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Contents . ¦ PAGE . FKEEHASON 3 ' MAGAZINE : — lodge Reports ... 201 Our Masonic Charities 202 English Gilds 20-1 Masonic Jottings—No . 36 208 Masonic Notes and Queries 209

Correspondence - 'lO Masonic Sayings and Doings Abroad 211 MASONIC MIEEOE : — Masonic Mems 212 "United Grand Lodge 213 CEAIT LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 214 Provincial 215

South Africa 21 G Royal Arch 217 Mark Masonry 219 A Letter from Egypt 219 The Good Samaritan . 220 Poetry „ 220 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 220 To Correspondents 220

Lodge Reports.

LODGE REPORTS .

LONDON , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 10 , 1870 .

As the season is now approaching for the reassembling of the lodges after the summer recess , we desire to impress upon the Secretaries of lodges and our subscribers generally , the importance of supplying us with reports of the

proceedings at the meetings . To facilitate the matter , we have carefully prepared printed forms , which in a few minutes can be filled up with the necessary information to form the foundation of a report . During the last season we forwarded , post paid ,

to the Secretaries of nearly every lodge in England , one of these printed forms , ready stamped for leturn , with a special request for a report of the business done at each meeting , and during that time no less than 2 , 000 of these stamped forms were retained by the recipients , a

very small proportion of the whole number being returned with the necessary information . In some few instances the courtesy of a reply has been accorded , although afc the same time declining to supply the information requested ,

sometimes by the command of the W . Master , aud at others by the decision of the brethren assembled , on the ground that it was not considered desirable to publish their proceedings , and that they object to anything whatever referring to Masonry

being printed or published . We consider it is strange that men of educational acquirements , and who should possess more than ordinary intelligence , thus stultify themselves , ignoring the sources from which they obtained their knowledge , but declaim in cautioning and advising others to refrain from resorting to the same mediums , the mediums

which have been developed in the progress of mankind as necessary means for the unfoldment of the intellect . And that the members of the Masonic fraternity , occupying the highest positions , should so stultify themselves is passing strange indeed ,

and yet such is the inconsistency manifested by some in elevated positions , who would debar those in search of light and knowledge , and of advancement in the Order , from availing themselves of those opportunities which the

necessities of advancing intelligence have created , and the very sources to which those dictators resorted to acquire the information necessaiy to intelligently discharge the duties of the offices they were called to fill . The need which they felt ,

and which impelled them to seek the desired knowledge , is a need felt by every one who desires to perform the duties he may be called to , intelligently and satisfactorily . It is not . with these brethren , however , that we

have so much to complain , as we believe their refusal arises from conscientious though misguided motives .

In the great majority of instances where we have forwarded ( in time for each meeting ) a copy of the printed form mentioned above , addressed to the Secretary , we have received no return . In some instances which have come to our knowledge ,

these papers , although addressed personally to the Secretary , have never reached his hands , having been improperly opened by the Tyler , or other unauthorised person , and dishonestly appropriated for the sake of the stamp thereon . YIe intend

during the coming season , to change our mode of operation . "We shall forward to the Secretary of every lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England , a printed form , with stamp

enclosed for return , and shall respectfully request a reply , stating whether the recipient has the will and the leisure to forward a return immediately after each meeting of the lodge . On receipt of an affirmative reply we shall forward a packet of

forms , stamped for return , sufficient for the number of meetings during the year . We know that we have many devoted friends , and would earnestly solicit them to spare the few moments necessary to comply with our request .

Should , however , the pressure of business be so great ( and we know in many instances the duties of the Secretary of the lodge are no sinecure ) as to prevent compliance , we should esteem it a great favour if he would delegate that dutv to