To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

S ECRETARY . —We have heard of as many as i 2 _ or 14 candidates being initiated on one day by dispensation in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , Oxford . Having , however , read all the early minutesof the Hertford Lodge , now No . 403 , vve can state vvith certainty , as recorded therein , that 15 were initiated in that lodge on the Sth September , 1829 , the day on which it vvas consecrated .

The following communications unavoidably stand over : CRAFT L ODGES—Zetland , No . 13 ti ; Lodge of Israel , No . 1502 ; Hemming , No . 1512 ; Landport , No . 177 6 ; Audley , No . 1 S 96 ; and Duke of Fife , No . 2345 . ROYAL ARCH CHAPTERS—Albion , No . 9 , and Calder , No . 458 .

MARK LODGES—Sir Francis Burdett , No . 1 S 1 ; Prince Leopold , No . 23 S ; and Royal Connaught , No . 409 . Consecration of the Loyal Hay Lodge , No . 23 S 2 . Consecration of the William Shurmur Lodge , No . 2374 . Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire . Grand Lodge of Canada .

BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " Proceedings of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Master of Indiana , " "Australasian Keystone , " "The Freemason Repository , " " Die Bauhutte , " " The South Australian Freemason , " " First Annual Report of the Art Association of the Masonic Temple , Philadelphia , " "The South African Freemason , " and '' Keystone . "

Ar00506

SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 29 , 1890 .

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

The arrangements for the installation of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale as Provincial Grand Master of Berks , are , vve understand , progressing satisfactorily . The meeting will take place in the Town Hall , Reading , which is capable of holding about 800 people , and the

subsequent luncheon will take place at the Great Room of Messrs . Sutton ' s , which has been kindly placed at the disposal of the authorities . A special train will leave Paddington at 10 . 30 , arriving at Reading at 11 . 30 , and returning about 5 p . m . We believe the Royal party

wliljoin thetrainat Slough . It wouldbeadvisableforall brethren desiring to be present to communicate as soon as possible with the acting Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . J . W . Martin , Town Hall Chambers , Reading , who will , we believe , issue luncheon tickets on application . We

hear the Board ot Stewards have fixed the price at 21 / -., an early application for which is desirable , as the number will necessarily be limited . The customary dress on these occasions , viz .: black morning coat and

trousers , and black ties , will be worn . It is hoped that the Duke of Connaught will accompany the Grand Master , and that there will b . e a large number of Provincial Grand Masters and Grand Officers present .

* * * Bro . Sir Somers Vine , P . G . D ., was present at the meeting of the District Grand Lodge of Natal at the Masonic Temple , Maritzburgh , held on the 3 rd ult ., under the presidency of Bro . R . I . Finnemore , D . G . M .

In the evening Bros . Finnemore , Sir Somers Vine , and officers of D . G . Lodge were entertained at a banquet given by the Natalia Lodge , No . 1665 , at which Bro . A . R . Payne , P . M ., presided , and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given . Bro . Sir Somers Vine .

whose health vvas proposed by Bro . Finnemore , expressed , in an eloquent address , his appreciation of the manner in which he had been received by his brother Masons in South Africa , and his admiration of the Masonic work he had witnessed .

* * * We are unfortunately unable to find space for our report of the consecration of the William Shurmur Lodge , No . 2374 , at the Royal Forest Hotel , Chingford , on the 24 th inst . We may , however , slate that the

ceremony was most imposing , there being about 250 brethren present , or , so far as our experience goes , more than have ever been known to be in attendance at the constitution of any private lodge . We believe the founders are some So in number , and that it has

been found necessary to appoint as many as six Stewards . Bro . William Shurmur must be proud to have a lodge of such unusual proportions named after him . * * *

We referred in one of our Notes last week to a communication to Notes and Queries of the 15 th inst . by " W . C . B . " relating to the Lodge " St . Frederick des

amis Choisis , ' Boulogne , in 1817 . We mentioned also that the list of members furnished to our contemporary included Bro . George Daniel Harvey , P . G . M . for Hertfordshire , and that vve had been shown that brother ' s

Masonic Notes.

patent of appointment as Prov . Grand Master for the county in question . This document , which bears date the nth May , 1803 , is in an excellent state of preservation . It is the property of Bro . the Rev . C .

Wigan Harvey , P . M . Hertford Lodge , No . 403 , Past Prov . Grand Chaplain Herts , a grandson of the late Bro . George Harvey , and has been lent by its owner to Bro . G . Blizard Abbott for the purposes of his forthcoming "History of Freemasonry in Hertfordshire . "

By a singular coincidence this patent bears on its rig ht-hand bottom corner the following endorsement , which fully corroborates W . C . B . ' s list of members of the Boulogne lodge so far as Bro . G . Harvey ' s membership is concerned : — " Vu et fraternellement accueilli

dans la R . " . L . * . de St . Frederick des amis Choisis , Orient de Boulogne , le 316 jour du ioe mois 1 ' an de la V . * . L . * . 5816 . " It is signed by the Secretary of the lodge , P . Bertrand , C . * . K . * . G . * ., and the Venerable

W . Master , whose signature , however , is wholly undecipherable , being composed of a few scratches , as of a pin dipped in ink . * * *

The patent , which is admirably engrossed on vellum , bears the arms of the " Modern " Grand Lodge , and is signed at the top left-hand corner by the Earl of Moira ,

as Acting Grand Master for his Royal Hig hness George , Prince of Wales , M . W . Grand Master , and at the foot by Sir Peter Parker , Deputy Grand Master , and is countersigned " W . White , G . Sec . "

It constitutes and appoints " our Rig ht Trusty and Well-beloved Brother George Harvey , Esquire , " as " Provincial Grand Master of and for Hertfordshire , " giving him " full power and authority in due form to make Masons and constitute and regulate lodges as

occasion may require . " He is to "take care that all and every the members of every lodge he shall constitute have been regularly made Masons , " and that they observe the Book of Constitutions and the Laws and Ordinances of the Craft . He is required " to cause four

Quarterly Communications yearly , one whereof is to be upon or ns near the FEAST DAY OF ST . J OHN THE BAPTIST as conveniently may be . " He is to send yearly " an account in writing of the proceedings therein , " as well as a list of all the lodges he may

constitute , and of the members thereof , with copies of the Rules and Regulations made for their government . Lastly , he is lo remit " to the Treasurer of the Society for the time being at LONDON FIVE POUNDS FIVE

SHILLINGS STERLING for every lodge he shall constitute for the use of the Grand Charity and other necessary purposes . " * * *

We may add that Bro . George Harvey was initiated in the Shakespeare Lodge , now No . gg , in 1800 , served as Grand Steward , and became a member of the Grand Stewards' Lodge in 1803 , and vvas appointed by this patent as Prov . Grand Master of Hertfordshire in

succession to Bro . W . Forssteen on the nth May of the same year . But though Grand Master of the said province from 1803 till 18 31 , it was not till the year 1829 , on the constitution of the present Hertford and Watford Lodges , Nos . 403 and 404 respectively , that

he had any lodges to regulate , nor did he hold any Communication of his Prov . Grand Lodge till the 26 th November , 1830 , at Watford , when he appointed a full complement of Provincial Officers , including Bro . Peter

Clutterbuck , who a few minutes previously had been installed as the second W . M . of the Watford—then Bamborough , Lodge—as his D . P . G . M . Bro . Harvey , died in 18 33 .

* * * Our Masonic friends in Pennsylvania have instituted a somewhat novel way of obtaining supplies for their Masonic Home in Philadel phia . About this time of

the year they appoint what they call a Donation Day , " when the Home is open from 9 a . m . " for the reception of coal , flour , groceries , and all non-perishable provisions , while the afternoon is devoted to appropriate exercises , consisting of addresses , music , " & c .

* * Bro . J . Ross Robertson , M . W . G . M . of Canada ( Province of Ontario ) , who recently visited this country , and was so cordiall y received by our Grand Lodge at its September meeting , has just reached Toronto on

his return home , to the infinite deli ght of the brethren he presides over , who filled the Masonic Hall in Toronto in every part on the evening of his arrival , and greeted him with a genuine heartiness , which must

have done our worth y and distinguished brother ' s heart good to receive . Bro . Robertson has done the Craft in his jurisdiction very great services , and well deserves all the honours which the Craft can bestow , and all the kindness it is in their power to show him .

Masonic Notes.

We need hardly say that Bro . Robertson gave a full , detailed , and very eloquent account of his visit to England , being particularly happy in his remarks about English Masonry , and in his descrip tion of the scene which greeted him on his entrance into our Grand

Lodge ; while the applause with which his speech vvas interspersed showed that his Canadian brethren were highly gratified by the cordial and courteous reception of their chief by his English brethren . These interchanges of good-fellowship between our Grand Lodge

and its daughter Grand Lodges cannot but exercise a beneficial influence on the Craft at large . We are satisfied that all United States and Canadian brethren of distinction who may chance to visit the Old Country will experience as hearty a reception as Bro . Ross

Robertson , and vve are equally satisfied that our United States and Canadian brethren will appreciate the honours paid to their worthy representatives . We hope to make some further reference to Bro . Robertson ' s speech next week .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ] ROYAL ARCH COLLARS IN CRAFT LODGES .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Instructions have lately been given in several of the provinces that officers of Provincial Grand Chapters are not to wear their tricolour collars in Craft lodges . If this is the law , can any companion inform

me why No . 97 of the proposed Royal Arch Regulations of 5 th November , 1885 , vvas rejected at the revision in Grand Chapter on February 3 rd , 1886 . I presume it vvas intended that the custom of wearing them should not be interfered with , but shall be pleased to hear the opinion of any companion present at the

revision . The rejected regulation vvas as follows : 97 . The collars of Present and Past Grand Officers of the Supreme Grand Chapter , and of Present and Past Provincial and District Grand Officers are not to be worn in Craft lodges , except in the case of Present and

Past Grand Principals and Grand Superintendents , who are entitled to wear their jewels of office suspended from a tricoloured ribbon , not to exceed two inches in width , round the neck , at all Masonic meetings . "Yours fraternally , November 24 . ' ' •' '

"THE APPOINTMENT OF I . P . M . " To the Editor of the "Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , Bro . " Gavel , " in your issue of the Sth inst . , says that he has been appointed acting I . P . M ., and that his appointment has been challenged as " an improper one . " This is , of course , nonsense . When a lodge is

being consecrated every officer is acting , from the W . M . to the I . G ., and their duties come to an end whea the appointed officers are installed in their places . The acting P . M ., however , is generally selected from one of the joining Past Masters , and continues to act until the end of the year , when the real I . P . M . takes his

proper place , and the late acting one is thanked for his help during the past 12 months . There the matter ends , he takes no rank of P . M . by doing that duty . No Mason can rank as P . M . of a lodge until he has been through the chair of such lodge . —Yours fraternally , MAGNUS OHREN , P . A . G . D . of C .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

922 ] FREEMASONRY IN 17 S 2 . In reading the experiences of a German reverend gentleman—one Herr C . P . Moritz , of Berlin—on his visit to London in 1782 , I find this communication

" Among other places I visited was Freemasons' Hall , at the Tavern of the same name . The hall is of an astonishing height and breadth , and to me it looked like a church . The orchestra is very much raised , and from that you have a fine view of the whole Hall , which makes a majestic appearance . The building is said to

have cost an immense sum , but to that the lodges in Germany also contributed . Freemasonry seems to be held but in little estimation in England , perhaps because most of the lodges are now degenerated into mere drinking clubs , though I hope there still are some who assemble for nobler and more essential purposes .

The Duke of Cumberland is now Grand Master . What noble and essential purposes Freemasons meet for I have no right to judge , as never having been initiated ; but I hope the English lodges will ever be free from the stigma thrown on those of Germany , at being

seminaries of anarchy and irreli gion . " As the expression of a gentleman who admits himself not to have been a Freemason , it may be considered of interest to our Fraternity , now after a period since which more than 100 years have passed . CHARLES HARDING , P . A . G . D . C .