The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

£ s d ST . M . 1—Kev . Dr . Brette ... 11 5 0 The Very Worshipful J . E . Cox , " ) D . D ., President Board of £ 10 10 0 Stewards J

T . Fonn , Hou . Treasurer ... 87 0 0 Andrew Hay 5 0 0 T . Cubitt 72 0 0

Province of West Yorkshire —re- ^ . presented by Lieut .-Col . Sir H . Edwards . Bart . Prov . G . M , ^ -gQ Q Q and twenty . five other Stew- f ards , and including a donation of £ 100 from P . G . L . •>

£ a d Province of W . Lancashire—The } Right Hon . Lord Skelmers . 50 0 0 dale Chairman j Prov . G . Lodge—per Bro . It . ) y ^ Q Q Wylie j His own donation 20 0 0 Lodgo

113 Lient .-Col . E . Birchall , W . ) 130 Q Q Harrison , C . Fryer j 203 Bro . R . W . Rowson 20 7 0 216 „ W . Laidlaw 85 5 0 220 .. C . Humphries 27 5 0

241 „ R . Wilson 67 2 0 249 „ Dr . J . Kellett Smith ... 90 0 0 580 „ J . Prescott 26 15 0

613 „ T . P . Griffiths 10 0 0 667 „ W . P . Witter 10 0 0 673 & 1505 Hy . Nelson 60 0 0 680 „ H . S . Alpass 271 8 0

£ s d 724 Bro . J . W . Ballard 27 0 0 823 „ J . R . Goepel 30 0 0 897 „ Lieut .-Col . Gamble ... 46 0 0 995 „ E . Pearson 33 0 0 1013 ., J . Thompson 12 0 0

1021 „ R . T . Taylor 40 0 0 1086 „ J . C . Lunt 24 1 0 1225 „ J . C . Hunter 25 0 0

1264 „ P . B . Gee 16 0 0 1313 „ J . F . Roberts 10 0 0 1345 „ J . C . Gillman 5 0 0 1345 „ J . Brooks 5 0 0

1345 „ T . Buxton 30 0 0 1355 „ W . Leader 39 15 0 1375 „ G . D . Pochin 74 2 0 1393 „ H . Jackson 20 0 0 1473 „ J . P . McArthur ... 35 1 0 1496 „ E . B . Harding ... 35 0 0 1561 „ J . D . Moore , M . D . ... 33 9 0

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

— : o : — We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . AU Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . — : o : —

GRAND LODGE HONOURS . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIE AND BROTHER , —There aro hundreds of good Masons who sympathise with your correspondent of last week in the non-realisation of tho object of " Legitimate Ambition . " It is , however , idle to whine over blighted hopes , or to indulge in lamentations over unacknowledged services . What is required is ,

action ! Let the members of Grand Lodgo assert their independence , and prove themselves worthy of the privileges they possess . Let them emancipate themselves from an oligarchical tyranny which , standing between them and their trusted and respected rulers , obstructs tho graceful exercise of prerogative , and perverts the course of justice by pernicious councils . In the " Antieut Charges "

I read , " All preferment among Masons is grounded npon real worth and persona ] merit inly , " and in the simplicity of my early days in Masonry I interpreted these words iu their natural sense . Alas ! for tho fond delusion , from which I have been rudely awakened . I worked hard , I strove heartily , I laboured diligently , and flattered myself that tho possession of tho following qualifications might prove

stepping stones to preferment : — 1 . A thorough knowledge of Ritual . 2 . Devotion to study of Masonic practice , law and constitutions 3 . The Mastership of various Lodges . 4 . A diligent attendance at tho meetings of Grand Lodge .

5 . Service in connection with the Masonic institutions , including Stewardships , aud such contributions from year to year as my means would permit . All iu vain ! I remained , after long years of hard work , a miserable specimen of " vanlting ambition , " having fallen , and that heavily , " on tho other side . "

What then , your readers will inquire , must bo dono to give a chance of wearing the much covetted purple ? " Bow the knee to Baal , " my friends , and do not refuse , as many of us have refused , " at what time tho sound of the cornet , flute , harp , sackbut , psaltery , and dulcimer , and all kinds of music is heard , " to " Jail down and worship the imago which " has been made . Let those who can , read between the lines .

If I am wrong in my conclusions , how is it that so many who possess scarcely any of the qualifications I have enumerated , have been singled out for promotion ? I pause for a reply ! Having abandoned all hope of entering within the charmed circle , I calmly survey passing events , and never thought of inflicting my views or opinions on your readers . Let " Legitimate Ambition" console itself with tho experiences of "ONE WHO KNOWS . " London , 8 th February 1876 .

How DO I LOOK , PAI-A ?"—This is the title of a most charming little picture in colours , issued as a frontispiece with the LITTLE FOLKS' MAGAZINE for February , in which part are announced the Prizes gained by LITTLE FOLKS in tho competition for the BEST-DRESSED DOLLS , which furnished one of the chief features of attraction in the Christmas programme of the Alexandra Palace .

LITTLE ACCIDENTS , AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM . —There is , ii CASSELI . ' S FAMILY . MAGAZINE for February , a very useful paper oi this siihjciT , wh . i-b every one oiipht to luurn by heart , so as to b prepan . il for the many emergencies which aro continually arising n families ,

Masonic Ball At Brighton.

MASONIC BALL AT BRIGHTON .

THE W . M . of the Royal Brunswick Lodgo , Bro . J . M . Kidd , and the brethren , gave a Private Invitation Ball , which was attended by nearly 200 ladies and gentlemen , at tho Royal Pavilion , Brighton . The entire suite of rooms was engaged , and , in point of adornment , every care and pains were taken to secure tho comfort of the com . pany . The music and north drawing rooms were reserved for dancing ,

and the banqueting room for supper ; the saloon for light refresh , ments , and tho south drawing room for lounging and card playing . Tho decorations wore artistic , and produced a charming effect . Pedesdals , with lamps , were placed , surrounded by shrubs and exotic plants . The mantel-pieces and tho stairs at each end were decorated

with hothouse plants , supplied by Messrs . Balchin and Nell , of the Westorn-road , while Messrs . Reed , of North-street , supplied the lamps . The supper , of the most recherche" description , was , together with the wines , supplied by Mr . A . Raynard , of North-street . Mr . Miles , of tho West Brighton Nui-sery , decorated the supper tables ,

and a platform was arranged at the east side of tho music room , where the music could bo distinctly heard in tho drawing room . Here Bro . Devin and his thoroughly efficient band discoursed sweet music , which was fully appreciated . Hilarity prevailed , and tho company thoroughly enjoyed themselves , thanks to the efficient arrangements of the brethren , who did not separate till nearly four o ' clock .

DROWNING , HINTS TOR CASES or . —Send for medical aid and blau . kcts as soon as possible , but until they arrive to take at once instant measures for recovery , without waiting to remove the patient to a house , as delay may prove fatal . Lay the patient on his face , with one arm under his forehead , that any liquid may flow from his mouth . Wipe away froth from his throat and nostrils . Turn him on his side ,

and endeavour to excite inspiration by applying snuff , pepper , or smelling-salts ; alternately rub his chest and face , to promote warmth , and throw hot and cold water upon them . If these measures are not successful , turn him gently , but completely on one side , and a little beyond , then towards his face , and repeat these movements alternately

deliberately , and perseveringly fifteen times in a minute . Continue them for hours if necessary , and meantime rub the limbs upwards firmly and energetically , and tear off the wet clothes , substituting blankets and warm coverings . This is all that can be immediately done . —From " Little Accidents , andhoto to deal xvith them , " in " Cassell ' s Family Magazine" for February .

COMMEMORATION OF THE BOSTON "MASSACRE . " —A large number of Bostoniaus assembled at the old South Meeting House , and were addresed by Joseph Warren , who chose for the text of his speech the evil effects of standing armies in time of peace . The holding of such a meeting at all was against one of tho recent Acts of Parliament , but this of course added zest to the performance . Some forty officer !

of tho English army and navy were present , and were placed by Samuel Adams , who occupied tho position of moderator , in conspicuous positions on the platform , close to tho speaker . Warren mado an inflammatory address , the real purport of which was but thinly disguised by obviously insincere expressions of a desire to remain united with Great Britian . This most imprudent , if not

malicious , piece of declamation was heard by the officers with exemplary patience ; but , on a motion being made to appoint an orator for the ensuing year " to commemorate the horrid massacre , " they began to hiss . Tho people threatened vengeance , and there would probably have been a riot on the spot had not Adams , by his influence with the citizens , managed to restore order . But , although

a collision was thus avoided , the military were greatly exasperated by what they could not help regarding as a set purpose of provocation . They determined to adopt the favourite cuatom of their adversaries , and to subject the obnoxious to the brutal practice of tarring and feathering . A countryman who had bought an old firelock from a private , in contravention of an Act of Parliament , which forbade trading with soldiers , was paraded through the

treets in that ignominious state , surrounded by a guard with fixed ' inyonets , playing " Yankee Doodle " in derision . Samuel Adam rook great credit to his fellow citizens for their virtuous self-control in putting up with such indignities , rather than precipitate a crisis . iu said nothing of the numberless provocations by which this counter-provocation had been preceded , —From "Cassell ' s History of the United States" for February .