To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

Bro . T . BROWX , l . P . M . and Treasurer of Gosport Lodge , No . 903 , is desirous of starting a Charity Association in the lodges in his locality . Will any brother having a knowledge of such organisations kindly forward a copy of

rules or other information to Bro . BROWN , 13 , Brown-terrace , Gosport ? Bro . DAVIS is very much thanked for the Afoo York Dispatch . Bro . MARK FRAMPTON . —Such is the custom in London .

Owing to pressure on our columns the following stand over : — Nelson Lodge , No . 700 , Woolwich . Mirlield Lodge , No . 1102 , Mirfield . Ashbury Lodge , No . 1450 , Manchester .

BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . "Hull Packet , " " Leicester Advertiser , " "The Croydon Guardian , " " Jewish Chronicle , " " Bulletin du Grand Orient de France , " " Keystone . " " The Life and Work of St . Paul , " "The Broad Arrow , " " Land and Water , " "The Metropolitan , " "Le Monde Maconnique , " "The Masonic Herald , " "Egyptian Gazette , " "The Mystic Tie , " "Allen ' s Indian ' Mail , " " Dcr Long Islaender , " " Leicester Advertiser . "

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THE FREEMASON . SATURDAY , Nov . 27 , 18 S 0 .

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WE call attention to a report of the meeting of the St . Alban's Restoration Committee , which took place on Tuesday last . It is a very important one , as it brings a very interesting subject clearl y before us . It seems that the

Committee has received from the rising architect , Mr . J . O . SCOTT , a very effective design for a " Reredos , " which is to be put up in the Cathedral . The stone work will be most graceful and striking , but the funds of the Committee do not

allow of the sculptured panels , which are needful to complete it , being filled in . The Committee have , however , thought it their duty to endeavour to offer a complete portion of Masonry , as a testimony of the interest of English Freemasons

in the work of restoration , * and propose to fill up the sculptures with purel y Masonic subjects . We think their decision a wise one , and will commend itself to English Masons , and we cannot doubt but that the sum they desiderate to effect

this praiseworthy object will speedily be obtained . Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter might surely make a small grant in aid . The "Reredos" will be under the window , one of the compartments of which is being filled in b y a kindly vote of the Corporation of the City of London .

* * THE more we consider Bro . RAYNHAM STEWART ' proposal for the enlargement of the Boys ' School the more clearl y we seem to see how abstractedly it is alike advisable and necessary in

the best interests of the School and the Craft . For we think that all must feel that the large margin of unsuccessful applicants for the great benefits of our excellent Charity is increasing , and ought to be reduced . We are aware that there are

some popular arguments afloat which cannot be overlooked . We often hear it said " we are doing too much , " and that " the more we do the more we have to do , " and that "as we cannot meet all applications we must draw a line somewhere . "

But though all these arguments to some extent are true , they are not altogether sound , inasmuch as there is a fallacy lurking in them which is of easy detection and answer . It is quite true that we are doing a very great deal , but it is not a case

of " sequitur" that , therefore , we arc to say , " hold hard , " " pull up , " to do no more , or to declare " Sunt certi denique fines , " beyond which we cannot and will not pass . The whole matter entirely resolves itself into a question of necessity

on the one hand , and of means on the other . If there are such demands upon the resources of the Boys' School as arc both legitimate and reasonable , and such as it becomes our duty as well as our privilege to seek to meet , they cannot be

speedil y dismissed or contemptuousl y ignored . Shall we meet them , and grapple with them ? Or is it better to refuse to increase the number of our pupils , and leave llie applicants lo lake Ihcir cliance ' ! We venture lo think that as the increase of claims is unavoidable , and only following the

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natural growth of our Order , it ought , if possible , to be liberally and kindly dealt with ; and as we equally believe in the large-heartedness of our great Fraternity , we also are persuaded that there will be no refusal on the part of the Craft , for an

appeal so genuine , so seasonable , and , we will venture to add , so pressing . There can and ought to be no party or private feeling in the matter .

For the wants and applications of the poor children of our brethren address themselves really to every principle of duty and every sentiment of benevolence .

* * HAS the time not come when we must hedge round the admission into our Schools with a few more precise formalities ? We do not speak of examinations , though there is something ,

nay , a good deal , as Bro . RAMSAY well put it , in a " qualify ing examination , " but rather as regards claims for admission . We have lately sought to break down that far too prevailing evil , of brethren leaving Freemasonry for years and

then of their children claiming the benefit of early membership . Much , no doubt , may be said even in this matter , on both sides , but it has been a growing evil for some time . We now require , except in case of death , & c , seven consecutive years'

subscriptions for the Boys' School , — seven years simply in the Girls' School . But might not , even in case of death , etc ., a minimum of three years , ( say ) , be also required ? There would be no unfairness in any such provision , as the fact that

g ives the child a claim is that her or his father had been a subscriber to a lodge . Not long ago a poor child ' s petition was reac , by which the father it seems had died before he had even reached the Second Degree . And many cases may be cited of

one , or one and a half years subscription . We admit how much of kindl y feeling and gentle and true sympathy is enlisted by the averment of one of " GOD ' S visitations , " but we have to deal with

the interests of our Institutions , for which , if we do not take timely heed , the applications will be so many that it will be impossible even to meet them halfway . We think the subject deserves consideration .

* * OF course , different views will strike different minds as to the best way of meeting and dealing with this overburdened list of unsuccessful candidates . A good many object to " new building operations , "

on the ground of " present and [ future expense . Some disapprove of a "temporary arrangement , " as leading to and necessitating a building , & c , subsequently . A few are in favour of merely educational help , by which all the unsuccessful London

cases would be sent to schools in London , and unsuccessful provincial cases cither aided through the provincial associations , or , where none such exist , paid for in local schools . This , in fact , constitutes a grant of " school pence , " and would

become a Masonic " capitation grant . " A good deal may be said in its favour , but the condition of man } ' of the applicants is such , that to render the charity sought for really help ful to them , food and housing must also be supplied . On the whole , as

most beneficial to the children of our brethren , and as most in unit } ' and harmony with the whole design of the Boys' School , we . think a temporary provision for a certain number of boys in a preparatory school , after the April election , is really the aim to be reached , ' . lie point to be attended to .

* * * WE have seen a " skit" in circulation with respect to the late LORD MAYOR ' S Masonic dinner , which , at first sight , we thought it better not to allude toat all , as it was so deficient in wit , geniality , and " good

" form " as to be certain to find its way at once to the waste paper basket , orbe consigned speedily to the " limbo " of forgotten absurdities . We

ourselves regretted the fact , Masonically speaking , that one or more of our brethren should think it right or fitting to waste time , temper , and paper in the concoction and dissemination of " similar

" I rash . " A " skit lo be seasonable and readable , must be short , clever , and \ villy , \ vilh some amount of "Attic salt" and latent talent . But

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this is a very heavy , very silly , very jejune production , and is fill y dated from the " Hole in the "Wall , " being both "low" in conception , and lower in temper and taste . It is , in fact , a stupid little effusion of disappointed spleen , probably by

some one who was not " invited . " The circular itself fully justifies the fact of non-invitation for the writer . He does not deserve to mix with the society of gentlemen . We should not have said so much , but that the writer or writers have sent the

paper addressed to "the W . M . " of a City lodge , marked " important , " a great impertinence and impropriety in itself , and which we think an additional proof of bad taste and un-Masonic sympathies , highly to be deprecated and

universally to be condemned by us all alike , in the best interests of Masonic goodwill and fraternal feeling . The kindness and hospitality of Bro . SIR FR . YNCIS WYATT TRUSCOTT was fully appreciated by his brethren .

* * THE discussion " anent " Grand Officers continues with renewed vigour and great liveliness . For ourselves we are just where we were . We do not think that anything is disproved as regards the

constitutional precedence and privileges of Prov . or District Grand Masters , and as we always object to " Popes " in the abstract ^ and the concrete , we cannot accept the dictum of any one brother or brethren , but think that the matter ought

authoritatively to be decided by Grand Lodge , one way or the other . It is quite clear to us that any attempt to lessen the prestige and diminish the privileges of Provincial and District Grand Masters

may be fraught with great danger to the Craft . In this we agree with the moderate and proper remarks of a Past District Grand Master in our last .

# # WE call attention elsewhere to some answers to " queries" addressed to us . In future we shall have

any such replies to any such similar questions printed in the same place , as it may be , we think , greatly for the interest and information of our many readers .

* * THE accounts of Grand Lodge from April 1 to June 30 , 1880 , are before us , from which it seems that the Fund of Benevolence has received £ 2591 and spent £ 2707 , or £ 116 in excess of receipts ,

including a balance of £ 447 is . 7 d ., so beginning the next quarter with a deficit of £ 116 Ss . gd . We observe , however , in the payments £ 200 for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and as the payments to the Boys' School and Girls '

School arc debited to the General Purposes Account , wc do not sec " a priori" any reason why this £ 200 should be debited to the Fund of Benevolence . If this £ 200 be substraclcd , the Fund of Benevolence has not " outrun the

constable . " The Fund of General Purposes has received £ 6363 17 s . Sd ., and spent £ 2434 17 s ., leaving a balance to credit of £ 3929 os . Sd . On the i 2 lh November there was on both accounts a

balance in the Bank of England of , £ 4573 12 s . 1 id ., with a small sum in the hands of the Grand Secretary , — £ 171 15 s ., — for " petty cash" and " servants' wages . "

* * IT has been said that the Board of Benevolence is giving too largely , and that it ought to keep down its grants . We cannot agree with cither proposition , though undoubtedly it is always the duty of

those in authority to preach economy , and to deprecate lavish expenditure of the Funds of Benevolence . We have seen the care and discrimination exercized by the Board , and cannot say that we think there is much to complain of . Formerly ,

undoubtedly , the grants were far too small ; it is possible that now , by a not unnatural reaction , the donations may be sometimes on loo large a scale But that , we venture to contend , is a matter entirely

within the jurisdiction of the Board of Benevolence . Wc cannot , therefore , concur , either in the complaints of cavillers or the apprehensions ol alarmists , though we fully agree , that it is the duty