Untitled Article

is , it is called by non-members as often — - ' s Lodge , as by the name it bears on the roll of the Grand Lodge . Our noble Order will never be regenerated till sec . 4 , page 57 , Cons . 1853 , be strictly carried out ; and never , on any consideration , allowing a dispensation ;

for , of course , every publican will get his friends to see a case of necessity in his particular instance . Hoping the time is coming when these things shall be reformed , I am , yours fraternally , " ' ^ A Plymouth , Nov . 15 , 1855 .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE . SIR , —With the increase of Freemasonry there have arisen many pseudoreformers , who , taking but a casual view of things , are disposed to condemn proceedings without a thorough acquaintance with them . Now , the querulous complaint of " Zeredathah" is of this character ; and an experience of nearly twenty years enables me to say , his ideas are all one sided . I maintain the annual

subscription is , of right , devoted to Lodge purposes , be they what they may , —the members having always control over the disbursements ; and the enactment of such a law as he proposes will , I hope , never meet with support . The members of a Lodge prefer , very properly , subscribing to the charities as individuals , which they would cease doing were half the subscription , as " Zeredathah" proposes , disposed of as a Lodge contribution . The sum thus obtained privately is tenfold the amount given by a body . Every Brother takes a personal interest

in the charities , and his attention is periodically drawn by the receipt of a balloting paper . Many wealthy gentlemen annually enter our Order , who take but small share in the business , their avocations , professional or trading , preventing their attendance till a late hour ; they continue their subscriptions year after year , and ample purses enable them to readily respond to distress . It is only at the social board such persons are able to make acquaintance with their Brethren , and become familiar with the various ramifications of our Institution . There alone

our Order receives constant accession of strength—our noble charities are munificently supported—and the bond of fraternal union made fast . The suggestion to meet at private houses , all who have had practical experience know would not succeed ; for where business alone is to be transacted , there is great difficulty in getting sufficient attendance ; and were this plan adopted , the subscriptions would necessarily be decreased . Moreover , why is our Society , any more than others , to be debarred from the temperate enjoyment of the good things provided for our use by the G . A . O . T . U . ? I have yet to learn that Freemasonry will induce

Englishmen to listen to such absurdity . To disprove charges so rashly hazarded as general , I visited , a few evenings since , a Lodge , where the receipts last year amounted to somewhat over £ 200 , and the contributions to the charities £ 60—the majority of the members liberally subscribing also as individuals . I have had many opportunities of seeing that it is at the festal time these subscriptions are obtained , and the stewardships undertaken ; and long experience satisfies me , that the adoption of the opinions of " Zeredathah" will have a very different result to that contemplated . —Yours , October 12 . J . H .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS MONTHLY MAGAZINE . Sir and Brother , —The number of rejected candidates at the recent election of annuitants—tliirty-thrce distressed Brethren and nine widows — has created a general desire among the Craft to see some plan adopted by which this discreditable state of things should be corrected , and every fit and proper object obtain relief as soon as the case can be examined . Bro . Aldrich ' s letter of August 20 affords some suggestions , which , if carried out , would doubtless attain the end desired . But I am disposed to think that there already exists a fund , and which