Original Correspondence.

in the provinces , it was met with nothing but thc utmost couilcsy , greatest kindness , and valuable assistance anel support , at thc same time they acknowledged the necessity for the step we hacl at last taken , and expressed their surprise that we- , in Lonelon , had not pursued it before ; ami l feel quite sure that the members of the London Masonic Charity Association , one anel all , fully appreciate and

reciprocate the kindly feeling expressed in deeds as well as words by tbe brethren in thc provinces . Before concluding , I would call the attention of the London brethren thus early to two last applications which will appeal to them next April . The candidates are " Frost , C . F ., " with only ten votes ; and "Giles , F . A ., " with only three votes to bring * forward ; the former has no

relations dependent on the Institutions , his father became a Life Subscriber to both the R . M . I . B . anel G ., and had served as Steward to both , and subscribed 8 J years . Thc applicant is one of four dependent on the mother . Her address is 44 , Arthur-road , Holloway . The latter has no relations on the Institutions ; father subscribed 12-J > ears , and applicant is also one of four dependent on the mother ,

living at n , Skinner-street , Bishopspate . There is another last chance London case , viz ., " Nicholls , R . H ., " but as he brings forward 1013 vctes , so much exertion will not be required in his case . Among the girls there are at present no last chances for Lonelon , anel but two for the provinces , viz ., " Pecle , K . A , " Durham , with a sister already in the Institution , aud she , herself , thc only one

dependent on the mother , and " Williams , E . C , " Monmouth , father subscribed 10 J years , has none of her family on the books of the Institution , and is one of two dependent on the mother . Another very distressing case is in Monmouth , " Laybourne , R . E . A ,, " father subscribed 15 years ; her uncle , who brings this case forward , lost another brother , also a

Mason , and is now the , chief support of two widows and ten children besides his own . Before closing my letter 1 glanced over your paper , ami was highly amused with tbe letter from Bro . Edmeinston . No . 16 5 8 ; surely he must have been reatling "Don duixote , " anel have gone to bed on a supper of unelerdone pork , to have tilted so violently against the

emanations cf his own brain , for the most adverse reading could not have concocted such an array of iniquities as those against which our worthy brother has been so violently charging . I certainly must rccommenel Bro . Edmonston , or any other of our opponents , to make themselves

conversant with the tenets anil principles nf our Association , before they expend so much energy in fighting the air , and tbey cannot expect a reply repudiating ideas which never cxisteel in the-minds of those who are the objects of such unmeaning attacks . Yours fraternally , CHARLES PERCEVAL , Treasurer , L . M . C . A .

BRO . EDMONDSTON'S PROTEST . To the Editor if the" Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I epiite agree with you as to the undesirability of further controversy in your columns as regards the Lonelon Masonic Cliaiity Association . It can only be juelgtd by its results , and by these alone . Bui there are

two points and two points only on which 1 wish to make a few remarks , and for which I crave a little space in your journal . ist . The first is that Bro . Eilniemdston , authoritatively ( rather , perhaps , on no authority ) passes severe condemnation on the Provincial Charity Committees for combining their votes . I , on thc contrary , think , and equally

dogmatically declare , that they are right iu doing so , anel only availing themselves of their privileges as subscribers , and the law of common sense . 2 elly . Let me give an illustration of the use and the " raison d ' etre" of the London Masonic Charity Association . They say " one good illustration is worth one thousanel arguments . " Watkins , who was defeated by a " fluke "

by ninety-eight votes , is one of nine children , and that was his last chance . His poor mother having few influential friends , has failed both at the Boys' and Girls' School election . Just as we had heipeel by a fiiendly interchange to secure his election , a well-known brother obtains three hundred votes [ or another case , anil the poor widow with

nine children is left out in thc cold . I confess that I went home sad at heart , and felt more than ever the absolute need eif the London Masonic Charity Association . For candidates with many friends of course it is not needed , but for frii nelless candidates it will be a " Goel send , " as we were tolel at Freemasons' Tavern . I am yours fraternally , A MEMBER OF THE L . M . C . A .

A CAUTION . 7 o the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Rather more than a year and a half ago , when 1 was resident at Castletown , Isle eif Man , I received a visit from a man calling himself Bro . Szapira , who said he was or had been a member ofthe Morning Lodge , Ne > . 351 ,

under tbe French dispensation . I cannot at this present moment ret : * . ' . left the name of the town where this lodge , ¦ icce-rding li > lis .-. ivmmt , is , ur was , held , but to the best of my receilleetiiiii il -. vis not Frankfiirt-on-Main . With this single exception , the account that " I . P . M . 13 *» 7 " has given nf his doings at Waltham Cross and ils

iii-iirhhnnrliond woulel do ex' . ictly for Uls visit to the Ulanel . The ease is well known in the Island eil Man , and I have no doubt that . 1 full account eif bis \ isit e -ould be given by a P . M . of tbe Alhuli : Lodge , 1004 , who took a gie . il deal e , [ trouble in asccitniniug tlie merits and demerits of the case . His visit to rue began by bis asking me to buy bis books .

Original Correspondence.

I replieel lhat 1 was not in want of those that he showed me . He then said that if I would not buy his books , I » i » sl relieve him . It was my bounden eluty to eln so . When I tolel him that I could n . ; t relieve him without making enquiries , he abused me in the foulest t'rras . Yours fiaternally , J . W . 1678 .

CENTENARY OR SPECIAL JEWELS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I shall be glael to know through the Freemason ( or to my residence ) whether either of the following lodges have warrants for centenary or special jewels , as I have not succeeded in obtaining definite accounts as yet , and desire to do so for my next work . Fraternally yours .

WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN . Truro , Cornwall , in Oct . 1878 .

No . 5 . St . George ' s and Corner Stone Lodge . 1 , 6 . Loelge of Friendship . ,, 26 . Castle Lodge of Harmony . „ 00 . Peace and Harmony .

P . S . I am anxious to know as to special jewels worn before the years 1861-2 .

HANDSOME OR HANSOM . To the Editor of Ihe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I sec in a recent police report that the Times talks of a " Handsome cab . " Is this a misprint or an

affectation ? I always undcrstooel that " Hansom " cabs were called so after their inventor , Hansom . Is that a mistake ? The moral of that police report would undoubtedly be , " Handsome is as handsome does ; " so , perhaps , it was a joke of the repoiters ' . Yours fraternally , LINDLEY MURRAY .

Consecration Of The St. Leonard Lodge, No. 1766.

CONSECRATION OF THE St . LEONARD LODGE , No . 1766 .

This new lodge , whose warrant bears date as far back as the 25 th of June last , was cemsee-rateel on Tuesday last , at the Town Hall , Shoteditcr * , by Bro . James Terry , Piovincial Junior Grand Warden , Herts ; who was assisted by Bro . W . T . Howe , G . P .. as S . W . ; W . H . Main , P . M .

813 , as J . W . ; William Clark , Prov . Grand Director of Ceremonies , Suffolk , as Director eif Ceremonies ; Joseph Cox , as Secretary , Charles G . Hill , P . M ., 13 ( 16 , as I . G . ; and the English Glee Union . Bros . H . Ashton , G . Musgrave , F . II . Cozen ? , and A . Hubbard , under the direction of Bro . A . Hubbard . The ceremonies of thc day , which were most fluently and impressively performed , had

the advantage of being conducted in a magnificent room , the loftiness ofwhich prevented any inconvenient heat being experienced by the brethren , although there were some 120 present . The ceremonies being in the hands of such an expert as Bro . Teiry , were completed iu the space of an hour and a half , and the brethren who bad the pleasure of witnessing them received , an admirable

lesson in the art of consecrating a lodge anel installing a Master . The opinion of thc local brethren as to the necessity of a good lodge in the parish eif Shoreditch was evidenced by such a large muster ofthe fraternity , which more resembled a Provincial Granel Lodge then any other assembly of Masons . The brethren who signed the lodge bonk were . Bros . L . Stean , Ge-o . T . Barr , C . T . Barham ,

C . Stevens , Joseph Cox , C . J . Graham , Hy . J . F . Gale , A . H . Clement , Wm . Bennet , A . Russer , W . Beasley , E . Walker , J * mes Roberts , J . Terry , P . G . J . W ., Herts , P . M . 228 ; Charles W . Cox ., 1566 , J . W . 1564 ; E . T . Henman , 124- ? ; James Smith , 193 ; W . Perry , P . J . W . 1107 ; W . H . Main , P . M . 813 ; F . Breen , S . W . 107 6-, John Henry Hale , W . M . 737 ; John G . Stevens , P . M . 554 and

933 ; Walter J . Ramsey , 174 ; John Stilwell , 81 * 5 ; W . T . Stevens , S . W . 737 ; H . Ashton , 1185 ; W . Dowse , P . M . 754 ; J . H . Thompson , 1237 , Hcniy Rawes , 950 , 1353 ; | . B . BunweP , 1 ( 16 }; Albert Hubbard , 813 ; T . Cusworth , P . M . 813 ; ' W . Stead , W . M . 813 ; W . Stephens , P . M . Clapton and Ripem ; W . Burton , P . M . 1124 ; Edwin Blunt , 14 S 9 ; W . T . Howe , P . G . P . ; Thomas

Sim , 63 ; W . H . Wallington , P . M . 860 ; J . Taylor , P . M . 9 * 13 ; Saml . Hollielay , W . M . 3 82 ; Thomas Glass , 813 ; W ' . F . Green , 861 ; Thomas Purdy , P . M . 861 ; W . Grist , 1489 ; H . | . Dickson . 781 ; Fred . H . Cozens , 907 ; R . H . Harper , S . W . 813 ; H . J . Gabb , P . M . 813 ; W . Sheaei , 13 66 ; G . Eelwards , 907 ; J . B . Shackleton , P . M . 1326 ; Wyndham Hart , 49 ; H . Stephens , W . M . 754 ; Joseph

Driscoll , P . M . 30 ; G . H . Wilkinson , jun ., 49 ; E . E , Powle , W . M . 869 ; Stephen Hagnatt , 101 ; George Plummer , 177 ; Charles G . Hill , P . M . 1366 ; Geo . Levy , 40 ; W . Johnson , 861 ; Henry It . Fletcher , 1604 ; Josh . Woodhams , 101 ; J . Baitlett , P . M . 813 ; W . Snellgrove , S . W . 907 ; Elias Somers , P . M . 1602 ; W . Webb , 382 ; R . M . Clarke , 1339 ; L . M . Bedwell , 861 ; John A . Hunt , 569 ;

W . Dawson , 1602 ; J . A . Smith , 11 ( 17 ; G . L . Young , 820 ; Charles B . Payne , G . T ., P . M . 27 ; J . W . Taylor , W . M . 917 ; George Musgrave , 1507 ; Charles Coleman , 907 ; L . Jones , 99 6 ; Thos . Chapman , ; H 8 ; James Blyth , S 13 ; W , Clarke , 114 ; anil H . Massey { Freemason . ) Alter the usual ceremonies had been gone through , and the loelge formally dedicated to the noble science , Bro .

Terry installed as the first Worshipful Master of the lodge Hro . Louis Steaii , P . M . of 917 , anil several other lodges—a brother wheise standing in the Craft is of forty-eight years ' duration , and who is well-known as an able worker of the ceremonies , and connected of old with the support of the Masonic Charitable Institutions . 15 rc . Charles Stevens was invtsteil as I . P . M ., Bro . George T . Ban * as S . W ., Bro . Chailes F . Barham as J . W ., Bro . Charles Stevens as

Consecration Of The St. Leonard Lodge, No. 1766.

Treasurer , Bro . Joseph Cox as Secretary , Bro . Benjamin as S . D ., Bro . Jones as J . D ., Bro . Clements as I . G ., Bro . Gale as D . C , Bro . Marshall as W . S ., and Bro . C . T . Speight as Tyler . Bro . Teny delivered the addresses to the Worshipful Master and the brethren , and Bro . W . Clark the aeldrcss to the Wareler . s .

A long list of intenelmg initiates and joining members was read by the Secretary , after which a vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officers was passed , the lodge was closeel , and the brethren partook of a delightful banejuet , supplied by Bro . W . Grist , of Hackney . The loyal and Masonic toasts followed , Bro . W . T Howe , G . P ., responding to the toast of " The Pro and

Deputy Grand Masters , and the rest of the Granel Officers . " Bro . Terry , then rose , and said that as a Consecrating Officer the eluty devolved upon him of submitting for the brethren ' s acceptance a toast , anel he was sure the subject of it was one that was he very much gifted indeed with the power of oratory , he should exhaust it on this subject . His toast was " The Health of Bro . Stean , W . iVI . " Bro .

Stean in the course of Ins observations had said that he had now been forty-eight years a Mason . It was something for the brethren to think of , that a brother for all that number of years hael passed over his head , yet thought himself sufficiently young to take the gavel of office to rule and direct the affairs of a new loelge . He ( Bro . Terry ) had had the pleasure of Bro . Stean's

acquaintance in Masonry for nearly twenty years ; they had worked together very zealously , very hard indeeel , in days gone by , and he was happy , indeed , to see health and strength spared to Bro . Stean till noiv to undertake tbe areluous task imposed upon him . He was certain that the brethren of the St . Leonard Lodge had made a very excellent selection for first Worshipful Master of a brother who was an

expert m the Craft , who was well acquainted with all thc routine working of it , was familiar with all its ceremonies , and was competent to preside over the brethren at thc banquet table . This certainly was a rar : combination in one brother , that he should know the Book of Constitutions , be able to perform the ritual , anel also be able to preside with grace at the festive board . In Bro . Stean he was certain

they hael those combined qualifications , and he ventured to predict that during the first year of the lodge ' s existence it would have a very prosperous , happy , and harmonious career . Prosperous they all desired to see it , happy they were all wishful it should be , and harmonious he was certain it would be . Unless harmonv prevailed thc lodge could neit

be prosperous . Bro . Stean hail been a gooel worker in elays gen-. e by in promoting all that was good and pure anel holy in Freemasonry , He hael beeu a suppoiter of the Institutions , and had done excellent service . If he ( Bro . Terry ) were to talk for ten minutes , or a quarter of an hour longer he could not tell the brethren more than they themselves knew alrcaely . It they had not known

Bro . Stean ' s good qualities they woulel not have recommeneled him for thc proud position of being their W . M . Therefore , without further preface he would propose that they should drink with all heartiness and sincerity , anel with the greatest warmth one Mason ' s heart coulel shew te > another , "The W . M . ' s Health . " Bro . Stean , in reply , said he felt at a loss for words to

express what he felt . When he was a young man he thought it a great honour and a very great pleasure to piesielc in a lodge . He now lookeel on it in a different light—as a duty . He thought that after having had honours showereel on him , and having been for many years respected in the Craft , if it lay in his power at the end of his career to start a new lodge that should be

vigorous it was his duty to do so . He doubteel not that the St . Leonard Lodge woulel carry out a great eleal more than it had lain in his power to do . Still he hoped and trusted that the seeds of Freemasonry would be sown in this lodge , and that many young members now alive would remember his words when he was gone , and say

that Bro . Stean ' s prediction had been fulfilled , that the lodge was equal to any in the Craft , their subscriptions to the Charities as great as any , and that every chair in thc lodge—the W . M . ' s , the S . W . ' s , and the J . W . ' s , as well as the Deacon ' s—woulel represent a Vice-President of one or other of the Institutions . [ The report will bc concluded in our next . ]

News of Professor Nordenskiold ' s North-East Passage Expeelition has reached Stockholm . It left the north coast eif Norway on the 25 th of July , reached Jugor Straits on the 30 th . steamed on the ist of August anel anive . 1 at the mouth of the Yenissej on the 6 th . It was

intended to start afresh on the 10 th of August . Thc Kara Sea was nearly free of ice . A little scattered drift ice near White Island was the only ice met with tluring the whole voyage . The expeelition has thus a good prospect of success . —Nature . The Eastern unsettlement threatens to create

yet another nuisance—a new European language . The Albanians , in asserting their nationality , claim that Albanian shall be the official language- of their country . The Albanians have two chief languages , the Tosk and the Guegh , and they cannot read them when other people

write them , so they use Greek for written communications , Some years ago we mentioned that the Bible Society hail published a Tosk Testament , which no one coulel read , su they printed a Geugh Testament , iu another new character , aud set up sclioeils te > teach peeiple lo leael it . —At

henivum . The Lord Mayor elect ( Alderman Sir Charles Whetham ) has honoured Messrs . Lock and Whitfield , of Regent-street , with a silting for his photograph , which will be reproduced by the Woodbury permanent process and published with the Navcmbcr number of the British Mercantile Oaiette .