Staffordshire And The Boys School.

STAFFORDSHIRE AND THE BOYS SCHOOL .

W HEN we received the letter of Bro . Bodenham , which appeared in our issue of the 2 nd inst ., commenting on the report we gave of Bro . Greatbatch ' s remarks at Hanley , in regard to the removal of the Boys School from Wood

Green , we felt , for the time being , that we had perhaps been too hasty in attaching so much importance as we appeared to have done to Bro . Greatbatch ' s criticisms . Having so recently pointed out the desirability—even the necessity—of hearing

both sides of a story , it was but natural we should give due consideration to Bro . Bodenham ' s views , but the anxiety that we felt was of but momentary duration ; we knew the kind of man we had to deal with in Bro . Greatbatch , who ,

whatever may be his peculiarities or ideas as to making the Masonic Institutions about on a par with an ordinary Board School—as suggested by Bro . Bodenham—is yet a man of determination , who is hardly likely to put his hand to the

plough with the idea of turning back at the first obstacle he meets . The Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys knows what he has been capable of in the past , and who shall gauge the ultimate result of his latest utterances ? As we have argued

before , it is the views of such Brethren as he that will ultimately prove the success or otherwise of the policy lately adopted by the executive of the Institution , despite anything that may be said to the contrary .

As we anticipated , Bro . Greatbatch has answered the remarks of Bro . Bodenham , in a letter that appears elsewhere in this issue , and we are not disappointed at the tone he adopts . He is the same fearless advocate of reform as he was in 1888-9 ,

and we shall be very much surprised if the future does not unmistakably prove that the opinions of such men as he are far more worthy of consideration that the votes of confidence of Provinces who are content to allow themselves to be led by those

in authority . The storm through which our Boys School passed eight years back commenced with a cloud less threatening than the one now hovering over it , and however substantial may be its foundations we think it nothing short of foolhardiness to run

it right into another such tempest . Of course we shall be told it is now too late to consider the desirability of removal , as the purchase of the new site at Bushey has been completed—more ' s the pity , as we fully anticipate the future will prove—but , on the

other hand , . we still argue that even now a delay would not be out of place . It is true the site at Bushey has been purchased , although if it is the desirable acquisition some would have us believe it can be but little harm if allowed to

rest for the present , even until such time as the Institution shall have found a purchaser for the property at Wood Green , or , better still , if building operations are to be started upon at once , let the executive consider the desirabilty of commencing

with a part of the new School , retaining the buildings at Wood Green fof the full number of boys that can be accommodated there , rather than sacrificing the splendid range of buildings the Craft has erected , for the price of old bricks and second-hand fittings .

Freemasonry And The Licensing Laws.

FREEMASONRY AND THE LICENSING LAWS .

WE give below an extract from a Scarborough paper of a few weeks back , in regard to an application made for an extension of time for a local Hotel , on the occasion of a

Masonic banquet , and can but regret that such prominence should have become possible in connection with any of the proceedings of the Fraternity .

It may be argued these applications for extended time are of daily occurrence in different parts of the country , and that Freemasons are by no means alone in being associated with

requests to continue social practices beyond the usual hour for closing licensed premises , but that does not wholly remove the stigma that attaches to such remarks as are here recorded .

For our' own part we see no reason for these extensions being even entertained in connection with Masonic gatherings , being of opinion that the ordinary closing hour is quite late enough for all necessary purposes , and we would suggest that

Brethren who entertain different views should carefully consider the effect of such a report as we here refer to , and think twice before they endorse the wish of the Hotel proprietor ! to keep his house open an extra hour or two—for we believe

in many cases it would be found that the desire for extension was rather to suit the purposes of the host , than to study the convenience of his Masonic guests . With so many attacks being made upon Freemasonry in its different forms it behoves its members to leave no stone

unturned to keep its name untarnished , and its reputation clear , and this may best be done by a strict supervision of what may be termed trifles in connection with the workings—even in an indirect manner—of the members of the Order . This item

supplies an object lesson , showing how easy it is for a bad reputation to follow thoughtless actions on the part of those already within the Craft .

MR . THOMAS WHITTAKER AND SCARBOROUGH MASONS . —MAGISTERIAL POWER .

At the Town Hall , Scarborough , before Mr . Thomas Whittaker and other magistrates , Mr . Charles Wood , the new proprietor of the Brunswick Hotel , Westborough , made an application for an extension of license until one o ' clock a . m ., on the occasion of the Mark Masonic banquet , to be held that night . Mr . Whittaker : A Mark Masonic banquet . I suppose that is

something special?—Mr . Wood : Yes , Sir . —Mr . Whittaker : Is it a long ceremony ?—Mr . Wood : Yes , Sir . —Mr . Whittaker : How long does it take ? —Mr . Wood : It is the most important ceremony of the year , Sir . —Mr . Whittaker : That doesn't tell me how long it takes . —Mr . Wood : I really could not tell you . —Mr . Whittaker : Well , I think one o ' clock is too long .

Twelve o ' clock is quite late enough . —Mr . Wood ; Will you ra & ke it half-past twelve , Sir . —Mr . Whittaker : I don't see that we can . Twelve o ' clock is quite late enough when there ' s liquor about . We are given power in these cases , and this power is not given to us to be trifled with . If we give way , and grant the extension for a later hour , we shall be expected to do it in

other cases . —Mr . Wood : Those who will be present are gentlemen mostly well-known in the town , Sir . —Mr . Whittaker : We can't help that , Gentlemen get drunk , you know . The extension is granted until twelve o ' clock . —Whilst' the Magistrates' Clerk was preparing the usual extension

notice , the first police case was called , and it happened to be one of a drunk and incapable character . —Mr . Whittaker , drawing Mr . Wood ' s attention to the female prisoner before the Bench , said : You see , the first case this morning is the result of drink .