to Bro . Mountford their high appreciation of the way in which he has conducted the lodge to its

present healthy condition , and ' wish . him a long and prosperous career . " The proposition was seconded by Bro . F . Eckstein , P . M ., and supported by Bro . J . Tickle , P . M ., in eloquent terms , and carried unanimously . It was afterwards resolved to engross the resolution on vellum , and to present it to Bro . Mountford at the next meeting of the lodge . In earnest and feeling terms Bro . Mountford , W . M ., acknowledged the resolution , remarking that what he had done was , he thought , his duty , and it was very gratifying to him to know that his services were appreciated . Bro . F . Eckstein , P . M ., then occupied the chair , and installed Bro . Percy Burrow Hollick , S . W . and W . M . elect , as W . M . of the lodge in a most impressive and perfect manner . The following brethren

were appointed and inyested ofiicers : Bros . J . S . Mountford , I . P . M . ; Paul Alliston , P . M ., S . W . ; J . T . II . Baily , J . W . ; J . Tickle , P . M ., Treas . ; F . R . Farrow , P . M ., Sec ; J . Robinson Roberts , P . M ., S . D . ; C . E . Blore , J . D . ; Frederick Eckstein , P . M ., D . C ; J . W . Tacon , P . M ., W . Hubert Smith , A . G . Dsar , and G . Yate Ashwell , Stewards ; P . H . Davy , I . G . ; and T . C . Edmonds , P . M ., Tyler .. The usual addresses were eloquently given by Bro . Fredk . Eckstein , P . M ., and were appreciated by the members and visitors . Three gentlemen were proposed for initiation at the next meeting , and , after other business , the lodge was closed . The brethren adjourned to a recherche banquet , which was admirably served , and for which the manager , Bro . Gcirards , was responsible .

As a preface to the toasts / the W . M . stated that his speeches would be brief , as they had a lengthy musical programme to get through . The Worshipful Master gave the customary loyal and Masonic toasts , which were duly honoured . "The Health of the VVorshipful Master , Bro . P . B . Hollick , " was proposed by Bro . J . S . Mountford , I . P . M ., who stated that it was a great honour and pleasure to

submit the toast ol the evening . Between the W . M . and him there had ever been a bond of affection , and Masonically they were almost twins . Eight years ago that evening Bro . W . E . Haycock , P . M ., was installed , and the W . M ., Bro . Hollick , was the initiate on that occasion , and he ( the W . M . ) then stated , in response to the toast of " The Initiate , ^ ' " that he felt like a young cockerel who wanted to crow and could not . " He congratulated him on not only being able to crow but upon being " cock of the walk . " The W . M . would uphold Freemasonry and study the interests of the lodge in every

way . The toast was received with great enthusiasm , as was the W . M ., Bro . Hollick , on rising to respond . Bro . Hollick , W . M ., said first let him thank them from his heart for the reception they had given him . He was at all times bad at speech making , but he felt that night it was a great difficulty to speak of himself . He well remembered eight years ago when he was initiated , and his then impression would never be effaced from his memory . At that time he felt it was his duty to do his best to walk in the steps of those who had

gone before him , and it was a great honour to be elected Master of his mother lodge . He had only missed attending one meeting since he was initiated , and that was through the death of his mother . It behoved all to fill the office of VV . M , tothe best of one ' s ability . He was anxious that he would not fail in his high ollice , but he would do his very best and he hoped the Past Masters would be to his faults a little kind as it was his earnest wish to give satisfaction and to leave the chair with clean hand ,. He was honoured to have had three initiates proposed that evening as it was a record in the lodge to have had so many proposed atone time . and , in conclusion , he stated that if hc made a slip it would not be intentional .

In giving "The Immediate Past Master , Bro . J . Mountford , " the W . M . stated that he could not speak too highly of him . He had done his work splendidly , and had had the pluck and courage to take a certain line , with the gratifying result that he had made the old ship safe and sound , which was a masterly piece ot work , but he had done everything fair and above board . All who had the pleasure of his acquaintance could testily that lie was one of the best of follows and friends , and he wished Jiim the best of health and every happiness in the future . He took that opportunity to present him , in the name of the lodge , with a Past Mister ' s jewel , and he hoped it would ever remind him that they all loved him , and that he bad their very best wishes , and might the Great Architect give him many years of life to wear thc jewel .

The jewel bore thc following inscription : "Presentucj to Bro . James Seba Mountford in recognition of his valuable services as Worshipful Master of the Urban Lodge , No . lioO , 189 G-7 . "