Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by onr correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfreb discussion .

THE CONSTITUTIONS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION . To the Editor ot the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Thfe very interesting case of the S . W . of the Regent ' s Park Lodg e clearly proves the truth of the old proverb , "to err is human , to forgive divine . ' ' The rule , however , exactly drawn up must permit of some more or less elastic

definition of it . It is quite clear that two eights cannot be compressed into 12 consecutive attendances ; only one's lack of the sense of humour prevents us from seeing this . On the other hand , if the law was exactly defined that a S . W . must serve regularly in person at each consecutive meeting during his year of office , I think it would obviate any misunderstanding of the rule , and prevent any attempt at a sentimental alteration or variation of the rule . Yet , further , this would

defeat its purpose , however , for no human-made laws were ever yet invented and devised which could be carried out in their strict integrity and literality , because in this case it must arise that many worthy brothers , either through illness , stress of business , or other cause , must inevitably fail to attend every consecutive meeting of the lodge , and the result would be that Masonry as an organisation would dissolve and cease to exist , consequently there must be a little of the " give and

take" in this , as in all human affairs . Even if the law were exactly framed in a strictly logical sense , it would still fail in effect , and I think that if a brother in rotation is duly called to the S . W . chair he ought to be credited with having served his term of office , even if he has not attended each meeting during the year of the W . M . who called him to his chair—that is , of cours j , providing he has given reasonable cause for abstention , and not been guilty of any dishonourable or immoral act in public or private affairs or in the lodge .

Still , I must sympathise with those who urge that two eight jmonths are not equivalent or equal in effect to one consecutive 12 months' service , otherwise we might as well argue that a runner wins the prize in a mile race who runs two separate three quarter miles , or that a watch wound up to go 12 hours , and stops at the eighth , has gone for the 12 hours continuously ; re-winding the wa'ch and its going for another eight hours out of a second 12 cannot possibly be equal to one consecutive 12 hours . Those who argue for the two eights arc excellent brethren , but sadly lacking in the sense of humour and logic .

Still , alls well that ends well , so I wish you , Sir , a happy and prosperous New Year , and beg to subscribe myself , yours fraternally , T . MAY , 754 , High Cross . Salem House , Totttenham . Christmas Eve .

Reviews.

Reviews .

The Licensed Victuallers' Official Annual for 1902 , "The Handbook of the Trade , " is handsomely bound instill cloth board :, and the contents of the current , or ninth annual , issue shows a marked advance on its predecessors . Certainly no pains have been spared to present not only new and valuable features but to revise and bring up to date those which have proved worthy ol being retained . Besides the diary and almanack , the contents include

an interesting illustrated article on the forthcoming Coronation ceremonies j an account of the past Parliamentary Session as it affected the sale of liquor j extracts from Acts of Parliament relating to the trade ; a list of members of the House of Commons and their addresses ; and some very pungent criticisms of the work of the Total-Abstinence Party during the past year . Other interesting features are the illustrated account of some famous licensed houses and their associations , also the papers , the Licensed Victuallers' Asylums ; the list of

important legal actions affecting the trade decided in 1901 , and a mass of other information of almost exclusive interest to licensed victuallers themselves . There are also quite 150 photographic reproductions of prominent licensed victuallers . The book , which is invaluable to members of " the Trade , " reflects great credit on its editor , Mr . Albert B . Deane , and may be obtained on application at 35 , Great George-street , Westminster , of all secretaries of licensed victuallers' asso - ciations , or , by order , of all booksellers . Price is .

A Glimpse Of Cranbrook is the title of the latest of the Homeland Association handbooks published at 24 , Bride-lane , Fleet-street . Thc author of the handbook , which deals with the chief town of the Weald of Kent , is W . Stanley Martin . Chapters are devoted to the town in the past and at present , the remarkable parish church , and the numerous villages scattered over the lovely wooded valleys which range themselves about Cranbrook . The type is

illustrated with interesting photographs . There are useful chapters on hops and hop-picking , local botany and butterflies , and a host of sketched out rambles in one of the most beautiful rural districts of England . Included in the book is a map covering a large tract of country round Cranbook . The ordinary edition is published at Od ., postage 2 d . ; library edition ( bound in cloth ) at !_; . od . postage 2 jd .

ThO Living Rlllors of Mankind , Part III ., by Rev . II . N . Hutchinson , B . A ., F . G . S ., F . K . G . S ., published by Geo . Allen , 156 , Charing Cross-road . The current part contains portraits cf lhe nileis of Fiance , Denmark , Egypt , and Ecuador , with illustrations of the Royal residences of Am tlieuborg , Rosenborg , the Yellow Palace of Copenhagen , Fredensborg , Fred-.-riksborg , Ii .-rnsto .-iT ; Government Buildings , Ouilo ; the Abdin Palace , Cairo ; Ras-el-D 11 Palace , Alexandria ; and several fine views of the Elysoe . The letterpress , i : co ; npinying , the above is all that could be desired .

Magazine Holiday Numbers.

Magazine Holiday Numbers .

Seasonable literature for holiday-makers is provided in profusion this year as in the past . In addition to the holiday numbers already reviewed in our pages , the following will be found almost indispensable for whiling aw ly the long evenings of the present season .-Tho Lady ' s Magazine , Special Christmas Number , opens with a most amusing monologue , entitled " Miss Justina ' s Punishment , " illustrate . 1 by photographic studies of . Miss Viola Tree , followed by an account of tobogganing by ladies in Switzerland . "The Language of the Fan " is an article that should

Magazine Holiday Numbers.

be carefully studied by all coquettes . The usual notes on the fashions are supple , mented by some ideas for children ' s fancy dress , with illustrations . The serial story , "The Cat ' s Paw , " is concluded , and there are several other complete tales . Pearson ' s Christmas Number , with its beautiful coloured supplement , " A Yard of Babies , " is one of the features of holiday literature . It

contains a number of complete stories suitable for the season , and profusely illustrated , comicalities and " nonsense " verses abound , all with appropriate illustrations , as well as some full-page coloured plates , of which special mention must be made of " Forget-me-not . " Not content with this effort , the usual monthly magazine is this time issued as a double number , containing 32 pages in colours . " The Art of the Age " deals this time with the pictures of

the great animal painter , Mr . J . M . Swan , A . R . A . "Swan Mushrooms" and " The Growth of the Nasturtium" are both capital papers ; while admirers of Miss Loie Fuller will be charmed with the paper entitled " Queen of the Dancers . " "The Keeper of Britain's Honour" relates to the King ' s Champion , Mr . John Dymoke . The remarkable invention of ths Swiss and Italian peasants tor protecting their crops by shooting away hailstorms is described and illustrated

, and under the title of " The Fastest Craft Afloat , " the performances of the recordbreaking torpedo-boat , the Arrow , are described . Many of thc . principal actors and actresses describe their impressions of their first appearance on the stage . There is also the usual miscellany of complete tales by well-known authors . Next month readers of " Pearson ' s " will be glad to know that the redoubtable Captain Kettle will re-appear .

The Strand Magazine ' s grand Christmas double number opens with the continuation of Conan Doyle ' s " Hound of the Baskerville ' s , " which is most appropriately followed by a sketch of Mr . William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes , at the Lyceum Theatre . " The New Accelerator" is the title of one of Mr . H . G . Wells' scientific stories ; while Mr . Frank Bullen , F . R . G . S ., contributes a

paper on " The Last Stand of the Occapods , " which will be read with intense interest . Max Pemberton is to the fore with the opening chapters of a new serial , that promises to be of thrilling interest , entitled " The House under the Sea . " " At Sunwich Port " is continued , and there are besides several complete tales and papers on subjects of interest too numerous to mention .

The Smart Set , Christmas Number , opens with "Prince Reckless , " by Arthur Grissom . This is the first novelette cf a purely romantic character that this magazine has published , and doubtless it was written with an editorial view to pleasing variety . The story proceeds rapidly from start to finish , and deals with the infatuation of a young European Prince for a beautiful Am .-rican girl ; with his desperate adventures in pursuit of her , his mysterious disappearance , and the crime of his equerry . Alfred Henry Lewis contributes an historical story-article ,

entitled " One Eighteenth-Century Day . " Its characters are beaux and literary and histrionic giants of London at one of the most picturesque periods in English history . Elizabeth Duer is the author of a story entitled " Sinful Sara , " which treats of the dangers and absurdities of gambling in society . " The Enchanted Rug , " " The Hatred of Friends , " " Object , Matrimony , " " A Sentimental Journey , 1 9 02 , " and other notable tales also appear . The chief features in verse are " Le Masque de TArmour , " " Rebellion , " " A Yule Song , " " At Phrudra's Tomb , " and " Awaited . "

The Stock-keeper , Christmas Number , contains a 4 S pages profusely illustrated art supplement . The number is published at the ordinary price , 2 d . Among the more interesting features are the portraits of the leading prizewinners of the year in dogs , poul . ry , and pigeons ; a history of the greyhound , with illustrations of mummies , Ac , from the British Museum ( never before published ) ; the portraits of the members of the fi r st Kennel Club Council of Representatives ( the Doggy Houss of Commons ) ; champions of the year , & o .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Cornwall.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF CORNWALL .

The above Prov . G . Chapter was held at the Masonic Hail , Hayle , on the 12 th instant . Th 2 Grand Superintendent , the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , was unavoidably prevented from attending-, and the chapter was opened by Comp . P . Colville Smith , P . G . H ., and the attendance included : Comps . B . F . Edyvean , 330 , Prov . G . Scribe E . ; J . C . R . Crewes , 331 , Prov . Asst . G . S . E . ; R . F . Faull , P . Z . 510 ; J . G . Osborn , 450 , P . P . P . G . S . ; W . Wagner , P . Z . 450 ; W . K . Baker , P . Z . 450 , P . P . G . S . N . ; W . L . Chegwidden , P . Z . 1006 ; T . R . Mills , P . Z . IOOS ; J . M . Cornish , P . Z . 121 ; O . Caldwell ,

P . Z . 121 ; G . B . Treverton , 330 , P . P . G . D . C ; Norman Gray , 75 , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . W . J . Sharpe , 75 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; F . A . Rawling , 1071 , Prov . G . Treas . j G . Trethewy , 1071 ; E . Venning , 510 , P . P . G . Treas . ; W . Hammond , 510 , P . P . G . Soj . ; R . A . Courtney , 510 , P . P . G . J . ; A . Hancock , J . 510 ; J . C . Burrow , 450 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; T . A . Taylor , P . Z . 450 ; James Pool , P . Z . 450 ; Jas . Richards , M . E . Z . 450 ; [ . W . Oliver , H . 970 ; N . Lean , M . E . Z . 970 ; J . Croseman , 970 , P . P . 1 st A . G . Soj . ; I . M . Blarney , P . Z . 75 ; W . F . Clark , M . E . Z . 331 ¦ , W . Calensa , 121 , P . P . G . So ) . ; E . Milford , 100 G , P . P . G . S . N . j W . Hall , H . IOCG ; and T . D . Jenkin , 1006 .

Letters of apology were rend from several companions . AH the chapters weic well represented , with the exception of Callington . The financial statement was piesented by the Prov . G . Treasurer , Comp , ; 1 ' " . A . KAWI . I . VG , showing a credit balance of , £ 23 3 s . 5 d . On the motion of Comp . Mn . ioui ) , seconded by Comp . COLENSA , the accounts were passed .

Comp . B . F . EDYVEAX , Prov . G . Scribe E ., presented his report , which was a favourable one , showing a steady numerical increase—the lumbers at present being 399 . Comp . \ V . Wagner , P . Z . 450 , was unanimously elected Prov . G . Treas . for the ensuing year ; Comps . J . G . Osborn , P . Z , P . P . P . G . Soj . ; and T . A . Taylor were also unanimously elected Auditors .

The sum of £ 5 was voted to the widow of a deceased companion of the Rose of Sharon Chapter ; . £ 15 was also voted to the K . M . I , for Girls , of whicli lhe P . G . H ., Comp . Colville Smith , is Steward . The Prov . Grand Officers were then invested as follows :

Comp . P . Colville Smith , 331 ... ... Prov . G . M . „ W . K . Baker , 450 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . ,, W . Hammond , 510 , ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ Norman Gray , 75 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . ,, \ V . Wagner , 450 ... ... ... l'rov . G . Treas . I . Wearne . J ^ o ... ... ... Prov . G . Rec .

„ \ V . L . Chegwidden , 10 . 6 ... ... Prov . G . P . S . ,, G . J . Trethewy , 1071 ... ... Prov . ist A . G . S . „ VV . R . Evans , 1164 ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . „ C . J . Eary , 3-50 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . V . Clarke , 331 . „ ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . \ „ T . R . Mills , iu ) 0 .., ... ... Prov . G . D . of C .