Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

A SPURIOUS AND CLANDESTINE GRAND MARK LODGE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , " Historicus , " in his letter to you of 24 th inst ., states " The old system was to work in the Second Degree Craft lodge , and there are lodges in which this is still the practice . "

I beg to pojntout that in America the Mark was always given in the Second Degree . An old friend of mine ( a Mason ) was in New York about 12 years ago and was refused admission to a lodge in the Second Degree because he was not a " Mark Mason . "

On his return to England he spoke to me about it , I explained how he could become a Mark Mason , and offered to introduce him to the London Bon Accord Lodge of Mark Masters , but I do not remember whether he was advanced or not . He is now dead . —Yours faithfully , MAGNUS OHREN , P . G . M . O . June 28 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"MASONIC YEAR BOOK FOR THE PROVINCS OF SUFFOLK , 18 93 . "—The Provincial Grand Secretary ( Bro . N . Tracy ) has again ably edited the Masonic Year Book for Suffolk , and compressed such a mass of interesting matter in some 140 pages , that the Directory is a complete and accurate guide for the brethren . It cannot fail to be a great help to Lord Henniker , Prov . G . M ., and the Rev . C . J . Martyn , D . Prov . G . M , in the distribution of the Provincial honours , Craft and Royal Arch , as well as Mark , & c .

There are 22 lodges , returning 1022 subscribing members , the votes for the Central Masonic Charities numbering the handsome total of 5342 , or 7493 , taking the two elections for Girls and Boys . These votes are carefully arranged under lodges , with the names of the subscribers , and also in a separate table , showing the work done in the Province , the numerical condition of each lodge , and other valuable information involving considerable labour to compile . The various reports to the Prov . G . Lodge are duly given , and thus the Year Book is all that can be desired or expected .

"FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF ESSEX , 18 99 . "—This very neat and interesting compilation is the work of the Provincial Grand Secretaiy , Bro . Thomas J . Railing , who has thus ably looked after the interests of his Province for 15 years as Editor . By an ingenious arrangement each division of the handy volume has a separate brief title on another coloured paper , so that for reference the plan is an excellent one . The Annual is ever increasing as the Province extends , there being now 43 lodges on the roll . The Editor should give the total membership of

the Province , so as to compare with the large total votes for the Masonic Charities , so amply detailed , amounting to 11 , 715 . The room for such a needful item couid easily be found by a brother so fully conversant with the " make-up " of such a publication . An excellent portrait of Colonel Lockivood , M . P ., forms the artistic Frontispiece . The Masonic Notes and Events for the Year are excellent features of the Directory , and the particulars respecting all the Degrees worked in the Province are not only ample , but well arranged , making the Annual one ot the best published in England .

"THE HOMKLAND HANDBOOKS" ( Beechings , Ltd ., 174 in the Strand , London ) . —These extremely useful , handy , and reliable Guides deserve a large sale , and , apparently , are having it , for already the artistic volume entitled " Kent ' s Capital" is in the seventh thousand , and "Dartmoor and its Surroundings" is sure not to be farbshind , when its distinctive features become known . They are published by " The Homeland Association for the Encouragement of Touring in Great Britain and Ireland , " and are issued at the uniform price of 6 d . uetfor cloth is . nett ( postage 2 d . additional ) . There

, are 10 of the series so far printed , and , doubtless , more will bo published if the present efforts meet with the success anticipated . Apart from the manifest advantage to the local communities generally , and the evident need there is for the millions of tourists knowing intimately their own country before they proceed "to do the Continent , " it will be seen by reference to these handsome and profusely illustrated Handbooks tnit no mote lovely or wild scenery can be met with than is to be found in our own country . One need not feel like martyrs in touring through Great Britain

and Ireland ; and they who wish their " appetites to be wetted" cannot do better than consult these admirable Guides of the Homeland Association . " Dartmoor , and its surroundings . What to see and How to find it " is just the sort of volume required for tourists who desire to become acquainted with the chief features of that grand neighbourhood ; the numerous illustrations from photographs , adding much to the value of the souvenir . A map of the district completes the attraction ? of the handbook ; this alone being well worth the trifle asked f or the whole work , which has been written by Beatrix F . Cresswell . and a chapter on "Dartmoor Fis / Tinir , " added bv

Edgar Shrubsole . There are some 11 chapters in all , and 132 pages are well filled with reliable information and details as to one of the most entrancing spots in the world . " Kent ' s Capital " is a handbook to Maidstone on the Med way and guide to the district by B . Prescott Row and W . Stanley Martin . The volume is still larger than the preceding one , and most thoroughly done ; the neighbourhood being exhaustively treated , and an excellent map is supplied for reference . There are no better guides of the kind and they are marvels of condensation and arrangement , as well as complete successes , typographical ^ and artistically .

Consecration Of The St. John's Thanet Lodge, No. 2753.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . JOHN'S THANET LODGE , No . 2753 .

Owing to the rapid growth , in recent years , of Freemasonry in Margate , and to the fact that the Union Lodge has , numerically , been getting somewhat unwieldy , it was thought necessary to found a new lodge , and thisnamed the St . John ' s Thanet Lodge—was consecrated and opened with the

usual ancient ceremonial and ritual on Friday , the 23 rd ult . There was a very large muster of Provincial Grand Officers and brethren , which taxed the capabilities of the commodious Temple in no small degree , but the whole cf the arrangements were admirably carried out by the founders , and everything passed off most successfully .

Among those present were the following : Bros . Earl Amherst , Pro G . M ., Prov . G . M . ; James Smith Eastes , P . G . D . Eng ., D . P . G . M . i Rev . W . H . Robins , P . M . 1174 , Prov . G . Chap . ; H . A . Hickin , P . S . W . 1174 , acting Asst . Chap . ; Alfred Spencer , P . G . S . B . Eng ., P . G . Sec . j W . O . Kennett , 1208 , P . J . G . W . ; Horatio Ward , P . D . G . S . B . Eng ., acting D . C . ; Harry Price , 127 and 177 , P . G . S . B . Eng . ; George Church , 199 , Prov . G . D . C . j William Dawes , 1854 , P . P . S . G . W ., acting S . G . W . ; John Brighurst , 127 , P . P . j ,

Consecration Of The St. John's Thanet Lodge, No. 2753.

G . W . ; Henry Wootton , 127 , P . P . G . D . C . ; George E . Hawkes , 127 , P . P . G . S . B . ; Edward G . Walthew , 1915 , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; Frederick Stanley , P . M ., Sec . 127 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Francis Bennett , P . M . 787 , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; E . H . White , 2448 , P . P . A . G . S . ; J . Neale , P . M . 429 , P . G . Stwd . ; F . R . Howlett , P . M . 1725 , P . P . S . G . D . ; Fred Francis , P . M . 558 , P . G . D . C . ; W . ] . Light , I . P . M . 299 , P . P . G . Supt . Wks . ; J . Solomon , P . M . 77 , P . G . S . ; A . Wootton , P . M . 127 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Walter Charles Stunt , P . M . 131 , P . G . S . ; W . Seaman , P . M . 2099 , P . P . G . D . C ; A . H .

Hales , P . M . 1209 , P . A . G . D . C ; J . Terry , P . G . S . B . ; Francis W . Willett , P . M . and Treas . 127 , P . P . G . D . C . ; Charles W . Blaxland , 709 , G . Reg . ; R . Morley , 429 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; J . G . Henning , P . M . 127 , P . P . G . D . C ; William T . Wiggins , P . M . 20 , P . A . G . S . ; J . F . Whichcord , W . M ., and A . W . Waite , of 31 ; Leonard Hill , W . M ., W . F . Franklin , I . P . M ., Hugh W . Bamber , P . M ., E . Crosoer , P . M ., ] . L . Hume , P . M ., J . Healing , P . M ., John Moore , P . M ., W . H . Bennett , W . H . Hughes , T . J . Carter , Albert Tannenbaum , F . J . Doughty , E .

Coleman , W . Burnham , E . Robertson , T . W . Stigant , W . H . White , E . J . Bryant , C . E . Rowley , C . Perret , Chas . Burgess , E . T . Bugden , W . Saunders , A . Tarling , C . J . Boulting , Jesse Holness , W . H . Tappenden , and A . Palmer-Palmer , of 227 ; A . Hall , W . 'H . Mount , J . H . Clegg , J . W . Sayer , J . M . Munns , Walter Bourne , and G . W . Saxby , of 127 ; W . J . Haisell , 125 ; Charles W . Turner and E . M . Stevens , of 199 ; J . E . White , W . M . ; E . J . Elliott , P . M ., G . Goodburn , P . M ., F . Nixon , H . Crampton , and W . Sear Call , 429 ; George Milne , 558 ; E . A . Browne , 784 ;

Herbert Hicks , W . M ., Charles Watson , P . M ., H . J . Bridges , I . P . M ., J . Lee , W . Felton , F . Gillow , and Frederic A . Hall , of 1206 ; W . Crosoer and W . Holmes , of 1208 ; William Fletcher Gadd , W . M ., M . H . Gill , P . M ., George Chapman , P . M ., J . Collens , Charles Tamplin , J . Thearle , and Thos . S . Chayney , of 1209 ; E . T . Ward , W-M ., W . Kelly AVestropp , P . M . 2195 , and G . B . Michell , of 2587 j W . G . Head , W . M ., J . B . Wood , I . P . M ., George Knowles , and C . E . Homewood , of 2305 ; J . G . Candeford , W . Home , and Chas . Hills , of 1449 ; W . Nation and J . H . Batten , of 244 S ; W . Forrester , 2660 ; John Robinson , 15 , 177 , 1321 ; and F . Humphreys , 129 S .

The ancient and impressive ceremony of consecration was performed by Bro . Earl Amherst , Pro G . Master Eng ., Prov . G . Maste-, assisted by Bros . James Smith Eastes , P . G . D . Eng ., Dep . P . G . M . ; William Dawes , acting P . S . G . W . ; Woldemar O . Kennett , P . J . G . W . ; Alfred Spencer , P . G . Sec . ; Charles W . Blaxland , P . G . Reg . ; and Horatio Ward , acting P . G D . C .

THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER . The brethren having assembled in the Temple and the Prov . Grand Officers having filed into their places , the lodge was duly opened and the founders of the new lodge then took up their appointed places . These were Bros . J . Brighurst , W . M . designate ; E . Crosoer , S . W . designate ; Fred Stanley , J . W . designate ; J . L . Hume , Sec . ; H . Wooton , J . Moore ,

W . H . Hughes , W . H . White , Albert Tannenbaum , J . Hosking , T . J Carter , W . H . Bennett , E . T . Bugden , Leonard Hill , and J . Healing . The petition and warrant were read , and the M . W . Pro Grand Master constituted the lodge , after which the anthem " Behold how good and joyful a thing it is , Brethren , to dwell together in unity , " was sung by the choir , and then came the usual dedication ceremony .

The CONSECRATING OI'ITCER addressed the brethren on the motive of the meeting and in doing so his lordship stated that it had long been in his mind that , as Freemasonry had made such strides in Margate , a second lodge would be , sooner or later , a necessity . The Prov . G . Chaplain , Bro . Rev . W . H . Robins , gave a masterly oration on the principles of Freemasonry , and after the prescribed

ceremonies had been performed , including the scattering of corn , the symbol 01 plenty ; wine , the symbol of joy ; and oil , symbolical of peace and benevolence were poured and salt was sprinkled , the symbol of fidelity and friendship . Then followed the anthem "I will lift mine eyes" ( Dr . J . Clarke Whitfield ) , the solos being sustained by Bros . HoskinR and Tarling , tre other members of the choir being Bros . E . Coleman , W . H . Bennett , F . Stanley , and F . 1 . Doughty .

At the close of the consecration service , Bro . J . Brighurst was impressively installed as the first W . M ., and the usual investitures and appointments look place , the first list of officers being as follows : Bros . c « Crosoer , S . W . ; F . Stanley , J . W . ; H . Wootton , I . P . M . ; J . Moore , Treas . ; J . L . Hume , Sec . ; W . H . Hughes , S . D . ; W . H . White , J . DAlbert Tannenbaum , I . G . ; J . Hosking , D . C ; T . J . Carter , A . D . C . J W . H . Bennett , and E . T . Bugden , Stwds . ; and Geo . Lawrence , Ty ler .