Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but » e wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

LODGE BENEVOLENCE AND RELIEF . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and , Brother , I notice in your report of the proceedings at a lodge in your issue of to-day that prominence is given to the fact that certain brethren were the recipients of relief , and giving names in full . Surely this must be a grave mistake , as such publication is neither Masonic nor fair to the brethren named , whose cases have been deemed worthy .

Grand Lodge surely sets a worthy example in such cases when they do not name the brethren whom it is proposed to relieve , that being only done within tyled doors . —Yours fraternally , CHARITY . December 16 th .

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Homage To Christmas.

HOMAGE TO CHRISTMAS .

SONG AND CHORUS . —FOR MUSIC . BY PROF . F . W . DRIVER , M . A . To welcome old Christmas Our voices let ' s raise , With laughter and frolic

We'll sing to his praise , All troubles we banish , No cares shall annoy , But free and light hearted Wc carol with joy . CHORUS—To thee , merry Christmas , from full wassail bowl , We quaff off our bumpers , thou jolly old soul .

Then pile up the yew logs , Come deck the old hall . Let holly and ivy His presence recall ; Our friends gathered round us , So loved and so dear , With hearts warm and grateful

We'll taste his good cheer . CHORUS—To thee , merry Christmas , from full wassail bowl , We quaff off our bumpers , thou jolly old soul ! At this festive season , May Christmas attend

On the rich and the poor Alike as a friend . May the sunshine of Hope Cheer all far and near . And brighten in prospect

The coming New Year ! CHORUS—To thee , merry Christmas , from full wassail bowl , We quaff off our bumpers , thou jolly old soul !

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The last meeting for the year 18 99 of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , W . C . Bro . James Henry Matthews , President of the Board , occupied the President ' s chair ; Bro . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President , and Bro . Henry Garrod , Junior Vice-President , were in their respective places . The Grand Secretary , Bro . E . Letchworth , Bro . W . Dodd , Bro . G . S . Recknell . and Bro . Henry Sadler , G . Tyler , represented the Grand Secretarial Department .

The other brethren who attended were Bros . Henry A . Tobias , W . Fisher , E . W . Nightingale , F . W . Hancock , S . H . Goldschmidt , Charles j . R . Tijou , W . Kipps , W . M . Bywater , George Gravelcy , R . W . Ker , Charles Pulman , James Block , Thomas Jones , W . H . Caton , Walter Martin , John Ellingcr , Charles

Henry Stone , W . Wills , W . M . Stiles , P . G . T ., Frederick Kent , Albert T . Chesfield , Julius Bovenstock , R . A . Brangwin , G . J . Thompson , W . Bower , E . J . Robinson , H . Massey , D . B . Thomas , C . J . Husband , George Herbert Burns , W . Hanhert , Alfred Sack , William Sugg , J . D . Wilkinson , E . W . Pillinger , William C . Parsons , Richard Carey , L . J . Dilnutt , and A . J . Swash .

Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS , President , before the Board took up the list of cases for relief , said it would be remembered that at the last meeting of Grand Lodge a sum of 1000 guineas was voted to the Lord Mayor ' s Mansion House Transvaal War Fund , in such proportions as the Board of Benevolence in their discretion should think fit . That was an amendment to the motion proposed on behalf of Sir Reginald Hanson . After that he had an interview with the Grand Secretary

with reference to a special meeting of the Board of Benevolence , and it was thcught better that the present meeting should decide the question . As a point was raised at Grand Lodge that the Mansion House Fund did not relieve all descriptions of cases , he went to the Mansion House and saw Mr . Soulsby , the Lord Mayor ' s private secretary , and explained to him that there were threereasons why the reference to the Board was made ; one was that the members

war . ted to know whether widows of men not married on the strength were included among the objects of the fund . He also asked whether the widows and orphans of officers were included , and also whether the fund included widows of sailors , and also disabled soldiers and sailors and the Colonial Forces . The answer to the first was that widows married without leave partook equally with cithers . With regard to the second point , was that the relief lists issued by the Mansion House were for the widows and orphans of ollicers and men

01 her Majesty ' s Forces ; and the third point was answered also in the affirmative . There was a meeting held at the Mansion House next day when the matter was brought forward as to what branches should participate , there being homes for soldiers and sailors . It was considered that they required equal attention . One of those was recommended by Lord Pirbright . It was thought that , except so far as donations were earmarked , the Lord Mayor should excr < isc his discretion , and that the Marines should participate and the Colonial troops . The Lord Mayor baid that from thc inception of thc fund until

Board Of Benevolence.

now he had never made any distinction betw een widows married with leave o without leave . Bro . D . D . MERCER , Senior Vice-President , said that after hearing what had been stated by the President , and knowing full well the decision of the Mansion House Fund , he would proceed at once to move that the sum of 1000 guineas be given to the Mansion House Transvaal War Fund , to be at the entire disposal of the Lord Mayor without being earmarked .

Bro . HENRY GARROD , Junior Vice-President , had much pleasure in seconding the motion , and he thought the general body of Freemasons would endorse what the Board did in the matter by placing the fund in the hands of the Lord Mayor to dispose of as his lordship thought fit . Bro . R . W . KER said he would like to mention that in Grand Lodge it was impressed upon the brethren that the widows of officers who died in this war were particularly to be cared for , and he would like some special mark to be made with respect to this matter .

Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS remarked that he had already said that all branches would be relieved . Bro . R . W . KER added that he wanted part of the gift to be earmarked as he had mentioned . Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS observed that the three points he had put to the Lord Mayor ' s Secretary were satisfactorily answered .

Bro . C . J . R . Tijou , P . Asst . G . P ., said he had intended specially to select Col . Gildea's Fund for Officers and Widows , but he did not think it necessary now to speak at all after the explanation that had been given . Bro . MATTHEWS then put the motion that the 1000 guineas be paid to thc Lord Mayor ' s Mansion House Transvaal War Fund , to be distributed at the discretion of the Lord Mayor . The motion was carried .

The brethren then proceeded with the ordinary business . They first confirmed recommendations for the Grand Master to approve grants to the amount 01 £ S ' rhe- November meeting . They then considered 30 new cases from the London district , from Sydney , N . S . W ., Margate , Aylesbury , Taunton , Melbourne , Guildford , Rye , Walton-on-the-Hill , Balham , Manchester , Whitehaven , Torquay ,

Newport , Isle of Wight , Milford , Fyzabad , High Bainet , and Hastings . Out of this list two cases were dismissed and two deferred , and . £ 700 was voted to the remainder . Grand Lodge was recommended to grant ^ 75 in one case , and . £ 50 in two cases . Three were recommended to the Grand Master's approval for £ 40 each , and six for , £ 30 each . Nine petitions received ^ 20 each , one was voted £ 15 , twa - £ 10 each , and two £ 5 each .

The total amount granted during the year was ^ 7803 , and 2 S 6 petitioners were relieved . Monthly they ranged thus : January , 18 cases , , £ 460 ; February , 22 cases , . £ 530 ; March , 39 cases , £ 930 ; April , 24 cases , £ 515 > May , 25 cases , ^ " 785 ; June , 15 cases , £ 515 ; July , 24 cases , , £ 690 ; August , 13 cases , ^ 395 ; September , 13 cases , , £ 313 ; October , 25 cases , £ 895 ; November , 42 cases , iJ 075 ; December , 26 cases , ^ 700 . In 1898 the cases relieved were 337 in number , and the amount voted ^ 9105 . This shows a considerable improvement .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

St . Luke ' s Lodge , No . 225 . The annual installation of Master and officers of the above lodge , and the celebration of the festival of St . John the Evangelist , took place at the Masonic Hall , Sloanestreet , Ipswich , on the 13 th inst . The large attendance of members , Past Masters , and visitors , and the most impressive way in which the retiring W . M ., Bro . G . VV . Senton , discharged the duties of Installing Master , will make the 1 S 99 anniversary rank as one of the most successful in connection with the lodge . The retiring f . W ., Bro . H . J .

Brook , was installed in the Master s chair , after which the new W . M . appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows , Bro . Brook discharging the first duties of his new office in a most interesting manner : Bros . G . W . Senton , I . P . M . ; S . Sparkes , S . W . ; R . Miller , J . W . ; J . Talbot , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Treas . ; G . P . Price , P . M ., P . P . G . Standard Bearer , Secretary , J . Howlett , S . D . ; R . D . Taylor , J . D . ; A . W . Cook , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., D . C ; W . Parker , Org . ; A . E .

Senton , Asst . Org . ; E . B . Lewcock , I . Girling , A . Mills , H . B . Clarke , and F . G . Fisk , Stewards ; and G . Gould , Tyler . Afterwards the lodge re-appointed Bro . A . W . Cook , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., as its Charity representative ; but before adjourning for the Masonic banquet , on the initiative ot Bro . J . Talbot , unanimously voted a sum of money from the lodge fund to be sent to the Mayor of I pswich for the relief of the victims of thc war . Subsequently they " passed the hat , " which increased thc amount forwarded to the Mayor to 25 guineas .

At the banquet Bro . Brook presided , and he was supported by Bros . N . Tracy , P . P . J . G . W ., P . G . Std . Br ., Prov . G . Sec . Suffolk ; Geo . W . Senton , J . Talbot , G , Abbott , H . Cockrell , S . Snow , W . H . Cook , J . A . Pettitt , S . Skerritt , W . Whitehead , and others .

Cnchton Lodge , No . 1641 . The installation meeting of this very flourishing lodge was held on the iGth inst ., at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxford-street , W ., when there were present Bros . V . T . Mmche , W . M . ; Chas . H . Stone , S . W ., W . M . elect ; G . M . E . Hamilton , P . M ., Treas . ; Geo . King , P . M ., Sec . ; J . Elliott , S . D . : P . A . Nairne , P . G . D ., D . C . j J . Day , I . G . j W . H . Barratt , A . D . C . ; H . A . Stunt , P . M . ; Wm . Briant , P . M . ; R . I . Vincent , P . M . ; T . Weeks , P . M . ; Geo . Gill , P . M . ; R . Greenwood , P . M .

R . Stokoe , P . M . ; L . lownshend , G . Rankin , R . T . Randell , S . Cresswell , H . Kendall , E . West , F . W . Parker , W . Smart , A . Henley , T . G . Ball , G . A . Goodwin , W . Ellis King , T . Pilcher Shovelier , A . T . Flux , W . A . Moore , J . Bailey , D . Greville , J . E . Kettle White , II . W . Prior , Valentine Hill , D . D . Carroll , R . J . Fox , T . A . Organ , I . W . Melton , and C Castle . Visitors : Bros . V . Codma Langlin , S . D .

245 S ; A . E . Oxley , W . M . 2147 ; R . J . Pugh , P . M . 2147 ; Thos . Lee , P . M . 2751 ; Harry Eyre , W . M . 101 ; Thompson , 2157 ; C . F . Clifton , 957 ; Chas . Wm . Stone , P . M . 507 ; Jos . Kirby , J . D . 16 93 ; R . E . Goffin , P . M . 1572 ; J . J . White , P . M . 2513 ; Thos . Grummant , P . M . 1550 ; Robt . Elgar , P . M . 1329 ; Geo . F . Hipkins , W . M . i 5 l ) Sj L . J . Phillips , 2513 ; G . Briggs , P . M . 1572 ; Isaac Dunn . P . M . 1622 ; P . W . Ryde , 2 / 513 ; E . Gill , 2535 ; Hy . Cornford , W . M . 1922 ; and J . Bate , P . M . 1507 .

The lodge was opened at 3 . 30 p . m . precisely , and the minutes of the last regular meeting read and confirmed . The W . M . then , in a most able manner , raised Bro . Edgar Townshend to the Degree of M . M ., after which a ballot was taken for Mr . Daniel David Carroll , and proving unanimously in favour of the candidate , he was duly initiated into the mysteries ol Freemasonry by the W . M . in a most impressive manner , which must leave a lasting impression on the initiate ' s mind . The report of the Audit Committee was presented , received , and adopted . Bro . Wm . Briant , P . M ., then duly

presented Bro . Charles Henry Stone , P . M ., S . W ., and W . M . elect , to receive the benefit of installation at the hands of the W . M ., which was carried out in a Board of 25 Installed Masters in a most perfect manner . After Bro . Stone was installed , he invested Bro . Vincent Murche as the I . P . M ., and thanked him on behalf of the lodge for the excellent manner he had performed the work throughout the year . The officers of the lodge were then duly invested as follows : Bros . John Tom Evans , S . W . ; John Joseph Elliott , J . W . ; George M . E . Hamilton , P . M ., Treas . ; Geo . King , P . M ., Sec . ;

Perceval A . Nairne , P . M ., P . G . D ., D . of C ; Ernest Day , S . D . ; Tom . A . Organ , J . D . ; William Henry Barratt , I . G . ; James Weal Melton , A . D . of C ; Thomas G . Ball and George Rankin , Stwds . ; and George Harrison , Tyler . The addresses were then delivered by thc Installing Master in a most able manner , which won for him the commendation of thc brethren and visitors present . During the ceremonies the work of D . C . was ably performed by Bro . Perceval Nairne , P . M ., P . G . D ., who has for many years undertaken this most important duty . Bro . C . II . Stone , W . M ., _ then presented thc lodge jewel to Bro . V . T . Murchc , I . P . M ., speaking of their association