The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

which he refers as any one could wish , and then a certain course was agreed upon . By what right should a meeting—probably much smaller than this particular one—take upon itself to reverse decisions then arrived at ? Is it fair to the many who then

attended that they should be brought up again to argue this same subject , with the probability that if things do not go just as is desired some similar action will be taken at the next Quarterly Court , even if it -is not kept on quarter after quarter for all time ? In

Masonry we are taught to respect the wishes of the majority , in business affairs it is the rule that such matters shall be governed in the same way , and why then should an attempt be made to upset the recognised principles of Masonry and of business in such a manner ? Much better accept the case as it stands , recognise that the question of Pension was properly

put before the company assembled at the last Court and disposed of on that occasion as they considered best . Let us hope that some such idea may yet influence Bro . Hawkins to withdraw the proposal now standing in his name .

Much the same may be said in regard to Brother Greatbach ' s final proposal , which seeks to place a limit on the honorarium to be given by the Provisional Committee , on behalf of the Institution , to the

Secretary on his retirement . This subject was unquestionably disposed of at the last meeting , when we believe Bro . Greatbach ' s views had full consideration . He did not get all he desired on that occasion , but how many of us do get all we want ? It is not the custom , however , to bring public matters forward time

after timo merely on the off chance of getting a majority by accident , and where such tactics are practised it not unfrequently happens the meeting sees through them , and quietly allows the proposal to kill itself . We should not be surprised if this is the fate of

Bro . Greatbach ' s final proposal , for he must not forget that public bodies are naturally averse to rediscussing topics once disposed of , unless indeed very material alterations have taken place in the surrounding circumstances .

Having reviewed all these trivial—and to our way of thinking unnecessary—proposals , we now come to a more cheerful subject . It is recommended that thirty boys shall be elected at the next half-yearly contest from an approved list of sixty-eight candidates ,

and the Quarterly Court will be asked to approve and adopt this recommendation . It will be a source of pleasure to them to do so , for thirty to be elected from sixty-eight candidates is no mean proportion , and we believe that whatever differences may exist on subjects concerning the conduct of the Charity

there is unanimity on one point—all desire that the benefits of the Institution shall be extended as far as possible , and all desire that as many of the deserving candidates who come forward shall be provided with a home at the School as can , by judicious expenditure , be accommodated .

Gossip About Freemasonry; Its History And Traditions.

GOSSIP ABOUT FREEMASONRY ; ITS HISTORY AND TRADITIONS .

A Paper read by Bro . S . Vallentine , P . M . and Z . No . 9 , to thc Brethren of the Albion Lodge of Instniction , 2 nd November 1889 .

( Continued from page 20 . )

I HAVE called your attention to certain ancient ideas relative to tho connection between Freemasonry and Geometry , and will now do so in reference to opinions , which , though of a far distant period , are nearer our own time .

From the old MSS . we derive little aid . They are few in number , and bear a curious resemblance the one to the other , so much so that an inference that they were originally derived from one source would not bo an extremely

Gossip About Freemasonry; Its History And Traditions.

unreasonable one . When I place an extract from one of them before you ( a type of the others ) you will , I imagine , admit they are moro curious than correct . I believe the earliest of them known may be taken aa from the 14 th centurv Moreover , when Abraham and Saraar his wyfe went into

Egipt and there taught the vrj sciences unto the Egiptians , lie had a woorthy schollar that height Ewcled , and he learned rs ' ght well , and he was a master of the vij sciences , and in his daies y' befell that tho Lords aud estata of the Roalmo had so many sonnes , that they had gotten some by their

wyves , and some by other ladiea of thee Realme , for that land y a hott land , and plenteous of gen'acon , and they had no competent lyvelihood to fynd their children . Wherefore , they took muche care , and then the kyngs of the land made a greate parleament ,

and a counsell for how they maye fynde their children honestly as gentlemen , and they could find no manner of good waye , and then they did proclaim through all the realme that yf there was any man that could enforme them , that ho should come vnto them ,

and he shoulde be so rewarded for his trouble that he sho aide holde him . well pleased . After that the crye was maid , then came the woorthy clarke Ewklad , and said to the kyng and all his greate lords , if ye will take me yo ' r children to gou ' ne , I will teache them ono of the vij

Sciencs , wherewith they may lyve honestly as gentlemen should , under a condicon that ye will grant me them , that I may have power to rale them after tho mann that the scyence ought to be ruled , and that the kynge and all his consell granted anonne , and asseyled the , comission , and

then the woorthy clarke tooke to himself these Lords sonnes and tanght them the science of geometrey in practicse to woorke in stone of all mann of woorthy that longith to churches , temples , castles , towers , and manners , and all the other mann of buylding . . . . And thus was the

crafto grownded , and that woorthy clarke Ewklod gave yt the name of geometrie , and now it is called throughout the land Massonrie , sythen after when the children of Israeli weare come into tho land of Prohest , that is now called emong us the countrio of Jerusalem , King David began the

temple that is called Temple Domi , and is named with us tho Temple of Jerusalem , and this same King David loved well Massons , and gave them good paye , and he gave tho chardges and tho manners as he had learned in Egypt had been given by Ewklead . "

I will now pass to what is said of its introduction into France : " And so it befelle that there was one curious

Massonuo that height Naymus Greens , that had byn at the making of Sollomon's temple , and he came into Ffraunce , and there he taught the science of Massonrie to men of Ffraunce , and there was one of the Royall lyne of Ffraunce that height Charles Martell , and he was a man that loved

well such a crafte , and drew to this Naymns Grecus and learned of him the crafte , and to him the chardges and ye manners , and afterwards by the grace of God he was elect to be kyng of Ffraunce , and when he was in his estate he took Massonrie , and did help to make Massons that were

none , and sett them to woorke , and gave them both the chardges and mann ' s , and good paye , and confirmed them a charter from yero to yere to holde their assemblies whearo they would , and cherished right much , and thus camo the Crafto into Ffraunce . "

I may just remark that if this " curious Massoun " was present at the building of King Solomon ' s Temple , he must indeed have been a curious Massoun , the event occurring A . M . 2928-38 ; and as he afterwards taught Massonrie to Charles Martel , A . D . 750 , he would then have attained the

age of about 1 , 400 years , which I think may be said to beat that recorded of either of the Patriarchs . This apparent nonsense , like much historical nonsense and many nonsensical traditions , contains just sufficient truth as has enabled a fabric of falsehood to be created thereon .

Thus Abram and Sarah were resident in Egypt , and Euclid either taught or spread a knowledge of geometry there ; but centuries elapsed between the two events . It is also true that the Egyptians had the reputation of being unlawfully prolific . Vices based on the passions " live loug and die

hardly , and it is not improbable that this semi-national vice was one of those dreaded by Moses , lest they should possess that people that by God ' s will and power he led from out their bondage . Undoubtedly the Israelites had

brought many of the abominations of Egypt with them , and that there may have been a tendency towards this particular one we may conjecture when we find command munts especially directed against this practice . " Thou shalt not