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®Ij£JEaarmir^iai\ THURSDAY , ^^^^ p JAN . 10 , 1889 .

mitrd by W . BRO . JAMES STEVENS , P . M ., P . Z ., „ c , & c .

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Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

* V » We do vol hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our Correspondents . — THE MASONIC CHARITIES . To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER . I perceive in the Freemason ' s Chronicle of the 5 th inst ., a letter signed by J . A . Birch , Chairman of the East Lancashire Charity Committee on above subject . Two or three points in his letter certainly ought forthwith to be enquired into , and as he says ,

" endeavours made to correct flagrant defects . Taking the R . M . Benevolent Institution first , the figures reproduced by Bro . Birch of the items representing monies paid to collector are preposterous . Granted that the collector is entitled to commission at all , surely it should only be on sums collected by him ; it appears , however , that no matter through what agency funds may Row into the

coffers of the charity , Mr . Collector gets a percentage thereon . Bro . Birch states that the contribution of £ 2 , G 70 paid in 1887 by East Lancashire was not influenced in any Avay b j' him . Many other similar cases exist . Take , for instance , money paid by associations . What claim a servant of the institution may hav ^ e to any lot or part in them passes my ken .

It would be interesting if the secretary would make known the actual amounts received through the collector , and the rate of commission allowed him ; also whether he devotes all his time to collecting , i . e ., going about getting subscriptions : or whether he has a snug seat in the office and waits for monej 7 to come in , the signing a receipt being considered " collection . "

Bro . Birch says that neither the girls' nor boys' institutions pay anything to a collector . Certainly in the published accounts of the girls' nothing appears under this heading . The boys' annual report , issued in 1 X 88 , gives no account Avhatever that I can find , so what they do with their funds it is impossible to say . This is a serious defect and ought not to be allowed . Large sums of money

are paid to this charity , and Ave ought to have certified accounts as to its expenditure . The explanation that Bro . Birch says is required as to the item " Entertainment of Stewards and Annuitants , " and which he says " it is generally supposed in the provinces is covered by the steward's fees , " is very simple . Last year , after payment of certain

expenses out of the fund created by the stewards subscribing £ 2 2 s . each , a sum of about . CI ( 50 remained in hand . This was got rid of by presenting £ 10 ( 1 to the secretary , and dividing the balance between the clerks . Of course , the stewards had a right to dispose of it in this manner if they thought fit , but if it had been as I should say , properly applied , . C 74 13 s . !) d . would not have figured against the charity funds as " Entertainment , ice . " I may here

remark that great discontent was evoked in very many lodges at the grant of 1 U 0 guineas to the secretary ( of course , this beyond the above-named : C 100 ) , out of the funds <;/ ' the charity as an " honorarium , ike . " This was a diversion which many consider as absolutely illegal . The money was subscribed in the cause of charity , but was not faithfully applied . Bro . Birch has made an error in saying it costs £ 279 14 s . to dispense £ 11 , 3 X 7 : if it ' s nearly 20 per cent , his figures should be about £ 2 , 880 .

Original Correspondence.

Sir , the Avhole internal working arrangements of our various charities require revision ; Avhat is everyone ' s business is always nobody ' s : concerted action should be taken by influential patrons . Avho in too many cases fancy that Avhen they have given their money they have done all they should , and leave the disposal of it to be effected , knowing not how , and perhaps caring but little .

Like poor Oliver , these charities " ash for MORE , " and that continually . If they expect to get it , and don't Avash down and renovate their structures , they won't ; reform is Avanted in many directions—but how is that to be obtained . ' My own remedy , and I am far from being singular in applying it , is to button up my pockets and refuse all further subscriptions to Avhat I consider is

only called charity . A footnote appended to Bro . Birch ' s letter says : — "We think it desirable to warn our readers not to form any independent opinion until the other side has had an opportunity of reply . " What this means I don't know , for it appears that Bro . Birch only criticises figures of published accounts , but I shall keep a good look out and

Avatoh to see if the " other side " take occasion by the hand , and make use of the " opportunity " afforded them to '' reply . " Can you inform me , Sir , the meaning of the items in male and female account , '' provincial and other expenses , " £ 80 0 s . Id . in each . Bro . Birch does not mention this , but : Cl ( iO seems a good deal to dispose of in such a vague manner . Perhaps the " other side ' " Avill include a reply to this while they are about it . Fraternally yours , 7 th Januarv . 1 X 89 . SUBSCKTBEI :.

THE GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY FESTIVAL . 1 S 88 .

lo the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER . In perusing a contemporary this morning , I observe what occurs to me to be a most extraordinary statement . In speaking of masonic benevolence for the year 1888 , the Freemason states : — " The totals of the donations and subscriptions , as finally settled in

respect to the anniA'ersary festivals , amounted altogether to close on £ 75 , 500 , while the amounts act unity received under this head will be found to reach upAvards of £ 69 . 000 , a very considerable percentage of the balance still unpaid being what is known as Association money , which Avill be paid over—no doubt during the present year—as the life governorships or life subscribershijis are

balloted for and assigned . " The italics in this quotation are mine . Now , sir , I have been a member of the craft nearly fourteen years , and belong to some dozen Lodges of Instruction , many of Avhich have associations attached to them . I have assisted in the formation of one or two of these latter , and have been upon the committees of several others for the time being , therefore should know something about the working of such concerns .. I haA-e

always understood it to be the custom , and I cannot be wrong in stating , that ballots are XEVER drawn for unless a sum of £ 10 10 s . or £ 5 5 s . ( either for a life governorship or life subscribership ) has first been fully subscribed for among those entitled to participate in the same . The name of the selected brother and the amount of his draw is then sent up by his association to the iustitution he selectsand in due course he receives his Azotes .

This is . I believe , the universal system adopted throughout the craft , and when I read that the " money Avhich will be paid over—no doubt during the present year—as the life goA ^ ernorships and life subscriberships are ballotedfor and assigned . " I am simply astonished ! Am I to infer that many stewards , life governors and life

subscribers obtain their qualifications on CREDIT . ' Surely not and yet on reading the above lines , and afterwards finding in the same article that there is still " due and payable between £ 0 . 800 and £ (! , 90 O " to one of our institutions ( the Girls ) in respect of its festival , it appears like it . If not so , why has this large amount been left uncollected and tho institution at a loss of interest on the

amount , which , even at three per cent , only , should produce over £ 200 per annum I If the staff of the Girls' Institution is not large enough for all purposes , more ' s the pity . I , for one , think that six months is sufficient time for the whole of the £ 51 , 500 to have been got in . I feel strongly on this point , for if Bros . A or B can obtain a

" bubble reputation " and see their names in print as stewards of this or that masonic festival on CREDIT , and it appears to take , say */ . » . months , and probably a further twelve months , quoting the words of the Freemason , " no doubt during this jiresent year" ( 1889)—and there is a " doubt" about it even then you see—why the sooner such

a scandal is stopped in the craft the better . Hoping to read in your next issue the opinions of other brethren on this , which seems to be an important matter to our institutions , I beg to subscribe myself , Yours in fraternity . 5 th January . 1889 . P . M .

ROYAL MASONIC BOYS' SCHOOL ENQUIRY COMMITTEE .

To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . On the 1 st and 2 nd of November last , now more than two months ago , this Committee of Enquiry held its meetings with , I believe , closed doors ; since then not a word has been heard as to what might be the result of this solemn conclave . Is the enquiry shelved . ' If not , why has no report been issued . ' I , as well as

very many other members of the craft , feel anxious to know the result of the enquiry , therefore shall be obliged if you can enlighten us on the subject . The brethren are entitled to know the conclusions arrived at by the committee , and that with as little delay as possible ; I therefore 'think you will agree Avith me that two months is quite long enough to have one ' s iiatience tried by waiting . Yours fraternally , Sth January , 1889 . LIFE GOVERNOR , R . M . I . B .