The London Masonic Charity Association.

this , that a movement has begun in London to organize and develope the 'Voting power" of the voters for the London district , in a way never before attempted or achieved . This action of the London voters for the Masonic Charities has long been felt by those who interest

themselves in such matters , to be a " necessity of the case , " and the only wonder is that it has not been done before . The most successful organization of the Provincial Charity Committees renders now the return of London candidates for the various Charities often very problematical

and very difficult , and therefore an attempt has been , in our opinion , seasonably and wisely , made to alter the existing state of things in this respect , and some of our London brethren seek , not unnaturally , to take a "leaf" out of the provincial "book , " and to form a standing

committee for the purpose of receiving and using voting papers voluntarily offered to it by the voters of the various Charities on behalf of the London candidates , on certain distinct principles of action and selection . Too much praise cannot possibly be awarded to those skilfully

organised Provincial Charity Committees , which have for some years so successfully iranaged the cases for the provinces at the elections , but there can be no valid reason why London voters for the Charities should not avail themselves of the same elastic privileges , and the same easy and

common-sense organization . We anticipate the greatest good from this movement in eveiy way . A great deal of information will be disseminated about the Charities ; more general interest will be excited in them ; and that waste of London voting power which now goes on , that

frittering away of metropolitan strength which is now prevalent , will be checked and controlled . In the hands of a carefully selected and competent committee , all really deserving cases will be watched over and furthered , and successfully carried ; while many a deserving

applicant , who , under the present state of affairs can hardly hope to succeed , will run a much fairer chance of getting on the list of the successful ones . Of course there are some difficulties in the way , and some especially affecting the metropolis . One is , what may be termed

without offence to any , " individualism . We wish to achieve personally what it is now proposed to do by a Committee . Many will not like to delegate toa Committee , however distinguished , duties which they have discharged so often and so efficiently for London and provincial clients .

But such a personal view , however amiable in itself , ought not to weigh against the general good and the actual need of so beneficial a change . Another difficulty is the " claims of competing candidates , " which appear paramount to some minds , but have not the same effect on others .

It is now proposed to submit at London all cases to a careful and critical Committee in order to select the strongest cases . Thus we are inclined to think , that by a process which has been found to work well in the provinces , absolutely weak and unsuitable cases will also in London be passed

over in favour of a " distressing case , ' which conforms to all our rules , and claims , and rightly claims , our sympathy and our support . But in saying this , we neither wish to interfere with individual liberty of action , or to promote the crotchets of a reforming school

amongst us . We have always contended , that by the proper action ofa Provincial Charity Com . mittee , just as now by the efforts of the new " London Association , " due attention should be given to the cases and claims of provincial as of metropolitan candidates , and that thus we

shall seek honestly to support " a distressing case , " which has a " fair claim on our charity , " alike in conformity with the dictates of true benevolence , and the laws of our useful Institutions . But further than that we have never pretended to go , and we do not go to day . We reject now ,

as we have always rejected , because logically and practically absurd , " the most distressing case theory , " simply because we hold it to be hypersentimental ism in the abstract , and an utter impracticability in the concrete . But we rejoice to

think and to note , that by a professed voluntary association , and under conditions which , we be . lieve , will command general approval and sup . port , ( if not now , eventually ) , a Committee of London brethren will seek carefully to sift the

The London Masonic Charity Association.

London cases , and give organized support to any cases which are now , and must be under present conditions , unsuccessful , but which have , nevertheless , every claim on the warm and generous aid of metropolitan Masons .

A Letter To Bro Hubert, Paris.

A LETTER TO BRO HUBERT , PARIS .

Dear Bro . Hubert , — A worthy brother from Ontario , Canada , has called at the office of the Freemason to inform us that he had recently seen you at Paris , and that you are very anxious to be enlightened on a very important point affecting English

Masonry . It is , to use his words in a letter now lying before me , as regards the admission of " Atheists " into English Masonry . I should have thought that " a priori , " from your wellknown acquaintance with our English habits of thought and practice , and from your residence in England , that you would require' no

information from me or any one else on any such subject . But still as there are reasons given in Bro . Robertson ' s letter why you should just now ask for a " disclaimer " from me on the subject alluded to , I take the earliest opportunity afforded me of reassuring you , ( if you need reassuring ) , on the matter before us .

It seems , according to Bro . Robertson , that " two" very distinguished French brethren , high in position , ( whose names I for the present keep back ) , have thought well publicly to state that Atheists can be admitted Masons in England noiv easier than in any other country . It

is of this statement that you are stated , dear Bro . Hubert , to wish to have a denial . I can therefore only assure you , as an old English Mason , initiated in 1842 , ( you can count my years of membership ) , that such an assertion is absolutely untrue , and is either a proof of what Monseigneur

Dupanloup would call . " Invincible ignorance , " or , alas , that I should have to say it , " wilful mendacity . " Surely a more childish and more unscrupulous assertion never was made by any one , or one which betrays an entire want of acquaintance with English Masonic sentiment

and practice on the subject . No French Mason , whatever his rank may be in the Order , can have a right to make such a false charge against English Masons , inasmuch as when he makes it he either does not know of what he is talking , or is governed by an impossibility of recognising

the " abstract importance of truth . " I , on the contrary , most unhesitatingly and distinctly declare , and in this statement I shall be supported by countless English and American brethren , that no known Atheist , ( except by some mournful carelessness ) , can be

admitted into English and Anglo-Saxon Masonry . And , therefore , in reply to " two" distinguished " French brethren , " who are alleged to have made so rash , so foolish , so untrue a statement , ( with what motive I do not profess to

understand ) , I can only declare to you , that any such assertion is a most unjust calumny on English Masons and Masonry . I am , indeed , in great hopes that there is some mistake in the matter , and that there or has been an unintentional

and misinterpretation of certain remarks , more or less excited , perhaps , in a momentary discussion . If such , however , be the deliberate opinion of the two distinguished 'French brethren named , you and I must mutually grieve over their "delusion " on the subject , and we shall both feel

that it betrays a state of feeling alike significant and most deplorable . If then you want a " Denial" from me , I truly offer it to you to-day , as I know you will both receive it , and audit it , as coming from Yours most fraternally , dear Bro . Hubert ,

THE EDITOR OFTHE "FREEMASON . Bro . Kenning , the sole proprietor of the Freemason , quite agrees with me in these remarks .

At the regular meeting of the Centenary Lodge of Fortitude No 131 Truro on the 13 th inst ., the R . W . Bro . J . H . Neilson was formally received and saluted as a Representative of the Grand Orient of Egypt , and Past S . G . W . of that Grand Lodge . Although a member of the lodge , the W . M . and members were determined on this his first visit , to do him all possible honour , and the " Grand Honours" were given most heartily to our dis * tinguished brother .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , In a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . 1

ADMISSION OF MEMBERS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother ,- — A question of considerable interest to the Craft has been raised in one of our most important provinces under circumstances which it is to be hoped are somewhat rare . For some years past it has been the practice of a lodge in a

small town within the province of which we write to initiate into Masonry numbers from a town twenty miles distant , which , with its neighbourhood , embraces six lodges for a total population of about 80 , 000 inhabitants . This course for obvious reasons , for some time formed the subject of complaint , and several years since was noticed at head quarters by the adoption of a series of resolutions , with the

object of " enforcing more stringent rules as to the admission of candidates into the Masonic Order . " These included the following , which was recommended by P . G . Lodge to all lodges in the province : " That every brother of each lodge be requested not to propose for initiation a candidate residing at a distance from the place in which the lodge is held until the most searching enquiries have been made

and satisfactory reasons given why he was not proposed in a lodge in the town in which he resides or one nearer to his place of residence . " The practice complained of is not known to have in any degree decreased consequent upon this resolution ; and the small lodge has now become so numerous as to be in danger of losing its individuality , not to say that , whilst the imported brethren find it

inconvenient to attend lodge , which must , for their convenience , be held in the afternoon , those who form the lodge proper find it equally inconvenient to attend in the afternoon , and equally desire to meet in the evening . In these circumstances the emigres have applied to the Prov . Grand Master to recommend the grant of a warrant to them to hold a lodge in the town to which Ihey belong . Asking the senior

lodge there to support their application , it not only refused to do so , but petitioned the Prov . Grand Master not to grant the request on the following grounds : —That the six lodges already existing in tl * . e town and neighbourhood where the petitioners for the new lodge reside , afford ample opportunities for meeting all the legitimate requirements of Masonry ; that so far as the opposing petitioners are

aware , and believe , many of the petitioners were received into a lodge which had nol conformed to the before-quoted resolution of Prov . Grand Lodge ; and that to grant a new warrant under such circumstances , by practically counteracting the power of black-balling , would be to imperil the distinctive character Freemasonry has hitherto held . The signataries [ to this petition , which was hurriedly got up

and dispatched , embraced Past or Present Mastcrsand other officers of each of the six lodges , and—simply in order to indicate their character and social position—it should be added included an ex-mayor and present alderman of thc town , its sheriff , town clerk , borough treasurer , and officei of health , several of its leading men ( including a Past Master of more than forty years' standing , and some town

councillors and others holding official position ) . The Prov . Grand Master , who , it may be stated , resides between fifty and sixty miles from the locus in quo , it is whispered at first refused to recommend the grant of the warrant , lacking the recommendation of a lodge in the objective town , but this being forthcoming , has intimated that he has recommended the grant of the warrant , thc

objectionable course of initiating candidates at a distance from their residences without previous enquiry having , '_ ' it is understood" ( sic ) ceased . How far thc spirit , as distinguished from the letter , of Prov . Grand Lodge resolution has been observed by the lodge which seeks to extend its holders , is shown by enquiry on the spot , revealing the appointment of a standing committee of its own members

resident in the town which protests against the whole proceeding and practice , it being naively added that " it is believed that such an appointment has resulted in the most beneficial effect . What , then , is the conclusion to be drawn from action previous to this appointment ? and what need is there of further testimony as to the utter vicious .

ness of the practice of initiating members from a distance from the initiating lodge , without special cause being shown for their not joining lodges in their own locality ? All the circumstances considered , it is no matter of surprise to hear that the subject is not to be allowed to rest where it is now . CAUTION .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT . To the Editor oj the " Freemason '' Dear Sir and Brother , — It is a matter of notoriety in this flourishing province tbat while the rank and file appear in black , wilh white gloves , and the majority in full dress , out of respect

to the Provincial Grand Lodge , the P . G . M . and his principal officers are usually attired in walking costume of various hues . This may appear a very small matter , but when brethren travel from all parts of the province in hot weather , and in the customary , but ancient suit of black , it is not asking

too much , that the principal officers should either appear in the same costume , or else announce that it may be dispensed with , and clothing suitable to the season substituted . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , OBSERVER .

To thc Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — At a meeting of the above , held at Basingstoke , the P . G . M . strongly affirmed that he would not appoint