"Which Is Correct?"

these have flashed their radiance upon rapt and delighted audiences . It is not given to every man to be an orator or a preceptor ; but who can expect the harvest unless he has prepared the soil and sown the seed ? Men sometimes repine , and wonder that they cannot climb the

Masonic ladder as deftly as their apparently less highlyendowed brethren . And we cannot but think that the answer in an infinite majority of cases would bo " Becauso there was a hurrying over , or inattention to , the ordinary and minor details of study . " We cannot help thinking

that if an ovening occasionally were set asido in Lodges of Instruction for Masonic debate—if the ordinary routine were now and then merged into a friendly discussion forum —it would tend materially to remove the doubts and misgivings which aro constantly expressed , and the momentous

question , " Which is correct ? " would in many instances be pleasantly solved . One matter lately brought before us by a country brother was that of the use of an extra light in the Third Degree , and tho propriety of extinguishing the Master ' s light and introducing , by way of substitute , a

lanthorn with a star , & c . In relation to this subject we have to hand copy of an old circular emanating from Grand Lodge forty years ago , in which the then Grand Secretary , after , no doubt , due consultation with all the acknowledged authorities , states unhesitatingly that such extinguishment

is not only improper but positively in violation of the most maturely-considered and unequivocal directions of the Grand Lodge . The introduction of a lanthorn , & c , is equally against the order . Now we have frequently seen pretty transparencies and other arrangements introduced

into Lodges by which to give additional effect and brilliancy to ceremonial rites ; but the question as to the substitution of any kind of luminary for the Master ' s light is , according to authority , and in our opinion , contrary to the spirit of the order . " Which is correct ? " We learn from the

document referred to that in the Lodge of Reconciliation the extinguishment had been proposed , and occasioned much dissatisfaction . In order , therefore , to settle that and other points—or , more properly speaking , to carry out the intention and direction of the Act of Union

that there should be a conformity of working , & c . —a special Grand Lodge was convened on the 20 th of May 181 G , to witness the ceremonies proposed by the Lodge of Reconciliation . These concluded , the several points were discussed ; amongst others the lights in the third

Degree , and decisions were come to upon them . But , to afford opportunity for the most mature consideration , and to leave the subject without a possibility of objection , another special Grand Lodge was holden on 5 th June following , to approve and confirm what had been done at the

former meeting . The attendance was larger than at any other time , excepting the day of Union ; and the decision arrived at was , that " the Master ' s light was never to be extinguished while the Lodge was open , nor was it by any means to be shaded or obscured , and that no lanthorn or

other device was to be permitted as a substitute . " One of the reasons stated is , that one of the Lights represents the Master , who is ahvays present while the Lodge is open , if not actually in his own person , yet by a brother who represents him ( and without the Master or his

representative the Lodge cannot be open ); so his light cannot be extinguished until the Lodge is closed . The other two lights figuratively represent luminaries which at periods are visible—at other times not so . Here , for instance , is a subject which might be well taken for an evening ' s

quiet reflection and debate , and undoubtedly the question , if well handled , would elucidate many others of equal interest and importance , and on which it is most desirable to be informed " Which is correct ? " We shall be pleased to devote a portion of . our space weekly to the discussion of

such matters , in which we should be glad to have the cooperation of our readers , feeling assured that in cases of doubt and difficulty , as well for the dissemination of truth , the ventilation and interchange of opinion must be productive of the most beneficial results .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS

THE Rt . Hon . the Earl of Rosslyn , K . T ., Her Majesty ' s Lord High Commissioner to the Church of Scotland , and M . W . Past Grand Master of Scotland , has , in the kindest manner , consented to preside at the 81 st Anniversary Festival of this Institution , to be held at the Alexandra Palace , on Wednesday , 25 th June next .

R. M. Benevolent Institution

R . M . BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION

THE Annual Meeting of the Governors of , and Donors and Subscribers to this Institution was held yesterday ( Friday ) , iu the Great Hall , at Freemasons' Tavern , where there was a goodly attendance , under the presidency of Bro . Licut .-Colonel John Creaton , Grand Treasurer of England . Tho Secretary ( Bro . James Terry ) read a letter , whioh he had

received from His Royal Highness the Princo of Wales , in which the M . W . G . M . expressed his approval of 11 th February 1880 as the date for tho next Festival in behalf of the Institution . Bro . Terry also had satisfaction in announcing that the Sight Hon . the Earl of Zetland , Prov . G . M . of North and East Yorkshire , had kindly

consented to preside on that occasion . Tho minutes of the annual geueral meeting of 1878 were taken as read , and the Secretary then presented tho annual report of the Audit Committee and Committee of Management , whioh was unanimously approved and adopted , as follows : —

REPORT . The Committee of Management desire to congratulate the Donors and Subscribers upon the continued success which has attended tho Institution during the past year , resulting in a larger amount of donations and subscriptions being received than in any preceding twelve months since its formation . The Anniversary Festival was held by command of the Patron ,

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M ., on the 13 th February last , and having obtained the consent of Lt .-Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie R . W . Prov . G . M . for E . Lancashire to preside , a Board of Stewards , 291 iu number , was formed , of whom 81 were from the chairman ' s Province . Their exertions were rewarded by being enabled to present the largest sum yet obtained at any of the Festivals , viz . —

£ 14 , 386 ; and tho Committee tender , not only to them their sincere thanks for raising such an amount , considering the groat depression of trade unhappily prevailing throughout the country , but also to the chairman for his powerful advocacy of the claims of the Institu . tion on the day of the Festival , and for the deep interest he dis . played throughout his Province in inducing the brethren to support

his presidency . At tho last election there were 145 male and 135 female annuitants upon the fund ; there are 33 men and 43 widows candidates for election to-day . Since May last 22 men and 8 widows have died , and the Committee have resolved not only to fill up these vacancies , but to

augmont that number by tho election of an additional ten widows , so that there will now be 145 annuitants of both sexes receiving the benefits of the Institution , the amount of whose annuities will be £ 10 , 440 . There are also 12 widows receiving half their late husband's annuities , who each receive £ 20 per annum , so that the Institution is committed to an annual payment of £ 10 , 680 , without

the working expenses . To meet this large outlay the Committee rely , in the future as they have done in the past , upon the continued liberality of tho Craft , feeling convinced that that reliance will not be in vain . Tho Committee have much pleasure in reporting that the balanco remaining in the hands of Messrs . Willis , Percival and Co ., at the

time of their failure , in 1878 , has been paid in foil by the Trustee of the estate of the late Treasurer , Samuel Tomkins , Esq ., thereby preventing the Institution from sustaining loss . The Committee desire to tender their thanks to Grand Lodge for tho renewed grant of £ 70 , made in September last , to provide the residents of the Institution at Croydon with coals during thejwinter .

Vacancies in the Trusteeship have occurred during the past year by the deaths of the late Grand Treasurer , Samuel Tomkins , Esq . and Sir F . M . Williams , Bart . According to the laws the former vacancy will have to be filled by tho newly-elected Grand Treasurer , Lieut ,. Col . Creaton ; and they recommend Lord Skelmersdale D . G . M . of England to fill the other vacancy .

The Committee have also much pleasure in reporting that the Institution at Croydon is in a thorough state of repair . They have made an addition during the past year , by the erection of a Lodge for the residence of a gardener , who will also discharge the duties of gatekeeper , and various other minor offices , which will tend to the comfort of the residents .

To Henry J . Strong , Esq ., M . D ., they tender their grateful thanks for his thoughtful kindness and care in ministering to the comforts , and alleviating , as far as human aid can , the sufferings , of tbe residents . They have much pleasure in stating that at a meeting of the Committee of management it was unanimously resolved that , as he

had given his valuable services as Honorary Surgeon for 18 years , a testimonial , of the value of 100 guineas , should be presonted him as a compliment they considered he justly deserved . Subjoined is a statement of the receipts and expenditure during the past year , ending the 31 st March 1879 , together with tho particulars of the permanent income of the Institution : — MALE FUND .

Balance 31 sfc March 1878 - - 2 , 386 16 10 RECEIPTS . Donation from Grand Lodge - - 500 0 0 . Do . Grand Chapter - 100 0 0 Do . Lodges , Chapters ,

and Individuals - 5 , 692 0 0 Annual Subscriptions - - - 1 , 130 7 6 Dividends on Stock in the Government Funds - - - 59 0 0

Rent of Field ( Three Quarters ) - 7 0 0 Sale of Portion of Field - - . 10 10 0 Interest on Cash at Call - . 18 2 9 Cash withdrawn from Call - - 1 , 000 0 0 8 , 517 0 3 £ 10 , 903 17 1