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Unworthy Claimants For The Benefits Of Our Charities.

UNWORTHY CLAIMANTS FOR THE BENEFITS OF OUR CHARITIES .

JT will doubtless be in the recollection of many of onr readers tbat we have already addressed a few remarks to them under the heading which we now adopt ; but , on the other hand , it is a considerable interval that has elapsed since we did so ; farther , this heading seems the most

appropriate we can use at the present time , when the events of two and a half years back—for it is that time since our former article appeared—are really repeating themselves . Onr present title may also be useful in calling to the minds of brethren generally the causes which

necessitated such an apparently un-Masonic expression being made use of in the past , and may , by its repetition , perhaps induce some of those most interested to take steps to prevent its being again needed . Our present heading

was first made use of when we brought the case of the lad Arthur Harvey Collingwood — at that time a candidate for the Boys' School—prominently before the Craft . We now intend it to apply to one of the lads on the list for the coming April Election .

It may be remembered that among the names on the list for the Election in October 1880 was that of Collingwood , who we found on inquiry was entitled , with his mother and three other children , to a fortune of something like £ 9 , 000 , that being the amount at which his deceased

father ' s estate was proved . Our publication of this statement called forth some indignant remarks from certain of young Collingwood ' s supporters , and the merits of the case were pretty generally discussed , with the result that in the end it was brought before the Quarterly Court of the

School , when it was decided that the case shonld be referred to the House Committee to consider and report upon at the ensuing Quarterly Court . At the Election that followed this decision , young Collingwood ' s friends polled 1 , 007 votes , which , with 743 brought forward ,

placed him sixth on the list of successful—there were sixteen elected on that occasion ; bnt , the House Committee , after inquiry , having recommended his exclusion , the lad . was eventually declared ineligible , and the votes polled on his behalf were forfeited . We have devoted thus

much of our space to a resume of Collingwood ' s case , in order to show what course has been adopted in the past , and also to prove , if possible , that some more stringent inquiry is needed before a candidate is passed as eligible to take part in an Election .

The casd'now in point is , that of Frank Alexander Herring , No . 55 on the list , son of the late Bro . Thomas H . Herring , who was initiated in the Unanimit y Lodge , No . 113 , Preston , Lancashire , on 2 nd August 1869 , and vfbo died on 29 th June 1882 , leaving three young children

parentless , their mother having died previously . We were informed , " just before going to press last week , that this lad and the other members of his family were entitled to something like £ 500 each as their share of their father ' s estate , but , as is usual in such cases , our informant pledged

us to secrecy , so far as he was concerned . However , the records of the Probate Office were open , and , after a long search , we found that , Bro . Herring having died without making a will , letters of administration were granted , on 21 st November 1882 , to his brother , on behalf of the children , the personality being given as

£ 1 , 836 7 11 gross and 1 , 665 14 7 nett . This latter sum representing the actual value of the property after all debts had been paid , each of the children is entitled to £ 555 4 s lOd , which amount , if allowed to

accumulate until the recipients reach the age of twenty-one years , will , in the case of the lad seeking election to the Boys' School , amount to something over £ 1 , 000 . We therefore ask , —Is this lad a candidate worth y of being admitted to the benefits of the Boys' School ? We say most

decidedly not ; he is in a better position to pay for his own education than nine-tenths of those who are called upon for subscriptions to the School , and for that reason should never have been approved of by the Committee , that is to say , provided they were in possession of the facts we have

now stated . Indeed , we hardly think it possible all the circumstances could have been kept secret unless something like misleading representations were put forward .

We consider the particulars we have here given are sufficient to call for some inquiry , and as the figures are obtained from official sources , there can be no questionjas to their correctness . We therefore leave the case to the

consideration of the brethren at the Quarterly Court , feeling assured , if the facts are fully looked into tho application must finally be rejected .

The first meeting of the Board of Stewards for the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , on the 9 th May , was held on Wednesday afternoon at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Robert Grey P . G . D ., "Vice-Patron of the Institution , in the chair . Bro . Grey was elected

President of the Board of Stewards ; Bro . H . B . Marshall , CO ., Patron of the Institution , was elected Treasurer ; and Bro . Hedges Hon . Secretary . Bro . Dubois P . G . W . Middlesex , Vice-President , was appointed Chairman of the Ladies' Stewards . It was resolved to hold the Festival at

Freemasons' Tavern . The dinner and music Committees were elected , and other formal business conducted . At the close of the meeting the Chairman drew attention to the fact that the number of Stewards was considerably bel ow

the average figure , and expressed a hope that all present would exert themselves to ensure the success of the Festival . The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

The General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls held their monthly meeting on Thursday . Brother Col . Creaton was called to the chair , and there were present besides the following brethren , viz ., Frank Richardson , Frederick Walters , J . H . Matthews , James

Peters , C . H . Webb , Robert P . Tebb , and E . C . Massey . The minutes of the General Committee meeting of the 22 nd ult . having been read and confirmed , and the minutes of the House Committee of 22 nd inst . read for information , the Chairman was authorised to sign cheques for

varios small amounts due to tradesmen , & c . Brother Richardson informed the Committee that since the last meeting of the House Committee , it had

transpired that of the fourteen pianofortes in use at the Schools , twelve were said to require replacing with new ones , and he therefore proposed that this Committee should authorise the House Committee to

employ an expert to examine and report upon all the instruments , and that the House Committee should be empowered to replace with new ones such as turned out to be past repair . Bro . Richardson added that this expenditure would not be any tax upon the funds of the

Institution , as there was in hand a fund of £ 186 resulting from the fees of half a guinea a quarter which was paid by each pupil who learned music . The Chairman said that the House Committee were not aware of the condition of the pianos at the date of their last meeting , and he thought

it a very proper matter to be brought before the General Committee . He then put the proposal to the vote , and it was carried unanimously . Three petitions were considered , and all being approved , the names of three candidates were ordered to be added to the list .

The Royal Arthur Lodge of Instruction , No . 1360 , which hitherto has been held at the " Duke of Cambridge , " Bridge Road , Battersea , has now been removed to more convenient and commodious premises , namely , at Brother Burgess ' s , the " Rock" Tavern , Battersea Park Road ,

nearly opposite York Road Station London Brighton and South Coast Railway , where the brethren meet every Tuesday evening , at eight o ' clock . Bro . Jesse Collings , P . M . 1585 , acts as Preceptor , and Bro . R . K . Collick is the Secretary .

Marriage.

MARRIAGE .

FERRIS-STEVENS .-On tho 21 th instant , at Holy Trinity Church , Olapham , THOMAS M . FERRIS , only son of Thomas Ferris , Esq ., of Walworth , S . E ., to ELIEN LAVIHIA , second surviving daughter of Brother James Stevens P . M . P . Z ., Clapham , S . W .