Rameses The Great.

" Vocal Memnon . " Next most worthy of mention is the Temple of Dekkah . At its entrance are two colossal stataes of Rameses , with sculptures recording his victories , and celebrating his glory . These are finely pictured in Manning ' s " Land of the Pharaohs . " Last , and perhaps

noblest of all , are the two rock Temples at Ipsamboul . These were visited by Bro . Edward L . Wilson , of Concordia Lodge , No . 67 , Philadelphia , the artistphotograper , one year ago , who took a number of fine photographs of the Temples , one large photo of which , the

gift of Bro . Wilson , is before us as we write . Mr . Fergnsson , the great historian of Architecture , says , " The largest of the rock-temples at Ipsamboul is the finest of its class known to exist anywhere . " The facade is one hundred feet in height , and adorned by four of the most

magnificent colossi in Egypt , representing Rameses II . Nothing , it is said , can exceed their calm majesty and beauty . The mountain behind this facade is excavated to a depth of about two hundred feet . Within there is a grand hall , with eight side chapels opening into it , a second

smaller hall , a corridor , and an adytum , with altar and figures in relief . The walls are covered with paintings and sculptures . Everywhere is the cartouche of Rameses the

Great . The walls glow with colour , and are like the pages of an illuminated missal . All tell of the glory of Rameses , and all of his portraits wear the same expression of sublime tranquillity and repose .

Other notable works of this " architect Pharaoh " were , the completion of the Hall of Columns at Karnak , of the Temple of Abydos , and other famous temples at Memphis , Heliopolis , Tanis and elsewhere . In the ornamentation of his buildings he was lavish in the employment of obelisks

and colossi . One of his obelisks , known as the Luxor obelisk , now occupies a commanding position on the " Place de Ia Concorde , " at Paris , and is excellently described in Bro Lieut .-Com . Gorringe's handsome work

on " Egyptian Obelisks , " a copy of which Bro . Gorringe fraternally favoured us with . On this obelisk is a vignette of Rameses II ., on his knees , offering two vases of wine to Ammon-Ra .

But , if we are to believe Bro . T . M . Ward , the author of a curious monograph on " The Obelisks " ( Philadelphia : 1881 ) , "There never was a king by the name of Rameses , because it is not the name of any person . Any king could have the phrase Rameses attached to his name , in order to

show that he had received consecration , and had been accorded eternal life with the gods . * * The word , Rameses is compounded of ' Ra / the sun , and ' Mss , ' or 'Meses , ' the mysteries — the sun and the mysteries . "

Well , if there -was no " Rameses , " there was the son of Seti I ., who , Rawlinson says , " designated himself upon his monuments as Ra-user-ma Sotep-en-ra Ramessu-Meriamen . " We must say we prefer Rameses , or Rameses the Great for short . —Keystone .

The General Committee meeting of the Royal Masonic Institntion for Boys was held on Saturday last , at Freemasons' Hall , when there were present Bros . J . L . Mather ( Chairman ) , Hogard , Tyrrell , Harding , Dewar , A . E .

Gladwell , Jehanzie H . Kotharie , Williams , Berridge , Gillard , Whitley , Joyce Murray , Matier , Bowyer , Mann , Massey , Paas , Cubitt , Webb , Cooper , Britten , Motion , Morgan , W . H . Saunders , and F . Binckes ( Secretary ) . After the confirmation of the minutes it was announced that a further

sum of - £ 1000 had been invested in India 4 per Cents , with dividend , and that the purchase price was 103 | per cent . Two deferred cases were considered , and the boys were placed on the list for the April election . There were three new candidates , Moore , of Lvme , Dorset ; Haigh , of

Huddersfield ; and Milsham , of Sunderland . The cases were in order , and were placed on the list . Bro . Matier suggested that as the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution had lately passed a rule by which subscribers who had given as much as - £ 200 to the Institution should thereby

be constituted Patrons , the Boys' School might have a similar rule . Being asked whether he would give notice of motion to that effect , he replied that he would ; whereupon several brethren objected , and Bro . Matier explained that at present it could only affect four old supporter . * * of the

Institution . Bro . Binckes did not see reason why they should not adopt the rule . Bro . C . H . Webb stated that he was present when the discussion on the proposal took place at the Benevolent Institution , and he objected to it . "is idea was , that where subscribers had given large sums to the Institutions they should bo credited with a certain

Rameses The Great.

number of votes to aid them if they should at any time personally require assistance . Bro . Britten , while not entirely agreeing with Bro . Webb , thought that instead of a Patronship being granted for money subscribed a subscriber of a

large amount should havo the benefit of it in case of his own candidature . After other expressions of opinion , the proposal of Bro . Matier was put into form , and handed in . The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution met on Wednesday afternoon , at Freemasons' Hall . Present—Bros . Raynham W . Stewart ( in the chair ) , G . Bolton , Louis Stean , C . A . Cottebrnne , A . H . Tattershall , W . H . Goodall , H . B . Marshall , W .

Stephens , W . J . Murlis , J . Bulmer , C . H . Webb , T . W . C . Bush , R . P . Tate , C . J . Perceval , H . Moore , J . Brett , and James Terry ( Secz'etary ) . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , the Secretary reported the death of three annuitants—two male and one female . One of

the annuitants was the oldest on the books , he having been elected thirty-two years ago . At the time of his death he was 94 years of age . This leaves Bro . Norris , the Warden of the Institution at Croydon , the oldest known Mason living . The Warden ' s Report was read , and

the Secretary announced that he had entered into a contract with Messrs . Hall , Potter , and Co ., of Croydon , for them to supply the Institution with coals during the winter months . The Finance Committee ' s Report for the quarter commencing 30 th June was read , received , and

adopted , and cheques as recommended were ordered to be signed . Two petitions for admission to the Institution by election were examined , and the petitioners were placed on the list . One petition was rejected . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

We are not surprised at the interest that is being taken in the status of Past Masters question . It grows week by week , and by the time when the final settlement must be made opinions will be matured and no doubt a righteous decision arrived at . Throughout the discussion we have

contended for the delay that has arisen , and now every circumstance goes to prove the wisdom of that policy . Indeed , but for delay , the question would have assumed an aggravated and angry form . The resolution passed on the 8 th August was not the result of the enlightened judgment

of the Craft ; it was a vote given at the instance ot a comparatively few enthusiastic country brethren , who were no doubt honest and earnest in their belief that the change they proposed was necessary . It is doubtful whether they represented the feeling of the country brethren generally ,

and it is certain that the majority of the London members are against the alteration . Time will disclose the relative strength of parties , it will also have tended to soften asperity , and to place the whole subject fairly on its merits . We have seen no reason to recede from the position we

first took up ; if anything , we have been strengthened by the various opinions that have been expressed . The Revised Rules , omitting the vexed one in question , seem to provide all that is necessary for the protection of Past Masters ; and if , as it appears in some cases , to be desirable

to deal exceptionally with some brethren , each Lodge should be left as the arbiters of the honour they wish to confer . No action of a private Lodge can override the Constitutions , and as these now provide for the status of a Past Master in a generous and liberal sense , fresh legislation in Grand Lodge

is unnecessary . A joining Past Master may be a great acquisition to a Lodge , and if the power is given to them to recognise exceptional merit , all that is requisite will be done . It is purely a question for private Lodges , and they ought to have authority to deal with it , under reasonable

and intelligent conditions . The practice has already been followed in some cases , and although there is no written law either for or against the custom , the fact that it has been winked at , shows that no great harm was anticipated from its practice . To make a law , however , which shall

force a Lodge either to blackball a would-be joining Past Master , or assign him a position which may be offensive to the brethren , ia stretching the power of Grand Lodge , and would be the beginning of an antagonism to central

authority which all right-minded Masons would deplore . Laws should be based upon the principles of justice , with a probable assurance that they would meet with the obedience of all loyal subjects .