Masonic Notes.

The Glasgow Evening News has the following note with regard to spurious Masonic lodges which appear to crop up in Scotland from time to time : — " The keynote of alarm has been sounded in Masonic circles , but there is nothing really to scare . ' He that entereth

not by the door' has little to gain , and much to lose that he would have gained had he not ' climbed up some other way . The cause of alarm dates from the assumption of a body at Melrose , some fifteen years ago , to grant charters for conferring degrees , which ,

however perfect , were for practical purposes nil . At that time those who became acquainted with the Order in this way soon found their mistake , and were glad to pay for their error and become associated with the Grand Lodge of Scotland . The same kind of spurious

lodges have kept cropping up from time to time , and the result has always been the same . Thus the chief harm done is to those who are being initiated , and it is

my intention , in giving publicity to the system , to warn the unwary from becoming identified with an association which does not possess a power which one ignorant of the facts might suppose . "

It will interest our readers to learn that Bro . Dr . Kynaston has been appointed by the Bishop of Durham to succeed the late Canon Evans in the Greek Professorship at Durham University , to which a canonry is attached . The new canon will find a D . P . G . M . in one of his brother canons , Bro . Canon . Tristram .

Bro . Capt . Murrell ' s honours are still falling thickly about him , and for certain in his case " there cannot be too much of a good thing , " as , like an experienced sailor ( as he is ) , he preserves his equilibrium , even under the most pleasantly "trying" circumstances .

The latest arrangements for his benefit are made by by his " Mother Lodge , " No . 28 9 , Leeds , for the 1 st of August , when our brave brother is to be " passed , " he being as yet but an Apprentice in our Masonic mysteries , his advancement having been delayed by many

months through untoward circumstances , Masonically speaking . After the captain of the " Missouri" has taken the Second Degree , the esteemed Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire , Bro . T . W . Tew , will present Bro .

Murrell with an illuminated address on behalf of the "Fidelity" Lodge . Of course , there will be a large attendance , and a most enjoyable meeting is thus in store for the West Yorkshire Craftsmen .

The Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , is the subject of a pictorial page in " Moonshine " this week . As Lord Chamberlain , he has been very busy this season . He is depicted as playing the leading

role in several State functions , as well as " a good and earnest Mason . " If on no other ground than the latter , we join with the artist in hoping that his lordship will thorougly enjoy , at the end of the season , his welldeserved holiday . * * *

Bro . John Fenwick , District Grand Secretary of Queensland , who is now on a visit to this country , addressed a circular letter to the members of lodges in Queensland before leaving , which we have much pleasure in re-producing in extenso in another column .

We commend his argumentative and well-written communication to the serious attention of those who are in too great a hurry to " cut the painter . " He does not deprecate the establishment of independent

Grand Lodges in the colonies , when opinion is fully ripe for the change , but he does condemn the unwise action of those whose only desire appears to be to follow in the wake of other bodies , whether there is a sufficient reason for it or not .

* * * Bro . C . L . Mason is mistaken in assuming that our article of last week was " written by authority , " or that a single idea or even word in it was "inspired" by

any one in authority . It was a criticism for which not only are we responsible , but no one outside the editorial sanctum could have known that we intended publishing such an article .

To-morrow ( Saturday ) will be an eventful day in the family annals of his Royal Highness the Grand Master , who will give the hand of his eldest daughter in marriage to Bro . the Earl of Fife , Prov . Grand Master

of Banffshire . This is the first member of the Royal Family in the direct line of succession who has entered into the holy bonds of matrimony , both Prince Albert Victor and Prince George , who are senior in point of age to their eldest sister , being still single men , though

Masonic Notes.

they both have passed the age at which their father contracted a matrimonial alliance with the Princess of Wales . The occasion , therefore , will be one of unusual rejoicing to the Grand Master and his gracious Consort , as well as to the Queen , and we , in common

with all the rest of her Majesty ' s loyal subjects , take the opportunity of proffering our respectful congratulations as well to the Queen and Royal Family generally as to the principals in the solemn ceremony

of to-morrow . We trust the years of their wedded lite may be many , and that they may enjoy all the happiness which themselves and their nearest and dearest friends can desire .

We have much pleasure in announcing that the Earl of Euston , Past S . G . W ., and President of the General Board of the Mark Grand Lodge , has consented to

preside at the 22 nd Anniversary Festival of the Mark Benevolent in the month of July , 18 90 , and that already some 24 or 25 brethren have volunteered their services as Stewards .

The Freemasons of Friedland have been much pleased by a present from the Emperor William , consisting of a valuable engraving of Frederick the Great as Grand Master of the lodge . The portrait represents the King in his insignia , and bears the underline ,

"Frederick the Great as Freemason in 1740 . " This does not bear out the rumour current some time ago that th ; present Emperor entertained feelings of antagonism to Freemasonry , and we are glad to see any indication that such rumours were false .

* * * Tlie Masonic World published in Boston , Mass ., reprints in full , our lengthy report of the meeting of the Anglo-American Lodge , on the 18 th ult , adding : " The Anglo-American Lodge is a lodge

of great importance , as it is composed of very prominent men , both of England and America . It is , undoubtedly , one of the best , if not the best in England . '

We do not demur to this estimate of its position in English Freemasonry in the least , but , perhaps , our Anglo-American brethren may modestly consider the latter part of the statement a little "tall . "

We are pleased to see that a movement is on toot in Kentucky , U . S . A ., to perpetuate the memory of Bro . Rob Morris , the " Poet Laureate " of Freemasonry in America . As a Masonic writer , his reputation was world wide , his verses are familiar , and his songs are

sung by . Masons everywhere , having been translated into many tongues . He was , moreover , a good man and true , generous to a fault , impoverishing himself by his too liberal use of his own means . His widow , after obtaining the amount due on his life

policy , ordered that a part of it be expended in the erection of a monument to mark his last resting place . So many Masons have expressed a desire to contribute something for this object and to show their brotherly

love for the deceased , and their appreciation of his labours and admiration for his genius , that Mrs . Morris has been induced to wait until the Craft could be heard from . We trust the response will be worthy of the Craft and of our departed brother .

The Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , has appointed Viscount Valentia , Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Berks and Oxon , in the room of the Earl of Jersey ,

who recently resigned the office . Viscount Valentia will be installed by the Earl of Jersey at the Provincial Grand Lodge to be held a short time hence at Oxford , when an address will be presented by the Mark brethren to Lord Jersey on his retirement .

We are pleased to note the name of Bro . J . K . R Cama amongst those appointed to office at the last meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Surrey . Bro . Cama is following the example of his distinguished

relative , Bro . D . P . Cama , Past Grand Treasurer , and has steadily pursued his career in the Craft . We look forward to seeing him occupy an important position in English Freemasonry ere long .

The entertainment of Bro . Meyer and his friends by the Anglo-American Lodge at the Criterion , on Tuesday evening , was in every respect worthy of the lodge and

its guests . Excellent speeches were made , and the visitors departed with the warmest feelings of esteem and regard for their hosts . We reserve the report of the proceedings for our next issue .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYs . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your issue of the 20 th inst . appears a reply to mine of the 13 th inst ., signed " V . P . and Steward , " in which he fully establishes my statement that the 1888 accounts reveal some extraordinary

book-keepinoand amateur auditing ; inasmuch as he had to go to the office before even he could tell what the accounts meant He now shows that the ^ 70 was in the hands of the Steward and Matron on the 1 st January , 1888 , and consequently ought to have appeared on the debit side as being " cash in hand" on that date , and a similar entrv

on the credit side under date December 31 st , 1888 . "V . P . and Steward" now tells the subscribers that the petty expenditure was £ 213 19 s . 9 d ., instead of ^ 205 5 s ., as entered in the books of the accounts . If the amount had been correctly shown , and a balance of £ 8 14 s . 9 d . as due to the Secretary on the other side the transaction would have been apparent to any one ' and the absurdity of a foot-note would have been avoided . "V . P . and Steward" also discloses the fad that £ 5 5 s . was paid to a professional accountant for something , but does not say what , and certainl y the accounts do not bear any evidence of the handiwork of a professional accountant .

V . P . and Steward " is silent , even after his visit to the office , as to why the garden produce and repairs and renewals were omitted from the anal ysis . He is equally reticent why the " Charles Greenwood Memorial Prize Fund" was allowed to be absorbed into the general funds of the Institution , and not separately invested as it ought to have been . All this points to the desirability of having professional auditors of repute , who will see that the accounts are correct in detail , and draw attention to irregularities , if any are . found to exist , either in tbe application of funds or investment of monies given for a specific purpose . I observe from the public prints that the Benevolent

Institution and the Girls' School are putting their accounts into professional hands , and it is to be hoped that each of the three Institutions will select separate and distinct accountants , so that there may be no more running in grooves , but each and all may have the benefit of a separate system . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , STEWARD .

Our Benevolent Institutions.

OUR BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I gather from the information contained in your article that it has been written by authority , and therefore may be taken as an official reply to my letter of the 21 st June last .

I was particular not to mention names , and I am sorry that in your Editorial " capacity you have allowed them to be introduced . In reply to your article , the dual set of accounts is

in accordance with Article 47 , but the sooner that law is amended the better , as the way the accounts are pubblished is liable to the charge that they are intended to mystify and to prevent the actual amount of expenditure being properly understood .

The Collector s charges may be , and no doubt arc , in accordance with the "terms and conditions" on which the Collector was appointed . That does not prevent the amount being excessive . In the event of it becoming necessary at some time to largely increase and perhaps double the amount of subscrip tions and

donations , will the Collector still be paid on the same terms and conditions ? If so , what about the Secretary's remuneration ? During the year ending March , 1888 , the Collector received . £ 6 39 15 s . 9 d ., an amount not far short of the Secretary's salary . With these figures before them , I am surprised that the Committee

offered the Collector his "travelling expenses . " I think the Collector showed his wisdom in declining the offer . I should strongly recommend the Committee at the next vacancy to abolish the appointment of Collector and let the work be done in the Secretary ' s office . I d < j not see any charge for Collector in the Girls' Schoo 1

accounts . If it is urged that there are more subscriptions to collect on the Benevolent Institution , I observe that last year these amounted to , for both Male and Widows , £ 1629 3 s . Surely ^ 512 19 s . is a large sun ' for collecting such an amount . The Benevolent Ins ' ' tution commands the sympathy of all Masons quite a t \

strongly , if not more strongly , than the other w Charities , and I cannot see the utility of a well-P , official , in addition to the Secretary , for the purpose u visiting " freely among the lodges and chapters in to « and country , " and of assisting in" obtaining the service of brethren as Stewards . " If , however , it is necessary

which is doubtful , let him have a fixed salary . Your criticism on the word " generally , " as used ; me , I consider beneath the dignity of the lead "' * Masonic journal in England , and so pass it by , nie ^ , J noting that your argument could have been ca ? ! L further—viz ., on ^ fifth in every seven years or two- '

in every ten years . Printing and postages ^ 850 16 s . 2 d . In the " School the amount is £ 66 2 14 s ., nearly ^ 200 less-Votes of thanks to Stewards . I have always u" *^ stood that the Stewards' fee of £ 2 2 s . was intend ^ ^ cover all expenses of dinner , & c . The questio ,