Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit ot fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ] PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HANTS AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother ,

I must beg to disclaim the interpretation you have put ( p . 87 , August 16 ) upon a recent remark made by me at the collation after the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , with reference to the appointment of Deputy Grand Master of England . I have heard no " rumour , " and consequently did not

" give form and substance" to such . I had the honour of proposing the health of the Provincial Grand Master , and having in my mind the frequency and ability with which our Provincial Grand Master presides in Grand Lodge , and the high esteem in which he is held by its

members , as also his deserved popularity in bis own province , I ventured to make a remark which seemed to me a harmless one , but one , from the nature of which it never occurred to me would find its way from the privacy of " refreshment" into public print .

I now regret that I made the observation I did , and I ask you in fairness to myself to insert this letter to obviate any misunderstanding your notice of my words may have occasioned among your readers . —Yours fraternally , August 19 th . J . N . PALMER .

GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , You have from time to time expressed an opinion that , as the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland had established District and Provincial Grand Lodges in this colony , it was most unlikely , and

in fact virtually impossible , that foreign Masonic bodies would venture to invade a territory over which the three Grand Lodges held sway . This opinion was most certainly not shared by members of the Craft in New Zealand , as it was recognised that being in the same position as Queensland and Western Australia , where

no Grand Lodges exist , this colony was " missionary ground , " and , therefore , open to all . One of the strong arguments made use of by the promoters of a Grand Lodge was that , on the establishment of a united Masonic body with supreme jurisdiction in New Zealand , no foreign Grand Lodge would , without violating time-honoured Masonic

custom and courtesy , sanction the establishment of a lodge , or lodges , under its authority . The opponents of a Grand Lodge , consisting principally of brethren who have never done anything for Freemasonry , except to preach what they do not practice , scouted this idea , and , rather than give up their collars , fought tooth and nail against the amalgamation of the three Constitutions .

For the benefit of your readers I reproduce the following paragraph from the New Zealand Times of the 1 st instant : " On Sunday evening , at the Masonic Hall , Boulcottstreet , Sir Robert Stout , under commission from the Grand Orient of France , formally opened a Masonic

lodge under that Constitution . This is the first lod ge opened under this jurisdiction in this Colony . There were some twenty-three brethren present , and the ceremony was most impressive . The officers of the new lodge are as follows : W . M ., Bro . Sir Robert Stout ; S . W ., Bro . the Hon . John Balance ; J . W ., Bro . J . D .

Wrigglesworth ; Orator , Bro . Walter Hill ; Secretary , Bro . W . B . Hudson ; I . G ., Bro . Willis , of Wanganui . A candidate was proposed for initiation , and it was stated that a large accession of members was expected shortly . We understand that the rules of the Grand Orient of France required the lodge to be opened in

the mouth of June , and as Sir Robert Stout onl y arrived from the South on Sunday morning , and the lodge room was engaged last evening , there was no alternative but for the ceremony to take place on Sunday night . " It is very generally felt that less hesitancy or . the

part of Bro . the Earl of Onslow to accept the Grand Mastership on a majority of 100 lodges , out of a total of 142 working lodges ( and with a certainty of having an absolute majority six months afterwards ) , would have , without doubt , prevented the opening of a lodge by the Grand Orient of France , and the introduction of a class of Masonry which , although having probably

some good points , is not recognised by the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland . It does not say much for the prestige oi the English Constitution in this part of the world when one finds that most of the promoters of Lodge L'Amour de la Verite are English Masons , and one a Deputy District Grand Master .

It will be interesting to note what action the Grand Lodge of England will take in the matter . —1 remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , CRAFTSMAN . Wellington , N . Z ., July 10 th .

Bro . Lieut .-Col . Perry Godfrey , Central London Rangers , having obtained leave of absence , has left London for Austria and Bavaria for the benefit of his health .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

QII J K . T . —BROS . HUGHAN AND FINDEL . My old friend , Bro . } . G . Findel , as we all know , is strongly opposed to all Masonic Degrees additional to the " Third . " I am not . His History , notwithstanding , is far superior to all previous works of the kind , and though of late years Brother R . F . Gould ' s great work

has to a great extent superseded it and all other histories of the Craft extant , yet . in many respects Bro . Findel has proved both an able and an accurate historian . I do not , any more than my friend , believe in the antiquity of the " Charter of Larmenius , " and a perusal of my article on the " Knights Templars , " in the Freemason

for August 2 nd , 1890 , will abundantly prove that fact . The work by the lamented Bro . Wolfe ( or " Woof" ) was quoted mainly in relation to the convents at London and Liverpool , so as to illustrate the value and importance of the " Manual " of 18 30 , a copy of which 1 had only seen quite recently for the first time . My

verdict that the phraseology of the spurious document reads more like iSth century style rather than 1324 , and a query put to that year , besides describing the "supposed Grand Master , " appeared to me sufficient to indicate my views on the subject . I should like to refer Bro . Findel to pp . 107-8 of my "Origin of the English Rite of Freemasonry" ( 1884 ) , as well as that

volume generally , to prove that I am entirely with him in believing that there was but one ceremony in connection with the Craft until the Grand Lodge era ( A . D . 1717 ) , and that the " Three Degrees , " and all other Masonic Degre .-s additional , date from that or a later period . The value of these is quite another question . W . J . HUGHAN .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft flDaaonry . METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

John Hervey Lodge ( No . 1260 ) . —On Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., the members were summoned to a regular meeting at Freemasons' Hall , but , owing to absence from home on holiday and other explained reasons , the attendance was but sparse . Especially was that so with regard to the officers , the W . M . and J . D . being the only holders of office in their proper places . As there was work

in the Second and Third Degrees , the W . M ., Bro . F . Dangerlield , was somewhat disconcerted , as there was but one PastMaster present , and he ( the I . P . M . ) took the S . W . ' s chair , Bro . Reep , Steward , taking the chair in the south ; Bro . Packman , A . D . C , and Bro . Lethbridge , who as yet has not taken office , acted as S . D . and l . G . respectively , and with their united efforts the VV . M . was able to proceed .

This extraordinary lack of Past Masters and officers gave a gratifying proof that the future good working in the lodge is assured . Bros . Warr , Cameron , and Pitt-Smith were raised to the Third Degree , and Bro . Athelstan Dan ° -erlield passed to that of F . C , and , though the VV . M . had no experienced prompter by his side , he delivered the whole of the ritual both accurately and impressively , doing credit

thereby to himself and to the teaching of those who have gone before him in office . The following day—the 14 th inst . —the annual summer excursion took place . Just over a score of the brethren left Waterloo in a saloon carriage and detrained at Hampton Court , where Bro . Harry Tagg ' s new steam launch , "Merrie Thames , " was in readiness , and on that taut and elegantly

fitted craft a pleasant trip was made towards Windsor . A mishap to the steering gear cut the journey shorter than was intended , but the needed repair was effected and the starting point safely regained . On reaching East Molesey other members joined the party and increased the numbers to close on 30 , and after the group had been photographed by Bro . Potter , S . W .,

in accordance with his custom for several years past , all left the lawn at the Mjtre Hotel , Hampton Court , and went up into the banqueting room , where one of Bro . Sadler ' s recherche repasts was served in faultless style . Under the genial presidency of the W . M ., three hours

pleasantly and quickly passed , and then , having taken farewell of the good host , who was complimented upon and thanked for his excellent catering , both on the launch and at table , all returned to town by the 9 . 15 train , the unanimous verdict being that up the river to Hampton Court was a trirle better than down the river to Greenwich .

Provincial Meetings.

PROVINCIAL MEETINGS .

BRADFORD . Apacia Lodge ( No . 2321 ) . —A very successful meeting of this young lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , on Thursday , the 14 th instant , when representatives of no less than 12 lodges were present . The lodge was opened

by the W . M ., Bro . A . Stephenson , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , who was supported by Bros . I . Ramsden Riley , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , acting I . P . M . ; S . A . Auty , P . M ., S . W . ; Joseph Wilson , P . M ., P . G . S ., J . W . ; E . P . Peterson , Treas . ; J . T . Last , Sec . ; T . Wainman Holmes , P . M ., P . P . G . Org ., Organist ; S . A . Bailey , P . M ., D . C . ; G .

Althorp , P . M ., P . P . G . P . ; John Haigh , P . M ., Chap . ; Thos . Jowett , S . D . ; John Niven , J . D . ; John Thornton , I . G . ; John Hill , Tyler ; Chas . H . Ellis , Goodman Root , David Milner , and James Banks Fearnley . Visitors : Bros . R . Williamson , P . M . 521 , P . P . G . D . ; John Dawson , P . M ., 521 ; W . Murphy , W . M . 275 ; J , W . Balme , P . M .,

Provincial Meetings.

Francis Hemming , I . P . M ., and Walter Wright , S . W ., of 61 ; Henry Mitchell , P . M ., Sec . 3 S 7 ; Pelham Browne , W . M . 1648 ; Richard Revell , P . M . 1034 ; Rev . B . May on , 974 , P . G . Chap . ; Geo . Niven , S . W . 750 ; J . W . Barber , P . M ., Sec . 164 S ; F . C . Robinson , P . M ., Treas . 164 S ;

Thos . Woodhead , P . M . 302 , 1522 ; A . W . Sonenthal , 974 ; S . Whiteley , Org . 974 ; Rev . Jas . Brown , Chap . 16 4 S ; F . P . Carter , J . W . 1 C 4 S ; S . Mortimer , S . W . 603 ; A . Holmes , 603 ; C . Booth , l . G . 164 S ; A . Day , J . D . 1324 ; Wm . Miles , 164 S ; F . W . D . Durant , 164 S ; and others .

The minutes having been read and confirmed , Bro . David Milner was raised to the Sublime Degree of M . M . by the W . M ., in his usual excellent manner . The working tools were presented and explained to the candidate by Bro . Wilson , P . M ., J . W ., and the charge in the Third Degree was delivered by Bro . Bailey , P . M ., D . C . A resolution of sympathy , relative to the recent

death of Bro . John S . Swithenbank , P . M ., one of the founders of the lodge , was moved in appropriate terms by Bro . Althorp , P . M ., and passed . Two of the brethren were elected to act with the W . M . and Wardens as a Committee to audit the Treasurer's account prior to the next lodge . Notice of motion was given to present the retiring

VV . M . with a Past Master ' s jewel at the October lodge . The Provincial Grand Chaplain read the 121 st Psalm , and , after "Hearty good wishes" from the visitors and brethren the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment , and what with speeches , songs , and recitations , a most enjoyable evening was spent .

CANTERBURY . Ethelbert Lodge ( No . 2099 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Rooms in Beach-street , on the 12 th inst . There was an unusually large assembly of brethren , including visitors from Canterbury , Whitstable , Ashford , & c . The W . M ., Bro . J . S . White , passed Bro . G . F . Bagley to the Decree of Fellow

Craft y The next business was the ceremony of installation , Bro . E . A . C . Larkin succeeding to the important office ot Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . The Immediate Past Master , Bro . White , was invested with a Past Master ' s jewel in consideration of the valuable and substantial services he had rendered to the lodge during his year of office . The new W . M . next proceeded to appoint his

officers as follows : Bros . C . Salari , S . W . ; C . W . Welby , J . W . ; E . C . Fenoulhet , P . M . ; J . Barnwell , Sec ; Rev . J . R . Buchanan , Chaplain ; H . C . Jones , P . M ., D . C ; T . E . Dilnot , S . D . ; W . T . England , J . D . ; Hellyar , I . G . ; W . J _ . Flower and G . Upex , Stwds . ; A . Carey , Org . ; and R . Griggs , Tyler . The services of the officers resigned were duly acknowledged , particularly those of the

ex-Treasurer , Bro . E . T . J . Adams , by whose assiduity the finances of the lodge have been brought to a highly satisfactory condition . The report of the Audit Committee having been passed , the lodge was closed , after which the brethren repaired to the new dining room of the Dolphin

Hotel , where a banquet awaited them . A most enjoyable evening was afterwards spent , in which the loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and at intervals a programme of music was capitally rendered by Messrs . Byron , Dewhurst , and C . Kenningham , of Canterbury Cathedral choir .

DATCHET . George Gardner Lodge ( No . 2309 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held on Saturday , the 16 th inst ., at the Village Hall , when there were present Bros . W . B . Fendick , P . G . S ., W . M . ; A . Skinner , S . W . ; Dr . Stanley Mansfield , S . D . ; J . Hannam , J . D . ; C P . Bellerby , Sec ; George Gardner , P . G . S . B ., I . P . M . ; 1 . Corp , l . G . ;

J . Brodenck , D . C ; R . Dennis , A . Druce , W . Pritchard , Sourel , G . Kirkham , J . H . Manning , and Ellis , Tyler . The lodge and brethren were in mourning . T'he lodge having been opened , the minutes were read and confirmed . Two gentlemen were balloted for , and Bro . Pritchard was passed to the Second Degree , Bro . G . Gardner acting as W . M . The W . M ., having arrived , assumed the chair , and

Bro . Sonrel was duly raised to the Third Degree . Messrs . Manning and Kirkham were initiated , and a vote of condolence was , on the proposition of the W . M ., Bro . Fendick , seconded by Bro . G . Gardner , adopted , and ordered to be placed on the minutes , on the death of the Pro G . M ., the Earl of Carnarvon . All business being ended , the brethren were grouped , and

a photograph was taken by Messrs . Elliot and Fry . The brethren then adjourned to dinner in the hall , after which the usual toasts were given , special attention being given to the Prov . Grand Officers , the lodge having the honour to congratulate its first and second W . M . in having been made Prov . Grand Sword Bearer and Prov . Grand Steward respectively . Ten guineas was subscribed to the Boys' Festival among

the members , which will increase Bro . Geo . Gardner ' s list , the lirst of the lodge , which it is hoped will become an annual donor to our great Institutions . The harmony was , as usual , well sustained by Bro . Louis Lee , Organist , and others . The lodge hold their first summer outing on Saturday , September 6 th , a steam-launch being engaged , starting at 11 a . m . from Tagg ' s Island , returning at dark , when they hope to have a pleasant day .

ELSTREE . KingSWOOd Lodge ( No . 2278 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held on the 14 th inst ., at . the Plough Inn . Present : Bros . John Petch , Prov . G . Std . Br ., W . M . j J . G . Cobb , S . W . ; C . M . Coxon , J . W . ; Wm . Ball , P . M ., Sec . ; G . T . Chretien , as S . D . ; H . T . Nell , P . M ., J . D . ; E . H . Moore , D . C ; R . W . Nicole

Steward ; and others . Visitors : Bros . Scott-Young , P . G . Std . Br . Lanes ., and Sidney Napper , VV . M . 1471 . Notice having been given , it was proposed that the day of meeting be altered to the second Saturday in the month , and agreed to . A candidate for initiation was proposed and seconded , and the W . M . was congratulated on his

appointment as a Prov . Grand Officer . The lodge was then closed . The brethren afterwards dined under the presidency of the VV . M ., and the usual toasts were proposed . Bro . Scott-Young , P . G . Std . Br . Lanes ., proposed " The Health of the Prov . Grand Officers , " coupling with it the name of the W . M .

Bro . John Petch , P . G . Std . Br ., W . M ., in reply , said it was the lirst time he had the privilege of responding to that toast . He was proud of the honour that had been conferred upon him and , through him , on the lodge .