Masonic Notes And Queries.

o'f the lodges in Loudon , viz ., at the Goose and Gridiron , St . Paul's Churchyard ; the Grown , in Parker ' s-lane , Drury-l . iue , " the Apple Tree , in Charles Street , Coi'enfc Garden ; the Rummer , in Channel Row , Westminster , held a quarterly commumication , in order to consider of a proper person

to preside over them , and on St . John ' s Day , 17 . 17 , at -their annual feast , chose the oldest Master Mason from amongst themselves , Avliieh \ A'as Mr . Anthony Sayer , who was accordingly installed at the Goose and Gridiron . " A . D . 1718 , George Payne , Esq ., AV . IS elected in

the room of Mr . Sayer , aud in the following year , John Theophilus Desaguliers , F . R . S ., Avas appointed ; and after him , in 1720 , Mr . George Payne Avas reelected . The Brotherhood Avere now requested to bring to the Grand Lodge any ancient Avritings or records they might have iu their possession that

respected Masonry , and they Avere revised and ordered to be carefull y transcribed for the use of the lodges then in being , and the Grand Master had the power given him of appointing his own Deput y Grand and also his Grand Wardens agreeable to ancient custom .

" . D . 1721 , at the Grand Lodge held in due and ample form on Ladyday , 1720 , the Craft had the satisfaction of seeing Masonry flourish in a most extraordinary degree , aud the then Grand Master Payne , proposed the Most Noble John Montague , for his successor who was accordingly elected on the

24 _ th of June , 1721 , at the Queen ' s Anns , iu St . Paul ' s Churchyard , Avhen several eminent and noble personages were admitted , and among the rest the Earl of Chesterfield . Dr . Desaguliers spoke au eloquent oration in praise of the Craft ; and they then marched in procession to Stationer ' s Hall ,

where a grand entertainment AA \ IS provided , and the whole was conducted with great brotherly love and decorum . His Grace the Duke of Montague caused several communications to be held in all which he endeavoured to encourage the Craft ; and their constitutions and laws were collected into one bod y by his order and printed for the edification of future lodges . "

BUEJ . IJS'G A MASOKIO APE 02 .. At page 401 of your MAGAZINE is recorded a striking incident mentioned by our indefatigable Brother Hughan in his " Sketches of Freemasonry in Cornwall , " namely the burning in open lodge of " the Masonic apron of an unAvorthy brother . I think

that in his accompanying remarks is implied an approval of the course pursued b y the Falmouth Lodge , and I presume that Kappa , Avho , at page 433 , made a few observations on the subject , agrees witli him , as I know . do others whom I have heard speak on the point .

Those Avho have perused a series of articles published in your pages in the course of the last year , bearing the same signature as this , Avil ] , doubtless , expect me to be of the same opinion ; since I have spoken very strongly as to the want of moral courage on the part of lodges and individual Masonswhen

, they have had constantly before them , not as a brother merely , but as a ruler , one AVIIO they admit has shown himself to be morall y , socially , and intellectually unfit for so eminent a post , Avithout joining the few who have made an effort to be rid o ' f the stain :

Masonic Notes And Queries.

moreover , I have commented on the umvillingness of those at the head of the Craft to take cognizance of disreputable proceedings , which have in various Avays been formally set before them . It appears to me , however , that the burning of the apron is not a dignified proceeding on the part of the lodge , and that the infliction of disgrace and a refusal

of the privileges of brotherhood might be attained in a preferable manner . Moreover , I cannot see Avhat right a lodge has to take and to destroy an apron more than any other article of property , whicli has been paid for by the individual , and over AA'hich , therefore , no one but himself has legally any control .

Were a person in such a position , smarting under what he wodld feel to be indignities and insults , ancl probably caring little for the Craft , to complain to a magistrate , I fancy he would have no difficulty in obtaining redress , in a form ivhich mi ght involve those guilty of such au act in some trouble . Undoubtedl

y the principle is good , and much benefit might arise if it Avere more frequently acted upon , but the manner of carrying it out seems to me so objectionable that it should not be adopted Avithout serious consideration . —P . M .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents , SUGGESTIONS AS TO OUR CHARITIES . TO THE EDITOR O . THK tfREESIASOXS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIHROE . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , — Under the above heading a letter appeared in your last vreek ' s issue , to the writer of which I beg to tender my individual

and personal thanks , Avithout committing to my views any member of committee , or either of the brethren alluded to by name , though I cannot think I should much err if I ventured to return thanks on behalf of all . As regards that portion of your correspondent " W . N . Kim ' s " letter haA'ing general

reference to our Charities , it appears to me there cannot be two opinions . The great end I have striven hard for five years to attain is to induce each lodge in its corporate capacity to make our Charities the leading subject of interest . By judicious manage ment—by a curtailment of expenses Avithout sensible interference with social enjoyment—by legitimate stimulants to special contributions for charitable

purposes — there is no reason AA'hy every lodge throughout the Craft should not annually devote to the support of our Charities an average sum of twenty guineas . This organisation Avould not interfere Avith individual donations or subscriptions from those Avhose means enable them to gratify their inclinationsbut would have the effect of enlisting

, support from a very large number of willing contributors to a lod ge fund , who Avould not care to see their names appear separately as donors of small sums—their hearts large , but their resources limited —and Avho are desirous of fulfilling their Masonic obligations to the extent permitted by a legitimate

regard to the Avants of themselves and families . 1 confidently echo your correspondent ' s assertion . I know "there is in Eugland , especially amongst Masons , money to be got for the asking . " I have repeated Avell nigh to Aveariness that , noble as are the contributions to our Charities , the support now