Correspondence.

" TOSS sum , all beyond the absolute requirements of purchase would go to swell the general fnnd of the charity . Tho effort would havo been worth while for between £ 2 , 000 aud £ 3 , 000 , but for £ 900 , well , ifc is better to bear the ills wo have than fly to others we know not of . This molehill , then , already shows signs of growing , and one of the results may he tho removal of the School to some other site .

I will not speak ex cathedra on this matter , but I think the remarkable facts mentioned at tho Quarterly Court with regard to the prico of land in other and far more beantiful localities than that of Battersea Rise cannot fail to awaken hope of the future . If tho land at Battersea is so valuable , or is likely to become enhanced in value to anything like the extent of £ 4 , 000 per

acre , it will become a question whether another site shall not be selected for the Girls' School , in which accommodation shall be provided for a larger number of occupants ont of the profit made of the sale of tho present building and ground . Matters have not yet reached this stage , bnt who will say that such a contingency may not occur ? At any rate , recent facts teach the most important lesson

of caution , and if out of tho speculative present there arises a practical future , the Masonic body may thank the extravagant demands of Mr . Whiting for the opportunity afforded . There is another matter , Sir , that is at present but a very small molehill , and yet methinks it will grow into something totally different . I allude to the Almshouses at Croydon . A brother , only

a few days ago , went so far as to describe them to me as a " white elephant , " and he suggested that they shonld be dealt with as the Government of the day dealt with Greenwich Hospital . I am in . clined to believe he is right in fact , bnt his example was a most nnfortnnate one . The magnificent buildings at Greenwich were erected as a national home for our brave sailors , as a heritage to

which they were entitled by virtue of service and of their wounds and scars . Greenwich Hospital was the embodiment of national sentiment , of the pride and glory of a people living in an island home , whose bulwarks were the wooden walls of old England , and whose gallant defenders were our sailors . When the Greenwich pensioners wero disbanded , sentiment was cruelly wrenched , and a

fatal blow was struck afc national pride . The Almshouses at Croydon are associated with wrecked fortunes and troublous times . It is true they are a haven of rest for the weary world-tired wayfarer , but they are also reminders of more prosperous times . The bane is equally present with the antidote , aud unfortunately the cost is out of all proportion to the good that is done . I think the time has

come to consider whether it would not be kinder to our poor distressed brethren to let them keep their little homes , or reside with their friends , and while recipients of secret charity shall be free in the sight of the world from the badge of dependence . I may some day return to this subject ; at present I shall content myself with saying that economy , as well as kindness , point to the change I have indicated .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , WATCHMAN .

THE PRICKED WINDBAG . To ihe Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DRAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I should very much like to be introduced to Brother "WATCHMAN , " and to shake hands with him for giving me the dressing which , in the innocence of his mind , he thinks I deserve ; and also for the little bits of sugar with which he administers the dose . I can assure Brother " WATCHMAN " that nobody will be

more ready and willing to make the most ample apology that can be required if the charges that I have made are incorrect ; if the brethren I have complained of , in open Lodge or by letter in the . Masonic papers , where I have made my charges , state that the one brother did not purposely prolong his arguments on tho New Zealand question , and thafc the G . D . C . did nofc , with watch in hand ,

urge the latter to continue speaking so that no new matter might be brought before the Grand Lodge that night . I am quite willing to accept their words as men and Masons , but until that be done I shall be of the same opinion still , —that it was as plain a case of obstruction as ever took place in the House of Commons or elsewhere . With regard to the Executive , whom I blame for the manner in

which they did , and did not , give notice of their intention to call a Special Graud Lodge , Bro . " WATCHMAN " uses a very mild term when he says , if they did not give proper notice ; it only amounted to a want of courtesy . Let us look back a little . A Revise Committee from the Board of General Pnrposes took npon themselves a necessary work , unbeknown to the Craft ; this evidenced , in

the first instance , a great want , of respect to the members of Grand Lodge ; and , secondly , when the Revise was referred back to them for reconsideration , with instructions that a report was to be given at the Quarterly Communication in June last , they fail to make any report whatever , thus making a breach in the duty which the Grand Lodge had entrusted to their care . Bro . "

WATCHMAN' forgets that the Provincial Brethren had , only just a short time before , been up to and had returned from the Girls' Festival , and that they had also returned home from the Boys' Festival ; now , while they were attending here , the summons was awaiting them nt home . Does Brother " WATCHMAN " know that there are about 310 London Lodges ( putting aside the nine Time Immemorial Lodges , and those in the Homo Counties , many of whose members

have their business in London and their Lodges in tho country ) , that the average age of the Matrons is 45 £ years , and that in the ordinary course of events there wonld bo some 14 , 000 Past Masters besides Wardens , take off half for deaths , and those who have relinquished Freemasonry , also take off another half who cannot attend from various causes , and you leave the respectable number of 3 , 500 ; once more divide that , and you will have nofc less

Correspondence.

than 1 , 750 entitled to attend Grand Lodgo , and I feel certain that I am within the mark when I state that a large majority of tho last ore business men , to whom Friday is the most important day of fche week , and the hour fixed for the meeting the most importnnt of the day . Of course , to some fortunate individuals the amount of postage may be a perfect matter of indifference , though to others it is not .

Bro . " WATCHMAN makes facetious remarks about the sentence " half the brethren ; " perhaps in his category there are no such things as printers' errors , but it so happened , I suppose , owing to the illness of our Brother Editor , I did not receive a proof of my letter , which I had asked for , and at other times have invariably received . That fact sufficiently accounts for this one error ; there were others , but

watchful "WATCHMAN has been gracious enough to pass them over . As to tho trouble the worthy Editor took about the Revise , I perhaps know as much , or more , than Brother " WATCHMAN , " as I sent sets of manuscripts of the old and new editions , with remarks and suggestions , which the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE was good enough to return me afterwards , and I have

them with me now . I also had the Revised Book of Constitutions interleaved , and I then gummed the corresponding paragraphs of the Book of Constitutions on the opposite page , so that I know pretty well what onr brother had to do before he completed his task . With regard to tho whole substance of my former letters , to which Bro . " WATCHMAN " has taken such exception , I am ready and

willing to apologise for any incorrect statement—that shall be proved to be so—in as public a manner as I have made them ; I bear no animosity to any man ; the slights , errors , or whatever he may please to call them , were I consider not to me personally but to the Craft at large , and I only wish some more able writer had taken up the thankless task of exposing what may be thought faulty in the administration of affairs ; but what is everybody ' s business is

nobody's business , and unless some one makes a start , there will be no redress for grievances , —real or fancied . I think Bro . "WATCH , MAN , " who with such ability shows that he holds the pen of a ready writer , might very possibly , if he lent the weight of his name , do some good . At the same time , I hope he will have the good taste to choose a more euphonious , though equally expressive title to his communication , than that of " A PRICKED WINDBAO . " Palmam qui meruit ferat .

Yours fraternally , P . M . 1607 .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex will meet at Parkeston , near Harwich , on Wednesday next . Brethren who purpose attending can secure Return Tickets at a single fare on production of their summonses at any of the Stations of the Great Eastern Railway . Prov . Grand Lodge will be opened at One o ' clock punctually .

A meeting of the North London Chapter was held at the Canonbury Tavern , St . Mary ' s-road , Islington , on Thursday evening last . Comps . Higgins Z ., Sheffield H ., R . Bird J ., Edmonds S . N ., Gregory P . S . Taking into consideration the season of the year , and many of the Companions enjoying their holidays , there was a fair attendance .

The Consecration of the Greenwood Lodge , No . 1982 , will take place at ihe Public Hall , Epsom , this day , Saturday . The ceremony will be performed by General

Brownrigg , C . B ., Provincial Grand Master Surrey , assisted by Rev . C . W . Arnold , M . A ., P . G . Chaplain and P . D . G . M . Bro . Joseph Steele is W . M ., and Bros . Charles Rowland Ellis and Spencer Pidcock the Wardens designate .

The Evening News says , " The fate of poor Captain Webb takes away from us a brother Mason , and Neptune Lodge , No . 22 , has to mourn the loss of a brother who was

initiated in it immediately after his great swimming accomplishment from Dover to Calais . On the occasion of his initiation he made a capital speech , and he became a great favourite with the brethren of his Lodge . "

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

Ancient Ebor Preceptory , No . 101 . —A special assembly of this Preceptory took place at the Masonic Hall , York , on the 24 th inst . By desire of Lord Londesborough , Y . E . P . Sir Knt . T . W . Tew presided , assisted by his Officers from the Province of West Yorkshire . About 100 American brethren and Templars were present , and were received with the greatest cordiality . The Lord

Mayor of York afterwards received tho Sir Knights iu the Banquet Hall of the Mansion House , and at half-past eight a grand banquet was served in the Guildhall to about 130 Sir Knights , who were en » terlained in a most sumptuous manner . Many excellent speeches were made in response to tho toast given in honour of the Visitors . Tho proceedings did not conclude till nearly midnight . The Pilgrim Sir Knighta have uinue left York for London .