The Lodge Of Benevolence.

against Mackintosh that he had visited and received relief from one or two lodges . "What wonder if he had ! seeing that this Committee meets but once a month , and that for the previous three weeks he had been without the means of obtaining a meal ' s victuals , having pledged

much of his clothing to obtain the necessaries of life . "We are not arguing on behalf of this "individual , or of any other petitioner . The man might be an impostor , and undeserving of relief ; he mig ht be making begging his profession ; and , if so , the petition should be

dismissed . But to defer it on a regulation of which the petitioner is kept in ignorance , is only getting rid of it by a side wind , and a mockery of the wretchedness of the petitioner . To require such cases to be visited is an absurdity ; but if the Lodge of Benevolence have the power of making such a regulation—which we

denythe least it should do would be to appoint one of its own members to perform the duty ; and there are two or three who are constant attendants , who are certainly admirably qualified for the office . We repeat , our present system of granting relief in the case " of wayfarers and temporaay residents in the

metropolis , is altogether wrong—a mere pretence of affording that which Ave do not give—and more likely to tell to the advantage of the professional beggar and impostor than the really distressed , though honest man . As we a few weeks since spoke with disapprobation of the lithographing a statement of the cases ofthe various

applicants for relief , and distributing copies about the room , it is but justice to state that , on the last occasion , these statements were mounted on pasteboards , so that they could not be taken away—a form to ivhich we see no objection .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

TOJIBSTOXES IN JEHSEY . In the _ FIU _ - _ S £ , ! SONS' MAGAZINE of Oct . Sth , our excellent friend and brother , William Kelly , D . Prov . G-. M . for Leicestershire , gave a short account of a singular tombstone in tho parish churchyard of St . Heller , Jersey , on which are engraved various Masonic emblems . At the same time ho

requested a communication of the circumstances under which this memorial was erected , referring directly to myself as probably able and willing to ascertain and supply them . I propose now to comply with his wishes . Thc chief , and indeed the only very strong fortification in the island is that of Fort Regent , erected on the summit of a rock contiguous to the principal town , and intended for its

especial protection , as well as for that of thc shipping in tho harbour . I find it recorded in one of the local guide books that tho spot was purchased by Government at a cost of about £ 11 , 000 , and that the existing defences were erected upon it between the years 1806 and 1815 . The first stone was laid by General Don , the then Lieut .-Governor of tho island , whose memory is even now held in great respect for '"

many of his official acts , ancl especially forthe energy and determination with which he designed and carried oiit his plans for the formation of good substantial roads . These ultimatel y proved a great public benefit , though , in thc first instance , he encountered the most violent opposition on thc part of tho inhabitants , who are generally unwilling to adopt improvements that run counter to their insular prejudices .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

At the present time , when the advantages have been completely felt and appreciated , the very deed for which he was deprecated , and even threatened with personal violence , is that which is mainly considered as entitling him to gratitude . The materials for the construction of the fortifications were furnished by the granite quarries of the island , but as at that period the requisite supply of skilled artizans could not be found here , a number were brought over from England to execute the work . I have obtained the

followiuaparticulars from a relative of the brother especially mentioned , who died some five or six years ago , but whose widow , a native of Jersey , is still living . In the year 1811 , Bro . "William Hinchcliffe was sent over from England as master builder , accompanied by a large number of mechanics . He , and some of his companions ,

were not only operative , but speculative Masons , and in the latter capacity ^ belonged to our Order . They found lodges in existence in the island , but it appears that many of the members sadly debased our sublime institution by the immorality of their lives , by irregularities in the conduct of lodge proceedings , and by the introduction of many absurdities into the ritual , thus depriving it of its solemnity and

sacred character , and exposing the whole system to the contempt of thoughtful men . Bro . Hinchcliffe , who had been accustomed to better things in England , and who was well skilled in our mysteries , at- once determined to effect a reform in these respects , and to elevate thc status of Freemasonry here , in which , notwithstanding much opposition , he eventually succeeded . As a result he won the respect of his brethren , whom he instructed in the principles of the Graft , and to whom he communicated tho legitimate method

of working ; thus he was for many years a pillar of Freemasonry in this island , where he became a permanent resident , was elected W . M . of several lodges , and ivas one of the founders of the existing Mechanic ' s Lodge . Ho ivas also a member of the higher grades in Masonry , in proof of which I have this day seen his certificate as a Knight-Templar , Knight of Malta , Knight of the Meditteranean ,

and Knight of the White Cross ; he did not , however , attempt to introduce these degrees into Jersey , nor have they ever obtained a footing here . The only exception to what is permitted by the Grand Lodge of England is the Mark degree , and that is established in connection ivith a craft lodge working under an Irish warrant . In the course of the erections over which our reforming brother had the

superintendence , several accidents happened , by which some of the workmen lost their lives , and it was to the memory of such of them as were members of our Order , that Bro . Hinchcliffe erected the memorial to which allusion has been made . I understand that on the completion ofthe works at the Fort , he commenced business on his cwn accouut , and that for a considerable period he was the principal , if not the only sculptor and master stone-mason in Jersey . —H . H ., Jersey , Dec . 21 , 1801 .

Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE , AND ART .

Juvenal in his fifth satire , asks the Eoman sycophant—¦ , ! Is no bridge vacant , no convenient seat , Where thou may ' st cringe , and gnaw thy broken meat , And with a mat , and crutch , and tied uu-leg . More honestly and honourably beg ? " But the Chinese beggars go far beyond the ancient trick of a

" crutch and tied-np leg , " which is yet practised in almost every country . AA ' e have the following account of wilfully mutilate ;! mendicants in Mr . AA'illiam Lockharfc ' s Medical Missionary in-China : —• " I ' our men were seen one day crawling- on their hands « nd knees one after another on the ground , and calling on the passers-by to give them money . They had lost their legs a fewinches below the kneeThe stumps were thoroughlcicatrised

. y , but were pyrimidal and very tender , the cicatrix of the skin , being drawn tightly over tbe bone . _ On inquiring into the cause of tin ' s surprising loss ofthe limbs , the men said it arose from ait accident which occurred at a tire , where their legs had been burned off . It was ascertained , however , that beggars in the southern province