The Disappointments Of Life.

we make , the ends we seek , the children we train , the countless sympathies , affections , longings , efforts of our own imperfect nature , all fail us and all fade from us , in some sad hour of earthly trial , and disappointment leaves us often nothing behind but the sad dull decay of morbid

suffering years , the wreck of earthly happiness , the crumbling array of our own poor little castle in the air , which we have taken such pains to raise , which to-day is , and to-morrow is not , the hopeless sense of an unfillable void . If we look beneath the surface of things , and note the

inner currents of human struggles , we shall find that disappointment is the ceaseless condition of humanity , inseparably attendant on everything of earth , and intended , no doubt in the good providence of God , as a wholesome medicine , a needful corrective , to warn us ,

control us , restrain us , to lift up our hearts and minds , amid passing and temporal things , to those which are enduring , nay eternal . We have been led into these reflections by the sad intelligence , officially reported in another page , of the death of Lillian Mary Nelson , one of the most

promising girls in our noble Institution , and daughter of our late lamented and most zealous Bro . R . R . Nelson , P . G . S . for West Yorkshire . To all Freemasons the premature demise of this young and intelligent pupil will be a subject

of deep fraternal regret , but to those of us who knew Bro . R . It . Nelson in the flesh , and appreciated his energy , and shared in his work , the matter will appeal most forcibly and warmly to our hearts as well as to our memories . For we

shall recall at once his many years of earnest labour for the Charities , first under our lamented Bro . Dr . Fearnley , and then under our esteemed Bro . Bentley Shaw , in the happier days of Lord Ripon ' s constitutional rule , and we shall feel deeply for the twice afflicted widow , and truly condole

with her , on her irreparable bereavement . It is always saddening to the human mind to realize the passing away of early promise , bright hopes , high excellences , abounding graces j and there are none of us who will not mourn to hear

today of a happy career thus sadly closed , and of those disappointed hopes , those natural expectations which have ended in time , but not , we will believe , in eternity , both for that widowed mother and that mourning family . The best wishes and hopes of the Craft go with them all .

A Bit Of News.

A BIT OF NEWS .

The Westminster Gazette , that respectable Roman Catholic paper , is just now greatly moved internally . From "Roma la Santa" comes to that well-informed journal , from its special and accurate correspondent , the startling and ill-timed bit of news that Prince Humbert has received

Prince Louis Napoleon into Freemasonry . Thereupon the Westminster Gazette waxes virtuousl y indignant at such a very improper proceeding , and proceeds to point out how very ticklish is the position in which the Empress Eugenie and her son stand in respect of the Sovereign Pontiftjand

how displeased he is with their sayings and doings at home , their visits to the Quirinale , their friendly relation above all with the Italian Royal family . Will the editor of the Westminster Gazette allow excommunicated Freemasons to tender to him a humble morsel of advice ? Will he kindly

permit us to suggest that he had far better leave the Empress Eugenie and her son alone ? They have both earned for themselves the good will and kindly regards of our English people , and we venture to deem it a great act of impertinence on anybody ' s part to spy into their movements ,

either with the hateful malevolence of party , or the baneful slander of cackling geese . Curiously enough , as . Freemasons , we do not believe the story . In the first place we are not aware that Prince Humbert is a Freemason , and secondly , we are ignorant of any authority given to him to

admit Prince Louis Napoleon into Freemasonry . Had the ceremony been performed , the Grand Lodge of Rome would probably have something to do with it , and our esteemed Bro . J . C . Parkinson would have informed us of it also , and ,

with his usual kindness towards us , have sent us an account of it . We fancy that the story is a pretty little Roman Catholic Canard , concocted in London , and put forth in that amiable frame of mind by which Roman Catholics just now

A Bit Of News.

seem animated towards Freemasons and Freemasonry everywhere . Anything , however foolish or grotesque , however ludicrous or unlikely , as regards Freemasons , is sufficient to frighten the LTltramontanes into hysterics , and we believe that in their present state of nervousness and

agitation , clearly approximating to "delicious trimmings , " they will credit anything of our innocent and peaceful fraternity . Happy for us it is that " hard words butter no parsnips and break no bones , " otherwise , who can say what the consequences would be to our Masonic

Confraternity , in our hours of work , or our moments of refreshment ? Luckil y for us , there is a limit for abuse , a turning point for slander , and we can only trust that our dear Ultramontane friends aad brethren will speedily reach the one and the other . As it is we wish them

kindlier sentiments , more reasonable theories , and above all , a more polite and Christian vocabulary .

What Happened At Marpingen?

WHAT HAPPENED AT MARPINGEN ?

Can any brother tell us ? The Univers , the well-known Parisian Ultramontane paper , states , it seems , in its issue of the 27 th December , 1876 , that the entire affairs of Marpingen have turned , to the greatest confusion of the Prussian police , and of the entire Masonic press of the world ,

que toute l ' aftaire de Marpingen il tourne a la plus grand confusion de la police Prussienne et de la presse Maconnique du monde entier . " Bro , Hubert , the editor of the Cliaine d'Union , declares himself " bien curieux " to know to what affair these words relate , as he sees most Masonic papers , and he has never heard of

Marpingen . We can only re-echo Bro . Hubert ' s words . We see weekly , daily , Masonic papers from almost every country , and in almost every European language , and we have never heard of Marpingen . So perhaps some " bright Mason " will kindly enlighten us : though after all the old adage may be true , " -where ignorance is bliss , ' twere folly to be wise . "

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving or 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 . ]

HOW CAN WE IMPROVE MASONRY IN SCOTLAND ? SEC . I . —GRAND LODGE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — PREFATORY . —The first thing for Grand Lodge of Scotland to do in the case before us is " to consolidate its debt , " and to devise means for paying off the same

within a certain time . The next is to arrange a workable system , whereby the estimated annual expenditure and receipts can be made to balance , ' and at the same time pay interest of consolidated debt , and form a sinking fund for the redemption of the same . When I first looked into this subject I was in great

hopes that by a few good measures properly brought forward in Grand Lodge our object might be accomplished , but in going deeper into the matter I found that a partial re-construction at least of Grand Lodge was necessarythat isolated motions would be of little avail—that , in fact , suggestions would be required from the Craft at large , and the whole matter brought before a few good and earnest

brethren to be developed into shape . Why , then , you may say , do I not bring my measures and proposals before Grand Committee ? I will give you three reasons , ist . Grand Committee has enough to do at the present time in arranging the financial and other arrears , and in carrying on the regular work ; 2 ndly . Members of Grand Committee ( as well as executive

officers of Grand Lodge ) may be required to give evidence , may in fact be on their trial ; jrdly . Because in all cases of like import , and where many points have to be considered appertaining to one subject , or one branch of subjects , we have the precedent of our National Legislature , which appoints " Royal Commissions , " with full powers , " to enquire into every detail of the subject in hand , and " to

report thereon . " For these reasons , then , 1 think , in our present condition Grand Lodge should appoint a " Special Committee . " The present average sum per annum paid as interest by Grand Lodge of Scotland is about £ 700 ; the interest on £ 14 , 000 at 4 percent . is £ 56 o . These few figures speak for themselves .

The incubus , then , that weighs us down , that impedes the action of every executive officer we have had or ever may have , is the Grand Lodge debt and floating balances ; till this can be arranged little can be done . I would propose then to meet this , " that all outstanding balances against Grand Lodge be consolidated into one Debenture Stock ( held amongst ourselves , viz ., the

Original Correspondence.

Masons of Scotland ) , issued in bonds of £ 3 or £ 10 at par , bearing interest at 4 percent , per annum , to be redeemable yearly or half-yearly from the sinking fund . " There should be no difficulty in this , if brethren who have money would consider the matter in its proper light . Four per cent , is a good interest , " even at the

present time , if properly and safely secured , " so that it would be in the power of any brother who had £ 5 or £ 10 to invest , to do good to the Craft , and yet be at no loss himself ; Grand Lodge now borrows its loans at 4 per cent ., 3 per cent ., and the existing bank rate of interest . If the loans are consolidated into one at 4 per cent ., Grand Lodge would be immeasurably the gainer .

TABLE I . —ACCORDING TO PRESENT SYSTEM . Table of Receipts per Annum as it should be without Deducting Anears . SEC . 1 . —Annual Payments :

Certificates of 458 Lodges at 5 s . eachT Annual Subscription of 450 R . W . M . ' s j or their Proxies at 5 s . each ......... ^ £ 458 Annual Subscription 916 Warden ' s , or j their Proxies at 5 s . each * J Liquidation Fund 458 Lodges , at £ 1 each per annum £ 43 %

£ 916 Annual Rent of Shops and other properties in George-street about 480 Total fixed charges £ 39 & SEC . 11 . Variable Incomes : t Intrants , say 4000 at 4 s . 6 d £ 90 ° Diplomas , say 4000 at « s 1000

Charities and Prov . G . M . ' sCommissions at £ 1 o 10 s . each , say 105 Rents of Masonic Lodges and other bodies , say ... 80 Rents for Grand Hall 13 a Miscellaneous receipts , say 50 £ " « 5 Brought forward Sec . 1 fixed charges ....,,.., 139 6

£ 3 " 8 1 This measure would seem feasible and easily arranged by one motion , but we have to consider the securities , and while assuring this interest , and securing it upon certain proceeds of Grand Lodge , we have to provide also for a sufficiency to maintain our current receipts and cover

expenditure , leaving , if possible , a margin in each case , ist . for the sinking fund for debt , and 2 nd . for arrears in general receipts : this leads us then to consider the question of " Reconstruction or re-arrangement of Grand Lodge . " The income of Grand Lodge is derived from various sources , some permanent and annual fixed charges , some

variable , ist . The fixed charges are the annual certificates from , every daughter lodge , the annual dues of the representative members of G . L ., being the R . W . M . ' s , and their Wardens or their respective Proxy Masters and Wardens , the annual sum of £ 1 chargeable on every daughter lodge towards liquidation of debt , fixed by G . L . three or four years ago , and the rent of the shops and other

properties let on lease . 2 nd . The variable charges are , intrants' fees , diplomas , charters to daughter lodges , Provincial Grand Masters ' commissions , rents payable by Masonic lodges , & c , for holding meetings within Grand Lodge precincts , rents fo large Masonic Hall , and miscellaneous receipts . There are 458 working lodges on the books of Gran

Lodge , therefore the annual payment by each lodge , either in itself , its representatives , or proxies , should be £ 2 each , or a total of £ 916 per annum . The table above shows what should be the sum of the fixed charges and proper number of members of Grand Lodge under the existing system , but unfortunately the arrears are very great : thc last published Grand Lodge Reporter is of November ,

1873 . I can get no information beyond that period , so must base my figures on previous statements of accounts , but making all reasonable allowance for arrears under this head , a fair sum should be realized if the Constitutions be strictly enforced , but the arrears are vastly in excess of all that could be imagined . Under the head of Liquidation Fund , I am informed there is a

deficiency of £ 1500 ; again , on referring to the various Reporters in my possession , I find that the average number of subscribing members of Grand Lodge , out of a total of 1374 , is considerably under 500 : space will not permit me to quote chapters and sections of Constitutions by which these deficiencies could be made good , suffice it for me to say , " that unless Grand Lodge duly enforces its rules , and

the brethren and lodges at large respond to the call , no system can be devised to place Grand Lodge on a proper basis ; it can only go on from bad to worse . " Let us now consider the 2 nd class , or variable income of Grand Lodge . The intrants and diplomas can be considered

together , at present the number is pretty high in proportion , and is the mainstay of the general income ; but here again I must warn the brethren , that though Masonry is now " fashionable , " and sought after , " we cannot depend on increasing prosperity in the same ratio . " 1 would in this case have given a lower average to work upon , but here