The Laws Of The Schools.

THE LAWS OF THE SCHOOLS .

THE "widely spread difference of opinion as to tlio interpretation to be put npon tlio School Laws , find npon tlie desirability of adopting the alterations recently proposed at the General Courts , has reached a stago at which wo may probably assist our readers in arriving afc a jnst decision on

both these points . In endeavouring to do this , and bearing in mind that comparatively few of tho subscribers are in possession of copies of the Laws , —although we believe the Secretaries would forward them to any applicant , —we will give " chapter and verse " of those clauses which appear to

ns to bear upon the subject which has been—perhaps too warmly—argued . The original design of governing these Institutions seems to have been , firstly , a General Court , which was doubtless intended to include every subscriber entitled to vote at the School Elections , although the Laws ,

both m the original and in the suggested amendments , are curiously silent on this point ; and , secondly , a General Committee for transacting tho ordinary business of the Institution , with sub-division into House , and Finance and Audit Committees , the powers and duties of each being dnly set forth . As to the General Court , Law 30 says : —

XXX . The business of a Quarterly General Court shall bo to elect the Patron , or Patrons , Treasurer , Trustees , "Vice-Presidents , Life Governors ( other than those who become Vice-Presidents or Life Governors in right of their contributions ) , —the twelve representative

members of tho General Committee , and Medical Officers : — to declare Vacancies , —elect Boys , —make new laws , and abrogate or amend existing laws ; and generally to direct and control the affairs of the Institution .

A Quarterly General Court has the power of adjournment . Law 31 provides that a Special Court shall be called on a requisition in writing ; Law 32 appoints the Chairman and fixes the quorum of five members ; Law 33 stipulates that every motion shall be in writing ; and Law 34 reads : —

XXXIV . No motion for a new law , for the abrogation or alteration of any existing law , or for a grant of money , shall be made at a General Court , unlosa notice thereof shall hare been given at a previous General Court or General Committee , and advertised by the Socretary iu three , at least , of the daily papers , six days , prior to such meeting , notice also being sent to every Provincial Grand Secretary . Tho prerogative of the General Committee is defined by Laws 35 and 36 : —

GENERAL COMMITTEE . XXXV . The ordinary business of the Institution shall be transacted by a Geueral Committee , consisting of all Life Governors , * together with twelve Life or Annual Subscribers elected aunually at the Quarterly Court iu April . A summary of their monthl y proceedings shall bo reported to the following Quarterly General Court . They shall receive and examine tho Petitions of Candidates for admission .

and recommend to the Quarterly Court those declared eligible to be placed on the list for election , with power to reject any petition if they consider the case not within the class of those intended to be aided by the Institution , notwithstanding the correctness of all certificates required , —elect the House , and Finance , and Andit Committees , —fill

up vacancies therein , —elect or remove the Secretary , Collector , and paid officers ( other than those hereinafter excepted ) , appoint Subcommittees , —receive the reports of all Committees , consider and decide upon their recommendations , and order payment of the accounts as approved by the Finance and Audit Committee .

XXXVI . They shall meet afc the Office of the Institution , on the last Thursday of everymonth ( evceplu-hen that day shall be Christmas Day , and then on the day preceding ) , afc Four o ' clock in the Afternoon

The Laws Of The Schools.

elect a Chairman afc each Meeting , and may adjourn from timo to timo . Threo shall form a quorum . The succeeding clauses refer to the House and "Finance

Committees , and have no other bearingonthoqurstionsundor discussion than that thoir proceedings are to be reported to the General Committee ; no mention being made or the General Court .

The main point of difference , as wo understand it is , do these Laws confer upon the General Court a power of appointing Sub-Committees ? We think not . Strictly speaking , a jS ' « Z > -Committee can only bo appointed by a

Committee . It would clearly bo within tho powers of the Court itself , under clause 30 , and after dne notice and advertisements , as required by clause 34 , to meet by adjournment any number of times , to alter , abrogate , or add to the existing Laws ; but it would also appear that in nominating

twelve representative members of . the General Committee , the Court had already exercised tho full power of Committee nomination originally contemplated , and that any references by the Court should be to the General Committee whose authority to appoint a Sub-Committee for any special

purpose is indisputable . Indeed , if the Court possessed the power , the policy of its exercise would be very questionable , since tho General Committee might reasonably construe tho appointment into a " want of confidence " vote . It . will be observed that Law 30 , besides specifying the business

of a Quarterly Court , specifically gives tho power of adjournment , and if it had also been intended to confer also a right of appointing Snb-Cominittccs , this would doubtless havo been likewise expressed . Tho General Committee is required to report a summary of their proceedings to the Quarterly

Court , as well as to recommend the candidates eligible to bo placed on the list for election , but on no other subject are cither of tho Committees required to communicate with the General Court . As to receiving reports from Sub-Committees , if the Court can override tho written laws in this

particular , wo see no reason why it could not supersede the General Committee in the elections of the House Committee , Secretary , & c , or override the House Committee in'tho appointment of School staff . Wo doubt if it is desirable to

encourage any deviations from a commonsense reading of the regulations , but wc have no wish to assume the office of dictator , nor do wc desire to assort that every person who fails to see the question in the same light as ourselves is necessarily devoid of sense .

Decorations—What Are They Worth?

DECORATIONS—WHAT ARE THEY WORTH ?

IN this Nineteenth Century the old adage "Beauty unadorned is adorned the most , " may well be taken to heart by Freemasons . Wherever wo assemble Masonically , we arc sure- to find many of those wc meet bespangled with tinsel and meaningless gee-gaws which , if

displayed on a wild Indian , would be greeted with endless ridicule . Why all this outward show ? simply it is the fashion ; and , as such , wo suppose must and will endure . We do not find fault with those who have to provide for

the popular taste ; but who can describe as anything approaching ease the post : of a brother who has been sitting for two or three hours in a hot room with something short of a dozen decorations jingling no matter which way he turns , or who can look upon the bulk of the jewels that are