Correspondence.

the collection of which will occupy him some time . sad form a very valuable library . Yours fraternally , JOHN YAEKEE . N OV . 29 . 1869 .

THE ISLE OF WIGHT AND THE M . W . G . M . TO IHE EDITOR OS THE EXEEJIASOIfS' MAGAZINE AIO ) ItASOX 10 3 IIEE 0 E . Dear Sir and Brother , —Will you allow me to trespass on your columns in reference to a paragraph m your last week ' s Magazine , in which you say you are informed that the lod in the Isle of Wiht do

ges g not intend to recognise the junction of the Isle of Wight with Hampshire , but intend to appeal against it at Grand Lodge , on the ground that the M . W . G . Master had not the authority to join the two Prov . Grand Lod ges without the sanction of the Grand Lodge . I fear , indeed , that this is what we are now

driven to , and I trust that herein we may have the support of all those brethren who believe that justice should always have the foremost place among us . Constituted as a separate Masonic province b y Grand Lodge in 1813 , when there were but two lodges in working orderthe Isle of Wiht has ever since

, g continued to progress in the business and practice of Masonry , and now possesses five lodges instead of two . So far back as 1787 , although at that time Hampshire and the Isle of Wight would seem to have been governed b y one Provincial Grand Master , yet the Isle of Wi ght had a separate Deputand a separate

y and distinct Grand Lodge with its complete roll of officers—as I am in a position to prove . Yet we are now to be deprived of our position as a province and annexed to Hampshire without a word being said to us about it , beyond the barren official notification of the Grand Secretary that Bro . Beach had been

appointed Prov . G . M . for Hampshire aud the Isle of Wight . This is the pill we are directed to swallow . We have several times , with all due respect and deference , memorialized the M . W . G . M . to continue ns

our ancient privileges , but have been met with a curt refusal , without a word of explanation as to the reasons which are thought to make a change desirable , if there be any such , and without the slightest excuse for the absence of any previous intimation of ivhat was iu store for us . If we are to be dealt with iu this what becomes

way , of our boasted freedom ? Where is the justice which I was told at my initiation should always be considered in Masonry ? Echo answers , where ! You , Sir , can have but a very faint conception of the feelings of sorrow and indignation which we entertain in connection with this ill-advised course of action on the of the

part Grand Master . If persisted in , it will be a death-blow to Masonry in the Isle of Wight , and Hampshire will attain a very barren honour in the shape of the discords and heartburning's to which such an uncalled for proceeding as the union will give rise . As an individual—much as I have loved and cherished Masonryheartiland earnestlthough I have laboured

, y y for the prosperity of my mother lodge here—yet would I far rather cease my connection with the Craft now andforever than I would continue membership of an institution which , under the cloak of prerogative , permits the perpetration of such gross injustice . Look at our geographical position , and the disadvantages under

which we must labour by the union with Hampshire . The latter is a large county , containing many lodges , all of which would have their claims to be considered as regards the holding of Prov . G . Lodges ; from such meetings we should be absolutely cut off , except when they were held in Portsmouth or Southampton in the very height of summer . Perhaps when the various

towns and lodges on the mainland have had their turn , it may suit the convenience of the Prov . G . M . to hold his Grand Lodge in the Isle of Wight once in ten or twelve years , and how can Masonry do other than languish under such a system . As an instance of the correctness of what I say on this point , take the Installation at Southampton on the 30 th instant ! The banquet is fixed for

four o ' clocl ., and tho last steamer leaves Southampton for Goives at twenty minutes past four , and as we have not among us many brethren who could remain at Southampton all night , we must perforce lose the pleasure of the banquet . In effect , we are as completely out off from opportunities of attending the Provincial Grand Lod on the mainland as if none such

ges took place . I have already exceeded the limits which I had assigned myself whyn I commenced this letter , and I will only add that I trust the whole mattter will come before Grand Lodge at no distant period , and that you may see your way to help us with your powerful advocacy to obtain a remedfor the evils with which we are

y threatened , and I remain—Yours fraternally , T . W . FAULKNER , P . Paov . G . J . W . ISLE OP WIGHT .

lO SHE E 15 ITOTC OP THE Er . EE 3 rASO _ i'S' MAGAZINE AND -JASOI . IO JIIBEOB . Dear Sir and Brother ,- —Owing to the amalgamation of the two provinces of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , a question has arisen as to the precedence of the lodges in Prov . G . Lodge . At our Prov . G . Lodge , held this day at Southampton , the Dir . of Cers . ( Bro . Forbes , an old and distinguished

Mason ) placed an Isle of Wight lodge , the Medina , ' No . 35 , on the right of the chair , and my lodge , No . 76 , Economy , Winchester ( which has always prided itself on being tho premier lodge in the province ) on the left , thereby giving the precedence to No . 35 . To this I demurred , and previous to the opening of the lodge I stated objection to the Dir . of Cers . who insisted

my , that the order adopted by him was correct , and I , not willing to disturb or delay the proceedings , reluctantly acquiesced . I now refer to the Book of Constitutions . Subject—Country Lodges , sec . 4 : — " Every country lodge shall have a local as well as a general rank , so that if any lodge

be removed from one province to another , although it is to retain the original number in the Grand Lodge Books , and preserve the same rank iu the United Grand Lodge , and in all public meetings out of the province into which it may have been removed , yet within such province , it is to rank immediately after the lowest numbered lodge previously existing , as well as the Prov .

Q . Lodge as at public ceremonies within the province , unless the Grand Master , Pro . G . Master , or Deputy G . Master preside . The seniority of country lodges in their particular district is to be determined by the date of their registry in tho books of the Provincial Grand Lodge . " I submit that tho Isle of Wight lod are in tho

ges position contemplated by the above law of lodges removing from one province to another , and that the old Lodge of Economy should stand xJo . 1 on the Books of the Prov . G . Lodge . I ask the judgment of your experienced readers on this subject . Yours fraternally , JAMES HAKMS , W . M . 76 .