The Anniversary Of The Boys' School For 1875.

tions may be perfectly realized , and his strenuous exertions fittingly rewarded . But it is hopeless for us now to moralize , or to dwell on what will be , for when our brethren look down this column all will be settled and ended , whether for good or evil , whether for failure or success .

Bro . Binckes alluded also , last Friday , to what some termed his revolutionary proceedings , first in going to Muswell Hill at all , and secondly , in introducing our sisters to share in the festival . programme . " No longer , " said our brother , in a burst of poetic fervour , " are we to look up to

them at a dim distance in this age of progress and expanding civilization we ask them to come down to us from those inaccessible regions , and grace the genial board , and sit happily and confidingly by our sides . " No wonder that the brethren loudly applauded the speaker , and we observed one or two of the elder brethren

amongst us , married men though they be , very demonstrative . We are inclined to agree with Bro . Binckes . In the first place , there is no objection to Muswell Hill Masonically . " High hills'' are old places of assembly for Freemasons , and as regards our sisters , we think the time has

come when the exclusion of ladies from our greater gatherings should no longer be insisted upon as "de rigueur " by Masonic rules and regulations . If Bro . Binckes has never any other faults found with him than by those who really are the " wet blankets " of all Masonic meetings ,

the " stumbling blocks" to all Masonic improvements , he will do very well . We believe , ourselves , that in this development of the anniversary meeting , in the assembling of sisters and brethren all interested in the welfare of a most admirable educational institution , Bro .

Binckes is wise in his generation , and , knowing how to sail on the " ebb tide" of general Masonic feeling , will be wafted on favouring trade winds , to a haven of success and reward . No doubt some of our ancient brethren , and some of us ourselves , let us be honest , in the matter , have

objected to the presence of ladies . The dear creatures do so attract and please , they make so "' much ofthe running " to use a sporting phrase , that we lords of the creation often have to pale our puny fires before the scintillations of woman ' s wit , her loving heart , and

her graceful goodness . But yet surely our male exclusiveness is a great mistake . For the Boys' School , as Bro . Binckes properly said , our sisters have laboured , for it they work , for it they collect , and why should they be debarred from the pleasures ofthe festival day , when , let us

hope they may be led , by the sights they witness , and the words they hear , to increase their kindly sympathy and interest in Freemasons and Freemasonry . Who knows what fates may be decided , in the full flow of aerated and cooling liquids , amid the echoes of music , during the

intervals of the speeches . Bro . Jones will have made the rash plunge , in an unguarded second , and his Medora will have not said no . Bro . Robinson will find the agreeable little widow , more agreeable than -ever , and Mr . and Mrs . Robinson will soon announce " No Cards . " Bro . Brown will have fallen at last before the

wiles of azure eyes and golden curls , and his friends Bros . Figgins and Jackson will declarcthat he ' s " gone and done it . " For all this and much more Bro . Binckes is responsible , and an indulgent Order will no doubt at the fitting time ask for a full explanation from him . We are happy however in being able to state that the Stewards' lists on the occasion amounted to the

handsome returns of , £ 12 , 700 os od . We congratulate Bro . Binckes . We shall recur to the subject in our next .

The Recent Floods In France.

THE RECENT FLOODS IN FRANCE .

As Freemasons we always sympathize deeply and truly with the trials and afflictions of humanity . In this view we fully endorse all that is so well said by a correspondent in The Freemason . Every now and then there come

before us , in this great and living world of ours , at home and abroad , before our doors , or in some distant land , sad evidences of wasting and destruction , of calamity and misery , brought about by the convulsions of nature , so to say , or by some feaiful exhibition of unavoidable disaster . An

The Recent Floods In France.

earthquake submerges a whole town and population , a fire levels to the ground the houses of thousands , a reservoir bursts its bounds , carrying death and destruction amid peaceful myriads , or a river overflows its banks and sweeps all before it in its resistless strength , overthrowing

the works of many hands , and causing a watery grave to manv old and young . At this moment a portion of the fair land of France , Toulouse , is suffering from the terrible inundation caused by tho overflowing of the Garonne . Houses are dismantled and destroyed , cottages are in

ruins , a large number of human beings have perished in the surging waters , and more than one noble and gallant Frenchman has fallen at the post of duty in the endeavour to save some sinking fellow-creatures . A large number of the industrious population are now homeless and

penniless , their tenements and furniture swept away and destroyed , probably many savings of years gone never to return , and the French Government and the French people are manfully endeavouring to meet this great disaster , in a spirit of energy and liberality which deserves

all praise . It seems to us that our Masonic Lodges may fairly make a lodge collection for the sufferers and send it to our worthy and estimable brother , the Lord Mayor , at the Mansion House , for our French brethren and sisters across the Channel . The W . M . of the

Chaucer Lodge inaugurated , happily , his new regime by a small but successful" whip " for the occassion , and if every lodge will do the same , leaving each brother to give what he can afford , a considerable sum will be raised for the relief of a suffering and industrious population . We in

England , have , in truth , much of admiration for our Gallican neighbours . We admire their geniality of spirit and their animation of character , we respect the courage they shew in adverse circumstances and their happy endurance of dark and dangerous days . We recognize

their many claims to warm sympathy and friendly good-will , and now that their industrious and kind-hearted population . is suffering from the direst calamities that can afflict humanity , the feeling of every Englishman , and th ? wish of every Freemason will be to offer them both ready and hearty co-operation , and to hold out

to them the kindly hand of fellowship and relief . We hope that our views may be seconded by our benevolent fraternity , and we shall be glad to announce in the Freemason any contribution to the Lord Mayor ' s Fund for the speedy support and assistance of so many suffering fellow-creatures in France .

Provincial Funds.—Iii.

PROVINCIAL FUNDS . —III .

CORNWALL . In the good province of Cornwall the annual income seems to be about £ 230 per annum , more or less . This amount is made up to the close of the financial year , July , 8 th , 1875 , of

the following items : —Balance , £ 64 13 s . ad . ; collection in church , 5613 15 s . od . ; fees of honour , £ 18 18 s . od . ; lodge dues , £ 133 7 s . 6 d . ; dispensations , £$ —in all , £ 230 18 s . 8 d . The expenditure is as follows : —Donation to vicar of

Bodmin , one-fifth of collection , £ 2 15 s . od . ; East Cornwall Hospital , £ 5 ios . od . Cornwall Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund , £ 6 ios . od . ; Cornwall Annuity and Benevolent Fund , £ 25 os . od . donation to thc

Royal Orphan Asylum , s £ io ios . od . ; Relief to a brother and a widow , £ \ os . od . ; two brethren , £ 20 os . od . ; special expenses , £ \ 7 17 s . 4 d . ; ordinary expenses , £ 64 . is . jd . This last sum is no doubt increased by the great

gathering at Plymouth , 14 th August last year , to greet our Royal brother the Prince of Wales . The balance for the year is £ 49 4 s . nd . in favour of Prov . Grand Lodge . The Province of Cornwall has also . £ 2 , 000 funded for its Annuity

and Benevolent Fund , which does not appear in the Financial Statement of the Prov . G . Lodge . It was established in 1864 , and is supported by the voluntary subscriptions of the brethren , each

lodge electing a Steward to collect the subscriptions . It now supports 4 annuitants of ^ 20 each for life , and it is also intended , we understand to aid the education of children , and the relief of widows of Cornwall Freemasons . There

Provincial Funds.—Iii.

are now 24 lodges in the Province of Cornwall , and 1340 members . In 1874 there were 177 initiations . The province has 68 votes for the Girls' School , 191 for the Boys' School , r . 18 for aged Masons , and 121 for the Widows , in all

49 8 votes . Our worthy Bro . W . J . Hughan , takes a very active part officially in all that relates to the charities , and the voting for these institutions , following the wise example of West Yorkshire .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do net hold ourselves responsible for , or even as 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 . —ED . 1

HOW MASONS ARE MADE . To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me to supplement the letter of " L . of L . " in to-day ' s issue with a few remarks .

Although I agree with " L . of L . " that the balloting for non-resident persons is a fruitful source of the admission of unfit members , and think that the instance he records is of such a disgraceful character that the P . G . M . of W . L . should give it more than a passing consideration , yet there are other causes of the introduction of unsuitable

individuals which merit attention , and I may add that if the P . G . Lodge could carry out the admirable suggestions contained in the three resolutions proposed by L . of L . I feel satisfied that they would effectually grapple with the difficulty , and do much to re-establish Masonry in the eyes of the more respectable . There is no doubt but that this matter is pressing itself to the front in the minds of all

earnest and zealous Masons—the rapid increase of individuals who would not , as L . of L . says , ever have dreamed a few years ago , of gaining admission into the Order . If you admit one or two unsuitable men into a lodge you probably shock the feelings of a dozen good members , and by not attending the lodge meetings they permit the lodge to be made use of in introducing others of the same class ,

and it thus becomes infested' with and governed by unmasonic Masons , and thc result is lavish expenditure , neglected charities , internal division , and a legacy of widows and orphans . I may say that nearly all the cases within my personal knowledge that have become burdens upon our Masonic charities or private benevolence have been the widows and

children of those who did not attend their lodges , who would not contribute to the charities , and against whom there was prima facie evidence that they were not fit and proper persons to become a Mason . The source of injury to the Craft that I wish to point out , in addition to the one of proposing non-resident persons , is in Secretaries and Masters of lodges not making inquiries , or

in not using thc knowledge they possess respecting the suitability of joining members or persons who have been rejected in other lodges . I will mention a few cases in connection with a lodge in West Lancashire to which I belong , and which will serve to illustrate an evil that will be more or less patent to the minds of most Masons .

We have had individuals rejected in our lodge accepted in others without any inquiry , and joining members accepted by others who were known to be in arrears with us , without a word of inquiry from the Secretary or W . M . ; in fact , Mr . Editor , with the exception of one lodge from thc South of England I do not remember that we have had an official inquiry respecting one who has been

rejected or a member who was in arrears . This shows a very lax system as many for whom quarterages have been paid to the Grand Lodge and P . G . Lodge before they were removed from the list of members have and can obtain admission into other lodges without difficulty . I will instance a few cases . No . 1 was notoriously in arrears with us , and it was known to many members of another

lodge , but he was accepted by them without hesitation . No . 2 was a source of trouble to us and in arrears ; he was accepted about two years ago by another lodge , and has not paid them his joining fee or subscription since . No 3 accepted as joining member , in arrears with us . No . 4 rejected by us , accepted without inquiry by another lodge . The above and many other cases could be given which

have occurred within a short period , all showing great inattention or culpable negligence . It is sad to think that lodges should close their eyes to the Masonic antecedents of a member , for if he is in arrears with one lodge he will certainly not be an acquisition to another . I mig ht add to the resolutions proposed by L . of L . that if a lodge

accepts as a joining member one who is in arrears with his mother lodge that the lodge he joins should be made responsible for such arrears . I am , yours fraternally , QUERN . Preston , June 26 th , 1875 .

THE FLOODS IN FRANCE . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The sad reports which , since more than a week , we daily read in the papers of the terrible disaster caused

by the inundation of the rivers in the South of France , should remind us of our Masonic duty to carry one of our great principles into effect , viz ., charity . Masonry is universal , and , consequently , our Masonic duties are of an international character .