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npHEATRE ROYAL , DRURY LANE . C I N D E RE L L A . BOX-OKFICE NOW OPEN FOR THE GRAND CHRISTMAS PANTOJUME BY E . L . BLANCKARD , WHICH WILL BE PRODUCED ON BOXING NRGHT , WITH ALL THE BEST FEATURES 01 ' OLD-FASHIONED P ANTOMIME AND ALL THE SPLENDOUR OF MODERN SPECTACLE .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

The following communications have been received , but arc not inserted in this issue owing to want of space : — Craft Lodges—Nos . 97 , 236 , 241 , 2 S 1 , 531 , 754 , 901 , 12 S 9 , 1977 . Instruction—No . 1425 . Royal Arch—Nos . 360 , 1331 . Knights Templar—No . 139 . Red Cross Constantine—No . 132 . Correspondence—lustice ; H . Baldwin . Obituary—Bros . W . H . Bowden ; J . J . Smith . Bazaar at Salford .

1300 KS , & c , RECEIVED . "Allen's Indian Mail , " ' -Hull Packet , " " Ke > stone , " " The Royal Cornwall Gazette , " "La Abeja , " ' The Tricycling Jour , nal , " " Grand Cc-mmamlcry of Knights Templar , " " Victorian Masonic Journal , "La Ecuarta , " Triunghiul , " " Court Circu . ar , " " Broad Arrow . "

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iPffc ^^ sc ^ sJiKsr ^ ^ pfeemsois SATURDAY , DECEMBER 22 , 1883 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

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

THE ELECTION OF GRAND TREASURER . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , " Junior Warden " asks a very pertinent question in your paper of the 15 th inst ., viz ., " What difference is there between the appointment of a Grand Treasurer and that of a Grand Warden ? " The answer is , that there is very little difference , if any , now that the office of Grand

Treasurer has become a sinecure , so far , at all events , as its representative character is concerned . Atone time the Grand Treasurer had important duties to perform , he having the custody and control of the funds of Grand Lodge ; accordingly his appointment was very properly intrusted to the members of Grand Lodge , whom he thus represented . Now , however , matters are materially changed , and it will probably strike many that the

appointment might with advantage be placed in the hands of the Grand Master , especially if unwise nominations arc to be made which are calculated to create agitation , and thus disturb the peace and harmony of Grand Lodge . Without in any way wishing to detract from the merits of the brother who has been nominated in opposition to Bro . Allcroft , it must surely be admitted that his qualification for Grand Office rests mainly , if not solely , upon his

support of the Charities , seeing that he is a Mason ot only five years' standing . No one can say that Bro . Marshall has not exercised the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart ; but surely the office of Grand Treasurer is not to be purchased by any brother who will make the hi g hest bid for the support of a " section , " aided , if not organised , by interested parties . When Grand Lodge elected Bro . Allcroft in the place of

Bro . Col . Creaton there was not ( as far as I can remember ) any resolution passed to the effect that the change was to be an annual one , nor was there any understanding that such a course should be pursued , and the brethren will I think do well to nip the present movement in the bud before mischief is done , otherwise , the thin end of the wedge having been once inserted , we may have a brother thrust upon us as Grand Treasurer whose connection with the Craft would

preclude him from otherwise obtaining ouch a distinction . I do not for one moment advocate taking the election of Grand Treasurer out of the hands of the Craft , so long as the privilege is not abused , but if the office is to be at the mercy of any brother without Masonic standing who cares practically to purchase the office , then I say let the Craft by all means forego the election , and ask the Grand Master to appoint the Grand Treasurer as he does the other Grand Officers . —Yours fraternally , . „„ ... „„„„„ PAST MASTER .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I imagine the supporters of the circular without signatures must be not a little chagrined at finding its champions have so little to urge on its behalf that is worthy of serious consideration , if at least , the letters you published last week are to be regarded as specimens of their powers of argument . Thus " An Observer" is pleased to say that

in the warmth of our advocacy Bro . Headon and I have " unwillingly ' let the cat out of the bag . ' " I hope your correspondent will pardon me if , with a becoming sense of modesty , 1 fight shy of having so much "kudos" thrust upon me . It there ever was a cat let out of any bag in connection with the affair of Grand Treasurer as a

preliminary step to the election of a brother worthy of that distinguished , but purely honorary , office , it was publicly released from its unpleasant p lace of confinement in Grand Lodge , to the great delight of a large majority of the brethren present , on the evening of the 7 th March last , when all who actively supported Bro . Allcroft's candidature did so on the principle that the one collar—except that of Grand Master —which it was in the power of the Craft to bestow should

Original Correspondence.

not be given year after year to the same brother . I believe it is no secret that Bro . Allcroft consented to be put in nomination for the Grand Treasurership as " the willing champion" of this" principle , " and hence in nominating another brother for the same office , in accordance with the same " principle , " its supporters may at least claim to have acted consistently , as well as openly . If any one has a right to be surprised it is they who find " the willing champion " of

tins principle" has allowed himself to be nominated for office as the champion of their opponents . But perhaps I am doing yourcorrespondentan injustice in suggesting that when anyone allows himself to be put forward as the champion of a principle , there must , in the nature of things , be an " understanding , implicit or actual , between him and his supporters " that the principle shall be acted upon in the future as at the time of his chamnionship . If so , I

humbly apologise for my mistake . From the rest of "An Observer ' s"letter I gather in the first place that when a body of men collectively advocate a principle—a principle so sound that Grand Lodge at once accepted it—they become" a clique " and their champion " a puppet . " These are harsh epithets , but they are your correspondent ' s , not mine . In the next place , 1 learn infercntially that consistency is not a virtue . In other words ,

the men who advocated a principle in 1 SS 3 must not renew their advocary in 1 SS 4 , otherwise they become " a clique " and their nominee is a mere " puppet . " Then , in the case of their Grand Treasurership , it is admitted that its duties and responsibilities have been reduced to a minimum , and that the election of a brother to fill the office "becomes merely (?) the Mark of the high approval of the Craft . " But what think you is the deduction from these premises ?

Why that" the more frequently " the office " is bestowed the less valuable it will be considered , and gradually fall lower and lower in estimation . " This kind of argument has at least the meritof unblushing audacity . If the annual election of a brother by the Craft to a mere office of dignity is likely to be attended with such unfortunate results , then the annual appointment of brethren by the Grand Master to similar offices will run precisely the same risk . Or , to put the case somewhat differently , if the Craft confers no honour

when it elects a brother to be Grand Treasurer for one year , the Grand Master confers no honour when he appoints a brother to be ( say ) a Grand Deacon or Grand Sword Bearer for the same period . On the other hand , if a Grand Deacon is honoured by being appointed for a year only , a Grand Treasurer must be similarly honoured by being elected for the same term . It is a pity—for his sake at all eventsthat "An Observer " was unable to see that in employing such an argument he was employing one that cuts two ways . —Yours fraternally , TEXAS PROPOSITI .

THE HUGHAN TESTIMONIAL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I hope the good example set by some lodges in contributing towards the above object will be followed by many others . Though Bro . Hughan may not be personally known to the members of every lodge , I venture to say that there is no lodgcor Mason under the English Constitution that has not either directly or indirectly profited bv the

literary labours of our distinguished brother ! but few comparatively , however , are aware of the self-sacrifice to which he has been subject in prosecuting Masonic research . Our lodge was glad to have the opportunity of contributing five guineas , and voted it with acclamation . Every lodge may not do the like amount , but almost all can do something , and if real merit is to be rewarded , and according to our teaching it is , there never was a better opportunity for doing so than the present . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , A . T . BLAMEY , P . M . Jordan Lodge , No . 1402 . Torquay , December 17 th .

GRAND OFFICERS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and BrotWfcr , I have been surprised that nothing was done during the discussion on the Revised Constitutions as to the division of London into Provincial Grand Lodges . If Bristol is allowed to be a separate province , and several counties having four or five lodges are provinces" Why should

, London wait" ? Am I right in supposing that any district could petition to be formed into a province ? The number of appointments to grand office might be very much increased by the annual appointments of a Deputy Grand Registrar and a Deputy Grand Superintendent of Works , while there is no necessity for the Grand Superintendent n ( W ^ rl .-c hnlrllr , ^ nflC-,. f „_ . . 1 ' VJ uu ^ win ., . u , mic man d .

~ . .. ........,, ,, ,, year any more than a Grand Deacon . Another matter mi ght have been considered during the recent discussions , that is , whether , taking into account the enormous increase of the Craft , the Grand Lodge should be , formed of Masters and Past Masters , the Wardens being omitted . They could easily be dispensed with . —Fraternally yours , OBSERVER .

THE TEMPLE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , No doubt this question has been settled to the satisfaction of the majority present on Wednesday , the 5 th inst . Personally I incline to adopt an expression of your own , "a grave blunder has been made . " Grand Lodge has lost an opportunity that will not in all probability occur

again . _ Among other statements made with regard to this question , Bro . Havers advanced the startling proposition that in the case of a building large enough to contain 1500 it would be impossible for all to hear ' . I wonder what Mr . Spurgeon would say to this ? Well , the question is settled . I rather incline to think though , that had the unlucky hundreds who were shut out

been patient enough to remain in the rooms and corridors to record their votes , not a very likely exercise of the virtue , the result would not have been so decidely ( if at all ) in the negative ; of this I feel certain . The brethren within 50 miles of London , by whoni mainly Grand Lodge is attended , are by no means convinced of the wisdom of throwing

away the opportunity of erecting a Temple worthy of English Masonry and bearing a reasonable proportion to the present and growing numerical requirements of the Craft . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , A PROVINCIAL REGISTRAR . December 12 , 1 SS 3 .

Original Correspondence.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To the Editor of the ' Precmas-. ii . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have no desire or intention to di-cuss through the pre ? s the question 1 have submitted lo the Committee of management of the Royal Masonic Bem-vok-nt Institutionbut in the "

report in your issue of Saturday last , l am rr . presented to have expressed myself as asking for ten votes tor every guinea subscribed . I beg to say tint I hope to obtain a favourable result lo the action I have taken without resorting to botjus voting a committee of selection , or ten votes for each f . uinea subscribed , to all or cither of which propositions 1 am strongly opposed . —I am , yours fraternally ,

wi , c , ^ , ^ . c - H - WEBB 3 , Wharf-road , Cubitt Town , E ., December 17 th .

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE MARK DEGREE . To the Editor of the " [ Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In ycur report of the ' procecdings of the Grand Mark Lodge of Emergency , which took " place on the Eth irist ., I observe an inaccuracy affecting myself , which I will thank you to correct .

Your reporter says , " On the deputation returning , Bro . Beach , M . P ., and Bro . the Rev . Canon Portal bore the cushion and regalia of the Past Grand Master to be worn by the Prince of Wales . " This was not the ca < = e , the honour , n question having been conferred ( through the kindness of V . VV Bro . Berridge , G . D . of C ., ) upon myself—I am , bir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternal ! v . = r- P , ERCY VVALLIS , Grand Steward . 57 , friar Gate , Derby , December iSth .

A CAUTION TO MASONIC KNIGHTS TEMPLAR . Dear Bro . Kenning , I was sitting in my study writing a leaderette for the freemason when the maid announced , "A gentleman to see you , sir . " Expecting a brother to call , 1 went into the dining-toom , when a tall gentleman rose , and , holdingout Ins hand , seized mine , and said , " Arc you a Kniyht lemplar ? in a Strong Irish arrml «« N „ •¦ I , „ :., .. r

have not that honour . " " Not , " he said , and seemed quite nonplussed . I repeated , "No , 1 have never joined the Order . " "Ah ! " he said , " 1 thought you were ; it ' s a great pity . As he said this in a somewhat hasty manner . I moved towards the door of the dining-room . He followed me ; I opened the door of the house , and then he 'aid ' B . uf y ° u are a Mason ? " " Yes , " 1 said , but not a ht

KnigTemplar , " and with that I closed the door upon him not sorry to do so . _ He is tall , well-dressed , with a dark , thick moustache ; high hat , and formidable to look at He declined to give the servant his name , and said " Mr . Woodford does not know me . " He did not prepossess me , and I think it well to mention the fact , as many friends ot mine are Masonic Knights Templar . A . F . A . WOODFORD .

Reviews

REVIEWS

. . THE DIARIES FOR . sSj . of ihP Zlrt T P . ' , Clll 0 ra of th ' ' valuaWe ' ^ minders of the flight of time , the increase of years , the nass . W much ° of ' hl h 0 SC SCeneS Hnd * y ™^™ which mal ^ up " o much of the common course of our earthly exigence They mcetus _ at every turn , they come to = hv „^ C " ^

„ . uaucly and alluring , dull , and dim , they appeal t .. our varying senses as well as to our weary memories To 1 any of us these Diaries are very welcome ; by some of usXv are much valued . There are those of us who dai y jot f n rrnlh ^ f - ' P" ™ " ""'' . . important or uninTpo ' rt ant , truthful or imaginative , realistic or cxa ^ erated as the case may be . Not « fenr ** much store by thfir Diari .-s post hem up every night , read them over L . \ , uT . ^ Zt

mom , by month , year b y year . There may be some doubts whether this common process of diary hcepinju either wholesome or sound in itself ; it leads , as it seems to us , often to a temper of mind of complarenf e oils , " or unrestrained cynicism . We arc . -i „ f u , h =., - .. - ' r selves wbethe ^ , d booklor ^ view of things , and persons , and events * VVe inve . st « i h sombre 00

a or a saudy colouring the things which amine us or worry us- " les petites imseres de la vie humaine " even he friends we cherish , the companions we meet ! come in for a share of our humour , by turns caustic orcxa ^ rated TnH ^" ? , - ence ' that small faults become grav ^ offenres and little things petty things , stupid things , we inv ? 4 with a dignity of important facts . Another £ ntl ;^ * to

citary Keeping , the licence we allow ourselves i „ editor had struck out many of his incauttu nLsAnd there are not a few d aries extant to which thl „\ ,. 2 ™

process mignt not be ludiciousl y applied . In our humhL > opinion diar . es are most valuable and useful as record of oPbtm e ' ss le fami y and PerS ° -curencl an d malteri

HOW WE DEFENDED AkABI AND HIS FRIENDS H , ^ ° ry ° f ' rF' * and the K (? yi '" - ' < ns . By AM BROADLEV , Barrister-at-La ™ . Author of « T „ n Past and Present . " Illustrated by l- >« fcri «* V , II cr Special Correspondent of the Graphic i „ R ' ,,, V Notitj Chapman a " »> Limited / . 8 S 4 . (&•< £ &

After the occupation of Alexandria bv the rwu ^ i , J the Khedive ha / placed himself undo " tlfeir pro ^ ^ it' Ihe bitter issued orders Lor discontinuing the varj bm I ~ Council , which met at Cairo to discuss the state of thini ? and was attended "by over 500 hundred persons of no e - the principal of whom arc enumerated , alter minute ' ,, examining the Khedivial orders and communicatiSn , « £ well as Arabi ' s letters and telegrams to his Hi ° | , n ' e « •' agreed unanimously "to disobey the Khedivial orders " ml to prevent him from interfering in public affairs " Jf , 1 Arabi was appointed to the command ' of he- Armv an ° defend the country . A Provisional Government ZhomJd