The Advantages Of Freemasonry.

kindly welcome they ever received made them feel ' that Better is a dinner of herbs where love is then a stalled ox and hatred therewith , ' we can not only appreciate but admire her temper and her prudence , two of the most distinguishing ornaments of woman , whether a Freemason ' s wife or not , and no true friend Avould ever

wish to see on the table anything but that which fairly becomes the position of his friend in society , and no person of common sense would like to have a fuss made with him every time he entered his friend ' s house , and of all dinners we know of none more enjoyable than the

p lain family joint , with such accompaniments as the good taste of the lady of the household may suggest , and the head ofthe table whilst graced by the smiling countenance of the hostess . But that portion of the lady's letter which is most

gratifying to us is that in which she acknowledges that there is a bright side to our picture , and that she has hitherto judged us somewhat harshly ; and as she admits that there are advantages connected with the Order , we will now direct her attention to the letter of another correspondent , showing that in "West Laneasshire , to the educational establishment , of which we last week briefly alluded , the brethren have not regarded the Order as a

mere pastime , but that they have been doing something more than contenting themselves with the enjoyment of good dinners . DEAB SIR . AND BROTHER , —Iu perusing the very excellent article on " The Benefits of Proomasoary , " in tbr > TVF-CRAZIXE of Saturday last , I was much gratified by your allusion to

the AVest Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , and in forwarding you the Eules ( which you say you clo not posses ) and the Eeporfcs for the last five years , I would take the opportunity of stating thafc , although the projecr- for establishing an educational institution in connection with this province was conceived some ten or eleven years ago , yet

the scheme has only been in active operation far about seven years , during which short period it has materially assisted in the education and advancement in life of tvxntijfour children ( sons and daughters of deceased and distressed I ' reemasons ) , all of whom , with the exception of three , are orphans ; of that number nine have been placed out in

business or otherwise provided for , and the remaining fifteen ( towards whose education and advancement for the ensuing year , the sum of £ 155 has been voted ) are still ou the foundation , aud may so remain until they attain the age of fourteen years , after which , special sums are voted for their advancement in life until they are twenty-one years

of age . Since the commencement ofthe present year , six candidates have applied for and been elected to tho benefits of tho Institution . The qualifications for admission are that the candidates should be the children of Freemasons ; that the father should

have been a subscribing member of some lodgo in this province for three years , and fchat they shall be not under eight ; nor above thirteen years of age . The Institution does not possess a seminary of its own , but leaves the selection of the school—without reference to district or religion—to the friends of the candidate , subject only to the approval of the General Committee . With the

exception of a fee of 5 s . out of every initiation in the province , it is supported by the voluntary donations and subscriptions of the lodges and brethren , and possesses an invested capital of £ 3500 , which ifc is hoped will soon be considerably augmented . It would , I feel assured , be a source of great pleasure to

the promoters of this excellent Institution to see the example of West Lancashire followed by other provinces . I am , dear sir and brother , truly and fraternally yours , JOSEPH MAWDESXEY , Hon . Sec . 24 th September , 1861 .

Though the brethren of West Lancashire—apart from the Metropolitan schools , which are open to the children ofthe whole Craft , throughout England—have , we believe , made greater progress with their educational institution than those of other districts , yet , if we are rightly

informed , they are not alone in their endeavours , and Devonshire either possesses or has projected a somewhat similar institution ; though how far it has been carried out , we are not at present in a position to speak . Before we close our observations let us fairly

acknowledge that the Craft has not taken that position which it ought to hold ; and that by too many members of the Order , it is made the mere vehicle of social enjoyment . We would ennoble the Craft by adding to our hall in Great Queen-street a good library of reference , not

merely on Masonic subjects , but of general literature , more especially in connection with the various liberal arts and sciences directly or indirectly connected with our Order , wliicli , as we advance in our Craft , are commended to our study . We would have a good readingroom , whieh would be especially useful to our younger

brethren , with the ready means of obtaining at moderate rates those light and necessary refreshments " which cheer but not inebriate . " We would have a museum of Masonic

and scientific interest , instead of hiding , as we now do , our relics in cellars or cock-lofts , and burying our library in the darkest room of our establishment , its very existence unknown to the large body of the brethren , and the convenience for consulting the pages of the few works it contains , of the most meagre kind . And we would have

our lodge rooms separated from the tavern , though we have no wish to deprive the brethren of their social gatherings at the close of business , and which we freel y admit does much to cement harmony and true brotherl y feelings of friendship amongst the members , it being

difficult to become fully acquainted , one with another , during the more serious business of the lodge-room . Much of this we were promised three or four years since ; resolutions approving some such a scheme were passed by Grand Lodge , remitting their further consideration to the Board of General Purposes , and additional

property was bought in Great Queen-street ; but from that moment the subject has been allowed to sleep ; the Board of General Purposes has been elected and modified three or four times over , and has yet made no report ; nor do we hear that the matter has ever been taken into serious consideration at all , principally owing , as we believe , to the exaggerated ideas of one or two brethren as