Masonic Cadgers.

feelings of deep gratitude for past favours that I now take the liberty of addressing you , and you may believe me when I say that real distress is the cause of my so doing ; and to whom can I apply but to a brother Masou ; yet I feel I am trespassing . However , clear sir and brothershould your benevolence extend so

, far as to land a helpiug hand to a poor brother who has seen better days , your kindness , I assure you , shall never be obliterated from my memory , and your mite shall be received with every sentiment of heartfelt gratitude by

"Sir , respectfully yours fraternally , " ROET . WALKEE , " Sussex Lodge , 354 , Jamaica , and the Camelodunum Lodge , 66 , Malton , Yorkshire . " I am forty-nine years a Mason , and seventy years of age . Late Warrant Officer and Armourer of the old Shannon frigate in the West Indies and the

Spanish Main ; the same frigate which fought the American Chesapeake . "I was kindly relieved at Chester by Bro . Brett Goldsmith , W . M . " I have other letters in much the same words which have been from time to time sent iu by parties applying for relief ; it appears to be what may be called a stereotyped form of Masonic begging applications .

The aboA'e are a few out of upwards of a hundred and twenty applicants whom I have relieved since I have acted as Almoner to my lodge , aud the only ones whom I have actually found out as being impostors or otherwise unworthy of assistance , but I much fear that three-fourths of the whole number

make a trade of Masonic begging . What is to be done ? It has been suggested to me never to relieve Avithout the production of a Grand Lodge certificate , but . alas , some of the greatest of the rogues I have named have been iu possession of certificates ; besides , a brother does not always travel

with his certificate ( I know I never do ) , and we none of us know how soon we may ou an emergency need temporary assistance . I always feel bound to give applicants the benefit of the doubt ; if I did not , I should give very little relief , but Avhen I detect an impostor I shew him no mercy .

Apologising for the length of my communication , which I trust may be the means of checking imposition on others to , at any rate , a small extent , I am , yours fraternally , H . B . WHITE , P . M ., G . Treas ., and Almoner 2 nd Aug ., 1867 . 148 , Warriugton .

Ar00803

DRAMATIC CRITICS ON THEIR BROTHER AUTHORS . —Dramatic authors , far from being gentle judges of the work of their fellow-craftsmen , are often remarkable for Draconian severity . Mr . Tom Taylor is tlio most prolific modern dramatist , with the exception of Mr . Boucicault , and , when lie gets an opportunity of passing judgment upon a contemporary drama , he is far from being merciful . His criticisms in the

now defunct "Reader" were full of spleen and indignation , and ids notices in The Times ( during the illness of Mr . Oxenford ) of a " Wild Goose , " at the Haymarket , and of the defects of stage management at tlie Adelphi , when his own drama of '' Henry Dunbar" was revived , were like galvanic shocks to the readers of tlie leading journal . The public , used to nothing but critical sugar , were not prepared for this sudden dose of bitters , and the change of diet was evidently a mystery to the uninitiated . —The Broadway , No . I .

Masonic Mems.

MASONIC MEMS .

THEMASONICMIRROR.* * All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street ,, Strand , London , W . C .

The Right Honourable Lord Dunboyne , Provincial Grand-Master of North Munster , has intimated his intention of holding his quarterly Provincial Grand Lodges , alternately at Ennis ,. Nenagh ( Newcastle West ) , Kilrusb , and 44 Clonmel , as soon asit is attached to his district . The question as to the latter lodge is now before the Board of General Purposes in the Grand .

Lodge of Ireland , Dublin . THE LEWIS LODGE ( NO . 1 , 185)—one of the special objects infounding which is to render and attract increased support tothe Boys' School—will be consecrated on Saturday next , 17 th inst ., at the Nightingale Tavern , Wood Green , at three p . m .. The brethren will assemble at the Eoyal Institution for Boys ,,

AVood Green , at two p . m ., to have an opportunity of inspecting the building . The ceremony of consecration will be performed by Bro . John Hervey , P . G . D ., a vice-president of-the Boys' " School . The officers designate are Bros . Frederick Bincks ,. AV . M . ; James Russell Cover ( AV . M . 657 ) , S . W . ; Arthur Charles-Fowler ( No . 657 ) , J . AV . The lodge will supply a want long felt

in the locality . MASONIC WORK IS SCOTLAND . —The events of the past fewweeks are noteworthy owing to the great amount of useful work , got through by our brethren in the North . It is only the other day that we gave an account of the laying of tbe foundationstone of a new poorliouse for the City of Edinburgh , since which we find our distinguished brother , the Earl of Dalhousie—with that activity for which lie is justly so

pre-eminent—immediatelyfollowing the discharge of his mournful and onerous duties at the funeral lodge in memory of the late Sir Archibald Alison ( and from the excitement of which lie could scarcely have recovered ) , by presiding upon a more pleasing occasion , and in liis two-fold capacity of Prov . G . M . for Forfar ancl Kincardineshire ,, and Lord-Lieutenant of the former county , at the laying of the

foundation-stone of a new Drill Hall at Dundee . Then we havethe laying of the foundation-stone last week of a new Episcopal church at St . Andrew's , Fife , by the M . W . the Grand Master-Mason of Scotland . During last week also the foundation-stone of a new church at fenpont , in Dumfriesshire , was laid with Masonic honours by Bro . Lauderdale Maitland , of Eccles , the

R . W . Provincial Grand Master . It is thus that the Masons in . the North have , during the last month , been working " right merrily" and usefully . Long may the Eoyal Art thus continueto prosper . STAFFORDSHIRE , —The E . AV . Prov . G . Master , Lord De Tabley , will lay the foundation stone of St . Thomas ' s Church ,,

at Hyde , with the usual Masonic ceremonies , at 11 a . m ., on , Thursday the 22 ud inst . The brethren will meet at the Norfolk Arms' Hotel at 10 a . m . On the same day , at 2 . p . m ., his lordship will consecrate the Clarendon Lodge ,. No . 1 , 166 , at the Queen's Hotel , Hyde . Bro . John AVood , the ¦ AV . M . designate , will be afterwards installed by Bro . Captain

Cope , V . AV . P . G . S . NV ., P . G . S . B . of England , & c . The banquet will be served at the Mechanics' Institution at 5 p . m . E- EL Griffiths , of Nantwich , Treas . and Sec . ( No . 321 ) .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

INSTRUCTION . CnTSTAt- PALACE LODGE . —Bro . Margerison , J . W . 1 , 153 an < 2