Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarihj for publication , but as a guarantee 0 / good faith .

CHARITY STEWARDS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —A somewhat unexpectedly protracted holiday having come to an end , on my return to duty I ab once proceed to the consideration of the third section of tho above subject , viz .: c . "The inadequate return for such expenditnre . " Here again I take my text from the letter of " A STEWARD WHO HAS

SERVED ONCE , " in your issue of 24 th August . The writer states , " I simply do not think I ought again to incur so much expense in doing so little good , " which , plainly interpreted , means , "I grudge neither the time nor tho money I have expended , but I do lament over the insufficient results . " Very creditable to tbe heart , but scarcely so to the head . In no pursuit in life can any ono guarantee

that success shall always reward labour . That tbe incentive to labour is success , no one will question ; equally certainly it may be stated that no one will maintain that the want of success attending a given effort shall be held as a justification for ceasing from further oft ' ort . What we find in our heart as our duty to do , let us do , discharging such duty to the best of our ability , in the earnest hope that its"

fulfilment may procure all the satisfaction we desire . " Disappointment , however , should not be the parent of discouragement , bnt should rather stimulate to renewed exertion . " Paul may plant , Apollos may water , " but it remains with higher influences to " give the increase . " A zealous , conscientious member of a Lodge , recognising the multitudinous claims on the resources of the Masonic Institutions ,

and impressed with a deep feeling of regret at the neglect and apathy evinced by the majority of his brethren , determines to do all that in him lies to give life to the dry bones with which his Lodge is strewed , and to rouse the animated frames to vigorous effort . He offers his services as Steward , is accepted , and proceeds forthwith in his selfallotted task . He " receives from tho office of the Institution a

package of circulars—posts them to the members of the Lodge—gets no replies—has special circulars printed "—and though possessing a constituency of 83 persons , two only manifest their sympathy and appreciation , by donations of 5 guineas each—a few others contribute 5 guineas amongst tbem—which , with 5 guineas from tbe Lodge funds , and his own donation of 10 guineas , constitute a total of 30 guineas

as the outcome of lengthened and anxious work . This , given in his own words by "A STEWARD WHO HAS SERVED ONCE , " is , I regret to say , tho experience of numberless Stewards . But do not let them on this account " throw up the sponge , " and retire from the arena as defeated in tbe struggle . Rather let them derive

consolation from the fact that the united results of 50 such " disappointments" mean 1500 guineas ! No blame attaches to them , but a sense of shame ought to bang heavily on that large majority who , seeing in their path an object worthy of their aid , close their eyes ¦ wilfull y , or , like the Levite in the parable , " pass by on the other side . '

This it is that renders absolutely necessary , what I am free to admit is in itself undesirable , the constant , unintermittent , urgent appeals , addressed to the careless and the indifferent , by the official representatives of our Institutions , and by other good fellow-workers who havo their interest at heart . " The dripping of water wears away a stone , " and it is only by the persistent "dripping , " to which some object ,

that impression can be made on the stony and the cold . Do not let . any Steward imagine for a moment that his services are appreciated on y in proportion to the result attending them . To " A STK-WAKD WHO HAS SERVED ONCE , " I would say , do not be disheartened ; try atjain—remember that everything must have a beginning . Soil tl at has heen neglected and allowed to remain fallow lor years

cannot be expected to produce a remunerative crop on tho first attempt at culture , but with continued attention aud treatmnt it will be found to amply repay the pain and labour bestowed upon it . Seventeen years ago the vineyard in which for that period it has been my lot to toil was in an exceedingly unpromising condition . I , and I hope I may say others , are perfectly satisfied with it now . I have no

wi .-h to indulge in egotism , but I feel that I may state that earnestnessand perseverance not only subdued difficulties , but begat sympathy which speedily developed into practical support . More need hardly be added , I trust , to encourage the weak-hearted , or to influence the waverers ; still less to induce those who have once placed their hands on the plough not to turn back . Thero is enormous

work yet to be done , and I havb every hope that doers will be found who , through good report and ill report , will trnstfnlly and hopefully tread the path of duty , undeterred by coldness , ridicule or neglect , even though their reward assume no higher proportions than the gratifying testimony of their own consciences . I connot omit a few words in reference to the letters of your

correspondents " ALPHA and " P . T . " I am considerably pleased by tho perusal of any communications on the very important subject on which we are expressing our views and opinions , but I wish to avoid controversy . Where so many are interested ard concerned it is more than idle to look for nnanimity . My object has been , and is , to

treat the questions connected with " Charity Stewards ' - ' iu a fairly exhaustive manner , from my point of vino , which regards the present f-ysiem as the best , as one productive of the L < reatest , benefit to onr Institutions , and which , while profiting hy the anlnons services of Stewards , secures to those brethren privileges aud distinctions . These may , or may not , he prudently extended , and details may possibly be

Correspondence.

capable of improvement . My observations are here , of course , limited in this application to the " Anniversary Festivals , " and iu no way have a bearing on any scheme for a further and fuller support of our Institutions , on which I may trouble you hereafter . " ALPHA " charges me with being sharp on your correspondent

" A STEWARD wno nAS SERVED ONCE . " To any such intention I utterly demur ; and in this particular , and in others , " ALPHA " appears 'o me to justify the description of " hyporcriticism " attaohed to his letter by "P . T ., " whose tone is , in my humble judgment , preferable to that of " ALPHA . " I do not say this because " P . T . " writes

somewhat approvingly of my poor efforts , and I may be but a poor judge in my own case , as is the wont of most men . Yonr number of 31 st ult . I regret to say I have not by me at this present writing , and therefore am unable to refer to the letter of " INVICTA , " which , however , shall have from me tho attention it doubtless deserves .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Youra faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES . London , 7 th October 1878 .

Disposal Of Lodge Funds.

DISPOSAL OF LODGE FUNDS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHEB , —In tho third balance sheet I have the pleasure of forwarding you there is one matter I should like to direct attention to . Tho first item of expenditure I summarise as " Refresh , ment and Rent . " The latter of theso items represents £ 24 3 s of the

whole , and thereforo loaves £ 227 4 s 7 d as the actual amount spent on refreshment . Now , in my opinion , theso two items should be reckoned together in order to put this balanco sheet on a similar footing to those already published , for it is very certain that in both those cases payment had to be mado for accommodation , although ifc

may not appear as a special item in the balance sheet ; it can hardly be expected that the various hotels , at which the bulk of the Lodges meet , provide rooms for the gatherings without charge ; but it is evident they mnst so regulate their prices for wines , suppers , & c , as to leave a margin sufficient to cover rent , gas , & c . In the case of

this Lodge , the meetings of which aro held at ono of the Masonic Halls , where the mombers have a wine cellar of their own , it may be assnmed that tho amount thus saved is considered an equivalent for the charge for use of apartments . For this reason I think I am justified in combining the two amounts .

No . 3 . BALANCE SHEET OF LODGE . ONE YEAR—1877-8 : — RECEIPTS . Balance forward £ 85 G 6 Receipts for the year : — Subscriptions and Visitors 194 10 6 Initiation Fees ... i ) 9 15 0

294 5 6 £ 379 12 0

EXPENDITURE . Refreshment and Rent £ 251 7 7 Grand Lodge certificates a , nd dues R 2 11 6 P . M . ' s jewel 10 10 0 Tyler 4 0 0 Printing , postages , & c 15 8 3 Balance in hand 35 14 8

£ 379 12 0 To the above balance sheet is added a report by the auditors , who therein direct attention to the omission of any grant to the Masonio Charities appearing iu the accounts , and they state that a sum had been voted by the Lodge , but the minute referring thereto not bavin "

been confirmed , it was considered undesirable it should appear in the balance sheet . I think it would be rather difficult to find the "balance" if anything like a fair sum in proportion to the receipts bad been voted , but 1 suppose tho members considered they did their duty by giving about ten guineas . Even if they only

gave that amount , the result of the year ' s work shows very badly . For a Lodge to start with a balance of £ 85 and leave off . with £ 25 is , in my opinion , simply disgraceful , unless some calamity can be addncod as the cause ; but in this case the fault is nothing more nor less than wasteful extravagance . The members

spent £ 250 , that is , £ 50 above their surplus receipts , on refreshment , and yet they hope to rauk as a Masonic Lodge . This statement certainly does not do much to remove the charge made b y Bro . Dick Radclyffe ajainst our Lodges , and tbe further I look into the matter , the more I am convined that his remarks were far too mild . The

facts , us far as I have gone , lead me to believe that Freemasonry in many cases means but extravagant expenditure of money on eating and drinking . All I cau hope is , that some brother will come forward

and put a different complexion on this subject , as I really dread to think what the total spent by English Lodges on refreshment will come to , if instances cannot be found directl y opposite to those I have particulars of , a 3 regards the proportion of refreshment

expenses . Yours fraternall y , UNION JACK .

To the Editor of the FKEEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — " UNION JACK ' S" last statement of ac-: ount is a decided improvement on the previous one , but there is a wide