Inequalities Of Charity.

__ . — t us . If we would understand the feelings of others we must try and realise their position , and regard matters from their stand-point . Suppose two widows with equal numbers of children , and in a somewhat similar pecuniary condition . Mrs . A . has already a girl in the Masonio School , and desires to get a son in also . Mrs . B . wishes to

get her son in the School too , but finds her chance discounted by the double claim of Mrs . A . What naturally would be the feelings of any one placed in the position of Mrs . B . ? Why , I have no hesitation in saying it would be a keen sense of injustice . I have supposed perfect equality in necessity , but this rarely exists . It may be , and

often is the fact , that the most successful are the least deserving , comparatively speaking . It is a truth which cannot be controverted that many a deserving case is lost for want of means and friends to secure success . To make matters worse , by giving double to some ,

while others are sent empty away , is the refinement of cruelty . While the demand continues to be what it is , the rule should be one family , one school place ; and if there is no law to that effect , the sooner one ia made the better . I am ashamed sometimes to witness

the way some claims are pushed . I often think that the mark of true charity is missed , and tbat it is administered upon the principle that " he that bath , to him shall be given ; and he that hath not , from him shall be taken away , even that which he hath . " This is a selfish age , I am afraid , aud in the struggle for gain people forget

the rights and claims of others . Perhaps the Committees of the two Schools will take the matter into consideration , and adopt the single plan of election . If they cannot do this , I see no possible means of correcting an injustice , the result of might and the possession of cash and friends .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , JUSTICE

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

KENNINGTON CHAPTER , No . 1381 . THE installation meeting of this oxcellent-working Chapter was held on the 2 nd inst ., at the Horns Tavern , Kennington . Pre - sent . —Comps . W . P . Webb M . E . Z ., C . H . Kohler ( M . E . Z . elect ) H ., H . M . Appleton J ., G . Everett P . Z . Treas ., H . Higgins P . Z . S . E . The Chapter was opened and the minutes were confirmed . A ballot was taken for the admission of Bro . W . A . Dowling , who was

duly exalted into R . A . Masonry . The report of the Audit Committee waa read and adopted . Later on Comp . Kohler was installed as M . E . Z ., H . M . Appleton H ., E . Ayling J . The ceremonies were performed by Comp . Jas . Terry P . Z ., who as usual gave a faultless and impressive rendering . The M . E . Z . then appointed and

invested the following Officers : G . Everett P . Z . Treasurer , H . Higgins P . Z . S . E ., G . Gardner P . S ., H . J . Lardner P . Z . S . N ., H . Cruse 1 st Asst . Soj ., W . A . Dowling 2 nd Asst . Soj . A letter of condolence , to be recorded on the minutes , was unanimously voted to Comp . G . Everett , sympathising with him on his recent sad bereavement . A

cordial vote of thanks was also given to Comp . Jas . Terry for the able and efficient manner in which he had performed the ceremony of installation . The Chapter was then closed , aud the Companions sat down to a very excellent banquet , provided by Camp . Buxton . After the formal toasts , Comp . Kohler , in eulogistic terms , proposed

the health of the M . E . Z . This having been responded to , the M . E . Z . proposed the health of the I . P . Z ., and presented him with a very elegant P . Z . 's jewel for the services rendered by him to the Chapter dnring his year of office . Comp . Kohler having suitably replied the nowlv-exalted Companion was complimented ; the M . E . Z . was

proud of the introduction Comp . Dowling had brought with him , while from the attention he had paid to the ceremony ho felt snro he would be a credit to the Chapter . Comp . Dowling said it afforded him great pleasure to be exalted ; he ancl Comp . Gardner had worked aide by side in the Craft satisfactorily , and he hoped they

would work equally so in the Chapter . Comps . H . Lee P . Z . 795 and H . E . Prico 1507 responded for the Visitors . The toasts of tho Treasurer , Secretary , and Officers , and that of tho Janitor were given in dne course . Comps . Webb , Walls and Cruse contributed to the harmony , and Comp . Jas . Terry gave au excellent recitation .

A Convocation of the North London Chapter of Improvement was held on Thursday evening , at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , St . Paul ' s Road , Canonbury , at o ' clock

Comps . W . Radcliffe M . E . Z ., J . Stragtiell H ., G . Gregory J . > ^ J . E . Sheffield S . K ., R . V Davis S . N ., K . VV . Mone P-S ., T . C . Edmonds Preceptor . This Chapter of Improvement is always well attended , and on this occasion the

respective offices were abl y represented . Unfortunatel y Comp . Captain Nicols , through indisposition , was unable to be present to recite the clauses of the R . A . degree .

inl UOlriY ' s Ptf'Ls A . CD OtXT . MK . vr . —Rheumatism and . _ coi _ t . —These purifvnjf ritid _ soothing remedie .. deserve the _ . _ irue _* t attention of all persons liable to = >? pi sciatica-, or other painful att ' ections of the muscle ., nerves , or joints The umtment should i , c applied after the affected parts have been patiently . " -wanted with warm water , when it should be diligently rubbed upon the ail-TCnr ¦ ¦ 1 * ' ¦¦ - " - - .-. * -..-.. _ .- __ --.-. - £ , _ ,- _ ,.. _ , ; __« ..,- _ . __ ,. _ . _ _ . _ v /_ i ¦ _ ¦ ___ . ¦¦ _ . mi ,-

. .. _ . t . np 11 ' - e 3 ; s the * net-on cait . es pain . Holloway's Pills should bo simul Thi l 1 S t ! , kcrl t 0 diminish pain , reduce inflammation , and purify the blood in-iM treatm - - ' ; "bates the viole ico ana lessens tho Irequeuoy ot ' gout , vhon- ' tion . ' spasmodic disease- * , which spri * . _ r from hereditary predispositVi-,. '_ , . , . accidental wt . aka . _ s o £ constitution . Tho Om . m . nt checks tn « local malady , while the Pills restore vital power .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , N . — : o : — " Chips from a Bough Ashlar 'knocked off' by the Gavel of Common

Sense ; a Discourse on the Ritual and Ceremonial of Freemasonry . By W . Bro . James Stevens P . M . P . Z , & c . Anthor of ' Uniformity of Masonic Ritual and Observance , ' ' Map of the Masonic Lodgea in England and Wales , ' & c , & c . London : Bro . Richard Tilling , 55 Warner-street , Great Dover-street , Southwark , S . E . 1885 .

AMID some verbiage that might very well be left out , there is a great deal in this capitally got up volume to make Freemasons think . We cannot say of it what Professor Sedgwick once said of a sermon of his tbat had swollen into a bulky volume , that the discourse looked " like a grain of wheat between two mill stones . " On the contrary ,

the grains of wheat are everywhere in Bro . Stevens Book ; and if now and then there is more of tbe husk than there should be , we must remember that men differ iu style of writing as well as in modes of speech . Bro . Stevens is an earnest reformer , and an enthusiastio Mason . Earnestness and enthusiasm are not quite so much

admired in this utilitarian age as they used to be , and we must nofc be surprised if men discount words as they do time , by crowding as much as possible into a given space . Were it not , however , for suoh men as Bro . Stevens , Freemasonry would lack a spur that is sadly needed , sincerity would lose some of its force , and example its

encouragement . We commend Bro . Stevens for his discretion in dealing with points of ritual that cannot be disclosed to the vulgar world . In this sense his work is a model of propriety ; while , in a critical sense it is bold and assertive , it is not offensive nor bigotted . Every Preceptor of a Lodge of Instruction ought to have this book , and no

student of the Craft should omit consulting its pages . There is much that is suggestive in it , and a good deal of wholesome truth is told in a manner that cannot offend . We should be glad to learn that the labours of Bro . Stevens have been successful , for two reasons : one is in the interest of Bro . Stevens himself ; and the other , the

more important reason , is because success would imply progress in Masonic study . It would show that the brethren are desiring more light , and without being hypercritical or iconoclastic , are demanding purity in ritual and a general though liberal uniformity of working . However conservative brethren may be , however desirable it is to

avoid alterations , it must be confessed that the diversity of working that now exists is a serious reflection upon the intelligence of Freemasons . And what is true of working is not less true of some of the language of the ceremonies . A pruning hand—firm bnt tender—ia very much needed , and if Bro . Stevens does not in every respect

fulfil the conditions of a complete reformer , he goes a long way in meeting existing difficulties . We invite a study of " Chips , " therefore , as an earnest though reverent effort to improve Craft Freemasonry in its outward visible form , in order that the inward spiritual meaning may grow and fructify .

The Portsmouth Freemasons' Club.

THE PORTSMOUTH FREEMASONS' CLUB .

ON Tuesday , 31 st ult ., the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Borongh of Ports nouth Freemasons' Hall and Club Company ( Limited ) was held at the Club , Commercial-road , Mr . A . W . White in the chair . There was a large attendance , ancl the utmost satisfaction was expressed at tho state of tho company . The

following rspnrt wa . ival by Mr . Main ( -. ecr .-tary ) . Th . dir ctors submit the b . lance sheet for the past y . ar , from which it will be seen that the figures allow of the payment of a dividend at 2 \ per cent . Ihe alteration and improvements which the shareholders , at tho last , annual meeting , expressed aa desirable , have been carried out in a

manner which is believed to have given general satisfaction . Au additional mortgage of -fii . OO has been raised upon the property for the purpose of meeting the extra capital expenditure . Dariug the year Messrs . G . T . Cunningham , J . Graver ., S . 11 . Elli *? , and T . Mans have resigned their seats at the board , aud they have been succeeded

by Messrs . A . W . White , H . J . Leader , W . Miles , aud A . H . llaucox , who , with Mr . James Willmott , who retires by rotation , are willing to continue their seats at the board if the shareholders so desire . Messrs . T . P . Wills aud T . H . Casey , the retiriug auditors , are also willing to be re-elected , bat the shareholders will ba asked to vote

some remuneration for the services they render . A dividend of _ . j percent , was declared . The retiring directors were . unanimously re-¦ ippointed , bnt Mr . F . J . Proctor was nominated in addition to the retiring auditors , ancl elected to the post hitherto occnpie I by Mr . Casey . It was resolved that £ 2 2 s a year should Le paid . _ .

remuneration for services rendered by iho auditors . The b dunce , shee , made up to the 31 st Dei-ember 1881 , and audited by Mess's , lb P . Wills andT . H . Casey , was submitted , and showed that th . ; year ' s receipts on the revenue account amounted to £ - __ . _¦ 10 s Id , and payments to £ 223 ls 3 d , giving a balance to lie carried t ' onvar I of £ 201 9 s Id . Iu the course of his address the Chiirmuu remark , d

hat the affairs of the company would warrant the payment of a higher dividend than that declared , but the directors th mull , it - * ell o retain a goo'l balance in hand . No doubt next year a dividend at i higher rate could be recommendod .

Ad00504

FUNERALS . Bros . W . K . L . & G . A . HXJTTON , COFFIN MAKERS & UNDERTAKERS , 17 _ . E W t ! A S T JL SI STBEBT , STRASD , W . C . And at 7 II- _ : __ -2 . 3- T I . L I . AS , F OK EST HILl BO . D , FfSCHHA-SI BYE , S . E .