Worcestershire.

the intense pleasure with which that day would be regarded by him , it was fche facfc that they had the record for the Charities of the Provinces . They hoped this year would be a record one , at any rate for the Charities , and although fchey could hardly hope to realise what he heard an enthusiastic London Mason say thafc they intended to get ;—into six figures ( £ 100 , 000)—he thought it would be such a record year as the world had never seen .

They were pleased to say that it was his action in Masonry , and not his mere verbal utterances that had induced them to do what they had so kindly and generously done , and he only hoped thafc when the Great Architect should be pleased to call him from this sublunary existence to the realms above , he might leave a record for the future such as they had so generously considered was a satisfactory record of his work in Masonry in the past .

Bro . Harlow proposed a cordial vote of thanks to the Committee , Hon . Treasurer , and Hon . Secretary of the presentation fund , and congratulated them on the admirably way in which the presentation fco Bro . Godson had been carried through .

Colonel Warner Ofctley seconded , and the proposition having been adopted , with applause , Bro . Page Secretary briefly returned thanks .

Bro . A . B . Eowe Treasurer to the fund also added his thanks , remarking that everything in connection with the presentation had been satisfactorily settled . On the motion of the Mayor , seconded by Bro . Cotton , a similar compliment was tendered to Colonel Warner Ofctley for presiding ; and Colonel Ottley , in reply , remarked thafc ifc had

been a great pleasure to him to occupy the chair on such an interesting occasion , the remembrance of which would last for years in his memory . It had given him the opportunity of testifying his gratitude to Brother Godson , and of showing his admiration of him as a Mason , and he hoped the Worshipful Brother would live many years to adorn the Order . — " Worcestershire Advertiser . "

Upton Instruction Lodge Ladies' Night.

UPTON INSTRUCTION LODGE LADIES' NIGHT .

THE fifth annual Ladies' night of this popular Lodge of Instruction , No . 1227 , was held at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street , on Monday of last week , under the presidency of Bro . H . Hyde W . M . of the Mother Lodge , who was supported by Bro . E . M . Jeffrey P . M ., T . J . Hunt and W . J . Carroll , as Vice-Presidents ; while Bro . A . B . Noble acted as Treasurer , Bro . H . 3 . Rowberry as Musical Director , and Bro . E . C . Holmes as accompanist .

A very happy social party of about eighty participated in the pleasures of the meeting , says the " City Press , " the toasc of the evening—the Ladies —being given by Bro . 3 . Smith P . M . Preceptor of the Lodge , in a clever and humorous speech . The proposition of the toast of the President of the evening afforded Bro . T . 3 . Hunt the opportunity of alluding in appreciative terms to the upright manner in which Bro . Hyde had conducted the study of Freemasonry during the years he had been connected with the Craft . The President made a happy and pointed response .

The Old Masonians.

THE OLD MASONIANS .

BRO . JAMES SPELLER P . P . G . D . of Essex Patron of the Boys School presided at the first of the series of Bohemian Concerts in connection with the Old Masonians Football Club , which was given at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , E . G ., on the llth inst . There was an excellent attendance , a large proportion of tbe audience being ladies , who evinced their appreciation of the . entertainment by religiously encoring every item of the first part of the programme , which became thereby somewhat extended . The artistes who

appeared were Miss Bijou Sault , Miss Florence Petrie , Messrs . Harry Hall , A . Holden and W . 3 . Alderson , while Bros . Tom Lloyd , Harry Prenton , and C . Spencer West assisted in the general enjoyment . Miss Maude Swinyard and Mr . J . H . Hewett ably officiated at the piano . We were reminded by Bro . R . S . Chandler that a Warrant has been granted for the Old Masonians Lodge , and the date of consecration— -it is hoped the ceremony will be performed by Bro . E . Letchworth—has been decided for 23 rd April , at Anderton ' s Hotel .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

A MILD DISCLAIMER . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHKONICLE . DEAR SIR AUD BROTHER , — I have been taken to task somewhat rudely by a Bro . — Smith P . M ., who writes asking questions and opinions on Masonic subjects in a strangely un-Masonic spirit for a " ruler of the Craft . " If he be truly interested for the good of Masonry , he will surelv not object to

put his allegations above his name in your correspondence column , so that those who are more directly concerned than myself may take them up . Such appellations as " jobbery , " & c , applied to Charities at the present day , when sensible men know that the difficulty is ever-present of steering clear of " frauds upon Society , '' even to the no doubt frequent disadvantage of the genuine applicant for relief , come very badly from one who has " ruled a

Correspondence.

Lodge . " A good deal of what he states is probably true in a sense , as regards Masonic Charity , but a grain of that other Charity , and consideration for those Brethren who at least endeavour to discharge very responsible duties towards the Craft in general to the best of their ability , and must be credited with devoting their time gratuitously to it , and " especially a little thoughtful common sense bestowed upon the subject , " will convince even Bro . Smith that he is poorly qualified to condemn that which , according to his own showing , he does not clearly understand . As Bro . Smith is by no means the

first person who has " requested or " begged , " or almost" commanded " me to champion " wrongs " connected with the Charities , I take this opportunity of stating that I never did and never will encourage aggrieved individuals to kick against lawful authority , which may occasionally err , but is constituted for " general " and not paroicular interests . Besides , if l may judge from Bro . Smith's long letter , he is quite capable of backing his own opinions without feeling the burden too heavy on his conscience . I cannot answer his questions without grievously offending him .

However , Bro . Smith , amongst other things ( and these are the real " raison d etre " of this letter ) states :

1 . That " I " have favoured the CHRONICLE with enlightened opinions from time to time on many Masonio " abuses , " which have set Masons thinking . " 2 . He writes " ' your opinion that the shams in Freemasonry overbalance the benefits , ' I and many others fully endorse . " Now both these statements are accompanied with personal eulogium and complimentary tribute to my " Masonic erudition , " " conspicuous ability , "

and other attributes which I certainly do not claim to possess , and therefore cannot believe I deserve . However that may be , I do not deserve either , that my acts and expressions should be so grossly mis-represented . And , as it seems , such exaggerations " are accepted as mine " by " others " as well as Bro . Smith , and may be spread unless corrected , allow me through your editorial courtesy to inform Bro . Smith that of all the numberless Articles , Leaders , and general contributions to the Masonic Press in England and the

United States , I could not point to one of mine on " Masonic Abuses . " It would need to be something very serious that would induce me to descant thereon , because the subject has no attractions , and it is not my forte . I regret to own that I have "favoured" (?) the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE but very seldom , —far less I think than was its due ; but during the period Bro Smith mentions , " not a single line " of mine can be found in its columns . " Palmam qui meruit ferat . "

But the second of Bro . Smith's statements is more serious . He refers to a meeting to which , as the guest of a local P . M ., I was invited . Had I , or even my friend , known what would have been discussed that evening , we should have occupied our time differently . However , I am bound to say we took no part whatever in the discussion . The opinion saddled upon me was under any circumstances " unofficial . "

Responding to a special toast I said that " it appeared some of the Brethren present thought Freemasonry was growing year by year more of a fraud all round—that in fact the benefits of being a Mason were purely imaginary , and the Craft toppling on a dizzy height to its destruction . There could be no better answer to that than point to that assembly of Masons and inquire why were they there ? Surely not to support a hypocritical fraud upon society ? They had no business to look for benefits in a pecuniary

sense—all they had to do was to honestly acknowledge to themselves that all Masonic teaching was beneficial , and act up to it . If civilisation was playing some pranks with our Ancient Brotherhood , and if , as one of the Brethren had indeed asserted , ' Masonry was all right , but it was not practised , ' who was to blame ? Clearly our duty is to set a worthy example by standing by the principles , and then such shams as overbalance the benefits would disappear , & c . "

I leave it to candid Brethren to say if Bro . Smith ' s " others " are fairly in possession of my opinion in this case . As he has asked to be answered in the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE I am committing no breach of confidence in doing so , but am afraid he will come to the conclusion that he has trodden on his lion's tail I " More power to him , " say I—no harm is done so far .

Yours fraternally , 3 . RAMSDBN RILEY . [ We insert this letter at the request of our correspondent , but have not the remotest idea as to the matter to which it refers . It would certainly have been better if

Bro . Riley had sent us the letter he is replying to , and then our readers , as well as ourselves , might have been in a better position to judge of the merits of the controversy . Perhaps Bro . Smith will favour us with the " other side of the story , " and his further expressions of opinion in regard to what are probably very marked views on his part . —ED . F . C ]

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

BY the death of Bro . John Lewis , which occurred at New Barnet , on the 7 th inst ., we have lost a personal friend for whose acquaintance we were indebted to Freemasonry . Our worthy Brother was initiated in the United Mariners Lodge , No . 30 , in February 1877 , and was a living exemplification of the best principles of the Craft—a true Brother in

act and deed . For many years he was proprietor of the " One Bell " Hotel , Hatfield , and we have frequently enjoyed an hour in his company after a spin to the home of the Cecils ,

discussing with him Masonic as well as general topics , for he took considerable interest in all that concerned the progress of our Order . We tender our sincere sympathy to his widow and other members of his family .

A PROMINENT member of the Craft in the north of England died last month , in the person of Bro . Wm . Lilburn , a well-known inhabitant of Blyth , and a leading member of the Blagdon Lodge , of that town . He received Provincial recognition some time back in the appointment as Standard Bearer of Northumberland .