Correspondence.

Is it not a fact , however , that the inmates of the "Institution " are there because of their change from better to worse circumstances ? and are thoy not in the eyes of the world as much recipients of charity aa the inmates of any almhouses in the country ? It seems to me that the writer in the Evening News takes np the position of a man without a shirt who buttons up his coat to hide his nakedness .

It is nonsense to talk about charity in this case being optional ; it is optional in every case—just " Hobson ' s choice . " Necessity forces effort , and wherever and in whatever form relief is offered urgency as a rule compels acceptance . The question is , What is the best way to afford assistance to a suffering brother or his widow without openly recalling to their minds the alteration in circumstances ? The

Benevolent Fuud does this in a way that need not be known beyond those immediately concerned ; whereas almshouses are constant sign posts , pointing to the fact that tbey aro homes for decayed people . I am not arguing against almshouses per se , only in favour of tho higher mode of giving relief , which seems to be more consonant with the oharacter and high aims of the Craft . As a further reason I have

suggested that the end desired might be obtained at a less cost , not only in money , but also in self-respeot , by the adoption of the practice now pursued in the case of the Benevolent Fund . God forbid that I should cast reproaoh upon any unfortunate Brother or those belonging to him . I would rather lift them np , and that is my object .

In dealing with the question I am obliged to use plain terms , not with the idea of hurting the feelings of any brother , nor yet of casting reflections upon the management of the " Institution " at Croydon ; bnt simply to show that the expenditure is not prudent iu principle , and in that sense the Almshouses are a " white elephant . "

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Youra fraternally , WATCHMAN . 3 rd Angusfc 1883 .

" PRICKING A WINDBAG . " To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIB AND BROTHER , —Attacked on two sides for what I have not said , renders it necessary that T shonld trouble you with a 8 econd letter tbis week . My first I had hoped would have appeared in your last issue , so that tbe misrepresentations of the writer in the Evening Neios might at once have been met with a counterblast . Perhaps I

was too late , Mr . Editor , aud that you will now grant me a hearing against my acouser , who seems to be not only thin-skinned , but to be a partizan as well . As might bare been expected , Bro . Perceval ' s charitable (?) mode of dealing with opponenta has been applied to myself , and I am forthwith dubbed a member of the House Committee of the Girls '

School . He thinks me crpable of adopting the mean method , under a nom de plvme , of sounding my own trumpet , and attacking my opponents behind a hedge . In the " innocence of my mind " I never thonght of suoh a thing . How wise Bro . Perceval is—as wise as the fabled serppnt , if not as innocent as tbe sucking dove . "Unfortunately for Bro . Perceval his suspicions -with regard to myself are

utterly baseless ; there is not a scintilla of fact to warrant them , and he stands convicted of being , in this instance at least , a leader as blind as was Bartimfons of old . I am not , nor ever was , a memhpr of any committee or board connected with Grand Lodge or with Masonic Charitable Institutions ; I am neither a member of any oliqup , nor the slave of any ruling person or body . I hold

no brief for any person or party , nor do I consult any one when I consider I am at liberty to form my own conclusions , and I am entirely free from prejudices and personal jealousies . But supposing I did belong to the House Commitfep , or to any oth ^ r Committee , how does that alter the force of anything I have said ? Are my arguments sound ? Do I speak the trnth in sober

earnestness ? Those are the questions that Bro . Perceval has to meet ; not "Who is he ? What is his position ? Take away the gilt of office * , of wealth , of social standing , and how much dross does tbe remainder too often represent ? If it will pleasp Bro . Perceval , I may say that I am a P . M . of my Lodge , and at the close of my year of office I was presented with a jpwel , of which I am proud , and still pronder of

the esteem in which I have reason to believe I am held by the brethren of my mother Lodge , whose good I have ever sought , and the work of which I have the credit of discharging with fervency and zeal . So much for my 6 on & fides ; I shall not return to them if I can help it . I have not sought the infliction , and am sorry to be compelled to say so muoh of myself . The ground is clear so far as

uiy personality is concerned , and all I ask is for a fair hearing , and no favour , for justice and Masonio equality . I pass by Bro . Perceval's reflections about my inconsistency , and the wisdom or unwisdom of " greasing a horse's tooth , " with the observation thnt the whole spirit of my remarks has been misrepresented . It is a m ' -itter of opinion as to the real value of the land adjoining the Girls' School , and I am not anxions to deTend my

own ; but it is a notorious fact that it , is easier to get a large sum by Methods well known to the managers of Institutions than it is to pet a small amount by a mere statement of fact . To give a broad w ustration : how many persons unloose their pnrse-strings after partaking of a good dinner and senerons wine who would not think of

giving a farthing nnder ordinary circnmstatices ? Apply tbis principle in the case at issne , and the inference is plain . If absolnte Went determined results there would be loss injustice in the world ; u men were always guided by pure reason aud righteousness the

"" iiennium would be at hand . As the conscience wants a spur , so uoes the heart want expand imr , and that is often dono by force of exampl e and by other methods I need not dwell upon ; legitimate enough , I dare say , but not in accordance with that high-toned morality so often aspired to but never attained . 1 have disposed of the optional theory in my other letter , as well as

Correspondence.

the insinuation about the treatment of tho inmates of the—well , what shall I call those buildings at Croydon sit very much like othor buildings called Almshouses ? Supposo I call them the Asylum , I am met with this difficulty—wh ; it Asylum ? For the insane or for the poor ? If I call them a Homo , tho term implies Charity . Any name would do among tho Craft , but unfortunately bricks and

mortar cannot be hidden , like tho Warrant of a Lo . lge , in a tin caso ; and men and women walking about aro something more tangible to thoir neighbours , aud the world gimevnliy , than the spots on the sun . Granted that the inmates of the buildings erected by the generosity of our Masonic forefathers , ancl kept np with such noble zeal by the present generation , are treated with all tho respect and consideration

duo to them , as if they were still in the hey-day of prosperity ; grantod that everything possible is done to make their lot as happy as if no misfortune had befallen them , tho fact remains clear to themselves and to the world that they are recipients of charity . My contention ia , that the result is not worth the coat , and that the end of real charity could host be obtained by helpin g

to snpport the distressed Brother or his widow in a real and not a sentimental independence . If it causes pain to the inmates of the buildings at Croydon to call them Almshouses , then it is quite clear that their sensitive natures can never be satisfied whatever name is used . So long as the outward sign of charity stands open to the gaze of the world , the sting will remain ; and if this sign costs a large

sum of mouey that could be used with more consideration for the feelings of the recipients of relief and with the laws of economy , then I think I am the true friend of the distressed , and not those maudlin sympathisers who would strain at a gnat and swallow a camel ; who trail a red herring across the scent and arouse suspicions I am not willing either to assert or believe . If Bro . Perceval cannot see any difference between the Schools

and the Almahousea , I am afraid nothing I can say will enlighten him . If he can harmonise the position of the sailors with regard to Greenwich Hospital and that of the inmates of the Asylum at Croydon , he can do what to most people appears impossible ; but perhaps Br . Perceval , like the late Earl Russell , ia equal to anything , even to the command of the Channel . Probably , on another ocoasion , I may trouble you with a few figures for the present ,

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , WATCHMAN .

Red Cross Of Constantine.

RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE .

— : o : — DE LA POLE CONCLAVE , No . 132 , KINGSTONUPON-HULL .

THE regular assembly of this Conclave took place in the Masonio Rooms , Charlotte-street , Hull , on the 27 th ultimo . The Conclave was opened in due form , under tho presidency of Em . Sir j Knight George Wilson M . P . S ., E . Sir Knight Thomas Thompson P . S . 1 acting as Viceroy , with a fair number of Sir Knisfhts in attendance , ; After tho minutes of last Conclave had been read by the Recorder ,

j ancl confirmed , tho election by the Knights of the Sovereign , Viceroy , I Tre » snrer and FenM ' nel for the ensni ' ng twelve mon'hs took place , 1 when Sir Knight William Gillett and Sir Knight A . P . Wilson were unanimously elected Sovereign and Viceroy . Subsequently Sir Knight Henry Preston P . S . was elected Treasurer and Sir Knight J . Burdall Sentinel . The newly-elected Sovereign will be enthroned , and the

Viceroy elect consecrated , at the meeting of the Chapter to be held iu I November next . After the close of the Conclave , tho St . Mary ' s 1 Sanctuary of tbe Knights of the Holy Sepnlchre and Commandery of St . John the Evangelist was opened , when Sir Knight William Gillett I wa 3 elected Right Reverend Prelate and Sir Knight A . P . Wilson ! the Prior for the ensuing year .

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