Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondent but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits-[•¦ pc discussion .

Till- INFLUENCE OF THE MASONIC PRESS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In the article in last week ' s Freemason under the heading " The Influence of the Masonic Press , " mention is made of the " Passing , " " Raising , " and " Reducing of Lodges . " lt is the first time 1 have ever heard of such a ceremony and I shall be obliged if some brother will kindly explain what it means . —Yours fraternally , R .

September 24 th . THE R . A . AND OTHER MATTERS . To the Editor of the " Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother .

I have followed with much interest the correspondence which has lately taken place in your columns as to the best means of increasing the number of members in Royal Arch chapters . Whilst not agreeing with the drastic measures advocated by some , I quite agree with them that some step is necessary to stimulate the interest that should be felt in this Degree .

I have been waiting to see if anyone would suggest a plan which , I am told , is adopled in , at least , one lodge , and that is—that in all lodges to which a R . A . chapter is attached it should be a sine qiui non that the designated W . M . should take the R . A . Degree before election as W . M . By this means there would always be a member in every chapter eligible for Third Principal , and the fact of the

W . M . being a K . A . Mason would probably induce younger msmb-irs to join . A slight alteration of the bye-laws lo the ellect that the W . M . elect must bc a R . A Mason is all that would be necessary . —Yours fraternally , P . M . AND P . Z . September 24 th .

THE WEARING OF THE APRON . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In a portrait in your issue of the 22111 I , I notice the W . M . is wearing his apron with the coal over it . Is there not , 1 regulation , or is it nol unwritten Masonic law , that the- apron should be worn as the absolutely outside garment ? — Yours fraternally , P . P . G . S . D . September 24 th .

The Grand Tyler Of England.

THE GRAND TYLER OF ENGLAND .

On turning over the pages of the Indian Freemason for the 15 th August , we lig hted upon tlie following readable account of Bro . Sadler ' s career ; and though most of our readers are doubtless familiar with his works , we have much p leasuie in reproducing it for the benefit of those who are not : In this issue wc present our readers with the portrait of a Masonic

celebrity , the Grand Tyler of the Mother Grand Lodge , Bro Henry Sadler . Apart from this he stands out in bold relief among literary Masons of our age , and is further distinguished by his position as Librarian to the grand old Institution Masons in every age must reverence . Not a few of us from India recall the Sanctum Sanctorum of our brother as one of the most

p leasing elements in a visit to the shrine of English Masons in G'eat Ouee 1 Street , for he is among all notorieties connected therewith the most approachable , the informed of all informers , a veritable walking cyclop . i- lia of the heighth , the length , the depth and breadth of Masonry , a knowledge acquired by a long sojourn among the archives of the Grand I . od c .

Our worthy brother first saw the light of Freemasonry in the Lodge ol Justice , No . \ -j 2 ( now 147 ) , in IS 6 J , and in 186 5 , he entered into the service of the Grand Lodge as Assistant to the then Grand Tyler , Bro . C . li . Payne . He wns installed Worshipful Master of . his mother lodge in January , 1 S 72 , the Grand Secretary , Iiro . John Hervey , performing the ceremony . To this eminent brother , the subject ol our memoir acknowledges

his indebtedness for a thorough grounding in the ceremonies and lectures , which stood him in good stead when , a few years later he took up the duties of a Masonic lecturer . In 1 . S . S 1 , he assisted in founding the Southgate Lodge , No . 11 ) 50 , and four years later he was first founder and Worshipful Master of the \ Valsiiigham Lodge , No . 214 S , at Wilmington , Kent , of which province he subsequently became Grand Director of Ceremonies .

Bro . Sadler is a Koyal Arch Mason of over ; ,- > years' standing , and was appointed Grand Janitor of thc Grand Chapter of England in 1 S 79 . He became Principal ' / .. of thc Temperance Chapter , No . jfnj , Deptford , in itSSo . He is also a Koyal Arch Mason under the Scottish system , having joined Chapter St . Andrew , No . S . ^ , Edinburgh , in 1895 . This he did with a view of ascertaining thc difference between the two systems .

He joined Mark Masonry in the Era Lodge , No . 17 6 , 111 18 9 . 3 , was inttalled Mark Master in \ e \ if \ , and was appointed Grand Inner Guard in

1897 . He is aLoa member of thc Eastern Star Lodge , having been initiated iu i S'J . V Hc wis appointed Grand Tyler on the death of Bro . Payne in jS / 'j . During his career in Grand Lodge he has served under live Grand Secretaries—Bro :,. W . H . White , W . G . Clarke , John Hervey , Col . Shadwell Clerke , and the present incumbent , Bra . Letchworth .

Bro . Sadler ' s literary labours have been of a vast and varied nature , but he is chiefly known by the now standard works—¦ " Masonic Pacts and Fictions , ' published ii : 1 . S . S 7 ; "Notes on the Ceremony of Installation , " 18 S 9 ; ' Thomas iJunckeiley : his Life , Labours , and Letters , " ISIJI ; and "Masonic Reprints and Historical Revelations , " ISIJS . He has been a constant conlriuulor of Masonic papers to numerous periodicals . Besides his labours in this direction he has for the past 20 years devoted ¦ large portion of what should have been leisure time to the improvement

The Grand Tyler Of England.

and enlargement of the Grand Lodge Library and a creation of a Masonic Museum in connection therewith . Partly owing to his untiring energy the liberality of the Grand Lodge , and the generosity of individual brothers tlie former has steadily increased from a few hundred books of no par ' ticular Masonic importance to an extensive and valuable collection , which

has no equal in the United Kingdom , besides severa ' . Masonic MSS . of the Old Charges of the Operative Fraternity and other varieties , while the latter may be considered an accomplished fact , consisting as it does of a large assortment of engravings , medals , aprons , and other relics of anti quity the whole now finding a permanent home in the handsome and commodious room recently erected for the purpose by the Grand Lodge of England .

Ihe additional labour devolving upon him 111 connection with the new Library and Museum will , we fear , leave him little opportunity for further pursuit in the paths of literature , which will doubtless be regretted by many Masonic students who having read the publications emanating from his pen are familiar with his terse and lucid way of marshalling his facts in a style which we venture to say is peculiarly his own .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Clapton Lodge , No . 1365 . The installation meeting of this well-known and distinguished lodge was held by dispensation at the Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-street , on the 20 th instant , in consequence of the extensive alterations at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool-street . There were present Bros . T . T . Gething , W . M . ; F . Orfeur , S . W ., W . M . elect ; F I Thayre . P . M .. I . W . ; W . Blackburn . P . M ., Treas . ; W . D . Church , P . M ., Sec G . Schilling , S . D . ; C . R . Campbell . J . D . ; H . J . Dyer and A . W . Diamond , Stwds ' W . Finch , P . M . ; W . 11 . Caton , P . M . ; A . Tucker , P . M . ; Arthur H . ChurchP M

, C . A . Johnson , J . Vincent , E . VVildash , T . Vauirhan , Dr . J . N . Bredin , W . D . Seaton II . Greene , J . Dolman , E . M . Edwards , E . J . Brooks , J . S . Shipman , E . W . Moore ' 1 " . Brown , S . T . Green , D . G . Zoers , C . Sienesi , E . Haslehurst , E . Ilorlev , E . Sienesi ' II . E . Prior , II . B . Sparrow . C . J . S'orey . H . II . Bo'vcn , E . F . Bowler , S . G . Shead ' F . J . Thurston , J . E . Wall , J . Pearse , G . Taylor , and H . Martin , P . M ., Tyler ' Visitors : Bros , the Right Rev . Ethelhert Talbot , D . D ., LL . D ., Bishop of Ctntral Pennsylvania , U . S . A . ; U . Latreille , P . M . 1056 ; T . W . Peart , 11 ; A . Ruff , 1713 ; W . II . Lucas , 54 . S ; J . Bishop , 27115 ; S . A . Martin , 2521 ; N . Orfeur , 1312 :. A . K . v !

Stephens . 2024 ; J . II . Haine , J . W . 12 O 0 J J . Dawson , 1724 ; J . Mast .-rs , P . M . 1445-| . J . L . Linton , S . W . 2411 ; II . II . Allen , P . M . 1733 ; P . Bishop . 1056 ; Frank Bridge , 1733 ; C . Long . P . M . ujzo ; S . Pocock , 2730 ; J . E . Hill , P . M . 14 G 0 ; L . Breeze , id / y ; and R . T . West , 1744 . The lodge having been opened , the minutes of the last lodge meeting were read aud conlirmed , and the Auditors submitted their report on the balance sheet , which was passed and adopted . Bro . Arthur II . Church , P . M ., then occupied the chair and proceeded with the impr rtant task of installing Bro . F . Orfeur as W . M ., which he did with

much psccision and dignity . 'Ihe new W . M . appointed anil invested the following brethren as his ollieers for the ensuing year : Bros . T . T . Gething , I . P . M F I Thayre , S . W . j G . Schilling , J . W . ; C . R . Campbell , S . D . ; F . G . Minter , J . D . K . II . Chessum , l . G . ; 11 . J . Dyer , D . C ; W . R . O . Cathrow , A . W . Diamond , and J . Brooks , Stwds . ; W . Blackburn , P . M ., Treas . ; VV . D . Church , P . M ., Sec ; A . II . Church , P . M ., Org . ; and il . Martin , Tyler . The installation ceremony was most ably performed by Bro . A . H . Church , P . M ., who gave the customary addresses in a manner that made it impossible for them to have been better rendered , for which he received

the hearty congratulations of the brethien . The W . M . then rose and stated that he had a most important and pleasant duty to perform , and , addressing Bro . T . T . Gsthing , he presented him with a Past Master's jewel , remarking that no brother had more worthily earned it , and that it was given as a small token of the great esteem in which he was held by the members and of their appreciation of the great things hehaldoa ; lor the lodge . Bro . T . T . Gething , I . P . M ., in a few appropriate words , tendered his

sincere thanks for their kindness to him , and observed . hat he was not given much to wearing jewellery , but the jewel hc should always wear on every possible occasion , as he was very proud ot it . The jewel bore the following inscription : " Presented by the Brethren of the Clapton Lodge , No . 13 ^ 5 , to Bro . Thos . T . Gething , P . M ., in recognition of valuable services rendered bv him as W . M . September 20 th , njoo . " Several gentlemen were proposed for initiation at the next meeting , and after other business the loilge was closed .

A recherche banquet fallowed , which reflected the highest possible credit on the establishment , and it was well served under the personal superintendence of Mr . 0 . Meadows . As a preface to the loasts the W . M ., Bro . F . Orfeur , stated that his speeches would bc brief , as they had a lengthy musical programme to get through . The W . M . gave " I'he Queen and the Craft , " and afterwards ' * fhe M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " which were duly honoured . " I he Grand Ollieers . Present and Past , " followed .

" Ihe Health of the W . M ., Bro . F . Orfeur , " was proposed by Bro . T . T . Gjthing , I . P . M ., who stated that no words from him were necessary to commend the toast , as the W . M . 's character was so well-known to them all , and there was no occasion to extol his many virtues , but he wished him a happy and prosperous year of ollice . I ' he W . M ., who was enthusiastically received , said he hardly knew how to respond as he was quite a new officer , and it remained to be proved if hc could give them satisfaction , but if he could carry out his duties in a way to maintain the great prestige of the lodge , he would be more than gratified . He was honoured to be the Master of such an impoitant fidge , and hoped that no one would ever have any cause to regret having placed him in his high position .

i he W . M . proposed " I he LP . M ., Bro . Gething , " and saiJ that if ever the lodge had had a worthy Master they had one in Bro . Gething , who had carried out his duties in an excellent manner , and they were all delighted with his great efforts . Bro . Gething , I . P . M , on rising to respond was well received . He said it was not quite his farewell to oflice in thc lodge , as he was the I . P . M . at present , but he thanked them for their very hearty reception . He had endeavoured to carry out his duties to their satisfaction , and his thanks were due to his ollieers for their able assistance . lbwas indebted to all who had subscribed to his list as Steward f > r the last Festival of the Boys' Institution , which enabled him to take up the substantial am iunt of £ 145 , which placed him ninth on the list of Stewards for England .

Ihe W . M . gave "The Installing Master , Bro . A . II . Church , P . M ., " remarking that he could do nothing more forcible than remind them of the great work they had seen that evening , and thc ceremony could not have been done better , lie was a gooi Mason , anil the worthy son of their esteemed Secretary , and on liehalt of the members he tendered him his best thanks for his excellent services as Installing Maser . In response , Bro . A . II . Church , P . M ., stated that it was a great privilege anil pleasure to be allowed to work the beautiful ceremony of installation once again , and when he was asked hy the outgoing Master , Bro . Gething , to act he was delighted to consent . It the biethren thought he had dona it as it should be done thsn he was amplv repaid for his services as Installing Master .

I ' he W . AI . proposed " The Visitors , " and said they were always p ' eased anil honoured to have a Ilrge number of guests , lis read out a list of those who were there , giving a kind wnd to each , and he associated the nanus of the following with the toast : Hue- the Right Rev . Ethelhert I ' alh it , D . D ., LL . D . ; II . Litr-ille , P . M . i 11 . 11 . Allen , P . M . ; Iii . hop , and J Misters , P . M . Bio . tin- Right Kev . Etlielliert falli . t lesponded , and said it was a great pljaitire to be there . I le was indebted In his g iod Iriend , Uro . S-jaton , for his kind invitation J he

loved him before but hi- loved him belter now . lie found there were three Bishops present that evening and he was the Bishop of Central Pi nnsylvania . In his c . mntry . 1 Bishop was considered as good as any other man if he behaved himself . He was charmed with the cxcel ' ent winking of the installation ceremony and hi appreciated il very much . Freemasonry was a great thing in America and would stand for ever ) - thing good . When he went back hums he should carry the greetings of the Clapton Lodge to his own lodge . He came there as a stranger and they took him in and treated