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 limitsfree discussion .

ASHTON DISTRICT MARK LODGE AND THE GRAND LODGE OF M . M . M . OF ENGLAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Allow me to thank you for the fair comments and just criticism of

your Editorial and " Notes " on my letter of the 2 nd instant . However , I beg to point out an , error , made unwittingly through lack of historical knowledge and true information , which error is , and has been , a factor of great or vital importance , as it turns out to be the special point on which the Grand Lodge based their action , and the chief , or only one , with which they now find fault , and has all through been " the head and front of our offending . "

Towards the end of your article it is stated : And yet in the teeth of all this evidence of its acknowledged regularity of constitution , the Mark Grand Lodge now declares it S and C The reason , of course , is clear . The Ashton Mark has recently dubbed itself ' The Hon . United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Mark Master Masons , Ashton District , ' " & c . ; and" We think that the Ashton Mark Lodge has done an impolitic act in introducing the word ' Grand' into its designation . "

Now , this is the very thing the Ashton District Lodge has not recently done , at least , no change has been made in its title during the present generation . When advanced about 13 years ago , I was presented with a copy of their Constititutions , or By-laws , the front page of which reads as follows : "Rules for the

Government of the Honourable United Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons Meetings , Ashton District , and Burial Society , established nth July , 1830 . Revised 22 nd October , 18 S 5 . " I have proof before me to show that the word " Grand " was used by this lodge cs far back as 1857 , and tradition dates it before that epoch of its history .

Had above facts been known to the writer of Masonic Notes , he would not have stated , " but now it has taken to itself the title of the ' United Grand Lodge . ' It is greatly to be regretted that it should have assumed its present title , and if it reverts to its old title , or adopts a less grandiose designation than it has recently chosen for itself , who shall say it is not to the full as regular as any of the other 'Time Immemorial' lodges on the roll of the Mark Grand Lodge ?"

I do not believe the Ashton Mark Lodge desired or thought much about this " grandiose designation , " and had they known it was in the least offensive to Grand Lodge would willingly and cheerfully have dropped it . It is their intention to drop it in future , or it is already fait accompli . It is to be regretted the Grand Mark Lodge did not seek information from a reliable source and approach the Ashton Lodge with an open statement of their

grievance , and suggest the desirability of union , & c , instead of threatening penalties in their first communication . Had that been done union might have been effected ere this with advantage to the Masonic Order , but let us hope it is not even yet too late , as from information received during the past week my views of the general aspect of the case have been materially modified , and , possibly , I " may have mistaken the cold formality of an official communication " for

the curtness and abruptness of which I complained ; anyhow , many of the difficulties have vanished , and the case is ripening for adjustment if we all meet in that fraternal spirit characteristic of our noble Order . Having had an opportunity of learning some details of the information laid before Grand Lodge , the action taken by them is not to be wondered at , as that information was grossly inaccurate , very misleading , and calculated to bias the mind of the General Board .

It is not an enviable position to be an informer , and when the information volunteered is inaccurate and untrue it does not elevate the person in the respect and esteem of his fellow men . All along I suspected the source of the information , but last week my suspicions became stronger , and eventually were confirmed from authentic sources . I was not surprised , for this friend , Bro . John Armstrong , of Liverpool , had written a " History of Joppa Mark Lodge , No . 11 , " in

which he enters into details of the working as well as the history of the Ashton District Lodge , which is the mother of the " Joppa . " He is not only misleading and inaccurate , but states facts that are untrue , and displays a deplorable ignorance of the subject , and not satisfied , he repeats himself and reiterates the inaccuracies , the only plausible excuse for such tautology being a desire to swell the bulk of the 21 page volume he afterwards presents to Grand Lodge , to be treasured in its archives .

I shall only refer to a few points , he writes : " The Lodge has at different times been called the ' Dukinfield Lodge , ' & c , & c , and is now ( 18 9 8 ) called the ' Hon . United Grand Lodge of M . M . M . of the Ashton-under-Lyne District , ' it has always and still meets under the Banner and Warrant of some Cheshire or East Lancashire Craft Lodge . The Craft Lodge is first opened in the three Craft Degrees , when the Mark Master enters and takes the chair . The candidates are balloted for in the Master Mason ' s Degree , and the Mirk Lodge is then opened , & c . "

The above " high sounding title " with the word " Grand " was in use long before ( 1898 ) , even before he or I " cut our wisdom teeth , " as shown in an earlier part of this letter ; however , tbe author must be much pleased with it , as he has repeated it in all its fullness at least four times in his pamphlet . I must emphatically deny that candidates are either proposed or balloted for in the 3 ,

or that the lodge ever met under either banner or warrant of any Craft lodge , so far as I know , or can learn from the testimony of brethren having personal knowledge for at least 25 years ; but only " at the lodges , " meaning the lodge rooms , as enumerated in Cheshire , Derbyshire , and Lancashire ( see by-laws ) , or that Craft lodges were ever opened , the whole ceremony , pure and simple , being part and parcel of the ritual of the Mark Degree .

There are many other erroneous passages in the volume , but the above are more applicable to the points at issue and sullicient to expose and prove the worthless and unreliable character of the production . My advice to Bro . Armstrong when next he contemplates attempting to write Masonic History , is the same as Punch gave some years ago to the man who sought his opinion as to marrying , " DON ' . "

Bro . Armstrong applied to me for information and historical details of the Ashton District Mark Lodge , as he was about to write a History on Mark Masonry in Cheshire . I looked through all the minutes and records available nnd forwarded him several extracts therefrom , of which exceedingly little , if any , were utilised by him , and I have no knowledge of the source from which he

gathered his material . We got into friendly correspondence on this and kindred subjects , 1 invited him to visit the Ashton Mark , enclosing a circular for the lodge meeting , also a copy of our by-laws . I considered our correspondence , although not all marked private , of a coi . fidential nature , and never contemplated he would have used the privilege without , at least , consulting me , if not obtaining permission , before sending the by-laws and circular to Grand Mark Lodge ,

Correspondence.

together with a copy of his heterodox history and other information , formulating a charge against his neighbours . '" Do unto others as you would wish they should do unto you . " The Grand Mark Lodge could not well overlook the case as put before them by my over-zealous friend , and the same misleading and inaccurate reports being communicated to Grand Craft Lodge necessitated action on their part ; however , the Grand Lodge authorities might have displayed equally prudent administrative

and judicial ability , when taking the ipse dixit of this brother , had they tabled the charges and evidence more fully with the name of the informant , so that a complete answer could have been given , and thereby saved much time and trouble to the General Boards , the ofiicers of the provinces , and the W . Masters of lodges ; for a simple admonition on any irregularity , real or supposed , with a warning for the future to adhere strictly to any law of the Constitution if such was broken or infringed , might have been sufficient , and decidedly would have produced less friction .

This closes my correspondence on the subject , and I beg to state that in defending my position , also the good name and fame of the Ashton District Mark Loege , as well as the honour and reputation of the Craft lodges implicated in Cheshire and Lancashire , I have endeavoured to adhere strictly to facts , with mens conscia recti , and think it is fully proved now that all concerned are not so bad as painted .

In conclusion , allow me to give a word of council to the brethren of the Ashton District Mark Lodge , collectively and individually . Let us live in peace , love , and harmony ; union is strength ; let us be united . We are all one happy Masonic family , therefore , let there be no divisions or dissensions amongst us . Forgive and forget . After a quarrel , the family relationship often becomes

stronger and more firmly cemented . Rise to the magnanimity of the occasion . Come over and help us . Come and unite with us of the Royal Mark . I am one of them : you know me . I promise all possible assistance in effecting union with the Grand Mark Lodge of England . It is the parent in old age , having passed the century , going home to abide with her fair daughter , who is young and vigorous , fresh and full of resources , and she bids you welcome .

Having had interviews lately with several prominent officers of Grand Mark Lodge , I assure you they , one and all , are prepared to extend the right hand of fellowship , give the most hearty welcome and cordial reception possible to every member , and the terms of union suggested are most magnanimous and liberal . — Yours faithfully and fraternally ,

THOMAS D . FOREMAN , P . P . G . W . Lanes Denton , September 26 th .

VERY ANCIENT AMERICAN FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , We are getting on ! " Antiquity ' s pride we have on our side , " sang Bro . Matthew Birkhead ; but what of the following—taken from a London daily

?"The Grand Mastei- of the Freemasons of Virginia has addressed an invitation to the Prince and Princess of Wales to attend the six-hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the lodge . —Renter . " I suppose it may be taken for granted , in this age of scepticism , that America itself was only "discovered " about four hundred years ago . As for Freemasonry in Virginia , there is no evidence of the existence of any lodge in that State until A . D . 1741 .

I wonder if the writer of the paragraph in question knows anything about Freemasonry ; or may we charitably suppose he is travelling without square and compasses . Surely he needs both . —Yours fraternally , JNO . LANE . 2 , Bannercross , Torquay , September 2 Sth .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Industry Lodge , No . 48 . The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Monday evening , the 25 th instant , at the Masonic Hall , Gateshead , when there was a good attendance of members and visitors . The chair was occupied by the W . M ., Bro . John Armstrong , P . M ., who was supported and assisted by the following brethren : Bros . W . C A . Holzappel , l . P . M . ; A . Simpson , P . M . ; Wm . Stafford , P . M . ; H . Jackson , P . M . ; Wm . Brown , P . M ., D . C ; Rob . Whitfield , P . M . ;

I . 1 . mgnell , S . W . ; 1 . Douglass , J . W . ; W . J . Jobson , P . M ., Treas ., as Sec . ; W . E . Peacock , S . D . ; R . Lavenck , J . D . ; R . Ferry , Org . ; T . H . Armstrong , I . G . ; G . T . Bootes and Joe Moffatt , Stwds . ; E . Elliott , W . Witherington , J . Lawson , J . G . Hind , W . A . Woodeson , J . Rhind , G . T . Robertson , J . Lijjhtbown , F . Hastie , J . Charlton , Wm . Taylor , j . R . Lightbown , W . Turnbull , R . Dobson , John Carr , G . Kindred , S . Brown , R . Forsyth , W . W . Nichols , T . Buckham , C . G . Nichols , E . Histon . R . Richardson . A . 13 . ( .. ' overdale . and I . It . Thnmncnn . Amnnnrcl th * . ulci ' nrc

were Bros . J . l . Stark , W . M . 2 CS 0 ; R . B . Jackson , 2 CS 0 ; R . Holloway . S . W . 2 GS 0 ; W . J . Heppell , P . M . 424 ; J . Burrell , P . M . 424 ; T . M . Warden , 424 ; Jos . Cook , P . M . 4 S 1 ; W . T . Hall , 400 ; W . King and W . McFarlane , 44 S ( S . C ); L . J . Allan , 991 ; R . Renwick , W . M . ^ i ; H . A . Ward , J . W . 541 ; T . Coxon , 541 ; M . Marks , J . W . 2557 ; J- Saunders , 2557 ; M . Laserson , 2557 ; J . Levy , 2557 ; G . T . Andrews , 2557 ; E . Walker , 2557 ; T . W . Holmes , 2 G 74 ; E . Scurlield , 2674 ; A . J . E . Page , S . W . 2520 ; H . Sayer , J . D . 2751 ; E . Bowman , S . W . 1427 ; H . J .

Chard , W . M . 1342 ; and many others . After the preliminary business , the lodge was opened , and the W . M . raised the following brethren as M . Ms .: Bros . W . A . Woodeson , J . B . Thompson , Wm . Taylor , J . Scott , 2557 , and J . Levy , 2557 . Ihe work was done in a masterly style by Bro . Armstrong . Before closing the proceedings a petition in favour of a new lodge—the Alston-Cumberland—was signed by the W . M ., Wardens , and brethren .

The " Hearty good wishes " of the visitors being tendered , the lodge was closed , nd the brethren adjourned to the refreshment board , and the evening was spent in a harmonious manner .

De Grey and Ripon Lodge , No . 1161 . The regular meeting of this lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Wednesday , the 20 ' . h instant . The following were present : Bros . Walter Cockerham , S . W . ; J . T . C . Blackie , J . W . ; J . Irlam , P . M ., Treas . ; Samuel Richards , Sec . j John Brownhill , S . D . ; A . E . Bentley , J . D . ; Buckley Carr , P . M ., P . P . G . D . of C , D . of C . ; E . C Huntley , Org . ; R . Dottie , P . M . ; E . Loebell , P . M . ' Geo . J . Critchley , W . Clewlow , J . M . Wlialley , Chas . G . Balls , P . Smith , and J . RFletcher , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . W . Bauer , W . M . 2241 ; F . O . Taylor , 192 ; W . E . Harrison , W . M . isSS : W . Burdon , 1 sSS ; and II . Woodhead . 1 . 0 . 1 .

The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . J . M . Whallcy having answered the usual questions satisfactorily , was passed to the Degree of a Fellow Craft , the ceremony being performed in a most impressive manner by Bro . J . Irlam , P . M . After " Hearty good wishes . " from the visiting brethren , the lodge was closed . At the social board which . followed Bros . Richards , Cockerham , Dottie , Carr , Harrison , and Balls contributed to the harmony of the evening .