Outside Calls On Masonic Liberality

and dear to ns as Freemasons who wanted food for their bodies mneh more than a chosen few wanted food for their eyes , and accordingly T was uncharitable enongh to oppose tho vote . A discussion ensued , and ultimately the proposition was withdrawn . I thus saved the expenditure of five gnineas from our Lodge funds , but I fear there

are some of our number who even now regard tho saving as evidence of meanness . I hope your remarks will convince them to the contrary , and that they will come to regard my action as tho right one

to be pursned under such circumstances . So long as we have distress unrelieved within tho portals of Freemasonry T maintain we are wrong in spending Lodge fnnd 3 for purposes outside the limits of the Order . I am , yours fraternally , Zivm .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I do not romomber having seen any thing more impolitic in your colnmns than the article in which yon recommend that Freemasons should confine their benevolence to Masonry alone , and I trnst the advice yon offer may be disregarded ,

as I feel it should be . What can be more opposed to tho true spirit of Masonry than to ignore all outside calls , no matter how worthy of support they may be ? There are vory many applications which we should do well to listen to , and relievo to the best of our ability , and if this were done even to a greater extent than has been done

in the past , I feel sure wo should bo thought even befcfter of onfside the limits of Freemasonry than wo aro to-day . I look upou every grant made to general charities as so much money spent in extending the good opinion of Freemasonry , or , in other words , of making its charitable principles known to outsider * . I very much question

if we do not owe the the advent of many of our present members to some one or other of the grants made in response to calls from other than the recognised Masonic Charities . Outsiders see and admire the principles of a society which extends relief to those

outside its circle , and seek admission to its ranks . Would you stop this method of doing good for Masonry altogether ? Would yon any to Grand , Provincial , and to Private Lodges , thus far shalt thou so , and no farther ? Would you lay down a hard and fast line beyond which it should be illegal to go ?

If yon answer all these questions in the affirmative , as your article won Id lead me to suppose , you would do a great injury to the principles of Masonry , and you would do a great injnstice to worth y causes , the snpportors of which reasonably look to Freemasons for same little assistance in carrying on their work . I am , yours fraternally , X . Y . A .

The Boys' Institution.

THE BOYS' INSTITUTION .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —An opportunity now presents itself wlv ' ch I hope your readers and the Cr . ift generally will be quick to avail themselves of , as it is one of those opportunities which occur but once in a lifetime—I may almost say , once in all time . It is

none other than tho chance of rendering the establishment of th < Roys' School perfect in every detail , at an estimated cost of from £ 1 , 500 to £ 2 , 000 . I quote from tho official programme of the meeting at Wood Green on tho 11 th , which says , "The onl y further expenditure necessitated to render the establishment perfect

in every detail is that for n Swimming Bath—tho desirability of such addition being universally recognised—for which the amount , reqnired may he estimated at from £ 1 , 500 to £ 2 000 . " Hero follows the signature of that most energetic Secretary Bro . Frederick Binckes , so that I supposo the statement

has the approval of that , worthy brother . I think it is somewhat novel for him to say the Institution has reached the "summit of his ambition , " or that it is even within £ 1 , 500 or £ 2 , 000 of that much to be desired goal , and I feel that the perfection hero spoken of will be but of short duration . However , it is not my present

purpose to ridicule , but rather to snpport him and tho executive of the Institution in their desire to add a swimming bath to the possessions at Wood Green , and I think it will be recognized that with such a number of boys as are housed in tho buildings

there a bath is essential . Onr hoys should be taught swimming , and the first step in such a direction is tho construction of a bath . This Bro . Binckes tells us can be accomplished at an outlay of loss than £ 2 , 000 , and I hope it will not be long before that amount is forthcoming and tho work started upon . Yours fraternally , A LIFE GOVERNOR .

The Accommodation For Grand Chapter.

THE ACCOMMODATION FOR GRAND CHAPTER .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SHI AND BROTHER . —I know of no means , except that offered by the Masonic journals , of expressing my approval of the action decided upon in r ^ umd to providing more accommodation for the regular meetings of Grand Chapter , and perhaps ifc may be asked why

I should trouble you with these words of approval . I hold that all of us , from the highest downwards , like to know that our deeds meet the approval of those who are affected by them , and as it is not

possible for all to express their approval by word of month , other means must be adopted . I , and I may say most , if not all of the companions of my Chapter , agree with tho decision arrived at on this subject , and it in principally because we believe the steps taken will

The Accommodation For Grand Chapter.

add to the dignity of Royal Arch Masonry that we do so agree A great deal depends on tho surroundings of important meetings Impressive ceremonies lose much of their charm if th ° y cannot be conducted without confusion , and lack of accommodation is one of the most prolific canse 3 of confusion it is possible to imagine . The

remark of Comp . Bnfcler Wilkins that , many more Companions wonld attend Grand Chapter if tho meetings were held in tho Temple is , I believe , very tine , as the surroundings of that splendid hall create such an impression as must engender respect and reverence . It is

the Temple of Freemasonry , and has attractions as snch which appeal to the heart of true and worthy Craftsmen , so that altogether I believe the contemplated change will be in every way of advantage to the Order . Yours fraternally , ROYAL ARCH .

Employment Bureau.

EMPLOYMENT BUREAU .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —While I admit that much might be done among Freemasons towards finding employment for brethren at present seeking it , I fear that the establishment of an employment bureau , such ns suggested by your correspondent " WATCHMAN , "

would he productive of evil rather than good . It would perhaps do good for a very few , but it wonld do evil to the whole bor y of Freemasons , inasmuch as it would bring discredit on tho Order . Resides , I think it wonld be wholly opposed to the principles of Freemasonry , which are , or shonld be , uninfluenced by

mercenary or any other unworthy motives . Yon may , perhaps , ask what is there mercenary or unworthy abont finding an unemployed brother a situation , and I admit it would be very difficult to prove anything , but as soon as anything like organised trade recommendation is attempted , I think we should have evidence ifc was likely to

engender feelings both mercenary and unworthy . Freemasonry , we are told , is not a benefit Society , and nucil it is decided to reorganise it so ns to render it one , I feel it is best to avoid official interference on behalf of unemployed brethren . If an employment bnreau is to be anything more than a name , ifc

will have to bo officially recognised , and if once recognised it will be the means of attracting men who are in sit nations of a temporary , or at least uncertain character , and if once that happens there is no knowing what evils may follow . I should very mnoh like to be able

to point to some method of relieving the great distress which must exist in our midst in consequence of lack of employment , but I cannot recommend that Freemasonry shonld descend to the level of maintaining an official registry office . Yours fraternally , A FREEMASON PURE AND SIMPLE .

Masonic Influences Affecting Character.

MASONIC INFLUENCES AFFECTING CHARACTER .

Oration delivered on the occasion of dedicating the neTV Masonic apartments in the city of Pall River , Massachusetts , by Bro . Rev . Mariyn Suramerbell : — LADIES AND BROTHER MASONS , —Ifc is to us a rnre festival , this , which brings ns together for the dedication of this Masonic Temole ,

—rare , because it is so seldom our pleasure that the penetralia , of our secret labyrinths are illumined with such a galaxy of feminine grace and loveliness ; and rare again , since now , for the first time in the -dxty years since tho M . W . Grand Lodge chartered a subordinate Lodge in this jurisdiction , Masonry can claim a distinctively Masonic

home tinder exclusively Masonic ownership . Enjoying this high privilege , as we survey tho faces of sisters , daughters , and wires of brother Masons , we do not forget what encouragement to onr enterprise was given in its inception by the kindly action of a noble lady , whose name will long be linked with

the moral aid educational interests of the city—Mrs . Mary A . Young —who made it possible for ns to utilize this site by kindly placing it at onr disposal , and on most generons terms . In the exultation attending the delightful consummation of our hopes , the Lodges have invited yon to share these festivities ; have

thrown open the inner adyta of Masonic seclusion to your inspection ; and have placed the present speaker on this platform to disclose to you all tho secrets of Freemasonry which Masons incline to impart to an over-curious world . We to-night cordially invito you to enjoy everything yon can enjoy ,

and we wish you to feel thoroughly welcome to see everything , from collar to garret , that , can be seeu ; and to treasure , in a sympathetic remembrance , all the occult allusions , or direful secrecies , or abominable mysteries , which , inadvertently or otherwise , your speaker may call to your attention ,

In the course of yonr tour of inspection yon will hardly proceed to a great , distance before observing that the appearance and structure of this edifice , and the peculiarities of its internal arrangement , mark it as devoted to special uses . Ifc will bo quite impossible to associate with it in thought tiie peaceful joys of domestic life , the activities of

trade , the frivolities of the giddy , or the exclusive privileges of the Sabbath sanctuary . Through all , and in all , runs a thread of controlling purpose , speaks a silent voice of lines , and projections , and contours , declaring it apart from all other buildings among which it

stands . Reading , iu its form and outline , a mystic language , as its inter pretur , I invito you ! o remark that ifc embodies four several pn ' u cip loy , which 1 may designate au : —