Address On Opening The Weekly Meetings.

to our private conversations , the influence of our principles is fettered by no such restrictions . Universal as is our system , is our friendly communication . To society at large Ave arc professed friends ; and , though to every deserving object our attention is specially directed , there

is no part of the human species which iB exempted from our care and protection . From this general definition of the outlines of our benevolent institution , Ave need no greater incentive to become votaries in its favour . Let us therefore , Avho are

selecting ourselves for still further improvement in the art , be alike distinguished in conduct and conversation , and convince others , by our example , that the expert Mason is the best pattern of the accomplished gentleman . To

point out and to encourage , shall be my plan ; to proceed , persevere , and execute , must be yours ; and as honest industry will always ensure success , dignified honour will be the just reAvard of merit . "

A Province For Bedfordshire.

A PROVINCE FOR BEDFORDSHIRE .

WE are given to understand that the movement for the formation of a Masonic Province in the only county in England without one , is making good progress . A month ago the Chiltern Lodge at Dunstable passed an unanimous resolution in favour of it , and the old St . John

the Baptist Lodge , at Luton , has since done the same . It remains now for the Bedford Royal Stuart and the Biggles-AYade St . Andrew ' s Lodges to consider the matter . In the ranks of their members there are several Avorthy Masons ,

any one of whom the brethren would be delighted to honour as the first Provincial Grand Master ; the name of Stuart , for instance , is synonymous , in the county , with all that is iu the truest sense Masonic .

Provincial Grand Chapter, Herts.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER , HERTS .

ON Thursday au event of great interest took place at Watford , being neither more nor less than the recouatitutiou of the Prov . Grand Chapter , Herts , the Jast meeting of which was held as far back as the 19 th of September ] 8 b'i . The installing officer was M . E . Comp . John Hervey , Grand Scribe E ., who opened the Prov . Grand Chapter as Z ., with E . Comp . Davison as 1 L , and E . Comp . Heard as J . The roll of Chapters and that of Grand Officers of the old Prov .

Grand Chapter having been called over , the name of Comp . Halsey M . P . was announced as the Prov . Grand Superintendent , and his patent having been handed in , read by acting Prov . G . Scribe E . Comp . lies , and examined by Comp . Hervey , a deputation of Principals and Past Principals retired with tho D . C . and introduced Comp . Halsey and placed him in front of the Pedestal . Comp . Hervey then addressed

him , enquiring if he were prepared conciontiously to undertake the important duties of the office , and having received a reply in the affirmative , the ceremony of obligation and investiture was performed Avith due solemnity . The P . G . Superintendent then appointed and obligated the other Principals , aud invested his officers , the following being the list : —Comps . Einch H ., Cocks J ., lies Scribe E ., Carter

Scribe N ., Davisou P . S ., Heard 1 st Asst . S ., Lowthin 2 nd Asst . S ., Luinley Smith Registrar , Andrews Sw . B ., Ford St . B ., Terry D . C . Dibdin O ., and Thomas aud Wright Janitors . On the motion of Comp . Carter , seconded by Comp . Terry , Comp . Copland was unanimously elected Treasurer , and a committee was appointed , consisting of the three Principals , the Scribe and the Treasurer , to frame

byelaws aud transact other business . The Prov . G . Chapter was then closed . A banquet followed , which was well serrod , and at which the usual toasts were proposed and responded to with great cordiality . Iu replying to the toast of the Prov . G . Superintendent , Comp . Halsey congratulated all preseut on tho successful issue of the day ' s

proceedings , and the prosperity of the Craft in the province of Hertfordshire . He further expressed a hope that now the Prov . Grand Chapter had been revived , soon every Lodge in tho proviuce would have Chapters attached , as he ( Comp . Halsey ) did not consider the cycle of Masonry complete without tho Royal Arch Degree .

JIotLowAx ' s FILLS . — These Pills are moro eflicacious in strengthening a debilitated constitution ( tho vit . iiI springs of which were naturally weak , or through hard usage have become relaxed and worn ) than any other medicim in the world . Persons of a nervous habit of body , an L all who are suffering from weak digestive organs , or liver complaints , eructations , datuletiuy , constipation , colic , or irritaoiu bowels , should lose no time in giving these Pills

n , fair trial , ijoughs , colds , asthma , or shortness of breath , are also within the range of tho curative powers of this very remarkable medicine—gout anu rheumatism bow before them . The cures cllectod by these Pills are not superficial or temporary , but complete and permanent ; they are as mild as they aro efficaciou :, and may be given with confidence to delicate females and young children .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

MASONIC BOYS' SCHOOL . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . Pontefracfc , 26 th October 1875 . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Wo note , in your issue of last Saturday a letter from the Secretary of the Boys' School , with reference to our Pamphlet , and we crave space in your columns for a brief reply .

Mr . Binckes unfortunately for himself , adduces the case of " James Gasson" to convict us of error , and assures your readers that all our other statements aro equally easy of explanation . The charges in Bro . Tew's first Pamphlet , the Secretary states , have been proved groundless , we should like to know when and where ?

The Secretary informs your readers that , on 4 th May 1872 , " Gasson " received a " grant of £ 5 for the usual (?) outfit given on leaving the School . " Now , we find , on two pages of the 1865 Report , second edition with corrections , that " James Gassou " did not attain the age ( 15 ) for

leaTtng the School till the 28 th day of October 1872 , and , as the Secretary states that the boy was " orphan and entirely friendless , " we submit it was very strange that he should have left the School six months before the proper time , as he certainly must have done if both the ' 65 Eeport and Mr . Binckes ' s statement about the leaving

outfit in May 1872 are correct . Again , according to the Secretary , £ 5 were paid at tho commencement of his apprenticeship , some months after May 1872 , and , as we find the full amount of the grant — £ 10 for the lad's apprenticeship recorded in the Report for 1873 , it necessarily follows , in pursuance of the conditions of the

apprenticeship , viz ., £ 5 at the commencement of apprenticeship , and £ o at the expiration of a year therefrom , that the former of these two instalments must , or ought to , have been paid in 1872 ; we ask , therefore , why this second portion of the entire grant , being expended in 1872 , is not shewn in the 1872 Report ? Everything in tho Reports

concerning " James Gasson " is most perplexing ; in two Reports we are told that ho left in December 1 S 71 , in another , that for the year 1865 , wo find his time for leaving was not till tho 28 th October 1872 , and last week we were told that £ 5 were paid for his outfit on leaving in May 1872 ! We fail to see how the Secretary has improved his case , which appears to us to require a different solution , and we can

only say , that if , as we aro justified in assuming from documents before us , the Secretary's other solutions are not more satisfactory , we aro not disposed to alter our verdict , which is , that the Reports for the last three years are thoroughly untrustworthy , and therefore worthless . As regards the other issues raised , we have only to refer your readers to onr Pamphlet , as the limits of a letter are not sufficient for their discussion . Both the late Head Master and his Assist .

ants demanded a complete investigation , and you , Sir , in your journal of the 17 th July , pointed out that , if the Committee took no further steps , injustice to some of those concomed would bo the result . Iu his letter to your Masonic contemporary , the Secretary admits , though doubtless with many mental after-birth pangs , having

dictated tho Matron s letter , which was characterised by a member of tho House Committee as highly -improper , and \ vc are forcibly reminded by Mr . Binckes ' s reference to " suspension by the neck , " that there are not a few persons who , with rope long enough , wonld perform the act themselves . Apologising for tho unavoidable length of our reply .

We are , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , ( Signed ) THOMAS HILL TEW . 0 . G . D . PERROTT , M . A .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Pursuing my remarks on the Pamphlet " T . VV . Tew , and 0 . G . D . Perrott , " I confidently submit that , despite all the sharp practice of those two acute financiers , and their views to the contrary , the accounts of the Buys' School are slated and set forth in a manner sufficiently cloar for auy unprejudiced enquirer

to spot the expenditure under every head . It is not because Mr Tew or Mr . Perrott is of opiuion that this or that should be , or should not be clone , that those who do not concur , are necessarily wrung . Both think that under tho " cost per head " should be included the interest on the " Building Expenditure . " The Committee and others think differently . In no other Institution of a simihr charactor ia

such a charge included , but if Messrs . Tew and Perrott choose to mako such addition , in accordance with their views , by all moans let thorn do so . But I object to their charging with misrepresentation , and with an attempt to mislead , those who hold views opposite to theirs . The same remarks apply to the expenditure given under the h-. arl of •' Special" in connection with the Secretary and Collector , and

comueuted inmost unfairly , and in entire ignorance ot the raison d ' utre ui pp . 21-t 4 . The writers elect to ovorlook the fact that the money ra sed since 1861 ( the date of my election as Secretary ) has been for tho purpose , not only of maintaining and educating a certain number of Ooys , but of providing a commodious home in which the work should be carried on . The"Spocial Expenditure" is fairly and properly chargeable with the payments made for " special work , " and it would