Correspondence.

intention , and requesting Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens ( future members ofthe district Grand Lodge ) , to elect a Provincial Grand Master , subject to the approval of the M . AV . Grand Master . A reference to the Freemasons Calendar , which is published by authority , gives the following particulars : —Tasmania , possessing . five , and China three Lodges , have Provincial Grand Masters , whilst the West Indies , containing thirty-five , Africa and St . Helena thirteen Lodges , are not thought worthy of this

honour . To go further , the Eastern Archipelago , with two Lodges , and Sumatra one , are favoured ; but Bombay and New Zealand , having respectively seven and eight Lodges , are not . Is this fair ? If the subject be discussed an alteration may take place , and the thanks of colonial Masons will be justly due to brethren bringing the matter before Grand Lodge , I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , A .

The Province Of Devon.

THE PROVINCE OF DEVON .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . SIR ASD BHOTJIEK , —The Provincial Grand Lodge for Devon has for a third time changed the character of the proposed Provincial Masonic fund , and it is to be hoped that they will change it once more at the general meeting which is to take j . lace in July , and build it up on thc broad basis of philanthropy . The educational scheme is pretty as far as it goesbut it is like giving a

, man a stone when he asks for bread . Three children , it is said , are now in this province whom they can assist . I know not , but presume that these children have parents , to who , if aid was given to ameliorate their condition in life , might be able to educafe them without other assistance . But if this were not practicable , the education of these children would still be a legitimate way in which to apply tiie funds of more extended benevolence than one exclusively educational .

The notion of the fund of benevolence being one that is likely to encourage idle and improper Masons , is to be deprecated . I anticipate that nothingcould be farther from the founders' ideas than the bestowal of charity in the doling of alms . In our locality this is already provided for by the association of the seven Lodges ofthe three towns , ivho have a joint fund for the purpose of such casual relief .

The Provincial Fund of Benevolence would aim at something more satisfactory . Why might it not send the widow ' s son forth into the world in a trade or calling ? A \ hy might it not assist the family of the sick Mason , by relieving him ofthe onerous claim of a medical attendant , or by a temporary loan to the man tottering on the verge of commercial ruin , to be paid back by instalments or not ? None of these , perhaps , would ever occur ; but for such as these I firmly believe that a large fund would soon he raised in Devonshire . Wh y . do I think so ? AVhen the educational scheme was first

suggested , the Lodges in this locality received it very coldly ; but when the proposition , including the larger scope of benevolence was mooted , most , if not all , in the neighbourhood approved the scheme and voted fees of honour . But now that the character has been reversed , I can only state how it was received hi the Lodge to which I belong , the time being so recent that few others have been since held . Propositions stood upon the books that fees of honour should be imposed upon the I . G ,, S . and J . D ,, S . and J . W ., aud thc W . M . That the local non-