The Approaching School Elections.

others are left to the care of thoir mother . No . 28 ( E . G . Gibson ) , accredited jointly to Canada ancl Northamptonshire , has a brother in the Boys' School ; she will doubtless soon become an inmate of the sister Institution , her total of 631 votes polled in April last being of itself

sufficient for the purpose , if the arrangements we referred to in the early part of this notice are completed . She has neither parent living . No . 34 ( A . L . Pope ) is one of six children of a late member of the Province of Gloucester ; if she can secure the support of that district her success is

assured . No . 37 ( A . A . Allison ) , from Northumberland , and No . 38 ( J . M . Hogg ) , from Cheshire , each have brothers in the Boys' School . The former is one of three , and the latter of five , children left fatherless . No . 52 ( A . M . Shelper ) , from the Eastern Division of South

Wales , brings our review to an end so far as the Girls ' Institution is concerned . She is one of five children left dependent on a widowed mother . We have endeavoured , in the foregoing remarks , to be as brief and impartial as possible , and if we have erred in any respect we have done

so unintentionally . There are one or two matters to which attention is requisite , but these , being of a general nature , we shall leave for a future opportunity . We shall continue our notice of the remaining candidates—those for the Boys ' School—next week .

More About The Idiosyncrasies Of American Freemasonry.

MORE ABOUT THE IDIOSYNCRASIES OF AMERICAN FREEMASONRY .

WE quoted last week a very excellent article from the Corner Stone , one of our American Masonic contemporaries , which justifies the views we have more than once expressed of the tendency of Freemasonry in the United States , and though our English High Grade

Masons have not laid themselves open to some of the severe strictures of our contemporary , and avoid thrusting themselves continually on the public , they may learn a lesson or two from the article we refer to . Our Grancl

Lodge certainly does not practise charity with any niggardly hand , nor is it given to " rhetorical display . " On the contrary , its benevolence is magnificent , and its meetings of the quietest and most formal character . Our Masonic press , too , has many and many a column " replete

with the generous deeds and noble acts of individual Masons , or the liberal donations and timely assistance of Masonic bodies to their poor and impoverished brethren , their weeping widows , and starving orphans , " while but very little space is found for recording the labours of

Templar and High Grade Masonry . It seems , however , that , according to the Comer Stone , the Masonry of the American continent " has gone mad after high degreeism and grancl titleism , " and it does not seem an unnecessary caution to our brethren in the States to tell them , " that if they do

not pay more attention to the pure , simple , beautiful symholism of the Lodge , and less to the tinsel , furbelow , fuss , and feathers of Scotch Ritism and Templarism , the Craft will yet be shaken to its very foundations . " There is a good deal of sound common sense in this . American

Masons are very partial to outside display , and opportunities are rarely lost of having grand processions of brethren gorgeously arrayed in their clothing and regalia . So far , we think , the comparison between American and

English Masonry is favourable to the latter . We hardly know what a Masonic show means , and the idea of the brethren marching up and down Piccadilly or Regent Street would be laughed to scorn by ninety-nine out of everv

hundred of our brethren . But there is a good deal of truth m the statement that Lodges here , as well as in America , are "too devoted to work and ritualism . " There may not be an absolute desire " to manufacture Masons . " But less

caution is exercised in accepting candidates than is desirable , and there is undoubtedly a tendency on the part of many brethren to run after those degrees which are outside the pale of pure and ancient Masonrv . This tendencv .

moreover , is greatly fostered by the consideration which is shown for those who have taken these degrees , ancl are entitled to write half the letters of the alphabet after their

names m consequence . Happily , so long as we retain our dislike for outward show , this tendency will prove com parativel y harmless . The ruling bodies of our High ancl other degrees work quietly and unostentatiously . They are liberal in dispensing moneys for a good purpose , and

More About The Idiosyncrasies Of American Freemasonry.

they show bnt little care for the erection and decoration of Masonic temples . What is still more to their credit , the balance , as between receipts and expenditure , is invariably on the right side of the account . In fact , with us the study of the High Grades is almost as harmless as it is

interesting , ancl but for tho tendency wo have mentioned of making much of those who take them , we should bo inclined to regard them as ornamental , if neither useful nor necessary adjuncts to Craft Masonry . As to the idea

of their ever being likely to unsettle the foundations of the latter , it may be dismissed without a moment ' s thought . They do not obtrude themselves upon pure Masonry , as they seem to do in the United States .

With the concluding paragraph of the article and tho suggestion it contains that " the Freemasonry of tho nineteenth century has a holy , glorious , God-inspiring mission to perform , " we have no sympathy whatever . We have no faith in Masonic missions , except in so far as ifc is the

duty of all Craftsmen to give practical expression to tho virtues they profess . But this is a duty they' owe to Society in common with all other men , and the fact of their being Masons entails on them no additional responsibilities . We look to tho ministers of religion ancl men

of strong religious instincts to go about reclaiming vicious men from their evil courses , and it is clearly a misconception of the scope of Freemasonry to associate it with the work of religion . It is enough when we fulfil our duties as men and loyal subjects of the Constitution we

live under , thus setting a good example to our fellowsubjects . This is the fall extent of any " mission , " wo may have . As regards the terrible picture which our contemporary draws of the " thousands of widows " in our ranks " burning the midnight oil with heated brows ancl aching

hearts ; " " of the thousands of starving Masonic orphans running wild in New York ancl our large cities , learning to curse and swear , " ancl the " numbers among them sinkino * into idolatry , " & c , " through drink , " or " seeking solace in the gambler ' s hell , " & c , & c , we are inclined to

imagine that it is far too highly coloured to be true , orand we fear there is no other alternative—Masonry must be a curse to America instead of a blessing . We have said that American Freemasonry is more partial to public displays , and is proud of its gorgeously-decorated temples ,

its numerous Lodges , its large aggregate of members , and the regalia of the different rites , but it would never have occurred to us to suggest that so much terrible evil was associated with it . We imagine our United States brethren are much like the rest of their countrymen , and possess

their fair share of the virtues ancl the vices of all Englishspeaking peoples . By all means let us , where necessary , substitute Masonic truth and charity for "false glitter and flimsy tinsel , " but we do not care to burden ourselves with a "mission , " which is another of the idiosyncrasies of American Masonry .

DEAD . —Busy brain , and heart , and hand alike are dead and sepulchred . The ashlar rough yet rests in the adytum under the touch of the expert—the cubic stone sweats blood , as ifc were con - tinuously to call the Craft more constantly from refreshment to labour till at last from labour to refreshmmit . What one may have left undone , failing or falling short in , others resuming the work may

undertake to bring form from voice , and order out of chaos . Likewise comes good from evil j light from darkness . And man approaches his Maker , all harmonizing , that the Master have pleasure , while we profit thereby , both body and soul to God's greater glory for the good and illumination of humanity . Honour the loyal . Hardship to the craven ! Truth the token ! And Death , Time ' s leveller on earth .

Marble and recording brass decay , And , like the graver ' s money , pass ; The works of man inherit , as is just , Their author ' s frailty , and return to dust . But Truth divine , for ever stands secure .

Its head is guarded , as its base is sure j Fixed as the rolling flood of endless years , The pillar of eternal plan appears , The raving storm and dashing wave defies , Built by that Architect who built fcho skies .

Again , night is nigh ; the circle narrows . Companions ! Zeal , caution , Silence ! Draw the vail ! The door shuts , and tho Craft stands closed till the sound of the gavel in the Grand East . —Rev . H . G . Perry .

Good sense and good nature are never separated , though the ignorant world has thonght otherwise . Good nature , by which I mean beneficence and candour , is the product of right reason ; which of necessity will give allowance to the failings of others , by considering that there is nothing perfect in mankind ; and by distinguishing that which comes nearest to excellency , though not absolutely free from faults , will certainly produce a candonrin the intlge . Drwlen .