Renumbering Of Lodges.

Friendly Societies , such as the Odd Fellows , Foresters , & o ., to parade figures before the world , to show their numerical and financial Strength , bnt Freemasonry needs none of such oatentation . I am proud of the name and number of my own Lodge , and should regard it as little short of a calamity if the figures I have so often

acknowledged at the close of Lodge meetinga I have attended were altered in any shape or form . I have now been a member of th > Craft over twenty years , and I confess to a glow of loyal pride when I see in the columns of your admirably-conducted journal—which I never fail to read with pleasure—the mention of the name and

nnmber of my mother Lodge . Every Mason who has a filial regard for the Lodge in whioh he first derived the germs of Masonio truth , must , I feel convinced , share with me in similar emotions , and would deplore any innovation which would deprive him of the smallest particle of those happy associations whioh cling around the memories of his

" firat love . " I fail to see any result of the snggeated change , except aa some of your correspondents point out— " confusion worse confounded , " and heartfelt disappointment to thoae whoae fidelity to

the Craft is bonnd np with the earliest associations of their own respective Lodges . However , I have not the slightest fear that any such absurdity would for a moment be sanctioned by the rulera of the Craft , and consequently having had my little aay , remain , Dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , CONTENTED .

Northern Counties Lodge.

NORTHERN COUNTIES LODGE .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Permit me throngh the medium of your paper to remind all brethren who are interested in promoting the

formation in London of a Northern Counties Lodge that the adjourned meeting will be held at 16 * Great Queen-street , at 3 o ' clock on Thursday next , the 23 rd inst . I hope that aa many as can will attend . Yours fraternally , J . S . CUSIBEELAND .

Employment Bureau.

EMPLOYMENT BUREAU .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DBAE SIR AND BROTHER , —I am muoh obliged to " NEMO " for his letter on the above subject in your last issue . Let me assure him that I am too proud of my own child to forget it , and I hope I am prudent enough not to be f >> r ever vaunting its perfections . Still , I

do not forget that a In tie push is needed to urge on even the beat of causes , and as I believe the principle of the scheme I have sngge « te I is both excellent and practicable , I should be glad to see it taken up by those better able to assure success than mvs » lf . lam n > t pledged to detail ? , hut I am more than ever convinced 'hat t- e

circle of Masonic charity wid never be complete nn'il some snch a scheme as I have proposed is adopted . Ir , has been my misfortune to witness the difficulties of struggling Masons , and it has been my painful experience to notice that a brother in England is only sneh when in the Lodge room , or when he happens to b « on a social

equality with those among whom he mixes . It was only the other day I heard a brother talk about the " aristocracy of Ma « onrv . ' ' There is no such thing on the floor of a Lodge . The humble brother to-day may beer me a Master to-morrow , and there is nothing in the Constitution of the Craft to forhid a brother without social rank and

foitune becoming Grand Master of England . Custom has sanctioned the appointment of princes and nobles as rulers in the Order , which has found imitators on a descending scale , bnt in theo-y , in principle , merit and ability still remain the watchwords of promotion . I do not mean to aay , as was said of the French soldier , that

every corporal carried a marshal s baton in bis knapsack , but I do contend for the equality of the brethren in the Crafr . , for the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God , I would pay every re- ^ p-ct to titles ancl honours acquired out of Fre masonry . I obey willngly those that are appointed to role over me within the cordon blu' \ but

I claim a community of right to rule also , provided I can prove my fitness , even were I as poor as was Job . My first contention is , then , for the recognition of the principle of universal brotherhood in Freemasonry . When that principle is understood and honourably realised , then brethren will care for

each other as a natural and imperative doty . That is the higher virtue I am bound to proclaim . But as I cannot expect perfection iu human nature , as the ideal can only be , approximately reached , I propose as the smallest modicnm of duty that every means should be adopted to enable the brethren to help themselves . I believe an

Employment Bureau would do this excellently well . Onr boys and girls are provided for , our old men and women are cared for , the sick , afflicted , and distressed are generously helped ; there ia only one class left out in the cold . I want the brethren to step out of the Lodge-room , to enlarge the boundary of their sympathy , to recognise

the fact that the tie that binds ns is as strong in the factory , in the shop , and at the desk , aa it is in the most gorgeously . appointed Masonic salon . 1 believe it wonld be possible to establish a private agency for Musons onlybnt I shonld deprecate snch a course . The movement

, I would favour must emanate from the cmtre of , and I shonld P ef r it to be confined to members of , the Craft . If taken np with the same spirit that now actuates the movers in our Charities , I am certain that the worthy btother would find hia future bettered , his

nope strengthened , and hia Masonic faith increased . The helpers wonld have the glorious assurance of a good conscience , of duty done , ihe whole body won'd underoro a change purifying in its operation and mighty in beneficence . The whole scheme can be carried out ttitfcoub risking oae farthing of money , indeed , as STsJio points out ,

Employment Bureau.

i t might be made a source of income . Where are the workers who will carry it out ? Where are the men who will earn a lasting memorable name ? I await the answer with hope , with patience even , and with the full assurance of having contributed something to

a purpose worthy of the great brotherhood to which I have the pnda and honour to belong . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , WATCHMAN .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

- — : o : — PHCENIX LODGE , No . 2 . THE installation of Bro . J . E . Buck aa W . M . of the above Lodge for the ensuing vear took place on Monday , the 6 th inst , at

the Masonio Hall , Landport . The ce eraony was very ably performed by Bro . Willmott , the outgoing Master . The W . M . appointed and invested his Officers , aa follow : —Bros . Willmott I . P . M ., J . Westaway S . W ., F . Sanders J . W „ G . Barnden M . O ., J . A . Elvesfeoa S . O .. J . S . Beohervaise J . O .. S . R . Ellia P . M . Treasnrer . H . J . Gnv

P . M . Secretary , Irish-Lloyd Registrar of Marks , W . G . P . Gilbert S . D ., W . E . Learay J . D ., 0 . Cmrtier I . G ., VV . Miles Organist , J . Briokwood Director of Ceremonies , G . Aylward and D . W . Lane Stewards . A the banquet whioh followed th * usual Masonio toasts were duly honoured , and a very pleasant evening was passed .

A Quarterly General Court of the Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held at Freemasons' Hall , London , on Saturday , llth inst , on the general business of the Institution . Bro . H . B . Marshall , O . C , Past Grand Treasurer , occupied the

chair . Upon the recommendation of the House Committee , Bro . J . H . Matthews , Vice Patron , proposed " That one additional Girl be elected at the Quarterly General Court in October , thereby raising the number of elected

Girls in the Institution to 236 ; " this proposition was duly carried . Bro . A . H . Tattershall proposed " That the meetings of the General Committee commence at 5 o ' clock p . m . instead of 4 o ' clock p . m ., and that the laws bo altered accordingly , " but this proposition was lost .

A Quarterly Court , of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held at Freemasons' Hall , London , on Monday last , under the presidency of Bro . Edyar Bowyer P . Grand Standard Bearer . The minutes of ihe last Quarterly

Court having been co firmed ami those of the General nnd House Committees rend for information , two petitions on behnlf of children seeking a ( mission to the Institution w-re accepted , thus raising tbe number of approved candidates

for the October election to fifty-seven . Bro . Riynham W . Stewart ' s proposition " That in consideration of the faithful and efficient services rendered by Miss Elizabeth Hall , during 22 years , as Matron of the establishment at Wood

Green , an annual grant of £ 7 o be made to her on her resignation for the term of her life , and the same to be paid quarterly , " was carried , as also was that standing in the name of Brother J-dm Lawrence Mather ,

" That every present individual donor who has qualified , or who shall qualify , as a Life Governor of the General Fund shall receive double votes for every five guineis presented to the Sp tcivd Building Fund , and Lodges ,

Chapters , & c , similar privileges for every ten guineas so presented ; in connection with the occasion of fixing the corner stone of the new buildings , by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts , on Tuesday , lith August next , such

privileges to be available from this date to 31 st December 1885 ; " Bro . Bowyer ' s proposal "That 15 boys be elected at the Quarterly General Court , on Monday , 12 th October ,

for admission to the Preparatory School , over and above tbe 22 boys to be then elected to fill the number of vacancies in the present establishment , " was likewise carried , so that the number of vacancies to be filled yt the next Election is now thirty-seven . The proceedings were bronght to a conclusion with the customary vote of thanks to the Chairman .

We are compelled to hold over our reports of the meeting , at Lowestoft , on Monday last , of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk ; that of the ron-iecration of the Royal Savoy Lodge of Mark Master Maso-is , with other interesting matters , —for want of space .