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 . J

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Wednesday , the 4 th December , will see the election of 12 Past Masters to serve on the above Board for the ensuing year , and no more than 12 having been nominated , the election of the brethren named in the agenda paper for the next quarterly communication is thus secured .

Permit me , however , to say that one lodge should be satisfied with one representative . I notice that Lodge No . 834 has two brethren representing it in the persons of Past Masters Bros . George Granby and William Fisher . It may be that they are Past Masters of a lodge other than No . 8 34 , in which case the alternative number might have been given . With such a large number of lodges in the Metropolis , it would , I think , be fairer to confine the representation to one brother from each lodge .

I am glad to find that it is proposed , on the 4 th December , to alter Rule 255 of the Book of Constitutions bearing on this point . —Yours fraternally ,

AN OLD PAST MASTER . BANQUET TO POOR CHILDREN AT GUILDHALL . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The Corporation has again granted the use of the Guildhall upon some evening in January next for the purpose of giving a banquet and entertainment to some 1500 poor children of the Ragged School of the Metropolis .

The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs have signified their intention of attending on the occasion , and Lord Compton , the President of the Ragged School Union , hopes to be present , The cost will be defrayed by public subscription , and I appeal to your readers for the necessary funds . Should the amount subscribed exceed that which is necessary , I will hand the balance to the Ragged School Union . in to

Last year I was able to hand rather more than ^ this way this deserving Institution . I hope this year to do better . Subscriptions should be sent to me hereat once . —Fraternally yours , W . P . TRELOAR , Alderman . Ludgate Hill , E . C , November 28 th .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , No . 663 . At the last regular meeting of this lodge , held on the 21 st inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Devizes , which was largely attended , the W . M ., Bro . F . Reynolds , presented , on behalf of the brethren , to Bro . Randell , P . M ., a handsome bracket clock , in oak , suitably inscribed , on his golden wedding . The W . M . spoke feelingly of the services rendered b y Bro . Randell to Masonry and in other directions , and congratulated him and Mrs . Randell most heartily . These expressions were endorsed by several of the Past Masters present , and Bro . Randell , who was visibly affected , thanked the brethren in suitable terms .

The clock bore the following inscription : " Presented to Bro . J . A . Randell , P . M ., P . P . G . S . Wks ., on his Golden Wedding , nth Novr ., 1 S 0 . 5 . With the fraternal regards of the Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , 663 . "

Whittington Lodge , No . 862 . The installation meeting of this well-known and important lodge took place at the Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on Monday , the 18 th inst ., and was well attended by the members , and a large number of visitors . There were present : Bros . G . H . Wavell , W . M . ; Wm . Bradford , S . W . and W . M . elect ; T . H . T . Jarvis , J . W . ; S . Godden , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Irvine , P . M ., Treas . Ben . Fund ; J . Weaver , P . M ., Sec ; H . Kemp , S . D . ; W . C . Tyler , J . D . ; A . Clarkson , l . G . ; A . V . H . Pauncefort , P . M .,

Org . ; W . G . Butler , A . J . Hollebone , A . T . Chamberlain , A . J . Curtis , E . Midler , J . T . Southgate , A . J . Taylor , W . H . Godden , C . E . Miiller , T . J . Collis , P . M . ; G . Green , P . J . Driver , R . S . Spencer , T . H . Harrison , F . W . Lowe , F . Heywood , J . H . Taylor , J . B . Bennett , F . Guan / . iroli , G . Palmer , P . Diy , R . W . C . Palmer , T . W . T . Taylor , and J . Gilbert , Tyler . The visitors were : Bros . W . M . Sliles , G . Treas . ; George Read , P . G . Std . Br . j W . A . Scurrah , P . M ., V .-Pres . Board of Gen . Purposes : Oscar Barrett , W . M . 2127 ; C . E . Tinney , P . M . ; Capt . C . J . Knightley , P . M . ; F . Sanford , G . Appleton , H . Simc , Rutter , J . C . Tilt , A . Le Claire , H . j . Burt , S . R . J .

Smith , A . C . Bull , W . I . Poole , S . Jennings , W . H . Weeks , R . Gregory , T . Boyce , Frank Boyton , J . C . Hayes , C . A . Walter , R . J . Symonds , H . Longman , F . H . II . Orchard , W . J . Baker , F . J . Smith , H . Hicks , S . H . C Rumball , E . Painter , S . McLean , J . Curtis , H . M . Woodward , M . H . Newton , J . S . Bradford , W . Heriot , W . A . Tinney , S . W . J . Wade , L . Steven , C . F . Macher , E . W . Ransom , A . H . Scurrah , Herbert Wright , W . Crouchin , H . S . Bennett , J . E . Hambleton , J . E . Rutten , E . Davies , W . Cheeseman , E . W . Woods , Kcmpton , E . F . Gratwick , A . L . Fryer , and R . T . West .

The lodge having been opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting confirmee , and the Auditors' report adopted , Bro . A . V . II . Pauncefort , P . M ., at the request of the W . M ., who was not in the best of health , initiated Messrs . Percy Day , George Palmer , R . W . C . Palmer , and T . W . Taylor . The next important business was the installation of Bro . William Bradford , as W . M . for the ensuing year , and this duty was performed by Bro . J . Irvine , P . M ., in a manner that made it impossible to have been better carried out . 1 he new W . M . then appointed and duly invested his officers .

The delivery of the customary addresses was very ably and impressively rendered by Bro . J . Irvine , P . M ., and he is to be congratulated on the efficient manner in which he carried out the installation ceremony . A gentleman was proposed for initiation at the next meeting . Other business followed , after which the lodge was closed , ar . d the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , which was admirably served under the personal superintendence of Bro . J . H . Gerards .

At tfe conclusion of the repast the toasts of "The Oueen ~ nd the Craft , " and ol " H . R . H . the Ptince of Wales , M . W . Grand Master , " weTe proposed in brief but very eloquent terms by the Worshipful Master . The W . M . gave " The Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He stated that they were forlunate in having two great lighls present—llro . VV . M . Stiles , G . Treas ., and Bro . Geo . Read , who had gained their high honours for the great things they had done for Freemasonry , and the lodge was honoured with their presence . The toast was drunk with irreat enthusiasm , and

Bro . W . M . Stiles , < -,. 1 icas ., en using , was received with acclamation . He said that it wss an honour to have to respond lo the toast , and he could not speak too highly of the great services of Bios . Lord Latham and Lord Mount Ildgcumbe . He regretted the absence of his colleague , the Grand he , Hro . Letchworth , as there was no one more genial , honest , ar . d kind , who could have acknowledged the toast in better

and happier terms . He was glad to have been present to see his old friend and eminent Mason , Bro . Irvine , act as Installing Master , and , as an old Preceptor , he ( Bro . Stiles ) had never seen better working than that of lito . Irvine . The W . M . was also another very old friend , and he was delighted to have seen him installed in the chair , and in conclusion he referred lo Ihe great efforts the members had made on his behalf to secure his election as Grand Treasurer , and which he should never forirct .

Bro . Geo / ge Read , I' . G . Std . Mr ., slated lliat for the last i . S months he had had the privileged responding to the toast of " The Grand OHicers , " but he had no idea that he would have been called upon that evening . I le spoke in eloquent terms of the great things many of the Grand Officers did for the Cralt , and , having been on the Board

Craft Masonry.

of General Purposes for six years , he f elt he could testify with confidence to the work done by Grand Officers , not forgetting Bro . Stiles , whose great efforts in Freemasonry were so well known . He was proud to be present at the installation of the W . M ., and , concluding , he paid a tribute to the excellent working of the Installing Master , Bro . Irvine . The I . P . M ., Bro . G . H . Wavell , proposed "The Health of the W . M . " He said that it needed very little from him to extol his many virtues , because they were sowell known , and they were unanimous that he would make a good Master and be one of the very best . He was not very well , and he felt that he could not give adequate justice to the toast .

Bro . Wm . Bradford , W . M ., on rising to respond , had quite an ovation . He said he could not sufficiently thank them for the very hearty manner the toast had been received , but it was very difficult for a diffident man to respond to his own toast . He was more than proud to be Master of the Whittington Lodge , but , being in that high position , he would do his best to uphold the dignity and great prestige of the lodge , and he hoped to hand it down to his successor without the slightest flaw . The members had always been kind to him , and if they could say at the end of his term of office , well done , good and faithful brother , it would be ample return for the little he might do , and

would be gratifying to him . In submitting the toast of "The Installing Master , the Immediate Past Master , and Past Masters , " the W . M . stated that those who had been present in the lodge had had a great treat in the working of Bro . Irvine , the Installing Master , who was simply perfect in everything he did in the ritual . He referred in kindly terms to the I . P . M ., Bro . Wavell , for what he had done for the lodge , and he had left him ( the W . M . ) a

bed of roses . He then presented him with a Past Master ' s jewel for his valuable services , which bore the following inscription : * ' Presented to Bro . G . H . Wavell by the brethren of the Whittington Lodge , No . S 62 , in recognition of his efficient services as W . M . during his year of office—1 S 94-95 . " Then , as to the Past Masters , the great success of the lodge was due to their efforts , and he coupled with the toast the names of Bros . J . Irvine , Installing Master , and G . H . Wavell , I . P . M .

Bro . G . H . Wavell , I . P . M ., responded . He said tbat he hardly knew how to thank them for the handsome jewel , but he had carried out his duties to the best of his ability . The jewel was the second to come to his ' . family , as his father received a similar jewel 32 years ago . He would shortly introduce his son into Masonry , and he hoped some day to see him honoured with a Past Master ' s jewel . His interest would remain in the lodge , and he should ever recollect the happy time he was the Master , and the kindness he had received at all times from the members .

Bro . J . Irvine , P . M ., who was enthusiastically received , stated that he appreciated his name being associated with the toast , and if what he had done that evening as Installing Master had given satisfaction , he was more than honoured ; he was delighted when he was asked to act in that capacity . Many of those present knew that he belonged to another Craft lodge , but he loved the Whittington , his mother lodge , The lodge was well favoured with other Past Masters , and they were all able to do the

installation ceremony in a manner that it should be done . So long as he had health he should always make a point of attending the lodge , and since his initiation he had only missed a few meetings , which were occasions when he was abroad . The W . M . had been the S . W . for three years running , and the brethren knew the reason why he was not installed two years ago . He was kind and genial , and no one was more respected , and at the end of his tether as W . M . they would all say that he had been the right man in the right place .

The W . M . proposed "The Initiates . " He said that he was fortunate to start his year of office with four initiates , and they all appeared to be of the right sort . Bro . Percy Day was the son of an old Past Master of the lodge , who was now deceased . He also referred to Bro . George Palmer , who was well known in the City of London . He urged the initiates to follow what they had heard that evening , and if they did they could not go wrong in any way , and would never regret joining the great institution of Freemasonry . In response , Bro . Geo . Palmer said that he was then only an apprentice , but he hoped to become a useful member of the lodge and the Craft .

Bros . Percy Day and R . W . C . Palmer also acknowledged the toast . The W . M . gave in eloquent terms "The Charities , " remarking that he was going up as Steward for the Old People , and with the great assistance of the members he hoped his list would be very large in amount . He coupled with . the toast the name ol Bro . W . A . Scurrah , P . M ., who was on the directorate of the Boys' Institution . Bro . W . A . Scurrah , P . M ., responded . He said that the toast of the Charities should always be given at Masonic gatherings . After giving some interesting details of the three Institutions , he stated that he had the honour of being on the Board of the

Institution for Boys , and could testify to the worth of Bro . McLeod , who was one of the best of Secretaries . He thought that about £ 00 , 000 had this year been collected for the Charities . He was glad that the W . M . was Steward for the Old People , and that both he ( Bro . Scurrah ) and Bro . Stiles , the Grand Treasurer , were also going up as Stewards for thatdeserving Institution . He earnestly urged the members to do their utmost to support the W . M . ' s list , and he felt that he could not resume his seatwithout referring to the excellent work of the Installing Master , Bro . Irvine , who was a most distinguished Mason and an ardent worker in the cause of Charity .

The W . M . ' s list was then handed round , and he subsequently announced that it amounted to upwards of £ 70 . In giving the toast of " The Visitors , " the W . M . stated that the lodge , in addition to its other virtues , was always glad to receive and entertain their guests . Many of them were from Devonshire , and were his friends of boyhood , and he thought their presence was a great compliment to him . He coupled with the toast the names of Bros .

Oscar Barrett , S . H . C . Rumball , F . H . H . Orchard , and H . Wright . Bro . Oscar Barrett replied . He said it was the second time he had had the pleasure of attending the lodge , and he was beginning to feel quite at home . He did not kno . v why the lodge was named Whittington , but being connected with the Pantomime Lodge he was curious to ascertain . The bells there seemed to say return again Barrett and not Whittington , but return Barrett , and he should .

Bro . F . H . H . Orchard stated that he and the other visitors from Devonshire were much pleased to be present at the installation of their good friend the W . M . The business of the lodge had been conducted splendidly , and he thought that he had now seen a perfect installation . He had been 25 years in the Craft , but had never witnessed better working . He congratulated the lodge on having so excellent and genial a Master , and the way he had grasped the work showed that the members would never regret their choice . Bros . S . H . C . Rumball and H . Wright also responded in happy terms , thanking the W . M . and the members for their great hospitality to the visitors .

In giving " The Treasurer and Secretary , " the Worshipful Master observed that they were the backbone of the lodge and he could not speak too highly of the Treasurer . Then as to the Secretary , he was their guiding star and philosopher and one of th ; best of friends , and they could not do without him . Bro . S . Gcdden , P . M ., Treas ., responded . He said that it was now 25 yea rs since he first joined Masonry and that was his mother lodge , in which he had filled every olfice , with the exception of that of S . W . He was honoured by being again appointed Treasurer and he hoped to have ample funds and that the W . M . would have plenty " >

initiates . Bro . J . Weaver , P . M ., Sec , stated that Bro . Oscar Barrett had asked a question that night that had never cropped up before , why the lodge bore the name of Whittington , and he was jflad to be able to inform him and the members the reason why . Ihe lodge was formed in 1 S 61 by City men . Bro . James Brett and the father of t " - ' I . P . M ., Bro . Wavell , were two of the founders—and they adopted the name ol Whittington because the founders were all of the City of London . He hoped the lodge would prosper as in the past and he thanked the W . M . for the way they had receive " the toast ot the Treasurer and Secretary . . ,

Ihe Worshipful Master gave ' The Officers , " remarking that not only had quality but quantity . T hey had worked hard in the lodge and their efforts he had nu tloubt would give every satisfaction , lie joined with the toast the names of the S . Wand ) . W ., who both responded that tlv : y would dj their utmost to support the W . M . ' The Tjler ' s toast ended a night of nights , and it is pleasing to record tha . the whole of ihe proceedings were carried out without the slightest hitch . . t The W . M had provided an excellent concert , in whicn Madame Cecile New ''"! , ( who received a well-deserved encore ) , Madame Annie Buckland , Bros . Lawrence l'ryer , | . E . Hambleton , P . M . ; Kempton , P . M . ; and C . V .. Tinney took part , under tlie direction of llro . James Weaver , P . M . But special praise is due to the two ladus lu

their sweet singine ; . , i „ l The portrait of Bru . Win . Bradford , the W . M ., appears in our gallery of Worship '" Masters of this issue .