Cheshire Benevolence.

CHESHIRE BENEVOLENCE .

A MEETING of the Committee of Benevolence of the Province was held at the Crewe Arms Hotel , Crewe , on Wednesday , 24 th ult ., Bro . John Clayton presiding over a good attendance . The Chairman alluded with satisfaction to the fact that Cheshire had been successful in electing Bro . Swain on the foundation of Aged Freemasons at the recent London meeting .

Petitions for the relief of widows of deceased Masons who had belonged to the Crewe and Marple Lodges were granted . Bro . Cookson was elected a Charity Councillor for the Stockport district , in place of Bro . Herbert Finch resigned , and Bro . John Armstrong , of Birkenhead , was elected Charity Councillor for Seacombe in place of Bro . Sharpe , resigned through illhealth .

The Chairman said that three years ago they had held a festival in connection with the Province of Cheshire in behalf of their Benevolent Institution . They set themselves to raise £ 1 , 000 , but through the kind assistance of the Brethren they

raised £ 8 , 000 . The necessary arrangements had been made for another festival , at Tatton , and he commended the movement to the Brethren . They hoped to raise between £ 700 and £ 1 , 000 , and this would greatly assist them in relieving the widows of deceased members .

Congratulations were expressed that Brother the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., had ' escaped from his perilous position in the Matabele GoUhtry , and was now on his way home from South Africa .

Church Services.

CHURCH SERVICES .

A MASONIC SEEVICE was held at All Saints Church , Perry Street , Gravesend , on Sunday , and was attended by members of the various Lodges in the neighbourhood . These services have been established for the last ten years by the Bev . Augustus Jackson , M . A ., Provincial Grand Chaplain of Kent ,

and it was hoped that the Bev . J . E . Player P . P . G . C . Norfolk and present Junior Grand Chaplain of Kent would have been present to preach the sermon on this occasion . Unfortunately he was unable to attend , and therefore Bro . Jackson himself conducted the service . The Lessons of the day were read by

Bro . Joseph Solomon P . M . No . 77 , who wore his collar of office . The Psalms happened to be particulary appropriate , but special hymns were selected for the occasion . Bro . Jackson had not prepared a sermon , but discoursed generally on those portions of the Volume of the Sacred Law which had been read . He made

reference to the dilapidated state of Canterbury Cathedral and the Ancient Chapter House , where the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent had met in 1878 and 1894 . He stated that the offertory would be devoted to the Bestoration Fund , and exhorted the Brethren to assist as much as they could . Among those present

were Bros . Wm . Eussell Prov . G . Treas ., G . T . King P . P . G . P ., Thos . Deane P . P . G . S . Br ., Wm . Barlow P . P . G . O ., J . C . Biggs P . P . G . D . C , B . J . Beamish P . G . D . C , Frank Hitchens P . G . S ., A .

Eonaldson P . A . G . S ., J . P . White P . M . 2402 , Jas . A . Whitfield W . M . 77 , Henry Forss W . M . 483 , Geo . Backstraw P . M . 77 , T . A . Mummery 483 , G . Masters 77 , E . B . Wilks 77 , L . Bridgland , T . Axcell , Dr . Sells , Prevost , Nash , and others .

A MASONIC Service , promoted by the Albert Victor Lodge , No . 1773 , was held in Christ Church , Salford , on Sunday , 21 st ult ., under distinguished patronage , and on behalf of the East Lancashire Systematic Educational and Benevolent Institution . Our report of the gathering is held over until next week .

The commemoration of the eight hundredth anniversary of the foundation of Norwich Cathedral was celebrated on Wednesday . All the city and local magnates were present

including the officers of the 7 th Dragoon Guards . Many local mayors were also in the procession , as well as the Grand Master of Freemasons of the Province Lord Suffield , The cathedral was crowded , and the service was impressive .

We are pleased to see continued evidence of the progress of the Upton Lodge , No . 1227 , the next regular meeting of which will take place on Thursday , 9 th inst ., at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street . The agenda of business gives promise

of a large amount of work , there being two candidates for initiation , three for passing , and three for raising , while in addition the members will be called upon to elect a Master , Treasurer , T yler , and Auditors for the next Lodge year . We hope to report the proceedings in due course .

Fitness For The Chair.

FITNESS FOR THE CHAIR .

EECEJNTLY : an I . P . M . of a Sydney Lodge , whose common sense is almost a household word in the Craft , in conversation with a representative of this periodical , suggested that a Board should be appointed to test the fitness of intending candidates for the chair of K . S ., and his suggestion , when mentioned , has invariably met with the approval of Worshipful Masters and Past Masters eminent in the Masonic world of New South Wales . Despite

the unanimity of opinion upon this matter , it appears to us that our Brethren have plunged into this subject " coute que coute" and from us there may be permitted a word or two , that , whilst not condemning the suggestion , will still bring to mind some obstacles in the path , which in their surrounding will require much thought , diplomacy , and ingenuity , particularly the latter .

Of course this subject has been thoroughly thrashed out recently in the discussions on papers read before the Masters and Wardens' Association of Victoria , and the suggestion is by no means a new one . Indeed , some Lodges in Victoria practice this plan and examine their candidates for the chair , notably the Victorian Naval and Military Lodge in Melbourne , but unless it

met the unanimous approval of the Brethren it would be a dead letter , for no candidate can be compelled to submit himself to such an examination , nor are the Brethren in any way bound to vote for the Brother , approved as fit by such a Board . The system is " ultra vires , " and could only be properly introduced if the Constitutions were altered . Then also in New South Wales

there is a special protection against improperly prepared men advancing to the chair in the wholesome elective system which prevails , and which is all powerful to select the best and most suitable men . No man of ordinary intelligence and education will contend that all New South Wales members exactly hit the popular notion of the found peg in the round hole , but whilst

this is to be deplored the emendation of the system would require to be applied so skillfully that honest moral and truthful men will not feel any pangs of contrition because in their early youth the educational advantages bestowed upon other men of no greater stamina , now in maturity , debar them

from honours , which no matter how looked at , should be bestowed upon merit alone . And in this lies the crux , of the whole thing , and how any Board , setting aside its peculiarity of Constitution , shall be able to devise a scheme which may prove a man ' s fitness in this respect is a conundrum most difficult to answer .

Shall we ordain that any candidate for the chair shall produce a publia school certificate of competency in average education ? If so , how shall we mollify the heart-burnings of the LL . B ., the M . A ., the Ph . D ., and the hosts of other cultured gentlemen in our ranks ? Shall we order that no Brother who has not read for his Arts degree is eligible ? Then how shall we treat

the publicist , the jurist , and journalist who have asserted and maintained their right to public favour as men of the world , with educations completed in that larger university of the world where men win their spurs by wit and action , and where scholastic diplomas are often set at naught by the inherent ability in men of very little book-learning , but with the " hall mark " of

experience . The examination of a Brother ' s ritualistic knowledge is not a difficult task ; and with this examination could be conjoined that of ascertaining his proficiency in the pronunciation of our mother tongue—but ; then , we all know that it is in the unwritten and untaught portions of his duty that any Worshipful Master has the opportunity of making or marring

the Lodge over whose destinies he wields the guiding hand . Can we , then , devise a scheme to test a candidate ' s ability , not only to perform the ritual work allotted to him , but also to rule his Lodge with tact , dignity , and decision ? If this be possible , we can examine candidates willing to undergo the test . We think , however , it is not possible at present , and after all we

have to fall back upon the good old rule of the majority , and New South Wales must still perform her examining when Brethren present themselves for subordinate offices , and thus be assured that all are placing upon the lowest rung of fortune ' s ladder one whose natural aptitude fits him for the highest pinnacle . — " Masonry . "

Amongst the wreaths sent for the funeral of Sir Augustus ' Harris was one from the Boys of our Wood Green School , " in memory of a dear friend , " and one from the Board of Management , " in sympathetic memory of a respected colleague . "

Do we always remember , when we see a strange face m our Lodge Boom , that we are at home , and on us rests the duty , as it should be a pleasure , of making our Lodge Boom a pleasant Masonic home , for the time being , to our visiting Brother ? We are apt to leave it to the Worshipful Master or other Officers . It

is a duty and a pleasure we should all delight in . A visiting Brother , having been duly examined and formally introduced , is too often left to his own devices in making acquaintances . Are we not his Masonic hosts ? Is he not of the same " household of faith" ? What better claim could he have to a Brotherly

grasp , a cheerful word , a kind attention to his comfort ? Is he a sojourning Brother ? He might be making up his mind where he shall cast his lot . Your kindly greetings , Brethren , decide him , and you have " lengthened your cords and strengthened your stakes . "— " Minstrel . "