Correspondence.

I now oomo to the consideration of what has been given to me da a " model" balance sheet , and in order that I may be convinced , or that I may bo ablo to convince others , I should like the opinion of some of your readers ;—I will give mine lator on . No . 7 .

BALANCE SHEET OF LODGE ¦ ONE Y * AR— 18 / 8 : — RECEIPTS . Balauc forward : ( Exclusive of abont 300 0 0 invested monies ) : — General Fund 5 i 14 1 Benevolent Fund - - 54 7 0 — 109 1 1

Receipts for tho year : — Subscriptions - - 230 7 0 Initiation and Joining Fees - 74 19 6

TiBitora and Wine Fees - 46 9 0 Donation to Benevolent Fond 5 5 0 Charity Box Collections - 7 19 0 Dividend on invested monies 15 17 1 380 16 7 £ 489 17 8

EXPENDITURE . Refreshment - £ 233 1 8 Grand Lodge certificates and dues - - ••23 13 ( 5 Grant to Masonio Charity and individuals : — From Lodge Funds - . 18 18 0 „ Benevolent Fond ¦ 2 0 0

20 18 0 P . M . ' s jewel 5 5 0 Tyler 4 15 3 Printing , postages , & c . 14 10 6

Balances forward : — General Fand - - - 38 14 8 Benevolent Fund - - 45 2 10 Invested money increased by 103 16 3 — 187 13 9 £ 489 17 8

Now if this is a " model , I must admit that my idea of Freemasonry is fonnded on a wrong principle . When I was made a Mason I was taught thafc ono of its characteristics was Charity , and since thafc time I havo frequently heard the same " doctrino " preached —but nonsense I begin to « onsider it ; and I suppose if I am present

at an initiation to-morrow , I shall have to listen to ifc again . Now it seems to me that any man of senso who on his first insight into a Lodge gets hold of its balance sheet ( if it be anything like the bulk of those I have seen ) , and cares to look at the matter rationally , must form an opinion of Freemasonry—such as ifc will take a very long time to disabuse him of , even if ho is ever " converted . " For a Lodgo to

spend £ 233 Is Sd out of £ 241 5 s 3 d—which represents the total amount of its receipts after deducting compulsory allowances to Beuevolenb Fund , Grand Lodge , and incidental expenses—in refreshment , and only £ 18 18 s in Charity , is far from " charitable . " The Lodge actually closes tbe year £ 15 19 s 5 d worse off than ifc started ,

and yet takes to itself the credit of being a great supporter of the C barities , simply because tho older members paid enough to entitle the Lodge to rank as T . President or T . Patron of the various funds . If brethren will go on this rate , surely it would be better to cnt ont the " charity " gag from our ceremony . Yours fraternally , UNION JACK .

THINGS OND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTnEit , —I seem to have trodden on Bro . Perceval ' s toes . I trust I have not seriously injured him , nor damaged the cause of the candidates whose interests he advocates . He is evidentl y angry , and wishes to enter upon an epistolary warfare with me . It takes two , afc least , to indulge in the luxury of a quarrel ; I decline to

be one of the number . Will auy of your readers kiudly state the custom , if any , as to wearing the rosettes supplied to Stewards at Anniversary Festivals of our Masonic Charities subsequently to the events . I have observed occasionally , when visiting Provincial Lodges , thafc members

who have served as Stewards wears the rosettes in Lod ge , on the ground thafc thoy are entitled to do so for twelve months after the Festival for which they acted . I do not find the custom prevailing in London Lodges , nor in those of the Provinces immediately adjoining the Metropolis . Yours fraternally , FORTE . 5 th March 1879 .

THE LATE BRO . BOTLY , OF READING . "THE MEMORY OF THE . IUST IS BLESSED . " To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BKOTHER , —Yon have my warmest thanks for dilating on tho character , as well as recording the melancholy obsequies of onr lamented worthy Bro . Botly . I had first the pleasure of meeting him in Scotland , iu a philanthropic character among savans ; and afterwards afc Brighton , at the meeting of Social

Correspondence.

Science at that sea-side resort ; wo afterwards dined together at tha residonco of the speaker of the House of Commons in that locality . Onr acquaintance ripened into a mutual and lasting warm friendship , and recently I was his guest at Reading—so' that I am qualified to attest hi 3 noble character .

Bro . Botly was nob only a good and worthy Mason , but he was also a trnly religious man—of sound doctrino and holy life . A geutloman of thoso liberal sentiments which aro truly Conservative , of a high moral tone , and most exemplary in every action and relation of lifo . He was to mo a most efficient and ready auxiliary in every benevolent

enterprise . Stioh brother Masons as onr lamonted Brother Botly we cannot afford to lose , and whilst with pious resignation wo shed tears of heartfelt sorrow , we pray that such os he may be abundantly multiplied . Oh ! to what an apex of moral grandeur would Masonry rise in this country if all tho brethren were dignified with the same attributes of character as our late lamonted Brother Botly .

Yonrs faithfully , DANIEL ACE , D . D . ( 31 ° ) . Laughton Ticarage , near Gainsborough , 5 th March 1879 .

FREEMASONRY AT THE EAST END .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I was pleased to hear that a new Lodgo was about to be established at tho Bow Testry Hall , as I considered a Freemason ' s Lodge in the neighbourhood of Bow very much needed , but sorry indeed ami to find an " opposition shop " has been opened an the opposite side of the road . A house divided against itself

cannot possibly stand ; ono Lodge would have done well ; but why a second warrant should have been granted for tbe district , unless to meet the requirements of the " lower order , " I cannot tell . I am sadly afraid that this No . 2 Lodge has been started for no other purpose than to add an extra jewel to some Past Master's breast . As I do not not know who is

tbe first W . M ., of course 1 cannot say ; but with regret I notice this is becoming quite the order of the day . A new Lodge is started ; some ambitions Past Master takes the chair ; serves for twelve months , receives a handsome jewel . Business then , or other matters , prevent him attending as ho would wish , and so he either retires altogether , or becomes a country member . Oh ! how cheap is popularity if you

only know how to work it . Dear Bro . Editor , should any of your readers havo decided to joiu Masonry let me caution them to be Tory careful whafc Lodges tbey join ; they are rot all Masons who bedeck themselves with the emblems of the Order ; and to yon , my young friends , I would recommend you to be cautious how you part with your initiation fees ; yon may a year or two hence be required to be ballotted for as joining member to some other Lod , 'o . Yonrs fraternally , A GRUMBLER .

Installation Meetings.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS .

EOYAL ATHELSTAN LODGE . No . 19 .

THIS anfctent and flourishing Lodge held its installation meeting on Thursday , tho 13 th nit . There was a largo attendance , and amongst thoso prosenfc we may mention tho R . W . Col . Burdett P . G . M . for Middlesex , Bros . Burt , Sheriff of London and Middlesex , Under-Sheriff Goddon , and several Gr . 'ind and Pi-ovincial Grand Officors . The chair was occupied by tho W . M . Bro . J . Charles ; W . J . Foster S . W .. Barnes as J . W ., Starling P . M . Treas ., E . B . Grabham P . M . Sec ,

Archbold S . D ., II . Archbold J . D ., Ponnd as I . G . Past Masters Bros . A . T . nollingsworth , Goldsmith , Nicholson , Bywatcr , Potter , Eice , Whitmore . Lodge was opened , and tho minutes were confirmed . Bro . Sneath was raised to the third degreo ; the traditional history being beautifully delivered . A Board of luslalled Masters was opened , and Bro . W . J . Foster S . W . was presented to the Lodge and

duly installed into the chair by the acting W . M . Tho proceedings were couducted in a perfect and impressive mauuer thafc well warranted the encomiums passed on him at its conclusion . There were 28 W . M . 's and P . M . 's present . On the re-admission of the brethren , the W . M . was saluted according to auiient custom , aud he appointed and invested his Officers : —J . Charles I . P . M ., Archbold S . W ., Jepps

J . W ., Starling P . M . Treas . ( for the tweuty-secoud time ) , E . Collard S . D ., Pollard J . D ., Glen I . G ., Bywater P . M . D . C ., J . Pound W . S ., Gilbert Tyler . Great applause followed the investiture of each Officer . The Installing Master , in handing over the warrant to the W . M ., said he felt a great pleasure iu so doiug ; the Lodge had been in existence over a hundred years ; aud he was sure the warrant

would lose noue of its prestige while in Bro . Foster ' s possession . Hearty good wishes having been given , tho Lodgo was closed , and the brethren , 98 iu number , adjourned to the Pillar Room , whore a sumptuous banquet and dessert was provided by Bro . E . fl . Hand . Grace having been sung , the loving- cup was handed round , and the W . M . proposed the health of Her Majesty the Queen and Prosperity

to the Craft . Bro . G . Buckland sang the solo verses of tho National Anthem . The toast of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M . was received with acclamation . The W . M . next proposed the tonsfc of the Pro G . M ., the Deputy G . M . and the rest of the Grand Officers Bro . Grabham P . M . and Sec , in eloquent terms proposed the ; health of Col . Burdett Prov . G . M . Middlesex . All kuew how popular the Colonel was , not onlv iu Grand Lodge , but also in his Province . He