The New South Wales Schismatic Grand Lodge.

Ireland , or Scotland , is a constituent part of an illustrious Masonic body . As a Lodgo holding under a mushroom G . Lodge of N . S . Wales , formed for the purposes wo have stated , ifc is hardly worthy of our contempt , presuming , at least , that Freemasonry will overlook ancl

forgive us for indulging in so un-Masonic a feeling . But we havo to think of something else than the schismatic Grand Lodge . We have to look aftertheinterestsandconsulfcthe dignity of tho P . G . Lodges already established in New South Wales . We have to think of tho supremacy of our Grand

Lodges at home , and of the necessity for maintaining unimpaired the bonds of discipline by which alono Freemasonry , like other bodies , must be regulated , if it hopes to live on flourishingly . We cannot afford to allow Lodges which iuav have been perturbed in spirit by the ambitious

projects of a few brethren , to throw off the allegiance they havo sworn to pay just when it suits them , and for any reason they may like to offer , or , more probably still , for no reason whatever . Our advice , therefore , as regards these Lodges is , that they should be at once struck off the

roll of the Grand Lodge or Lodges to which they belong . If thoy like to form a Grand Lodge of their own , let them do so ; but Masonic communion with the Lodges which remain loyal to their oath must be rendered impossible . Let every member of the twelve seceding Lodges be indued

wifch the paraphernalia of the grandest of Grand Masters , let them go on multiplying Lodges , every member of which shall be as dignified aa those of the soceders . Let all the members of this new Grand body be covered from head to foot , behind as well as before , with Masonic jewels

and crosses aud stars , & c , & c , & c . —Our readers will please note the importance of the three " & c . ' s "—Wo must remember thafc how gilt soever is thafc magnificent figure of gingerbread—it is nothing after all but—gingerbread . It has in it no sense , no vitality , no power of speech or action .

It is a gaudy-looking dummy , and nothing more . These are our views as to this schismatic Grand Lodgo of New South Wales , the constituent members of which should be struck off the rolls of their respective mother Grand Lodges with all possible ignominy .

Our Charities—A Year's Work.

OUR CHARITIES—A YEAR'S WORK .

AS last year , Ave take the earliest opportunity of presenting to our readers a summary of the Avork done ia behalf of our Charitable Institutions ; nor , under the circumstances , is there any reason Avhy AVO should be in the slightest degree disappointed that 1878 has not been as

productive of the means for their support as its immediate predecessor 1877 . As AVC have already alluded at considerable length to the circumstances in question in our Summary of the Year ' s Masonic Doings , it Avill suffice if we state here that the falling off in the amount of

subscriptions is in no wise duo to a falling off in tho interest and activity of brethren , for the Boards of Steivards at the several FestiA'als Avere quite up to the average numerical strength , and the brethren composing them Avorked quite as arduously as ever . The lists were lighter , and the totals

Avere consequently diminished because of the political and commercial depression of the times . Tho serious probability that the country might find itself involved in a great , and , therefore , costly Avar , the failure of banks in this and that city or town , the stagnation in many of our great

industrial centres , and the depression in every branch of trade are sufficient to explain the reduced totals . However , to judge from Avhafc is happening around us , there seems to be a fair prospect that in 1879 there will be a return to something like onr former prosperity-. The

Revenue Returns for the nine months of the financial year Avhich have thus far elapsed show a surplus over the Budget Estimate of the Chancellor of the Exchequer . The funds are firm , and tho money market generally seems

easy , all which hopeful signs incline us to anticipate a resumption of that progressive increase which had continued regularly for somo years , until the anxieties of 1878 intervened and converted it into a temporary decrease .

As on the last occasion when AVC addressed to our readers au article of this description , Ave should nofc bo fulfilling our duty conscientiously if we did not point out that , quite apart

from the question of increase or decrease which in the nature of things must occur now and then to disturb our equanimity , there are many things which mi ght be other-Avise to our great credit as well as to the advantage of our

Our Charities—A Year's Work.

Charitable Institutions . For instance , if ifc were in our power to say that all our Lodges were in the babifc of contributing , ifc would bo a source of great satisfaction , and similarly Ave should rejoice if AVO kneAv and could state

honestly thafc none of the Craftsmen Avho have the means and to spare omitted to render pecuniary service to one or other of our Charities . Unfortunately Ave know , and , a critical examination of the Festival lists will confirm our

statement , that this is nofc the case . There are those Lodges which never contribute , and though of courso the second point is less capable of direct proof , there are many brethren Avho havo it in their power to give and do not . We fear it is only by continually harping upon this

theme that Ave are likely to awaken theso indifferent Lodges and Craftsmen to a sense of thoir duty , bufc unpleasant as ifc undoubtedly is , to be obliged to do this , Ave feel thafc ifc is a duty Avhich must not be neglected . Ifc is impossible thafc too much can be said noAV

and again about our Institutions . Thero is always a chance that the good thafc is being done may be increased if they are kept continually before us , but , as our readers know , there is an old saying , " Out of sight , out of mind , " and if wo leave off talking and Avriting about them , brethren may

leave off thinking thafc there is a continuous as well as an urgent need for funds . But to our figures Avithoufc further ado . The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for the second year running takes the lead , the total of its

income for the year ended 31 st December being £ 14 , 880 2 s 7 d . Nor is the possession of this place of honour due wholly to the circumstance of its grants from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter being so largely in excessof what the sister Institutions receive . The Benevolent

took the lead iu the amount subscribed at its Festival , tho result exceeding £ 11 , 000 , Avhile Bro . Binckes obtained over £ 10 , 000 , aud Bro . Hedges , who was only acting Secretary at the time , over £ 8 , 000 . If we compare the Benevolent , income for 1878 with thafc

for tho previous year we find a falling of about £ 1 , 550 , tho figures being in 1877 , £ 16 , 431 19 s 5 d ; and in 1878 , as Ave havo stated above , £ 14 , 880 2 s 7 d . Next comes the Royal Masonic Institution for Girla , of Avhich Bro . Hedges ia now Secretary , and we cannot bufc congratulate

him that in his first statement of account , he shows an advance—albeit to a trifling extent only—of the Boys ' School . In the year 1877 . this Institution brought up the rear with £ 11 , 854 10 s 5 d . In this , the year just completed , it holds the second place Avith £ 12 , 866 ls 8 d , an

improvement Avhich cannot bo othenvise than extremely gratifying to all interested in its AA'elfare . Of course , Ave know perfectly Avell that , as regards the year ' s subscriptions , the Girls' School was behind its fellow institution , a mere reference to Avhafc we havo given in round figures , as the

results of the Festivals , sb / wing thafc beyond the shadow of a doubt ; but happily for him , Bro . Hedges is more fortunate than Bro . Binckes , in that he has a most respectable item figuring in hia return for dividends on invested moneys , while " Our Hercules" has only

a very insignificant amount to look to under this head . Lastly , but at the same time well np with his new colleague , comes Bro . Binckes , Avith £ 12 , 566 , or just £ 300 less than the Girls' School income , aa againsfc £ 14 , 369 14 s 9 d for 1877—a position afc which

many will feel no little surprise , when they call to mind that the Boys' Festival was presided over by the Duke of Connaught . However , Bro . Binckes may console himself with having in so many former years taken the lead of the other Institutions , nor is he the man to grudge

the well-Avon honours of his competitors in the cause of pleading for our Institutions . As to the number of beneficiaries who are helped by the three Institutions , Ave find the Benevolent gives annuities to 345 men afc tbe rate of £ 40 per annum , 135 women at the rate of £ 32 per annum ,

and there are 11 AVIIO receive each a moiety of her husband ' s annuity—total , 291 . In the Girls' School , there are 200 pupils on the roll , in the Boys' School , 211 . Thus , the

moneys subscribed to them aro undoubtedly Avell bestowed . We reserve our usual tabular statement , showing the amounts under the several heads of receipt , till next week .

Bro . R . H . Halford , W . M . United Strength Lodge , No . 228 , will rehearse the ceremony of installation at tho Nesv Concord Lodge of Instruction , on Wednesday , the 8 th January 1879 . This Lodge of Instruction meets at the Jolly Farmers , Southgate Road , Islington .