Correspondence.

vinces of a similar purpose . Unless more economy is practised it is to be feared that the tendency will be for each Province to provide for its own children locally , which must havo a very detrimental effect on the finances of the Institution at Wood Green , which wonld much be regretted . Yours faithfully and fraternally , W . T I __ N . C __ . F- ' W . M . No . 418 .

.-. LDRIDGE , NEAR , WALSALL , 20 th Juno 1888 . DEAR Sut AND BROTHER , —I am much obliged to yon for the printed analysis you send mo , showing the enormous expenditure on the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , as compared with four othei

Institntions of a similar character : to my knowledge you might easily have extended the comparison to the Clergy Orphans' School , the Licensed Victuallers ' , aud many others . I have long been of opinion , frequently expressed in our Province , that there is gross extravagance , not to use a stronger term ( which I am by no means

sure could not be justified ) , iu the management of this Institution . I have over aud over again advocated , sometimes against my better judgment , a continuance of support in the hope that reform would come from within , but confess I am losiug faith in that expectation , and I am glad to find that you propose to circulate

the paper yon have sent mo in the surrounding Provinces . I trust it will have the effect of arousing our subscribing brethren to a thoughtful consideration of tho subject . To say nothing of tho enormous expenditure ( I believe between _ 670 , OC _ and £ 80 , 000 ) on the School , Land , Building , & c , which is sunk and gone , I want to

know AVHY the average cost per child should be greater , considerably greater , than similar Institntions , aud hitherto I have failed to get an answer to that inquiry . My conviction is that it ought to be less . The machinery for collecting the funds is ready to their hands : the Province of Stafford has not cost them one farthing for collection

since we established the Charitable Association , and others are like ourselves . I feel confident that the time is approaching , and not far distant , when some very stringent measures will have to betaken , —it cannot be allowed to remain as at present , a gross Masonic scandal .

I have lately seen an anonymous statement circulated in reference to the internal condition of the School . I make no reference whatever to it , whether true or untrue 1 know not , nor does it affect the view of the question we take . I only hope that a good

cause may not be injured by au inexcusable means of conveying information . In conclusion I desire to say that yon have my bjst wishes for success in your endeavour to bring about a radical reform in the management of the Sohool .

I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yonra faithfully and fraternally , FRANK JAMES , P . M . 539 . P . D . P . G . M . for Staffordshire , and a V . P . of tho It . M . Institutions for Boys and Girls . VV . Bro . E . V . Greatbatch , Stoke-on-Trent .

South Australia.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA .

LEOPOLD LODGE . rilHE second of tbe Masonio year ' s season of installations was J . witnessed in the Freemasons' Hall , Flinders Street , South Australia , on Thursday , 17 th May , in connection with this Ledge , which was tho first consecrated under the South Australian Constitution . Considerably moro than 100 brethren of all ranks of the Order attended . The Sonth Australian Grand Lodge waa represented by

Bros . H . M . Addison P . D . G . M ., P . Sansom P . S . G . W ., C . Knight G . D . C ., J . G . Jenkins , M . P ., S . G . D ., aud several other Ollicers . The District Graud Lodge of the colony of Victoria had present Bro . D . N . McLeod P . P . G . S . D ., and all the Blue Lodges within the city and suburbs ( including also the Irish Constitution ) wore represented by

their Officers . The Master-elect , Bro . W . Burnet , was installed by Bro . W . J . Sowden , the Retiring Master , with the assistance of Bros . Knight Grand Director of Ceremonies , Gate Deputy . Director , and J . G . Jenkins , M . P ., Grand Senior Warden . Other brethren who took prominent parts iu interpreting the ritual were Bros . Addison ,

Sansom P . M ., J . E . Thomas A . G . S ., Bowon P . M ., and Kemp P . M . G . J . D . At the close of the ceremony tho newly-installed Master invested his Officers , of whom tho following ia tho list : —Bros . W . J . Sowden I . P . M ., J . P . Jones S . W ., Rev . S . Lentou J . W ., Rov . G . E . Rovvo Chaplain , J . Boasc Treas ., T . L . Sykes Sec ,

J . S . O . Allen S . D ., G . Bond J . D ., J . S . McClougbry I . G ., J . Shakespeare Org ., J . G . Jenkins D . C , M . Wilks , J . White , W . Smith and W . Brindal Stewards . The W . M . then , with complimentary expressions , presented to tho I . P . M ., Bro . Sowden , a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , wrought in gold , and the I . P . M . cook tho opportunity

given by tho usual response to hand to tho Hon . Secretary , Bro . Sykes , also on behalf of the Lodgo , a golden Past Secretary ' s jewel , as a , recognition of valued service . In both eases the gi . td represented the voluntary _ ul ___ . _ ript . ou _ i of tho brethren . Later in the evening a Masonic banquet waa held .

Hor . LOw . vv s Pii . ts . —__ crvou _ . iu .-s and Want ot 'Knor . y . — Win n first ( be nerves feel unstrung , and bstiessne , ss supplants energy , b . is tbe right time b : take . some alterative as Holloway ' s fibs to prevent disorder runnin ; ' - int .. disease . These excellent rills correct all irregubiritres ami . vcahru . sS ' . s . They act , so kindly , yet , so energetically on thu . ' auction , or digc . tion and ___ . __ innl . _ -

tion , that , the whole body is revived , the blood is rendered richer and purer , the muscles become firmer and stronger , and tbe nervous mid arsoroeaf systems are invigorated . The .- .. Pi !! .- are suitable tor ali classes and all ages . They have a most marvellous cll ' cct on per-ons who are oat of condition ; the .. soon rectify whatever is in . fault , restore strength to the body and confidence to the mind .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF BERKS AND OXON .

rPHE aiinual Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons - *• for the Province of Berks aud Oxon assembled on Tuesday , in the Masonic Hall afc . Reading , under the banner of the Leopold Lodge , No . 235 , of which Bro . H . Creed P . P . G . I . G . is Worshipful Master , and the event

proved particularly attractive and successful , the programme for the clay embracing a trip on tho Thames , to which a number of ladies in different parts of the Province had been invited . Provincial Grand Lodgo was opened at

twelve o ' clock by tho popular Provincial Grand Master , the Right Hon . fche Earl of Jersey , supported by the acting Deputy P . G . Master ( Bro . Edward Margrett , P . P . G . W . ) and other P . G . Officers . Inconsequence of

indisposition , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro Charles Stephens , of Reading , was absent , and the circumstance was feelingly alluded to more than once in the

course of tho day ' s proceedings . The Provincial Grand Secretary ( Bro . Thomas J . Pulley P . G . S . D . ) called over the roll of the Provincial Grand Officers and also that of

the Lodges in the Province . Ifc appeared that each Lodge was well represented . The Provincial Grand Secretary ' s annual report was of a satisfactory nature , showing that Mark Masonry continued to make steady progress in the Province . Bro . Shepherd P . G . D . P . P . G . S . W . then

addressed the brethren , speaking in eulogistic terms of the valuable services the Provincial Grand Master had rendered Mark Masonry , and nominating his Lordship as Provincial Grand Master for fche ensuing three years . Bro . W . . Ravenscroft P . P . G . J . W ., in complimentary language

seconded the motion , which was cordially adopted amidst much applause . Lord Jersey in reply said he thanked the brethren most sincerely for the honour they had once more bestowed upon him b y nominating him for the office of Provincial Grand

Master for the ensuing three years , and be also felfc grateful to Bros . Shepherd and Ravenscroft for the kind words they had used in reference to him . He felt thafc he -was nofc deserving of them , and that he had not been so good a Provincial Grand Master as the Province had deserved .

There had been many things he had been unable to attend to as he could have wished , but the brethren had ail been very kind in looking upon his failings with a friendly eye , and they had always treated him with the greatest kindness ancl forberanco . He felt that the success of Mark

Masonry in his Province "was not in the least due to the Provincial Grand Master , bufc to the exertions of the Provincial Grand Officers , ancl he could not forbear acknowledging his obligation to the able and indefatigable Deputy Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . Stephens ) , and also to

their energetic Provincial Grand Secretary ( Bro . Pulley ) , who had been the greatest possible help fco him . Bro . Pulley had always rendered him great assistance and performed all the real work , aud ho had also had tho

advantage of the hel p of other Officers , who had done their best in their respective Lodges to keep Mark Masonry prosperous and popular in the Province . To those Officers , much more than himself , was credit due for any advance Mark Masonry had made in the Province .

The P . G . Master then proposed , aud Bro . John Banco P . M . seconded the re-election of Bro . Tomkins P . M . as

Provincial Grand Treasurer for fche ensuing year . The election was perfectly unanimous , aud Bro . Tomkins acknowledged tho compliment . Bro . Margrett referred to the coincidence of the Royal Arch Chapter of Berks and Bucks meeting on the samo day as thu Mark Grand Lodge , and moved tho folio win . / resolution : — "That this

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge expresses its hearty and fraternal greeting to thu Provincial Grand lloyal Arch Chapter of Berks and Bucks meeting this day . " This waa seconded by Bro . Tomkins and unanimously adopted . Bro .

Williams Scribe of the Provincial Chapter , thanked the Mark Grand Lodge fur p . 'u-s ' ng such a fraternal ns > iution , The P . G ' . Secretary read : ; telegram he had received from Bro . Drink water , Worshi pful Master of the Alfred Lodge , Oxford , invited the I . royincial Grand Lod _ : e to ;; :-s _ . nibk _

under the banner of thafc Lodge on the occasion of their next meeting . The P . G . Master , ou behalf of the Province , accepted tlie invitation w ' th great p leasure . The P . G . Master thereupon proceeded tu appoint and invest the Provincial Grand Q ilieers for thu ensuing veiu " . —