Withdrawal Of Visitors.

discussion of private business . For all this I am responsible , but I have nothing to do with what may have been said editorially in 1878 and 1880 . # If pedantry consists in convicting a man of being illogical , I must . Onnrl pniltv to the charge of heiner a pedant ; but then I was

obliged to appear in that character in order to defend myself from the " somewhat serious charge of having criticised your reporter's version of Bro . Constable ' s conduct on a particular occasion in a spirit of long . suppressed anger against that brother . When I read this I was induced by a very " natural curiosity" to ask Bro . finfctheil for the proof of hia assertion . I am now told that it was

not what I said , but the manner in which I said it , which so angered Bro . Gottheil and impelled him " to express disgust at the studied insolence which characterised and gave tone to what is now pretended to have been friendly criticism . " He admits that I , or any other brother , had the right to criticise your reporter ' s note , and he is now obliged to admit that his charge against me of being prompted in makinsr that criticism by a long snppressed-anger against Brother

Constable has no foundation . However , in order to cover his retreat , he finds it convenient to attribute to me " studied insolence " and a pretence of friendly criticism . It must be obvious to your readers , that Bro . Gottheil's fever of disgust , like Bro . Constable's frenzy of indignation , has so completely mastered both his bead and his heart , as to have knocked all sehse out of the former , and all

charitable feeling , as between brothers , out of the latter . He allows that he cannot possibly know anything about me or my character , yet having made one charge and been compelled to retract it , he now insinuates a brace of fresh ones , possibly in order that he may enjoy the pleasure of withdrawing them likewise , or

better still , perhaps , in order to show how much preliminary squabbling is necessary to tbe establishment of the trne spirit of Masonic charity . I am glad to hear he " has been animated by no enmity " towards me , yet in all innocence and without the slighest enmity , I

ask'Twas all very well to dissemble your love , Bat why did you kick me downstairs ? Fraternally yours , THE IRREPRESSIBLE TOMKINS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Whether or not it was wise on the part of the " IRREPRESSIBLE TOMKINS " to criticise certain conduct of Bro . Constable ' s may be fairly questioned , as it is a fair question for argument whether he might not have worded his letter somewhat differently . Bnt no mistake or misconception on his part justified

the violent personal attack that has been made upon him by Brother Gottheil . The brother who rejoices in the nom de plume of Tomkins had a right , as Bro . Gottheil himself allows , to criticise , in the public interest , conduct which he thought was wrong , though he may not have gone about his task in the best way . Still , there was nothing in his letter to justify the assertion that he was influenced

in his remarks by a long . suppressed animosity , or words to that effect . If it was necessary for Bro . Gottheil to have his say , he shonld have done so without setting an example of that very violence of which , in his opinion , Bro . Tomkins had been guilty . As for the criticism having taken the form of an anonymous letter , I see nothing very serious to complain of in that . It was not an attack on Brother Constable ' s reputotion , and the very worst that can be said of it

is , that it was questionable taste on the part of the writer to have taken any notice at all of a matter so unimportant . It is only from tbe fact of Bro . Constable's name having been a good deal before the Masonic world for some few years past , that anything he says or does outside the special sphere of labour he has chosen , can have the

slighest interest for the Craft . He has done splendid work for the Charities , bat that does not constitute him an authority on the etiquette that shonld be observed iu our Masonic Lodges . I remain , yonrs faithfully and fraternally , H . C . E .

P-S . —I am entirely in the dark as to the personal identity of the IRREPRESSIBLE TOMKINS with any particnlar brother , and only write this because I consider Bro . Gottheil was not justified in charging him with animus against Bro . Constable . —H . C . E .

Grand Lodge Grants.

GRAND LODGE GRANTS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I fully agree with every word you say as to the advisability of—I will go further , and say the necessity tor—Grand Lodge reviewing its annual donation to our Schools . A grant that was reasonable enough more than forty since cannot

years he reasonable now that the intrants into Freemasonry have so vastly increased in number . But as regards the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , it mast not be lost sight of that Grand Lodge exacts a f'nd of quid pro guo in the shape of votes to the Lodges under its jansdiction in return for its liberal grant of £ 800 per annum . I am

well aware that even then its grant is largely in excess of those made 'O the Schools , but the condition exacted makes the inequality less real , if not altogether less apparent . I have not by meat the moment ot writing tho Rules of the Benevolent Fund , or I would have given / on chapter and verse for my statement .

Yonrs very fraternally , ANSELM . L We are obliged to our correspondent for his communication , and shall take an early opportunity of referring to

Grand Lodge Grants.

the matter be has noticed . It will , of course , be understood that what we concern ourselves about is the welfare of all our Institutions . Each has it admirers and workers , but we admire and work for all three . —[ Eo . F . C ]

Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

— : o : — ANCHOR AND HOPE LODGE , No . 37 , BOLTON .

THE installation meeting of this Lodge was held at tho Swan Hotel , Bolton , on Monday , 10 th inst . There was a good attendance of brethren . Amongst those present being Bros . J . Mills W . M ., R . Pennington S . W ., E . M . Garstang J . W ., and other Officers ; also Bros . G . P . Brockbank P . Prov . S . G . Deacon , Wm . Slater Past Prov . S . G . Deacon , James Newton Prov . S . G . Deacon , Samuel Crowther Past Prov . Grand Superintendent of Works , lt . Mitchell Past Prov .

Grand Sword Bearer , James Walker , R . K . Freeman , J . D . Porteons , John Morris , Walter Pennington . Visitors : —Rev . W . Chaytor Past Prov . Grand Chaplain , J . W . Taylor Past Prov . Grand Organist , A . T . Cokayne Past Prov . Grand Sword Bearer ( Cheshire ) , Henry Stead 221 , and others . The Lodge was opened at four o ' clock , and tho minutes were read and confirmed . Bro . William Slater P . M . Past Prov

Grand Deacon was nnanimously re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . J . W . Eoyley Tyler for the ensuing year . Tho chair was then taken by Bro . James Walker P . M ., who proceeded to instal the W . M . elect Bro . Rooke Pennington into the chair of K . S . The ceremony being completed , tbo Officers for the ensuing year were invested by Bro . James Newton Prov . S . G . Deacon as follow : —Bros . E . 31 . Garstang

S . W ., John Booth J . W ., Rev . J . H . Gibbon Chaplain , William Slater Treasurer , G . P . Brockbank Secretary , J . D . Porteons S . D ., F . W , Pacey J . D ., W . Pennington Inspector of Works , R . K . Freeman Org ., J . W . Poyntz Inner Guard , John Hardcastle and W . H . Lomax Stewards , J . W . Roiley Tyler . The charges to tho W . M ., Wardens and Brethren were delivered by Bro . G . P . Brockbank Past Prov .

S . G . Deacon . The W . M ., in the name of the Lodge , presented Bro . Johnson Mills I . P . M . with a P . M . ' s jewel as a mark of appreciation for his services in the past year . Hearty good wishes were tendered by the visiting brethren . Two brethren were proposed as joining members , and Lodge was then closed and the brethren adjourned to a banquet .

Antiquity Lodge, No. 146.

ANTIQUITY LODGE , No . 146 .

THE annual meeting of this Lodge—to instal the W . M . elect and to celebrate the Festival of St . John—was held at the Bull ' s Head Inn , Bolton , on Wednesday , 12 th inst . There was a numerous attendance of brethren , amongst others Brothers J . W . Dooley W . M ., William Cooper S . W ., George Taylor J . W . ; Past Masters Bros . Henry Ainsworth , John Morris , John Wild , and Robert Horridge .

Visitors—Bros . G . J . McKay P . P . G . W . Cumberland and Westmoreland , James Newton P . S . G . D ., G . P . Brockbank P . P . S . G . D ., Thomas Entwisle P . P . G . Supt . of Works , Robert Harwood P . P . G . Supt . of Works , Henry Stead W . M . 221 , W . H . Alcock W . M . 348 , John Alcock P . M . 348 , John Wolstenholme P . M . 348 , and others . Lodge was

opened at 3 . 30 p . m ., and the minntes of previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . John Wild P . M . then proceeded to instal the W . M . elect , Bro . William Cooper , after which Bro . John Morris P . M . invested the Officers , as follow : —Bros . George Taylor S . W ., Richard Duxbury J . W ., William Nicholson Treasurer , John Morris Secretary , Fred . Williams S . D ., Henry Broughton J . D ., John Wild D . C , Wm .

Heywood Organist , J . F . Skelton I . G ., Henry Tong and John Haslam Stewards , Thomas Higginson Tyler , Thomas Rimmer Assistant Tyler . The addresses to the W . M ., Wardens , and Brethren were delivered by Bro . Wild P . M ., and the Lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to banquet , and a pleasant and enjoyable evening was spent .

Lodge Of Tranquillity, No. 185.

LODGE OF TRANQUILLITY , No . 185 .

THE regular meeting of the members of this Lodge was held on Monday evening , 17 th inst ., at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , when there was a very numerous attendance , under the presidency of Bro . W . D . Bayley , the esteemed Worshipful Master . There were also present : —Bros . Frederick Croaker S . W . and W . M . elect , Thomas W . O . Bush J . W ., A . E . Staley S . D ., Baron D . Barnett J . D ., S . M . Boas Acting I . P ., J . D . Barnett P . M . Organist , John Constable

P . M . Treasurer , Phillip Levy Secretary , J . Henry Peartree Steward , S . Boas jun . D . C , N . Gluckstein , John H . Boss , Nathan Moss , Elias Gottheil , R . F . Potter Tyler , W . F . Upson , James Martin , Alfred H . Cohen , Harry Tipper , J . M . Levy , H . Honeychurch , Abraham Salomons , W . S . Lyon , John Barnes , J . C Myers , S . T . Gaved , W . Marsdin Smith , Thomas Ager , and John H . Carter . Visitors—Bros . N . G .

Durrani P . M . 10 o 6 , Edward Coste P . M . 9 , George Cavendish 1056 , and F . H . Tibbatts S . W . 59 . Lodge was opened at half-past five o ' clock , in accordance with ancient rites , when the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Frederick Croaker was unanimonsly elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year ; Bro . John Constable P . M . was re-elected Treasurer , with many thanks for his past valuable services to the Lodge ; and Bro . R . F . Potter was again

appointed Tyler . On the motion of Bro . John Constable P . M ., it was unanimously resolved that the sum of ten guineas be voted from the Lodge Fund , wherewith to purchase a testimonial to the Worshipful Master , Bro . W . D . Bayley , upon his retirement from the chair . After the transaction of the customary business , Lodge was closed in form , and the brethren adjourned to the coffee-room of the hotel , where a substantial supper was provided by Messrs .