The Charities.

THE CHARITIES .

LONDON , SATURDAY , DECEMBER 27 , 18 G 2 .

We cannot better close our volume than by reminding- the brethren that the Festivals of our various Charitable Institutions are rapidly approaching ^ and once more the brethren are- called upon to reflect upon the brighest teachings of our

Order—the necessity of protecting the Aged and the Orphan . ' On the 28 tli of -January the Festival of the Eoyal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows will take nlace under

the presidency ofthe R . W . Brother -John Havers , J . G . W ., and if the subscription lists be at all equal to the fervid eloquence with which Ave knoiv he Avill plead the claims of the Institution to the support of the brethren the result will prove a

bumper ; but the brethren may rest assured of one thing—that hoivever liberal theii subscriptions though they may do much to alleviate the distress of those claiming relief at their hands , though a few more annuitants may become

partakers of their bounty at the election in Hay next , there will still be left many candidates—a list always growing as age creeps on man and woman —as incentii-es to exertion in the future ; and it should be oar pride to endeavour so to increase

the funds of this Institution as to enable ns to boast that no distressed Freemason—no hel pless widow , ever pleaded to us twice in vain . The R . W . Deputy Piwincial Grand Master , the

Earl De Grey and Ripon , will take the chair at the Festival in aid of the funds of the Boys ' School on Wednesday , March 11 th , when his Lordship will be supported by a numerous body of stewards , many of whom come from West

Yorkshire , where every exertion is being made to give him a full list , his Lordship being the Grand Master of the Pro'vince . But it is not from West Yorkshire alone that Ave look for good returns , Bro . Binckes has ivorked arduously throughout

the provinces , and Ave anticipate a response to his exertions by such a subscription as has never yet been witnessed at any of our Masonic Festivals . The School yet wants much improvement to make it equal to what we wish to see it , and what

it will become if the aspirations of Bro . Binckes be realised . Later in the season—viz . ; on the loth of May —the Annual Appeal will be made on behalf of

The Charities.

the Girls' School , when the chair will be taken by the E . W . Prov . G . M . for Lincolnshire , His Grace the Duke of St . Albans , who will , upon this occasion , make his debut before the brethren in the graceful character of Champion of the

oldest of our Charities , ancl one which has ahvays been popular amongst the brethren , as nothingcan commend itself more to the sympathies of any body of men than orphans of the weaker sex —Ai'ho , as they are exposed to greater

temptations , and have the less opportunities of obtaining a liiTng than their brothers , require the more careful guidance in their younger years , — -a guidance AA'hich they are sure to receive at our School , AA'hich now calls for liberal aid , in order that the Committee may be enabled to increase the number of children to be taken under its

fostering care . The three Festivals last year produced between £ 7000 and £ 8000 : next year , we hope that the amount- may exceed £ 10 , 000 . Brethren , this is a result easily obtained : it is only about £ 15 a lodge throughout England and Wales , or 10 s . for each member .

But Ave must not forget that there are also other Charitable Institutions connected with oar Order , though not so general in their scope . West Lancashire has an Educational Institution ; Cheshire is folloAving in the wake ; ancl . as each has its oiA'ii sphere of usefulness , these , too , we commend to the support of the brethren .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

BOGEE . BACON TIIE ALCHEMIST . Is there any foundation for the assertion I once heard made that Roger Bacon , the Alchemist , was a Mason . — IS . N " . —[ AVe are not aware of any but it is not unlikely that the following passage , of the late Bro . Godfrey Higgins , may have given rise to such a report . In one of his footnotes to the Anacalypsis he says : — "'Soger

Bacon believed ia the possible transmutation of the baser metals into gold , and his reasoning amounted to this—Since carriages have been moved ivithout the aid of animals—since boats have been impelled through the water without oars or sails—since men havo been transported through tho air—since very distant and very minute objects may be made perfectly clear to vision by

means of glasses—and since the effects of thunder have been produced by a few grains of powder—how cau it be contended that the transmutation of metals is impossible ? From this most extraordinary exhibition of the words of this most celebrated natural philosopher or alchemist , or magician , or judicial astrologer , I feel very little doubt that among the ancient priestsor astrologers

, , all these secrets were known ; and that from his books of tho occult sciencies ho came by the information , that these important secrets were formerly known , though , perhaps , only known to a very few of the heads of a