Original Correspondence.

THE THREE LESSER LIGHTS .

To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , Will you kindly inform me if a lodge can be considered as dulj opened and working in proper form without tho ' three lessei

lights being illuminated and in position . ' A controversy has arisen amongst members of the lodge in which I hold office as J . AV . on the subject , and opinions vary . Yours fraternally . Jan . 4 . 1889 . CORINTHIAN .

- ' .. * We hare never been in a lodge ' at work" wherein the lights you refer to hare been otherwise than in position and- acting . Of course we speak of English lodges . But we hart- some sort of remembrance that within the past two or three years tee read of a decision of a Grand Master of one of the ( fraud . Lodges in the United States to the contrary effect . If you or other brethren should- think the matter worth while , we will search for , and if we find them , communicate the particulars . —ED . M . S .

FREEMASONRY , TEMPERANCE AND THRIFT To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR .

DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , As several letters upon the above-mentioned subjects have appeared in your columns since my letter of the Gth December , may I be permitted to say a few Avords in reference thereto . ' " An old P . M . " has made an excellent suggestion as to the holding of lodges

at places that are not hotels or public houses , and for this he has been somewhat severely taken to task by Bro . Charlie Woods . True it is that the carrying out of the idea may present A ery considerable difficulties , but surely , amongst Freemasons , that is not , to be held as an argument against its adoption ! Even the most enthusiastic reformer is well aware that

reformshowever greatly needed they may be—are matters of time , but he also knows that , once start . d , they frequently make rapid progress , and doubtless there are very many P . M . ' s who would heartily Avelcome the reform alluded to by your correspondent , though they may prefer leaving the matter to be taken up by junior members of the craft Avho have the requisite time , energv and reformer ' s

devotion to deal with the question as it ought to be dealt with . Probably a good step forward in the right direction Avould be a numerously signed petition to Grand Lodge , requesting Grand Lodge officers either to give the matter their careful consideration , or appoint a committee to consider the pros and eons of the whole question . Should this suggestion find favour amongst the readers

of this letter , I should be happy to prepare such petition , and receive signatures thereto . One other suggestion I would make , and that is , that temperance and total abstinence members of the craft should hold a quarterly meeting for the purpose of discussing matters connected with

" Freemasonry , Temperance and Thrift . " Not discussing them in any narrowminded spirit , but in some such broad and Catholic manner as would approve itself to Bro . Woods , and to every other member of the temperance community of Freemasons . 1 . Finsbury Circus , E . G .. Yours fraternally . 7 th January , 1889 . THOS . BOWDEN GREEN . 158

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

T . —Ynn ask its ' -who is the authorised manufacturer of jubilee jewels V Of our own knowledge we cannot tell yon . We feel sure , however , That an enquiry at Grand Secretary's Ollice would have attention , and the information afforded would be reliable , as coming from the only proper and oiiicial source . II . M . AV ., SYIINHV , N . S . W . —Thanks for paper transmitted . Note our change of address .

The Royal Masonic Institutions.

THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTIONS .

By the courtesy of the secretaries of the several Masonic Institutions Ave are enabled to place before our readers the following official information relating to RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR 1888 .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . Donations and subscriptions , including £ 1 , 050 for special presentation from Province of Kent . and £ 105 as a special donation from Grand

unapter C 44 . 0 G 0 14 11 Dividends l . i ) 7 S 13 5 Grand Lodge 150 0 0 Do . do . Special 2 , 000 0 0 Grand Chapter 10 \ Q <> Interest on deposit ... ... ... ] 12 I 0 Three admissions by annual payment 150 ( I 0 Music

money ... ... 177 <( o Sale of piano , ko . ... ... 17 H Q Do . Subscribers' lists ... 2 2 0

£ 49 , 259 4 4 ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . Donations and subscriptions C 9 . 384 3 G Grant of United Grand . Lodge I , "i 0 0 0 Do . Supreme Grand Chapter 10 10 0 Music fees 87 3 0

... Dividends G 57 \< j ] i Special Grant per United Grand Lodge 2 , 000 0 0 Sale of lists of subscribers 3 0 0

£ 12 , 293 2 5

The Royal Masonic Institutions.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

Donations and Subscriptions ... ... ... ... £ 14 , 982 8 9 Dividends ... " 2 . 253 8 9 Grand Chapter 150 0 0 Graud Lodge 1 . 000 0 0 Do . Special 2 , 000 O 0 Interest on cash at deposit ... ... ... ... 175 17 1 Legacy 200 0 0 £ 21 , 3 ( 51 15 1

Our Trestle Board

OUR TRESTLE BOARD

" For the Master to lay lines and draw designs upon . "

ALL communications should be forwarded to 59 , Moor Lane , Fore Street . E . G ., London . Those relating to Editorial matter to be addressed to the EDITOR ; and all others to Messrs . ADAMS BROS .

At the last meeting of the Old Concord Lodge , No . 172 , held at the Freemasons' Hall . Bro . George Evans , of Hart Street , Bloomsbury , was installed Worshipful Master for the ensuing year .

Bro . yEneas J . Mclntyre , Q , C , Past Grand ! Warden , and Past Grand Registrar , has been appointed Judge of the Oxford County Court Circuit .

W . Bro . John Seex , P . M .. W . M . of the Great City Lodge , No . 1426 , will represent that lodge as steward at the next festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

ALLIANCE LODGE—No . 1827—Bro . Henry Clarke , CO ., W . M . — At tho Guildhall Tavern , B . C ., on the 3 rd inst .. it Avas decided to invite to a banquet in March next Bros , the Lord Mayor , Alderman and Sheriff Gray , and Sheriff Newton .

The continued issue of the useful Calendar and Directory of the province of Middlesex has been undertaken by the lately appointed Prov . Grand Secretary , W . Bro . Howard II . Room in conjunction with Bro . W . H . Lee , and it is announced that the edition for the present year will be ready very shortly .

The foundation stone of an obelisk at Dennis Hill , PadstoAv , Cornwall , to commemorate the Jubilee of the Queen , Avas laid with full Masonic ceremony on the first inst ., a large number of the most influential brethren of the province of Cornwall being present on the occasion .

Our worthy and talented Bro . Henry J . Whymper , author of " The Religion of Freemasonry , " from the pages of which work , by kind permission of its editor , we have lately largely quoted , has been made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire .

A ball Avill take place at the Concert Hall , Hastings , on the IGth inst . The Duke of Connaught and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Gerald Ford , are among the patrons . The authorities have given permission to use the rooms of the Ladies' College , which

adjoins the Concert Hall , on the evening of the ball . The supper and refreshments will be provided by Messrs . Vidler and Co ., the well-known caterers , of St . Leonards . The band of the Roval

Artillery has been secured , through the kindness of the colonel commanding the regiment , and the proceeds of the ball will go to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

PRESS EXCHANGES AND BOOKS RECEIVED . The Liberal Freemason for December , 1888 , Edited by Bro . Alfred F . Chapman , Boston , Mass . : Freemasons' Chronicle , Nov ., ( Sydney , N . S . W . )—Society . —The Iuieph % —Vol . viii ., No . 1 .

OLD MASOXIAXS . —A very pleasant social evening was spent by the members and friends of this association on Friday last , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Bro . S . R . Speight in the chair . The programme opened with an overture on the piano , " The Knight ' s Grand March " ( Carl Volti ) , which was very ably rendered by Mr . E . A . Morris , who later in the eA ening also played the " Stephanie

Gavotte . " Mr . Arthur J . Gordon sung "The Old Flag , " and obtained well merited applause , as did also Mr . F . E . Buckland , for his rendering of " The Quaker , " and " The King ' s Own . " Mr . A . Stephenson gave " The Pilot ' s Daughter , " and Mr . Light " Love ' s Proving . " Mr . C . Heward Uwins . in " The Vagabond , " did not appear at his best , but was nevertheless well received . The comic element was well represented by Mr . Whiteley , who was recalled

after each of his songs , and by Mr . AV . J . Packer , who kindly volunteered , in . the unavoidable absence of Mr . Leonard T . Heness . Recitations were ably given by Bro . AV . A . G lass . Mr . R . Harold Williams , and Mr . F . L . Seurr . We understand that Mr . Alfred Watkins . lion , sec , presides at the next social , to be held on the 18 th inst ., and we hope a good number will show an appreciation of his services by attending and supporting him on this occasion .