Original Correspondence.

THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP . ' To the Editor of " The Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have been informed that a meeting of Grand Lodge Officers has been held for the purpose of selecting a brother as Grand Treasurer for the forthcoming year . It appears that the name has been mentioned to several others , but the strictest secrecy has been enjoined . Why

this mysterious silence ? Is it in the interest of any special brother , or in that of the whole Craft ? On one thing , however , I think we may most heartily congratulate ourselves , and that is , that the rulers of the Craft have at length awakened to the fact that the Treasurership must be filled each year by a newly-elected brother . I have not the slightest doubt that the Craft will loyalty accept the nominee of the Grand Officers if he be deserving and fully

competent to undertake the duties of the honoured post , but should it transpire that the selection has been one of favouritism rather than merit , then I fearlessly assert that the nominators will find they have made a mistake , and that the Craft will assert its rights by choosing a brother who , by length of service and unflagging zeal in the cause of Freemasonry , has unmistakably testified that he is

entitled to the suffrages of its members . I make no apology in requesting you to insert this in your columns , for , as a subscriber to and reader of the Freemason , I know the great interest you take in everything that pertains to the welfare of this great Brotherhood . In the hope that the best qualified candidate will fill the vacant chair , —I remain , yours faithfully and fraternally , SKY BLUE .

MASONIC MENDICANCY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Kindly permit me , through your pages , to inform the many brethren whose signatures are appended to a request that I should bring the question of Masonic mendicancy before the Craft in such manner as to direct greater attention to the subject than has been hitherto given

to it , that the following motion will be before the Grand Lodge for approval or rejection at the ensuing Quarterly Communication on 3 rd December ( Wednesday next ) , viz . "That it be referred to the Board of General Purposes to consider and report upon the best means for the prevention of the combined impositions practised upon metropolitan and Provincial lodges by mendicant Freemasons . "

The letter of Bro . Mason , W . M . and Almoner 1600 , which appeared in your last impression , is strong confirmation of the arguments in favour of an organization to stamp out the impostures practised upon us , both in town and country . How fully his experience can be endorsed by numerous other brethren it will not be difficult to prove . — Yours faithfully and fraternally , JAMES STEVENS , P . M ., P . Z . Clapham , Nov . 24 .

MASONIC EMBLEMS AMONG SAVAGES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The following extract from my notes of the Prince of Wales ' s Lodge , under date of 20 th Jan . 1791 , may , perhaps , account for the Masonic indications among the American Indians : " Gen . William Augustus Bowie ' s , Chief up the Creek

Nation , elected an hon . member . He expressed his intention of introducting Freemasonry among the American Indians . W . A . Bowles , an American adventurer , born 1763 . When 13 years of age he ran away from home and joined the British Army in Philadelphia . He obtained a commission , but was dismissed for a breach of discipline . He soon after became connected with the Creek Indians , married a woman of the tribe , and became one of their

leaders . He encouraged their excesses , and prompted them to many attacks on the Spaniards . He commanded the Creeks when they assisted the British at Pensacola in 1780 . After the war he led a roving life—at one time an actor , at another a portrait painter—visiting England ^ in 1790 . On his return to America he again became Commander-in-Chief of the tribe , and , after disturbing the peace of the neighbouring States for some time , was taken prisoner by the Spaniards and sent to Madrid and

afterwards to Manilla , whence he escaped and returned to his old life . He was finally captured in 1 S 04 and imprisoned in Havana until his death . " Before his return to America he was appointed Provincial Grand Master of the Creek , Cherokee , Chickes-aw , and Choctaw Indians , and his name appears as such in the calendar of that period . 6 , Princes-street , Bank , E . G ., THO . FENN . London , Nov . 22 .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

( Craft jftasonrgu LODGE OF ANTIQUITY ( No . 2 ) . —The November meeting of this very ancient lodge took place at Freemasons' Hall , under somewhat depressing circumstances . The alarming illness and absence of Bro . Lieut .-Col . Creaton , P . G . T ., and the much valued Treasurer of the lodge for many years , a brother greatly regarded by all its members alike , were deeply and sincerely felt . Bro .

C . E . Rivington , W . M ., presided , and the lodge was opened at the wonted time , though with a comparatively short muster of the brethren . Tin ' s being the evening for the election of W . M ., & c , Bro . E . Letchworth , G . D . and S . W . of the lodge , was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year , and Bro . Lieut .-Col . Creaton was as unanimously re-elected Treasurer , amid many aspirations , warmly

expressed , for his speedy return to health . Jand his early reappearance at the lodge . Several formal matters of business were then disposed of ; a Steward was nominated for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Festival , and the lodge was duly closed . The brethren then adjourned to the banquet , which did credit alike to the worthy Steward of the lodge and Bro .

Dawkins . The usual loyal and Masonic ( toasts were given and responded to very effectively , and Bro . Davison , G . D ., returned thanks for the "Visitors . " After an otherwise very agreeable evening the brethren separated at an early hour , as , we may remark , is the invariable and laudable custom of Old Antiquity .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

CITY OF LONDON LODGE ( No . 901 ) . —A meeting of the above lodge was held at the Guildhall Tavern , on Monday , the 17 th inst . Present : Bros . David Hughes , W . M . ; John Hughes , I . P . M . ; H . McClelland , S . W . ; Chas . Beaumont , P . M ., Sec ; H . Harbord , S . D . ; Danl . Hughes , J . D . ; R . Clinch , D . C ; R . Pittam Stevens , I . G . ; Hand , Org . ; Gillard , A . D . C . ; R . F . Whur

W . S . ; Hoddinott and Haylock , Stewards ; Lewis , P . M . ; Cundy , P . M . ; Rogers , Whitnall , E . VV . Cundy , Ross , Gross , Dance , P . M . ; Rubardt , Chivers , Watkins , Faux , Vale , Fletcher , Follett . Eade , Jno . Clarke , Dharty , Green , Harden , Fimister , Vears , Haish , Corkhill , and G . Smith . Bro . Jas . Batting , P . M . 1 S 01 , P . P . G . R . Berks and Bucks , was a visitor . The lodge was opened in due form . The minutes of

the last meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Follett was raised to the Sublime Degree of M . M . ; the VV . M . rendering the ceremony in perfect manner and with great effect . The bye-laws having been read , the brethren proceeded to elect a W . M . for the ensuing year , when the choice of the members fell unanimously upon Bro . H . McClelland , S . W . Bros . Jno . Hughes , P . M ., was elected

Treas . ; and J . Woodstock , Tyler . The officers and P . Ms ., together with Bros . Gross , Follett , Vears , and Bater , were appointed Auditors of the lodge accounts . Bro . Beaumont then proposed , Bro , Harbord seconded , and it was carried unanimously that a Past Master ' s jewel be presented to Bro . David Hughes on his leaving the chair , as a mark of esteem and appreciation from the members

of the lodge . The W . M . elect having notified his intention to represent the lodge at the forthcoming Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , it was unanimously resolved that 20 guineas be given out of the lodge funds , and placed on his list as Steward . Bros . Haylock proposed , and Gross seconded , Mr . Pearce as a candidate for initiation . The VV . M . proposed , Bro . Dan Hughes ,

J . D ., seconded , Bro . Middlemas as a joining member . The lodge was then closed , and the members adjourned to dinner , after which the W . M ., in giving the toast of "The Queen and the Craft , " stated that nothing gave Masons greater pleasure than to drink to her continued good health , and , as they were all cognisant of her virtues , he did not need to dwell upon them .

In proposing "The Health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " the W . M . said it gave him much pride to bring this toast before them , as H . R . H . was not only an ornament to the Craft , but Freemasons as a body appreciated and prized the great services he had , and was constantly rendering towards our ancient Institution . The I . P . M . having kindly acted as J . W ., the duty of

proposing " 1 he W . M . ' s Health" fell upon the senior P . M . present , Bro . Lewis , who said he was quite convinced that of late years the W . Ms , of the City of London Lodge had quite succeeded in bringing up the working of the lodge to perfection , and that the present W . M . had quite confirmed this opinion in his beautiful rendering of th * Third Degree during the evening . The Worshipful Master , in returning thanks , said that he

felt very much flattered by the kind expressions of their old P . M ., and also by the way in which the brethren had received the toast of his health ; and that he was sure he had the heartfelt good wishes of the brethren towards him . If he had conducted the working of the lodge to their satisfaction , then he should retire gratefully , and they might rely upon him to do everything in his power for any member in the future .

The Worshipful Master then gave the toast of "The W . M . Elect , " and stated that this was the toast of the evening , and that every Mason should strive to do his utmost to reach the chair of his mother lodge . He congratulated Bro . McClelland on being selected so unanimously . He believed the choice of the brethren had never fallen upon a brother more worthy to occupy that position , and he

congratulated the brethren on having such a good Mason to preside over them . The Worshipful Master elect , in responding , said he was quite overwhelmed with the manner in which the brethren had received this toast . He need not tell them bow old or how young a Mason he was ; but he could tell them thisthat by their suffrages that evening they had enabled him to attain that great honour which he had always looked

forward to , and he assured them that he should take great pride in maintaining the dignity of the chair and furthering the interests of the City of London Lodge . The Worshipful Master then , in a few graceful words , proposed the toast of " The Visitor , " who , in returning thanks , said in all his experience of 16 years of Freemasonry he never saw such hearty good feeling as existed

between the members of the City of London Lodge , and it had afforded him great pleasure to accept Bro . Ross's kind invitation . He was surprised to hear what they were doing for the Charities ; and when they voted 20 guineas to one of the Masonic Institutions , it reflects great credit on the lodge , and led him to infer that the new W . M . would be liberally

supported by the members of his lodge . " The Past Masters , " " The Officers , " and Tyler ' s toast were then given and responded to in the usual hearty manner , and the brethren dispersed after spending a pleasant evening together , several of the members having greatly enhanced that enjoyment by their musical talents .

ROSE OF DENMARK LODGE ( No . 975 ) . — The installation meeting of the Rose of Denmark Lodge was held on Friday last , at the Greyhound Hotel , Richmond , when there was a very large attendance of members and visitors to witness the outgoing of one of the most popular and esteemed Masters who had had the honour to rule over this important lodge , and the incoming of the new

Master , who was elected to that ofiice from the Senior Warden's chair . There was a considerable amount of business on the agenda , including the raising of Bro . Gale , the passing of Bro . Clarke , the balloting for as a rejoining member of Bro . Alfred J . Deere , the installation of the Worshipful Master elect , the appointment and investiture of officers , and the initiation of Mr . Harry Hunt and Mr .

Edwin Arthur Tilbury , and consequently the lodge was opened as early as three o'clock by the VV . M ., Bro . Moreton Graham , who succeeded in disposing of the portion preceding the installation ceremony " by a little after four o ' clock , when a Board of Installed Masters was formed ,

and Bro . William Robert Williams , the S . VV ., was installed by Bro . Moreton Graham into the chair of K . S . The Board of Installed Masters was then closed , and the new Master was duly proclaimed and saluted in the Three Degrees in due form . Bro . Williams then proceeded to invest his officers for the ensuing year , as follows : Bros . Brown

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

S . W . ; Geo . Bugler , J . W . ; James Garnar , P . M ., Treas . ; John Noble , P . M ., Secretary ; Chas . E . Goldring , Asst . Sec ; Charles M . Campbell , S . D . ; John Plowman , J . D . ; Sydney S . Fogden , I . G . ; Chas . j . F . Shannaw , D . C . ; W . H . Wilcox , W . S . ; N . Courlander and VV . E . Scantlebury , Asst . Stewards ; and John Gilbert , Tyler . The addresses to the newly-installed Master , Wardens , and brethren of the lodge were delivered by Bro .

Past Master Hinton , bringing the installation ceremony to a close ; the work both of Bro . Moreton Graham and Bro . Hinton being very good . Bro . Williams , the new Master , then proceeded to initiate Mr . Hunt and Air . Tilbury into the First Degree , showing by the manner in which he discharged this duty that he is a very able workman . In particular , the manner in which the obligation was administered was so impressive that it cannot fail to stick in the recollection of thn initiates .

The lodge was then closed , and the brethren to the number of about one hundred dined together in the noble banqueting room adjoining the lodge room , and when the cloths had been withdrawn , the W . M . proceeded to propose the customary list of loyal and Masonic toasts . After these to Her Majesty and the Grand Master had

been duly honoured , the W . M ., in proposing " The Health of the Pro Grand Master ; the Deputy Grand Master ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , " expressed his regret that their old and esteemed friend , Bro . Buss , the Asst . Grand Secretary , was unable to be present to respond as usual for the Grand Officers .

Bro . Moreton Graham then rose and said that it had been his fortune during the past year to sound his gavel in the east , but he had that night had to resign it , and he now held it for the first time in the capacity of I . P . M . In that capacity he had now the privilege to propose the toast of "The Worshipful Master . " Bro . Williams had worked his way up stage by stage through every office in the lodge until he had at length arrived at the dignity ot a ruler in

the Craft and Master of a lodge , which was , in his opinion , second to none . From experience he ( Bro . Graham ) knew it to be no light duty to preside over a lodge as powerful and numerous as theirs , and he viewed with complacency the prospect of taking his ease as a Past Master . They would all join with him in the hope that their VV . M . might have as good , as successful , and as prosperous a year of office as any of the Past Masters had had , and that he

would go out of office in twelve months time well satisfied with himself and the brethren well satisfied with him . Bro . Williams , in a brief reply , expressed himself very much gratified with the kind manner in which Bro . Graham had proposed , and with the cordial way in which the brethren had drunk his health . He was very pleased and proud to think that the brethren had elected him to the office of Master , and he hoped to be able to fulfil its

duties , and though he believed he had not made a very good commencement , he trusted to be able tojdo his work to the satisfaction of the brethren , and to the credit of the Rose of Denmark Lodge . Bro . Wrigglesworth said that he had been entrusted with the gavel for the purpose of proposing " The Health of the Initiates , " as he was a very old member of the lodge , who was fast going down the ladder of Past Masters .

They had to congratulate themselves on their increased numbers , as an accession of forces did not mean an increased amount of difficulty for the W . M . What the initiates did recollect of the ceremony they had gone through would no doubt be so vividly impressed upon their minds that it would become their guiding star throughout their lives . If initiates only took it to heart they might become wiser , and , in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred , better . He humorously added that he believed in Bros .

Hunt and Tilbury ; there was not a more rising place that he knew of than Tilbury , and he did not know anybody who loved a hunt better than himself . He could only point out to the initiates that if they cast their eyes round that array of unchecked vice they would see brethren in a position which they themselves might hope to fill ; still it was not easy , as a matter of course , that they should arrive at the Master ' s chair . With the increased strength in

their numbers he hoped there would be increased enthusiasm in the cause of Masonry ; when young Masons knew that there was no royal road to success , it might be some inducement to them to study not only the ritual but their behaviour as Masons outside the lodge . It was the sincere wish of the brethren that the initiates might never regret having learned something of what Freemasonry is , and might never regret the moment they had become

Freemasons . Bros . Hunt and Tilbury having briefly acknowledged the compliment , The Worshipful Master said he had now a very pleasing duty to perform , namely , to propose " The Health of their I . P . M . " They all knew that their worthy and esteemed Past Master Graham had carried out the duties of his year of office in a manner which reflected great credit to

himself , and gave very great satisfaction to the members of the lodge . During his year of office Bro . Graham had done everything in his power to secure the efficient working of the lodge , and to secure the comfort and happiness of the members of the Rose of Denmark Lodge . Therefore it gave him ( Bro . Williams ) very great pleasure to present Bro . Graham with a Past Master's jewel which had been unanimously voted by the lodge ; and he was sure such a

jewel had never been presented to a more worthy brother . Bro . Hinton said he merely wished to append a few remarks to those of the W . M . The cause of his interposition was in the nature of a surprise . Many of the brethren of the lodge were aware of what he referred to ; but he believed the subject had been kept with truly Masonic secresy from the person most interested . He was now at liberty , however , to acquaint Bro . Graham with the object

of their conspiracy . Several of the Past Masters and old members of the lodge , who had watched Bro . Graham ' s conduct in the chair , felt that exceptional qualities such as he displayed , both in the lodge and at the banquet table , demanded from the lodge some exceptional recognition . They therefore consulted together , and decided upon presenting to him a testimonial expressing the feelings which

the lodge entertained for him . The testimonial was in these terms : ' "Rose of Denmark Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons . —This testimonial , together with a gold jewel , was presented by the members of above lodge to Bro . Moreton Graham , I . P . M ., on the completion of his year of office as VV . M ., 21 st November , 18 S 4 . The jewel was unanimously voted by the brethren in open lodge assembled as a token of their hearty acknowledgment of the skilful manner in wnich ho performed the duties of VV . M . In