Charity Stewards.

propounded , related to tho expediency or non-expedioncy of having a banquet at the Annual Festivals in aid of our several Masonic Charities . I said that wo Masons , in electing to havo a banquet , merely followed a system which is almost universal in this country . I believe this is correct , and ALPHA admits " it may bo so in certain respects . " I further pointed out , that , as regards our Charities , the aggregate of

the sums subscribed in each case , found its way into tho coffers of the Institution—a not unnatural inference from which is , that while tho system may be almost universal , the manner in which it is practised is not necessarily so . Bat even supposing that our Charities bore the cost of the banquet , & c , it would still boa most profitable outlay . Non-stewards and ladies , having no claim whatever to dine at the

expense of the Charity , would still havo to pay for their tickets , so that the amount of the expense borno by the Institution wonld form a very small proportion of the amount subscribed . Let U 3 take Bro . Binckes's last Festival , which yielded in round figures some £ 10 , 400 . Tho £ 400 would certainly havo more than covered tho cost of tho Stewards' dinners and what I will describe as the official outlay , in

the shape of badges , advertising , music , & c , or somewhere ahout four per cent , on the net produce . As to Bro . Binckes ' s arguments being , as I suggested , " well nigh , if not quite unanswerable , " that is merely the expression of my individual opinion , which must be taken for what it is worth and nothing more . ALPHA ' S suggestion , however , that Bro . Binckes does not himself

appear to think so , and tho reasou for this suggestion , namely , that Bro . Binckes is writing " with a view of doing good to tho Institutions , " are , with all duo deference to ALPHA , about as milk-andwatery a suggestion and reason as it is possible for any correspondent to propound . I presume Bro . Binckes has faith in the arguments he has tho courage to express , and I dare say , with my knowledge of

" OUR HEIICULES ' S ' powers as a dialectician , ho is quvte prepared to maintain them against all comers . At the same time his native modesty would forbid his suggesting their nnanswerableness , while it is opon to me and others , who read his letters , to conceive they are unanswerable or nearly so . It is most unlikely that Bro . Binckes or any one elso who may write " with a view of doing good to our Institutions , "

would advance any arguments in the virtue of which ho had not entire faith . I think no one can havo read his letters on " ( a ) the necessity for Anniversary Festival dinners , " and " ( b ) tho expenditure of both timo and money by thoso who undertake tho duties of Stewards , " without arriving at the conclusion that ho believes fully in tbo virtue of the present system , and I shonld imagine he is

prepared to uphold his reasons for so thinking . He cannot say my opinions are " well nigh , if not quite unanswerable , " but in communicating them to you , Sir , with a view to insertion in yonr valuable journal , ho does , in fact , challenge the opinion of tho Masonic public as to their merits . Lord Skelmersdale at the Mark Benevolent Fuud dinner put it , as we are told , suggestively—but without condemning

the present system— " Could we not raise tho necessary funds for our Institutions without incurring tho expense of a dinner ? " Bro . Binckes had risen , and in reply , said , "I think not , my lord , with my sixteen or seventeen years' experience as Secretary of one of them , p . nd there are many reasons for my so thinking . " Those reasons arc , in my humble judgment , such as I li lve described them . Let ALPHA , instead of criticising poor unfortunate me , for venturing to have an

opinion , and others answer them if they can , aud suggest a better plan for raising the needful . I will wager Bro . Binckes will bo the first to accept any system which it can bo shown will surpass the present one in accumulating funds for our Institutions . He has to bear the brunt of the labour entailed by tho present system , Dot the least considerable c responsible portion of which is the ordering all the necessary arrangements for tho dinner . I dare say he will be only too glad to find this labour reduced . Fraternally and faithfully yours , "P T . "

Dedication Of A New Masonic Hall At Shipley.

DEDICATION OF A NEW MASONIC HALL AT SHIPLEY .

ADDRESS BY EARL CARNARVON , PRO GRAND MASTER OF ENGLAND .

ON Tuesday aftornoou , an interesting ceremony in connection with tho Airedale Lodge of Froomasons , took place at their now Masonic Hall , viz ., tho dedication of tho Lodgo Room to tho purposes of Freemasonry . Tho brethren of the Lodgo assembled in good force but owing to the limited accommodation of tho building ( although sufficiently large for tho purposes of their own meetings ) , they wero nnablo to mako tho occasion so general as it otherwise would havo

been . Their invitations included tho acting members of tho Provincial Grand Lodgo of West Yorkshire , and they had succeeded in securing the honour of tho company of tho Most Worshipful Brother the Earl of Carnarvon Pro Graud Master . Tho Lodge having been opened by tho W . M . and Officers of the Airedale Lodge , Provincial Grand Lodgo entered , and was presided

over by the Right Worshipful Bro . Lieut . Colonel Sir II . Edwards , Bart ., Prov . G . M ., assisted by tho Worshipful Bro . T . W . Tow D . P . G . M . of West Yorkshire . After the customary salutations of these two dignitaries , a procession was formed , and escorted tho M . W . Pro Graud Master Earl Carnarvon into tho Lodge . Sir Henry . Edwards , Prov . Grand Master , replying to his saluto ,

said he begged to return his hearty thanks to tho assembly for their very cordial reception of him . Wo are gathered hero to-day , ho said , to perform an important ceremony . It is to dedicate this new Masonic Hall to tho purposes of Freemasonry for ever ; and to encourage and exhort the brethren in this town and Province to learn and practise moro aud more tho beautiful principles of our

ancient Fraternity . We aro honoured to-day by the presence of tho Pro Grand Master of England , the Earl of Carnarvon . This compliment to Wost Yorkshire is warmly felt and appreciated by the whole Craft in this Province , over which I havo the honour to preside . I need not dilate on tho admirable way in which the Pro Grand Master performs his Masonic responsibilities , or the immense

interest ho takes in tho affairs of Grand Lodgo . He always does everything ho nudertakes for the benefit of tho Craft iu the same admirable manner , and , I repeat , we owe him a debt of gratitude for being amongst ns to-day . The address of the Pro Grand Master to H . lt . H . the Prince of Wales , on his installation as Grand Master , on tho 28 th April 1875 , which I had tho honour to listen to , will be long

remembered . Wo welcome the Pro Grand Master to West Yorkshire , a Provinco of sixty-live Lodges and 3000 Loyal Masouic subjects , who road with tho deepest interest of his dignified conduct whilst occupying tho throne of Freemasonry in Grand Lodge . ( Applause . ) After referring to the promptness with which tho Provinco of West Yorkshire is worked , Sir Henry said , —Ic is a

wellknown circumstance that wherever yon find prosperous Lodges , they are certain to bo most loyal and punctual observers of tho regulations and landmaiks of Grand Lodge and the bye-laws of the Craft . ( Hear , hear . ) Again thanking the Pro Grand Master for his presence amongst them , tho R . W . Prov . Grand Master called upon tho brethren to salute his lordship with the honour due to his

exalted rank ; a call most heartily responded to , Tho Secretary , Bro . Riley P . M . then read an address of welcome to Earl Carnarvon , which he afterwards presented to his lordshi p . The Ri g ht Hon . Earl Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master , iu responding , said , Right Worshipful Sir , and Brethren , —It did nod need so hearty a demonstration of feeling to assure him of meeting in Yorkshire ,

and , indeed , in every part where Freemasonry prevails , a truly fraternal and sympathetic wolcome . Ho rejoiced greatly to have the opportunity of coming amongst them that day . He rejoiced to hear from their R . W . Prov . Grand Master of the progress of Freemasonry in West Yorkshire . Ho rejoiced to take part in meeting tho W . M . and brethren of tho Airedale Lodge , a Lodge old in Masonic history ,

well known in tho Craft , and holding an honourable position in I his Province , in their new home ; and ha cordially teudot-d them hi 3 hearty good wishes . It would bo tho begiuuiug of a flush chapter in the history of the Lodge , and he hoped it would also be the beginning of fresh honours for Masouic success . ( Applause ) . It had been truly said in that address which had been read over to him

( Earl Carnarvon ) that Masonry had a world-wido name and character . He would only add a few words to that assertion , that when we reflect on tho truthfulness of that fact , it is more patent to ns that wo each havo a great duty to perforin . Our aim , by our own conduct , whether we act iu the Lodge , or iu the Province , " or in our individual capacity outside tho Lodge , should be to uphold and

maintain the fair fame of tho name and character of Freemasonry ; that wo may not only hand it down to the next generation u .. sullied , but send it on with additional lustre . ( Applause . ) All who study Freemasonry know the high standpoint iis principles profess ; and all who come to its ranks ought to live to those principles . ( Hear , hear . ) Every Lodge , he said , ought to possess a home of its own nothing so much as a migratory raudonco tenJod to clamago tho

Disposal Of Lodge Funds.

DISPOSAL OF LODGE FUNDS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR Sin AND BROTHER , —I am much obliged to you for having given space to my letter last week , and in accordance with my proposal therein , 1 send you a second balance sheet , which I am pleased to say is of a much more 3 I « -o ) iic character ,

I may add that this has not been selected vviih a view of showing extremes , but is tho second one which I came across . This Lodge was not established until two years after that which I noticed fast week . The difference in tho mode of managing these two Lodges mnst be considerable if we may judge from tho state of the funds .

BALANCE SHEET OF LODGE . ONE YEAR—1877-8 : — RECEIPTS . Balances ( including £ 150 invested ) £ 336 3 2 Interest on invested funds ... 6 9 9 Other receipts 259 11 0

£ 1502 3 11 EXPENDITURE . Tavern bil ' s for Lodgo meetings ; the summer Festival and Committee on same £ 238 19 6 Grand Lodge certificates aud dues ... ... ... 25 6 0

Grant to Masonic charity 20 0 0 P . M . ' s jewel 7 7 0 Tyler 2 10 0 Printing , postages , & o 6 7 1 Balances ( including £ 244 12 a Gd invested ) 30114 4 £ 602 3 11

Disposal Of Lodge Funds.

It will thu 3 be seen that tho members ot this Lodgo aro ablo to considerably augment their funds by investing the unemployed portion of their capital . Tho amount likely to be added , iu the way of interest , during the current year being over ten guineas . The experience gained in tho case of this and tho two Lodg 03

referred to by Bro . Barnes , in his letter last week , shew that you , in your article , under-estimated the amount which can bo earned by putting money out at interest . You therein stato that three per cent , can bo realised . These examples shew that , as far as largo balances aro concerned , 4 and even 4 fc per cent , is attainable . Yours fraternally , UNION JACK .