The "Rectangular Review" And The Masonic Charities.

THE "RECTANGULAR REVIEW" AND THE MASONIC CHARITIES .

In noticing * the sweeping charges recently brought against the Masonic Charities by the writer of an article in the last publication of the Rectangular Review , we expressed our belief that the managers of those institutions would be able ,

without any difficulty , to clear themselves from the insinuations contained in the article in question .

Although a refutation has been previously made in general terms , we are pleased to observe that Bro . Binckes , the indefatigable Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , has entered into figures , and boldly repelled the remarks referred to .

At the recent meeting of the Albion Lodge , at which he was present , Bro . Binckes in responding to the toast of the Masonic Charities said that , " Every shilling given to those Institutions was as faithfully applied as it was gratefully received , although there were at the present time those who

charged the managers of those Institutions with misapplication of the funds , he wished that brethren would take the trouble to examine and inquire for themselves into the distribution of the sums collected . The managers demanded scrutiny , and were willing to expose every book and

document to falsify the charge of mismanagement . The Boy ' s School which he represented , collected nearly £ 13 , 000 in 1869 , and over £ 11 , 000 iu 1870 , and out of those sums £ 7 , 000 in the former year , and £ 6 , 000 in the latter , had been applied towards paying off the debt which hung over the

institution . The Boys' School was not so fortunate as its sister Institutions as to have funded property , but he could safely say there ivas no institution better managed . Iu nine years it had raised £ 75 , 000 , out of which £ 46 , 000 had been spent in the erection of a buildingwhich was capable of holding

, . 200 boys , £ 30 , 000 had been spent on the education and maintenance ofthe inmates , and the Institution would remain a monument to the beneficence of the Order .

Thus , in one instance , at least , the charge of mismanagement of the Masonic Charities , falls to the ground , ancl

" Like the baseless fabric of a dream Loaves not a wrack behind . " We hope that in the interest of their respective institutions , and in the face of the approaching Festivals , that the managers of the other Masonic Charities will be equally out-spoken ; we hope also that the challenge will be accepted , and that

The "Rectangular Review" And The Masonic Charities.

a strict scrutiny will take place so as to put the matter once , and for all at rest , trusting that the result will be to place our Institutions on a firmer basis than ever , in the opinion of the members of the craft .

In giving additional publicity to the statement , which has been denounced as a " scandalous calumny , " we considered it a sacred duty not to allow the statement to gr > unnoticed . It would have been a neglect of duty on our part to allow

the charges to remain unchallenged , and we are convinced that the most sincere advocates of the interests of our Charities are those who court the fullest investigation into the details of their management .

Notes On American Freemasonry.

NOTES ON AMERICAN FREEMASONRY .

{ Continued from page t > 23 ) . RHODE ISLAND . kt the communication of Grand Lodge it was " ordered , That the Grand Lodge of Instruction

be and the same are hereby directed to cause the work and lectures of the three degrees , as approved by this Grand Lodge , to be suitably engrossed in a book for preservation in the office of the W . G . Secretary . "

It was also " resolved that the W . G . Secretary shall not allow the book containing the approved work and lectures of this jurisdiction to be taken from his office , except by a member of the Grand Lodge of Instruction , and upon his receipt

therefor . " At the Annual Communication held at Providence , Grand Master Doyle delivered his annual address . The address is confined to matters of interest to his own jurisdiction , excepting that he

adheres with great pertinacity to the decision made by him last year , " that a man who has lost one foot , which has been replaced by an artificial one , can be made a Mason . " Number of lodges , 24 ; number of Master Masons , 3 , 253 .

SOUTH CAROLINA . At the Grand Lodge of South Carolina held at Charleston , W . M . James Conner , Deputy Grand Master , presided , and made an extemporaneous address , M . W . Grand Master J . L . On * not being in attendance .