Original Correspondence.

Constitutions . What the Book of Constitutions deals with is the Past AIaster ? , position iu Grand Lodge . It does not deal with his position in the Private Lodge—that solely depends on his continuing a contributing member . If he desis'is for twelv * months , helostshis lodge membership , and forfeits his Grand Lodge qualification . If he rejoins a lodge , he cannot recover his permanent Grand Lodge

qualification , until he has been re-installed as W . M ., though he may sit as Warden of a lodge , if so returned to Grand Lodge as the bonil fide Senior , or Junior Warden . " An Old P . M . " is very positive about the senority question I venture to think that he is altogether wrong . Let us take a case . A is the first W . M . of a new lodge , and at the expiration of twelve months service as W . M ., becomes

its first , and so its Senior Past Master . After five years more , A demits . There are now five Past Masters in the lodge , of which A is ihe Senior . He leaves the lodge for five years , during which time five more Past Masters have been added to the roll . A at length seeks re-admission , and becomes a joining member , and when he enters the lodge again , the question arises , where is he logo ? "Anold P . M . " says to the top

of the Past Masters , though for five years he has paid nothing to the lodge funds , and has left his other brethren " to bear the burden and heat of the day , " and because he is senior in time , he continues always so I " Busy Bee" contends , and I agree with him , that he becomes the Junior Past Master at the time of his readmission . And the common sense of this customary rule is clear . Were Past Masters to be permitted to

remain or go out from a lodge just as they think well , the whole stability of our private lodges would bc affected , and therefore the "lex inscripta" of all our lodges is , that a Past Master who leaves his lodge , takes rank after the Junior Past Master at the time of his re-admission . The custom of our Order , and of the lodges is , alike fair to the other Past Masters , and fair to him , I am , yours faithfully . MEIXIIISIIUA .

To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — " An Old P . M ., One , & c , " who notices my recent letter on the above subject , will find no authority in the " Constitutions" bearing on the question , and it is in consequence of this silence in our written law that the discussion has ari _ . cn . What 1 have ventured to urge is that

a Past Master in the Craft , supposing him to bc in the full pi . ssc _ . sion of his privileges , must be allowed to sit as a last Master in any lodge that he joins , and that lie would do so below the actual Past Alasters then in the lodge , ranking in the lodge next to them . I do not think that the circumstance of the lodge being his mother lodge wnilil alter his position in any way . "An Old P . M . "

<<¦ : ms fo me to bc correct in thinking that a Past Master ceasing to subscribe to a lodge for twelve months loses his membership with Grand Lodge , and nothing more ; the whole of the paragraph ( I , page 18 ) must be taken together , it recites— " Subscription as a member of any lodge is sufficient to preserve his rank and rights as a Past

Master , " and the inference from the concluding portion of the paragraph is , to my mind , that a non-fulfilment of this condition for twelve months , which deprives him of his membership with Grand Lodge takes from him also his rank and rights as a Past Master . Yours fraternally , Busy BEE .

THE RIGHT OF VISITING LODGES . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — A letter in your last issue shows the writer to be under the not uncommon misapprehension that a Mason m . ty visit any lodge 011 simply proving himself a member of the Craft . A reference to the " Constitutions " ( page

89 ) will show that no visitor can be admitted unless personally known , recommended , or vouched for , after due examination hy one of the present brethren . Without this safeguard , a lodge might be at any time visited by a suspended or an expelled Mason , and even run the risk occasionally of admitting a clever cowan . Yours fraternally , BUSY BEE .

THE ADMISSION OF MEMBERS . To the Editor if the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , All honour to "A Sincere Mason , " who has thought it well to bring before the Crnll existing evils ; I am inclined to think that the admission of lame members is quite a mistake , and our Book of Constitutions ,

if properly carried out , would prove such initiations to be void ; it might prove beneficial to those lodges who number one or two such on their books to have their certificates , and name or names , as might be necessary , cancelled and erased , so that , in this one respect , things would , look healthy . I am of opinion that the manliness of some whom I know would lead one or more to accept such

decision on the part of an honourable brotherhood , and at the same time remove from the mind of any one who might entertain thoughts as to motives , tec , of said individuals , that nothing but worthy motives were entertained ; would you be kind enough in your next impression to favour us

with a few remarks as to the validity or propriety of such initiations' as they cannot possibly bc of any service , in my way of thinking , to so noble an institution , and might eventually prove an eyesore to our progress . 1 loping you will favour the Crafl with something from your able pen , I sul - scribe myself a AIASTER MASON .

IIOYAL STANDARD LODGE ( No . 1298 ) . To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In your report of the above lodge last Saturday , you say that Hro . Shackell was the first W . M ., tec In the minutes ot the lodge meeting of the 7 th Feb ., 1871 , you will find the following resolution , which at once disposes of the statement referred to : —

Original Correspondence.

" That the freedom of the lodge bc presented to Bro . Colonel William Wigginton , P . M . 902 , P . Prov . G . D . C . Worcestershire , for services rendered as founder of the lodge and Lodge of Instruction , and as first Worshipful Master . " Yours very fraternally , A P . M . 23 rd Feb ., 187 ; .

MASONIC JURISPRI . DENCE . To Ihe Editor if the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — " An Old P . M ., " writing on this subject , seems a very young one , or he would know that a lodge can vote its funds to any purpose it pleases—he wants it pointed out in the Book of Constitutions where the law is enacted that a lodge can subscribe to any charity it pleases . It is not

at all necessary to have such an enactment— " Every lodge has the power of framing bye-laws for its own government . " If a member wants his lodge to subscribe to a charity , or for any other purpose , he has simply to give notice of motion of what he wants ; if carried at the meeting following , and the minutes are afterwards confirmed , the Treasurer is bound to pay the amount . MAGNUS OHREN , P . M . and P . Z .

MASONIC AMENITIES . To the Editor if the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — It is with much pleasure that I have to place before you the following Masonic reception in Germany ( of the Writer ) , at the Lodge " Lessing " in Barmen—Rhenish-Prussia .

One Thursday evening , on arriving from the above-named place , I said to myself , there is a Freemason ' s Lodge held at this hotel where I am staying . I made enquiry of Bro . Voleger , the Hotclbcsitzer ( Hotel-keeper ) , whom 1 knew to be a Freemason . ( I should have referred to my " Cosmopolitan , " but I had given that away to an American brother , whom 1 came across in Brussels , and to whom I

became known only by signs and a Templar Cross . More anon about this most worthy American brother ) . Bro . Voleger said , " Would you like to enter the lodge ? " I said , " Yes , with great pleasure . " I was at once introduced to the Vorbcrcilcnder Brother—Tyler—aud said lo him that I was an English Freemason , and should like to enter the lodge— " Would you like to prove mc ? " He gave me to

understand that he would make known my request to the Meister vom Stuhl ( The Worshipful Alaster ) . The M . v . S . came out immediately . 1 lc thus questioned me : " 1 lave you your certificate ? " I said , "No , I have not ; hut try mc and prove me . " " Give me the word . " I did so . " Now I will take your grips . " I gave them to him . I thought , even now , a doubt rested , so 1 pulled from my pocket my

apron , not a very clean one 111 appearance , and in addition to words and grips , said , " This is my certificate . " He said , " Worthy Brother , enter . " I did so , and met wilh a very hearty reception , on the report and introduction of the Af . v . S . to the brethren present . With them I spent a very pleasant two hours , most brotherly and fraternally . After some short time had elapsed , a gentleman came

in whom I knew , and he again most kindly introduced me to all present a second time ; this was "Bio . Hermann Brocke . " They had met on this occasion for business , and not tor work , and were all in an outer room , where they banquetted . I was questioned ( and I also questioned ) about English Masonry generally . A brother said , " Would you like to see our lodge . '" I answered affirmatively , and

the Tyler was ordered to light up the temple with all the appointments . I was much pleased , especially the Master ' s chair—which was nothing more nor less than a throneraised high up above all others . Above his chair , which was surrounded with rich draperies , was placed a large crystal star , some two feet in diameter , and when the gas was lighted , the effect was most beautiful . The lodge had

more the appearance of a temple than otherwise , and where solemn rites were performed and holy principles enunciated , such that Freemasons in general accept . 1 had , on my return to the brethren , a striking proof that the same glorious virtue—charity—was practised amongst then ) . My curiosity was aroused by seeing a list being passed round . 1 interrogated a brother by the side of me ,

and he informed me that a brother , a Frenchman , who had recently conic from America with his wife and family , had died suddenly , and they were then making a collection for the deceased brother ' s wife . Being a foreign brother , they whispered "We cannot permit our brother to subscribe , " but my heart prompted me , and my mite was given . 'Tis alone this gift , the greatest of all the three , that first drew

me to have a wish to become a Freemason , and , without charity , Freemasonry would be but sounding brass and tinkling cymbal . A goodly sum was collected , which , in relative value , amounted to about £ 1 ¦ . All honour to our Rhenish brethren Prior to my leaving the lodge my health was proposed and drank with all honours—the brethren expressed both

satisfaction and pleasure at my being in the midst of them , and trusted it would not bc the last time ; he also exalted the greatness and manliness of this , the most noble and best of all orders and brotherhoods . In reply to the unexpected honour they had done me , I simply returned them my thanks , and said that I fully endorsed the sentiments which had been expressed , and that 1 believed in the Order at large for its fraternity of feeling , of which 1 had had

conclusive proof personally , and also had been a witness of their charitableness . T . BumiKTT YEOMAN , IS ° . P . S . —Our American brother with whom I travelled a few hundreds of miles , was more than thankful for the " Cosmo . " 1 handed over to him—and to show it , he drew from his pocket-book a printed card , which he signed , and said— " Upon any of my ships , on presenting this to the captain , you can travel the American lakes free

Original Correspondence.

of all charge , and nothing would plcr . se . mc like havinnthe pleasure to prove to you how very grateful I am for your information , otherwise than presenting mc with this Alasonic almanac . " I hope to have the " satisfaction of giving him some further proof of w hat an English Mason is , when passing through London for his American home —T . B . Y .

AN APPEAL . To the Editor if the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In consequence of the late severe frost , a great deal of destitution is existing in the parish of Bethnal Green , owing to the poor having insufficient clothing ; and as there appears every reason to expect a return of the

cold weather , I beg respectfully to make an appeal on their behalf . There are many benevolent and charitably disposed persons , who would willingly and gladly assist them if they only knew how easy they could do so . Most of us have old coats , trousers , boots , tec , which we do not require . Now if these were given to tlie poor , it would be doing them a great service , by keeping them from the

inclemency of the weather . All contributions sent to the address given will be gratefully acknowledged , and trusting" that this appeal will meet with a hearty response , I am sir , your obedient servant , J T . BAKER . 158 , Tcthnal Green-road , E . [ Wc are glad to publish this letter in the cause of charity . —En . ]

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The following is the agenda of business to be transacted in Grand Lodge on Wednesday , 3 rd March , 1875 . 1 . —The Regulations for the Government of Grand Lodge during the time of public business will bc read . 2 . —The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 2 nd December , 1874 , will be read and put for

confirmation . 3 . —To read a letter from the Grand Lodge of Scctland , acknowledging the receipt of the Resolution of Condolence passed in Grand Lodge on the 2 nd September last , on the decease of The Earl of Dalhousie , K . T ., G . C . B ., Past Grand Alaster Alason of Scotland . 4 . —The AI . W . Grand Alaster will move an Address of

Condolence to the AI . W . Pro Grand Alaster , The Earl of Carnarvon , on the sad afiliction which has befallen his Lordship by the death of the Countess of Carnarvon . 3 . —The M . W . Grand Alaster will make a communication to the Grand Lodge in reference to the formation of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , and will move a icsolution to acknowledge it .

6 . —Election of a AI . W . Grand Alaster . 7 . —Election of a Grand Treasurer . 8 . —Report of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last Quarter , in which arc recommendations for the following grants , viz .: — A brother of the Samaritan Lodge , No . 286 , Bacup £ 50 The widow of a brother of the St . Alban ' s Lodge ,

No . 29 , London to The widow of a brother of the Royal Gloucester Lodge , No . 130 , Southampton 200 A brother of the Lodge of Faith , No . 141 , London 2 co A brother of the Southwark Lodge , No . 879 , Southwark 50

The widow of a brother of the Highgate Lodge , No . 1366 , Highgate 100 9 . —The Report of the Board of General Purposes to tie United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Alasons of England . 1 . —The Board of General Purposes beg leave to submit their report for the last quarter as follows : —

2 . —At the quarterly communication held on the 4 th day of September , 1872 , the board reported to Grand Lodge that they had suspended' Bro . Nathaniel lknry Braham , of the Alontefiorc Lodge , No . 1017 , for contumacy , under the circumstances set forth in their report . 3 . —Bro . Nathaniel I lenry Braham ha \ ing now attended lhe Board and made due submission , the Bonn ! have removed the suspension and restored Bro . Braham to his

Alasonic functions . 4 . —Air . John Walter Alalby having asked for a fresh lease cf the premises in Middle Yard , held by him under the Trustees of Grand Lodge , on the expiration of the existing lease at Michaelmas next , the Board recommend that a lease of the said premises bc granted for 14 years from the above date , at an annual rent of £ 150 , subject to the covenants of the existing lease .

5 . —The President will therefore move as follows : — ( 1 . )—That the Report be received and entered 011 the Minutes . ( 2 . )—That the recommendation of the Board with reference to Air . Alalby ' s application be agreed with , and that a fresh lease be granted accordingly .

( Signed ) Jons B . MONCKTON , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , 16 th February , 1875 . To lhe Report is subjoined a statement of the Grand Lodge Accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 12 th day of February instant , showing a balance in the hands of the Grand Treasurer of £ 4 , 4 62 8 s . 1 id . ; and in the hni . ds > . i the Grand Secretary , for Petty Cash , £ 75 ; and for Servants' Wages , £ i / i 15 s .

10 . —Report of the Colonial Board to the United Grand Lodge of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Alasons of England . The Colonial Board have little lo report to Grand Lodge , except their congratulations on the continued prosperity of the Lodges in the various Colonies and Districts under the English jurisdiction , on the general absence of disputes ami complaints , and the consequent good feeling which appears to prevail .