Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The " Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . OUR CHARITIES . 10 THE EDITOS OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROK . DBAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —I am glad to see that in many ways great efforts are beiiig made to raise funds for the Masonic Charitiesand not without

, good results . In your List number I find two letters on the subject , one from the W . M . of' a lodge at Crewe , the other from Bro . Binckes , the indefatigable Secretary of the Boys' School . I have long been convinced that there are many brethren who , having only moderate pecuniary means , are thereby

prevented from offering large contributions , but who nevertheless may aid the cause by their labour . Under this impression , I some years ago published a pamphlet on Masonry , which produced ten guineas for the Girls' School ; ' in the same way , other publications _ have since produced considerable sums for Masonic purposes , and I lately collected five guineas for the Boys' School . The W . M . of No . 979

mentioned a case in which " an energetic brother had collected 1 , 000 shillings for the Boys' School . " I congratulate him on his success , and on having so large a circle of liberal friends , more especially as J have found great difficulty in effecting the same object , even when I offered an equivalent for the

shilling . One brother , Avhose co-operation I endeavoured to secure , wrote thus : " Your markers are very pretty , but I have not succeeded in selling any . I find Masons are very much like other people when it is a question touching the pocket , and will hear , quite unmoved , the statement that the money is to

be appropriated to charity . " This is not the onl y such reply I have received . Allow me farther to test the matter b y informing the brethren , through your columns , that I have made several hundred artistic book markers , no two of which are exactly alike . The centre space of each card is occupied on both sides by quotations from various writers on

Freemasonry , of Avhich I have selected about 200 ; by prayers appropriate on entering and leaving church ; ancl by short prayers on rising and retiring to bed . The ends are adorned with Masonic emblems , four on each card , of Avhich I have about 150 varieties , with ribbon , & c . Any brethren willinto make a purchasethe whole

g , of the profit being devoted to the Masonic Charities , may address "P . M ., St . Aubin ' s Lodge of Freemasons , Jersey , " and , on recei pt of post-office order , any number that may be required will be sent by book post . Price one shilling each , or twelve for ten shillings , or twenty-five for twenty shillings .

Should this plan of raising money succeed , I shall be happy to continue to work with my fingers in the production of more , so long as there is any demand . Yours faithfully and fraternally , P . M . Jersey , Feb . 26 th , 1866 . P . S . I have promised Bro . Binckes that the first £ 5 I can raise in this way shall go to the Boys' School .

The Boys' School.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

10 THE EDITOIt 0 ? THE EEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAE SIE AND BEOTKEE , —I am obliged to Bro . Binckes for so promptly answering my letter , but I fear , from the tone of his repl y , he is somewhat

annoyed ; if so , I am very sorry he should be at anything I may have said . I upheld the Boys ' School above the other Masonic Charities , and all I have written has been dictated by a true brotherly feeling , and a hope that my remarks might assist those whom unforeseen circumstances have reduced to poverty or distress . Bro . Binckes has forgotten that

iu quoting the terms of subscription , I gave as my authority the - "Masonic Pocket Book , " which states , firstly , as to the Girls' School , " A donation of ten guineas , madeiu one or more payments ,-within twelve months , " & c . ; iu the Boys ' , "A donation of ten guineas constitutes" & c . ; no time being mentioned

, , so that any one would conclude the amount was to be given in one payment . I am glad that Bro . Binckes has given us a balance sheet , because figures tell their ovrn tale , and I must confess that I am not satisfied with those before me .

I am not one of those Avho would wish to see the Festival arrangements carried out in any niggardly or mean spirit , but I think that if the estimates ( like her Majesty ' s ) Avere framed with a due regard to efficiency and economy , they might be considerably reduced—firstly , as to the music , £ 1 15 s . should be sufficient for half-a-dozen songsand I doubt very

, much whether eight out of the eighty Stewards value the rosette , after the evening ., has 2 Mssed , beyond its being a plaything for the nursery , for a Lewis to make himself smart with ; they may be pretty , but not worth spending nearly 4 s . 6 d . a-piece upon , even supposing the brother to have a high appreciation of

the elegant or the beautiful in art . The Tavern bill seems a large one , but I suppose that is estimated upon a certain scale . I imagine , too , that when the banqueting room is completed , the £ 15 10 s . for the extra gallery will be saved . Now , in his great zeal for the noble Institution he so earnestly represents ,

I cannot altogether acquit Bro . Binckes of a little iujudiciousness . At the Festival mentioned , each Steward having deposited ( docs uot the word imply that it was returned ) £ 5 , after the Festival was over , in striking a balance between receipts and

disbursements there was nearly £ 100 in hand . Now , bemg anxious to reduce the amount of the SteAvards' deposits , why not have returned a sovereign to each Steward , Avho could then have given it to the Charity , if so disposed , securing himself an additional vote for the year—sometimes of importance in a close contest . Bro . Pattenin his circular for the ensuing Girls

, Festival , fixes the liability of each Steward at a minimum of £ 5 , whereas I do not see why the expense should exceed £ 3 , £ l ISs . for the Steward ' s own and two ladies' tickets , and the balance for extra expenses . Considering the large number of Masons in England , that new lodge ' s are continually springing

into existence , that fresh members ' are constantly added to each lodge , and that the class from Avhich Masons are drawn is , as a rule , well to do , I consider that 1 me number of Stewards is less by one-half than it should be . Again , under the present Bystem , many are deterred from serving a Stewardship more

than once Avho would be pleased to do so , if only for the sake of the pleasant reunion , and the knowledge they were helping those Institutions which , as Masons , they had undertaken to support . Tours faithfully and fraternally , ANOTHEE COUNTRY . P . M .