Correspondence.

Correspondence .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " BOYS' SCHOOL FESTIVAL . Dear Sir and Brother , In your excellent report of the recent Festival of this Institution it is recorded that ^ " 293 us . svas the amount contributed by North and East Yorkshire-. It

seems only fair to state that this Province svas heavily handicapped by the fact of its Triennial Educational Festival having just been held in May , svhen i , 500 was raised . Had the Boys' Festival , under the presidency of the esteemed Prov . Grand Master of our sister

Province , been held in any other year than the present , undoubtedly an ei'ual amount svould have been forthcoming , to mark our respect for the Chairman , and in grateful acknowledgment of the many kindnesses received from West Yorkshire . —Yours fraternally ,

M . C . PECK , Prov . Grand Secretary North and East Yorkshire . June 30 th .

R . M . I . FOR BOYS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your last issue a letter appears from Bro . Dixon asking for some information respecting my remarks in the fifth paragraph of my letter of 2 Sth May .

In speaking of the then forthcoming Festival of the Boys' School I urged my brethren in East Lancashire to do their utmost for this particular Festival , because up to that date sve svere very miserably represented . I pointed out the growing demands on each of the London Institutions and the number of candidates

svhich are annually unsuccessful . Three cases came before the various Committees , svith the usual unfortunate phrase , " Died and left his family totally unprovided for . " How often does this not come as a great surprise to all svho knosv the brother in question . Whilst living he svas a generous ,

kindhearled father , husband , and brother Mason ; but svhen the end comes sve find that , although he alsvays conducted himself properly , lived creditably and respectably , still he could not afford to insure his life for , say , . £ 500 , svhich sum svould be of the greatest service in bringing the svidosv anel family on in the svorld on

something like the same footing svhich they svere left . As the result of cases like the above , some of our brethren consider sve admit the svrong men into our lodges . I contend the instance I have just quoted does not in any way show * that he svas not a lit man to become a Masoh , but , perhaps , quite the contrary . Still , sve know this is a very common case indeed , and through

such sve have annually a larger number ot applicants for each of the London Institutions than can possibly be provided for . It is under these circumstances I svas constrained to say in the paragraph Bro . Dixon refers to , "that something more practicable should be done than we have at present to relieve the continued strain upon these Charities . "

My suggestion is more sell-help , brought by organisation svithin the reach of all svho are Freemasons and svho care to avail themselves of such . What brother svould not , if opportunity presented itself , care to take advantage of securing to his svidosv / 400 or . £ 500 on his death at a comparative cost of

£ i per centime per annum , svith a further chance uneler the same outlay to secure an annuity of £ 2 $ per annum when he is 65 if he be incapacitated . And yet I submit with respect this can very simply be done with the organisation of Freemasonry , and I do not know of any other capable of carrying forsvard such a

movement . If this svere set in force and received the sanction of the Board of General Purposes , very soon we should lessen the burden now continually at the doors of the London Charities aud stay the chill of ilisappointment which goes to the heart of many an unsuccessful applicant nosv .

I must apologise for taking up so much of your valuable space , but 1 will just state in conclusion that I can demonstrate this to be perfectly free in its action , lend perfectly protective in preventing unworthy applicants into Masonry for these benefits . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , GEO . BOARD , P . M ., P . P . G . D . East Lanes . S ; ele , July 3 rd .

HONORARY MEMBERS . To the Editor op the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , 1 can find no reference in the Book of Constitutions to honorary members of a lodge . I should be

glad if any brother svould tell me ( and I know of several brethren svho svould be glad for information on the subject ) svhat are the qualifications and privileges of such distinction . Is not such a member in opposition to uur established usages and customs r Asvaiting information , —Yours fraternally , GAVEL .

liro . Captain and Mrs . Henry Wright have invited the brethren of the Alliance Lodge to a garden party at Haversham Grange , Tsvickenham , on Saturday , the 14 th inst . The Queen leaves Windsor Castle next Wednesday on a visit to Aldershot Camp , and svill sleep at thi Royal Pavilion , which is being prepared for her reception . Her Majesty is expected to return to Windsor on Thursday .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The presence in London of a large number of brethren from West Yorkshire in connection with the Boys' School Festival at Brighton , svas made the occasion of an invitation from the House Committee of the Girls School to visit that Institution on Thursday , the 28 th ult . The visitors svere received by Bros . Robert Grev , President Bo . ird of

Benevolence ; Col . James Peters , Trustee ; Henry Smith , D . P . G . M . West Yorkshire , Treas . ; Edsvard Terry , and the Secretary . About 70 ladies and brethren svere present , among them Mrs . and . Miss Bateman Fox , Bros . Wm . Harrop , Sorabjee Navarojee Cooper , VV . E . Casvthorn , Herbert Green , Prov . G . Sec , West Yorks ; A . W . Duret ; Bro . and Mrs . G . H . Parke ; Bro . Wm . ' . Gaukroger ; Major

Forbes ( Inniskilling Dragoons ) , Bro ., Mrs ., and Miss Smithson , Miss Terry , Rev . Corrie Jackson , Bro . and Mrs . John Barker , Dr . and Mrs . F . Gordon Brosvn , Bro . George Heaton , and Bro . and Mrs . W . H . Coss'per ( North East Yorks ) . The company made an inspection of the premises , and afterwards the pupils wont through a charming programme of calisthenics , marching , music , and singing . '

The Princess of Wales , the Czarevitch , and Princesses Victoria and Maud of VVales visited the Gaiety Theatre on Thursday evening , and svitnessed the performance of " Madame Sans-Gene . " On Thursday , the offices of the National Rifle Association svere transferred to Bisley Camp for a fortnight for the Prize MeetingcommencingnextTuesday . Colonel Ricardo , the camp commandant , and the military staff svill take up their duties on Monday .

On Thursday the Duke of Cambridge opened a bazaar at the Stablemen ' s Institute , Newmarket . His Royal Highness svas svelcomed by Sir John Astley , and expressed the pleasure he felt at being present . Sir John announced an anonymous gift of Lwo to the building fund . Countess Cadogan , Lady Fitzgerald , Mrs . Daniel Cooper , and others presided over the stalls . The president , the Rev . J . Littlewood , returned thanks to his Royal Highness .

The fourth series of races of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club took place on Thursday off Ryde , in a pleasant easterly svind , fresh at lirst , and lighter as the day svent on . ln the lives class Red Lancer ( Captain Orr Esving ) took lirst prize , and Fleur de Lis second . Ferida ( Lord Bury ) ,

probably the best of this year ' s 2 . 1-raters , svas . lust of her class , Meneen second , and Gareth third . Mehallah ( Marquis of Carmarthen ) came in first of the ones , Monvena being second , and Estrella third . Wee Win and Spruce took the prizes for halves .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

^ fe ll ^^ ^ r . ii ^ c ^ m ^^^«^^ i jSJgjI ^ - ^ . -HQUiiirii , ^ 14 uiOl ilftx ^ n

METROPOLITAN MEETING !* . Blackheath Lodge ( No . 1320 ) . —The installation meeting of this highly successful and nourishing South London lodge svas held at the Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge , on the 2 ist ult . There svere present Bros . J . Hooper , W . M . ; T . R . . Cass , S . W ., VV . M . elect ; A . Le Cren , J . VV . ; VV . M . Morson , P . M ., Treas . ; H . A .

Stunt , P . M ., Sec . ; E . A . Rice , S . D . ; E . Salter , J . D . ; VV . Wright , LG . ; G . Pike , D . C ; T . Hobley , Org . ; Whiteman , Tyler ; A . J . Martin , P . M . ; J . M . Buckley , P . M . ; Dr . Rasv , P . M . ; T . VV . Spence , T . Tucker , T . M . Hale , H . Broadsvay , E . Morson , A . Smith , VV . F . Temple , VV . R . King , and H . T . Cornford . Visitors : Bros . F . Dunstan , VV . M . 132 O ; S . H . Hilton , 1622 ; W . H .

Berridge , 441 , P . G . Org . Cambridge '; A . C . Wood , P . M . 15 SO ; K . Weller , P . M . 1967 ; G . H . Lesvis , P . M . 2206 : F . Hilton , A G . P . ; R . VV . Philpott , P . A . G . P . Kent ; W . F . Gummett , P . M . i *;; II . Wood , W . M . ' 101 : T . Hampton , P . M . 145 ; li . Rose , P . M . 73 ; W . H . Dallimore , P . M . 87 ; VV . H . Edsvards , 217 ; VV . Thomson , J . D . 1297 ; J . Braham , P . M . 72 ; A . F . Casperd , P . M .

lO' . S ; T . Grummant . P . M ., Sec . 1559 ; H . C Turner , S . W . 1622 ; J . H . Pullen , P . M . 1022 j VV . J . Whittaker , P . M . 1572 ; A . Tilling , P . M . 7 G 5 ; C , H . Stone , P . M . 507 ; G . VV . Niblett , 1 O 22 ; S . Mahomed Ali ( Light in Adjudhia ) , 83 G ; Isaac Dunn , P . M . 1 O 22 ; J . B . Cass , i « jy ; F . C . Simpson , 15 C 4 ; M . Cutting , 15 ( 14 ; S . J . Derham , W . M . 1022 ; 1 . H . Salmon , | . W . 1475 ; S . W .

Ballard , S . D . 1622 ; J . Loader , P . M ., Sec . 1622 ; J . Sparks , J . W . 720 ; F . P . Weinel , P . M . 1 S 28 ; VV . Dasvson , J . D . 1622 ; VV . Hill , Stsvd . 1512 ; and Frank Williams , P . M . 101 . The minutes of the previous meeting svere read and conlirmed . The Auditors' report svas presented and adopted , svhich shosved a substantial balance in the hands of the

Treasurer . lht W . M . vacated the chair , and Bro . H . A . Stunt , P . M ., proceeded to install Bro . T . R . Cass , VV . M . elect , who svas presented by Bro . J . Hooper , P . M ., into the chair in the presence of a Board of 30 Installed Masters . The whole ceremony svas rehearsed in a most exemplary manner . The W . M ., Bro . T . R . Cass , invested his ollicers most ably as follosvs : Bros . J . Hooper , I . P . M . ; A . VV . Le Cren , S . W . ; E . A . Rice , J . W . ; W . H . Morson ,

P . M ., Treas . ; II . A . Stunt , P . M ., Sec . ; G . C . Pike , S . D . ; E . Sailer , J . D . ; W . Wright , l . G . ; E . Morson , D . C ; T . G . Hobley and A . Smith , Stesvards ; and J . Whiteman , Tyler . Bro . II . Cornford was elected a joining member . A candidate for initiation svas proposed and seconded for next meeting . A notice of motion svas given to present Bro . H . A . Stunt svith a jewel , the value not to exceed 10 guineas , for able services icndeied to the lodge for many years . A grant was also nude to the extent of

Craft Masonry.

10 guineas , and placed upon Bro . J . Hooper ' s , I . P . M ., list , svho svas a Stesvard for the Boys' School . The business of the lodge being ended , the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet , supplied by Bro . Pearce , the proprietor , svhich he superintended in his usually good style . On the removal of the cloth , the W . M ., in most appropriate and svell-chosen remarks , gave the loyal and Masonic toasts , svhich svere received in a most loyal and cordial

manner . The toast of "The Pro G . M ., Dep . G . M ., and the . rest of the Grand Offie-ers , Present and Past , " svas next given by the VV . M . svho said : In introducing this toast to your notice I may , perhaps , he permitted to . observe that H . R . H . the Prince of VVales has appointed a number of svorthy brethren to carry out the duties of Grand Lodge , and those svho have had the privilege of attending Grand

Lodge can testify to the excellent svork of the Pro Grand Master and the other officers . VVe are honoured to-night by the presence of a Grand . Officer svho is svell knosvn to most of you here , and beloved by all svho knosv him ; I refer to our esteemed friend , Bro . Hilton , fV . G P ., and in saying that the brilliant services svhich he has rendered in South London in the' cause of Freemasonry deservedly entitle him to the honours fie has gained , I carry svith me the

opinion of the svhole of the brethren present . In reply , Bro . F . Hilton , A . G . P ., said : I desire to thank you , W . M ., forthe svay in svhich you have proposed the toast and the brethren for the unanimous svay in svhich they have received it . \ n proposing the toast you proposed the Grand Ofiicers , Present and Past . You do honour , I am sure , and rightly , to the Grand Officers of the past ssiho have done so much for the foundation of the ceremonies of

which sve are so proud . With respect to the Grand Officers of the present , I , of course , am very proud of being a member of that distinguished body , and I need not say that I am and they are endeavouring to follow in the steps of those eminent biethren svho have , gone before . 1 am invited here to-night by the Blackheath Lodge , nol exactly as a Grand Officer , but as the Preceptor of your Lodge of Instruction , and 1 thank you heartily for the

invitation . I have reason to be proud of the progress svhich has been made in that Iodge of instruction since it has been formed . VVe had almost insurmountable difficulties to contend svith at first , but sve have hosv attained an uniformity of svorking svhich should be the aim of every lodge of instruction . I have been delighted to see the masterly manner in which Bro . Stunt , P . M ., installed you , VV . M ., into the chair , and I shall look forward svith great pleasure

to your year of office as being one of great credit to yourself , and of satisfaction to every member of your lodge . The toast of "The VV . M . " svas next presented by the I . P . M . Bro ' . J . Hooper remarked : I ( ind it difficult to speak of the high character of our VV . M . as it should be spoken of , but 1 have known him and been associated svith him in Freemasonry for a number of years , and have looked

forsvard svith pleasure to his occupying his present position . I consider that svith Bro . Cass in the chair and supported by these officers invested this evening , tbe Blackheath Lodge is as near perfection to-night as it is possible . With one exception , our W . M ; has occupied every position in the lodge , and has alsvays performed svhatever duties were required of him svith credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the brethren . . * .... ' .

The VV . M ., in reply , said : I have to tender my sincerest thanks to the' I . P . M . for the svay in svhich he has been pleased to propose the toast of my health , and the brethren for the generous manner in svhich they have received it . I must ask you to forgive me , brethren , if words fail me on this occasion to sufficiently thank you for your kind expressions tosvards myself . Bro . Hooper has referred to my services in the lodge , and I can assure you that reference recalls many

pleasant evenings I have spent in this lodge , and I may also add that as I have been in the past so 1 hope to be in the future . The . toast of "The Installing Master , Bro . H .- A . Stunt , " svas given by the VV . M ., remarking that he had the honour and privilege of being admitted into Freemasonry by Bro . Stunt , and nosv had reached that proud position of being installed by him . Bro . Stunt had asked the favour of

Bro . Hooper , I . P . M ., to allow him the privilege to svhich the I . P . M . most kindly acceded . He felt that it would have been impossible for any brother to have performed that beautiful ceremony better than Bro . Stunt , and he most heartily thanked him . He trusted the lodge might have for many years to come the valuable assistance of the Installing Master . I In reply , Bro . Stunt , said it had given him the greatest

possible pleasure to perform the installation ceremony on the VV . M ., svho svas a brother so worthy and one who took the greatest interest in Freemasonry . It svas a most important event in the annals of the Blackheath Lodge when it removed to the Bridge House Hotel , and its flourishing condition might be attributed to that fact , and

also to the : deep interest the W . M . had taken in the lodge from his initiation . It would be his utmost endeavour to perform any service to the lodge , and maintain its present prestige . The toast of "Thejoining Member" was presented by the W . M . in most becoming terms , and heartily responded to by Bro . H . Cornford .

"Ihe VV . M . gave the toast of "The Visitors , " in terms of great cordiality , remarking that they outnumbered the members of the lodge , which showed thc characteristics of the brethren of the Blackheath Lodge , for svhich hi thanked them for inviting such an array upon this auspicious occasion . This svas ably responded to by Bros . Harry Wood , W . M . 101 , and S . Derham , W . M . 1 GJ 2 .

The toast of "The Treasurer and Secretary " follosved in eloquent terms by the VV . M ., and was responded to most ably by Bro . H . A . Stunt , Sec . The VV . M . next presented the important toast of "The Past Masters" in most befitting terms , to which Bro . Hooper , I . P . M ., most suitably replied , thanking the brethren for the splendid jesvel presented for his second year of ollice . ...

Ihe toast of "The Officers"" followed , the "W . M . remarking hc had a most brilliant set , and all worthy of their positions . This svas moit ably responded to by the Senior Warden and Junior Warden .

Ihe lyler ' stoast closed a most successful meeting , and one svhich marks an epoch in the history ot the Blackneath Lodge .