The Prince Of Wales And Freemasonry.

In the event of any Knight dying in indigent circumstances , the King becomes the guardian of his children , aud gives directions as to their maintenance and education . And this is the Order , the badge of Avhich we are

informed by the learned pundit of the Daily News , must not be worn by the Prince of Wales ! An Order conferring civil rank—a national and kingly Order , which is alike as honourable to the Swedish Monarchy as it is complimentary to the Craft at large .

One word more for English brethren . We are aware that a wide-spread feeling of disappointment exists because the Heir Apparent to the throne of these mighty realms has not selected a lodge in his native land for his birthplace in Freemasonry ; but it should not be forgotten that the best Mason , the most

zealous , and the most consistent Craftsmen amongst the Prince ' s Royal ancestors , namely , H . R . H . the late Duke of Sussex , Grand Master of England , first saw the light iu a foreign country under the auspices of the Royal York Lodge of Friendship at Berlin . This was truly an illustrious precedent , aud let us

hope that the " Albert Edward " of our day will emulate the noble example of the " Augustus Frederick " of the past , that iu the cultivation of every Masonic virtue he may pass through life beloved and respected by a loyal people , and leave behind him the imperishable record of an unsullied name . Yours fraternally , I . H . S . V .

Zetland Commemoration Fund.

ZETLAND COMMEMORATION FUND .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE PBSEUASOKS' MAGAZUTE AND MASOHIC 5 III 1 KOR . Dear Sir and Brother , —The following circular letter ought to have been sent to you for publication last week : — " Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C " 14 th January , 1869 . "The sub-committee- learn that a misapprehension

exists in the minds of many brethren as to tho application of the fund . Seme think that a pre-conoeived intention exists to apply it in founding scholarships for the Boys' School ; others , that presentations to ali the Charities are to be bought in thc name of the Grand Master ; and some that a new Charity is to be founded . " Wc are directed to inform you that no decision of

any Icind , as to the above , or any other mode of application , has been come to ; and that the committee arc not even charged to consider thc subject ; nor can they do so until the amount of tho fund is approximately known , and authority has been given them to consider and report upon its ^ proposed application . The ultimate decision must bo guided by tho wishes of tho Grand Master

himself ; and his only known view , as expressed by him at tho Provincial Grand Lodge of the North and Bast Ridings of Yorkshire , is that ' he could not , under any consideration , permit the commemoration to partake of a personal benefit to himself , but that it should be made to benefit the whole of tho Graft . " We are to express a hope that will kindl

you y communicate this to your lodge ( or chapter ) and invite the co-operation of its members . "The committee are anxious that thc fund should bo worthy of its object ; and they resolved , in tlie first instance , that the contributions of individual brethren should not exceed a guinea , hoping that every Mason would give something , and being of opinion that the

value of the testimonial would depend more on thc number of the subscribers , than on the amount subscribed . " The committee suggest that each lodge and chapter

should be asked to appoint a Steward to the fund , to be called the Commemoration Steward , whose special duty it should be to collect subscriptions from the lodge ( or j chapter ) itself , aud from its members-, aud that thc Secretary ( or Scribe ) of each lodge ( or chapter , do enclose with each summons , a form , to be filled up by each

member . " Earnestly commending the subject to yourself and the officers and members of your lodge ( or chapter ) , and begging an early response . "Wo remain , " Yours very fraternally , " 2 f . J . SDIPSOX , 7 Hon . " Jonx M . CJ . ABOJJ , j Sees . "

I am glad of this opportunity of calling attention to the subject of the Zetland Commemoration Fund , which is believed by a large section of the Order to have recently collapsed , from sheer mismanagement , and so to have died a natural death ; as , during the last three weeks nothing has been heard of it , and no

names of subscribers have been published in the MAGAZINE . For some months past numerous complaints of the inefficient way iu which the affair was being handled by the members ou the management , have been current , but out of consideration to the sub-committeeI suppose you refrained from

pub-, lishing them , and particularly as we all had hopes of their making some chauge in the course of proceedings—their sins not being of commission , but rather of omission .

Allow me to suggest that there is something more required as a qualification for membership of such au important sub-committee as that of the Zetland Fund to insure its success , than being either in holy orders or a man of business—and clergymen are rarely the latter—so that many things have been left

undone that ought to have been done , and so the time passeth away ; and I hear' , as a consequeuce , the fund in hand is very much smaller than it should be , or would have been , if the conduct or management of the Fund had been in the hands of a sub-committee differently constituted .

It ts high time that these gentlemen of the subcommittee awaken , and if they do not fully understand the business they have undertaken ( aud I think it is clear they do not ) , they should not be ashamed to invite the counsels aud assistance therefore , of those who , though not either present ' or past Grand Officers , know a good deal more about the inner

workings of Craft Lodges and Eoyal Arch Chapters , and how to speak to , and appeal to , the amour propre of the members , than most of those who figure on the present list . Why ignore such brethren as Frederick Walters , F . Binckes , aud others , who do know " somethin" - considerable" as to what is jroing on in

Freemasoury ? The Committee have an excellent Acting-Secretary , but they mig ht as well have a dummy , if they do not utilize him . Bro . Gabon , one of the Honorary Secretaries , has , no doubt , an excellent combination of talents , which fit him for such a position . He ,

however , is but one ; and I never knew such au undertaking as this to thoroughly succeed , or become a great success , when managed by clerical and legal elements so combined ; I say it iu all good feeling , and I appeal to thousands of your readers to confirm my statement . Yours fraternally , ] N OT A GEASTD OFFICER .