Weekly Summary.

Reed , C . B ., M . P ., through Count Beust , a Knight Commandership ofthe Imperial Order of Joseph . Mr . Reed returned on Tuesday from St . Petersburg , having on his way back visited the Minister of Marine of the Imperial German Admiralty at Berlin , and also the German ironclads building at Stettin , and the extensive locks which are in construction at Bremerhaven .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving ¦ of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but w ; wislv , in a spirit of fair play to all , ' to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . 3 OUR MASONIC CHARITIES .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , For this discussion to be of any value , it should lead to some practical results . Some of the letters which have appeared upon the subject display much ability , and all contain more or

less pertinent remarks , but the vital question at issue has scarcely been touched . For we have to ascertain or discover some method , by which every member , of the Craft should , as is his bounden duty to do , subscribe to the institutions which are the pride and glory of the Order .

That the charities are mainly supported by the minority is without dispute . That the whole fraternity ought to contribute not only towards their efficient maintenance , but also to lay foundations for extended usefulness will , I think , scarcely be questioned . Then how is this to be

accomplished . Bro . Coates proposes the establishment of a provincial charity board . Bro . Bodenham deems that scheme too elaborate for general adoption , and recommends a method excellent in itself , but according to his showing too circumscribed in its operations . He asserts

that the members of the association , which he thinks if generally adopted will meet the case , are drawn from six or seven lodges in his province . It would be well to know whether every one of the members of these lodges subscribe ; one guinea per annum . We have a

number of similar societies in London . Their beneficial influence cannot be overrated . But unless you can induce every member of the Craft to subscribe to such an association we shall be as far off as ever of obtaining subscriptions from each individual , and that is the point in question .

The usual methods adopted have proved inefficient . The circulars regularly sent by the Stewards prior to each of the festivals are for the most part so much waste paper and futile expenditure of postage stamps . We cannot reach the brethren in the lodge , for the

average attendance at a regular meeting of any given lodge is about two thirds , and those who happen to be absent during a collection lose their opportunity . Many of the absentees would no doubt gladly give . But at their next attendance the matter is either

forgotten or neglected ; thus the institutions suffer . Therefore untila bettermodeis suggested , I still think that the influence of the Grand Lodge alone can secure thedesiied result . Bro . Bodenham thinks that compulsory contributions would destroy the foundations of the institutions .

I do not see how . I firml y believe the same percentage of brethren will always be found not only willing but anxious to become vice-Presidents , Life Governors , and Life and Annual Subscribers . It is ridiculous to presume that in consequence of a small tax per annum , all the

zeal to benefit the institutions which has hitherto characterised Freemasons would immediatel y expire . Besides several of your correspondents insist that all lodge subscriptions , instead of being expended for the gratification of the palate or

the decoration of deserving brethren , should be paid in to the charities . Would not that constitute compulsory contribution ? I do not see any reason for fastidiousness in this matter proyided the end proposed is legitimatel y and efficiently secured .

The importance of the subject and your known kindness may justify the request that you will permit and encourage this discussion . Perhaps by persistently and clearly stating the different bearings of the case some more able

Original Correspondence.

and influential brethren may be induced to move in the matter . Let the call be sounded at head quarters and

there is no doubt every member of the Craft will heartily and right loyally respond . Yours fraternally , E . GOTTHEIL , P . M . and P . Z .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I think the Masonic Charities would immensely benefit by the appointment of local or provincial secretaries and collectors , who mig ht be empowered to solicit and receive

subscriptions and donations from , lodges and brethren . 1 think the guinea subscriptions to the Boys ' and Girls' Institutions is , as a minimum subscription , too hig h . I would venture to suggest that such guineas subscribed should carry two

votes , and a half-guinea subscription one vote at each election , and subscriptions of five shillings should entitle the subscriber to one vote at one election in the year . I would also venture to suggest that the balance sheets of the several charities should be annually printed , and several

copies sent to each donor and subscriber , and to the Secretary of every lodge and ScribeE . of every chapter for distribution , and that the Secretary of every lodge and Scribe E . of every chapter should be encouraged to act as Hon . Secretary or collector to the several charities by giving

them some advantage in votes according to the amount collected . I quite agree with your correspondent , R . \ V ., in to-day ' s Freemason , that the amount of the Stewards' fee must often have acted as a drawback to the success of the Masonic charities . An

instance occurred in my own lodge this year . ggio ios . was proposed to be given out of the lodge funds to the list of any brother of the lodge who would be willing to serve the office of Steward for the Boys' Festival this last time , but it was declined on account of

the largeness of the incidental expenses , and the ten guineas was thus lost for a time to the Boys ' School . At the same time I may say we have for the last two years sent a Steward to the Old People ' s Festival , and a brother in the lodge has signified his intention of serving the office next year . " I have myself served the office of

Steward to one of the charities , and am a life governor of each , and a subscriber to two of the charities . I should have myself accepted the offer of the £ 10 to take the office of Steward for the Boys ' , but felt I would much rather do , as I did , give £ 5 direct to one of the charities . I am , dear sir and brother , fraternally yours , AD REFERENDUM .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , ' — A great deal has lately been written on this subject , but your correspondents have , it appears to me , overlooked the most efficacious , as well as the most simple , plan for advancing the

interests of the chanties . A compulsory contribution from every Mason , as suggested by some , would never do ; it would destroy entirely the nature of the institutions ; and I think the Charity Boards and Committees proposed by Bro . Coates would be found too

unwieldy . Moreover what would , by such an arrangement , be the business of several would probably not be done by anyone . The work oi raising funds for the Masonic Charities should be one man ' s work in each lodge and chapter ,

and if that one be energetic and zealous he will do far more good ; he will draw far more money than would be obtained by any committee . Every lodge and chapter should have its Charity Steward , whose duty it should be to bring the claims of the Charities under the notice of

every member , and as these charitable institutions are not only countenanced , but also partly supported by Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , those august bodies should compel the

appointment of a Charity Steward in every daughter lodge and chapter , otherwise many lodges , & c , will never have such an officer ; and it . could easily be done by a motion to that effect in Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter .

Original Correspondence.

If such a rule were made , the Charity Steward would be either a new officer of the lodge , & c , or the duties would be attached to some office already existing . In the former case the Charity Steward , considering the importance of his work , should rank next after the J . W . ; but a

far better plan would I think be to make the J . W . the Charity Steward also . The Junior Warden has little to do besides qualifying himself for the higher chairs , arid the intimate acquaintance that his duties as C . S . would glv ' e ' him with each member of the lodge , would

certainly be advantageous to him on becoming W . M . Besides this the J . W . has charge of the brethren at those times when the purse-strings are most likely to be freely loosened ; thus he has opportunities for pressing the claims of the schools , & c , which others have not . Again , the

Wardens being members of Grand and Provincial Grand Lodges , the Charities would be well represented in those bodies . Moreover the addresses of all Wardens are in the hands of Grand and Provincial Grand Secretaries , so that the Secretaries of the Institutions would have no

difficulty in forwarding the necessary documents to them . In R . A . Chapters I would suggest that the S . N . would be the best officer to undertake the duties of C . S ., all the ranks above him having quite enough to attend to at present if they do their work properly .

Hoping , with you , that the good ofthe Charitable Institutions may be materially advanced by the discussion now going on , I remain , Yours faithfully and fraternally , G . SHANK . * , 18 P . M . 18 9 , Z . i 205 , P . P . G . W . Devon , MASONS' MARKS .

To the Editor nf The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — There is an old Scottish proverb which says that " if you put your spoon in other folk ' s kail , you are sure to get burned . " This is beautifully applicable to Bro . W . P . Buchan , and

also to your correspondent who signs himself " A Masonic Student , " with respect to their letters published in p . 174 and p . J 80 of the Freemason . They have chosen to intermeddle in the controversy between Bro . Hughan and me as to Masons' Marks , which perhaps we

mig ht as well have been left to finish for ourselves , if we could do so in a proper manner . In their haste , however , Bro . Buchan and the "Masonic Student" have rushed into print , unprepared by any sufficient study of the subject . They have thrown no lig ht on it , and have

only succeeded in showing that they know very little about it . Bro . Buchan has mistaken the very point at issue between Bro . Hnghan and me . Any one who looks at Bro . Hughan ' s letter at p . 180 of the Freemason may see that he is only defending the system at present

practised in England , by the lodges that work the Mark Degree , for he says : — " It has _ been the custom for years in England for candidates on being " advanced" in lodges under the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , to select marks with an even or odd number of points , and he goes

on to state that this custom was sanctioned b y the Grand Mark Lodge , because in accordance with the ancient custom , as confirmed by an examination of the marks still existing on many old buildings . What I said is , a mark ought to have an odd number of points , and this I

maintain is what has been taught in lodges for more than one hundred and fifty years . The Grand Lodge of Maik Masters in England was only constituted a few years ago , to take charge , so to speak , of the Mark lodges in England ; but all these English lodges received their charters from

Scotland , and along with them their ritual , which they could have no right to change , and in which it is distinctly laid down as a fixed rule that candidates are to choose no other mark than one with an odd number of points . If the

lodges could not change the ritual which they had received , neither could the Grand Lodge constituted by them . Any such change would be a violation of the charters of the lodges , and it would be a violation of a landmark of

Freemasonry . I may ask how does it happen that the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters is not recognised by the