Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

NON-MASONS AT MASONIC BANQUETS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I do not wish to propose a " boycott" in Freemasonry , but may I ask if it is necessary to introduce non-Mason artistes at Masonio banquets ? Surely there are enough good vocalists associated with the Order to give us all the music we need ,

and it ia a slight on their ability to engage gentlemen outside the Craft to snpply the harmony after Lodge banquets . The custom is severely criticised in various quarters , and many Lodges will not allow any but Masons to sing at their meetings . This is not enough ; the custom—whioh I fear is gaining ground—should be prohibited ,

unless it can be shown that Masonic members of the musical profession are not sufficiently numerous to fill all the engagements offered them . Hoping you will favour me by inserting the foregoing imperfect remarks , I am , Dear Sir , *¦ Yours fraternally , AN OiiD PRO .

Devon Masonic Educational Fund.

DEVON MASONIC EDUCATIONAL FUND .

THE General Purposes Committee of the Devon Masonio Educational Fund held a meeting , on the 17 th nit ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth . There were present Bros . R . Pengelley 70 P . P . G . A . D . C ., G . Horswill 105 , J . W . Cornish 223 P . P . G . T ., R .

Cawsey 230 P . P . G . J . D ., E . Aitken-Davies 1099 P . P . G . S . Works , F . Hooper 1212 P . P . G . D . C , R . G . Bird 1550 , R . Hambly 1855 P . P . G . S . Works , S . Jew 105 1847 P . P . G . T ., W . Allsford 202 , W . J . Stanbury 1099 P . P . G . A . D . C , J . B . Gover 70 P . P . G . Secretary , Hon . Secretary of the Fund , and W . H . Dillon . Two moro children are to be placed

on the fund . Tho auditors reported £ 500 as invested , £ 470 being at the bank available for general purposes . Four candidates brought on from the last election were again placed on the list—a deceased brother ' s son , 9 £ years , from Concord Lodge , 1135 , Ilfracombe , who has 118 votes to bring forward from the last election a deceased brother ' s son , 81 years , Jordan Lodge . 1402 , Torquay , 534 votes to

bring on ; a deceased brother ' s daughter , 8 £ years , Elms Lodge , 1212 , Stoke , 332 votes to bring ou ; and a deceased brother ' s son , 10 J years , Friendship Lodge , 202 , Devonport , 43 votes to bring on . To thoso candidates was added one new candidate , a deceased brother ' s son , 7 £ years , Hanley Lodge , 797 , Dartmouth . The meeting for tho elections was appointed to be held at Exeter on 1 st April . fPHE annual meeting of Devon Masonic Educational Fund was held

-I on the 1 st inst ., at Exeter . Bro . John Lane 1402 P . P . G . R presided , and there was a good attendance . The Treasurer reported the present value of the fund to be £ 974 , of that £ 500 being invested in a deposit note at the Devon and Cornwall Bank , and £ 474 on current account there . Bros . J . R . Lord the Treasnrer and J . B . Gover the Secretary were both unanimously re-elected , and warmly thanked for their zealous services . The office of an Assistant

Secretary was instituted , suoh an Officer having been rendered requisito by the increase of the business of tbo fund . Bro . W . H . Dillon was appointed the first Assistant Secretary . Bros . J . W . Cornish 223 P . P . G . T . and E . H . Littleton were re-elected Auditors . Bros . W . E . Warren P . P . G . O ., H . Stocker , W . Powell , J . Brewer

P . P . G . J . W ., J . W . Cornish , E . T . Fulford P . P . G . T ., S . Jew P . P . G . T ., R . Hambly P . P . G . S . of Works , W . Allsford , G . Horwill 105 , were elected the finance Committee . Bros . Viscount Ebrington , M . P ., P . G . M ., the Rev . W . Whittley P . P . G . S . W ., S . Jones P . P . G . J . W ., J . Brewer P . P . G . J . W ., tho Rev . Dr . Lemon P . P . G . J . W ., G . C . Davie P . G . Sec , J . Lane , J . B . Gover , S . Jew , R . Lose P . P . G , Pursuivant ,

D . Cross P . P . G . T ., F . B . Westlake P . P . G . S . D ., J . R . Lord , A . R . Lethbridge P . P . G . S . of Works , W . Powell , R . Pengelly , W . A . Gregory , E . Aitken-Davies , G . Firks , W . Lacey , W . E . Warren , J . W . Cornish , T . Goodall P . P . G . O ., E . J . Knight P . P . G . S . B ., R . Cawsey

P . G . J . D ., R . Hambley P . P . G . S . of Works , F . Hooper , W . J . Stanbury P . G . A . D . C , VV . Trevena P . P . G . D . C , T . Gray , E . D . Fulford , R . Jerman , J . Stocker , G . Whittley , H . Stocker , W . S . Heardor , W . Browning , W . H . Macey , W . Taylor , T . J . R . Chalice , C Watson P . P . G . D . D . C , J . Griffin , W . Allsford , R . G . Bird , G . Horswill , H . Steele , E . H . Littleton , were elected the Educational and General Purposes

Committee . It was proposed to grant £ 5 towards apprenticing the daughter of a lato brother of Lodgo Metham , 1205 , whose term of education had been completed . There was no objection to the grant , but the notice required by the rules had not been given , and tho proposition , therefore , did not appear in tho agenda . Regular notice was now given , and it was suggested that if the Treasnrer advanced the money in the interim , the

brethren present would indemnify him . Thero wero now thirteen children on the fund , two more were to bo elected at the present meeting , aud it was resolved to hold another meeting next October and then elect two more children . The present election was proceeded with . There wore five candidates—the son , Oi- years old , of a deceased brother of Lodgo Concord , 1135 , Ilfracombe , the son , 8 \ years old , of a deceased brother of Lodgo Jordan , 1402 , Torquay j the daughter , SJ years , oi a deceased brother of Lodge Elms . 1212 ,

Devon Masonic Educational Fund.

Stoke ; the son , 10 . } yeara old , of a deceased brother of Lodge Friendship , 202 , Devonport ; the son , 7 ^ yeara old , of a deceased brother of Lodge Hauley , 787 , Dartmouth . W . Bro . Jas . Griffin , the Chairman of the Scrutineers , reported the voting—for the candidate from Ilfracombe , 118 brought on , 172 present electors , total 290 ; the Torquay candidate , 531 brought on , 365 added , total 899 ; the Stoke

candidate , 332 brought on , 556 added , total 888 ; the Devonport candidate , 43 brought on , 631 added , total 674 ; the Dartmouth candidate , 41 vo ' . cs from tha present election . The Chairman declared tho Torquay and Stoke candidates elected , total votes polled 2792 . Bro . E . H . Shortz called attention to there being too large a sum of money left in the hands of the bankers on the current account . He advised that a portion of the balanco should either be

permanently invested , temporarily invested , or applied to putting more children on the fund . The officers of the fund advised that at present no further permanent investment should be made , and questioned whether the income of the present year would be as large aa the last . The Finance Committee were recommended to make temporary investment of at least a portion of the balance . The Exeter brethren very hospitably entertained the brethren from the other Lodges at lunch and a high tea .

Knights Templars.

KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

ROYAL VETERAN ENCAMPMENT . THE membera held their annual Convocation on Friday , 28 th ult ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth . Comps . J . Kinton Bond P . Z . 70 and J . W . Cornish P . Z . 223 were elected aud installed mem . bers of theTemplar Order , and joined the Royal Veterans Encampment . E . S . Knight Henry Rogers E . C . elect was installed as the E . C . by his predecessor in that office E . S . Knight J . R . Lord . Among the Past

E . C . 's and E . P . s who attended were Fraters E . Aitken-Davies P . P . G . Const ., S . Jew P . P . G . T ., J . B . Gover P . P . G . T ., J . Griffin P . P . G . Reg ., J . Austin P . P . G . Ex ., W . Trevena P . P . G . 1 st Capt ., J . Du Pre P . P . G . Chamb ., R . Pengelly P . P . G . Almoner , and Fraters A . Roberts , W . H . Dillon , J . Wallis , G . Dunstorville F . Crouch , J .

Holland , F . 11 . Thomas , A . Trout , H . Aalitt , Phillips , J . Gidley P . G . G . The Officers invested were : — Sir Knights J . R . Lord P . E . C , VV . H . Dillon 1 st Ch ., J . Wallia 2 nd Ch ., A . Roberta Prel ., J . Austin Treasurer , J . B . Gover Registrar , J . Kinton Bond Expert , J . W . Cornish C . L ., S . Jew Standard Bearer , W . Trevena H ., VV . H .

Phillips Guard . It was resolved to hold a joint meeting of the Fratera of the three Preceptories iu Plymouth and Stonehouso , with a view to amalgamation . At the close of the Convocation the Knights adjourned to a refectory provided at the club . The new E . C . presided , and a very pleasant evening was passed .

Melbourne.

MELBOURNE .

A LARGELY attended meeting of Grand Lodge was held on the 19 th February , at No . 3 room , Freemasons' Hall , Collinsstreet , for the purpose of considering the Book of Constitntions by which the Lodges under the United Grand Lodge of Victoria are to rule . The Most Worshipfnl Grand Master Bro . Sir W . J . Clarke , Bart ., presided . The great difficulty in passing tho rules of the Book of Constitntions is whether the Grand Master shall nominate hia

Grand Lodge Officers , or whether they shall be elected by the rulera of the Craft . After considerable discussion , it waa agreed that all rules referring to election or appointment should be postponed until the other rules bad been disposed of . The rules so postponed were Nos . 18 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 67 , 76 to 100 , and 111 , all intermediate rules

being carried , but several of them were considerably amended . The M . W . G . M ., at the request of the brethren , closed the Lodge at 11 o ' clock . Tho Most Worshipfnl Grand Master Bro . Sir W . J . Clarke , Bart ., has made the following appointments for the ensuing twelve months : —Bro . W . T . 0 . Kelly President Board of General

Purposes ; Members—Bros . J . S . Butters P . P . B . G . P ., S . Franklin P . D . G . M ., J . A . Cantor P . G . S . W ., P . Blashki P . G . S . W ., R . O . Thompson P . G . S . W ., S . Trythall P . G . S . W ., W . Davis P . G . R ., James Cook 1 ' . G . D . C , O . J . Davis and G . J . Shepherd ; W . R . Lovering P . G . D . C , President of the Board of Benevolence .

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Q . ENERAL CEMETERY COMPANY . CEMETERY—KEN SAL GREEN , HARROW ROAD , W . Where lie-the remains of H . R . H . tho lato DTJKB OF SUSSEX , M . W . G . M . OF THE FBEESUSOHS OJ * EITOI . A *** D . ( Established by Act of Parliament 2 and 3 William IV ., 1833 . ) OSFICKS-95 GEEAT RUSSELL STBEET , RLOOMSBURY , W . O . Office Hours from 9 a . m . to 5 p . m ., Saturdays 9 to 2 . THE public are admitted to tho Cemetery on week days from 8 - 30 a . m . till G'lo p . m ., and on Sundays and Good Fridays from 2 p . m . till 6 p . m ., from tho 1 st April till tho 30 th September , inclusive . On week days from 8 * 30 a . m . till sunset , and on Sundays , Good Fridavs and Christmas Days from 2 p . m . till sunset , from tho 1 st October till the 30 tli March inclusive , also on Bank Holidays , till 13 o ' clock noon . SPECIAL ATTENTION is also invited to tho Ground ( 22 acres ) recently laid out at the New Western Entrance of tho Cemetery , also to the Now Or"an recently placed in thc Western Chapel . Certificates of Burial can only b- obtainod at thc Offices , 95 Great Russell Street , where also Scale of Charges and all particulars may bo had . To moot the requirements of tho public , the Directors havo adopted tho system ot separate interments , at tho following rates : — Adults . Children under 10 years . Children under 2 vears . ¦ 62 5 s £ 1 10 s £ i 5 s with tho option to friends to purchase the plot within threo yoars , for a further sum of JL' 3 3 s . HENRY J . CROFT , Secretary and Registrar . N , B . —A Tent is provided for "Uourneraj if dosired ,