Correspondence.

should these dispensations be refused as a rule ? Does not this lead to evading the laiv in some way ? Why not examine every case , and grant them when approved of ? What is the consequence ? Prov . G . Masters act on their own knowledge of the brethren of their province . They ask no questions as to residence ; they see a worthy brother at the head of a lodge well worked and prosperous ; they see

him active in the local charities of the province , and a supporter of those of the Order ; they appoint him to office in the province , as they cannot suppose that a brother so esteemed and thought of in the lodge of ivhich he is a member , could otherwise be placed in the chair of such lodge . Especially if he should take a step further , and examine the books of the lod he will find this brother

ge , one of the most constant attendants to the duties of the lodge . How , I say , can he suppose him to be a nonresident ? The M . W . Grand Master knows that the Prov . G . Masters exercise this privilege , though he is doubtful if they have a right to do so . Of course they do , because , as a rule , the M . W . Grand Master refuses such applications ; therefore , they cannot get the law put in operation .

That a remedy ought to be found , I think , no one can gahisay ; but if we cannot get this law' to work in its present shape , let ns alter it or annul it , Perhaps the best way would be to add the words after the M . W . Grand Master the following , " or the Prov . Grand Masters . " Thus the responsibility would rest with the latter , who from their local positions are better able to know the

merits of each case , and accord or refuse dispensation . And from the well known " reluctance of many Prov . Grand Masters to extend the area of the purple , I trust that it will be found that no abuse of the law would occur . . This would be better

than the present evasion . The Provincial brethren see with pleasure the new power placed in the M . W . Grand Master ' s hands to reward with the Grand Lodge purple deserving country brethren . At the same time , ive trust that we shall not see these honours only limited to the G . S . Bearer ' s office , nor a distinction made as to the social rank of such country brethren , such

as there are some examples in existence . For instance , I would take one Deputy Prov . G . Master , equally indefatigable in the Avorking of his province with another to whom I would compare him , and whom I think all would acknowledge as good a working Mason . The one being a M . P . is made a Grand Jun . W ., and is now a P . G . J " . W . Avhile the other is made onla GSBthe

, y ... ; latter ' s social position not being so exalted ; but he has the merit over the other worthy brother that he is more earnest in advocating and working for the Charities of the Order . In my humble opinion , D . Prov . G . Masters ought to take rank in Grand Lodge by virtue of their office , for , in seven cases out of ten , they are the real working officers , as your columns will testifthough I must of lateProv . G .

y , say , Masters are doing better than some ten years ago , especially the newly-appointed ones . I fear , sir , this letter is too long for insertion , but whether inserted or net , I feel confident that , as it is on a subject that Bro . "Warren has called the attention of the Craft to , and for which we feel highly indebted to him , you will no doubt notice some of the points herein touched . I

shall , therefore subscribe myself Y / orshipful Sir and Brother , Yours , J . G ., Your Northern Correspondent and Prov . G . Officer .

East Lancashire.

EAST LANCASHIRE .

TO THE lETTOE OF THE FKEE-irASOIXS' IIAG-AZIXE AKD __ TASOX'IC _ -II _ lEOIt . DEAE SIR . AXD B EOTJIEE . —I have read ivith pleasure your reviews of the appointment of officers to several of the Provincial Grand Lodges in the South , and have often wished that you could find some coi-res } . ondent to furnish you with the necessary materials to enable you to revieiv the appointments in the northern piwinces ! In this province

we have several most eminent brethren , and zealous masons , but these are exceptional appointments , and I Avould especially notice that of the Proinncia ! Grand Superintendent of Works being held by & solicitor , doubtless a very ivorthy brother , or the E . W . Provincial Grand Master would not have honoured him with the appointment , but in such

East Lancashire.

an important province , there must be several professional brethren Ai"ho could fill the post with credit to themselves , and honour to the province , and so have " the right men in the right place , " and your revieiving the appointments of all Provincial Grand Lodges , would in my opinion have a very beneficial tendency . Don't let us have brethren thrust into office ( as we have

had in this province ) , who could not , with credit , open a Craft Lodge in the three degrees ! Would your correspondent " Brother Jonathan , " be willing to assist in this " much to be desired " good cause ; meantime I remain , yours truly and fraternally , ALPHA .

Grand Conolave And The Board Of General Purposes.

GRAND CONOLAVE AND THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES .

TO THE EDITOH 03 ? TEE EREEMASONS MAGAZINE AJMD 1 IAS 0 X 10 SIIBEOB , DEAE SIR A _ D BEOTHEE , —The Grand Conclave of Knights Templar have , until the last meeting , been allowed the use of the Temple to hold their meeting in . It is rumoured that the Board of General Purposes refused that apartment on the 6 th inst ., upon what grounds it is not clear . Perhaps the neiv President hopes to derive great Kudos for this

Avant of brotherly charity , but if so , he may rest assured that he has disgusted many of the first Masons of the Craft by his narroAvmindedness , as Avell as , Yours Masonically , FEATEE ( No . 1 ) .

DEAE SIE IS . NIG . IIT , —For the first tune for many years the use of the Temple was refused to the Grand Conclave on the 6 th of the present month , and it is understood this precedent of the Board of General Purposes is , in future , to be the rule and ' not the exception . It is very difficult to reconcile the action of the Board in this case ivith its extreme liberality on the late occasion of the meeting held by the

Emulation Lodge of Improvement . The question that naturally arises is , in what is a lodge of improvement superior to the higher order of Knights Templar ? It is often asserted by Craft Masons that Templarism is no part of Masonry , and is not recognised by the Grand Lodge of England . Assuming it to be so , is a lodge of instruction in any better position ? The Emulation Lodge of Improvement is held

under the authority of tho Lodge of Unions , the parent lodge , of course , meeting under a warrant of constitution from the Grand Lodge . This being the state of the case , ivhat is to hinder the Lodge of Unions from withdrawing its sanction at any moment ? and although the Emulation Lodge of Improvement might , and no doubt would , readily find other lodges willing to afford it their sanction , the very existence of

such a fact clearly indicates its having no positive locus standi in Masom-y . The following consideration is then forced upon us . Knight Tenvplarv having been in existence centuries before the Emulation Lodge of Instruction , or

any other , was tolerated . Why should the Board of General Purposes be so unfair as to exclude the one aud admit the other to meet in the Temple unless there be some undue influence at work amongst its members . The Board ought to know that in their building , or rather reconstructive , scheme it is their interest to retain as many as possible to hold meetings on the property in Great Queen-street .

Already the high grades have left the Hall and sought refuge elsewhere . The Grand Conclave and other Enicampments may follow , and if these bodies coalesce and build a suitable place for all Masonic rites , apart from tavern influence , the Craft property will be most seriously affected , for there are many lodges that will gladly avail themselves of such a boon , and amongst the Knights Templar ancl

High-grade Masons are numbers of the rulers of the Craft , ivho , if once thoroughly offended at the evident partisanship ivhich sways the board to encourage the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , scarcely known beyond the London district , to the detriment of the Grand Conclave of England and Wales , known and recognised throughout the entire world , a breach will be effected which must result in disunion and pecuniary loss . I beg to subscribe myself yours very fraternally , EEiiTEH ( No . 2 . )