Correspondence.

Mason has a moral right to expsct , in the event of indigency , that his needs will be regarded with favonr ; nevertheless not in any instance is it contemplated that he can properly approach a brother member , or his Lodge , with a demand originating in any legal claim npon either . That which is true of personal responsibility in this direction

is also true of the Lodge as the almoner of the members . If , therefore , we are right in our premises—if it is undeniable that a Mason is not vested with rights to charitable consideration—if it is a fact that an applicant for charity mnst rest his chums to attention upon his good name and the ability of the brethren to respond to his wants ,

why the necessity or apology for legislation that not only casts a reflection on our charitable professions , but that is sapping the foundations of the Fraternity by drifting us from our landmarks , and associating the organisation with mutual insurance ? Tho fundamental law is ample under all possible circumstances . " This

ex tract struok me as bearing somewhat on the question at issne , seeing that if Lodges are the almoners of the individual members , BO is Grand Lodge the almoner of the funds contributed for a specific object by the various Lodges in the country , and should bo religiously expended for that purpose , and none other .

I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , VIGIL .

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NOTICES OF MEETINGS . — : o : —

ST . MARYLEBONE LODGE , No . 1305 . WEDNESDAY last will long be remembered at the Langham Hotel as a " red letter day" in the annals of this Ledge . Business was commenced by the W . M ., Brother Henry Hill , at 5 o ' clock precisely . He was supported by Bros . Halliday S . W ., J . Smith J . W ., Dr . F . Spurgin S . D ., F . J . Bonham J . D ., J . Chnplin

Treasurer , J . Baker Secretary , with the following P . M . ' s : White , Foxall , Lea , J . J . Pope , Phillips , and Mouflet . Among tbe Visitors present were Bros . Garrett 704 , Wickins 735 , Lea 1897 , Burgess 9 , Thorn 967 , Andrews 35 , Morton 172 , Arnold 1339 , G . Mayo 1732 , G . Cross 1741 , Jacobs 1732 , Von Joel 957 , Edwards 766 , TTasness 179 ,

MiMis , Mnrch 27 , Linscott 55 , P . Palmer 1732 , Dr . Corrie Jackson 534 , Potter 1614 , Hansard 193 , Wilson 1563 , Healy 1348 , Baker 2030 , Foale 1381 , Honeybun 55 , Bevet 179 , Cox 862 , F . Smith , F . Brice , Cottebrune , Tucker , and Jenkinp . Immediately after the minutes had been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken for the admission

of Brother Lord Charles William do la Poer Beresford , M . P ., P . M . 1903 , who was proposed by Bro . Seager Hunt , M . P ., and seconded by Brother J . Chaplain Treasurer ; and Brother C . Walker Old Concord Lodge , proposed by Bro . J . L . Baker P . M ., seconded by Brother E . White P . M . This proving to bo nnanimously in favonr ,

these two brethren were admitted into membership , and took their seats amongst the brethren . Lodge was then advanced to the third degree , and the ceremony of raising Bros . A . T . Brooking and J . E . B . Hammond was then performed in an able and impressivo manner Lodge having been resnmod in the first degree , the ballot was taken

for Messrs . Whitby sen . and jnn ., both of Peckham , who were proposed by Bro . Ellis , and seconded by Bro . Felton ; also Mr . John Wade Avery , Deputy Superintendent Registrar , proposed by Bro . Douglas and seconded by Bro . J . L . Baker P . M . This also proved to be unanimous in favonr , and the gentlemen being in attendance ,

were initiated into the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry in a manner which seemed to make a great impression on their minds . A le'ter was read from the widow of the late Bro . Durant , informing the Lodge of the sad loss she had sustained by the death of her

husband , who was for mauy years a member of the St . Marylebone Lodge . It was proposed by Bro . Whito P . M . and seconded by Bro . Phillips , that a letter of condolence should be sent to Mrs . Durant , expressing the sympathy of the members of the Lodge with her in her affliction . This of course was carried . All other business being

ended , the Lodge was closed , and the brethren retired to the banquet . room , where upwards of eighty brethren sat down to a sumptuous repast which had been provided for them . At dessert tho health of the Qneen and Craft was duly honoured ; the toast being followed by the Worshipful Master proposing the health of the Most

Worshipful Gr . nd Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and the rest of the Grand Officers , coupling the names of Bros . Foxall and Cottebrune . In reply Brother Cottebrune thanked the W . M . in . the name of tho Gra-id Officers for coupling his name with Bro . Foxall , who had for so ninny years been Past Master of the St . Marylebone Lodge . He

bad seen Brother Foxall installolinto the chair of K . S . as its first Maxtor by the late Bro . J . Hervey . Ho was 3 orry he had not seen the whole of the working , but had witnessed snfficient to enable him to form a judgment that such working could be surpassed in few Lodges . Brother Foxall ; i ! si thanked the W . M . for including his

name , and said it was an interesling day in tho history of the St . Marylebone Lodge , a-i thoy had five new members , viz ., three Initiates and two Joining Members , one of the latter being Lord C . Beres '' rl . Ho thought they oiu / hfc to he very much obliged to Bro . Seager Hunt for having proposed such a distinguished Mason .

Tho I P . M ., Brother Monflet , reuimed the g . r > -el and proposed the healt'i of the W . M , saying they all were aware bow be had undertaken every position in tlu Lodge , and how ho had done his work that (•• • • ' ¦ nitig ; ho heartily congratulated him upon if . Tho W . M . in responding thanked the brethren for the kind ninnner in which tboj

had n-c ived the toast of his health . He hardly know how to answer to their cnlogies . He had dono his best to perform his du ' y and conld not have done so well bad he not been ablv assisted by his Officers . He felt he bad been honoured above his confreres in having three Initiates , as no Lodge could possibly prog : e ? s utdoss they had new and young blood imported into it . He wad happy to say that

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ho had another candidate for them at their next meeting . Brother Seymour Smith then favonred the company with the E . A . song . Bro . Whiteley sen . commenced bis response with the quotation from " As You Like It : "—" Though I look old , yet I am strong and lusty . For in my youth I never did apply hot and rebellious liquors

in my blood , nor did not with nnbashfnl forehead woo the means of weakness and debility . Therefore my age is as a lusty winter , frosty but kindly . " He was very much surprised and pleased with the grand Christian doctrine used in the initiation ceremony , and felt that since ho had breathed the Masonic air he had become a new

man . If the Masonic principles were trnly carried out , nothing could be higher or grander , and if the question shonld be asked as to why ho had become a Mason , his reply would be that it was in response to the dying reqne « t of a belovel daughter who had passed away iu Australia , and that was , " Father , be a Mason . " Bros . Whitely jun .

and Avery also responded . Bro . Seager Hunt then proposed the health of the joining members , Bros . Lord C . Beresford and C . Walker , saying that those brethren mistht congratulate themselves that they had the pleasure of hearing the ceremonies so beautifully given bv the W . M . It could not have been more grandly

rendered . They and the initiates would feel that Masonry had that grand Christian power which enabled it to withstand the waves of Socialism and Atheism which were abroad at the present time , and congratnlated them on belonging to a Lodge whioh contained amongst its members some of the ablest and staunchest men in Freemoaonry .

Lord C . Beresford , in response , thanked Bro . Hunt for having proposed his health , and said he was the remnant of the joining brethren ; he wished to thank them for allowing him to join so diBtingnished a Lodge . His experience of Masonry was somewhat varied , for he had belonged to many Lodges , having originally been

initiated in New South Wales . He had also joined Lodges in Hong Kong , Wellington , and the Cape . He also remembered joining one at Tunis , where an Irishman was in the chair . On that evening they

had three candidates of different nationalities , viz ., an Englishman , a Frenchman , and an Italian ; each bad tobe initiated in his own language . Finally he paid a compliment to the W . M . for the able and impressive manner in which he had worked the ceremonies . Brother White

then proposed the health of tho thirty-five Visitors , and said he could hardly expect them all to respond , but would call upon Bros . Hansard P . G . Steward , Colonel Bnrgess , and Shand to undertake that duty , which was done . Lord C . Beresford was then called upon

for a song . This he declined , for two reasons ; the first was he had sprained his thumb , and the second , he had never sung a song in his life ; but wonld be very pleased to give a sentiment , which he considered contained most of the precepts embodied in our grand old Craft : —

" Life is but a froth and bubble , Two words in it are writ in stone : Kindness for each other ' s troubles , Courage for our own . " Next followed the toasts of the various Officers , which were duly responded to . The Tyler ' s toast brought to a close a very pleasant and instructive evening .

CAPPER LODGE , No . 1076 . 1 THURSDAY last was an " off night" with the members of this Lodge , who assembled at the Guildhall Tavern , " Gresbam Street , under tho presidency of the Worshipful Master , Bro . W . H Harris . There were also present Bros . W , Nevins I . P . M ., H . Taplcy P . M ., J . Mitchell P . M ., E . West P . M ., W . Watkins S . W ,, C . J . D'Oyley Mears J . W ., J . Dorton Treasurer , J . C . Pitts Secretary ,

W . Temple S . D ., J . Still J . D ., A . T . Vale I . G ., Sherwin Organist , and many other brethren . Lodge having been opened in accordance with ancient rites , was advanced , and the ceremonies of raising and passing were worked in admirable manner by the W . M . assisted by his Officers . A pleasant evening was passed , and the brethren separated at an early hour .

EBORACDM LODGE , No . 1611 . r pHE installation meeting of this Lodge fell due on the 9 th ult , * ( Lord Mayor ' s Day ) , but as many of the members were interested in municipal affairs , and could not have been present on that day , a dispensation was obtained from the Provincial Grand Master

to hold the meeting on Wednesday , tho 11 th ult ., on which day there was a large assemblage of members aud visitors at the Masonic Hall , St . Saviourgate , York . Soon after three p . m ., the Lodge was opened by Bro . Sir Frederick Milner , Bart ., W . M . Senior Provincial Grand Warden , all the Officers being in their places , whilst

amongst the Visitors were Bros . F . Smith P . M . 837 , J . Barker P . M . 1102 , T . M . Golclie W . M . G 60 , Major McGachen P . M . 1991 , H . Darby W . M . 613 , J . B . McNay P . M . 236 , C . Anderson 236 , W . Purnell 236 , T . B . Nicholis 660 , C . L . Burdekin 236 , W . Smith 236 , T . Archey 236 , E . C . Clough 660 , G . W . Pattison 602 , and others . The usual

preliminaries having been observed , the chair was taken by Bro . T . B . Whytehead P . M . P . P . G . W ., the Senior and Junior Wardens' chairs being occupied by Bros . J . S . Cumberland P . M . P . P . G . W ., and George Balmford P . M . P . P . G . O . Bro . Sir F . Milner then presented Bro . A . T . B . Turner , the S . W . and W . M . elect , for installation , and the

ceremony was proceeded with , Bro . Cumberland giving the charges to the Officers on investment , and the final address to the brethren . Tho following Officers were invested for the year : —Bros . Sir F . Milner , Bart ., " I . P . M ., W . Brown S . W ., G . Chapman J . W ., Rev . R .

Blakeney Cr . aplain , J . Kay Secretary , G . Balmford P . M . Treasurer , S . J . Dalton S . D ., W . Lackenby J . D ., T . B . Whytehead P . M . D . C ., W . Stephenson I . G ., C . G . Padel P . M . Org ., W . Storey Steward , P . Pearson aud J . D . Irving Assistant Stewards , and J . Hall Tyler . After the ceremonies , a number of presentations took place . Bro ,