Operative Masonry And The Printing Press.

Masonry continued to create exquisite temples of worship , av . tl preserved a vigorous existence as an operative science . When , however , popular thought found expression b y means of printing presses , church architecture began

immediately to retrograde , and with it operative Masonry rapidly declined , and with it many of the abstruse and abstract principles of the building art were totally lost . — Victor Htigo .

Tbe General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institntion for Girls held its regular meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday , 31 st ult ., when one petition to place a child on the list of candidates for the April election was read

and approved . The only other business was of the usnnl formal character , excepting that the Secretary announced a legacy of £ 50 , less income tax , had been received from the estate of the late Bro . A . W . Hardcastle .

At the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , held on Saturday last , at Freemasons' Hall , fche business , beyond that of routine character , consisted entirely of voting assistance to former pupils of the Institution , two sums of £ 5 each , one of £ 10 , and one of £ 15

being granted . There were no petitions to be considered , which , in connection with the fact that only one reqnired attention at the corresponding meeting of the Girls ' School , would seem to imply that the Schools are at last

able to cope with the demands made on them , at least during tbe month under * consideration . The Secretary of this Institution reported the receipt of a similar legacy to that received by the Girls' School , from the late Bro . A . W . Hardcastle .

R . W . Brother Sir W . W . Wynn , Bart ,, M . P ., P . G . M . North Wales and Shropshire , appears to have some lucky escapes from accidents which oftentimes prove serious or even fatal . The other day , when the dynamite explosion occurred close by his residence in St . James ' s

Square , our respected Brother was resting on a couch in the room nearest to where the infernal machine was thrown , but no ill consequences befel hira . On Monday he was returning in his brougham from the camp , in Wynnstay Park , of the Denb srhshire Volunteers , of which

he is Colonel , when tbe horse fell , breaking the shafts and fore part of tbe carriage . Sir Watkin , who is still an invalid , was seated in a chair in the brougham , and of course quite incapable of helping himself , but several Volunteers came to his rescue and conveyed him home , no injury , fortunately , having resulted to the hon . Baronet .

On Tuesday three men appear to have been hanging about the residence of Bro . George Mackay , of Kendal , P-G . Secretary Cumberland and Westmoreland , with the intention , as is supposed , of burglariously entering it and carrying off some of his valuables . Their movements

, however , created so much suspicion that one of them was arrested on the spot , while his companions bolted . But the police and spectators followed them over some four miles of heavy country , and though one of the two threatened

the police with a loaded revolver , he was gallantly felled to the ground and captured . The other escaped . A large number of implements in common use by this class of gentry were p icked up or found on the persons of the prisoners .

We have received , from Bra W . R . Bowden , a wellwtecnted photograph of the Mark Master Masons of the Y 'ovince of Berks and Oxon who took part , with us , in the enjoyable tri p by steam launch to Nuneham , on the occasion of the Annual Meeting of the members of the

province , as reported in these columns in our issue of the < = oth ult . We regrefc Bro . Bowden has nofc given the ttame of the artist , but doubtless be will rectify this oittission . The grouping is admirably arranged , while the proper moment for effect seems to have been mosfc

nappil y secured . We have seen many specimens of mstantaneous photography , but seldom have we been ?) 3 satisfied than with the one now under notice .

oubtless those of our readers who were present may te sire to have a copy of this picture , as a souvenir of their 'isifc . "" y ^ g a fi \ 3 e them to make application for same to Uv ° - Bowden , 59 High Street , Oxford .

Midland Railway Tourist Arrangements.

MIDLAND RAILWAY TOURIST ARRANGEMENTS .

THOSE who intend availing themselves of the opportunities offered the public by the Midland Railway Company for excursions and tours of a prolonged character , will do well to consult Mr . John Noble , the General Manager of the line . That gentleman is to be seen at the terminus at St . Pancras , and will , with hia accustomed courtesy , be only too happy to furnish snch information as may be desired . Or they may make their application at the

Moor-Kate Street and Victoria ( L . C . and D . ) Stations , at Kentish Town , the "Midland Offices , 445 West Strand , Cook ' s Excursion Offices , Ludgare Circus , and Euston Road , 28 Regent Circus , Piccadilly , 8 Grand Hotel Bnildings , Trafalgar Square , & o . & o . We may help them slightly , however , if we announce that Tourists' Tickets for Ireland , available for two calendar months , but except in the case of

Belfast and Dublin , not for a more extended period , are issued in connection with all trains on the Midland ayateia , Thoy are either for 1 st Class and Saloon , or 3 rd Class and Steerage , there being none issued in the latter , however , in respect of the North of Ireland Circular Tours , and " Dublin and the Lakes of Killarney , " the prices charged for which are 110 j and 115-1 respectively . By the other

routes the charges range from lOi * 6 d to Londonderry , to 75 s to Belfast ( via B-urow ) 1 st Class ,- and 55 s to 35 s 6 M 3 rd Class to the same destinations respectively . Travellers to Scar , borough , Harrogate , Filey , & o . in the North ; Buxton , Matlock , and Ashbourne in the Midlines , and Scotland and Settle and Carlisle , may have tickets at reasonable cost , which are available to the 31 st

September , those issued for the Oban Circular Tonr being in connection with Mr . D . Macbrayne ' sRoyal Mail Steamers " lona " and " Columba , " and the cost inclusive of such . Every facility is offered in selecting the ronte to be traversed , as well as for breaking the journey at con . venient intervals . We may add that two months' Tourist Tickets are issued nnder equally favourable conditions as to route , & a . for

the English Lake District , the Lancashire Sea Coast , and the Isle of Man . These last mentioned tickets may be extended to the 31 st December , or where used in connection with coaches or steamers , to the close of the coaoh or steamboat service , on payment of the difference between the tourist fare and the sum of the two single journey fares . In short , the Midland , like the other principal Rail .

way Companies , makes a point of consulting the wishes and con . venience of the public , and is most liberal in the facilities it offers , both as regards the original prices of tickets , and tbe smallness of the addition required when tickets are extended beyond the two months' term . Its omnibus service for the conveyance of intending travellers to its Terminus at St . Pancras in also a feature which entitles the Company to public commendation .

Justice Lodge of Instruction , No . 147 . —On Thursday , at the Brown Bear , High Street , Deptford . Bros . R . J . Stringer W . M ., Coen S . W ., Catt J . W ., S . R . Speight P . M . Sec , W . T . Hunt jun . S . D ., Penrose J . D ., Ingram I . G . Past Master Bro . Hatchings ( Preceptor ) , and Bro . Prior , & o . After preliminaries the ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Prior candidate . The Lodge was advanced to the third , and closed to the first degree . Bro . Coen was elected W . M . for the ensning Thnrday .

TJbicrue Lodge of Instuction , No . 1789 . —A meeting was held at the Guardsman Army Coffee Tavern , Buckingham Palaceroad , on Friday , 1 st instant , when there were present : —Bros . Wade W . M ., Brindley S . W ., Forscntt J . W ., Boulton P . M . Preceptor , Green sen . S . D ., Hayes J . D ., Glover I . G ,, Coaghlan Secretary , P . M . Rev . C . A . Solbe , Bunce , Hiel , Ardiviero , McCullagh , Power ,

Purnell , 0 . White . Lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The ceremonies of initiation and passing were rehearsed by the W . M . in his nsual able manner , Bro . Bonce being candidate in the first , and Bro . Power , who answered the questions leading to the second degree , candidate

for that ceremony . Lodge was resumed to tbe first , when Bro . Pnrnell , Creaton 1791 , was unanimously elected a member . It was proposed , seconded , and carried that the Lodge change its maeting place . Bro . Brindley S . W . was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensning week . All Masonic bnsiness being ended , Lodge was closed in perfect harmony .

The Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex will be held on Wednesday next , afc the Public Hall , Maklon . As usual , the Great Eastern Railway Company offer special facilities for those brethren who desire to attend . Provincial Grand Lodge will be opened at 1 * 45 .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall will be held at Penzance , on Monday next . The agenda paper , amongst other matters , provides for contributions for annuitants , and suggests the making grants towards the Cornwall Masonic Annuity Fund .

Bro . William Stephens , Grand Pursuivant , is about to make a voyage to Australia Jfor the benefit of his health . For some time past Bro . Stephens has been suffering from a troublesome illness , and a sea voyage has been recommended by his medical adviser .