The Quarterly Communication Of Grand Lodge.

provided on the site of the Hotel . He further points out that at the present stage it is impracticable to submit any accurate estimate of fche cost of this scheme : bnt is of

opinion that the total expense would probably not exceed from £ 30 , 000 to £ 35 , 000 beyond what wonld be received from the Insurance Companies , and from Messrs . Spiers and Pond , as a contribution for improvements especially affecting their premises .

The Premises Committee refer to the funds to credit of Grand Lodge , and intimate that any balance required could be raised without difficulty , and conclude by recommending the scheme , fully believing that should it bo adopted by Grand Lodge , it will give to the Craft premises

worthy of the present flourishing state of Freemasonry in England . Little need be said in reference to this proposition , ifc seems to us the best that could be made . It would be a pity to sacrifice the portions of the premises still uninjured , and give up the old Masonic associations

which are inseparable from Great Queen Street , for the purpose of erecting a showy Temple on the Thames Embankment , or other public thoroughfare , which , to many , would be looked upon as only a huge advertisement of the

greatness of Freemasonry . In addition , there is the question affecting the income derived from the Freemasons ' Tavern , which would no doubt be affected by any removal of the Lodge accommodation , as well as many other matters which will doubtless strike our readers .

The Report of the Board of Benevolence is followed by a resolution of the members , expressive of their sense of the ability and courtesy of the President , and by a statement of Grand Lodge Accounts at the last meeting of the

Finance Committee ( held on the 18 th ult . ) Then comes the consideration of the Annual Report of the Benevolent Institution ; an appeal against sentence of expulsion ; and three notices of motion .

The first of these latter refers to the rebuilding of the Temple , the second to the reconsideration of the Revised Book of Constitutions , and the third is a proposal that the usual annual grant for coals for the old people at Croydon

shall be made from the funds of Grand Lodge . We can but express a hope thafc the meeting will be numerously attended , and that whatever decisions may be arrived at they may ultimately prove of benefit to the Craffc at large .

The Approaching Festival Of The Boys' School.

THE APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

rpHIS years' Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution - * - for Boys promises to be the most important gathering ever held in connection with either of our Masonic Institutions , as no doubt this year ' s total of subscriptions will prove to be the largest ever collected . The Committee of the Boys ' . School , we believe , by the all but unanimous

opinion of fche subscribers , decided conditionally on an enlargement of the School buildings at Wood Green by the erection of a Preparatory School , a course which will enable them to take on an additional number of pupils , and thus relieve the pressing wants of some of the

many candidates who periodically present themselves at the half-yearly elections of the School . It having been determined that a special Fnnd should be raised to meet the cost of building this proposed Preparatory School , especial advantages , in the way of extra votes , were

offered , to induce old supporters of the Institntion to come forward and contribute towards the enlargement , and this plan has met with snch a hearty response as will lead to the collection of—it is said—as much as £ 20 , 000 during the year , a very large portion of which wil ] , as we

have explained , be specially contributed for the purpose of enlarging the premises at Wood Green . That such a result shonld even be anticipated goes far to prove the popularit y of the proposed enlargement . It cannot be said that all of this extra support is given because additional votes are

offered ; that might influence some few , but , on the other hand , it must be borne in mind that unless a brother sympathised with fche Institution , no amount of enticement , in the form of extra votes , would induce him to subscribe .

We may , therefore , safely assume that the Boys' School is in favour with a very large majority of English Craftsmen . It has fallen to our lot on many occasions in the past to lament the inability of the Committee to take on a larger proportion of the lads deemed eligible for the benefits of

The Approaching Festival Of The Boys' School.

the School , and there is very little doubt but that the great number of boys who have had to be returned as unsuccessful after the various elections has made an impreasion on the minds of many Avho have come forward during the present year to assist in providing moro

accommodation at the School . We only hope they may live to see the fruits of their generosity ; and that the lads who will be taken on in consequence of the extra exertions now

being mado will appreciate the help afforded them , and , shonld opportunity occur , will do their best to maintain those who , in years to come , may seek the benefits they in their youth secured .

So far we have only spoken of the support it is anticipated will be given to the School itself , during the present year ; no mention has yot been made of the men who are working to bring about the grand result expected . The Stewards of the year seem to ns to deserve especial

consideration on the present occasion . They are entrusted with a work which will remain , not merely for a year or two , but as long as the School exists ; they are called

upon to demonstrate the practicability , or otherwise , of maintaining the enlargement that has been agreed upon , and in proportion to the success they achieve may be reckoned the success which will attend the first few

years , at least , of the Preparatory School . If , as we believe will be the case , the Stewards are this year enabled to collect sufficient to pay the extreme cost of the addition , it will ever remain a monument to their exertions , and will stand as an example for future generations to follow .

At the present time there are something over 360 brethren enrolled on the list of Stewards , and from these some enthusiastic Craftsmen say no less a sum than £ 20 , 000 is to be received ! A large amount , it mnst be admitted , bnt one which ifc is possible for them to raise under the special

circumstances which can be associated with this year ' s appeal . The holding of the Festival at the Crystal Palace on one of the days set apart for the Handel Celebration , may influence some few at least to assist who would not

otherwise do so , and if strangers to our Charities can be induced to attend these meetings , it usually happens that a donation follows , if not at once , at least some short time afterwards .

The Right Hon . Yiscount Holmesdale has a good Province at his back , and we look forward to seeing him and the Craftsmen of Kent heading the list , so far as the

Provinces are concerned , with a total which will do credit , not only to the county from which it emanates , the worthy brother at its head , the Institution for which it is subscribed , but to Freemasonry in general .

In conclusion , we can but tender our best wishes for success to all who are associated with the Festival , and express a fervent hope it may realise as grand a total as Brother Binckes , the energetic Secretary—to whom much

of the credit of the work is due—and other friends desire . In any case we feel snre that the donations will prove beyond a doubt that the Boys' School has the sympathy of the entire English Brotherhood .

Freemasonry In Russia.

FREEMASONRY IN RUSSIA .

IT was the Grand Lodge of London that established the first Lodge at Moscow in 1731 , under the reign of the Empress Anna Ivanowa , and for the purpose of constituting others in the country , patented John Phillips as Provincial Grand Master . Freemasonry made but very

little progress in Russia , and it was not until the year 1771 that the first Lodge was organised at Sfc . Petersburg . In 1772 the Grand Lodge of London delivered to John Telaguine , a Senator and Privy Councillor , a patent constituting him Provincial Grand Master for Russia . After

his death he was succeeded by the Count Roman Woronsow . At this time the Lodges increased to a greater extent in St . Petersburg than in any other portion of the empire , the membership belonging in great parfc to the nobility . Under the reign of Catherine II . ifc would have

been difficult to find in St . Petersburg a noble who was not a Freemason . It is true that the Empress often manifested some chagrin when , after finding but a single chamberlain in attendance upon her , she inquired for such and such a one as she missed , and was told that he had gone to the Lodge ; but , nevertheless , she was well enough