Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

All Letters must hear the name anl address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

BRO . RAYNHAM STEWART'S MOTION

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR Slit AND BROTHER , —I can hardly bring myself to imagine that any attempt will bo marie nt the September Communication of Grand Lodge to non-confirm so much of the June minnte . 3 as relate to the grant of £ 800 to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution out of the Fund of General Purposes . Tho proposal , when first submitted

to Grand Lodge , last Decembor , was agreed to unanimonaly . Then in March it was held over for a Committee of inquiry into the income of the said Fund of General Pnrposes to report . In June that Committoe reported that tho Fund had a net income , which had better havo heen described as a clear balance to the good , of £ 4 , 000 . On this Bro . Stewart resubmitted his motion , which was carried over a rival

proposition that the grant should consist of no more than £ 400 by a respectable , if not a particularly large , majority . Surely , in the face of these facts , no brother will have the hardihood to suggest that Grand Lodge , having ample funds at its disposal , should again commit itself so egregionsly as to rescind a motion which has been twice agreed to by the brethren . Still it ia quite as well that a note

of warning shonld be sounded , so that the supporters of the motion may rally in sufficient numbers to prevent the catastrophe which haa awakeued the fears of " OMM , 474 . " Approving , as I do , this portion of yonr correspondent ' s letter , I the more Tegret that he should have singled out for condemnation the

mover of the amendment on the ground that , though he " professed I his willingness to do what he could for the Charities , " his name was j not to bo found in the subscription lists issued by the Institution . "OMM , 474 " should remember , as has been remarked by another of your correspondents , that a man may do a great deal of good without giving money . Fraternally yours , M . M .

THE DEGENERACY OF FREEMASONRY .

To the Editor of the FRREMASON ' S CnRONiciE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Various articles have from time to time appeared in your valuable paper ( which I am glad to observe is attracting increasing attention in my Province ) upon the subject of Masonic impositions , and the questionable uses to which Freemasonry is put as a medium for pnshing trade . The matter is one upon which

all true Masons must feel deeply , as they are constrained to preserve the integrity , and to maintain the honour , of onr beloved Institution . But there are two sides to every question , and there is no rule without an exception . I am not fond of rushing into print , and do not pnrpose in this letter to touch upon the vexed question of " Trading on Masonry , " which was so ably dealt with in a recent article in the

CiTROiVicMC , and which lias excited no small amount of comment here . But in conversing with a brother the othor day on tho subject of charity—the keystone of all onr Masonic professions—the remarks turned upon tho wisdom or otherwise of putting too freely into practice the " distinguishing characteristic " of which we are so forcibl y reminded at the North-east corner .

Now , I have painfully observed , in the columns of your own and other Masonic journals , explicit " cautions , " and , indeed , somewhat ostentatious ones , exhorting tho brethren to " beware of Masonic impostors , " and one can hardly hardly help entertaining a shrewd idea that these monitions do not spring from the charitable strata of tho writers' hearts . Unquestionably , there are many amongst us who ,

from unforeseen circumstances of calamity and misfortune are rodnced to tho lowest ebb of poverty and distress , whom it is onr bonnrlen duty to relieve if within the bounds of possibility . Aro we then to leave all our humane and noble inspirations and all onr benevolence at the North-east corner , whore we have nothing to brstow ? Thero may be a few , and it strikes mo very few , who adopt tho

nomadic profession in Freemasonry , who levy their black-mail continually on the indiscrinunotiug benevolent . Snch an unworthy brother would surely be detected ; and , without publishing his name and his doings to the world , there should be a means of cutting short his career of imposture . Bnt , on the other hand , how many brrthren

have we amongst us who , though utterly cast clown and overwhelmed by adverse circumstances , would fain , like another poor man w- read of , stretch forth a grateful hand for tho crumbs that fall from the rich man's table , but daro not ? To work he cannot ; to be . ; he i . ; ashamed . I have been told snch scenes in this regard as would mak i an

angel weep ; nor do 1 descend to maudlin sentimentality wheu fuse the expression . For instance , not Ion ? ago a poor wayworn bro ! her , once in comparative comfort , and a willing supporter of his L' -dgo , but now utterly broken down , was seen shivering in the cold aud wet , outside a brilliantly-lighted hotel , within whose tumptnous walls the voices of mirth and fraternal greeting resounded merrily . The pror

fellow , by some instinct , or information , knew thero were in that jovial company those who professed to hold charity as a most cardii al point of the Masonic profession ; and so , heart-sick and weary—and hungry—he waited in hope that brotherly love relief and trnt . h might find exemplification iu some atleaat of those who joined in Ihe after-diuuer sentiments which usually hover round the banquet table ,

Correspondence.

The Tyler had concluded the " official programme " with his prayer for " all poor and distressed Masons , " and the few lingerers , who are ever to bo found on such occasions , were enjoying a " last glass" at the bar before parting for the night . Hesitatingly—for he had not been accustomed to implicate—the destitnte brother approached , and enquired whether there were any Freemasons present ? In an instant

as though a thunderbolt had fallen , every tongue was silent , and all the loud expressions uttered upstairs of charity vanished into thin air The dejected ono was too faint and exhausted to be importunate , and with a despairing look around , he withdrew , into tho cold and rain unrelieved , hungry , and homeless ! This is not a fancy picture , but a fact ; and when we are so glib in

talking about , and cautioning the would-be benevolent against , pre . snmetl impostors—for , mind you , the genuine ones may speedil y be detected—let us pause and consider how many there are who , havin « seen " better days , " shrink even in the dire hour of need from look , ing askance at the hand of charity , to whom a little aid would be the revival of hope , if not the raising of life . We are too apt , I fancy , to

be a little Pharisaical in our dispensation of alms . What if even an unworthy brother extorts a few shillings from the Lodge funda or from individuals ? Bettor that than allow one genuine case of distress to go unrelieved , and a libel perpetrated on the professions of the Craft . If a little moro discretion were observed in the Fourth Degree ,

we should have the wherewithal to bo a little more real in our practice of charity , and it would be to the lasting credit of the Craft if tho figures in our balance-sheets , under the respective heads of " house expenses" and "benevolence" were a little more equalised . I could multiply instances suoh as the one I havo quoted , but must not trespass on your space .

I remain , Sir and Brother , Tours fraternally , A CONSTANT READER . 28 th June 1882 .

HOLLOWAY ' S PILLS . —This cooling Medicine has the happiest effect when the blood is overheated and a tendency to inflammatory actioa is set up in the system ; one Pill taken shortly before dinner does away with tho indigestion , fullness , nnd flatulency—indications of a weak stomach , or disordered liver . A few Pills tiiken nt bedtime act as alteratives and aperients ; they not only relieve the lM-wete , bnt regulate every organ , connected with them , overcome all acrid hnmonrs , and encourage a free suppy of all the secretions essential to our well-being . Holloway ' s Pills thoroughly cleanse and perfectly regulate the circulation , and beget a feeling of comfort in hot climates and high temporatures , which is most desirable for preservation of health .

Port Elizabeth.

PORT ELIZABETH .

LODGE OF GOOD HOPE , No . 863 . THE Masonio Temple of Port Elizabeth was , on Thursday , 20 th April last , attended by an nnusually large number of the brethren , fully a hundred from various parts being present . The occasion was tho installation of Bro . A . C Wylde ( C . C . and R . M . ) as Worshipful Master for tho ensuing year . In addition to the Officers and others of the Goodwill and Southern Cross ( Uitenhage ) Lodges , Brother W .

Wedderbnrn P . M . of Grahamstown , and many others made homage to the worthy and accepted Master elect . The installing Officer was the District Grand Senior Warden , Bro . C . W . Mouat P . M ., and he was nssistrd by Past Masters Bros . Wheelwright , Smytho , Blakeway , Dickinson , James Kemsley , Wedderbnrn , J . W . C . Mackay , S . White , aud others Before proceeding with the business , the District

Grand Senior Warden said he had been requested by the members of the Lodge of Good Hope to invest Bro . Mackay P . M . with a jewel , in recognition of his services in the years 1879-80 , and he had much pleasure in doing so , bearing his own testimony to the appropriateness of the presentation . The recipient , who evidently had not anticipated this , replied in a few chosen words , and the ordinary

bnsiness of , the meeting was proceeded with . The various offices wero filled by Past Masters Bros . James Kemsley S . W ., Wheelwright J . W ., White I . G . After prayer by Bro . the Rev . Dr . Wirgmau , Bro . Alfred Carrington Wylde was , in a most impressive manner , installed ns W . M ., and he then proceeded to invest his Officers , as follow : — Bros . C . Dickenson I . P . M ., E . Colin S . W ., Rev . A . Grant

Chaplain and J . W ., 0 . T . Wheelwright P . M . Treasurer , E . II . Smyther P . M . Secretary , A . W . Rowsell S . D ., U . Light J . D ., E . IT . Gunning I . G ., J . Bredeil Organist , W . Henderson Tyler . Duo honour having been paid to tho W . M . elected , Lodgo was closed , and the brethren present were invited to atteird a banquet given by the Lodgo of Good Hope in the Leidertafel Hall , which had been kindly lent for the

occasion . Here a most siimptuons repast was provided , and at about halfpast nine the guests sat down , the chair being taken by A . C . Wylde W . M ., his two principal Officers serving as croupiers . Messrs . Duncan Brothers , who acted aa caterers , needed no better proof than they received of the hearty appreciation by all present of their efforts to afford satisfaction , and tho Stewards of the Lodge were indefatigable

in attending to the wants of their brethren . After ample time had b : en allowed in tho Junior Wardens' department , tho Chairman proposed first tho Queen and tho Craft , and next H . R . H . the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M ., at the same time expatiating upon the beneficial influence exercised by Royalty in upholding the dignity of tho ancient Craft , when supported by such worthy brethren as the members of the English Royal Family . The health of Bro . Egau at

Deputy Grand Master was heartily received , and his regret not being able to attend was shared by all present . The tcast ot the W . M . of the Lodge of Good Hope was happily g iven by Bro Mouat , and responded to by Bro . Wylde , who expressed his warm attachment to tho principles of Freemasonry , and _ his heartfelt desire to advance the Order hero daring his term of office . He then , iu turn , proposed the health of Bro . C . " T . W . Mouat the Installing