Correspondence.

Correspondence

I We do not hold ourselves responsible tor the opinions expressed b our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

ARTICLE 219 . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am a regular reader of the English Freemason and have attentively follosved the discussion in Grand Lodge and outside it svith regard to the Cambrian Lodge and coj-nate matters . It has long

been a matter of great astonishment that no member of the English Grand Lodge ( as far as I know ) has perceived that the much talked of Article 219 has really no bearing whatever on the matter of a majority in a lodge transferring its allegiance and warrant to another Grand Lodge , hosvever much it may apply to cases svhere a lodge dsvindles dosvn , and , from the

retirement of a large number , becomes practically defunct . I have been waiting for some time to see some viesv such as this expressed , but my expectations not having been realised I svrote by the last mail on the matter to a distinguished member of the English Grand Lodge . The letter had hardly been posted before I read svith the greatest pleasure the admirable letter of Bro . T . B .

Whytehead in your issue of September 2 nd . Everything I thought , everything I svould have said , is therein , so much better put than I could put it , that I will not trouble you or your readers by going further into the matter . Let me , however , through the medium of your svide-read paper , metaphorically give a hearty

shake of the hand to Bro . Whytehead and svish him every success in his truly Masonic endeavour to point out svhere iand in what way a serious Masonic stumbling-block may be removed . The words " more than arrived " in the first line of his letter might svell have been underlined . —Believe me , yours truly and fraternally ,

R . A . SIMPSON , Past S . G . D . N . S . W . Germanton , Nesv South Wales . October 9 th .

THE ROYAL ARCH . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As one who has had a large experience in the working of all Degrees in Freemasonry in past years , I may , perhaps , be allowed to state that 1 think the last act of Grand Chapter in abrogating the 12 months '

qualification for the Royal Arch is one of the most judicious steps that could betaken . The strongest argument that can be used in support of the amendment adopted is that ihe Degree professes to be no more than the completion of Ihe Masier Mason , and it is absurd to suppose that waiting 12 months lends any additional dignity to the recipient of the Degree .

Strong arguments may be used in favour of prolonging the probation for the Degree of Master Mason , and with much more effect than in the . case of the , it must be said , somesvhat useless appendage of the Royal Arch . When I was made a Mason in 1854 , in the Lodge of Integrity , then No . 18 9 , Manchester , it had a by-law

that none should be made a Fellosv Craft or a Master Mason until three clear months had passed in the two minor grades . I at once joined a lodge of instruction , and in this interval of three months made such progress in the lectures that , with a W . M . singularly well up , I svas able to pass such examinations as had never before been given in the lodge . I afterwards found , however , that my assiduous attendance at the lodge of

instruction was a sourceof inconvenience , inasmuch as it kept the members on the svork of the Degree in which I happened to be . Too polite to call my attention to this , some of the members complained to the Provincial Grand Lodge , and the by-lasv had to be expunged , as contrary to the general svork of the Craft , yet means svere found for some time to delay passings and raisings to the old term .

I have knosvn members of the Craft to become a 30 ° of the Ancient and Accepted Rite before they were eligible to be admitted to the Royal Arch , and I have myself admitted Master Masons in a similar way into corresponding Degrees in the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Masonry , the Mark , Red Cross , Allied

Degrees , etc ., offer a similar argument in point , and , knosving as sve do the difficulty of obtaining members for the existing chapters , under these circumstances it svould seem unsvise to oppose the 12 months' obstacle to the reception of aspiring Masons . —Yours frater" " * JOHN YARKER .

FREEMASONRY IN THE ARMY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have read wilh interest the various letters that have appeared in your valuable paper on "Freemasonry in the Army , " and send you the following , as it may interest some of your readers to know how

Freemasonry svas developed in Co-Jon . Tosvards the close of the fifties , the 50 th Regiment , then stationed in the island , had its osvn lodge , svorking under the Grand Lodge of Ireland . Here they made m iny of the civilians Masons . The Craft became so

popular that in ' 61 , the regiment being about to leave Ceylon , a petition was for . varded for ( he formation of ; t lodge to be held in Colombo , and by special dispensation the new lodge svas consecrated at Kandy on the 22 nd April , ' 61 , by the W . M . of the 50 th Regiment Lodge , the founders being Bros . Arthur Hansbrow ,

Correspondence.

Henry Thompson , and Chas . H . Nesvton , the lodge being called the Sphinx , No . 107 ( I . C ) , in honour of the gallant 50 th Regiment , svhich had so distinguished itself in Egypt . From the Sphinx sprang the Leinster , the Ser .-ndib , and Dimbulla Lodges . The lodge , which at the present moment is still a very strong one , has a Royal Arch Chapter attached to it ;

it is very popular svith the military , the present W . M . being an officer of the Royal Artillery , and the W . M . elect a Warrant Officer of the same Royal regiment , and his ofiicers are composed almost exclusively ol members of the Colombo Garrison . —1 am , dear sir and brother , yours fraternally , G . H .. Sec . and P . M . Sphinx Lodge , No . 107 ( I . C ) .

PROPOSED LODGE FOR STREATHAM . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother . As a new resident in Streatham , I am surprised to find that no Masonic lodge exists in the immediate neighbourhood , and it occurs to me that an excellent one might be established .

Probably many of the Craft residing in this district , but members of lodges in the Metropolis , would ippreciate one also nearer home . I shall therefore be glad if brethren sharing this viesv will place themselves in communication svith me , so that the necessary steps may be taken for the accomplishment of so desirable an object as the founding of a lodge in Streatham . —I am , yours faithfully and fraternally ,

E . N . GLAESER , Cairngorm , Ullathome-road , Streatham Park , S . W . November 19 th . ¦

THE VALE OF EDEN LODGE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I observe in " Masonic and General Tidings " of this day ' s Freemason , viz . " A nesv lodge , to be called the' Vale of Eden / has just been formed at Appleby , "

& c , & c . The petition was only forsvarded by me to the Grand Secretary about 10 days ago , hence no time for the warrant to ba granted , far less appointment of ofiicers . We hope it svill soon be so , and have great faith that it will be prosperous . —Yours faithfully and fraternally ,

GEO . DALRYMPLE , P . G . Sec . Whitehaven , 18 th Nov .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1047 ] — LORD SACKVILLE , G . M . OF IRELAND , 1751 . Bro . Sadler , in his " Masonic Facts , " & c , alli _ ded to Lord Sackville being offered the chair of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , but was not then aware when that nobleman was elected Grand Master . The follosving work , nosv happily in the library of the Grand Lodge of England , gives the date , viz ., June 24 th , 1751 . i

have svritten to the Deputy Grand Secretary of Ireland to alter my list of their Grand Masters in the official calendar from 175010 1751 . The title is as follosvs : "An Anssver to the Pope ' s Bull . With a Vindication of the Real Principles of Free-Masonry . Publish'd by the consent and Approbation of the Grand Lodge of Ireland . By Bernard Clarke , & c . Dublin , 1751 . " The

dedication is " To the Right Worshipful and Right Honourable Lord George Sackville ,. Grand Master of the Antient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons in Ireland , " by the author , dated at Dublin . "September 19 th , 1751 . " At page [ 3 SJ is an extract from " Anderson ' s Constitutions " 173 8 , and a note below contains the ' names of the Past Grand

Masters of Ireland : " The Right Honourable Lord Kingston . The Right Honourable Lord Netterville . The Rt . Hon . Henry Barnsval , Lord Kingsliind . The Rt . Hon . Sir Marcus Beresford ' , Earl ot Tyrone The Rt . Hon . the Earl of Blessington . The Rt . Hon . Lord Donerayle .

The Rt . Hon . Lord Tiillainorc . The Rt . Hon . Lord Soufhnvl . The Rt . Hon . Lord Allen . Sir Marmaduke IVivil . Right Honourable Lord Kingsb trough . " "June , the 24 th , 1751 . The Right Honourable Lord GEORGE SACKVILLE was unanimously chosen

Grand Master in Ireland , the Honourable Thomas Southviel , Esq ., Deputy G . M ., the Hon . Roderick Makemzie [ Mackenzie ] , Esq ., Senior Grand Warden , and the Honourable Brinslcy Butler , Esq ., Junior Grand Warden . " Evidently from the foregoing , Lord Kingsborough was re-elected Grand Master in 1750 , and so now sve have a fair approximate list of the

Masonic Rulers of Ireland from early days , and particulirly during the peri id for svhich no records are extant . The svork herein noted is dedicated to Lord Sackville as Giand Master , the frontispiece being- an excellent plate of his lordship ' s coat-of-arms . The Hon . Thomas Southwell ( aftersvards Viscount ) succeeded to the chair in 1753 . Whether Lord Sickville

svas ever installed I cannot discover , but am inclined to believe he was . The motto of the yackvilb or Dorse : t family svas Aut nuilijiinm tentes mil perfice , so 1 have followed out its precept by tracing the date as noted . Those interested in the subject should consult a communication from me in the freemason for March 2 yth , 1890 . It was through Bro . Sadler ' s able work I svas led to discover the particulars aforesaid . W . I . HUGHAN .

Craft Masonry.

Cran ffDasonrv

t ^ j »* ^ '^ L ^^ * gi ^ - ^^ ==: £ aa » ¦ £ > J ** j , w . r-r ~ - **** J- ) ftS- - "¦— - V-ft" *? - ¦ £ --- ^ ffujjj ; - € s | ^ j ^ iQVJl *^ > M utei . liiV " ^ J

MHTROPOL 1 TAN MEETINGS . Rose of Denmark Lodge ( No . 97 s )—This 11 lunshing lodge held its installation meeting on the 17 th inst ., at the Horns Hotel , Kennington , svhen there svas a good musterof members and visitors . Amongst the former were Bros . G . Wnite , W . M . ; R . H . Gundry , S . W . ; J . HillJ . W . ; H . 0 . Hinton , P . M ., P . G . Std . Br . Suffolk ,

, lreas . | I . Noble , P M ., Sec . ; W . Funge , S . D . ; H . Brook , J . D . ; W . iJishop , Stsvd . ; T . T . Willcox , P . M . ; J . Brosvn , P . M . ; C . F . Campbell , P . M . ; E . Ayling , P . M . ; B . A . Griffin , P . M . ; W . W . Williams , P . M . ; G . Bugler , P . M . ; and W . II . Lee , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Middx . Visitors : Bros . E . Melson , 177 ; J . O . Hara , 165 C ; E . H . Johnson , W . M . 1 G 9 ; J . Murray , 169 ; H .

Trask , VV . M . 2372 ; W . J . Stratton , P . M . 753 ; II . Hibberd , S . W . 167 ; C . F . Sole , 933 ; S . F . Macksvay , J . W . 2310 ; Paul Meiklenburg , 60 ; C Thomson , P . M ., Sec . 1297 ; T . W . Barker , 1539 ; A . Luodie , W . M . 13 S 1 ; J . W . Hartley , P . M ., bee . 19 S 6 ; A . Harvey , I . P . M . 19 G 3 ; H . N . Price , P . M . 177 ; VV . Tucker , 795 ; D . Varran , VV . M . 1155 ; F . Lesvin , 1155 ; and W . W . Lee ,

I . P . M . 23 S 1 . After the formal opening of the lodge , and the confirmation of the minutes , a brother svas raised to the Degree of M . M . Bro . K .. H . Gundry svas then installed into the chair as VV . M . for the ensuing yeir , Bro . E . Ayling , P . M ., undertaking the duties of D . C . during the ceremony . The follosvintr officers svere appointed and invested : Bros . Geo .

White , I . P . M . ; VV . Fun * e , S . VV . ; H . Brook , J . W . ; H . O . Hinton , P . M ., P . G . Std . Br . Suffolk , Treas . ; John Noble , P . M ., Sec ; J . Hudson , S . D . ; W . M . Bond , J . U . ; VV . J . Juby , I . G . ; W . Bishop , D . C . ; H . Morgan , J . Brosvn , P . M ., and | . Miller , Stewards ; and J . Gilbert , Tyler . Ihe W . M . then impressively initiated tsvo candidates . On the proposition of the I . P . M ., a resolution of

sympathy and condolence svas passed to the family of the late Bro . James Garnar , P . M . and Treasurer of the lodge . The lodge svas closed and tha brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet . After grace had been sung , Bro . Hinton , P . M ., Treas ., rose and said he svished to refer to the loss the lodge had sustained in the death of Bro . Jas . Garnar , P . M . Already

in the lodge ( he subject had been referred to by the I . P . M ., svhilst the lodge was svell represented at the grave side of the deceased brother , and the members sent a tribute of sincere respect and esteem . As far as the members present that evening svere concerned , he ( Bro . Hinton ) was Bro . Garnar's oldest friend , and svas the means of introducing him into the lodge . Hro . Garnar svas his iriend , " faithful

and true , " and he could hardly trust himself even at that date to refer to their loss . Bro . Garnar svas of an amiable and genial nature and a large-hearted and charitable man , being Vice President ot all the Masonic Institutions . His character svas in fact summed up in the svords of the song svhich their late brother used to sing , " Give me the man of honest heart . " His straightforsvardness enabled him to be

successful in business , and he left behind him tsvo sons svho svould no doubt follosv his footsteps . Bro . Girnar perfoimed all the duties devolving upon him in the lodge in a moat able manner , being ( strong in purpose but suave in manner , making many friends but losing none . On that the lirst meeting of the lodge since his death , the brethren svould be upstanding and drink in silence to his memory .

"The Queen and the Craft" and the usual Masonic toasts sverc then given . Bro . George White , I . P . M ., proposed "The Health of the W . M ., " and sail the manner in svhich Bro . Gundry performed the duties of S . W . in the past year was very creditable to him , and from svhat the members had seen of his svork in the chair on the present occasion , they svere assuted that that creditable svork svould be maintained . 1 heir

VV . M . had been a member of the lodge for many years and the members svere pleased to see him in his present high position , and hop ; d he svould continue to . enjoy the health and strength hc nosv possessed . Bro . Kobert H . Gundry , W . M ., thanked the I . P . M . and brethren for the cordial proposition and reception of the toast . He also thanked the brethren for electing him to his

high position . I le fully appreciated the confidence reposed in him and svould endeavour to prove their conlidence svas not misplaced . He also appreciated the responsibilities of the othce , and recognised that the Past Masters before him had raiseel it to dignity , and given the lodge a prestige which it svould be liis effort to maintain . The I . P . M . had spoken in eulogistic terms of his working , but he hid found all

tnat Past Masters got into the bad habit of praising Masters . Hosvever , as the I . P . M . svas not a fully llsdged Past Master , he would take the flattering unction to his soul thit svhat he said svas true . In his endeavours he ( the VV . AL ) svas sure he should have the assistance of the officers , and tne indulgence of the brethren . He had a pleasing duly to perform in asking the brethren to drink

•• Ihe Healtn of ihe I . P . M ., Bro . George White , " who had solved curing the past year as Master svith the utmost ability , and had none all he possibly couid to keep them in nannoiiy with each other . lle ( ttie W . M , ) feltit an hjnuur to have to decorate the I . P . M . with a Past Master ' s jesvel , voted by the members as a token of the tespet and regard in svhicn he svas held .

Bro . Geo . White , I . P . M ., returned thanks . for the toas and ior the handsome jewel presented to linn , svhich ne lelj he had not quite descivedly earn-. d , but he hid endeavoured to do so to the oeat ot his ability . He had svorked hard to elo his duty , and it he had not epiite succeeded , he had d-ine the best he cuuld , thanks to tne assistance ot Bro . Ayhnk ' - f . M ., svho had helped him most thoroughly . Ihe olticer *> had also assisted mm , and lie had endeavoured to m * J j h . mstlt agreeable and kind to all svith svnom he haa

associated . . . . ,, Bros . Wisdom and Daises responded for" The Initiates and Bros . Johnson , Lundie , lrask , Hartley , and « . 1 Price for " Ihe Visitors . " Bro . E . Ayl . ng , P . M ., on behalf of "Tne Fa * Masters , " saiu they svere only too willing to assist in