Masonic Missions.

arguments brought forward at the late Provincial Grand Lodge to prove that we were in error are only , to our mind , so much corroborative evidence of the general correctness of our views . In the first place , we deny that our remarks were made in the "dictatorial" spirit attributed to us by the R . W . Prov . Grand Master—they were in fact merely suggestions

intended to direct the attention of the brethren to the . Masonic requirements of the province , with a view of stimulating them to greater exertions in improving its position . The Rig ht AVorshipful Provincial Grand Master , however , takes us somewhat closely to task , and because we suggested that certain large towns ought to be in possession of Lodges ,

informs us that " To propose to establish Lodges in places where there were at present no Masons , seemed to him to be a proposal not exactly in accordance with the ordinary line of conduct which auy wise man would consider proper for the accomplishment of the object he had in view . " Now wc deny that we ever suggested that Lodges were to be established

where there wero no Masons ; but we do hold , that were the Provincial Grand Master and his Deputy—ay , and his Grand Secretary—to exert themselves and look around them , they would easily find many Masons who are denied all communion with their brethren because of the distance at which they reside from any Lodge , and who would willingly exert

themselves to raise new Lodges and extend the benefits of the Order if they received sufficient encouragement and assistance from those who are placed in authority over them . But our Rig ht Worshipful Brother asks us , ' - ' Was it meant that brethren should travel from a distant part of the country to these places to establish . Lodges in tbem , and not only to establish them , but to work thorn and carry them on 1 " To some extent it should be so , but only as we have just

indicated ; and how far that may be successfully clone is shown by the results which have attended the exertions of Bro . Dr . Harcourt , in Surrey , and Bro . Gavin Pocock in Sussex . But Bro . Cabbell suggests a plan of his own—a kind of itinerantLodge , iii which we cannot agree—travelling-brethren seeking for converts to the Order—the making of new Masons

merely for the purpose of creating new Lodges . Here it is" He would attempt to supply the gap in the problem which had been so ostentatiously started . He would propose that the services of some brethren should be devoted to the making of Masons in those distant places , and then , when the Masons were made , the means would have been provided for making

the Lodges . " To this we decidedly object . What we wish to see is the bringing back of brethren separated from tho Craft by distance from Lod ges into closer communion with their brethren , and tho making of new members of our Order only through their example and influence as upright men . good citizens , and sincere friends . We could point out many

towns in the kingdom in which there are worthy Masons who fancy they have not the power to create new Lodges within themselves , but would readily assist the Provincial Grand Officers in doing so . We make these remarks not in the spirit of dictation attributed to us , but because we sincerely believe that Bro . Cabbell uttered not one word more

than he felt when he said , ' ' He could assure the brethren that there was no brother in tho Order who felt a more ardent determination to do everything in his power , and to the fullest extent , according to his humble abilit y , for the promotion of the cause of Freemasonry ; because lie thought that in the promotion of that sacred cause he was carryiii " out all the great behests of a kind and till merciful Creator , and doing everything lie could to promote the general welfare of mankind . "

But it was not the Right Worshi pful Grand Master alone who felt bound to reply to the Freemasons Magazine . Bro . Fox , the Provincial Grand Secretary , informing us " It wns true that there were but ei ght Lodges in Norfolk , but from the present aggregate number of their members , they were equal to sixteen average Lodges . So far from Masonry

being retrogressive or stationary in Norfolk , it had materially advanced since the accession to office of Bro . Cabbell , and it was now gradually progressing . Masonry was almost a dead letter in the province till the Provincial Grand Master ' s installation , but since that time the number of Masons in . the county had trebled . " We are glad to hear this from so

excellent au authority , but then tho question naturally arises , how long ti period was suffered to elapse between the time of Bro . Cabbell's acceptance of the office of Provincial Grand Master and his installation 1 It is true there may have been local causes to prevent that installation , at an earlier date , unknown to usbut that is no ground for accusing us of

, misrepresentation or of endeavouring to create by inn en do a feeling against the Provincial Grand Master , as Bro . Fox does in the following passage : — " He could easily understand that from misrepresentations and want of accurate information , the writer of the article in question might in his zeal for the Order reflect in somewhat strong terms on the

province , but these should have been confined within charitable bounds , ancl attempts should not have been made by inuendo and otherwise to create in the minds of the Norfolk brethren a feeling of disrespect if not of hostility to their Provincial Grand Master . " Now nothing could be further from the desire of air } - writer connected with the Freemasons' Magazine , as there are no brethren who know better the universal

philanthropy of our Right Worshipful Brother , or who can more fully appreciate the value of his services and contributions in aid of our Masonic charities ; and we willino-I y endorse the statement of Bro . Fox , that ' ' the worthy brother by his benevolent actions ancl universal kindness had merited the love and approbation of the brethren . " But is it because

we fully appreciate the benevolent disposition of Bro . Cabbell —is it because the poor of every district which he may visit is sure to be remembered and benefited—as they were at North Walsham by the handsome gift of £ 30 , added to the money gathered at the church ( and we rejoice that the amount was given to the local charitiesas it is not to those

, out of the Craft that we would appeal for support to our own institutions)—that wc are to be tonguetied , ancl not point out to our Ri ght Worshipful Brother what we believe to be defects in his administration—defects which we feel tend to the injury of the Craft in Lis province ? Now , in the report of the jn'oceedings on the oth inst ., we are

informed , ( aud the report was received from a brother whose character for accuracy as si , member of the local press we know to justly rank very hi gh ) , "the various officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge were reappointed by the Provincial Grand Master . " Surely iu the ei ght Lodges , equal

to sixteen in other provinces , there were some brethren whose exertions and positions should have entitled them to some recognition- —to some share of those honours which it is in the power of the Provincial Grand Alaster to bestow . Our Right Worshi pful brother may rest assured that there is no course so likely to check the exertion and the just ambition of deserving brethren as to keep the same officers for too

lengthened a period . In the Supreme Grand Lod ge , at least five of the officers are changed every year ; ancl the feeliim has long been gaining ground that , excepting in such offices as those of the Grand Secretary and Grand Registrar , the more frequent the change , the better will it be for the interests of the Craft , and the greater will be the opportunity

of the Grand Master to reward deserving brethren by giving them a share in the honours of the Craft whicli , though many may aspire to , few can of necessity obtain . In a province we hold there is no just ground for deviating from the practice of the Supremo Grand Lodge , unless indeed the members are so few that men of sufficient knowledge and standing cannot

bo obtained to fill the offices—a contingency which we are sure cannot arise in Norfolk . We have spoken thus freely because we feel wc were challenged to it by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Grand