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ffiljj > JEasmtir Max . THURSDAY , ^^^ g ^ g DEC . 6 , 1888 .

Edited by W . BRO . JAMES STEVENS , P . M ., P . Z ., & c , & c .

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Published every Thursday Morning , price ONE PENNY , and may be had from all Newsagents through the Publishers . 123 to 125 , Fleet Street , E . C . Subscribers to THE MASONIC STAR residing in London and the Suburbs will receive their copies by the first post on THURSDAY MORNING . Copies for Country Subscribers will be forwarded by

the NIGHT Mail on Wednesday . TERMS , including postage , payable in advance : — United Kingdom and Countries comprised Places not in ( ieneral comprised in India , Postal Union . Postal Union . via Urinilisi . Twelve Months ... 6 s . 6 d . ... 8 s . 8 d . ... 10 s . lOd . Six Months 3 s . 4 d . ... 4 s . 6 d . ... 5 s . 6 d .

Three Months ... Is . 9 d . ... 2 s . 4 d . ... 3 s . Od . Post Office Orders , payable at the General Post Office , London , E . C , to the Printers , Messrs . ADAMS BROS ., 59 , Moor Lane , London , E . C . Postal Orders and Cheques should be crossed i ; Co . and all communications concerning Subscriptions ^ niTAdvertisements shou ld be addressed to them .

All other communications , letters , fcc , to be addressed " Editor of THE MASONIC STAR , 51 ) , Moor Lane . Fore Street . Loudon , E . C " Publishing Offices : 123 to 125 , FLEET STREET , E . C .

Original Correspondece.

Original Correspondece .

*» . * We- do not hold ourselfcs responsible for the opinions expressed by our Correspondents . FREEMASONRY AND IMPROVIDENCE .

To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIB AND BROTHER , I have perused with considerable interest the admirable article in reference to improvidence which appeared in THE MASONIC STAR of the 2 !) th ult ., and , as a member of the craft specially interested in questions of thrift and unthrift , I venture to accept your invitation to set down a few thoughts upon these important matters .

( 1 . ) Improvidence is one of the chief evils of this country , and Freemasons would be doing good service to the cause , as well as to the country , if they would endeavour to inculcate a spirit of prudence and providence amongst their brethren and amongst those who in due time will seek to be admitted into our order . ( 2 . ) Thrift , and its opposite , improvidence , are , to a very great extent , matters of habit and , like other

habits"Grow with our growth , and strengthen with our strength . " It is , therefore , most desirable that parents , guardians , instructors and others possessing influence and authority over the young should exercise their influence and authority in this direction , thus preventing the constant increase of the huge army of spendthrifts and wasters , preventing an incalculable amount of misery and poverty ,

and being the means of securing happiness and independence to multitudes who will otherwise miss it , as so many of their predecessors have missed it , by not knowing the importance of living within their means and setting aside something for the unforeseen and unexpected , for the days of ill-health and accident , misfortune , old age and death .

( 3 . ) Freemasons—as a body and as individuals—should specially practise economy and prudence , and they will thus be the better able to carry out those grand principles of brotherly love and relief which they profess so heartily to believe in . ( I . ) Our ,: peculiar sj-stem of morality " should certainly include self-help , forethought and foresight , and we who declare ourselves

to be free men , of mature age and sound judgment , should set a noble example in such matters as being " free " from the burden of debt , providing for the welfare of those belonging to us , and making suitable provision for the future . Various other points might , with advantage , be alluded to in connection with this important subject , but I forbear encroaching further upon your valuable space . Yours fraternally , ] . Finsbury Circus , E . G ., THOS . BOWDEN GREEN , 158 , 3 rd Dec , 1888 . ' Sec . National Thrift Society .

To the . Editor of Tav : MASONIC STAR . DKAR SIR AND BROTHER , I must congratulate you upon the ajjparcnt success of j'our paper , for in answer to my appe . d in your columns for specimens of summons , I . beg to say that I have received most welcome and

fraternal assistance , not only from all parts of England , but from brethren in Canada , the United States , New Zealand , India , Australia , and the Cape . 1 have twelve large volumes ready for their reception , and , although far from being complete , 1 . have no doubt but that many

Original Correspondece.

brethren will yet kindly send me specimens of their lodge sum moiis . which now promises to form a most interesting series . Yours fraternally , C . E . FERRY , P . M . & P . Z . ( 55 : P . M . & Sec . 1743 .

THE CLOSING OF LODGES .

To the . Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , I have been surprised to find from correspondence in your columns that some W . M . ' s are in the habit of omitting the closing ceremonies in the M . M . lodge . It was also a surprise to me last year to hear two London Past Masters sav that , until they visited

our lodge where I was acting as Installing Master , they had never seen the opening and closing ceremonies in the installed Masters' degree ; and that they believed that these ceremonies wero not now performed in the metropolitan lodges . Are we in the provinces in advance of our London brethren ; or are we wrong in continuing- to act us our " ancient brethren " in this province teach

us is right and proper . ' I should like to read your opinion on this matter . May I also ask for your opinion as regards the little " blue book " of the Emulation Lodge , which in many points is at variance with what we have been taught . ' Is the teaching of this book to be follow-ed to the letter with the loss , to my mind , of many little

impressive parts m the various ceremonies ? Who are right , the older brethren who have never hardly missed a lodge for a quarter of a century , or the younger brethren armed with the " authorised version " . ' One word more—will any brother who is an 18 deg . or 30 deg . member kindly tell me to whom to apply , or what steps to take in order to take those degrees . ' Fraternally yours , P . P . G . J . AV . * „ . * We will ( jire our opinion and reasons therefor in onr ne . rt — ED . M . S . '

NON-SUBSCRIBING BRETHREN . To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , As a young mason I have found THE MASONIC STAR very helpful , and have been very interested with its contents , more especially the admirable leaders , and hope and believe that they will do good in helping to purity the masonic atmosphere . My object in writing to you is to obtain light , " and I shall be obliged

if you will reply though the columns of our paper what status in the masonic world does a non-subscribing brother occupy . ' Of course , he or his children are not eligible for any of the masonic charities , but is he permitted to visit lodges , or accept an invitation to a brother ' s lodge . ' Is he allowed to join a Lodge of Instruction . '

Is he generally received with coolness . ' I am prompted to ask the last question , because I have quite recently heard a brother spoken of in a very uncharitable manner because he had seen fit to withdraw from his lodge owing to increased domestic responsibilities . Wishing you every success , I am , yours fraternally , Nov . 30 th , 1888 . JUNIOR MASON .

A CORRECTION . To the Editor of Tnn MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND COMP ., In your last issue I observe you have corrected the title " Chapter of Instruction , " to ' Chapter of Improrenient . " As in the Royal Arch Regulations , revised by Supreme Grand Chapter , 1880 ( Rule

No . 80 ) the style is " Chapters of Instruction- " I shall be glad to know the reason of your alteration . Are you not a little " ancient " in yonr term . ' Yours faithfully and fraternally , London . 3 rd Dec . 1888 . SUBSCRIBER . * . .. * See aeri week ' s " Trestle Board . "—En . M . S .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

T . T ., C . uiBKinviu . i .. lour name ami address required before we can insert your letter . 11 . II . Wn . T . UMs , SVUXEY . —Many thanks for remembrance . We look for your support in the colonj-. W . H . W ., P . M . 13 GU . —Thanks for kind offer , which wc accept ? s cordially as it is made . Sec another column for one portion of your communication . As to

the other portion , we cannot , at present , add to our lists of Provincial Lodge Meetings . W . M . re D . O . — Refer to your diagram if you have kept a copy : —At A . face J . W . and proceed to li . by way of C . We are surprised that any P . M . ami Preceptor should attempt to teacli you otherwise . Acknowledge that you have noticed tills . Address , 51 ) , Moor Lane .

MASONIC LECTURE . —There was a large gathering of members of several London lodges at the meeting of the Leopold Lodge of Instruction . No . 1571 , London Street , E . C , on Thursday last , the 29 th ult ., when W . Bro . James Stevens , P . M ., P . Z ., delivered his lecture " On the Ritual and Ceremonial of the Symbolic Degrees in Freemasonry . " Amongst the many present wero Bros . W . Smith ,

W . M . ; Barter , S . W . ; Gaskell , P . M ., J . W . ; Wildbore , S . D . ; Dormer , J . D . ; Antunovich , I . G . ; Dufficld , P . M ., Preceptor ; Lewis , P . M .. Hon . Treas . ; Colley , Hon . Sec . ; Ives , P . M . ; Pitt , P . M . ; Bruin ' , P . M . ; Oxford , Young , Thompson , Cunningham , Eaines , Arnott , Kirkman , Button , Lagne , Westfield , Penney , Penumell , C . J . Jones , G . If . AVilliams , Lowe , Leigh , It . D . Smith , Hampson , Barnes ,

Martin , Bourn and others . Alter the lodge had been opened up to M . M ., Bro . Stevens occupied the chair and for above two hours kept the brethren fully interested by his lucid explanations of the most important points in ritual and ce ; emonial , and completed his work by closing down in accordance with ancient custom . The thank * of

the lodge and the compliment ot honorary membership were voted tj the lecturer amid much enthusiasm , and wishes were expressed for a similar instructive meeting at an early date . Several brethren were elected members , and Bro . Barter having been elected W . M . for the ensuing week , the lodge was closed .