Reviews.

. and his skilful handling . It is a work which ought to be in the library of every lodge , and of every Masonic student , and we sincerely trust that its excellencies may be yet appreciated and its conclusions studied , by an enlarging list of appreciative Masonic readers in this country .

Do not let our brethren imitate the example of too many , who say "we can see the book atBro . —" or of these energetic and zealous brethren whose support of Masonic literature is evinced b y their giving up The Freemason ( price 2 d . ) because they can see it in the Masonic Club , or the lodge Teading room .

But rather , we respectfull y beg to press upon our readers , to read and study , as we have , Bro . Mackey ' s work for themselves , a work most creditable to our brother , an honour to America , and destined we believe , to advance the great and happy cause of Masonic literature and of intellectual cultivation in our world-wide

organization . We believe that Bro . Kenning has only a limited number of copies on hand , and we recommend an early applicatton . —W .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , bit wj wish in a spirit of lair play to all to permit—within certain neccssarv limits—tree discussion . —En . l

LODGE GLASGOW 441 , THE MELROSE MASONS , AND J . STRATFORD . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — While , as stated in my former letter , I decline to enter into any controversy with Mr .

T . Stratford , in justice to my own character , I cannot submit to aspersion on my truthfulness , and the accompanying letter from the Master and Wardens of Lodge Glasgow , 441 , is all the reply that I need give to that gentleman .

1 ours fraternall y , G . W . WHEELER . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , We , the undersi gned officers of the Lodge Glasgow , 441 , having read the letter of T . Stratford in your last week ' s number , in which

he says "my so-called trial and expulsion is most unfairly reported in your issue of the aist . inst , " and having also read that report , in justice to Bro . G . W . Wheeler , who wrote it , we declare it to be a truthful report , Bro . Wheeler did not get into the lodge till it was raised to the

M . M . degree . The trial , at T . Stratford ' s request was then commenced de novo , and the report in question is a fair and impartial abstract of the proceedings from that period . T . Stratford certainl y did ask for an adjournment , for no one else even mentioned such a thingneither at

, that stage of the proceeding did he allude to his being an American-made Mason . * While we deeply regret what took place at •what Mr . T . Stratford calls the dark seance , we declare that G . W . W . was not at it , as he never

left the lodge room from the time he entered it till the lodge was closed , at 11 o ' clock . Witness as to Bro . Wheeler entering and leaving Lod ge Glasgow on the night in question . W . I ACKSON , R . W . M .

R . MAIN , S . W . J MASON , J . . J GUTHRIE , O . G .

To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have just read in your issue of the 14 th inst ., Bro . Stratford ' s account of the meeting held in Lod ge Glasgow on the nth ult , to consider the question of his having joined the Melrose St

. John No . 1 . " As to the correctness of said report , I cannot say , not having been present , but one error of a very glaring character appears to me , viz ., where Bro . Stratford declares , " 1 then said they had no jurisdiction in tne case , that even if all was proved as charged

, as an American-made Mason , I was affiliated only to consider 441 , as next after my Mother - ^ odge and as I had neither violated my American obligation , nor infringed any of her bye-laws tn fi" A' L WaS nerfe < % clear , and I defied them l ° nnd me guilty . " Being a member of 441 at

Original Correspondence.

the time of this said affiliation , liio ; Stratford was not a Master Mason , having only received in America the E . A . degree , or perhaps also his F . C . degree , therefore the application he made to 441 was that he should be raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason , under the Constitution

of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . Thus having requested himself to be tried on his M . M . degree , he requested to be tried under the constitution , he had not merely affiliated into , but to which he had solemnly become obligated . I remain , fraternally yours , HUGH TULLOCH , P . M ., 441 .

THE SURREY MASONIC HALL . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Mr . Disraeli tells us that " to understand the tendency of public opinion is the secret of success , " and we are emphatically told that the grand city of Solomon finally fell "

because she knew not in her day the things that belonged to her place . " For Freemasons to know what enlightened public opinion demands for and from them , now that all institutions are on their trial , is therefore surely most important . Few will deny , in considering the Freemasonry

of the present day , that there is one great requirement essential to its continued prosperity , and even for its existence , if it is to fulfil what is expected from it , and that is that those within her bosom should find a social home compatible with its requirements , each in their own locality ,

for as a former Grand Master remarked " the Mason ' s Lodge is his Church . " This want is to a certain extent fulfilled in the provinces , but in London , except at its centre , there is no special place available for its social or other gatherings . Its ark , like the ark in the

days of Moses , dwells still beneath the curtains , and how shall its sons find rest in those tabernacles of Philistia , which chance provides and which the exigencies of trade or freaks of temper may grant or withhold . This is not a satisfactory state of things . Far

be it from me to speak unkindl y of our friends the Licensed Victuallers , to whom we are so much indebted , and in whose ranks we have brethren good and true , but this condition of dependence is not consistent with the dignity of our body , or the position it claims to hold in

society . It should be the aim of each group of lodges to fix upon , as a settled home , a common hall . Each lodge is alreadyby its constitution a corporate body , and might readil y clothe itself with the usual adjuncts of such if desired . It might

invite legacies and treasure its funds , whilst the sacred cause of charity , too often kept in abeyance by disproportioned outlay could , be elevated to its proper position . The new programme now put forth by our esteemed Bro . Clark , P . M ., P . G . Superintendent

of Works , architect of the proposed Surrey Masonic Hall , fully meets the first grand object to be obtained . There the Craft and Ark Mason will equall y find a house , and there the brethren of the Christian degrees may shadow forth their adornments .

Masonry may be said at present to be under the fire of persecution ; to be a Mason is according to certain sects a crime , and is visited as a sin . It is under such circumstances , if they are duly considered , that true institutions take a deeper hold of men ' s minds , and rise to higher

life , and for my own part I feel and believe that each one in our body , each true mason , is now called upon by his vow of fidelity to co-operate and contribute to this great end . The design , as furnished b y Brother Clark , is classical and artistic , and presents arrangements

evidently the result of serious study . Few , indeed , know the thought that has been devoted to this object , for which the late esteemed Bro . Thomas , and others gone before , so cordially longed , but were not permitted to see

accomplished . Brother Clark has nobly done his duty , to him it is evidently a labour of love . Let each brother then , according to his ability , take so many of the £ 5 shares as his circumstances in life may fairly

warrant . Of each brother , thus bearing a hand in this

Original Correspondence.

great , this iiulle ob ^ ei , it may be truly said , mrh in his degree " He loveth our nation and hath built us a synagogue , W . VINER BEDOLFE , M . D ., W . M . Sphynx Lodge , 1392 .

OUR MASONIC CHARITIES . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The letters which during the past few weeks have appeared in your columns on this subject will have been noted with interest and attention bv those Masons who believe that the

great Charities of the Order are not only a distinctive mark of the Craft in the eyes of the world , but a fair test of its vitality , and of the extent to which its genuine principles pervade the breasts of its members . The adoption of Bro . Gottheil's suggestion of a compulsory

contribution would destroy the foundation of the Institutions , and p lace them on the level of the Fund of Benevolence , which however grand its amount , and beneficial its work , cannot exercise the individual charity of each member of the Craft . I take it this is the glory of our three

great institutions , and of those smaller and local associations , which are now happily increasing through the country . Bro . Coates has done good service by inviting discussion , and directing attention to some practical method of enlisting the general sympathy of the t brethren . The

proposal he makes for a Provincial Charity Board appears to me to be rather too elaborate in its plans for general adoption , except in the larger centres of population . In a scattered province , some difficulty would be experienced in the bringing up the members of the Board to a

quarterly or half-yearly meeting . Nevertheless , the organisation proposed iwould probably work well in some districts , and is certainly worth a trial . Will you allow me , for the information of brethren who desire to further the object of Bro .

Coates ' s letter , to state shortly what we have , during the last three years , been doing in the Province of Staffordshire ? In the year 1871 , perceiving that the Charitable Associations in London were rendering very considerable assistance to the Institutions , I ventured to suggest

to the brethren ot my lodge , and subsequently to those of the Province that such an Association , established upon similar principles , but modified to suit local convenience , would materially increase the number of subscribers to the Charities . We accordingly formed an Association ,

making it permanent in character , and fixing the subscription at a guinea per annum . The working expenses are covered by an entrance fee of 2 s . 6 d . from each member , which up to the present time has been found amply sufficient .

Meetings are held half-yearly in June , in some attractive place in the country , and in the winter in some convenient town . At these meetings a ballot is taken for as many life subscriberships as the funds in hand will allow . The result is

that in the three years fifty-six members have been enrolled as life subscribers to the charities , and we have now a subscription list of 141 guineas , steadily increasing at each half-yearly meetine :. I do not consider that the Province is

by any means thoroughly canvassed at present , indeed the greater number ot these members represent six or seven lodges . Recently a local fund . ( With a ocpnrnto nul / ooriprinn r % F Tiolf « g « i «><» o ) . has been added to the association for the purpose of aiding by small or temporary grants to

orphans , who may need such assistance , and especially those who are waiting for election to the Boys' or Girls' Institutions , but this fund has not yet been sufficiently developed to enable me to give any information respecting it . I believe that few , if any , of the sums subscribed bv

means of the association would haye reached the charities but for this organization ; besides this , the voting power of the province is materially and permanently increased . Brethren have met for a common charitable purpose , and cordial intercourse between members of various lodges

has been promoted . I do not bring this association under notice as a model , for it is capable of much improvement , and especially of local adaptation , but I believe it possesses the advantage of beintr easy of adoption and elastic in character , since half a dozen brethren can form a similar