Masonic Notes And Queries.

Thus , from the consideration of ourselves and what we infallibly find in our own constitutions , our reason leads us to the knowledge of this certain aud evident truth . That there is cm eternal most powerful and most Jcnowing Being ; which , whether any one will please to call God , it matters not . The thing is evident , and from this idea duly considered will easily be deduced

all those other attributes which Ave ought to ascribe to this eternal Being . If , nevertheless , anyone should be found so seuselessly arrogant as to suppose man alone , knowing and wise , but yet the product of mere ignorance and chance ; aud that all the rest of the universe acted onlby that blind haphazard ; I shall leave

y with him that very rational and emphatical rebuke of Tully , L . ii de Leg ., to be considered at his leisure : — " What can be more sillily arrogant and misbecoming than for a man to think that he has a mind and understanding in him , but yet in all the universe

besides there is no such thing ? Or that those things which , with the utmost stretch of his reason , lie can scarce comprehend , should be moved aud managed without any reason at all ? " Quid est verbis quam neminem esse opertere tarn arrogantem , ut in se mentem et rationem putet iuesse in ccelo muudoque non putet ? Aut eaquce vix summa ingenii rations

, comprehendat , nulla ratione moveri putet ? From what has been said it is plain to me we have a more certain knoAvledge of the existence of God , than of any thing our senses have not immediately discovered to us . Nay , I presume I may say that we more certainly know that there is a Gocl ,

"T . G . A . O . T . U ., " than that there is anything else without us . When I say we Icnoiv , I mean there is such a knowledge within our reach which Ave cannot miss , if we will but apply our minds to that , as we do to several other inquiries . —JAMES EUEDEEICK SPUES .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The ' Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . ON THE ALLOCATION OF LODGE FUNDS . IO THE EDITOB OP THE FEEEMASOKS * 3 IAGAZIJTE AITD MASONIC 3 IIKR 0 H . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —A very important questionand one giving rise to considerable

discus-, sion , is frequently started in our lodges , as to whether it is lawful to allocate lodge funds to purposes other than Masonic . A great many brethren consider that it is un-Masonic to aid auy object , however meritorious , outside the pale of the Craft .

I have carefully searched the "Book of Constitutions , " and ain unable to discover auy prohibition as to the application of lodge funds to general charities . My own impression is , that it is competent for the members of any lodge to decide as to the distribution of its monies . Many private and provincial lodges do certainly contribute

to local charities . Are they ri ght in so doing ? Trusting that you will allow this question to be ventilated in the columns of your interesting MAGA - ZINE , I am fraternally yours , P . PEOV . G . CHAP .

that he should leave at once that , on the 29 th ultimo a cheque was ordered to be paid him for £ 125 , his half year ' s salary up to Christmas next , leaving him free to accept another situation to-morrow , if he chooses . In addition to the £ 125 there was also added a gratuity of £ 30 for a half year's house rent , whichI thinkAvas exceedingly liberal . Yetin

, , , addition to the £ 155 already given , it is now sought to supplement it by another £ 95 , thus making up a Avhole year ' s salary , for no service whatever rendered or to be rendered . I protest against it as a piece of extravagance , ancl a shameless waste of the funds of the Charity . Had the ex head-master been all that

could have been desired , and left of his OAVU free will , even then I do not think the House Committee should so freely vote money away ; but it is so easy to be liberal and give away what does not come out of your own pocket . If the Boys' School was in affluent circumstances I should not grumble ; butat

, the present moment , according to Bro . Binckes' OAVU words ( as reported in last week ' s MAGAZINE ) it is sought to raise a mortgage of £ 5 , 000 upon the school buildings and land at Wood Green . Every brother who has served the office of steward at any of our charitable festivals kuows hoAv hard he must

work to make up a list of £ 50 , £ 60 , or £ 70 , and yet it is proposed to give aAvay in one lump £ 95 to a brother who has already been treated with excessive liberality . I therefore anxiously hope the brethren will show by their attendance and votes on Monday their disapproval of the funds of the Charity being thus wasted . Yours faithfully and fraternally , AN OLD P . M . AND LIEE GOVEENOE ,

THE BOYS' SCHOOL . —A GRIEVANCE . TO IHE EDITOIt OE THE EKEEJTASOXS' SIAGAZI 2 TE AITJ > MASOKIC MIBBOB . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —I wish to call the attention of the Life Governors , Life and Annual Subscribers , & c , and invite them to attend in sufficient numbers the Quarterly General Court , to be

held on Monday next , at twelve o ' clock , at 16 A , Great Queen-street , Liucolu's-inn-fields , and oppose the following notice of motion given by Bro . Head , Chairman and V . P . . *— " That a gratuity of £ 95 be given to Bro . E . W . Russell , on resigning the office of head master . "

Now , let us look at the facts . Of Bro . Russell aud his shortcomings I will say as little as possible ; yet , for the information of those whose money is proposed to be Avasted , must state that he Avas most miserably deficient in all those qualifications necessary for a head master ; that the boys have not made that

progress under his tuition Avhich we had a right to expect , and that so strongly have these facts presented themselves to the House Committee that he was called upon by the Chairman in a personal interview to resign , and threatened that if he did not , he should be dismissed . Under this pressure he was reluctantly

obliged to place his resignation in" the Chairman ' s hands . The arrangement between the House Committee and the head master was , that six months ' notice from either side , or , iu lieu thereof , six months ' salary should terminate the engagement . The salary given to Bro . Russell Avas £ 250 per annum , payable quarterly , and furnished residence , complete in everything needful . So anxious Avere the House Committee