Masonic Homes.

in Masonry is one of the grandest features of this noble , time-honoured institution . The establishment of Masonic Homes is an innovation in the body of Masonry . While we would not detract an iota from the greafc good that is being done by these institutions , we simply prefer the

old method of doing an equal amount of good with , at least , three-fourths less expense . The wisdom of the original plan of Masonry has been so well established by

its long-continued existence , that any departure from it for the sake of popularity we must regard as unwise , if not dangerous to its future welfare . — " Masonic Advocate . "

South African Education Fund.

SOUTH AFRICAN EDUCATION FUND .

rT ^ HE annual meeting donors and subscribers the 1 Masonic Education Fund of South Africa was held last month in the banquetting room of the British Lodge , Cape Town . Brother J . A . Fairbairn Chairman presided , and there was a thoroughly representative gathering .

The annual report states that in every respect fche Fund continues to make satisfactory progress . At the close of the year ending 30 th June 1893 , the fund was contributing towards the education of twenty-five children . During fche past year , ending 30 th June 1894 ,

sixteen fresh applications were entertained , raising the number on the books to forty-one . On the other hand , twelve children ceased to receive aid at various times during the year , so that at the end of June last the fund was paying for the education of twenty-nine children

( eighteen boys and eleven girls ) . The reports from the heads of fche different schools are most satisfactory . Since the year 1890 forty-nine children have received education at the expense of the fund . The receipts from

the 1 st July 1893 , to the 30 th June last amounted to £ 328 . The expenditure amounted to £ 201 , leaving a balance of £ 126 . The amount of the capital account on the 30 th June 1893 , was £ 693 . On the bOth of last June ifc amounted to £ 819 . The number of individual

subscribers has increased from fifty-five to sixty-four . On the motion of the Chairman , who took occasion to express his gratification at the increased life in and usefulness of the fund , the report was adopted . A discussion took place on a proposal submitted to

the Committee , by a special meeting of subscribing Lodges , Chapters , and individual subscribers , namely , that subscribers to the fund ( being Masons ) of not less than one guinea each per annum should be entitled to

appoint for every twenty subscribers one representative to the General Committee . The object of the motion was to secure for the individual subscribers who are not all attached to any Lodge in South Africa representation on the General Committee .

Bro . Professor Lewis now submitted the motion with the addition of a provision that no subscriber should be entitled to vote for more than one representative in the

same year , and it was unanimously carried , together with a further resolution making it lawful for any twenty subscribers in a particular Lodge to delegate to the Lodge their powers of appointing a representative .

The Chairman said Sir Henry Loch is the patron of the fund , whilst the appointment of the Chairman and Officers rests with the Committee . It remained with

the meeting , however , to appoint a President , and Sir Eichard Southey was available for re-election or a fresh name might be submitted . Bro . Morom moved and Bro . Douallier seconded the re-election of Bro . Sir Eichard Southey as President , and it was unanimously carried .

A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Bro . W . H . Tiffany , the Honorary Secretary , for his unremitting labour , the Chairman expressing his regret that the thanks of the Committee could nofc take a more

substantial shape , for the success of the fund was almost entirely due to the Honorary Secretary . A hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman was also passed , in acknowledging which Bro . Fairbairn said that

from its initiation up to the present he had taken the greatest interest in the fund , and he regarded with great satisfaction the expansion of its usefulness . He hoped to see very great further developments , and the fund established on a thorough , permanent basis . — " Aigus . "

Rushing Candidates.

RUSHING CANDIDATES .

IN last week ' s Masonic column ol the " Glasgow Evening News" our contemporary , " The Mallet , " refers to our recent article under this head , and also makes some interesting comments on the particular

phase of the Scottish question to which we referred a fortnight since . The remarks are as follow : As I have pointed out again and again in this column , it is to Grand Lodge the Craft must look for this reformation in Scottish Lodges demanded by the " FBEEMASON '

CHEONICLE , and indeed by almost every Masonic jurisdiction in the world . Another illustration of the impotency of individual Lodges to deal with the subject was given at the last regular meeting of Lodge St . Vincent , 553 , wheu a motion for regulating the admission of

candidates was oui-voted by twenty-eight of a majority . Not , mark you , because the majority were not in sympathy with the principles of the motion , proposed by a Past Master of the Lodge , but because its enforcement would place fche Lodge afc a disadvantage with the other

Lodges in the Glasgow Province where this rule is not in operation . Here , then , is where the evil existsnamely , a fear of being handicapped . Unless all Lodges are held bound to the very necessary law of giving due notice to members of candidates proposed , and the

enforcement of the existing Grand Lodge law as to lapse of time , Scotland will still be held down in fche mire , a reproach in every Grand Lodge . All honour to those Lodges , and there are a few in Glasgow , in which intimation is given of proposed candidates ,, and the

regulation time observed between the degrees . In every instance it is found to work with advantage both for fche Lodge and the Craft generally , but the St . Vincent in its wisdom will have none of it until it is forced by the powers that be .

But how much longer must we wait for the powers to move in the matter ? Will the Laws Committee

presently engaged in the much needed revision of Grand Lodge laws take up the subject , and so get it disposed of with some prospect of expediency , or must it plod through the usual routine of notice of motion , discussion , remit to Grand Committee , report , & c , and probably

drag on over another twelve months ? That there is urgent need of immediate action in the matter goes without saying . Grand Lodge rules 171 and 173 presently in force , so far from serving the purpose of guiding Lodges in the manner in which candidates

should be admitted , and degrees conferred , seem to have been framed with the view of enabling Lodges to suit their own convenience . Eule 171 is too indefinite in its terms , while the exceptions allowed in 173 make the real puipose of the rule that " no candidate for initiation

shall be advanced from one degree to another at a shorter interval than two weeks " of none effect . The enforcement of the literal meaning of these rules has been shirked for years , until now fche abuse has assumed

such proportions that , notwithstanding the efforts put forth by Provincial Grand Lodges in their annual visitations to discourage " rushing , " it is becoming painfully evident that Scotland has earned an unenviable world wide notoriety .

Jumbled Metaphor.

JUMBLED METAPHOR .

" Providence , vouchsafe to preserve us from the Evil One , and from figurative language . Save us from metaphors . " Paul-Louis Courier . rnHE above sincere aspiration , uttered in the early part of JL the present century by the author of " Daphnis et Chloe , " & c , has apparently been ineffectual , for hot only do we got this

particular form of figure of speech from our daily paper , —it has insinuated itself into ordinary conversation , we are confronted with it in the drawing room , at the club , in the weekly sermon of our respected parson , in the speech of the popular advocate , and even in the summing up of the judge himself . Let us hope , however , that there are few of the latter class who would ever indulge

in such an indiscriminate series of jumbled metaphors as those attributed to Lord Kenyon , who , in sentencing a butler convicted of stealing his master's wine , is said to have addressed him thus : — " You were dead to every claim of natural affection , and blind to your own interest , you burst through all restraints of religion and morality , and have for many years been feathering your nest with your master ' s bottles . " We might reasonably expect from the scholar and savant that , for tho sake of display , or effectiveness , he would abjure mere