Original Correspondence.

The spirit of Christianity permeates the former in ( ate . ,. - " not s 0 the latter . Can Bro . Gould inform us jlverv line , ^ ^^ relatively to the separate companies w c h L . e-Masons and Masons amalgamated in London in ° I renturv ? ' can only suggest the monkish denvathe ' f i-he Rite of Edwin . We find the same difference '" "J , , nr ; Pnt Rites of the French Companionage ( vide

' - R „ iand ' s " Ars . Quat . Cor ., " vol . 2 ) in the 3 " ot B f \ r acques' " ChrTst was the Spiritual Master , " M , til ihird grade represented the passion of Christ , as ?" MtRosy Cross Degree ( which Masons early last m ,, rv maintained was the true Master ); the Rite of the of the Sons of Solomon on the other hana clearly 3 yj the Christian character . It is not without interest avoidea ii * i i

" * - rj : „ i ,, „„ i , , „ „ , ; m „ H -hia Rnsv fv , t York , Durham , Edinburgh also claimed this Rosy Si as an ancient ceremony last century . _ Bro . R- F - GouW ma-y have other sur P " ses in * i tore for ' he certainlhas

the second part of Commentary ; y us '' ^ e unstinted gratitude of old-fashioned Masons , U-e myself , for what he has accomplished in the first part , ipraternally yours , ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ June 24 . ^^

Our Benevolent Institutions.

OUR BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS .

To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Times of unusual excitement are not , perhaps , the best to draw attention to matters where careful consideration and calm judgment are required . Recently I received the annual statement of accounts of our Benevolent Institutions , and therein read— " It has been orepared with the utmost care , and has undergone a rigorous examination by the Audit Committee before being finally approved and passed , and the Committee is _ confident that the Governors and Subscribers , on inspecting it , will find it is no idle boast on its part when it asserts that the Funds of the Institution have been administered with the . t ci . rMniilnii .-i carp , and a due resrard to economy . "

This is very straightforward , and , therefore , with a strong prejudice in its favour , I accepted the invitation of the Committee , and have carefully examined it . The first thing that struck me was the dual set of accounts , with sums in each exactly corresponding . With all due deference to the Committee , I think this is a mistake . I

know it will be said that the two Annuitants' Funds are separate and distinct . True , they may be ; yet there are not two sets of management . As all the Governors and Subscribers will have received the printed statements , I append the same , re-arranged , and the expenses tabulated into one account .

RECEIPTS . MALE FUND . Balance 31 st March , 188 S ... £ 408 7 11 Grand Chapter 100 o o „ Lodge 800 o o „ „ Jubilee Gift ... 1000 o o Dividends ... 1364 6 o Donations ... _ 5837 5 6 Annual Subscriptions ... 818 4 9 Legacy ... ... ... ... 100 o o Cash withdrawn at Call ... 1000 o o Interest on Cash at Call ... 60 10 9 £ 15 , 188 14 11 Grant to Annuitants £ 6 ggo Purchase of Stock ... 3195 ¦ 10 , 185 ° o Half of Expenses 1664 18 1 11 , 840 iS 1

£ 3 , 338 16 10 WIDOWS' FUND . Balance 31 st March , 1888 ... £ 3280 7 4 Grand Chapter 50 o o ,, Lodge 800 o o , ,, „ Jubilee Gift ... 1000 o o Dividends 890 19 10

Donations 5663 16 2 Annual Subscriptions ... 810 iS 3 Legacy 100 o o Cash withdrawn at Call ... 1500 o o Interest on Cash at Call ... 58 in r L L A „ £ 14 . 154 3 6 Jjrant to Annuitants £ 7620 Purchase of Stock ... 2130

H .. „ 9750 o 0 Half of Expenses 1664 18 o ——• 11 , 414 lS o ^ 2 , 739 5 6 p „ EXPENSES . ,- — Uillector ' s Expenses £ 512 19 o Messenger 10 o o postages and Petty Expenses 468 2 4 provincial and other do . 169 14 o ^ "Jbng 382 13 10 Assistance in Office 38 o o Kates and Taxes—Asylum ... 150 9 9 Salaries-Office 885 o o ^ * den 20 o o 5 ? J ° r > 62 o o hardener ... 57 4 o D ° - Pension to late

Gardener 26 o o ™« of Hall SSo R n ent -Office Ql o o Do . -Meadow 25 8 o Bank Charges 0 J 11 entertainment of Stewards A J a " Annuitants 95 7 6 Advertisemen ts « 3 o Co Ws Guarantee ... 710 o Hereof Omnibus 506 K ° 'V V - 84 13 6 Purchase of Land and Surveyor ' s Fee „ 5 0 fen ^ ^ * & ° Vote « f TU i" A" " 2 5 o o ^ nattStt ^ d 0 ^^ To io ° ° o StSr ^ achFund : * " * ' £ 332916 1

Our Benevolent Institutions.

I do not propose to go through each of these items , but draw the attention of your readers to a few . The Collector ' s expenses , £ 512 19 s . —This appears to be very large . The donations and subscriptions , for I presume only on these is a commission paid , amount to ( both funds ) £ 13 , 130 4 s . Sd . Now , half of this amount will beroundly speaking , from London and half from the

, Provinces . The latter half is generally collected by the Provincial Stewards and remitted to the Secretary—a plan not adopted , as a rule , in London—leaving about £ 6500 to be collected ; and £ 512 19 s . for collecting £ 6500 is equal to nearly S per cent . —a rather high figure . Printing and postages amount to £ 850 16 s . 2 d . —also a large sum . The office salaries— £ 885—added to the

Collector ' s , makes a round sum of £ 1397 ' 9 - ' thlnk Pro ' vincial and " other " expenses is objectionable . What are " other" expenses , when items of is . and 1 id . are stated ? —these might be given in more detail . Two items , I think , call for special attention , viz .: Vote of thanks to Stewards , £ 24 ios ., and entertainment of Stewards and Annuitants , £ 95 7 s . 6 d . These should be

defrayed out of the Stewards' fees , or , at least , that portion of the latter sum which belongs to the entertainment of the Stewards . Referring to Stewards' fees , although I have been a Steward several times , I have never yet seen a statement of how the fees were disposed of . It may be said that a meeting is called when a statement is read ; true , but when a brother who resides a distance from London has been a

Steward , and given a donation , and attended the Festival , he cannot be expected to be at the expense of going to London again within a few days . The proper way is for a statement to be printed and a copy sent to every Steward . There is nothing lost by being open . Now let us see how the expenses read : The annuitants receive—Male £ 6990 o o Widows 7620 o o ¦¦¦ £ 14 , 610 o o Expenses £ 3329 16 I or nearly 23 per cent , of the amount paid to annuitants , so that every recipient , whether of £ 40 or £ 32 , costs the Society £ 8 2 s . iod . 1 do not see in the accounts any statement of the invested funds or money at call , from which the £ 1000 or £ 1500 were respectively withdrawn . Surely the Governors and

Subscribers are entitled to know what money there is to fall back on . Again , why need the money be at call ( which means less interest ) when the dates are known exactly when it will be wanted . 1 am sorry my figures do not agree with the totals of those printed , as I find that the disbursements of the Male and Widows' Funds are both added up £ 20 wrong ; each

account should be £ 20 more . Are we to take this as evidence of the " rigorous examination " and extreme care with which the accounts have been prepared and to which our attention is called ? I am no parsimonious cheese-paring economist , but I do consider that it is our bounden duty to see that the funds subscribed for the relief of our aged friends are most carefully disbursed . —Fraternally yours ,

C . LETCH MASON , Vice-President of both Institutions June 21 st .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft jlasotirg . WOOLWICH . —Florence Nightingale Lodge ( No . 706 ) . —The annual installation meeting of this lodge was held at the lyiasonic Hall on Tuesday , the 25 th inst ., when Bro . S . H . Weston received the benefit ofyinstallation at the hands of Bro . F . G . Nicholls , P . M ., whose rendering of the ritual was so perfect that a vote of thanks was

heartily accorded him . The VV . M . appointed and invested the following officers : Bros . Christie , S . W . ; Wharton , J . W . ; Sydney Clarke , P . M ., Treas . ; Denton , P . M ., Sec ; Eugene Sweny , P . M ., D . C ; C . D . Lang , A . D . C ; Soltan , S . D . ; Down , J . D . ; and Hicksonand Hunt , Stwds . ¦ The lodge was then closed .

Amongst the visitors and brethren at the banquet were Bros . Sweny , P . M . ; Clarke , P . M . ; Livesay , P . M . ; Nicholls , P . M . ; Roberts , ' P . M . ; Miller , W . M . 700 ; Gwyne , Saunders , Collins , B . Taylor , and many others . In response to the toast of his health , the W . M . thanked the brethren not only for the honour they had done him by his election to the chair , but also for the kind way in which his name was received . Although his

promotion had been very rapid , and experience therefore necessarily limited , he trusted to be able to fill the chair to the satisfaction of all , and would endeavour to uphold the traditions of the lodge . The usual loyal and other toasls were received with musical honours . The vocalists were Bros . Collins , Aylin , Roberts , Nicholls , and others . Bro . Horton Pattison played the violin .

WORKINGTON . —Sun and Sector Lodge ( No . 962 ) . —The installation meeting of the above lodge was held on Wednesday , the 19 th instant . The lodge was opened by Bro . Dr . C McKerrow , P . G . Steward , W . M ., when the minutes were read and confirmed , and Bro . J . Paterson , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., was invited to the chair , and

Bro . Isaac Dickinson , S . W ., was presented and installed , and invested his officers as follows : Bros . Dr . McKerrow , l . P . M . ; A . Ashmore , S . W . ; G . B . McKay , J . W . ; J . Paterson , P . M .. Treas . ; J . Wood , P . M ., Sec ; Rev . E . M . Rice , P . M ., P . P . G . C , Chap . ; E . Loach , S . D . ; J . J . Little , J . D . ; J . Cooper , P . P . G . Org ., Org . ; A . D .

Holliday , D . C ; A . T . Morgan , I . G . ; Unwin and Whitehouse , Stewards ; and W . Whitehead , P . G . T ., Tyler . Bro . G . Dalrymple , P . M . 872 , P . G . D . C , delivered the customary addresses to the W . M . and Wardens , and Bro . Paterson to the brethren . The following also signed the attendance book : Bros .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

1 . C Thompson , P . M ., P . P . G . R . ; ] . Eden , P . M ., P . G . S . of W . ; D . Reece , P . M ., P . P . G . P . ; G . B . McMullin , P . M ., P . P . G . Tyler ; J . Lewthwaite , P . M . ; H . Irving , P . M ., P . P . G . P . ; J . T- Coverdale , P . M ., P . P . G . Org . ; I . Thompson , P . M ., W . M . 2285 , P . P . G . D . of C . ; Jas . Fletcher , D . H . Windeler , Wm . Bowness , Jas . Jolly , J . Purser , J . Cottier , J . Cowan , T . Allinson , W . M . 119 , P . G .

Purst . ; T . Studholme , P . M . ; Rev . J . Anderson , P . P . G . C ; Dr . T . F . Muir , W . M . 872 ; Thos . Brakenridge , P . M . P . P . G . Std . Br . ; F . Hodgson , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . ofC ; D . Atkinson , J . W . ; R . Shepherd . S . D . ; W . H . Lewthwaite , P . M . 1002 , P . P . G . Org . ; F . A . Cooper , l . P . M . 1002 , P . G . Steward ; R . Brown , P . M . 371 ; S . BettoneyS . W . 371 ; J . Thompson , R . Ward , W . M .

, 1400 ; H . Wynn , P . M . ; G . H . S . Smith , 1400 ; A . W . Turner , Sec . 22 S 5 ; T . Casson , J . McHarry , W . M . 19 S 9 ; J . Dickinson , S . W . ; and others . We were pleased to see all the P . M . ' s of the lodge present who were petitioners for the new lodge , " Eden , " No . 2285 , which speaks well for the fraternal feeling that exists between the members of the two lodges , and long may it

continue . No . 9 62 , since the consecration of the " Eden , " has enjoyed a marked success , there having been no less than 14 initiations since last October , and another candidate proposed . With " Hearty good wishes " from all the lodges in the west , the lodge was closed , and the brethren , at Bro . Dickinson ' s invitation , all adjourned to the banquet hall , where

23 Past Masters and other Craftsmen to upwards 01 50 sat down to an excellent banquet , prepared by the host and hostess of the Central Hotel . A long toast list followed , and , with a few capital songs , a very agreeable evening was spent . Bro . Dr . McKerrow , I . P . M ., P . G . Stwd ., was presented by the lodge with a very handsome Past Master's jewel during the evening , vvhich was much admired .

MALDON . —St . Peter ' s Lodge ( No . 1024 ) . — The annual installation meeting , which was held on Tuesday week , was perhaps the most important event in the history of this flourishing lodge since its consecration . Two unusual facts contributed to its importance , viz ., that the Mayor , Bro . Joseph Sadler , S . W ., of the ancient Borough in which the lodge meets , was the W . M . elect ,

and that Lord Brooke , M . P ., the popular Prov . Grand Master , made it an occasion to visit the lodge . The lodge was opened in the St . Peter ' s Masonic Hall ( the only one in the province ) , which is most picturesquely situated in the ruins of the old church of St . Peter , by the retiring W . M ., Bro . Arthur Barritt , and the minutes were read and formal business transacted . On the election of a

representative to the Provincial Charity Committee , Bro . Edmund Gowers , P . M ., P . P . G . O ., who had held the office four years in succession , during which period he had served Stewardships to the Boys' and Girls' Schools , becoming Life Governor of both , said that haying seen the candidature of C . W . Green , son of a late member , to a successful termination , he would now , with

permission of the lodge , propose a successor—the W . M . elect , Bro . Joseph Sadler . The W . M . elect signified his willingness to accept the office , and was accordingly elected . By this time , Bro . Lord Brooke , escorted by Bros . T . J . Railing , P . G . P . Eng .. Prov . G . Sec . ; Rev . E . R . Horwood , P . M ., P . P . G . C , Chap . ; and F . G . Green , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., Sec , arrived , and was conducted to the

room above the lodge room containing the valuable library bequeathed to the town by the late Dr . Plume . Here he was met by the provincial brethren present , and escorted to the lodge room , being received with applause by the large assemblage of brethren . Bro . Barritt , W . M ., offered the gavel to the P . G . M ., but the latter requested the W . Master to perform the ceremony of installation . Bro .

Barritt then appointed Bros . F . G . Green and E . Gowers . to assist him as Wardens in opening a Board of Installed Masters , and then performed the ceremony of installation , and gave the addresses in a manner which reflected the highest credit upon him , and was the subject of remark throughout the day . The new W . M ., who , at the request of the brethren ,

wore the badge of his chief magistracy suspended by a blue riband from his neck , appointed hisofficers as follows : Bros . W . Gower , S . W . ; C Dibben , J . W . ; Rev . E . R . Horwood , P . M ., P . P . G . C , Chap . ; F . G . Green , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., Sec ; H . J . Sansom , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Treas . ; W . Clover , S . D . ; CR . Finch , J . D . ; C . R . Gowers , I . G . ; F . H . Bright and W . Howard-Flanders ,

Stwds . ; C . F . Rush , Org . ; and G . Huxtable , Tyler . He then in the name of the lodge thanked the P . G . M . for his presence on that occasion , and the P . G . M . in" reply expressed the pleasure it gave him to be present at the installation of so important a personage as the Mayor of the ancient and loyal borough of Maldon . He congratulated the lodge upon the event , and the W . M . upon his

accession to the chair . After the closing ode ( for music is evidently held in high esteem in the lodge ) , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned from labour to refreshment at the King ' s Head Hotel , where , in a large room specially prepared , an exceedingly generous banquet awaited them . The choicest viands and dessert were provided , and music

again lent a charm in the discoursal of a select programme by the excellent volunteer and town band . After the banquet , the toasts of "The Queen and the Craft" and "The Grand Master" having been duly honoured , The VV . M . coupled the name of the P . G . M . with the toast of " The Grand Officers . "

Lord Brooke thanked the brethren for their reception of the toast . Before he continued , he should like to ask the W . M . ' s permission for the brethren to smoke . They , th « Grand Officers , he said , tried to do their duty in whatever position they were placed . They all knew that in evary army there must be officers and men , and he trusted that whatever position they might be in all would do their very

best in the cause of Charity . Bro . Railing , P . G . P ., also responded . In proposing the toastof " The Prov . G . M ., " the W . M . said Masonry had progressed very rapidly throughout the province during the period of Lord Brooke's Grand Mastership , and everyone acknowledged that that progress

was due in great measure to the zealous efforts of that noble brother . Lord Brooke , in reply , said : 1 can hardly give expression to my feelings on this occasion . It gives me very great pleasure to come here , very great pleasure to appear among my Masonic brethren in Essex . You gave tne a very kind ]