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 , nol necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

LONDON AND PROVINCIAL MASONS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICIE . DEAR S IR AND BROTHER , —While agreeing in the main with Bro . James Stevens as to the desirability of subdividing the Metropolitan Lodges into a series of Provinces or Districts , there is one point in his

letter which appeared in your issue of the 14 ch lust , to which I take exception . He draws comparisons between Lodges outside the radius of ten miles from Freemasons' Hall and those within it , which are alike uncalled for and unfair , even if they may not be termed

moorrect . For instance , ho says that "fur more social harmony and concord are to be found in the Lodges outside the radius of' ten miles from Freemasons' Hall' than within it "—a libel on London brethren " which is not correct ! " I am sorry Bro . Stevens should have

deemed it desirable to introduce such arguments in support of his pet scheme . Then he speaks of uniformity of working , aud says that " the Lodges in each Province at least observe one and the same system , cuforced by their recognised authority , the Grand Lodge of the Province in which they are enrolled . " This may be the case ,

but my opinion is that as wide diversions are to be found in individual Provinces as are to be met with in the Metropolitan area . I do not for one moment doubt that Bro . Stcveus firmly believes what ho has written , but he may have overlooked tho fact his remarks are open to tho objection I have pointed out ; I can hardly believe

he intended to libel his Loudon brethren , or to question their sincerity or " respect for the principles of Freemasonry . " I can assure him that no " stronger bond of union aud advantageous co-operation "

are to be found anywhers than exists among the memberB of many London Lodges . I am , & c . A LONDON MASON .

PREFERMENT AMONG MASONS . To the Editor of the FKEICMASO . V ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — I think the "COMPANION" who addressed yon last , week on the subject of whit ho terms "cliqueism" is labouring under a tuistppteheiisiori vvlion lie assumes that preferment among . Masons—either in Lodge or Chapter—is t " bo by seniority . I think ho will find it stated in tho Coust . itutions

that all preferment shall bo by m » rit . When it comes to tho filling of an elective office hy ballot , I think it is absurd for a minority in a Lodiro to accuse their fellows of cliqueism because such and such a brother is not , accepted for an office . What is the , u-w of an election if the opinions or tho motives of the majority are to be questioned ? It is absurd to argue that a majority of the members of any Lodge

can engage in '' cliqueism " against tho minority . If , is the old story of the dog wagging his tail , or tho tail wagging tho dog . A 3 soon as a majority in a Lodge want matters a certain way it may be assumed there is some sort of method in their " mildness . " ami the

best conrso is for the minority to bow to their opinion and thus ensure harmony . I also think your correspondent spoils his case by his own evidence . He says the Companion passed over already " holds " a similar office in another Chapter " to that he sought in the one where

ho was rejected on the > ballot . " This , to my mind , is sufficient to warrant his rejection . I consider it uufair for Brethren or Companions to seek for office in more than one Lodge or Chapter , to tho exclusion of others equally worthy and equally attxions for preferment . It seems to be the ambition of some men to hold any number of offices to which they can ' 00 appointed , overlooking the fact that by

holding more than one collav they are silintting out sonic other brother from tho coveted honour . I shonld like to see a rule passed that no brother shonld hold more than one office without obtaining a dispensation , which should only be granted when it was proved there wero no other members of tho Lodge or Chapter capable of carrying out the duties required . Yours fraternally , Sor , o .

To the Editor of + he FKJ-. E . MASOX ' CIIKONICLK . DEAR S : II AND P . KOTIIE !; , —As . 1 supporter of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , I experienced great pleasure in reading the report of its Committee of Management , as published in your last issue , as I thiiik any one rnnsl , da wi ; o liar , the welfare of his fellow

THE FUTUBE OF THR BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

creatures at , heart . I rejoiced to think it was possible to relieve so mar . y as arc now provided for—no less : b : wi -il 5 old pnople , in receipt-of either £ 10 , £ : ' > 2 or £ ' 20 p-r a ? i ? j ;; ir ; eac ' i—bnfc I iva ; ai . so struck with feelings of anxiety when I learned the amount annuillv

needed to provide I ' m-this Inrae number of iiiuMiiraut . H— . GL 1 584 ! Where is this money to come from year after year , in addition t " what is needed to maintain the other Masonic Charitable Institutions ?

Correspondence.

I shonld certainly be very sorry to see a falling off in the amounts subscribed for this charity , and I hope I may not live to hear of any less sum being contributed , but is it fair on the part of the present generation to assume that those who come after will be as willing to support this Institution as are the Masons of to-day ; and , above

all , that they will equally have the means of doing so . It is a very difficult matter to say what is to be done with the money subscribed . I certainly am of opinion that , it should be distributed as fast as it comes in , and not be invested—at least not to any large extent—but it may be worth considering whether the Institution ought not to

make some of its annuities terminable , or at least give them on the understanding that they may be discontinued at the end of say three or five years . At present I think it is generally assumed that the annuities are given for life , and I dread to think what wonld be the conseqnences if from any unforeseen calamity the income of the

Institution was for a number of years considerably reduced below its present figures . I hope my alarm is uncalled for , but we none of ns know what the future may bring forth . Yours , & c . A LIFE GOVERNOR .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere "Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , M " . — : 0 : — Official Directory for the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall . Edited by Wiliiam James Hnsrhan , P . S . G . D . England , & c . Truro : " Boyal Cornwall Gazette " Office .

As the compilers of many other Provincial calendars have had occa . sion to explain , Bro . Hughan informs the brethren of the Province of which he is the Past Grand Secretary , that iu consequence of the delay in the receipt of some of tho Lodge returns tho Directory is published later than usual . However , so far from this being an

unmixed disadvantage , he has been able to inolnde the latest details , embracing the Officers recently appointed in Grand Lodge , and other matters of interest . The Directory has now reached the sixteenth year of its publication , and seeing that it is issued quarterly it will be evident that each issue is carefnlly amended , and the information

given in it brought down to date . For all this , however , it does not appear that the demand for the little handbook has been so satisfactory as could have been wished during the last year or two , and consequently the Editor has decided not to print the list of votes for the central Masonic Charities , which had

been compiled by Bro . C . Trnscott , because of the time and expense involved . Shonld the demand for this year ' s Directory be more satisfactory , tho list will be pnblished as a Supplement , on completion of Brother G . B Pearce ' s Stewardship , in June . With respect to the manual itself there are throughout its pages evideuces of careful and

jndicious compilation , whilst the additional reading matter towards tho end of the book invests it with interest . Several pages aro devoted to details respecting the Masonic Charitable Associations of the Province , after which come lists of the annual meetings and festivals of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall , towns in

which the Lodges aro held , with the days of meeting , and a complete list , of tho present and past Officers aud other members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall having the right to vote , compiled from tho annual returns for 1886 . The laws and regulations of the Provincial Grand Lodgo are printed in full : and , as a kind of

appendix , are given two addresses delivered by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Bro . the lie v . E . K . Kendall , M . A ., Hon . D . C . L ., at the meetings of the Provincial Grand Lodge in 1885 and 1886 . The subjects are " What have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel ? " and ' What mean ye by this Service ? " and these addresses , which give

to tho Directory more than a mere local interest , have been printed by request of " the Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , the Provincial Grand Master . This is a neat and handy work of reference , and deserves all the support the brethren of the Province can give to it .

The " march of improvement" has been exemplified in few branches of industry more than in tho manufacture of that recent , hut , rapidly developed invention , the bicycle . Probably no other implement in which utility with popular recreation are combined has assnned such a variety of shapes and patterns as have of late

yrat-3 been witnessed in the " wheel world " ; at oar exhibitions the array of machines of every sort and condition , each presenting some ing : : iiou 3 fpecialite , is sufficient to bewilder even those who are adept : , " . t tho athletic exercise . Added to the li 3 t , we have before us an illustrated catalogue issued by the British Cyel 9 Manufacturing

Compmy , of Liverpool , giving description of several new patterns and important improvements to their machines . Foremost amongst these stand tho "Jubilee" safety bicycle , for which is claimed superiority of speed , ens > , and safety in riding . It is well made and finished , and suitable for any person to ride ; will withstand the

hardest work and is very easy to propel ; and the increased number of orders received f-o : n dealers and ot . he 's prove that this " mount " is giving entire satisfaction . In this catalogue is a vast amount of i'lfo ; rii ; il . :, ) ii for cye !; st 3 , whilst tho illustrations give an interesting ¦ ' td eLition of the uses—commercial , military , and pleasurable—to which these machines are now applied .

Ar00603

DEATE . PRICE .--On Tuesday , 2 Hh mat ., limy A : if , wife of Bro . Captain Henry Emerit Trice . The funeral will take placo at Norwood Cemetery , thin day ( Satunbiy ) , at 12 " 15 .