Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION . We have been requested to publish the following very gratifying letter relating to the Clacton -on-Sea life-boat : " 14 , John-street , Adelphi , London , W . C , " 25 th January , 1899 . " My dear Sir ,

" I have much pleasure in acquainting you that I have received a telegram from our Hon . Secretary at Clacton-on-Sea reporting that the life-boat Albert Edward rescued five men from the schooner Robert Anderson , wrecked on the Middle Sand , and safely landed them at two o ' clock this morning . " This life-boat , as you will probably remember , is one of the two life-boats presented to this Institution by the United Grand Lodge of Freemisons of England in commemoration of the safe return from India of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . —Very faithfully yours ,

"CHARLES DIBDIN , " Secretary "EDWD . LETCHWORTH , Esq ., "Freemasons' Hall . "

Reviews.

Reviews .

"BERKSHIRE MASONIC REGISTER AND CALENDAR FOR 1899 " { Bro . G . JCosburn , Newbury ) . —The editor of this large and well-arranged annual is Bro . J . X . Morland , M . A ., the esteemed Deputy Prov . G . M ., who still continues to act in that capacicy for the welfare of his province . The present issue starts well with the portrait of the new Prov . G . M ., the Right Hon . Lord Wantage , V . C , K . C . B ., & c , who has the support and assistance of several most competent brethren , so that tho 16 lodges in Berkshire are well looked after and well represented . The Register contains many more particulars than are usually found in such publications , the register of members is

( including the Royal Arch and the Mark ) is a remarkable compilition ^ and so also the table , or tables , of votes and voters for the Central Masonic Charities , with the Stewards and their totals for years past . The editor has spared no pains to make the work complete , and , undoubtedly , has succeeded , save that the total number of members in the province is not given . Bro . Cosburn has done his part well , as usual . It should be mentioned that the " Dates of Masonic Events " have been revised , and as this compilation is a feature of the annual , its accuracy is all the more to be valued . The circulation ofthe " Berkshire Masonic Register" should be so general in the province as to exhibit the appreciation of the members in a practical manner .

" FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND HANDBOOK FOR ! BEDFORDSHIRE , 18 99 " { Frederic Thompson , Bedford ) . —This is the first issue of a very useful and well edited Annual for the Province of Bedfordshire , the editor being the Prov . G . D . of C , Bro . Dr . Rowland H . Coombs . Undoubtedly , this is a step in the right direction , and if supported , as it deserves to be , Dr . Coombs will have earned the hearty thanks of the brethren of his provinco . The province is a small one , consisting of but seven lodges , all that ever have been warranted being still on the roll , and yet Bro . William Gill was

Prov . G . M . in 1799 , and was followed by Andrew Dennis O'Kelly in 1 S 12 , though no Iodge was warranted until the year 1841 , being the present No . 475 held at Luton . All the seven also meet in the same towns they were originally started in , so that the circumstances are peculiar . The province really started from 1885 with the appointment of Colonel Stuart , who was succeeded in 1 S 91 by Lord Ampthill , who is happily still the Prov . G . M . The seven lodges return 285 members , or an average of fully 40 per lodge j which for a small province is fair , but much be ' ow the ordinary . There are two

Royal Arch chapters with 54 companions together , and the same number of Mark lodges with 42 members . There was a Royal Arch Province ( so to speak ) when there was not a chapter in the county , as Lord Hawke was appointed Grand Superintendent in 1 S 11 . The list ofvoters is well done and exhibits a grand total of 825 votes , a creditable number for seven lodges . In the memoranda for the guidance of Masters and Secretaries , it would be us well to add that a copy of the " Book of Constitutions " should be J ) resented to candidates as well as one of the By-laws . Dr . Coombs is to be congratuated on the success of his first venture as an editor of a Maso lie Calendar .

GLOUCESTER . —THE CATHEDRAL AND SEE { London , George Bell and Sons ) . — This handsome little volume is No . 15 of "Bell's Cathedral Series , " and is written by Mr . H . T . L . J . Masse , M . A ., who in the very modest and brief "Author ' s Preface . " appreciatively refers to the unstinted aid and kindness he has received from the Cathedral architect and other authorities in the production of the work , as well as to Mr . Burrow , for permission to use blocks made from the black and white drawings ( one has not been published before ) of O ' . d Gloucester , all of which are gems , especially the

fullpage sketch of "The Old Judges' House , " in Westgate-street . The reproductions of numerous drawings by Mr . WT S . Waller , F . R . LB . A ., are perfect , as well as valuable , souvenirs of the Cathedraljand portions of the ancient city j and the architect ' s plans have also been placed at the service of the author for selection and printing , so that , artistically , this volume is in no wit behind the best of its predecessors , and , textually , can hold its own , for Mr . . Masse has , undoubtedly , ably and faithfully , done his utmost to respond to the aims of the editors of the series by producing " a work compiled with sufficient knowledge and scholarship to be of value to the student of archaeology and

history , and yet not too technical in language for the use of an ordinary visitor or tourist . " The series has nothing of the " Handbook flavour , " and all the volumes are little treasures of ecclesiastical art and history , the delight of antiquarians and archaeologists , and , being published at is . Gd . each , the price is in the reach of all book buyers and book readers . There are now 15 published , the second five being as much more bulky than the first five as the third set is than the second group , and yet the thickest volume is still to be had for the same small sum . They deserve , as doubtless they are having , a very extensive sale , as they fully meet a long felt want . Durham and York may be expected shortly , and others are in progress .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

York Lodge , No . 236 . That Freemasonry is no new thing in York is known to most of those who have studied Ihe history of that city . Indeed , the date of its commencement seems to be as much lost in the obscurity of the distant past as that of the founding of the city itself . Tradition will have it that Masonry was established here in the early part of the 17 th century , and Francis Drake claims that the first Grand Lodge ot England was held in the city about the year 600 . Whether that be so or not , old documents still in existence make it certain that Freemasonry held an important position in Vork in very early

times , and that for a long period York was the headquarters of the Craft in England . So much is this generally recognised that no good American Freemason , when visit ! ng the United Kingdom , will miss the chance , if he can help it , of seeing our ancient city , and inspecting our line old Minster , where , in the crypt , the Freemasons anciently held their assemblies . Probably their numbers were fewer than are now to be found in the

city , which possesses four regular lodges , and , though their enthusiasm for the Order is known to have been keen , it probably did not exceed that of the many brethren who assembled at the Masonic Hall in Duncombe-place on the 16 th inst , when Bro . F . W . Laughton was installed as W . M . of the above lodge for the ensuing 12 months . This lodge is the oldest of the four city lodges , having been warranted by the Grand Lodge of England in 1777 , and there are not wanting those who contend that its connection

Craft Masonry.

with the Masons of earlier times is such as enables its members to be considered the rightful heirs of the old Grand Lodge of AH England , whose headquaters were in York , many valuable and interesting relics of which are now in the possession of the lodge . The old spirit of rivalry which in former days existed between the Grand Lodges , working mischief especially to that of York , does not at any rate exist among the several lodges of the city to-day , as was testified by the presence and commendation of officersand brethren from each ofthe sister lodges . Thesevisitors brought the "Hearty good wishes" of their

fellows , and their numbers were increased by the attendance of various reprseentative brethren from other cities and towns in the province , so that the gathering was in every way most succussful . It would hardly be possible to over-praise the manner in which the various ceremonies were conducted . The chief portion of the work fell to the lot of the retiring W . M ., Bro . Alfred Procter , and the admirable way in which he performed

it was closely followed by the various Past Masters who assisted him , amongst them being Bros . A . Jones , H . Foster , J . Sykes Rymer , A . Buckle , F . S . Gramshaw , J . A . Barstow , and other officers . The newly-installed Master then invested his officers for the year , the various appointments receiving the approval of the brethren , and afterwards presented to the Librarian , Bro . A . H . Furnish , a centenary jewel , as a recognition by the lodge of his special services in that office .

The Iodge was then closed , but the proceedings of the day were by no means ended , the customary installation banquet being held at flicker ' s Hotel . In addition to most of those named as attending the earlier gathering , Bros , the Lord Mayor of York and J . G . Butcher , Q . C , M . P ., were present , and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . From the speeches two things were made clear—one that the past year had been notable for the more than usual ability of the Master , Bro . A . Procter j the other , that

the work of the coming year was expected to be very successful tinder the new Master , Bro . F . W . Laughton . The visitors included Bros . T . B . Whytehead , P . G . S . B . Eng . j M . C . Peck , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., P . G . S . j Sykes , P . M . 2607 , W . M . IGIIJ Woolford , W . M . 199 1 j Capt . Lindberg , W . M . 2328 j Judge , P . M . totoj C Judge , IOIOJ Lawrence , D . C . IOIOJ E . Hirst , S . W . 2259 j E . Simpson , J . W . 2259 j J . T . Hingston , M . D ., 232 SJ Edwin Taylor , 941 j Rook , LG . 1991 J Humphreys , S . W . 161 ij CGarrood , 1611 j Bean , J . W . 1611 ,- and others . The following brethren of the lodge were presents Bros . G . Balmford , P . M . j A . Buckle , P . M .,- J . S . Rymer , P . M . j J . A . Barstow , P . M . j H . Foster , P . M . j G . Garbutt , P . M . j T . G . Hodgson , P . M . j W . Draper , P . M . j H . L . Swift , P . M . j E . W . Purnell , P . M . j A . Jones , P . M . j M . Bryson , P . M . j

F . S . Gramshaw , P . M . j J . A . Askew , E . S . Robinson , J . S . Shannon , W . Hepper , W . Wordsworth , A . G . Rayner , J . H . Wray , T . C Thompson , E . S . D . Carter , F . W . Cull , D . Lockwood , R . Hodgson , P . Cobb , D . C Larg , G . Sykes , G . H . Osborn , O . G . Taylor , F . S . Judge , A . H . Furnish , and others . The W . M . invested his officers as follows : Bros . J . A . Askew , S . W . j E . S . Robinton , J . W . j the Hon . and Very Rev . the Dean of York , P . M ., P . G . Chap ., Chap , j G . Potter-Kirby , P . M ., P . P . G . D . of C , Treas . j O . G . Taylor , Sec . j J . S . Shannon . S . D . s A . G . Rayner , J . D . j J . H . Wray , D . of Cj W . Hepper , Org ..-F . W . Cull , I . G . j T . C . Thompson , Preston Cobb , and . E . S . D . CarterStwds . j and

, J . Hall , Tyler . Bro . G . Balmford , P . M ., P . P . G . O ., is the Almoner j Bro . J . S . Rymer , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., is the Charity Representative j Bro . A . H . Furnish is the Librarian j and Bro . H . Foster , P . M ., P . P . G . D . of C , is the Preceptor of the lodee of instruction .

South Saxon Lodge , No . 301 . The annual meeting ofj the above lodge was held on the iSth instant , when there was a record assembly . Bro . E . G . Hales was installed as W . M ., the installation ceremony being performed by Bro . W . Weston , assisted by Bros . J . H . Every , P . M ., and T . R . White , P . M . The newly-installed W . M . appointed his officers as follows : Bros . K . Weston , P . P . G . S . B ., I . P . M . j G . J . Lenny , S . W . j G . H . Levett , I . W .: I H Every , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of W „ Treas . j H . Grainger , D . C . j R . Hollyman , A . D . C . ;

J . James , " oec . j fl . Hussey , u . U . j W . Oates , W . M . 1303 , J . D . j G . Lloyd , P . M ., Org . j J . London , I . G . j and A . Holman , P . M ., Tyler . It is worthy of note that two other members of the lodge ( Bros . W . Flint and A . Russell ) are at the present time officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge . The outgoing W . M ., Bro . Richard Weston , who worked so hard on the occasion of the visit of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , was presentedwith a Past Master ' s jewel , with a special clasp bearing a suitable inscription , in recognition of the occasion . At the close of the business about 60 brethren sat down to the usual banquet at the

White Hart Hotel . The chair was , of course , occupied by the W . M ., and there was a large number of Masters of other lodges in the province present , including Bros . C A . Milnes , 21 S 7 j F . R . Terson , 1110 j E . A . T . Breeds , 811 j A . J . Freeman , 2201 j G . Nicholson . 24 S 3 j C . Somers Clarke , 146 G ; E . Nash , 1797 j E . T . Cox , 2591 j W . P . Smith , 1 S 29 J Reuben Strong , 1 S 21 j J . Senior , 2676 j Captain W . Gates , ( ex-Mayor of Lewes ) , 1403 j and J . A . Tilthorpe , 1947 . The visitors also included

Bros . Capt . Franklyn , P . D . G . St . Br . Gibraltar ,- M . Lelew , P . P . G . S . B .,- A . W . Payne , T . Plumbridge , W . Nell , P . M . 732 j C Nye , P . P . G . S . W . j W . F . Trydell , P . M . 2434 j Capt . A . A . Oakden , P . M . moj W . Lintott , S . Denman , Bullock , P . G . Supt . of Works j Earp , S . R . Hunt , Capt . Aylmer , Godfrey , W . T . Nye , Crossley , Thomson , S . Lintott , and H . J . Drew . The members of the lodge who attended the dinner were Bros . R . Weston , I . P . M . j F . G . Shilson , W . 5 Foster , H . Grainger , W . Flint , P . M .. P . G . S . B . j C . W . TownerS . StainesF

, , . Hussey , H . Mercer , G . Holman , P . M . ( Mayor of Lewes ) j J . James , F . J . Gorringe , G . E . Chapman , R . Hollyman , W . Stone , P . M ., P . P . G . Supt . of Works j A . J . Lewis , G . VV . Staden , J . H . Every , G . H . Levett , G . Lloyd , A . Russell , P . M . ! P . G . D . C . j F . T . London , H . Tuff , G . J . Leney , S . Tanner , and D . Roberts . The customary loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured and reference was again made to the success of the Royal visit .

Songs were sung by Miss Edith Welling , Mr . W . N . Barnard , and Bro . C . W . Towner , while Mr . H . F . Holman and Mr . R . G . Hales contributed banjo selections , which were greatly appreciated , Mr . Horace Jackson being at the piano . Bro . E . Earp played a brilliant violin solo . Apologies for absence were received from H . R . H . the Dukj of Connaught and the Deputy Prov . G . Master and other brethren .

Peace and Harmony Lodge , No . 359 . The brethren of the above Iodge assemoled in large numbers at the Masonic Hall Albion-place , Southampton , on the 16 th inst ., on the occasion of the installation of the W . M . for the ensuing year , Bro . H . Rowthorn , who has worked through all the offices and has at last reached the chair . There was also a large attendance of visiting brethren . The Masters and Past Masters present were Bros . Giles , R . N ., Prov G Sec : R . J . Harris , W . M . 76 j S . Cooksey , W . M . 1112 j R . W . Rider , W . M . u 6 i : '

G . Ward , W . M . 1 SB 3 , P . P . ts . U . D . j Drysdall , W . M . 1560 ,- J . Berry , W . M .- 1 Adams , P . P . G . Reg . j Thomas Lashmore , P . P . G . D . C . j G . Cross , P . P . G . Std Br ' J . Patstone , P . P . A . G . D . C j E . O . Longland , P . P . A . G . D . C ,- J . E . Aldis , P . P . 6 ! Supt . of Works j CS . Dusiutoy , P . G . Supt . of Works j John Clark , W . lenvev L . Steele , P . P . G . W . j T . G . Dacombe , J . Griffiths , E . Kingnian , E . Loig , and T . E . Smith , all of the above Iodge j H . Lashmore , P . P . S . G . D ., M . P . 304 Sharland . P . P . A . G . P . j H . N . Jenkins , 2208 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; G . Hea hcote . ., K ,

P . P . G . Std . Br . j J . Ritchie , P . M . 14 G 1 ; and S . G , Harrison , I . P . M . 1833 . The visiting brethren also included Bros . Chaloner Shenton , W . M . elect , and the Rev . W . Naish , J . W . 7 O . The ceremony of installation was ably performed by Bro . James Berry , the retiring W . M ., who was h-artily thanked for his services both as Installing Master and iu the chair for the past year , a Past Master ' s jewel being voted him from the lodge funds . The newly-installed Master invested the following ofiicers : Bros . James Berry , I . P . M . j William Martin , S . W . j Lovell Stevens , J . W . j T .

Lashmore , P . M ., lreas . j John Adams , P . M ., bee . j G . Cross , P . M ., D . C . j J . E . Adams , S . D . j Alfred Smith , J . D . j E . A . Curtis , I . G . j G . A . Andrews , Org . ; C W . Murray and C Thornback , Stwds . j and W . Vare , Tyler . Before the lodge closed the sum of five guineas was voted to a brother in misfortune ( a like sum was voted at the previous meeting to the Lifeboat Institution ) , and it was reported that the Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys had made a special grant of X 20 a year towards the education of the son of a deceased brother of the Peace and Harmony Lodge . The boy was adopted b y the Provincial Charities Committee as a candidate for admission to the School , but failed on his last chance . He will now be sent to an