An Object Lesson In Finance.

AN OBJECT LESSON IN FINANCE .

IN the outer world there are thousands of people with * money at disposal , who are ever on the search for some investment that shall give them a fair return for their capital . Within the portals of Freemasonry it

would seem there is already a Fund , or , to be more precise , three Funds , which not only answer the requirements , but are continually referred to in different parts of the country as providing a far greater return

than can be reasonably expected , or fairly accepted ; and although it may be found on fuller examination that this trio of Funds is hardly available for the whole

body of English Freemasons , it can easily be proved that energetic action in connection therewith produces the most satisfactory results , and is , indeed , the prime cause of the anomaly referred to .

We have previously written on this subject , and most of our readers will at once recognise what we are referring to , especially if they make a rule of reading the statements made by Charity- Committees , and

others who take an interest in following the working of the three Masonic Institutions , in the various Provinces of English Freemasonry , but for those who do not do so we may say it is a well known fact that

many of our Provinces get far more out of the Charitable Institutions than they contribute to them . A few weeks back the matter was specially referred to

in Staffordshire , and the Brethren were asked to contribute more liberally to the different Fund s so as to place things more on an equality ; to-day the same cry comes - from Devonshire—where it has often been

raised before—and next week some other division of the country will be similarly taken to task by those in its midst who like to see things fairly divided ; and the question may reasonably be asked , how is it

possible for the three Institutions to give more benefits than are procurable with the amounts contributed ? The answer has often been given in our pages—London being unorganised has to pay for the Provinces , where

the work ot managing the elections is carried out as a system . How much longer will the metropolis continue its apathy , how much longer will its members be content to pay the piper , while the Provinces set the

tune ? We should be very sorry to see the Institutions worked on purely financial lines—to the exclusion of all considerations of nationality , but on the other hand it is very hard for Londoners to continually hear that

the Provinces can get more out of the Institutions than they pay in , while it is so very difficult for the ordinary Londoner to secure anything—surely there is something wrong somewhere .

The Bible And Scottish Masonry.

THE BIBLE AND SCOTTISH MASONRY .

rriHE action of the Grand Lodge of Peru ; in decreeing the X removal of the Volume of the Sacred Law from the

The Bible And Scottish Masonry.

altars of all Lodges under its jurisdiction , is to be formally brought under the notice of the Scottish Craft on Thursday next , when the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland will be held in Edinburgh . The Grand Committee unanimously recommends Grand

Lodge to adopt the same course as recently pursued in England , and withdraw its recognition of the Grand Lodge of Peru and its daughter Lodges , and further to prohibit Scottish Lodges from holding communication with those under the rule of the Grand Lodge of Peru , and we anticipate that course will be regularly adopted .

Essex.

ESSEX .

A MOST successful meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Brentwood , on Tuesday , when about 300 Brethren of the county were present to support the Earl of Warwick Provincial Grand Master . A beautifully engrossed album was presented to Bro . Philbrick , on his retirement from the office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master , his reception on the occasion being very enthusiastic .

A particularly gratifying testimonial was included in the next item oi business , the Earl of Warwick making special reference to the long services of Bro . T . J . Railing , when investing him with the collar of Provincial Grand

Secretary for the twenty-second consecutive year , and handing him a cheque for £ 250 , together with an address from the Brethren of the Province , setting forth the strong feelings of regard they all entertained towards him .

We shall give fuller details of the meeting in our next issue .

The Brethren of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 328 , Torquay , have decided to make a strenuous effort to clear off the debt of £ 400 that remains upon their Masonic Hall , the suggested plan , which has been unanimously adopted by the Lodge , being that promised donations should be made by the

members of the Lodge , giving about six months from the present time in which to pay the contribution . This effort to be crowned by a Grand Masonic Exhibition of Certificates , Clothing and Jewels , of all degrees and countries , from the unique collection of the W . M . Bro . F . J . Crowe P . P . G . O .,

to be followed in the evening by a grand Masonic Ball , to be held at the end of the year , when the chief Rulers of the Craft will be invited to favour the Lodge with their patronage , presence , and , if agreeable , their donations to the building fund . In the event of the response to these efforts not [ being

sufficient to clear off the debt , then , to offer the Brethren an opportunity to volunteer a temporary loan , in £ 10 shares , to be redeemed by ballot as the funds of the Lodge accumulate . The result of these suggestions is that the Committee of Management , with the Lodge and other friends ,

have promised to substantially assist in making the effort a success ; in addition to which , Brother John Chapman P . Prov . G . D ., the mortgagee , has most generously offered to add £ 10 to every £ 90 raised for the object , which we sincerely hope will meet with the support it deserves . We

must recognise that a debt of £ 400 is a heavy item to attempt to remove by one effort , but happily our Torquay Brethren have some zealous workers in their midst , and we are very sanguine as to the results that will be achieved .

The cause is admittedly a good one , and calls for Fraternal support outside the town and Lodge to be specially benefited , so that we think it is not too much for our Torquay friends to solicit the sympathy and donations of outsiders in aid of their efforts .