United Grand Lodge.

the unanimity with which the vofo of an honorarium to him for his valuable services as Acting Grand Secretary was passed . No other result could have been anticipated . Equally glad aro we that tho voto of £ -500 towards the Duchess of Marlborough ' s Fund for the Relief of Irish

Distress was agreed to with similar unanimity . It would bo impossibilo to find a better purpose to which to devoto a portion of our General Fund . The other matters do not need any further comment , the report wo givo of them elsewhere being quite sufficient .

The Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund.

THE ROYAL MASONIC PUPILS ' ASSISTANCE FUND .

IF all goes well , tho opening meeting of tho founders and other brethren who may bo interosted in tho promotion of this Fund will he held in the Board Room at Freemasons' Hall on Thursday next , under tho presidency of

His Royal Highness Princo Leopold , Past G . Warden , and Prov . G . Master Oxon , while tho Vice-Chair will be occupied hy Lord Rosslyn , Past G . Master of Scotland . That the scheme is started nnder tho most favourable

auspices goes without saying . The array of names as published in these columns is mo ^ t influential . Both the provinces and tho metropolis are well represented , and there is every reason to hope that the labours of those who have charged themselves with the preliminary duty of preparing

for the eventful occasion will culminate in a success surpassing even onr most sanguine expectations . Wc are prepared to expect that as regards details , it will bo some time before tho plan can bo fashioned so as to work smoothly . We know beforehand that in a matter of this

kind differences of opinion as to the means to ho employed in order to secure the desired end will inevitably arise . It will be wise , of course , to make the most of tho enthusiastic support which the hare proposal to establish a Fnnd has evoked in all directions . But it will be the reverse of wise

to hurry on the arrangements . As , therefore , this is the last opportunity we shall have of referring to tho subject before the gathering of next Thursday takes place , let us

glance briefly at ; in the first place , the objects for which tho Fnnd is about to be established , and in the second place , the likeliest and most effectual means by which that object can be attained .

The title of the Fnnd explains to some extent its purpose . Tho children we admit into our Schools at Wood Green and Wandsworth receive an excellent education . Not only are they tanght well , but they are likewise well trained . The reports of the examiners attest the former , the

satisfaction of the authorities bears witness to the latter . Bat the time inevitably comes when our young < proUrj 6 s must quit the hospitable roof under which they have spent so many happy years , in order to play their part in the grand struggle for an honest and honourable livelihood . It may

be they havo friends to assist or guide them amid the snares and pitfalls by which they will at once find themselves surrounded . It is possible they may find on leaving school an opening in the direction in which their abilities and inclination lie , or ifc may be that they will have to live

on m a state of enforced aud unwelcome idleness . They may turn out to he children of only average mental calibre , or they may possess abilities of the highest class , or unusual aptitude for some business or profession . On the other hand , they may be not only resourceless but friendless , and

perhaps feeble in health as well as in mind . At all events , be their circumstances what they may , thero is no gainsaying the fact that the timo thoy leave school is the most critical period of their existence . Till this timo come they will have been in leading strings ; henceforth they will be

comparatively free to follow the bent of their own inclinations . They may happen to select the right path and prosper , or they may go on floundering about until they find themselves inextricably involved in all kinds of difficulties . It is , then , when they leave school that a little wholesome

advice , a little pecuniary assistance judiciously administered , is most likely to prove of service to them , and it is for this object principally that the Royal Masonic Pupils ' Assistance Fund is about to be established . We do not

think a better scheme could have been suggested in order to complete the work so thoroughly and so successfully accomplished by our Schools . It will naturally occur to most of our readers to ask to

The Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund.

what extent and for how long this assistance will bo given ? To this question AVO fancy it will be impossible to forniulato an answer in general terms . Yet that will not operate as a preventive to there being a certain code of regulations sufficiently general in their character to include almost

every variety of case . An instant expenditure of a comparatively trifling sum may suffice for one , for another a considerable outlay spread over a period of time more or less prolonged may be found necessary , while in a third instance no outlay whatever may be required , but only the

exercise of sufficient influence to place tho pupil whero ho or she may have the chance of earning an honourable livelihood ; and when it is seen that through zeal and attention to duty there is every prospect of the boy or girl turning out well , then some kind of reward , pecuniary or

otherwise , might bo given . Wo do not profess to say it will bo possible to range every application under one or other of the foregoing categories , bufc wo do think tho majority of them will be such as wo have roughly indicated .

No doubt the regulations will bo framed in such a manner thafc the Executive body will bo in a position to deal with each individual case on its merits , and there need be no fear of laxitv in the administration of tho Fund . What is moro to

tho point , those who administer it will be able to watch over the after progress of tho pupils . And then tho latter will themselves feel they aro commencing tho great battle of life under moro favourable circumstances . They will recognise that they are not entirely adrift , that they havo

a body of well-wishers intent on watching the progress they make , and above all things , the manner in which they comport themselves . They will know that interest will cease , and any aid they may have been reckoning upon will be withdrawn or withheld , if they do not strive to their

utmost to givo satisfaction to their employers . As they grow older and gain experience they will still bo animated by tho samo " desire—if they aro the children wo take them to be—to strengthen and improve their position , until at length they find themselves strong enough to

battle on alone and unassisted . It cannot bo said thero is any extravagance in such a scheme , or thafc those who may derive assistance from tho proposed Fund will lose thoso habits of self-reliance which aro rightly considered so necessary to success in lifo , and we may take it for granted that

in extending further benefits to the young wo have takenor may take under our charge , wo shall not be unduly increasing the financial responsibilities of the Craft . Wo stand already pledged to the maintenance of two Schools and a Benevolent Institution , and the former already givo

certain assistance to such of tho retiring pupils as may need it . The new proposal does not bind us to an unduly increased outlay in this respect . Tho majority of the cases which will be submitted to ifc for consideration

will doubtless be of the same character as heretofore . Tho assistance will in all probability usually take the form of indenture fees for apprenticing boys to some trade or profession , which fees in themselves are seldom of very great extent ; but more often than not we imagine influence

alone will be sufficient to secure employment suitable for each applicant . With this view the founders have received promises of support from influential sources , while lists of probable vacancies and appointments will from time to timo be noted . This , coupled with the advice and help that may

he rendered from chiefs interested in juniors will form a prominent feature of the assistance contemplated . Now and-again , it may happen—but we are sure the " now aud again" will he equivalent to "very rarely" —there probably will be found boys with talents of a very high order , whom ,

for the honour of the School as well as for their own sake , it may be considered wise to send to one of our Universities . In that case the outlay will be considerable , and extend over a period of years . Or , in order to provide for such , it might be thought the better course to establish a Scholarship

Fund—as part and parcel of the Assistance Fund—tho proceeds being reserved for such deserving pupils as are likely to achieve academic distinction . Then there are many Schools of High Art now open to those who have a decided taste in painting , drawing , sculpture , & c . The fees aro

light , but those who attend the classes must have tbo means to support themselves during their period of study . Girls there are who have in them the making of good musicians , while others have equal chances of succeeding as

governesses . It will be necessary in the case of these that tho general education they have received in our School should be followed by a period of special training . But when wo have made allowance , among those who leave school