Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The " Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents , ZETLAND SCHOLARSHIP . TO THE EDITOR 01 THE EHEE 1 IAS 0 NS' JIAGAZIITE AND MASONIC XIIUIOH . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The nomination aud , it is to be presumed by us at a distance , the

re-election of the M . W . G . M . appears to be an occasion for a commemoration worthy of the M . W . Brother and useful to the Craft . It has been to many a matter of regret that the Craft has done nothing directly for the promotion of learning , for we cannot class as such our admirable

schools . A small Beginning might be made by a commemoration scholarship , in honour of our G . M ., to be called the Zetland Scholarship . If each lodge and chapter contributed on an average one pound onlythis would make a respectable

, sum . This might be devoted every tAvo years to the sou of a Master , matriculated in some university or university college ( as those of the University of London and of Ireland ) a medical college , or the Inns of Court . *

If this system were once begun , it might , as in other instances , become an example , leading to the institution of other scholarships , and thereby conferring a boon on the sous of some of our illendowed brethren . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully , HYDE CLARKE , D . D . G . M . Turkey .

Charity Stewards.

CHARITY STEWARDS .

TO TIIE EDITOll OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIKItOK . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am quite delighted to find such avidity for information with reference to our Charitable Institutions , and especially in connection with the Anniversary Festivals aud the Stewardships , as that evinced iu the letter of a " Country P . M . " in your last numberand I lose no time in

re-, plying thereto in the hope that I may be able to afford a satisfactory solution of some of the difficulties with Avhich it appears so many of our country brethren have to contend—to dispel their doubts as to the beneficial application of the money they are invited to contribute , —and to enlighten them generally , so far

as my poor powers Avill permit , on the important subjects in which , happily , they feel so strong an interest . I have often heard it urged that if the various charities which abound in this country Avonld abolish the eating and drinking attached to the respective festivals , IIOAV large a sum of money , now

spent in mere convivial enjoyment , Avould be applicable for the higher purpose of charity . As a distinguished nobleman , unhappily now no more , once said to me on this point— " How is it , Bro . Binckes , that these charities cannot be supported Without a body of gentlemen being brought together for

the purpose of drinking a quantity of bad Avine , and eating an unwholesome dinner ? " My reply Avas , that I could not venture to account for what Avas most undoubtedly a fact , that whenever the experiment had been tried , it had been attended with failure , but that I presumed such was the natural love of the English people for social

enjoyment , that no celebration , religious , political , or charitable , was considered complete—certainly never was successful—without a banquet , beggiug his Grace would give his brethren in Freemasonry credit for taking care that their dinners should be good , and the Avines pure . His Grace good-humouredly

concurred , and I believe that ninety-nine out of every hundred people Avho have considered the subject concur in this view also . The necessity of a banquet being conceded , the question is , how shall it be best made to serve the purpose Avith Avhich it is associated ? The large majority of our Charitable Institutions

hold their annual festive gatherings under the auspices of a board of Stewards , Avhose individual liability is limited to one guinea , which is the price of the dinner ticket . Supposs 250 gentlemen sit down to dinner , and a handsome subscri ption list is announced j in that amount is included the sums paid for the

dinner tickets , aud out of the gross proceeds the Charity pays the tavern bill . The Annual Festivals of our Masonic Institutions , I am happy to say , are differently worked . They , as in the cases just mentioned , are held under the auspices of Boards of SteAvards , but not one shilling of the sums collected is allowed to be expended for anything in connection with the festival , the expenses of which are defrayed

out of a special fund , created hy a deposit payable by each Steward . I served the Stewardship of the Boys * School and Girls' School some nine . years since , when the deposit required Avas £ G or £ 8 , aud previous to that I have understood it Lad been £ 10 or £ 15 , the number of stewards , be it remembered , averaging then from twenty to thirt whereas

y , now we fortunately gather round us 70 to 100 , or , as I hope to see our ensuing Festival supported by , 120 , and £ 4 from each Steivard is proved to be an amount sufficient to meet the expenditure . Now comes the question—How is this large fund employed ? From it is defrayed

every expense incident to a large festival meeting . First , there are the costs of printing , stationery , postages — no inconsiderable item—and temporary assistance in oflice labours ( into which I should like to afford "A Country P . M . " an insight ) . Then there are the little aesthetics in the shape of a few honorary

decorations , valued by most , and despised only by the cynic or stern utilitarian , with no ej-e for ornament , no love ot art , no appreciation of the elegant or the beautiful ; but this outlay is trilling . Then there is liberal provision made for the gratification aud enjoyment of 150 ladies , Avhose presence gives refinement to the assembly , and sheds an indescribable charm over the scene . There are also a certain number of

complimentary dinner tickets presented , for which in each case there is good and sufficient reason and justification . Next there is substantial proidsion made for the children , who always attend on these occasions , AAIIO are the chief ornaments to the entertainment , and , as the especial objects of the benevolent efforts of the congregated brethren , constitute

the most important feature of the eA'ening ' s proceedings . Each Steward receives a dinner ticketone guinea—the tickets of the ladies' gallery beiug equal to Ss . 6 d . each ; and as each SteAvard has two of these , there is £ 118 s . out of the—say— £ 4 , leaving £ 2 2 s . tOAvards the other expenses . When everything is paid , there is generally a surplus , larger or smaller ,