Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

GEAND OFFICEES AT THE FESTIVALS . To the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAB SIR AND BROTHER , —Ee the above , " A Worker in the Cause " has ample cause for drawing the attention of brethren to what he so justly calls an anomaly , and he is deserving of their thanks for making the matter prominent through the medium of

the CHRONICLE . In my opinion the real mischief lies in the fact that Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers are all too often chosen for their honoured and responsible positions for the sole reason that their purses are large , their hearts generous , and that that grand Masonic virtue , charity , has a large place in their

breasts . The question then naturally arises " does all this entitle them to superior positions in our Order , and must they as a sequence tower head and shoulders above brethren whose knowledge of the workings of Masonry is immeasurably in advance of theirs ? " I say emphatically , No t All honour to them for so

nobly coming forward in the hour of need , but to be thrust in positions for which they have no love , and are totally unfitted , is a Wot upon the Craft that needs erasing promptly and surely . As " A Worker in the Cause " says , the real " work has to bo done by humbler members of the Order , " and as soon as our leading Masonic spirits see this the better it will be for Freemasonry .

Fraternally yours , CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D Winder House , Bradford , 6 th March 1894 .

ATTENDANCE AT GEAND LODGE . To the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIB AND BROTHER , —When I read in yesterday ' s daily papers that somewhere about four thousand brethren were expected at the meeting of Grand Lodge , to take part in the election of its Treasurer , I felt that considerable allowance ought

to be made for journalistic exaggeration , and that if half that number attended it would be a large assembly , but what are the facts ? Upwards of 3000 actually polled , and thereby proved a lively interest in the affairs of the Order . Bearing in mind that

every one of these voters must have won distinction in the Craft ( most of them are Past Masters , of course ) I think it proves most conclusively that the members of the Masonic Order do not lose all interest in the work when once they have secured the summit of their ambition—the Master ' s chair .

A few weeks back I read in your columns that a keen contest for the elective office of Grand Treasurer must be of advantage to the Craft . I could not see how that was to be , and intended to express my views on this point in a letter to you , but I did not do so , and luckily I did not , for if I had I must now have written in

contradiction of my ideas at that time , for I recognise that a matter which induces 3085 members of Grand Lodge to personally attend and record their vote should be of material benefit , and proves beyond doubt the existence of considerable enthusiasm in our midst .

Yours fraternally , P . M . o o , o

PEESONAL OE PEOXY VOTING . To the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I agree with your remarks of last week as to the means of securing the opinion of Grand Lodge on such questions as the election of Grand Treasurer—the voting should be by ballot papers sent through the post , as then country members would have equal chances with London ones , whereas now the decision virtually rests with those on the spot . If the brethren

of London and say 25 miles round take a fancy for any particular line of action they can easily swamp outsiders ; would , perhaps , b « able to turn up in a majority of 10 to 1 , and this clearly shows that the Craft is at the mercy of the metropolis on all votive questions . Is it desirable to alter this ? I think it is , and anyone who travels much through the Provinces , and discusses the question with the leaders of Masonry there , will , I think , adopt the same opinion .

I have frequently argued out the pros and cons of the question , and am aware there are strong arguments to be used against the proxy system . Men may then be induced to vote who know or care very little as to what they vote upon , merely answering the call or dictate of some friend , but after all that is really what is

wanted , and provided there is no bribery or underhand working I cannot see it matters whether thc vote is given on a personal decision , or as the result of influence brought to bear by a friend at a distance . It certainly seems fairer to allow all members of Grand Lodge equal opportunities of voting , and that can only be done by means oi papers sent through the post , or perhaps by

Correspondence.

voting carried on at a regular or an emergency meeting of every Lodge throughout the country . Yours fraternally , ON THE EOAD . Grantham , 7 th March 1894 .

Masonic Benefit At Bury.

MASONIC BENEFIT AT BURY .

TUESDAY of last week witnessed the gathering of one of the most brilliant audiences of the season at tho Theatre Eoyal , Bury , says the " Bury Guardian , " the occasion being the annual performance for the benefit of the Masonic Charities , which was given under the patronage of Colonel LeGendre Starkie E . W . Prov . G . M . East Lancashire , Bro . George Mellor Dep . Prov . G . M ., & c . A dispensation had been given for Brethren to appear in Masonic

Craft and Eoyal Arch clothing , of which full advantage was taken by the members of the five local Lodges . The interior of the theatre presented a spectacle only to bo seen by the outside public on very special occasions . Past Masters , Worshipful Masters , and other officials appeared in full Masonic clothing , which to the uninitiated is a matter of wonder and admiration . So great was the

interest in . the event that the whole oi the stats vi * ere booked days in advance , and it taxed the organising powers of Bro . Purcell to meet the demand for accommodation . The five Bury Lodges—Lodge of Belief , 42 , Prince Edwin , 128 , Lodge of St . John , 191 , Prince of Wales , 1012 , Kgerton Lodge , 1392—were all strongly represented both by Officers and members , the general public

responding to the appeal in numbers sufficient to afford the utmost gratification to all concerned , and the performance' from beginning to end evoked the greatest uithusiasm . " Julius Caesar " occupied the premier position in the programme , with Mr . Edmund Tearle as Brutus ; Bro . Bernard Sloman , " the man bird , " and the Besses-o ' th ' -Barn Band were included in the programme , the evening

concluding with the screen scene from " The School for Scandal . " Praise must be equally distributed to all concerned . Mr . Tearle , ably supported by his company , provided the initial stage of the evening ' s pleasure , which was followed by Bro . Sloman's mimicry of birds and beasts , and an operatic selection by a band which enjoys a reputation extending far beyond the boundaries of the

County Palatine . The Screen Scene is always enjoyable , and the curtain dropped amid rounds of applause , oft repeated . During a short interval , Bro . Newbold expressed from the stage the hearty thanks of the whole of the Masonic Brethren to Bro . Purcell for the use of the theatre on that occasion , and for the success of his arrangements . To Mr . Edmund Tearle and his talented company .

Bro . Sloman and the Besses-o'th' -Barn Band , their thanks were also due . The result of the performance was about £ 120 , and of that sum it was estimated the Masonic Charities would benefit to the extent of -E 50 . The short address was received with loud applause . A tribute of praise must be paid to those Brethren who acted as hon . secretaries for this performance , viz : —Bro . Sam . Cox I . P . M . 42 , Bro . P . Bibby P . M . 128 , Bro . F . W . Purcell I . P . M . 191 , Bro . F . Howarth W . M . 101 , and Bro . George Black I . P . M . 1392 .

Easter Holiday Railway Arrangements.

EASTER HOLIDAY RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS .

Midland Railway . —On Good Friday , the trains on this Eailway will run as appointed for Sundays , with the following exceptions : the Newspaper Express leaving St . Pancras at 5 . 15 a . m ., will run to Bedford , Leicester , Nottingham , Derby , Sheffield , and Manchester , and the 8 . 55 a . m . Local Train , Sheffield to Leeds , & c , will

await its arrival . The Up Night express leaving Edinburgh at 9 . 45 p . m ., Glasgow at 9 . 45 p m ., and Carlisle at 12 . 38 a . m ., for London , will run on Good Friday night , March 23 rd , and Saturday morning , March 24 th , the same as on ordinary week-days . The 3 . 32 a . m . Carlisle to Stranraer , and 8 . 50 p . m . Stranraer to Carlisle ,

in connection with Steamers to and from Ireland , will run on Good Friday , the same as on ordinary week-days . The Steamers between Barrow and Belfast will sail on Good Friday in both directions . That from Barrow will await the arrival of the 4 . 5 p . m . train from Leeds .

To prevent inconvenience and crowding , the Booking Offices at St . Pancras and Moorgate Street Stations will be open for the issue of Tickets all day on Wednesday , Thursday , and Saturday , March 21 st , 22 nd , and 24 th , and tickets to all principal stations

on the Midland Railway will also be issued beforehand at any of their offices , a list of which can be had on application . The Tickets obtained at these Offices will be available from St . Pancras Station , and will be issued at the same fares as charged at that Station , and dated to suit the convenience of Passengers .

On Thursday , March 22 nd , cheap Excursion Trains will be run from London to most of the principal stations on the Midland system , tickets for which can be obtained on the two days previous to the running of the Trains , at the offices of the Company .

Cheap Excursion Trains for six days will also be run on Thursday , March 22 nd to London , from Carlisle , Bradford , Leeds , Sheffield , Liverpool , Manchester , Blackburn , Bolton , Lincoln , Newark , & c , & c . ; and on Good Friday , from the principal stations for

different periods . Passengers will be booked b y these Trains at cheap fares to Brighton , and other South Coast Stations , and to the Continent ; those for the Continent having the privilege of returning by any ordinary train within 16 days . On Easter Monday , single day trips will be run in various directions .

A novel Exhibition under the highest patronage will open at the Eoyal Aquarium in June next , consisting of everything connected with coaching , riding and driving . A number of most interesting loans have already been promised , and the project is exciting great interest amongst the Coaching fraternity .