Correspondence.

append to it . Tet , allow me to state , that no one more heartily than myself joins in the honours paid at all Masonic meetings to evince respect for the noble head of the Craft in England , on many grounds , among which may be enumerated the dignity and authority conferred upon us by his high rank , his

long services of a quarter of a century , the appreciation of which will shortly be marked in so signal a manner by the contributions to a memorial fund of large amount ; his kind and courteous bearing to all who come into contact with him , his successful endeavours to maintain harmony and good feeling

amongst us , and to reconcile all differences ; his patronage and support of the charities ( the great ornaments of the society ) , and many other considerations . On no account should these high qualities be ignored , nor should any other Grand Master be proposed in his place so long as he is able

and willing to occupy the position he has so ably filled . This should not , however , shut our eyes to the disadvantages of so long a tenure of office , nor preclude the enactment of a law that any future appointments should be limited in point of duration of office , so as occasionally to infuse new blood into our proceedings

to prevent matters falling too much into a groove from which it is difficult to depart ; to allow those who entertain other views on any subjects opportunities of bringing them forward in an authoritative manner and of having them discussed ; to increase and extend the interest in the Craft bconferring the

y highest rank on men whose ambition would lead them to aspire to it , who are eminently qualified in point of ability and influence , and who would confer equal honour on our institution .

The article published this day does treat of other points of Masonic discipline , in the opinions respecting which I can fully concur . It has always appeared to me monstrous that the appointment of all the officers except Treasurer and Tyler should lie with the W . M ., and I have seen cases in which ,

presumably from personal feelings of friendship , the promotion to Wardenships of brethren who have filled only the lower offices or no office at all , above the heads of deserving brethren who have fully discharged their duties , has caused such dissatisfaction as to lead to the secession of some of the best members of a lod

ge , to cause unpleasant feelings to arise , and even to imperil its existence . I quite approve of the amended rule for the election of officers proposed by the writer of the article at the close of the last paragraph but one of his article , if only the words " ¦ competent and" be inserted before " willing to take the chair "

. Especially do I consider that the Wardenships , as necessary qualifications for the Masterships , should be at the command of the lodge rather than of the W . M .

Instances have occurred within my knowledge , in which , owing to social position or popularity , a brother has been placed in the chair of a lodge , who has at the time had no knowledge of the ceremonies , and of whom it was not expected that he would acquire it . As a natural he has felt an

consequence , unwillingness to expose himself before the members , and has therefore been very irregular in his attendance , leaving the management of the lodge to chance . Such a Master nevertheless afterwards receives all the honour arising from his past rank , however little he

merits it . It appears to me that some restrictions are desirable to prevent any one from being installed as W . M . who has not proved his competency to carry out the rituals . In fact , I cannot understand how a candidate for the chair , who is quite ignorant of the ceremonies , can conscientiously on his installation

reply in the affirmative to the question as to his ability to undertake the management of the lodge . There is still another matter connected with the election of W . M . which requires to be more definitively laid down . At page 59 , clause 2 , of the Book of Constitutions , it is stated , — " Every lodge

shall annually elect its Master and Treasurer by ballot . " This is very indefinite . In many lodges a list of those legally eligible for the chair is printed , and each members puts into the box a slip of paper bearing the name of the brother for whom he votes . As a result , I lately saw a W . M . elected by only seven votes out of eighteen , not even a majority of the whole . In other cases I have known brethren

rise to propose and second candidates selected from the printed list , and the ballot taken only for those so nominated . I prefer the latter course , in the absence of any definite law , as most likely to ensure a good majority , and to place the new W . M . at his ease in ruling the lodge . In my own case I have always

refused to accept any office ( and I have six times filled the highest in lodge and chapter ) unless unanimously elected . The last point the writer who has suggested this letter touched upon was the re-election of a W . M . or other officer to the position he has occupied during

the previous year , which is a manifest injustice to aspiring brethren of lower rank , who feel that they are competent to fulfil higher duties . A case has come under my notice during the last week , iu which the Past Masters of a lodge endeavoured to establish as a rule the retention of the first chair by each occupant for two years . As a result , either the Wardens

must do the same , or at every biennial change of Master , four Wardens become legally qualified , and thus three out of the four lose all chance of ever obtaining the headship of a lodge , and the probability is that they will throw up membership and give up Masonry in disgust , or gain admission into another

lodge . This I have known to be the effect of such disappointments . Iu the particular case alluded to , the attempt , which had succeeded two years previously , was defeated by the votes of the subordinate officers and members , which obtained a majority of two for the S . W ., a most worthy brother , in the

instruction and preparation of whom for the several offices he has effectively filled , I had a large share . I am pleased to find that lie was duly installed a few days ago . Concluding with thanks to the writer on "Masonic Discipline , " for his criticisms , I remain , Tours fraternally , P . M . Jan . 2 , 1 SG 9 .

THE annual hall of the Old Concord Lodge ( No . 172 ) is appointed to take placo on Wednesday , February 3 rd , iu tliu new grand hall and suite or' rooms at the 1 'reeniasons' Tavern . As this ball is always numerously attended , it is requisite that early application lie made for tickets , which can be obtained from Bro . John Einraens , Hon . Sec , or the Stewards .