To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

AN * 0 L » P . M . OK DKVON . —The insertion of your letter svould create a large amount of dissatisfaction on the part of able and hardworking officials , svhose services cannot be determined by any standard of money value , svhile it svould bring no appreciable advantage to the Institution in question . Tlie subject has been raised before and alsvays with the

same result : the mountain , after a protracted and excruciating labour , has brought forth a mouse in the shape of a proposal to effect some very insignificant economy . We have faith in the old maxim about leaving svell alone , especially as thc Committee of Management , svhich is in a position to judge authoritatively of the expenditure , is satisfied .

Ar00704

eaj _* ^^ - * - ^ ggja ^^ gprgeiiasow Bjg ^ gi ^ ' ^^^ ' ^^^ -gV ^ rsr ^^^^^ fj' ^^ gj ^ l SATURDAY , J 4 , 1885 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ AVe do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of the opinionsexpressedby ourcorrespondents , but sve svish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

WHICH SHALL IT BE— "CHARITY" OR "DINNERS ?" To thc Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , 1 shall be extremely obliged if you can find space for the consideration of this subject svhich is one that ought to interest every Mason . Having lately been elected on

the Audit Committee of a svell-knosvn lodge , my attention svas thereby called to the heavy sums svhich had been paid for the Hotel bills during the year . The figures are so striking that I venture to ask you to put them before your readers , in order that they may see svhat an immense amount of good may be accomplished by giving up a portion of the expenditure in the banqueting room .

I have before me the Auditors' report of the lodge for the years ending 1 SS 1 , 1 SS 2 , 1 SS 3 and 1 SS 4 . I find that the gross income for those years ( including visitors' lees but not including balance carried forsvard ) svas £ 1357 iSs ., of this sum Grand Lodge dues absorbed £ 105 Ss . ; the working expenses of the lodge ( Secretary , Tyler , Insurance , music , printing , postages , & c , & c ) , £ 99 4 s . id . ; jesvels and vote of

for tour Past Masters ^ , 42 ; a svreath condolence £ 5 17 s . rid . ; grants to Masonic Charities and to a distressed brother , and dues and donations to the Benevolent Fund of the lodge ( lately revived ) £ 52 15 s ., and hotel bills £ 909 13 s . 7 s ., svith but five meeting in the year \ These figures speak for themselves , can anything be more contrary to the true spirit and intention of Masonry !

Can such Charity be described as anything else than a mockery and a self gratification at the expense of—it is impossible to say—hosv much misery and svant amongst the svidosvs and children of brethren svho have fought the fight , and succumbed , leaving their dear ones to the tender mercy of the svorld , and totally unprovided for ? What I should like to see is , not the abolition of all

dinners , but more thought for the so-called " distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason's heart , " less extravagance at the banquets , more care for others , and less of selfgratification—more "Charity , " in fact , and less eating and drinking . See svhat the result svould be—suppose that in this lodge but one-half theamount had been expended in hotel bills ,

suppose that the brethren had been content , as many I knosv svould be content , svith a bottle of beer , instead of one or tsvo bottles of svine , enough svould have been saved in the four years to have paid for the privilege of maintaining an annuitant or an orphan in one of the Institutions , of which Masons are so justly proud , in perpetuity . If this splendid and happy result could follow from the practice of economy in one lodge , svhat an enormous

amount of good could be accomplised if the principle I advocate svere acknosvledged and accepted as the duty and became the rule and guide of every lodge on the grand roil of England . I enclose you my name and thc number of the lodge , both of svhich , I venture to think , arc known to you . —And am , faithfully and fraternally yours , C . E . G . Putney , S . W ., 30 th June .

BOYS' FESTIVAL . To the Editor of " The Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you permit me to correct the amount of contributions to the Boys' Festival from the Province of North and East Yorkshire .

Ihe amounts given in your paper svere correct at the time of the announcement , but has since been increased by other contributions , and svould nosv stand as follosvs : Bro . I . VV . Woodall ") „ M . C . Peck [ £ i 53 11 o „ J . S . Cumberland ... ... ) „ Christr . Palliser ... ... 27 iG o

lotal ... ... £ 1 S 1 7 o By inserting this you svill greatly oblige . —Yours fratei nally , ] . S . CUMBERLAND , P . P . G . J . W . N . & E . Yorks .

DISTRICT GRAND MASTER OF JAMAICA . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Clause So of thc Constitutions enacts that in thc event of the death of a District Grand Master , the Deputy District Grand Master , if there be one , shall exercise the

functions of thc District Grand Master until another shall have received his patent of appointment from the Grand Master . It is nosv , I think , five years since the office of District Grand Master of Jamaica became vacant , by the death of R . W . Bro . Dr . Robt . Hamilton , and the R . W . the D . D . G . Master has neither been appointed D . G .

Original Correspondence.

Master , nor has any other brother . Will you , or some of your readers , inform me svhy sve have been so long svithout a District Grand Master for East Jamaica?—Yours fraternally , A MASTER MASON . Jamaica , June 7 th .

PROVINCIAL KALENDARS . To thc Editor nf the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In my letter to you of the Gth inst . I quoted from a letter to me by our courteous Grand Secretary , to the effect that neither the I . P . M . nor the I . P . Z . svere officers properly so-called of a lodge or chapter . From this I concluded that neither should be invested ; but Col . Shadwell

Clerke informs me I am not correct in this . He says : " They hold a certain position svhich has alsvays been recognised by investiture . " The case stands thus , as I nosv take it—I . P . M . 's and I . P . Z . ' s should not be inserted under the list of officers in Provincial Kalendars ; but they should be invested on retiring from office . In order to get some sort of uniformity in Provincial Kalendars , I venture to suggest that instead of ,

as is nosv frequently done , the name of the I . P . M . or I . P . Z . follosving the VV . M . or M . E . Z . in the list of officers , his name might be printed in small capitals or blacker type , in his place as last of the P . M . ' s or P . Z . 's given at the foot . Of course , in the case of those editors svho gis'e only the names of subscribing P . M . ' s or P . Z . ' s this svould not alsvays do—i . e ., in case of death ; but then I hope that

plan is not adopted by many . At all events , there should be some general rule , and one should not see , as in some Kalendars , I . P . M . ' s given , and not I . P . Z . 's . Bro . Case's anomaly should be seen into . At a recent consecration of a chapter svith svhich I am connected , an I . P . Z . svas invested , yet he has since discovered from headquarters that he is not to be recognised as a P . Z . of the chapter . —Fraternally yours ,

JOHN A . LLOYD , M . E . Z . 357 and 1533 , P . G . ist A . S . Oxon , & c . June 26 th . THE MASONIC CHARITIES .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Forty-four thousand pounds is certainly a large sum , and to an outsider is startling evidence of the reality of the benevolence of Freemasonry . At the same time , many members of the Craft , svhile deeply grateful to the individual fesv through svhose untiring exertions so great a sum has been amassed , must be asvare that if divided

amongst the svhole of the Craft ot this country it svould represent at per head but an insignificant fraction , and s-ery clearly prove that at present the Charities are supported mainly through the generous impulses of a section of benevolent donors , rather than as a principle dear to every Freemason , and one not only inculcated at initiatory ceremonies , but grafted into every action in connection svith the Order . Some may reply at once that benevolence is the

chief corner stone , and perhaps proudly point as an evidence of the fact that so noble a sum as before mentioned sustains the Charities for another year ; if so , I svould venture to ask them to-read liie Frcemi \ sou' for the past fesv months , and observe the anxiety forced by circumstances upon one of our brother Secretaries of the Institutions , and then see if some plan cannot be devised to remedy such a state of things .

Being under the impression a little of the friction is to be removed , induces mc to ask the Committees , through your valuable medium , svhether , if the subscriptions to the Institutions svere reduced to five shillings per annum per vote , some ot the anxiety attaching to the question of svays and means would not be overcome ? It cannot be denied that , svhile a large per centage of Masons are men svell-to-do in the svorld , there are a great many svhose incomes svill not

admit of their subscribing guineas . At the same time , they refrain from appearing mean or poor by swelling the lists of Stesvards svith so small a sum as that just quoted , and consequently do not subscribe at all . That these men have hearts as noble , as svide in action , as generous as their richer brothers , cannot be doubted , and in proof thereof , svould personally abstain from a banquet or tsvo annually , in order to devote the cost thereof to the Charities ; but as

individuals they cannot appear singular in a lodge , neither can they govern thc actions of an existing Master , and consequently their benevolence is dormant . It is true subscriptions are taken at some lodges of instruction , and the votes purchased and appropriated by ballot ; but some brothers do not care , do not approve of

acquiring either their knosvledge of Masonry or their privilege of a vote by means of such a course , and consequently , good and true men do not advance , and have not a place in the direction of Masonic affairs . In the hope of a general expression of opinion upon thc suggestion nosv offered , —I am , dear Sir and Brother , fraternally yours , A POOR MASON AND READER OF THE FREEMASON .

NORTHERN COUNTIES LODGE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , May I again claim space in your columns to inform my Northern brethren svhat steps have been , and are being taken to forsvard the formation of a Northern Counties ' Lodge in London ? It has been felt for some time past that a lodge formed of

brethren born north of the Trent , although now resident in , or near , London , or svho svere initiated in a lodge in the districts named , svould be sure to meet svith hearty approval , and be a sort of rallying point for such brethren , and also for those brethren svhose business brings them periodically to London . AVith the view of carrying this into effect , a number of brethren met at iG . s , Great Queen-street ( by the kind permission of VV . Bro . George Kenning ) on

Thursday last , the 25 th inst ., svhen representatives from West Yorkshire , North and East Yorkshire , East Lancashire , West Lancashire , Cheshire , Durham , and Northumberland svere present , and the follosving resolutions svere unanimously passed : ist . That it is desirable to form a lodge composed of brethren , members of lodges , or svho have been initiated in lodges , north of the Trent .

: nd . That all brethren nosv living in London , born in any province north of the Trent , shall also be eligible for membership . 3 rd . That the lodge shall be called "The United Northern Counties Lodge . " 4 th . That candidates for initiation , duly proposed and

Original Correspondence.

seconded , shall be eligible for the ballot as members of the lodge , svho svere born in any province north of the Trent , or who at present reside , or have resided in such district for not less than live years . It was furthur decided to recommend to the brethren forming the lodge that the initiation fee be in accordance svith the nesv Book cf Constitutions . That thc joining fee

and annual subscriptions be moderate ; that each brother shall pay for his osvn refreshment ; and that no refreshments be paid for out of the lodge funds except by special vote of the lotlge . Also that there be a lodge of instruction fortnightly or othersvisc , as may be decided , at svhich all brethren from the northern counties , being in London on business , may

attend and introduce a brother from the districts named . The meeting was adjourned to Thursday , the 23 rd July , at the same time and place , and a Committee of five brethren svas appointed to make certain enquiries , and to report at the adjourned meeting . I hope that as the movement is nosv fairly started , brethren who approve of it and are desirous of helping it forsvard svill obli

ge by sending their names , svith full particulars as to lodge , rank , & c , to me at my office svith as little delay as possible , and svill make a point of attending the next meeting if possible . I may also add that svhat has already been done is only preliminary and open to alteration as to details , I svill therefore fraternally ask for any suggestions from brethren svhich are likely to assist in perfecting the scheme . In conclusion 1 svill thank you in anticipation , and before

closing , say , that it is suggested to meet four times a year , either the day before or the day after Grand Lodge meeting , or else near the Masonic Festivals or Elections . Opinions on this point are invited . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , J . S . CUMBERLAND , P . M . 1 G 11 , P . P . G . J . W . N . and E . Yorks . no , Cannon-street , London , E . G ., June 29 th .

THE LATE COLONEL KENNEDY , OF THE CANADIAN NILE CONTINGENT . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I had the misfortune to be absent in Ireland svhen the remains of my dear friend , the late Colonel Kennedy , of the Canadian Nile Contingent , and Past Grand Master

of Manitoba , svere consigned to their last resting place in Highgate Nesv Cemetery , and I svas therefore unable to be present at his funeral . I have svaited in the expectation that some notice of this gallant officer and distinguished Mason svould appear in your columns ; but as Colonel Kennedy had only arrived in England a fesv days before he died , it is possible that his Masonic standing svas quite unknosvn to the Fraternity in

England , and this svould account for the silence . May I nosv trespass on your kindness , and request the insertion of this communication , as a tribute to * the memory of one svho svas regarded by all svho knesv and loved him as the truest of friends , comrades , and brothers ? A more chivalrous citizen soldier , a more loyal Canadian , and a more consistent Christian never existed . This is

saying a great deal , and one should be well acquainted svith a man before penning such an eulogiuni . I have no hesitation , hosvever , in doing so in the case of my late friend . I have knosvn him for many , many years . Wc served together as brother officers in the same corps of Canadian Volunteer Rifles , and , after being separated for some time , sve renesved our friendship svhen sve met as

members of the Red River Expeditionary Force , under Colonel , nosv Lord , Wolseley . For upsvards of a year sve svere quartered together at Fort Garry , Winnipeg , and svhen the Ontario and Quebec Battalions svere broken up , he remained along svith the Provisional Battalion , svhich was formed under the command of Colonel Irvine , svhose name has appeared lately in connection svith the insurrection in the

North-West , svhich has just been suppressed by Colonel Middleton , C . B . I returned to Ontario svith the rest of the Expeditionary Force , and said faresvell to my friend , never to meet again in this svorld . During our stay at Winnipeg application svas made for a charter for a lodge to the Grand Lodge of Canada . Thc application svas granted , and the Prince Rupert's Lodge

svas opened , svith myself as VV . M ., and Bro . Kennedy as my Senior Warden . This lodge is nosv the premier lodgeof the Grand Lodge of Manitoba . I svas aftersvards appointed D . G . M . of the Province of Manitoba , and , on my leaving thc territory , Bro . Kennedy succeeded mc as VVorshipfuI Master of Prince Rupert ' s Lodge , and shortly after hc was appointed District Grand Master .

On the formation of thc Grand Lodge of Mani toba R . VV . Bro . Kennedy , svho had taken much interest in its organization , svas elected one of the Grand officers , and aftersvards became Grand Master . In the meantime the Provincial Battalion in svhich hc held a commission had been disbanded , and Bro . Kennedy accepted from the Provisional Government the registrarship of one of thc

four counties into svhich Manitoba svas divided . He also became Mayor of the infant city of Winnipeg and organized an Artillery Company . During the time of my residence in the province I had every opportunity of appreciating the character of him I nosv mourn , and during trying Masonic and other troubles I alsvays found the utmost reliance could be placed on this

true brother . Since our separation , upsvards of a dozen years ago , sve have kept up our friendship by correspondence , I did not hear , hosvever , of his having been invalided from Egypt , and svas therefore shocked to read of his death in London from an attack of small pox , contracted it is supposed at Dongola . In a letter svhich he lately wrote to Dr . Schultz , of Winnipeg , he stated that he had volunteered for service

svith Lord Wolscley ' s Nile Expeditionary Force through a sense of duty , and I feel assured that svas the case , as duty svas the ruling principle of William Kennedy ' s life . In the London paper of the day svhich noticed his funeral on Gth May , he is spoken of as one " svho had rendered most valuable services during the svhole of Lord Wolseley's Campaign on the Nile , and a valuable and distinguished

oilicer , a man of inlluence and position in his osvn province , and respected and esteemed wherever he has served . " Lord Wolseley telegraphed from Suakin the extreme regret svith svhich he had heard of the gallant officer ' s death , and deputed Col . Alleyne , R . A . ( a Red River comrade of Kennedy ' s ) , to represent him at the funeral , when the Prince of VVales svas also represented by Col . V . Clarke , and H . R . H . the Commander-in-Chief by Col . Pemberton .