Original Correspondence.

To ( ht Editor of the Freemason , Dear Sir and Brother , — May I again request the favour of space in your columns for a few remarks on the account said to be submitted to the Special Committee of the Boys' School . I read on the title page of the Report for 1874 the following words : — " Statement of receipts and expenditure :

Report of thc House Committee for thc year ending December 31 st , 1874 . " 1 ask , then , why is the sum of £ 30 , paid this year , introduced into the accounts for the last three years . It is impossible to admit this , and therefore , instead of £ 287 15 s to be accounted for , there is a sum of £ ¦ 317 15 s . for " grants and outfits" alone ; add to this £ 19 1 js . for gratuities ( should be , however , £ 31 , see

Reports for 1872 , 1873 , and 1874 ) and erroneous charge for silver medal , and we have £ 331 ios ., less five shillings , " clerical error , " £ 337 5 s . Now , this is £ 23 too much , for the total in the three Reports is , as given in page 29 of last pamphlet , £ 314 5 s . Again , I obseive that in the last three issues of your journal three different amounts have been assigned to the year 1871 , viz ., £ 5 $ , £ 43 , and

finally , £ 72 15 s . The same may be said for 1874 . Why , again , are the pages 41 and 42 from Report for 1871 brought forward , when we are dealing with Reports for 1872 , 1873 , and 1874 ? The deduction of £ 15 , thus brought forward , would not make matters straight , whilst only £ 19 15 s . of the £ 31 , said to be given as " gratuities " and not for grants and outfits , are ' reckoned in the

statement . I will only observe , that our calculations in the pamphlet are based on the different statements , in the Reports , which are , or ought to be , the reliable records for the yeais they represent . I acknowledge your correction of our titular description

— " Mr . "—of the Secretary , and , as a tu quoque , " will you allow me to suggest a correction of the superscription of one of your leaders of last week ? I think the heading should have been "AIbi Dies , " not "Alba : Dies , " as ' ¦ Dies " is always masculine in the plural , though both masculine and feminine in the singular , according to the

sense . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fratei nally , ' O . G . D . PERROTT . Eastfield Villa , Hanwell , Nov . 15 th , 1875 .

KNIGHT TEMPLAR PRIEST . To the Editor qflhe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am writing now from memory , and do not think it will be necessary for me to look up authorities , as I feel sure your indefatigable correspondent , the " Masonic Student , " must have written his letter hastily and without

examination , as I believe that he himself gave me the first evidence that the York Masons practised this degree in a mention both of the ritual and of the first draft of a warrant . The degree sometimes went by the name of " The Band . " However , if he will refer to Godfrey Higgins ' s " Anacalypsis , " he will find that Bro . Higgins got information of this degree from Bro . Blanchard , the Secretary

of the Grand Lodge of York , and that he attempts to trace it up to a most remote antiquity . There is , I think , no doubt of thc perfect accuracy of my statement , that the York Masons practised the Three Degrees of Royal Arch , Knight Templar , and Knight Templar Priest ; and that in each of these sections the presiding officer , in thc most ancient rituals , was a High Priest . In the absence of positive

proof , there is really strong ground for belief that thc three grades were a Rosicrucian concoction of pre-1717 speculative Masons . The degree of Templar Priest was practised in the York Encampment of Manchester , and was supposed to confer power to preside in absence of the E . Commander . It was ruled by seven pillars and a High Priest , and thc

candidate went seven times round and answered seven questions . In my estimation it is the most beautiful ceremony in all Masonry . The altar has upon it a book with seven seals . Yours fraternally , JOHN YARKER . [ Wc have necessarily left out a portion of the letter . — ED . ]

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Your edition of thc 30 th ult . contains tlie account of a recent meeting of the " Alexandra Palace Lodge , " wherein you inform your readers that in the absence of the W . M . the S . W . took the chair , and performed the duties

of thc evening , which included initiating a candidate and afterwards presiding Dt the banquet . Now , I have always understood it is quite contrary to Masonic law for the S . W . to act as W . M ., and perform the ceremonies of either of the Craft degrees in open lodge on regular lodge

nights . In this province ( in thc absence of the W . M . ) the chair is taken by a P . M . Will you kindly state in your next edition the strict " Masonic law " on this point , as 1 am anxious to know really what is correct . Yours fraternally , MASTER MASON , Bristol , [ We agree with the writer . —En . ]

MASONIC JEWELS . To the Editor of ' the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am very much obliged to the W . M . of Loc ' ge No . 73 for his letter upon the subject of Masonic Jewels which appeared in your paper last week , and shall thereupon " wear the jewel " in my lodge , and if I meet with

any interference as to my so doing I shall immediately appeal , as he suggests , and place myself in communication with him upon the subject , and for the assistance he kindly offers , should occasion require it . I may mention 1 have since seen a very old Mason upon the subject , and he informs mc that the " five-pointed star " is a proper Third Degree M . M . 's jewel , that he wears it

Original Correspondence.

himself , and it ought to be worn by all the M . M . ' s , and the reason they do not do so is because they do not know anything about it , and are ignorant of the fact that they are entitled to wear it , thc jewel to a certain extent having fallen into abeyance , more especially in thc London lodges . I remain , dear Sir , yours fraternally , AN ENOUIIU .- G M . M ,

THE MASONIC CLUB . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I should be glad if you could give me some information regarding the " Masonic Club , " thc prospectus of which has been advertised in your columns for several

months past . I have not even heard whether my name has been accepted as a member , albeit it was submitted to the committee more than four months ago , though I have good reason to hope it will not be rejected . Surely considerable progress has been made in the matter , for there can be little doubt that so admirable a project as a

Masonic Rendezvous has met with sufficient support from the Craft in general as to warrant thc speedy establishment of the club . Anyjinformation that you can afford , as to the locus of the proposed club , and when it will be opened , will be gratefully received by all , and especially by Yours fraternally , W . M .

FREEMASONRY IN ST . PETERSBURG . To Ihe Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — " Can any brother inform me whether there is an English Lodge at St . Petersburg , and if so , who arc thc principal officers ? Yours fraternally , G . C .

A QUERY . To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — A friend ancl brother wished mc to write to you to see if you can inform him on a certain point . He

joined the Hamatt Lodge , East Boston , America , in 1868 . Since then he has lost his certificate . What I want to ask you is , can you give me the number of tlie Hamatt Lodge , and also , to whom can he apply for another certificate . Yours fraternally , A . VINALI ..

A CORRECTION . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — You have omitted thc words " per week" in my letter on your article " Recent Provincial Grand Lodges . " Thc sentence should read " on thc first occasion I proved

from statistics extending over the previous five years , that less than twopence-halfpenny per member per week would have been sufficient to meet all thc claims made upon West Yorkshire during that time . " Yours fraternally , S . O . HA 1 LEY . P . P . G . S . cf W ., West Yorkshire .

BRO . NORTON . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , I deeply regret the advertisement you so kindly inserted a few weeks ago has not had thc desired effect . Surely the brethren do not know one of thc Craft is

sinking into imbecility for want of a little brotherly aid . Two years ago I was pronounced incurable , and admitted a candidate for the " Home . " For upwards of five years I have been helpless , twelve months of which I have passed in three hospitals . My system is now throwing off thc

disease , and a few weeks stay at Bath and a course of Turkish baths would regain me the use of my legs . I gave reference in advertisements , and some consideration I earnestly crave . I am fraternally yours , B . S . NORTON . Tettcnhall , Wolverhampton .

Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo ; or Masonic Notes and Queries .

CHEVALIER RAMSAY AND FHEEMASONIIY . Bro . Jacob Norton has written me to know if there still exists " Appologetical and Historical Account of the Secrets of Freemasonry , " - which is alluded to in the " Gentleman ' s Magazine " of 1739 , and which Ramsay

says was published by Odonoke , Dublin . Also reprinted in Paris , the latter being burnt by order of the Inquisition at Rome . Did Ramsay visit Ireland in 1739 , Bro . Norton also wishes to know .

I have never seen thc work 111 question , but on reference to Dr . Kloss ' s " Bibliogiaphic du Freimaurerei , " I find it given under No . 251 , page 22 , as "Relation apologiqueet historique de la societie' des F . M ., par J . G . D . M . F . M ., Dublin , chcz Patrice Odinoko , 1738 , 8 vo ., pp . 92 . " It was then , by thc Junior Grand Deacon , Bro . M . F . M . The sentence , according to another notice by Dr . Kloss

appears to have been promulgated by authority of the " Sacra congregatio Inquisitorium , " on the 18 th February- 17 .. 9-1 have not time just now to further inv cstigate the matter , but it is certainly worth while to trace the whereabouts of this work , and to discover whether any copies exist either in Dublin or in the British Museum , London . W . J . HU - IIAN .

WIPE YOUR FEET . —The best Coco Nut Mats and Maiding are made by Treloar & Sons , 69 , Ludgate Hill .

Consecration Of The Elliot Lodge (No. 1567).

CONSECRATION OF THE ELLIOT LODGE ( No . 1567 ) .

Continued from page 508 . Col . Burdett thanked the lodge , and trusted that he and his brethren would frequently have an opportunity of witnessing the success of thc lodge . The S . W . proposed , and the J . W .

seconded , a vote of thanks to Bro . Little for consecrating the lodge , and another vote of thanks to Bros . Holden , Hervey , Cottebrune , and White , for assisting . Both these votes were carried unanimously . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren sat down to a beautiful banquet

supplied by Bro . Harris , of the Railway Hotel , Feltham , whom Bro . Stone , of the Ship , at Halliford , with a true brotherly feeling , came over to assist . When the banquet was concluded the toasts were proposed in due order . Brother John Hervey , G . S .,

responded for " The Grand Officers . It had given the Grand Officers who were present much pleasure to witness the consecration of the Elliot Lodge , and the ceremony carried out so well . He was quite satisfied that he expressed the feelings of the Grand Officers when he said that

to see the ceremonies properly performed was a great gratification . When they were performed by his good friend on his right ( Bro . Little ) they all knew that they would be well performed , and could look forward to their being carried out in the most , if he might use the term , rigid manner .

They had been so performed , and Bro . Holden , and those who assisted , had also added greatly to the performance by the part they so ably took . If the Prince of Wales had been present he must have been gratified . It seldom fell to his ( Bro . Hervey ' s ) lot to return thanks for the Grand

Officers but as the opportunity now occurred , he might say that the Prince of Wales himself would have congratulated the W . M . on this lodge having heen brought into existence under such favourable circumstances , and on Bro . Mason being placed in the chair of such a lodge . For

himself he . could say he was very much gratified at the manner in which the lodge had been constituted , and also on its having such a Master and Wardens . Bro . Little proposed "The W . M , " a toast which he said was acceptable not only to the founders and members of the lodge , but to

those who had the honour and pleasure of participating in the ceremonies of the day . It was always a pleasure to Masons , whether young or old , to see a new lodge springing up in any particular neighbourhood , and it was a peculiar gratification to those who were more immediately

connected with Middlesex to find a lodge founded on what was , as far as Masonry was concerned , virgin ground . The gratification was increased when they knew that the Grand Master had entrusted the carrying out of the important duties and responsibilities which attached to the Master of

a lodge , but which were peculiarl y the duties and responsibilities of the first Master , to such a wellknown and excellent brother as Bro . John Mason . He was pleased ^ congratulate the W . M . upon the inauguration and consecration of this lodge . He might also tell those not acquainted with the fact , that the W . M . had been a Mason for a

considerable number of years , and that brought him to a point which he was anxious to place before the brethren in as strong a light as he could . Their W . M . had been for a long time , and was still , a

member of the Lodge of Harmony at Fareham and it must be most gratif ying to them all to know that the members of that lodge in which he first saw the light of Masonry , and of which he was now a member , could not allow the

present occasion to pass without recording their satisfaction by congratulating him on his being placed in the chair . With the permission of the W . M ., he would read a letter which he had received : — " Lodge of Harmony , 309 , Nov . 6 , 1 875 . —Dear Sir and Brother , —It having become known to the mtmbers of his mother

lodge . that our Brother Mason was about to be installed W . M . of a new lodge , it was at once decided to present him with a vote of congratulation on that occasion , and I have to request

you , on their behalf , to make the presentation . It was my intention and earnest desire to have been piesent to-day and made the presentation to so worthy a member of their lodge , but I am unfortunately prevented by an important busi-