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directed aeainst it . It nas sought lo assist " good cases , " though compara - tively "friendless , " and to preserve to thc London subscribers of our Charities a fair proportion of elected candidates . Just now the provinces arc increasing in strength , organization , and power of combination of votes yearly . In London the interests of thc metropolitan candidates , unless taken up by

influential brethren , or an active private Committee , have but little chance of success ; and , as many ot thc London brethren help habitually provincial cases , so scattered has thc voting of London subscribers become , that unless , as we said before , private and personal influence is exerted for particular cases they cannot poll , and have no chance of polling , the requisite number

of votes . It would almost seem as if the dignity of some good brethren is ruffled , and the influence of other worthy friends assailed , by the creation of this friendly London Committee , if wc were to judge by thc speeches wc hear of , and the statements openly and surreptitiously made . Thc London

Masonic Charity Association , as it calls itself , however , undauntedly goes on ils way , seeking no one ' s favour and fearing no one ' s frown , and will endeavour in the future , as in the past , without " partiality , frown , and affection , " to do its duty to those who support it , and those it supports , in a truly Masonic spirit of zeal , sympathy , and goodwill .

THE Grand Lodge of the Ncthcrlaiidb has lost its old and faithful G . M ., the oldest of all existing Grand Masters . Once a soldier , since the great war he has devoted himself to the arts of peace , and under his sagacious , tolerant , and friendly rule Dutch Freemasonry has safely progressed and

notably flourished . May his example long continue to guide and govern Dutch Freemasons , and may they , remembering their old history and adherence to the sacred landmarks of our universal Order , loyally avoid rash changes , and untoward complications . All English Freemasons have long

learned to know and appreciate the great services to Freemasonry , national and cosmopolitan , of thc late G . M . of the Order , IT . R . H . Prince FREDERICK . of the . Netherlands , G . M . of Dutch Freemasonry . Mc has passed away , after a long and useful career , in a good and green old age .

* * WE often hear complaints as to sentences in our Criminal Courts and Police Offices , which seem to jar on our sympathetic scnlimenlalilics . No doubt it often happens that offences against thc person do not appear to have been meted out to them the same amount of punishment as those against

property . Such is , however , often a characteristic of English law , wisely or unwisely ; and wc must also bear in mind , keeping in view , too , thc morbidity of the day , that such sentences are the scnlcnccs of " experts , " thc complaints those of " non-expcrls . " Two recent sentences will not , however , be found fault with by any . One is * in tlie Central Criminal Courl , where ihe

RECORDER has sentenced Mr . LKDRU R OLLIN REYNOLDS to two years hard labour and Mr . RAYHOURNE io fifteen years' penal servitude . We hope lhat one of the vilest systems of commcrical swindles and personal profligacy wc ever heard of , or which has come before thc police , is now broken up , and we commend alike the prosecution and the sentences . Mr . DE RUTZEN has

vcry properly , also , scnlcnccd an individual , who is , of course , " a highly respectable person , " and one , too , " who actually drives a gig , " to " fourteen days' hard labour , " for proceeding at a " furious rate , " not being sober , through the streets , and endangering thc lives of tlie public , and

notably of some children . Considering the open daily risks attendant on our crowded ihoroughfarcs , wc think that Mr . D E RUTZEN deserves the hearty thanks of all classess of the community for thus seeking lo protect the interests both of the walking and driving public , and to put down a state of things disgraceful to thc metropolis , and to civilization .

WE arc a little chary , wc confess , in accepting implicitly the sudden appearance of "Masonic relics . " Wc have dabbled in other matters and other " archaeologies , " and we know also the nature of humanity to make profit of everything . Some lime ago , on good authority , we were told that most

of the little Oriental idols wc see in distant clinics were actually made in JingJand , a vcry unpleasant fact , and wc arc becoming a little fearful lest this demand for "Masonic relics" may induce some ingenious persons to palm off on credulous and too confiding brethren certain modern adaptations for genuine ancient relics . Do any

of us recall that ingenious man , wc forget in which town of Englantl he lived , or which he blessed with his presence , who , when thc idea came across thc minds of subtle and devoted housewives of liaving coffee-berries ground at home in little coffee mills , sometimes turned , loo , by fair lingers , immediately took out a patent for imitation paste coffee berries ? So , then , wc

think it well to-day to offer a friendly warning lo all brother . students and collectors . Things arc not necessarily " antiques " because they are said to be so , and even " relics" become a question eventually for " experts , " and it often requires much discrimination to judge between the " original " and tlie " imitation . " A few friendly utterances of " caution " arc never , il seems to us , unseasonable , or out of place .

* ''' * SOME of our readers may note with amusement thai lhat serious nusiance , the so-called "Salvation Ariii 3 ' , " h . is recently " come lo grief , " . ind under circumstances which , while they necessarily provoke laughter , evoke many serious thoughts . Good-looking young damsels had belter not henceforth

" loiter" or listen lo the " soft impeachments" of " Captains" and ihe like , both for thc health of " body and soul . " We trust that ihe police will soon be able to put a stop to proceedings which savour sadly of hyprocrisy , and even openly border on profanity i

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THE abduction of the Rev . Mr . KENNARD , in open day in this great metropolis , is a fact which suggests most serious considerations to us all and for us all , as peaceful denizens of our own "little village . " We trust that a most searching enquiry will be conducted b y the police authorities , as to the conduct specially of thc constable near the house to which Mr . KENNARD

was violently brought , and illegally conveyed . It is greatly to be feared that owing to the untoward prevalence of a " special agency system , " to which Sir CRESSWELL CRESSWELL once emphatically alluded in court

the most serious interference with the liberties of Her MAJESTY ' S subjects constantly takes place , a process of "squaring" goes on discreditable to all concerned , and innocent persons arc "interned " contrary to the laws of thc land , without any power of ready relief , or possibility of even legal redress .

* * THE Congress of Orientalists at Berlin has been agreat success , and we hope to sec Professor MASPERO ' S able analysis of thc great discovery near Thebes , one of the most remarkable that has ever been made , reprinted in the Alasonic Magazine . Just now Masonic students arc specially interested in anything that can throw light upon Egyptian Hermeticism .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of this Lodgeof Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . The President ' s chair was occupied by Bro . Joshua Nunn . P . G . S . B ., Senior Vice-President ; the Senior Vice-President ' s by Bro . James Brelt , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President ; and thc Junior Vice-President ' s by Bro . Samuel Rawson , Past District Grand Maslcr of China . There were also present Bros . Col . Shadwell IT . Clerke , Grand

Sec . ; A . A . Pendlebury , W . Dodd , G . P . Britten , P . M . ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; \ V . Mann , P . M . 1 S 6 ; Henry Garrod , P . M . 749 ; George Lambert , P . D . G . M ., China ; Charles , Dairy , P . M . 141 ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; fohn Constable , P . M . ; C . F . Hogard , P . M . ; J . M . Klcnck , P . M . ; W . Stephens , P . M . ; J . H . Matthews , P . M . 143 ; A . Mallord , W . M . 12 SS ; J . Borrows , P . M . 1623 ; R . G . Bird , P . M . 70 and 1 * 550 ; Arthur E . Gladwell , W . M . 172 ; Andrew McDowall , W . M . 94 8 ; John

Skirving . 'W . M . 87 ; J . Mason , P . M . 1567 ; C . Breden , P . M . 7 S 1 ; Thomas West , YV . M . 1 S 15 ; Joseph Harling , P . M . and Treas ., 30 ; Irvine Marie , I . P . M . 17 S 0 ; VV . Gibson Bott , W . M . 1 S 39 ; John Williams , W . M . 1791 ; Henry W . Green , W . M . 10 S ; E . Somers , W . M . 1 S 97 ; Edgar Bowyer , P . M . 14 . 71 ; George S . Bigley , W . M . 1298 ; Walter E . Gompcrb * , P . M . 147 s ; C B . Chase , W . M . 86 9 ; Thomas Butt , P . M . 907 ; James Garrod , W . M 754 ; IT . Sadler , G . D . ; and IT . Massey , P . M . O 19 { Freemason ) .

Thc brethren first confirmed recommendations made at last meeting to the extent of ^ * 145 . There were only twenty-one new cases on the list , a smaller number than has been thc case for a long time past . Out of this list four cases were postponed , being incomplete , and one case was dismissed . Thc remaining sixteen were relieved as follows : Two ^ 40 each ( £ Sc >) , four £ 30 each ( £ 120 ) , three £ 25 each ( £ 75 ) , three £ 20 each ( £ 60 ) , two lo £ 10 each , and two £ 5 each £ 10 ) , or a total sum of £ 36 ^ . Lodge was then closed .

Annual Movable Grand Mark Lodge At Sheffield.

ANNUAL MOVABLE GRAND MARK LODGE AT SHEFFIELD .

[ BY TELEGRAPH . ] Thc Annual Movable Grand Lodge of Mark Master Alasons of England and Wales and thc Colonics and Dependencies of thc British Crown was held on Thursday , by invitation of thc Britannia Lodge , No . 53 , al Freemasons' Hall , Sheffield . Previous to the meeting of the lodge the visiting

brethren werc conducted over thc works of Sir John Brown and Co ., where they witnessed the Bessemer process of making steel armour plates , fly-wheels , axles , and springs . The Britannia Lodge met at halfpast twelve , when the Mark ceremony was performed by Bro . W . Rcancy , Master .

Afterwards Ihe Prov . Grand Lodge was received and held . Bro . WAV . B Beach , M . P ., Past Grand Master , acting for thc Grand Master , Bro . Lord Henniker , who , through serious illness , was unable to be present . A letter was read from his lordship , in which hc explained thc cause of his absence as being that his medical adviser had assured him that his attendance would lead lo permanent illness .

Thc business of Grand Lodge , after a sincere expression of regret on the part of the brethren at Lord Hennikcr ' s absence , was then proceeded with , and Bro . John Woodall , of Scarborough , was installed as Provincial Grand Master of North and East Yorkshire . When this ceremony was finished , Bro . Dr . Scollope , Provincial Grand Master of Sussex , installed Bro . S . IT . Gaily as Master of the Britannia Mark Lodge for the ensuing twelve months .

The Board of Masters wiio witnessed the ceremony was the largest ever known , there being eighty-one Past Masters present . The ceremonies of the day were vcry imposing , and a full choral service added greatly to thc impressive nature of the ritual . Thc number of brethren who attended the Grand Lodge from

Lancashire , Middlesex , Yorkshire , and other provinces in thc country was over three hundred . Sir Francis Burdett , Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex and . Surrey , the Grand Masters of the Provinces of Sussex , Northumberland and Durban ., Lincoln , Kent , South Wales , and other provinces were present , besides Captain Frank R . Molt , of the United States Army .

The following Present and Past Grand Ofliccrs also attended : Lord Arthur Hill , M . P ., G . S . W . ; Baron de Ferrieres , M . P ., P . G . M . O . ; W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . ; Rev . H . G . Morse , G . C ; F . Davison , G . T . ; VV . Roebuck , P . G . M . O . ; Sir Pryse Pryse , Bart ., P . G . M . South Wales ; Thos . Cubitt , P . G . S . O . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . W . ; F . Binckes , P . G . W . ; — Pidcock ; Thos . J . Pulley , G . D . ; Thos . Trollope ,

. M . D ., P . G . M . Sussex ; H . Lovegrove , G . Supt . of Wks . ; C . J . Bannis-Itr , P . G . S . O . ; W . ] . Meek , G . S . ; W . Barkley , G . S . ; G . A . Rookcs , G . S . ; N . Berridge , " G . D . C . ; I ) . M . Dewar , A . G . Sec . and P . G . M . O . ; John Barker , P . G . S . ; John Walker , D . P . G . M . Gloucestershire ; and IT . Alassey , P . G . S . ( Freemason ) . A grand banquet followed the Masonic proceedings of the day ;