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ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS , WOOD GREEN , LONDON , N . Patron : HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN . President : His ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., M . W . G . M . EIGHTY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL , WEDNESDAY , 28 th JUNE , 18 S 2 . ROYAL PAVILION , BRIGHTON . THE Rt . Hon , THE LORD MAYOR , R . W . Bro . JOHN WH 1 TTAKER ELLIS , Alderman ; Grand Junior Warden ( P . G . S . ; W . M . No . 1 . ) , IN THE CHAIR . BOARD OF STEWARDS : PRESIDENT : R . W . Bro . Capt . J WORDSWORTH , Trustee , Vice-Pat . of Inst . ; P . M . ; P . P . G . W . W . Yorks ; P . G . Std . ; W . M . No . Co . ACTING-PRESIDENTS : W . Bro . GEORGE LAMBERT , F . S . A ., Vice-Pat . of Inst . ; P . M . No . 19 S , & c . ; P . G . S . B . ; P . P . G . J . W . Herts . V . W . Bro . A . F . A . WOODFORD , P . G . Chaplain . W . Bro . HORACE BROOKS MARSHALL , C . C ., Vice-Pat , of Inst . HON . TREASURER : W . Bro . C . W . THOMPSON , P . M . Nos . 9 60 , 1 O 01 . With 232 Brethren representing the Metropolitan and Provincial Lodges . The services of Brethren as Stewards are still most earnestly solicited . TICKETSLadies , iSs . ; Brethren , 21 s . ( including railway fare ) . „ 15 s . ; „ 17 s . 6 d . ( without railway fare . ) Dinner will be on the Table at Four o'clock , and , including Dessert and Wines , will be provided by Messrs . Sayer and Marks , of Western Road , Brighton . Brethren to appear without Masonic Clothing . Morning Dress . % Particulars and every information on application to the Hon . Secretary , FREDERICK BINCKES , P . G . S ., V . Pal . Office : —C , FREEMASONS' HALL , W . C ., iSth May , 1 SS 2 .

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THE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY COMPANY ( LIMITED ) . FIRST ISSUE of 50 , 000 SHARES at par . Capital , £ 100 , 000 , in shares of £ 1 each , with power to ncrease ; payable 2 s . on application , Ss . on allotment , and the balance by instalments as required , at intervals of not less than three months . DIRECTORS . G . H . Whittell , 9 , Hamilton-road , Highbury Park , London , N ., Director of the Sun Building Society . Frederick Binckes , Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , SA , Red Lion-square , London , W . C . James Cox , 02 , Princess-road , Kilburn , N . W ., Founder of the Holloway Branch Bank , and Treasurer of the Finsbury Park Building Societies . George Martyn , Old Town Chambers , Plymouth , Director of the Western Counties Agricultural Co-operative Association . George Pawsey Witt ( Messrs . Corcoran , Witt and Co . ) , 30 , Mark-lane , E . C . T . Mullett Ellis , 8 , Old Jury , E . C , and 39 , The Ouadrant , Highbury New Park , N ., Associate of the Royal institution of British Architects . Solicitors—Howard and Shelton , 39 A , Threadneedle-street . Bankers—London and Westminster Bank ( Limited ) , Lothbury . Secretary—William Riley , formerly Cashier of the National Freehold Land Society and the British Land Company . Offices—Muorgatc HOIIFC , GI , Moorgate-street , London , E . C . ABRIDGED PROSPECTUS . This company is formed for the purpose of purchasing , mortgaging , leasing , or selling freehold or leasehold land and houses , for the improvement and development of estates by draining and making roads and streets , for the erection of new buildings , for acquiring , altering , and repairing dilapidated premises , and for ' lending money on the security of real or leasehold property . The names of several existing land and house property companies might be quoted , but are sufficiently known to prove the great success and the large dividends , ranging from 6 to 20 per cent ., which have accrued from their working , and as this company embraces all thebranches of business carried on by those companies , a like success may be confidently anticipated . Full prospectus and forms of application for shares may be obtained from the Secretary , at theOffice , Ci , Moorgatestreet , London , E . C .

To Advertisers.

TO ADVERTISERS .

THE FRF . KM \^ n > : has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe In it the iillicial Kepo-ls of the Grand Lodges of llngland , Ireland , and Scotland are published with the specia sanction of the respective Grand . Masters , and it contains a complete record of Masonic H-orK 111 this country , our Indian Empire , and the Colonies . The vast accession to the ranks oC the Order during the past few years , and the increasing interest manifested in its doings , has given the Freemason a position and influence which few journals can lav claim to , anil the proprietor can assert with conlidence that announcements , appearing in its columns challenge the attention of a very large and influential body of readers . Advertisements for the current week ' s issue are received up to Six o'clock on Wednesday evening .

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ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION SECOND APPLICATION . CHARLOTTE MURUSS , Widow of Bro . Edward Muruss , P . M ., 26 years a Subscriber to his Lodge , AGED EIGHTY-ONE YliARS . A special and earnest appeal for Votes is now made for this very aged Widow , who , if not elected this time has no means of subsistence until another election . Proxies most thankfully received by Bro . J . Cruttenden , P . M ., 193 , Buckingham Palace-road , S . W . ; Bro . Geo . Read , P . M ., 1 , Earl ' s Court-gardens , S . W . ; or the Widow , 10 , Warnerstreet , Old Kent-road , S . E . s * See Case No . 39 on the Voting Paper .

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ROYAL SEA BATHING INFIRMARY , MARGATE . ESTABLISHED 1791 . THE ONLY ONE EXCLUSIVELY FOR SCROFULOUS POOR . COL . CREATON , TREASURER . JOHN M . CLABON , ESQ ., HON . SECRETARY . This Hospital requires aid . An extra liberal diet table is of necessity required on account of the exhausting nature of this terrible disease . Donors of £ 10 10 s ., Annual Subscribers of £ 1 is ., can recommend patients . 250 beds . Average number of Inpatients per year , 750 , and of applicants over JOOO . Bankers , the Bank of England ; Coutts and Co . ; and Cobb and Co ., Margate . Offices : No . 30 , Charing Cross , W . JOHN THOMAS WALKER , Secretary

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% a Correspoirtients . Gustave Walt ' s catalogue will be reviewed next week . English lodges in Canada in our next . BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " Jewish Chronicle , " " Freimaurer-Zeitung , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " "The Philanthropist , " "A New Year ' s Gift to the Pope ; or the Freemasons Vindicated , " "The Royal Cornwall Gazette , " "Theatrical World , " "The Broad Arrow , " "The Citizen , " "Die Baiihutte , " "The Court Circular , " "The Hebrew Leader , " "Keystone , " "Masonic Record , " "National Baptist , " "La Chaine d'Union , " "Freemason" ( Canada ) , "The Hull Packet . "

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ASECONDEDITION Of " The Freemason" will be published on SATURDAY MORNING , containing the result of the ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION ELECTIONS .

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SATURDAY , MAY 20 , 1882 . -

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by ourcorrespondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

VISITORS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — You will perhaps allow me , with much deference to , and respect for your unquestionably great authority , to dispute altogether your dictum regarding the admission

to our lodges of brethren unknown to , and unvouched for by , any member of the Craft who m ^ y be present . Your observations are made , I presume , with the laudable object of inculcating upon Masters and officers the duty of observing strict care and caution in the admission to Masonic lodges of strangers claiming to be Masons , but personally

unknown to any of the brethren assembled . I admit the imperative necessity of all due precautions in such cases . 1 recognise the truth of your statement , that too much laxity is allowed in the examination of soi-disant Masons . 1 deplore the fact , only too well known to me , that unauthorised persons have been admitted to our

lodges of instruction , and from thence to regular lodges , because of the want of care in the initial step . But I cannot give my assent to the general rule of prohibition which you lay down . , As an English Mason 1 claim the right of entrance to

any lodge holding under our Constitution , or to any lodge recognising the jurisdiction of a Grand Lodge recognised by our own , providing that I can indisputably prove my right and title to membership of the Masonic Fraternity . Let the test be as severe and the examination ; as exhaustive as the inventive ingenuity , of the Masonic mind can con-

Original Correspondence.

ceive ; still , it I can meet that test , and satisfy that examination , I have a right to demand admission to the lodge which I may seek to enter . If not , our Masonic signs and symbols , our tests , sections , and entire ritual are simply worthless and unmeaning verbiage , of no practical utility , and of less actual value than the registered " secrets " of

the Odd Fellows , Buffaloes , Foresters , or other quasi secret societies with which we may happen to be acquainted . 1 venture lo affirm that no Mason of rank and experience will give his assent to any such opinion . The production of a Grand Lodge certificate , which you seem to regard as a sine ami non of admission , is , to

my mind , the most worthless of tests which can be applied . What more easy than to steal , or buy , or borrow a Masonic certificate ? I have seen them by dozens framed and for sale in the windows of pawnbrokers' shops . How easy it would be for any scoundrel to acquire such a document , and by impudent fiaudto personate successfully the possibly

defunct owner ! What check have we against such imposture ? None that I can imagine ; and yet 1 have always heard it said , and my own experience tends to confirm the truth of the aphorism , that a defective check is worse than no check at all . To put the production of a Grand Lodge certificate in the forefront of the tests to be

applied in a Masonic examination is simply to affirm that our other means of investigation are worthless , and tosuch a proposition I enter my respectful , but most unqualified , dissent . I defy any Mason living , speaking any language with which I am acquainted , to bar my entrance to any lodge to which I may seek admission , by any Masonic test

which he may elect to apply to me ; and , on the other hand , I challenge any man , not being a Mason , to satisfy such tests as I will put to him , I being the examiner . Herein lies the whole gist of my contention . I believe , and I will maintain against all opponents , that in Masonry we have a system , which , if properly applied , will effectually

close the doors of Masonic lodges against all attempts at imposture ; but , if we rely in any appreciable measure upon such fallible tests as certificates of membership , we open the doors of the Craft to the most vulgar forms of imposition and fraud . It is better that a ship should carry no anchor at all than that her safety on a bee-shore should be

entrusted to a cable known to be rotten . I am very far from asserting that a Grand Lodge certificate is without its proper value . All I maintain is that it is , per sc , useless as a Masonic test . I will cite a case in my own experience , where a certificate was of much importance to its owner . A stranger came to a lodge with

which I am connected , asking to be allowed to enter . I was requested to examine him ; and , on doing so , I found he could not satisfy my , possibly rigorous , requirements . He produced a certificate from the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and the usual test upon that document was perfectly satisfactory . I told him that he was deficient in the necessary

information requisite in cases o £ strangers seeking admission to a lodge , but if he could give me proof of his identity , I would accept his certificate as evidence of his claims . He mentioned the names of several persons with whom he was acquainted , among others that of a personal friend ol my own . This gentleman was not a Mason ; but on

subsequent reference to him i ascertained beyond doubt that the man in question was actually * the person he represented himself to be ; and , after further inquiry , addressed to the lodge in Scotland from which our brother hailed , I had no hesitation whatever in vouching for him as a member of our Order . Here the certificate was of value as a means of

identification ; but it is only right to add that the brother referred to , although not a " bright" Mason , was able to satisfy all the tests which are usually employed in the examination of strangers . He did not know enough for me , and hence my reference to his " documentary evidence . " Had he fairly met my Masonic tests his certificate would not

have been asked for by me . It is the custom in some lodges to require production of a Grand Lodge certificate before asking the intending visitor a single question ; and , if the parchment be not forthcoming , the brother's plea for admission is summarily rejected . It cannot be too emphatically stated that such

procedure is totally opposed to . all Masonic teaching , and also to the spirit of Freemasonry . When travelling in the United States some years ago , my room in a New York hotel was entered by thieves , and all my portable articles of value , including several important documents , were carried clear off . Among the plunder was my Masonic

" clothing and Grand Lodge certificate . Ought I , after this loss of my goods , to have been forbidden to enter an American lodge because a thief had stolen my certificate . ' I think not . On the contrary , it seems to me that my claim upon Masonry was never greater than in that hour . I was a stranger in a strange land , and I had fallen among thieves ! Luckily a cable message brought me a speedy

relief from my sufferings in the form of a remittance by wire ; but that accident does not affect the general principle for which I contend . My Grand Lodge certificate could not be replaced until after my return to this country , but the want of it proved no bar to my entrance to American lodges , where the examinations are far more strict than widi us .

Yours faithfully and fraternally , THOS . EUMONDSTON , P . M . [ The Grand Lodge certificate is ordered to be produced and asked for by a Grand Lodge circular , sent to all the lodges of the English jurisdiction some years back . — ED , F . M . ]