Original Correspondence.

subject as much as yon please , I predict that , if any similar attempt is made in 1 SS 9 . a similar fate will befall it . should interposition between Grand Lodge and its Grand Master be still maintained If any doubt this , well , let them put it to the proof . Pardon my bringing this before your readers at such length . I have condensed the details as much as possible . Yours fraternally . NIHIL FIT .

P . S . —The key note of the situation is Prerogative , anil ADVISERS : " proprio motur . " is a very good card to conjure , with , but I am doubtful as to " advisers . " Which edition of the constitutions couples the M . W . G . M . with ADVISERS ?

FREEMASONRY AND TEMPERANCE .

To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , In my last letter to you I dealt with the objection of those who . like myself , are total abstainers to monopolise the virtue of

temperance , stated that it was commanded to all Freemasons to be temperate , and gave my reason for being ready to work enthusiastically in a total abstinence lodge . With your permission I will now take the parts of " An Old P . M . ' s " letter and deal with them seriatim .

To state that there would be NO poverty among the craft if thrift were exercised is without question not consistent with the experience of mankind . True , the waiter goes on to say that at least it would be reduced to a minimum . This is undoubtedly true , for there may be instances of poverty produced by carelessness , but there are surely more cases over which the BROTHER had no control . There is a tendency in this age to consider poverty as a crime , and

I would beg the members of our order to keep themselves from being led away by anyone to this uncharitable way of thinking . Surely the rich and influential do exercise those virtues which are eulogised by the writer ! Having , however , to deal with mortals , they can hardly be expected to produce that millenial period to which we look forward as a reward , when all lodges shall cease to work and all brethren shall receive the reward of their labours .

It is probable that there are objections to the meetings of lodges in public houses , but to my mind there are insuperable objections to forbidding the same . We truly boast that in every corner of the globe , however unsophisticated , where man is found , there will be freemasons . Why , then , object to those worthy masons meeting together to practise their rites ? For , without doubt , hundreds of

lodges would cease to meet if they were forbidden to meet in the only public building which will answer all the requirements of a lodge , that can be found within measurable distance . " An Old P . M . " knows that the Book of Constitutions contains a paragraph which specially forbids drunkenness ; he also knows that every initiate is specially instructed to peruse that volume and make it his own , for

he is told that therein will be found all that he requires to guide him in his dealings with his fellows . May I ask . here , that all P . M . ' s will help us younger brethren to understand that volume b y encouraging lectures and discussions upon its contents . I will conclude this part of my letter by saying that I am a member of four Lodges of Instruction , meeting in three different public

houses , also that in each instance the lodge room is entirely removed from all sounds even that might be met with in such a building , and that admission is by a private door . Fearing that I may have trespassed too much upon your space , I would conclude for the present . Fraternally yours , CHARLIE WOODS , 18 ( H ) , A . Soj .-Elect 1275 .

Our Trestle Board

OUR TRESTLE BOARD

" For the Master to lay lines and draw designs upon . "

ALL communications should be forwarded to 59 , Moor Lane , Fore Street , E . G ., London . Those relating to Editorial matter to be addressed to the EDITOR ; and all others to Messrs . ADAJIS BROS # # * * * A worthy correspondent will persist in describing the opening of

a private Lodge by the AV . M . as " an opening in ample form , " and our refusal to insert the exact wording of the reports he is good enough to send us is taken as an offence . As far as we can determine , by reference to the Constitutions , the expressions " ample form , " " due form , " and " form , " are reserved for the distinctions

arising in Grand Lodge only according to the Masonic rank of the President for the time being ( see Sec . 01 . B . C ) . "According to ancient custom , " is . we think , the proper phrase when alluding to

the opening of a private Lodge , but our opinion may be erroneous , and we are therefore open to , and shall be glad to receive any , correction it may be in the power of any better skilled brethren to afford us .

As far back as the Sth November , J . M ., of Redhill , asked us to inform him , if we could , the raison d'etre for the title of the Choughs Lodge , No . 2264 , and we in our turn asked if any brother

Our Trestle Board

" interested in the enquiry would kindly answer it . " With what appears to be the customary apathy amongst Freemasons , no answer was vouchsafed to our correspondent , who will now have to ihank the South African Freemason for the following : — "A new Lodge ,

the 'Chough , " 22 t ! l , has been consecrated in London . it is composed entirely of members of the Chough Musical Society . No lodges are more successful than those composed of men with kindred occupations and tastes . "' How true is the old saying that " you should go from homo to learn home news ! "'

The Sydney Freemason , referring to the indifference with which the great majority of Freemasons treat masonic literature , excepting only , in some degree , the so-called " ritual instruction books , " which may be likened to the "body without a soul , " and more frequently than not mislead rather than instruct , says : " How many Masons are there who seem to be satisfied with what thev can learn of the

Craft , its history , traditions , symbolism , work and progress by what they can gather in the lodge room , or by consulting the pages of a pocket monitor ! The literature of the institution is , to them , a closed book . They never think of acquiring a masonic library . They do not even care to subscribe for and read a Si / dnei / Freemason . "

We fear that this sweeping comment on masonic apathy in relation to aught beyond the mere routine of ceremonial within our ' temples , " and subsequent social enjoyment , is far too truly merited . We hope , however , that what is stated in reference to the Sydney Freemason may never require endorsement by THE MASONIC STAR .

In last Saturday ' s Standard the following enquiry in relation to the ROVAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS was made by a SUBSCRIBER : — " The year of the Queen ' s Jubilee having expired , can you kindly inform me if any portion whatsoever of the large sum subscribed at the Festival Meeting ( over fifty thousand pounds ) has been applied towards the benefit of the girls ? I venture to ask you this , as many like myself , life governors or subscribers to the

Institution , although not Masons , have no other means of ascertaining the facts , and the apparent delay is causing much dissatisfaction . " We hope that in the best interests of the institution some account will be promptly rendered , in as public a manner as possible , of the purposes to which the large amount referred to has been , or is in course of being , applied . To longer withhold such information would be , we think , a great mistake , and lay the institutions generally open to much injurious misrepresentation .

We Are Requested To Notify That :-

We are requested to notify that :-

The Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 207 ( i , Bro . AVm . Simpson , AV . M ., will meet at Freemasons' Hall , AV . C , London , to-morrow , the 4 th inst ., at 5 p . m ., when , after the election of joining members and members of the Correspondence Circle , and the reception of the report of the Audit Committee , the AA . M . will read a paper on " The AVorship of Death . " AVe refer more fully to this Lodge and its " Transactions " in another part of this number .

The Warner Lodge , No . 2256 ( consecrated last year ) will hold an emergencey meeting for ceremonial work , on Tuesday , the Sth inst ., at the Royal Forest Hotel , Chingford , Essex . The Guelph Lodge , No . 1 ( 185 , will entertain their members and friends , their sweethearts and wives , at a Cinderella dance , at the Town Hall , Leyton , on Saturday , the 19 th inst .

A social meeting of "The Old Masonians " will be held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , E . G ., to-morrow , Friday , the 4 th , at 8 . 80 , Mr . R . S . Speight presiding . A committee meeting will be previously held at 7 . 45 . The next Cinderella dance will take place on 1 st Februarv .

High Twelve

HIGH TWELVE

" Cease labour and go to refreshment . "

( K te : tbt 0 S ^ toatr .

The week last past has been an exceptionally busy one . In all no less than thirteen pantomimes , a new drama , a new eccentric American piny , four revivals of popular plays , a now circus , two Christmas fairs , two " new editions " of popular musical pieces , two new minstrel programmes , and an adaptation , fresh to London , of a well-known Australian novel , besides a grand Sbakcsperian revival

by the Lyceum company , and somewhere about twenty-four special programmes at as many music halls . The above total up to more than fifty different entertainments ; and no one could have " done " the lot in the time at disposal since my last writing . Therefore , I can only give space for generalisation , at the moment , and must leave details to be recorded at some future date .

First comes The Silver Falls at the Adelphi . This piece has scored well , and has been pronounced a genuine success for the authors , Messrs . Sims and Pettitt . Chief honours amongst the exponents have been given to Mr . Terriss , Mr . Cartwright , Mr .