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® lfj £ JEastfttix Max . THURSDAY , ^^^^^ DEC . 13 , 1888 . Edited by W . BRO . JAMES STEVENS , P . M ., P . Z ., & c , & c .

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Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

° ft ft We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our Correspondents . BRO . AVOODAVARD'S MOTION IN GRAND LODGE .

To the Editor of THE MASOXIC STAR . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , I think the craft at large is greatly indebted to Bro . AVoodAvard for bringing forward his motion in Grand Lodge on Wednesday night , as he clearly showed how unsatisfactorily Rule 210 , Book of Constitutions , worked ; and had the brethren realised the true issue .

and not accepted the one propounded by Bros . Fenn and Philbrick , the original motion would certainly have been carried . It is much to be regretted the acting M . AA . G . M . did not put the question from the chair in an intelligible manner , as a large number of brethren sitting near me A'oted for the amendment , thinking it was Bro . AA oodward's motion that was put , not Bro . Philbrick ' s

amendment , and after G . L . Avas closed were exceedingly annoy ed when they found out their mistake . There was also much dissatisfaction expressed that the M . AV . G . M . did not request Bro . Brack & ton Baker to withdraAV the word " tinkering , " as unmasonic . AVere the other amendments that have been made to the Book of Constitutions i ; tinkerings" . ' I do not think the Grand Secretary

would be A'ery pleased if a brother wrote for a copy of the " tinkerings" he issued some time ago . AVhy then should such an invidious remark be applied to Bro . AVoodward ' s practical motion ? AVhy did the M . AV . G . M ., after stating that he would put the two amendments separately' , put them as one , the very instant Bro . Fenn sat down , without giving Bro . AVoodward the opportunity to

reply ? Such a proceeding is quite contrary to Rule 09 , Book of Constitutions , which says , " The mover of the original motion shall have the right to reply . " Neither Bros . Fenn nor Philbrick really answered a single argument Bro . AA oodward advanced , they simply stated that as a strong committee had drawn up the rule , they on

that ground opposed the proposed alteration . Strange logic this , seeing at least a dozen rules draughted by this committee haA r e already been altered . AVith regard to Bro . Philbrick's remark about a " tyrant majority , " what , I ask , can be more tyrannical than Rule 210 , which compels a

brother either to A ote or leave the lodge , when a question of exclusion is under consideration ? As Bro . AVoodward stated , if I remember his words rightly , " Should a brother decide not to A * ote eitherfor or against an exclusion , he has , no doubt , good reason for his resolve , and I most strongly contend his decision should be respected ? but as Rule 210 is at present Avorded , he is no longer a

FREE AGENT . " Can there be a more forcible protest against " tyranny " than such words as these ? As soon as the craft realise that Bro . AVoodward ' s first amendment was really a safeguard against a Avrongful exclusion taking

place , and the second a protest against a "tyrant law" coercing a brother to vote or leave the lodge when he does not Avish to vote at all ( which is contrary to our custom on all other occasions when votes are taken ) I am convinced the brethren will insist on the rule being altered in the way Bro . AA oodward has suggested .

Original Correspondence.

This is how Rule 210 now Avorks . In a lodge say of 100 members , 00 attend , 39 vote for the exclusion , 18 against it , 3 refuse to vote either way , and are consequently forcibly counted as voting against the exclusion , so the brother is not excluded , as there is one short of the requisite majority , although taking the actual number voting , there is a majority for the exclusion of 21 , so it practically comes to this , that the deliberate decision of 39 brethren

is made void by a minority of 18 , with 3 non-voters tacked on . AVill the majority of brethren in lodge any longer consent that " TYRANT MINORITIES " shall hinder their getting rid of members who abuse their pmileges , and bring discredit on the order ? This is the real issue now before the craft . Yours fraternally , A PAST PROA \ GRAND DEACON . P . S . —I enclose my card .

FREEMASONRY AND LIFE ASSURANCE .

To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , I heartity agree with your appropriate editorial on the 29 th ult . and myself consider that all those anxious to become Freemasons should give proof of having made suitable provision foi those nearest and dearest to them bv means of life assurance .

I am a poor brother of only three years' standing , but am a member of one of the leading sick benefit societies , including its Avidow and orphan fund ; also have an endowment assurance in a first-class society ( established nearly 50 years ) , and Avhich I find is equal to an investment of 3 % per cent ., with the advantage of being assured for a " certain" sum ( on payment of the first premium )

should death occur . It is , unfortunately , not generally known that a good "investment" may be made by assuring one ' s life ; and of all forms oi assurance I think the endowment the most useful , as " the sums assured under these policies are payable during the ' lifetime of . the assured ' on his attaining a specified age , or earlier in the event oi

death , " and , under certain conditions , these are non-forfeitable thus : —if a fifth of the total number of the premiums have been paid , the policy does not become void by non-payment of the premium , but remains in force for such a proportion of the original sum assured , as a number of premiums paid bears to the whole number payable . Thus , if five premiums out of twenty , or a quarter .

have been paid on a policy for £ 1 , 000 , the assured may discontinue payment , and the sum assured will be reduced from £ 1 , 000 tc £ 250 , or a quarter : and if ten , then to .-C 500 , or one-half . I may add . that if an intending assurer avoids those offices Avhose systems operate to the advantage of persons " younger " or " older '

than himself , his assurance will cost him nothing , because the sum assured will be so largely increased by profits , that the amount tc be received when the policy becomes a claim , Avill exceed all the premiums paid and compound interest thereon . For example : — A person assuring at age 18 and paying £ 3 8 s . a year for a policy of £ 100 , Avill have paid in 30 years .. £ 102

Add 3 per cent , compound interest .. .. .. 60 Total payments .. £ 102 Amount to be receiA'ed from assurance office—Original sum assured £ 100 30 years' bonus ( assuming office has been discreetly selected ) 88

Total £ 188 Yours fraternally , T . G . ROSE . P . S . —AA'hen a life drops earlier , the amount to be received bears a much larger proportion . I shall be pleased to give any brothei my long experience in this w ork . Shooter ' s Hill , Kent , Dec . 5 th , 1888 .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

T . T ., CambCTwell . —AA'c cannot advise yon through those pages , but if you wil call , for personal interview , will willingly answer your enquiries . P . P . G . J . AV . —If there is a Rose Croix ( 18 cleg . ) Chapter in your town or district there should bo no difficulty in obtaining the information you seek . AVe have passed the chair of that degree , but should not like to advise you what steps to take .

G . D . C . —ROSSLVN , 1513 . —AA " e never yet heard of a AI . AI . certificate being handed to a brother on the night of his raising . No doubt , if you previously intimate to the Grand Secretary the necessity of the case , ho will direct its' preparation the moment yon certify to him that the degree has been taken , and you may be able to hand it to the proper recipient within , say , 48 hours . J . W . M ., Bradford . —Your enclosures , re Priory , to hand ; too late for this number ; shall have attention in next .

AV . D ., East Greenwich . —Reserved for next week . w * Several communications have reached us too late for this number . They shall have attention in our next .

Press Exchanges And Books Received.

PRESS EXCHANGES AND BOOKS RECEIVED .

The Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar and Diary for 1889 ( G Kenning , 10 , Great Queen Street , London . AV . C . ) ; Ars Quatuor Coronatorum , Parts 1 to I ( Edited by Bro . G . AV . Speth , P . M ., Sec . 2070 ) ; Liberal Freemason for November ( Edited by Bro . Alfred F .

Chapman , Boston , Mass . ) ; Masonic , Review ( Edited by Bro . Henry D . Moore , 32 deg ., Cincinnati , Ohio ) ; Voice of Masonry , Chicago , for December ; The South African , Freemason , Cape Colony ; Freemason ' s Chronicle of Sydney ; The Freemason- ; and Freemason ' s Chronicle of London .