Our Charitable Returns For 1876.

labours and liberal sacrifices of individual brethren in London and our provinces , and our dependencies alone . But then this evil , which is a growing one , supervenes . The burden is laid upon the willing horse , and year after year , as our good Secretaries know , the same

warmhearted brother hands over his kindly subscription to this charity or that . Now wc have often said before , and we repeat it to-day , that our lodges and chapters ought , qua lodges and chapters , to do more than they yearly have done in the past , or do at the present . Every lodge and

chapter ought at least to be a life governor of all our institutions—nay a Vice-President . It is impossible to say off hand , what an amount of increased power and usefulness might be given to the charities , if lodges and chapters would qualify according to the rules , or add also

according to the rules , to the amount they have already subscribed . For we must bear in mind , that with each year more petitions appear for our charities , and that with our wonderful material prosperity , wc have necessarily concomitant claims for relief ami aid . We

must then look out for the future , and we have no hesitation in saying , ( as the" result of our own Masonic growth remember alone ) , that our charities , despite the apparent greatness of last year ' s return , will require even increased , yes increased returns in the years which are to come . And yet we have ourselves personally no fear as

to the issue , humanly speaking . So great is the liberality and so fervent the warm-heartedness of our excellent brotherhood , that they will rise equal , we feel persuaded , to the emergency , and so far from slackening their zeal or holding their hands , they will still pour into the treasury of our Masonic charities , the offerings of sympathy , the fraternal donations of true Masonic hearts .

And so let them say of us what they like . Let them abuse us as they will , denounce . ' curse , condemn , as they please . In the year of grace 1876 , we poor benighted , disloyal , irreligious , English Freemasons , Masonic '' Goose Clubs , " as we are , according to Monsignorc Nardi , sent up to

our Metropolitan charities the goodly charitable gift of £ 39 , 335 ys . 6 d . and we fully expect that 18 77 will exhibit another proof to the gainsayer and to the profane world , of the zeal aud truth , the brotherly lova , and sympathetic benevolence , which so strikingly distinguish our kindly and compassionate Craft .

Mighty Kind.

MIGHTY KIND .

A little bit of information from Ireland , published in our last impression , will , we think , suggest some serious , some amusing , considerations to all our readers . Serious , indeed , will some be , inasmuch as the trifling tale serves to show how strong and vital is the power of

intolerance . It appears that the Lord Mayor had invited 60 " gentlemen " to dinner at the Mansion House , to which private assembly " a Masonic character had been attributed" by somebody or other , whereupon we are told , ( wc would fain hope that the statement is incorrect ) , the " liberal

members ; " bedad , of the corporation " held a meeting , pursuant to a circular which had been issued , to consider what steps should be taken to censure the Lord Mayor . " What for ? For such an act of distinct impropriety ? Whether this impropriety consisted in giving a dinner , ( which

we do not suppose ) , or that certain persons were not asked , which is much more likely , we are not told . Of course , there can and could be no offence in giving a dinner , a good dinner , but it was truly shocking that Masons should be invited to partake of it . And so these

liberal and sapient persons met in "caucus , " to censure the hospitable Lord Mayor . Liberals indeed ! why their act is the worst representation of illiberalism and intolerance which we have ever heard of . And this in Ireland too , where , whatever their faults may be , Irishmen

are gregarious animals , " always social and hospitable in the extreme , and particularly fond of a good dinner . But these little " straws " '' how us how the Ultramontane wind is blowing , and that in the depth of their childish animosity , in the fervour of their mistaken partizanships , there are no lengths which bigotry will not lead some , or loud-voiced , dark-

Mighty Kind.

minded fanaticism will not conduct others . And here comes in the amusing side of the story , not so much , that this assembly of so-called liberals made geese of themselves , but that they thought " discretion was the better part of valour , " and that they did not censure the kindl y

and pleasant entertainer of " hungry-and thirsty souls . " The report says , further on this important topic , they " permitted him to leave the Civic Chair uncensured . " Now is it not " mighty kind " of that august body of men not to fulminate a vote of disapproval against the

Lord Mayor , who had given a dinner , some Masons being among the guests , and who were observed to enjoy their entertainment very much , as Masons are wont to do . Must we not all admit that this judicious reticence of anathema , this wise hesitation to condemn a friendly host ,

does infinite credit to the discernment and the discretion of these far-seeing and truly liberalminded men . Can any Irish brethren throw any light on this interesting little episode ? We should positively rejoice to hear that it was a niccTlittle " canard , " and say so in our pages . As it is , we wish these " liberal members " of

the Dublin Town Council , who met to denounce a Lord Mayor because he had given a good dinner to some harmless Freemasons , a little more common sense for the future , a little more real liberalism in their dealings with their fellow men , and above all , the exercise of that great moral virtue in which Ultramontanes just now are sadly deficient—Toleration .

The Coloured Question In Ohio.

THE COLOURED QUESTION IN OHIO .

By the official report of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Ohio , in the session beginning October , 17 , 1876 , at Columbus , it seems that this " vexata qu . xstio " is forTthe moment apparently shelved . Bro . E . Carson brought in the report of the Special Committee , and Bro .

Waters a resolution of recognition , which was met by an amendment by Bro . Cunningham , D . G . M ., regarding , as a point of order , the proposal as an amendment of the constitution , which would require notice , & c . The G . M ., Bro . C . A ..

Woodward overruled the constitutionality of the amendment on the point of order . On appeal to the Grand Lodge , the Grand Master ' s ruling was not sustained b y , 389 votes to , 329 . In consequence , the movement has to begin "de novo" in the Grand Lodge of Ohio .

Early History Of Freemasonry In England.

EARLY HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND .

We beg to call the attention of our brethren to a most interesting collection of " excerpta " from the London papers relative to this important subject , and contained in a letter of Bro . W . J . Hughan to the Grand Lodge of Ohio , and now in course of publication in the Masonic Magazine for February . We wish that we could make room for them in the Frci'iimion

Especial Grand Lodge.

ESPECIAL GRAND LODGE .

The name of our esteemed Bro . Col . Francis Burdett , R . W . Prov . Grand Master for Middlesex , P . S . G . W ., and Representative from the Grand Lodge of Ireland , was inadvertently omitted in our report of the proceedings at the Especial Grand Lodge , which appeared in our last .

BOUI . INIKON . —From the samplessubmitted for our approval , adapted to the use of Masonic Halls , Clubs , Lodges , Hotels , etc ., wc have little hesitation in saying , that the Bottlinilcon or Buffalo Hide Floor Cloth , is one of the best and most durable , that wc have inspected ; and for general excellence and design cannot lie surpassed . Warm , noiseless , and thoroughly damp proof , we ( can readily understand that at manufacturing centres like Manchester

and Leeds such qualities would be appreciated by prize awards ; and we note also , that at the Philadelphia Exhibition special award was made for design , general excellence , and durability . We commend this Buffalo Hide Floor Cloth to the attention of ^ our readers , and suggest a visit to the London Warehouse , 76 , Queen-street , Cheapside ; where the Floor Cloth , in every variety of design and finish , can be seen and valued .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

FWe do riot hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of theopinions expressed by ourcorrespondenls , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain , n-cessary limits—free discussion . —ED . 1

MASONIC QUERIES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In answer to W . U . C . N . I beg to stater . This question is partly answered by the Constitutions under the head of " Masters and Wardens , " par . 9 . There seems no reason why death and resignation should

not be added to dismissal . 2 . It is certainly customary in many lodges ( some of them old ones ) , to appoint to vacant offices at any time , from the Senior Warden downward ; . 3 . A Tyler may be elected at any time , should the office be vacant . This is evidently implied in "Of Tylers , " par . 1 . 4 . The regulations say that Masters and P . M . 's of

lodges shall wear on their aprons " perpendicular lines upon horizontal lines , thereby forming three several sets of two right angles . " They are therefore worn b y design . The ignorance rests with W . M . C . N . 5 . This part of the ritual differs in different lodges more than any other part , so much sn , as hardly to be recognized as the same form , it is difficult therefore to give a date to its origin . A . T .

AN OLD MASONIC SPEECH . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In your last issue of the Freemason I observe the brethren of York Lodge No . 236 , are on the Eve of their centenary , and having in my possession a speech delivered by the Junior Grand Warden at a Grand Lodge held at Merchants Hall , in the City of York , on St . John's

day , Dec . 27 th , 1720 , just one hundred and fifty years ago I think a reprint of that speech at the present time might be interesting , not only to the brethren of No . 236 , but to your readers in general . If you should think it worth while , I will write it out and send it you . Yours fraternally M . M ., No . 1089 . [ Many thanks , but the speech is well-known to Masonic students . —En . ]

LORD CHESTERFIELD . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — lu the " Memoirs of Lord Chesterfield , " under date of 1732 , I find the following : — " During Lord Chesterfield ' s residence at the Hague , the Duke of Lorraine , the intended husband to the

Emperor's eldest daughter , and afterwards emperor himself , made a tour through England and Holland . This young prince treated our ambassador with particular marks o ? distinction avid friendship , on account of UU warm solicitations in favour of the house of Austria . This attachment extended even to his social hours , so far , that he chose to be made a

Freemason by Lord Chesterfield , in a lodge composed of his excellency , Mr . John Stanhope his brother , Mr . Strickland nephew to the Bishop of llimur , Dr . D ^ saguliers , and one of his friends . " And in a note , " The doctor received on this occasion the present of a

gold snuff-box from the grand Duke . " Lord Chesterfield was ambassador to the United Provinces in 1872 . Was the lodge worked under the English Constitution , and is anything further known about it ? 1 am , ynurs fraternally , LIMERICK .

STATISTICS OF THE CRAFT . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As you have asked for the actual numbers of Masonic members , 1 have much pleasure in giving below the numbers of the subscribing members of the Province of Dorset , as made out by me from the latest official returns in September last .

I he numbers given arc those of the actual brethren , although many arc subscribing members to two or more lodges , and is exclusive of honorary members . PitoviNci ; or DORSET , 13 Lodges ; Total Subscribing Members 509 . Yours faithfully and fraternally , HoiiiiitT CASK , W . M ., 417 , P . P . G . Sec , Dorset .

STAFFORDSHIRE MASONIC CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Our worthy Vice-President , Bro . T . Taylor in his letter in your columns last week , has fallen into a slight error , unimportant in itself , but which , enshrined in the Freemason , becomes history , aud history should be accurate .

The number of members enrolled at the formation "f this Association was Jiflcen and not fire ., and eight of these ( including among them our other Vice-President Bro . E . Starey ) were present at the first meering in June , 1871 . It is quite true that success followed more rapidly

than the original founders ventured to hope , for at the meeting of December , 1872 , when Bro . Taylor joined , the numbers had risen to ninety-three anil since that timehave steadily increased , thanks chiefly to our worthy and zealous brethren in the Potteries district . Had the cause been , as warmly espoused in South Staffordshire a very