Crorespondence.

CRORESPONDENCE .

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

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS REVISED AND NEW LAWS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIB AND BROTHER , —At the Quarterly Court , held in October lasfc year , I - withdrew several motions which were on the notice convening the meeting , ou the understanding that the " Provisional Committee " wonld undertake to carrfnlli * consider the various vital

points raised by uie . From the proof of the Laws just issued by that Committee I find thafc only one , viz ., the proposed " Petitions Committee , " has been inserted in the new Laws . The General Committee last Saturday was adjourned till Wednesday , tho 15 th inst ., afc noon , when I hope the following matters will receive fnll

consideration : — 1 st . Every last case should be referred to the proposed Petitions Committee for special inquiry and report ; if found to bo a deserving case , the Council shall take snch steps as will , as far as possible , ensure success .

2 nd . I also think thafc great advantage would bo derived by Law No . 69 being much more utilized , and if tho " Petitions Committee" were to report to the Conncil thoso cases in which , in their opinion , ifc would be more advantageous for the candidate to be educated . & c . ont of the establishment .

During my long experience many cases have ooenrred , where tbe father ' s income , when in prosperity , had been from £ 100 to £ 120 per annum . His children ( sometimes eight or nino in number ) wonld naturally attend the Voluntary or Board Schools of the town in which he resided , and the £ 20 or £ 24 per annum paid to the widow

under Rule 69 would enable her to educate all the children in the same way their father did when alive , which wonld be a great relief . This would doubtless reduce the number of boys in the School , and leave room for say 50 paying pupils ( sons of Freemasons ) , whose parents would be only too pleased to get their sons educated

thoroughly at a cost of say £ 40 to £ 50 per annum . The effect of this -would be to permanently increase the income of tho School , and be a great boon to many a worthy brother . I trouble you with this letter , as I know you have tbe interest of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys very much ab heart , but not more so than ,

Yours faithfully and fraternally , WM . HARRIS SAUNDERS , Pasfc Steward and Life Governor , P . P . G . S . D . Middx Bridge House , Tufnell Park , N . 7 th October 1890 .

The British Medical Journal publishes the following letter : — Sir , —Referring to a letter I addressed to the British Medical Journal on 23 rd August last , respecting the formation of a new Medical Masonic Lodge , termed the " Esculapian , " I beg to state

that my hopes have been more than gratified . The formation of the Lodge has been positively decided upon , many professional brethren having come forward to concur in the project , ancl several preliminary meetings have been held , resulting in the appointment of an acting Secretary , Dr . Dntton , Craven House , Northumberland

Avenne , W . C . We have also decided to adopt fche name " Esculapian " as originally proposed ; also that its regular meetings , when fully established , be held either at Freemasons' Hall or at the Criterion Restaurant .

I beg to avail myself of your valuable medium to inform the profession that all communications respecting the Esculapian Lodge are to be addressed to its acting Secretary , Dr . Dntton , as above , who will be happy to receive any suggestions respecting its formation , membership , & c , from professional brethren . I am , & c . Jamaica Road , S . E . J . BRINDLEY JAMES I . P . M .

The Early Grand Chapter Question.

THE EARLY GRAND CHAPTER QUESTION .

196 High Street , Ayr , 27 th September 1890 . SIR , —In your issue of yesterday there appeared a letter with the above heading , signed "JAMES CKICHTON , " commenting upon the report ofthe meeting of the Grand Encampment of Scotland as contained in Tuesday's issue of the Herald , finding faulfc with the

implied statement that the body styling itself the Supreme Graud Chapter had appointed a Committee to meet with one from the Early Grand Chapter to arrange a basis of union . I am afraid I musfc insist npon the correctness of this statement , as I have before me while I write a letter from Comp . R . S . Brown Grand Scribe , in which

he informs me that "fche Supreme Grand Committee , at a meeting held yesterday ( 8 th inst . ) , deputed Companions James Crichtou , Pre ° mdent of fche Committee , the Grand Scribes E . ancl N ., and H . J . Shields to meet and confer wifch representatives from yonr body in reference to same ( anion ) and report . If you can arrange to appoint

The Early Grand Chapter Question.

representatives and state whon fchey could meet here I will endeavour to suit their convenience . " I think this was sufficient to warrant the statement of whioh Comp . Crichfcon complains . As to his ignorance of such a body as the " Early Grand , " he can be

enlightened by reading any standard Masonic history , snch as Burns and Lyon of Scotland , and Oliver and Gonld of England . It might surprise him also to learn that it is , next to Grand Lodge , the most ancient in Scotland , and tho ono from which tho Supreme sprang . I am , & o . M . M'B . THOMSON .

Discord Among Our Lancashire Brethren.

DISCORD AMONG OUR LANCASHIRE BRETHREN .

IT seems from fche annual report of the Provincial Grand Secretary , read afc the meeting of tho Masonio body at Preston , on the 1 st insfc ., thafc so far as numbers aro concerned there is just ground for Lord Lathom ' s congratulations npon the prosperity of the Craft , but judging from fche proceedings which took place afc the meeting , there is ample justification for tho caution whioh his Lordship administered

to the brethren as to the character of the men they admitted amongst them . Certainly , if tho proceedings of Wednesday are to be taken as a sample , there seems to be little difference between these gentle , manly Freemasons in council and a trade congress of men in fustian . It appears that the Provincial Grand Lodge about five years ago made certain Bye-Laws to govern their proceedings . According to

these Bye-Laws ifc is provided that all money belonging to the Fund of Benevolence shall be solely devoted to charity , bnt it seems that for some time paat half the salary of the Provincial Grand Secretary and other expenses have been charged to this fund , without tho circumstance attracting notice . Ifc also appears thafc fche fund from which these expenses should be defrayed was nofc sufficient to meet

fche outlay . Hence , in order to mako up the deficiency recourse was had to fche Benevolent Fund , entirely contrary to fcho Bye-Laws . Over £ 1 , 000 has been absorbed in this way , which shonld bave either been kept in reserve or devoted to tho relief of widows and orphans , or distressed Masons . Notices of motion wero given for Wednesday ' s meeting to pnt a

stop to this irregular proceeding , but the moment the question was raised tho brother or brethren who attempted to have the matter fairly discussed were practically howled down , ' and from certain quarters of the room one would suppose a number of the feline species had been admitted to hiss down . those anxious to have a reformation . What was the motive it is impossible to say , but one would naturally

suppose there had been a pre-concerted arrangement ; fco bring up as many brethren as possible to confirm the existing arrangement and oppose all reforms . Indeed , one prominent gentlemen who is generally esteemed . for his courtesy and polite language , suggested thafc the brother who proposed to adhere to fche Bye-Laws should ba " sat upon . " At any rate , the attempt to remedy the existing system

of openly breaking the Bye-Laws was for the time defeated , and not only defeated , bnt the party in power succeeded in having voted from the Fund of Benevolence the large sum of 400 guineas in aid of a London Masonio institution , contrary to the letter and spirit of the Bye-Laws which regulate the distribution of the Fund . These proceedings are nofc likely fco overcome fche reason or remove

the dissatisfaction of a large section of the Masonic body in this Province , who see thafc a greafc injustice is being done by misapplying a charitable trust in payment of salary and other expenses , instead of devoting the money to the purpose for whioh it was intended . It is contrary to custom fco publish any secrets belonging to fche Masonic body , or we mighfc go into more details . Bufc in giving the above ontline of the proceedings we trespass npon no rnles , but hope this

notice will show those who pride themselves upon being Freemasons aud gentlemen that their conduct of Wednesday has been duly noted The Earl of Lathom , who is known to be anxious to preserve law and order , should carefully examine the questions raised , and nofc allow himself to be influenced by interested persons . By seeing thafc fche laws of the Province ( one of the most , if nofc the most important in England ) are properly administered , irritation will be removed , and disorderly scenes will nofc be repeated . —Liverpool Daily Courier .

Charity In West Lancashire.

CHARITY IN WEST LANCASHIRE .

A MEETING of the annual Courfc of Governors of tho Wesfc Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution was hold on the 3 rd instant , at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , under the presidency of Bro . John M'Nab , R . N . R ., Prov . G . J . Warden . There was a very numerous attendance of members . After the confirmation of the minutes of the last court , the general committee , and the

finance committee , the meeting proceeded to the election of children on the foundation of the Institution , and tho whole of the candidates were elected , involving an extra expenditure of £ 110 . Bro . J . T . Callow was re-elected the Hon . Treasurer of the Institution ; Bros . G . Broadbridgo , J . M'Nab , and T . H . Walker Hon . Secretaries

Bros . Drs . J . Kellefcfc Smith , Pitts , Christison , Irvin and White Hon . Medical Officers ; and Bro . R . Leeke Hon . Solicitor . Votes of thanks were passed to the Hon . Officers for their valuable services during the past year , and ifc was resolved thafc fche annual ball in aid of the f nnds of the Institution shonld be held on fche usual date in Jauuary 1891 .

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