Correspondence.

would result merely from a sense of duty . Some reward must be offered , the question is , of what form and of what value shall it be ? I am rather surprised Bro . Binckes should have put this as he has , for he does not seem to have forgotten " that it is the hope of reward that sweetens labour , " he , bnt a few lines earlier in his communication

having himself quoted these words . In conclusion , I would ask , has Bro . Binckes read the letter of " IXVICTA " in yonr issue of 31 st ult . ? If so , I wonder he has not in some way referred to it . I look upon it as an important one . " INVICTA " states that he has served four , and a friend of his eight Stewardships . Now the opinion of such brethren ( I suppose , from the

letter , that in this matter it is uniform ) should be worth something . What is their opinion ? That the money they have spent in attending the Festivals is wasted—thoy admit , on themselvesand that for the future they intend to act differently . Now what will they do ? We certainly cannot afford to lose such hearty workers ; thereforewhy not exert ourselves to keep them ?

, Apologising for the length of my present communication , I remain , yours respectfully and fraternally , ALPHA

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I think that Bro . Binckes ' s lettors ou this subject will command the assent of the great majority of Freemasons . He has stated tho case most literally- , and argued it , point by point , with the greatest judgment . In my humble opinion the manner in which he has placed somo of his arguments is well

nigh , if not quite unanswerable . Considering the magnitude of our Charity Festivals , it strikes me the cost which falls upon the Stewards is extremely small . The fee per Steward is now Two Guineas , and tho cost of other tickets issued , is a guinea each gentleman ' s , and fifteen shillings each lady's , or it may be half a guinea . Say there aro four hundred gentlemen and two hundred ladies present , and taking

the lower fee for the latter , we get the cost of tho banquet as five hundred guineas . If we assume , for the sake of argument , that there are two hundred Stewards , then we have from them four hundred guineas , and must add to this sum two hundred guineas for the non-Stewards' tickets , aud one hundred guineas for the ladies' ditto , making in all seven hundred guineas or £ 735 . We have already set down the

banquet at £ 525 , so that there remains a sum of £ 210 , for music , badges , advertising , & o ., & c , & c , and tho experience of our latest Festivals is to the effect , that there is a margin or surplus over on the right side of the account , a considerable portion of which finds its way into the coffers of this Institution , which receives also the aggregate of the lists collected without the deduction of a single farthing .

If brethren incur more than the two guineas outlay , that is purely a personal question , which in no way affects the main argument . But let those who object to the present system—which , be ifc remembered , is almost universal in this country—suggest some other which is likely to be more profitable . I fancy they will incur some difficulty in doing so . Fraternally yours , P . T .

Scrutineers.

SCRUTINEERS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It is not my intention to enter into discussion with Bro . Stevens on a subject that occurred seven years ago , my object in writing the record of that event was " to point a moral and adorn a tale , under the circumstance of the heavy punishment passed on the Past Grand Pursuivant , hoping it would havo the

effect of calling attention to the very imperfect way in which our elections are carried on , and that from letters on the subject some practicable alteration may be effected . All I wrote in your issue of the 7 th teas from the Petition I sent to the General Committee of the Boys' School at that time , which being settled in my absence I do not , nor ever did , know the statement Bro . Stevens made , consequently I

have nothing to add to , or detract from , that Petition as stating my grievance . Had his brother Committeemen treated me fairly , as any properly organised court would have done , they would not have listened to an ex parte statement from one of their body , but have called all parties together , and heard both sides before passing judgment . Query—Is not a reform wanted hero ? Had Brother Stevens

allowed blanks to be substituted for names , this exposure would not have appeared as regards his committee . Now , with regard to Bro . Stevens himself . I can honestly respond to his remarks that , until this unfortunate occurrence , I did not know there was such a person , and do not even remember ever having met him . But I am happy to see my communication has begun to bear frnit already , in a

letter from " T . P . B . " whose practical suggestions bear on the point . 1 still maintain our election should be so managed that errors should be impracticable j that even the Scrutineers themselves should be checked , to see that their returns are correct , and not let them—as has happened—return a child as elected , and afterwards find a rejected one should have filled his place . I also maintain that sufficient time is

not expended in casting up the votes . The poll closes at three , and generally by five o ' clock the successful candidates are declared ; the Scrutineers having , in the interim , examined some thousands of vot : ; s . If the Ballot Box was used , and the same system adopted as at our Parliamentary elections , no one could by any means anticipate the result .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Tours fraternally , WIWUK Bwas , p , M . » P . 2 .

Scrutineers.

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Bro . Stevens ' s letter of last week confirms me in the views I have already expressed , that a way should be found of having only those as Scrutineers who are entirely independent of any interest in any of the candidates—at least from the moment ; they enter the Scrutineers' Room . Bro . Stevens

acknowledges , in a manly , straightforward manner , that he ifc was who despatched the obnoxious message , while his account of the matter exonerates him from all blame except on the score of indiscretion . I do not refer to the language in which his message was couchedevery one knows well enough that it never is intended to be accepted literally ; but to his having communicated afc all , when once he had

entered the Scrntineers' room , with any one outside , whether in answer to a note he had received , or afc his own instance . Every one will most readily exonerate Bro . Stevens of intentional blame after the manly explanation he has offered , bnt there should be no room whatever for even the sli ghtest suspicion of blame to enter into any brother ' s mind . It is far easier to excite doubts about anything or person than to allay them ; and , therefore , if those only are

employed as Scrntineers who have no interest in the election , or whose peisonal interest , as represented by the votes they have cast for their favourite candidates , has passed away before entering the Scrntineers' room . No one could then say he had been misled by a Scrutineer ' s message to a friend , how harmlessly soever that message may have been intended . Fraternally yours , T . P . B .

Lodge Funds.

LODGE FUNDS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am continually hearing complaints made as to the disposal of Lodge Funds , and that a large number of Lodges do not contribute to the Charities . It certainly is n most un-Masonic state of things , and I think it reflects on the members of such Lodges . How can they call themselves Masons—whoso lending

characteristic is Charity—and yet devote their funds to self-gratification alone ? To mo this is a " mystery " I hope not to be initiated into . Why not adopt the principle of applying all Lodge funds to acts of Charity , and separate the banquet ? Let this latter be a special matter . No one would wish to deprive a brother of his refreshment , yet I certainly feel hotel bills unnecessary items in

Lodge accounts . Would ifc not be possible to make ifc compulsory on all Lodges to contribute something towards the Charities ? A nsefnl lesson would be given if all Provincial Grand Lodges made it a rule to bestow no Provincial honours on any brother belonging to a Lodge who had not contributed according to his means to the Charities , and that every Lodge should provide afc least one Steward

annually . An article in the CHRONICLE of last week mentions , " the average sum required from each Lod ge to provide for the accommodation of four more children , in addition to two aged Masons and two widows , is but 6 s per annum . " Surely so small a sum could b " well provided by each Lodge . The practice of forming Charity AKBO . ciations should be encouraged . One shilling per week subscribed by

ten persons , on the same prinoiple as a building society , would ensure two Life Governorships per annum . Surely DO Lodge is so impe « cunions as not to be able to afford this . No _ small augmentation to the fund could be raised by a well organised system of banking all Lodge funds , as hinted at in your Editorial last week . If any bank could take np the whole list of Lodges it would be worth the interest j but to open separate accounts

at numberless banks would scarcely be practicable , as interest could only be allowed on an accumulated sum , not on individual deposits . As regards the interest , this should be handed over in a lump Bum to the Cnarities , but not apportioned to each Lodge , according to the amount under deposit .

I am afraid I am trespassing on yonr space , but hope these few hints may prove serviceable to the Charities . Youra fraternally , 16 th September 1878 . DICK RADCLTWE ,

Approaching Election For The Boys' School.

APPROACHING ELECTION FOR THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I beg leave to call the attention of the voters , afc the forthcoming election for candidates to the Boys' Schoolj to the fact that the number is reduced to 65 by the withdrawal of No . 3 , Henry Newboult , and the ineligibility of No . 43 , Henry Webb , who is over age . Yours fraternally , C . J . PERCIVAL .

Sir Hugh Myddelton Lodge of Instruction , No . 1602 . —Held at Bro . Wood ' s , the Crown and Woulpaek , St . Jotiustreet-road , on Tuesday last , the 17 th instant . Pieseut— Bro ; -. W . Rowley W . M ., Hallam sen . S . W ., Gibbs J . W ., Halford a < -tu . g Preceptor , Osborne Sec , Hurst S . D ., Moses J . D ., Mountstephen I . G . } also Bros . Wood , Munroe , F . Goode , Cusworth , and others . Ttie

ceremony of initiation was rehearsed by the W . M ., Bin . Munroe candidate . The W . M . resigned the chair in favour of Bro . llallord , who worked the ceremony of raising , in a masterly manner , Bro , Wood ns candidate . Lodge resumed to the first degree . Bro . Cos-| worth , of the New Concord Lodge No . 813 , was elected a member , 1 Bro , Hallam Ben , was appointed to preside at next meeting .