To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

* l' | ie following-communication , among others , unavoidably stand over : £ on 5 ecration of the Weyside Mark Lodge , No . 442 .

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^^^ SFf ^ - ^ mrp ^^ r ^^ r g ^ * <^ fHJ § f SATURDAY , APRIL 30 , 1892 .

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

The Grand Festival , which was held on Wednesday and of vvhich a full report is published elsewhere , passed off with the usual eclat . The new Grand Officers , on advancing to the chair to be invested by the Pro

Grand Master , vvere greeted vvith the utmost cordiality , while the Board of Grand Stewards vvere most successful in the provision and arrangements they made for the Grand Feast and well deserved the compliment vvhich vvas paid them in the course of the evening .

We understand that the further progress vvhich has been made in respect of the approaching Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls leaves very little to be desired so far as the mere numerical increase in the Board of Stewards is concerned , and that there

is every prospect that the Board will be of average strength . But the outlook in respect of donations and subscriptions is by no means promising , and there is great reason to fear that the average amount per list

will be lower than usual . We trust the Stewards , when they hear this , will , if possible , throw a little extra energy into their canvas , so that the total , as we suggested last week , may be worthy of the illustrious brother who has undertaken to preside .

* * * At the General Committee of the Girls' School yesterday ( Thursday ) , after the usual business was transacted , the nominations for the House Committee

lor the ensuing year were made . The existing Com mittee were re-nominated , and also Bros . R . Eve , P . G Treas . ; George Everett , P . G . Treas . ; and W . A Scurrah , P . P . G . S . of W . Middx .

* The consecration of the Carrington Lodge , No . 2421 , vvill take place at the Crown Hotel , Amersham , tomorrow ( Saturday ) . The Deputy Provincial Grand Mnster , V . W . Bro . Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg ,

1 . G . Chap ., will perform the ceremony , assisted by Bro . ] . E . Bowen , Prov . G . Sec , and Bro . G . H , Charsley , Prov . G . Reg . The W . M . designate is Bro

Harry Nelson Price , P . M . 177 , and the Wardens vvill l > e liro . J . C . F . Tower and Bro . James Stephens , P . M . 425 . The lodge starts under excellent auspices , and "as our best wishes for a successful future .

* * ? 1 'he M . W . Grand Master has granted a warrant for a new lodge to meet at Hampden House , to be called •Jie Hampden Lodge , No . 2427 . Bro . Alderman Eccleston Gibbs , the founder of the Institution and

Club which vvill be the home of the lodge , is also the founder of the lodge , and will be its first W . M ., and tta Wardens' chairs will . be filled by Bros . R . R . Cummings , as S . W ., and W . Laurence , as J . W . A

very pretty and well-fitted Masonic temple has for some years formed a part of the building , and vve are 8 « dt 0 know that it will be fittingly and , we feel sure , "'orthil y occupied . * * *

A very unusual circumstance occurred at a meeting ' a lod ge in the London district on Tuesday evening . candidate , who had been elected and duly prepared 4 introduced into the lodge , proved on inquiry to ( ean agnostic . On this the Worshipful Master refused continue the ceremony and the candidate vvas > csted to retire .

B . " Bain Reprints , " inaugurated by Bro . G . W . sn '"" ' Sunderland , have proved both valuable and ssiui , ( JQ ^ be ; ng a reproduction of the rare the iC ° r k' ^' 1 " ' s novv at a high premium , and No . 2 , n ' ' to " Lone Livers . " with an intrndnrtinn Viv

orrj o ., o ' "J Prior Go "' d , P . G . D ., has been subscribed for "lost ° lwb ' * cation * II is now issued , and makes a '" trod •' ' CUrio " > and readable reprint . Bro . Gould ' s a ma ctlon ls an exhaustive account of the subject by er hand , and we congratulate Bro . Bain most

Masonic Notes.

sincerely on the hearty support he has received in his enterprising series from the Craft . We are novv anticipating the advent of No . 3 , whatever it may be , and wish there vvere more of Bro . Bain ' s zeal and enterprise , Masonically . We want , however , not unly book makers , but also book buyers .

We understand the nvsiilt of the investigation by the Board of Management into the scrutiny of the recent election places the boy Kent in the third position on the list of Successful candidates . In the case of the

boy Foster , hailing from the Province of Kent , there is no appreciable difference in the position he occupies on the poll , namely , 23 rd , so that , after allowing for the two extra boys to be elected , he carries forward

votes to the next election as the hi ghest Unsuccessful candidate . The boy Barker , hailing from Victoria , is advanced to the 22 nd position , and thus a third foreign case is successful , the other two being Shaw and Austin , Nos . 4 and 19 on the poll .

Although it is unsatisfactory to hear of serious errors in the scrutiny of this election , it must not be assumed that such frequently occur , and vve are happy to know that the demand for an investigation is rare indeed . In the present instance vve know the Board of

Scrutineers vvas carefully chosen and the errors were mainl y passed by brethren of great experience in this work . There is consequently no occasion for alarm , and we should be sorry to see that the voluntary services oi brethren for this work should be abolished and a paid

service substituted as has been mooted in some quarters . No doubt the careful investigation by the members of the Board of Management ( which vve are told lasted ior four hours ) vvill lead to the adoption generally of

such further checks as will prevent the possibility of similar mistakes occurring in the future . Bros . Russell and Adamson , representing the Province of Kent , expressed perfect satisfaction at the result , although it did not end in the election of their protegee .

As we announced last week , Bro . E . P . Delevanti and his pupils will give a performance of "The Mikado " on Friday , the 6 th prox ., to the boys at the Institution , Wood Green . The Board of Management has issued an invitationto a limited number of the subscribers to

the Institution , and those who may wish to be present should apply to Bro . McLeod , Secretary , at the offices , 6 , Freemasons' Hal ) , for tickets as early as possible . The doors open at 6 p . m ., the curtain rising at 6 . 30 , and a very excellent entertainment is expected .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

I 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 . ]

A CAUTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , A brother Mason , giving his name as S . Mason , Naphtali Lodge , No . 266 , has lately applied to me for relief . His manner was both insolent and

objectionable . I wrote to his lodge for information of him , and learn that he vvas in the lodge about 12 months , and that is some 16 or 17 years ago , and they have not seen him since , but they are given to understand that he goes about from place to place living and sponging

on his brethren . I write to you to make this case known , and to say that this kind of professional mendicancy is becoming too painfully frequent , and is disgusting a good many charitably disposed brethren , as well as bringing the Order into contempt . —I remain , yours fraternally ,

THOMAS DAY , Almoner for the Derby lodges . Masonic Hall , Gower-street , Derby , April 23 rd .

A . N OLD ENGRAVING . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have recently obtained a large stipple engraving ( 2 ! S by 18 ) , and am anxious to know the subject . Perhaps some of your readers who are an

entrant with such matters would kindly enlighten me . It apparently represents a lodge room , with throne on the left , and porch , with Inner Guard admitting a member , on right . The occupant of the chair is handing to a brother standing on the second of three steps a laurel wreath . In the foreground a rather ill-visaged

brother , taking an apron out of a wooden chest , . whilst around are a number of brethren dressed in kneebreeches and stockings , and wearing full wigs , engaged in conversation and the absorption of punch , which is being ladled out by a brother on the right . In the background is an organ gallery , in which several musicians

Correspondence.

are seated , one of whom is affectionately embracing a Scotch bagpipes . The recipient of the laurel wreath bears a resemblance to Burns . The engraving has been trimmed and mounted on a card , leaving no trace of either the engraver , publisher , or title of the plate . Trusting you vvill be able to supply these particulars , —Yours fraternally ,

THEO . E . ST . GEORGE , 33 , P . S . G . D . Ireland . Freemasons' Hall , Dublin , April 27 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

9 8 i — A RARE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR CERTIFICATE . The certificate , of vvhich I append a copy , vvill , I think , be of considerable interest , as it bears the signature of Alexander Deuchar as " Grand Master" of the Knights Templar Encampment No . 31 at Edinburgh , " holding of the Early Grand Lodge of Ireland . " Thus

it places beyond all dispute the fact that he vvas a member of the " Early Grand" body when he induced the Duke of Kent , then G . M . of the English Knights Templars , to make him Grand Master of a new body , vvhich he himself started in defiance of the fact that a jurisdiction to which he had sworn fealty vvas already in possession of the Scottish Masonic territory . The

original document is in my own collection , and I have given the only signatures that I can decipher , that of Deuchar being both times quite distinct . * The parchment is cut to receive five ribbons and seals , but of three there are no trace , so that I cannot tell if they were ever inserted . The lirst seal attached at the left is on a purple ribbon , and in the tin box affixed to it is a black seal inscribed " Grand Assembly of Knights

Templars , Edinburgh , " and the usual triangle of 12 lights , with the open Bible , skull and crossbones , pasthai lamb , and cock . The second seal is of red wax , suspended to three ribbons of red , white , and green , and inscribed " Grand Royal Arch Encampment Edinr ., " and bearing the arch , triple triangle , and 12 shields with the initials of the 12 tribes . I leave thc inferences to be drawn to the student of Scottish Templar history . FRED . J . W . CROWE , Prov . G . O . Devon .

CERTIFICATE A . D . 1809 . In the name of the Father , Son , and Holy Ghost . Amen . We the High Priest , Captain , Governors , and Grand Masters of the Grand Royal Arch Encampmentin Edinburgh , Do hereby Certify and declare That our Trusty and Well-beloved Brother , John Forbes , Aberdeen , Militia ( a regular Master Mason of the Aboyne Lodge ,

No . 27 S of Scotland , and who has in the Margin signed his Name ) , having been wurmly recommended unto us , and found Worthy , Was by Us Passed the Chair of this Lodge ; and afterwards initiate into , and instructed in all the Grand and Holy Mysteries of the Super-Excellent Royal Arch Masonry ; He having inarched with great Fortitude and Resignation through all the hidden dreary Paths of our Grand Encampment .

Be It Also Known Unto All Men , That We , the Grand Master , Captain General , and Marshalls of the Grand Assembly of Knights Templars in Edinburgh . NO TIURTY-OXE , Holding Of The Early Grand Lodge of Ireland , Have , after due Trial and Examination , instructed ,

and initiated our said Trusty & Well-beloved Companion and Brother , the Worshipful Sir John Forbes , into all the Mysteries of our Religion , and most Christian Orders of Knights Templars , and Kni ghts of Malta , the Trusty , True , and Faithful Soldiers and Servants of Jesus Christ , by Installing and Dubbing him a Knight Templar and Knight of Malta , and

expounded unto him all the Secrets of the Ark , Mark , and Link Masons , The Jordan and Mediterranean Pass , Red Cross Knights , and Prussian Blue , or Royal Order ; He having during the whole Ceremony given us the strong Proofs of his Steadiness , Skill , and Valour , during the Amazing and Mysterious Trials attending his Admission . We therefore Greet Well

all our Worthy Brethren and Knight Companions of the above Illustrious Orders throughc the Universe to accept of him as such , and to take him under their Brotherly Care and Protection . Given under our Hands , and the Seals of our Orders , hereunto appended , at Edinburgh , this Twenty Eight Day of June in the year of our Lord M . DCCC . I . X , of Light DDIDCCCIX . of Royal Arch Masonry

M . M . M . CC . XC 1 X . since the Institution of Knights Templars D . CXCI . and Malta D . CCX . Alex . Deuchar High Priest . Tho . Miller Captain Governor . //' . C . Kerstain ist Grand Master . Thos . li . Patterson 2 nd Grand Master . Alex . Crichton 3 rd Grand Master . Jno . Dowall G . Sec .

Alex . Deuchar Grand Master . Tho . Miller Depute Grand Master , W . C . Kerstain Capt . General . I'hos . li . Patterson ist Grand Marshal ) . Alex . Crichton 2 nd Grand Marshall . Jno . Dowall G . Sec .