The Freemason.

OUR readers will be pleased to note that our excellent and gallant Grand Treasurer , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Creaton , has paid the ^ 500 voted

by Grand Lodge to the Lord Mayor ' s Fund for distress in Ireland . It is very kind of our good Grand Treasurer to take upon himself so immediate a payment .

* * OUR readers will know from other sources that the dissolution of Parliament is announced , so that for some time to come our many Masonic

friends , as patriotic citizens of our great and common country , will be involved in the turmoil of political struggles . Our " Comitia Curata " will meet in about three weeks' time up and down the country .

* * # WE are very sorry to note the persistent opposition made to the erection of a monument to Prince Louis Napoleon in Westminster Abbey .

Surely no more fitting resting place can be found for the memory of one who died a " soldier ' s death , " wearing our uniform , and sharing the dangers of our brave army . From an artistic point of view we hail the Dean ' s decision .

* * THERE are forty-five candidates for the Girls ' School election , April iofch , and thirteen vacancies . Of the candidates seventeen are London and twenty-eight provincial cases . We have the

children of four solicitors , three merchants of various kinds , two house decorators , four licensed victuallers , three travellers , one surgeon , three pilots , one auctioneer , one master mariner , one tobacconist , one jeweller , one

tailor , one accountant , two farmers , one shipbroker , one watchmaker , one gas engineer , one salesman , four military sergeants , three clerks ,

one clerk of works , one foreman , one assistant overseer , one engineer , one stationer , and one ships' steward . Our readers will note the great contrast afforded by many of the cases .

* * WE understand that Bro . Hedges has received the names of _ <; 2 Stewards for the Girls' School

festival . We have reason to believe that a large number of names are daily coming to the office . Brethren wishful to act as Stewards should lose no time .

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[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish ir , » spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

ROYAL MASONIC PUPILS ASSISTANCEFUND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have delayed writing till I had heard the debate at Grand Lodge on Bro . Clabon's motion . The few but able remarks offered by Bros . Clabon and Hogg , wherein these brethren pointed out the necessity and desirability of

rendering assistance to children at a most critical age , and the exceptional position held by our Institution in staying the good work begun before it has time to bear fruit , but which is recognised by almost every other institution , and even our Board Schools , as essential to the requirements of thc children as the schooling itself . I was very sorry to hear Bro . Clabon's motion withdrawn , as I

believe no better purpose could be found for our surplus funds than that proposed , and how it is found illegal and not in the spirit of the intention of the founders of the charity to assist the Mason's child , which I will guarantee to say is the predominant wish of every mother's and widow ' s heart , I fail to see . In course of conversation I heard it freely suggested , " Raise a separate fund . " This we now propose to do and

that its benefits may be general , not only will the Committee ( it is proposed ! be invested with power to help the most deserving cases on leaving the schools , but also , if funds admit , be empowered to assist the deserving unsuccessful candidates for the privileges of our admirable Institution and otherwise dispense Masonic Charity . This may appear a wide field , but it is very desirable no legal quibble should

arise in after years as to the purpose to which the funds may be applied , and , as in the present case with Fund of Benevolence , an enormous fund accumulated , which it is suggested is devoted to large and extraordinary grants to a few and no doubt deserving cases , whereas the area of its benefits would more generally be felt if the Board of Benevolence had power to devote grants to other objects

than at present they feel it in their power to do . It is not desirable to lock up large sums for posterity . No doubt Masons in after years will be as able to carry on the admirable work without any assistance from the present generation and beyond securing a reasonable sum in goverment security it is not politic to collect funds for the coming generation , You will see I have mentioned the word

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" deserving . " Now it seems to be the feeling of many that the object of the Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund is to assist every pupil , no matter what his prospects . This I think should be immediately corrected ; it is well known that not always is the most deserving case elected to the benefits of our Institutions but those cases commanding the most influence .

Now , such boys or girls will not always of necessity be the subjects chosen for the benefits of the Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund , unless they exhibit some extraordinary capacity , which it may be thought desirable to cultivate , and assist them to a higher walk in life , their friends mig ht not be able to secure them . But even in these cases the co-operation of influential supporters ( the pupil's

friends ) will be necessary , as it is not proposed to devote extraordinary sums to one pupil to the exclusion of others , and I should like to see it so managed that the recipients of the fund are looked upon to refund the money advanced , although not compulsory , if their success in life warrants it . If , as before stated , funds admit , what more deserving object for our bounty can we find than unsuccessful

candidates ? Are they not often the most fnendless and deserving ? and a few pounds per annum towards defraying their schooling , either during the time of their candidature or after , if unsuccessful , will reap a golden harvest in the gratitute of the widow , unable for want of friends to cope with her distress . It is said we are seeking to elevate the children of

distressed Ma _ Gns to the disadvantage of the children of Masons who may be subscribers ; such jealousy I cannot feel existed in the breast of any brother . Masonry is not a benefit society , and if we are at any time able to assist a poor brother , does not our Masonic brotherhood teach us it should be our aim to elevate , and do that even to putting a worthy brother ' s child in a better position , and

thereby prove we would maintain his honour and interests as our own , in his absence as in his presence ? Lastly , on the question of encroaching on the existing requirements of the Institutions . I feel sure all who give the subject a little consideration will see there is plenty of scope for further calls when I inform you thc large sums at present collected does not amount to more than 2 S . 6 d . per head per Mason , and that the

Craft expends on personal pleasures , regalia , & c , fully four times the amount subscribed to all the Institutions . I maintain Masonry is a luxury , and no one should be admitted if it is at all probable the candidate seeks the great benefits our benevolence confers , and if this were fully carried out I am certalnthere would be many less calls upon our purses , and none of ourapplicants for the benefits would go empty away . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , DICK RADCLYFFE .

QUALIFICATIONS OF A GRAND TREASURER . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dent Sir and Brother , — I was a good deal startled by some portions of a speech in last Grand Lodge advocating thc appointment of a Grand Treasurer , not for his Masonic qualifications , not for the services rendered to Masonry , but simply and

solely because he had subscribed a very large amount indeed to the Masonic Charities . Now , although I say all honour to that worthy brother for his liberal heart and ready hand , in which commendations all Masons will , I believe , heartily concur , yet I , for one , am not prepared to accept these novel suggestions as the qualifications for a Grand Treasurer . Strictly and correctly speaking the

Masonic Charities , noble Institutions as they are , only affect the question relatively and collaterally , so to say . We give Masonic honours for long or Masonic service to the Order . But it is quite a new theory , and I , for one , regret to have heard it propounded in Grand Lodge , that because a brother has given so many hundreds or thousands to the Charities , therefore , the fact constitutes a

claim and recommendation to Masonic office . According to true Masonic theory and practice , all such offices are given for services to Masonry , and if this new proposition ever came into vogue , we shall have brethren qualifying themselves , so to say , for Grand Office by large donations to the Charities . I , for one , protest against such extraordinary propositions , and right glad was I to see that Grand Lodge by so desicive a majority openly and clearly

repudiated any such claims ; regarding them , doubtless , as antagonistic to the genius , the dictates , the common rights and common sense of true Freemasonry . It is not always , remember , the brother who has given the most who has , after all , done the most for the Charities . It is often comparatively the poorest brother who makes the greatest sacrifice . I am , yours fraternally , LEX .

UNIFORMITY OF RITUAL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have read with some attention the letter of " Bos Albus " in your paper of the 6 th inst ., and I quite agree with him as to the delicacy of the question at the head of this letter . I may say that I am myself glad that

it has been settled in Grand Lodge that the present want of uniformity is not to be disturbed . May I be allowed to point out how innovations creep into our working ? The other day I had the pleasure of hearing a distinguished brother installing the Master in a Mark lodge . He commenced by borrowing a portion of the ritual known in Craft Masonry as the installation ceremony , and he wound

up his charge to the brethren with the usual address , but he supplemented this charge by adding thereto a portion of the charge usually delivered in the chapter of Rose Croix . Now , to young and inexperienced Masons all this would appear very grand , and , coming from a distinguished brother like the one to whom I refer , it , no doubt , sounded imposing , and the probability is that some of those bre-

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thren who are of an aspiring turn may on some future occasion quote the words used in this ceremony , which were never intended to be used for any portion of this Degree . You will easily see how a bad example of saying too much by a distinguished brother may lead to confusion . With regard to the East Lancashire method of opening and closing a Board of Installed Masters , I

can only say it was sanctioned by the late Provincial Grand Master , who was too good a Mason to allow anything contrary to the received traditions and landmarks of the Order , and is not objected to by the present Provincial Grand Master , who is well known as a strict disciplinarian , and would not sanction anything not right in itself , and is

now worked by Masons in this province every wit as good workers as the distinguished brethren mentioned by " Bos Albus . " I am , yours fraternally , E . L . March 9 th .

MARK MASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Would you kindly inform me if it is according to the " Constitutions of Mark Masonry , " after a ballot has been taken which proves unfavourable to the candidate , for

a resolution to be passed " declaring the ballot null and void , " and the candidate withdrawn without entering the proceedings in the minutes . Yours fraternally , A M . M . M . [ In Craft Masonry such a thing could not occur . Bro . Binckes is the authority in Mark Masonry ; if he sees thc query perhaps he will kindly answer it . —ED . ]

THE APRIL ELECTION LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION . Dear Bro . Kenning , — Let me repeat my hope , that some of my brethren may have votes to give me for these elections , to help our ten good cases . Yours fraternally , A . F . A . WOODFORD . 25 a , Norfolk Crescent , Hyde Park , W . March 10 th , 1880 .

THE LAST MEETING OF GRAND LODGE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — At the risk of being again attacked personally and accused of " all sorts of crimes and misdemeanours , " I beg to congratulate you and your readers on the episodes and result of last Grand Lodge .

The great mountain of misrepresentation and " falutm " having been touched by the magic wand of truth , like as in the fairy tale of yore , it vanished immediately away , and left no trace behind . It had been industriously circulated that Grand Lodge , or rather the dais , had shown disrespect to Grand Lodge by leaving a resolution unattended to for ten years , and on that ground alone many

voted in the affirmative at the preceding meeting of Grand Lodge . But when it was clear that Grand Lodge itself had refused to endorse on calmer consideration a lesolution hastily arrived at , and without sufficient discussion , the whole ground of the original position was taken away , and nothing was left for those who still supported the resolution of Bro . Stevens but absolute discomfiture . And so it came to pass , just as it always will come to pass ,

whenever truth and fair play are sacrificed , at the shrine of party interest . 1 congratulate you once more on the confirmation of the true and Masonic , position assumed by the Freemason from the first , thus openly manifested by the decided action and enthusiastic cheers of an overwhelming majority of Grand Lodge . Yours fraternally ,

ONE WHO WAS THERE . [ We are glad to find that the views of the Freemason have been appreciated . It is not always safe or popular tc speak the truth . —Ed . ]

BRO . WILSON AND THE BOYS * SCHOOL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — If you will kindly give space in your valuable paper for the accompanying letter , which I addressed to the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution

for Boys , which met to-day , I shall esteem it a great favour . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , S . B . WILSON . 27 , Walbrook , E . C , 6 th March , 1880 .

27 , Walbrook , E . C . eth March , 1880 . To the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Brethren and Gentlemen , — I have received the copy of a resolution passed by the House Committee at their meeting on the 20 th

ult ., which will , no doubt , be read to you in extenso from their minutes , referring me back to Mr . Stanley , the solicitor , who , when thc matter was previously placed in his hands , refused to make any appointment to meet my representative . Now , my account is fully detailed in every item , and any person with the slightest grain of sense can understand it without the slightest further explanation ; yet

I have written the following letter to Bro . Binckes on the subject , but my representative has not heard from Mr . Stanley : — " 27 , Walbrook , E . C , " 1 st March , 1880 . " Dear Sir and Brother , — k " I am in receipt of your letter enclosing the copy