Masonic Charities .

MASONIC CHARITIES .

0 WE understand that the Stockwell Lodge , No . 1339 , will be shortly consecrated by Bro . R . Wentworth Little , the officer appointed for the purpose by the M . W . Grand Master .

THE Grand Mark Master Mason has accepted the invitation of the Sampson and Lion Lodge to visit them on the occasion ofthe installation ofthe W . M . on Wednesday , Feb . I .

WE beg to call the attention of our readers to the advertisement announcing the postponement ofthe festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution to Friday , the 3 rd Feb .

AT the forthcoming festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Bro . H . G . Buss , of 127 , Offord-road , Barnsbury , will represent the Knights of Constantine , and will be happy to receive additions to his list .

BRO . DR . H . BEIGEL , W . M . Lodge of Tranquility , who is now with the army of General Manteufrfel , was decorated on the 4 th instant with the Order of the Iron Cross—an order which can only be gained by personal bravery on the field of battle .

MARK Masonry under the English Constitution continues its onward course , warrants for new lodges having recently been granted for Percy , 122 , Stockton-on-Tees ; Callender , 123 , Bury , Lancashire ; Union , 124 , Sunderland ; Hengist , 12 5 , Bournemouth ; and All Souls' , 126 , Weymonth .

FROM the Kapunda ( South Australia . ) Herald we learn that the foundation-stone of the Kapunda Institute was laid on the 12 th October last , with Masonic honours , by the Hon . Captain John Hart , Companion ofthe Honourable Order of St . Michael

and St . George , Treasurer and Premier of the province , and Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Freemasons under the Scottish Constitution in South Australia . The ceremonies were very ably performed , and the event went off with great eclat .

A GRAND Masonic ball was held at the Public Rooms , Kidderminster , on Tuesday last , the 17 th inst ., under the most distinguished patronage from Worcester and neighbouring provinces . The proceeds are to be devoted to the funds of the new

infirmary . Thc arrangements were complete , and the band , under the direction of Bros . Synyer and Gilmer , was everything that could be desired . Upwards of 190 of the brethren and general public

were present , including , of course , a large number of the fair sex , and dancing was kept up until an early hour . We have 110 doubt that the proceeds will be a considerable sum , the object being of such a deserving character .

Theatrical.

THEATRICAL .

THE PRINCESS ' S THEATRE . —The extravaganza of "Little Gil Bias , " by Mr . H . B . Farhie—in which Mrs . H . Paul still continues to please all as the student of Salamanca—is now worked closely

and pleasantly . The ever popular drama " Peep o ' Day" is again revived , and is the first piece performed . Ths performances close with " He's a Lunatic" Mr . Phelps appears on this day ( Saturday ) in the " Man of thc World . "

ADELPHI rHEATRE . —At this theatre there is revived that pleasing little drama "One Touch of Nature , " Mr . B . Webster in his old character . "Smoke " precedes it . Mr . H . B . Fernic ' s burlesque " Misletoc Bough " terminates thc evening .

Reports of the following lodges stand over;—30 , 91 . 140 , 177 , 194 , 206 , 538 , ancl 862 , London ; 216 Liverpool , 330 Bodmin , 531 Hartlepool , 737 WellingborV , 1000 Southend , 732 Brighton , 1035 Liverpool , 1086 Kirkdale , 124 S Scarboro ' , 1330 Market Harboro' , and 1331 Aldershot .

THE BEST FIRST . —Turner ' s Tamarind Cough Emulsion for the Throat and llroncliia , 13 /^ d . and 2 / 9 per bot . —All wholesale houses in London and Liverpool , and any respectable Chemist . —[ Advt . ] HOLLOWAV ' PiLI . S—Life ' s Grand Boon . —Indigestion , dyspepsia , or disordered stomach arc more or less the companions ol mo , l men whose time is occupied hy literary , le ^ -al , or commercial pursuits , which prevent out-door exercise essential to

health . This last is'increav- 'd in winter in females , and all whom the weather makes prisoners . Holloway ' s l'ills have lon- ^ been famed as tlu easiest , safest , and ( no-. t certain correctives uf weak stomachs , disordered livers , or torpid bowels . They insure a healthy action throughout the alimentary canal without d stressing or debilitating the system . They arc the ino t clhcic . it yet painless antidotes of all visc : cal disturbances ; they stimulate , moderate , or repress any exceptional function ; they make the digestion good , the body strong , ana the mind vigorous . —[ Advt . I

Masonic Charities.

MASONIC CHARITIES .

We reprint the following correspondence on this subject from the Poole Herald of 15 th ult . and 15 th inst . r—( To the Editor ofthe Poole andSouth- Western Herald . ) Sir , —I was very much pleased at the full and comprehensive report you gave of the grand Masonic

gathering at Bournemouth , and of the speeches at the banquet . Charity was not forgotten by the speakers , and I only wish it was oftener remembered at the festive board . I think , however , there are two duties , one almost as necessary as the other , in order that benevolence may be exhibited in its

purity . It is one duty to give , but it is another to see what is given is made the most of towards benefitting the object for which it is intended . This latter one is too often lost sight of , and I heartily wish all speakers would impress this on their hearers . In reading your report of what was said

atthebanquet , I find P . G . St . Bro . F . Binckes , who is secretary to the boys' school , spoke most ably on the first duty , and his remarks are worthy of attention . If , however , he had said a little about the other it would have to my mind been an improvement .

Take his own school and look at the report for 1868 . The building expenditure was either thirtyeight thousand pounds or forty-three thousand , and yet they say only 103 boys had been maintained in , and two boys educated and clothed out of the estabmenr . Our county schpol for the sons of gentlemen will only cost , I am informed , from eight to ten

thousand pounds , and room for 200 boys . I think if those who had given had been asked this , they certainly would have objected to such an outlay , and preferred the money going more directly to the orphans than the costly erection of such a building . Look at the expenditure and income . The secretary in the same report , I see , under special expenditure ,

has—£ s . d . Commission on surplus receipts 84 8 2 Travelling expenses , 70 11 o Under ordinary expenditure—salary .. .. 150 o o Commission 129 4 9 Then there is a pension to a former secretary 100 o o

. -6534 3 " Then a collector gets 136 10 o Then a clerk , , £ 39 , messenger , , £ 10 .. .. 49 o o An office 36 o 0 £ 755 13 "

I don't say one word against the parties . They may be well worth their money , but when we read in the report that only 103 boys in and two out , total 105 , had been provided for , although the applications were numerous , I certainly think some at least , of this money would be saved . Instead of

such an outlay on the building , thc interest alone would keep two hundred boys yearly , in my opinion , and I believe of many more , it would have been better to have taught three hundred poor orphans , instead of rather more than one , each one of whom would have been a far worthier illustration of the charity of the order than that of bricks and

mortar . It is the same with many other large and , I may say , noble institutions in England . Therefore , let us not only give , but sec what wc do give is made the most of , not in show , but more directly to benefit thc object . I am , yours truly ,

R . N . HOWARD Weymouth , 12 th December , 1870 .

( To the Editor ofthe Poole and South- Western Herald . ) Sir , —Bro . R . N . Howard , of Weymouth , in his letter under this heading , which appeared in your journal of 15 th December , seems to think that the outlay on the new building for thc Boys' School has been incurred without consulting the subscribers .

' I think , ' he says , ' if those who had given had been asked this , they certainly would have objected to such an outlay . ' Allow me to state , for the satisfaction of Bro . Howard ancl of thc numerous brethren in Dorset , Somerset , and Hants , who arc readers of your

journal , that there arc no charities so thoroughly under the supervision and control of the subscribers as thc two Masonic schools . Thc general committee of each school , consisting of all life governors ( donors of ten guineas ) in addition to the annually elected members , meet monthly . At each meeting the proceedings of thc

house committee are fully reported , and , if need be , freely criticised ancl dealt with . Thc finance and audit , committee , consisting of nine brethren annually elected , meet quarterly , and are directed by thc rules to " report their proceedings to the general committee , with any observations they may deem necessary . "

Masonic Charities.

General courts which every annual subscriber of one guinea , and life subscriber of five guineas , and all life governors and vice-presidents are qualified to attend , are held quarterly . At these , the proceedings of the committees are reported , and any brother may propose a resolution disapproving of any act

which he may not deem justifiable . The house committee is elected annually . The meetings at which its elections take place are generally attended by a large number of brethren , and there are frequently contests for a seat on the committee , as it is thought desirable by many brethren ,

myself included , that new blood should occasionally be infused into it . I retired several years ago from the house committee of the Boys' School ( to which Bro . Howard ' sletter more especially refers ) , other occupations preventing my giving a regular attendance , I can , therefore , speak freely with respect to

their proceedings ; and I venture to say that no body of men , unpaid , and with no private interests to serve , ever devoted themselves more earnestly , sometimes under heavy discouragements , to the promotion of the welfare and prosperity of an institution that the house committee of the Boys '

School . Each of the present twelve members of the committee has constituted himself a vice-president by a donation of not less than fifty guineas , and several ( I am not sure I may not say all ) have contributed considerably more than this sum . It is earnestly to be hoped that through the

continued zealous support of the Craft throughout the country , the institution will soon be freed from debt . This desirable consumnation will allow of a considerable increase in the number of boys admitted to the school . In conclusion , allow me to say that if Brother

Howard will become an annual subscriber of one guinea , he will be qualified to attend the quarterly court . If he will constitute himself a life governor by a donation of ten guineas , he will be a member of the general committee . In either capacity , any suggestion he may make , any resolution he may

propose , will be carefully considered , and if it commend itself to the approval of the brethren as likely to promote the interests of the institution , it is sure to be adopted . I have the honour to be , Sir , your most obedient

servant , J SYMONDS , Vice-president of both the Masonic schools . 3 , Ingram-court , Fenchurch-street , London , Jan . 9 th , 1871 .

Obituary.

Obituary .

?—W . BRO . COL . JAMES ROGER WESTERN , P . M ., P . Z .

We regret having to record the decease of this well-known brother , who expired at his residence , 12 , Park-square West , Regent ' s Park , on the 13 th inst . Bro . Western was initiated in the

Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 , on the 23 rd February , 1842 , and soon after left England for India , where he was exalted in the Chapter of Hope , No . 10 9 , Calcutta , on the 14 th December , 1846 .

On his return to London he rejoined the Lodge of Antiquity on the 3 rd February , 1857 , and became an active member of the Chapter of

Hope and Unity , No . 214 , Romford . The late brother was a Vice-President and liberal supporter of all ihe Masonic Charities , and had served on most of the committees of the Craft .

We are requested to contradict the obituary notice recently inserted in a contemporary respecting the supposed decease of Bro . W . E . Walmisley , P . G . Sword Bearer : and we are

happy to add , upon the very best authority , that the worthy and worshipful brother is not only not defunct , but that he continues to enjoy remarkably good health , despite the Siberian

seventy of the present winter . He has , however , experienced the rare felicity , if such it really be , of seeing his own post mortem record in print while still in the land of the living .

"F . vi- ' . i-. v mother anil housekeeper must often act . vi finiily ph ,: ; ii : i , in iii tlie numerous illnesses and accidents thai occur among children and servants . I ' or many of thcsi : cases 1 have used Davis' Pain Killer , and conAier il im ' . ispens . iblc in the family medicine box . "—N , Y , Examiner .