Concluding Letter From A Bro. In England To A Bro. In Scotland.

enquiries were 'made as to this fund through the columns ofthe "Scottish Freemason ' s Magazine , " no information could be got , and , as is the custom in all Scottish Masonic matters , it was quietly evaded , and laid on the shelf . Can no brother even at this time give any information as to this

fund , and in whose hands it is now * or inform us what has become of it , or if there is any chance ofthe object for which it was instituted being carried out ? The annual test of membership of each Mason is a cardinal point in England ; all must

subscribe , or else forfeit the benefits of the institution . The sum exigible in some lodges is a guinea , in others three , and even higher . Of this amount four shillings is annually paid to the Grand Lodge ; and this forms no inconsiderable revenue . In Scotland , we have no such aid to our small revenue' —there is no test of

membership except in a few isolated lodges * but we think that the sooner this is done the better it will be for the Order . No one can deny that the Grand Lodge property is heavily burdened with debt , which lot only cripples its action in the present , but threatens to destroy it in the

future , or at least to reduce it to the condition of having no local habitation , if it succeeds in retaining its name . Now , a quarterly fee of half a crown from each Mason , payable to his lodge , and each lodge to pay to Grand Lodge for the Benevolent Fund a fee for each subscribing

member out of that amount one shilling quarterly , would be only a proper and a just act . By this means not only would daughter lodges bc benefitted , but Grand Lodge would have her revenue increased and her opportunity for bestowing charity extended . Furthermore , as in

England , only brethren who have subscribed for two years should be eligible for charity from the Benevolent Fund , or , in the event of his death , his wife or family . We cannot see the use of an institution in Scotland such as they have in England for boys and girls , in the face of so

many of the like already existing , but we decidedly think that annuities should be established , and largely , for old Masons and their wives . This , we are aware , has been attempted on a small scale , but it should be very largely developed , and this can only be done by large supplies of

money . The English Masons spend no small sums in their quarterly banquets , a procedure which may be reprobated . An annual dinner is all very well , but when it comes to a quarterly , it degenerates into a guzzle . The money thus

taken from the funds of the lodge might be more profitably spent , and not more so than in forwarding the charitable institutions , in thc foundation of a good library , and in teaching the brethren something of those facts and truths so glibly introduced into the ritual by name but not

in reality . AVe have little doubt that in England this could be done if certain influential brethren would take the initiative . Money is not wanted , but we fear there is a sad lack of will , if not of brains . AVe admit the English brethren to be zealous in their way , but they have not

been by any means friends to the purity and integrity of the Order ; and to them , and their unhappy schisms and disputes , we owe many innovations which disfigure the broad . tresselboard of the Order . In time , ancl under better influences , we trust to see these blots disappear :

if , however , not in our day , the time will come when a reform will take place , and our successors will wonder at the mass of absurdity which we have submitted to so long . In Scotland , then , we have / only the Benevolent Fund , which depends upon a very

precarious source for its revenue . A test of membershiu from ever ) ' * brother is imperatively required , and we trust that the day is not far distant when this will be ordered . It is onl y the sacrifice of a tumbler of jftmch now and then , which , while helping to do good , will also tend

to the health of each brother . AVe fearlessly say that there is more money squandered in drink in our lodges from year ' s end to year ' s end than , in England . The English have four feasts in the year , but the Scots arc always at it ; and we confess , it does look curious to preach in lod ge the doctrines of temperance and absti-

Concluding Letter From A Bro. In England To A Bro. In Scotland.

nence to a candidate , and give him a specimen of their reality in fuddling one ' s-self with a dozen glasses of whisky toddy . It has not been the first time , nor will it be the last , unless a radical change takes place , that a Master has been so drunk as to be incapable of closing his lodge :

and on one occasion , the officers of the lodge , Master , AVardens , Tyler , and all , that the lodge was not closed at all . This produces an inevitable result . Sots become Freemasons , and when thrown out of employment turn to the brethren for alms . AVe make bold to say that

Scotland produces more Masonic cadgers than all the other countries put together * and we know forafact that in England the very name of a Scots Mason is allied to pauperism and beggary . In England , in each town , there is an almoner , who dispenses the alms to needy brethren , and

thus prevents an universal raid upon the members of the district . In Scotland there is no such system , and the brethren , especially new AVorshipful Masters , have to run the gauntlet of the Masonic cadgers during their active participation in Freemasonry . Nor do those who have

been regularly initiated alone prey upon the fraternity ; but outsiders , getting hold of a deceased brother ' s papers , drive a profitable trade with his certificate , among the brethren . It will , perhaps , be remembered that some years ago an Ancient Dragener ' s certificate was so used , and we

confess to some little pride in being the humble means of having the impostor arrested and punished , and his trade stopped . AVe know of no greater nuisance than these habitual beggars ; and we know of no better plan than by having the names of those relieved sent to Grand

Lodge , who , in the case of confirmed cadgers who have adopted begging as a means of livlihood , should intimate their names in the annual circular , and thus guard the brethren from imposture . By this means really deserving brethren , under temporary difficulties , would be

relieved in a good manner , and the scoundrels ' occupation be gone . Till some other means , however , are adopted b y Grand Lodge , we cannot hope to see these faults eradicated from our system , and our precepts put into practice in their entirety .

Annual Communication Of The Grand Lodge Of Canada.

ANNUAL COMMUNICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF CANADA .

( Concluded from page 424 . J The Masonic Grand Lodge continued its session with closed doors on Friday . Grand Lodge having been called to order , A ' . W . Bro . T . AVhite , in the absence of thc President of the Hoard of General Purposes , submitted a further report upon the address of the M . W . the Grand Master .

The Board of General Purposes ¦ recommended that thc following re-division of the Masonic districts be adopted : — 1 . St . Clair District , to consist of thc counties ofKssex , Kent , and Lambton , 2 . London District , to consist of the City of London , the counties of Middlesex and Klgin , except thc township of ltavham .

3 . Wilson District , the same as before , including the township of Bayham . 4 . Huron District , as before . 5 . Wellington District , as before . 6 . Hamilton District , to consist of thc City of Hamilton , and the counties of Wentworth and I lalton . 7 . Niagara District , to consist ofthe counties of Lincoln ,

Ilaldimand , and Welland . 8 . Toronto District , as before . 9 . Ontario District , as before . io . Prince Edward District , as before . 11 . St . Lawrence District , as before . 12 . Ottawa District , as before . And that any lodge opened in thc territories lying north

of the present districts be added by thc Grand Master to such district as he shall consider ihe most convenient . 13 . Montreal District , to consist of the City of Montreal , with the Chateauguay and LaCollc Lodges . 14 . St . Francis District , to consist of lhat portion of the late Eastern township district , comprising the Judicial district of the Eastern townships and all the territories

cast of ( he district , and all the territory east of the river St . Francis and south ofthe river St . Lawrence . 15 . Bedford District , to consist of that portion of the late Eastern townships' District west of the St . Francis district .

16 . Quebec District , to consist of the City of Quebec ami the lodge at point Levis , and the territory lying to the north and south sides of the St . Lawrence river below the City of Quebec . In thc afternoon the election ofthe Grand "Master took place , when Lieut .-Col . A . A . Stevenson , of

Annual Communication Of The Grand Lodge Of Canada.

Montreal , was re-elected Grand Master by a large majority—he having received 370 out of 500 votes . ( The announcement was received amid thunders of applause . ) Bro . Stevenson briefly returned thanks for the high honour which had been again conferred upon him , and was pleased to appoint the following

brethren as Scrutineers ofthe ballot for Grand Officers and for members ofthe Board of General Purposes , viz . : —R . W . Bro . McCabc , V . W . Bro . F . Menet , and AV . Bro . Smith . The ballots having been distributed , the election was proceeded with , and the Scrutineers reported thc result as follows . *—

M . W . Bro . A . A . Stevenson , "Montreal , re-elected Grand Master . R . W . Bro . Jas . Seymour , St . Catherines , re-elected Deputy Grand Master . V . W . Bro . Thos . White , jun ., Montreal , Grand Senior Warden . V . W . Bro . Hy . Robertson , Gbllingwood , Grand Junior

Warden . , . < ** ' R . W . Bro . Rev . V . Cleikenti , Collingwood , Grand Chaplain ( unanimously ) . R . W . Bro . Hy . Groff , Simcoe , re-elected Grand Treasurer . V . AV . Bro . D . McLellan , Toronto , re-elected Grand Registrar .

R . W . Bro . T . B . Harris , Hamilton , re-elected Grand Secretary . Bro . John Swectman , Grand Tyler ( By an open vote of Grand Lodge ) . The following D . D . G . M . 'S were nominated by the representatives of lodges of the various Masonic districts as District Deputy Grand

Masters , and approved by the M . W . the Grand Master : — R . W . Bro . John E . Brooke , Chatham , St . Clair . R . W . Bro . J . Billington , Strathroy , London . R . W . livo . Peter J . Brown , Ingevsoll , Wilson . R . W . Bro . Isaac F . Toms , Goderich , Huron . R . W . Bro . Charles Hendry , Concstogo , Wellington .

R . W . Bro . E . Mitchell , Hamilton , Hamilton . R . W . Bro . Isaac P . Willson , Welland , Niagara . R . AV . Bro . J . K . Kerr , Toronto , Toronto . R . W . Bro . R . Kincaird , Peterbro ' , Ontario . R . AV . Bro . E . II . Smith , Conway , P . O ., Prince Edward ' s . R . AV . Bro . J . F . Chamberlain , Morrisburgh , St .

Lawrence . R . W . Bro . E . C . Barber , Ottawa , Ottawa . R . AV . Bro . M . Gutman , Montreal , Montreal . R . AV . Bro . H . D . Pickle , Sweetsburg , Bedford . R . W . Bros . Charles D . Macdonell , Henry Macpherson , V . W . Bro . James Bain , M . W . Bro . AV . B . Simpson , R . W . Bro . OttoKlotz , and M . W . Bro . A . Bernard , were

elected members of Board of General Purposes . It was moved by V . AV . Bro . T . AVhite , seconded by R . AV . Bro . I . P . AVillson , ancl Resolved , —That the M . AV . Grand Master be requested to lake such steps as he may deem necessary , either by the appointment of a committee , to draft a statement setting forth the position of Grand Lodge , or in any other

way lo place the position of Grand Lodge in relation to lhat portion of its territory known as the Province of Quebec , before the Grand Lodges of the world . Credentials were presented by the following brethren : R . AV . Bro . J . K . Kerr , from the Grand Lodge of Texas , R . AV . Bro . Thos . B . Harris , from the Grand Lodges of Missouri and Oregon , and

M . AV . Bro . A . A . Stevenson , from the Grand Lodges of Connecticut and Minnesota , which having been found satisfactory , were accepted by Grand Lodge , and the brethren were saluted with the usual Masonic honours , and invited to take their seats upon the dais . Resolutions were unanimously passed thanking

the Toronto brethren for their magnificent entertainment to the members of Grand Lodge ; to thc railway and steamboat companies ; to the scrutineers of the ballot ; to the Committee on Credentials ; and to the Directors of thc Toronto Mechanics' Institute for the free use of their readingroom and library . Grand Lodge was closed in ample form .

J OUKNKV . MAX . —Three or four yours since , a paragraph went the round of the press , deriving the English word "journeyman" from the custom of travelling among workmen in Germany . This derivation is very doubtful . Is it not a relic of Normon rule , from the French "journce , " signifying a day-man ? In support of this , it may be observed that the German name

for the word in question is " tagelohncr , " day-worker . It is also well-known , that down to a comparatively recent period , artisans and free labourers were paid daily . —Notes and Queries . GALVANISM . —Pulvermachcr's Monthly Record of Cures is no-. u ready for thc benefit of Sufferers , containing documentary evidence of remarkable Cures effected

by Pulvermachcr ' s Improved Patent Self-applicable Volta-Elcctric Chain-Bands and Pocket Batteries , and may be had on application lo the Sole Inventor and Patentee—J . L . Pulvcrmacher , 200 , Regent-street , London , W . A Test on Loan sent gratis if required .

Caution . —Spurious Electric Appliances being advertised by Quack Doctors , Patients should consult Pulvermachcr ' s Pamphlet on that subject ( free by post ) , embodying other most interesting * matter for those suffering from Rheumatic and Neuralgic Pains , Functional Disorders , & c . & c —[ Advt . ]