An "Off" Wight At The Tranquillity Lodge, No. 185.

when I drew attention to the huge disproportion between £ G 50 spent in feasting and merrymaking , and £ 20 voted for Charitablo purposes . . Any attempt to deprivo Freemasonry of its fcstivo character wonld be a capital mistake , and would do incalculable injury , but let tho festivity be kept , within modest limits , instead of absorbing all , or nearly all , our Lodgo Funds , as wonld seem to have been the caso in tho three Lodges whoso balance sheets I criticised .

It is not a little amusing that while your report speass of the , ; frugality" of the supper , the Sunday Time * reporter remarks that thoso wdio remained to partake of it , had no reason to complain , " as the ' oil' night at tho Tranquillity would be esteemed a ' gala' night

at many of our Masonio gatherings . " However , it is satisfactory to j know the brethron enjoyed themselves , and as Tranquillity has a considerable Benevolent Fund of its own , I for one begrudge thorn j nothing . j Fraternally youra , OLD FILE , i

Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

To tlte Editor 0 / the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . i DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —There aro two subjects to bo brought forward at the meeting of tho Grand Mark Lodgo , 011 Tuesday next ,: which havo attracted a good ileal of notice , and I ask a small spaco i to remark on them . ' Tho proposed alteration in clauso G 3 of tho Book of Constitutions

will , I am sure , act prejudicially upon tho Order . At present we are almost certain of a good class of men to rulo over our Mark Lodges , ] and we feel that this is especially necessary in au Order which lias ] not the status of the Craft , and of some other Masonic degrees . Tho j proposed alteration , to do away with the qualification of a candi- j date for tho Chair , having previously been installed Master iu a

Crult Lodge , if carried out , will open tho door to a worse qualified set of brethren to fill tho Mark Chair . Observation convinces me that if tho "Recommendation ( a ) " is confirmed , wo shall soon have brethren ruling some of onr Mark Lodges who would never be elected to the chair of a Craft Lodge , simply because Masons , as a rule , think tho Mark Degree comparatively of no moment .

This will be a fatal mistako on the part of our rulers , who should do all in their power to elevate , or at least maiutaiu , the ground we hold . The other proposed step to which I tako exception is the plain for establishing an Educational Fund for the children of necessitous Mark Masons . We aro told . that this is not for the purpose of aiding "

indigent' brethren . For whom then ? It seems to me that this will be pauperizing the Order . If a brother is so needy as to be unable to pay lor his children's education , at such a time as this , when excellent educations can be procured throughout the length aud breadth of England tor merely nominal payments , I do not think he ought to

have indulged in the expeuso of taking the degree . Would it not be better to expend the money in establishing louudations or scholarships at one or both of thu Li Diversities , or even book prizes , open for competition to boys in the Masonic Schools , who are sons of Mark Masons ?

i . am sorry to be unable to attend Grand Lodge on Tuesday , where 1 should have been glad to have heard these questions discussed , but I do hope nothing will be done in haste , especially as regards the alteration of Constitutions . I am , yours fraternally , 27 th Nov . 1878 . A MARK . W . M .

Lord Carnarvon's Marriage.

LORD CARNARVON'S MARRIAGE .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Tho approaching marriage of our Pro Grand Master haviug been announced iu tho papers , would it not be well to take steps to enable the Craft to present to his Lordship some tangible token of their high appreciation of his services ?

I would , with all deference , suggest that a list be opened with a subscription limited to 5 s , so as to bring it within the means of every brother on the Roll , and that the result be expended iu the purchase of a piece of plate , ofsuitable desigu , to be presented to our Pro Grand

Master in open Grand Lodge , or at u special banquet in his honour . I am , yours fraternally , T . B . W .

The Fifteen Sections

THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS

Will be worked as under : At tho Hyde Park Lodge of Instruction , Westbourue , 1 Craven-road , Padilingtou , on Monday , 2 nd December . Bro . George Davis J . W . 3 G 7 W . M . FIRST LECTURE—Bros . Heath , Ncvitt , C . 1 ' owel :, West ,

J . Powell , Miiillard and Beynolds . SECOND LECTURE—Bros . Coop , Micklebiirgh , Budderforth , G . Bead , Dutton . THIRD LECTUREBros . Eiborn , Gellion , Sones . Bros . G . Head Preceptor ; G . Davis Sec . The Lodge will be opened at 7 o ' clock precisely .

At the iloyal Arthur Lodge of Instruction , No . 1360 , tho Prince s llea . il , York-road , Battor . » ca , on Tuesday , 3 rd December . Bros . Codings lofcio W . M ., Puisibrd 1 ) 53 S . W ., Whitley < J-iG J . W . FII : ST

LICTURE—Bros , Fane , Stevens , Fortune , Holloway , Leaper , Griffithsaud Cull . SECOND LECTURE—Bros . Carter , Wise , Colliugs , Farwig . aud L u sford . THIRD LECTURE—Bros . Rudclitle , Smith and Colliugs Bro . A . Withers 211 Hon . Sec . At 7 p . m . precisely .

At the Great Northern Lodgo of Instruction , No . 128 / , Berwick Arms , Berners-street , W ., on 'Thursday 5 th December , at seveu o ' clock ,

Capper Lodge, No. 1076.

CAPPER LODGE , No . 1076 .

11 HE installation meeting of this Lodgo was held on tho 14 th nit ., - at "Tho Marine Hotel , " Tidal Basin , Victoria Docks . Tho Lodge was opened shortly after 2 p . m . bv Bros . J . White W . M ., F . Brien S . W . W . M . Elect , ^ McCarthy J . W ., B . Brayshaw P . M . Treas ., J . Mitchell Hon . Sec , II . Taplay S . D ., J . T . K . Job J . D ., W . Dorton I . G ., M . Sherwin Organist ; also Bro . E . Wost P . M ., Holb'day P . M ., and numerous brethren . The minutes of tho last Lodge

| meeting wero read and confirmed . A committee was elected for tho Benevolent Fund of tho Lodge . Bro . F . Brien , W . M . Elect , having been presented by Bro . J . Dorton I . P . M . to the W . M . J . White , for tho benefit of Installation , was installed into tho chair of K . S . in a very able and impressive manner . On the return of the brethren the W . M . invested as his Officers Bros . J . White I . P . M ., P . McCarthy

S . W ., H . Taplay J . W ., B . Brayshavv P . M . Treas ., J . Mitchell Hon . See ., J . T . K . Job S . D ., W . Dorton J . D ., P . Nevins I . G ., A . Mason D . C ., It . Brown and W . Harvey W . Stewards , and M . Sherwin Orgt . The W . M . then , in appropriate terms , presented the I . P . M . Bro . White with a P . M . ' s jewel . Bro . White briefly thanked tho brethren . Bro . Whito announced lu ' 3 intention of acting as Steward . Ho spoke

as follows : —Worshipful Master and Brethron , — "For tho good of Freemasonry in general aud this Lodge in particular" I would like to say something about this Lodgo becoming a Vice-President of tho Aged Freemasons' Charity . I would like each brother to give mo 7 s Gd between this and February ; 2 s Gd this month , 2 s 6 d next month , 2 s Gd in January , or the whole amount now , or a promise to

pay this small sum . Brethren , this Lodge can becomo Y . P . of the B . M . B . Institution . Reflect on this ; for 7 s Gd either of yon who might require them would have ten votes , whereas , for a member to get two votes only it would cost jive pound * . Ten votes every year at tho disposal of this Lodge ! Brethren , you remember my speaking to you aud asking yon for your votes and interest on behalf of the

child of Mrs . Priestley . How many votes do yon think I obtained from this Lodgo ? Two from our W . M ., aud one from our J . W . ; only threo votes from this large Lodge ! I know that P . M . Holliday is a thrice-told Governor ; that P . M . Dorton is the same ; that the wife of one of onr P . M . ' s gave five pounds for a Life Governorship . Now , I joined the London Masonio Charity Association , to further Mrs .

Priestley s child s case . After Ihad laid it before the committeelnoliced that a brother on my left stated that , although pledged to support the Committee ' s " last chance" selections , still , he could not give up some 300 votes he wielded . On this he was assured his case should be carried at the next election if he lent those votes . Now , brethren , what votes could I promise ? None . At the Board of Benevolence

there is no case comes before it but the question crops up , " What has the applicant done for our Charities p " You may be sure that there is a considerable difference made between the one who has done something and the one who has done nothiug . Now , I want you , not only to give mo these three half-crowns , but to give me one each quarter-day until such time as this Lodge is V . P . of each of our great

Charities . Only think , brethren , that there are nearly 1 , 800 Lodges , and of these Lodges and Chapters but 200 rank as V . P . ' s . In four years wo should have cleared off the three Institutions , and by that time I venture to think we should count our Life Governors by the score . Your good example may ultimately bo followed by other Lodges ; in fact , a V . P . ' s Wing to the Royal Benevolent Institution

might be the result of such an effort ; and the time may come wheu the candidates for our Order might qualify for the " three degrees " more fully by taking up three Life-Governorships . The effort can hardly be elevated into a sacrifice , the sum being so trifling ; yet how noblo the result ! Lodge was then closed , aud the brethren repaired to the Milk-street Restaurant , Cheapside , for the banquet , to which about

seventy sat down . On the removal of the cloth the W . M . gave the toast " The Queen and the Craft ; " " God Save the Queen" was sung by Bro . Sherwin Org . The toast " H . R . H . M . W . G . M . " then followed . Song— " God Bless the Prince of Wales . " The other Masouio toasts were duly honoured . Bro . P . M . White then proposed the "W . M . " He alluded to the earnest manner in which Bro . Brien had always

worked tor the Lodge , and tho excellent impression he bad made upon the brethren , as evinced by his unanimous election . He had joined 1 the Lodge at a most opportune time , and had ably filled a gap , year by I year , to his own creuit and the welfare of the Lodge . The W . M . I briefly replied , aud then proposed the toast of the P . M ' s ., naming I White aud J . Dorton , who replied iu suitable terms , as also did P . M .

Gaskell , at considerable length , and P . M . West , Holliday , Day , & o . The W . M . next gave The Masonic Charities , which the Capper Lodge was proud to have at all times recognised as worthy of its utmost support . He coupled the name of Bro . J . Terry P . M . P . G . J . W . Herts , Sec . R . M . B . I ., with the toast . Bro . Terry , who was received with cheers , said he wonld recall to the memory of the brethren

those beautiful words of our Lectures , " That Charity is the best test , and tho surest proof of the sincerity of our religion . " No doubt this was deeply impressed upon the hearts of all , especially when Bro . White I . P . M . made so earnest an appeal that afternoon for sup . port for the Masonic Institutions . Brethren , our Masonic Institutions are , as you will readily perceive , must unique in themselves . Auy

uther charitable institution caupiead , and often successfully , over an ureitneted area , lor support , whereas thor-o of the Craft cannot appeal to the general world , aud have , in constqueuce , a far less extended circle from which toemist snpport . We are limited to the benevolence of the Craft onl y , lor the support , clothing , and education of 220 boys , 200 girls , and 2 SJS aged people . Now , as business men , let us try and esumute what amount of capital ought to be

supplied , year by year , by the generosity of the Craft , for the daily ¦ upport of over 7 U 0 souls 111 our Institutions . Each girl costs , to educate and clothe £ 30 per annum , laoh boy £ 11 . There are 150 iiiuuitautsat £ i 0 per annum , 135 at £ -50 per annum , aud 13 widows ire receiving £ 20 per . annum for three years . Thus we are comoitted to au annual expenditure of over £ 10 , 800 fur the aged people , i , J , QQ 0 fur tho boys , and £ 7 , 000 for the gii Is . Such ia the magnitude ui the work to b « dona eucii yea *; and , ? peakjng o ( iwiiuix esram . es ,