Masinic Notes.

need to be intemperate or extravagant in our observance of the Fourth Degree , but it has its uses , and amongst these the most important is that it furnishes brethren with the opportunity they stand in need ofthat of meeting their fellows and learning to know and respect one another .

In writing thus we are far from wishing to throw cold water on our worthy correspondent ' s suggestion . We shall gladly help him in any scheme for the advancement of Masonry which may appear practicable , but we warn htm that he must not look for much success if his idea is limited to the formation of nondining lodges as a means to the attainment of his very laudable object . # #

* The report of the District Board of General Purposes and certain statements of account which have been forwarded to us demonstrate clearly that the position of the Craft under the District Grand Lodge of South Africa , Western Division , is making slow but steady

progress . The membership , as compared with that of last year , shows a substantial increase from 637 to 714 , and there has been a gain of one lodge . The account of the General Fund calls for no particular remark , but the Benevolent Fund for the half-year from ist July to 31 st December , 18 94 , exhibits a distinct improvement , the balance at the close of the account

being . £ 963 4 s . 3 d ., as compared with the closing balance of the preceding half-year amounting to £ 8 7 8 gs . id . These are matters as to which our brethren in this district may legitimately take credit to themselves , and we trust the measure of prosperity which they indicate will be steadily increased from year to year .

* # * The proceedings of the regular Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Queensland , held at Freemasons' Hall , Brisbane , on the 5 th December , 18 94 , do not appear to have possessed any special interest , but the District Grand Treasurer's

Reports were eminently satisfactory . The General Purposes account for the quarter shows a balance in bank of ^ 118 17 s . sd ., to which must be added Deposits in the Commercial Bank and Savings Bank amounting to £ 1183 4 s . 3 d ., the total of the assets thus amounting to £ 1302 is . 8 d . As for the Fund of

Benevolence , the receipts for the quarter , including balance brought forward , amounted to £ 255 17 s . s ., while the expenditure was only . £ 105 is . 6 d ., the balance remaining being ^ 150 15 s . 1 id . To this must be added Deposits in Commercial Bank and Savings Bank amounting to . £ 1246 , the total assets being ^ 1396 15 s . 1 id ., or within a very little of ^ 1400 .

These figures speak well for the condition of things under the experienced rule of Bro . the Hon . Augustus C . Gregory , D . G . M ., and , as we know that new lodges are constantly being placed on the roll , we are looking forward to the time when it will be in our power to announce a still higher degree of prosperity in Queensland .

The Recent Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE RECENT FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The following new lists , and additions to lists , have been received since last week : Lodge LONDON . £ s . d . 58 Bro . Edwin Fox , additional 5 5 ° ( raising his list to £ 113 Ss . )

1329 » J- C . Reynolds , additional 12 12 o ( raising his list to £ 65 2 s . ) 1383 „ Alfred H . Bevan , additional 27 3 o ( raising his list to £ 120 . ) 170 S „ Geo . J . Austin , new list 64 1 o

THE PROVINCES . SOMERSETSHIRE . 19 6 G and 2390 Bros . Haddon , Kite , and Ludlow , additional ... 3 > S ° ( raising their joint list to £ ioS ' 5 s- SUFFOLK . Lodge and Chapter 100 S Bro . Campbell Smith , additional 1 1 o

( raising his list to £ 1 iG 1 is . ) SUSSEX . 732 Bro . Joseph II . Smith , additional 1 1 0 ( raising his list to £ d \ is . ) 1821 „ John Sayers , new list 10 10 0

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

W . M . IN THE CHAIR . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have heard two op inions and seen two ways of working the following point : When a W . M . is not able to do the work or any part of the work of his lodge , and the I . P . M . performs to retain his seat in the

the duty , ought the W . M . still chair ? I am myself strongly of opinion that the W . M ., if present , should retain his " constant place" whether he docs the work or not , except in the case of the presence of the P . G . M . or his Deputy . But I find there is a difference of opinion on this point . Would some learned brother enlighten us r— Yours fraternally , D . C .

Correspondence.

FOR THE GOOD OF FREEMASONRY IN GENERAL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , For some time past in my own lodge , and elsewhere , I have ventured to suggest that we need an

" Advance" or " Forward " movement in Freemasonry , which , amongst others , might have the following for some of its objects , viz .: To augment the funds and further develope our existing Benevolent Institutions . To encourage the brethren to undertake more

philanthropic work of a broad and humanitarian character in conformity with the tenets of the Craft ; and generally to bring our practice more thoroughly in unison with our professions as enunciated in the grand principles upon which our Order is founded . From letters and information which I have received ,

I am led to believe that there are many members of the Craft who hold similar views , and it has been suggested that perhaps the best plan would be for such brethren to form themselves into a lodge . In order that arrangements may be made for holding 3 . meeting to consider these suggestions , may I , through

the medium of your valuable columns , say that I shall be glad to hear from any brother who would wish to attend such a meeting , or take part in any way in such 1 movement . Thanking you in advance for your courtesy , I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , JAMES E . CARVER ,

Heigham , P . M . 1298 . Aubrey-rd ., Hornsey , N .

CAUTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , It would be well if Almoners and Secretaries of lodges would make more use of your valuable paper in publishing the names of persons who apply to them

for assistance , and who are found on enquiry either not to be Masons at all or of bad report , and quite unworthy of help . In compiling the " Freemasons' Calendar for 18 9 6 , " it would be an excellent thing to give the names of Secretaries of lodges in the United Kingdom , together

with their private address , so that enquiry respecting applicants for relief could be made by wire at once as suggested by Bro . J . J . Black in a recent issue . Should any brother be applied to by either of the following , I shall be glad to forward information which I possess concerning them , as they have all come under

my personal notice : Frank Bruce Chandler , Royal Wharfedale , 1108 , Otley . Fredk . Chas . Herbert , St . John ' s , 166 , Airdrie . ' ames Donovan , Harmony , 555 , Fermoy .

oseph Scott , Philanthropic , 304 , Leeds . Henry Weston , Friendship , 100 , Great Yarmouth . Edward Bennett , Alfred , 306 , Leeds . William Hill , St . John's , 279 , Leicester . I am , yours faithfully and fraternally ,

ALF . C . MUTTON , Almoner 1362 . 47 , High-st ., Redhill .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

"THE DORSET MASONIC CALENDAR , A . D . 1895 . Weymouth : Sherren and Son , 70 , St . Maiy-street . " This is a most excellent compilation , ably edited , carefully printed , and well arranged by Bro . A . Sherren , from whom copies may be had at one shilling each . The present issue is tbe best of the series , it has no superiors of its kind and few equals , the particulars published concerning the

province being numerous , accurate , and exhaustive . The names of all the members , Past Masters , & c , presiding officers , and the other officers of all the Masonic Bodies in the province are duly detailed , and also the year when every brother was initiated or joined , with other particulars , involving considerable labour , care , and enquiry . All the Past Provincial Grand Officers for the Craft , Mark ,

and Arch are duly recorded , with the years of appointment or election , the Treasurers' statements are exactly summarised , and an obituary fitly concludes the abundant matter , which extends to over 100 pages . The useful" contents , " diary , and the list of lodge meetings ( also Chapters , Mark Lodges , and other Degrees ) must have meant considerable labour to produce , but will be found very handy for

reference . Bro . S . R . Baskett has six pages placed at his service for the * ' Dorset Masonic Charity , " and makes an excellent use of the space . The central institutions have also been attended to , and a full list of votes is printed , showing a total of 2 S 55 for 723 members ! A grand list indeed for a comparatively small province , and proves the heart of the Fraternity in that locality is in the right place . We say , well done , Bro . Sherren .

"THE CAXTON HEAD CATALOGUE , No . 300 , J . and M . L . Tregaskis , 232 , High Holborn , 18 95 . " — This is a most remarkable Catalogue , in quarto , handsomely printed , and contains a number of choice illustrations , sufficient to make an enthusiastic bibliographer ' s " mouth water , " and sigh very audibly if his pocket was not so elastic as his tastes . There are yoG lots from the libraries of the late Lord Kbury , Edmund Yates , Prince Louis Lucien Bonaparte , . and other celebrated collectors . Many of these

Reviews.

MSS . and books are not only exceedingly rare , both as regards their text and condition , but the prices asked for them are much below the ordinary amounts usually mentioned for such valuable specimens of caligraphical and typogiaphicil art . The illustrations , in black and white and colours , have been prepared with great care ; those representing some beautiful specimens cf binding looking

as if the covers had been placed on the plate proper tor exhititoi . The frontispiece , " drawn and designed by Herbert and Fanny Railton , 1 S 95 , " for this the No . 300 " Caxton Head Catalogue , " is very suggestive and appropriate . We suggest , however . Ithat it might , with advantage , be reproduced in colours anothir time , instead of black and white , so as to bring the large tome more to the

front , and give more definition to the figure in the back ground . It is simply impossible to draw attention to e « n the special numbers , for these may be numbered by scores . The Catalogue may be had for 5 s ., so long as the 200 last ; and ordinary copies in octavo may be had , if application be made at once , post free . Picart's "Ceremonies , " seven vols , in six , large paper copy , 1735-7 , is lot No . G 93 , the small sum of i . 4 15 s . being affixed , and it doubtless

" usually fetches three times the above sum . " In these early editions , the plate of the signs , & c , of the lodges , reads left to right , whereas in later issues , and less valuable reproductions , the numbers run from right to left . Mr , and Mrs . Tregaskis deserve to succeed in their enterprise in thus offering such valuable Catalogues , and we trust the response to their efforts will be all that they have a right to anticipate .

"PROCEEDINGS OK THE GRAND CHAPTER or NEB RASKA , " December 12 and 13 , 1 S 94 . Chicago : Knight , Leonard and Co ., Printers . 1 S 95 . —The annual convocation of the Grand Chapter of Nebraska was held at Freemasons' Hall , Omaha , on the 12 th and 13 th December , 1894 , under the presidency of Comp . Albert W . Crltis

G . H . P . From the abstract of returns to the 31 st October last , it appears there were at that date on the roll of this Grand Chapter 53 private chapters , with an aggregate membership of 2991 companions . The Grand Treasurer's account shows a total of receipts , including ^ balance brought forward , amounting to nearly 4457 dollars , with expenditure 1861 dollars , the balance remaining in hand at the close of

the account being 2596 dollars . The address of the G . H . P . covered a considerable amount of ground , and was in all essentials satisfactory , but the matters dealt with were of local interest . On the second day of ths session the new Grand Officers were elected and invested , Comp . Frank E . Bullard being the new G . H . Priest , while Comp . R . Bowen was re-elected Grand Secretary . In addition to the record

of the actual proceedings , there are statistical returns of the several chapters on the roll , and a voluminous report on Foreign Correspondence , which has evidently been compiled with the greatest care , and which will be found to contain a great deal of valuable information as to the other Grand Chapters in the United States , & c . The report , like all those which have been issued in past years , is a credit to the Grand Chapter whose proceedings it records .

"THE MASONIC VISITOR" for March —12 , Dawsonstreet , Dublin—has a brief sketch , with portrait , of the Masonic career of Bro . Stephen Moore , Esq ., D . L ., Prov . Grand Master of the South Eastern Counties , Part V . of the " Succession of Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , " extending from 1790 to 1801 ; a full account of

the career of the late Bro . Richard Rhodes , Prov . Grand Secretary of the Midland Counties , in which a generous tribute of respect is paid to the memory of a most worthy brother ; a second instalment of the paper , compiled by Bro . Reuben Ward , P . M ., Sec . No . 234 , on the subject of " Freemasonry in Old Kinsale ; and many other contributions , of which the majority are well worth reading .

'" THE V OICE OF MASONRY" —Chicago , Illinois—for March , is an excellent number , the most important articles being , firstly , a paper by Bro . Niles Searls , Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of California , entitled , " What has been and shall be , in which the writer discusses his subject under the successive headings of " The Formulation of Masonry ; " " The Spread of Masonry ; " " The Religious

Teachings of Masonry ,- " and " The Future of Masonry . " The article , "What is Masonry ? " by Bro . William E . Gunther , and the continuation of Bro . Gen . J . Smith ' s history of the " Order of St . John of Jerusalem " are also readable , but more especially the latter , which contains a well-written account of the successful resistance offered by the Knights of the Order under their Grand Master , John de la Valette to the Parks during

the memorable siege in 15 G 5 , The " Masonic Gleanings " are not as ample as in some numbers we have read , but they contain matter which is quite as interesting . There are also sundry contributions , which are not Masonic in character , and the usual batch of news concerning the Order of the Star . The number , in fact , is well up to the high average attained by this excellent periodical , and has the further advantage of being well illustrated .

THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY—E . L . Freeman and Son , Publishers , No . 3 , Westminster-street , Providence , R . I . —for . March appears to have met with a misfortune when going to press . Two articles quoted from the pages of this journal and entitled respectively "The Masons ^ Company , " and " William I'reston and the ' Antient Masons , " are , in the first place , incomplete , and , in the

second place , so inextricably mixed up together that , even if they were complete , there would be no making either head or tail of them . The pages in which what appears of them is contained are numbered thus : 305 , 308 , 305 , 30 S , 3 ° 'J ; 312—on which is commenced " An Unsupported Theory / written especially for the " Repository '' ( by Bro . G . HBurnham , and fortunately complete—and 309 . The pagmff

ought to run 305-G-7-S-9-10-11 , but by an act of carelessness in making up the paper pages 30 G , 307 , 310 , and 3 " appear to have been left out . This portion of the number , therefore , is worthless , but this is of less consequence as the articles are quoted from former numbers of t " Freemason . In its oricinal matter , the Rehosilery ,

however , is well worth reading , Bro . Ilurnham ' s article already mentioned and an historical sketch of " Wycliffe , " l ' e , n £ the most noteworthy . There is also plenty of 1 f r matter courteously acknowledged by the editor , togftne with the usual " Questions and Answers , " " Editon * Notes , " and " Masonic News . "