The Examination Of Visitors.

masons recognized by a Grand Lodge of F . nnd A . M ., that ho docs not belong to , or associate with , persons who , claiming to be Masons , are clandestine by edict of a Grand L' ) dgo ; that he is a member of his Lodge in good standing . What is matter of record is not covered by tbe commandment of Masonic secrecy .

Now the examiners come to the investigation of tbe visitor ' s Masonic knowledge . The esoteric work has now

to bo treated of , and tho visitor is brought face to face with the crucial tests of his right to visit n Lodge of F . and A . M ., and provo he is a regular Freemason . Tho examiners hero have no authority to vary a jot or tittlo from tho Landmarks . Not a word can be injected into , or

omitted from , the examination , firmly set in it . In these proceedings thero is no room for theories and experiments . It is known that the ritual of all Grand Lodges as to examination of visitors is not word for word uniform . But that is of no importance to the examination . It must

plainly appear beyond doubt , for if a doubt exists it is to be taken against tho admission , that the visitor is a regular Freemason aud that be was initiated into a regular Lodge of Freemasons , and stands as a M . M . free from disabilities . There are iustancer , which wo well know , when

examiners have "taken for granted" what was essential . Trouble has come from this violation of the duty imposed on examiners . Nothing can be accepted that is not proved . This is tho rule in these cases . Far better that a visitor should not be given the privilege of visiting a Lodge , oven

if he has the capacity , than to take for granted a visitor was qualified by assuming him to be so , and thus disturb the harmony of a Lodgo and bring disgrace on its lack of Masonic knowledge . The examiners are responsible to

their Lodge for tbe manner they perform their duty . If from a neglect of their duty the privilege of visiting is granted to one not entitled to it , tbe examiners are duly liable to Masonic discipline . Why not ?

If the examiners are not fully and entirely " satisfied " by the examination , they can report to the Lodge , and then their responsibility is put on the Lodge , A new committee may be appointed , other examiners may be added to those first selected , or , what may be the

safer plan , politely and kindly and courteously inform the applicant that he has not proved his right to the privilege . We desire to say , that if a visitor demands , or asks , to see the charter of the Lodge he seeks to visit , he « hould be

promptly told , in Pennsylvania , when the charter is taken from its proper place in the Lodge , tbe Lodge by that act is " closed "—the Lodge thus closed , all further proceedings of the examiners is ended . —Keystone .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

" / ^ \ UR Girls " have again scored . The Cambridge List \ j is out , and 13 out of the 15 children who went up have passed , 4 with honours , and 7 besides distinguibhed . Tho following are the particulars : —Seniors—Lucy Smith , 3 rd Class honours ; Amy Cutbush and Ettie Chapman

satisfied Examiners . Juniors—Bartha Dean , 1 st Class honours , and distinguished for religious knowledge and the theory of music ; Bessie Locke and Ethel Gillet , 3 rd Class honours , and distinguished for religious knowledge ;

Mary Nicholson , Evelyn Conti , Jessie Bilby and Nellie Grammer satisfied Examiners , and were distinguished for religious knowledge ; Edith Tanner , Irene Gooch and Mabel Wood satisfied Examiners .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

THE results of the Cambridge Local Examination , held last December have just been sent in : — First Class : First Division : Haines ( with distinction in Religions Knowledge and English ) .

Second Class : Franoe , Gay , Higginton , Moorcroft . Third Class : Angier , Bingham , Churchill , Fortnnt , Harvey . Certificates : Boulter , Cole , Conplaud , Crompton , Davis , Fearon , Horder , Matthews , Murless , Robey , Scarfe , Shorrock . Although numerically these results are not greater than those of last year , yet the quality may be considered better .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

No First Class have been gained by the School since 1886 , when the boys were older at tbe time of entering for the examination . It may also be remembered that the boys here are compelled to leave at 15 , Jthusthey are at ' a year ' s

disadvantage as compared with lads from other schools , consequently we may be satisfied with tbe results . Out of 5053 candidates only 162 were placed in the first division of the first class .

The following report of the Board of Management was adopted at the meeting of tbe Connoil on Saturday last : — The Board of Management have pleasure ia handing to , each atibsoriber the accompanying statements of accounts for 1891 , whioh have been submitted to and adopted by the Council of the Institution , after being prepared by the Finance Committee and

dnly andited . The friends of the Institution may be congratulated upon what mast be regarded as a gratifying result of the past year , which hn been occasioned in a large measure by the gonerous support of the Craft at the Anniversary Festival . It will be found that the expenditure will bear comparison with

previous years . An increase in the cost of maintenance has been unavoidable in some items , consequent upon a serious epidemio during the autumn , which waa happily overoome without serious or fatal results , and at the present time the establishment shows " a dean bill of health . " Some additional expenditure in cleaning , painting , and

renovating the whole of the buildings , aud an amount of £ 718 19 i 7 d under the bead of special expenditure had bean incurred in providing necessary class-room accommodation ( and other extraordinary requirements ) whioh the Board resolved upon rather than erect new buildings , at a muoh greater cost , as previously intended and sanctioned by the subscribers .

The amount of invested funds of ths Institution as stated iu the balance-sheet is £ 25 , 045 14 s . In this amount the following presontations and bequests have been ascertained to be included : Perpetual Presentations—Provinoe of East Lancashire , Blair ... ... £ 1050 0 0 Province of West Yorkshire , De Grey ... ... 1050 0 0 Provinoe of West Yorkshire , Marquess of Ripon ... 1050 0 0

Province of Cheshire ... ... ... ... 1050 0 0 Life Presentations—Province of North Wales and Shropshire , Sir Watkin * 525 0 0 Province of Devon , John Hoysbe ... ... 525 0 0 * These two have hitherto been regarded as of a value of £ 1050 eaoh , but have now been ascertained to be only £ 525 each . Province of Stafford , Duke of Connaught ... 525 0 0

£ 5775 0 0 Prize Funds—W . Winn ... ... ... 525 0 0 C . Greenwood Memorial ... ... 103 13 0

E . Cox 84 0 0 Edgar Bowyer Memorial ... ... 45 14 0 758 7 0 Sustentation Fund ... ... ... ... 500 0 0 Investments out of Income ... ... ... 18 , 102 7 0 £ 25 , 045 14 0

The number of boys ohargsable to the Institution daring the past year was 255 . Owing to the popular support so generously given by the Craft to the Sister Institutions during the present year , tbe Board seriously urge that your Lodge or Chapter will send a Steward to the forth .

coming Festival on 29 th June next , in order that the small amount of our invested funds may not require to be reduced to meet necessary current expenses . By order , J . MOBKISON MCLEOD , Secretary . 5 th March 1892 .

The Committee of Management of the Eoyal Masonio Benevolent Institution held their monthly meeting at

Freemasons Hall , on Wednesday . Brother J . A . Farnfield P . A . G . D . C . Treasurer of the Institution , occupied the chair , and there were present Brothers 0 . J . Perceval , J , Newton , C . A . Cottebrune , H . J . Strong , M . D ., Hugh Cotter , G . Bolton , Charles E . Keyser , A . Mullord , G . E .

Fairchild , W . Belchamber , C . F . Hogard , W . F . Smithson , W . Fisher , John Barnett jun ., George Mickley , M . A ., M . B ., Major Carrell , W . J . Crntch , C . G . Hill , Henry Cox , Charles Lacey , W . H . Hubbert , E . M . Money , W . Webber , G . P . Gillard , C . Kerapton , L . G . Gordon Robbins , T . G .

Bnllen , J . S . Cumberland , and James Terry Secretary . The minutes of the February meeting having been read and verified , the Secretary reported the death of two male annuitants and one widow annuitant , and a sum of £ 10 waB voted in the case of one of them for funeral expenses , to be placed in charge of Bro . Sampson . The