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"Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite " in our next . Bro . Lincoln , Columbia , O ., U . S ., is greatly thanked for the " Christian Cynosure . " " An Education Scheme fer the Provinces" in our next .

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BIRTHS . CRAWLEV-BOEVEY . —On the 28 th ult ., at 89 , Phillippavillas , Clapton , the wife of Mr . Octavius Chad s Crawley-Boevey , of a son . J oii . vs . —On the 26 th ult ., at Vale Lodge , Hampsteadheath , the wife of Mr . Robert Magrath Johns of a daughter .

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Ar00607

THE FREEMASON . SATURDAY , MAY 3 , 1879

The Chairmanship Of The Girls' School Festival.

THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

It is known to most of our readers , probably , that the delay which has occurred in announcing a Chairman , has arisen from difficulties over which the authorities of the School had no possible control . It was ardently desired that H . R . H . Prince Leopold should preside , alike for

the best interests of the School and the dee p gratification of the Order . But from the date of the announcement of his inability to comply with the wishes of his brethren , zealous attempts have been made to induce in succession some of the most distinguished of our Prov . Grand

Masters to preside . In all cases , amounting , we are informed , to no less than ten , they declined , on the ground , more or less , that it would be impossible in so short a space of time to organize a good provincial canvass for the School . The last refusal was on Monday last , by telegram

Under these circumstances the Stewardsgathered in a special assembly , in goodly numbers , on Monday last , when the true position of affairs was . laid before them by the Chairman of the meeting . The onl y question remained , " what was to be done in the interests of the School ? "

Luckily , a solution of the difficulty was found , which , we venture to think , will commend itself to a very large number of zealous and hardworking Masons , as a happy extrication of the Stewards and Charity from the unavoidable , though unwelcome , dilemma in which they were

placed , and through no fault , be it observed , in any way , of their own . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Creaton , the Grand Treasurer elect , Trustee and Treasurer of the Institution , had , after the communication by the Chairman of the Board of Stewards and the Secietarv

of the actual facts of the case , placed himself at the disposal of the Board of Stewards . Most unwilling to put himself unnecessarily forward , and most grateful for the great honour recently conferred on him b y his brethren , our gallant brother yet felt , as a soldier aud a Freemason ,

that in an hour of intense difficulty he was bound to " come to the rescue ' of an Institution in which he took so deep , and abiding , and personal an interest , and , therefore , following good precedent , and in default of any more efficient Chairman , was willing to take upon himself the

trouble , responsibility , and privilege of the post . The Board of Stewards , in our opinion , most wisely and most gratefully , passed an unanimous resolution asking Lieut .-Uol . Creaton , as Treasurer and Trustee , to preside at the Anniversary Festival , and we are privileged in being

able to announce that he most kindly acceded to their request , and ( D . V . ) will preside on May 14 th . There are 234 Stewards , and we anticipate a gay gathering and a goodly muster . The long and devoted services of Lieut .-Col . Creaton to Freemasonry will attract the

sympathy and s-uppoit of a large number of influential brethren , and we feel certain that , thoroughly recognizing not only our gallant brother ' s past services and present work , but his anxiety ever to aid his brethren , or promote the cause of our great Metropolitan

Charities , he will receive that influential and energetic adhesion , and " backing up , " which he so justly merits at the hands of our warmhearted fraternity . We , ourselves , have no fear but that the Anniversary Festival of May 14 th will be a great success , and the Stewards are sparing no pains to make the arrangements

perfect , and the comfort of the brethren and ladies complete . One response will be made , we are convinced , to this announcement , namely , that our brethren alike from Metropolis and Province will rally round the g » 'latit Chairman , and make the Girls' School anniversary of May 14 th a triumph in every respect .

Charity Versus Sack.

CHARITY VERSUS SACK .

The publication of a very striking lod ge balance sheet in our columns last week , and the letters we receive , and the opinions we have heard on the subject , have led us on the present occasion to devote a little space to the consideration of a subject which is , no doubt ,

considerably "exercizing" the minds of many of our good brethren just now . And yet we feel bound to remark , at the outset , the subject is not a very easy one to deal with , or , rather , a somewhat delicate one to handle , for various well known and cogent reasons . In the first place , we do not

think that it is the function of the Freemason to seem to " preach " at anything or at anybody . In the next , some will at once object to a dictatorial interference , as they like to call it , with the " liberty " of the Masonic "subject , " " quoad refreshment ; '' and , once again , as we

by no means wish to be enrolled amongst those fanatics who deem all social enjoyment wrong , and even a careful and moderate use of created good things doubtful and dangerous , we trust that in what we are about to say , we shall be credited , both with the graces of discretion and

good sense . So , then , we will start with this proposition , to which we ask our readers to note , that though lodge banquets are good things in their way , ihey become bad things when by their admitted and lawful use , we are tempted to forget or forego the higher claims of duty or charity . Can

any one object to so modest and cautious a thesis ? We hope not , we trow not . But what have we read lately ? A lodge , happily so far nameless , with an income of £ -202 13 s . yd ., spends £ 4 . 4 s . on charity and £ 154 ios . on " sack , " and £ 28 12 s . on Grand Lodge payments

and lodge expenses . It has £ 18 i is . yd . in hand on the general account and £ 6 4 s . 2 d . on the charity account . Can this be ri ght ? Is it not positively wrong ? Is not such indulgence in sociality out of proportion , injurious to Masonry and the members of the lodge ? Surel y

we think that there can be but one answer on all these points , and that , in our opinion , sadly enough , must be an answer in the affirmative . For what a parody , " my masters , " is such a balance sheet in itself on Masonic professions and Masonic declarations . We who are always

speaking , when we meet , of " charity , brotherhood , " and the like , what can we say when the stt-rn accuser points to this * ' damning proof " of Masonic liberality , and asks indignantly " Is this the way you spend your money , 99 J per cent , on sack , as against the 4- in charity ? "' We have

seen many balance sheets in our time , and studied them , and audited them laboriously , but never do we remember any one which affords so startling and melancholy a proof of the want of reality , vitality , and we must add true Masonic feeliag in any lodge of Freemasons . Now

do we not wish , as we said before , to seem to " preach , " or to speak too severely . And we will fain hope , moreover , that such a balance sheet is an exception and an inadvertence , and will be materially changed and amended in 1879 . For , surJy , the brethren of this good lodge ,

" Irroy , " 3999 , will feel that Masonic Charity has larger claims upon them than they seem to know of , or even to dream of ! A guinea to each of our great Charities is a sad totality of Masonic charity , as contrasted with £ \ $$ of material expenditure . Are there no aged Freemasons

needing help ? no widows requiring assistance ? no orphan boys and girls , children of our deceased brethren , to be clothed , tiught , and cared for ? no poor . pining brother to be sent on his way with the substantial and kindly aid of the good Samaritans ? no wounds of our common humanity to be

staunched , no friendly sympathy to be manifested ? Out upon it , brethren of the nameless lodge ! Let us ask you in the name of the very Brotherhood of Masonry to change your ways , to increase your charities , and to limit your self indulgence , and to prove to the world and to your brethren , that you say what you mean and

mean what you say , when you talk so fluently ot Masonic Charity and Brotherhood , and that you do not wish to be held up to others , and even to your own Fraternity , as being still utterly insensible is these sound claims of charity , which are alike our most gratifying duty and our greatest happiness .