Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

THE BENEVOLENT ASPECT OF FREEMASONRY

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAK SIR AND BROTHER , —The letter in last week's issue , from a " Past Master , " entitled , " The Benevolent Aspect of Freemasonry , " has touched upon a point I have been anxiously waiting to see advocated in your admirable CHRONICLE . I would indeed be glad , with your correspondent , if more brethren

subscribed to our excellent Institutions , but the fact that there are many who do not do so does not arise from indifference , or from any desire on their part to withhold a liberal hand . Masons , when properly appealed to , will , and do give handsomely j their flow of charity may sutler delay , it is not lost , and only waits a genial opportunity " to awaken and again roll onward . "

Your correspondent says , that the pajmeat ot tho trifling sum of one shilling per week will enable a brother to have a voice in the government of our noble Institutions , but he does not say how it may be done ; and as there must be a large number of our brethren who would be glad to subscribe to those Institutions in such an easy manner , I think , Sir , that the method of conducting the associations

( by which the Life-Governorships are obtained ) cannot be too widely known , so that they may spring up wherever Masons are found in sufficient numbers and willing to aid our Institutions . Having had some years' experience iu the formation and working of these associations , I venture to give your readers an outline of the rules by which they are governed , and also to show what has been

done through their instrumentality for the good of our Institutions . In the first place , permit me to render honour where I believe it to be due , by recording the fact that the originator of these associations is our esteemed Bro . N . Wingfiekl , Vice-President of the Royal Masonic Institution for Aged Freemasons , and Widows of Freemasons , and upon the Eules which he and his colleagues framed

those that govern many similar associations were formed . 1 . Each Association should have a President , Vice-President , Treasurer , a good , working Oommitee and Secretary . 2 . The object of each Association is to obtain for its members a Life Governorship in one of tho Koyal Masonic Institutions . 3 . The meetings should be once a month , and the subscriptions not less than one shilling per week .

4 . When the treasurer is in possession of ton guineas , a Life Governorship shall be drawn for , the successful candidate having the privilege of selecting to which Institution the sum shall be paid in his name , or he may , if he wish , transfer his draw to a member about to become a Steward at either of the Festivals . 5 . Any member in arrears one month not allowed to participate in the draw .

6 . A promise in writing to be given by the successful member to pay the remaining portion of his subscription . 7 . No brother to be admitted a member except by payment of all subscriptions that may have accrued since the commencement of the Association .

8 . Any member six months in arrear to forfeit all money paid in by him . 9 . Any member dying before completing his subscription , all sums paid in by him shall be returned to his representatives ( if desired ) as soou as convenient ; if the member deceased had obtained a Life Governorship , then as soon as its transfer can be etfeeted .

One Association to which I belonged consisted of 110 members , out of which twelve only were defaulters , the other 101 obtained their Life Governorships . The total sum paid iu by the members in four years amounted to £ 1 , 065 , the working expenses for the same period £ 13 lis 2 d . During the existence of the Association three deaths of members occurred , and the amounts paid in by each were returned , without any deduction , to their widows or children .

Sufhcient has been stated to show what good can be done by earnestness and combination , aud I sincerely hope that by your kindness in spreading abroad these facts , that brethren will be induced to set going many of these Associations , and thereby render to our Institutions that aid they require , and which they justly deserve . I am , Sir and Bro ., yours truly and fraternally , JNSH .

Appointment Of Stewards For The Forthcoming Installation.

APPOINTMENT OF STEWARDS FOR THE FORTHCOMING INSTALLATION .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIK AND BROTHER , —I notice that at the forthcoming installation of the Prince of Wales as M . W . Grand Master it has been considered desirable to appoint an additional number of brethren to assist the Executive , and that accordingly each Lodge in the metropolis will have the opportunity of nominating a Steward for that purpose .

Now , I think , sucing the large number of brethren in the provinces , and the certainty that all the large centres of industry will be very numerously represented at His Koyal Highuess ' s installation , some recognition of Provincial Lodges should also be made . I suggest to the Officers of Grand Lodge that each Province should also have the privilege of nominating Stewards , the number to be regulated , by the total of members iu the various Lodges constituting

Appointment Of Stewards For The Forthcoming Installation.

tho Province . It would then be a matter for arrangement and adjustment by the respective Provincial Grand Masters and their officers , and tho brethren elected as Stewards would , I feel certain .

render valuable aid at tho Albert Hall . I do not write iu any spirit of jealousy , but because it seems to me that this is an occasion when Provincial and London Masons should act unitedly , and I trust no insidious distinctions will bo made .

Yours fraternally , P . M . AND PAST PROV . OFFICER Portsmouth , 15 th March 1875 .

Assistance To Masonic Charities.

ASSISTANCE TO MASONIC CHARITIES .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It would perhaps , have been better had " A Lover of Fair Play " sufficiently informed himself of all the facts of the case . Evidently actuated by the best of motives , he impulsively rushes into print without giving the subject due consideration . He seems to confound the " Benevolent Association , " possibly first

suggested by our excellent Bro . Terry , with the scheme which emanated from Bro . Constable , of issuing a number of tickets at Is each . In the Associations , of which I am glad to state there are now a goodly number , both in London aud the provinces , each member subscribes Is per week , and when a sufficient amount has accumulated a Life Governorship is balloted for . Bro . Constable on the

contrary had I believe 4 , 000 tickets printed , which he disposes of at Is each . The whole of this sum will be divided into amounts for Life Governorships , and all will be balloted for on a stated day . Bro . Terry ' s introduction of the Associations encountered no opposition , Bro . Constable ' s drawing scheme was at first strongly disapproved of , but its beneficial effects were so manifest that similar methods of assisting local and Masonic charities have since been adopted in

Ireland , Lancashire , Cheshire , and , I have no doubt , in other places . I am however inclined to think that neither Bro . Terry nor Bro . Constable care very much upon whom the merit of originator ia bestowed . Their aim , I take it , is to assist the charities . The noble pursuit of such labour of love is sufficiently rewarded in the con . sciousness of duty well done , and they can well afford to dispense with " the shadow of a great name . "

Yours fraternally , E . GOTTHEIL . ERRATUM . —The sum mentioned in Bro . Gottheil ' s letter , which appeared last week , as having been contributed by Grand Lodge to the Patriotic Fund was , by . a typographical error , stated as £ 4 , 000 , whereas the amount was £ 1 , 000 .

Tickets For The Installation.

TICKETS FOR THE INSTALLATION .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . SIR , —The subject nearest our hearts at this moment ia the Installation of the M . W . G . M . Naturally , every Mason is anxious to bo present , and the question arises where shall tho necessary room be found ? Now the Royal Albert Hall , large as it is , will only accommodate a given number of persons , and we think we are within tho

mark if we state that the number of applicants for admission will exceed the number admissible in the proportion of two to one . Under these circumstances , it ia clearly desirable that some judgment should be exercised in forwarding the applications for admission to Grand Secretary . Brethren should make up their nuuds , at the earliest opportunity , whether they can , and if so , will go—assuming , of

course , the Open Sesame falls to their lot ; otherwise , if every one puts his name down as willing to go , who would like or may be able to go , the number of applicants will be abnormally swelled , and tho difficulty proportionately increased of distributing tickets in anything like a fair proportion . Only those who can and will go should return their names to the W . M . Yours fraternally , P .

Answers To Correspondents.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS .

All Letters and communications must be addressed to the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , 67 Barbican , London , E . C . P . M . ritoM AUSTRALIA . —Wc regret the inconvenience caused yoa ; we are endeavouring to make such arrangements as will obviate

those errors . WEST END . —Many thanks for your communication . We will en deavonr to comply . A . B . C . —Our attention has been directed to the announcement . L . L . D . —Tho Provinces will nominate two Stewards each .

LIFEBOAT ENDOWMENT FUND . Amount previously acknowledged £ 3 3 0 Strong Man Lodge , No . 45 110

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