Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

RE GRAND TREASURERSHIP . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Permit me to use your columns with a view of ventilating what , to my mind and many other brethren , is a very serious defect in connection with the election of the Grand Treasurer . I have spoken to a large number of Masons ,

and have heard many conversations on the subject , and I think , without exception , every one denounces the present system of personal voting for this exalted office . As is well known , the privilege of voting in the Grand Lodge is conferred on brethren who have passed the chair or who are closely approaching it , and surely brethren who have spent years in Masonry and contributed largely to the Charity Funds should not be deprived or disfranchised of their privileges ( and it is about

the only privilege they have ) on account of distance and expense . Still , such is the case ; the consequence of which is that whatever unwritten agreement may be entered into as to a London brother one year and a Provincial brother the following , this agreement can be broken through and carried to a successful issue by a preponderance in number , in and about London , who can make it convenient to attend the Grand Lodge and give their personal vote .

It is not to be expected , and no reasonable man can expect , that brethren will travel from Northumberland , Cumberland , Yorkshire , Lancashire , the Midlands , North and South Wales , or Cornwall , & c , incurring two or three [ days' loss of time , with all the expenses attached thereto , to give a personal vote for any candidate ; and yet , forsooth , because they cannot afford this , they are deprived , as' I

said before , of about this only privilege in connection with their membership of Grand Lodge—and yet we are all supposed to be on a level ! Fair play is a jewel ; but there is not much fairness in the present system of the election of Grand Treasurer , and I sincerely hope ( and I believe I am only voicing the sentiment | of thousands more ) that other brethren of influential positions will take this matter up , and see if some alteration cannot be made .

I have every confidence myself in the fairness , equity , and justness of the principal Grand Lodge Officers , and I feel sure that if the Grand Secretary and the other Grand Lodge Officers have this matter brought under their personal observation , they will find a satisfactory means of solving the present—to say the least—undignified proceedings .

Apologising for troubling you at such length , believe me , yours faithfully and fraternally , J . W . GRAHAM , P . M . 652 . gth March .

INSTALLATION OF THE M . W . GRAND MASTER . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Many Freemasons , myself among the number , are looking forward

to witness the installation of our new Grand Master . May I venture to suggest that the ceremony should take place at , say , the Albert Hall ; that one guinea be charged to every brother present ; that , say , fis . from each guinea be devoted to expenses and a jewel for each brother present ; and that the 15 s . balance be equally divided between the three Masonic Charities ?

I feel sure thousands of brethren would only be too glad to give their guinea , and the event would be celebrated in a truly Masonic manner . Trusting I am not presuming , 1 am , dear Sir , yours faithfully , A . MARNOCH WHITBY , 266 3 , and P . M . 45 . Killarney , 143 , High-road , llford , March 6 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"AN ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OK OLD AND RARE HOOKS . "—Messrs . Pickering and Cltatto , 66 , Haymarket , London , are bringing out a catalogue of old , curious , and valuable books , in parts at sixpence each ; the site being quarto . There are numerous facsimile reproductions of special engravings in the works thus advertised for sale , many of which are exceedingly droll and irresistibly comic and humorous . Artistic bindings are also reproduced , and there are so many important features in these parts , that the marvel is that they are published at so low a price . The three Parts can be had , post free , for 2 s ., or either part at Sd ., post free , from thc enterprising firm , Oi , Haymarket , S . W . They excel anything of thc kind ever issued .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Albert Edward Lodge , No . 1780

INSTALLATION OF BRO . ARTHUR CURTIS . The annual festival of thc brethren of the above lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Albion-place , Southampton , on the 5 th inst ., when Bro . Arthur Curtis , the S . W . of the past year , was installed into the chair as the W . M . of the lodge , the ceremony being performed by Bro . E . Warren , P . P . G . Std . Br ., in the presence of a large assembly , the Board of Installed Masters including the following : Bros . Kdgar Goble ,

P . G . S . B . Eng ., D . P . G . M . ; Wright , P . G . P . Eng . ; Bunch , W . M . ( Economy ; A . J . V . Bagshaw , W . M . 130 ; Lovell Stevens , W . M ., L . Steele , P . P . S . G . W ., E . G . Longland , P . P . A . G . D . C , and J . Berry , of 359 ; H . Lashmore , 394 , P . P . S . G . D . ; Kellaway , W . M ., A . H . W . Ritchie , and R . Way Rider , of 1461 ; Catt , W . M . 21 S 4 ; T . G . King , W . M . ; W . Berry , P . P . G . D . C ; A . Algar , P . P . G . D . C . ; H . Hussey , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . G . Jordan , J . Burrow , R . Prowsc , E . W . Drysdall , and R . W . Denness .

Apologies were announced for the absence of Bros . Berry , W . M . 394 , and Noel S , Ashby , W . M . 1112 . The following officers were appointed : Bros . T . G . King , I . P . M . ; G . Woodford , S . W . ; S . llowland , J . VV . ; E . Warren , P . M ., Treas . ; R . W . Denness , P . M ., Sec ; G . Beadle , S . D . ; T . Holmes , J . D . ; F . Brown , I . G . ; H . Hussey , P . M ., D . C . ; W . H . Pink , Organist ; A . Harding and H . Hampton , Stewards ; and W . Vare , Tvler .

Duiing the proceedings the retiring Master , Bro . King , thanked the brethren for the kind sympathy shown towards him and his wife in the recent terrible experience which Mis . King had undergone . His wife was rapidly recovering , and he hoped that in couise of time she would be none the worse for the shock . Before leaving the chair he presented Bro . I . Holmes , on behalf of the lodge , with a handsome Past Secretary ' s jewel , in recognition of his valued services in the lodge during the past eight years as

Craft Masonry.

Secretary , a post he was quitting to take another office , as he was wishing to progress in Freemasonry . Bro . Holmes suitably returned thanks . Bro . Warren having been thanked for and complimented on his work as Installing Master , the new W . M . presented a Past Master's jewel to the I . P . M ., and Bro . Pink , on behalf of Bro . King ' s initiates during his year of office , presented him with a Past Master's apron , both gifts being warmly acknowledged . It was reported that the lodge had donated 30 guineas towards the fund for purchasing for the province , in the name of Bro . Beach , the Prov . Grand Master , a Perpetual Presentation to the Roval Masonic Institution for Bovs , and

on the motion of the W . M ., a further sum of 10 guineas was voted to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution . Lodge business being over , the brethren partook of an excellent banquet provided , under the superintendence of Bro . Hussey , D . C , by Bro . Biggs . The newly-installed W . M . presided . Speeches in response to the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were made by Bro . W . Wright for "The Grand Officers ; " the D . P . G . M . for "The Prov . G . Lodge ; " and for the Visitors , many " Hearty good wishes " being tendered to the new Master for a happy and prosperous year of office .

Londonderry Lodge , No . 2039 . This lodge was favoured at its last meeting with a visit from the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham . The W . M ., Bro . E . J . Willis , presided , and there was a very large assemblage to witness the unfurling of a new lodge banner , executed and presented to the Londonderry Lodge by the I . P . M ., Bro . Ernest Hooper . The banner bore the Londonderry arms and motto , and the number of the lodge , which was named after the late Marquis of Londonderry , for some years the Provincial Grand

Master of Durham , who consecrated the lodge in the year 1 SS 4 . The chief officers present were Bros . J . G . Phillips , S . W . ; W . J . Oliver , l . W . ; T . H . R . Meriton , Sec ; G . W . Clark , S . D . ; C . R . Walker , J . D . ; L . Winstone , Org . ; and C . B . Lax , I . G . The Provincial Grand Officers present were Bros . R . Hudson , P . G . S . B . Eng ., P . G . Sec . ; W . N . Cochrane , P . J . G . W . ; J . C . Moor , P . P . I . G . W . ; Ino . Robinson , P . P . J . G . W . ; James Sedcote , P . P . G . T . ; Thos . Robinson , P . P . G . D . ; John Readhead , P . P . G . R . ; Jos . Rigby , P . G . Std . Br . ; Thos . Harrison , P . P . G . D . ; F . S . Cowper ,

P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; J . J . Wilson , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; John Deans , P . P . G . P . ; A . T . Munro , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; James Lee , P . P . G . P . ; Nicholas Lee , P . P . G . P . ; Thos . Atkinson , P . P . G . D . C ; John Smith , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . Laidler , P . G . O . ; R . Hauxwell , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; L . Winstone , P . P . G . O . ; T . Toogood , P . P . G . P . ; Thomas Hutchinson , P . P . G . O . ; Thomas ) O . Todd , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; Thomas Naisbitt , P . M . ; Thomas E . Campbell , P . M . ; H . Havelock , P . M . 2039 ; John Hunter , W . M . 240 ; John Grayston , W . M . 949 ; James Allan , 949 ; Henry

Dancaster , P . M . 1119 ; James F . Doughs , P . M . mg , P . G . Stwd . ; J . G . Finlayson , S . W . 240 ; Thos . Grieve , P . G . Tyler ; Robt . Scott , S . W . 949 ; Jos . Pringle , 16 43 ; W . F . Renton , P . M . mg ; D . D . Smith , W . M . 1389 ; R . Lee , P . M . 97 ; D . Murray , P . M . So ; T . E . Greenhough , P . M . 1545 ; John Boddy , Stwd . 2039 ; J . G . Scott , J . C . Morton , J . M . H . Vasey , J . T . Welch , and L . A . Nicholson , all of 2039 ; B . Thomas , J . W . 240 ; W . Pain , 97 ; and J . R . Sedgwick , 2039 . The W . M ., Bro . E . J . Willis , read a letter expressing regret at the absence of Bro . E . Hooper , I . P . M ., owing to a family bereavement , with whom the lodge sincerely condoled , and the W . M . called upon the first W . M . of the lodge ( Bro . R . Hudson

, P . G . Sec . ) to unfurl the banner . Bro . R . Hudson , P . G . Sec , unfurled the banner amid the applause of the lodge , and expressed the hope that the brethren would long assemble peaceably under their banner , and maintain the honour of their lodge . ( Applause . ) He had much pleasure in presenting it to thc lodge in the absence of Uro . Hooper , and proposed that the best thanks of the officers and brethren be tendered to Bro . Hooper for his beautifully executed gift to the Londonderry Lodge . He was

sure their sympathies would go out to him in his bereavement . The W . M ., Bro . E . J . Willis , seconded the motion of thanks , which was carried with acclamation , and the condolence of the lodge was also ordered to be conveyed to Bro . Hooper . Bro . Hudson said it would be some satisfaction to Bro . Hooper to know how highly they would prize the banner he had given them , and he trusted the lodge would long continue to prosper . ( Applause . )

The proceedings afterwards terminated , the gatheringhavingbeen one of the largest assembled in the Masonic Hall , Park-terrace .

Lodge Acacia , No . 2321 . The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the 7 th instant , at the Masonic Hall , Rawson-square , Bradford . ID the unavoidable absence of Bro . John W . Bland , W . M ., the chair was occupied by Bro . R . S . Hird , I . P . M ., who was supported by Bros . Hedley , S . W . ; Bedford , J . W . ; Betteridge , B . A ., Chap . ; Last , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Sec ; Bailey , P . M .. Treas . ; Nicholls , S . D . ; Shaw-Smith , J . D . ; Townend , I . G . ; Cooper , Tyler ; Wood , Org . ; Uurrance , Asst . Sec ; Turner

, Stwd . ; Fearnley , P . M . ; Morton , P . M . ; Whitley , T . P . Sykes , Wm . Skyes , Baily , Ledgard , Hardy , Edwards , Dr . Slater , Rhodes , Symons , Lund , and Crow . Visitors : Bros . Thos . Norfolk , P . M . 600 , P . P . G . D . C ; A . II . Jackson , 467 ; Jas . Scott , W . M . 1034 ; John Haley , P . M . 1034 ; R . H . Wastleholme , T . H . Fearnley , W . B . Lund , Dr . W . Harrison , W . T . VVhite , J . H . Rawnsley , J . H . Rushworth , and G . R . Walker , all of 1034 ; Jas . Barraclough , W . M . 164 S ; R . H . Lindsav , S . W . 164 S ; M . Sowden , J . D . 164 S ; V . H . Dabbyn , O . G . 164 S ; and A . G .

Collen , 16 4 S . After the lodge had been opened and the minutes of the preceding meeting read and confirmed , Bro . Wm . Sykes was raised to the Third Degree by Bro . Kearnley , P . M ., the working tools of a M . M . were explained by Bro . Bedford , J . W ., and the charge in the Third Degree delivered by Bro . Hedley , S . W . A resolution expressing

sympathy with Bro . J . Armitage Drake in his illness was passed and directed to be forwarded to him with the fervent hope that by the will of T . G . A . O . T . U . his health would speedily be restored . The names of two gentlemen were proposed for initiation at a future meeting . Letters and telegrams of apology were received from the W . M . and several other brethren expressing regret at their unavoidable absence , after which the lodge was closed .

The brethren subsequently dined together , after which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and songs and recitations were interspersed with the speeches contributed by Bros . Dobbyn , Fearnley , Townend , Wood , White , Lindsay , and Collen .

Alston Lodge , No . 2794 . The inaugural business meeting of this lodge was held on Friday , the Sth instant , when there was a capital muster of members and visitors . The W . M ., Bro . Wm . Brown , presided , and was assisted and supported by the following brettiren : Bros . Robt . Whitfield , I . P . M . ; Hugh Jackson , P . M ., S . VV . ; J . J . C . Fernau , J . W . ; the Rev . James Sharp , Chap . ; Wm . Cowell , Treas . ; John Armstrong , P . M ., Sec ; P . Cash , S . D . ; John Lawson , as J . D . ; J . T . Pragnell , P . M ., D . C . ; VVm . Laws , Asst .

bac ; I . A . I'arren , I . G . j Havelock Bell , Org . ; Jumes Lightbown , J . Smith , and Win . Carr , Stwds . ; J . T . Stark , P . M ., Tyler ; VV . C . A . Holzapfel , P . M . ; J . W . Cutter , S . Carson , W . Walton , and J . II . Archer . The visiting list wis comprised of Bros . R . II . Holmes , D . P . G . M . Northumberland ; J . W . Hayton , P . S . G . W . Cumberland and Westmoreland ; John Lawson , . | S ; W . Sinclair , 4 S ; Thomas Buckham , 4 S j T . H . Dickinson , 4 S ; J . Varby , 4 S ; Kobt . Plumpton , I . P . M . 4 S 1 ; J . E . Goold , J . W . 4 S 1 ; E . E . Schrteder , S . D . 4 S 1 j B . Thomas , 240 ; S . B . Jopson , 1532 j S . G . Ueall , I . G . 2520 ; and others .

The minutes of the consecration meeting having been read and conlirmed , the ballot was taken for four joining members , all of whom were elected , after which thjre MWe four officers to invest . Following this the billot was taken severally t ) r live initiites , duly elected . Messrs . R . VV . Elliott , J . Swindle , and J . Robinson being in attendance were duly initiated by the W . M ., Bro . Brown , in a masterly manner , who also explained the first tracing board . The working tools were given by the J . W ., and the charge of the Degree delivered by the S . W . The bye-laws framed by the Committee were

read over , approved ar . d conlirmed . Three trustees were appointed . Numerous gifts from Mrs . Brown , Mrs . Armstrong , and from several brethren were tendered to and accepted on behalf of the lodge . 15 ro . John Armstrong , Sec , wis priSiuul 0 / B ; os . Wm . Brown , W . M ., and Robert Wnitfieli , I . P . M ., with a handsome founder ' s jew .-l as a memento of his arduous duties and successful efforts in establishing the lod ^ e in the district . Two candidates for initiition were proposed , and the VV . M . rccstvid the " Good wishes " of the visitors . After the lodge was closed , the brethren dined at the Golden Lion H itel , and ^ pent a pleasant evening together in love and harmony .