Installation Meetings, &C.

several of whom responded , and then the toast of the Past Masters was "iveu . It was enthusiastically received , and acknowledged by Bro . 'bchse and Lover . The health of the Treasurer , the Secretary , and the Installing Master was coupled in one toast . The W . M . felt that all regretted tbe absence of the Treasurer , but must rejoice in tbe presence of the other distinguished brethren included in this

toast . Bro . Lover , in the course of hia reply , said he was ever ready and willing to render any service in his power to the Lodge . He had filled the office of I . G . at its start , had passed its chair as W . M ., and had performed the ceremony of installation of its Master , not only once , but on some few occasions . He was still ready to do what he could

to advance its interests , and trusted he should always act so as to receive the approval of his brethren . The Officers were nexfc honoured , and the toast having been responded to , the Tyler was summoned , and he concluded the proceedings . Among the visitors were Bros . T . Kingham P . M . 721 , J . Burdett 1293 , G . Dorme 35 , W . A . Dawling

2012 , J . Field 317 , W . B . Barnett W . M . 1901 , J . J . Taffs P . M . 186 , S . Rowe South Africa ( Netherlands Constitution ) , S . Barnett W . M . 185 , J . A . Gartley W . M . 205 , W . H . Benjamin W . M . 1317 , T . Clark 28 , J . J . Bell P . M . 1178 , 0 . Kosminski , 185 , & o .

1227 , Legge 1227 , Newbold P . M ., Bradgate 55 , Ray late 15 , Weingott late 15 , Smith I . P . M . 1538 , Simon 1997 , Clark P . M . 1227 , Smith sen . 1839 , Holt 1766 , Walesby 813 , Levett 452 , MoBean P . M . 194 , Robertson W . M . 1538 , Bartlett 1347 , H . M . Levy P . M . 188 . Lodge was opened , and the minutes of the former meeting were read and con . firmed . Bros . Downs and Mortimer were raised to the third degree

KENT LODGE , No . 15 . THE regular meeting of this ancient and flourishing Lodge was held on the 14 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Great Queenstreet . Bros . Stinson W . M ., Legge S . W ., Woolley J . W ., Dr . Sleeman P . M . Treasurer , Dukes P . M . Secretary , James S . D ., Cammell J . D ., Pritchard I . G ., Potior D . C , Wells P . M . Steward , Saunders Organist ? P . M . ' s Hirst I . P . M ., Posener and Ball . Visitors—Pocken P . M . 1536 , Smith jun . I . P . M . 1839 , E . Levy 780 , Hanson 1706 , Serjeant W . M .

very perfectly and impressively by the W . M ., who also gave the traditional history . Bro . McCleary was passed . Ballots were taken for the admission of Messrs . Grimmett , Scott and Towers , who were duly initiated into the Order . All the ceremonies were very ably worked , and every Officer was perfect . Hearty good wishes were given , and Lodge was closed until the second Wednesday in October .

The brethren then adjonrned to the Holborn Restaurant , where a sumptuous banquet and dessert waa provided by Bros . Gordon and Hamp , that gave great satisfaction . The W . M . proposed the Loyal and Masonic toasts in appropriate terms . Bro . Hirst I . P . M . said any member who was versed in Freemasonry must have seen the excellent manner in whioh the W . M . had performed the ceremonies of

raising , passing aud initiating . Those ceremonies had been carried out in a manner that could not be excelled . This was the last meeting until October . That night they met in considerable numbers , and he hoped to meet them in equal numbers at fche next assembly . The W . M ., in reply , said his motto as regards speech was Brevity . His aim and desire was always to please . He trusted he had worked the ritual to their satisfaction , and hoped on the completion of his of

year office to receive the same expressions of approval as greeted him at his installation . The W . M . next proposed the toasfc of the Initiates ; those brethren , judging by their introduction , would doubtless be a credit to their Lodge and to the Craffc in general . After the toast had been acknowledged , the Visitors were com - phmented . Other toasts followed in quick succession , and the proceedings throughout were of a most agreeable character .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

" « do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . veswndents . all Letters must bear the name ani address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

CHARITY ORGANISATIONS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your article on this subject is grati - lying beyond measure , as showing both what a little energy and perseverance is capable of effecting for our Charities , and likewise that few brethren need henceforth allege ifc as a reason for not contributing towards the funds of our Institutions thafc the narrowness

of their means will not allow of their doing so . I havo seen in your columns particulars of the balance sheets of other Masonic Charity Associations , chiefly metropolitan , in which the periodical payments are less heavily felt , but I do not remember to have read of any plan similar to that organised in the Province of Staffordshire , from which so much good has been derived . It is not stated whether the

° ne guinea per annum to the A Fund and the five shillings to the -B Fund must be paid in one amonnt , but even if that is indispen-¦ -able , the benefits held out to the subscribers are so clear , and the advantages to the Charities so obvious , that I imagine most brethren will be willing to put up with the inconvenience of a temporary presg nre on their funds , rather than forego the advantages which may

possibl y result to them under the Staffordshire arrangement . In any ° " [ cumsfcances , the large sum raised by fche Organisation—only a few shillings short of £ 4000 in little more than twelve years—will be noted with general satisfaction , while the existence of a separate and distinct fund for the payment of the working expenses , and the grant ? ' assistance under certain conditions to the children oflocal brethren 18 a Mature which cannot be too highly praised . However , I need

Correspondence.

say little more oo the subject . The fact to whioh you have given doe prominence , namely , that in the year 1883 alone , £ 420 oat of the £ 573 contributed to the A Fund was expended in the purchase of eighty Life Subscriberships to our different Institutions needs no embellishment . It is what some people call a " big fact , " whioh there

is no getting over or explaining away , and I can only hope the example thus set by Staffordshire , and acted upon with such success by it for a considerable terra of years , will be followed by other Provinces , of whom there are several who might do so with great advantage to the Institutions and still greater credit to themselves . I remain , fraternally yours , ALPHA .

THE ROYAL MASONIO BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Bro . Lacey ' s propositions , as described in your article of last week , are well worthy of consideration . There is no doubt of their having been conceived in a spirit of moderation , and , in the event of the heavy demands on the resources of the Institution being continued , there is equally no doubt that something will have

to be done to lessen it , if not in the particular direction indicated by Bro . Lacey , in some other , which may possibly be in the end more extreme still . But I would suggest that no such reform should be attempted , at least nntil every other class of suggestion has been pretty well exhausted . Thus , as the Annuities on the two Funds , at the figures at whioh they respectively stand now , are by no means excessive , I

would suggest their continuance for the present , neither would I propose to reduce fche incomes whioh the Male and Female Annuitants are respectively permitted to enjoy apart from the annual sums paid to them by the Institution . But might we not first of all try the effect of making the qualifications of candidates for the two Funds more stringent in respect of age , raising the minimum limit for

Males from sixty to sixty-five , and that for Females from fifty-five to sixty ? Then , if little or no relief is afforded by this change , we might take a further step in the same direction of stringency and require Male candidates to have been registered Master Masons for twenty instead of fifteen years , and subscribing members to a Lodge or Lodges for fifteen years of that period ; corresponding and

proportionate alterations to be made in the case of candidates for the Widows' Fund . I would also suggest—and I am not aware of the suggestion having emanated from any other brother—that in the case of brethren who have been concurrently members of two or more Lodges , such concurrent membership should not be allowed to count , until after they have been registered Master Masons for ( say ) fifteen years , and subscribing members for ten years of that period . My

reason for submitting the latter proposition is , that membership of more than one Lodge is unnecessary , save in very rare cases , and consequently , that it entails on the brethren so subscribing an amount of expense which , as being unnecessary , and therefore extravagant , should be discouraged as much as possible . I am not wedded to this kind of reform , bnt ifc might be worth trying as a first step or steps towards reducing the number of appli . cants for the benefits of the Benevolent Institution . Fraternally yours , "Q . "

MUSIC FOR THE FESTIVALS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I lately received a request from the Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls to send in a list of artistes for fche forthcoming Festival on 21 st May . As it is considered an hononr by myself and brother artistes to obtain the Festival ( bnt not a pecuniary profit ) , I forwarded a list of

the best leading vocalists of the day . Four or five more brethren had also been ordered to send a similar list . However , none of the brethren , after they had each taken a good deal of trouble , in correspending , calling , and even personal expenses , have been successful . We were informed that a lady had the music . This lady is nofc connected with Masonry , neither her father , husband , nor brothers

being Masons . I ask you , ia ifc reasonable that four or five brethren should be put to trouble and expense to compete , & c , with such unprofitable results ? As Masons , we think we have a right to be considered first . We work in Masonry all the year , and for years , and I ask you , would the

Musical Committee give the music to a lady if they wore not personally interested ? In the interests of my fellow artistes , I ask you the favour of inserting thia in your valuable paper , and remain , with high respect , Yours faithfully , ONE or THE COMPETITORS .

We are compelled to hold over several important features of interest in connection with the events of the week .

The Chiswick Lodge of Instruction , No . 2012 , will hold its first meeting this day ( Saturday ) , the 17 th inst ., at the Roebuck Tavern , Turaham Green , W . The brethren assemble at 8 o'clock , Bro . W . Ayling will be the Preceptor .