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®Ij£^daxtmit^iar* THURSDAY , ^^^^ g APRIL 11 , 1889 .

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

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Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

Without in any way holding ourselves responsible for , or even approving of the opinions expressed , we freely throw open our columns for the proper discussion of all matters of a general character relating to Freemasonry . Correspondents must be as brief as possible , must write plainly , only use one side of the paper , and cannot expect the return of rejected contributions . Every contribution must be accompanied with the name of the writer , not necessarily lor publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

To the Editor A / THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . I cannot but agree with the concluding remarks of your correspondent " J . S . H . " on the above subject , but not so with your " Editorial . " In a note to you ( February 21 st ) , which you honoured me by publishing , I therein stated my belief that in 1827 a Board

of Installed Masters was appointed to arrange and communicate a form of ceremony for the installation of W . M . If I am correct , then , whatever might have been done in 1813 would have been superseded by the acts of 1827 . But I doubt if anything relating to the installation was then adopted . Let me call your attention to the Articles of Union then adopted ,

one of which reads : " There shall he the most perfect unity of obligation , of discipline , of icorking the lodges , of making , 2 > assing and raising , instructing and clothing brothers . " You will notice the omission of all reference to installation ; which surely would not have been so had aught respecting it been determined on . The arrangement of the Union must have caused much trouble and

BOARD OF INSTALLED MASTERS .

anxiety to the brethren who carried it out , and probably might have proved a failure had it not been for the somewhat extraordinary circumstance of the two Royal brothers being respectively the M . AV . G . M's of the Ancients and Moderns . I therefore imagine that worn out by long discussions between enthusiastic partisans on either side , every point being fought earnestly , when the ordinary

ritual was finally agreed on the matter of the installation , its approach presented many difficulties ; and neither party appearing willing to yield , the subject may , by mutual consent , have been " shelved" for the then present . If this be the case it would be probable that the installation would be worked in many and various ways , in a sort of " go as you please " manner , and according to the predilections of the installing master towards either of the old

systems . It would be curious to ascertain , if it could possibly be ascertained , how many varying manners of working the ceremony there were between 1813 and 1827 . This masonic irregularity must have been a source of regret to those who were interested in the well doing of the craft ; and to the representations made by them to the M . AV . G . M . the Lodge or Committee of 1827 may have been the result .

The records or minutes of this body not being forthcoming , that which its individual members taught becomes important . As to the practices of one , the late Bro . Cant , I have already written . The qualifications given to a candidate by a " Board of Installed

Masters , " I take to be the obligation , & c , which obligation I think contains the reason why a Board of Installed Masters is necessary , while the opening of it in an extended form is not . As to your remarks concerning Grand Lodge they are worth consideration , but that subject does not form the present question ;

Original Correspondence.

but this much is certain , that by our Book of Constitutions no other masonic power but that of Grand Lodge can alter masonic laws , and while the brethren are content with the form and manner in which it is now constituted , it is our obligated duty to " render unto Cassar the things that are Cmsar ' s . " Fraternally yours . April 6 th , 1889 . S . ' VALLENTINE , P . M . 9 .

To the Editor (/ THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , A Board of Installed Masters has been duly opened in my lodge for the last 25 years , and the practice has been generally followed in this district . The D . P . G . M . sent a circular out and

a copy of letter from Bro . Shadwell Gierke , G . Sec . about two months ago , prohibiting it ; and in future the Board of Installed Masters is to be declared opened with one knock . AA e don't like it ; but I suppose we must obey the D . P . G . M . ' s instructions . Yours fraternally , Staffs .: April 6 th , 1889 . AV . T .

To the Editor of'THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , In your issue of April 4 th ( page 100 ) under the head " The Royal Masonic Institutions , " you say " Brethren , don't forget the boys in June . " My humble opinion is that " Brethren " will not

withhold their support from the Boys school , especially if the Committee of Enquiry appointed last year could publish its report before June . Yours fraternally , A LIFE GOVERNOR OF THE THREE MASONIC CHARITIES .

To the Editor (/ THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , In your issue of the 21 st ult ., you have some critical remarks on a manual which you generally recommend as " a capital guide for any brother desirous of installing his successor ; " but you take exception to " a little bit of bathos about a bleak mountain . " It

has been my privilege to be present at many installation meetings , and I have often been struck with the varied phraseology used in rendering the third or general charge to the assembled brethren . Most frequently no reference whatever has been made to "the isolated summit ; " but , on the other hand , I have often heard the simile used by Past Masters whose proved skill , masonic capacity

and knowledge , entitle them to the respect and confidence of the Craft . Being solely actuated- by a desire for authentic information , may I venture to ask if the allusion to " the bleak mountain " is generally regarded as an integral part of Emulation working ? Ely Cottage , Epsom , Fraternally yours . April 9 th , 1889 . JOHN O'CONNELL , AV . M . 2157 .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

A DISGUSTED LATE MEJIDEH . —Wo entirely sympathise with you . It would however be most impolitic in us , and do your cause no good , to permit anything of a personal nature to be published in this paper . H . M . WILLIAMS , SYDNEY . —Many thanks for your kind remembrance anil information .

We Are Requested To Notify That :-

We are requested to notify that :-

The election meeting of the Macdonald Lodge , No . 1216 , AV . Bro . A . R . Cranch , P . M . 1669 , AV . M ., will be held this ( Thursday ) evening , llth inst ., at the head-quarters of the First Surrey Rifles , Camberwell , at 7 p . m . The third annual dinner of " The Old Masonians " ( ex-pupils of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ) , will take place on

Saturday next , the 13 th inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , London , E . G ., at 5 . 30 for 6 p . m ., when the president , Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., P . G . D ., Prov . G . M . of AVorcestershire , and Patron of the Institution , will preside , and a large number of influential brethren are expected to be present . Mr . Alfred AVatkins , of 21 , Belgrave Road , N . AV ., is hon . sec . to the society , and „ will supply particulars and tickets ( 5 s . each ) on application .

The installation meeting of the Sinclair Lodge , No . 2074 , W . Bro . C . Vaughan Birch , AV . M ., is appointed to be held at Freemasons' Hall , Landport , on the 15 th inst ., at 6 p . m . Bro . F . H . Woodrow will be presented for installation . The banquet will be served at 7 precisely . On the following evening an emergency meeting will be held at the same place at 6 p . m ., for the purpose of initiating two candidates , and conferring the two subsequent degrees upon brethren qualified to receive the same .

The Union Lodge of Instruction , held under the joint sanction of all the Leicester Lodges ( Nos . 279 , 523 , 1391 , 1560 and £ 081 ) will hold its last meeting for the session at Freemason's Hall , Leicester , on the 12 th inst . ( to-morrcic ) at 7 . 30 p . m . Installation

ceremony by Bro . R . B . Starkey , P . Prov . G . Steward and AV . M . 1391 . Discussion of masonic usages , customs and symbolism . Supper at 8 . 30 . The Board of General Purposes will meet at Freemason ' s Hall , London , on Tuesday next , the 16 th inst ., at 4 p . m .

The Board of Benevolence will meet at Freemason's Hall , London , on AVednesday , the 17 th inst ., at 6 p . m . The General Committee of Grand Chapter , Royal Arch , will meet at Freemason ' s Hall , London , on Wednesday , the 17 th inst ., at 4 p . m . The House Committee of the R . M . I , for Girls will meet at Freemason ' s Hall , London , on Thursday , the 18 th inst ., at 4 . 30 p . m .

The Installation Meeting of the Ley Spring Lodge , No . 1598 , will be held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , London , on Thursday next , the 18 th inst .