Original Correspondence.

to the value of the benefits bestowed by the Institutions upon its candidates . This is a " sale and barter " view of Masonic Benevolence that does not accord with the traditions and teaching of the Craft . There should be no sordid reckonings of this kind ; ALL should give in proportion to their means , but , if a province or lodge is so unfortunate as to require an amount of relief in excess of

the value of its donations , then 1 protest it is most un-Masonic to gibbet it as a defaulter . To quote your correspondent "Zeta "— "let praise be given to those provinces who contribute to the support of our Institutions irrespective of any benefits they may derive from them in return , and by all means let censure be withheld from those which , being poor , contribute little or

nothing , and yet send many candidates for election . The mites which they occasionally bestow , are to the full as worthy tributes to the grand principle of Masonic Benevolence as the rich gifts bestowed by our wealthier provinces and lodges . " There is no doubt that the supporters of the London Masonic Charities ( whether they reside in London or the

provinces ) intend that their benefactions shall be universally applied to the relief of Masonic distress , whether that distress exists in their own districts or elsewhere . Where there is fair grounds for the belief that lodges or provinces do not subscribe to the Charities as bountifully as their means will admit , then let us try , by every lawful endeavour , to awake them to a sense of their obligations ,

but certainly not by publishing broadcast such statements as those I am condemning . According to the showing of the Prov . Grand Secretary for Lincolnshire , these tables are not even safe guides as financial statements , for he proves that he has sent donations to the Charities which are not accunted for in the tables . —I am , yours fraternally , ESPOIR . October 31 st .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , With all deference to Bro . B . Vickers , Prov . G . Secretary ot Lincolnshire , I must decline in response to his invitation of last week , as I have already declined in response to that of " Zetetes , " to name the province I had in my mind , when I wrote my first letter , and I do this for

the reason I have already stated , that I do not feel myself justified in introducing the name of a particular province into a discussion which concerns London and the provinces generally . I was actuated by no other motive in referring to a province , which I studiously refrained from naming , but which is nevertheless a real province , than the very natural wish to support a contention I have always held , namely ,

that , as it is in consequence of the action taken by the Craft generally , that our central Charities are in need of so large an amount of support annually , the duty of providing that support should be fulfilled by the general body , and that the members of that body which do not so contribute in accordance with their ability and without detriment to their own interests , expose themselves to the charge

ot neglecting this duty . I see no reason why a discussion on this or any other question of general interest should not be conducted without referring specifically , and by name , to particular persons and bodies . As regards the statements made by Bro . Vickers on behalf of his Province of Lincolnshire—for the introduction of which into this controversy he alone is responsible

—I accept them as in duty bound , especially as coming from one who by reason of his official position is pretty certain to know more about the doings of the province in support of the central Charities than any other Lincolnshire brother , or than myself who am a stranger . But it will be difficult to pursue the argument unless a common basis is provided on which all the

disputants may ground their opinions , and this , I think , will be found in the lists of subscribers published annually by the several Institutions . The lists issued by the Schools appear early in the year and contain the votes to which every subscribing lodge and brother is entitled . They are officially announced as correct to the preceding 31 st December , and are so arranged that it is possible to

ascertain with very little trouble , what is the voting strength of each province , and to what extent it varies from year to year . That issued by the Benevolent Institution is published sometime towards the end of July or beginning of August , and is correct to the previous 30 th June ; but it is arranged alphabetically as regards persons , and numerically as regards lodges , so that it takes some time and a good deal

of patience to find out what is the voting strength of a province , though nothing is easier than to find out how many votes each subscribing lodge , or brother , may have . 1 have looked into the School lists , but , for want of the necessary time , not those of the Benevolent Institution , issued for the years 1 SS 4 , 1 SS 5 , 18 S 6 , and 18 S 7 , and the result , while in the main it confirms Bro . Vicker ' s figures

for the Schools , does not suggest the idea that Lincolnshire with its 22 or 23 lodges has been particularly active during this period . Girls' School . I find from the 1884 list that on the 31 st December , 1 S 83 , Lincolnshire had 277 life votes and 21 annual votes , or together 29 S votes . According to the 1885 list it had on the corresponding date of 1 S 84 , 275 life and 21 annual votes , or together 206 ; according to the

1886 list it had on the corresponding date 18 S 5 259 life and 26 annual votes , or together 285 ; and in the list issued early during the present year it has 266 life and ig annual votes , or together 285 votes . In the supposition that Miss A . B . with 30 votes and Mrs . CD . 30 votes are one and the same person , but married in the latter case and single in the former , and that Miss W . X . 4 votes , and Mrs . V . Z . 4 votes , are also under similar circumstances one and the

same , then the fluctuations in the voting strength of Lincolnshire between the 31 st December , 18 S 3 and the 31 st December , 1 SS 6 , are as follow : Loss—3 Life-Governors with ig votes amongst them , and 1 Life-Subscriber ; that , s ) 20 life votes ; annual votes discontinued 20 ; total 40 votes . Gain—1 Life-Governor ( Lady with 4 votes ); and 5 Life-Subscribers , namely P . G . Chapter , a lodge , and 3 breth ren ; total , 9 life votes , which , with 18 annual votes added

, gives a total of 27 votes . Net loss—11 life and 2 annual votes , or together 13 votes . The money value of the votes gained is for 9 life votes , 45 guineas ( £ 47 5 s . ); and 18 annual votes , 18 guineas ( £ 18 iSs . ); or together ° J guineas | £ G 6 3 s . ); so that the donations and subscripll ) ns contributed by Lincolnshire tothe Girls'School during nH ? J . - ' and l 886 ' avera £ £ 22 IS- per year . On the other hand , there were on 31 st December , 1883 , 6 girls in

Original Correspondence.

the School ; on 31 st December , 1884 , 4 girls ; on 31 st December , 1885 , 5 girls ; and on 31 st Decembei , 18 S 6 , 5 girls ; 3 girls having left the School and 2 having been elected into it in the interval . Boys' School . In the 1 SS 4 list Lincolnshire has 540 life votes , including 17 S Preparatory School Building Fund , and 36 annual votes , total 57 6 votes ; in the 1 SS 5 list , 543 life

votes , including 17 S P . S . B . F ., and 39 annual votes , total 5 S 2 votes ; in the 18 S 6 list , 549 life votes , including 1 S 2 P . S . B . F ., and 44 annual votes , total 593 votes ; and in the 1887 list , 547 life votes , including 182 P . S . B . F ., and 24 annual votes , making together 571 votes . Here also the loss of two single ladies with 4 votes apiece is neutralised by the gain of two married ladies , each with the same

number of 4 votes to her credit , and omitting these from the reckoning the result of the fluctuations during the period from 31 st December , 1 SS 3 , to 31 st December , 1 SS 6 , is as follows : Loss—life votes 16 , annual votes 55 , or together 71 votes ; Gain—life votes 23 , annual votes 43 , the final result being that against the gain of 7 on the former , there is a loss of 12 on the latter , giving a net

loss of 5 votes . As regards the moneys paid in during the period , the total of the sums entered in the list is £ 185 17 s ., being £ 122 17 s . in respect of the 23 life votes and £ 6 3 forneworcontinuedannual votes . Thus , the annual average for 1 S 84 , 18 S 5 , and 1 S 86 , is £ 61 19 s . lt is right to add that in 1 SS 3 £ 116 us . was contributed for Preparatory School and annual votes , and in 1 SS 2 £ 36 15 s . for

Preparatory School Fund irrespective of other amounts . As regards boys in the School , Lincolnshire had 5 on 31 st December , 1 SS 3 ; 6 on the same date in 1 SS 4 ; 5 in 1885 ; and 4 in 1 SS 6 ; three having left , and two having been elected during the three years . In short , the province , if it has done little at the Festivals , has contributed freely to this Institution .

I have neither the time nor the patience to go through the lists for the Benevolent Institution in like manner , nor have I been able to show what the province has distributed among the three Charities during the present year . I believe , however , that so far as I have gone , my figures will be found correct , and there can be no doubt about the trustworthiness of the sources from which I have derived them .

It is not for me to offer any opinion as to whether Lincolnshire has or has not done its duty by the Schools , but I fancy I shall not stand alone in my surprise that a province which has raised 2000 guineas "during the past few years for provincial "—that is , 1 presume , for its own local — "Charities , so relieving the pressure on the Central Institutions , " should nevertheless require so much assistance from the latter . —Fraternally yours , ZETA .

ATTENDANCE BOOKS AT PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As supplementing my letter on this subject which you were good enough to publish last week , 1 send you copy of a letter which has been sent me by Bro . R .

Hudson detailing the system practised in the Province of Durham . The sheet gives the occasion , place , and date of meeting , spaces being left for the name and number of the lodge , and there were two columns below for the names and ranks of the brethren signing . My own idea favoured the practice at Grand Lodge , where there are several books , but possibly this might prove too cumbrous a method in the case of Provincial Grand Lodge where , of

course , there are not so many brethren attending as in Grand Lodge . The one objection I see to the Durham system is the risk of some of the sheets being lost , but if this is obviated by due care on the part of the brethren responsible , it must prove efficient so far as a perfect record of attendance is concerned . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , HENRY LASHMORE , P . M . 394 , P . P . S . G . D . Hants and I . of W .

"PROV . G . LODGE OF DURHAM . " Dear Sir and Brother , " ATTENDANCE BOOK AT PROV . G . LODGE . " Referring to your letter in the Freemason of the 29 th inst ., I have pleasure in sending you copy of our attendance sheets from Prov . G . Lodge which have been found to be much more effective than the old attendance

book ( never half signed ) . We place one for each lodge in the clothing room , three or four in the Prov . G . officers ' room , and one in the Prov . G . Master ' s room , and certain brethren are told off to see that every brother signs his name . These sheets are collected by the Prov . Asst . D . of C , and handed to the Prov . G . Sec . " We purpose having them bound in series of three or five years . —Yours fraternally , "R . HUDSON . "

EARLY EVIDENCE OF THE ROYAL ARCH . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The communication of Bro . Crossley , in last week ' s Freemawn , is very interesting , as showing the early period ( January , 1765 ) , at which the Royal Arch Degree was worked in Halifax . So far as I know , or have heard , this

is the earliest record of the working of the Degree in England , with the exception of the records of the chapter ( afterwards the Grand Chapter ) , held under the authority of the Grand Lodge of all England , at York . With regard to the " Memorial" for the formation of the Halifax Chapter , mentioned by Bro . Crossley , and referred to in the minutes of the Probity Lodge , No . 61 ,

under date of gth January , 1765 , and which he surmises must have been addressed to the authorities at York , I have to state for his information , that I have searched the records of the Grand Lodge and Chapter , at York , but cannot find any trace of the Memorial having been presented , or any mention whatever of the chapter , or , proposed chapter at Halifax . During the whole of 1765 the Grand Lodge at York met

regularly every month , but this was , unfottunately , not the case with the chapter , as I find from a minute of the latter , dated Sunday , Gth May , 1764 , that " By order of the Right Worshipfull Masters this Lodge was adjourn'd till a convenient oppertunity , " which does not seem to have occurred until Sunday , the 16 th February , 1766 , when there was another adjournment until a " convenient oppertunity , " the next meeting being held on the 29 th April , 176 S .

Original Correspondence.

It thus appears that , so far as the chapter at York is concerned , there was no meeting during the year in which the Royal Arch lodge , or chapter , at Halifax was working , and as the Grand Lodge records here are silent on the subject , it is evident that the Halifax memorial was not presented

to the Grand Lodge or Chapter at York ; and I can only come to the conclusion that it was presented to the lodge at Halifax , and that the Royal Arch Degree at the date above mentioned was worked under the authority of , and in connection with , the Probity Lodge . —Yours fraternally , JOSH . TODD . York , November ist .

BROWNE'S MASTER-KEY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , If " X . Y . Z . " is not in a great hurry ( i . e ., does not want it quickly for a special purpose ) I shall be happy to oblige him with the key to this . In the course of a week 1 shall be able , 1 trust , to hunt it up amongst my old papers , and will send it through you , as desired . —Yours fraternally , J . RAMSDEN RILEY .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am pleased to hear of a third copy of the first edition of this work in such good hands . That this was the gift of the R . W . Bro . Kellv does not surorise me . I

know no brother more ready and willing to assist in the formation of Masonic libraries , and in the general progress of the Craft . I have had personal knowledge of our veteran brother's zeal , and take this opportunity of acknowledging the same . —Yours fraternally , J . RAMSDEN RILEY .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes And Queries .

7 Sil THE MASONIC CHARITIES . I should like to issue a note of warning against the custom of accepting the amounts contributed by Prov . Grand Lodges at the annual Festivals as the totals of their contributions during the years reported on . Possibly such an estimate of the donations , & c , from Lincolnshire may have led to the serious error in not giving the brethren of

that well-managed province the full credit for their generous support of our Charities during the term mentioned . Bro . Vickers' communication will put the matter in its true light , and emphasise the fact that the whole of the contributions from the several provinces , whether given at the Festivals or not , must be duly chronicled to render any tables thoroughly complete and satisfactory . W . J . HUGHAN .

752 ] AN OLD CERTIFICATE . I shall be glad if Bro . Higerty will favour us in this department with an exact copy of the Certificate he mentions , carefully giving any numbers or other particulars which may be thereon . It is always better in these cases to give the full text of such documents , and I hope the excellent example thus set by our brother will be followed

by others who can aid the Craft in communicating information on the early History ot the Society at home and abroad . 1 am staying in Truro just now , so have not access to my memoranda relative to Freemasonry in New York , but so far as my memory serves me , thelodge in question had not long existed when the Certificate was issued . Bro . Lane will doubtless tell us if it occurs in any of the " Engraved Lists , " but I fancy not . W . J . HUGHAN .

Jubilee Celebration At Sheerness.

JUBILEE CELEBRATION AT SHEERNESS .

One of the most interesting meetings ever held in connection with Masonry in this town took place on Tuesday evening , the nth inst ., on the occasion of the two Lodges , Adam ' s , No . 15 S , and De Shurland , No . 10 S 9 , uniting together to celebrate her Majesty ' s Jubilee with a banquet at the Britannia Hotel . The three chairs were occupied by Bros . J . Auty , W . M . 15 S ; J . CoplandW . M . 1089

, ; and J . Tower , P . M . 10 S 9 , and the efficient manner in which they discharged their respective duties contributed to a great extent in making the proceedings a decided success . The toast of the evening , "The Queen , " was given and received with that loyalty and enthusiasm which has at all times distinguished the Masons of this country in their adherence to the throne .

The usual Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and in the course of the evening the three oldest Past Masters of the lodges , viz ., Bros . PANNELL , 10 S 9 , and SPEARS and BAGSHAW , 15 S , gavesome very interesting and instructive particulars relating to the progress of Masonry in the town as well as in the province . Bro . J . P . WATTS , P . M . 158 , in proposing " The Masonic

Charities , " alluded to the great work that the several Institutions were doing in rendering assistance to the aged and indigent , and in educating and providing for the wants of children who have been deprived of a father ' s care and support . Bro . W . PANNELL , P . M . 1089 , in responding , urged upon the brethren the necessity of contributing as far as

lay in their power to the maintenance and support of the Institutions , and he quoted several instances wnere members of the two lodges had benefited by the Charities . Bro . STUTKLV , P . M . 158 , in his usual facetious manner toasted "The Visitors , " which was acknowledged by Bro . HARRIS , P . A . G . D . C . of Essex , and Bro . WIDGERY . The National Adthem brought a happy and enjoyable

evening to a successful termination . The excellent manner in which the banquet was served by Bro . G . T . Green , P . M ., and Mrs . Green , was the theme of admiration of every one present . The musical arrangements were under the able direction of Bro . C . M . Glaysher , Org . 15 S , and he was assisted by Bros . Tower , Green , Bagshaw , Pyke , Hallett , Griffith , Nutty , and others