Correspondence.

am considerably more than half inclined to believe tbat our Pro G . Master , though he felt it his duty to justify—as he did ou grounds whioh , as his lordship was pleased to remark , were most trivial—the notion of tbe Board of Masters , was of the samo mind . But , though I think the Board of Masters was in the wrong in rejeoting Bro . Stevens ' s motion , aud that the latter was not only

fully justified , but acted most pluokily in bringing his question of privilege before Grand Lodge , that is quite another affair from having faith in the virtue of the proposal Bro . Stevens was desirous of submitting . I do not , in the first place , think the Lodges in the Metropolitan area have the slightest reason to complain of not having their due share—if there be a due share , where merit alone is , or should be , the ground for promotion—of Grand Lodge honours . In

the next place , the line whioh separates the Metropolis from the contiguous Provinces of Kent , Surrey , Essex , Herts , and Middlesex , is so absolutely nominal that a London brother who is anxious to win for himself Prov . Grand honours need not experience the slightest difficulty in satisfying his ambition . Lastly , tbe proposition , if carried , would , by encouraging still further the already too prevalent love of tinsel , still further detract from the simplicity of the Craft . Yours fraternally , " JOD . "

MASONIC MENDICANCY .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have little doubt that your readers have by this time had well nigh enough of this discussion . The question of the bestowal of alms , aud in what cases it is justifiable , in what the reverse , is one in respect of which there will always be found a large number of people who are of one mind only in one

particularthey agree to differ . But this hardly affects the point as originally raised by a "CONSTANT READER . " He cited a particular case , in which a " wayworn " brother applied for help to the members of a Lodge who were in the act of enjoying the final bout of conviviality at the very moment he made his request , and was sent away unrelieved . Ho remarked on the hardship of the case , but was rebuked

by " CA » ITAS CUM DISCRIMINE " for his pains . I followed , with a sng . gestion that no harm could possibly have beeu done if the poor fellow had been temporarily relieved with the price of " glasses round , " meaning of course , as I subsequently explained , that that would have met the immediate necessities of the brother ' s need till proper inquiry had been made into the circumstanoes . The discussion continued

and at length oulminated in the article which appeared in your number of last week . Now there is nothing in which the observance of a hard-and-fast rule is so likely to be injurious as in the distribution of alms . The man who makes a point of giving indiscriminately to every applicant has his oharity again and again abused by loafing vagabonds . If you remonstrate with him , all he probably says is ,

Well , it can t be helped ; at all events , there were some worthy people among those I helped . " On the other hand , the man who on principle refuses every applicant for help , aots with equal unwis . dom . But in Masonry there is some difference in the administration of help to needy brethren . We are invited—or rather I should say it is enjoined upon us—to help those of our fellows who are in

distress—within the just limit of prudence . Therefore , though it is the duty of every Mason to whom application is made by a brother for help to exercise the necessary caution , so as Dot to encourage the vagabond in his wanderings , it is not his whole and sole duty . If he can afford it , he ought to give him sufficient for his immediate necessities , so that , to use your own quotation , it may not be a oase

of " While the grass grows the horse starves . " It is better to waste a little on some unworthy object of yonr sympathy than to run the risk of driving a worthy oue into the workhouse . If , on inquiry , you find your applicant is little else than a vagabond going about the country for the purpose of seeking whom he may devour , you can then advertise him as such in the Masonic journals ,

and you have expended no more than yon would have spent , if , in company of half-a-dozen friends , you had paid for "glasses round . " If , on the other hand , he turns out a worthy fellow , you not only have the immediate satisfaction of having helped him in his immediate distress , but you can leave him with the almoner of a Lodge with far better grace , and therefore be of greater service to him ultimately , than if , in doubt of tho justice of his case , you had dismissed him unrelieved .

I have no wish to prolong the discussion , but these few remarks may possibly help to illustrate your article of last week . Fraternally yours , " LONDONER . "

The Prov . G . Lodge of South Wales , Western Division , will hold its annual meeting at Haverfordwest , on Wednesda y next , the 16 th instant . There is sure to be a very

considerable gathering of the Craft , as there is , unquestion ably , no more popular Masonic Provincial chief than Lieut . Col . Lloyd Philipps , who is Grand Master of the Province We anticipate tbat the meeting will prove a great success

HOLIOWAY ' S PILLS . —Pure Blood . —When the blood is pure , its circulation calm and equable , and tbe nerves weU strung , we are well . These Pills pos ^ esj a marvellous power in securing these essentials of health by pnrifying , regulating , and strengthening the fluids and solids . Holloway ' s Pilis can be con / iuently recommended to all persons suffering from disordered digestion , or worried

by nervous fancies , or neuralgic pains . They correct acidity and neartburn , dispel sick headache , quicken the action of the liver , with 8 alterat ' and gentle aporients . The weak and delicate tnay take th » in "Unout fear . Holloway ' s Pills aro eminently servicablo to invalids of irritable ¦ institution , aH t ] j 0 y nise tn 0 ttct ; on 0 f ovory organ to its natural standard , and universall y exercise a calming and sedative influence .

Correspondence.

At the Mansion House on Thursday the Lord Mayor , at the request of the Local Committee of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution , presented gold and silver medals and certificates to tho crew of the Freemasons' lifeboat , Albert Edward , stationed at Clacton-on-Sea . The awaids bad

been forwarded by the French Government , through tho Board of Trade , in recognition of the rescue of the crew of the French fishing vessel Madeleiue , of Boulogne , which was wrecked on the Gunfleet sand , near Clacton , in

October last . Since the p lacing of the lifeboat at Clacton , four years ago , it has been instrumental in saving seventysix lives . The Lord Mayor complimented the men for their gallant conduct , and after Sir E . Perrot had thanked his Lordship , the proceedings terminated .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

COVENT GABDEN .-PROMENADE CONCERTS . HBB MAJESTY'S .-UNCLE TOM'S CABIN . Thii day , andon Monday , atl . DHUBY LANE .-At 8 , PLUCK . ADELPHI .-At 7 . 15 , FAMILIES SUPPLIED . At | 7 . 45 , DRINK . PBINCBSS'S .-At 7 . 30 , A PHOTOGRAPHIC FRIGHT . At 8 , THE ROMANY RYE . *

VAUDEVILLE . —At 8 , MONEY . COMEDY . —At 7 . 15 , THE FAST COACH . At 8 , BOCCACCIO . ( Last night ) . OLYMPIC .-At 8 , FOLLOWING THE LADIES . At 8 . 25 , FUN ON THE BRISTOL . GLOBE . —At 8 , TWO IN THE MORNING . At 8 . 30 , THE VICAR OF BRAY . ( LaBt night ) . SAVOY—At 8 , MOCK TURTLES . At 8 . 30 , PATIENCE . This day ( Saturday ) , at 2 . 30 , also .

AVENUE . —At 7 . 30 , SIMPSON AND DELILAH . At 8 . 15 , MANTEAUX NOIRS . GAIETY—At 7 . 40 , THOSE GIRLL . At 8 . 30 , ALADDIN . TOOLE'S . —At 7 . 30 , THE ARTFUL DODGE . At 8 , ROUGH AND READY HEN AND CHICKENS . ALHAMBBA . —At 7 . 45 , BABIL AND BIJOU . SUBBEY .-UNKNOWN .

IMPEBIAL . —Every day , at 2 . 30 to 6 . 30 , and 7 . 30 to 9 . 30 , THE AMERICAN MIDGETS . MOHAWK MINSTBELS , Agricultural Hall .-Every evening , at 8 . EGYPTIAN HALL . —Messrs MASKELYNE AND COOKE . Daily at 3 and 8 .

CBYSTAL PALACE—This day , CONCERT . THE OLD TOLL GATE PANORAMA . Dr . LYNN , tho ELECTRIFYING COmUROR . BICYCLE RACES . Open Daily , Aquarium , Picture Gallery , & c . ALEXANDBA PALACE . —This day , CONCERT . CIRCUS . Open Daily

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