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Now ready , price 2 s . 6 d ., N OTES ON THE CEREMONY OF INSTALLATION , by H . SADLER , P . M .. P . Z ., Author of "Masonic Facts and Fictions , " with a Masonic gioo-raphy , Portrait , and Autograph of SIR ALRERT W . W OODS , C . B ., Garter King of Arms , Past Grand Warden ofjEng land and Grand Director of Ceremonies . G EORGE KENNING , 16 , Great Queen-st ., London , W . C . I'nROTHERHOOD , " Masonic Ode JJ by Bros . R . ANDRE and ISIDORE DE SOLLA . This stirring composition that met with such an enthusiastic recep tion at the opening of the New Masonic Hall , Northampton , is now published by Bro . RORERT ABEL , Northamp ton , and ORSBORN and TUCKW . IOD , London . "Admirabl y suited to all Masonic celebrations . " Post free , Two Shillings .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

The following communications unavoidably stand over : C RAFTLodge of Industry , No . 1 S 6 . Lodge of Fortitude , No . 281 . South Saxon lodge , No . 311 . Lion Lodge , No . 312 .

Shakespeare Lodge , No 426 . Lodge Zet-and-in-thc-East , No . JoS . Nelson Lodge . No . 700 . Albert Victor Lodge , No . 2328 . Victoria Lodge , No . 473 ( I . C . ) . Lodge of Harmony , No . 495 ( l . C ) .

I NSTRUCTIONLoughborough Lodge , No . 22 . Emblematic Lodge , No . 1321 . Star Chapter , No . 1275 . Masonic Ball at Liverpool . The Scottish Grand Lodge in India .

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SATURDAY , J ANUARY 31 , 1891

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

We are in a position to announce that the ceremony of opening the Centenary Hall of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , which was originally arranged to take place some time in the course of next month , has been postponed till after the return from Cannes of the

Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . and President of the Institution , who has graciously consented to preside on the occasion . The change will have this advantage , that it will give the supporters of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution a clear field for the celebration

of its Festival , while at the same time the opening ceremony and the Festival of the Girls' School will be more proximate to each other . In fact , we may now

look upon the inauguration of the new Hall as a kind of introduction to the anniversary celebration . This , at all events , should have the effect of promoting the success of the latter .

+. * That the interest taken in the affairs of the Craft by the members of the Royal Family is not confined to the Grand Master is a fact well known , but it was never more exemplified than during the present week , when in

that ancient home of Masonry , the city of York , the Duke of Clarence and Avondale was present at a meeting of lhe Iodge which bears his name to receive at the hands of the W . M ., Bro . T . B . Whytehead , a founder ' s jewel , and

on the same day the Duke of Connaught was in attendance at the London Irish Rifles Lodge to be installed as its Worshi pful Master , by Bro . Major Carrell . At both meetings the proceedings were of the most interesting character .

I'he Canadian Craftsman is responsible for the announcement that " the recently-established Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Victoria is stated to be 'anguishing . Three important chapters decline to recognise it . " Doubtless the three chapters referred

to are the three clandestine chapters warranted by the Grand Chapter of Canada . In that case , we are reminded of the old proverb about adding insult to injury . Canadian chapters first of all intrude themselves '" to an Australian colony with which the Freemasons

° ' Canada have nothing whatever to do , and then , when a Grand Chapter is formed which will hence-° rth exercise supreme authority over Royal Arch ' reemasonry in that colony , they decline to recognise it . ¦ s no concern of ours , but it strikes us there are

many 0 f the United States jurisdictions in which short w ork would be made of the recalcitrant as well as "iterloping chapters . Even Canada herself , though ' ^ " oes not appear to think the invasion of other asonic territory either an insult or an injury , would har % stand this .

Masonic Notes.

We mentioned last week that the letter which Bro . the Earl of Onslow , P . S . G . W ., in his character of mediator between the opposing Masonic factions in New Zealand , has addressed to the lodges in that colony has brought upon his lordship a considerable

amount of hostile criticism . Such criticism was , of course , to be expected , but it is none the less to be deplored . Bro . Lord Onslow , in what he has done , and done so well , has merely followed in the footsteps of the late lamented Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon , who , on

his arrival in Sydney , was deepl y grieved to find the various sections of the Masonic body engaged in a kind of internecine strife . No one was likely to be better informed , or was in a more favourable position to obtain the most precise information , than Lord

Carnarvon of the exact position of the various Masonic bodies in New South Wales , theirstrength relatively to each other , and the influence they were able to exercise . He may have known these things himself , or he could easily have learned them . But , as far as our memory

serves us , his lordship does not appear to have concerned himself about these comparatively small details . He saw the lamentable state in which New South Wales Masonry was placed , and he at once set himself to discover a remedy .

He succeeded in his purpose , because , having taken in the position of things at a glance , he saw that success was possible , not by discussinng trifles , but only if he acted , and at once , on those broad and generous principles on which the Craft is based . He saw

brethren who should have been united as one body fiercely opposing each other . He did not stop to inquire who was in the wrong , or shall we say rather , who was in the first instance responsible for so deplorable a state of things . He did not trouble himself to

inquire how many lodges were arrayed under the banners of the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions , and how many under that of the then Grand Lodge of New South Wales . He recoghised how fatal a continuance of the disorder would be to Freemasonry .

He took counsel with the leading men on either side . He marked out the course which he deemed it best to pursue , referred the matter to his Royal Highness the Grand Master of England and his advisers , and at a very early date , almost sooner than any one could

have deemed possible , the dissensions were healed , and the present United Grand Lodge of New South Wales was established under Bro . Lord Carrington , a Past S . G . W . of England and Governor of the Colony , as M . W . G . M .

1 his was the result of the late Pro Grand Master ' s mediation , and there is not a Mason in New South Wales or under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England who does not heartily rejoice that such a result was the consequence of his lordshi p ' s

intervention , and does not revere his memory the more , because he feels that had the crisis been met in another spirit , the then disordered state of the Craft in New South Wales would in all probability have been prolonged indefinitely . * * *

We trust , therefore , that Bro . Lord Onslow ' s appeal will be listened to . It does not so much matter , now that the dissension alread y exists , who began the squabble , or whether only 33 English lodges , or not quite 60 lodges in all support the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , while

54 English lodges , and not far short of 100 lodges of all kinds remain loyal to their old allegiance . What is now wanted is that the dissension should be ended , and we trust Lord Onslow ' s efforts in this direction will be successful . There was the same or nearly the

same superiority in numbers on the part of the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions in New South Wales , compared with the then existing New South Wales Grand Lodge , when the late Earl of Carnarvon intervened successfully , as there is now between the former

and the so called Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and we s ncerely trust the result of Lord Onslow ' s intervention will be favourable . It is more important that the well-being of Freemasonry should be upheld at all hazards than that any particular constitution should prevail .

There is , of course , an ever-present danger in those British colonies and possessions in which the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland share amongst them the supreme authority , that a small clique of discontented brethren , raising the standard of revolt

against that authority , may start a Grand Lodge of their own . This danger , too , is enhanced by the silly action of the minor American and other Grand Lodges , which are of no great account in themselves , but nevertheless are on the same level as regards rank as the

Masonic Notes.

oldest and most worthy , of recognising every new Grand Lodge which is established , provided only that at least three legally constituted lodges took part in its establishment . Heaven only knows whence this absurd idea emanated , but it is a great nuisance , and bids fair to become a still greater .

Indeed , if this multip lication of Grand Lodges continues much longer there will be no private lodges left , and we shall see realised the late Artemus Ward ' s conception of a model regiment of Volunteers , in which there were no rank and file , no non-commissioned

officers , no subalterns , no captains of companies , or majors , but all were commanding officers . Thus every Mason will in time become a Pre-eminently Superlative Grand Body of some kind or other , enjoying the

inestimable privilege of presiding over himself , opening and closing himself , compiling laws for his own government , reporting upon , visiting , and corresponding with himself , and appointing himseif to Grand Office . The idea is funny , but hardly practicable .

* * * But , to speak seriously ; we see no objection to the States and Territories of the American Union , or the several colonies and possessions of the British Crown , having each its own Grand Lodge . But the idea that

Grand Lodges may be started on the smallest provocation , because Bros . A , B , C , and their friends do not get all they think they are entitled to ; or worse still , that a British Grand Lodge or Chapter on one side of the world may charter lodges or chapters in a colony on the

other side , which is already occupied by the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland , on theground that it is " the peer " of the latter , is monstrous . Forty years ago Freemasonry in the British Empire worked smoothly , and we were entirely free from those

miserable jealousies and bickerings which are eternally worrying the authorities of the different Grand Lodges in the American Union . Now we are becoming

muddled , and confusion , with dissension in its train , is constantly asserting itself ; and this because now-adays every Mason is anxious to become a Grand Somebody .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play tu all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . J

THE EXTRAORDINARY SURGICAL OPERATION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I do not think that there is any thing very extraordinary in the operation performed at Chicago , described in your issue of the 24 th inst . Grafting of

skin upon wounds is an every-day occurrence , but it is certainly extraordinary that it should take 132 members of the Craft to supply the demand , and still more extraordinary that any of them fainted . I remember submitting but a very few years ago to having over 50

p ieces of skin removed from my body in order to graft upon a woman who had been operated upon for cancer , and I certainly neither fainted nor flinched . But there , I am only a Mason , and not a Knight Templar . It may make a difference . —Yours fraternally ,

ELLIMSON GREENWOOD , M . R . C . S ., L . R . C . P . THE ROYAL ARCH CLOTHING INNOVATION .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Is the attempted innovation of which I read in your correspondence columns relating to tiie mixture of the emblems of an Order no brother is permitted to enter until he has been a Master Mason 12 months ,

with the symbolical clothing of the Craft as properly represented by the three " blue " Degrees , to be strengthened by special example 'i It would almost seem so , when for the first time in the third part of a century I have but recently seen , " with my own eyes , " a Grand Officer of high station

and repute enter and continue in a Craft lodge accompanied by a brother whose only regalia consisted of the sash , and that worn in reverse order , and apron of an ordinary companion of the R . A . Never mind when or where ; I have seen it , and with many others join in the strongest condemnation of this

departure from the regulations for the government of the Craft , wherein J find no law laid down , nor emblem depicted , relating in any sense to the ' •Supreme Order of the Royal Arch . " Pure Antient Masonry may include the Supreme Order as set forth in the declaration ,

but the Supreme Order has a Constitution , a ritual and regalia of its own , and its members should be as jealous of its important distinction as " Master Masons only" should be that innovations are not thrust upon them . —Yours faithfully and fraternall y , JAMES STEVENS , P . M ., P . Z .