Consecration Of Lodge Of Progress, No. 1768.

then tho hut , the house , the tabernacle , aud so on , until finally that grand masterpiece was completed , King Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem . Thus , to this day , tho wonderful powers and properties of matter are being continually evolved . Let us take a short review of the Progress of Man . Though fallen from his first high estate , man , fashioned in the express image of his God , has made mighty progress

in the restoration of that God-like image that was defaced . A long line of patriarchs , prophets , kings , and righteous men , in sacred history , attest this progress , while Pluto , Aristotle , and mauy a great philosopher in profane history bear witness to the same . In modern days , we meet with many noble and remarkable instances of the like kind , ' all this moral , intellectual aud religious progress tending to one

great result , educating men for tho Grand Lodge above . Again , with regard to the progress of Masonry , this has been great , especially of late years . The principles held by Masons are the foundation of alt religions systems that acknowledge the one true and living God , which acknowledgment at once implies acting under a law , acting in tho sight of the Law-giver , responsible belief , and a system of rewards and

punishments . In no system is the arrangement from design more beautifully and significantly illustrative than in Freemasonry , it tells man of a happy present , and of a still happier future , and guiding bis footsteps by the light of divine truth , points to those eternal mansions whence all goodness emanates . May this Lodge over be guided by this light . Order , harmony , and proportion aro the requisites of every

building , spiritual , social and political , which would make any claim to perfection . Let us endeavour to unite ourselves by the principles of genuine philanthropy , so to build up ourselves in good works , and so to practise the doctrines taught by our noblo Institution , that in whatever character we may appear in the world , we may faithfully perform our duty . Let us live as men , considering the great end for

which tho goodness of God created us , beseeohing Him who ruleth the universe , and giveih order and motion to the heavenly bodies , that He would direct us in the true and right way , that our footsteps slip not , that He would promote still moro and more that charity which is the bond of all virtue , and give us wisdom to contrive in all onr undertakings , strength to support us in all difficulties , and

beauty to adorn those heavenly mansions where His honour clwelleih . The ceremony of consecration being concluded , Bro . \ V . A . Dawson was presented for installation , and duly inducted into the chair of K . S ., by Bro . Hervey , and received the salutations of the brethren . Bro . Legg was unanimously elected and invested as Treasurer , and tho following Officers were appointed : —Bros . F . R . Spaull S . W ., A . C .

Spaull J . W ., Hornblower Sec , Tattershall S . D ., Duret J . D ., Ockenden I . G ., and Marvin M . C . Bros . Hervey , Simpson , Bu » s , Murtoii , Fenn and Richards , were elected honorary memebers . Bros . Smallpeice Secretary Emulation Lodge of Improvement , J . E . Hunt , Kentish , and other petitioning brethren wore present , and also numerous visitors . Several propositions tor joining , and for initiation were

handed in , and all further business being despatched , the Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to supper , where tho usual Loyal and Masonio toasts were duly honoured , all speeches being commendably short . This Lodge will be worked on strict Emulation ritual , and proposes to dispense with banquets . The first regular meeiiug will take place on Wednesday next , 30 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall .

Meeting Of The Lodge Of Benevolence.

MEETING OF THE LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

THE Lodge ot Benevolence met on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . There was not a large attendance of brethren , and the list of cases requiring relief was also small , there being but eighteen cases down . Bro . Clabon presided , and Bro . Joshua Nunn and Bro . James Brett were in their chairs as Senior and Junior Vice Presidents . Bros . Hervey , Buss , S . Rawson , J . M . Case , C . A . Cottebrnne , H . Garrod , C . F . Hogard , F . Binckes , John Wright , Griffiths

Smith , R . Halford , John Constable , VV . Stephens , and L . Alexander Were amongst the other brethren who attended . Fifteen of the eighteen new cases were relieved , the sum granted being £ 319 . Three cases were deferred , the evidence of payment for two years nofc being considered sufficient . The recommendations to the Grand Master from last Lodge of Benevolence were confirmed . The business of the meeting was completed in two hours .

In Memoriam.

In Memoriam .

The Yarborough Lodge , No . 554 , has sustained a severe loss in the somewhat sudden death of Bro . W . Hamilton , one of the P . M . ' s , and some time Treasurer . The sad event occurred on Friday , the 18 th instant , after a few days

illness . The late Bro . Hamilton was well known at the east end of London , and was respected by a large circle of friends , for his manly , honest , and independent behaviour . He was a Life Governor of all the Institutions connected

with our Order , and had served as Steward on several occasions . His remains were interred ou Wednesday , the 23 rd instant , at Abuey Park Cemetery , in the presence oi a numerous assemblage , amongst whom wero JBros . Cotter ,

the W . M . of the Yarborough Lodge ; Bros . Wynne , Middleton , Vasey , Kindred , Barnes , J . G . Stevens , Harrison , Brooks , Berry , Warnia •, Symes , Witts , Livermore , and Messrs . Watson : Shepherd , Cook , W . Taylor , & c . " The sleep of the just ia blessed . " '

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . We cannot undertake to return refected communications . Ul Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

DISPOSAL OP LODGE PUNDS . To the Editor O / T HE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHDR , —I am obliged to yonr correspondent " OLD FILE , " for his elaborate analysis of the first three balance sheets you have been kind enough to publish for me . The fact of totalling the three results makes the matter appear , if possible , even worse than

before . I only hope that these or some other efforts will bring to a sense of shame some of tho uncharitably disposed Lodges ; ifc really is a matter that must eventually affect the good name of our ancient ;

Fraternity . Several of my friends tell mo that writing on this qu ^ Si tion is mere waste of breath . I trust in this respect they are not correct , or , if they are , ifc may be hoped that some measures will be found which will prove more successful . No . 5 .

BALANCE SHEET OF LODGE . ONE YEAR—1877 * 8 : — RECEIPTS . Balance forward ( Benevolent Fund ) £ 6 2 6 Receipts for the year t—

Subscriptions and Visitors 296 16 0 Initiation Fees 88 4 0 Collected for Benevolent Fund 7 10 10 392 10 10

£ 398 3 4 EXPENDITURE .

Refreshment £ 287 0 8 Amount due to Treasurer from last year 5 3 3 Grand Lodgo certificates and dues 16 fi 0 P . M . ' s jewel 10 10 0

Tvler 3 6 0 Printing , postages , & c 7 14 0 Balance in hand ... 68 13 5 £ 398 13 4

I am informed that it is the intention of the members of this Lodge to vote a part of their funds to one of the Charities , but I think they aro very much to blame for allowing a whole year to pass without actually doing so . It is all very well to satisfy oneself one year by

saying , " I am saving up , and will give liberally , " then the second year make the gift , and during the third year sav , " I gave last year . " This is an argument very often used , ; md one which I cannot describe as anything but a lamentably weak one . Yours fr iternally , UNION JACK .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am rather amused to find thafc , when , ever yon take up with a subject which appears to attract more atten . tion than usual , your London Masonic contemporary , who prides itself on being the only Masonic weekly in the country , takes au early oppor .

tnmty of passing its opinion on the identical subject . Thus , for several weeks past , the subject of Lodge Funds has been discussed afc some length in your columns . Last week the journal in question had a leader on it . This would not be worth noticing if it happened only now and then , but this is nofc the first time , by many , the same

course has been pursued . As far as ray experience goes , it seems to me thafc , in all the noticeable questions which have cropped , up of late , you have taken the initiative , and your contemporary has played second fiddle . This hardly accords with its arrogant claim to be the Masonic weekly . Fraternally yours , CROW .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —After reading tho letters under the above heading iu your last issue , I thought the statements put forward were so much to the point , and unfortunately so true , that I determined to make use of them in pointing out to the members of my Lodgo the way in which they were spending their funds . I

accordingly took our last balance sheet with the intention of drawing up a kind of " brief , " wheu 1 was struck by tho similarity of certain iiniounts , and eventually found that my mother Lodgo occupied an unenviable position in your columns . It is , I regret to say , the first •f the Lodges that your correspondent " UNION JACK " published tho oalance sheet of . I of course thought that after such a discovery , it

would hardly be necessary for me to go much further into tho question , but that it would bo better for mo to use my efforts to get other of the members to view the matter in the same light as I do , aud endeavour in the future to wipe away tho stain of the past . It may be asked , —Why did you not do something to havo rendered such a statement as , that presented au impossibility ? I must , pleat !