Consecration Of The Earl Of Chester Mark Lodge, No. 196.

it was unanimously agreed that the Cheshire pulp it would look much better if it were more elevated by being placed on a base . The real work of the day commenced by a Mark Lodge being opened by Bro . G . Morgan , W . M . II : assisted bv Rro . Gibb Smith . P . P . G .

J . W ., and Bro . Ellis , W . M . 165 , as S . and J . W . The ceremony , at all times a very beautiful one , was rendered most effectively by the Provincial Grand Master , and the oration was well given by Bro . Stanhope . Bro . Kirk , assisted by Bro . R . Baker , and others , rendered the beautiful

Anthem , "Mark Masons , all appear , " most effectively . After the dedication a Board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . J . Gibb Smith , P . P . G . J . W ., installed Bro . James Salmon as W . M ., and appointed and invested Bro . J . Corbett , S . W . ; Bro . William Matthews , J . W . ;

Bro . the Rev . A . Rounthwaite , as Chaplain ; and Bro . T . L . Cottingham , Registrar . The W . M . afterwards entertained the whole of the . Prov . Grand Officers to a most sumptuous banquet at the Grosvenor Hotel . Bro . the Hon . W . Egerton , the P . G . M . M ., occupied the president ' s

position , and a pleasant evening was spent with toast , song , and fraternal intercourse . The prospects of the new lodge are of the most rosy kind , as no fewer than 21 brethren were proposed for advancement before the lodge business was brought to a close on Tuesday .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We 110 not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of th-opinlons expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , In a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —EDJ

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have the pleasure to inform you that thc Right Honourable the Lord Suffield , K . C . B ., R . W . Provincial

Grand Alaster for Norfolk , has kindly accepted the Chairmanship of the next festival of this Institution , to be held on the 9 th Alay , 18 77 . Yours truly and fraternally , R . WENTWOIITII LITTLE , Secretary .

AI . SONIC JURISPRUDENCE . To Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have thought that you would assist me in clearing up one or two doubts that for a time past have troubled my mind , which not being very capacious will perhaps be sufficient apology for thus addressing you .

1 . Whether a P . AI . under the I . C . who has never been a member , nor in any way supported the E . G ., can sit in an E . C . Lodge , open and conduct the proceedings , or , if asked to do so , has a right to accept ? Thc doubt arises in my mind from reading the Book of English Constitutions , in which is stated : " That every brother regularly elected and installed as Alaster of a

Lodge under theConstitutionof the Grand Lodge of England who has executed that office for one year , shall , so long as he continues a subscribing member of any lodge , rank as a Past Master , and be a member of thc Grand Lodge . Subscription as a member to any lodge is sufficient tc preserve his rank and right , as a Past Alaster ; but having for twelve months ceased to subscribe to any lodge , he

shall no longer continue a member of thc Grand Lodge nor can he again possess that privilege until again installed Master of a lodge j" but does " any lodge " mean under either of the constitutions ? 2 . I would further wish to know , whether an E . A . or K . C . has a right to vote at the annual elections for W . AI . even though he be paying dues to the lodge . ¦ t . Whether it is right for a P . AI . of any constitution

to bias the mind of a brother as to the more fitting individual for the post of W . AI . ? 4 . Whether in the absence at a regular meeting of the W . M . or any P . AI ., can a S . W . or J . W . conduct the work of the lodge ? I AN ENGLISH AIASON . [ 1 . Not if he has not been a regularly installed master . If he has been , Yes I if asked by the W . AI . 2 . Yes . 3 . Certainly not . 4 . Yes I but not as W . AI . —En . ]

ORDERS OF THE TEA 1 PLE AND AIALTA . ( PBOVINCE or LANCASHIRE . ) Chancery , —48 , Drake-street , Rochdale ; Dec . 14 th , 1876 . To the Very Eminent the Grand Commander Province of Dorset . Very Eminent Sir , —

I am desired by the Grand Commander of Lancashire to express his thanks , together with those of the Sir Knights of his province , for the very able assistance which was rendered by you and the Knights of the Province , in enabling him to cairy his motion in Convent

General . I am also to express his entire agreement with the remarks of our new chief , the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , " Now the battle is over we ought to be good friends . " I am , Very Eminent Sir , yours truly , W . Asiiwoimi , Chancellor .

Original Correspondence.

THE ROYAL INSTALLATION ENGRAVING . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — To supplement the kind letter from my friend Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D ., published in your issue of thc 9 th inst ., relative to the completion of the Installation engraving , I send you the following extracts from two

letters received respectively on the 9 th and r 4 th inst ., from my engraver in Paris . — Paris , 9 Decembre , 187 6 . " Alonsieur Harty , —Croyez-bien que j ' ai a cccur de vous contenter , la planche est mainteiiant entre mes mains , et j ' y travaille avec la plus grande energie ; mais dites bien a vos amis et souscripteurs qu ' on ne peut fixer d ' epoque ,

pour la fin de cette gravure , que le graveur y travaille avec acharnement que e ' est un travail inoui , qui le Iibrera le plus tot qu'il lui sera possible , et qu'il ne peut pas croire qu'il arriver rien de facheux a AI . Harty , si ce travail se prolonge plus qu'on ne pensait . C ' est un travail inoui de longeur , et qui n ' a pas de precedent .

" Paris , 14 Decembre , lg ? " - " Alonsieur Harty , —Je vais repeterai toujours la meme chose . Je travaille avec acharnement a vote planche , cest mon interet comme lc voire qui le travail soil fait le plus tot possible . "J ' ail'honneur , & c , e . c . "

TRANSLATION ' . " Air . Harty , —Believe me that I wish heartily to give you satisfaction . The plate is now between my hands , and I " work upon it with the greatest energy . But please tell your friends and subscribers that I cannot fix a date to finish the engraving , that the engraver works with zeal , that it is an unheard of work , and that he will deliver it as soon as it is possible , and that he cannot think that any

annoyance will result to Mr . Harty if the work is prolonged more than was thought . It is a work of unheard of and unprecedented length . " "Paris , 14 Dec , i 8 ? 6 . " Air . Harty , —I repeat to you the same thing over h and over again . I work with fury upon your plate . It is as much to my interest as yours that the work should be finished as soon as possible . "

Aly numerous subscribers and friends may rely that nothing shall be left undone on my part to bring this heavy undertaking to a successful and early finish , and I confidently hope to lay before H . R . H . the Alost W . G . AI . a finished proof before the second anniversary of the great

event which the engraving depicts . I am , dear Sir and Brother , truly and fraternally yours , EDWD . J . HAIITV , 213 , Regent-st ., W . London . P . S . —There still remain a dozen spaces for portraits .

ABDUCTION OF " WILLI AAI AIORGAN . To Ihe Editor nf Ihe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Rumour has it that WiUiam Alorgan was murdered by Freemasons . Rumour , however , is such a lying jade , that I , in common no doubt with many others , have

been content to let our enemies have their own way . Enclosed you will find the case circumstantially set forth , and in a form that must command notice . Would it not be well to deal with the matter at once , and either admit or refute the statement here put forward ? I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , W . FIKI . DSON .

" In the year 1826 , a painful circumstance occurred , which for awhile created a panic . Alasonic societies had for some time existed in the United States to a very considerable extent * , but it was not generally supposed that there was anj thing objectionable in their character . A man , however , named William Alorgan , living at Batavia , in Genesee county , New York , conceived a dislike to these

associations , and , knowing something about their organisation , announced his intention of publishinga book which should disclose what he called the secrets of Freemasonry . On Alonday , September nth , this man was taken from his home , under pretence of a criminal process , conveyed into Ontario county , a distance of fifty miles from his domicile , examined , and discharged . In the evening he

was again arrested on a charge as frivolous as the first , thrown into gaol by the persons who had taken the original proceedings , once more discharged , and immediately afterwards once more seized—this time in the obscurity of night . Thc last arrest had a much more alarming character than the two former . The man was gagged , bound , and forced into a carriage , which was rapidly

driven off . In this way he was conveyed a hundred miles without interruption , and , as relays of horses were prepared along the whole line of road , it was evident that his abduction was the result of an organised scheme . It came out in subsequent enquiries that Morgan was carried towards the Canadian frontier , where he was lodged within the walls of an unoccupied fort . What ultimately became

of him has never been clearly known . He mysteuously disappeared , and although it could never be proved that he was murdered , it is not easy to avoid the conviction that he met his death by treachery and violence . It is supposed that he was taken in a boat by night to thc Niagara , and there drowned . A body , thought to be that of Alorgan , was subsequently found below Fort Niagara ;

but it was impossible to identify it , and , notwithstanding that thc Legislature of New York passed an Act ordering a strict investigation of the subject , and some Freemasons were charged with murder , a conviction could not be obtained . The report of the New York committee of

investigation confirmed the general suspicion that the unfortunate man had been assassinated , and the agitation of the public mind was so great that it was proposed to exclude Freemasons from office . An anti-Masonic party was formed , which , having in a few years spread over several States , held a convention at Philadelphia in 1831 .

Original Correspondence.

This party endeavoured to influence the elections , but , after a brief period of activity , collapsed and disappeared . —From Cassell ' s History of the United Slates , by E . Oilier , for Decern ber . " [ We do not believe the allegation , but our esteemed Bro . Clifford H . McCalla will no doubt give the reply our correspondent wishes . —ED . ]

FREEMASONRY AND CHARITY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have been a subscriber to and reader of your valuable journal for some years , and have ever felt interested in the information derived from the perusal of its pages respecting the Craft generally ; and I have also

regretted to see so much party feeling exhibited amongst members of Grand Lodge in affairs that have to do with £ s . d . I should be glad to see a more generous , or Masonically speaking , a more " brotherly" feeling prevail , and a little less of " self . " There appears to me to be a growing tendency in our Order to lose sight of the declaration of thc candidate on initiation , or otherwise a few years

service in the Craft leads some brethren to feel entitled to say and do a good deal , and practice rather differently . There has been so much bickering , & c , of late respecting money matters of the Order , that really it is getting to be a conversation of unpleasantness with the general body . The pretty little squabble about the Laundry is an instance , and I really don ' t see why one brother should have

exactly all his own way in an affair of that kind . " Public competition " is the correct thing , and which would even be more fair to our brother who desires the increased vote . But this is apart from the object of my letter . I have been asked by a foreign brother the meaning of the word " Charity " as it is supposed to be understood by an English Freemason . I answered that I could only reply so

far as my experience taught me , which was , " Give all thou hast whilst in thy power whenever called upon , but when you require relief yourself do not ask help from a brother . " Strange to say , said he , your own and my experience agree to the letter ; and so , sir , I regret to say I find it . Can you tell me the meaning of the word " Charity" as we should practice it ? Docs it mean give

your all to the Alasonic Charities , i . e ., Institutions , and should you by being too liberal-hearted meet with misfortune , go hide thyself and trouble not your brother ? I know an instance of poverty and distress , one who was always ready to give to the cause of charity , not only to institutions , but to individual distressed brethren ( and I won't say how far such liberality to Alasonic Charities

tended to his reverses ) now in the worst state of poverty . I have experienced the same humiliation myself—humiliation , I say , and that is a sore word for Alasonry . I am humiliated by thc uncharitableness of my brethren ; tho' an old Alason , and a Alark Alaster Alason , as also "Royal Arch , " and a LifeGovernor to two of the Institutions , yet through reverses , I have been obliged to quit those old

friends who knew me in my days of prosperity because of their coolness . I tried new ground with an earnest endeavour to retrieve myself , where I Should not be pointed at with the cold finger of hollow commiseration , but I find the same coldness from individual Craftsmen . That is to say , I have ventured to seek for aid as regards getting introduction for employment . Further aid I have not

asked , although my home is cheerless , and my family have wanted bread . As charity is the virtuous prop of the Order , I should like to know how its dispensed , and where it commences . It should exist in the heart of " every brother" to keep the brother in all he an , and not turn a deaf ear up him and his helpless ones . I trust this may be read by a few good brethren at the

approaching Icstivc season , and 1 ask them to give a passing thought to the fact of a brother in stern poverty ; and his little ones wanting bread in a cheerless and empty home , and let them ask , can it be possible , when a common friendly society would blush to know they had a member so placed , they would help him to " common employment" to earn his livelihood . Why does not the

Freemason do this , is it derogatory to him that his brother is poor ? Subscribe all you can to the institutions , attend your own and other lodges , and plead charity ; also lodges of instruction , which all means expense and neglect of business , wear yourself out both financially and constitutionally , and die a worthy Alason in your prime of life , then your widow and children may get temporary relief .

But what compared to that you have expended on Freemasonry ; and , again , what can give back to the widow , thc widow ' s son ? Charity then comes too late , sooth a brother ' s weary steps that his heart may feel the sunshine of the works of thc Great Architect of the Universe when he needs it . Yours fraternally , ONE OF THE " Poon AND DISTRESSED .

THE ROYAL A 1 ASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION AND THE PROVINCE OK DEVON . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Referring to the report in your issue of 16 th inst ., of the last committee meeting of the Royal Alasonic Benevolent Institution , at which meeting Bro . John

Constable , P . AI . 185 , is reported to have asked Bro . James Terry , the Secretary of the Institution , the number of annuitants on its funds , and whether the province of Devon was not the largest in that respect , he , Bro . Constable , suggesting that the province anil its Grand Alaster

be solicited to aid the Institution at thc coming festival i 1 February next . For the information of Bro . Constable , knowing tne deep interest he takes in our charities , and for all whom it may concern , I beg to say the suggestion of Bro . Constable has