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 limitstree discussion .

SUNDRY NOTES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I shall be glad if you will allow me to make a slight correction in your otherwise excellent report of the consecration of the Hygeia Lodge . I am made to say " being connected with the profession to which the W . M . belongs , " whereas I said " being frequently brought into contact with the profession to which the W . M . belongs . " I have no official connection with drains and sewers , only with buildings .

In your excellent leader you very properly use the phrase Roman Catholic . I am always careful to use the word Roman ( or Italian Mission , as the late Archbishop once said ) , as the Catholic Church is that founded prior to his time and strengthened by Augustine , and after centuries of Papal control , was freed at the Reformation . Your readers must be glad to have Bro . Hughan ' s clear explanation of the Royal Arch Regulations , as the appointments of officers in Prov . Grand Chapter have usually no connection with those in the Prov . Grand Lodge , all except the Treasurer , who is elected . —Yours , & c , HENRY LOVEGRXJVE . Heme Hill , S . E .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

IIOl ] THE ILLINOIS VETERANS . In the handsome " Royal Diamond Jubilee Number" of the Freemason , with its many attractive features and fine illustrations , is an article by me on Masonic Veteran Associations , in which I promised a complete list of the British honorary members of the celebrated Illinois Association . The revised list has

just come to hand from my friend , General J . C . Smith , of Chicago , the esteemed President . There are 104 honorary members from all parts of the world , including exactly 30 from Great Britain and Ireland . I append the roll for the latter , and am pleased to state that the General's health is improving ; he evidently needs another visit to the old country to complete the cure . W . J . HUGHAN .

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., K . T ., Ac , & c . George Washington Bain , Sunderland . Robert S . Brown , Edinburgh . Joseph L . Carson , Eniskillen . Dr . W . J . Chetwode Crawley , Bray , Wicklow . William E . De Bush , London . Dr . George Dickson , Edinburgh .

Dr . John Foulds , Glasgow . Robert Freke Gould , Woking . Earl of Haddington , Scotland . Walter H . Harris , C . M . G ., London . William Hart , Melrose . Wm . James Hughan , Torquay . Sir Francis Knollys , K . C . M . G ., London .

Harry W . Lake , London ( late of jahore ) . John Lane , F . C . A ., Torquay . Edward Letchworth , F . S . A ., London . David Murray Lyon , Edinburgh . Sir Alexander Muir Mackenzie , Dunkeld . Charles Fitzgerald Matier , London . George Reynolds , London . William Harry Rylands , F . S . A ., London .

J . Sykes Rymer , York . Henry Sadler , London . Fr . F . Schnitger , Newcastle-on-Tyne . George William Speth , Bromley . Colonel Patrick Stirling , Dunblane . William Watson , Leeds . Thomas Bowman Whytehead , York . Sir Henry Trueman Wood , M . A ., London .

1102 ] A NOBLE MEDAL . My friend , Bro . George Kenning , had a grand medal struck in 188 7 in commemoration of her Majesty ' s Jubilee , which was by far the best thing of the kind issued . For the Diamond ' Jubilee , the same firm ( George Kenning and Son ) has had another noble medal struck , which is equal in all respects to its predecessor , and doubtless will soon be at a heavy premium as its artistic companion . The medal is in bronze , size 4 N , in sixteenths of an inch ( i . e ., three inches in

diameter ) , and is really a magnilicent medallic souvenir , worthy in every sense of the Craft and the great and unique event thus commemorated . Obverse—Her Majesty seated on a throne , having a sceptre in the right hand and an orb in the left , the lion being on one side , at the back , and the unicorn at the other , over all being an irradiated five-pointed star . At the right of her Majesty is H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , wearing the clothing as Grand Masttr . and on the left is H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught as a Prov . Grand Master . At the foot of the throne are the letter *

V . I . R ., & c , and the legend around the medal , on a ribbon , reads "To COMMBMORATE IHI : GOTH YEAR or H . M . THE QUEEN ' S HAPPY & PROSPEROUS REIGN —1 H 97 , " an ear of wheat tied to a sprig of acacia completing the circle . The reverse is very fine , having the arms of the Grand Lodge of England , beautifully cut and sharp as possible , in the centre , with the well-known motto— " AUDI

VIDE TACE" —at foot , and KENNING in smaller size letters below . The legend encircling the whole being " H . M . THE QUEEN , CHIEK PATRONESS R . M . I . G ., G . PATRON , R . M . I . B . - ., V . PATRON , R . M . B . I . " A more appropriate and beautiful medal 1 have nut seen , and I consider it to be the best private souvenir of the commemoration extant . Replicas are to be had at present for two guineas each , in suitable cases . W . J . HUGHAN .

1103 ] OLD BOOKS . Bcok-woinis will be pleased to hear that Messrs . Pickering and Chat to , of 66 , Haymarkel , are publishing an Illustrated catalogue of their " Old and Rare Books , " which is of a choice and very interesting character . Part I , now issued , may be had from them for one shilling , and contains several curious reproductions of old engravings . . W . J . H .

Masonic Jubilee Festival At Shrewsbury.

MASONIC JUBILEE FESTIVAL AT SHREWSBURY .

An unusual , if not unique , gathering took place at Shrewsbury last week , when our Shropshire brethren held a special , festival in commemoration of the Queen's 60 years' reign . The proceedings commenced with the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , which was held in the Music Hall , after which all the brethren assembled in a tent specially erected in the Quarry , from which ,

attired in full Masonic regalia , they marched to St . Chad's Church for Divine worship . A considerable crowd assembled to watch the procession , which elicited considerable interest , and the congregation was a large one . A special form of service was gone through , which included the singing of the Bishop of Wakefield's Jubilee hymn , " O , King of Kings , " "The Hallelujah Chorus , " and the National Anthem , and the entire service was characterised by great heartiness .

The first lesson was read by the Prov . G . Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . LTOTS WILLIAMS , the second by P . G . C ., Bro . the Rev . J . B . MEREDITH . The sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . H . R . COOPER SMITH , D . D . Past Grand Chaplain , who took as his text the words " Ye are brethren . " In the course of an appropriate discourse the preacher alluded to the position of Freemasonry from a religious point of view , and maintained that it was in no sense

inconsistent with the principles of Christianity , and no unbeliever could be admitted within its pale . Masons were loyal to the Crown and Queen , and her Majesty was their patron . At such a time as the present Masons desired to emphasise the relations in which they stood to the Queen and to each other , and whatever might have been the action of those in other countries or in other times , the loyalty of the English Masons was undoubted , and the services that day was

an expression of their feeling of love towards the Queen , and of gratitude to Almighty God for the happy and prosperous years during which Victoria's reign has lasted . At the conclusion of the sermon a collection was made on behalf of the " Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fund of the Shropshire Masonic Charitable Association . "

After the service the brethren returned to the Quarry , to divest themselves of their aprons , & c , and subsequently sat down to lunch in the Music Hall . There were in all about 150 members of the Craft in attendance at the festivali among those present being Bros . Sir Offley Wakeman , Bart ., P . G . M . ; R . GVenables , D . P . G . M . ; H . R . Giles , P . S . G . W . ; A . Graham , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . JL . Williams , P . G . C . ; J . H . Cooksey , P . G . Treas .: W . Calwell , P . G . Reg .: W-

H . Spaull , P . G . Sec ; W . Baxter , P . G . D . C . ; H . F . Newman , P . A . G . D . C ; I Ashmall , P . G . S . B . ; A . Minshall , P . G . P . ; W . J . Massey , P . A . G . P . ; E . D . C Peele , M . Maltby , and W . Bromfield , P . G . Stewards ; H . Goodall , P . G . Tyler i P . P . G . Officers—Louis Woollstein , S . Bennion , H . Shepard , A . R . T . Hexham , R . Millington , J . Millington , E . M . Wakeman , T . Machin , W . Adams , V . C . L . Crump , W . J . Ogg , A . S . Trevor , J . H . Parsons-Smith , 1621 ; T . Bromwich , R

Williams , H . G . N . Elliott , J . Bodenham , G . J . Muirhead , R . King , J . Pinders , W . A . Lewis , A . Lacey , J . B . Piercey , W . Humphreys , T . J . Salwey , J . D . Southam , W . E . Harding , J . Blockley , j . H . Morris , B . Jones , A . S . Townsend . and Col . Warren ; G . Officers—Rev . H . R . Cooper-Smith , P . G . C . ; Rev . C . V . Childe , G . C . ; T . Ringer , D . G . S . B . ; C . Kent , A . G . D . C . ; W . H . Spaull , P . A G . D . C . ; and G . Williams Freeman , P . P . G . W . ; Visitors—E . Maddison , Rev R . W . Williams , W . Patchett , J . B . Meredith , C . Ormiston ( Eastern Archipelago ) ,

J . W . Bromley , G . C . Kent , and R . A . Craig , 262 ; and the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens , with many Master Masons , of St . Alkmund Lodge , No . 2311 ; Brownlow Lodge , No . 2131 ; Audley Lodge , No . 1 S 9 6 ; Castle Lodge , No . 1621 ; Clive Lodge , No . 1575 ; Fitzalan Lodge , No . 1432 ; St . Oswald Lodge , No . 1124 ; St . Milburga Lodge , No . 1120 ; Lodge of the Marches , No . 611 ; St . John ' s Lodge , No . 601 ; Salopian Lodge of Charity , No . 117 ; and Salopian Lodge , No . 262 . Bro . W . Baxter , P . G . D . C , was responsible for the management of the procession , while Mr . Pee catered for the luncheon .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

INSTALLATION OF BRO . RICHARD DUNN THOMAS AS DISTRICT G . MASTER OF NEW ZEALAND .

A most impressive and beautiful ceremony was performed on Wednesday April 21 st , in the Art Gallery , city of Christchurch , on the occasion of the installation of the above distinguished brother . The Art Gallery was converted into a handsome and ideal lodge room , the magnificent paintings adding greatly to the chaj-m of the surroundings .

About 300 brethren assembled for the purpose . Amongst the visitors were Bros . Charles Louisson , Dist . Grand Master ( S . C ) , and his officers ; John Bevan , Dist . Grand Master of Westland ( Installing Master ); Millson , representing the Grand Lodge ol Tasmania ; and others . Congratulatory messages were received from all the District and Provincial Grand Lodges of the Colony , and from many private lodges of the various Con . stitutions .

Bro . John Bevan having been received with the usual Masonic honours , assumed the chair , and after the accustomed formalities of receiving the patent of office under the hand and seal of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . of England , and the reception of the District Grand Master designate , in a most impressive and eloquent manner , amidst most solemn and beautiful renderings of anthems and other musical selections , obligated and installed Bro . Thomas into his chair of office , subsequently investing him with the insignia appertaining thereto .

The Dist . Grand Chaplain , Bro . B . J . WKSTIIKOOKE , offered up a most impressive prayer , specially prepared for the occasion . The INSTALLING MASTER then , in most elegant language , addressed the Right Worshipful brother on the duties of his exalted station , the importance of preserving the ancient landmarks of the Order , and the necessity of guarding the lofty and vital principles of Freemasonry against the evil influences that from time to time arise to endanger its sacred purpose .

Bro . Thomas was then proclaimed Right Worshipful District Grand Master in the east , west , and south , by Bro . W . R . MITCHELL , P . D . G . Sec , with the usual hunouis .