The Boys' School Enlargement.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL ENLARGEMENT .

W"E feel wo are but expressing the hope of every Craftsman who knows anything of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys—and who among us does not ?—in wishing every success to the meeting to be

held on Tuesday next , when the Baroness Burdett-Coutts will lay the corner-stone of the new Hall of the Institution at Wood Green . Our readers are fully aware

of the object of the gathering , and we doubfc not are alive to the importance of securing a large amount of support in answer to the special appeal now being made ; but there are a few facts which we may here briefly enumerate ,

as they afford the strongest proof we can offer that some special effort is needed on behalf of the School . In previous issues we have urged the desirability of starting the Dew buildings free from debt , and although the sum

needed to consummate snch a desire is somewhat large , we yet hope the Craft will prove itself equal to the occasion , and between the time present nnd the close of the year the necessary sum may be forthcoming . Again , it

should be borne in mind that the offer of double votes m connection with this special appeal , although more directly applicable to next Tuesday ' s gathering , holds good until the 31 st of December next . Brethren , and more parti

cularl y Lodges and corporate bodies , do not appear to fully recognise the advantages of this offer of double votes , or we fancy more of them would avail themselves of the benefits of an arrangement which we are inclined to

believe will never be repeated—at least not for very many years to come . We urge this the more emphatically as undoubtedly there is a growing feeling that it is unwise to make so wide a departure from the beaten track , even though the needs may be of the most pressing character .

The funds required for the Preparatory School Building in connection with which next Tuesday ' s ceremony may be described as the finishing touch , were subscribed in answer to a special appeal made to the Craft . But , as is

usual in most building operations , the original estimate has been exceeded ; not , however , in connection with the actual Preparatory Schoo originally proposed , but

in the purchase of some adjoining ground , with houses , and in the erection of a laundry for the use of the whole establishment at Wood Green . Tn other words , the nppeal now made to the Craft is urged in order to meet the cost

of further additions to the establishment , which if not actually necessary to have been made now , must , have heen added ere long , and then might have cost considerably more than they lave done , while other building

operations were being prosecuted . The special fund raised for the Preparatory School was something like £ 14 . 0 ^ 0 , and by the time the whole of the work on which the Institution is at present engaged is completed , the outlay will have

amounted to some £ 19 , 500 . Of this sum £ H , ' 200 has been expended in the purchase of freehold land and houses , while an additional amount of £ 2 . 000 represents the outlay on the new laundry , to which we have iust referred . These two

items therefore represent almost the total excess of the actual outlay over the estimates , and we trust this explanation will remove any feeling—as we are assui-ed does exist—in the minds of some , that the sanctioned

increase in the establishment , in the form of the Preparatory School , has been greatly exceeded . The deficiency in reality represents the cost of property , which is entirely

distinct from the PrepRrafory School , the outlay for which has been kept steadily within the limits originally prescribed for it .

Next Tuesday s meeting will m reality be a grand day " in connection with the special appeal , which offers advantages securable for the next five months ; the direct object of this special appeal being to free the Institution

from liability on account of the new laundry and tbe additional ground which it was felt best to acquire at Wood Green , and we trust that although the sum required is something like £ 5 , 500 it will not prove to he too great

an undertaking for the liberality of the Craft to cope with . The Institution is making a most liberal offer—too liberal in the eyes of many—to enlist sympathy , and we trust the result may justify the anticipations which have heen made .

The executive of the Institution appear to have done every thing in their power to ensure snccess for next week ' s gathering , and have been most fortunate in enrolling the services of an enthusiastic , and , comparatively speaking , large Board of Stewards , the number so far being about

The Boys' School Enlargement.

fifty , and embracing anion ? others , Bros . R . Berndge , C . Belton , Edgar Bowyer , R . Clowes , 0 . F . Hogard , Capt . G . Lambert . H . B . Marshall , J . L . Mather , T . Hastings Miller , W . Roebuck . W . A . Scurrnh , J . Willing , & c . The actual

ceremony of laying the stone will be performed by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts , while the Board of Stewards and the members of the House and Audit Committees "will take an active part in the proceedings . Bro . A . F . A . Godson ,

the Deputy G . Master of Worcestershire , will occupy the chair as rota Chairman of the House Committee , and no doubt he will bring with him a goodly snm from the Province of which he is so worthy a member , and in which

he is so widely respected . Other officials of the Institution will do their utmost , and we venture to predict that the meeting will prove a success . We do not say the result to be achieved will be sufficient to meet all calls to

be made , bnt it must be remembered that next Tuesday may be reckoned somewhat as bnt the opening day of an appeal which is to extend over some months , and which we are sure has only to be properly understood to be answered as we desire it shall be answered .

Brotherly Love.

BROTHERLY LOVE .

THE distinguishing tenets of Freemasonry are Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . There can be no question that these virtues are especially recognised in the Masonic svstem , and that they go far to determine what is the real

character of the Institution . Brotherly Love ranks first among the essential elements that constitute the organic life of the Craffc , and is the chief bond of fellowship and

service among these who are thus brought into near relations . It is a constraining , impelling force , that makes itself felt in the general movements of the Fraternity and in the thought and life ofthe individual Mason .

Solomon , traditionally the founder and great leader of the Craft , well understood the power and worth of this divinest quality . He eulogized wisdom as amongst the most important factors and possessions of human life . " Get

wisdom , " he said , "for ifc is the principal thing . " "And with all thy getfings get understanding" But Israel ' s King made Love to stand for a more excellent endowment , a more abiding force . Love , said Solomon , is stronger

than death and more enduring than the grave . " Many waters cannot quench love , neither can the floods drown it ; if a man should give all his substance for it it would

he utterly condemned . " Again it is described under the figure of a " vehement flame , " the suggestion being that ifc is kindled by the Almighty . Thus ,

" Its bands are bands of fire , A lightning flash from God Himself . " It is love , thus enkindled , the consummation of many other graces and virtues , which constitutes an elemental

principle in the noblest and best life of which man is capable . It is the greatest of all great things because ifc so completely dominates the will . But ono answer can be given the question , "Do the affections sway the will ?"

Most certainly they do . It is the genuine heart loves that determine what one will do—what will be the line and force of human endeavours . That which a man loves most controls his action . If his affections are fixed on many objects

and persons , each will be a ruling power for a time , and he will render a divided service . Thus a man has ardent love for material objects , for worldly gain it maybe , and during the hours of business he may seem wholly engrossed in

making money ; but see him at the close of a busy dayafc his home or among his friends—and he will make exexpression of another side of his nature and show the

higher loves that control him , at least in part . Under this inspiration he is faithful to the duties of domestic life and renders a beneficial service in the world .

This power of love as expressed in the hi gher reo-ions of human activities cannot be gainsaid . Onl y fill the heart with the rich stores of love for a cause ot- an enterprise , for a principle , an institntion , or an individual , and any service

in behalf of the interest or person will become comparatively easy . We say then that love is the secret impulsion of the best service which man can perform—that ifc is the vital

force which imparts the highest good of life . By its power difficulties can be put out of the way and the grandest successes made possible . By its presence the cold ancl barren soil of human nature may be enriched , and made to bud and blossom like fche rose . Thus its transforming , pre