Leicestershire And Rutland.

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

THE report of the Provincial Charity Committee states that no candidate for either of the Central Masonic Charities has claimed its support during the past year . A donation of £ 10 has been given to the widow of a late Brother of the

Vale of Catmos Lodge , No . 1265 , and one of £ 10 to a Brother who was , at one time , a member of the John o' Gaunt Lodge , No . 523 . A grant of £ 2 has also been made to the

widow of a late member of the Hinckley Lodge , No . 50 . In addition , the sum of 10 guineas was voted by Provincial Grand Lodge to the South African Masonic Relief Fund , to be paid out of the Provincial Charity Fund .

Bro . R . B . Starkey P . M . 1391 Prov . S . G . W . represented the Province as Steward at the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , in June , and took up a list amounting to £ 603 15 s . This is a record sum from this Province to the

Boys School , and at this Festival , with the exception of the Chairman ' s Province , was only exceeded by one other individual list , i he Committee beg to tender to Bro . Starkey their heartiest thanks for his successful appeals .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution claims the support of the Province during the coming year , and the Committee recommend that Bro . H . J . Grace P . M . 2028 P . P . G . Std . Br . be the Steward to represent Prov . G . Lodge at the forthcoming Festival .

The accounts of the Committee have been audited , and show a balance of £ 89 14 s 8 d standing to the credit of the Charity Fund .

In referring to the Kelly Memorial Fund , it is stated the Fund still lacks the support it so richly deserves , and that the Committee have had with deep regret to call attention for three years in succession to the smallness of the contributions which have been received .

In 1899 the total was only £ 56 10 s 3 d , in 1900 £ \ j 2 s 11 d , and for the present year but little over that of the past year , namely , £ 54 8 s 3 d . Doubtless the appeals made on behalf of the Central Masonic Charitable Institutions have had a deterrent effect on the claims of the Kelly Memorial

Fund , but the Committee again respectfully submit that the duty of supporting the local Benevolent Fund ought to be more fully recognised . It is anticipated that at the next meeting of the Committee at least one application for an educational grant will be submitted on behalf of the son of

a deceased member of one of the local Lodges , whose age renders him ineligible for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and it is also understood that further similar applications may come forward in the near future . Obviously with only the small income now available on the relief account , but little can be done in this direction .

Once again , therefore , the Committee very earnestly beg that this excellent Charity may in future receive much greater attention and support than has been afforded in the past , not only on account of the merits of the Charity itself , but also with the object of keeping prominently before the Craft in

the Province the long , faithful , and valuable Masonic services of the lamented deceased Brother in whose name the Fund has been established . In particular , it is strongly urged that

the several Lodges in the Province should regularly make an annual contribution from their funds . During the past year only the Provincial Grand Chapter and two private Lodges have contributed .

The following is the twenty-third annual report of the Committee of the Leicestershire and Rutland Masonic Charity Association , for the year ending 30 th September 1 9 , to be submitted for adoption at the general meeting to be held at the Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , in January , 1902 ;

For several years past the Committee in presenting their annual report have referred with pleasure to the continued success of the Association , and to the amounts paid over to the Central Masonic Charities . They have been enabled on several occasions to report that the year under consideration

had been a record one , and to congratulate the members thereon . In their last annual report the Committee stated that during the year ending 30 th September 1900 , there had been paid to the Central Masonic Charities the sum of ^ 231 ,

which was the largest amount ever paid by the Association in one year . The Committee feel it an especial pleasure now to be able to report that during the past year the amount paid was not only equal to , but substantially exceeded that sum .

Leicestershire And Rutland.

At the general meeting and annual drawing , held on the 9 th February 1901 , fifty-five nominations for Life-Subscriberships were drawn , and the following sums were afterwards paid , viz .: —To the Benevolent Institution , £$ 5 s , to the Boys School , £ 283 10 s , making a grand total of £ 288 15 s .

For the purpose of comparison the amounts paid during the last six years are given , as follow : 1896 £ 141 15 s , 1 897 £ 178 10 s , 1898 £ 225 15 s , 1899 £ 220 10 s , 1900 £ 231 os , 1901 £ 288 15 s , a total on the six years of £ 1 , 286 5 s . It is the earnest wish of the Committee that all will

unite to maintain and ensure the success and usefulness of the Association . New members must be enrolled every year , and subscribers can greatly assist the Committee by mentioning the objects and advantages of the Association to

Brethren who are not members . The Committee are pleased to report that during the past year thirty-two new members have been obtained , while they record with regret the deaths of five subscribing and past members of this Association .

All subscriptions become due on the 1 st October in each year , and should be paid to the Secretary , or to the account of the Association at the London City and Midland Bank , or any of its branches .

The general meeting and annual drawing for Life-Subscriberships will be held in or near January next . Names of new members should be sent to the Honorary Secretary , from whom the prospectus , bye-laws , and any information relating to the Association can be obtained .

The names of the representatives of Lodges , who will also be pleased to receive the names of new members and afford information , and other particulars as to the Association , will be found on pages 32 and 91 of the Provincial Calendar for the present year .

*********** *****¦)•¦»• The Albert Edward Lodge , No . 707 , holding from the Scottish Constitution , and meeting in Alexandria , Egypt , is enjoying prosperity , and is active in maintaining the traditions of Masonry . The Lodge meeting-place , however , is a burden ,

in point of a heavy rent , and at the last meeting , on the motion of Bro . Wm . Paterson I . P . M ., who was recently in Glasgow on a visit , it was resolved that an endeavour be made to get one representative from each Lodge meeting in the same premises , and that they be empowered to secure other

premises . Bro . Percy Smith was appointed to represent No . 707 . At the same meeting expressions of sympathy and condolence were recorded towards two Brethren of the Lodge who had met with sad bereavements in their respective

families . Bro . Ramsay , a member of Clydesdale and an affiliate of No . 707 , and Bro . Paterson I . P . M . reported on their recent visit to Scotland , expressing gratification in the manner they had been received while in Glasgow . — " Glasgow Evening News . "

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

INTERLOPING BRETHREN .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your interesting article under the above title in your issue of 23 rd inst . has attracted considerable attention in our district , and many have been the discussions upon it . It is difficult to believe that any Brother- —especially an Officer of Grand Lodge—would so far violate his obligation as to practically force his where he had itimate

way no leg , right to be . I quite agree with the authorities you quote " that such a thing was not likely to happen " in this country . But it has occurred , and the punishment meted out to the defaulter is most inadequate . Such a man is eminently unfit to be a Freemason , his honours as a Grand Officer should be immediately revoked , and he should be suspended , say for twelve months , from his Lodge , or for a further period until he

has purged his offence by ample apology . The mild form of censure is absurd , and would tend rather to induce others to go and do likewise . The admonition to the Lodge is uncalled for , because no one would venture to question the presence of a Grand Lodge Officer , and the ' admonition would appear rather more suited to Grand Lodge itself , for appointing an Officer who had not passed the chair . The case is exceedingly unsatisfactory , but it has been reduced to absurdity by the action of the Grand Lodge of Victoria . Yours fraternally , PAST MASTER ,