Our Institutions—Subscriptions And Votes.

OUR INSTITUTIONS—SUBSCRIPTIONS AND VOTES .

THE aspect of two very important matters that have aroused considerable interest among the Fraternity has materially changed -within the last few days . The case of the hoy Herring , which is familiar to those who have followed the proceedings of the General Committees aud

Quarterly Courts of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , is practically settled . Brother C . H . Webb deserves credit for having raised the question . Like many others , he recognises the futilit y of further opposition , and has withdrawn from the contest . A time arrives when

contention becomes little less than persecution , and although it cannot with fairness be said that Bro , Webb , even if he had persevered with his motion , would have laid himself open to that charge , yet he appears to have acted prudently in bowing to the evident feeling of the Committee , of

which he is a member , and to the Quarterly General Court , which had endorsed that feeling . Bro . Webb gave notice that he wonld move at the Quarterly Court , held on Monday last , that the resolution of the Court , held in April last , affecting the boy Herring , should be rescinded ,

that he he declared to be ineligible for the Institution , except by purchase , and tbat the highest unsuccessful candidate at the October election be declared duly elected in his stead . These resolutions have been withdrawn , and Herring is to remain in the School , to be educated ,

clothed , and fed at the expense of the Institution , while a considerable sum of money belonging to him is left to fructify , so that by the time he arrives at man ' s estate , he will have received all tbe advantages the Institution could give him , and with a considerable sum of money with

which to start in life . The motives which have weighed with those who have determined in favour of the boy Herring are entitled to respect , and to many they will appear satisfactory . It is urged that Bro . Herring acted npon one of the cardinal virtues of the Craft when he made

provision for his children , and that it would be unjust to deprive them of the benefits of those Institutions which are provided by the Order , and which he supported . The example of Bro . Herring , it is contended , ought to be held up for emulation , and not be made the reason for denying

to his offspring that assistance which the Institutions were designed to give . There is a feeling also that it is not desirable to lower the standard of the School to the level of a pauper establishment ; that as it is presumed most

members of the Order not only join at a time when they have the means but also the desire to help others , and not to make provision for themselves or families , therefore the benefits of the Craft are intended for a different class to

those of the poorest , who , perhaps , are but little removed from pauperism . We do not desire to overstate this part of the subject ; we only wish to represent the facts fairly . We do not for a moment believe that any brother would

despise the very poor , or close his ears to their cries ; some , however , take different views of their duty , according to their light , and the standpoint they occupy . A strong feeling exists , and it appears to be growing , that many members are admitted into the Fraternity who are unable

Our Institutions—Subscriptions And Votes.

to meet the necessary social requirements , and who are too apt to regard it as a superior kind of Friendly Society . It is nothing of the kind , nor is it a merely benevolent society , although Charity is the brightest jewel in its

wellstudded diadem . The genius of the Craft is unique ; its ritual demands a superior intelligence for its comprehension and interpretation , and all its associations belong to a

higher type of social life . Notwithstanding tho spirit of equality which breathes throughout the whole of the ceremonies , it needs no Solon to discover that Freemasonry flourishes best in a rich and cultivated soil . Under these

considerations , it is not to be wondered at that the benefits of the Institutions should not only be carried out on a different scale to that adopted in ordinary charitable undertakings , bnt that the recipients should be of a class

which best accords with the whole spirit of the Craft . Then thero is the other point , and it must be admitted to be a strong one , that Herring was elected by the votes alone recorded in his favour . As none but subscribers

could vote , it is quite clear that the suffrages he obtained represented a considerable sura of money . Those who voted for Herring undoubtedly had the facts before them , and as they elected him of their own choice , the Committee felt that they ought not to disregard their judgment . We

have dealt with most of these arguments already , and shall not now revive them . Like Bro . Webb , we accept the situation . We do not approve of the decision arrived

at , but we respect tho opinions of those who are appointed to govern . Althought silent now , we reserve the right of placing all the facts before our readers should a similar case to that of Herring's again occur .

Much that we have already said applies to the question of giving votes to the representatives of deceased subscribers . This snbject formed a topic for treatment in our last issue on the supposition that the scheme was to take far more important proportions than we now find to be the

case . Bro . Webb , who seems fully alive to these matters affecting our Institutions , gave notice that be wonld , at the Quarterly Court already referred to , move as follows : " That the General Committee have power to place to the credit of every fatherless Candidate , at each election , any

number of votes , not exceeding the number the father was entitled to at the time of his death , multiplied by the number of years he had been so qualified . " This motion has been referred to a Committee , and at present remains sub jndzce . We are not , however , precluded from

discussing it , as we should be were it a case pending decision in a Court of Law . The proposition is a mild one in its official form , and if tbere is something like finality in it , it will be powerless for evil . Whatever good tbere may be in it must be left for the future to determine . We write

as if the question had already been settled , and we think not unreasonably , judging by present appearances . Apart from the principle of abstract justice , which asserts that those who subscribe to a Charity have tbe firsfc claim upon its funds , there are other reasons , more or less expedient ,

why such an experiment as the proposition provides , should be tried . The votes obtained by its operation cannot be so numerous as virtually to amount to a purchase of a right by the use of free votes . While they will help , in some measure , the success of a candidate , and satisfy a higb

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