Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad00404
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS , Sr . J ' HILL , BATTERSEA RISK , S . VV . PATRON AND PRESIDENT : — HIS ROVAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OE WALES , K . G ., & c , M . W . G . M . PATRONESS : HER ROVAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OE WALES . THE NINETY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL . of this Institution xvill take place On WEDNESDAY , MAY 10 th , 1 SS 2 , under the Presidency of H . R . H . THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT , K . G ., & c , P . G . W . Brethren willing to act as Stewards are urgently needed , and will greatly oblige by forwarding their names as early as possible to the Secretary , who xvill gladly give any information required . F . R . VV . HEDGES , Office , 5 , FYcemasons' I lall , Sec . Great ( Juecn-strect , London , W . C .
Ad00405
ROYAL SEA BATHING INFIRMARY , MARGATE . ESTABLISHED 1791 . TIIE ONLY ONE EXCLUSIVELY FOR SCROFULOUS POOR . COL . CREATON , TREASURER . JOHN M . CLABON , ESQ ., HON . SECRETARY . This Hospital requires aid . An extra liberal diet table is of necessity required on account of thc exhausting nature of this terrible disease . Donors of £ 10 ios ., Annual Subscribers of £ 1 is ., can recommend patients . 250 beds . Average number of Inpatients per year , 730 , and of applicants over 1000 . Bankers , the Bank of England ; Coutts and Co . . and Cobb and Co ., Margate . Offices : No . 30 , Charing Cross , VV . JOHN THOMAS WALKER , Secretary
Ad00406
TWTASONIC HALL , CROYDON . HAREWOOD HOUSE , 105 , HIGH STREET . This Hall has every requirement for Masonic purposes . It contains a large Organ , blown by hydraulic power , and lias an excellent cellar for Lodges to keep their own wines . The following Lodges arc held there , viz . —Frederick , 452 ; Addiscombe , 15565 Alu / art , KJJ < 5 Croydon Mark , lyS ; Ficderick Chapter . For terms , & c ., address — | OIIN RHODES , P . M .. P . P . G . O . Surrey ; P . P . G . M . O . Middx . and Surrey .
Ar00400
( Lo GTorrfSyonticitts . 'The following stands over : — VVoishipful Masters V ., by Bro . A . C . F . Calaminus . BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " 1 he Hull Packet , " " Keystone , " " 'The Broad Arrow , " " Roval Cornwall Gazette , " Debrett ' s House of
Commons , " " Public Ledger , " "The Liberal Freemason , " "Orient , The West London Advertiser , " "The VVest Cuinbeiland Times , " "The Court Circular , " " 'The Masonic Chronicle , " " Allen ' s Indian Mail , " " La Acacia , " " I- ; i Taller , " " The Masonic Tablet . ' '
Ar00407
WW ^ sSsmsrw g » e ( B || aBfl ) ii SATURDAV , . MARCH II , ISSJ .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We dfi tint Imld ( Mir-eU cs responsible for , or even approvinc ; of , the opinions exprcsscl liy oiircorre-pmiilents . lmt weuisli in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain uecesaarj limits—free discussion . 1 ANOTHER ATTACK ON FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — A recent attack of an Ultramontane Spanish paper , called " La Kevista Popular , " which is so amusing that I give it here . The ingenious writer has made an attack on Freemasonry , which the writer in the " Mallcle " terms
"telum imbelle sine ictu , " —a " harmless weapon without force , " in the form of a " creed , " which he says is the code of faith and morality of Freemasonry everywhere . Listen to il , I pray my readers . 1 . Nos per nos . —Ourselves by or for ourselves . 2 . Nullus super nos . —No one above us . - ,. ( Juic cunquc , ubicunciue , quandocunquc , comede ,
bibe , lie-tare . —liat , drink , rejoicsovcr , whatever things you wish , everywhere , and whenever you like . 4 . Cum qua cumquc et qua . cumquu , disjunge et conjunge , dummodo convenias—Marry , separate , just as it mutually suits . 5 . Possumus omnia facere qua : volumus absque sive etiam culpa . —Wc can do all xve wish xvithout even venial sin .
Original Correspondence.
C . Iirgo semper liberi sumus . —Therefore , we are free for ever . 1 leave out several of these absurd articles , as I give your readers an idea of thc animus of this pious Roman Catholic assailant , firstly because tbey are both absurd and profane , and secondly because I cannot help fancying that one of our good . friends , the Jesuits , has had a hand in drawing up
this profane recapitulation . 'The language is peculiar and scholastic , and 1 think I can trace in this foolish attack some of those subde ( phrases , both of metaphysics and casuistry , in which our Jesuit opponents like to indulge . As an incrimination of F ' reemasonry it is so absurd in itself as to claim no reply . Vours fraternally , MASONIC OBSERVER .
FRENCII FRLLMASONRV . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brothel , Voui paragraph respecting thc Lodge of Pccq and the Grand Lodge Symbolique demands a few explanatory words from me , probably the only member of the Craft
under the obedience of the G . L . Symbolique . who will read your estimable journal . I must premise my remarks by informing you that as soon as the Lod |> e of Pccq bad committed the enormity of initiating a lady , and thus making a "Masoness , " that precocious lodge was asked to retire from tbe body of the G . L . Symbolique , a polite way of
suspending its activity , which has been done . I hear that the above-mentioned lodge has been asked to be admitted in the bosom of the family of tbe " Supreme Conseil . " I think xve may anticipate thc reply of the "Supreme Conseil . " Now , dear Bro . Iiditor , to the point of my letter . I
think you must be unaware of thc birth of the G . L . Symbolique to call it , as you do , an illegal body , and pel haps with your usual fair spirit you will permit me to explain the circumstances connected with the formation of this fourth governing Masonic body in the Republic of France . To do this it is necessary to recapitulate a few
points dating a few years back . At the period of xvliich write , about 1 S 70 , in the year of grace , it became apparent that the " Supreme Conseil " xvcre governing wilh a high and mighty hand , themselves naming ihe different lodges representatives to them , thus effectually doing away with any particular lodge having even a consultative voice in
the management of their affairs . Several lodges thereupon jlcclarcd themselves en sommeil that is , in non-activity , meeting no more , and in a kind of trance . Like Rip Van Winkle , these dozen lodges awoke after a long slumber and formed the Grand Lodge Symbolique lico-saisr , governing only the lirst Three
Degrees of Cralt Masonry , and having obtained the permission of the Supreme Council and Grand Orient they became a legal body ; one of their chief causes of existence and creation was , and is still , to re-unite the different rites existing i . i this country under one grand national lodge governing the lirst Three Degrees , and a " Supreme
Conseil " governing and administering the higher grades . In this great work of pacification and unity xve are happily progressing , sub-committees having been appointed by . the different rites with the view of arriving at the desidevaUtm of being able IM quote , the words , " How pleasant it is for brethren to live together in peace . "
I may here add an important point , viz ., that the " sine qua non " of the "Supreme Conseil" is the maintenance of the Lausanne Convention , especially with regard to that point of division hitherto existing—the existence of the G . A . O . T . U . —and no objection , I believe , has been raised lo this by the other obediences ; we hope , therefore , shortly
to be able afresh to claim brotherhood with the Anglo-Saxon branch of the Masonic family , who , in my humble opinion , have by estranging themselves from the Continental branch of the family , commenced an allegorical war of the roses . VVe , however , will not take up the gauntlet ; xve feel obliged to vou for tbe leniency witb which you judge our materialist
biethreu , but respectfully call your attention to the fact that it is not your place to judge us 5 it does no good . There are many things Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry has yet to learn , and many benefits to derive from a visit to a French Lodge , lor instance , 1 remarked in a preceding number of the Freemason a justly placed complaint as to initiations
taking place without sulbcient guarantees as to the respectability and responsibility of the candidate . Such a state of affairs could not exist with us " castaway , good-fornothing " brethren , for on a name being proposed for initiation into the mysteries of " llancient Freemasonry , " as I heard a VV . M . say in lingland scarcely a month since , it
becomes the duty of the VV . M . privately to appoint three members of the lodge who have passed the Sublime Degree to enquire— each of them separately—into the proposed one ' s life , character , habits , etc ., and only upon the three reports being read , the names of the enquirers being suppiesscd , tan the lodge , at three different meetings , vote for initiation . From what I have seen in Anglo-Saxon
Freemasonry , it would not belit them ill to adopt a similar plan . It now only remains for me amply to apologise for the length of my epistle , pleading Masonic zeal as my excuse , and hoping that the frankness of my speech will not merit your eternal wrath . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally ,
JOSEPH LAMBERT , Sec . No . 0 , Da I . igne Droite , G . L . Sym 76 , Faubourg Poissonniere , Paris .
Original Correspondence.
GRAND LODGE AND THE ROVAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir ancl Brother , — 1 confess I am unable to appreciate the arguments which Bro . Philbrick advanced in support of his motion of Wednesday last , to the effect that so much of the minutes
of the December Communication of Grand Lodge as related to the grant of an additional jfSoo per annum to the Royal Masonic Benex-olent Institution should not be continued . I agree with him tbat prudence in all circumstances is a virtue of the highest importance in Freemasonry . This being so , I trust Bro . Philbrick will pardon me for
suggesting that he would have done better il before proposing his motion he had been at the pains of making himself acquainted with the circumstances on which alone a prudent man , like himself , and the advocate of prudence in others , xvould , in the ordinary concerns of life , found so solemn a proposition . Had he adopted this course , I imagine he
would never havc brought forward a motion inviting Grand Lodge to undo in March what it had unanimously , at one of the most numerously attended meetings of thc last few years , resolved on doing last December . Nor xvcre the means wanting by which be might easily have obtained the requisite information . The statements
of account , published quarterly , of the I- ' unds of General Purposes and Benevolence show unmistakably tbat the contributions of lodges to the former for one year arc more than sullicient to cover its normal expenditure for the same period . These " contributions" exceed £ 7000 , while thc "expenditure" is within that sum . But , in addition to
this regular source of income , there arc the sums received from rents and dividends , as well as the one-fifth of thc salaries contributed by Grand Chapter , which together are considerably in excess of £ 3300 . Another point , xvliich it may be well to note , is lhat each of these quarterly statements of accounts show a very formidable balance to thc
credit of the fund , while every now and then will be found entered in the expenditure one or more sums disbursed in the purchase of stock . At all ex-ents , no one wbo has gone through these statements , even cursorily , can possibly arrix-eat any other conclusion than that Grand Lodge will be guilty of no imprudence should it ultimately confirm its
resolution of last December . The question may be regarded from another point of view . May I ask Bro . Philbrick , with all deference , if H 12 rent-roll of Grand Lodge may not be looked upon as a permanent source of income , if Grand Chapter ' s contribution of one-fifth of the sum disbursed for salaries
may not be regarded as a sound asset ; and if thc lodge contributions are of so little account that they must be left out in the cold in estimating the means at the disposal of Grand Lodge to meet its liabilities ! " If these may be legitimately taken into account , then Grand Lodge has an average income of / , ' , 000 to meet an average
expenditure of £ 700 D , and it might grant an additional £$ 00 annually three times over , and yet hax-e a respectable balance on the right side of the account . On the other band , if they are to be overlooked in reckoning its available means , then Grand Lodge for years past has been doing nothing else than exhibit a degree of
impruxlcncu swclx as even the , mist reckless of public companies have rarely equalled . Let me give just one illustration of this imprudence . l- ' or salaries and wages Grand Lodge stands committed to over £ 2400 , ut which Grand Chapter pays a fifth , so that the net liability under his head is fourfold the income
derived from investments . However , it is hardly worth while pursuing this argument . With a quarterly balance of income over expenditure of over £ 2000 and upwards , it is clear the Fund of General Purposes must be administered with a degree of prudence which is most creditable to the Board over which
Bro . Sir J . B .- Monckton so ably presides . Having abeady so largely trespassed on your valuable space , I will merely add that during the past few years thc resources of Grand Lodge have been such that , after provision has been made for every class of expenditure , it has
found the xvherewith to invest largely in Government Stock and new buildings . Under these circumstances 1 think Grand Lodge deserves and will receive a character for prudence in every way worthy of its exalted position as thc Parliament of Freemasonry . I remain , faithfully and fraternally yours , A LOVER OF PRUDENCE .
ELIAS ASHMOLE . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Ashmole was buried in the north aisle at the east end of Lambeth Church . 'Therefore , though I cannot speak with certainty , 1 should think bis will was more likely
to be found in Doctors' Commons than in the Registry of Wills at Lichfield , bis death having taken place , I believe , at his chambers in the 'Temple . When the second part of my memoir appears in the " Masonic Magazine " it xvill be found to contain an extract from a description of his xvill which I have lighted upon , and wbich is to the effect that
he bequeathed to the Ashmolean Museum his library , " which consisted of one thousand seven hundred and fiftyeight books , of which six hundred and twenty were manuscripts , and of them three hundred and eleven folios relating chielly to history , heraldry , astronomy , and chemistry , with a great variety of pamphlets , part oi xvliich had been sorted
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad00404
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS , Sr . J ' HILL , BATTERSEA RISK , S . VV . PATRON AND PRESIDENT : — HIS ROVAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OE WALES , K . G ., & c , M . W . G . M . PATRONESS : HER ROVAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OE WALES . THE NINETY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL . of this Institution xvill take place On WEDNESDAY , MAY 10 th , 1 SS 2 , under the Presidency of H . R . H . THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT , K . G ., & c , P . G . W . Brethren willing to act as Stewards are urgently needed , and will greatly oblige by forwarding their names as early as possible to the Secretary , who xvill gladly give any information required . F . R . VV . HEDGES , Office , 5 , FYcemasons' I lall , Sec . Great ( Juecn-strect , London , W . C .
Ad00405
ROYAL SEA BATHING INFIRMARY , MARGATE . ESTABLISHED 1791 . TIIE ONLY ONE EXCLUSIVELY FOR SCROFULOUS POOR . COL . CREATON , TREASURER . JOHN M . CLABON , ESQ ., HON . SECRETARY . This Hospital requires aid . An extra liberal diet table is of necessity required on account of thc exhausting nature of this terrible disease . Donors of £ 10 ios ., Annual Subscribers of £ 1 is ., can recommend patients . 250 beds . Average number of Inpatients per year , 730 , and of applicants over 1000 . Bankers , the Bank of England ; Coutts and Co . . and Cobb and Co ., Margate . Offices : No . 30 , Charing Cross , VV . JOHN THOMAS WALKER , Secretary
Ad00406
TWTASONIC HALL , CROYDON . HAREWOOD HOUSE , 105 , HIGH STREET . This Hall has every requirement for Masonic purposes . It contains a large Organ , blown by hydraulic power , and lias an excellent cellar for Lodges to keep their own wines . The following Lodges arc held there , viz . —Frederick , 452 ; Addiscombe , 15565 Alu / art , KJJ < 5 Croydon Mark , lyS ; Ficderick Chapter . For terms , & c ., address — | OIIN RHODES , P . M .. P . P . G . O . Surrey ; P . P . G . M . O . Middx . and Surrey .
Ar00400
( Lo GTorrfSyonticitts . 'The following stands over : — VVoishipful Masters V ., by Bro . A . C . F . Calaminus . BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " 1 he Hull Packet , " " Keystone , " " 'The Broad Arrow , " " Roval Cornwall Gazette , " Debrett ' s House of
Commons , " " Public Ledger , " "The Liberal Freemason , " "Orient , The West London Advertiser , " "The VVest Cuinbeiland Times , " "The Court Circular , " " 'The Masonic Chronicle , " " Allen ' s Indian Mail , " " La Acacia , " " I- ; i Taller , " " The Masonic Tablet . ' '
Ar00407
WW ^ sSsmsrw g » e ( B || aBfl ) ii SATURDAV , . MARCH II , ISSJ .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We dfi tint Imld ( Mir-eU cs responsible for , or even approvinc ; of , the opinions exprcsscl liy oiircorre-pmiilents . lmt weuisli in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain uecesaarj limits—free discussion . 1 ANOTHER ATTACK ON FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — A recent attack of an Ultramontane Spanish paper , called " La Kevista Popular , " which is so amusing that I give it here . The ingenious writer has made an attack on Freemasonry , which the writer in the " Mallcle " terms
"telum imbelle sine ictu , " —a " harmless weapon without force , " in the form of a " creed , " which he says is the code of faith and morality of Freemasonry everywhere . Listen to il , I pray my readers . 1 . Nos per nos . —Ourselves by or for ourselves . 2 . Nullus super nos . —No one above us . - ,. ( Juic cunquc , ubicunciue , quandocunquc , comede ,
bibe , lie-tare . —liat , drink , rejoicsovcr , whatever things you wish , everywhere , and whenever you like . 4 . Cum qua cumquc et qua . cumquu , disjunge et conjunge , dummodo convenias—Marry , separate , just as it mutually suits . 5 . Possumus omnia facere qua : volumus absque sive etiam culpa . —Wc can do all xve wish xvithout even venial sin .
Original Correspondence.
C . Iirgo semper liberi sumus . —Therefore , we are free for ever . 1 leave out several of these absurd articles , as I give your readers an idea of thc animus of this pious Roman Catholic assailant , firstly because tbey are both absurd and profane , and secondly because I cannot help fancying that one of our good . friends , the Jesuits , has had a hand in drawing up
this profane recapitulation . 'The language is peculiar and scholastic , and 1 think I can trace in this foolish attack some of those subde ( phrases , both of metaphysics and casuistry , in which our Jesuit opponents like to indulge . As an incrimination of F ' reemasonry it is so absurd in itself as to claim no reply . Vours fraternally , MASONIC OBSERVER .
FRENCII FRLLMASONRV . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brothel , Voui paragraph respecting thc Lodge of Pccq and the Grand Lodge Symbolique demands a few explanatory words from me , probably the only member of the Craft
under the obedience of the G . L . Symbolique . who will read your estimable journal . I must premise my remarks by informing you that as soon as the Lod |> e of Pccq bad committed the enormity of initiating a lady , and thus making a "Masoness , " that precocious lodge was asked to retire from tbe body of the G . L . Symbolique , a polite way of
suspending its activity , which has been done . I hear that the above-mentioned lodge has been asked to be admitted in the bosom of the family of tbe " Supreme Conseil . " I think xve may anticipate thc reply of the "Supreme Conseil . " Now , dear Bro . Iiditor , to the point of my letter . I
think you must be unaware of thc birth of the G . L . Symbolique to call it , as you do , an illegal body , and pel haps with your usual fair spirit you will permit me to explain the circumstances connected with the formation of this fourth governing Masonic body in the Republic of France . To do this it is necessary to recapitulate a few
points dating a few years back . At the period of xvliich write , about 1 S 70 , in the year of grace , it became apparent that the " Supreme Conseil " xvcre governing wilh a high and mighty hand , themselves naming ihe different lodges representatives to them , thus effectually doing away with any particular lodge having even a consultative voice in
the management of their affairs . Several lodges thereupon jlcclarcd themselves en sommeil that is , in non-activity , meeting no more , and in a kind of trance . Like Rip Van Winkle , these dozen lodges awoke after a long slumber and formed the Grand Lodge Symbolique lico-saisr , governing only the lirst Three
Degrees of Cralt Masonry , and having obtained the permission of the Supreme Council and Grand Orient they became a legal body ; one of their chief causes of existence and creation was , and is still , to re-unite the different rites existing i . i this country under one grand national lodge governing the lirst Three Degrees , and a " Supreme
Conseil " governing and administering the higher grades . In this great work of pacification and unity xve are happily progressing , sub-committees having been appointed by . the different rites with the view of arriving at the desidevaUtm of being able IM quote , the words , " How pleasant it is for brethren to live together in peace . "
I may here add an important point , viz ., that the " sine qua non " of the "Supreme Conseil" is the maintenance of the Lausanne Convention , especially with regard to that point of division hitherto existing—the existence of the G . A . O . T . U . —and no objection , I believe , has been raised lo this by the other obediences ; we hope , therefore , shortly
to be able afresh to claim brotherhood with the Anglo-Saxon branch of the Masonic family , who , in my humble opinion , have by estranging themselves from the Continental branch of the family , commenced an allegorical war of the roses . VVe , however , will not take up the gauntlet ; xve feel obliged to vou for tbe leniency witb which you judge our materialist
biethreu , but respectfully call your attention to the fact that it is not your place to judge us 5 it does no good . There are many things Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry has yet to learn , and many benefits to derive from a visit to a French Lodge , lor instance , 1 remarked in a preceding number of the Freemason a justly placed complaint as to initiations
taking place without sulbcient guarantees as to the respectability and responsibility of the candidate . Such a state of affairs could not exist with us " castaway , good-fornothing " brethren , for on a name being proposed for initiation into the mysteries of " llancient Freemasonry , " as I heard a VV . M . say in lingland scarcely a month since , it
becomes the duty of the VV . M . privately to appoint three members of the lodge who have passed the Sublime Degree to enquire— each of them separately—into the proposed one ' s life , character , habits , etc ., and only upon the three reports being read , the names of the enquirers being suppiesscd , tan the lodge , at three different meetings , vote for initiation . From what I have seen in Anglo-Saxon
Freemasonry , it would not belit them ill to adopt a similar plan . It now only remains for me amply to apologise for the length of my epistle , pleading Masonic zeal as my excuse , and hoping that the frankness of my speech will not merit your eternal wrath . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally ,
JOSEPH LAMBERT , Sec . No . 0 , Da I . igne Droite , G . L . Sym 76 , Faubourg Poissonniere , Paris .
Original Correspondence.
GRAND LODGE AND THE ROVAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir ancl Brother , — 1 confess I am unable to appreciate the arguments which Bro . Philbrick advanced in support of his motion of Wednesday last , to the effect that so much of the minutes
of the December Communication of Grand Lodge as related to the grant of an additional jfSoo per annum to the Royal Masonic Benex-olent Institution should not be continued . I agree with him tbat prudence in all circumstances is a virtue of the highest importance in Freemasonry . This being so , I trust Bro . Philbrick will pardon me for
suggesting that he would have done better il before proposing his motion he had been at the pains of making himself acquainted with the circumstances on which alone a prudent man , like himself , and the advocate of prudence in others , xvould , in the ordinary concerns of life , found so solemn a proposition . Had he adopted this course , I imagine he
would never havc brought forward a motion inviting Grand Lodge to undo in March what it had unanimously , at one of the most numerously attended meetings of thc last few years , resolved on doing last December . Nor xvcre the means wanting by which be might easily have obtained the requisite information . The statements
of account , published quarterly , of the I- ' unds of General Purposes and Benevolence show unmistakably tbat the contributions of lodges to the former for one year arc more than sullicient to cover its normal expenditure for the same period . These " contributions" exceed £ 7000 , while thc "expenditure" is within that sum . But , in addition to
this regular source of income , there arc the sums received from rents and dividends , as well as the one-fifth of thc salaries contributed by Grand Chapter , which together are considerably in excess of £ 3300 . Another point , xvliich it may be well to note , is lhat each of these quarterly statements of accounts show a very formidable balance to thc
credit of the fund , while every now and then will be found entered in the expenditure one or more sums disbursed in the purchase of stock . At all ex-ents , no one wbo has gone through these statements , even cursorily , can possibly arrix-eat any other conclusion than that Grand Lodge will be guilty of no imprudence should it ultimately confirm its
resolution of last December . The question may be regarded from another point of view . May I ask Bro . Philbrick , with all deference , if H 12 rent-roll of Grand Lodge may not be looked upon as a permanent source of income , if Grand Chapter ' s contribution of one-fifth of the sum disbursed for salaries
may not be regarded as a sound asset ; and if thc lodge contributions are of so little account that they must be left out in the cold in estimating the means at the disposal of Grand Lodge to meet its liabilities ! " If these may be legitimately taken into account , then Grand Lodge has an average income of / , ' , 000 to meet an average
expenditure of £ 700 D , and it might grant an additional £$ 00 annually three times over , and yet hax-e a respectable balance on the right side of the account . On the other band , if they are to be overlooked in reckoning its available means , then Grand Lodge for years past has been doing nothing else than exhibit a degree of
impruxlcncu swclx as even the , mist reckless of public companies have rarely equalled . Let me give just one illustration of this imprudence . l- ' or salaries and wages Grand Lodge stands committed to over £ 2400 , ut which Grand Chapter pays a fifth , so that the net liability under his head is fourfold the income
derived from investments . However , it is hardly worth while pursuing this argument . With a quarterly balance of income over expenditure of over £ 2000 and upwards , it is clear the Fund of General Purposes must be administered with a degree of prudence which is most creditable to the Board over which
Bro . Sir J . B .- Monckton so ably presides . Having abeady so largely trespassed on your valuable space , I will merely add that during the past few years thc resources of Grand Lodge have been such that , after provision has been made for every class of expenditure , it has
found the xvherewith to invest largely in Government Stock and new buildings . Under these circumstances 1 think Grand Lodge deserves and will receive a character for prudence in every way worthy of its exalted position as thc Parliament of Freemasonry . I remain , faithfully and fraternally yours , A LOVER OF PRUDENCE .
ELIAS ASHMOLE . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Ashmole was buried in the north aisle at the east end of Lambeth Church . 'Therefore , though I cannot speak with certainty , 1 should think bis will was more likely
to be found in Doctors' Commons than in the Registry of Wills at Lichfield , bis death having taken place , I believe , at his chambers in the 'Temple . When the second part of my memoir appears in the " Masonic Magazine " it xvill be found to contain an extract from a description of his xvill which I have lighted upon , and wbich is to the effect that
he bequeathed to the Ashmolean Museum his library , " which consisted of one thousand seven hundred and fiftyeight books , of which six hundred and twenty were manuscripts , and of them three hundred and eleven folios relating chielly to history , heraldry , astronomy , and chemistry , with a great variety of pamphlets , part oi xvliich had been sorted