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ROYAL Masonic Institution for Girls . INSTITUTED 1788 . The , 109 th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL WILL * BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY , THE 12 TH MAY 1897 , . THE RIGHT HON . LORD LLANGATTOCK Bight Worshipful Prov . G . M . of South Wales Eastern Division in the Chair . Brethren willing to act as Stewards on this most important occasion are earnestly solicited to send in their names to ~ the Secretary as early as convenient . Stewards are much needed , and their services will be gratefully received . F . B . W . HEDGES , Secretary . Office—5 Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C .

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BOOKBINDING in all its branches . Price list on application . Morgan , Fleet Works , Bulwer Boad , New Barnet .

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j ^^^^^^^^ SATURDAY , 24 TH APRIL 1897 .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear 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 GRAND MASTER'S HOSPITAL FUND .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAB SIB AND BBOTHEB , —I had no idea , until I saw the different lists you have published , of contributions from Masonic sources to the Prince of Wales Hospital Fund , that the project of the Most Worshipful Grand Master was receiving such support as is there shown from , the Lodges o £ England . I think the details you have been able to give are most gratifying , and this is especially the case in connection with the long list of "Daily Telegraph " contributions , because the majority of those are of the popular

" shilling " variety , contributed , one may say , without encroaching on any particular funds , and yet amounting to a decent total in the end . None oi us who have been asked for our shilling contribution towards one or other of the totals recorded in your-last issue can possibly have been inconvenienced by responding in the way desired , and I should like to see some general effort made to bring the matter under the notice of every Lodge on the Register of England , as I feel sure if that were done there would be few absentees from the final list , and I do not believe , either , that it would have any detrimental eHeet on the contributions to the recognised Charities of the English Order .

I recognised you were perfectly , right in raising a warning voice when it was proposed to start a Masonic branch of the Prince of Wales Hospital Fund , because I entertain the view you have often expressed—that there is a certain sum available for Masonic benevolence , and any part of it diverted to outside objects must produce a corresponding " shortage" in the Masonic totals , still I am glad to see you acknowledge that events have proved

your views are by no means shared by the Lodges , and that you are now doing a real service by showing how popular the suggestion of the Grand Master is among his Brother Masons . 1 hope the course you have now taken will prove of benefit to the cause . Yours , & c , A SHILLING CONTBIBUTOB .

CLUBS OF INSTEUCTION . To the Editor of the FBEEMASON ' S OHBONICLE . DEAB SIB AND BBOTHEB , —I was struck on reading the letter which appeared in your issue of a few week's back , in which a Brother revived some of the old arguments in favour of District Grand Lodges for the metropolis , at what he had to say in regard to " irregular Lodges of Instruction , called Masonic Clubs , " for until he seemed to stamp them as illegal I had no idea there was anything wrong or unconstitutional about them .

It does not necessarily follow that because your correspondent " C . W . " is of opinion that these Clubs of Instruction are not wholly regular that there is anything absolutely wrong in regard to them , but I should like to know , now that I have seen the question raised , how far they are in accord with the regulations of the Craft , and if they are illegal , what is the particular section of the Book of Constitutions that applies to them .

I write as an interested individual , having been a member of one of these Clubs for a considerable time , but if there is anything in them , contrary to the laws of the Craft I feel sure I may say for my fellow members , as well as for myself , we have erred in ignorance , and I think I may also say that there is not one among us but will use every effort that is possible to put matters right if we are shown to be in , the wrong . Yours , & c , CLUBIST .

Ritualistic Work Not Enough.

RITUALISTIC WORK NOT ENOUGH .

WE teach our Brethren ia the Lodges that Masonry is a beautiful system of morality , not a theory ; that it is something which should shine forth in the everyday life and actions of each individual Mason ; something which we should not be content to simply teach or profess , but to live . I have been sometimes , and especially during the last two or three years , obliged to think that many of us look upon Masonry as a mere rendering of

a perfect and beautiful ritual within our Lodge-rooms , and that as long as we are able to see that ritual performed to our satisfaction—and , mind you we are willing to spend any amount of time and trouble to that end—we have done our duty as Masous . Brethren , this is not enough ; beautiful and

instructive as our ritual may be , it is simply the shadow , the substance is not in it ; or , as an eminent Past Master has so beautifully put it : " The ritualistio teachings , however beautiful and instructive they may be , are simply the Key , put into the Mason ' s hand , by which he may unlook the great Treasure House , where are garnered the stores of Masonic Truth . " v

This truth must be studied and the lessons drawn from it must be practiced in the every-day life of a Mason , if the outside world is to be made to believe that Masonry is what we claim it to be . The world is not in possession of our secret signs and words , and therefore only able to judge of Masonry as they see it exemplified in the Masons' lives . How often ,

Brethren , do they have to judge it is anything but a teacher of morality and virtue , temperance and brotherly love ? Too often , I am afraid , we put our Masonry with our regalia , and leave it locked up in the Lodge-room , and forget directly we are outside what we acknowledged only a few minutes before , viz .: That the All-seeing Eye of the Most High ever beholds us .

These grand living truths , Brethren , are the bulwarks of out Institution , which have for ages and ages shielded it from the attacks of the cowan and the profane . Let us see to it , therefore , that our bulwarks are kept solid and unbroken , with no breach through which an enemy can throw a dart of reproach .

I have dwelt much on this theme , but , Brethren , I have felt it necessary . What would you think of the captain of a magnificent ship , laden not only with a very valuable cargo , but also with a long list of passengers , if he knew that there was a dangerous leak in her bottom , which , if not stopped or counteracted , would soon sink her , but instead of starting men to work at

the pumps and doing something to stop the leak , he went on , calmly talking to the passengers and crew about the splendid vessel in which they were travelling ? We are sailing in a beautiful ship , well rigged and appointed ; equipped with machinery powerful enough to keep her moving ahead over the ocean of time , but the officers must be well up in their work , and not

neglect a single detail ; each member of the crew must see that his individual duties are done , and ' done thoroughly ; the committees , or engineers , must see that every part of the machinery is in perfect working order , for much of it consists of very delicate pieces , the smallest and apparently the most insignificant of which , if it becomes deranged , may

seriously afreet the mavnmechamsm . Then , again , our ship must at times sail under dark and stormy skies , when the Entered Apprentices will need to be closely watched , that they keep the binnacle lights trimmed and burning so as to enable those at the helm to see the swaying compass-card , and steer clear of rocks and shoals . —Lacey R . Johnson , in " Masonic Advocate . "

FREEMASONRY IN COURT . AT Tredegar County Court , on Tuesday , . before his Honour Judge Owen , Harry Elijah Hares , of Ebbw Vale , was sued by Erskine and Co ., publishers , for 15 s for parts of the " History o £ Freemasonry . " Mr . T . G . Powell , for defendant , stated that the canvasser got the order for the book on representing that it was being issued privately for the benefit of the author , who was himself a Freemason , but defendant discovered afterwards that the

books were in the open market and sold for the publishers . Having regard to the misrepresentation , defendant refused to receive further instalments of the work . —His Honour remarked that he read the newspapers , and had noticed some of this firm's cases already . He though the plaintiffs should have called tbe canvasser , who was not present for some reason or other . The case was allowed to be withdrawn , with costs . — " South Wales Daily News . "

By kind permission of Lord Egerton of Tatton and the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos , a morning concert , kindly arranged by Mrs . Perkins , will take place at 7 St . James ' s Square , on Wednesday , 26 th May , at 3-30 p . m ., in aid of Bev . Dr . Stainer ' s Homes for Deaf and Dumb Children . The Concert is under distinguished patronage , and among the Artistes who have already promised to assist are Madame Amy Sherwin , Miss Esther Palliser , Miss Marie Tempest , Miss Greta Williams , Mr . Brereton , Mr . Lawrence Kellie , Mr . Paul MablendorS ( Piano ) , Mr . Squire ( Violoncellist ) , and the

Ladies Amateur Harp , Mandoline , and Guitar Band . Madame Marianne Mapleson and Signor Denza will preside at the piano , while Bro . Wilhelm Ganz P . G . O ., and Signor Arditi will officiate as conductors . The whole will conclude with Mr . Smith Wright ' s amusing sketch . Tickets , three for one guinea , may be obtained from the Hon . Sec , Miss H . Ball , at Stainer House , 13 Paddington Green , who announces that the proceeds of the concert are for the technical instruction of the older children , who are taught trades , to enable them to become self-supporting in after life .

At the moment of going to press we have received the ballot papers for the annual election of the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , to be held on 21 st May next . There are 65 Male and 52 Widow candidates , with 13 and 18 vacancies respectively ,