Original Correspondence.

strong expression of feeling throughout West Lancashire to the contrary , have been again distributed in the same extraordinary way which has characterised the proceedings of the P . G . L . for many years past . Brethren who were unable to retire , at least for a time , with past rank ,

instead of postponing their elevation a little , until a few deserving brethren of the fifty-six lodges in the province had stood a chance , have either retained office , or , with indecent haste , sought re-appointment to a hi gher grade . I do not attach the least blame to Sir Thomas

Hesketh , the R . W . P . G . M ., in this matter , but to the " Nvire-pullers , ' '' as they are now called , who lend themselves to this exclusive system . The close contest for the office of Treasurer , from which Bro . Hamer very considerately and gracefully retired , and which the candidate run by the P . G . L . officers only gained by a majority of six

votes , must have demonstrated clearly how keenly the brethren felt the attempt to snatch this one privilege of election from them . The newTreasurerhad already past rank ; the popular candidate was a good , well-qualified , and energetic Mason of twenty years' standing , but the time had not arrived for him to be allowed to enter the charmed circle .

It is thus , sir , that brethren with Masonic enthusiasm and ability are treated in West Lancashire . Instead of being readily seized hold of , developed , and utilized , they are left out in the cold until , chilled below zero , their love for the

Craft becomes frozen by the indifference of a knot of determined office-seekers , who , relying upon the influence of a father or friend in the P . G . L , see none so worthy as themselves for distinction . I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , P . M .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Any one of your readers not present at the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire would

fancy that that meeting was ( with one notable exception ) characterized by brotherly love , peace , and harmony . Such , however , I am sorry to s . ry was not the case .

From what took place on that occasion , it is very evident that there is a deep and widespread dissatisfaction at some of the practices of the Grand Lodge , and especially in the appointment

of officers , as was evinced by tlic proceedings in connection with the election of Treasurer . That office , as most brethren are aware , is an elective office , and the only one in which the brethren have a share in selecting .

At the meeting of the P . G . Lodge in 1870 Bro . James Hamer , who had held the office for ten years with credit to himself and benefit to the Craft , intimated his intention of resigning at the next annual Grand Lodge meeting .

Considerable interest was created amongst the brethren for some months past as to who should be appointed to that office ; and when it was found that a P . G . Lodge officer , who already wore the purple , was about to be nominated by

the Grind Lodge , some of the brethren felt that there were many very worthy Masons of position , and who had not been Grand Lodge officers , in whom the office of Treasurer might be safel y reposed .

Bro . Thomas Armstrong was proposed by Lord Skelmersdale , seconded by the Hon . F . Stanley . Bro . George Turner was proposed by Bro . E . Hughes , and seconded by Bro . Goepel . All brethren not entitled to vote were then

requested to leave the room . The voting was then commenced by the members of tlie Grand Lodge voting " to a man " for Bro . Armstrong . The votes of the representatives of the lodges were then taken , and at tlie close it was found

that there were seventy-six for Bro . Armstrong , and seventy for Bro . Turner . Now , if we deduct twenty-nine votes of the Grand Lodge ofiicers , we have seventy votes of the lodge representatives for Bro . Turner , and

forty-seven for Bro . Armstrong , clearly proving that Bro . Turner was tlie elected of "the people' ' by a majority of twenty-three votes . Such a result cannot fail to speak volumes to men in "high places , " and I do really think that

Original Correspondence.

the brethren might be left to their own choice in the only officer they have the power to select . Some of the other appointments appear to be quite as objectionable to the brethren as on a former occasion . Many of those appointed lately not having been able to give even the three Craft degrees ; whilst they who have done the work for them are left out in the cold . I should

suggest that the P . G . M , would take the appointments into his own hands , and so do away with the dissatisfaction which at present exists . Yours fraternally , A P . M . & P . Z .

MASONS' MARKS . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —On page 655 of your last number , I find " A Masonic Student " alludes to innumerable facsimiles of masons ' marks collected from all quarters of the world by

Bro . E . W . Shaw . I shall be glad to know whether this interesting collection has ever been published ? At the same time , perhaps you will allow me to draw attention to what I have always thought to be the earliest printed cemmunica

tions on the subject of masons' marks—namely , the two memoirs by George Godwin , F . R . S ., F . S . A ., read before the Society of Antiquaries in December , 1841 , and February , 1 S 43 . These , with five quarto plates , containing over 1-50

marks from ancient buildings 111 England , France , and Germany , were printed in the "Archtcologia , " vol . xxx . Mr . Godwin has since read a paper at the Royal Institute of British Architects on the same subject , and if any of your readers

wish , they can find this printed in vol . xxvii . of 77 / i ? Builder , with two pages showing a vast number of masons' marks from various parts of tlie world . Those of my brethren who are interested in '" an inner meaning or teaching , " of

which these marks are thought by many to be the outward symbols , I would refer to four papers , signed " John E . Dove , " in the vol . of lhc Builder for 186 3 . I have ventured to offer these few remarks , believing the subject to be as interesting to most Craft and Mark Masons as it is to Yours fraternally , J . F . C , P . M . 957 .

AN APPEAL FOR CHICAGO . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — You will well remember , on the occasion of the Quarterly Communication in June last , the M . W . G . M ., who had just returned to England , in his address to Grand Lodge , spoke in tlie very highest

terms of the reception that he had received , not only from the Masonic Body , but also from every class of society in the United States ; anil , at the same time , expressed a hope that the Masons of England would not fail to reciprocate that kindness , when opportunity offered . That time has

now arrived ; the American people are suffering under a visitation which is probably the most horrible calamity in history . Chicago , the capital of tlie AVestern States , a city containing more than 300 , 000 inhabitants , lias been , in the short space of three days , more than half consumed ,

and tens of thousands of its inhabitants are literally perishing for lack of food and other necessaries . Gigantic efforts are being made here and throughout the whole continent to meet immediate requirements ; but , with the winter

fist approaching , it must be evident that something beyond ihe mere necessaries of life will be required . The extent of tlie losses cannot yet be ascertained , but are variously estimated from 150 or 300 millions of dollars .

The Masons of America are bestirring themselves ( while I write a meeting of the Grand Lodge of New York is being held ) , and 1 feel certain that the brethren in England will gladly hail the opportunity of assisting in that cause ,

which , " ever lovely in itself , is the brightest ornament that can adorn the Masonic profession , " ami at tlie same lime show that they hold in some veneration the wishes of their G . M ., and are ever ready to repay tenfold any courtesy or kindness shown to him .

Yours faithfully and fraternally , A LONDON P . M . New York , Oct . 10 th , 1 S 71 .

Grand Chapter Of England .

GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND .

The following is the report of the Committee of General Purposes , which will be read at the Grand Chapter Convocation on Wednesday next : —

The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 19 th July , 1871 , to the 17 th October , 1 S 71 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows : —

Fo balance 19 th July £ ? , 51 4 n „ subsequent receipts ... ... * 6 i 4 6 £ 5 ^ 9 5

By disbursements during the quarter ... ... ... ^ 122 13 10 ,, Balance 395 15 7

^ 5 i 3 9 5 which balance is in the hands of Messrs . Willis , Percival and Co ., bankers of the Grand Treasurer . The Committee have likewise to report that

they have received the following petitions : — 1 st . From Comps . John Middleton as Z ., John Laybourn as H ., Thomas Williams as J ., and eight others , for a chapter to be attached to the Isca Lodge , No . 683 , Newport , to be called

" The St . Woolo ' s Chapter , " and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Newport , Monmouthshire . 2 nd . From Comps . Theodore Cooke , M . A ., as Z ., William Henry Hussey as H ., Henry Lees Smith as J ., and six others , for a chapter to be

attached to the Lodge Orion in the West , No . 415 , Poona , to be called " The Chapter Orion in the West , " and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Poona , East Indies . 3 rd . From Comps . Henry Hover Lock as Z .,

John Mackintosh as H ., William George Murray as J ., and six others , for a chapter to be attached to Lodge Star of Orissa , No . 1106 , Cuttack , to bs called "The Fiducia Chapter , " and to meet at Cuttack , East Indies .

4 th . From Comps . John Pursall as Z ., Alfred Emanuel Fridlander as H ., George Septimus Phillips as J ., and six others , for a chapter to be

attached to the Trinity Lodge , No . 245 , Coventry , to be called " The Trinity Chapter , " and to meet at the Castle Hotel , Coventry , Warwickshire . ¦>

5 th . Prom Comps . George Kenning as Z ., Ebenezer Roberts as IT ., Edward King as J ., and seven others , for a chapter to be attached

lo the Lion and Lamb Lodge , No . 192 , London , to be called " The Lion and Lamb Chapter , " and to meet at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannonstreet , London .

The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . The Committee have also received a petition from Comps . Edward James Morris as Z , Chas .

Bath as II ., George Browne Brock as J ., and twenty-one others , for a chapter to be attached to the Talbot Lodge , No . 1323 , Swansea , to be trailed " The Talbot Chapter , " and to meet at the Masonic Rooms , Swansea , Glamorganshire .

This petition is regular in form and is very strongly recommended by the Grand Superintendent of the Province , but inasmuch as Grand Chapter at its last meeting expressed an opinion on the subject of granting charters for chapters

to be attached to lodges which had been but recently established , the Committee—although this appears to be a very exceptional caseprefer to remit the consideration of the subject entirely to the wisdom of Grand Chapter .

Thc CommitUec beg to call the attention of Grand Chapter to the fact of a charter for a chapter having been granted to lie attached to the

Pynwald Lodge , No . 1242 , Douglas , Isle of Man , in May , 1870 , which grant svas confirmed at thc following meeting in August . The petitioners , however , having failed to take up the charter