Correspondence.

Aladdin's lamp in the great metropolis ready to his grasp . There wae no sign of complaint or maudlin grievance about the man I had known in comparative affluence , with his wife aud children about him ; but I could see he was driven almost to " death ' s door" by privation . He would not go to any Lodge to crave assistance , which

he might well have deservedly claimed . He was able and willing to work , but to " beg he was ashamed . " Is there any use in prolonging a domestic drama such as true Masons regard as an every-day and inevitable occurrence ? One haa no need to look around for means whereby to confer alms which may be of untold benefit temporarily ,

and perhaps be the raising of new hopes , even of life ; but it does occur to me that if any celebration of Her Majesty ' s Jubilee be necessary , and would reflect more credit on the Craft than any other , it would be to help those brethren who in the period of temporary struggling misfortune are heart-sick and weary , ashamed to look

askance at the hand of Charity , yet bearing , Spartan-like , the terrible privations which have overtaken them like "the wolf on the fold , " throngh circumstances over which they have no control Whilst the goblet ia flashing at the banquet table , and the ruddy firelight glistens npon countenances lit up with f eative glee , there

are pale faces who once participated in scenes quite as joyous , but whioh now , through a " sea of trouble , " unknown to anybody but themselves , are bound to stand aloof , and for honour and decency sake will not ask for aid . In this vagrant note , suggested by a tale of woe , which if

published , would melt a heart of stone , but which for reasons of delicacy shall not be mentioned further iu detail , I urge thoso who are seriously interested in commemorating the Jubilee of the Queen ' s glorious reign to turn a passing glance upon the poorer brethren of our Order , iind see what can be done to render this " memorable "

era one of grateful recollection in the hearts of many an afflicted one who , if assisted in even the smallest degree , might love to call the year of grace eighteen hundred and eighty -seven " blessed " by reason of some recognition of the principles which are at tho very foundation of the Grand Institution of Freemasonry . I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , fraternally yours , CHARITY .

FREEMASONRY IN SEAPORT TOWNS . " , To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Can any of your readers offer an explanation why Freemasonry is so popular in our seaport towns requiring the formation of so large a number of Lodges and Chapters ? On reference to the official list , I find that in Liverpool and

Birkenhead there are no fewer than 37 Lodges ; in Bristol 8 ; in Hull 5 ; Plymouth and Devonport 10 ; Portsmouth 5 ; Southampton 5 ; Brighton 8 ; Newcastle 10 ; and so on . Taking the number of the

population proportionatly of these and some of our inland centres , tbere seems to be a preponderance of Masonic feeling amongst the dwellers by the sea , and it may be interesting to " ascertain the cause . "

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , -. Yours fraternally , SEAWEED .

Notice Of Meetings.

NOTICE OF MEETINGS .

ANCHOR AND HOPE LODGE . No . 37 .

THE monthly meeting was held on the 7 th inst ., at the Swan Hotel , Bolton , at six o ' clock p . m . Present—Bros . John Hardcastle W . M ., W . H . Lomax S . W ., Jas . Naylor J . W ., G . P . Brockbank P . G . Std . B . Secretary , Rob . Nightingale S . D ., W . Forrest I . G ., Tho ? . Higson Tyler ; P . M . ' s Bros . R . K . Freeman , Jas . Walker P . Prov . G . J . W ., E . G . Horwood P . Prov . G . Std . B ., Rev . W . R . Clayton P . Prov .

G . Chaplain ; Bros . F . W . Brockbank , Thos . Murphy Steward , J . W . Thompson Steward , Thos . Barnes , H . L . Hinnell , F . W . Broadbent , G . E . Greenhnlgh , G . W . Crowther , F . W . Isherwood , Jas . Simkin . After minntos of last regular meeting hacl been read and confirmed , Bros . Broadbent , Crowther , Greenhalgh and Isherwood passed a

satisfactory examination as Entered Apprentices , and were entrusted . Lodge was advanced to the second degree , when the candidates were re-admitted and passed by Bro . J . W . Poyntz P . M . ; they were

instructed in the working tools by Bro . W . H . Lornax S . W . Bro . Rev . W . R . Clayton was appointed by the W . M . to the office of Chaplain to the Lodge . A portion of the ancient rales and charges were read by the S . W ., and the Lodge closed in peace and harmony at 8 . 30 .

A REGULAR meeting wns held on Monday lasfc , at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , when there were present Bros . Lewis Wall W . M ., Georgo M . Lion S . W ., I . Botibol J . W ., James L . Lyons Treasurer , Lewis Lazarus Secretary , W . Gardner S . D ., M . M . Lenzberg J . D ., H . Lazarus and A . Jonas Stewards , P . M . ' s Israel Abraham , M . Spiegel , H . Berkowitz , L . Alexander ,

JOPPA LODGE , No . 188

A . Martin , Obcd Roberts ; Bros . S . C . Alexander , H . Saqui , L . Davis , B . Blaiberg , M . Sicgenberg , L . Isaacs , J . Mitchell , J . Myers , S . Heilhrnth , N . Isaacs "* -, A . Botibol , B . Weigel , Jacques Wynman ( FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE ) . Visitors—Bros . Dr . Yusoof Ali Khan

Lo < l « c 1422 , of Punjaub , W . S . Lyons 185 , J . Blaiborg 1551 , II . Boedell 1580 , VV . Silverthorne 1007 , S . Pardoe 1585 , A . Benato 212 , B . Chard 1816 , P . H . Davis 239 and 259 I . C . Lodge was opened in dne form by the W . M . and his Officer ? , when the minutes of previous mooting were read awl confirmed . Tlie W . M . proceeded to

Notice Of Meetings.

initiate the following gentlemen : —Messrs . N . S . Lyons , proposed by Bro . J . Lyons , seconded by P . M . Lazarus ; F . J . Lowrie , proposed by H . Saqui , seconded by Bro . P . M . Lazarns ; M . B . Rosenberg , proposed by Bro . H . Saqui , seconded by Bro . H . Lazarus Steward ; H . M . Bernstein , proposed by Bvo . L . Meyers P . M ., seconded by Bro . T .

Meyer ; Charles H . Waller , proposed by Bro . Wall , seconded by Bro . Dodson P . M . Afterwards Bro . T . Mitchell was advanced to the Fellow Craft degree . Tho ceremonies were carefully and impressively performed . It was unanimously resolved that the sum often guineas be handed to the I . P . M ., Bro . Dewsnap , who will represent

the Joppa Lodge at the Boys School Festival this year . Some minor matters of business having been transacted , and the visiting brethren having expressed their good wishes , the Lodge was closed till the first Monday in May . An excellent supper followed , served nnder the superintendence of Bro . Bertler . The cloth being removed ,

the usual loyal toasts received attention . Bro . Dewsnap I . P . M . proposed the health of the W . M ., whioh waa cordially received and acknowledged . The W . M . proposed the health of the Paat Masters , and those present severally replied . The Treasurer , Brother L . Lyons , and the Secretary , Brother L . Lazarus ,

were next complimented , and with this toast was coupled fche name of a very old member , viz ., Bro . Heilbron P . M ., Treasurer of the Joppa Benevolent Fund , who was initiated in 1847 . Bro . Heilbron replied , and drank to the health and future prosperity of the Lodge and its Benevolent Fund . Bro . Lazarns Secretary and

Bro . Lyons Treasurer replied , in their usual able manner ; Bro . Lazarus had much pleasure in informing the W . M . that the five candidates had each given one guinea towards the Benevolent Fund . The W . M . next proceeded to toast the Initiates , and this was appropriately acknowledged . TheW . M ., on behalf of the Lodge , extended a

cordial welcome to their Visitors . Bro . Dr . Yusoof Ali Khan , who waa initiated in Lodge 1422 , Punjaub ( Egypt ) , and raised a few years ago in the Lodge of Jopp'i , thanked the W . M . and brethren for the hearty reception they had given him , with the other Visitors . The recollection of hia visit will ever be a sweet remembrance to

him ; he could tell his brethren over in the Punjaub of the excellent working he had seen done by the W . M . Some capital singing was provided by Bros . Davis , Beedell , Dodson , Saqui , and others . Bro . Isaacson kindly presided at the pianoforte .

ST . MICHAEL'S LODGE , No . 211 . A REGULAR meeting of the members of this Lodge was held afc the Albion , Aldersgate-street , on Tuesday , when the Worshipful Master , Bro . F . T . Bennett , was supported by Bros . A . Dickson S . W ., H . Lindfield J . W ., A . Green P . M . Treasurer , W . Radeliffe Seoretarv , P . King J . D ., Captain Challen I . G . ; P . M . ' s Bros . Usher Back , F . T . Hentsch , T . H . Peirce , W . W . Morgan ; and

a goodly muster of brethren . It seems , however , that the work of the Lodge had been somewhat thrown ont of gear , inasmuch as circumstances prevented the installation meeting last month being held on the proper day ; to meet thia exigency fche brethren had to fortify themselves by a dispensation to hold the Lodge on

Wednesday instead of Tuesday . Consequently , although there were five candidates then initiated , sufficient time had nofc elapsed to warrant the Lodge conferring the advanced degree . Therefore there was but little work before the Lodge on Tuesday last , and the chief matter of attention was the consideration of the Circular issued by

the Pro Grand Master the Earl of Carnarvon , respecting the commemoration of Her Majesty ' s Jubilee . This was fully gone into , and the Lodge cordially approved of the suggestion to present a congratulatory address to the Queen on the auspicious event ; but with regard to the subscription towards the Imperial Institute a diversity

of opinion prevailed , and in tho end it was considered the matter had better stand over , the Lodge scarcely feeling justified in subscribing in its corporate capacity , and the brethren , however willing to con . form to the wishes of the Mosfc Worshipful Grand Master in the matter , deemed it desirable that a detailed scheme of what shape the

Imperial Institute was to take should be submitted before they promised their subscriptions . It was ultimately decided to convey an expression to that effect to the Grand Secretary , and the subject was on that ground deferred . The best means of assisting in the perpetuation of the memory of the late Bro . Charles

Greenwood , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Surrey , and Treasnrer of St . Michael's Lodge , with which he had been associated for upwards of thirty years , was next considered , and several practical suggestions were acted npon . At the close of the Lodge the brethren partook of refreshments and a pleasant evening was spent . At the

Emergency Meeting , on Thursday evening , the Worshipful Master again presided , supported by Bros . John Laver P . M . in tho Senior Warden ' s cLiir , Lindfield J . W ., Goodall S . D ., W . Radoliffe P . M . Sec , Challen I . G . ; Past Masters—Alfred Green , Usher Back , Hentsch , Peirce ; Bros . Arthur Cooper , Bagley , Hancock , Horscroffc

W . J . Dyer , Hartley , & c ; Visitors—Bros . Geo . King P . M . 172 ' Bates 704 , Burford and Collings . LodgJ having been opened with the customary rites , was advanced to the third , when Brother Frederick Henry Horscroffc was raised to the sublime degree , the ceremony being admirably performed by the W . M ., assisted by his

Officer ? . Resuming in tbe second , Bros . Horace Henry Hunt , Arthur Henry Hancock , Edmund Thomas Bagley , and William John Dyer were passed , tho working in this degree being also most efficiently executed . This was the whole of the business before the Lodge , and the brethren then adjourned to snpper , after which the customary

Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly hononred . Iu fche course of the proceedings it was mentioned , by Bro . Usher Back P . M ., that a gentleman hacl volunteered to subscribe a thousand pounds towards the funds of the Albert Institute , at Southwark , a scheme in which

the late Bro . Greenwood vvas deeply interested , and to which many of the brethren of the St . Michael ' s Lodge had promised to contribute . Tho toasts were interspersed by the usual harmony , and an agreeable evening was passed .