The Great Fire In Chicago.

THE GREAT FIRE IN CHICAGO .

Jt will be remembered that shortly after the o-reat Chicago fire , considerable sums of money were sent to the afflicted city by Masons in various parts of the world , to be used as a Masonic relief fund . It appears that more money was sent than tho needs of Chicago Masons required ,

and the surp us has been returned—not exactl y to the donors , but to the Grand Lodges , an amount of the surplus in proportion to the sums contributed by lodges in their several jurisdictions . The following is the correspondence on the subject between the Grand Master of Illinois

and the Grand Master of Canada . Office of the Grand Master . Chicago , Aug . 24 , 1872 . To the Grand Lodge of Canada A . F . and A Masons , Hon . Wm . M . Wilson , Grand Mas

ter , Simcoe , Canada . M . W . Sir and dear Brother , — -The Board of Relief organized for the purpose of distributing the funds , etc ., donated by the brethren

throughout the country for Masons rendered need y by the great conflagration ot Oct . Sth and 9 th last , having transferred the duty of relieving those in distress to the several city lodges , adjourned sine die on the 24 th day of June , 1872 .

In addition to the disbursements by the Board , the several city lodges were apportioned an amount of the surplus funds , in order to meet the demands referred to . This arrangement left a considerable amount

of funds unexpended . Believing that we have carried out the instructions of the generous donors , it has been deemed proper to return pro rata the surplus of the funds . It would be impracticable : to make this return to each lodge ;

indeed , such an amount would be quite insignificant . Hence the amount due to each State has been aggregated for the benefit of the " Charity Fund" of the Grand Lodge , or to such other

use as the Grand Lodge may apply it . We < ire pursuaded that the several lodges and brethren will heartily indorse : this disposition of the surplus .

Therefore , in behalf of the contributing lodges in your jurisdiction , 1 take great pleasure in inclosing a draft in New York for 994 dols . It is not deemed necessary at this time to give a detailed explanation of the basis of our action

in this matter . The forthcoming printed report , which will be sent you in due time , and in which will be found a list of the lodges in your jurisdiction , contributors to the fund , will show everything in connection with the proceedings of the

late Hoard of Masonic Relief in detail . Sincerel y hoping that our intentions and acts may meet the approval of you and your Grand Lodge , I have the honour to be ,

Truly and Fraternall y Yours , Dewitt C . Cregier , Grand Master of Alasons , Illinois , late Presi dent of the Masonic Board of Relief .

Grand Lodge of Canada , Office of the Grand Alaster , Simcoe , Ont ., 16 th Sept ., 1872 . Most Worshipful Sir and dear Brother , —I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your letter

dated 24 th August ( but post-marked Chicago , 13 th Sept . ) covering a draft on New York for 994 . 00 , being the share pro rata of unexpended funds contributed bv the Alasons of Canada , in

aid of the fnnd raised for the relief of those Alasons who suffered from the great fire in Chicago in October last , and I now inclose you the receipt of our Grand Treasurer for that amount .

I most heartily approve of the decision ol your committee , in returning funds not required for the purposes for which the )* were contributed , and their act in this matter will hereatter be cited as a noble precedent for our guidance in all time to come .

This money is now placed to the credit of our Grand Lodge , and that amount , and every dollar in our treasury , is at all times available in

The Great Fire In Chicago.

response to thc call of suffering humanity , and as a practical exemplification of our appreciation of the great cardinal virtues of brotherly love , Relief and Truth . I continue , Alost W . Sir and clear brother , Yours truly and fraternally ,

Wm . AL Wilson , Grand Alaster G . L . C . To the M . W . Bro . Dewitt C . Cregier , Esq . Grand AIaster Alason of Illinois , and late President of the Alasonic Board of Relief , Chicago , Illinois .

Reviews.

Reviews .

Die Bwihiillc ( Lepzig ) . This weekly paper , the organ of the German Order of Freemasons , continues to maintain its character for independence and research . The number for October 12 th is especially valuable

for an article by the Editor on the " Exposures and Rituals of Freemasonry , from Pritchard , of 1 730 to the present time . Bro . Findel ' s name is one lamiliar to all Alasonic students , andhislabours on behalf of the literature of the Fraternity should endear him to the Craft universal .

Thi' - Michigan hreemason . Although a Monthly Magazine of some fifty pages , we find that its aim is not originality , but mainly to alford its subscribers an insight into the contents of other Alasonic papers . At least

such appears tc be the Editor ' s plan of operation , for out of some dozen articles , nearly all have previously appeared in contemporaries . The

Editor is very ready to acknowledge the papers wherein they first appeared , and so far we commend him , but for our part we should welcome a little more from his own pen .

The Freemason ( St . Louis , U . S . A ) . Our namesake is one ofthe largest and cheapest Alasonic Alagazines in the world , ancl enjoys a most extensive circulation . Bro . G . F . Gouley has Ions- " made his mark" as the Editor , and is

now , as formerly , the sturdy champion oi thc privileges and rights of our universal Fraternity . In an article entitled " Alasons at Sight" Bro . Gouley , in his vigorous , style , opposes the infraction of laws by any officials , and opposes the

Grand Alaster of Connecticut for so doing in his mistaken proceeding of making two gentlemen " Masons at Sight . '' We say success to The Freemason . We notice our article " Freemasonry and its Consequences" is quoted in the September number .

Proceedings Grand Lotlge of Terns , 1872 ( U . S . A . ) . A massive volume , bu < interesting as bulky . The address of the Grand AIaster is practical and earnest . in some respects , however , it would startle many of our brethren to hear such read at

our Grand Lodge . Ihe M . W . Bro . Brandette asks " Is the retailing of spiritous liquors a legitimate business for a Alason ? " He says all must admit that its baneful influences are felt and seen resting upon the community , mentally ,

physically , and morally . The committee report that they fully approve the moral of the Grand Alaster ' s address , anel remark that " while they

had no rig ht to prescribe a Mason ' s vocation , they recommended all lodges to look well into the character of material presented for their work . "

About 50 Grand Lodges are in communication witli this Grand Lodge , but we are sorry to find that England , Ireland , and Scotland are not included in the list . The complete roll of ail the 360 lodges is given

as an appendix . This occupies upwards of 100 pages of very small type , for not onl y are the names , locations , Alasters , Secretaries , number of members , initiations , deaths , expulsions , suspensions , rejections , applications , dues , charity

fund , cvc . are given , but also the names of every officer , Past Master , and of every lv . ember in each individual lodge , and the Entered

Apprentices ancl Fellow Crafts , are also carefully enumerated ! We are of opinion that the office of Grand Secretary cannot be a sinecure in the Grand Lodge of Texas . No drones need apply .

Reviews.

" The Masonic Trowel" ( Springfield , Illinois U . S . A . ) The number for October rst lies before us and on the whole is fairly represent . ! tive of the general fare provided by Bro . Reynold for his numerous readers . The articles b y Br J . S William Rounseville have become quite an

institution of the "Trowel , " anel we have got to look for them as naturally as possible . A " Alasonic History of Illinois , " is being written from week to week , we presume by the

editor , ancl in this issue is brought down to 1859 . The leader on " Registration" is a racy one , anel evidently much needed in the United States , - for , according to Bro . Reynolds , in several Grand Lodges in America the names of the brethren

are not registered by the Grand Secretary at all . Even in a large Grand Lodge like Illinois no registry exists ! We hope soon to hear of a regular Grand Lodge registration throughout Ameria , for we are persuaded it is the only security loelges

can havc , in the event of their records being burnt or lost , anel we know of instances where lodges have only been able to prove their antiquity by reference to a Grand Lodge registry . We do not like the following paragraph at all ,

and think the editor must have allowed its insertion without remembering the motto , " Audi alteram partem . " We open our columns to any brother who will write according to the rules of Freemasonry ; ancl being independent of any

party , and alone anxious to elucidate truth , we cannot see wh y our admission of Bro . Norton ' s articles should be so spoken of . Let Past Grand Alaster Gardner reply to Bro Norton ' s argument , or any who differ from the

latter . The Freemason , is impartial , and is the organ of the Craft , not of a section , or of a few , but we hope of the whole . The remark runs thus which we complain of-. — " Jacob Norton , n miserable mountebank , is taking a tilt at Past

Grand Alaster Gardner , of Massachusetts , through the Loneion Freemason , by the use of anti-Alasonic arguments . "' Bro . Reynolds , no doubt , is aware that Bro . Norton is a respected member of the Craft , resident in Boston , personally known

to Past Grand AIaster Gardner ( who would be ready to give a vastly different character to his friendly opponent ) , and certainly neither a mountebank , nor anything derogatory to a Freemason .

Gacclta Maromca De Venezuela . We cannot alford the space to cpiote all we should like to from these bi-monthly papers . The statistical information appears to be carefully prepared , and the subject matter well arranged .

La Per / te ( Journal Mao . de la Suisse Romande ) . We continue to receive this useful little paper periodically , and notice that of late a translation of the able " Notes on the United Orders of the Temple and Hospital , " by Bro . Emra Holmes , is being published iu its pages .

Nob Bus r Vickers , Strand . Nub Bus ( Nobody ' s Business ) is the strange title of a book intended to be a legal guide for the million , and is redundant with promises which , in manv cases , we have not been able to find

fulfilled . However , many grievances connected with the administration of the law are clearly made known , and their abolition intelligently advocated , and die defivdtions of legal phrases excellent , and withal curious and frequentl y

amusing . Unless our readers are suffering from a disorder most unusual at present , and known as Plethora uf Silver , we advise them not to try Nob Bus at 2 S ., but to speculate on the Penny

Pagiiiu , by the same author , which answers the purpose equally as well as the more pretentious edition . Air . Marcus declares that this brochure , which can be hael for the outlay of " two baubees , " " is a luxury whose juice is sweeter than the rare pine , and more refreshing than the

compressed grape into the golden waters of champagne . " If our readers lind it impossible to resist this most thrilling appeal , they are not likely to repeat the circumstance , as in our opinion the work is worth much more to the author than to anybody else .