Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We 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 limits—free discussion . ]

A QUERY . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , In perusing the Book of Constitutions some time since in order to be well up in it previous to receiving " the highest honour the lodge has in its

power to bestow , " I observed by Art . 149 it is " enjoined upon Masters and Wardens to visit other lodges in order that the same usages and customs may be observed throughout the Craft . " In the course of my visitations I observed what I consider a few irregularities , two only of which I draw

attention to , namely , one where a F . C . was invested with the collar of a Steward , and the other , a brother of high social position appointed to a Warden ' s chair , his first office in a lodge . In this case the brother not being present to be invested was elected W . M . at the next regular period of election . The former case is , in my opinion irregular , and the

latter illegal , because by Art . 130 , "he must have served one year the office of ... . Warden . " To my mind the period of service can only date from the time when invested , therefore , such an election would not be in conformity with the Book of Constitutions . Are my views correct ? Perhaps some brother will favour me with theirs . —Yours fraternally ,

A STUDENT . ROYAL ARCH COLLARS IN CRAFT LODGES

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reply to the question by " P . P . G . J . " in today's Freemason , the Book of Constitutions , Rule 28 9 , deals with " Jewels , medals , devices , and emblems " only , while the collars to be worn in Craft lodges are

detailed in 297 et seq . In Royal Arch Regulations 94 it is clearly stated that the jewel " when worn at Royal Arch meetings " is to be " suspended from a collar . " The Regulations , while refraining from the attempt to legislate for Craft lodges , clearly provides for possible permission to wear

the jewel elsewhere , by authorising ( 98 ) Present and Past Grand and Provincial Officers to wear their jewels of office " suspended from the left breast by atricoloured ribbon . " The question is rather where is the wearing of collars authorised than where is it prohibited . The onus of

proof lies on those companions in the provinces who adopt a custom which has never prevailed in the metropolitan district . If Royal Arch collars are admissible in Craft lodges , why not sashes ? And why should not the collars of Craft Provincial Grand Officers be worn in chapters ?—Yours fraternally , PROV . G . H . 20 th December , 1890 .

THE LIABILITY OF TREASURERS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I shall be greatly obliged if some of your

readers qualified to give an opinion upon the following will kindly do so through your columns , viz .: The duty and obligation of the Treasurer to his chapter , and the chapter to its Treasurer . For obvious reasons I omit names , but appended are facts . —Yours fraternally ,

QUIS CUSTODIET . December 12 . A . B . is Treasurer and a substantial man , and having every confidence in C . D ., who is Scribe E ., allows the latter to hold the funds of the chapter for three years .

After an especially close audit , C . D . admits the incorrectness of the accounts , which shows a deficiency of £ 40 odd . A . B . denies his liability to the chapter on the grounds that he never actually had the funds in his

possession , and was reliant on the bona fides of CD . Now what is the right , proper , and Masonic course of action to be pursued under the circumstances '? Should the chapter suffer or their Treasurer . The latter repudiates entirely , and the chapter loses all its funds .

Straits Settlements.

Straits Settlements .

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE . SINGAPORE . Mount Calvary in the East Chapter ( No . 47 ) . —The annual installation was held on the 3 rd November , when the following were appointed to office : —

Bros . D . G . Presgrave , M . W . S . ; L . H . D . Tripp , Prelate ; G . A . Derrick , 1 st Gen . ; C . G . Garrard , 2 nd Gen . ; A . Knight , Treas . ; G . Thompson , Marshal ; J . T . Leask , Recorder ; S . R . Robinson , Raphael ; and J . Lannon , Guard .

The Prince and Princess of Wales , the Duke of Edinburgh , and the Duke and Duchess of Connaught visited the Princess ' s Theatre on the 19 th inst ., and witnessed a performance of "Antony and Cleopatra . "

Hampshire And Isle Of Wight Masonic Educational And Benevolent Institution.

HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT MASONIC EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

ANNUAL FESTIVAL AT SOUTHAMPTON . The annual festival of the above Institution , which , as its name implies , has for its object the assistance of decayed Freemasons of the province and the education of children of deceased brethren , was held at the Masonic Hall , Southampton , on Monday , the Sth inst ., Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., occupying the

chair . The attendance also included Bros . J . E . Le Feuvre , D . P . G . M . ( Vice-Patron ); R . Eve , P . M ., Past G . Treas . of Eng . ; R . L . Loveland , P . M ., S . G . D . of Eng . ; G . F . Lancaster , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg . ( Hon . Sec . ) ; G . F . W . Mortimer , P . P . S . G . W . ; Captain Markham , R . N ., W . M . 257 ; Rev . J . Danbury , D . W .

B . Tayler , W . M . 130 ; G . J . Tilling , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of W . ; H . Lashmore , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . ; J . W . Barford , 394 ; J . Patstone , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; L . Steele , J . W . 357 ; A . J . Blackman , P . M ., P . P . G . S . ; H . Cawte , P . M . 106 9 , P . P . J . G . W . ; G . Mursell , 35 , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . Marks , 7 6 , P . P . J . G . D . ; G . Ward ,

P . M . 1783 ; A . J . Brown , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; E . T . Wise , P . M . ; Capt . Collins , 130 ; R . BoughtonSmith , P . M . ; Lieut . T . Cowd , R . N ., P . M . 18 34 ; J . C . Burbage , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; F . Newman , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; G . Backler , Treas . 1903 ; W . Jenvey , W . M . 359 ; J . Fewings , P . M . 130 ; J . Cole , P . M . 130 ,

P . P . S . G . D . ; E . R . Fisher , S . W . 2068 ; J . W . Gieve , 309 ; G . Aylward , P . G . D . ; R . W . Downing , P . P . G . D . C ; W . H . Sperring , P . M . 342 ; A . Howell , 257 and 1834 ; A . Dashwood , P . M . 6 9 8 ; W . H . Long , W . M . 175 ; and others . An excellent banquet was served by Bro . Biggs , and

this having been disposed of , The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER proposed "The Queen and the Craft , " which was followed by "The Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " the speaker alluding to the impetus which had been given to Freemasonry by the influence and interest of the Prince of Wales . He

next gave " The Deputy Grand Master and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " remarking that during the past year Masonry had sustained a heavy loss in the death of one who ,, after the Prince of Wales , always presided over the Order . The Earl of Carnarvon was endeared by many recollections to those

living in the county and to the Craft in general . Lord Lathom , however , was still with them , and many other Grand Officers , one of whom on his left—Bro . Evehad always taken an active interest in Freemasonry and in support of its Charities , and had filled the office of Grand Treasurer with credit to himself and honour to

the province to which he belonged . Bro . EVE , having returned thanks , said he must congratulate the Hampshire Masonic Benevolent and Educational Institution upon the state of its funds . He hoped , however , they would bear in mind that their object was not to save money , but to spend it . He

noticed that they spent only about . £ 60 last year . It seemed to him the objects of the Institution were not generally known among the lodges of the province , for there surely must be many children of deceased brethren who needed and were willing to accept the benefits that were offered by it . He then proposed , in complimentary

terms , " The Health of the Provincial Grand Master , " who , he said , dwelt in the hearts of all Masons in the province over which he so worthil y presided , and distinguished himself in Freemasonry before he took his present high position in the province . He particularl y referred to the recognition which Bro . Beach always

met with at the hands of the Grand Lodge . The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER said he naturally took great interest in the progress of Masonry in that province and the country at large , and he was glad to say that wherever he looked there were encouraging signs of progress . To rule over a province like

Hampshire and the Isle of Wi ght would not be an easy duty were it not for the great assistance he received from all the brethren , which rendered his office , instead of being one of difficulty , a real pleasure . It was now 21 years ago that he was placed in the chair by their late lamented Pro Grand Master , and during that period

many lodges had sprung up , and the number of Masons had largely increased . Captain MARKHAM , R . N ., A . D . C , briefly gave "Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , D . P . G . M ., and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " specially referring in complimentary terms to the Masonic career and work of

Bro . LE FEUVRE , who , having expressed his thanks in general terms , pointed out in reference to the remarks of Bro . Eve that the objects of the Committee had been not to spend all the present income , but to build up a fund which would furnish sufficient income to provide really substantial benefits . He might state , however ,

that every case as yet brought before them had been accepted . The PRESIDENT then proposed " Success to the Hampshire and Isle of Wi ght Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution , " and said that a few years ago it was felt that , though the great Masonic

Charities were very useful , it was difficult to get children nto the Schools , because it required so large a number iof votes to achieve success . Though there was not much to complain of in that province through the great liberality of the brethren , yet it was felt that there

might be children who would lose a deal of time before they were admitted , and that , therefore , it would be well if something could be done for them at home . This idea occurred to , among others , Bro . G . F . Lancaster , and it was due to his energy and organisation that the

Hampshire And Isle Of Wight Masonic Educational And Benevolent Institution.

Charity sprang into existence . There was some amount of prejudice at first , from fear that it would interfere with the great Charities , but when it was found it did not , it met with very general support . Bro . Le Feuvre had been quite rig ht in stating that the desire of the Committee had been not to be too lavish ; they , however , gave any case brought before them careful attention , and the Charity altogether was worthy of great

support . Bro . G . F . LANCASTER , whose name was associated with the toast , in response , said it was exceedingly gratifying to him to find that his labours were so highly appreciated . He would at once read to them the result of that day's effort , as follows : — £ s . d .

Bro . Asher Barfield , Medina , 35 ( personal contribution ) 10 10 0 „ T . Faulkner , Medina , 35 24 12 6 „ J . Marks , Economy , 7 6 21- 10 6 „ R . Boughton Smith , Royal Gloucester , 130 10 10 0

„ Sir W . D . King , Phcemx , 257 ... 21 o o „ T . W . Haydon , Harmony , 309 ... 5 5 ° „ W . H . Sperring , Royal Sussex , 342 ... 19 13 6 ,, W . Jenvey , Peace and Harmony , 359 5 15 0 „ G . J . Tilling , Southampton , 394 ... 11 o 6 „ W . H . Long , East Medina , 175 ... 7 60

„ A . Dashwood , Ryde , 698 10 15 o „ Dr . B . H . Mumby , UnitedBrothers , io 6 9 10 10 o „ J . Laverty , United Service , 1428 ... 5 5 ° „ G . A ylward , Landport , 177 6 40 o 0 „ T . Walton , Albert Edward , 1780 ... . 11 11 o „ J . W . Gardener , Duke of Connaught ,

18 34 10 10 o „ G . Ward , William of Wy keham , 1883 8 19 o „ G . Backler , Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar , 1903 20 2 6 „ E . R . Fisher , Portsmouth Temperance , 2068 10 9 6

„ G . F . Lancaster , Lodge of Hope , 2153 47 6 o „ Rev . F . Whyley , Shalden , 2016 ... 6 16 6 „ J . G . Harwood , Army and Navy , 1 971 5 5 ° „ G . F . W . Mortimer , Shirley , 1112 ... 2 12 6

„ F . Newman , Chine , 1884 7 7 ° „ A . J . Brown , Clausentum , 1461 ... 10 17 6 „ A . Howell , Duke of Connaught , 1834 21 00

Total £ 366 9 6 The announcement of this total was received with hearty applause . Bro . Lancaster went on to remark that the Committee had made it a maxim to make the Institution well known throughout the province , and had sent a vast amount of literature concerning it to the various lodges , but much of this , as he showed by

a case in point , was not distributed to the brethren . They had to be careful not to interfere with or injure the central Charities in London . After the first festival three years ago , the Committee stated that they were in a position to begin work , and he informed the lodges of the fact but no candidates came forward till nearly

18 months had elapsed , and that accounted for the small expenditure last year . This year it had increased , and each child of the seven now in their care was being looked after by a Sub-Committee of at least three brethren , who had to initial the bill for education before it was paid . The Deputy Provincial Grand

Master had mentioned incidentally , and he should like to drive it home , as Bro . Eve had remarked they had not spent all their income , that every case brought before the Committee had been admitted to the benefits of the Institution . Bro . G . F . W . MORTIMER proposed " The Stewards , "

to which Bros . R . BOUGHTON SMITH ( upon whom the local arrangements for the day had fallen ) , J . MARKS , and Lieutenant COWD , R . N ., responded . A septett band , conducted by Mr . J . Norton Child , performed an excellent programme of music during dinner and between the speeches .

Ad00504

NOW READY . Is published by Command of the M . W . Grand Master , H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., & c , & c . The PROFITS are DEVOTED to the CHARITY FUND . The Brethren are invited to assist this FUND by Purchasing this Calendar . THE EDITION FOR 1 S 91 , PRICE 2 s ., Furnishes a comprehensive view of the development of the Order , with description of all Lodges and Names of Dignitaries under the English Constitution , with References for Freemasons all over the Globe ; also a Chronological Table of the Grand Masters and of events remarkable in Masonry . Published for the Grand Lodge at GEORGE KENNING'S MASONIC DEPOT ( Opposite Freemasons' Hall , ) 16 AND : 6 A , GREAT QUEEN STREET , LONDON , W . C . THE FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND POCKET BOOK