Instruction.

Glover creating a first and pleasing impression by her singing of " Mia Piccirella " ( Gomes ) , which was further accentuated when she essayed another song , " The Swallows " ( Cowen ) . Brothers J . G . Hewson and Thurgate Simpson , who are well known in connection with the Manchester and other concerts , were in their best form , being assisted by the efforts of Bro . Chas . Jordan and Miss Pauline Stuart ,

accompanists . The humorous part of the entertainment was relegated to Bros . Arthur J . Hoyland , who sang " The Three Ages of Man , " with other numbers ( principally written by Bro . Nelson Jackson ) , and Edward Roberts P . M ., etc ., who rendered sketches " Setting a Hen , " " Father Phil , " etc . After the toast of the Ladies had been given and duly responded to , Bro . Arthur C . K . Smith I . P . M . proposed the health of the

Worshipful Master , in his usual happy vein , explaining that after the loyal toasts that of the W . M . mi ght be considered the principal one of the evening . Bro . Smith W . M . was , like himself , of retiring habits , but he ( the speaker ) was proud to say that the subject of his remarks had , thanks to his occupancy of the chair , which was educational in this respect , developed many latent talents , and shown abilities not hitherto thought of .

Bro . A . B . Smith W . M . responded at some length , his wellbalanced remarks fully justifying the eulogium which the I . P . M . had passed upon him . Bro . P . Z . da Cunha Secretary proposed the toast of the visitors , which received responses from Messrs . Major Preston and Albert Brittain .

The health of the I . P . M . was proposed by Bro . Frank J . Large Treasurer , to which Bro . A . C . K . Smith replied . • •

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — Invicta Chapter , No . 709 . INSTALLATION OF COMPANION WILLIAM DAWES . THE installation meeting of this Chapter was held on Wednesday , 13 th inst ., at the Bank Street Hall , Ashford , Kent , when Comp . W . Dawes was installed as First Princi pal . Comps . Edmund Pawlett and Alfred John Burrows were placed in the chairs of H . and J .

respectively , and the following Companions were elected to the subordinate Offices : Frederick Hughes-Hallett P . Z . Scribe E ., B . C . Drake Scribe N ., James M . A . Poncia P . S ., Richard Fuggle and J . H . Brooke Assistants , Robert Elliott P . Z . Treasurer , James D . Tappenden Janitor . -

^ Upon the conclusion of the business , the Companions adjourned to the Kent Arms Hotel , where the banquet was served .

Hornsey Chapter of Improvement , No . 890 . ON 15 th inst ., at the Prince of Wales Hotel , Eastbourne Terrace , Bishops Road , Paddington , W ., Comps . Walter Hancock P . Z . 91 and 1614 M . E . Z ., H . Foskett H . 18 5 H ., E . Gilbert P . Z . 173 J ., H . loskett 8

90 Treas ., H . Dehane P . Z . S 90 P . P . G . P . S . Essex Scribe E ., W . J . Lewis P . S . 8 90 Scribe N ., H . Armfield P . S . 1642 P . S F . Marchant 1 st A . S . 8 90 1 st A . S ., A . L . Butters N . 8 90 , R . N . Larter H . 186 , E . Stephens 733 , J . Rowe 1614 , G . Mogford 1361 Visitor : Comp . A . F . Hardyment J . 14 S 9 .

The Chapter was opened and the minutes of the last convocation read and confirmed . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Hardyment candidate , who was afterwards elected a member , and acknowledged the compliment .

Claim Against The Craft.

CLAIM AGAINST THE CRAFT .

AN alleged lunatic , Charles George Holland , was brought before Mr . Reynolds , J . P ., at St . George ' s Workhouse , Southwark , in custody of Mr . J . C . Glover , relieving officer , who had arrested him at Sumner Street , Blackfriars , upon the information of Mr . Hunter , London County Council , that he was subject to extraordinary delusions , and

h | ad threatened violence if his demands were not complied with . It appeared that Holland , who was a very intelligent man , and had taken an active part in local politics , became possessed of the idea that he was the " king of the schnorrers " ( or beggars ) , described by Mr . Zangwill in one of his later stories . He also believed that he had a " claim for , £ 20 , 000 compensation from the Grand Lodge of

Freemasons , on account of some mysterious persecution " which he had suffered through his having acquired a partial knowledge of the " secrets " of the Craft . Acting upon this latter notion , he had given up a situation which he had held for twenty years at a drug warehouse in Fari-ingdon Road , in order to press his claims upon the officials at Freemasons' Hall . He delivered a formal " statement of claim , " land called next

day for an answer , but was not admitted , and it was then that he used the alleged threats , which led to his arrest . In a statement made subsequently Holland said . he was not a member of the Masonic body , but he had laid his case before them , and had no doubt it would be favourably considered . They had made him swear some terrible oaths , and had practically "turned his brain inside

out , ' but he was willing to compromise the matter for an allowance of ^ 400 a year , and as the Masons were very rich and nice fellows he should be pleased to join them when matters were settled . He expressed great admiration for Zangwill ' s " Children of the Ghetto , " iand said he had played the part of the "King of the Schnorrers ' " with great success in Petticoat Lane and Spitalfields . He hoped the Press would support his petition to Grand Lodge .

Holland repeated his statement , with amplifications , before the justice , and said he had been hypnotised and terrorised at a house in Waterloo Road . Dr . Smith , medical officer of the workhouse , gave evidence as to prisoners mental condition .

Claim Against The Craft.

Mrs . Holland stated that her husband ' s delusions had possessed him since Christmas . He forbade her to let her rooms , on the ground that he was to receive a lot of money , and that the King and Baron Rothschild were coming on horseback to see him . He said that now the King had become " Protector " of the Freemasons , no doubt his Majesty would protect him from further persecution .

The prisoner appealed to the justice not to send him away until the Press had investigated his case , but Mr . Reynolds declared himself satisfied , and signed the usual order for the removal of Holland to an asylum . — "Morning Advertiser . "

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

— : o : — We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must beir the name and address of the writers , not necessarily for publication ; but as-a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP . To the Editor of THE F REEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am pleased to see that others besides myself addressed , you on this subject , and that all seem to agree that a change is both necessary and desirable . I think the voting should be done by papers regularly sent out

to each Lodge in the country , and that all qualified Brethren , i . e ., Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens , should be allowed to vote . This could easily be done if the Master or Secretary of each Lodge was answerable for all the voting papers sent him . Some Lodges would want twenty or moresome a dozen , and some but eight or

, six , or the vote mig ht be taken in open Lodge , and the figures entered on the minutes and sent up duly authenticated to the Grand Secretary . This might seem to entail considerable delay , but it must be remembered that three months elapses between the

nomination for the Office and the election . Or , it might be arranged as suggested by your correspondent , H . Haworth ; let each Lodge have one vote , the decision of the majority of eligible members thereof to decide it .

No doubt a change would entail more trouble for the Officials than is the case now , but surely something could be devised to get over the difficulty . Yours fraternally , AN ELECTOR .

To A Snowdrop.

TO A SNOWDROP .

BY BRO . THE REV . F . ST . J CORBETT , M . A . MY first Sonnet , dedicated to my valued friend Bro . Dr . Chas . F . Forshaw , F . R . S . L ., F . R . H . S ., & c , & c , to whom I would pay , if I could , a greater compliment , in return for many favours . SCARCE has the Winter e ' en begun to die , The golden glow of Summer seems afar , The silver Moon , the radiant Evening Star , Hold longer sway than Sol o ' er earth and sky . I see no floweret peep above the bed So trim , so cared-for by the gardener's hand—No lily-leaf as yet toward Heaven expand ,

Or daffodil upraise its dainty head . But , smiling through the snow-flakes in the grass I see a tiny harbinger of Spring . So heavenly-sweet it is , this earthly thing , With tender touch I pluck it as I pass . Hail ! gentle Snowdrop , coming year by year In Winter ' s arms , to whisper , " Spring is near . "

The Rectory , Long Martpn , Midnight , iSth March 1901 .

As it has been said that Masonry is a progressive science , so it may be said that Masonry is an exhaustive science . Freemasonry touches every phase oi life . It is not particularly of a religious order , but it is running over with religious deeds . It is not termed a charitable society , yet thousands of dollars every year go for good deeds ; one-eighth of the proceeds of the Grand Lodge is appropriated for charity . It is not called a benevolent order , yet it is full of benevolence .

It teaches us to be industrious , to be kind to one another , to live a life of uprightness , to live on a level , bringing the high and lowly together . Masonry has found and will find a place among men as long as the race lives . —J . B . Gilmore , Iowa .

While Masonry demands belief in God and the authority of His Inspired Word , it allows the largest liberty in interpretation , and therefore unites men of all religious faiths in one Brotherhood . Accepting the Bible as the law of life ,

the Mason sees that he is commanded to love the Lord with his whole heart and his neighbour as himself . He who loves that which is noblest , best , and purest in man loves Him best whose essence is invisible and whose character is incomprehensible , — Kittredge Haskins ,