Lodge Meetings Next Week.

that never gets asboro—tho great sea serpent ? Why , we are asked to believe that the " M . I . " is our " bete noire ; " that he has lived on us rioting on milk aud honey , and derives a more substantial income from the Craft to-day than he evor did , an & we arcs told that therefore aU our spare time , and mora , ought to be taken np in hunting him down . Now , seriously , Sir , is it possible to make a living out of Masons by the so-called impostor ' s methods ? Nay , is he an impostor ? If he is a Mason ,

why call him what lie is not ? And if not a Mason , why encourage an alien tribe we at present have nothing to do with , except as townsmen , by all this fuss about him ? These " chasseurs de notre Dreyfus " know , or ought to know , that no man over did and never will bleed Miisons to the extent of a journeyman bricklayer's wages . He may make one—perhaps , if lucky , two , fairly good hauls of a pound or two ( and these are very exceptional)—then

his career ends . I have had to do with the so-called Masonio Impostor , both as Lodge . Almoner and at one time as a Central League Almoner , and 1 may say I have been invited move than once to join the crusade . Tho last time I was very nearly in it when something transpired , and so altogether I shall certainly know as much about tho myth—well , as the two Brethren who have shaken their mocassins at Leeds , after so many fearfully trying years on the war-path .

The distressed Mason can be dealt with without making an undignified exhibition of him . Why not , if necessary , make a rjile to refuse all strange Brethren , whether doubtful or not ? This would be far better than showing his points all round and trotting him about as at a horse fair . The other way ( as we did ) is simple . Let ten Lodges in close proximity subscribe an } ' sum under 10 / - a year for a special stranger's fund . Use all reasonable precaution

and pay as far as it will go . Do not grumble if one mistake is made—it cannot be much , or the Almoner is more to blame than the recipient for it . One year I recollect we had a call of no kind , and twice we balanced up with over £ 1 in hand , always added to the general one . Two " bad " cases in five years cost 30 /—both clever frauds and both actually taken to a Lodge , hence the mistakes . The great mistake Lodges make is in changing the Almoner , or cases like these wonld be quite rare .

With regard to the " Rennio type , let ths local police look after him . It is their business , and it requires no prophet to forecast what Grand Lodge opinion will be on the subject . This is no Craft matter at all ! In conclusion , I beg to ask another question . Could not tho exuberance of nervous energy displayed ro Masonic Impostors be much more profitably employed in boldly facing moro solid reforms ?

Yours , & c , CABITA . To the Editor of the FBEEJIASON ' S CHBONICLE . DEAR Sir . AND BROTHER , —Before addressing you ou the subject of Masonic imposition I should like to explain that I entertain strange ideas in many matters , as compared with my fellows ; aud having said so much you will perhaps understand me when I say I have a certain amount of pity for

the Blasonic beggar . Poor devil , ho has a hard time of it , if the way in which 1 have found it necessary to treat him—in common with many others with whom I am acquainted , and who havo proved it to be compulsory to act on the once bit , twice shy , principle—is anything of a guide ; and after reading the interesting report of the West Yorkshire meeting I am of opinion that we arc not more hard hearted in our corner of the country than others , I am in business in a provincial town , and it was no uncommon thins

for Masonic tramps—or tramps who professed to be Masons—to pay me a visit ; sent , I came to find out , by one or two of my neighbours who knew I was a Mason . I had been taught to be cautious , and a long association with the " genus cadger " induced me to be almost equally careful of relieving a " Masonic " beggar as an ordinary one . As a rule the applicants were most moderate in their- requirements after a little holding out on my part , the usual "few pence towards a night ' s lodging " being their last resource , and

because they knew enough of the Masonic ritual to give their appeal a Fraternal ring , I am afraid they wero generally successful with me , until I began to think that tho number of distressed Brethren on our part of the road was increasing to an alarming extent . I mentioned this to friends , and was warned that "Masonic beggars" would increase in proportion to the ease with which they were relieved , and I decided to alter my tactics , and refuse in every case , referring all to a local Almoner .

I do not know whether my visitors were Free and Accepted Masons , but I am convinced they knew something of the freemasonry of cadging , and it has evidently gone forth to the members of their " guild " that the " Masonic dodge" will not now work with me . The little I used to give was not of such consequence as to justify this letter , but I relate my experience for the principle of the thing , and in the hope that others may try for themselves

whether my experience was peculiar to this part of the country . It seems pretty certain tho few pence " distressed Masons " used to get from me was sufficient to make my place a " house of call" for the old stagers , who are understood to work in league on the road . I am sorry if I have refused help to n , Brother really in need of it , but my later experience seems to lead me to think there is more of " system " than " misfortune " at the bottom of the appeals ol the ordinary Masonic beggar .

I shall look forward with interest to the further development of the reform which seems necessary in this direction . Yours fraternally , A BELIEVER IN MASONIC EQUALITY .

Speaking To Time.

SPEAKING TO TIME .

To the Editor of tho FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . Sm , —Quite recently I was present at an Installation banquet at which an excellent musical programme had been provided at the expense of the Lodge . The newly installed Master was , to put it mildly , not an orator , but he made eleven long speeches (?) . The consequence was that barely one half of tho musical programme could be got through . I ask , is it not time to curtail the number o £ toasts and to limit the time of every speaker to threo minutes each ?

Perhaps I am unfortunate in my Masonic invitations ; I hope so , but the last time I dined at a Lodge no less than eight Brethren replied to the toast of the visitors . On arriving home that night my wife asked me why I was so much later than I had expected to be ; I told her about tho eight visitors ' speeches . I was immediately forgiven—she said I had suffered enough . !! i

I am , Sir , your obedient servant , HENRY TIMES P . M 11 th September 1899 .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

WILTSHIRE .

THE Provincial Grand Superintendent the Earl of Radnor presided over the Provincial Grand Chapter , at Devizes , on Wednesday 6 th inst ., and appointed the following as his Officers for the year : Comp . E . B . Merriman 1533 - - - H . W . 3 . Mann 032 . . . J . \ V . E . Nicholson Browne 355 - - Scribe E ,

Hubert Leaf 1533 - Scribe N , G . M . Wilson 58 G . - - - Treasurer Edward Waters 586 - - - - Registrar Bev . W . Wheeler 5 SG Principal Sojourner S . Snell 355 - - - - - 1 st Assistant Sojourner

F . Wyatt 663 ... - 2 nd Assistant Sojourner H . Mundy 632 - - - - Standard Bearer John Chandler 355 - - - . - Director of Ceremonies W . S . Bambridge 1533 - - - Organist Win . Dean 355 . . . - Janitor . A banquet was served at the Bear Hotel after the ceremonies of the day .

The weekly meetings of the Brondesbury Lodge of Instruction , No . 2698 , were resumed at the Earl Derby Hotel , 155 High Road , Kilburn , N . W ., on Monday last , nth inst . The Officers are Bros . A . F . Hardyment W . M . 2698 Preceptor , R . J . Campbell P . M . 26 9 8 Treasurer , and Harry Willsmer ( 4 6 Birchington Road , Kilburn ) Secretary .

An improvement has been effected outside the Freemasons' Club , Commercial Road , Landport , by the removal of the two lamp columns from the pavement , where they had stood since the opening of the premises over twenty

vears ago . The inaugural smoking concert for the ensuing season will take place at the Club on the 3 rd prox ., the services of Bro . Cowan having been secured as musical director .

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