Ad00605

TO OUR READERS . The FREEMASON is a Weekly Newspaper , price AG . It is publithed every Friday morning , and : ontains the most important , interesting , and useful information relating to Freemasonry in every c'igrce . Subscription , in eluding postage : United America , India , India , China , & c Kingdom , the Continent , & c . Via Brindisi , Twelve Months 10 s . 6 d . 12 s . od . 17 s . 41 ) . Six .,, 5 s . 3 d . 6 s . 6 d . 8 s . 8 d . Three „ 2 s . 8 d . 3 s . 3 d . 4 s . 6 d . Subscriptions may be paid for in stamps , but Post Office Orders or Cheques arc preferred , the former payable to GEORGE KENNfNG , CHIEF OFFICE , LONDON , the latter crossed Loiulon Joint Stock Bank . Advertisements and . thcr business communications should be addrcsseil to the Publisher . Communications on literary subjects and books for review are to be forwarded to the Editor . Anonymous correspondence will be wholly disregarded , and the return of rejected MSS . cannot be guaranteed . Further information will be supplied OP application to the Publisher , IQ 8 , Fleet-street , London .

Ad00606

TO ADVERTISERS . The FREEMASON has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can therefore scarcely be overrated . SCALE OF CHARGES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS . Whole of back page ... ... ... £ 12 12 o Half , ,, . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 10 o Inside pages ... ... ... ... 770 Half of ditto 400 Quarter t'ilto ... ... ... ... 2 10 o Whole column . . . . . . ... . . . . . . 2100 Half „ 1 10 0 Quarter , 100 Per inch ... ... ... ... ... 040 These prices are for single insertions . A libera ! neluclion is made for a series of 13 , 26 , and 52 insertions . Further paiticul . irs may be obtained of the Publisher , 198 , Fli'ct-slri'c ' , London . ADVERTISEMENTS to ensure insertion In current week's issue should reach the Office , 198 , Fleet-street , by 12 o ' clock on Wednesdays .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

Litters from Bro . J . H . Neilson , and "A 33 , " will appear next week—proofs will be sent . C . SAUNDERS . —The report shall appear next week . The following unavoidably stand over : Prov . G . Lodge

of Suffolk ; Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Hants , and the Isle of Wight ; The Granel Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Quebec ; Summer Excursion of the Lodge of Fidelity , No . 3 ; Reports of Lodges 1428 , 1460 , 1536 , ' 57 » i 1749 ; Chapters 129 , 342 , 1423 .

BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " Hull Packet ; " " Medical Examiner ; " " Broad Arrow ;" " St . Christopher Advertiser ; " " Voice of the People , ( St Kitts ); " "Bulletin du Grand Orient de France ;" " Winds to be sung at the Annual Fete of the Village

Home ; " " Masonic Advocate ; " " Du Bauhutte ; " " Risorgimento ; " "Keystone ; " "Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette ; " " The Water Cure ; " "Report of a Speech delivered by the Hon . Thos . Holt , Esq . M . L . C . ; in the Legislative Council of New South Wales ; " " Bundcs-Presse ; " Vol . I . of "Brief . "

We shall be much obliged if Correspondents forwarding Newspapers will kindly mark the paragraphs to which they desire to call attention . ERRATUM . —The Second Lecture by Bro . Hughan is entitled " Masonic Fees and Privileges , " not " Grand Privileges . "

Births ,Marriages And Deaths.

Births , Marriages and Deaths .

BIRTHS FISHER . —On the 13 th inst ., at Reigate , the wife of S . T . Fisher , of the Grove , Streatham , of a son . Jupi" . —On the nth inst ,, at Wellcsley-road , West Croydon , the wife of Charles fupp , solicitor , of a daughter .

MARRIAGE . CZARNECKI—BINCKES . —On the 17 th inst ., at St . Luke ' s Church , New Kentish Town , by the Rev . C . H . Andrews , Lieut . Czarnecki to Matilda Edith , eldest daughter of the late Mr . Henry Binckes .

STEPHENSON—TWIGGS . —On the nth inst ., at St . John ' s , Irlam , Manchester , by the Rev . Robert Martin , vicar , E . Stanley Stephenson , of Manchester , to Emily , widow of Henry Twiggc , of Liverpool , and daughter of the late John Cuitis , of Higher Broughton . No cards .

DEATH . BANKS . —On the 13 th inst ., at Pclham-villas , Salisburyroad , Dalston , of consumption , Freelerick Charles , fifth son of the late Mr . Joseph Banks , of New-cross , Surrey , aged 48 .

Ar00607

THE FREEMASON , SATURDAY , J ULI 20 , 1878 .

Election Of Secretary To The Girls' School.

ELECTION OF SECRETARY TO THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

We think , as we said , necessarily very hastily and briefly last week , that the election of Bro . Hedges to the post of Secretary for the Girls ' School will be a satisfaction to the Craft and a gratification to all the subscribers . During the recent contest , the Freemason officially espoused

no cause , and put forward no candidate , though proprietor and editor , like every one else , had their rightful opinions , as Life Governors of the School , on the subject . We believe that in the last struggle all had the interests of the Girls ' School at heart , and certainly the wish of the

great majority of voters was to secure a thoroughly efficient Secretary in the place of our lamented Bro . R . W . Little . In supporting Bro . Hedges , his very numerous friends , though many were unable to be present , thought conscientiously that they were attempting

emphatically to place the " right man in the right place . " And in this we hold that they were correct , inasmuch as they were only following out the now generally received axiom as regards simi ' ar posts , namely , that a candidate should possess distinct knowledge of the duties of the office he

aspires to . Without introducing comparisons with Bro . Hedges' opponents , which would be alike undesirable and unmasonic , and conceding to them all proper qualifications for the Secretaryship , we yet venture humbly to conceive , 1 st that Bro . Hedges was specially fitted for

the vacant post , and secondly that in electing him , the Life Governors have , to use a common expression , done " the proper thing . '' Bro . Hedges had been five years in the office , he knew all its routine duties , whether as regards finance , committee meetings , or public festivals .

For two years he had discharged the actual secretarial duties . Large sums of money had passed through his hands , and he had proved to the satisfaction of keen and competent observers , that he undoubtedly possessed all those qualifications which are so essential in a Secretary and

so conducive to the best interests of an Institution . A good man of business , well versed in figures , a ready penman , obli ging and courteous , respectful to superiors , and considerate of inferiors , he adds to these qualifications the goodwill and respect of all with whom he has been

brought in contact , a goodwill and respect which have been fairly earned by his zealous discharge of his proper duties , and his unpretending but consistent demeanour , alike in public and in private . It is this feeling , thoroughly creditable to our Masonic body , which prompted the

cheerful , hearty , and enthusiastic support which he has received at the election on the 1 ith , which polled for him a larger number of votes than any Secretary ever yet received for the Girls ' School , and which rewarded the anxious labours of his Committee with so gratifying and

so successful a result . Henceforth , Bro . Hedges is before our Masonic public , and the Masonic public a somewhat exacting body , will take note of his words and works , his proceedings , and his efforts . We have ourselves no fear for the result . We are quite sure that in the future , as in the past , Bro . Hedges will justify the

confidence placed in him ; that he will maintain a high character for usefulness , courtesy , and efficiency ) and that he will labour most zealously to advance the best interests of the great charity of which he is now the Secretary , while he earns the unchanged approval of the House Committee , and merits the approbation and commendation of his numerous warmhearted patrons .

The Returns Of The Last Festival Of The Boys' School.

THE RETURNS OF THE LAST FESTIVAL OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

We have gone through the Stewards' lists since our last issue , with the following results : The Metropolis has returned £ 4 , 778 4 s . nd ., of

The Returns Of The Last Festival Of The Boys' School.

which the highest amount was made up by Lewis Lodge , No . 1185 , Bro . Frederick Binckes Steward , gg 194 16 s . The next to that is the Friends in Council Lodge , No . 1583 , Bro . Raphael Costa , Steward , £ 1 . 5 8 11 s . The next , Royal Naval Lodge , No . ^ o , Bro . C . Harrison , Steward

jfii ' -i / S . The next Orpheus Lodge , No . 1706 , Bro . J . J . Murray , Steward , £ 110 $ s ., and the next Gihon Lodge , No . 49 , Bro . Wm . Baily , Steward , £ 103 19 s . These are the only lodges in the Metropolis returning three figures , though many lodges send up most liberal and

commendable amounts , and ihe Tranquillit y Lodge , No . 185 , Bro . Parr , remits 96 , and the Crystal Palace , No . 742 , Bro . W . Land returns s € go 6 s . The provinces , and colonial , and other bodies have remitted £ 5321 16 s . , d ., or about £ 6 oa more . Of these West Yorkshire , always

in the van of a rightful cause , gallantly heads the list with £ hi $ . West Yorkshire is followed by the good province of Kent with ^ 478 , and Kent is succeeded b y Dorsetshire with sS ^ oi 12 s . Gloucestershire appears next on the scene with £ . 379 1 . 3 s ., and Lancashire ,

Eastern Division , sends up £ 3 ij 1 < js ., Norfolk has collected £ 279 6 s ., and Essex is not far behind with £ 133 c . s . 7 d ., while Devonshire follows upon Essex with £ 220 . Warwickshire next advances with £ 215 its . 6 d ., and is almost touched by Surrey with £ 10 $ 17 s .

Middlesex offers £ 194 7 s ., and North Wales is not far behind with ^ 16 9 ; Monmouthshire remits £ 166 19 s ., and Durham & £ ! $$ ¦ Cumberland and Westmorland are credited with £ 150 ; Suffolk with £ 120 15 s ., and Sussex with £ 118 : 3 s . Smaller sums make up the amount

previously specified . Though , as we said last week , we consider the amount , under the circumstances , most remarkable , yet certain considerations seem to crop up as regards the present position and future prospects of our charities , which not unimportant in ihtnutlves , demand careful treatment . We reserve , then uiiiil next week , the

observations and suggi stums which have occurred to us to make , and to oiler on this most interesting topic to our many indulgent readers . In this hot weather , a v < ry " little goes a great way , " and we feel sure that we shall btst consult their patience and our own space by stopping here today .

Clacton-On-Sea.

CLACTON-ON-SEA .

The new and promising seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea , which is likely to become a favourite as it is a most refreshing place of rest , health , and resort , was , on Wednesday week , the scene of a great Masonic gathering to commemorate the establishment of a second Masonic

Lifeboat , most fitly named the " Albert Edward . " Our readers will remember that to commemorate the safe return of our Royal and beloved Grand Master from India the Grand Lodge , after much discussion , granted £ 4000 to establish two Lifeboats—one of which is placed on the Devonshire

coast , the other at Clacton-on-Sea . We are among those , ( and we beg pardon of our readers for reminding them of the fact ) , who have ever deeply regretted that our Grand Lod ge , led away by mistaken sentiment and excitement , refused Bro . John Havers ' s admirable proposal of

voting four thousand pounds to the restoration of the great and historic Minsters of St . Alban ' s and St . Paul ' s . The proof how wise was his suggestion , and how Masonicall y appropriateand useful itwouldhave been , is to be seen in the fact , that both these national works are

languishing for want of funds , and bound up as they were with the earlier and later historic souvenirs of Freemasonry , no better or more ri ghtful apppropriation of our money could have been possibly made . Failing , however , the best appropriation of our funds , and the most rational at the same time ,

we think the idea of the Lifeboats a very good one indeed , and on humanitarian grounds highly to be commended . It may be a satisfaction to some of our readers to learn , that already the " Albert Edward " has been instrumental in saving nine lives from the wreck of the " Garland . " Like its genial and kind-hearted namesakemay it proceed happily and successfully on its