The Fund Of Benevolence.

Charities , but also their duties locally ; and the fact was that they did not send up so many applicants to the Board of Benevolence as the metropolis did , because they relieved them themselves . He thought that the provinces were doing their duty and ought not to be called upon to contribute to increase a fund for grants contrary to all common sense . He , therefore , opposed the motion .

Bro . BIRKEXHEAD said Bro . Clabon seemed to have laid a stress upon the fact that they had just confirmed very heavy grants , but it would be difficult for them to discuss the circumstances so as to regulate the grants recommended to them . As to the feeling of the lodges in the provinces , it appeared to be that they must cut their coat according to their cloth . He was there partly to represent North

Yorks . Out of twenty-seven lodges there was only one m favour of the motion . Bearing in mind that they sent up for the Masonic Charities about £ 40 , 000 a year , and to the Lodge of Benevolence say £ 10 , 000 . They had in the province a benevolent fund ; besides which some lodges had a benevolent fund for educational purposes , and for the relief of decayed masons . The lodges were ill able to

bear the present strain upon them , and he was perfectly sure with this increased grant they would do wrong to themselves and wrong to the order they belonged to . They had greatly increased since H . R . II . had become their head , but they have not increased in what they ought to have , good men and good Masons . He was afraid when these grants appeared in the papers , a certain class of

men said " What a good thing Freemasonry is ; if anything happens to me my wife and children will be provided for . '" He would like to see men proposed who would be likely never to have a claim upon the charities . The subscription to many lodges was very small , some eight shillings and sixpence to ten and sixpence : he would like to see a yearly subscription of not less than twenty-one

shillings : more if possible : so that an intending entrant might be prompted to consider not only the four , five , six or seven guineas to be paid the first year , but also that he would have to provide for paying an annual subscription of a guinea . After a few further remarks the speaker resumed his seat . Bro . JOHNSTON said that he rose , as a Provincial Grand brother .

to represent a number of brethren who were unable to be present on account of distanc ? or the nature of their avocations . He was Provincial Grand Secretary for the Western Division of Lancashire , and he would address himself to the point whether there was any claim upon them as there was in respect of London brethren . In the north of England they had many brethren going about from

town to town seeking work , whom they had frequently to relieve . So much had such claims increased upon them , that in some parts they were obliged to have Relief Committees , at which they had from three to four applicants for relief at a time . In Liverpool they were rather worse off than in other towns , because , from one reason or another , they had brethren who had returned from the

Colonies with the idea of improving their position , and being disappointed of their object desired to return to the Colonies ; and these brethren were passed on to Liverpool by the brethren in the inland towns , who only paid their railway fare . They had always been able to comply with the demands upon them , and they had always been able to find the money where it had been to help a

worthy brother . They had to pay two shillings to Grand Lodge and two shillings to Provincial Grand Lodge , besides other calls : they were educating 1840 * children ; they had an annuity fund on which there were forty annuitants . They sent up to Grand Lodge two shillings out of every brother ' s subscription ; they were doing their share fairly and manfully , and if further money were required , and

further claims made upon them , he was quite sure that if the brethren were satisfied of the justness of those claims the money would be provided ; but , on the part of his province , he must vote against this motion . The brother concluded that good would result by increasing the time during which a brother must have been a Mason to render him eligible as an applicant , from two to five years .

Bro . JAMES STEVENS said that he for one would most certainly support Bro . Clabon's motion , only that he would wish to go further than the motion went , by stipulating for equal quarterages being required from metropolitan and provincial brethren alike . The provincial brethren at the present time contributed about as much as the metropolitan , and they had their own funds from which thev

derived an additional benefit ( which the London brethren did not enjoy ) before they came to the Board of Benevolence , which they frequently did , for further assistance . He asked them to look back . Did not the provincial brethren who were relieved represent twothirds of the amount of that number . ' He would propose that every Mason in England should pay equal quarterages to Grand

Lodge , and if provincial brethren desired to have additional local relief funds , by all means let them do it . As a man , he said , he was willing to pay the six shillings a year proposed , but he was averse to being mulcted in a larger sum than the provincial brethren . Bro . TENNANT opposed the motion . Bro . Clabon seemed to think it a very easy matter to increase the quarterages , but to him it

appeared to be a matter of the greatest importance , and he submitted that Bro . Clabon had not made out a sufficient case to induce Grand Lodge to give a vote in favour of his motion . What were the facts . ' Up to the year 1880 the grants had amounted to very much less than the income : but for some reason , in 1879 , the expenditure increased from £ 4924 to £ 700 ( 5 . Up to the year 1879

the expenditure had increased gradually , as had the income ; but from what cause he did not know That might be explained by saying that the Board had been most lavish in its expenditure , but he was unwilling to believe that . But there was another reason why this motion should not be agreed to , and that was , that if this

£ 4000 , the estimated amount , was added to the Fund of Benevolence , it could only be done by being extracted from the funds of the various provinces . ( Cries of Vote , vote ) . Bro . CLABON , in reply , said that brethren would kindly remember that there had been no word of opposition from London , and he should first like to look at the results of what had been done that

evening as between London and the provinces . Out of eighteen cases twelve were provincial and six London , and all the large ones were provincial . He asked the country brethren to give one shilling a year—all this grand oratory had been against paying one shilling a year . The vote of Grand Lodge was then taken with the following

result : Bro . Clabon ' s motion , 182 ; against , 18 ( i . The motion was therefore lost . Bro . CLABON said that if the first motion had been carried he would have wished to press the other ; as it was he begged to withdraw the other . After some opposition permission was granted to Bro . Clabon to withdraw his second motion . 117- shall comment on . the foregoing , and- continue the subject in . ovr iicet . —ED . M . S .

India.

INDIA .

ALLAHABAD—LEBANON LODGE ( MARK ) , NO . 207 . —On Tuesday , the 8 th ulto ., Bro . W . Grierson-Jackson was installed W . M . of this Mark Lodge in the presence of a large and distinguished company of masons . MADRAS—PERFECT UNANIMITY LODGE , NO . 150 . —On the loth ult ., Bro . F . B . Hanna was installed W . M . of this old lodge . Among

the brethren present were Lord Connemara . D . G . M ., Madras ; Lord Herschell . P . G . S . W ., England ; Colonel Hill , M . P ., & c . At the banquet which followed Lord Herschell . in responding to the toast of the visitors , made an able and humourous speech which elicited loud applause and much laughter , especially the description of his mother lodge , composed exclusively of lawyers , and their endeavours to maintain perfect unanimity , love , and harmony amongst their

clients . Referring to lodge '' Perfect Lnanimity , " he said he was very greatly impressed with what he had witnessed that evening . It was the first time he had visited a lodge in India , and having heard a great deal about class , caste , and creed , he was proud to find as a Mason that Masonry levelled all such artificial distinctions , and that brethren of all classes , castes , and creeds met as Masons without any restraint in love and harmony . BENGAL . —The District Grand Master has appointed -Bro . A . Paxton Deputy Grand Master of the District .

The Masonic " Poet's Corner."

The Masonic " Poet's Corner . "

( Original and Selected . ) WHAT BETTER THEME THAN MASONRY ?

WHAT better theme can claim our lays , And lend its aid to Harmony ; What noble art sheds brighter rays Than glorious Freemasonry 1 What other virtues can compare i

With those 'tween ; compasses and square : ' For Faith and Hope and Charity , Brotherly Love and Unity , With Order , Peace , and Harmony , Are found in true Freemasonry .

When first to us the light is shown That governs true morality , Others' distress we make our own In natural equality . Our steps are then taught to ascend

The ladder staves that upward tend ; Faith , first upon the muster-roll , Hope , the sheet-anchor of the soul , And Charity , that crowns the whole Foundation of Freemasonry .

When Craftsmen ' s labours we attend We ' re taught the hidden mystery . By science led to comprehend The scope of nature ' s history ; From nature up to nature ' s God

Our minds are raised above the sod , And Wisdom comes to shield from harm , Strength , hurtful passions to disarm , Whilst Beauty lends a crowning charm To all our works in Masonry .

And next , as Master Masons , we Share the sublimest mystery , And prove how potent then can be Fortitude and Fidelity ; The terrors of the darkest hour

Are lessened by the Mystic Power ; And Virtve ' s portal opens wide Our steps to Honour ' s fane to guide , Whilst Mercy pleads upon our side To Him who rules Freemasonry .

And when , our glorious labours o er , We meet for brief hilarity , Amidst our joys , our Brethren poor Remembered are in charity : Each thankful heart expands to bless ;

Each willing hand relief will press ; With Temperance G od's gifts we share ; Prudence extends her watchful care , And Justice , symbolled by the Square , Perfects our work in Masonry . JAMEB STEVENS , P . M ., P . Z ., & c . From " UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC RITUAL AND OBSERVANCE . "