Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name ani address of the Writer , not ¦ necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee 0 / good faith .

THE SCHOOLS AND GRAND LODGE

To the Editor 0 / the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am very glad you have again drawn attention to the smallness of the annual Contributions b y Grand Lodge to the Boys' and Girls' Schools . For now two-and-forty years the san e sum has been given to each , but I do not think I am at all

exaggerating the case when I say that each School is doing four times as much good now as it did in 1839 , while the number of entrants into Freemasonry during the last few years has been eight timeB what it was then—that is , if the figures on which you base your statement are correct , and I fancy I recollect having read a somewhat

similar statement a few years ago by Bro . Binckes . At the time it was proposed to vote a sum to , in some way , commemorate the safe return of H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand Master , from India , it was suggested that the sum voted by Grand Lodge should be apportioned equally among our

Institutions . The suggestion was not acted upon , and the Earl of Carnarvon Pro Grand Master , when proposing the vote of £ 4000 to the Eoyal Masonic Lifeboat Institution , in order to build and endow in perpetuity two lifeboats , referred to the counter proposal to g ive a sum to each of our Charities , and remarked that one

reason why he did not agree with the proposal was that no appeal to the Craft to support those Charities would ever be made in vain . The remark was loudly oheered , and the Craft as a body has shown that those cheers were not without significance . But while the Craft in its subdivisions of Provinces and Lodges goes on increasing its support of them—as witness your statement published on the

1 st inst . of the work done last year—Grand Lodge remains exactly where it was in 1839 in respect of the Schools , giving only the same £ 150 to each now as then . Ought not this to be improved , especially as the funds of Grand Lodge are so much more considerable than they were forty years ago ? What say Bros . Binckes and Hedges on the subject ? Faithfully and fraternally yours , TJBIQUE .

Withdrawal Of Visitors.

WITHDRAWAL OF VISITORS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It appears that out" "IRREPRESSIBLE TOMKINS " is a pedant as well as a wag . Instead of fairly meeting what I advanced on the above subject , and satisfying my natural curiosity as to how a matter held right and proper in 1878 should be deemed wrong and improper in 1880 , and how an eminent Masonio

authority , quoted in snpport of opinions in the former year , can also be found available to sustain opposite views upon the same question at the present time , and instead of pursuing a course which might have proved interesting and instructive , he finds fault with me for having gone astray in the matter of logic . As he eagerly grasped the opportunity of a reporter's inadvertence to read a homily anent

the conduct of Bro . Constable , so my protest against the presumption is made a pretext to favour me with a lecture on my ignorance , and , at the same time , to parade his acquaintance with syllogisms , the masters who wrote upon the art of reasoning , and to hint to an unappreciative world what an intellectual gem of the first water it permits to remain in obscurity . While fully conscious

of my shortcomings , I am sensible of his greatness , and truly astonished at my temerity in daring to confront a force of such magnitude . Though deficient in logic , I can boast of some courage . But the characteristic of true courage is modesty . I will therefore , with all becoming humility , venture to inquire of the logician and lecturer on morality , courtesy and delicacy , why he does not enforce his

precepts by example . For whatever may be thought of his effusions from a literary point of view , few will recommend them as models of courtesy , delicacy or risrht feeling . And next , may I ask how far , even in his estimation , he has succeeded in exculpating himself from the charge of using unfriendly and unfraternal lauguage when canvassing the conduct of a brother ? It is true , with tiresome

reiteration , he insists upon his right to criticise the public conduct of any one . As if any one would or could deny him that right . It is not only politic , but frequently a necessary duty to throw light upon practices of individuals . It is 1 ot therefore with his privilege , but with the manner in which it was exercised , that I found fault , and felt bound to express disgust at the studied insolence which characterised and

gave tone to what is now pretended to have been friendly criticism . I must persist in again pointing out that our logician engages in this fra , y—it does not deserve to be dignified with the appellation of battle—with unfair advantage . To follow his own nautical phraseology , he cortinues to sail under a borrowed flag . The identity of the skipper remains carefully concealed , while my poor little craft , foreign built too , fearlessly displays its own proper

ensign . To judge , however , from the amazing amount of ammunition expended in the endeavour to counteract an attack by , and inflict some damage upon , what , in comparison , might justly be considered a mere little tub , the opposing craft mnst be of superior bulk certainly , but there has as yet been no evidence of any extraordinary seamanship ; and as the shots fell wide of the mark , it may reasonably be inferred that the marksman was either groggy or of inferior akill . The little bark remains unharmed , and intends hopefully ,

Withdrawal Of Visitors.

merrily , and bravely to continue on its way , be the waters stormy or placid , ready to do its little best to render aid where help is needed , or duty calls . Now , Brother Editor , you will perhaps be inolined to consider me a kind of male " Eose Dartle , " for I have another question to ask , and " really should much like to be informed , " why our logical brother , of whose capacity to hold his own with a far superior

antagonist than I ever can hope or pretend to be , shirks his work and tries to shift a duty apportioned to him from his to the editorial vessel ? The very gist of my letter he leaves untouohed , and wisheB you to handle , whilst he contents himself to entertain us with the oachinnatious effect produced by what he is pleased to consider my absurdity . I , on the contrary , am free to admit a feeling akin to

grief to find so much logio and ability thrown away upon so exceedingly trivial and absurdly insignificant a question , and , moreover , that a Masonic newspaper , so ably and consistentl y devoted to the spread of kindly feeling , goodwill , and fraternal affection , should be made the vehiole for publishing what , under the guise of fighting for principle , is , after all , only an exchange of hardly concealed

personalities . For my own part , I am perfectly willing to give the " IRREPRESSIBLE TOMKINS " best in this matter . He professes friendship to both Bro . Constable and myself , and I have no reason to doubt his assertion . Let me assure him that I have been animated by no enmity against

a person of whose private life and charaoter I can have no knowledge . I desire to retire from this useless and purposeless controversy as gracefully as may be , and am content to leave the field entirely to him . Fraternally youra , E . GOTTHEIL .

A Grievance.

A GRIEVANCE .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —I shall esteem it a great favour by your allowing me space in your next issue for the ventilation of a few remarks on a grievance that should never have occurred in a Masonio Lodge , and which I very much regret having occasion to comment on through the Press I have been a member of a Lodge for nearly ten years , during which

period I have filled the various offices of Inner Guard , Junior and Senior Deacon . Some years previous to the year 1879 I was ap . pointed Junior Deacon , and during the then olique system was oast aside , but as time rolled on I received an intimation , through a Past Master , that I was to be re-appointed Junior Deacon . In reply I stated that I would not be made a tool of , but at his earnest solioita .

tion I took the office for a second time , and the following year was appointed Senior Deacon . I now felt I bad a good right to expect that the office of Junior Warden would follow in due course this year . But this has not met 1 he views of the powers that be . I have this consolation , however , that no Master , Past Master , or Warden could say I was not qualified to perform my duty had I been appointed .

It is to be regretted that Masonry in my Lodge is conducted only in name . Had I been an hotel keeper or a partner in a ship-building firm no doubt I should have been recognised as sufficiently eligible in the social scale . My once prosperous Lodge is now for the most part composed of a clique of Past Masters , and I cannot find language sufficiently strong to express myself against the abominable

system of class interests which is allowed to hold in direct opposition to and violation of the first points of Masonry , and I do not hesitate to say the sooner the most Worshipful Grand Master withdraws the Charter from such a Lodge the better . Now to return to my grievance . I was informed by a Brother that it was the present Master ' s special desire to appoint the late

Junior Warden and myself to the offices of Senior and Junior Warden ; but this was no sooner mentioned than it was overruled by the before-named clique , who recommended a recently-received member to fill the chair that should by right have fallen to me , simply because he was a master tradesman and supposed to be higher in uhe social scale . Several members of the Lodge , in consequence of the unfair pro .

ceedings , intimated their determination to resign , but I strongly urged them on no account to do so , but to remain with me , in order , if possible , to put down the clique system that has sprung up for a second time in the Lodge . I must apologise for occupying so much of your valuable space , but I feel it a duty incumbent on me to expose a system so rotten and so totally at variance with Masonry , and trust yon will pardon me . I remain , Dear Sir and Brother ,

Yours fraternally , HENRY JAMES , Past Senior Deacon .

We are requested to announce that the future meetings of the West Smithfield Lodge of Instruction , No . 1623 , will be held at the Cathedral Hotel , St . Paul ' s-churchyard , E . C , on Monday evenings , where brethren will meet with , a hearty welcome . Bro . William Pennefather , W . M . 1623 , is the Preceptor .

Ad01004

DANCING . —Bro . JACQUES WYNMAN , Professor of Dancing , gives daily instruction in ail tho fashionable Dance 3 to those who are without previous knowledge . Private lessons at any time , by appointment Families attended . Balls conducted , and first class Bands provided if desired . Assemblies every Mondav and Thursday , at Eight o'Clock . PROSPECTUS OK APPIICATIOIf . ACADEMY—74 ^ NEWMAN ; STREET , OXFORD STREET , W .