Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOTS .

To the Editor of the FBEEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR Silt AND BROTHER , —I shall be glad if you can find space for a suggestion which I believe may be carried into beneficial effect . It is briefly this : —That the Institntion should be endowed with Scholarships , tenable for three years , to enable the holders to

complete their studies at one of the Universities . There are now on the Register of the Grand Lodge of England nearly 2250 Craft Lodges , and if each Lodge were to contribute a donation of £ 2 , there would be immediately available a sum of £ 4500—quite sufficient to endow two

scholarships of £ 55 to £ 60 each in perpetuity . Probably a further sum would be readily forthcoming from Mark Lodges , Chapters and Encampments , but if only the members of the Craft Lodges will put down something less than one shilling each , tho money can be raised at once .

" But , it may he objected , " are these proposed scholarships desirable ?" I say "Yes , " for they would be as leaven to the whole school . With such prizes to be gained , there would be a strong inducement for every boy in the Institution to do his best ; and although only a

limited number could carry off the awards , the effect of the stimulus given to the studies would surely be that the Wood Green boys as a body would be more highly educated when they leave the School than can be expected under existing conditions . The cleverest master cannot turn oat brilliant pupils unless his efforts to teach are met by

a willingness , an eagerness to learn ; and if a boy knows that at fifteen years of age he will be turned into the world to fight his way as best he can , whether he has learned muoh or little , the inducement for him to profit to the fullest extent by the instruction offered at school is liable to be chilled . " If I am to be nothing but a mere

clerk , the three R's will do for me , " such a boy may argue . But tell him that by industry he may win the means of becoming a lawyer , a divine , a covenanted public servant , or of achieving a position superior to that of one of the general crowd , and he will respond eagerly to the advantages offered . Suoh a boy will not only

receive instruotion , bnt education ; his native talents will be developed and drawn out . Who can doubt that amongst the hundreds of boys who pass their school career at Wood Green there are many who are capable of adorning the highest positions , if the prize be placed within their reach ? Is it right to leave such fertile

fields only half tilled ? I do not suggest that too much should be attempted at once . If each Lodge would make a donation of £ 2 for the next three years , funds would be provided for maintaining two scholars at a University without interruption . But for a beginning I think my modest scheme

is worth trying . Possibly the munificence of wealthy brethren might , in the future , increase the number of the scholarships . Now as to the bestowal of the prizes . Let the six top boys of the School in each year be granted the privilege of remaining in the School to pursue their studies until they reach the age of 18 . They

would be the Grecians of the Institution . At 18 let these six boys compete for the scholarships . Only two could be successful , but the other four would be highly trained young men , likely to do ci'edit in after life to themselves and the Institution . The question of the cost of maintaining these six boys for an additional three years may be

raised , and the circumstance of the funds being already inadequate tojmeet the demand for admission to the School may be urged . But against these pleas I would say that these selected students could be appointed , first as upper monitors , and then as under masters . They would learn by teaching , and would thus more than earn their

maintenance . Doubtless many imperfections in the details of my proposition may appear to competent critics , but I think the principle is worthy of consideration . One effect would be to raise the whole tone of the Institution , which , I fear , many brethren are too apt to regard as a

Charity School . They forget , perhaps , that the boys there are the sons of men who mnst all have done something for the good of Freemasonry ; whilst the fathers of many of the boys have been Life Subscribers , Life Governors , Festival Stewards , & c , and thus have established a claim for aid in their hour of need . For this cause I

think it is needless to compare the cost of maintaining our School with the expenditure of other Institutions , which probably in most cases havo never received any support from tho parents of tho children benefited . Our Institutions are not open to the world ; none

but the children of specially qualified Masons may share in the benefits ; and it bufc right , therefore , that wo should give a generous recognition to their claims , and discharge our obligations with no niggardly hand .

Yours faithfully , HARKY NASH , J . W . St . Michael ' s , No . 211 .

HOLIOW . VS ' OINTMENT AND PILLS . —Discuses of Advanced Years . —When man has passed to tbe borders of old age , the digestion becomes moro or less unpaired , the nervous system grows feeble , and the physical power shows increasing weakness . Hence arise the congestions of liver , lungs , head , followed by dropsy , asthma , or apoplexy , which too frequently afflict the aged . Tho liver usually first gets torpid ; hat . its activity may speedily he revived by rubbing Holloway ' s Ointment thoroughly over the pit of tho stomach and right sido at least twice a-day , and taking tho Pills at tho samo time . Tho same treatment cures all other congested organs , by varying tho parts rubbed according to the situation of the congestion . ;

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . WILLIAM KENNEDY .

THE funeral of the late Bro . William Kennedy , Tyler of the Freemasons' Hall , Maple Street , Newcastle , took place on the 5 th inst . The deceased was Tyler for the Northern

Counties' Lodge 406 , St . Peter ' s 481 , Percy 1427 , Hotspur 1627 , Ridley 2260 , two R . A . Chapters , two Mark Lodges , one Knight Templars , and for the Royal Kent Preceptory . He was , therefore , well known amongst Freemasons in

Newcastle , and was also highly respected for his courteous demeanour .

j—MWWW——IIIMIIIIIl ¦¦¦ IIIIHIIM ¦ II I ¦¦ I ¦ ¦¦ The General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institu tion for Boys held their monthly meeting at Freemasons

Hall , on Saturday last . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , P . G-. D . Trustee , occupied the chair , and there were present Bros . Richardson , Cubitt , Rayner , Gladwell , Bodenham , Richardson , Motion , Mickley , Moon , Eve , Hunt , Rev . R .

Morris , Hogard , Cumberland , Scurrah , Godson , Stiles , Gillard , Saunders , Murray , Glass , and Frederick Binckes Secretary . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and verified , and those of the House Committee

read for information , the recommendations of the House Committee , providing the usual allowance for the education and clothing of two boys out of the establishment , were confirmed . The resolutions of the same Committee , relating

to the Committee of Inquiry , were also confirmed , and it

was resolved " that ali necessary expenses of the staff , officials , and inmates , consequent upon the requisitions of Bro . Philbrick ' s Committee , and the resolutions passed in pursuance thereof , be allowed and paid out of the funds of the Institution . " The petition on behalf of a boy ,

subject to the production of the certificate of the father ' s death , was accepted , and the name ordered to be placed on the list of candidates for election in April 1889 . An application for a grant towards the outfit of an ex-pupil was acceded to . Three additional vacancies were declared

in consequence of the unexpected withdrawal of three additional boys from the establishment . A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Committee of

Management held their regular meeting at Freemasons ' Hall on Wednesday . Brother Jabez Hogg P . G . D . occupied the chair , and there were present Bros . Brett , Berry , Bolton , E . Daniel , Cotter , Cottebrune , West , Smith , C . Daniel .

Hilton , Stean , Perceval , Fraser , Turtle , Pigott , Driver , Webb , Purchas , Cubitt , Hogard , Lacey , Murlis , Ferryman , and Terry . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and verified ; the Secretary reported the death of two male annuitants and one male candidate .

The Warden ' s report for the past month was read and adopted . The Committee reduced the sum payable annually to one of the widow annuitants by one-half , and the petitions of two candidates were withdrawn , one of them

being in receipt of half her late husband ' s annuity , which , likewise ceases . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart ' s report as to the purchase of land was read , adopted , and ordered to be

entered on the minutes . Five petitions—two male and three widows—were considered and accepted , and the names ordered to be entered on the list of candidates for election in May 1889 . A vote of thanks to the Chairman having been passed the proceedings terminated .

NAPOLEONIC MASONRY . —We learn from Kagon , and he singularly incorporates the rite into tho body of his Orthodox Masonry , the existence of tho Ordre des Noachites Francaises , or a Masouic rito , devoted to restoration of Napoleou and his dynasty , overthrown by tbe disaster at Waterloo . It was , according to our author , founded

in Fan ' s in 1816 , with a Grand Master , Marshal Bertrand , who , beiug at tbo timo at St . Helena with his late Imperial master , surrendered its administration to the charge of a Grand Commander and a Lieutenant . The Order was divided into three degrees , viz ., I . Knight ; II . Commander ; III . Graud Elect ; subdivided into threo

sections—1 . Secret Judge ; 2 . Commander ; and 3 . Knight of tho Oaken Crown . It is generally supposed that this Napoleonic rito originated in a defection of some subordinates of the Supremo Council of France , which had been an imperialist invention , as designed by Do Grasso Tillcy , from the commencement . After tho fall of the Emoiro iu

1815 , the Grand Orient of Franco constantly repudiated Napoleou and all his works . The more enthusiastic members , however , darted off to form tho now Order , which was Masonic in form only . Conducted with an immense deal of discretion , the conspiracy , permeating tho army , existed for a number of years aud ultimately died simultaneously with the King of the Romans . — ¦ New Zealand Mail .