Provincial.

Lodgo acting on the charities committee , it must be remembered that though a man might be found very good and efficient as Master , still , others from their peculiar business habits were more able and suitable to act on such a committee . Bro . Perkins said it was no idea of his to withdraw the brother appointed by any Lodge and substitute another in the person of the AV . M . ; still he adhered to his idea that the AV . M . of a Loclge was as fit and important a man as could be appointed

, He was not anxious , however , to make any motion to such effect . Bro . H . Ford said he was inclined to support a similar proposition . Bro . Perkins thought it would be better to adopt the report , with the addition that the AV . M . should be one ofthe members of the charities committee . Bro . Beach suggested that it would be advisable to adopt the recommendation as a rider . After some further conversationBro . Ford moved the following resolution

, " That approving generally of tho suggestions contained in the report of Bros . Symonds and Lyall , it is resolved that so much of it as recommends the appointment of a special member from each Lodge , to be called the charity steward , as au addition to tho committee , be adopted ; and that the committee be instructed to guide themselves by the general spirit of the recommendations of tho report in question , and that the R . AA . Prov . Grancl Master be respectfully requested to aob on tllft nnmmittnfi . "

Bro . AVyndham S . Portal seconded the resolution . Ho did not think it was necessary on the present occasion to say anything move as to tho desirability of doing more for the charities than had been hitherto clone . He really believed that the difference found to have hitherto existed was caused by members in tho provinces not being kept an fail in the work . going on . The support as yet given to the charities was , in by far the greater proportion , derived from the London district alone . In the last published account it appeared that , of tho subscribers to the Girls Schoolone thousand and forty-eight were of Londonand only three

, , hundred of the country . Of the Boys School there were six hundred ancl sixtyseven London supporters to two hundred and thirty-six country ones . Ancl yet a great deal more than half the objects of the Masonic charities were provincial , aud not from London . If the London district were only to demand one half of the benefits , or even 'in proportion to the extent of their contributions , they would deprive the provincial body of three fourths of the advantages they at present enjoyed . He was more or less acquainted with the state of the schools , and as to

the matter of the girls' education , he thought at present it was only a question of funds , though it was advisable to keep up the industrial training of tho children . The charity for Aged Masons and their Widows was not in so hopeful a stato as could be wished , also from want of funds . The charities of tho Order should be their first aim , and he had been glad to see the Eight AA orshipful Master take the business relative to them first , because their interest was the first , or ought to be the first in their consideration . He thought well of the recommendation that

one member in each Loclge should strive to increase the charity subscriptions . Bro . C . Sherry , P . M ., said ho wished to set tho E . AA . Prov . Grand Master ancl others right upon ouo point , namely , in reference to the Girls School . He alluded to a resolution only lately passed for including music and French in the education of the girls ; and indeed those branches of learning were now included in the instruction given in the school . He had an amendment , or rather a rider to tho resolution , which he should like to move .

Bro . Stebbing said perhaps it would bo better if the resolution already before the meeting was formally read ancl put . The resolution being read , was put from the chair , and carried . Bro . Sherry then continued : —He believed it was quite evident that if too many individuals were included on the committees , nothing would be done . Large bodies , to the extent of twenty eight or thirty ho believed would be found too numerous for the good working of the objects they had in view . There was reason to believe the support given to the charities from London members was six times greater than that from the provinces , and this was anything but creditable to the superior numbers of Masons in the provincial Lodges , compared with those of the Loudon ,