Masonic Charities.

laudable exertions being made by Bros . Lyall , Symonds , and Binckes , with a view to increase the funds of the Boys and Girls Schools . It must not be supposed I entertain any antagonistic spirit to the object which induces those brethren to labour so assiduously to obtain so desirable an end ; but it certainly does appear to me , that the appeal to the country Lodges was too indiscriminately-made ,

and that credit- has not been given to those who have worked long aud zealously in the same cause in which the above-named brethren arc happily engaged . To respond favourably to that appeal was certainl y optional , but all Freemasons having the interest of the Order at heart , must feci desirous to second any movement calculated to benefit its institutions : failing to do this the brethren of any particular Lodge or province mig ht be charged with uuehuritableness , unless a valid reason be advanced fornot immcdiatelv awarding their hearty

co-operation . If the brethren in the province of Kent have not rendered , to those by whom the appeal was made , that unqualified support which they doubtless thought they were entitled to , it arises from a belief on their part that they have already done more than any other province towards the object sought to be obtained : and that if a proportionate amount of pecuniary assistance were forthcoming from the rest of provincesthe Committee would soon have

, reason to congratulate themselves upon the flourishing condition of their funds . The following statement of facts , I trust , will go far to satisfy the Craft generally , that the Freemasons of Kent have not been blind to the necessity of supporting their charitable institutions . Tn 1801 Bro . John Harvey Boys , P . Prov . S . G / W . ( to whoso excellent judgment and untiring perseverance the Craft stands

indebted for many important improvements in the by-laws of the Prov . Grand Lodge , & c , and who is now appointed " . !) . Prov . Grand Master ) , laid a scheme before the late Prov . Grand Master Bro . L . O . Ilnmfrey , for the formation and maintenance of a fund to he app lied to charitable purposes , which was highly approved by the Prov . Grand Master , and has since realized the most sanguine hopes of the proposerit having been the means of lacing at

, p the disposal of the Prov . Grand Lodge upwards of thirty guineas annually , which amount has been regularly paid ; and the Kentish brethren are in the proud position to be abie to state that since the plan came into operation they have paid towards the fund of the Girls School , . £ 200 ; and to that of the Boys , £ 100 ; and on the 18 th of July next ( the Provincial Grand Festival at Margate ) thirty guineas more will be paid . This handsome amount is

irrespective of the usual annual subscription from the Lodges in the province , and the private subscriptions of many whose circumstances enable them to give more solid , but not more genuine proofs of their willingness to forward the interests of the Masonic Charities .

Trusting these remarks may be favourably received , and Lave the effect of inducing other provincial Lodges to follow our example , I am . Sir and Brother , your obedient servant , ilieiiAirn S . vjujur . THORNE . Man / ate . 25 //? June . 1859 .

P . S . —I subjoin an extract from our Provincial By-laws ( for the information of the brethren iu other provinces ) with reference to our Charity Fund . The Provincial Charity Fund , alluded tn in liulc -I , is raised by the . inuu . il contribution of ' 2 s . by every member ill the province , and is appropriated to such Masonic Charities as the Provincial Grand Lodge shall direct . The present arrangement is that tho Lodge having the

greatest number of members , according to the returns , shall receive the amount of subscriptions , or such portion thereof as shall bo voted in Provincial Grand Lodge , to lie applied , by way of contribution , to such one or more of the Masonic Institutions as the Provincial Grand Lodge may direct , so as to give the Lodge so contributing the advantages during its existence of a Life Governor ; and . in the following years each Lodge in succession having the greatest number of members , ' shall have the same advantages .

Masonic Charities.

that are calculated or have a tendency to obstruct so desirable an end should be avoided . Impressed by such sentiments , it is with much regret I find a custom that has prevailed in this province for a quarter of a century infringed upon by the brethren of the Margate Lodge , ISIo . 149 , who are to entertain the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent , on the 18 th instant . Hitherto , I believe , it has been tlie custom to have the tickets for the banquet fixed at

( is . ( W ., thus leaving every brother free to order such wine , & c , & c , as he may he disposed to take , a custom that has never yet , I believe , been complained of ; but in the circular of invitation issued by Lodge 'No . 149 , I read , "Tickets , including a bottle of wine , dessert , and waiters , fly . each . " Under such circumstances a brother is compelled to pay for a bottle of wine , or absent himself from the banquetat which he would have been present , had

, he been at liberty to call for what be liked , or thought best for himself . This strikes at the object I have alluded to already , and I fear will tend to diminish the attendance at the banquet , for we know that provincial meetings are ' composed of all classes ofsociety , and therefore due regard should be paid to such a consideration . The occasional mingling of the various classes at such times has a very beneficial tendencyespecially among Masons ,

, and leads to a reciprocity of good feeling and harmony among " all sorts aud conditions of men . " Many of our Craft are endeavouring , in a most praiseworthy manner , to provide suitable places for ' their Lodge meetings , to rid themselves of the odium of holding their Lodges at inns or taverns ; how doesthis arrangement of including a- bottle of wine in the banquet ticket harmonize with such efforts' ?

It is too late , however , to remedy this ( T . must call it ) fault : I therefore put these sentiments ou record , hoping , that in so doing , we may for the future sit at the banquet as Free Masons . I am . dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , A ' ..- ??/ . J ??/?/( i /' i . 18 . 7 . ) . ' A Ivi-ixTi .-in MASON . '

Provincial Grand Lodges.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGES .

TO TUt ! EDITOR OI' THE I'llEEMASOXS' MAUAZINK AND MASONIC MIlSROl ! . DEAR SIR AX . > BROTICKR , —I believe it is generally understood among Masons , that one object of our annual provincial meetings is to afford to the brethren of the province an opportunity to meet one another , and exchange ideas , and enjoy social intercourse for a short time . I . therefore think that every " means should be adopted to promote such pleasurable re-unions , and any means

Bro. Sherry And The Grand Registrar.

BRO . SHERRY AND THE GRAND REGISTRAR .

TO THR KDITOR OP TUP , FREEMASONS' MACAZFXE AX'O MASONIC MIRROR . DnAPv SIR AXD Pmonnn :, —I-was much surprised on reading the account of a meeting of the 'Lodge of Economy , So . 9 ( 1 , province of Hampshire , where a P . M ., Bro . Sherry , ' thought fit to revive the subject of the conduct of the Grand Registrar , who was so completely cleared of the charge brought against him by tlie vote of Grand Lodge on June 1 st . Bro . Sherry appears to

have entirel y forgotten the charge he received as auE . A . P ., when he was told his " Obedience must be proved by a ready acquiescence in all A-otes and resolutions dul y passed b y a majority of the brethren" ( which surely must be binding on him and " all others in respect to Grand Lodge , as of a private Lodge ); and still more recently when , as AV . M . elect , he solemnly promised "to submit to the awards and resolutions of his brethren in general

Lodge convened , " and further " strictly to conform to every edict of Grand Lodge , "—all this , I repeat , appears to have been forgotten b y that worshipful brother . Had a younger Mason committed himself in this way Ave could not be so much surprised . Bro . Sherry had of course a right to explain to his Lodge tlie part be took in the proceedings of Grand Lodge , but lie should not insult the Grand Master , and the members of Grand Lodge

as be did in his resolution . There arc other provinces where the proceedings of Grand Lodge arc narrowly watched as well as those connected with the 11 Observer part ) - , " and one would fain hope that the bad grace with which they ( the Observer party ) come out of every storm , raised by themselves , and which would disgrace any body of men of less pretensions , will teach them to do to their nei ghbours as ,

"in similar cases they would wisli lie would do to them , " ami allow the discussions in Grand Lodge to be ehnnicterizcd . by more " brotherly love . " I am . dear Sir and Brother , yours truly and fraternally , lA . MKS FlT / . Ol ' . UAI . Il . I ' . M ., aud Hon . Sec . 52 :. ! , ami Prov . G . O .

CITV WAIIOS .--The division of the City into wards is very ancient , but the number of them is unknown prior to 1285 , when , according to the Liber Albv . s ( vol . '! , page 105 ) , it was divided into twenty-four wards . The division o £ Farringdon into two wards increased the number to twenty-five ; and when , in 1550 , tho liberties of the borough of Southwark were granted to the Mayor , Aldermen , and Commonalty of the City of London , a twenty-sixth ward was formed , by the name of the Bridge Ward AYithout , —CJO ? Pre ** .