Correspondence.

Book of Constitntions having run ont , there are at least 2000 copies on hand . Still , as the annual sale is about 6000 , 1 suppose Bro . Fonn considered 2000 as a mere nothing , or he was unaware of the fact .

IS MASONRY REALLY FLOURISHING ?

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —According to promise I send you a tabular statement which I think will prove satisfactory to your readers , and show that Freemasonry is really flourishing . Before doing so , however , let me express my thanks for the assistance I received from the Secretaries and staffat the offices of the three Institutions . I have carefully gone through the official reports for the last

seven years . Had fche financial statements of the Boys and Girls been ready for this year , the result would have been still better , but as it is , I think the success of Freemasonry is marvellous ; indeed , I believe it is a long way better off than any similar society . If we take into consideration fche average receipts the three Institutions have received we find the enormous income of nearly £ 47 , 000 per annum . The Girls head the list , as under : — Year Amount received Pupils JB s a

1875 13 , 360 7 1 152 1876 13 , 705 2 10 161 1877 17 , 636 10 1 189 1878 20 , 202 17 1 200 1879 13 , 911 0 1 204 1880 19 , 433 16 11 228 1881 14 , 388 3 3 231

Total for 7 years 112 , 637 17 4 Increase " i * g Average per year 16 , 091 2 4 f of pupils j The Boys next : — Year Amount received Pupils find

1875 13 , 246 9 0 181 1876 16 , 990 6 6 186 1877 16 , 782 0 1 211 1878 15 , 292 14 5 215 1879 14 , 480 14 6 217 1880 17 , 016 14 6 218 1881 14 , 235 5 7 218

Total for 7 years 107 , 995 4 7 Increase ) * Average per year 15 , 427 17 9 f of pupils j Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons : — Year Amount received Annuitants Annuities Male Female £ s d £ £

1875 10 , 099 0 1 208 36 28 1876 11 , 907 6 9 240 40 32 1877 14 , 328 6 8 270 40 32 1878 15 , 143 8 2 280 40 32 IS ?? , 15-9 . 90 4 9 290 40 32

1880 20 , 202 6 2 305 40 32 1881 20 , 135 16 8 315 40 32 Total for 7 years 107 , 106 9 3 Increase of 1 Q 7 Average per year 15 , 300 18 5 f Annuitants The financial year of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution

ends in March of each year . I could have shown a very much larger average , as the handsome receipt for this year was £ 18 , 336 8 s 5 d , but as the two other Institutions make their annual statements np to the end of the year , it would not have been a fair estimate , but the above Tables show that not only are tho finances in a most healthy state , but thafc during the seven years the annuitants have increased by

107 , the Girls by 79 , and the Boys by 37 , making a total increase of 223 . so thafc we are now supporting 764 as against 541 in 1875 ; in addition to the large staff necessary for carrying on tho work . I have now materially strengthened the argument in my former letter . Long may this noble work continue , and may its shadow never grow less . If what I have written shonld prove interesting to yonr readers , and beneficial to the Order in general , I shall be amply repaid for any

trouble I have taken in collating fche figures and facts . I had nearly forgotten to call attention to the fact that not only have the number of the annuitants increased , but their annuities also , and tho brethren hare likewise been enabled to evince their sense of the untiring assiduity and zeal the respective Secretaries and their assistants have displayed in furthering the interests of theso Institutions by substantial acknowledgments . I remain , yours fraternally , P . M . 1607 .

THE PROPOSED PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR BOYS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —Although as yon pointed out in your leading article last week , on the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , Bro . Budden ' s proposition in reference to the Grand Lodge ' s

contributions to the Scholastic Institutions fell through , it ia well thafc the subject shonld not entirely be lost sight of . As you observe , the Committee have already invested a lump sum of £ 1 , 000 from Ine Special Fund which has been contributed towards tbe Boys' Prepare , iory School ; and in all probability sufficient means will , in coarse of

Correspondence.

time , be forthcoming to erect the building , the advantage and utility of which is universally admitted . We aro all aware the scheme has not been entered upon hastily . But the question arises whether , if sufficient funds are raised to build the School where are we to find the additional £ 3 , 000 per annum which will be required to manage the Institution ?

According to the prospectus , any present Life Governor of the General Fund , or any donor who may qualify up to the 31 sfc December 1883 , will receive 2 votes , instead of one , for life , for every five guineas contributed to the Special Fund ; and thafc Lodges , Chapters , Ac ., similarly qualified may secure two votes , instead of one , for every ten guineas to the same Fu id . In that case will not men say they

will go in for the Preparatory School instead of the parent Insti . tution , because they will thus double the nnmber of their votes ? They might say , " I can give a hundred guineas now to the Boys' School proper , but with fche special privileges offered I shall transfer my contribution to the new School . " In such a case will not the parent Institution suffer , and the funds which should naturally flow to it be

diverted into the channel for the support of the new Preparatory School ? If this be done to any extent , would ifc nofc drain and weaken the parent Institution , and tend to bring it into a state of aollapse P I do nofc wish to be an alarmist , bnt ifc is desirable that all fche oir . cumstances should be fully considered before fche matter is carried

any further . If I recollect rightly , Grand Lodge made a grant towards the buiding of the present Boys' School , thongh I do not for the moment recollect the amonnt , bufc considering the state of tbeir funds afc tbe present time , ifc might be well considered whether they would not be doing good service by contributing largely , even up to

the full amonnt of the £ 2 , 000 mentioned by you last week , in promot . ing the interests of the new scheme , when no doubt the action would bo seconded and supported by tho Craffc generally , with that liberality whioh always characterises it . Ifc wonld also strengthen the hands of the executive , and enable them to make an energetic start without any apprehension as to their future position .

I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yonrs fraternally , AN OLD BOT 17 th September 1882 .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution met on Wednesday , at Freemasons ' Hall . Thero were present Bros . Dr . Jabez Hogg P . G . D . ( in the chair ) , Charles John Perceval , C . A . Cottebrune , John Sampson Peirce , Frederick Adlard , James Brett ,

Robert P . Tate , Edgar Bowyer , A . H . Tattershall , J . M . Case , H . Massey , Thomas Cubitt , G . L . Moore , J . E . Gordon Robbins , and James Terry ( Secretary ) . The minutes having been read and confirmed , Bro . Terry reported that , at the last Quarterly Communication of

Grand Lodge the grant of £ 800 a year to this Institution was confirmed , and he had hoped he should have received before the meeting of the Committee a cheque for the first quarter's instalment of the grant . Bro . Terry next reported that five of the annuitants had died . The

Committee granted to the representatives of some deceased annuitants the current quarter ' s annuity , where the annuitants had died a day or so before the quarter ' s annuity was payable . The Committee also voted half their late husbands' annuities to the widows of two deceased

brethren . Authority was giveu to transfer to the current account £ 500 , part of £ 2 , 500 at interest on deposit at the London and Westminster Bank . Two petitions were received and examined , and the petitioners placed on the

list for election next May , and it was afterwards resolved to paint the Institution and central hail , at Croydon , at a cost not exceeding £ 250 , next spring . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

A considerable amount of sympathy will be felt towards Bro . Montem Smith and Mrs . Smith , who within the last few weeks have lost two children , the younger , who was but eleven months old , dying on the 4 th instant , and the elder , who was little more than two years of age , on the 6 th instant . Bro . and Mrs . Smith have our sincere

condolence m their very painful aflhetton . Bro . Sims Reeves is still in North Wales , and has recently been on a visit to Canon Tarver , at Chester .

Bro . Major Terry , correspondent of the Army and Navy Gazette , in Egypt , had his horse shot under him last week .

Bro . Sir John Whittaker Ellis , Bart ., Lord Mayor , and Junior Grand Warden of England , has been invited by the Mayor of Liverpool to a banquet in that town . His lordship , however , owing to his numerous engagements , has been unable to accept the invitation .