Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

THE monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , 17 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall . There were present—Bros . Joshua Nnnn as President , James Brett as Senior Vice President , C . A . Cottobrnne as Junior Vice President , Lt .-Col . Shadwell H . Clerke G . S ., H . G . Buss Assist . G . S ., A . A . Pendlebury , Garrod , C . F . Hogard , W . H . Perryman , R . F . Gould ,

Griffiths Smith , John Constable , S . Rawson , W . Mann , William Clarke , H . Massey , G . P . Britten , William Stephens , James Kench , Charles Atkins , Thomas Cubitt , J . D . Collier , George Burt , S . Lindner , R . Atkins , Charles Dairy , John Docker , J . H . Matthews , W . Ingram , Robert Harrison , P . McCarthy , W . Kipps , George Smith , G . Adamson , W . Groorae , A Cooper Bradley , W . T . Clinton , V

Jagielski , George Boulton , Robert Snare , C . H . Kohler , A . W . Fenner , James Squire , J . Henry Smith , E . West , T . R . Marshall , J . Lazarus , Henry B . D . Dunn , Neville Green , William Vandy , W . Sutherland , J . R ; Stacey , W . Radcliffe , W . L . Kifcson , H . Sbaw , Albert Fish , W . H . Dean , John Ledger , John Henry Leggott , J . Perkins , Edward Macknoy , James Weaver , R . S . Waylett , Michael May brick , James Blyth , H . A . Lovett , Henry Turner , M . D . Loewenstark , M .

Rickwood , Thomas Cull , F . C . Wemysa , and H . Sadler Grand Tyler . At the Board of Masters , which was first held , the agenda paper for the next Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , was settled . The Lodge of Benevolence first confirmed grants to the amount of £ 680 made at the last meeting . On the new list , there were thirty . five cases , of which three were deferred , being incomplete . The other thirty , two cases , were , after a sitting of four and a half-hour's duration , relieved with a total sum of £ 925 , in grants of £ 100 , £ 75 , £ 50 , £ 40 , £ 30 , £ 25 , £ 20 , £ 15 , £ 10 , £ 5 .

THE PROPHET VOLTAIRE . —Our readera are aware that it waa not until the year 1877 that the two moons that gyrate around the planet Mars were discovered , by Asaph Hall , at the Naval Observatory , Washington . M . Voltaire had , however , long years before that period pointed out the existence of these two moons . In his comic romance , Micromegas ( the edition before us was published in 1772 ) we find the

following words : — " They describe two moons subservient to that orb ( Mars ) , which have escaped the observation of all our astronomers . I know that Father Castel will write , and that pleasantly enough , against the existence of these two moons ; but I entirely refer myself to those who reason by analogy ; those worthy philosophers are very sensible that Mars , which is at such a distance from the snn , must

be in a very uncomfortable situation , without the benefit of a couple of moons , & c . " To our mind M . Voltaire saw these two moons with the eye of reason . It may be argued that this could not be prophesy , inasmuch as M . Voltaire was not a Jew ; we do not know , or indeed care , whether he was a Prophet or a Jew , seeing that—without any childish assumption of knowledge unknown to science—we merely

record tacts that are incontrovertible . We have sought round this whole city for a man of the mental calibre of Father Castel , but in vain ; and in the absence of the omniscient Father Piatt , of Grace Church , we are loth to hazard an opinion . The Reverend " Prelate " Piatt— " who would to Chicago go , whether his wifey was willing or no" —is , it appears , " a minister of the gospel and prelate of the

brotherhood ; " and , looking at the two columns in the Alta California of the 9 th inst ., wherein he undertakes to enlighten the whole world in regard to Freemasonry , and " the Soldiers of Religion , the Valiant Knights Templar , " we feel assured that he is the very man we seeka profound and most wonderfully big Masonic Bug , always cock-sure about everything in regard to which the rest of mankind is in doubt .

His " Eminence 8 " return is anxiously looked for , by both his fellowcitizens and brother Masons . Some of the latter , deeming it wiser to wash soiled linon at home , remain silent , though much aggrieved that this "Worshipful Christian Knight , " this blatherskite ecclesiastical Don Quixote , tliould , in his published discourse , place them before their fellow . creatures in this year of grace as a set of

credulous , ignorant idiots . Had this " sublime prelate" eased himself of this discourse in Lodge , we . should have known how to treat it and him { with a mild grin ) , and have been saved the humiliation of a supposed approval and indorsement of his high-falntin production—a drop of truth in an ocean of slush . We have at heart too much respect and affection for real

Freemasonry to desire to see it placed in a contemptible and ridiculous light ; and we hope that in future our great " Prelate" will exhibit s ' omo modesty , and , remembering the existence of our common Schools , " draw it mild , " or milder . We know not to whom this discourse was addressed , but we cannot conceive it addressed to Freemasons ; it must have been intended to amaze the vulgar . There is no denying the fact that the marvellous , with the vulgar , ever takes the place of

reason ; and that in dealing with the ignorant we must , to carry them with us , always seem to embrace that opinion which is most incredible ; but , after all , let us in seriousness ask : Does Freemasonry require to be " cracked up " in this mendacious manner ? Wo think not . Oar ancient brethren had good reasons for viewing Cowans with suspicion , having always found that a tolerable Divine always made an intolerable Freemason .

Tho Installation meeting of the Whittington Lodge , No . 862 , was held on Monday , 15 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , London . A report of the proceedings shall appear in our next . The annual meeting of the Sphinx Lodge , No . 1329 , will be held this day ( Saturday ) at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , at 3 . 30 . Bro . B . R . Bryant is the W . M . elect .

We regret that , in consequence of the illness of our representative , we are unable to give a report of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland , whioh we promised should appear last week .

The United Waiters' Benevolent Association.

THE UNITED WAITERS' BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION .

TnE Eighteenth Annual Festival of this Association waa held on Monday night , Bro . F . Binckes ( Royal Masonic Institution for Boya ) in the ohair . Despite the heavy rain there was a good attendance . The Association was formed for the purpose of relieving such aa might bo from some unforeseen calamity or misfortune in sickness or distress , the member having first of all given

evidence of his desire to provide for a rainy day by joining the Association . Though a comparatively young institution it lias given proof of its vitality by distributing £ 1 , 600 in relief among worthy applicants , and accumulating a sum of £ 520 , which it has in hand , as a reserve for the future . The Chairman , in an eloquent speech , advocated the claims of the Association , and trnsted that the result of the donations would show they were duly appreciated by the general

public The operations of the Association were not confined to London , efforts having been made successfully to establish branches in all pro . vincial towns , the largest as yet being at Brighton , where much energy and ability were being displayed . The occasion was rendered the more interesting by the presentation of medals to the President and Secretary to mark the members' appreciation of those gentlemen ' s services . The result of the Chairman's appeal on thia occasion was an addition of between £ 30 and £ 40 to the fund .

Islington Lodge of Instruction , No . 1471 . —The annual supper of this Lodge took place on Tuesday evening , at the Moorgate , under the presidency of Bro . J . L . Mather , who was supported by Bro . C . J . Sparrow as Vice-President . Including Visitors , the muster reached forty all told . Lodge was formally opened and closed , and the brethren at once sat down to discuss a well served

repast . On the removal of the cloth , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . Bro . Seaman shortly afterwards rose for the purpose of proposing the toast of the evening , namely , Prosperity to the Islington and the health of its Preceptor , the Pre . sident of the evening , Bro . J . L . Mather P . M . In the course of hia remarks , Bro , Seaman spoke in enlrgisfcie terms of the excellent

instruction afforded by the Lodge , and , as a necessary corollary , paid a high compliment to Bro . Mather for hia ability and assiduity as Preceptor . He further urged upon all young Masons that it waa their duty to perfect themselves as far as possible in the ritual as set forth by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . He likewise alluded to the many promising students who were indebted for their

knowledge of Freemasonry to the able tuition of their President . After a song— " The anchor ' s weighed "—by Bro . Thompson , Bro . Mather rose and gratefully acknowledged the compliments paid him by Bro . Seaman , and the handsome manner in which the toast had been received by those present . After an allusion to their ohange of quarters , Bro . Mather remarked that it was very difficult for any

one to speak of his own doings ; yet he conscientiously felt he had always endeavonred to fulfil to the best of his ability the arduous duties of Preceptor . Occasionally he had been under the necessity of absenting himself from bis post , but he had good reason for believing—as , indeed , waa evidenced by the heartiness of feeling

extended towards him that evening—that any shortcomings of hia would be dealt with tenderly out of consideration for hia admitted anxiety to perform his work satisfactorily . With the toast of the Visitors were coupled the names of Bros . Morgan and Roberts , who briefly , but appropriately , acknowledged the compliment paid them .

Yarborough Lodge of Instruction , No . 554 . —Held on Monday at Bro . A . Walter ' s , Green Dragon , Stepney , E . Bro . E . W . Walter in the chair . The following brethren supported him , namely : —Bros . Ellin-rford S . W ., Lax J . W ., Andrews acting Preceptor , Cross Secretary , Forss S . D ., Taylor J . W ., Mackenrot I . G .,

Loane , & c . Lodge having been opened , the ceremony of raising wa 3 rehearsed , Bro . Loane candidate . Lodge was closed down , and Bro . Forss worked the first and second sections of the First Lecture , assisted by the brethren . Bro . Lax waa eleoted W . M . for the meeting on the 30 th . inst ., and Lodge was closed .

The Letter H'S Petition.

THE LETTER H ' s PETITION .

" Whereas I have by you been driven From house , from home , from hope , from heaven , And placed by your most learned society In exile , anguish , and anxiety ;

And used , without one just pretence , With arrogance and insolence ; I here demand full restitution , And beg you'll mend your elocution . "

" Whereas we've reserved you , ingrate , From handcuff , horror , and from hate , From hell , from horsepond , and from halter , And consecrated you in altar ,

And placed you where yon ne'er should be , In honour and in honesty ; We deem your prayer a rude intrusion , And will not mend our elocution ! " VERAX .