Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we with , in a spirit ot fair play to ail , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

R . M . BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother The list of candidates on the polling papers of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for the election on the 21 st proximo , disclose a position which deserves the earliest attention of the Fraternity , Of brethren 65 and of widows 52 have been placed on the lists by the Committee , and thereby declared in need of the benefits of the Charity .

The funds only allow of 13 and 18 respectively being admitted to its benefits . Of brethren nine and of widows 16 verge upon three score years and ten . I have carefully calculated the probable duration of life of these 25 aged petitioners , and find that to give them the full benefit of the annuity they seek the amount required would be £ 6500 , To enlarge the scope of this proposal , and admit all those , embracing 17 brethren and 19 widows who are on the lists for the third

time and upwards , which will include one 15 th , three 14 th , one 13 th , three 12 th , two nth , and one ioth , not to go beyond this would require £ 11 , 250 , or about twothirds of our usual contributions to a Festival . I believe that with a general over-hauling of the lists , it would be found that the circumstances of some of the candidates had materially improved , and the amount required consequently reduced ; a deduction would also take place for those widows who are now in receipt of one-half of their late husband ' s annuity .

In this commemoration year could Freemasons desire any plan more pleasing to her Majesty and to H . R . H . the M . W . Grand Master than the relief of these aged people , who have so long been expectant of Masonic Charity ? With a roll of over 3000 lodges and chapters , we should make no difficulty in wiping away

what appears as a slur on our boasted Charity , and , at the same time , make a truly Masonic thankoffering for the long and kindly rule of our Queen . I consider the Committee of the Institution to be the fittest body to move in this matter , and shall be only too pleased if it is taken up with full Masonic vigour . — Believe me , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally ,

W . SMITHETT , S . G . D . and a Vice-Patron 41 . Mincing . lanc , E . C , April 26 th .

AN INTERESTING RELIC . To the Editor of the " Freemason : ' bear Sir and Brother , In your issue of the 24 th inst ., you published an extract from the Freemasons' Repository , as to " AN INTERESTING RELIC , " which concludes thus " it has its value and interest , showing as it does the 336 lodges listed in 1765 . " As an American I am interested , in the list of lodges mentioned therein , in my

country , as then existing under the Grand Lodge of England . My mother lodge is that of Amity , 137 , Poole , Dorset , which was warranted under date 1 st April , / 76 s , its number then being 33 S . It would appear , therefore , that fhe " list of regular lodges allegiaht to the Grand Lodge of England at that date " did not include those opened in that year , as there were at least two more than

336 . I am compiling a history of Lodge Amity and hope soon to send you a copy . The paragraph which immediately follows the extract above mentioned refers to Rhode Island , at about the same period and I find in my notes for publication that Bro . Eldred , of Rhode Island , visited Lodge Amity on January 20 th , 1773 , this was the last in my list of " Foreign visitors , " which commences with the year 1766 , May 7 th . —Yours fraternally , ALEXANDER CLARKE CHAPIN , I . P . M . Elmcroft , Poole , April 25 th .

THE ROYAL ARCH DEGREE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will "J . G . S ., Past Prov . G . J . of Devon , P . Z . of several chapters , and at the present moment Z . of two , as well as H . elect of a third , and Scribe E . of a fourth , but never uses the erroneous expression M . E . Z . himself , nor allows it to be used in his presence without correction , " kindly inform me what

Regulation in Royal Arch or Craft Masonry authorises a M . E . Z . to threaten ( in language of a most objectionable nature ) companions with County Court proceedings for recovery of chapter fees due 25 years since . Many such threats have been made in a western province , to the great annoyance and expense of compan ions who have been compelled to employ solicitors to defend their cases in the County Court . " The error has been steadily growing lately , and it ought to be sternly suppressed by Grand Chapter . "' —Yours fraternally , K . N .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF ESSEX , 1 S 97 . " —This much consulted Annual is in the 13 th year of publication , the originator and Editor throughout being the respected Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . Thomas J . Railing , who has faithfully served his Province for 20 years . Every year the bulk of this handy volume is increased , and for 1807 there is a special attraction of a quartette of Portraits representing zealous brethren who have so ably looked alter the interests of Essex in resprct to the Central Masonic Charities , viz .: Brothers Richard Clowes , H . E .

Dehane , Dr . Ebenezer Shedd , and Frederick Wood . There are full biographical sketches concerning three of these worthies . The Votes are all duly chronicled in a lengthy table , the summary exhibiting- the handsome total of 9 S 43 , being the largest registered , and most creditable to the Province , ot 38 Lodges , with 1912 members . It will be seen that the average membership is large , being fully 50 . There are only 13 R . A . Chapters , with 316 companions , and seven Mark Lodges , with 1 S 0 members .

The particulars of all these Bodies are well arranged , and a capital plan is introduced of sub-titles for each division being printed on coloured paper , which makes it especially easy to turn to any part for examination . In fact , this Annual is exceptionally well printed and edited , the only addition needed to render it well nigh perfect being a table to show the membership of each Lodge and the total membership of the Province , which might easily be inserted in one of the pages .

"BELL ' CATHEDRAL SERIES" ( Gco ^ 'c Hell Sons , Publishers , London ) . — These handy and artistic volumes are sure to command a large sale , as their accuracy , completeness , and readable character become known . Those for CANTERBURY , SALISBURY , CHESTER , and ROCHESTER are now ready , and may be ordered through any bookseller , or be had direct from the publishers for the insignificant sum of eighteen pence each . They are a marvel , typographically and artistically , the authors have done

Reviews.

their part most conscientiously , and the editors ( Messrs . Gleeson White and E . F . Strange ) are to be heartily congratulated on the great success achieved , the spirited publishers also being gratefully remembered . These handbooks have nothing about them of the ordinary guide style , but are veritable works of art , and written in a most fascinating manner by gentlemen evidently in love with their work . The numerous illustrations are special attractions , many being exceedingly choice , and not a few are full oaee olates , so beautifully finished as to make one wish they were to be had separately

for framing . They have neither equals nor rivals , as they are practically condensed histories of these grand buildings , based upon accepted authorities , with a mass of valuable information dovetailed , of great interest to students of archaeology and architecture . This series is intended to supply visitors to the great English Cathedrals with reliable and amply-illustrated monographs at a popular price , the aim of each author being to produce a work that will be welcomed by scholars , without being so technical as

to be fit only for experts . In fact , the quartette now issu ed for six shillings complete cannot fail to be most acceptable to the ordinary reader , as well as to advanced students , and there should not be a Masonic Library in this country or America without copies ot these handsome manuals on the Cathedrals and Cathedral cities of England . We anxiously await the publication of others of the series , and hope to report more particularly as to each single volume as it comes from the press .

Annual Ball Of Tee Lodge Of Industry, No. 186.

ANNUAL BALL OF TEE LODGE OF INDUSTRY , No . 186 .

The annual ball of the above lodge was held at Freemasons' Tavern , on Wednesday , the 21 st ult . The whole . of the Crown Suite of Rooms was at the disposal of the Committee who were enabled to make every possible arrangement for the comfort of the ladies , visitors , and brethren present . Dancing commenced at 9 o ' clock . The music was provided by Mr . R . Farban ' s Orchestral Band , _ which gave the greatest satisfaction . A most recherche supper was served at midnight under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . A . J . Newton , supported by Bros . W . S . PageP . M ., Secand F . I . Sparke .

, , The toast of " The Queen " was proposed by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , and " The Health of the Worshipful Master " proposed by Bro . T . M . WOOD , P . M ., was received with acclamation . Bro . W . S . PAGE , P . M ., proposed "The Health of the Ladies , " which was responded to in a very happy manner by Bro . J AMES FVFE , A very pleasant interlude here took p lace in the presentation to each lady _ of a charming fan , suitably engraved with the date and occasion of the presentation .

After supper dancing was continued until 4 a . m ., when the proceedings terminated and one of the most successful dances given by this lodge was brought to a close , the whole of the arrangements giving the liveliest satisfaction to the large number of ladies and visitors present . The music was of the brightest and the supper and other arrangements were a credit to the able management of the Freemasons' Tavern . The tickets and programmes which had been prepared from the design of Bro , W . Stewart , S . D ., were much admired .

The Committee present consisted of Bros . A . J . Newton , W . M . ) T . M . Wood , P . M . ; W . Stewart , S . D . ; W . S . Page , jun ., I . G . j F . J . Sparke , James Fyfe , and T . C . Cullen , with Bro . W . S . Page , Secretary . Bros . T . C . Cullen , W . S . Page , jun ., F . J . Sparke , and W . Stewart acted most efficiently as M . Cs . Amone those present were Bro . A . I . Newton , W . M ., Mrs . Newton and the

Misses Newton ; Bro . T . M . Wood , P . M ., and Mrs . Wood ; Bro . F . J . Sparke and Mrs . Sparke ; Bro . W . Stewart and the Misses Stewart ; Bro . James Fyfe and Mrs . Fyfe ; Bro . Enness and Mrs . Enness ; Bro . Edwards and Mrs . Edwards ; Bro . Menhinick ; Bro . Cullen ; Bro . McDowall and Mrs . McDowall ; Bro . W . S . Page , P . M ., Mrs . Page , Miss Page , Bro . W . S . Page , jun . ; and a large party of friends of the above .

The Munificent Masonic Gift Of Bro. Charles E. Keyser.

THE MUNIFICENT MASONIC GIFT OF BRO . CHARLES E . KEYSER .

The announcement that Bro . Charles E . Keyser , of Aldermaston Court , the Treasurer of the Royal Masonic School for Boys , has signified his intention of giving the sum of 5000 guineas towards the cost of erecting a chapel in connection with the new Masonic Boys' School has been received with immense satisfaction by the brethren of Berkshire and Hertfordshire and the Craft generally . The two provinces representing the counties mentioned have special

cause to congratulate themselves in reference to Bro . Keyser s generous gift , inasmuch as they will have perpetual scholarships at the School , It would be difficult to find a more devoted or hard-working Mason than Bro . Keyser , who on most days and on several evenings in each week is engaged in some function for the advancement of Masonry . Indeed , he performs quite a record work for the good of the Craft . Nevertheless , he finds time to pursue archaeological

studies , and is a recognised authority on antiquarian subjects , and , further , to discharge the obligations resting upon him as a country squire and landowner . It may not be generally known that , whatever his engagements , or whether he is staying in town or the country , he contrives to spend his Sundays at Aldermaston , and reads the lessons in the parish church , the fabric of which is now being beautifully restored at his entire cost .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Wellington Lodge , No . 548 . The last regular meeting of this lodge for the session was held on Wednesday , the 14 th ult ., at Cannon-street Hotel , E . C , under the presidency of Bro . H . W . Wybourn , W . M . There were also present Bros . W . Riminton , I . P . M . ; E . W . Hathersicb , P . M . ; I . I . West , P . M . ; J . Macgregor , P . M . ; C . Atkins , P . M . ; N . R . Livett , P . M . 857 ; J . H . Bird , P . M . 97 ( S . C ); F . Jones , S . W . ; D . J ackson , J . W . ; W . Jones , P . M ., Treas . ; A . Holmes , P . M ., Sec . ; H . Groves , S . D . ; G J . Freame , J . D . ; B . Church ,

I . G . j F . W . Hancock , P . M ., D . C ; W . K . Jeanes , A . U . C ; C Chtlds and A . J . Lawrence , Stwds . ; J . Hall , Org . ; D . S . Ross , J . Collins , J . Humm , W . F . Corp , W . Scott , C . Vonberger , E . A . Brandon , J . A . Homes , W . Dedman , F . T . Adams , E . J . Chambers , F . C Hillier , H . Browne , W . F . Ottaway , J . T . Wood , W . J . Harris , Alfred Martin , ] . L . James , T . C . Hyslop , W . Keay , W . Mattocks , H . Plant , J . W .

Stoner , and Walter Winning . The ceremonies of the three Degrees were duly performed . Several candidates were proposed for initiation , and the lodge voted five guineas to the Prince of Wales ' s Hospital Fund . At the close of the lodge the brethren sat down to refreshment , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts being duly honoured .

Era Lodge , No . 1423 . The above lodge had a successful installation meeting on the 10 th ult . at the Albany Hotel , Twickenham . Present : Bros . C . H . Wheatley , W . M . ; H . Saunion , I . P . M . j J . Wheatley , S . W . ; J . H . Anderson , J . W . ; J . Beresford Ryley , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Treas . ; T . J . Peckham , S . D . ; W . Beaton , J . D . ; D . Hart-Davies , I . G . ; F . W .