Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not held ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . All letters must hear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for 'publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THR CHARITIES

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I , too , am of opinion that much more might be done for our Charities in the way of annual subscriptions . The correspondent who mooted the point in yonr last issue is , I see , a supporter of the Benevolent Institution , which holds out the best

attraction for annual subscribers—a donation of five shillings to its funds securing a vote . In the case of the other Institutions nothing lower than a guinea is recognised , although , I suppose , neither of them would refuse a smaller sum . For this reason I consider tbe lirst step should be to secure a recognition from the Boys' and Girls '

Schools for sums below 21 s . This , of course , could be done by offering a vote afc one election for half a guinea , but I should prefer to offer something similar to what is done by the Benevolent , and give a vote for each five shillings . If this conld be brought about I believe many Life Governors would continue support as annual subscribers

perhaps not at first , bnt as soon as it became fashionable to do so ; this ought not to be long , if the matter were properly taken up . To show the extent to which these annual subscriptions might rise , I assume thafc of the total subscribed to the three Institutions during any year at least twenty thousand guineas comes from Life

Governors . The total amount received last year by the three Charities was £ 61 , 059 0 s lid , so that I only apportion one-third to Life Governorships . This gives 2 , 000 contributors , and if one-half of these became annual subscribers of 5 s each they would provide an income of £ 250 . Now , supposing fchey continued their subscriptions

on an average , for ten years , it would give a contribution of £ 2 , 500 as the outcome of one year's work , and that among Life Governors only . I am quite of the opinion expressed by yonr correspondent , that " there is room for a very widely extended system of annual subscriptions to our three Institutions , " and co-operate with him in

asking for your support . I would remind my brother Masons that the five shillings per year required for the vote referred to above is less than five farthings per week ; indeed , five shillings per year could be given to each of the Institutions for one half-penny per day .

Here is a splendid opportunity for Lodge Secretaries , and especially those connected with Lodges of Instruction , to advance the welfare of the Charities . Fonrpence per week collected from any Mason would be ample for the three subscriptions , and would allow a good margin for working expenses . Yours fraternally , A SUPPORTER OF THE THREE INSTITUTIONS .

THB MASONIC RIGHT OF VISITING

To the Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The brother who wrote to you last week on the subject of " Class Masonry , " and signed himself " T OLERATION , " is just one of those—if I may be allowed to say soof whom I spoke in my last letter to yon , as lacking enthusiasm .

I hope he will not think me obtrusive , but I cannot helf urging him to read your article , if he has not already done so , and also my letter , which appears under his own . After this he might systematically devote himself to a study of the principles and practices of Freemasonry , and if he does so I fancy he will soon form a different opinion

to that he expresses in his letter on the subject of visiting . I take it that visiting among Freemasons is a right , and that he is wrong in assuming that one Mason cannot force his presence on a Lodge or assembly of Masons met for the practice of Freemasonry . I base my opinion on tbe injunction in the Book of Constitutions , that the

Master and Wardens of a Lodge should visit other Lodges as often as they conveniently can , in order thafc the same usages and customs may be observed throughout the Craft and a good understanding

cultivated amongst Freemasons . If it is good and desirable thafc the Master and Wardens should visit , I suppose it is equally good for others , even private members , to do so . Perhaps your correspondent would give his authority for the opposite opinion . Yonrs , Ac . STUDENT .

MASONIC PATRONS

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIS AND BROTHER , —Your last issue gives evidence of the widely opposite opinions which may be entertained in regard to any one subject by different brethren . I favour the view which " M YSTIC" takes of the letter of "P . M ., & c , " which appeared in

your issue of the previous week . No good can certainly accrue to Freemasonry from a more extended use of its influence in matters of personal advancement or trade . I consider we do very well if we leave Masonry entirely alone in all matters of business . A Mason should not even be expected to give the preference to a brother

Mason , all other things being equal , or we should immediately open tbe doors of the Order to a crowd of speculators , who would join on the chance of being the only Mason interested in a particular contract or tender . That something of the sort must necessarily exist among ( he members of a particular Lodge ia bufc natural , just as

Correspondence.

mutual help must exist anywhere among friends , bufc to extend fche system throughout the Craft would be a mistake likely to lead fco disastrous consequences . I shonld have imagined "P . M ., <& c , " would have as much influence with Church Patrons , as a Churchman , as anything in connection

with Masonry would confer , and if he made use of his association with the Craft , no doubt others would do the same , so that he would not stand a much better chance of preferment . Such actions might cause a scandal in the Craft , or set one section of the Order at variance with another , and for this reason I believe the less we have

to do with patronage through Freemasonry the better it will be for all concerned . Take for example the opinions expressed by " P . M ., & c , " and " A BELIEVER IN MUTUAL HELP , " in regard to Freemasonry . They are not so much disgusted with the Order , as they

are disappointed that it has not proved of greater advantage to them from a mercenary or other unworthy point of view , and their opinions must necessarily increase in proportion as the cause for them increases . Yours fraternally , CRAFTSMAN .

OUTSIDE TITLES IN FREEMASONRY

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In thanking you and your correspondents for the remarks which appeared in your last issue , under this head , I hope you will excuse my observing that the subject appears to be one of those for which no fixed rule exists . All I see it is possible

for me to do in fche future is fco follow the same course as I have hitherto adopted , that is , use Outside Titles or ignore them as I deem best . I feel not a little flattered by the remarks of P . G . A . D . C , and assure him , if I am " not so young as I pretend to be , I certainly am not so young as I wish , but at the same time I am sincere in asking

for information , and this , with all due deference to him , he does not give , or , at least , he does not settle the questions I am doubtful about . I do not think I should have announced a Provincial Grand Master as simply Bro . So-and-so , nor do I imagine I shonld introduce an Admiral or other high dignitary simply by his name ,

but how does the matter stand when we come to Captains , Lieutenants , Serjeants , or even Corporals ? If I announce Bro . Corporal Jones , the dignity of Captain Smith is touched , and if I ignore Jones's "title" he is snubbed , and so , as I said before , I am in a difficulty . Even " PROVINCIAL , " in his letter last week , stops

his definitions at " Commissioned Officers , and so his otherwise useful advice does not wholly satisfy me . If I am not trespassing too much on your space , I should like to hear from "P . G . A . D . C , " or " PROVINCIAL" as to what I am to do in the case just mentioned . We have iu our Lodge , either as members or visitors , Commissioned

Officers of the two Services , and I have to announce a Mason , holding the rank of Corporal . Am I to use his " Outside Title in Freemasonry " ? I remain , yours , & c , I . G .

Huyshe Rose Croix Chapter.

HUYSHE ROSE CROIX CHAPTER .

THE annual meeting was held on the 28 th ulfc ., afc the Huyshe Masonic Temple , Princess Place , Plymouth . There was a large attendance of members and visitors . The business commenced with the election and perfection of three new candidates—Bros . W .

Jamieson , J . M . Hifley , and F . Donoghue . Bro . the Eev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., 31 ° presided . The M . W . S . elect , E . and P . Bro . E . Aitken-Davies was then installed by Bro . the Eev . T . W . Lemon . The following brethren were invested as the Officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . Eogers I . P . M . W . S ., Eev . T . W . Lemon High Prelate

Bayly Treasnrer , Westlake Eecorder , Bond 1 st General , Daniel Cross 2 nd General , James Griffin Grand Marshall , Regar Eaphael , Derry Herald , Westcott C . G ., Dunsterville D . C , Hoarder O ., Phillips E . The Audit Committee presented a very favourable statement of the

financial prosperity of the Chapter . Large photographs , capital likenesses of the nine members of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree of the A . A . E ., enclosed in a very handsome gilded and glazed frame , were presented to the Chapter , with the following inserted on an ornamentrl tablet on fche frame : —

"Presented to Huyshe Chapter , S . P . E . C . of H . E . D . M ., No . 38 , Plymouth , by the Illustrious Brother the Eev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., 31 ° P . M . W . S . and High Prelate , 28 th February 1888 . " The presentation was very courteously received , and an unanimous vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Lemon for his admirable present

so suitable to a Eose Croix Chapter . At the close of the business the members of the Chapter and Visitors adjourned to the new Freemasons' Hall and Club ' s premises in Princess Square , where the annual banquet of the Chapter was held . The banquet-room of the Club was very tastefully laid out for tbe occasion , Bro . E .

Aitken-Davies presiding . After the toast-card had been exhausted , the M . W . S . suggested success to the Freemasons' Hall and Club Company , and thanks to Bro . Symons ( the Steward ) for hig excellent catering . The spirited enterprise of the Company , he said , promised every success . He had the honour to preside at the first Masonic

lunch and dinner , which had been provided on their premises , and must say that in his long experience he had never seen either excelled . The toast was very warmly applauded , and Bro . Symons

called in and thanked . Several capital songs and recitations were given between the toasts . Bros . W . S . Hearder , Eev . T . W . Lemon , Donoghue , T . Goodall , Jamieson , Clemens , Watson , and others assisted .

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DC A F 132 page book on DEAFNESS , Noises in the t / T \ ¦ Head . How relieved . Price 3 d . Address , Dr . Nicholson , 15 Camden Park Boad , London , N . W ,