Thoughts For The Thinking Mason.

in tho same manner that the architects of to-day spread broadcast , among tho profession , every new constructive expedient or novelty in design in the pages of the professional journals . Can wo not imagine our ancient

Brethren gathered together in tho precincts of the tyled Lodge and there , safe from the intrusion of the local builder who might otherwise discover their knowledge , working out these mosfc complicated problems of the

pressure and counter-pressure of groined vaults , mathematical computations so profound that when the monasteries were put down by Henry VIII ., and the Freemasons lost

their prerogatives , as well as their employment , the secret was lost , until this present age of engineering skill ; and architecture from the lack of the requisite knowledge for tho construction of Gothic buildings , took on the much

simpler forms of the classic , and the world witnessed that mighty change in art , contemporaneous with the great religious upheaval of the times , the Renaissance . But with all the mediaeval spirit of this our ancient and

honourable Fraternity , there seems , in its legends and traditions , in its symbols and emblems , a yet more ancient spirit , which would take us back to those remote ages of antiquity , earlier even than tho building of that wondrous

Temple at Jerusalem by Solomon , King of Israel , and would carry us in spirit within those sacred precincts of the temples on the borders of the Nile , whose priests gathered to themselves all the knowledge of the world ,

leaving to the common people naught but unceasing toil for their daily bread , and demanded of any one who would seek to penetrate into the mysterious realms of science or art , that he should give proof of the earnestness of his purpose

by passing through ordeals where fear or hesitation would proclaim him unworthy of knowing the still greater mystery of the truth of nature ' s laws . We well know that in Egypfc mathematics , from its absolute exactness ,

was regarded as of divine origin , and the triangle , from being the simplest figure into which all other plane figures can be resolved , was looked upon as a direct emblem of Deifcy . Can any thinking Mason fail to connect this fact

with the many allusions to this figure in our work , and with the threefold character of all ancient Masonry ? Or does he prefer to join the ranks of those petty scoffers , who seeing nothing beyond what they can fathom with the

petty measuring rod of what they term exact science , deny to our mysteries any antiquity beyond the seventeenth or eighteenth century , and who imagine a set of men gathered together in a London coffee-house could have then and

there originated mysteries which on their very face bear the stamp of antiquity ? Truly such men could not be convinced though fire were to come down from heaven by a miracle , and illuminate the dim vistas of the past , so that fchey mighfc see clearly what had gone before . —Keystone .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

THE monthly meeting of the General Committee was held on Saturday last , in the Board Eoom ,

Freemasons' Hall . The Earl of Euston , Chairman of the Provisional Committee appointed by the Special Court held on the 6 th June , presided . Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Eegistrar , and several members of fche

Provisional Committee were present , with a large number of Life Governors , Life Subscribers , & c . After the formal business had been transacted , and a list of 69 candidates for admission to the School settled , 16 vacancies in the School were declared for the October election . Brother

the Earl of Euston then presented to the Committee the report drawn up by the Provisional Committee of its transactions since the 6 th June , and his lordship read the report , as follows : — The Eeport of the Provisional Management Committee appointed by

the Special General Court on 6 th June 1889 . Thie Committee haa since ita appointment held five meetings , one of which was at Wood Green . The Earl of Euston waa elected Chairman , Bro . F . A . Philbrick Vice-Chairman , and Brother J . D . Langton Hon . Sec . of the Committee ,

On the 12 th June the late Honse , Finance , and Audit Committeea passed a resolution handing over the management of the Institution to this Committee , and this Committee on the same day passed a resolution accepting the charge , and has since that day done all

things necessary in carrying on the Institution . The Matron and Steward of the Institution having resigned , this Committee has taken the matter into its consideration , and recommends that the office of Steward be not filled up for the present , but

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

that tho Matron be at onco appointed . It therefore asks thafc ifc bo empowered to make the appointment , subject to the approval of the next General Committee . The Committeo is of opinion that a fresh Medical Officer ia required , and recommends it be empowered to take the necessary steps to

attain this result forthwith . Ifc appears to this Committee that , in the interests of the Institution , and in order to carry out the wishes of the Special Court , ifc ia necessary there should be a change at as early a period as possible in the office of Secretary . The committee is unanimous in

recommending that a retiring allowance should be accorded to Bro . Frederick Binckes , and asks the General Committee to authorise ifc fco confer with Bro . Binckes on thecoma of his retirement , and to arrange them , if possible , and report thereon to the next General Committee .

The Committee has under its consideration the various recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry , with a view to carry them oufc as desired by the General Court . Ifc has nofc lost sight of the question of fche Head Mastership , bufc deems ib advisable to reserve this , wifch other important subjects , for further deliberation . The Committee asks this General Committee to confirm what ifc baa

already done , and to depute to it the powers of tbe House , Audit , and Finance Committees , in order that it may be duly authorised to carry out the directions given by the Special Court , on the occasion of its appointment . The various duties devolving on the Members of tho Committee

render it advisable in their opinion , that they should be enabled to add to their number , if found requisite . The Committee has accepted the honorary services of Messrs . Kennedy and Hobbs , chartered accountants , and have appointed a

Sub-Committee , which haa received an interim report advising on the system of book-keeping , and thafc Sub-Committee is engaged in further considering the question of the financial condition of the Institution .

Dated the 6 th day of July 1889 . ( Signed ) EUSTON . Bro . Philbrick , in moving : —¦ " That the report of the Provisional Management Committee now

read be received and entered on the minutes , and that its proceedings and recommendations do receive the sanction of thia Committee , which authorises the Provisional Committee to carry the same into effect , " said the Committee found it necessary to ask thafc further members be added to their number ; they , although now

21 , did not all attend . Some of these , such as Bro . Gerard

Ford , of Brighton , were not always able to attend , and the duties of the Committee were becoming many and arduous . The Committee , however , was anxious to continue its labours with tbe same zeal , assiduity , and thoroughness as

heretofore , and would like more brethren to be conjoined with them . Bro . J . S . Cumberland seconded the motion . A short discussion arose on the Eeport , tho different speakers

expressing their approval of the manner in which the Provincial Committee had discharged the burden thrown upon them . Bro . James Motion wanted to ask whether the

Secretary had resigned , in conformity with the wish expressed at tho Special Court of 6 th June ? Bro . Binckes said he had nofc resigned . Bro . Motion then took exception to one paragraph in the Eeport , that relating to a

retiring allowance to the Secretary . He strongly objectrd to any retiring allowance . It was explained that no recomendation by the Committee that a retiring allowance of any amount would bind the subscribers to the

Institution in any way whatever . The Committee could only recommend , and whatever recommendation they might make would be submitted to a Special or Quarterly Court of Subscribers for their confirmation or rejection . The

Eeport was then agreed to , without a dissentient voice , and a resolution was past authorising Lord Euston to sign cheques . Grants for outfits were made to some ex-pupils of the Institution , and a vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Since we published the lists of contributions at the recent Boys' School Festival , held on the 3 rd instant , the following amounts have been received . — LONDON

Lodge £ a d 49 Br J Turner - - 15 15 0 534 GEO Jackson , additional - 15 15 0 871 J G Thomas , additional - - 5 5 0 902 W C Smith , additional - - . 550 1044 A J Higerty , additional - - 1 1 0 1348 Brennan - - - - - 10 10 0

PROYIJNUES . CHESHIEE . 1357 M Longridge - - - - - 2 2 0 SOMEESETSHIRE . Lieut .-Colonel A Thrale Perkins , additional . 11 11 0