Annual Fete Of The Masonic Institution For Boys.

to hear his good friend Bro . Cox in his speech full of suggestions as to the well-being of the institution . He disclaimed any intention of diverting funds from the sister institution , ancl he firmly believed that his exertions , large as had been the result , Avould have no prejudicial effect

upon the support given to the other Masonic institutions . On the contrary , he believed that the prosperity of one institution added to that of the other . He could cordially agree with the suggestions that had been thrown out as to the indiscriminate admission of candidates into the

Order . I hey could not reject cases which Avere duly qualified for candidature by the laivs of the Institution ; but it behoved the Masters of lodges to be more careful as to the admission of candidates for initiation . The candidates for

relief Avould thus be rendered less numerous , and they might then be in the position to afford relief to every worthy applicant . The institution had enjoyed great prosperity for several years . In 186 9 they had subscriptions

amounting to no less than , £ 12 , 200 , while again , in 1870 , under Royal joatronage , the amount released was not quite so large , but it nearly reached , £ 11 , 000 . He was already looking forward to the next year . He ivould not relax his exertions—he should never be satisfied until

the institution was entirely clear of debt , nor until two exhibitions at the Universities should be founded . He Avas pleased at the success of his young friend and protege , the pupil AVIIO had carried off so many prizes that day , and he A \ 'as convinced that in the future no year would pass without some boys being qualified for honours

at the Universities . He hoped to be spared to see a boy educated in this school occupy the exalted position of Lord Chancellor or the bishop of a diocese . He was pleased to see so many friends present , and although many were absent whom they might have expected to see , he was sure it was from no lack of interest . He had

appeared so often before them , that he might be blamed for his frequent appeals ; but he found that , notwithstanding his constant demands , his appearance was as warmly welcomed as Avhen , nine years ago , he first commenced his crusade . He might be considered too persistent ; but would rather that ninety-nine should blame him

for his persistence than that one should say that the institution lacked funds through his \ A-ant of perseverance . He was grateful to them all for their kindness and indulgence , and he returned thanks , he could assure them all , never more sincerely than on the present occasion . Bro . RAYNHAM AV . STEAVART gave the toast of " The Ladies . "

Bro . A . 0 . BROWN , D . Prov . G . M . for Leicestershire and Rutland , being called upon to reply , said he did not know upon A \ 'hat principle he Avas called upon—that duty generally devolved upon a bachelor . Having taken to himself a Avife , he did not know why he was required to reply ,

unless it was for the reason that he now knew more of them and their good qualities . The ladies of his province , he could assert , took great interest in the institution , and on their behalf , and that of the ladies generally , he acknowledged the toast . The conn-any then rose from the table ancl

adjourned to the grounds , where they thoroughly enjoyed thc sports prepared for them . In the cool of the evening an al fresco ball was organised , ( Pro . Chancellor volunteering to act of M . C ) , which was kept up with considerable spirit . Tlie light dresses of the ladies contrasting with the sombre tone of the newly-mown field rendered the scene most charming .

Amongst the brethren jiresent we noticed Bros . . [• G . Chancellor , Head , Raynham AV . Stewart , G . Brown , D . Prov . G . M . Leicester ; G . St . Clair , S . May , AV . Paas , C . Moutrie , S . Rosenthal , W . Roebuck , Wilson , A . Day , E . J . Cox ,

E . Farthing , Farthing , jun ., Clarke , Munday , T . T . B . Lcmaitre , Dr . Pettifor , liray , Hill , Edwards , Prodic , Seaborn , Minks , 11 . Hodges , Currie , Paisley , Robins , Tanner , Captain Kane , Adlard , Cubitt , J . P . AVolpcrt , Buehl , and Gosden .

1 HE promoters of the completion of St . Paul ' s have received several subscriptions of , £ 1 , 000 each , and one of , £ 2 , 000 from the * Grocers' Company , contingent on the raisin * ' of / 100 , 000 .

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—* . — . The Editor is not responsible for the ^ opinions expressed by Correspondents . A BELIEF IN GOD AND A FUTURE RESURRECTION , & c . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I observed a letter under the above heading in THE FREEMASON , No . 66 , page 286 , in which a serious and grave charge is made against Brother James AVallace , P . J . G . D . of Glasgow . Having waited patiently for an answer

from Bro . AVallace denying those charges , and none appearing , I and the readers of THE FREEMASON must therefore consider the charge to be correct . And this Masonry in Scotland , alas ! There have been a good many strange things said of Bro . Wallace , but this seems to me to be the oddest of all . Yours truly and fraternally , M . M .

"IS FREEMASONRY SECTARIAN ?" ( To the Editor of Thc Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In last week ' s FREEMASON you inserted a letter which appeared in the Suffolk Chronicle of the 9 th ult ., and as I happen to be the preacher refcrred ' to , permit me ' to offer a few words of comment . I would say then : —First . That

though Freemasonry is decidedly unsectanan , " though it welcomes Churchman and Dissenter , Protestant and Roman Catholic , High or Low , or Broad Church , Orthodox or Unorthodox , " ( and to this list might be added Jew or Mahommedan ) , " and asks no questions as to the religious belief or

theological opinions , " ( any more than it does to the political opinions ) , " of those who enrol themselves in its ranks , " still I must think that if the brethren when assembled in Provincial Grand Lodge , leave the lodge-room and deliberately proceed to attend , and take part in , the service at a Church of England

church , they must not be surprised if the preacher , himself a clergyman of thc Church of England , and addressing himself to a large congregation , more than half of whom arc not Freemasons , and all of whom he may fairly presume , by their presence in that sacred building , to be members of the Church

of England , or at all events , not strongly opposed to her doctrines , should select his text from some portion of the scriptures appointed by our Church for thc service of the day , and which had been lately read as the first lesson in the earlier portion of the service , more especially when that appointed lesson

happened to be taken from thc book of thc Proverbs of Solomon , whom all Masons regard with more or less of reverence . Secondly . I would observe that if " A Freemason , " or indeed any Freemason , is not a believer in the inspiration of the Scriptures , much of the beautiful wording of our Masonic Ritual must

be very unmeaning and offensive to him , and especially those parts of it which so highly exalt " the volume of the Sacred Law , " ( in common parlance the Bible ) , and which speak of it " as derived from God to man in general , " " the rule and guide of our faith , " and as " derived from God himself , because

the Almighty has been pleased to reveal to man more of His divine will in that Holy Book , than he has by any other means . " And 1 would further remark , that unless Masons do believe in thc Bible as inspired , it is useless to have it always open in the lodge-room , and useless as the medium whereby

a solemn promise is converted into a pledge of fidelity , and rendered binding as long as the newly obligated candidate shall live . Thirdly . I should have thought that thc mention of the Holy Trinity as three persons and yet one God , could hardly offend any brother , certainly no brother who is a

Royal Arch Mason . And lastly , I would remark that " the disparaging mention of the theory of Papal Infallibility , " which my censor imagines may have offended some brother who was a believer in that theory , was , to the best of my remembrance , simply comprised in two lines , and that the

sentence was to the cflect lhat if Freemasonry be so thoroughly scriptural in its tenets as we confess it to be , and if it be productive of all the good results we claim for it , it cannot be the unholy association worthy of anathema which an infallible Pope would have the world believe . AA'hef . her this letter of mine call forth a reply or not , is to me immaterial . /

certainly shall not again trespass on your space ; but even at the risk of being thought egotistical , I must add , that the Prov . Grand Master expressed himself in open lodge on our return from church , as being highly pleased with the sermon , and that the brethren present , to judge by their manner then , and by the really extraordinary number who came up to me and thanked me for it afterwards , appeared

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to be the same . That I was thankful for this I will not attempt to deny , but whether the sermon had pleased them or not , I cannot help thinking that it is the duty of a Christian clergyman , more especially of one holding the high position in the Craft , which I have the honour to occupy , to state as plainly as he can , what he believes to be truth , and

what he believes to be for the good , not only of his Masonic brethren , but also of the other members of the congregation he is addressing , and thus promoting as far as he is able , the honour of our God , and the interests of our glorious institution . I have the honour to be , yours Faithfully and fraternally ,

CHARLES JOHN MARTYN , Grand Chaplain of England . Long Melford Rectory , Suffolk , July 19 th . [ We entirely agree with our Rev . Brother , ancl thank him for bis able reply to our corresponcent . —ED . F . ]

THE RECENT ROYAL VISIT TO READING . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —Having been the victims of an unfortunate but inadvertent error in the accounts of the above memorable event reported in the several metropolitan and provincial newspapers ( two journals excepted ) , we should esteem it a great favour if you

would allow us , as brethren of the Craft and as artists , to place the matter right before your readers . Your contemporaries , after eulogising the artistic excellence and beauty of the Masonic Arch and its decorations ( erected at the station gates , Friar-street ) , attribute its construction to Messrs . Defries , of

London . Now , as this arch , with its emblazoned banners and other designs and decorations , is an entire novelty , and has been pronounced the chef d ' autrc of Masonic architecture by many distinguished artists , architects , and connoisseurs , and has also

received the unqualified approval of the chief dignitaries of the Masonic fraternity , it would be very injurious to our interests and reputation if wc permitted the error to pass unnoticed . AVe beg therefore , to inform your readers that the said arch and all its belongings was entirely produced , designed ,

and constructed by Messrs . Alfred Mills and Son , artists and decorators , 66 , Amelia-street , AValworth . By the insertion of this you will enable us to obtain what little credit may accrue from the performance of a work of which we naturally feel proud

—without derogating from the professional eminence deservedly attained by Messrs . Defries , who , we are assured , would be the last to desire to appropriate thc praise due to a brother artist and a Mason . AA- ' e remain , yours , & c , A . MILLS & SON .

ARDROSSAN NEPTUNE KILWINNING AND ITS DETRACTORS .

( To the Editor of Ihe Freemason . ) SIR , —The attention of the Lodge "Neptune Kilwinning , Ardrossan , No . 442 , " having been directed to two letters that have appeared in recent numbers of THE FREEMASON — the one signed " John Taylor , " the other " Duncan AVilkie ,

Secretary "—the lodge , at a special general meeting held on the nth of July current , unanimously instructed its Secretary to send the following statement to the editor of the forenamed magazine : — John Taylor , plumber , was initiated in Neptune Kilwinning , February 7 , 1870 ( not in January , as is

stated by him ) , was passed on thc 21 st February , and raised on the 28 th February . On presenting himself for initiation , he borrowed of thc Secretary of thc lodge 23 s . of the 32 s . 6 d . that in terms of the byelaws required to be paid prior to a candidate ' s admission . He also paid 6 d . for a copy of the

byelaws . In the interval between his initiation and the date at which he applied for his diploma , he appears from his own showing to have been refused admission into the other Ardrossan lodge . Pro . Taylor ' s delaying to refund thc Secretary for the advance lie had made in respect to his initiation fees , taken in

connection with certain expressions he had used in reference to repudiation of the debt in question , raised a suspicion in the Secretary ' s mind that it was Taylor's intention to defraud him—ancl under thc circumstances he refused to give Taylor his diploma until he paid him thc money which he ( the Secretary )

had lent . As already explained , on the 20 th June Taylor was invited to attend a meeting of the lodge on that night , in order to receive his diploma . His refusal to attend this meeting was communicated in a letter which he addressed to the Treasurer ( June 20 th ) , in which he says : " As I have been already refused my diploma by Pro . Robertson , Secretary ,

oftener than once , 1 do not consider 1 am entitled to put myself to the trouble of calling for it ; indeed . I am at present arranging an action for recovery of 33 s . p . iid for certain privileges which I have been denied . I understand that Pro . Robertson asserts that I am due him a private debt , but this I emphatically deny , and challenge him to prove . " Accepting the challenge , and still retaining pos-