Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

- ¦¦ »—The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . "A BODY WITHOUT A HEAD . " ( To the Editor of Thc Freemason . )

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your quotation from the Keystone , Philadelphia , U . S ., respecting the action of the " Gtand Orient de France " in relation to a Grand Master , is certainly an evidence that other editors speak as warmly ( or

even more warmly ) than you on the subject . The Keystone is a most respectable and wellconducted Masonic paper , and its articles are always carefully written ; and I feel sure that its verdict will be the general opinion of American

. Freemasons . For myself , I do not believe in the abolition of the office of Grand Master , which the Grand Orient has done * but , at the same time , I cannot see that such conduct warrants us in withdrawing entirely from that Body .

If a Grand Lodge errs , cannot we practise leniency and forgiveness ? As Masons , we should "Bear and forbear . " I would rather

accept the remarks of "Errol , " page 705 , on the "Philosophy of Freemasonry , " than the severe strictures of the Keystone , in this case . Yours fraternally ,

W . J . HUGHAN . PRINTED RITUALS .

( To the Editor ol The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —At page 710 , " Randolf Hay" states that " the American brethren have published authorised rituals of all Masonic degrees . " I would be pleased to have

Bro . Randolf Hay—if that is your correspondent ' s real name—state in THE FREEMASON what proof he has of this his assertion . There have been numerous "Exposes , " as they are termed , published b y irresponsible , anonymous ,

and perjured men in this country , principally in the city of New York , from the republication in that city of Pritchard ' s " Jachin and Boaz , " first published in England about the middle of the past century , to the present time—all purporting

to be the true ritual of Freemasonry as practised in the lodges in America ; but , certainly , I have no knowledge—and I think I am quite conversant with all printed books concerning Masonry in America , having been for twenty years more

or less engaged in Masonic literature—I say I have no knowledge of ever having seen , or heard of , an authorised version of the esoteric work of Freemasonry . The peculiarity of what is known in this

country , generally , as thc York Rite , or English Freemasonry , is , that , under the E . A . obligation of that Rite , no such version can be made ; and as it is this Rite that is alone recognised and worked by ninety-nine-hundreths of the lodges in

I \ orth America , of course such a thing as an " authorised ritual" for the lodge degrees cannot be made without infraction of obligation by that body of Masons , great or small , which " authorised" its publication : while , to have

such version authoritative , it should be the authorised work of the representatives from forty-seven Grand Lodges , representing more than 8 , 000 lodges , and 500 , 000 Masons , in general convention assembled .

In 1843 , a convention of delegates from about a dozen of our Grand Lodges then extant assembled at Baltimore , Maryland , hy which some changes were made in the ritual to overcome the facility with which impostors gained

access to lodges , from their stud y of the exposes published during the anti-Masonic excitement which prevailed in the eastern and middle States , chiefly , between 1826 and 1836 ; but

there was no ritual , authorised or otherwise , published by that convention , as the result of its labours . The changes made , having reference and use mainly in the examination of visitors , were orally communicated by the delegates to

Original Correspondence.

their respective Grand Lodges , in connection with their official reports , and thence , and in like manner , disseminated among the lodges represented in those Grand Lodges . " Uniformity of the unwritten work " is a matter that has beeii treated with considerable

attention at various times in this country , and its importance magnified with some success by those brethren known as Masonic lecturers ¦ but as such uniformity , to be complete and perfect , is impossible without the agency above indicated , and the consequential agency of an authorised

printed and uniform ritual , carefully , generally , and authoritatively disseminated , and its constant use enforced , in every lodge in North Americanumbering , as I have stated , more than 8 , 000 at the present time—such uniformity in the letter of the ritual has never been attained ;

and from the fact that the assembly of such a convention for such a purpose—jud ging by past experience—may be regarded as an impossible event , it is not probable such uniformity everwill obtain . Were there for all North America but one Grand Lodge , instead of forty-seven

co-equal , independent bodies , and the subject of ritualistic literal uniformity considered by that single Grand Lodge of paramount importance , it is probable that , by the assembled wisdom of suce a body , it would be deemed expedient to surmount the objection which denies to the

adherents of the York or English Rite the printing of the secrets of Freemasonry ; but , as it is , there is no reason not to believe that adherence to the spirit will continue to be regarded as sufficient , and satisfactory , and preferable to

the infraction of their E . A . obligation by those who would do so b y a determined persistence in tlie attainment of what many look upon as unimportant , and that is , complete uniformity in the letter of the ritual everywhere to obtain . I remain , fraternally yours ,

AN AMERICAN FREEMASON Cincinnati , O ., Dec , 1 S 71 .

Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association.

STAFFORDSHIRE MASONIC CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION .

The members of this association held their second half-yearly meeting at Burton-on-Trent on Wednesday , the 13 th inst . The biethren , on their arrival at Burton-on-Trent at I p . m ., were met by Bro . Starey , W . M ., and other brethren of the Abbey Lodge , under whose guidance they visited the

breweries of Messrs . Allsopp and Sons , and then proceeded to those of Bass and Co ., where they were met by Bro . Robinson , P . M . The lodge-room of the Abbey Lodge was reached by four o'clock . In the absence of the President , R . W . Bro . Tudor , D . P . G . M ., who was prevented attending by the state

of his health , Bro . Starey was voted tothe chair , butters were read from the R . W . P . G . M . the Earl of Shrewsbury , from the D . P . G . M ., and other members , who were unable to attend . Thc Secretary ( Hro . J . Bodenham , P . M ., 726 ) reported that the brethren who were successful at

thc last meeting had each selected the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys as the charity in which they wish to become life subscribers . Thc Treasurer ( Bro . J . Pilling , W . M ., 726 ) reported that the number of members was increased to forty-one , and thc sum available for ballot at

that meeting was thirty guineas . A ballot was accordingly taken for six life subscriberships , which were drawn by the following brethren : John Upton , P . M . 624 , Burton-on-Trent ; J . C . Marson , J . D . 726 , Stafford ; Earl of Shrewsbury , Prov . G . M . Staffordshire ; T . Salt , P . M . 726

Staffordshire ; G . S . Tudor , D . P . G . M . Wolverhampton ; J . H . Slaney , P . M . 601 , Wellington . On the proposition of thc Secretary , seconded by Bro . Robinson , it was unanimously resolved that the R . W . P . G . M . the Earl of Shrewsbury be , with his consent , nominated patron of the Association .

Iiro . Robinson , P . M . 624 , and Bro . Marsh , P . M . 460 , were appointed auditors . It was decided that the next meeting should be held at Trentham on Wednesday , the 5 th June next . Votes of thanks to thc Burton brethren for the use of the lodge-room , and the general courtesy they had shown in securing to the strangers present

an agreeable and interesting visit to the town , and to the Chairman , closed the proceedings . After an excellent dinner at the Saracen's Head , the non-resident members left Burton at seven o'clock . The meeting was most successful , and augurs well for the prospects and stability of the Association . —Staffordshire Advertiser , December 16 , 1871 .

Masonic Funeral At Plymouth.

MASONIC FUNERAL AT PLYMOUTH .

Mr . William Ball died on Thursday se ' nnight at his residence in Gloucester-street , Morice Town , aged 85 years , Mr . Ball was formerly an emp ! oy 6 in the Devonport dockyard , but he had for several years retired from the active labours

of live . He was one of the oldest freemasons in the province of Devon , both in Masonic as well as natural age . having been initiated into the mysteries ofthe Craft as early as-1814 through Lodge Friendship , No . 202 . This lodge is now

the oldest in Devonport , and the largest in th _ province . Bro . Ball passed throug h its W . M . ' s chair half a century since , and has SU- - equently g iven much service to the lodge . The b _ etiJ en believe that the lodge ' s resuscitation from a ver ?

low ebb at one time was in a great measure due to Mr . Ball ' s exertions , and under those circumstances the W . Brother has been held in high respect by the brethren of the lodge , and in accordance with his request he was buried by

them with full Masonic honours . Ihe usual requisite permission was obtained from the Grand Officers , and invitations were extended by Lodge Friendship to the brethren of the neighbouring private lodges to join in the ceremonial . In the

breakfast-room at Moorshead ' s Royal Hotel , Devonport , which was tastefully fitted up as a lodge-room for the occasion , over 300 brethren assembled after noon . Lodge Friendship was opened in due form by W . Bro . J . Purse , the

W . M ., supported by his officers , Bros . E . D . Parnel , S . W . ; G . AV . Phillips , J . W . ; W . Kelk , Treas . ; H . Minell , Sec . ; J . Amor , S . D . ; W . T . Pengelly , J . D . ; W . Came , I . G . ; and P . M . ' s W . Bros . E . Murch , J . B . Price , H . Welch , S . Keys ,

J . Fox . Capt . Shadwell Gierke , P . M . 349 , and 120 5 , S . P . G . W . of Devon , and Capt . Shanks , l . P . M . 18 9 , J . P . G . W . of Devon , were also present . Tlie opening service of the Order for the burial of the dead , in which W . Bro . E . Murch ,

P . P . G . O ., was the leading officiate , was solemnized in the customary form . The lodge was thenadjourncd , and the brethren , havingprovided themselves with sprigs of cassia and herbs emblematic of the Order , left the hotel in procession

for the residence of the deceased brother . The following lodges were represented in the procession : Nos . 1255 , 1247 , 1212 , 120 5 , 1136 , 1099 , 10 91 , 954 , 230 , 22 3 , 18 9 , 159 , 156 , 10 5 , 70 . The junior lodges led the way , each lodge walking in the following order : —

The Tyler , with his sword ; The Stewards , with white rods ; The brethren , out of office , two and two ; The Secretary , with a roll , * The Treasurer , with his badge of office 5 Thc Senior and Junior Wardens , hand in hand 5

The Past Masters ; Thc Master . The lodge to which the deceased brother belonged walked in the following order , all the members having flowers or herbs in theirhands * , —¦

The Tyler ; The Stewards ; Martial Music [ Drums muffled , and Trumpets covered ]; The members of the lodge ; The Secretary and Treasurer ;

Thc Senior and Junior Wardens ; Thc Past Masters ; The Holy Writings , on a cushion , covered witb

black cloth , carried by the oldest member of thc lodge present , Bro . Langmead ; The Master ; Choristers , singing an anthem . The Devonport Rifle Volunteers' band attended . From the deceased ' s residence to the

place of interment , the Plymouth cemetery , the Masonic procession preceded the hearse and mourning coaches , the band playing appropriate music and the choristers occasionally singing . Bros . J . Vox , W . Came , T . Pengelly , \ V . Moore , W . Amor , Worth , H . Rockett , and J . Ash ,

officiated as bearers . In the cemetery the brethren formed round the grave , where , after thc usual service in the Cemetery chapel , and thc lowering of the coffin into the grave , R . W . Bro . L . P . Metham , the D . P . G . M . of the province , delivered over the remains of th <; deceased