Benevolent Institution. Proposed Alterations In Rules

and various other matters , we can understand it would be a fair investment , but with all the uncertainties and restrictions of a Charitable Institution , we should regard it as a most injudicious one . We

o-o even further—if a man was so stupid as to risk it , we think he should be encouraged with the possibility of certain success , if he lived long enough , and was than in need of the annuity .

The next alteration is a further development of the limit of outside income question . If an annuitant becomes possessed of an income of £ 32 per annum , independently of his annuity , the Committee will now

have the power to reduce or suspend his annuity ( the former limit was £ 40 ) . This we consider fair . Bule IX . is to be altered in various ways . The widow must have been married to a male annuitant " seven " years ( former Rule V . ) before she can hope

to receive the half pension , and to this , in future , she " may" be entitled , instead of formerly " shall ** be entitled . This makes a great difference . Under the old rule every widow who was qualified by age , & e . iio . fl t . n lip . voted the half pension , no matter how

undeserving of help she might be , now the matter is left to the discretion of the Institution . Widows who may secure this half pension are in future to receive it . for five years instead of three , but as mentioned by

a correspondent in our present issue , it would be well to consider the advisability of making the half pension permanent in the hope that widows would prefer that to entailing the trouble and expense of a contest for the full allowance .

The meeting of Wednesday was next called upon to consider the following : to " Omit the whole of Paile I ., Qualifications for Widow's' Fund , and substitute the following : —

1 . No widow shall be eligible under the age of 60 years . Nor nnless her last husband was qualified in accordance with Law 1 , Male Fund . She must have been married to him for at loasfc seven years ; and if the widow of an Annuitant , the marriage must have taken place live years at least previously to the presentation of her

husband ' s petition . Subject to these qualifications a Widow shall be eligible to be accepted as a candidate at an earlier age , if suffering from blindness , paralysis , or other affliction certified by two medical men , which in the opinion of the Committee shall permanently incapacitate her from earning a livelihood .

Objection was here taken to the adoption of the word " last" husband , in lieu of "late husband , " as it has previously stood , and without a doubt the objectors have good grounds for their opposition . The widow of a Mason who has subscribed to a Lodge for fifteen

years cannot marry a second time much under the age of 50 years , and even if the second marriage proves a success—and , as one brother put it , marriage is much of a lottery—there is no reason why the forethought of her first husband should be nullified by

an attempt on her part to better her circumstances . At the age of sixty the old lady finds herself m need , and she has a perfect right to appeal to the Brother Masons of her first husband for what little

ueip they can afford her , regardless oi the fact that possibly in her desire to relieve them of responsibility , she married a second time , and a few years afterwards round herself again a widow . There was considerable discussion on this point , a little banter , and

eventually the proposal was carried by 23 to 4 , an evidence ot weakness of mind , we are inclined to think , on the part of some wll 0 felt differently to the way they voted . « i + iP ex * P P osal was another instance of altering ¦ nusoand

•»»« to " last , " and then the meeting was asked to agree to the same rule for the widows m vegard to votes for past support as was carried for J ie Male Fund . This was agreed to , and a vote of tuanks having been passed to the chairman the proceedings were concluded . whole work

nvf ? ^ J ^ w ^ g the of the meeting , we < ue more than ever impressed with the feeling that ? Jumbled allowed their desire to drive candidates j-way to overrule calm judgment and fair consideran ' ^ ™ aps the amendments will be approved by

Benevolent Institution. Proposed Alterations In Rules

Grand Lodge , and carried into effect , but we cannot imagine them ever proving beneficial to the Charity . In a few years time we shall expect to hear that some

oi their strongest advocates at tne present time nave formed a different view of the various points we have touched upon , and they may even regret having taken part in passing such severe and harsh regulations .

Masonic Reprints, No. 2076.

MASONIC REPRINTS , No . 2076 .

BY BRO . W . J . Hi * - . WAX . I WAS very pleased io read tho appreciative notice of the reproduction of the " Booh of Consli'ntkms A . D 1738 , " which has jasfc been issued by Lodge No . 207 G , especially as the article ia written by the veteran Masonic Historian , Bro . Gould .

As be truly -declares , " No reprint of a Masonic book waa more imperatively demanded than the one under review , and it now sees tho light under circumstances which leave nothing to be desired . * " For half-a-gainea , the

everincreasing circle of Masonic students can now obtain au exact facsimile of the " oasis of Masonic History , " whereas many pounds would be necessary to secure a copy of the rare aud precious original , of which only a few are known , and fewer still ever occur for sale .

It seems extraordinary that this is the first re . tssue of the Constitutions of 1738 , in this country , aud also the first facsimile ever produced anywhere . Bro . Speth , as Editor , is always at home in such matters , and , as Bro . Gould

acknowledges , tho fidelity of the text has been assured by his watchful care . In fact without Bro . Speth ' s invaluable services on behalf of our Lodge " Quatuor Coronati , " I really do not see how we could possibly have undertaken such labours .

Bro . Gould's observations relative to Dr . Anderson are very interesting , and form an additional introduction , so to speak , to mine , on the same subject viewed from a different standpoint . He considers that Dr . Anderson was not

connected with the Grand Lodge prior to 1721 , and also that before 1717 , in Scotland , the Masonic grades were " Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft or Master , " those for England being " Apprentice and Fellow or Master . " Bro . Gould also makes the remarkable admission that " In

England , there are reasons for supposing tbat there may have been two degrees or distinct ceremonies from comparatively early times , " and that a " Master's part , distinct from the formulary of initation , or firsfc admission , mnst have existed before the termination of ancient masonry , in 1717 . "

I do nofc mention these points of vital importance because my researches do not tend in that direction , but simply to illustrate the suggestive character of Bro . Gould ' s article , and how needful ifc is tbat the numerous opinions he notes should receive all the examination and study they so well deserve .

We are not ground according to one pattern in Lodge No . 2076 , bnt each member , whilst preserving his utmost freedom , is ready to , and does unite for the general good . It will be found that Bro . Gould and so Bro . Speth differ

from myself as respects esoteric ceremonies of the Craffc prior to A . D . 1717 . I believe there was but one ; but they favour two . Some think three . Out of these diversities , we shall doubtless , in due time , arrive at a satisfactory conclusion . There is no hurry . Let all work together .

At a meeting of the Coleridge Lodge , No . 1750 , at , the Masonic Kooms , Public Hall , Clovedon , it v « as stated that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Somerset will hold ita next annual meeting in that town . A committee to make the necessary arrangements was appointed .

The Duke of Fife Lodge , No . 2345 , will meet on Wednesday , 21 st inst ., at the Alexandra Hotel , Clapham Common , S . W ., Bro . S . Cochrane P . M . I . P . M . 3 W . M .

Atf " ALL-EOUND MAN . " — " Barny" Barnato , one of the mining kings of Sonth Africa , senior member of Parliament for Kiraberley , aud monarch of the Johannesburg Mining Exchange , ia in London , on a holiday . Bro . Barnato is still a young man , an athlete , an orator , a member of the Joppa Lodge , and—it is said—worth three millions .