Returning- To Work.

ing our Past Masters and others advocating the infusion of this " new blood , " and it is but fair thafc they should bear in mind that as intelligence is imported into any society it is bound to rise , Saul liko and shoulder high , above some of the rest , and assert its power . They must not therefore be

surprised that when new members gras'p the enthusiasm and love which aro engendered by a close study of OUT mysteries , they should desire to push into tho leading ranks , even to the discomfiture of some who had hitherto been shining lights and unapproachable by those by

whom they were surrounded . We know of Past Masters who , because they have performed tlie installation ceremony for ten or twenty years iu succession , feel personally injured by the very suggestion to take the responsibility off their hands , if but for a single occasion . It is on the

principle " Once an alderman , always an alderman . " Bufc this is a principle which has long since exploded , so far as Masonry is concerned ; and the wish expressed now-a-days at almost every Lodge that lays claim to excellence of work is , that each Master on his retirement shall have gained sufficient confidence and culture to instal his successor . Such a

practice should become universal , and would , if striven after in all cases , be productive of an infinity of good . We sincerely trust that the remarks that have fallen from our correspondents , and on which we have commented during the last few weeks , may be taken to heart in connection with the work which is about to be undertaken in

the various Lodges , both in London and the provinces . We are aware that all the sentiments which have been uttered are but the outcome of those previously advanced , over and over again , and we do not care always to be harping on the same string . But now that the opening of the

session is fairly upon us , ifc may not be inopportune to direct the attention of Masters and Officers once more to the various suggestions which have been thrown out relative to those points to be observed for the benefit of the Craft and the advantage of their respective Lodges , and

trust they may derive at least some advantage from the remarks that have appeared in our columns . A consideration of the questions lately raised upon the various points connected with onr system , the correction of irregularities ,

and the means to be adopted by which to safeguard and protect the interests of the Order , may well supply food for meditative thought and friendly debate amongst the happy gatherings of Masons in which we hope ere long to be in full participation .

Royal College Of Music.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC .

W'E are very pleased to observe that the fund which is being raised under the patronage of our Most Worshipful Grand Master , having in view the establishment of a Royal College of Music , is being brought prominently under the notice of the Craffc . Ifc is well known in the City and elsewhere that through the exertions of His

Royal Highness the Prince of Wales an elaborate scheme has been founded for the cultivation of the refined tastes in music , and that it has received the heartiest support of all who desire to promote the hi gher education of the masses , and to place within the reach of all the opportunities of

hearing , or taking part in , the practice of the music of the great masters . As a result of a communication from Sir Phili p Cunliffe Owen , Past Master of the Marquis of Dalhousie Lodge , No . 1159 , a circular letter has been addressed to all the Lodges and

Chapters on the roll of United Grand Lodge and the Supreme Grand Chapter , stating that His Royal Highness the Grand Master allows him to suggest that each Lodge and Chapter should be asked to contribute in their corporate capacity , and that individual Masons should be also

asked to contribute a guinea each to the object which their Grand Master has so much at heart . Colonel Shedwell Gierke , in his letter says , as the matter is not a Masonic one , the suggestion cannot well be submitted to the Craft in a formal or official manner ; but as ifc seems only right

and proper that tbe brethren in general should become acquainted in some form with his Royal Highness ' s sentiments and wishes on the subject , he forwards a copy of

Sir P . Cunliffe Owen ' s letter , and adds thafc he will be happy to take charge of auy subscriptions which Lodges , Chapters , or individual Masons may feel inclined to contribute towards the Royal College

Royal College Of Music.

of Music . There can be little doubt that the si gnificance of the movement , apart from the spirit of loyalty which moves the hearts of Masons towards their Most Worship ful Grand Master , will prompt them liberall y to respond to the invitation , when the Lodges are onco

more iu full working operation . The movement has re . ceived the heartiest and most spontaneous support from all the City companies and guilds , the traders , merchants , and the public generally , and is one which we shall gladl y seo the Craft upholding with all fche influence and liberalit y it is known to possess .

Masonic Literature.

MASONIC LITERATURE .

FROM THE VOICI OP MASONRY .

" f \^ entering upon the study onr art , the Masonic student vy will find it indispensably necessary to read the current Masonic literature of the day , " says a model secretary of one of onr southern jurisdictions in one of his annnal reports . While reading the report from which the above extract ia taken , this question presented itself : How many Masons are there who enter upon the examination of onr art as a s ^ udy ? For Masonry is an

art when taken in its true character and bearings . Yes , it is an art peculiar to itself , not only embracing the various forms of literature , but the arts and sciences , which are symbolised by " Geometry , whioh is the basis of onr art . " Unfortunately for the Institution of Freemasonry , there are Masons who , although they are within the portals of our Temple , yet are not

of us , only as far as numbers are concerned . We may well call them pleasure-day Masons , who , enjoying as they do all the pleasures of the Craft , and reaping all of its benefits , are unwilling to perform any of its labours , or endure any of those privations which befal us . While in attendance at our Grand Lodge at its last Communication , a brother sitting at my side listlessly turning over the pages of the

printed transactions of that body at its previous Communication , turned to me and remarked , " What does all this amount to P" In reply I took the book from his hand , opened it at the foreign correspondence report , and requested him to read a little in that part , and see if he could find anything interesting . He did so , and became so interested that he did not hear his name read at the roll-call of

Lodge , and lost his vote . After the session I found him again , and asked if he found anything interesting in that book , and if it amounted to anything ? His reply was to the point , to say the least , and was : " What a fool I have been ! I had no idea there was any . thing in it except dry correspondence , interesting only to parties concerned . Ton won't catch me making any such foolish statements

again , and when I saw him the next day trying to beg from our Grand Secretary a few copies of our Grand Lodge Proceedings of previous years , I made up my mind that I never should . Now that brother is nob the only one who has had , or still has , the erroneous idea that Grand Lodge proceedings are worthless , or thafc Masonio literature is senseless stuff ; either from the fact of never having read

ib , or being incapable of appreciating it . The brother referred to is a splendid ritual worker . There is nofc a position in the Lodge which he cannot fill with skill , and as a ritualist he is as near perfection as it is possible for any man to be , yet in the one thing needful , a knowledge of Masonio literature , he is an ignoramus j but , if appearances are nofc deceitful , iu one year

from now that cannot be said of him . The reports on foreign correspondence of those Grand Lodges which issue them , and fortunately the most of them do , are gotten up with a great deal of care , and involve a vast amount of hard work . In fact they are the cream of all the transactions of all other Grand Bodies condensed . The arguments and ideas presented embrace all

there is of any importance , and in fact some things that are not . If one wishes to soar into the heavens of rhetorical effect—gush—some call it , he finds it somewhere in them . If he wants sound logic , substantial facts , wit , sarcasm , explanations on any of the mooted questions of the day , and diversity of opinions on various subjects per . taining to the welfare of Masonry , they give it to him . In fact , it is

but seldom thafc one finds such a variety of reading in any one book , as is found within the covers of a report on foreign correspondence , yet , how many of them are read P Perhaps , nofc one in ten . Now , who is to blame ? Certainly not the authors , for they do their level best , nor the Grand Bodies themselves , for they issue them for the purpose of having them read . Then , it must be in the brethren

themselves ; and why is it so ? Because those who have never taken the pains to read them think they are void of interest , bat let me assure that class , if they will read only one of them they will be anxious enough for others , provided that they are inclined to sound reading , not trash . Now , there are some brethren who call themselves Masons , who

make want of time an excuse for Masonic ignorance . I suppose street Arabs have the same excuse for their ignorance . That class , though , find plenty of time to read every silly , love-siok story that comes in their way , where blood and thunder are the predominating fuature , but they have no time to devote to the perusal of the literature of an Institution that stands without a peer , except the church

of the Deity . Such a state of affairs is deplorable in the extreme . Ifc is a burning shame , as well as a lasting disgrace , that there are so few of tho Masons in America who take interest in Masonic literature . Every little while we bear of some Masonic periodical succumbing to the pressure of want of patronage . N w Jersey , for instance , with her 11 , 772 Masons , failed to give adequate support to even one Masonio journal ;