To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

P . M ., Aldershot . —We think it advisable not to publish your letter . Thc following lodge reports stand over for want of space : — Lodgeof Fortitude , No . 281 . Mount Sinai Lodge , No . 121 . Lodge of Virtue and Honour , 494 .

Merchants Lodge , No . 24 . Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . 1524 . Crusaders Lodge , No . 1677 . Derwent Lodge , No . 40 . Leodiensis Chapter , No . 77 ( Rose Croix ) . Ranelagh Lodge of Instruction , No . 834 . Indefatigable Lodge , No . 237 .

BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " The British Mercantile Gazette , " " Royal Cornwall Gazette , " " Broad Arrow , " " Licensed Victuallers' Guardian , " "The Citizen , " "Birmingham Daily Gazette , " " Alliance News , " " Masonic Advocate , " " The Masonic

Newspaper , " " Der Ling Islaender , " " East Anglian Hand Book , " "Swansea Boy , " "New Zealand Tablet , " "The Mercury , " " Rough Ashlar , " " Australian Freemason , " " Morning Chronicle , " Quebec , " The Medium and Daybreak , " " Report of Great Priory of the United Orders of the Temple and Malta in England and Wales . "

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

[ The charge is 2 s . Gd . for announcements not exceeding Four Lines under this heading . ] BIRTHS . Hopciioi'T . —On the 18 th inst ., at Dorking , the wife of T . F . Hopcroft , cf a sen . WEBSTF . II . —On the 9 th inst ., at St . Jean dc Luz , the wife of thc Rev . XV . Webster , of a son .

MARRIAGE . MACAHTNEY—G .. III-I _ : H . —On thc 17 th inst ., at St . Mary Abbot ' s , Kensington , Carlisle Henry Hayes , son of Ihe late M . Macartney , to Louisa , daughter of H . Gardiner , of Esscndene , Caterham .

DEATH . LAMB . —On the 10 th inst .. at 13 , Rosclyn-terracc , West Glasgow , Charles Alexander Lamb , son of J . R . Lamb , in his 28 th year . LocKiiAnT . —On the 18 th inst ., at 84 , Holland-read , Kensington , W ., suddenly , of acute bronchitis , Robert Lockhart , late of Liverpool , aged 58 years . Friends will kindly accept this , the only intimation .

The Freemason.

THE FREEMASON .

S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 24 , 1880 .

BRO . Lieut .-Col . Shadwell H . Clerke was invested by H . R . H . the Grand Master in person , on Saturday last , before a numerous assemblage , as Grand Secretary , in the place of our esteemed and much missed Bro . John Hervey . We feel sure that we are expressing the wish of our

entire Craft when wc add that we hope Lieut .-Col . Shadwell H . Gierke ' s administration of his high office , which will demand all his attention , and almost all his time , will be alike peaceful and prosperous , sagacious and successful in the highest degree .

* * THE proceedings at the Grand Masters' Lodge reported in our columns will give great satisfaction to the Craft . We rejoice to see the Lord

Mayor of the City of London presiding over that distinguished lodge , and we are struck as all must be with the great ability and true Masonic spirit which characterised all his remarks .

• * IT seems to us that these heated discussions relative to the " vexata qusestio of "Unity of Ritual " had better for the present cease . At the same time we say this we have no wish to limit or

abbreviate free and honest discussion , which is always welcome in the Freemason . But , unfortunately , as is too plain , these controversies only serve apparently to engender a spirit of personality , and are an injury rather than a good to Freemasonry .

* IT is most deplorable that on the slightest subject of Masonic discussion peisonality at once " crops up . " Indeed it has come to this , that hardly any one can write on any Masonic subject

whatever without being immediately exposed to vulgar personality . This weakness of Masons constitutes a great blot on its " modus vivendi " in the world , and is ; in abject parody on its public professions . Let us hope to see an improvement in this respect .

The Freemason.

WE trust that the suggestion we have made in reference to our esteemed and valued brother the Assistant Grand Secretary , Bro . Buss , may lie favourably received by the Craft . No one ,

certainly , has deserved better of all ranks amongs us , and many who have had business to transact at Freemasons' Hall will remember how much they owe to his knowledge of business , his attention , and his willingness to oblige .

* * BEFORE we can again meet our readers the adjourned meeting of the Girls' School Quarterly Court will have taken place , and we shall hear what the Trustees have to say in respect of these

perverse and unheard of complications . Everything proves how mistaken , and , indeed , how very baneful for the best interests of the Girls ' School has been this personal movement against the wise , and seasonable , and needful proposal of

the House Committee and the Grand Treasurer . The very safety of the School is menaced owing to other applications for this site , by delay , and we have this melancholy fact to realize , as

Masons , that obtuse stupidity and vulgar personality seek to thwart sagacious proposals and legitimate expenditure for the needful development and maintenance of our admirable Girls ' School .

* * THE Freemason is meant to be a " medium , " ( not a mesmeric one ) of complaints and grievances , suggestions of "laches , " and

propositions for amelioration , and one has reached us which we think worthy of note . It is thisthe " comparative facility with which non-qualified members can get into Grand Lodge . " There is no doubt often some little confusion and

necessary laxity in the matter , though we confess we are not ourselves prepared to suggest a remedy . If a brother be well posted up in the details of a lodge return he can hoodwink and deceive the scrutineers . Perhaps some able tro . her can suggest an improvement on the present system .

* * THERE is a common error afloat which we hope to dissipate , namely , that " Freemasonry " is hostile to religious bodies or religious education . Nothing can be more absurd . In a society like

that of Freemasons there will always be two views , as citizens , in respect of secular and denominational education . But as Masons we have , and ought to have , no opinion on the subject . The " New Zealand Tablet , " a Roman Catholic paper , complains of the New Zealand Freemasons as very

hostile to religious education . We do not believe it . As a body they certainly express no such opinions , at any time or under any circumstances . Our worthy contemporary takes a " jaundiced " and morbid view of the matter . We shall refer to the "Tablet" in our next .

* * It will be very gratifying to our esteemed Bro . John Hervey to note the manner in which H . R . H . the Grand Master expressed himself about his long and meritorious services to Grand

Lodge . There is but one feeling in the Craft of regret at his retirement from the office he filled so well , and deep and earnest sympathy with him in his retirement and his illness . Tbe best wishes of his brotherhood go with him always .

BRO . Lieut .-Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec , was initiated 27 th April , i 8 _*; 7 , in the Zetland Lodge , No . 75 6 , E . G ., in the Island of Malta , where he had recently arrived with his regiment—the 21 st Fusiliers — from the Crimea , after serving throughout the whole of that campaign . He

filled the various offices of his mother lodge , and having joined No . 437 ( No . 349 ) , St . John and St . Paul Lodge , in the same island , in the year 1858 , he was appointed J . W ., and from thence was elected W . M . in iS-jp , which office he duly served . In the latter end of the year i 860 he was appointed A . D . C , and

subsequently Military , Secretary to the Commander of tne Forces in the West Indies , where he joined the Albion Lodge , No . * 9 6 , and after seven years ' service on the staff there , he rejoined his regiment in Ireland , and worked occasionally in various lodges in that country , but from the continual moving consequent on military service was unable to ioin one nermanentlv . In the beginning * of

The Freemason.

the year 1870 he was stationed in Plymouth , when he joined the Metham Lodge , No . 120 . 5 , and became P . G . Sword Bearer , and subsequent ! y P . G . Senior Warden of that province . In the year 1872 Col . Clerke , having retired on half-pay from his regiment , came to reside in London , and

became one of the original members of the Friends in Council Lodge , No . 1383 , which was formed that year , and of which he shortly after was elected Treasurer , continuing to serve as such until 1875 , when he became S . W ., and was installed W . M . the next year . By the lamented

death of its W . M . ( Major Barlow ) he for the second year continued to fill the chair as I . P . M . Bro . Col . Clerke was exalted to the Degree of Royal Arch in the Leinster Chapter , I . C , in Malta , in February , 1858 , and subsequently became one of its rulers . He was affiliated to

Chapter 437 , E . G ., in 1859 , when he filled the chair . On moving to the West Indies he joined the Scotia Royal Arch Chapter , S . C , ( there being no English one in work there ) , and on the formation of Chapter 1383 , he became an original member , and held the office of P . S ., being at the

present time M . E . Z . of that chapter . Bro . Col . Clerke is a Life Governor of all the Masonic Institutions , and has served all the Stewardships , on two occasions his list heading the London lodges , and on the third occasion being second , and amounting in all to nearly £ 750 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , tbe opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in _ spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within ceriain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

THE ROVAL PUPILS' FUND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Inasmuch as the laws of the Royal Masonic Institutions for Girls and Boys provide for a grant of money —if deemed necessary—to assist each of the children ,

when they leave the Schools , the maximum being £ 20 , consider the fund lately started for their assistance to be wholly undesirable , and , indeed , injurious to thc best interests of the great Masonic Charities . If the promoters of this new Masonic fund arc richer that most Masons , I should like to see all uf their names

enrolled as Life Governors of thc Masonic Institutions already firmly e . tablished in our affections , and certainly so long as children are fed , clothed , and educated from seven to sixteen , and , if eligible , receive £ 20 to start them in life , enough has been done for them by the Craft . The next thing to do is to attend to the pressing wants of those

excluded from the Institutions , and are claimants at c lcti election for years , but whose votes are not sufficient to obtain tlieir admission . Is it not better to increase thc number to be elected , rather than aid after their term has expired those who have benefited in our Institutions ? I support most warmly the letter signed " P . M ., " which bas already appeared on this subject . M . P .

To the Editor of the " Fi-eemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Has not the time arrived for the promoters of the above scheme to convene a meeting of patrons and subscribers for the purpose of appointing permanent officers and a Committee ? Yours fraternally , M . M .

WHICH IS CORRECT ? "To the Editor if Ihe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Who is now President of the "Conseil de l'Ordre " of the Grand Orient of France ? As I understood , Iiro .

O'Dle , whose literary pseudonym is " Adnen Grimaux , " was elected at the last " convent , " in lieu of Bro . St . Jean . But I see in the las : " Bulletin du Grand Orient" that Bro . St . Jean still presides over the " Conseil . " I , for one , am happy to see it . But who is really the President ? Yours fraternally ,

MASKELYNE . [ Like our correspondent , we are equally at a loss to understand the matter . Perhaps our good friend Bro . Hubert or Bro . Thevenet can explain it . —ED . ]

ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER FOR MILITARY BRETHREN . To the lEditor ofthe " Fretmason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — A letter appeared in the Freemason of the 10 th Inst , signed , " 33 , " in which it was stated that the military

brethren of this district had very great difficulty m obtaining the warrant to form the lodge now called the Aidershot Camp Lodge , owing to the opposition they met with from the Panmure Lodge , No . 723 , and as this statement is calculated to mislead and also create a prejudice , I shall be obliged if you will publish this , my most

unqualified denial of the truth of that statement . I was W . M . of the Panmure Lodge , No . 723 , when , on the 14 th June , 1870 , a pstition from the military brethren was presented , and we were asked to recommend to Grand Lodge that a warrant for forming a military lodge be issued . . . ft ^^^^^ U ^^^^^