The Vacant Secretaryship.

THE VACANT SECRETARYSHIP .

ON Thursday , the 11 th iust ., the choice of a successor to the late Bro . Little will be determined , and this , therefore , is the last occasion on Avhich AVO shall have an opportunity of offering any remarks on a subject Avhich is admittedly of the very greatest importance to the whole of tho English Craft . On what may be the result of the

election depends , in great measure , the Avell-being of the Girls' School for some years . We know , of course , that , if the choice should sooner or later turn out to be a bad one , it is in tho power of the authorities to remove the chosen ono aud hold a fresh election , but that Avould be a

certain detriment to the Institution , though not so considerable a one as would bo the retention in office of an inefficient Secretary . Rightly , therefore , have AVO said that Thursday ' s proceedings will be momentous , and that those Avho have the right to cast a vote for this or that

candidate should do so with no other object than to promote , to tho best of their ability , the Avelfare of the School . In a former article , Avithout expressing any bias in favour of any one candidate , we indicated as clearly as we could what , in our opinion , should be regarded as the essential

qualifications of a Secretary to ono of our Charities . As a matter of course , that opinion has had its usual allowance of unfavourable criticisms . Taking them together , tho opposite views do not call for any special comment , bnt in the case of one of them AVO think it advisable to point out

a certain inconsistency which it appears to possess with the praise so ampl y and so deservedly bestowed on tho deceased Secretary . We suggested that , all other things being equal , the candidate AVIIO held the rank of Installed Master , and Avas a member of other degrees , Avould be preferable to one

who was onl y a Master Mason , and tho reason Ave assigned for this suggestion Avas , that such a candidate would be in a position to exercise greater influence , seeing that the circle of his Masonic acquaintance must obviousl y be more extended . To this if has been objected , that Avhat the

Institution wants is an efficient Secretary , Avho will be always at his post , not one Avhom , by reason of his numerous Masonic duties , it mi ght occasionally bo difficult to find . Let our readers note the weakness of this criticism . There is probably no Mason living who was connected with more

Masonic bodies , and AVIIO had therefore more Masonic duties to fulfil than the late Bro . Little . Yet we have never heard it suggested that his Provincial Grand Secretaryship , or his Grand Treasurer-Generalshi p in the remotest degree interfered with his official duties as Secretary

to the Girls' School . Latterly his health had been bad , and he was consequently absent very often and continuousl y from his post , but his absence was never , that wo are aware of , attributable , or , indeed , attributed to the tax upon his time by purely Masonic labours . Aud even were it so

that a man connected with many degrees must necessarily have more claims ou his time , and be therefore more frequently away from his office , yet it must be borne in mind that he has so many more opportunities of pleading the cause of the Institution . We know the Girls' School is

of Craft origin , but we know likewise that Arch , Mark , Templar , and A . and A . Rite Masons contribute most liberally towards its support , and it is a decided advantage , therefore , to have a Secretary who belongs to some or all of these degrees . This offers no serious objection to tho

claims of any of the candidates who may have confined their attentions to Craft Masonry , for shonld such a one be chosen , it is open to him to join the other degrees , and the matter is at rest . We want a Secretary AVIIO shall have weight and influence , as AVCII as the ability to do office

work , and it by no means follows that the candidate Avho Avill make the most perfect official will likewise be able to command the greatest weight among brethren . We see no reason , under these circumstances , for revising or

modifying our formerly expressed opinion , that , cmteris paribus , of two or more candidates for the post he is the most eligible who , by reason of his Masonic connections , Avill command the createst influence .

A few Avords more and our task is ended . We have heard it rumoured at different times that now Bro . This , now Bro . That , was on the point of retiring his candidature . Such shaves as this aro part and parcel of the

ordinary proceedings which attend every election . HOAVever , as far as wc have been able to gather , all the nine candidates whose names for the past few weeks have been before the Masonic public are resolved on going to the

The Vacant Secretaryship.

poll . These aro Bros . Crick , Cull , Eames , Hedges , Matier , Sraallpeice , Storr , White , and Worrell , and , as AVO havo said before , may the best man among them win ! One other rumour Ave have heard in more than ono quarter , and it certainly has a nasty ring about it . Wo take it , as AVO

tako all rumours , just for what it is worth , and for the sake of Freemasonry we hope and trust there is no shadow of a foundation for its existence . Indeed , as far as Ave are concerned , we shall decline to believe it until we have something tangible in tho shape of evidence to support if .

It is well , however , to let our readers know what this rumour is , so that if , unfortunately , and contrary to our belief , there should bo anything in it , they may be on their guard , and resolutely decline to be influenced by " tho voice of the charmer , charm he never so Avisely . " Without further

preface , then , wo havo heard it said that pressure has been , and is being , brought to bear on voters to support ono of the candidates , and the pressure takes the form of a most discreditable threat that thoso Avho withhold their support at all idea of the coveted

may once give up ever obtaining purple" of Grand Lodge . We repeat what we havo just said , that we shall most emphatically decline to believe in this rumour until AVO have something like convincing evidence of its truth , but if it be true , then our advice is , that

any to Avhom it may be made should resent it with tho scorn it deserves , and forthwith record their votes against tho candidate on AVIIOSO behalf it may be employed . Rather would we see the least capable elected , by a bare majority , or by a fluke , than that the election should be decided by the adoption in any case of such reprehensible malpractices .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex And Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY .

THE annual meeting was held at tlio Greyhound Hotel , Croydon , on Saturday the 29 tli June , and the attendance and proceedings wore of the most gratifying nature . At two o ' clock the Croydon Mark Lodge , No . 19 S , was opened liy the Provincial Grand Secretary , XV G . Brighten , after which Bro . Henry Lovegrovo was balloted for , and was duly advanced , the ceremony being performed by the Prov . Grand Secretary , on account of the W . M ., Bro . Close , having the

carrying oat of tho arrangements at tho Church . Shortly after threo o ' clock tho Provincial Grand Lodge was opened , when there wero present the R . W . Provincial Grand Master Col . Francis Burdett , the V . W . F . Davison Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Sir Charles T . Bright P . G . S . W ., the Eev . Ambrose XV . Hall P . G . Chaplain , C . Hninmorton P . G . Treasurer , J . M . Klenck P . G . Registrar , VV . G .

Brighton P . G . Secretary , J . Kirk P . G . M . O ., J . Tomlinson P . G . S . O ., II . Court P . G . J . O ., XV . Taylor P . G . S . D ., J . B . Shackleton Director of Ceremonies , R . Davies Sword Bearer , J . C . Legg Standard Bearer , H . A . Pocock P . G . I . G ., and B . Meyer , J . F . Gibson , A . W . Hume and A . Clark Provincial Grand Stewards , and the following Past Provincial Girand Oliicers , namely , —W . Worrell , E . Simpson Blaikie

John Close , J . K . Pitt , and F . H . Cozens . Among tho numerous visiting brethren present were W . Foulsham of tho Provincial Grand Mark Lr . dgo of Northumberland , It . C . Levamler Grand Registrar , F Binckes Past Grand Warden aud Grand Secretary , C . F . Matier Past Grand Warden , A . G . Goodall of New York City , C . Coles 1 G 9 , C . A . Solle Chaplain 280 , F . R . Adams 19 S , B . H . Ridge 193 , G .

Kennedy Secretary 22 G , F . Griffiths 198 , W . H . Goodall 211 , J . B . Graham 211 , E . Palmer 226 , H . Shaw 220 , G . Spink 220 , F . W . Simons 101 , E . Whittaker 139 . The minutes of the previous meeting , held at the Town Hall , Twickenham , in July last , wero road and confirmed . The Provincial Grand Lodgo was called oft to divine service at the Parish Church , where the service ( full choral )

was kindly conducted by tho Vicar , the Rov . Canon Hodgson ; the sermon was preached by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , tho Rov . Ambrose W . Hall , on the text , " I will give unto him that overcomtth a white stone , " at the close of which tho preacher brought to the notice of his hearers tho Croydon Provident Clothing Fund , and tho offertory realised tho sum of , C 7 0 s 2 d .

Tho service throughout was admirably conducted , aud great credit is due to the W . M . of the Croydon Lodge Bro . J . Close , to the Secretary H . A . Pocock , and other brethren of the Croydon Lodgo , for tho . excellence of the day ' s arrangements . On the return from tlie Church , Provincial Grand Lodge was resumed , and then tho brethren saluted tho Right Worshipful . Provincial Grand Master in due form . An announcement wns hp . ra

received that Bro . A . G . Goodall , the representative of the Mark Masons of the United States was without , upon which a deputation of Grand Officers was sent to receive him , and on his entering tho Lodge he was saluted iu dnc form . The Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . "W . G . Brighten then called over tho roll of Lodges , 17 in number , and reported that every Lodge iu

tho Province h'id made its returns and paid it .- ! dues with the utmost punctuality , except the Temple Mark Lodge , No . 173 . The report was received with great satisfaction , and then the Provincial Grand Mark Master appointed Bro . F . D . ivUou hirf Deputy P . G . M . M . for the ensuing year , and the brethren accordingly saluted

Bro . Davidson in due form , after which the Provincial G . iVi . M . appointed his officers as follow : —Bros . Alfred Clarke P . G . S . XV ., M ijol Harding P . G . J . W ., Rev . A . XV . Hall and the Rev . XV . S . Moses P . G , Chaplains , C . Hammerton P . G . Treas ., It . Davies P . G . Registrar , W