Monthly Masonic Summary.

Monthly Masonic Summary .

The meeting of Grand Chapter was not marked by any business of importance , as the one point of interest was very wisely adjourned for future ancl careful consideration . The first gathering of Masonic Charity , that of the Royal Masonic Benevolent

Institution , took place on the 27 th January , under the presidency of Bro . the Earl of Shrewsbury . The meeting Avas large and enthusiastic , and the Lists of the Stewards produced in round numbers nearly _ £ 6 , 700 , a very noble amount , £ 6 , 630 being announced

in the room , Avith several lists to come in . This is indeed a good beginning for our Masonic charitable crusade in this year of light ancl grace , and Ave trust that our two succeeding anniversaries for the Girls ' ancl Boys' Schools , may equally testify to tbe zeal of the Stewards , and tbe benevolence of our Order .

There is one question now which greatly interests the Order—where the Installation of H . R . H . the Grand Master Elect is to take place 1 Some have suggested the Alexandra Palace ; some the Albert Hall ; the last-named has been selected , ancl

full notice of all the arrangements Avill be given to the Brethren . It is probable , that the Installation of our popular and Royal Grand Master , will draw together such a meeting of Freemasons , as has never been before Avitnessedas not

, only is our Brotherhood a very loyal body ahvays , under all circumstances ancl in every emergency , but , just UOAV , Avarm and grateful are the feelings of the entire fraternit y towards that august Brother , Avho , in an hour of great anxiety , so

gallantly cast in his lot ivith us assailed and calumniated Freemasons . Beyond this , we have little to report at home or abroad . We hear of new Lodges being consecrated , and Freemasonry in Great

Britain and the United States seems to be advancing with rapid strides . It may be a question deserving serious consideration , Avhether the staple of new membershi p is not becoming a little loAvered , in

consequence of the number of applicants for admission . But that is , to say the truth , an eVA not peculiar to the jn-esent system , or the passing hour , but is one of Avhich we have always more or less to complain . Some correspondence has appeared on the

subject in the Freemason , but the only practical and certainly only available remedy , lies in the hands of the members themselves .

A Bro . Valleton , who lives in London , the French Correspondent of " Le' Monde Maeonnique , " has been writing some amusing articles in that Journal on English Freemasonry . Amusing are his contributionsbecausemarked by a complete

, , ignorance of the subject in Avhich he professes so learnedly to hold forth . His letters are as good a specimen of " high falutin , " ancl of the Masonic " Stump " as we have had the ill-fortune for some time to

peruse . He clearly has hardly ever been Avithin an English Lodge ; he knows nothing of our sentiment , sympathies , or " modus procedendi , " but having a purely foreign " coup d ' ceil" of our teaching and ceremonialand a continental views of the very

, advanced type , he amuses himself by running a muck at our peaceable , loyal , religious , English Freemasonry . Well , it has not done us any harm , and Ave don't think will do us any . We are not likely to give up our principles or

practices in consequence of Bro . Valleton ' s opinion of them , but his words serve to sheAv , how wide is after all the demurcation between true ancl pseitdo Freemasonry , ancl how opposed to all the subversive theories , and unbeliving dogmas of foreign sciolists are tbe good old fashioned and steady going declaration of our English Brotherhood .

We are sorry to find that our able Bro . A . Mackey has had to discontinue the National Freemason from lack of support . We cannot understand the apathy of so enlightened a brotherhood as the Americans on the subjectbut Ave are glad to note

, , that our able Brother is now acting as Joint Editor in the Voice of Masonry and Family Magazine . We Avish him all success . E