Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in . a spirit o £ fait play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

THE LAST DISTRICT GRAND MASTER OF NEW SOUTH WALES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your issue of 13 th January appears a paragraph on the above subject , referring to a previous letter by Bro . Lamonby . Your Christmas

number has not yet reached me , but as one on the spot , and who knows something of the facts , let me say that Bro . Lamonb y is right . Lord Carrington never served as District Grand Master , much less as ' the last Dist . G . M . He was not installed , and I think he never did anything whatever alter his patent came out in January , I think , 1888 .

He was not installed G . M . of New South Wales Grand Lodge until September , and I hold letters from the last Dep . Dist . Grand Master just prior to September , in which he as " Acting District Grand Master will see that" & c ., & c . You do not consider the matter of any great importance : well , in the first place , your journal is looked upon as a record of Freemasonry , and , therefore ,

truthful in important matters . I trust that you will place the matter correctly , as Wor . Bro . Lamonby has done in the last paragraph of his letter on page 8 of January 6 th , and say Lord Carrington was the last District Grand Master Designate of New South Wales . Your paper may then be referred to in years to come as a truthful record of one of the phases of District Grand Lodge in New South Wales . —Yours fraternally ,

G . ROBINSON , P . M ., Cambrian Lodge of Australia , No . 656 ( E . C . ) Sydney , February 16 th .

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL CLOTHING . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , My attention has been called to a letter on the above subject , in your last issue , from my good friend and brother S . R . Baskett . I think I can throw some light on what actually transpired at the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge .

R . W . Bro . Lieut .-Gen . Laurie , M . P ., the presiding officer , most certainly wore a Grand Master ' s apron and gauntlets , also a chain collar , but I could not distinguish the jewel suspended from the collar . After Grand Lodge , I mentioned the subject to a distinguished Grand Officer , who informed me that Bro . Laurie had worn the clothing of a Grand Master , which he was correct in doing , as acting Grand Master . !

All the same , I may be pardoned , if I differ from this opinion , because Bro . Laurie , being a Deputy of the M . W . Grand Master , ought to have worn the clothing of his rank , namely , that of R . W . Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of South Wales , as , for instance , when the R . W . the Deputy Grand Master presides he wears his own clothing , not that of Grand Master . Besides , the long line of Provincial Grand Masters who have time after time occupied the throne , have always worn the insignia of their rank , not that of Grand Master .

The incident which occurred recently in Grand Lodge was clearly an innovation , whoever was responsible for it . In regard to the discussion on the general point at issue , arising out of the Grand Director of Ceremonies' circular , I may , perhaps , be permitted to add that it seems , to say the least of it , somewhat ungracious , that thosse of us who have

borne the heat and burden of long years at home and abroad , should be ranked with merely " honorary " officers of Foreign and Colonial Grand Lodges , the majority of who never belonged to a private lodge in such constitutions , and many of whom had never even been in the localities of the Grand Lodges that honoured them .

To quote the written words of a distinguished English and Colonial Mason and an ex-Governor of an Australian Colony , the circular and order in question " seems quite outside the spirit of the times . " I have also yet to learn that any of the brethren , now in this country , holding English and Colonial Past Grand rank , claim precedence in this country by virtue of their superior colonial status . —Fraternally yours , W . F . LAMONBY . March 27 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1123 ] THE LODGE No . 12 . In common with the ever-increasing band of Masonic students , I have been much interested in Bro . Gould's able address on the early history of the " Fortitude and Old Cumberland" Lodge , No . 12 , which undoubtedly , through its predecessors , was one of the Four Old Lodges , or more , that formed the first Grand Lodge ever established in this or any other country . An excellent report appears in the Freemason for March 17 th , and it deserves very careful reading , the facts

narrated being peculiar and important in relation to the present No . 12 , it having been relegated from the original third of the historic quartette to a number corresponding with the year of its needless " constitution " ( 1723 ) . I think it a very happy suggestion of Bro . Gould's , and one that should be adopted , that the trio of the existing founders should celebrate St . John the Baptist ' s Day together annually . It was on that Festival in 1717 that the premier Grand Lodge was established , and , therefore , what could be more appropriate than that Lodges

Nos . 2 , 4 , and 12 should unite once . 1 year in commemoration of the exceedingl y wise and truly Masonic achievement of their predecessors early last century ? The antiquity of Lodge No . 12 , through their brethren of 1717 and earlier , appears to me proved , and , therefore , it seems to me likely that if the Board of General Purposes were petitioned accordingly , the members of the Calendar Committee would recommend that No . 12 should have the letters "T . I . " placed after its name , & c ., in lieu of A . u . 1723 . I cannot , however , follow Bro . Gould in his statement

that " of the three living lodges . who now share the glory of having founded and established the Premier Grand Lodge of the world , // is the only one if them which has mver ceased for 11 . single instant to occupy a place on her roll . " The " Lodge of Antiquity" has never been off the roll any more than the original Xo . . ; , now Xo . u . The majc rity of its members left the Grand Lodge 1779 8 c ); hut the minority remained , and not only continued as a lodge , but duly made the requisite payments to " Charity "' and " Hall " Funds during that period . W . J . HUGHAN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

AN ENGLISH TOAST—Song—Words by Frederick Gales ; Music by Francis H . Reynolds , Hutchings and Romer , 39 Great Marlborough Street , London , W . This is one of the numerous patriotic songs which have been inspired by the War in South Africa . The words possess considerable merit and stamp Mr . Gales at once as a capital songwriter , while Mr . Francis H . Reynolds , in his music has succeeded in faithfully and very admirably interpreting the sentiments conveyed by Mr . Gales's verse . There is , indeed , a capital ring about both words and music , and we doubt not "An English Toast" will be greatly appreciated by the public .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

United Pilgrims Lodge , No . 507 . The installation meeting of this well knovin and flourishing lodge was held at the Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge , on Thursday , the 22 nd inst . Present : Bros . R . A . Brangwin , W . M . ; A . W . Brewer , S . W . and W . M . elect ; T . R . Roberts , J . W . ; Geo . Beste , P . M ., Treas . ; Wm . Lipscomb , P . M ., Sec . ; W . E . Dean , J . D . ; F . W . Madge , I . G .: Chas . Hy . Stone , P . M ., D . C ; W . C . Chaney , P . M ., and Stwds Sidwell

Wallace Smith , . ; Jones , Org . ; Geo . Harrison , Tyler ; Chas . Wm , Stone , P . M . ; J . S . Terry , P . M . ; B . Gilson , P . M . ; J . W . Watts , P . M . ; F . T . Tebbutt , C . Woodward , A . Holmes Dallimore , W . Moreton , and las . Smith . The visitors were Bros . F . K . Clarke , 1 S 15 ; S . Ainsworth , 509 ; E . C . West , 2182 ; Owen Tod , 21 S 2 ; T . C . Ward , 1617 ; W . Brewer , J . D . 1853 ; William Baker , P . M . 102 ; A . Collins , J . W . 1962 ; S . Reikenheim , 2579 ; S . Morly , P . M . 1 S 53 ; R . W . Carter , J . D . 22 : C . Spencer West , 21 S 2 ; and Egbeit Robert , P . M . 1623 .

The minutes of the previous meeting and emergency meeting of the 9 th inst . were read and confirmed . Bros . C . W . Woodward , W . T . Moreton , and A . Holmes-Dallimore were raised to the Sublime Degree in an exemplary manner by the W . M . Bro . C . H . Stone , P . M ., D . C ., next presented Bro . A . W . Brewer , S . W ., to Bro . Geo . W . Beste , P . M ., Treas ., to receive from him the benefit of installation , which ceremony was performed most perfectly . Bro . A . W . Brewer , W . M ., invested his officers as follows : Bros . R . A . Brangwin , I . P . M . ; T . R . Roberts , S . W . ; F . W . Madge , I . W . ; G . W .

Beste , P . M ., Treas . ; W . Lipscomb , P . M ., Sec ; W . E . Dean , S . D . ; Wallace Smith , J . D . j Chas . Woodward , I . G . j Chas . Hy . Stone , P . M ., D . C . ; W . C . Chaney , P . M ., J . S . Terry . P . M ., and F . T . Tebbutt , Stwds . ; Sidwell Jones , Org . ; and Geo . Harrison , Tyler . The three addresses were admirably rendered by the Installing Master , Bro . G . W . Beste , P . M . The Auditor s' report was presented , which showed the lodge to be in a thoroughly sound financial position , there being no liabilities and a substantial sum ; atthe bank , in fact a better position than it had been in for years , which redounded greatly to the excellent management . A sum of 20 guineas was voted to the list of

Bro . R . A . Brangwin , LP . M ., who represents the lodge at the coming Festival of the Gills , and for which he heartily thanked the brethren for their beneficence . The W . M ., in a few well-chosen and highly-merited remarks , presented the Past Master's jewel to Bro . R . A . Brangwin , the I . P . M ., for the excellent services he had rendered to the lodge . Bro . Brangwin , I . P . M ., accepted the same with very much pleasure , which he esteemed a great honour . Several communications were read , one or two of which were of a highly complimentary character , congratulating the W . M . on the lodge ' s sound position .

The business ended , the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet , supplied by Bro . Callingham , the worthy proprietor , and to which ample justice was accorded . The cloth removed the W . M ., in graceful terms , gave the loyal and Masonic toasts , which were very loyally honoured . The W . M ., in proposing " The Pro G . M ., the Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the G . Officers , Present and Fast , " remarked they were always ready to render their best service for the good of the Craft , and for which they deserved admiration .

Bro . R . A . Brangwin , I . P . M ., next presented the toast ot the evening—that of " The W . M . "—which was a very pleasant duty indeed . All were gratified at seeing the worthy son of a worthy sire placed in that proud position . It showed he had been brought up in the right way , for he was setting his father an example , and it was hoped that in due course the lodge to which the father belonged would elect him to the same honoured position . He asked the brethren to drink most cordially to the toast .

The W . M ., in reply , tendered his hearty thanks for the manner the toast had been proposed and received . He had been initiated some six years previously , and in that short time had gained the summit . In the various offices that he had filled he had endeavoured to do his very best , and now that he was the W . M . he trusted that the honour would never be misplaced . Bro . A . W . Brewer , W . M ., next presented the toast of " Bro . Brangwin , I . P . M ., " in most becoming terms . He had had a very successful year of office , which redounded

very much to his own personal endeavours , and with great credit to the lodge . The earnest wish of the brethren was that Bro . Brangwin might long be spared to be with them in the lodge . In reply , Bro . R . A . Brangwin very heartily thanked the brethren for so cordially receiving the remarks ^ that had fallen from the W . M . Ever since his initiation he had taken a deep interest in Freemasonry which he loved . He knew that those who followed

and carried out its tenets were happier and better men . It taught the great lesson of the brotherhood of man under the Fatherhood of God and promoted kindly feelings and brotherly love . He paid a high compliment to Bro . G . Beste , P . M ., the respected Treasurer , his father in Freemasonry who had initiated him five years previously . He hoped that as a P . M . he should still be able to be of some service to the United Pilgrims Lodge .

The toast of "The Visitors" was next presented by the W . M . in mast cordial terms , giving them all a hearty greeting . In reply , Bro . William Baker , P . M . 192 , heartily thanked the W . M . and brethren for such a pleasant evening . He had been struck at the admirable manner the I . P . M , had worked the ceremony of raising , and that of the Installing Master , Bro . Geo .

Beste , P . M ., could not be surpassed . the whole of the working in the lodge was cairied out perfectly , and it certainly , was a great treat to witness such . He was present at the very kind invitation of Bro . Gilson , P . M . ; he felt quite at home and thanked them all lor so kind a reception . Bros . Moily , P . M . ; Roberts , P . M . ; Brewer ( the worthy father of the VV . M . ) ; Ward , Ainsworth , and Clarke also ably replied .

The W . M . next gave the most important toast , that of "The Installing Master , Treasurer , Secretary and Past Masters , " who were the pillars and support of the lodge . 1 here was not one but that was capable and willing to render any service to the lodge . The W . M . was delighted to see Bro . Watts , a very old P . M ., present , who had been unable to attend for some years through various causes . He also paid high eulogiums on Bro . G , Beste , Installing Master and Treasurer , and Bro . VVm . Lipscomb , the valuable Secretary , who certainly was the right man in the right place . The W . M . desired the brethren to drink most cordially to the health of the Past Masters .

Bro . J . W . Watts , P . M ., in reply , regretted his long absence from the lodge , which was unavoidable , and he thanked the brethren for so warm and cordial a reception . That day was the 25 th anniversary of his initiation and the 21 st anniversary of his installing his successor . He had a great love and esteem for the lodge , and should never lose interest in it . His services were only to be commanded , and he would do his utmost for the lodge , and he tiusted that it would go on and prosper as heretofore .

The W . M . next proposed the toast of "The Officers" in complimentary terms , which was very ably responded to by Bro . T . R . Roberts , S . W ., assuring the W . M . that the officers were only too delighted to perform their duties to the utmost . The Tyler's toast brought to conclusion a very happy meeting . A n excellent programme of music was arranged by Bro . Sidwell Jones , Organist of the lodge , ably assisted by Miss Ella Johnson , Mr . Percy Tarling , and Bros . Geo . W . Beste , Sidwell Jones , Egbert Roberts , Fred Cczens , and Holmes-Dallimore ( ventriloouial sketch ) . 1 he very able accompanist was Bro . Fred Cozens .