Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving ot , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—fre ? discussion . ]

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , I regret to find in your report of the Special General Meeting of the Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution I am

represented as having seconded the motion of Bro . Mullord . On the contrary , I beg to say that I am a strong supporter of the views of Bro . Mercer , and voted with the majority of two to one against the motion of Bro . Mullord .

1 have a strong feeling upon the point , or would not have troubled you . —Yours fraternally , C . H . WEBB . May 17 .

PLEASING FEATURES IN LODGE WORK . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , With much force , and with equal grace , you remark in your last issue that" one of the most pleasing features in connection with lodge work is the somewhat rare occurrence when a brother has the privilege of occupying the chair for the purpose of initiating his son . "

I echo your sentiments as I read these words , and realise how much credit is won to Masonry by such an event . The son has known his father outside the pale of Masonry , and in the most intimate way . When , therefore , the son desires initiation into our sacred mysteries , it must be on account of a favourable opinion

preconceived of the Institution . It may interest you to know that in our new lodge , the " Bisley , No . 2317 , " the Secretary , Bro . C . Pulman , P . M ., was granted the chair last October for the purposing of initiating his son , who thus became the first candidate initiated in our lodge . Immediately afterwards I had the very great p leasure of following Bro .

Pulman by initiating my brother , a London clergyman ; also that I expect shortly to initiate my eldest son , who is also a clergyman . Since you have called attention to such proceedings I need have no hesitation in supplementing your words by this reference to what we in the Bisley Lodge have regarded as an extremely interesting item in our early history . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , J . CATER , W . M . 2317 , Rector of Bisley .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

900 ] MASONIC SALT CELLARS .

Referring to Notes 886 and 899 , Bro . Capt . Walls will , I think , be interested to know that , by the courtesy of the Earl of Ilchester , I am able to state that the four Chelsea salt cellars , marked with the triangle , which Horace Walpole mentions as having- been seen

by him at Melbury , are still in existence there , and an highly prized . S S . R . B ., Member Cor . Circle Quatuor Coronati

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

draft flCmsonrp .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

Ubique Lodge ( No . 1789 ) . —The installation meeting of the above powerful lodge , held at the Cafe Royal , Regent-street , on Monday , the 12 th inst ., will for ever remain a red-letter day in its history , for on that day , and in the presence of a rare grathering of the Craft , Bro . Major-General A . H . VV . Williams , R . A ., Commandant of the Woolwich Garrison , was , with the usual formalities ,

installed as its VV . M . for the ensuinsf 12 months . The lodge was opened by the VV . M ., Bro . VV . R . Arnold , and the minutes of the previous meeting being conlirmed , Bros . Major H . Burton , R . A ., and Col . James Alleyne , R . A ., A . A . G . Woolwich District , were accepted as joining members . The ballot was taken for Capt . J . J . Porteous , R . A ., and Lieuts . C . Lyon , R . H . A ., and F . Pendergast ,

R . A ., and proved unanimous . Ihe two latter being in attendance , were duly initiated . Bro . Capt . VV . A . Weston , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . Kent , then , in the unavoidable absence of Bro . Major James Ritchie , R . A ., assumed the chair as Installing Officer , and effectively installed the W . M . elect into the chair of K . S ., where he ( the W . M . ) was duly saluted . The W . M . invested his officers as follows : Bros .

E . Morris , S . W . ; Col . Alleyne , R . A ., J . W . ; Capt . J . Sculley , R . H . A ., P . M ., Treas . ; W . R . Arnold , Sec ; Capt . A . C . Hansard , R . A ., S . D . ; Lieut . Bruce-Kingsmill , R . A ., J . D . ; W . Arnold , sen ., l . G . ; Capt . W . V . Faber , R . A ., A . D . C . Woolwich , D . C ; W . Shackleton , Stwd . ; and VV . C . Haley , Asst . Stwd . Bro . Weston then gave the three addresses exceedingly well , considering that he was

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

taken quite on a non plus , and had no intimation of having to perform the ceremony five minutes before lie started it . He was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his services , and briefly responded . The I . P . M ., Bro . Arnold , was presented with a handsome and valuable Past Master ' s jewel for services rendered the lodge during his year of office , for which he returned thanks , and then the lodge was closed .

Among the other brethren present were Bros . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary England , & c . ; J . L . Thomas , P . A . G . D . C . England ; E . Lukey ( Mayor of Dover ) , P . M . 199 , and P . P . S . G . D . Kent ; General Cummins , P . M . 2195 , P . G . Stwd . Monmouth ; Colonel Sorrell , P . M . 1095 , P . G . D . Punjab ; Colonel C H . Spraig , P . M . ; Colonel Vansittart , 153 6 ; Major P . L . Macgregor ; Major

Murdock ; Captain W . L . White , P . M . ; Captain W . Richey ( City Marshal ) , P . M . ; Joseph McCaffery Rowen ; T . Cooper , P . M . ; W . Ward , 700 ; VV . Dickson , of the lodge ; H . L . Fleet , 257 ; Dr . Moore-Keys , P . M . 153 , P . D . S . G . D . Malta and Gibraltar ; Lieutenants A . Chamberlain , J . W . ; McLellan , Long , W . Osborne , and J . Nicholas ( all of the lodge ) , Lieut . Jarvis , J . Lawson , W .

Seager , B . Hancock , I . Burningham , R . L . Groves , J . J . Williams , W . VV . Blades , W . Robson , G . W . Grey , A . Batenson , G . VV . Cooper , J . Hutter , and J . C Lawson ( all of the lodge ) , and E . Hennemeyer , P . M . ' sr , P . P . S . G . W . Essex ; H . j . Butter , P . M . 913 , P . P . G . R . Kent ; A . Prescott , P . M . 197 , P . P . S . G . D . Herts ; ] . Montgomery , P . M . 1926 , P . D . G . D . Malta and Gibraltar ; A . Martin , P . M . ;

C . Lawson , P . M . 913 ; T . Burne , P . M . 162 ; F . Dawson , P . M . 700 ; G . Mitchell , P . M . 615 , P . G . Stwd . Kent ; J . Warren , P . M . 700 ; W . Webber , VV . M . 700 ; J . Glover , VV . M . 1604 ; L . J . Turney , P . M . 159 S ; G . Nusson , J . W . 1 G 14 ; J . T . Calloway , J . W . 2310 ; A . Saunders , S . D . 144 ; Dr . E . Bryceson , l . G ., C . Clapham , D . C , J . Hooton , F . Tyler , J . VV . Dickenson , S . Horton , and VV . Davidson ,

0 ( 913 ; D . C . Swanson ( S . C ) , A . Fenn , S . West , and G . Nichols , of 700 ; VV . Barnes , 13 ; G . H . Greenham . 1158 ; W . Elliott , 451 ; F . T . Lloyd , 71 S ; H . Swinherd , E . Walker , and J . Hulley , of 1536 ; G . V . Thomas , 172 S ; C Jolly , P . M . 1076 ; and others . The banquet having been discussed , the W . M . gave the toast of " ihe Oueen and the Craft , " and then that of

"The M . W . the Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . " In proposing the latter he said the many excellent qualities of H . R . H . were too well known to every Mason tor any need of his expatiating on them . He would only ask them to drink the toast as every loyal Englishman , especially Masons , did , with heartiness . The next toast was that of "The M . W . Pro G . M ., the

D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " The VV . M ., in putting it , said they had two Grand Officers with them , one Present and the other Past ; and he should couple the toast with the name of the Present one , he referred to Bro . Colonel Clerke , their honoured guest that night . Some of them might not be aware that Bro . Col . Clerke , the Grand Secretary , was , if not closely

yet connected with them through his son , who held a commission in their regiment . He trusted soon to have a closer connection by having that son initiated in that lodge , and as it was totally unnecessary for him to say a word in praise of the many excellent services done by Bro . Col . Clerke to Freemasonry and the Craft in general , he would ask them at once to drink the toast most heartily .

Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , who , on rising , was received with cheers , said he felt it a great honour to have his name coupled with so important a toast , and more especially as it included a large number of brethren distinguished not only for their positions , but for thtir talents , and who gave a vast amount of their time to further the interests of Masonry , and to promote the general good of the Order .

So that he felt it a great honour , and he felt sure his colleague , Bro . Thomas , did , to have their healths drunk in so hearty a manner , and in such an important Masonic meeting , because it showed them their labours were understood and appreciated . As to Lords Carnarvon and Lathom , they were the heads and pillars of the Order , without whose advice and wish nothing was undertaken , and what

had been undertaken with their advice and sanction had never yet failed in achieving its object , namely , the progress and welfare of the Order . He had not before had the honour of visiting the Ubique , which was a class lodge , and while they did not recognise class lodges as class lodges , yet they always found them work well , and now in the twelfth year of its existence he was pleased to be present

and see that it was progressing so well . I he members of the lodge were officers of the Royal Artillery , who often , by the exigencies of the service , might at any moment be sent , and were sent , to all parts of her Majesty's dominions , and he intensely re-echoed the wish of the VV . M . when he said that he hoped in time the connection between them would be even more close than at present throusrh the

initiation of his son as a member of that lodge . In conclusicn , in the name of his colleague , Bro . Thomas , and in his own , le thanked them most cordially for their kind reception that evening . The I . P . M . having briefly proposed "The Health of the VV . M ., " and the brethren having drunk it most enthusiastically ,

Bro . Williams , in response , said he appreciated the high honour done him in placing him in the chair of the lodge , and trusted he should be able to give the lodge into the hands of his successor in the same high state of efficiency as he had received it . The Worshipful Master then proposed the toast of " The Installing Officer , " and spoke highly of the manner in which

Bro . Capt . Weston had at so short a notice discharged the important duties of that office . He deeply regretted the absence of Bro . Major Ritchie , whose duties at the War Office precluded him from attending , and felt sure they would drink Bro . Capt . Weston ' s health with pleasure . Bro . Capt . Weston , in response , said he felt sure they all deeply regretted the absence of Bro . Ritchie ; he did ,

because he knew that Bro . Ritchie had laid himself out , and had studied hard to make the meeting generally , and the installation ceremony above all , a success , and they might depend upon it it was only the call of duty that kept him away . They all knew the duty of a soldier—to obey orders , and he had obeyed orders by installing Bro Williams in the chair that night . In carrying out the duty

he had done his best ; no one called upon at a moment ' s notice could do an important ceremony like that of installation to tbe satisfaction of all , especially if , like him , they had not performed it for the past five years . However , he was proud of having had the honour of installing Bro . Major General Williams , and should always remember' the occasion with pride and gratification ,

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Bro . Col . Alleyne having briefly responded for "The Joining Members , " the two initiates severally responded to a hearty toast of their health . Bro . Luker , in responding for " The Visitors , " said he felt it an honour to be present . He had heard a great deal about the Ubique Lodge , and , from what he had seen of it , it fully sustained its high prestige .

Bro . Butler said he was exceedingly pleased to be present , especially as it was the first time be had had that honour since his recovery from a rather severe accident . He had been associated with the officers of the Royal Regiment for many years in the Royal Arsenal , and congratulated them upon the progress and stability of their lodge . Bro . Webber said he felt honoured at having his name

mentioned in connection with the toast , especially as their excellent Past Master and Installing Officer , Bro . Weston , was initiated in the Nelson Lodge , of which he ( Bro . Webber ) had at the present time the honour to be W . M . It was a credit to both lodges to have such a brother connected with them . He gave a cordial invitation to every member of the Ubique Lodge to the Nelson Lodge , and assured them of a hearty welcome .

Bro . General Cummins also responded . "The Past Masters" and "The Officers" were the concluding toasts , and were duly honoured , and responded to . Some splendid music , both vocal and instrumental , was rendered by Miss F . Logan , Miss Rose Moss , Bros . F . Tyler , S . Horton , and E . Walker , and Messrs . De Russett and Henshaw , the grand contralto organ of Miss Logan being especially admired .

Abbey Lodge ( No . 2030 ) . —This flourishing Metropolitan lodge held its annnal installation meeting at Westminster Town Hall , on Monday , the 12 th instant , when members and vistors assembled to the number of 127 . The formerincluded Bros . R . E . H . Goffin , P . G . D . C . Surrey ; II . Mainwaring Dunstan , S . W . ; C . C Piper , J . W . ; J . Gibson , P . M ., Treas . ; E . J . Shand , P . M ., Sec ; F . ) .

Smith , S . D . ; VV . Borwick , J . D . ; F . B . Wyatt , D . C ; H . Hambling , l . G . ; J . Bartlett , Org . ; J . Hayler and B . Smith , Stwds . ; W . II . Baker , P . M . ; Rev . R . ( ' . Simpson , P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; H . E . Poole ; T . Bull ; P . M ., D . C . ; and many others . Visitors : Bros . W . I hilcott , 1624 ; G . Wilson , P . M . 1205 ; G . Briggs , P . M . 1572 ; F . K . Robinson , W . M . 100 ; L . T . Watson , 1669 ; A . G . Darby , P . M . 1 G 71 ;

P . D . Isaacs , 155 ; A . H . Bowles , P . M . 1395 ; VV . H . Bolt . J . D . 1563 ; J . Smyth , P . M . 123 S ; F . H . Doggett , S . W . 2024 ; R . Willoughby , P . M . 73 ; T . H . Edmunds , Stwd . ; J . H . Every , P . M . 311 ; J . W . Perry , W . M . 1446 ; W . Poole , Treas ., and W . J . Cheffins , of 1572 ; C . J . Evans , P . M . 1922 ; VV . J . Turner , 1767 ; M . J . Harris , P . M . 1 S 5 ; C VV . Bowley , P . M . 1441 ; A . J . R . Trendell ,

C . M . G ., P . G . Stwd . ; A . Bircham , P . M . 70 S ; E . J . Badderley , 1624 ; L . M . Myers , P . M . iSS ; W . D . Church , S . W . 13 C 5 ; R . L . Loveland , G . D . ; J . Carter , 55 ; J . D . Brickwell , 6 S 3 ; W . F . Bates , S . W . 1501 ; H . Richards , J . D . 79 ; W . T . Warner , S . D . 1297 ; VV . H . Hart , 1 S 30 ; 5 . Colran , 2021 ; H . G . Holland , J . D . 2353 ; C Harding , P . A . G . D . C ; G . E . Saunders , P . M . 1257 ; W . S .

Whitaker , P . M ., and A . T . Pearce , P . M ., of 1572 ; W . McLachlan , 1460 ; VV . W . Lee , 1 S 97 ; and others . The minutes were confirmed , and Bro . E . H . Pinto was raised to the Third Degree . Messrs . Myer Isaacs and Moss Isaacs were then impressively initiated and the ancient charge rendered . Bro . P . D . Isaacs was elected and received as a joining member . The ceremonies were ably

rendered by the VV . M ., who then proceeded to install his successor—Bro . H . Mainwaring Dunstan , W . M . elect—which duty he acquitted himself of in a manner enjoyed by all . The officers for the year were invested as follows : Bros . C . C . Piper , S . W . ; F . J . Smith , J . W . ; Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C , Chaplain ; J . Gibson , P . M ., Treas . ; E . J . Shand , P . M ., Sec ; W . Bonwick , S . D . ; J .

Hambling , J . D . ; J . Hayler , l . G . ; T . Bull , P . M ., D . C . J E . J . Smith , A . D . C ; J . Bartlett , Org . ; H . E . Poole , Asst . Sec . ; ] . H . Montague and G . Dexter , Stwds . ; VV . Walkley , P . M ., Tyler ; and J . M . Barber , Asst . Tyler . In investing Bro . Shand , P . M ., as Secretary , the W . M . expressed his pleasure that that brother , who was a founder oE the lodge , should accept the collar for the sixth year .

The Installing Master then delivered the customary address Letters of apology for absence were read from Bros . Burdett-Coutts , M . P ., P . M . ; Seager Hunt , P . M . ; and many others . The lodge was then closed . A recherche repast was served in the large hall by Messrs Rinq ; and Brymer , and was followed by the usual toasts , the " first being "The Oueen and the Craft" and "H . R . H .

the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . " In giving "The Grand Officers , " the Worshipful Master said there were few had any idea of the vast amount of care and attention involved in the management of such an Instituton as theirs . He had hoped to have secured the attendance of a large number of Grand Officers , but at this time of the year , when

engagements were so numerous , his hopes had been dissappointed . They had , however , among them some who , if not born in the purple , had succeeded to it , and to them they owed their best thanks . He coupled the names of Bros . Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C , and Chaplain of the lodge ; R . L . Loveland , S . G . D . ; and Col . Harding , who represented a past generation of Grand Officers .

Bro . Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C , in reply , said as there were two very distinguished and well-known Masons on his right to return thanks , he should give them but a very short speech , all the more as he had presently to propose a still more important toast . He would be for a single moment egotistical , and say he felt from his heart the generous , fraternal cheer with which his poor , humble name was greeted . He

did not misinterpret that cheer . He did not claim it on any personal merits , but as a graceful feeling paid at the shrine which Masons love and honour—the shrine of truth and justice . He had the great honour that night —an honour which he ventured to think more important than any Grand Lodge honour—the honour of being for the 6 th time their Chaplain . He thanked the W . M . from his heart for having offered him that honour . He esteemed

it greatly and trusted to live and be worthy of that honour for years to come . He was all the more grateful because it was received from the hands of a W . M . who had given them proof of his future year's work . It had given him great pleasure to be present at the installation of the W . M . who had won the spurs which he wore so becomingly Bros . R . L . Loveland , S . G . D ., and Colonel Harding also responded .