Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

jewels to Bros . C . Button , H . Bennett , Goodacre , and Matthews , which they received in consequence of serving the office of stewards at the festivals in London in aid of the Masonic Schools . On the motion of the P . G . M ., thanks were voted to tho Eev . AY H . Lowther for the use of the church and the schools , and to the directors of the Mechanics' Institution for tho use of that building .

After Lord de Tabley had intimated his intention of holding his next Provincial Grand Lodge at Knutsford , tho business proceedings closed . The whole of the brethren then marched to St . George's Church , where a sermon was preached by Bro . E . Hodgson P . G . C ., the musical portion of the service being conducted by P . G . O . Bro . J . Travis . A collection was made on behalf of the fund of benevolence

and of the Cheshire Masonic Educational Institution . A banquet was served by Messrs . Jennison and Co ., of Manchester , in St . George's Schools , to which about 250 brethren sat down , under the presidency of Bro . Lord de Tabley ; The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given during the evening . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . Travis P . G . O ., who presided at the piano , the vocalists being Bros . Edmondson , Stafford , Dumville , Ball , and Eoscoe .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for ihe opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , hit as a guarantee of good faith .

— : o : — FRIENDLY CORRECTION . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR , —In the Answers to Correspondents , of last week's issue , in reply to J . W ., the Editor states that the minimum Initiation Fee under the Grand Lodge of England is " Five Guineas . " Such is not the case , but three guineas , exclusive of the fees for registration and certificate ( 17 s ) , which make the sum total Four pounds The

minimum is accordingly Four pounds , the whole of which is payable on the night of Initiation , and no portion can be left unpaid on any pretext whatever . I much wish the authorities would make this fee double the present low amount , which has continued thus at Four pounds all this century , notwithstanding that the relative value would be nearer eight pounds at the present time .

It seems to me that at least Six guineas should be the minimum fee , and as the charge for warrants has been increased , I fail to see on what plea a similar change should not be made respecting the costs of Initiation . Under the Grand Lodge of Ireland , not only are some of our fees higher , but we have some excellent rules in force respecting the initiation of gentlemen away from their usual residences ,

which it would be well for England , Masonically , if they were accepted there also , as indeed some of its provinces have done . Another correction I should Hko to make ( if needed ) has reference to a letter by Bro . E . Gottheil , who speaks of the doings of a " suburban Lodge . " Bro . Gottheil's remarks appear to me to favour the notion that under the Grand Lodge of England , when the minutes

of the election of a AV . M . are not confirmed , the member cannot proceed afresh to the election of a AY . M . at the following Lodge , but must wait for the next regular period of election . I have before me the small edition of tho Constitutions for 1875 , doubtless well known to our brother , and to the English Craft generally , and in it I find that when the minutes of such election are not confirmed , "then a summons must be issued for the

following regular meeting of the Lodge , " and the brethren must proceed to the election of the AV . M . as before . Clearly then , in tho case our brother refers to , it is the duty of the AV . M . for the time being to proceed to the election of his successor at the next regular meeting of his Lodge ( even if it be the succeeding mouth ) , and at the following Lodge , the minutes being confirmed , and the AY . M . elect installed , he becomes relieved of his duties as AY . M . I am , yours fraternally , MASONIC INVESTIGATOR .

Answers To Correspondents.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS .

S . W . —Brethren who are Life Governors of the three Masonic Charities , and have served as Stewards for two of them , are entitled to wear the Charity Jewel . They cau also wear bars with the dates of each succeeding Stewardship .

M . M . —In the absence of tho AY . M ., the immediate Past Master can occupy the chair . If he be not present , the oldest Past Master takes precedence . M . M . M . —Send the numbers to onr Publishing Office , they shall be bound , and the volume returned to you . Thanks for your good wishes .

HOT . T . OWAY ' S PILLS . —This medicine has resisted every test which time , prejudice , and vested interests could impose npou it , and it at length stands forth triumphant as tho most reliable remedy for those derangements of the system so common ut the change of seasons . When the air grows cooler and the functions of the skin are retarded , an occasonial doso of Holloway's Pills will call on the liver imrt AdiVnnysior greater activity and compensate the system for diminished cutaneous action . As alteratives , aperients , and tonics , these Pills have no equals . To every aged and delicate person , whose appetite is defective , digestion inlln " . and tone of health low , this medicine will be a precious boon , I conferring both , case uud strength .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . O . — : o : — The Day Breams of a Sleepless Man . By FRANK IVES SCUDAMORE , C . B . London : Griffith and Farran . 1875 . THIS is a republication of a series of papers contributed to the Standard , Scotsma 7 i , and Glasgoio News . The author , whose name

has for many years been associated with one of our principal public departments , here gives evidence of the possession of literary , or we should rather say , journalistic qualifications of no mean order . His papers are written in a pleasant , humorous and gossippy style , eminently well suited to while away agreeably a vacant hour . The author describes himself as a " sleepless man , " and those who have

known him most intimately will probably recognise the applicability of the expression . He has tried all the reputed remedies for sleeplessness , and has found that the best resource after all is to get up and walk about . Before cock-crow , he tells us , he has often been on . his rambles , wending his steps now in the direction of Billingsgate , now towards Covent Garden , anon perhaps away from the busy hum

of men . Like Dickens , and indeed most extremely active minds , he seems to have found something resting to the spirit in walking through crowded thoroughfares . Most of the papers hero reproduced relate to a holiday excursion , which the author appears to have recently made in the North West of France . Abbeville , Neufchatel , Desores , Crecy , and the little village of St . Pol are all lightly touched

upon , and some amusing incidents aro recorded , illustrative of the manners and customs of the natives . There is a tradition existing amongst them , of a game which used to be played with a large ball , the players being divided into two hostile bands , and our author asks whether this may not have been our English foot-ball , introduced into France during the English occupation , and forgotten soon

after the occupation was over . At St . Pol , tho writer and his companion are regarded with some suspicion by the village Oend'arme , and even placed under temporary arrest , until a communication has been received from their friends , attesting the harmless intentions of their journey . It seemed to be the opinion of the local functionaries that no rational being would pay a visit to such a place without some

sinister motive . Pedestrian excursions , in fact , are generally looked upon with a kind of doubt by the provincial French . We remember , on one occasion being stranded at a small out-of-the-way French village , about five or six miles from the town where we were staying . No train was due for at least a couple of hours , and we calculated that we could walk the distance in about half that time . We

consulted a native as to tho road . He looked at us with blank astonishment ; but , immediately recollecting himself , pointed to the Bailway Station we had just quitted . Mais , ye veux marcher , we cried ; " Ah Monsieur ! " ho answered , Cost impossible . In vain we attempted to reason with the man , assured him that tho distance was but a trifle , and that wo could walk double or treble tho distance in perfect

comfort . The scoundrel was obdurate , and other natives , to whom we afterwards applied , wore equally impracticable . They could not countenance so reckless an experiment , and we were thus compelled to await the arrival of the train . Our author is at times disenrsive . The mention of St . Fouettard reminds him that he once himself

received a flogging from a certain Dr . Rice , and this again calls to his mind the story of a certain well-known pedagogue , who , in his later years , whenever he heard speak of a rising man , would remark , " Yes ' . yes ! a clever man ' . a clever man ! I ' ve thrashed him many a time . " The book is interesting , as exhibiting the holiday aspect of a man of affairs , and well worth the time spent in its perusal .

W . Cutbush and Son ' s Bulb Catalogue , . 1875 . — This contains a large and varied assortment of the newest and choicest kinds of Hyacinths , Ixias , Snowdrops , Anemones , Lilies , Tulips , Narcissus and Polyanthus Narcissus , Gladioli , & c , & c . As regards double Hyacinths the price per dozen varies from fifteen to eighteen shillings , for which the finest named bulbs , suitable for exhibition , are supplied , but a

good class of bulb may be had at from eight to twelve shillings . For a single bulb the price ranges from eight pence to four shillings . In the case of Hyacinths the very finest range from one to two guineas per dozen , the next class from fifteen to eighteen shillings , and a dozen of good bulbs from eight to twelve shillings . As to varieties we have noted "Koh-i-noor" ( double ) four shillings per bulb , and ,

among singles , the following : —Single lied '' Howard , " three shillings ; " Linnaeus , " thrce-and-sixponce ; "Vunrbak , " five shillings ; Single White , "La Grandesse , " six shillings ; and "Snowball , " four-andsixpence ; Single Blue , " Czar Peter , " four shillings ; " King of the Blues , " seveu-and-sixpence ; "Sir James Graham , " five shillings ; Single Black , "Blackbird , " and "Lamplighter" each

half-a-crown ; And Single 1 ellow , " Bird of Paradise , " seven shillings . For collections of named varieties , assorted as to shade , the price varies from ton pounds to three pounds fifteen shillings per hundred , and from live guineas to two pounds per fifty . Cheap Hyacinths for beds may be had at thirty-two shillings per hundred , or four shillings and sixpence per dozen , while mixed

Hyacinths of all shades are twenty-five shillings per hundred , or three shillings and sixpence per do ;; eu . There is an excellent selection of Tulips , both single and double , early and late , while , among Lilies , we have marked L . Auratnm at from half-a-crown to half a guinea each , L . California ™ from seven and sixpence to a guinea ;

L . Humboldtii from seven and sixpence to half a guinea , L . Pardalitmm and L . Washiugtonianum , each from seven and sixpence to half a guinea , and L . Tigriiuim floro pleno from five shillings to half a guinea . Similarly , the prices for other bulbous plants vary according to the class of nmf , s : looted . Tliorc is also an excellent selection of Strawberries speci-dlv prepared fur p l .-tutitijr . A tow good sound