Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

RE BRO . ELLIOT GALER . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have seen this evening in the old supper room—now clothing and committee room—at our local Freemasons' Hall our late Bro . Galer ' s portrait . It is signed " Elliot Galer ( two lis and one t—no other Christian names ) , Lodge No . 279—which is St . John ' s , mother of the province—1856 . " There were then

only three lodges in the province , viz ., No . 279 , St . John ' s , Leicester , founded 1790 , centenary ; No . 50 , Knights of Malta , Hinckley , founded 1764 , and which came to Leicestershire from Cheshire , I think , but I do not remember whenvide Kelly ' s " History of Freemasonry in Leicestershire ; " and No . 523 , John of Gaunt , Leicester , founded 1 S 46 ( installation this evening ) . All the others are more modern , and I hear of a new one to be called East Goscote , at Syston ( vide Syston and Peterbro' Ry . ) . East Goscote is the name of a "Hundred" of Leicestershire , and a very suitable name .

I can give you no accurate particulars of Elliot Galer's operatic career , nor of his charming wife—in my early days Miss Fanny Reeves . Consult your old operatic friends , and please write a par to his memory . He took no active part in Masonry in my day , and I never met him in lodge . —Yours fraternally , CHAS . HENTON WOOD , Leicester ,. June 24 th . P . G . Chap .

Reviews.

Reviews .

Bristol . The Cathedral and See . ( George Bell and Sons , 1901 ) . — This is the 24 th charming monograph of the series published by this well-known and respected fir . n of York-street , Covent Garden , and will be very heartily welcomed by the subscribers to the previous artistic volumes . Thc Cathedral Church of Bristol has been ably written by Mr . H . J . L . J . Masse , M . A ., and in a

most interesting man ner , the text being enlivened and enriched with quite a number of beautiful illustrations , which add much to the value of the work . There is not a dull line from the first page to the last , and the author has done his subject justice . Mr . Masse is already well known to the patrons of this remarkable and very handy series by Gloucester ( already in a second edition ) and Tewkesbury Abbey , with Dcchurst Priory .

Another of the additional series of churches , & c ., making the fifth now issued , is devoted to "The Abbey Churches of Bath and Malmesbury and the Church of Saint Laurence , Bradford-on-Avon . " The gifted author is the Rev . T . Perkins , M . A ., F . R . A . S ., Sic , who is also responsible for Wimhorne Minster and Christchurch Priory , and the recently-issued " Itinerary and Description of the English Cathedrals , " originally compiled by Dr . Gilchrist . Considerably over

40 of the finished illustrations are from photographs by Mr . Perkins , who is thus author and artist , and acquits himself in thc double capacity most admirably . The whole of the monographs , now numbjring 31 , may be had through any booksellers , or from the publishers direct , for is . < 5 d . each net , and we feel assured the latest of the "Cathedral Series" by the Rev . T . Perkins will not prove the least interesting .

The following initials and monogram of Thomas Wright ( Receiver to the Chapter [ Bristol } on its first foundation ) , is an illustration deserving of reproduction beneath , as the monogram at the right is suggestive of a Mason ' s mark . The sketch is only roughly clone from the original spandrels of the doorway in the choir .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

St . George ' s Lodge , No . 140

A lodge of emergency of this old lodge was held on Thursday , the 20 th inst ?< it , in consequence of Ihe decease of the respected Secretary , Bro . George Brown , P . M ., P . / .., to pass a vote of sympathy and condolence with the widow and family , and to appoint his iuccesior . Several Past Masters , all the officers , and many brethren were present , and the lodge met in mourning as a mark of respect . The brethren assembled entered ihe lodge , and took their places , while the Organist of the lodge , Bro . J . Shepherd , P . M ., assisted by Biro . E . Shalless , P . M ., played Beethoven's Funeral March .

The W . M ., Bro . W . Eardley Holding , opened the lodge , and read letters and telegrams of regret of inability of being present from Bros . W . C . Burney , P . M ., H . Howard , H . S . Harris , and others . The W . M . then referred in feeling terms to the great loss the lodge had sustained by the unexpected decease of Bro . George Brown , who was so greatly esteemed and loved by all the brethren , and moved the following resolution : " That the brethren of St . George's Lodge desire to place on record the loss they have sustained by the death of their esteemed and beloved Bro . George Brown ,

P . M . and P . Z ,, who has filled the oflice of Secretary so efficiently for the past i . S years , and they desiie to express their earnest sympathy and condolence with his widow and family in their bereavement ; and that a letter of condolence be sent to Mrs . Brown to express their great sorrow and regret at his lamented decease . " Bro . W . Braelly , S . W .- , seconded the resolution , expressing his great regret at his decease , and the hope that yet it might be for thc best , as he was , perhaps , spared some years of lingering illness . Also his remembrance of the many kindnesses

received from Bro . Brown , and that he was sure all the members would remember him with very great affection . Bro . J . Shepherd , P . M ., spoke in a feeling manner of . Bro . Brown being the Junior Warden of thc lodge when he was initiated , and of the great hardship which always existed between them , and his repeated calls upon him which enlivened the day ' s work . His great personality and little ways always endeared him to every member of the lodge , and the members would always keep his memory

gieen . His great value and worth in the lodge of instruction was inestimable and he would be greatly missed . Meeting him a few days before his illness , an appointment was made for the very afternoon Bro . Brown was buried . Bro . Shepherd concluded by suggesting that some memotia ! of him should be placed in the lodge room . Bro . Warcup , P . M ., spoke of Bro . Brown and himself having been boys together at the same school and their lifelong friendship . He would miss him very much , as not a week elapsed but they met ; and he strongly supported the suggestion of Bro . [ . Shepherd , P . M . Bro . E . Johnson , F . M . and Treasurer of the lodge , said the first impression of such a

Craft Masonry.

melancholy occasion was certainly serious , but they sorrow with hope . Some men always shrank from human dissolution ; but that was a mistaken delusion , and those who had seen the light through the portals of a Masonic lodge need have no fear . From a Mason's initiation the principle inculcated is the uncertainty of life , and he is taught how to live , but he is also taught how to die . Twenty-five years ago their Bro . Brown was figuratively placed where he was actually placed last week . Freemasonry taught them how to live and how to die . The Volume of the Sacred Law is not the only method of teaching , the example we leave behind us is

teaching . For 25 years he had known their Bro . Brown , and one could not but think that the world was the better for his work . In every position of life in which he was placed he carried out his duties faithfully , efficiently , and zealously . In his public duties he acted to the entire satisfaction of his superiors . In his private life he was a beloved husband and a dear father , and they felt sure the family did not sorrow withou ' c hope . His ldiosyncraaes and peculiarities endeared him to them all , mire particularly that of their departed brother thinking that no one could do wrong . And , although at times it had been his duty to express an adverse opinion on any one , he always tried to find

an excuse for an erung brother . He was a man without guile ; his amiable disposition could not admit the presence of evil ; and , as regards the uncertainty of life , for som » years Bro . Tattershall was the Secretary , and Bro . Moak the Treasurer , of the lodge " , old and tried , and when they resigned , in 1 PS 3 , Bro . Brown was appointed Secretary and he ( Bro . Johnson ) was appointed Treasurer , andsa brought in closer communication with him ; and he found it very difficult to express the affection he felt for his memory . His singular fidelity and accurate book-keeping was pre-eminent , and it was vary rare that anything required adjustment . Only recently , on April iSth , he suggested a balance of the accountsand he wrote

, : "Figures quite right ; hope to meet soon . " How significant that in less than two months all that was mortal of him should lie in the grave . His last message was " hope to meet soon ; " let them hope that in the Grand Lodge above they might all meet . Whatever his hand found to do he did with all his might . He did his best both for the lodge and for the lodge of instruction . He was as earnest at the end as at the commencement ; and let them hope that would ever be a lasting and useful lesson to all the brethren present . Bro . W . Shepherd , J . W ., said that as a constant attendant at the lodge of instruction

since he had been a Mason , he wished to testify to the ability and genial manner in which Bro . George-Brown acted as Preceptor . Hail , rain , or " SUDW , he was always there , and his absence was practically nil . His kind disposition endeared him to all , and the lodge of instruction would miss him for a very bn £ while . The resolution was earned unanimously , the brethren all standing . The VV . M . then announced that he appointed Bro . H . Richardson , P . M ., as Secretary , who was presented b y Bro . E . Johnson

, Treas ., and invested . Bro . H . Richardson briefly acknowledged his suns * of the honour conferred up : m him by the W . M , and the difficulty of following sjalnirabb a predecessor , and said that the spirit of . emulation was strong upon him , and that his best efforts would always be at the service of the lodge ; at the same time expressing his sorrow at the loss of so kind a friend of many years standing . The VV . M . then clos-d the lodge with prayer and hymn , and the brethren silently left the lod ^ e while Cnopin ' s Funeral March was played by Bros . T . Shepherd and E . Shalless , P . Ms .

Acacia Lodge , No . 2321 .

LADIES' NIGHT . The members of this lodge were cu fete on the 23 rd ult ., the occasion being the ladies dining with the brethren at the invitation of the W . M ., Bro . John VV . Bland , for the second time during his term of office . In order to clear off some of the arrears of work an emergency meeting was convened at C . 15 , when Bro . VV . W . Symons was raised to the Sublime Degree of a M . M . by Bro . Fearnley , P . M ., the working tools were explained by Bro . Bedford , J . W ., and the charge in the Third Degree delivered by Bro . Hedley , S . W .

1 he lodge was closed , and at 7 . 30 the ladies dined with the brethren , upwards of ? o assembled lo enjoy the generous hospitality of the VV . M . After the cloth had been removed , the W . M . gave the toast * of " The King and the Craft , " " Her Majesty the ( Jueen , and T . R . H . the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall " and " H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , M . W . G . M . " Cornwall , The only other toasts submitted were "The Ladies , " "The Masonic Guests " "The W . M ., " " The Masonic Charities , " and the Tyler's toast .

The rest of the evening was devoted to a most enjoyable concert contributed toby the brethren and Miss Dccksey , whose careful singing was much appreciated . Mr . Lsapatd also gave a couple of solos on the violin . In submitting the toast of ' •'The Masonic Benevolent Institutions , " Bro . Fearnley P . M ., the Charity Member of the lodge , took the opportunity of referring to the prizes obtained Jowett of

recently by Mary , a daughter a late member of the lodge , at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . After the toast the Charity-box was well patronised In responding to the toast of his health , Bro . Bland , the W . M ., expressed ths pleasure it had afforded him a second time during his year of office to welcome the ladies to join them at refreshment , and to see such a happy party around the lod ge social board . He hoped they would all enjoy themselves .

"The Masonic Guests" was proposed by Bro . Last , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., and responded toby Bros . Danziger , 2455 , and Moire , 2491 . "The Ladies" was proposed by the W . M ., and suitably acknowledged by Bro . Durrance , Asst . Sec . As the hour of 11 approached the Tyler ' s toast was the signal for the termination of a very happy party . Undoubtedly the Craft would be more popular with our lady friends if the practice of inviting them to join the brethren at refreshment were adopted by more of our lodges .

The following were visitors : Bros . Thos . Denby , P . M , 3 S 7 , P . P . G . D . C . ; H . E Ccokson , Ceo ; F . Driver , Sio ; D . Darcy Danziger , 2455 ; and E . Moore , " 2491 . '

A regular meeting of the lodge was held on Thursday , the 0 ; h instant , when , in the absence through illness of Bro . J . W . Bland , W . M ., Uro R . S . Hird , I . P . M ., presided , and was supported by Bros . A . Stephenson , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; C . H . Ellis P M J . Moiton , P M . ; J . S . Hedley , S . W . ; J . A . Drake as J . W . ; F . Betterid , je , B . A . " Chap . ; S . A . Bailey , P . M ., Treas . ; J . I ' . Last , P . M ., P . P . G . Keg ., Sec ; VV . Shaw Smith , S . D . ; J . L . turner as J . D . ; VV . H . Townend , I . G . ; J . S . Cooper , Tyler ; J . Wood , Org . ; VV . Durrance , Asst . Sec ; J . Hardy and H . W . WhitleyStwds . ;

, and a goodly number of the members . Visitors : Bros . VV . O . Hinchcliff * P . M 101 S P . P . G . D . ; G . P . Sunderland , P . M . 17315 , P . P . G . D . C ; Otto Schultz , VV . M . 101 S ; Geo . H . 1 'ield , P . M . 101 S ; F . Romfeldt , P . M . 101 S ; G . W . Iveson , 101 S ; H . I . Milnes , 101 S ; F . Webster , 101 S ; M . Robertshaw , 101 S ; J . E . Barker , 101 S ; j . H . Turlon , W . M . 2330 ; T . B . Salthouse , Sec 2330 ; John Nicholson , S . W . 2330 ; Geo . H . Hodgson . S . D . 2330 ; VV . H . Rhodes , 333 ; E . Moore , 2401 : Whitby Norton , 2 G 60 ; and S . H . Pellzt , l . P . M . 173 C .

After the minutes of the last regular lodge and of the emergent lodge held on the 23 rd ult . had been confirmed , liro . A . Rushforth was passed to the Second Degree by Bro . Bailey , the working tools being explained by Bro . Hedley , S . W ., whj also delivered the charge , liro . F . F . Rhodes was raised to the Tnird D . 'gree by B .-o . Last , P . P . G . R ., the working tools of a M . M . were explained by Bro . Hird , I . P . M ., and the

charge in the Third Degree delivered by Bro . Hedley , S . W . Due notice , as required by the custom of the lodge , was given of proposition of twj candiJates at the next regular meeting of the lodge , and after "Hearty good wishes" from the visitors th J lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment , where the numerous visitor ' s were entertained at dinner , after which the customary loyal anj Maijnic toasts wete duly honoured .

" Ihe Visitors" was proposed by Bro . Last , P . P . G . R ., and in the name of the W . M . ( who had hoped to have presided , but who , acting under medical advice , was obliged to absent himself as the result of a chill ) , he gave the brethren from the seven different ledges who had honoured the Lodge Acacia with their presence that evening a very heaity welcome .

I he toast was very heartily received by the brethren , and was responded to by Bros . O . Schultz , VV . M . 101 . S ; J . II . Turton , VV . M . 2130 ; and G . P . Sunderland , P . M . 173 0 , P . P . G . D . C . The latter in his rcmaiks slated the gratification it had afforded him to again be the gues : of the lodge , he was delighted with the procedure both at labour and refreshment , and , indeed , he had spent a must pleasant evening .

Ihe other toasts were" lheW . M ., " " The Past Masters , " " The Officers of the Ledge , " and the Tyler ' s toast . Bros . Drake , Townend , HinchlifTe , P . M . ; Noiton , Edwards , Wood , Webiter Iveson , Barker , and Rushforth conttibuted songe , recitations , and solos to th ; harma . n of the evening .