Correspondence.

syllable ) will subject me to be called crotchetty , I must plead guilfcy to the charge . Those who have heard me , and are capable of judging , are best able to determine how far I merit tho epithet . The opinions of the illiterate and wouldbe stars I do not value . This letter being an explanation of what I conceive to havo been a misapprehension on 3-0111 * part of what I

intended to say , ought perhaps in strict justice to be made known ; you are therefore at liberty to publish it iu the forthcoming number of THE FREEIIASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . I am , my Dear Sir and Brother , yours truly ancl fraternally , _ S . B . WILSON . [ The report in question appears to us to be only a fair

abbreviation ; as , were we to publish a paper daily , as large as The Times , we could not find room for all the speeches delivered amongst Freemasons . The letter should properly have been addressed to the Editor . ]

Lodges Of Instruction.

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .

TO HIE EDITOR OE THE ESEE 1 TASOXS ITAGAZIi'E AND AtASOS-JO MISBOIi . Sin AND BROTHER , —I am happy to inform' your correspondent , Brother 0 . Bennett , that a remedy is about to be ajmlied to the evil of which he justly complains , and which has been almost universally deplored by the Craft . A Committee has been actively engaged during tho past three weeks in making preliminary arrangements for tho

formation of a Masonic Club , to be called the "The City of London Freemason ' s Club , " open to the fraternity at large , but of course restricted to Masons . The origin of thisassociation ( which alreadynumbers nearly tivo hundred members ) is attributable to the constantly -expressed wishes your correspondent has so ably elaborated . Accordingl } -, it has been decided to engage private premises ,

and fit up rooms in a superior manner , for the constant practice of Masonry ; the proceedings to be conducted upon the model of the existing Lodges of Instruction . It is intended thai these meetings shall be held almosfc every evening throughout tho year , so that every brother Mason , whether a resident in London or a visitor from the provinces , will always find the door of Freemasonry open , and tho "feast of reason" awaitma : him .

Lo render the association as useful as possible , the acting ¦ C ommittee have adopted the plan of a Club , and will endeavour to provide all the usual conveniences implied by that -title . " The annual subscription of members will bo one guinea This , it is calculated , will be sufficient for the working expenses . A fund must , however , first be raised to provide furniture

and other necessaries . For this purpose an address is beingissued to all the parent lodges , asking for donations ; and ifc is hoped that , as the whole Craft are invited to participate in the advantages of the Institution , a prompt and liberal response will enable the Committee to commence operations without delay . Of course ifc is equally open to individuals , . as well as lodgesto contribute to this Foundation Fund .

, I enclose yon a copy of the general prospectus , and the . address to tho lodges , with a list of the promoters ancl members appended . I remain , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , Wn . SouTHALL , Honorary Secretary . 109 , Bishopsgate-street Within , April 3 , 1861 .

TO THE EDITOIt OP THE I'EEEjrASOXS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC UlltliOn . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Will you kindly insert iu your next MAOA' / . INE that I have this day handed over to Bro . Farnfiehl the sum of £ 340 10 s ., the amount collected by myself , in aid of the Fund for Aged Freemasons and thoir Widows , as follows : — £ s . d .

For tho Widows 116 16 0 Males 213 14 0 Susteuiation of Building 10 0 0 Total £ 3-1-0 10 0 Yours very fraternally , CHAS . ISAACS , Steward from the April 3 , 1 S 61 . Province of Kent .

The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEM . The South Middlesex Lodge ( 1160 ) will be consecrated at Beaufort House , Walliam Green , the head-quarters of tbe South Middlesex Volunteers , by Bro . J . Havers , Chairman of the Board of General Purposes , on Monday , April 22 , when Viscount Ranclagli will be installed as W . M .

The Girls' School.

THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

A Quarterly Court of the Governors of this School was held at tho offices , Great Queen-street , on Thursday , Bro . Head in tlie chair . The minutes of the last meeting having been read , it was resolved to present Miss Sontar ivith £ 50 on retiring from the office of Governess , accompanied with the best wishes of the Governors for her future prosperity .

Ifc was then moved by Bro . Symonds , "that in consequence ofthe deplorable and serious calamity which has befallen our esteemed Secretary , Bro . Crew , and by which the institution is deprived of his valuable services , rendering it improbable thai ; lie can again return to his duties , this Court , in accordance ivith the recommendation of the General Committee , resolve that a retiring pension ,

equal to his full salary and gratuity of £ 200 ( two hundred pounds ) per annum , be granted to him , payable quarterly , to commence at ancl from Lady-day , 1861 , ancl that the office of Secretary be declared vacant . " Bro . Norris seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously . The Treasurer was then re-elected , thirty subscribers elected as members of tho General Committee , and some formal business having been transacted , the meeting adjourned .

Royal Benevolent Institution For Aged Masons And Their Widows.

ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED MASONS AND THEIR WIDOWS .

At tlio Committee Meeting of this institution on Wednesday , the accounts of the quarter ivere presented , showing that the receipts on the Mule Fund hacl heen £ 1330 2 s . hd . ; the general expenditure , £ 106 5 s . 3 d . ; and the purchase of £ G 00 Three per cents ., £ 553 10 * . > leaving a balance in the hands of the bankers of £ 376 7-v . ' id . I ' or the Widows' fund the receipts hacl been £ 1142 3 s . id . ; the general

expenditure , £ 198 16 s . Oil . ; the purchase of £ 500 Three per cents ., £ 1-59 7 s . Gd . ; leaving- a balance in the hankers' hands of £ G 5 S Is . I ' or the Siistentation Fund the receipts were £ 23 Is .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

EorriTAX LonojJ ( No . 29 ) . —The lodge met at six o ' clock on Thursday , April 1-th , at the George and Blue Boar , Holborn , am ! in the absence of tbe AVM ., Bro . Butt , P . M ., presided , and initiated two gentlemen into tbe Order ; nlso pnsseil liro . J . M .-iy to the second degree , and raised Bros . Corbonlil ancl Chance to the degree of Master Masons . The lodge business being concluded , the brethren adjourned to the banquetwhen the \ VMBro . Gevespresided ;

, .., , and after the usual and loyal toasts , the brethren adjourned . The visitors wore Bro . Collington , "W . M . of No . 101 , and Bro . Brown , of No . 10 S 2 . DOMATIC LODGE ( NO . 20 G ) . —The last meeting for tlie season of this lodge was held on Monday evening , April 8 , at the Jlasimio Hull , -Fetter-lane—Bros . George Moore , W . M . ; llusson , ri . W . ; Wilson , . jpy . ; 1-1 . Thompson , S . D . ; Osborne , J . D . ; Meekhniii ,

I . G . The Past Masters present were , Bros . J . Smith ( Treasurer ) , Blines ( Secretary ) , Carpenter , Snow , and Brett . Tlie lodge having been opened in the first aud second degrees , Bros . Wifl ' en unit Cole ( the latter of tlie AVestbourne Lodge ) , were severally raised to the sublime degree of M . M . The lodge was resumed to the lirst degree , and it was proposed ancl agreed to , that a guinea be voted from the funds of the lodge towards the fund raising' to purchase an annuity for Bro . AA atson . It was agreed that the votes of the lodge for the Aged AVidows' Fund be given to the widow of Bro .