Original Correspondence.

lowing , taken from the Grand Master's charge to the officers of a lodge . " Forcibly impress upon them ( the brethren ) the dignity and high importance of Masonry , and seriously admonish them never to disgrace it . Charge them to practise out of the lodge those duties which they have been taught in it , and by amiable , discreet and virtuous conduct , to convince

mankind of the goodness of the institution , so that when a person is said to be a member of it , the world may know that he is one to whom the burdened heart may pour out its sorrows to whom distress rjay prefer its suit , ¦ whose hand is guided bv justicr , and ivnose i-eart is ev . panded by benevolence . " In this country there are no " banquets" after lodge

meeting , and thus the time taken from the family circle is freely given by our " dear creatures " who know that" the brethren " are engaged in rather more Masonic work than " charging glasses " at the re-union from which they are excluded . Let me assure you , dear sir and brother , that the Masonic fraternity here yield to none in devotion to the Craft , they are jealous of its honours , of its secrets , but

without they know the . value of female influence and support , and are proud to show to those whose lives and homes are made happier by the exercise of Masonic virtues that in lodge such virtues are inculcated . Thus , instead of the words , "I am going to the lodge" being heard with alarm , they are listened to with pleasure , because those to whom they are addressed know , " it is

good to be there . " The next time I visit London , I hope to make your personal acquaintance , when it will at the same time afford me pleasure to learn that Past Master Dobbins has vanished all fear , and ceases to believe in negligence of Masonic ritual , that Bro . Simmons has not only thriven in love , but the gentle , well-dressed partner of his joys and sorrows has been present at his

installation , and with delight beard the words , " Brethren , behold your Master , " spoken to her beloved lord and master , then will she re-echo the closing sentence of the Grand Master ' s address ! " Within your peaceful walls may 3 'our childrens' children celebrate with joy and gratitude

the annual recurrence of this auspicious solemnity , and may the tenets of our profession be transmitted through your lodge , pure and unimpaired from generation to generation . " " So more it be , " 1 am , dear Sir and Brother , yours truly and fraternally , MARY ' CIIAPKI ., No . i .

THE FREEMASONS AND BURNS . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Referring to the paragraph on this subject in your publication of to-day , it may be interesting to point out to thc Cratt , that in various Masonic works , published in the U . S . A ., the " Farewell " has a verse added

which is not to be found in any edition here of Burns ' s poems , nor is it believed to be his composition . The verse is as follows : — And you , kind-hecrted sisters fair , 1 sing farewell to all your charms , The impression of your pleasing air , With rapture oft my bosom warms . Alas ! the social winter ' s night

No more returns while breadth \ draw , Till sisters , brothers , all unite In that Grand Lodge that's far awai I think the construction of thc last verse in our editions alone sufficient to prove that the above is not genuine ; but if spurious it is not of recent manufacture , as I have seen it in an American book , published about forty years ago . Yours fraternally , Jons Hooc .

THE MARK DEGREE . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly inform me through your columns whether it is in accordance with the Scotch Constitutions to confer the Mark Degree , a special meeting being called for this purpose and a charge being made for

con-Icrnng the same . Thc Scotch Grand Lodge Laws and Constitutions distinctly state ( chap . 2 , par . i , ) that they recognise no degrees of Masonry but those of E . A ., F . C , and M . M ., denominated St . John's Masonry ( including the Mark , which , however , G . L . does not recognise as a separate degree ) . I hold that to call a special meeting for the purpose of

conferring the degree and charge a fee for the same is unconstitutional and a violation of Grand Lodge laws . The special meeting I allude to was held in St . Mark's Hall , Buchanan-street , Glasgow , on Friday evening , the 14 th inst ., and appeared in the columns of thc " Glasgow

Daily Mail , " and at the same meeting a proposal was made and adopted that the fee for conferring the degree should be raised from is . id . to 2 s . 6 d . in the future . I regret to say that in Scotland the Grand Lodge layvs are too frequently violated , and should be enforced . Yours'fraternally , A . R . A . MASON .

MASONIC PREFIXES . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Whilst thanking Bro . W . J . Hughan for his interesting letters on this subject , I would call his attention to the following . On April ist he said the Dep . G . M . ' s prefix was Right Jl orshipful , on April 22 nd , he states it to be Most JTor

shipful . Which is correct ? Presuming the latter to be correct I give a complete recapitulation of prefixes . MOST WORSHIPFUL , Nos . 1 . to 6 inclusive . RIGHT WORSHIPFUL , Nos . 7 to 10 inclusive . VERY WORSHIPFUL , Nos . 21 to 34 inclusive , and Masters , and Past Mastcis of lodges . ( N . B . —The above numbers refer to the collective body styled " United Grand Lodge , " Sec , sec Constitutions , pp . J 6 to 18 . )

Original Correspondence.

As M . M . ' s ( whose designation is brother only ) may be appointed to certain offices in Grand , or Prov . Grand Lodges , it is clear that—Office in Grand Lodge gives a prefix . Office in Prov . Grand Lodge does not .

So the whole affair lies in a nut-shell . To be beyond doubt , will Bro . Hughan kindly say if the foregoing list of prefixes is perfect ? Then your readers may mark same in their copies of the Constitutions , and so set a vexed question at rest . Traternally yours , "An REM . "

In Bro . Hughan ' s letter on this subject last week , the paragraph " ( 3 ) Deputy Grand Master and Prov . G . M . are to be styled Most Worshipful , " should read as follows ;—

-( 5 ) Deputy Grand Master , Provincial and District Grand Master , and Grand Wardens are to be styled Right Worshipful . ( 6 ) Thc Grand Master and Pro Grand Master , Most Worshipful .

Laying The Foundation Stone Of A Masonic Hall At Havant.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A MASONIC HALL AT HAVANT .

The brethren oi Lodge Carnarvon , No . 804 , have for some time past been anxious to secure a " local habitation " exclusively their own , and having succeeded in obtaining an eligible site in Victoria-road , opposite the Star Hotel , arrangements were made for the erection of a hall . bro .

IT . R . Trigg , of Hajling , prepared the plans for a building 45 ft . by 35 ft ., including a lodge-room , retiring-room for the W . M ., committee-room , Tyler ' s room , and the usual offices . The edifice , which will be without architectural pretensions , is to be of brick , with cement ornamentation ,, and its erection has been entrusted to Bro . G . Barnes . Arrangements had been made for laying the

foundationstone of the building with full Masonic ceremonies , and it was anticipated that there would be a very large attendance , not only of members of the craft , but of the uninitiated outsiders . Unfortunately , however , the weather , which so frequently mars out-door spectacles , was most unpropitious , and the brethren did not attend in anything like the numbers looked for , while the heavy and almost

continuous downpour effectually prevented a strong muster of the public . Mr . Arthur Locke , of the Bear Hotel , Havant , kindly placid thc large room over his carriage repository at the disposal of the Masons , and herein a lodge was held and duly " tyled . " The R . W . P . Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ( Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P . for North Hants ) , who is ever ready to do all

in his power to promote the interests of F reemasonry , came specially from London to be present , and he was supported by the V . W . the P . Dep . Grand Master ( Bro . William Hickman , of Southampton ) , Bro . IT . Ford , P . G . S . W . ; Bro . J . E . Le l ' euvre , Prov . G . Sec . ; and Bro . Mark E Frost , Prov . G . Treas .-, J . W . Fardell ( Ryde ) , P . G . J . W " Among the brethren present in lodge were Bros . Lintott ,

W . M . Carnarvon Lodge ; H . R . Trigg , P . M ., Prov , G . Sup . of Works ; . ) . N . Hillman , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; H . Cawte , P . P . G . Warden ; John Lillywhite , P . M ., Prov . G . Registrar ; 1 . C . Wheeler , W . M . 257 ; ] . Whale , W . M . 309 ; R . Eve , P . M ., P . P . G . S . Warden ; G . R . Johnson , Prov . G . Swd . Bearer ; T . Francis , P . M . ; il . Newland , P . M ., Prov . G . A . D . C . ; E . Good

P . M . ; R . Baibcr , P . Prov . G . S . B . ; R . Osborne , Prov G . Org . ; J . Harrison , l . P . M . Carnarvon Lodge ; J Southwood , C . H . Liddcll , H . T . Cecili , P . P . G . Stew ard ; F . White , R . R . L . Rosoman , F . Spurgeon , F r . cmmon , C . N . Burr , W . Payne , P . G . Steward ; IT F . Cox , S . W . Carnarvon Lodge ; G . Barnes , O . C Harries . II . Coles , E . Salter , G . A . Eaton , G . Wood

man , W . Sims , J . Blount Thomas , P . P . G . S . D . ; Major Paxton , T . Hall , C . B . Payne , Tyler of the Grand Lodge of England ; G . Carter , J . D . Carnarvon Lodge ; W . Bull , Eugene E . Street , G . L . Green , J . P . Palce , and others . Bro . II . R . Trigg acted as M . C . The cornucopia , or horn of plenty , and other golden vessels used on such occasions had been sent from the Grand

Lodge , and oil , corn , and wine were placed in them , but in consequence of the bad weather were not used , it having been determined to shorten the ceremony as much as possible . At three o ' clock the P . G . M . and his officers , with thc brethren , preceded by the band of the 21 st North Fusiliers , under the direction of Mr . Daniels , moved in procession from the temporary lodge to the site of the hall ,

where Bro . Johnson , in the absence of the Prov . G . Chaplain ( Bro . the Rev . E . B . C . Churchill ) , impressively read a short prayer , after which the P . G . M . " proved" the stone and declared it " square , level , and well-wrought , and fit for the purpose intended . " The stone was then lowered and the usual taps were given . Bro . Trigg produced the plans , which , having been examined by thc P . G . M ., were

declared " well executed , and the limits and proportions accurately defined . " The procession then re-formed and returned to the lodge-room , which having been " close tyled , " The Prov . Grand Master said the ceremony in which they had been engaged was such as was always interesting to Freemasons . Although they did not take part in

operative Masonry , as their forefathers were wont to do in former days , they never shrank from showing thc interest they took in the erection of buildings . They were incited to do this by the fame of those who had gone before . Many magnificent buildings remained as masterpieces of art , and modern Freemasons had not only engrafted

many valuable lessons upon thc work which their forefathers wrought , but they had taken an active part in the erection of buildings in the present day . But there was something specially interesting and coming home to their hearts in a practical manner when the building which was proposed to be erected was for the purposes of Freemasonry , When that building was in future time to be

Laying The Foundation Stone Of A Masonic Hall At Havant.

a lodge , in which the purposes of Freemasonry were to be carried out , it indeed came home to the heart of every man , and led him to take a more active interest in it than he might otherwise do . It became them to think of the work in which they were engaged . When a building was being erected for the purpose of Freemasonry they had to think , " What is this which we are promoting ? " and it

brought home those lessons which were inculcated by their Masonic Craft . It was well-known to them all that those lessons were most valuable ; they were founded upon the Sacred Volume , which lies open in every lodge . In that Sacred Volume were contained those lessons which were most valu . able for the life of man . If they could but act up to the lessons therein inculcated , and which every Master of a

lodge was bound to impress upon the brethren under his rule , they would have their lives improved , and they would feel that Freemasonry had brought home to them lessons which were most valuable for their ] future . The building which was to be erected was founded on wisdom , strength , and beauty—wisdom to devise , strength to execute , and beauty in embellishment . But the construction of the

building was as nothing compared with the purposes for which it was devised . Therein he trusted in future years would be impressed on those who attended lessons in harmony with the purposes of Freemasonry . He trusted that those lessons would bear fruit , and that those brethren who at " tended would feel themselves called upon to act up to those valuable precepts which were instilled among them .

If a Freemason was really impressed with the value and thc necessity of acting up to those lessons , it could not but have a most important effect upon his future life . Supposing a Master who was impressing those lessons upon the brethren were not to act up to them himself , would he not feel that he was falling away from what he was impressing upon them ? Would that not lead him to act

better , to do more to promote the welfare of man , arid to show his reverence for the Great Architect of the Univ ' eise , than he might otherwise do ? He trusted it would . No one who made himself well acquainted with the principles of Freemasonry could fail to be aware of the importance of the precepts which were taught ; and therefore if any one who was well acquainted with them failed to carry out in

his own person those precepts , he must feel that he was derogating . from the high position which he ought to occupy . Such was not , he trusted , the case with any one there . He trusted that all who attended within this lodge would have thc lessons of Freemasonry amply and well explained to them , and that those who had them impressed upon them would act up to them . He hoped this building , the

foundation stone of which had been laid that day , would be powerful for good , and that it would exercise an important influence upon Freemasonry in that town and neighbourhood . He could only say , for himself , that he wished it hearty good-speed , and that the work they had inaugurated that day might be prosperous and efficient . ( Applause . )

Bro . Lintott , W . M ., in proposing a vote of thanks to thc R . W . Prov . Grand Master , said they would all agree with him it was a great kindness on his part to come so many miles to be present with them . They had long been looking forward to that day . They knew that the R . W . Prov , Grand Master had many important and arduous duties to perform , not only in Freemasonry , but in many other

matters . Bro . F . Cox , S . W ., seconded the resolution , saying he was sure it must have been an exertion on thc part of the P . G . M . to find time to visit so small a lodge as this . The Prov . Grand Master , in acknowledging the vote , said it gave him very great pleasure indeed to be present , and he thought he should have been very deficient in his

duty if he had failed to attend when the brethren of the Carnarvon Lodge were making such a noble effort to erect a building fit for the purposes of Ficcmasonry . It reflected such infinite credit on them that it deserved every encouragement on the part of Freemasons in other parts of thc province , and being at the head of the province he should have failed in his duty if he had not come to show

by Ids presence that he heartily approved of their good work , and that he was anxious to say a few words to encourage them , and wish them prosperity in the future . He hoped and trusted that on his next attendance there he should see the building assuming full proportions , and promising to be worthy of , and efficient for , the purposes of Freemasonry . ( Applause ) .

Thc lodge was then closed in thc usual Masonic form . At half-past four a banquet was served in the Town Hall , under the presidency of the Prov . Grand Master . The catering was entrusted to Bro . Purnell , of the Dolphin , who had prepared a choice menu , and served the repast in a manner reflecting great credit upon him . At the conclusion of the dinner ,

The Prov . Grand Master said that loyalty to the Sovereign of their native land was an integral portion of their Masonic creed , and therefore they , as Freemasons , in common with other of Her Majesty ' s subjects , were ready on every occasion to prove their loyalty and affection . But had they not any inducement to do so it would be found in the manner in which Her Majesty , during a lengthened

reign , had endeared herself to the hearts of her subjects . And , indeed , durip . g that long time she had proved herself a true constitutional Sovereign , ar . d that she was ready on every occasion to consult their welfare and adapt herself to their wishes . ( Applause . ) He was sure that as Freemasons he need not appeal to their hearts to join in the toast with every sense of affection that they were capable of showing . —The P . G . M . then gave " The Queen

and the Craft . " ( Applause . ) The Prov . Grand Master said the next toast that he had the honour to propose to them was that of their Grand Master , the Prince of Wales . ( Applause . ) Those who were present on the occasion of his installation would not readily forget the magnificent spectacle presented , and they must also have realised the fact that the Prince of Wales , in assuming the office of Grand Master , was not