Visit Of The Pro Grand Master To Reading.

VISIT OF THE PRO GRAND MASTER TO READING .

WE beg to draw attention to the ceremony ( as per advertisement elsewhere in our issue of to-day ) , to be performed on Tuesday next , the 14 th inst ., by the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , viz ., that of setting the memorial stone of the new Municipal Buildings at

Reading . This undertaking will be of a very extensive character , the contract for the building has been taken at ; £ 44 , 000 ; it Avill embrace all the requirements that a town of the importance of Reading demands . The energetic

Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Bradley , has made every arrangement for the comfort and convenience of the brethren , -who can obtain return tickets , at a single fare , from Paddington and all the adjacent stations on the Great

Western Railway . We hope the brethren will avail them - selves of the opportunity of testifying by their presence tho high estimation in which the R . W . Pro Grand

Master is held by members of the Graft . For all who attend we think we may fairly predict a very enjoyable and interesting day ' s outing .

The Election Of Secretaries Of The Masonic Institutions.

THE ELECTION OF SECRETARIES OF THE MASONIC INSTITUTIONS .

AMONG the items of business set down for the next Quarterly Courts of the Girls' ancl Boys' Schools are notices of motion , by Bro . James A . Birch , as regards the future election and removal of the Secretaries of the

respective Institutions . It is , doubtless , in the memory of our readers that at the time of the election , in July last year , of a Secretary for the Girls' School—to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late Bro . R . W . Littleconsiderable comment was made on what appeared a most

unfair condition attached to the exercise of a Governor ' s privilege as regards voting : ifc being , according to the rules of the Schools , compulsory on a Governor to attend personally in order to record a vote on this particular question . When we remember thafc the decision of mattes

of this nature are of universal importance , we can hardly imagine how such a law was imported into the code ; for ifc is manifestly unfair to the general body of subscribers that any rule should so act as to be prejudicial to any particular candidate , or to the brethren of a certain district .

That this is the case in the question at issue is evident . On the one hand , a candidate Avho may have the support of three-fourths of the Governors may be so unfortunate as to number only a few London brethren among his friends ; while , on the other , brethren residing a matter of fift y

miles from tbe place of election can hardly be expected to personally attend in order to record their votes . At the time of the election to which we refer , it was pointed out that country brethren , who felt an interest ; in the welfare of our Schools , would put themselves to the trouble of a

journey on such important business ; bufc the best reply to this was given by a brother , who then suggested that the ballot should be taken in a midland town , which would more equalise the distance to be travelled over by governors

and which would be as easily reached from London as from Liverpool , Manchester , and other large towns of the north , where Freemasons , if not as numerous as in London , are certainl y as sincere and energetic , proportionality with

The Election Of Secretaries Of The Masonic Institutions.

their numbers . For our own part we can see no good that arises from this compulsory attendance of the voter , nor can ifc be defended on any ground embracing either justice or equality to all subscribers alike . Country brethren form as strong : a body of supporters to our Charities as do

those of the Metropolis , and , as we pointed out at the time the question was under consideration , we cannot imagine why the former leave such an important decision as the election of a Secretary virtually in the hands of the latter . However , the first step towards the removal of the obstacle has been taken , and we have but little doubt of tho result .

A Plea On Behalf Of The Ladies.

A PLEA ON BEHALF OF THE LADIES .

W'ERE we to canvass the wives of English Freemasons for their candid opinion of the Brotherhood , Ave fear the result Avould prove far from complimentary to the Craft . Nor do AVC think the ladies could be pronounced entirely Avrong in condemning a society Avhich so rigorously excludes fchem from its mysteries , and but rarely

allows them a participation in its pleasures . As a rule the opinion entertained of the Craft by the wives of Masons is embodied in the one word—selfishness . If Ave consider for one moment , can AVO Avondcr at this ? As a rule our Lodges

meet eight times a year , on each occasion of which the head oE the household is , rightly or Avrongly , supposed by those at homo to revel in banquets and every luxury of the season , while in nofc a few instances invitations to three or four

other meetings during the year are added to the number of Masonic attendances , and all without alloAving the Avives any share in the pleasures that are usually provided . We frequently ask , when Ave see brethren taking so much care of the menu or other memento of the meeting , " for

those at home , " whether they seriously believe their Avives are flattered by this mark of apparent thoughtfulhess on the part of the husbands . We think not , but rather incline to the belief that the display of theso " vanities " acts somewhat in the same manner as does the display of a

red cloth to the eyes of an infuriated bull ; and again Ave say , justly so . There are many persons Avho , from one cause or another , being debarred from attending our meetings , Avish us to believe they Avould not put themselves to the slightest trouble to take

part in a Masonic gathering ; doubtless there are a few Avho really would not ; but , on the other hand , there are very many Avho Avould , and do , Avhenever an opportunity is afforded them . On these occasions their opinion of Freemasonry is appreciative , and a repetition of

the enjoyment is looked forward to Avith pleasure . But , Ave ask , Avhy should these mixed assemblies bo so few and far between ? The summer picnic , or the Avinter ball are , as a rule , the only departures from our old hard lines , and

even theso little variations aro recognised in only a few Lodges , but wherever they are undertaken AVC find them thoroughly enjoyed both by the brethren and the ladies AVIIO accompany them .

It may be urged that if AVC Avere to open the door of the banquet-room to the uninitiated , it Avould be bufc the first step towards the general participation by non-masons in our meetings , but of this , if the admission of strangers

be restricted to ladies , AVC are in no Avay afraid . It is certain that many of the Avives of our brethren knoAv as much noAV of our secrets as they Avould be likely to learn at the banquet-table , Avhereas a participation in that part of the