Correspondence.

Correspondence .

'We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by onr corresponden ts but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits . — free discussion .

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION ELECTION 1 S 9 S . Tl the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , For the third time I write to draw the attention of the Subscribers to the list of candidates forthe ensuing election . There are 15 brethren and 16 widows who have been from three to 15 years on the list , and three of the latter are widows of former Annuitants .

As these poor candidates get older they have less and less chance of being elected , and it is in the hope of in some slight manner assisting them that I have placed the following notice of motion on the Proxies : "Addition to Rule 13 , page 25 , after the word proportion , add— ' With the exception of two such vacancies which shall be reserved for the two candidates who have been longest on the list , if deemed worthy of the same . ' "

If this is carried it will not cost the Institution a penny more , and it will go some way towards removing what some of us consider a drawback to the Institution . In this way we shall be able to hold up our heads by the side of the National Benevolent and other Institutions , who for years have set apart

vacancies for a like purpose . With the hops that I may enlist the powerful aid and support of a large majority of the Subscribers to the Royal Masonic lleuevolent Institution , and by that means carry this resolution , and thanking you very much for inserting my letter , I am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours truly and fraternally ,

WILLIAM C . PARSONS , P . M . and Sec . 180 , P . M . and P . Sec . 1687 . 51 , Loughborough Park , Brixto . - ., April 26 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"FREEMASONS'CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OV SOMERSET , lSgS-99 " ( The Chronicle Office , Bath ) . —Sixteen of these very handy and ably edited annuals have been published , and Bro . C L . Fry Edwards still continues as the indefatigable editor . The Province may well be congratulated on possessing a brother who is willing to devote so much time and labour to the preparation of this Directory , so full of information , and capitally arranged for reference . From the " The Year ' s Woik , " it will be seen that there areaG lodges in the Province vvith 1243 members , the

initiations during the year numbering GI , and the joining members 32 ; the deaths and resignations running to 71 , so that the total membership is less than in ISIJ / , thus reducing the average to some 4 S per lodge . There are 11 Royal Arch chapters , with some 340 companions ( the total being an approximate ) . The nine Mick lodges return 2 jy members . There arc three Knight Templar preceptories in Somerset , and the same number of Rose Croix chapters . The particulars given as to thc votes in the Central

Masonic Charities are carefully tabulated under lodges , the totil being 4 * 142 , a grand average per lodge and creditahle to the province . There is , however , the reverse side of the question to be noted . The province is in receipt at present ot soma £ C > 5 D per annum from these Institutions . The frontispiece this year , is devoted to our dear veteran Bro . T . P . Ashley , senior P . M . of the oldest lodge in the county tNo . 41 ) , who has been a contributing member since 1 . S 54 , and is still in harness . God bless him !

"AN ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OV OLD AND RARE BOOKS , " Part IV . Loudon -. Pickering and Chatto , CO , Haymarket , St . James ' , S . W . —Another portion of this important series is now being circulated , the Part IV . being fully equal to its artistic and very interesting predecessors . Each number consists of 6 4 pages in octavo an 1 is lavishly illustrated with facsimiles of many of the curious and suggestive engravings in the works offered for sale . Several of the pages are devoted to " Phiz , " the wonderful Caricatures of II . K . Browne being a special feature of this instalment . We hope tint the spirited publishers will be sufficiently encouraged by the public to complete the valuable ieiies at one shilling each Part .

"THE INDIAN T ' REE . MASONS ALMANAC AND DIARV TOR THE YEAR I ? IJS . " — This large , useful and carefully edited Annual is in the 30 th year of publication , anil as it contains full particulars of Masonic India and Burma , edited by Bro . P . C . Dutt , Past Deputy District G . M . of Bengal , it cannot fail to prove a very welcome aid to the Fraternityin those great Countries , where the Craft is so widely distributed and general visitation in many parts almost out of the i-uestion . The arrangement of its 200 pages and more , is on the old system , so that one knoivs where to look for information and the intelligence respecting the Brotherhood is as varied and complete as ever , involving

great labour on the part of the compiler , ar . d making the Crait largely his debtor , as it IS doubtful if even the " out of pocket expenses" are met by the subscription . The many pages of Masonic Notahiliu form ( juite a history and make most interesting reading . One looks in vain , however , for statistical infoimation as to the lodges and other Masonic bodies in India and Burma , on similar lines to the English Calendar generally , wherein the number of members of each lodge , as well as the membership of chapters , & c , ate duly detailed . If liro . Dutt could give these , this extraordinary compilation would bc still more valuable , though it would not be fair to press fur such a List unless the District Grand Secretaries would kindly furnish such for the Editor .

Supreme Grand Chapter Of England.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND .

The following is the business to bc transacted on Wednesday next , the 4 th prox .: The minutes of the last ( juarterly convocation to bc read for confirmation . Installation of Principals and investiture of ollicers for the ensuing' year .

bl in-: REi'ui'T OK THE COJIMITTKI * : OK GENERAL PL-RI ' . SKS . To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the lyth January , to the lyth April , l . SyS , both inclusive , which they find lo be as follows : To Balance , Grand Chapter / . ' O 35 16 7 liy Disbursements during the

„ „ Unappropriated Ouaiter £ . ¦ * ¦ ' » - 'J ;• > Account ... 21 . 1 K > 11 ,, Balance e' . j 3 3 „ Subsequent Receipts .. C . | S ly 5 ,, „ Unappropriated Account ... 2 . 53 in ii

£ ' - \ 'J ' J ' - ' ' ¦ * £ <¦!>) ' ) ¦ - ' " which balances arc in the Bank of England i , uw Courts Branch

Supreme Grand Chapter Of England.

The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petition : From Comps . Astley Herbert Terry as Z ., Thomas Robin Ogier as H ., John Stranger as ] ., and nine others for a chapter to be attached to the St . Sampson ' s Lodge , No . 2598 , Guernsey , to be called the " St . Sampson ' s Chapter , " and to meet at the Masonic Hall , St . Sampson ' s , Guernsey .

The Committee have likewise received memorials , with extracts of minutes for permission to remove the following chapters : St . Wulstan ' s Chapter , No . 2 S 0 , from 85 , High-street , to the New Masonic Hall , St . Nicholas street , Worcester . Imperial Chapter , No . 1694 , from Cloot ' s Restaurant , Victoria-street , to the Holborn Restaurant , High Holborn , London . St . John of Jerusalem Chapter , No . 203 , from the Masonic llall , Hope-street ,

Liverpool , to the Alexandra Hotel , Dale-street , Liverpool . The Grove Chapter , No . 410 , from the Cock Hotel , to the Masonic Temple , Sutton . The Bedford Chapter , No . 157 , from the Holborn Restaurant , High Holborn , to Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen-street , London . The Israel Chapter , No . 205 , from the Cannon-street Hotel , to the Holborn Restaurant , High Holborn , London .

Chapter of Prudence , No . 12 , from the Ship and Turtle Tavern , Leadenhallstreet , to the Albion Tavern , 173 , Alders ^ lie-street , London . The Andrew Chapter , No . S 34 , from the Windsor Castle Hotel , Hammersmith , to the Brook Green Hotel , Hammersmith , London . Temperance in the East Chapter , No . 8 9 8 , from the Town Hall , Stratford , to the Masonic Hall , Romford-road , Forest-gate , London . A memorial , with particulars , has also been received from the companions of

the Britannic Chapter , No . 312 , Whitby , praying for a charter authorising them to wear a centenary jewel . The memorial being in form , and the chapter hiving proved an uninterrupted existence for 100 ye irs , the Committee recommended that the prayer thereof be granted . ( Signed ) ROBERT GREY , Acting President . Freemasons' Hall , W . C , 20 th April , iSyS .

After the ordinary business had been disposed of , the following resolution was passed : That the cordial thanks of the Committee be tendered to E . Companion Sir George D . Harris , the President , for the very able and courteous manner in which he has presided over its meetings during the past

year , and this Committee desires to express a hope that he may be speedily restored to his usual health . ( Signed ) ROUERT GREY . Election of the Committee of General Purposes for the ensuing 12 months .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST LANCASHIRE .

I he annual meeting of the above Prov . Grand Chapter of the Western Division of Lancashire , of which Comp . the Right Hon . the Karl of Lathom , G . C . 11 ., is the Grand Superintendent , was held at the Masonic Hall , Hopestreet , on the 2 J ad instant , when there was an attendance of more than 200 comoanions identified with the Order .

The chief chair was occupied by Comp . Lord SKELMEKSUALI * , Prov . G . N ., and in the course of the business he announced that his father ( Lord Lathom ) had greatly improved in health , and hoped to return to England at an early date . This announcement was received with the greatest enthusiasm .

Ihe o ' . her chief positions at the opening of Prov . G . Chapter were held by Comps . D . b ' ranceys , as Prov . G . H ., and R . Leyland , Prov . G . J . After the roll of Prov . G . Ollicers and chapters had been called and the minutes had been sanctioned , the Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s accounts were passed .

The appointment of ofiicers was the next important part of . the proceedings , and the subjoined investitures were made : Comp . T . Wilde Rice , ... ... ... Prov . G . H .

„ Rev . C . C . Bluett ... ... ... Prov . G . J . ,, W . Goodacre ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Scribe E . „ U . K . Thornton ... ... ... Prov . G . Scribe N . ,, G . R . Llojd ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, M . Alexander ... ... ... Prov . G . Ref ; . ,, R . Nicholson ... ... ... Prov . D . G . Reg . ,, T . W . Rostron , jun . ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ John Milne ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . „ ( . Stopford ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd G . Soj . „ Major A . Taylor ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ T . J . Dai by ... ... ... Piov . D . G . S . B . ,, James Hesketh ... ... . „• , „ C . Marsh ... ... ... ... ' Prov . G . Std . Brs . ,, A . A . Naylor ... ... ... ) ,, W . C . Briggs ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, A . Margeson ... ... ,,. ")

„ W . H . Veevers ... ... . A Prov . A . G . D . C ' s . ,, K . Sharrock ... ... ... J ,, K . I-I . Pearson ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . 1 Limber ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E .

, ^ W . J . Doran ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . Generous contributions were voted to the funds of the three local Masonic Charities , the 1 lamer , the Alpass , and the Educational West Lancashire Institutions , and this was supplemented by a liberal vote of money lo the widow of a companion .

I ' m * . MANAiiEMKNi * uf the Alexandra I' . . . lace has arranged for a special performance ul Sterndale Bennett ' s cantata— " The May Oueen" to take place to-morro w ( Satuida )) , thc * . jmh inst . This will be given by Choral Society and orchestra numbering ijni voice :-, unilcr the directorship of Mr . Henry | . Raker . ' 1 he soloists are Madame Lilla Hani-son , Mi .- * , Maude Baker , Mr . Harry Stubbs , and Mr . R . E . Miles , and thj * organic , Mr . Alexander ( iiillin . In addition to this there will be a balloon ascent anil parachute dci-cunt by Mr . Gaiidron and a magnilicent display of lireworks the sam cvci . ing by Messis . James I ' ain and Suns , tu be concluded with a patriotic promena < J < - conceit , when , owing to the enormous sucre .-s of last Saturday evening , the nation alal and war tonys of all natiuns will be repeated .