Correspondence.

Correspondence .

V / e do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

THE NEW ZEALAND QUESTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Bro . Whytehead is decidedly assuming when he asserts that I know as well as he knows that the confirmation of the resolution of July to all intents and purposes settles the matter , i . e ., the recognition of a Grand Lodge of New Zealand by the United Grand Lodge of England .

Bro . "Whytehead may depend upon it that recognition will only be accorded by a definite and precise resolution to that effect in Grand Lodge , exactly as was done in the cases of the other Australasian United Grand Lodges , and the sooner our brethren holding allegiance to the various Constitutions in New Zealand sink their differences and fall into line , the sooner will their supremacy as a united body be acknowledged . —Yours fraternally , W . F . LAMONBY . 21 st December .

Great Priory.

GREAT PRIORY .

A Great Priory of the United Religious and Military Orders of the Temple , and of St . John of Jerusalem , Palestine , Rhodes , and Malta , in England and Wales and the Dependencies thereof , was holden at Mark Masons'Hall , Great Queen-street , London , on Friday , the nth instant , A . L . 5900 , A . D . 18 9 6 , A . O . 77 8 , at five o ' clock . Present—The V . E . Provincial Prior for Hampshire , W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., G . C . T ., on

the throne . The V . E . Provincial Priors , for East Anglia , V . E . Knight Capt . N , G . Philips , G . C . T . ; N . and E . Yorkshire , V . E . Knight Major J . W . Woodall . K . C . T . ; and Devonshiie , V . E . Knight Major Geo . C . Davie . Great Officers—V . E . Knights the Rev . C . E . L . Wright , G . Prelate ; R . Loveland Loveland , K . C . T ., G . Chancellor ; Sir Reginald Hanson , K . C . T ., as 1 st G . Constable ; Col . F . R . Sewell , 2 nd G . Constable ; Ralph Clutton , K . C . T ., G . Treasurer ;

Frank Richardson , K . C . T ., G . Registrar ; C . F . Matier , K . C . T ., G . Vice-Chancellor ; Charles Belton , K . C . T ., G . Marshal ; the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , G . C . T ., as G . Almoner ; A . W . Orwin , G . Herald ; Alfred Cooper , G . Std . Br . ( Vex . Belli ); H . Percy Harris , G . Banner Bearer ; Frederick Mead , 2 nd G . Aide de Camp ; E . Knights Dr . N . Goodchild , 2 nd G . Capt . of Guards ; and Frederick Bevan , G . Organist . Past Great Officers—V . E . Kni ghts Colonel A .

B . Cook , G . C . T ., G . Constable ; Richard Clowes , G . Marshal ; E . Knight Major H . W . H . Eiwes , G . Herald ; V . E . Knight Ralph Gooding , K . C . T . G . Herald ; E . Knight ] . Reynolds Green , G . Herald ; V . E . Knight Sir George D . Harris , K . C . T ., G . Standard Bearer ; E . Knight Robert Berridge , G . Standard , Bearer ; V . E . Knight Gordon Miller , K . C . T ., G . Aide de Camp ; E . Knight F . N . Molesworth , G . Aide de Camp ; V . E . Knight Edward Letchworth , K . C . T .,

G . Sword Bearer ; and E . Knight Major T . W . Richardson , G . Sword Bearer . There were also present the following ( London ) knights : Walter J . Ebbett , 2 nd Constable , Herbert Wright , Almoner , and W . John Songhurst , all of Bard of Avon ; John Dimsdale and E . St . Clair , both of Faith and Fidelity ; H . Thomson Lyon , 2 nd Constable , and ] . Harrison , both of Holy Palestine ; Henry W . Kiallmark , P . Preceptor Holy Sanctuary ; John R . Carter , Standard Bearer

and C . Horst , both of Mount Calvary ; E . M . Money , E . Preceptor , and Robert A . Gowan , P . Preceptor , both of New Temple ; J . C . F . Tower , E . Preceptor , and B . A . Smith , P . Preceptor , both of Oxford and Cambridge University ; G . C . W . Fitzwilliam , ist Constable , Major C . W . Carrell , Herald , J . S . Tamburini , and Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale , all of St . George ' s ; H . P . Hay , Preceptor , Shadwell Clerke ; J . W . S . Godding , ist Constable , and Alfred H . Bevan , both of

Studholme ; W . J . Batho , United KemeysTynte ; ( in the Province of Cheshire ) the Rev . C . C . Atkinson , Preceptor De Tabley ; ( in the Province of East Anglia ) Francis A . Brooks , Prudence ; R . Percy F . W . Simpson , P . Preceptor , and Wm . Briggs , 2 nd Constable , both of Tancred ; W . Rainforth , P . Preceptor Temple Bruer ; ( in the Province of Kent and Surrey ) A . H . Bateman , P ., Preceptor ,

and William Briant , both of Lullingstone ; ( in the Province of Lancashire ) C . Morton Challender , P . Preceptor Hugh de Payens ; Thomas Forrester , Preceptor Rose of Lancaster ; ( in the Province of Oxfordshire ) D . Cory Wright , Ceeur de Lion ; ( in the Province of Staffordshire , Warwickshire , Jand Leicestershire ) Percy Wallis , P . Preceptor Abbey Chapter ; Captain H . Wilson lies , E . Preceptor , and George Powell . P . Preceptor , both of Stuart .

The knights having formed the Arch of Steel , the V . E . Knight VV . W . B . Beach , M . P ., G . C . T ., Prov . Prior for Hampshire , attended by the Great Officers , entered and took the throne . The Great Priory was opened in form and the muster roll was called . The minutes of Great Priory held on Sth May were read and declared to be correctly recorded . The GREAT MARSHAL announced the V . E . Knight the Viscount Dungarvan , G . C . T ., the Great Seneschal nominate , was in attendance .

The following knights were then appointed a deputation , and requested to retire and attend his lordship , viz .: Knights Capt . N . G . Philips , G . C . T . ; Col . A . B . Cook , G . C . T . ; Frank Richardson , K . C . T . ; and Sir Geo . D . Harris , K . C . T . The trumpets sounded . The Very Eminent the Viscount Dungarvan , G . C . T ., attended by the before-mentioned knights , then entered Great Priory .

f he Viscount DUNGARVAN , G . C . I ., took the oath as Great Seneschal , was invested and enthroned , whereupon . the HERALDS in the east , southwest , and north-west severally proclaimed as follows : By the authority and in the name of the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master , I proclaim Charles Spencer Canning , Viscount Dungarvan , Knight Grand Cross , Prov . Grand Master for Somerset , Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master of

Mark Master Masons , Most Eminent Grand Viceroy of the Red Cross of Constantine , Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for the County of Somerset , Colonel of the Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry , & c , & c , kc , has this day been appointed Great Seneschal of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown . His lordship being saluted accordingly .

Great Priory.

The Great Chancellor , E . Knight LOVELAND-LOVELAND , K . C . T .: The following report of the Council having been printed and circulated and put in the hands of every kni ght present , I beg to move that the report be taken as read .

REPORT OF COUNCIL . Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master . Your Council have the honour to report that in accordance with the resolution of Great Priory on Sth May , 18 9 6 , the Statutes as amended and revised have been printed , and a copy sent for official use of each Preceptory on the Roll . A copy has also been sent to every member of the Council .

The Loyal Ashton-under-Lyne Preceptory of Volunteers , No . 7 , meeting at Ashton-under-Lyne , Lancashire , whose warrant is dated 12 th August , 1796 , having petitioned for a centenary warrant , and having established to the satisfaction of your Council that it has had a continuous existence for at least 100 years , your Council recommend that a centenary warrant be granted , with permission for the subscribing members to wear the centenary jewel , as prescribed in the Statutes .

Your Council report with great pleasure that the De Tabley Preceptory , No 100 , meeting at Altrincham , in the Province of Cheshire , has been revived , with evsry assurance of future success , and that up to the present 11 brethren have been admitted to the Order of the Temple . The annual conference of the Great Priories of England and Ireland and the Chapter General of Scotland was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Dublin , on the 17 th April , 1896 .

The Great Priory of England was represented by the V . E . Knights the Earl of Euston , G . C . T . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , G . C . T . ; Col . A . B . Cook , G . C . T . ; Frank Richardson , K . C . T . ; C . F . Matier , K . C . T . ; The Great Priory of Ireland by the V . E . Knights R . W . Shckleton , G . C . T . ; Col . McCammon , K . C . T . ; Lieut .-Col . Davoren , G . C . T . ; and J . C . Meredith , LL . D . The Chapter General of Scotland by V . E . Knights The Marquis of Breadalbane , K . T ., G . C . T ., Grand Master ; Lord Saltoun , G . C . T . ; Lindsay Mackersy , G . C . T . ; and Major F . W . Allen , K . C . T . The chair was taken by the V . E . Knight R . W . Shekleton , G . C . T .

The first subject discussed related to the designation of the Governing Body in each country—whether it should be called " Great Priory " or " Chapter General . " After hearing the views of the Delegates , those from England and Ireland resolved to recommend that the existing name Great Priory and the designations of the Great Officers be retained , and the Delegates from Scotland resolved to recommend to the Chapter General to retain its name and the designation of its Ofiice Bearers .

It was unanimously resolved to recommend to the three Governing Bodies that in future the appointments of Knight Commander and Knight Grand Cross should be made by , and the Patents signed by , the Grand Master in each country , and not by the Sovereign of the United Orders . It was explained by the Scottish Delegates that under their Constitutions there existed the Grade of Knights Companion , which was conferred by the Grand Master ; and on the Patent conferring it was emblazoned the Knight's

Coat of Arms . In England and Ireland there was no such grade , although it was explained there was a ceremony of Installation of Preceptors , and that only those who had been actual Preceptors could be created Knights Commander . The Scottish Delegates farther explained that in Scotland the Order was considered purely Chivalric , and that it had no connection with Freermsonry , except that for the reasons explained in the Constitutions , no one could be admitted to the

Order who was not a Royal Arch Mason , and that they were not prepared to recommend any change on these grades , which are —( 1 ) Novice-Esquire , ( 2 ) Knight Templar , ( 3 ) Knight Companion , ( 4 ) Knight Commander , and ( 5 ) Knight Grand Cross , Knights Commander and Grand Cross being invested by the Grand Master or Presiding Officer . It was resolved that each governing body should be recommended to retain its present grades and modes of investiture .

The next subject of discussion was the number required to petition for a charter for a preceptory or priory . In England and Ireland the number required was seven ; in Scotland , n . In England a preceptory could be opened by the Preceptor and four knights . In Scotland a priory to be opened required nine , unless a member of Grand Council was present , in which case four others were required . After some discussion , the Scottish delegates resolved to recommend to their Chapter General to adopt the same rule , and to allow a priory to be opened by seven , or five , if one of them were a member of Grand Council .

A vote of thanks was accorded to the V . Eminent Knight Shekleton , G . C . T ., for presiding . In the evening the Delegates visited a preceptory , and saw two candidates received into the Order . After the ceremony , the delegates were entertained at a banquet by the Great Priory of Ireland , the V . Eminent Knight Shekleton in the chair .

The delegates from your Council desire to express their thanks to the Great Priory of Ireland for the courteous and kind reception accorded to them during their visit to Dublin . Your Council have adopted and approved a form of opening and closing for the use of Great Priory , which they recommend should be generally used in provincial priories and private preceptories .

Your Council have authorised the Great Treasurer to purchase the sum of ^ 500 India 3 per cent ., on behalf of the General Fund , which has cost the sum of £ 571 i ? s . 6 d . After audit by the Finance Committee , the Great Treasurer ' s accounts show , on the 31 st August , 1896 , a balance

of—General Fund ... ... ,,, ^ 189 15 5 Benevolent Fund ... ... ... 163 12 8 £ 353 8 1 By order of the Council , R . LOVELAND LOVELAND , Great Chancellor , oth November , 1896 .

The Great Treasurer , V . E . Knight RALPH CLUTTON , K . C . T . J I beg to second that . The motion was put and carried . The GREAT CHANCELLOR : I have now to move that the report be received and entered on the minutes . The GREAT TREASURER : I have the pleasure to second that . The motion was put and carried .

1 he GREAT CHANCELLOR : Very High and Eminent acting Grand Master , the Loyal Ashton-under-Lyne Preceptory of Volunteers , No . 7 , meeting at Ashton-under-Lyne , Lancashire , whose warrant is dated the 12 th August , 1796 , has petitioned for a centenary warrant , and having established to the satisfaction of the Council that it has had a continued existence for 100 years the Council recommend that the request be granted , and I beg to move accordingly .

E . Knight F . N . MOLESWORTH , Prov . Chancellor Lancashire : I beg to second the motion . The motion was agreed to . E . Knight Rev . C . CIIETWYNDE ATKINSON ; Very High and Eminent