Correspondence.

Correspondence .

Wc 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 .

HONORARY PAST MASTERS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Your remarks on a decision of the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania , bring to mind similar incidents that have occurred on the Australian Continent , that is to say , the conferring the rank of Past Master " at sight . " .

Three of such incidents , at least , belong to quite recent years . The first was in 1 S 83 , in an Irish lodge in Melbourne , when the late Sir William Clarke received the appointment of Provincial Grand Master of Victoria , under the Irish Constitution . The second was two years later , in Adelaide , when His Honour

Chief Justice Way , the first Grand Master of the South Australian Constitution , was made a Past Master undev the agis of the new Grand Lodge . And the third was in iSSS , when Lord Carrington , the then uninstalled District Grand Master of New South Wales , English Constitution , was , prior to installation as Grand Master of the New South Wales Constitution , made a Past Master .

Goingback to the year IS 6 I , we have a case which occurred under the English Constitution . It is on record that the late Captain Standish , as a preliminary to his installation as District Grand Master of Victoria , was given the rank of Past Master . In connection with the Mark Degree , so far as memory serves me , I think I am correct in saying that H . R . H . the late Duke of Albany , in the year 18 S 1 , previous to installation as an honorary Past Grand Master , was also confirmed in the rank of Past Master .

The foregoing incidents tend to show that in some jurisdictions of Freemasonry it is considered essential that great dignitaries should in the first place pass the chair of a private lodge "at sight , " if not qualified by actual service , even though such a procedure be not in accord with constitutional enactment . In English Craft Masonry , however , the Constitutions are strictly adhered to , For instance , the Grand Master and the Grand Wardens , and District or Pro

vincial Grand Masters , need not be Installed Masters of private lodges , but Provincial or District Grand Wardens must have regularly passed the chair . That there is a glaring inconsistency in our Constitutions , in this respect , goes without saying . —Fraternally yours , W . F . LAMONBY . July 16 th .

MARK BENEVOLENT FESTIVAL . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Permit me to correct a slight error in the "Analysis of Returns " which forms part of your report of the Mark Benevolent Festival held on the 13 th inst .

Commenting on West Yorkshire , your paper says that it " takes the lead with fiyo . " This is quite correct , but you add "the number of lodges that were represented was six . " This is a mistake . Six lodges in West Yorkshire sent up Stewards , but twelve lodges contributed to make up the total of £ 170 . Kindly publish this letter , and oblige—Yours truly and fraternally , JOSEPH MATTHEWMAN , 36 , Spencer-place , Leeds , Provincial Grand Secretary . 20 th July .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The usual monthly meeting of ^ the Board Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . It was not numerously attended , owing to the summer weather , and so many brethren being out of town on holiday . Bro . J . H . Matthews , President , was in the chair , Bro . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President , and Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Junior Vice-President , occupying their respective positions . The Grand Secretary , Bro . E . Lctchworth , Bro . W . Lake ,

Asst . G . Sec , Bro . W . Dodd , Bro . G . S . Recknell , and Bro . H . Sadler , Grand Tyler , represented the Grand Secretary ' s department . The other brethren present were Bros . George B . Chapman , W . Fisher , A . Lucking , Henry Garrod , S . H . Goldschmidt , George Graveley , Charles ] . R . Tijou , E . W . Nightingale , Charles Henry Stone , W . H . Caton , W . Wills , Walter Martin , W . Kipps , C . II .

Webb , J . T . Packer , Charles Smith , George R . Langley , A . W . Duret , S . Young , W . H . Fendick , Henry A . Tobias , R . W . Ker , Arthur Williams , R . W . Dobing , H . Massey , C . Sweeting , J . S . Eidmans , John French , J . Caney , ] . Austin , Samuel H . Parkhouse , Charles F . Ouicke , Edivard H . Ouickc , T . Compton Stanley , John J . Pakes , and G . Smith , WJ \ I . 18 G .

The brethren first confirmed recommendations made to the Grand Master at the June meeting to the extent of £ 260 . There were 23 cases on the new list , which were recommended through lodges in the London District , and at Winchester , Chichester , Meltham , Altrincham , Grand Lodge of New South Wales Lymington , Rochford ( Essex ) , New Brompton , Wallscnd , Preston , Wigon , Plymouth , Liverpool , Maidstone , East Stonehouse , Honiton , and Melbourne . One of

these cases were declared to be ineligible . 1 wo cases were deferred and one case was dismissed . The total sum voted to the remainder was , 6555 . One grant was recommended for confirmation by Grand Lodge of £ 00 and two for , £ 50 each . The Grand Master was recommended to approve of a grant of / " 40 in one case , and grants of £ 30 each in eight cases . Five grants were made of , £ 20 each , and two of . £ 10 and £$ respectively .

Summer Outing Of The Liberty Of Havering Lodge, No. 1437.

SUMMER OUTING OF THE LIBERTY OF HAVERING LODGE , No . 1437 .

The summer outing of the above lodge took place on Friday , the Sth instant , when the party proceeded to Harwich , a saloon having been specially provided by the G . E . R . for the accommujation of the 55 ladies and brethren who comprised the party . Arriving at Harwich at 12 . 32 , lunch wis partaken of at the G . E . R . Hotel , and afterwards the piriy proceeded by boat up the river Orwell to Ipswich , and on

Summer Outing Of The Liberty Of Havering Lodge, No. 1437.

returning at 6 . o , a banquet was provided at the hotel , the party returning to London by the S . 20 train . An exceedingly enjoyable day was spent . Bro . John Spencer , W . M ., presided , supported by a very distinguished company of brethren and ladies . Bro . H . R . Heasman , P . M ., Sec , had charge of the arrangements .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Union Waterloo Lodge , No . 13 . The above grand old lodge—the mother lodge of the whole of the lodges in the Woolwich and Plumstead district—celebrated its annual installation meeting on Wednesday , the 13 th instant , at the Masonic Hall , Mount Pleasant , Plumstead , and it was on every side acknowledged to be one of the most pleasant and enjoyable meetings of the Masonic season . The lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . W . H . Turton , who proceeded to raise a candidate and then to install his successor , Bro . A . McQueen , S . W .

and W . M . elect . The new W . M . invested his officers as follows : Bros . W . H . Turton , I . P . M . ; H . lacobs , S . W . ; J . Ouick , J . W . ; the Rev . R . Jamblin , Chap . ; H . S . Syer , P . M ., Treas . ; J . G . Dickson , Sec : J . Home , S . D . ; G . Dennison , J . D . ; W . H . Crowdey , I . G . ; G . B . Davies , P . M ., D . C . ; T . J . Wren , A . D . C . ; J . Mattey , P . M ., J . Hodge , J . Bailey , F . G . Dickson , T . A . Fergusson , and H . K . Weathers ,

Stewards ; and T . H . Griffiths and T . W . Chambers , Organists . Bro . Turton concluded a splendid work by giving the addresses most impressively , and that which is of more importance , accurately . He was heartily congratulated on the excellence of his work , and was awarded a hearty vote of thanks , and was presented with a handsome and valuable Past Master's jewel to commemorate his successful and pleasant year of office .

After other lodge duties , among which that of Charity was not forgotten , had been negotiated , the lodge was closed , and the brethren proceeded to the Holborn Restaurant to partake of a banquet , excellent of its kind ; but hot weather , hot rooms , and hot banquets are not tco pleasant , especially with the thermometer at something like 9 G in the shade . . » Among the other brethren present were Bros . A . H . Russell , P . M ., W . A . Anson , P . M ., W . J . Barnes , P . M ., T . Hutton , P . M ., 1 . Mattey , P . M ., C . B . Rogers ,

T . J . Beisley , C . Goodrick , J . Blackburn , W . Brown , T . Cheshire , R . Tucker . I . Attenborough . J . Ireland , W . Lambert , J . Hodder , W . Lynch , A . Butteriss , C . King , R . Hulford , T . Hackney , W . James , G . Harris , J . Garden , A . Peaker , H . Weathers , J . Gaston , E . Jager , II . Fry , F . Dalby , A . Vincent , A . Thompson , W . Warren , H . Eason , G . Roberts , T . Greenaway , E . Oates , W . White , E . Bates , C . Duse , R . Saunders , G . Gaber , S . Shirley , J . Knight , C . Robins in , H . Woodcock , S . Butler , Jos . Taylor , J . Dunn , W . Lowson , J . Templeman , H . Partington . B . Hudson , J . Morran , T . Green ,

W . Jones , H . Press , W . Abbey , C . Pilcher , W . Clothier , H . Cornish , H . Staples , T . Sandford , F . Budd , W . Sanford , J . Hall . T . Enever , F . Emery , C . Hosgood , J . Berry , E . Easlcott , W . Dobbins , F . Thomas , W . Lister , II . Crowdy , J . Kenyon , H . Reeve , H . Grant , W . Trance , A . Durant , J . Jones , J . A . Warnock , L . Wagg , W . Hill , F . Wagg , T . James , F . Moore , F . Bell , R . Stead , and T . Witts , all of the lodge . Among the visitors were Bros . G . H . Porter , P . M ., H . Tufnctl , P . M ., W . Long , J . W ., and J . Dhonon , of 700 ; Jas . Palmer , W . M ., T . Lait , S . W ., W . Turvey , P . M ., W . Turvev ,

jun ., Stwd ., J . Franklin , and C . A . West , of 1472 ; A . Hill , S . W ., T . Brooks , and A . Bullpit , of 153 ( 1 ; G . Dyer , W . M ,, H . Gomes , and G . Reynolds , J . D ., of 2399 ; J . Thresher , W . M . 1 S 1 O ; Y . Avery , W . M . 174 ; G . Stevens , S . D . ro ; W . Brown , 1 CS 5 ; J . Wood , 1973 ; F . Mayall and R . West , 130 G ; T . Brown , 1 GS 5 ; A . McLean , 2307 ; A . Mitchell , 2147 ; T . Coombs , S 29 ; and B . Hubbard , 2399 . The banquet having been discussed , the W . M . gave the toast of " The Queen and the Craft . " _ He _ said it was one that needed no preface from him and he knew they would drink it with enthusiasm .

The National Anthem having b ; en sung , the W . M . gave them the toast of " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of the Order , " which was drunk most enthusiastically . " God bless the Prince of Wales " was then sung by Bro . J . H . Ireland . The W . M . again requested the attention of the brethren and proposed the toast of " The Pro G . M ., the Dep . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " The brethren were then permitted to smoke .

" A soldier ' s song" by Mr . T . Wicks was well rendered , also "Robin Adair" by Miss Edith Bushell , for which she received an encore . Bro . W . H . Turton , I . P . M ., then rose , and in a capital speech reminded the brethren that the time of his authority was at an end , and he wished to take that opportunity of thanking the officers and brethren for the help they had rendered him during his year of office , and he also called on the brethren to charge their glasses and drink to the toast he had to propose to them , which was that of their " Worshipful Master , Bro . A . McQueen . "

A song , " Carmena , " by Miss Nellie Beare was much appreciated by the brethren . The W . M . on rising to respond was enthusiastically received . He informed the brethren that it was not his intention to trouble them with a long speech , but he wished to thank them for the hearty manner in which they had received the toast of his health , and he trusted they would give him every support during his year of office , which he hoped would be a happy one . A humorous sketch by Bro . G . Robins was well rendered . The toast of " 1 he Installing Officer " was then given and heartily received .

Bro . W . II . Turton , I . P . M ., in responding , said that some years ago the Masters of lodges were not in the habit of installing their successors , but he believed that now it was the ambition of every W . M . to do so , and it was very gratifying to him to find that he had given them satisfaction ; at the same time he reminded them that it was in a large measure due to the lodge being in possession of such an able Preceptor as Bro . G . B . Davies , P . M . —( applause)—that the outgoing Mister was able to carry out the ceremony . Again thanking the brethren he wished the W . M . a very prosperous year of offi : e Song— "Oft in the stilly night" was well sung by Bro . J . H . IrelanL

The toast of " The Past Masters " was well received and responded to by several of them—Bros . Medley , P . M . ; Butter , P . M . 913 ; Cleall , P . M . ; Grice , P . M . ; and the Rev . R . Jamblin , P . M . 1 S 37 , Chap . ; who , afcer having thanked the W . M . and brethren for electing him an honorary member , made a rather amusing allusion to the arrangement of the songs after the Past Masters' toast , and said nothing , to his mind , could have been more appropriate . The rest of the songs were well rendered , and the toasts ably responded to . A very pleasant evening was brought to a close by the singing of "God save the Queen . "

Bloomsbury Lodge , No . 2698 . An emergency meeting of this lodge was held at the Earl Derby Hotel , High-road , Kilburn , on Monday evening , the 1 rth inst ., Bro . R . J . Campbell , P . M ., P . '/ - W . M ., presiding , supported by the folb . ving brethren and visitois : Bros . A , F . Hirdyment , S . W . ; E . George , P . M ., Sec , acting l . W . ; Geo . Coxen , Treas . ; Stocker ,

S . D . ; A . ILOldrey , J . D . ; Pauir , I . G . ; Arthur E . lL > r = tead , 1897 , acting as Org . ; Goodwin , Battrum , Symonds , Lines , Crook , W . G . Coxen , Pearce , j . Greaves , A . K . Greaves , J . G . Palmer , and others . Visitors : Bros . Jamas Gawthrop , W . M . elect 170 ( 1 ; Clemens , W . M . 1 S 3 ; Liddall , P . M . 40 ; W . Fraz : r , 2310 ; H . Saunders , 1437 ; M . Spiegel , P . M . 59 ; A . Wyatt , 15 C 7 ; S . A . Pardoe , 15 S 5 ; Harry Willsm : r , 1567 ; J . Wynam , iSS ; and others .

The lodge was opened , and Bros . J . II . Crook , W . H . Pearce , E . G . Lines , and A . R . Greaves , were raised to the Third Degree . TI 12 W . M . delivered the traditional history in the same masterly manner in which he carries out all the duties connected with his office . Bros . Greaves , Palmer , and Bennett were afterwards passed to the Dagree of Fellow Crafts . The lodge of instruction have suspended their meetings until 14 th S : ptem ' j ; r , but the Charities Association will meet the last Wednesday in each muntri . - - - ¦? - — BRO . KARL CAUUINGION arrived at Cwydyr Castlo , Llanrwst , North Wales , on Tuesday evening , from London .