Masonic Notes.

We believe that , though Bro . Sir F . Burdett has figured on sundry occasions as a Steward , this will be the first time of his presidency as Chairman . We trust , therefore , that the Craft generally will g ive him a hearty support . As for the Province of Middlesex ,

of which he has been Prov . G . M . since 1869—the year of its constitution—it is one of the most regular and at the same time one of the most generous supporters of all our Charities . We have every confidence

therefore , that it will do its utmost on this occasion , as well out of regard for its distinguished ruler as from the great love it has always borne to this particular Institution .

* * * A correspondent has favoured us with a long letter on the subject of the proposed pension to Bro . Binckes . As we have impartially opened our columns to the opponents and supporters of this pension , and as

pretty nearly everything has been said in favour of or against the proposal which the utmost ingenuity can suggest , we must decline to oblige our correspondent by inserting his letter . But there are other reasons , likewise , which have induced us to adopt this course .

* * * In the first place , vve cannot allow the Freemason to be the medium for circulating statements which have again and again been shown lo be untrue . We ourselves , Bro . Binckes , and one , if not more , of our

correspondents have publicly cited facts which are in absolute contradiction of our correspondent ' s assertions as to the amount of the emoluments received by Bro . Binckes ( 1 ) as Secretary of the Boys' School , and ( 2 ) as Secretary to the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales , & c .

In the second place , we decline with all deference to accept the uncorroborated statement of any individual brother to the effect that certain provinces , in the event

of their attempt to defeat Bro . Binckes ' s pension being unsuccessful , will refuse to accept the vote of a majority in its favour , and wreak their spite on the Institution itself by withholding their support in the future .

The course of conduct thus held out in terrorem as being likely to be adopted if the supporters of the pension carry their point is so despicable in itself , and so directly at variance with those feelings of honour

and loyalty which all Masons are presumed to possess , that we refuse to believe in the possibility of its adoption , until indisputable evidence is forthcoming that it has been adopted ; or rather [ until we know that resolutions to this effect have been passed .

* * The tone and temper of Bro . Stanley J . Attenborough ' s reply to our remarks on ; i former letter of his leave nothing to be desired , but his arguments on the main question are no stronger than they vvere in his earlier communication .

* * * We agree with Bro . Attenborough that " many Boards of Directors contain legal members , and yet resolutions are often passed without a discussion on their legal aspect , such members not being present for

the purpose of exercising their legal functions . " But we invite Bro . Attenborough to bear in mind that the question of the legality of the pensions in the case of Bro . Binckes and other paid officers of our Institutions has been before the public for some time . At the

adjourned meeting on the ioth August of the General Committee of the Boys' School , vvhen the Provisional Management Committee presented their report recommending the retirement of Bro . Binckes on a pension of ; £ 35 ° a year for life , Bro . James Stevens expressed his

fear that " it vvas not in the power of the Committee to apply the funds in the way of pensions ; " on which the chairman said " he believed the Committees of the Institution had the power . " Having regard to this answer of his lordship to Bro . James Stevens vvhen

the latter directly questioned the legality of pensions , vve think vve have the right to assume that vvhen the Provisional Management Committee considered the proposal to retire Bro . Binckes on a pension they discussed it " on its legal aspect . "

* * * Of course , it will be open to Bro . Attenborough to object that we have no ri ght to assume anything of the

kind . To this vve must rejoin that vvhen , at the General Committee on the 6 th July , the Provisional Committee handed in its first report , in which it recommended here should be a change in the oflice of Secretary the

Masonic Notes.

report went on to state that " the Committee is unanimous in recommending that a retiring allowance should be accorded to Bro . Frederick Binckes . " At this meeting Bro . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Registrar , Vice-Chairman of the Provisional Management Committee ,

occupied a seat to the rig ht of the Chairman . Are vve to assume that Bro . Philbrick united with the other members of the Provisional Committee in recommending what , as a lawyer , he knew was illegal ; or without having given a thought to the question whether it was legal or illegal ?

* * * Our point is that this question of the legality of pensions has been before the Masonic public ever since the 6 th July last , when the Provisional Committee unanimously recommended that a pension should be

granted to Bro . Binckes , Bro . Philbrick being present at the time , the report vvas read : that on the ioth August , Bro . Lord Euston expressed his belief , in reply to a doubt raised by Bro . James Stevens , that the Committee " had the power , " namely , " to apply the

funds" —of the Institution— "in the way of pensions ;" and that , under these circumstances , the Provisional Committee has considered the granting of pensions from its legal aspect . * * *

It is also , perhaps , worth while to point out—incidentally—that while the question of granting a pension of a particular amount (^ 350 ) to Bro . Binckes vvas carried by the narrow majority of seven only , the question of pension or no pension was determined b y an overwhelming majority in favour of " pension . "

* * * The nomination of Bro . Augustus Harris on Wednesday evening for the office of Grand Treasurer was an altogether satisfactory event . It was virtually the

election of a worthy and popular brother to a post of hi gh honour in the Craft , and at the same time a welcome respite from the annual turmoil incident to a contested election to that office .

In congratulating Bro . Harris on his well-deserved success , which vve most heartily do , the fact that his candidature was championed by Bro . Broadley must

not be lost sight of . To that brother ' s energy and zeal this happy result is largely due , and should we ever be possessed with the ambition to be elected to hi gh office , we could not wish a better fortune than to secure the powerful aid of Bro . Broadley .

The Rev . Canon Knowles has written a letter to The Whitehaven News , expressing surprise at finding his name associated with a " circular" he is alleged to

have issued against Freemasonry . He denies having " issued any circular or made any public attack on ' the Craft , ' the English members of which I highly respect . "

But this denial is not inconsistent with the charge we have directed against him of having addressed a series of ei g ht " objections to Freemasonry" to the students he is preparing at St . Bees as candidates for Holy

Orders . These " objections" vvere made to "Freemasonry" as a whole , and it was only in one of the eight that the Canon excepted the English brethren from his condemnation .

As for his statement that " some breach of confidence must have been committed , and some person must have been guilty of discourtesy , " we attach to it very little importance . The instruction or advice which a principal , professor or lecturer at some college imparts

to the students under his charge , whether in the form of an address or lecture , or in a series of absolute propositions , is not a private and confidential communication which those who receive it are forbidden b y their sense of honour from divul ging to their friends and

acquaintances ; and if one of the students or others at St . Bees College , having reason to doubt the justice of the Canon ' s " objections to Freemasonry , " communi . cated them to an outside friend , he cannot be charged with having committed a " breach of confidence " or a discourtesy .

But the Canon disowns having made any attacks on "The Craft , " Coram publico . A public attack , however , would have been more honourable than his secret and insiduous attempt to prejudice the minds of the pupils

against our Society by stating his " objections " in what he erroneously considers the privacy of the lecture room . A public attack can be met at once ; but there is no knowing what harm is done by a secret one before it becomes known .

Masonic Notes.

The cry is still they come . Last week vve expressed our regret at having assigned to the Minerva Lodge of Instruction , No . 250 , the honour of being the onl y Lodge of Instruction in Hull , to the exclusion of the De La Pole Lodge , which has met for some years past and

done good service . A correspondent now informs us there is a Humber Lodge of Instruction , No . 57 , which meets every Monday from October to March , and also

an Installed Masters' Lodge of Instruction , founded a few years , which meets monthly under the auspices of the same lodge , No . 57 . We are glad there is so much zeal among our Hull brethren .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ] ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , I have received—unsolicited—a speciall y printed copy of a letter by Bro . Greatbatch which appeared in your issue of the gth ult . And I am informed that large numbers of these slips have been printed , and are being issued , I presume , by

the author , to the Life-Governors of the Boys School . The intention is obvious , and I would like to ask if , after the explanation of Bro . Binckes in your issue of the 16 th ult ., this does not prove the malice Bro . Greatbatch is at so much pains to deny . To my mind it looks like malice of the worst type , with an utter disregard of all Masonic obligations . — Yours faithfully

AN OLD STAFFORDSHIRE LIFEGOVERNOR OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL . A CAUTION .

To the Editor of " The Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , It having come to our ears that sundry of our countrymen are now going the rounds of our Masonic friends and using our names as a recommendation , I

am requested by the Permanent Committee of the La France Lodge to inform you that these men are imposters , and in no case has the name of a brother ever been given . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours truly and fraternally ,

EUGENE MONTEUUIS , G . S . B ., Secretary 2060 . December 5-

First Annual Festival Of The Starkie Installed Masters' Lodge Of Instruction.

FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE STARKIE INSTALLED MASTERS' LODGE OF INSTRUCTION .

The meeting vvas held in the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester , on Friday , the 29 th ult . The lodge vvas opened by Bro . A . Clegg , P . P . S . G . W ., as VV . M . ; with Bros . A . Pemberton , P . P . G . D . C , as S . W ., and Col . Rocca , P . P . G . D ., as J . W . The Prov . Grand Master , Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie ,

vvas announced , and entered the lodge . After having assumed the chair , he vvas saluted in accordance with his rank . The minutes of the previous meeting vvere duly confirmed , and several candidates elected , after which the Treasurer ' s accounts were presented and adopted . The P . G . MASTER then requested Bro . J . H . Sillitoe to deliver an address on the objects and aims of the

lodge , which vvas listened to with great attention . At the close the W . M . proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . Sillitoe , which vvas seconded by Bro . W . NICHOLL , and carried with acclamation . Bro . Williams was re-elected Secretary , and Bro . Irving , Treasurer . Several names , including the present Prov . S . G . W ., ot

several Past Grand Wardens , and other brethren influence in the province , were proposed as joining members , and the lodge vvas closed . The brethren adjourned to the Victoria Hotel , where a banquet was admirabl y served , presided over by the Prov . Grand Master . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts vvere duly

honoured . . Among those present were Bros . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . G . Master ; J . W . Sillitoe , 645 ; A . H . Williams , 2156 : H . L . Rocca , 815 ; J . E . Iliffe , i 45 >' R . Duxbury , 146 ; B . Carr , 1161 ; Henry Thomas , 277 i John Booth , 37 ; J . Cain , 594 ; W . Nicholl , 317 ; Abm-Pemberton , 1030 ; E . Pike , 1209 ; James Newton ; Jon "

Ogden , 1170 ; E . Farrar , 350 ; George A . Yates , 9931 James Cookson , 1030 ; J . Lees Aspland , 633 ; A . «• Jefferis , 645 ; Peter Lawton , 7 8 ; C D . Cheetham , 993 ; George Sam . Smith , 1170 ; John Garside , 3 ? 7 « E . W . Irving , 1170 ; Nath . Nicholson , 1723 ; ]¦ £ shaw , ion ; Saml . Steatham , 1773 ; Richard R usht ° . 1145 ; John Waring , 1134 ; William Hy . Cunliffe . 2091 Walter H . Vaughan , 1030 ; S . B . Priestley , 219 ; * - ' Woodcock , 191 ; and Abm . Clegg , 277 .