Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

EXTENSION OP THE BOYS SCHOOL .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —While there is so much controversy as to what is best to do in regard to the future of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys I think a pause might be made to view what is being done in West Lancashire , where the local Masonic Educational Institution last year assisted 206 children , at a cost of £ 1 , 473—this , be it remembered , in addition to the annuities granted by the Hamer and Alpass Funds .

Thus , we see that while the Institution in London is striving to prove the necessity of sacrificing thousands of pounds in removing its School from Wood Green , with the ultimate object of providing for 300 , 350 or 400 boys , the single Province of West Lancashire is providing for the needs of 206 children at probably less than a fiftieth part of what will be spent on the proposed new School .

I am very pleased indeed to see West Lancashire doing this noble work , and pleased also to see that other Provinces are following on similar lines , but why do these local funds become necessary ? and what is to be the position , even in the near future , of these same funds in comparison with the central Institutions ? Is it not a fact that they were promoted and have prospered because the central Institutions do not do what is deemed necessary for the requirements of the present age ? and is ifc not likely that they will eventually prove serious rivals to the London Schools , inasmuch as local funds will go to them in preference to the latter ?

To my mind it is ridiculous to talk of spending thousands of pounds to provide a . home for 300 or 400 boys—for the whole Graft of England—when dne of its Provinces has 206 children on its funds . I suppose everyone of those 206 are deserving of the help fchey receive , and that being so it seems to me unfair to make arrangements to help so few at so large a cost as at . present prevails , when so many are among us deserving of sympathy and assistance .

I am of opinion that the work of the Boys School might be widely extended on the lines of this fund of West Lancashire , the School at Wood Green being kept as at present , as a reward for a chosen few ; and I hope the Board of Management may yet see their way to make a counter proposition to that now before the Craft . It would not cost them more than £ 1 , 500 a year to help 200 boys on the same lines as West Lancashire adopts with its children , and I believe the return would be such as to speedily prove the popularity of the project . Is it too much to ask them to try it , before they spend the thousands that a new School will cost ? Yours , Sec , A PROVINCIAL .

Freemasonry And The Press.

FREEMASONRY AND THE PRESS .

IT is not often the Masonic authorities take notice of anything that appears in the press , and the following letter , presumably official , from the Grand Chapter of Scotland to the " Glasgow Evening News , " is on that account all the more noticeable :

SIR , —I have to complain of certain paragraphs in the " Glasgow Evening News" of Wednesday last , under the heading " Square and Compasses , " which have just come under my notice . The paragraphs referred to criticise the business of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Freemasons of Scotland , making special mention of what was done , or rather not done , at the last Quarterly Communication held on the 9 th inst .

Now , I submit that as the Supreme Grand Chapter is the governing body of a private society , and not a public body amenable to anyone outside of its communion , it is very improper for any unauthorised person to discuss its proceedings in fche public press , in respect that all the proceedings of the body are published and issued to its constituent members and subordinate Chapters . No reporters , as such , are invited to its meetings ; any such are

only present as ordinary members , and have no more authority to notice the proceedings than any . other member , and the Secretary is the only authorised person to do so . Notice was taken at a recent meeting of a similar occurrence , but it was allowed to drop in the hope that it would nofc occur again . I enclose cuttings wifch the paragraphs referred to , and have to state , over and above the impropriety of publication , the facts are not correctly stated .

I am , Sec , R . S . BROWN Secretary Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland , Edinburgh . 25 th September 1896 .

AN addition to the series of " Everybody ' s Books , " published by Messrs . Saxon and Co . ( 23 Bouverie Street , E . G . ) , has just appeared under the title " Everybody's Medical Guide , " a mass of useful information being collected

in handy form . As with the previous ones of the series the book is published at 6 d in cloth , or Is in leather ; while as evidence of their popularity we may refer to the fact that as many as 750 , 000 copies have been sold of some of the earlier works .

THE return of traffic on the Great Eastern Railway for the week ending 4 th inst ., shows an increase of £ 3 , 794 as compared with last year , and an aggregate increase on the fourteen weeks of the current half year of £ 47 , 261 ,

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings . — : o : — CEAET : METROPOLITAN .

ROBERT BURNS LODGE , No . 25 . THE regular meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , on Monday , when the W . M . Bro . T . Fullwood was ably assisted by the following Officers : —Bros . F . Deaton P . M . S . W ., H . Davis J . W ., W . Harvey P . M : Sec , J . Elliott P . M . Treas ., W . Maynard I . P . M ., and several other Past Blasters , W . Baddeley S . D ., T . Jacobs J . D ., F . V . Rogers-Romily I . G ., James Harding P . M . Tyler , also Bros . J . Watts , Maurice Woolf , W . Hurt , A . E . Webster , William Lovell Hurt , W . Elsdon , Robert Eddie , and others .

Amongst the Visitors were Bros . Charles Hunt P . M . 194 , T . Smith 1622 , H . Benjamin 931 , F . Herbert 2206 , E . Reyersbach 1409 . The Lodge being opened the minutes of last meeting were confirmed . After a few preliminaries Bro . W . L . Hurt was passed as a Fellow Craft , and Bro . Robert Eddie was unanimously elected a joining member . Mr . Taylor Ware was regularly initiated , the work in the several degrees reflecting credit on the Master and Officers alike , the efforts of the chief being most ably supported by the juniors .

Other business having been disposed of the Lodge was closed and the Brethren adjourned to the banquet room of Freemasons' Tavern , where an excellent repast was provided . At its conclusion the usual Loyal toasts were submitted from the chair . In due course the I . P . M . proposed the health of the Master , which , was most heartily honoured . Replying , the W . M . thanked the Brethren for their continued manifestations of approval , and promised to do all in his power to further the interests of the Lodge , and advance the welfare of its members .

This response was followed by the toast of the Initiate Bro . G . Taylor Ware , and that of the joining member Bro . Robt . Eddie J . W . of the Crystal > ' Palace Lodge , No . 742 , to which each responded in suitable terms . Afterwards the visitors were welcomed from the chair , and received with a hearty toast , each acknowledging the compliment . Other toasts followed , including that of the I . P . M ., who , in his response , wished the W . M . a successful year of office .

The pleasures of the evening were greatly increased by the vocal efforts of several of the Brethren , and the Tyler ' s toast concluded a most successful and pleasant meeting .

ECCENTRIC LODGE , No . 2488 . A DISTINGUISHED company , which included many of the best known names in English Freemasonry , assembled on Friday of last week at the Masonic Temple attached to the Criterion Restaurant , Piccadilly Circus , to take part in the annual festival of this highly popular Lodge . Brother Walter E . Clifford presided , and was supported by his Officers and the following Brethren : —Edward Letchworth Grand Secretary , Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale P . G . Treas ., Alderman Frank Green P . G . D ., C . F . Matier P . G . S . B .,

Dr . Lennox Browne P . G . D . C , J . D . Langton D . G . D . C , Frank Richardson P . G . D ., Thomas Fenn Past President Board of General Purposes , Sir John B . Monckton P . G . W . who wore the badge of a Scottish Lodge , Charles Belton P . G . D . C , Will E . Chapman A . G . D . C , F . Osmond Carr P . P . J . G . W . Cambs ., J . H . Hawkins P . P . G . D . C . Surrey , William Francis P . P . G . D . C . Kent , C . O . Burgess P . P . S . G . D . Surrey , W . B . Fendick P . P . G . S . B . Bucks , W . J . W . Beard P . M . 101 , W . Sergeant Lee P . M . 120 , J . R . Cleave I . P . M . 2473 , C . A .

Hooper P . M . 1613 , E . L . Berry W . M . 2473 , F . Dangerfield P . M . 1260 , W . H . Burney P . M . 2332 , H . S . Wellcome P . M . 3 , G . W . Fitzwilliam W . M . 2533 , Harry Nicholls P . M . 2127 , J . H . Gretton P . M . 108 , Imre Kiralfy W . M .-elect 2581 , 0 . L . Carson W . M . 2190 , H . Times P . M . 165 , E . Jessurun P . M . 2397 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , W . H . Baylis P . M . 9 , W . H . Bullock P . M . 2128 , A . J . Thomas P . M . 227 , A . J . Weber P . M . 90 , N . Morice P . M . 176 , T . Quilhampton P . M . 176 , M . Slaughter P . M . 176 , E . W . Harris P . M . 158 , F .

Newton P . M . 90 , L . W . Thomas P . M . 227 , together with Bros . R . T . West , J . Woodhouse , H . Phillips , E . J . Coulon , E . V . Salaman , Frank Parker , T . A . Roberts , G . B . Morgan , G . C Breese , J . H . Dimsdale , H . Peck , E . Reid , W . J . Beard , W . J . Grimes , B . Hopkins , H . R . Paterson , 0 . R . Noble , C . Head , G . Mason , F . Jesse , J . A . Atkin , C E . Liles , Newton Crane , G . Bird , J . Mayo , W . Boyter-Johnson , J . Beesty , H . S . Simmons , A . S . Ellum , L . C . James , E . L . Wood , J . M . Owens , E . J . Lang , W . De Boos , G . Plumbley , T . A . Skeate , R . S . King , H . Reece , W . E . Garstin , A . Garstin , M . J . Shepherd , 0 . Alias , A . Buckler , E . Cremetti , G . M . Pratt , F . J . Page , O . A , Osborne , J . B .

Burton , A . Romano , Sidney Jousiffe , W . Lockerman , and many others . After the minutes had been read and confirmed the ballot was taken and proved unanimous in favour of eight Brethren as joining members ; and Messrs . Samuel Garcia Asher , Ben Nathan , and Robert Green were approved as candidates for initiation at the next meeting . The chair was then taken by Bro . Edward Letchworth , when Bro . John Arthur Harrison W . M .-elect was presented by Bro . P . M . Sergeant Lee , and gave his assent to the customary charges and regulations . After the

obligation Bro . Courfcice Pounds sang the anthem " Be thou faithful unto death . " A Board of Installed Masters , numbering nearly forty , was then formed , and Bro . Harrison was regularly installed into the chair of King Solomon according to ancient form . Tho ceremony was admirably conducted by Bro . Letchworth , who also delivered the beautiful addresses with excellent effect .

The Brethren having been admitted , tbe new Master was duly proclaimed and saluted . Bro . Harrison then invested the following Officers , addressing a neat speech of congratulation to each , and winding up with the old Charge to the Tyler : —W . S . Hooper S . W ., John Foss J . W ., W . J . W . Beard P . M . Treas ., Will E . Chapman P . M . Secretary , L . W . Harris S . D ., S . H . S . Austin J . D ., G . P . Hadley I . G ., W . Sergeant Lee P . M . D . C ., E . Jackson Lang Organist , Arthur Tite , Frank Parker , Tom Fraser and W . E . Garstin Stewards , and A . Ellis Tyler .

In kindly terms the W . M . then presented Bro . Walter Clifford with a Past Master ' s jewel that had been voted to him by the Lodge , and which bore the following inscription :