Staffordshire Charity.

his religious principle . Every man ' s religious principle was best exhibited in the life which he lived , but he would say of Freemasonry that no man could be a Freemason without first of all acknowledging the all-powerful aid of the Great Architect of the Universe . He alluded to the attempt made by the Grand Orient

of France to eliminate the name of the Great Architect of the Universe from Freemasonry , and endorsed the action of Lord Carnarvon on behalf of the Masons of England in discountenancing such proposal . Bro . James referred to the time when they found great difficulty in their endeavours to get the unfortunate children of Brethren in Staffordshire elected into

Masonic Institutions . Since the combination of the Brethren in this Association that difficulty had been overcome by the spirit of co-operation , and the candidates supported by the Association had always proved successful in the voting . In 1871 the sum of

money sent by that Association in support of the Institutions in Londom was £ 5 5 s , but in 1895 it was £ 613 18 s 6 d . There had been gathered to the one fund the sum of £ 11 , 400 during its existence , and in support of the " B " fund , which they were there to help that day , £ 2 , 500 .

Bro . M . Barker P . P . J . G . W . responded , remarking that the Association had justified its existence , by the magnificent demonstration that day . Bro . G . V . Greatbaeh proposed the toast of the Duke of Sutherland , expressing the thanks of the Association to His Grace for placing his magnificient grounds at the disposal of the Visitors . The toast of the Ladies was also proposed , and duly acknowledged . Letters of regret were received from several distinguished Brethren , who were unable to attend .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bea , r 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 E . M . B . I . AND LODGE VOTES .

To the Editor of the FBEEMASOH ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIB AND BKOTHEB , —I am of opinion that the proposed alteration of Law 18 in the regulations of the Benevolent Institution is a mistake , from my point of view—that of a London Mason . It is matter of great concern to Brethren who take any part in the elections of this splendid charity that while each year the number of votes needed to secure election is increasing , the facility to secure proxies seems to decrease ,

and I can but think the cause for this is to be found in tho ever increasing " organisation " referred to by your correspondent last week . There was a time when , as that writer argues is possible now , I could go up to Freemasons ' Tavern on the day of an election , and beg a few votes here and there : but now it seems to me there are no stray proxies about . Every Provincial friend I ask tells me he " has to " send his votes to the local Committee , and every London Brother I speak to seems to be on the same errand as myself . I cannot ,

therefore , agree with your correspondent when he says proxies go a begging ; it is true there is often the opportunity of borrowing a few votes , but in that case , more often than not , a profit is expected , that is to say , fifteen votes are offered , and an I . O . U . expected for twenty , and even then it is sometimes asked how the votes will be repaid in case of death or some other eventuality .

I have always " given " my votes away , either to help some old friend or to assist another to do the same , and I like to feel I can get the same treatment . I merely work for the love of the thing , and with the desire to assist some member of the Craft , or his family , in distress , and do not see why I should make myself personally liable for votes secured on their behalf , rather preferring to adopt a give and take principle .

But to return to the original question , the alteration of Law 18 , 1 have always reckoned on securing a few Lodge votes from some of tho Lodges I am acquainted with , and although the number so secured is never very great I see that supply being cut away from me , for though the Grand Master will receive , in bulk , the same number of votes as are now given to the

individual Lodges of the metropolis I fear he would not so readily answer my appeal for a few of them on behalf of some particular candidate I might desire to benefit ; rather I shall expect to find that the London Lodge and Chapter votes , after being signed in bulk , will find their way to some one of the strong Provincial centres , whose chief is more energetic or has more influence than his fellows .

I feel some may ask , Sir , whether the whole of the votes affected by the proposed rule are worth the fuss that I fear I am making , but it is the principle of the thing , as well as the actual total , that I am considering . I find in this year ' s Grand Lodge Calendar there are 411 London Lodges , and 171 Chapters , so that the Grand Master will receive 1164 male and 582 female votes by the new arrangementand by judicious manipulation he

, might be able to secure an annuity once in three years ; but I do not anticipate these votes will be " accumulated , " being rather utilised year by year , and I should like to know who is to advise the Prince of Wales as to their disposal . If the Grand Secretary or his department is to do so I pity him , while I suppose the Grand Master will not care to be inundated with applications in reference to the votes .

The arrangement may work very well in the Provinces , but I think the old plan is best in London ; in the one case the single voting papers generally find their way to the Provincial representative , who uses them for a particular candidate ; in the other they remain spread widely about , and are distributed , probably , among each of the London cases . I am , & c , COCKHE * .

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

UNDEE the auspices of the Leopold Lodge , No . 1775 , Church , a large number of Brethren from Blackburn , Accrington , Darwen , Haslingden , Eawtenstall , and neighbouring places attended a special service at St . Paul ' s , Oswaldtwistle , on the 5 th inst . The Brethren assembled at the Commercial

Hotel , Church , and walked in procession to St . Paul ' s . A powerful sermon was there preached by Bro . Eev . W . G . Proctor P . P . G . C . ( rector of St . Cuthbert ' s , Darwen ) , who referred to the origin , principles , and practices of Masonry . He based his remarks on I Peter ii , 17 : " Honour all men . Love the brotherhood . Fear God . Honour the king . " He said :

I conceive that I cannot better occupy the time I have at my disposal this afternoon , when we are met in God ' s House as members of an Order which holds a very important position , not only here in England , but in all parts of che civilised world , than by explaining to this congregation , so far as I have the ability and the power to do , the origin , the principles , and the objects of

Freemasonry . It is an institution so ancient that it is impossible to trace its beginning with perfect accuracy . Some great authorities say that it is coeval with the world ' s history , others date it from the time of Methuselah , others to the days of Noah , and others claim the great pyramid as the first Masonic temple , when the secrets of our Divine Order were first revealed .

However this may be—and there are good grounds for this , for the usages and customs amongst Masons have ever corresponded with those of the ancient Egyptians—there can be no doubt whatever that Masonry goes back to the time before the building of Solomon ' s Temple at Jerusalem , when the number and the variety of the workmen employed rendered it needful to adopt some means by which they could be classified and recognised ,

and also recognise each other , and it is an undoubted fact , to which I am able to bear my personal witness , that the signs , symbols and trade marks which I have myself seen on the foundation stones of the ancient walls of Jerusalem are identical with those we now recognise and employ , though we have turned them to another account . Thus , to go no further back , Masonry has a history of 3 , 000 years .

I now come to speak of its principles . They are essentially religious— -if they were not I should not be standing in this place this afternoon . No institution outside the Church of Christ can claim a more solid foundation than that on which Freemasonry rests , viz ., the practice of every moral and social virtue . Every character , figure , and emblem employed has a moral significance

and is intended to inculcate the practice of virtue in all its genuine professors . It has been called the religion of daily life , and of common sense , of virtue in all its genuine professors . It has been called the religion of daily life and of common sense , and cannot be better described than in words with which we are all familiar : " a peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols . " Its first imperative

condition of membership is the acknowledgment of the Great Architect of the Universe , the one living and true God , the creator of all things , visible and invisible , " in whom we live and move and have our being . " No man can be admitted into our Order without making a solemn declaration of these fundamental articles of our faith , viz ., the being of God , the immortality of the soul , a future state of rewards and punishments according to the deeds done in the body .

We recognise the Great Architect of the Universe in all our words and works . We are constantly remined that " Wherever we are , and whatever we do He is always with us , and His all-seeing eye ever beholds us . " At every meeting of the Lodge prayer is offered to Him , and His blessing is invoked . This is our first great principle , and if anyone after being admitted to

our Society on such a solemn declaration should at any time repudiate the faith and become an Atheist the duty of the Brethren is clear . As a natural consequence of our faith in the Supreme Euler of the Universe Freemasonry sets before its members the volume of the Sacred Law , and charges them to consider it as the unerring standard of truth and justice , and

urges them to regulate their actions by the Divine precepts it contains—since therein they are taugbt the important duties they owe to God , their neighbour , and to themselves—to God by never mentioning His name but with that awe and reverence which are due from the creature to his Creator , by imploring

His aid in all their lawful undertakings , and by looking up to Him in every time of need for comfort and support ; to their neighbour by acting with him on the square , and by practising that golden rule , " Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you , do ye also unto them . "

. Deriving its inspiration from Holy Writ , Masonry includes the practice of every domestic as well as public virtue . Masons are individually exhorted to " let prudence direct them , temperance chasten them , fortitude support them , and justice guide them . " Another great principle insisted upon by Masons , and the natural result of what I have just been saying respecting our belief in the Bible as the Word of God , is the duty of