Meetings For Instruction.

Instruction , many of the mother Lodges having quite forgotten their offspring , and many of the subordinate

bodies having no knowledge or acquaintance with their head , in some cases not even knowing when or

where its meetings are held . To remedy this state of affairs we propose that periodical application should be made for the renewal of the permit under which the Lodge of Instruction acts , and we believe that such a course would prove advantageous all round . It would keep the Lodges of Instruction in regular

touch with the Lodge to which it owed its existence , and would bring the necessity of supporting it prominently before the members of the Mother Lodge , who , if there is any bond of fellowship in Freemasonry , should be among the foremost patrons of the Lodge of Instruction bearing their own name and number ,

instead of , as is now often the case , actually unacquainted with its existence . But this latter consideration is a minor point in comparison with that which has called forth our present remarks , and need

only be considered when occasion arises for a thorough revision of our Constitution—not so , however , the question of education in Freemasonry . There should be no restrictions in regard to that , which should be as free and unfettered as possible to make it . While

parties ot brethren hnd any difficulties m the way of establishing Lodges of Instruction it cannot be so described , and there is undoubted room for a reform which wo hope to see effected at an early date . As a first

means of solving the difficulty pointed out we would suggest that a Lodge test its right to grant more than one sanction , or at least that an authoratative opinion should be sought upon the point , as we are inclined to believe that Grand Lodge would be perfectly willing to remove any obstacle at present standing in the way of free Education in Freemasonry .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

THE Quarterly Court of Subscribers to the above Institution , was held on Thursday , at the Freemasons' Hall , Col . Peters in the chair . At one of the Committee meetings the rank of Honorary Vice-President was conferred on Dr . Wharton Hood , the surgeon , and

Bro . Faulkner , the dentist , to the Institution , ancl a letter was read by Bro . Hedges from each of those brethren , returning thanks for the compliment , and assuring the Committee of their unfailing interest in the welfare of the Institution . It was ordered that the letters be entered on

the minutes . The following recommendation of the General Committee was afterwards carried * . — " That tho 7 eligible Candidate .- * remaining from tho last Election , together with tho 19 whoso Petitions havo boon since approved , be placed upon the list for the October Election , and that 21 vacancies be declared . "

Brother Peter de Lande Long then moved : " That Grand Lodge be asked to rescind its resolution of tho 7 th September 1842 , and to give permission for the £ 500 therein referred to to be merged into the General Funds for the purposes of tho Institution

and that , subject to such request being complied with , Law 7 be , and is hereby rescinded and the Sustentation Fund abolished ; also that in Law 6 after the word ' four' thc words ' or moro' be added , and that the parenthetical words ' except the Sustentation Fund ' in tho same Law bo omitted . "

The effect of this resolution , if adopted by Grand Lodge , will be to abolish the Sustentation Fund altogether , and to carry the £ 500 to the General Fund which will henceforth , if thought desirable , have more than four trustees .

The motion having been seconded , was carried , and it was then arranged that the notice of motion in next Grand Lodge for adopting this course should be given at the ensuing Board of Masters . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

The Most Worshipful Grand Master has appointed Lord George Hamilton Past Master of the Chiswick Lodge , and Past Grancl Senior Warden , to be Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex in place of thc late Sir Francis Burdett , Bart .

Freemasonry At Pretoria.

FREEMASONRY AT PRETORIA .

'" HIE Brothron of tho mystic Craft at Pretoria held high holiday , in 1 May , iu colabration of the installation of Uro . Frank Strange , fcho well-known and highly-respected manager of tho extensive husiiiBS- * of Messrs . T . W . Beckett and Co ., Limited , as Worshipful Master of the Transvaal Lodge , No . 1747 . As usual on such oot-asious , tho Pretoria Brethren—English , Scotch , and Butchmade the iveut one of common festivity , and joined with as mnoh

unanimity in doini * honour to the choice for the Master ' s chair of tho members of tho English Lodge as though Brother Strange had been tho Muster-elect of all the Lodges combined and working aa one . And from tho eulogies to which expression was given at tho proceedings subsequent to the installation proper , with regard to

him , the brethren of the Transvaal Lodge havo no doubt good reason to bo pleased at the choice they havo made . Established daring tho period of the British cooapation , the Transvaal Lodge ia tho oldest Masonic Lodgo in the Transvaal under tho English Constitution . Two only oi its foundation members remain—viz ., Past Masters Bro . J . Keitn and T . W . Beckett . It has witnessed

many vicissitudes , and has had the novel experience of undergoing a siege . During the presence of British troops at the capital , many Masons of hig h rank became members of it , or took parfc in ita proceedings , and the gay times the Brethren had in those days , with military bauds to enliven their festive gatherings , are still fresh in the memory of some of its present members . Tho existence of this Lodge , aud the friendly assistance rendered by its Past Masters , when

petition after petition failed for a time to induce the Grand Lodge of England to grant a Charter for the establishment of a Lodge in Johannesburg , had much to do with the ultimate success of tho petitions whioh went from Johannesburg , and the fraternal and brotherly aid thus rendered is hold in grateful recollection by Free , masons here . No wonder , then , that the very best of good feeling should exist between the English Craftsmen of tho sister towns .

Nor is that feeling confined only to the two Lodges working under the banner of the English Grand Lodge . Tho Scotch and Dutch Lulges , named respectively the Celtic and the Breeder Bond , cultivate aud exhibit on every occasion a fraternal regard for the English Lodges , whioh angnrs well for the future prosperity of Freemasonry at the capital , together with Chapters of tbo higher degrees ,

they all , as at Johannesburg , meet in the same temple , and it is one of which the Pretoria Brethren generally have cause to be proud . It is the exclusive property , however , of the Transvaal Lodge , and rentals accruing from the use of it , and from properties adjacent to it , have placed the Lodge , with the fees and subscri ptions received from the Brethren , in au excellent financial position , enabling it to

dispense charity to distressed Brethren with a liberal hand , and hospitality to visitors in a right royal fashion . The installation ceremony was attended by a large number of Brethren , and was throughout a most successful and enjoyable function . The Johannesburg Lodge , No . 2313 , was represented by the Worshipful Maater , Bro . T . Sheffield , and Past Masters Bros . J ,

E . Green and T . W . Goodwin ; the Golden Thistle Lodge by the Secretary , Bro . A . Dawe , and Bro . J . Kothkugel ; and the Star of the Rand Lodge by Past Master Brother J . E . Green . The incoming Master of the Transvaal Lodge was Brother F . Strange , who has occupied the office of Senior Warden during the past year . The Officers were invested as follows : —Bros . R . J , Holloway I . P . M .,

A . Barnes S . W ., H . F . Strange J . W ., E . Rooth S . D ., VV . J . S . Langermann J . D ., Taylor Fox Secretary , A . Keating Treasnrer , H . Winny Organist , H . W . F . Burgers D . C , Rev . Canon Fisher Chaplain , Camerer , Lutz , 11 . C . Francis Stewards , G . Balzam I . G . Tho ceremony lasted up to a late hour in the afternoon . The Installing Master , Retiring Master Bro . Holloway ,

performed the work in a most efficient manner . Ho was assisted in somo portions of it by Past Masters Bros . Sprawton and Keith , and the AVorshipful Master of the Celtic Lodge . There were twelve Past Masters and Masters of the Lodges on the dais , who formed a Board of Installed Masters , and conferred upon the newly-installed Master the Past Master ' s degree . The proceedings throughout were

made of a more than ordinarily cheerful character by the singing of odes and hymns , Bro . H . Winny presiding at the organ , with violin accompaniment by Bro . Taylor Fox , the energetic and popular Secretary of the Lodge . After the usnal salutations and conclusion of the installation ceremony , congratulatory letters and messages wero read from several distant Lodges , and good wishes and fraternal

greetings conveyed by visiting Masters , Past Masters , - and Brethren present belonging to other Lodges . Before the proceedings closed , a handsome silver rose-water aalver was presented to the Lodge by the newly-installed Junior Warden , Bro . Harold F . Strange , in commemoration of the installation of his brother in the Master ' s chair , and a silver loving cap , bearing , as did the aalver , a

suitable inscription , was presented to Bro . Bias . Refreshments on a liberal scale were provided , and many bumpers were drank to the prosperity of the Lodge , and to a successful year of office for the newly-installed Master . In the evening a banquet was given in the Temple , in honour of the Worshipful Master-elect . There was a large attendance of the

Brethren . The chair waa occupied by the Worshipful Maater , who was supported on his right by Bros . J . Keith P . M ., T . Sheffield W . M . Johannesburg Lodge , T . W . Beckett P . M ., and VV . Sprawson P . M ., and on the left by R . J . Holloway I . P . M ., W . Murdoch W . M . Celtic Lodge , Carl TJeckermann W . M . Breeder Bond Lodge , and Past Masters J . E . Green and T . W . Goodwin , of Johannesburg Lodge . The vice-chairs were occupied by the newly-installed Senior

and Junior Wardens . The room was lighted on the occasion by electricity , for the first time . The tables were handsomely decorated , coloured fairy lamps , lighted by electricity , adding to the general effect . The men-it prepared by the caterer , Bro . H . Burger , of the President Hotel , was an excellent one . The waiting waa all that could be desired , the vianda of the best , the wines good . What more could even the most fastidious initiate in the knife and fork degree expect or hope for ? Grace waa said by the Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . F «