Touting For The Higher Degrees.

TOUTING FOR THE HIGHER DEGREES .

fT frequently happens that the wisdom of the * founders of the Masonic system—in what may be termed matters of but minor importance—is brought prominently before us . and we are led to admire the

forethought and thoroughness which our ancient Brethren displayed in their work . Such is the case in connection with the well-known regulation of the Craft

which precludes its members from inviting outsiders to join the Order , it being a . necessary qualification that candidates should come of their own free will and

accord , without solicitation of friends . It is this special feature which makes the earlier degrees of Craft Masonry wholly different and distinct from the Royal Arch , the Mark , and other higher

ranks , in all of which touting for candidates is carried on to such an extent as to occasionall y cause disgust and contempt in the minds of Brethren who have not gone beyond the earlier degrees of Blue Masonry , and

as a consequence cannot appreciate the working of those who seek for candidates , in direct opposition to the teachings of the Craft , which expressly prohibit anything of the sort .

It is no unusual thing to hear members of the higher degrees , well advanced as well as newly admitted , urging on their acquaintances the claims of

their superior qualifications , and striving all they know to . secure candidates for advanced degrees ; and the way in which they go about their work is quite sufficient to convince the most casual observer that it

was a very wise forethought on the part of the organisers of Craft Masonry that they expressly prohibited anything in this direction on the part of

members of the early degrees of Freemasonry—the foundation on which all others rest , and from which they derive their being . .

Durham Charity.

DURHAM CHARITY .

ON Saturday afternoon the annual meeting of the Charities Committee of the Province of Durham was held at the Masonic Hall , Durham . Bro . Thomas Coulson , South Shields , Chairman presided , and declined re-election . The following Officers were then elected : Chairman , Bro . C . S . Lane , West Hartlepool ; Vice-ChairmanDr . C . D .

Hill-, Drury , Darlington ; Treasurer , Bro . Colonel Rowlandson , Durham ; Hon . Secretary , Bro . John Robinson , Darlington ; Finance Committee , Bros . R . Hudson , Tynemouth ; R . Hauxwell , Durham ; F . H . Bennett , West Hartlepool ; S . B . £ enny , Durham ; T . CoulsonSouth Shields JCMoore

, ; . . , Sunderland ; M . Corbitt , Gateshead ; B . S . Beckwith , Darlington ; Auditors , Bros . James Sedcole , South Shields , and T . C . Johnson , Thornaby . It was agreed that the names oi Bros . R . Hudson and F . H . Bennett be added to the

Trustees , the three continuing Trustees being Bros . T . Coulson , C . S . Lane , and R . Luck . A number of applications for grants were then considered and grants Passed . &

On the motion of Dr . C . D . Hill-Drury , seconded by Bro . t H . Bennett , and supported by Bro . R ' . Hudson , it was unanimously resolved ; "That this Committee records its

Durham Charity.

high appreciation of the service rendered by Bro . T . Coulson as its Chairman during the past eight years , and while regretting his retirement from the position , it expresses the hope that he may be long spared to continue his active services to Masonry in general , and the Charities Committee of the Province of Durham in particular . "

From the annual report presented by the Secretary Bro . John Robinson , it appeared that the total subscriptions per Lodges to the Festival Fund amounted to £ 2 , 314 4 s 2 d , a sum which had enabled the Committee to make the

investments of the Hudson Benevolent Fund £ 3 , , and the Durham Masonic Educational Fund , £ 3 , 093 6 s id , thus fully realising the expectations of the promoters of the Festival . The report was unanimously adopted .

Bro . C , T . Johnson proposed that the services of Bro . John Robinson , " one of the Secretaries of the Festival , be recognised by his being made a Patron of the two Provincial Charities . The Chairman pointed out that this would come up at next meeting , at which he was sure a suitable proposition would be made on the matter .

Mark Benevolent Fund.

MARK BENEVOLENT FUND .

THE thirty-first Anniversary Festival of this Fund was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Tavern , London , under the presidency of the Earl of Warwick Grand Master of the newly constituted Mark Province of Essex , he being

supported by the Earl of Portarlington , the Earl of Euston , Baron de Ferrieres , Sir Thomas Roe , Colonel and Sheriff Clifford Probyn , Bro . Loveland-Loveland , Q . C ., and many others , including a large number of ladies .

The subscriptions announced on the occasion amounted to £ 2 , 064 , amount equal to about the average of the last fifteen years ; £ 330 above the result of last year ' s Festival , but below that of each of the three preceding ones .

The annual meeting of the Carnarvon Lodge , No . 804 , was held at the Town Hall , Havant , and is described as the most successful function ever held in connection with the

Lodge . The presence ol the Prov . G . M . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., "Father of the House of Commons , " was regarded as a special compliment . A report will appear next week .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Norfolk was held on Wednesday , at Wymondham , the new Prov . G . M . Bro . Hamon le . Strange being supported by his predecessor in the office Lord Suffield , and a large number of other Brethren . Our report of the meeting will appear later .

The election meeting of the Upton Lodge , No . 1227 , was held on Thursday , the result being that Bro . H . J . Rowberry J . W . was unanimously selected for the office of Master , while Bro . C . Gieseke P . M . was re-elected as Treasurer , for the 16 th year . We shall give further particulars next week .

The Marquess of Zetland Prov . G . M . North and East Yorkshire presided at the annual meeting of his Province , held at Guisborough , on Wednesday , the attendance being good and the gathering in every way successful .

The Charles Dickens Lodge was consecrated at Chigwell , on Tuesday , by the Prov . G . M . the Earl of Warwick Deputy G . M . of England , supported by a brilliant assemblage c 5 f the Craft . Our report is unavoidably held over .