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dropping down £ 1 , 000 , although the receipts were greater than in the former year , the surplus being diminished by the extra claims of distressed Masons and their widows , and inconsequence of those claims that surplus was reduced . He would ask them to let the words of Bro . Clabon sink deep in their hearts , when he said that a part of his proposition was to further educate girls of 16 years . He would ask how many of their own children were removed from education before they arrived

at sixteen years of age . As it was , parents then knew that their ¦ children , were in schools where they would receive a good education , and they generally took care to provide something for them , although they could not all send them to the universities . He confessed he did net think they would go to the universities , but they would receive a good education . Bro . Clabon had said if they provided too much for old Masons , they would induce men to come into Masonry , but on that point he joined

issue with him , for men did not come into Masonry with such objects . They came into it with high hopes and feelings , seeking a position in the world , and did not eome into it as was ¦ suggested , for the purpose of asking the charity of the Grand Lodge . He trusted that they would not make their schools so rich as to dazzle the eyes of men , and induce , them to join Masonry , so that in 5 or 10 years they would be able to send their sons to the universities . Why if they did thatit wouldbe

, a good thing for a young man with a family to join them with a prospect in four or five years of having the whole of his family educated at the universities at the expense of the Craft . Let him expose another fallacy of Bro . Gabon ' s , when he said this surplus fund would he devoted to charity . It might he Bro . Clabon ' s reading of charity , but it was not his ( Bro . Stebhings ) . To help the poor old Mason and his poor old woman in the hour of their distressthat appeared to him ( Bro . Stebbing ) more

, like real charity , than in spending their money in further educating children after they had arrived at sixteen years of age . The clause of the articles of union which had been already referred to , said that the fund should not be iuftinged on for any purpose , but shall be kept strictly aud solely devoted to ¦ charity ; and pains shall be taken to increase the same . He ( Bro . Stebbing ) challenged him upon that proposition , as Bro . Clabon had set it forth it would never be increased . If

they took one-third of the surplus for the Boys School , and another one-third for the Girls' School , they would never be able to increase the fund of the Royal Benevolent Institution for the old men and women , who would go away from an election disappointed , and who would wait in deep anxiety , often fatal , as to whether they would be elected in the next year . Old men and women might linger or die , or continue in hope ; in that hope which maketh the heart sick . They would be spending

their funds in pampering youth , whilst the old might waste away through anxiety from year to year , and at last die in despair . That might be going on , as he said , from year to year , whilst the young would be sent to the Universities . He wished further to call the attention of the brethren to one or two things , for Bro . Clabon had said he would touch but the surplus of the Benevolent Fund , and he was anxious to use his exact words . He said" That no reason exists for continuing

, this accumulation , and that without diminishing the principal of the reserved fund , the annual surplus may be applied with advantage for the benefit of this generation . " Now , without referring to tbe law as regards that proposition , as it was always his desire to call things by their proper names—to call a spade a spade—and as it was not in his nature to offer an oftence to any one—he would ask whether that proposition was an honest one ? Who provided the Fund of Benevolence ? Not the present

generation ; for it had come down to them for years past—from the time of the union , when a sum of £ 4 , 000 or £ 5 , 000 was devoted to benevolence , and that sum had been added to slowly from year to year . During his lordship ' s reign in the Craft there had been a rapid increase in numbers , and there might be said to he a plethora of money , but it was their great charities that bound them together . Their origin was ancient , and Freemasonry was a great institution , but it was their noble charities

that bound them to each other . Still , they might not always be so prosperous , for those who had just come amongst them might become a legacy upon them , and therefore they ought to make a provision for some time to come , and for those who would come after them . He was inclined to be liberal to ti . eir schools , but he trusted while they were supported , they would not rob the fund for those who might come after them . He hoped the fund would go on increasing , and in that spirit he should move an amendment he had placed on the paper for the purpose of

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stopping that pernicious project . ( Bro . Stebbing sat down amidst enthusiastic and long continued cheering ) . Bro . Gregory supported the original motion . Bro . Havers opposed the motion at considerable length , and urged that £ 27 , 000 was not too large a sum to meet a rainy day , for after all their prosperity a time of adversity might come upon them . If they once gave a sum to any charity , however badlit miht be usedthey could not take it back again . It

y g , was said that men entered their society for the purpose of making themselves " more exhaustively serviceable to their fellowcreatures , " but the principle would he reversed , and they would make their fellow-creatures more exhaustively serviceable to them if they held out a bait to them that tbeir children would not only be well taken care of whilst they were in the school , but would receive a handsome sum on quitting it . That would be a great inducement to many to come amongst them for the

purpose of receiving those benefits which would be open to them . Bro . Col . Lowry Cole opposed the motion . Bro . Clabon briefly replied , and the Earl of Limerick withdrew his amendment . Bro . Stebbing then moved the following amendment : — " That in the opinion of this Grand Lodge , it is not desirable

that auy portion of the interest arising from the capital invested to the credit of tbe Fund of Benevolence should be treated as surplus income , but that it should be added from time to time to the capital , and be invests d accordingly . " Bro . Mason seconded the amendment . The G . Master then put the amendment , which was carried by an immense majorityaud it was afterwards put as an original

, motion . and agreed to . The rest of the report was put off for consideration to the next Grand Lodge , as well as the rest of the business on the paper . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form and with solemn prayer , and adjourned shortly before eleven o ' clock .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

SOTJTHEEN STAR LODGE ( No . 1 , 158 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge , was held on the 25 th ult ., at the Montpelier Tavern , Walworth , when the retiring AV . M . ( Bro . Pulsford )/ installed his successor ( Bro . R . E . Clarke ) in the chair of K . S ., in a very ahle and impressive manner . After the appointment of the officers , and the transactions of some further business , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND . CARLISLE . —Union Lodge ( No . 310 ) . —The members of this lodge met in due course at the Freemasons' Hall , Castle-street , on Tuesday , the 25 th ult ., under the presidency of Bro . J . Slack , I . P . M ., Prov . G . J . D ., in the unavoidable absence of the AV . M ., Bro . AV . Johnston ; T . Blacklock , T . M ., as S . AV . ; G . Murchie , J . W . ; A . Woodhouse , Sec . 310 & 1220 , P . M . 412 ; A .

Taylor , S . D . ; T . AVoodall , J . D . ; W . Court , I . G . & Treas . ; J . Barnes , Tyler . There were also present : —Bros . F . W . Hayward , P . M ., P . Z ., P . Prov . S . G . AV . ; W . Murray , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Assist . Sec . ; Sergeant-Major G . Murray ; G . Roberts , Armoury Sergeant ; Corpl . G . J . Weatherall , all of the 40 th Regt . ; P . Milbourne , and visiting Bro . C . Dove , Old Globe Lodge , No . 200 . The lodge was opened and tbe preliminary business transacted . The ballot was then taken for Mr . William

Robson , game dealer , Castle-street , Carlisle , and also for M . Leopold Micholsohn , wine merchant , Mayence on the Rhine , and in both cases were found to be nnauimous . Mr . Robson , being in attendance , was prepared and initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry by Bro . F . AV . Hayward ( at the request of Bro . AA . Murray , the candidate ' s proposer ) . M . L . Michelsohn then put in bis appearance , who was also prepared and afterwards initiated by Bro . J . Slack , the acting AV . M . The charge

was then delivered to the candidates by Bro . F . TV . Hayward , The AV . M ., Bro . AV . Johnstone , having arrived , took the chair and announced to the brethren that tho board of the Fund of Benevolence had granted the sum of £ 10 to Bro . Barnes , Tyler