More Charity Needed.

the genius , inspi » ation , and origin of Freemasonry . How fow there aro who understand them , how small is the interest taken in them . This is accounted for iu no small measure by the lack of libraries , by tho cost of procuring necessary information , ancl by the solid character of the study . I can quite understand a profound knowledge of the Craft is not to be expected among the many , and

only the few have the time and inclination fco work oat for themselves the grandeur of the philosophy of the Order , and to solve the subtleties of meaning and of history that crowd the ceremonies . There aro few , however , who could not digest a lighter food , and it is jnst this food that journals like the CHRONICLE afford . It is a register of current events ; ifc gives a digest of work done , and records the

economic policy of tho Institntion . In addition , the CHRONICLE popularises abstruse works , picks out their salient features , and presents them in a form easily understood . It gives extracts from other publications—native and foreign—analyzes reports that are sometimes long , involved and weary , and gives a free platform to every brother . I need not particularise other features , and think

I have fairly summarised them . I ask tho brethren to try and realise all the labour and expense that tho work done by the CHRONICLE involves . When they have done that , I ask them further if a little more charity is nofc needed in the way of appreciation and support ? It should be remembered that a Masonic journal cannot go outside of the Craft for help ; even if it could , it would not be

prudent to do so . I believe thero are what are termed general newspapers that do report Lodge meetings and otherwise deal with Masonic subjects , but whether tbey have the requisite sanction or not I do nofc pretend to say . My experience leads me to the conclusion that tbey have not and even if they had the practice , ought not to be encouraged . The authorised journals devoted exclusively

to the Craffc cannot enter into competition with them in general news , and mongrel papers ought not to be permitted to deal with matters that are essentially the property of special journals . Tbe clear duty , as I take it , is for Masons to support their own papers . The result would be a mutual gain , the cultivation of valuable know , ledge and the development of a purer ancl a nobler spirit . I want to

see more earnestness in the Craft , less ignorance ancl selfishness , and a higher regard for the essence of things . These ends can only be obtained by widening the sources of information , by protecting and supporting those sources when they are provided . While pleading for the Masonic press , I am also pleading for the whole body , and where the object is mutual and ennobling , I cannot be wrong in demanding a little charity in the direction I have pointed out . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , I . P . M .

Norfolk And " Our Boys."

NORFOLK AND " OUR BOYS . "

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIB . AND BROTHER , —An old aphorism has it that " comparisons are odious , " not odorous , Mr . Editor , as Mrs . Malaprop would have it . Doubtless they are offensive when spitefully instituted , but I can imagine nothing more beneficial when comparisons are made to wako up dormant charity , and to stimulate brethren to

become worthy of themselves and the institutions to which they belong . Now , Sir , looking at tho list of subscriptions for tho Boys ' School , tho analysis of which has engaged so much of yonr time and attention ; I find Norfolk ranks lasfc but one , with the paltry sum of £ 26 5 s , and this , too , in fche face of a special appeal , which has worked such wonderful results in mosfc other Provinces . How is this ? I

know some of the Norfolk brethren ; I have visited their Lodges and , judging from my reception , from the spirit that seemed to prevail , Tcertainly was not prepared for such a small outcome of largo pretensions . I am not in possession of facts with regard to what they have done on other occasions , and for other branches of tho charitable work of the Order : perhaps they have done so much in

the immediate past that they can now rest on their oars . I trust that it is so , and would gladly believe ifc . I have heard of individual cases in which a noble spirit of generosity has been displayed ; bnt these relate to those who are closely associated with them , and would have the claims of friendship to back them . What seems strange , to me is , thafc a county like Norfolk—with its traditions , with

its number of Lodges , with a personal friend of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England as Provincial Grand Master—should be so far behind other Provinces in responding to a special appeal made to them . I do not wish to judge harshly , but tlie position of Norfolk is so anomalous , so opposed to the just expectations I had formed , that I deem it my duty to call attention to what appears to me to be

a great failure of Masonic spirit , the first essential of which is Charity . Suffolk , tho adjoining Province , is rather higher than midway on the list ; even Essex far outstrips Norfolk . It is true that Cambrid ge does not appear to figure at all , and , so far , Norfolk has the advantage ; but speaking of the many good men I know belonging to the Craft , their position certainly does not correspond with the

pretensions of a few who , I fear , have ruled too long . With all the good qualities of the Norfolk brethren , I noticed in some particulars they were more given to the observance of the letter than of the spirit of Freem asonry # The letter killctb , but the spirit givcth life . Possibly this fault I have pointed out may account for what appears to be a lack of interest . The observance of forma may bo carried too far , red-tapeiam leads to coldness aud indifference , aud possibly thafc is

< -ne condition of the Lodges in some parts of tlio Province . Whatever may be the cause , I am certain I shall be doing good service if can succeed in stirring up the brethren in Norfolk " . Why , Sir , the Jjod ges in Norwich alone ought , to have redeemed the Province from its humiliating position . 1 believe they would have done so if they Sad been properly appealed to . Tho Lodges in tho city are numerous , and contain some wealthy men , who are not regarded as stingy iu other relations of life . A knowledge of this fact makes me wonder

Norfolk And " Our Boys."

tho more , and induces mo to strive to awaken a better spirit than seems to tint ! exercise at present . I know ifc < xisfcs , and if properly worked will act with no uncertain result . Yours fraternally , QCIP .

A meeting of the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was hold at Freemasons ' Hall , on Saturday last , Brother A . F . Godson presiding . There were also present the following brethren : Raynham W . Stewart , Dr . Ramsay , D . Crombie , J . L . Mather , A .

Williams , J . B . Sorrell , 0 . F . Matier , J . M . P . Montagu , W . H . Saunders , Frederick Adlard , George Cooper , H . Goodall , G . P . Festa , George Skeggs , A . M . Broadley , and E . C . Massey . "When the minutes of the General

Committee of the 2 nd June , nnd those of the House Committee of 29 th June , had been read , Bro . Raynham Stewart , referring to a recommendation of the House Committee , gave notice of the following motion to he brought forward at the Quarterly Court : —

Thafc in accordance with tho recommendation of fcho House Comraifctea the sum of 100 guineas be handed to Miss Elizabeth Hall , now in tho 20 th year of her office as Matron , and in consideration of her valuable services during the outbreak of scarlet fever in the School last year .

Brother Binckes asked , and obtained sanction for the investment of an additional £ 2 , 000 in India four per cents , on account of the Building Fund . There were eleven petitions considered , of which two were deferred for farther information—nine names being added to the list of

candidates . There ai * o now sixty-four candidates , and twenty vacancies to be filled at next election . An application was submitted from the mother of E . G . "W . Taylor , a pupil about to leave the School , and Bro . Montagu , who attended from the Council of the 33 ° , said that it was proposed , in

accordance with the desire of the boy himself , who was desirous of adopting his late father ' s business , to place him for a term of three years with Bro . Sugg ' s firm , gas engineers , and the Council of the 33 ° had made a grant of - £ 60 , to be paid in three annual instalments . That ,

however , would do little more than pay Bro . Sugg ( who provided his employes with a good dinner daily at one shilling per head ) for the lad ' s expenses under this head , ancl as the mother would have to provide him with clothes ,

and other necessaries , the Council deputed him to ask the Committee if they would supplement the Council ' s grant , as the power of the relatives to render farther assistance was now exhausted . On the motion of Bro . Matier it was

resolved to grant a sum of £ 10 , to bo handed to the Supreme Council , to bo disposed of as might be arranged between Bro . Montagu and Bro . Binckes . A grant of £ 20 was made towards procuring an outfit for Keddell ( another boy leaving the School ) who was going to sea .

Three other former pupils , whose employers had sent favourable reports of their conduct , received grants of £ 5 each .

The question of electing an additional Trustee waa deferred . Bro . Binckes reported that the amount announced by the Stewards of the recent Festival now amounted to £ 23 . 050 .

The following notices of motion were then given by Bro Raynham Stewart : — Thafc , having regard to the unprecedented success of the recent Festival , which involved nnusnal and excessive labour , the sum of £ 250 be handed to the Secretary , Bro . Binrkes , who has now

completed twenty-two years' service . That in consequence of the largely increased office duties , tho Secretary clo receive a salary of £ 125 per annum in addition to his nrnsptih snl-irv fnr ( alio -cum-a 1 RS 3 find 1 SSI , mirl Urn ntnrl- o — Mv .. ^ t ~^^ . . . . . . j ^^ ^ ww i ¦«

r . ^ j . ,, u j w .., ..... ,.,.., ...... ... .. * salary of £ 25 in addition to his salary for the same yeard ; to bo paid out of tho interest on the capital stock invested on behalf of the " Special Preparatory Building Fund . "

The Installation Meeting of the Hig h Cross Lodge of Mark Master Masons , ' No . 284 , was held at the " Seven Sisters' " Hotel , Page Green , Tottenham , on Wednesday last , when a large gathering of Grand Officers and other brethren attended . Bro . H . V . Clements retired from the

position of W . M ., and Bro . E . G . Lewis was installed W . M . for the ensuing year . A full report of this interesting meeting will appear in our next .