Committee Meeting Of The Boys' School.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

THHE General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys -L held their monthly meeting last Saturday , at Freemasons ' Hall , when thero wore present Bros . Raynham W . Stewart ( in the chair ) , R . B . Webster , S . B . Wilson , W . F . C . Montrie , S . Rawson , Don . M . Dewar , Herbert Dicketts , L . Ruf , A . H . Lilley , S . Rosenthal , A . J . Duff-Filer , Edward B . Grabham , H . Massoy , J . Terry , C . H .

Webb , H . Young , W . Maple , John Constable , Joyce Murray , Richard Morris ( Head Master ) , Thomas Meggy , W . Mason , Chevalier Hooper Wilkins , Thomas W . C . Bush , F . Adlard , W . H . Perryman , and F . Binckes ( Secretary ) . Two adjourned petitions were passed , and two new ones accepted ( one conditionally on receipt of fuller information ) . Two outfits of £ 5 each were granted to former pupils of tho

Institution , now in situations . The following brethren were noun , nated for election on the Houso and Audit Committees . For the House Committee , by Bro . A . n . Lilley : —Bros . Joyce Murray and E . B . Grabham . Bv Bro . Leopold Ruf : —Bros . J . G . Chancellor , H . W . Hunt , W . F . C . Moutrie , Joyce Murray , W . Paas , F . W . Ramsay , G . J . Row , W . Roebuck , S . Rosenthal , D . Rolls , G . Sanders , and R .

W . Stewart . By Bro . W . Mann : —Bros . E . C . Mather and T . Meggy . By Bro . S . B . Wilson : —Bros . J . G . Chancellor , W . Paas , Joyce Murray , D . Rolls , E . C . Mather , Alfred Williams , E . B . Grabham , R . P . Spice , T . Cnbitt , Alfred Dun-ant , and G . J . Row . By Bro . H . Dicketts : —Bros . J . G . Chancellor , W . Paas , Joyce Murray , W . F . C . Moutrie , W . Roebuck , R . W . Stewart , D . Rolls , E . C . Mather , Alfred

Williams , E . B . Grabham , R . P . Spice , and G . J . Row . For the Audit Committee . By Bro . S . B . Wilson : —Bros . J . Constable , C . F . Matier , D . M . Dewar , T . Meggy , W . Mann , Alex . Wallace , R . B . Webster , H . Venn and C . E . Soppet . By Bro . H . Dioketts : —Bros . J . Constable , C . F . Matier , D . M . Dewar , C . E . Soppet , R . B . Webster , W . Mann , Alex . Wallace , H . Venn and Thomas Meggy . Tho proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman .

Society Of Painters In Water Colours.

SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOURS .

The ninety-fourth exhibition of the Society of Painters in Water Colours , 5 Pall Mall East , was opened to the public on the 26 th nit . The display of pictures mast be highly gratifying to the Society , and we feel assured will be deservedly appreciated by all visitors . No less than 297 works adorn the walls of the Gallery , and as the hanging committee , or those entrusted with the important task of

arranging the paintings selected , have done their duty most judiciously , and as the light is excellent , it is possible for every one to see and judge for himself as to the merits of the several contributions . The President , Sir John Gilbert , R . A ., sends two examples of his tried skill , in one of which , " The Battle of the Standard , " the grouping of the figures round the standard is admirable , while the general effect is

such as only an artist of such eminence could have succeeded in producing . His other picture , " The Prisoners , " is also to be commended . Mr . Edward Duncan , in his delineation of "Old Billingsgate , " from sketches made in 1835 , and in his " North Berwick lifeboat going out to a vessel in distress , " gives nndonbted evidence that hiB ability has lost none of its ancient cunning . His pictnre of

Billingsgate may indeed be described as one of the gems of the Exhibition . Carl Haag is represented by—among other contributions— " The Sphynx of Geezeh and the Pyramid of Cheops . " Mrs . H . C . Angell , whose reputation for floral and fruifc portraiture stands deservedly high , fully sustains it in No . 227 , " Raspberries in basket , " Pomegranate and Grapes , " No . 245 ; " Chrysanthemums , " No . 217 ; and Mr .

George H . Andrews is especially to be commended for his representation of " The Inner Port , Honfleur , " though hardly less effective are his " French Fishing Smack , " No . 58 , and " A Ballast Wharf on the Thames , " No . 8 . Messrs . Walter Field , E . A . Waterlow , T . J . Watson , and W . E . Walker , the newly elected Associates , are worthily represented . Mr . Paul J . Naftel ' s best contribution is , in onr opinioD

his scene " Throngh the Wood , Pout-y-Gypyn , North Wales . " Mr . A . Newton ' s " Mountain Pass , " is admirable , and the same remark applies to Mr . F . Powell ' s " Ailsa Craig , " No . 70 ; Mr . F . Taylor ' s " Market Day on the road to Quimper , Brittany , " the several works of Mr . R . Thorne Waite ; Birket Foster ' s " West Portal of Rbeims Cathedral , " Mr . Oswald W . Brierly ' s " H . M . S . Black Prince , " No . 158 , and Mr . S . Read ' s " Interior of Burgos Cathedral . " In fine , the

talent shown , whether taken collectively or individually , is of a very high order . At our visit we were shown a new thing in the way of art catalogues , which , unlike those ordinarily issued , has the unwonted merit of being compact in shape , and excellently well printed on hand-wove paper , while it contains the same information as the usual unwieldy catalogue , and is easily portable . The public will doubtless appreciate this novelty , and we should like to see it adopted by all our art galleries .

Crystal Palace.

CRYSTAL PALACE .

The opening Festival of the now season was given at the Crystal Palace on Saturday , and drew together thousands of visitors . A rehearsal of the instrumental portion of the Concert , which later on delighted the visitors , was given early in the day . The bands of the Coldstream , Grenadier and Scotch Guards , conducted by Messrs . F . and D . Godfrey and Mr . J . Clarke , reinforced the Crystal

Palace Orchestral Band under the direction of Mr . Augustus Manns . The vocalists included Madame Patey , Madame Marie Rose , Madame Trebelli-Bettini , Signer Foli and Mr . Edward Lloyd , who sang with their usual success some well-known compositions . Tho Great Fountaius played dnririg tho day for the first timo this year . Great credit is due to Messrs . Brock and Co . for the way in which they , at dusk , illuminated the gardens with thousands of coloured lamps .

Crystal Palace.

We are ofteu requested to give our opinion as to the comparative merits of the different manufacturers of Masonic jewellery . We know it is a delicate question and one difficult to bo answered , for , as in tho case of ordinary jewellers , there are several which stand together in the first

rank , while others are left very far behind . We have therefore contented ourselves with referring inquirers to the advertisement columns of the different Masonic publications , and suggesting that the best way of arriving at a conclusion would be for them to visit the different places

where this class of jewellery is vended , and judge for themselves . Among the establishments we have at different times named as likely to afford satisfaction to intending purchasers is—taking them at hazard—that of

Bro . Lamb , of St . John ' s-square , Clerkenwell , who has been long engaged in the business ; to whom has been entrusted tho duty of furnishing particular jewels to be worn—as in the case of tho Stewards' jewels for the Prince of Wales ' s installation in 1875 as Grand Master—in

commemoration of noteworthy occasions ; and of the work that is turned out from whose workshops it may always be said , it represents money ' s worth . If—and Fashion changes in Masonic jewellery as in all other things—a brother should desire to exchange a trinket manufactured a few

year s back for one of the newest and most artistic design , he can have allowed him the intrinsic value of tho former in part payment . There is nothing tawdry , nothing tinsellike about the jewellery of Bro . Lamb . All is genuine of its kind , —good metal , good workmanshipand excellence

, of design being its characteristics . Then there is Bro . Kenning , whose fame is thoroughly well established . His business is on a large scale , and of his jewellery it may truly be said that , according to the price charged , it leaves little to be desired . The well-known firms

of Spencer and Co ., and Edward Stillwell and Son , also stand deservedly well , the goods manufactured by both of them being of a high order of excellence ; while thoso of A . D . Loewenstark and Sons , and Joseph L . Caney , stand well before the Craft on the same

grounds . Others there are who make Masonic jewellery a speciality ; others again , doubtless , who include it among the branches of their general business . Bub to all intending purchasers of regalia we say advisedly—select whom you will of the firms we have specified , or any

other you may know of , and judge for yourselves . Pay a fair price , and you will get a good article . But avoid the maker of tinsel , or you will find yourselves in the position of a Past Master whom we are pleased to number among

our friends , who , on recently retiring from the Mastership of his Lodge was presented with a P . M . ' s jewel , so ill-made , so intrinsically worthless , that until he had had it almost entirely re-manufactured , he felt ashamed to wear it .

As the Duke of Connaught was proceeding on Thursday morning from Bagshot Park to the Camp at Aldershot , his horse shied at a load of straw which had been overturned in the road at Farnborough . Both the Duke and the

seVvant who accompanied him were thrown out of the dog-cart in which they were riding . After a short delay the Duke was able to proceed on his journey . The vehicle was seriously damaged .

We announced in our issue of the 17 th ult ., that the Right Hon . the Prov . Grand Master for Kent , who has recently been summoned by the Queen to the Upper

House , would assume the title of Baron Amherst of Montreal . This , we are informed , is somewhat incorrect , as his Lordship will retain the same name as that by which he has for many years past been known to us .

We gather from the Keystone that Bro . Ramsay , editor of the Masonic ' Eclectic , who has been laid on a sick bed for nine weeks , is progressing favourably towards recovery . We heartily join in the good wishes of our contemporary for the speedy restoration to health of this worthy brother .

According to the Freemasons' Repository , the first number of a new Masonic Monthly publication , entitled the Gavel , has been issued by Bro . W . La Rue Thomas of Danville , Kentucky . Bro . Robert Ramsay has been engaged as a regular contributor .