Holiday Haunts.

and Honflenr . Tours are arranged for France and various part 1 * of the Continent on a most liberal scale , particulars of which are £ » iver > in the Company ' s time tables . From Lewes the line goes to Brighton—London by the sea . This latter title indicates its character com . p letely , with one important difference . London is cosmopolitan , and so is Brighton , bnt ifc is chiefly tbe "Upper Ten" n * hn flock tn tho

seaside town , while the poor and rioh of every clime congregate in the great metropolis . Brighton is essentially aristocratic , and a'l that money can purchase is fco he had there . It , is snhjeeh tn popular incursions , but the backbone of tho place are the rioh visitors and tho residents who , owing to the railway facilities afforded , are enabled to go to and from London , transact their business , and enjoy all the

advantages of good society and the pure ozone of the sea . Brighton ia a marvel of progress ; it is ever grow ng , and what it will boco-me is almost beyond conception . Pasfc Shoreham and Lancing , where quiet people sojourn , is Worthing . This place haa some of the airs and graces of its near neighbour , Brin-hton , bnt it fa quieter and cheaper . It is the children ' s paradise , and the beach is

much frequented by them . The town lies low ; behind a'e hills . which keep off the north and east winds . Worthing is noted for tho growth of figs , which ripen properly and find a market in Brighton . There are some pretty drives and walks in the locality , some old churches worth seeing , and excellent bathing . At Ford Junction a spur line projects ont to LiUlehampton , and further on another one lo

Bognor . The first-mentioned place unites the advantages of good bathing , almost extreme quietude , and agreeable walks in the oruntry , whioh is beautifully wooded . The river Arnn . close by , we are told , yields good sport for the angler . Bognor is a little more lively , it is however frequented because of the quiet and innneent relaxation it affords . Between Barnham Junction nnd Chichester

is the far-famed Go-idwood , the seat of the Dnke of Eichmoml , and the scene of the most pleasant race-meeting of the year . Ifc is held in Goodwood Park , and being private property regulations can be enforced that wonld not be possible on an open racecourse . Tho public are only tolerated , but it is a ger erous toleration thafc is exercised , and those who go to what is termed " glorious Goodwood " are only

snbject to such conditions as would come naturally to all well , bred persons . Cairney's Seat , an elevated spot , commands a flue view of the surrounding country . A mile away is Book ' s Hill , one of the principal summits of the South Downs ; this is more than 700 feet above the level of the sea . Tn the honae are some fine paintings by Vandyck and Gainsborough , Kneller , Reynolds , and Lily .

Here also are to be seen the silver breakfast plate used by Napoleon on the morning of Waterloo , and the shirt of Charles I . This collection is incongruous , but it is nevertheless interesting . The park is always open , and the house can be viewed when the family are away . We have coupled Gainsborough ' s name with Vandyck ' s , because the great Suffolk painter almost idolised the wonderful Dutch artist .

The last words that Gainsborough uttered were : " We are all going to heaven , and Vandyck is of the party . " Beyond Drayton , the station for Goodwood , is Chichester , an ancient city , clean and pleasant . The cathedral is the great attraction , bnt its position mars its proportions and obscures its effects when approached . Ifc shows best at a distance , with its fine spire

rising about 300 feet high . Tbe original edifice was founded during the eleventh century . It suffered twice from fire , and the restorations during the course of centuries were nofc wisely effected . Cromwell ' s Ironsides did enormous damage to the interior of the structure . They were particularly iconoclastic afc Chichester , and have left the signs of their destrnctiveness to the present day . Still

it is a grand old monument , and ought to be seen . It is nearly as broad as York Cathedral , and has two aisles on each side of the Dave , a unique arrangement . The Consistory Court was founded for the trial of the Lollards , and dates from the time of Henry VI . The judge ' s chair is still to be seen , and a sliding panel conceals a dark Team , which appears to have been used as a prison . The edifice

contains some fine mural tablets by Flaxman . One represents Miss Agnes Cromwell , aud is regarded as one of the finest productions of this famous sculptor . There is also one in memory of Collins , who was a native of the town . The poet is shown sitting pensivel y , bending over the pages of the Bible , while his Ivre and his manuscri pts lie ne . 'leoted by his side . Collins suffered the pangs of

poverty while in London , bnt a legacy of £ 2 , 000 succoured his later days , which were darkened by a mental malady that left him onl y intermittent periods for enjoyment . The choir is rioh , and there are portraits of the English sovereigns from the Conquest to George I ., and of the bishops down to the Eeformation . Formerly a wall surrounded the city , and gates guarded the entrances thereto . The

latter have been removed , but a portion of the former remain , and nave been converted into a terrace walk for the palace and deanery . From Chichester the line goes on to Havant for Hayling Island , a place resorted to by those who want sea air , quiet and rest . Tbe une continues on to Portsmouth , and from hence tho Isle of Wight is reached . Here for the present we bring our peregrinations to a close .

The London brethren are about to lose an influential member of their body by his removal to a different locality . Brother Charles Atkins , the Junior Vice-President of the Locige of- Benevolence , having been advised that another winter in London might

have serious results , has determined to change his locality to Torbay , where the air is more genial , and where he has taken tte Queen ' s Hotel . The brethren of the Egyptian Lodge , No . 27 , and of the John Hervey Lodge , No . 1260 , will miss in Bro . Atkins a Past Master who has served those Lodges faithfully and well .

Death.

DEATH .

? P £ - ? - ~ At his residence , Harewood Villa , West Barnet , Herts , on the 13 th instant , in his 93 rd year , WILMAX AUSTIN- IIOHQAJ-T , tor manyyears ¦ "taster of Queen Elizabeth ' s Grammar School , Barnet .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . All Letters must hear the name anl address of the Write ) - , not -necessar-ili ; / or publication , hut as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return reiected , communications .

FINANCE AND THE NEW TEMPLE

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —NOW that theqn » stion of a new Temple is before tho Craft , it would bo well to consider tho financial posi . tion of Grand L-xlge . It is desirable that tho restoration and improvements of Freemasons' Hall shonld be as complete as possible , even though the work has to be delayed for some time . There is no

occasion to hurry to conclusions , and T trust there is no necessity for warning against favouritism or jobbery . But lest I shonld be accused of starting a hare and declining to hunt , to use a metaphor of Bro . Havers ' , I mav say at once that I have too mnch confidence in the honour and integrity of the leading spirits of Grand Lodge to feel any dnnht ns to whatever action may be decided upon and carried out .

What T fear is , that undue haste and financial trepidation may lead to results more costly and leas satisfactory than they ought to be . I will just go back two or three years . When Bro . Raynbam Stewart proposed to increase the grant to the Benevolent Institution , £ 800 a-year , there was much tribulation . Fears were entertained that the income of Grand Lodge would not bear the increased strain proposed

to be placed npon it , and indeed there was great danger of the pro . posal falling through . It was then , Sir , that you came to the rescue , and I have now before me a reprint from yonr excellent journal of 4 th March 1882 , entitled " Beceipt . s and Payments of the Fund of General Purposes from October 1879 to September 1881 . " That table settled the financial question , placed information before the brethren

they hitherto wero not in possession of , and quieted the fears of tho alarmists . Bro . Stewart started a noble idea , but you made its accomplishment possible by placing the financial position of Grand Lodge before the brethren in a clear and unmistakable manner . A few figures taken from this table may nofc be without fcheir value just now . The balance in hand in . October 1879 was over - £ 2 , 000—two

years later it was more than doubled . Iu those two years Stock was disposed of to the value of £ ( 5 , 730 , but dnring the same period no less a sum than £ 13 , 060 was invested . The improvement was very marked , and there is no doubt but that it has continued . For instance , I believe I am right in stating that at the time Brother Stewart made his proposal the actual amount invested by Grand

Lodge in Government Stock was £ 11 , 150 ; at the present time , ac cording to the report of the Special Building Committee , it is £ 22 , 000 . This not only shows a wonderful vitality , but ifc also vindicates the action of Grand Lodge in making tho increased grant to the Benevolent Institution . It is also suggestive as to the future , and should give confidence to those who have to deal with the

question of a new Temple and the ehanefrs and improvements that have been rendered necessary by the late fire . I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist ; I wonld not stand still , nor would I rush wildly on . I would rather be hopeful than doubtful , and with snch an example of the recuperative power of Grand Lodge as I have laid before my readers I think there need be no fear as to

its being able to find ways aud means to carry out any scheme thafc may be determined upon . It is essential , however , to have due re . gard to facts , and with your permission I propose to deal with the main features of the report prepared by the Special Building Com . mittee . The first thing that strikes me is the sum' of £ 6 . 000 proposed to be given to Mr . Bacon for the tail end of his lease—five years

and four months—including the furniture and fixtures and " goodwill . " Ifc would be interesting to know what the goodwill represents in money , and what Messrs . Spiers and Pond are prepared to pay for it . I presume due allowance has been made for the difference between tbe value of the fittings to be purchased and those that will be required for the new hotel . I take it for granted , too , that the

question of dilapidation formed a matter of consideration when the sum of £ 6 . 000 was fixed . It is a pertinent qnestion to ask—How much would Mr . Bacon have to surrender at the end of his lease , and what are bis responsibilities with regard to the building ? I have no donbfc all these points have heen considered , but they have not been put before Grand Lodgo , ancl it is necessary thafc they should be taken

into account before the time for decision arrives . Not only is it proposed to pay £ 6 , 000 to Mr . Bacon , but the rent he now pays , £ 360 , will be lost . Now let us look at the . case of Messrs . Spiers and Pond . At present they pay £ 1 , 200 a-year , and bold an unexpired lease of twenty-two years . It is proposed to inciease the vent to £ 2 , 000 a-year , and grant

a lease of fif'y years from tbe time of the completion of the alterations . For this increase of rent ifc is proposed to rebuild Bacon ' s Hotel at a cost of £ 15 , 000 . ' Of course a new baoquetting hall will be included , although nothing is said about it in the report we are dealing with . The kitchen is to be removed to the top of the building , at a cost of £ 5 . 000 . Then there would be fittings , decorations

and contingencies , which are put down at £ 4 , 000 . The total outlay for this portion of the scheme would be £ 30 , 000 . This is only an approximate estimate ; in all probability the cost will far exceed the estimate , it almost invariably does ; and if that should be the case , then the return to Grand Lodge would be little , if any , more than 2 per cent , npon the outlay . Tbat is too small , and on the face

of it a bad speculation , —that is if it stands alone . According to the evidence of the Special Building Committee themselves they propose to borrow £ 18 , 000 at 3 per cent . Now take their figures , £ 30 , 000 for the hotel part of their scheme , and it will be seen that the interest upon that sum would be £ 900 but they only get £ 800 back , a clear loss of £ 100 a-year .