Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must hear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

THE MASONIC INSTITUTIONS ,

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am always open to correction , and to acknowledge any errors that I may have inadvertently committed in endeavouring to advance the interests of our Institutions . I am extremely pleased to learn from the Provincial Grand Secretary of

Lincolnshire that bis Province has contributed more than appears in the Annual Reports of the several Festivals from whioh I have taken my figures . In 1879 Lincolnshire is reported to have given to the Benevolent Institution £ 68 14 s 6 d ; in 1880 nil , 1881 nil , 1882 nil , 1883 nil , 1884 nil , and 1885 £ 89 15 s—in all £ 158 9 s 6 d ; to the

Boys in 1879 £ 64 Is , 1880 £ 44 12 s , 1881 nil , 1882 nil , 1883 ml , 1884 £ 52103 , 1885 nil— £ 161 3 s ; to the Girls in 1879 £ 21 , 1880 £ 73 103 , and none since— £ 94 10 s . So that from my data I was right . As to the Oliver Memorial Boys I acknowledge an error here ; but supposing both the boys to have entered at the age of eleven only , there ia still ,

a year a piece at £ 45 each to add to the cost . As to the extra girl , all know that in October 1885 there were three on the strength besides Bellamy , whose time expired in the previous month , and two were elected , viz ., Smith and Benthill ; and that Ashton's time is not up till June 1887 , Crow ' s till September 1887 ,

and Hildred ' s till November 1889 ; but even allowing that my figures are all wrong , and that Bro . Vickers' are right , I do not hesitate to say that an annual deficiency of £ 430 is not to the oredit of the Province . My good brother says , "The Province has voting power for whioh it has paid ; is it not at liberty to use it for securing

the object for whioh votes are required ? Why , certainly it is . But let us find out as near as we can what the voting power is by which it manages to secure the return of one or more candidates when put forward , and I take my data from the subscribers' books to the Boys and Girls for the year 1885 , not having those of 1886 by me ; the

Benevolent book being compiled in a different method it wonld take np too much time to pick them out individually . Now the subscribers ' list for the Boys gives to Lincolnshire 343 life votes and 39 annual , and to the Girls 275 life and 21 annual votes ; and taking the Benevolent list to be as much as these two put together , I need hardly

put the question how far those numbers would go to secure the election of one candidate to each Institution per annum ? And it is rare indeed but that there is one or more for each . Therefore , to the second question , —Is the Province in possession of benefits from the Masonic Institutions to which it is not entitled ? I say no , for it

has a perfect right to use its own votes , and all it can beg or borrow from its neighbours ; but at the same time it does not exonerate the Province from the obligation due to its neighbours , and is all the more reason for its putting its shoulder to the wheel and lessening the

obligation . That Provincial Institutions are excellent things nobody will deny , and again I say , the Province ought to be jusj to the old ove . Although she is on to a new , she ought to be just before she s generous , and that if she cannot do her duty to the Central , how s she to do it to both Central and Provincial Institutions ? I remain , yours fraternally , P . M . 1607 .

Abuse Of The Ballot.

ABUSE OF THE BALLOT .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIB . AND BROTHER , — Certain events of recent occurrence in relation to the abuse of the ballot for introduction of initiates into Freemasonry have afforded reasonable grounds in the minds of many brethren for desiring the intervention of high Masonic authority to

prevent the continuance and increase of what is rapidly becoming a most injurious scandal in connection with the Order . I allude more particularly to the discredit which falls upon the innocent viotim of oliquism and want of harmony in Lodge , who seeks to join our ancient institution in the only manner prescribed ,

and also to the unmanly and un-English , not to say nn . Masonic , action of those who , by indiscriminate black-balling , vent , through the medium of a perfectly upright and honourable candidate , thoir petty spite upon those members of their Lodge with whom they disagree .

Instituted as a safeguard to our privileges , and affording the opportunity , without exposure , for the rejection of such as may be known to be objectionable or undesirable candidates , the utility of the ballot when honestly , and therefore properly , applied cannot be contested ; bnt when the first principles which should guide and

direct its exercise are wantonly set aside , and the opportunities it affords are made . to subserve and become available for purposes of factions opposition , without regard to the injury done to individual character and social position , it is high time that that which is

sometimes characterised as " nobody ' s business" should engage the attention of all riiiht thinking Freemasons . Amongst many sad experiences of the evil I refer to I have mot with none so strongly pointing out the necessity for authoritative notice as that I shall now endeavour to relate .

Within the past week I was honoured by an invite to a Lodge in Kent , specially summoned as an emergency meeting , for the pnrpose of balloting for , aud , if elected , initiating a gentleman of undoubted " good report , " and holding a position of considerable social importance in a fashionable watering place in Sussex , He had selected the

Abuse Of The Ballot.

Lodge in question for the reason that a very intimate friend for many years , who is the Secretary of the Lodge , would be his most appropriate proposer , to whom alone his antecedents and present qualifications were known . His seconder was the W . M . of the Lodge , who had a less extensive knowledge of his individual merit ,

but a sufficient assurance of his fitness for candidature . He had been proposed at the previous regular Lodge meeting , and all then present expressed satisfaction with the anticipated introduction of a worthy man and talented musical companion . Not doubting of acceptance he attended as reqnested , at the cost of time and travel ;

but only to be refused ! And why ? It appears that some offence had been given to one or more Past Masters of the Lodge , as far as I could understand , by the election , nnder circumstances which justly warranted the choice of the brethren , of the present W . M ., and by the appointment of the

present Officers ; that , thereupon , the W . M . had been informed that his ruling and actions in the Lodge wonld not be supported ; and that as a matter of fact none of the objecting brethren had attended the Lodge since the last installation meeting . Bat they put in an appearance at this " emergency , " and their intention was soon made

apparent . Without the slightest attempt to interfere with the privacy of the ballot , the W . M . and his Officers and members knew at once from whom opposition to their wishes might be expected . It was known also that no one of the malcontents had any personal knowledge of the candidate , and conld not be influenced by objections

to moral character or social position . As they had not been present at the former meeting when the qualities of the candidate had been stated by his proposer , the W . M ., before taking the ballot , and for the information of all then present , required the proposer to repeat what he had previously stated , and then positively solicited any

members entertaining objection to give him , in the confidence of the tyled Lodge , the slightest hint thereof , that withdrawal of the candidature might in such case ensue , and the discredit of formal refusal avoided . There being no response to this very courteous and reasonable application , the ballot was taken , and the four expected " pills "

were deposited . Nothing , therefore , was left the W . M . but to close his Lodge , and this waa doue in sorrowful regret that " peace and harmony " had been so ruthlessly disturbed . Now , can such conduct as thi 3 be permitted to pass without authoritative notice ? Assuredly not ! The " good and welfare of

Freemasonry in general , the best interests of individual Lodges in particular , are jeopardised by such grave disturbance of the genuine tenets and principles , of the Order . And more than that , a great wrong is put upon men of reputation and intelligence , upon those whom we should seek to attract towards , and not repel from , our

Institution . Of the minor wrong done by those misguided brethren to whom I refer , by putting their Lodge companions to the expensive attendance at a meeting so far distant from London , and which

they intended to make abortive , not much notice need be taken ; but on the general principle that there i 3 " no wrong without a remedy , " it may be hoped thit measures may be promoted whioh will eff-ctually prevent repetitions of such soandalons " abuse of the ballot . "

Yours fraternally , JAMES STEVENS P . M . P . Z Clapham , 20 th April 1886 .

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