The Masonic Charities.

vinces , we should , by increasing the number of Life Governorships attached to our lodges , greatly increase the Funds of the Metropolitan Charities . I am also one of those Avho venture to think that all

Grand Officers should be Life Governors of one at least of the Masonic Charities ; for I am as sure to clay , as I Avas many years ago , that the best explanation of Freemasonry is in its works of Charity and labours of love ; and that in aiding old age and educating youth , Ave are exhibiting to tho Avoricl at large , that ours are not

merely the tinsel trappings of outward decorations or festive gatherings , but that AVO both profess ancl practice , to the best of . our poAver ancl ability , the higher realities of sympathy and goodwill for

others , and are ever prompt to succour and to aid those Avliom Masonic interest has rendered dear to us , or earthly adversity has tried and troubled . Let us hope that these our Charities may long endure , for the happiness and comfort and

improvement of those Avho partake of their benefits , and to tho credit and commendation of our Ancient Craft . A . F . A . WOODFORD .

The United Orders Of The Temple And Hospital And The Press.

THE UNITED ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE AND HOSPITAL AND THE PRESS .

Our contemporary the Spectator anxious to emulate the pungent satire of its more Avidely read compeer the Saturday Beview , and to prove itself the clever critic and commentator on all sorts of shams ,

frivolities and eccentricities—' -Avhether displayed in the arena of politics or simply coming under the head of ethics or cesthetics , took occasion some time since to scarify the Knight Templars , and read the Prince of

Wales a severe lesson for assisting at a " mock revival or resuscitation " as it Avas pleased to call it of that ancient chivalric

order . We live in the age of revivals , the revival of architecture , of ecclesiology , the science of symbolism notably amongst the rest ; is not the Spectator itself a revivala jjoor imitation we admit—of its worthier

namesake , and are we not justified in f OIIOAVing so noble an example , and calling ourselves Knights Templar if we so please 1 No doubt H . R . H . was deeply grieved to think that the Spectator disapproved of his Installation as Grand Master of the United Orders , especially as that erudite instructor of the public , disposes so thoroughly of his

claims to authority over the Templars who Avere " suppressed as every one knoAvs in the year 1312 . " One of the most curious and instructive features of the public press in the present day is that it fancies itself ubiquitious and

omniscient , of course ourselves excepted . The Spectator , cpioting from the Daily Telegraph , gives a long description of the proceedings Avhich as Ave Avere present ourselves Ave may be allowed to say were

incorrect in many particulars . The Daily Telegraph is an enterprising journal , and no doubt did its best to get full information of what it felt AA as important and interesting to the public ; but Ave shall , no doubt , surprise many of our readers AAdien

we tell them that Ave are as certain that its reporter got access to the meeting of Convent General as that its correspondent Avas on the road to Khiva the other clay AAdien he Avrote those admirable descriptions Avhich the Times and other papers copied with

such gusto , ancl exposed ivith such deli ght . We knoAV that amplication Avas made , on behalf of the Press , to certain high functionaries for copies of the printed programme and rituals used on ¦ the occasion , which application was

refusedbut Willis ' s Rooms are not Freemasons ' Hall , and reporters might haunt the corri . dors and bribe the Avaiters , but they could not get into the great hall , so that when our contemporary says "the proceedings