Progressive Studies.

apprehension of the hig hest attributes of the system ho loves and adorns . Remember that to these young members we have to look for the building up and sustentation of the prestige we aim at in time to come ; and to tho rightly framing of the joints and interstices now , the substance

nnd durability of the structure hereafter mainly depends . And , lastly , when the voice from the South calls the workmen to more congenial climes , let the same elevated sense of dignity and good sense pervade the periods of relaxation to which they are justly entitled as the reward of labour .

Let us not be understood to insist upon a rigid transference of official stateliness to the banqueting hall . We would have the labours of the day relieved by an unrestrained and generous flow of peace and harmony , blended with tho everto-be prized elements of moderation and good sense . But

at times we havo been pained to witness how easy in this degree is the descent , from chaste allegory to ribald prosefrom Parnassus to the gutter . Nothing is more calculated to inspire disgust in tho mind of inexperienced members than the too lavish expenditure of attention—and of funds which

should be devoted to Charity—on the more ornamental , and if convivial , accessories of Masonic gatherings . And it is not always inappropriate , or with affected egotism , they mentally inquire " why was not the price of this precious ointment given to the needy , instead of being squandered

in unnecessary self-indulgence ? " The essence of our system is Charity , and without a constant regard to this first great principle we realise nothing but sounding brass and tinkling cymbals—we perpetrate a misuse of ostensible professions , and assume a virtue we have not . There must be no

hypocrisy or cant in the fulfilment of our Masonic obligations . We hope to revert to this subject in a future article ; but , from the standpoint we have taken in regard to newlyadmitted members , wo may have said sufficient to remind Past Masters and Officers of some portion of the duty of

discrimination they may havo overlooked , and to stimulate them to unite in effecting such points of improvement in detail as may be expedient . By all those who desire to see maintained the beautiful symmetry and due decorum of

their Lodges , and by their principle and example to infuse tho same spirit amongst those who follow them in the paths of research , the wise caution in Dean Trench ' s couplet will DO taken well to heart : —

Would sfc thou go forth to bloss , be sure of thmo own ground , Fix well thy centre first , then draw thy circles round . Let this be the fundamental maxim of thoso who undertake the responsible duty of ruling and governing their

respective Lodges , and then we may be certain the instruction which will be imparted to future initiates will never go beyond that fixed circumference from which no Mason can materially err .

The School Elections.

THE SCHOOL ELECTIONS .

THE selection of Boys and Girls from the lists of approved Candidates has just been made , and the proceedings excited quite the ordinary amount of interest and excitement , notwithstanding that the brethren were summoned from various parts of tho country to Freemasons' Tavern in the midst of a holiday week . In a general sense the Elections were satisfactory , though of course where there are so few vacancies compared with the numbers who deservedly

claim the privileges afforded by our noble Masonio Institutions , many must of necessity be sent away disappointed . Thus , so far as the Boys' School is concerned , only sixteen out of sixty-eight applicants could hope to succeed , whilst for the eighteen vacanties in tho Girls ' School no fewer thau forty-six names appeared on the ballot papers . The inadequacy of the funds and accommodation to meet all who are

unfortunately so circumstanced as to need the benefits of our Institutions has , and we fear will long be deplored whenever an appeal is made on behalf of " Our Masonic Charities ; " but that thoy are enabled to accomplish oven their present ends is a source of unfeigned satisfaction , and ranks our Schools amongst the foremost and most glorious landmarks of the nation . For example , we note thafc since

its establishment in 178 S no less than 1162 girls havo been educated , clothed , and maintained within the walls of our Girls' School at Battersea Rise . From small beginnings the School has grown into very considerable proportions , maintaining now a normal list of 200 Girls upon tho books . The Boys' School afc Wood Green is doing an equally great work in its own department , and if any proof were needed of tho efficient instruction imparted in our Schools we have

only to point to tho recent Cambridge Local Examinations , wherein onr pupils of both sexes acquitted themselves in the most creditable and praiseworthy manner . It is not , however , necessary that we shonld here go into details respecting which the brethren do not fail to bo frequently reminded ; but merely , while congratulating those parents and children who havo this week been successful in their efforts , assuring those who returned home disappointed that thoy

The School Elections.

have tho hearty sympathies of tho brethren , mingled with then * universal regret that circumstances will not allow of the Institutions flinging open their doors to admit all tho cases of deserving need that are presented to them . The Quarterly Court of the Governors of , and Subscribers to , tho Royal Masonio Institution for Girls was held in the large hall of

Freemasons' Tavern , on Saturday last , when the chair was occupied by Bro . Lieut-Col . John Creaton , Treasurer and Trustee . There was a very large attendance of the brethren , many of whom hold high rank iu London and the provinces , and amongst whom were Bros . J . L . Hino V . P ., 0 . F . Matier , A . E . Gladwell , T . J . Sabine V . P ., J . E . Le Feuvre , C . J . Perceval V . P ., W . H . Paull , J . Vaughan

( Warwick ) , G . Wyatt ( Isle of Wight ) , John Wordsworth 1019 , J . G . Stevens , John Thompson 1019 , T . J . Barnes , R . B . Webster , J . J . Berry , Robert Wylie ( West Lancashire ) , J . P . Piatt , Thomas Hill , W . H . B . Tomlinson and H . Smith ( West Yorkshire ) , VV . J . Murlis , A . H . Tattersall , T . W . White , Birch , E . P . Albert , Elford , Hubert , Dicketts , JEneaa J . Maointyre G . Reg . V . P .,

Frederick Binckes , John Clabon , and others . Bro . Birch gave notice of motion for tho meeting in October , for an alteration of ono of the new rules , so as to enable provincial brethren to vote by proxy at any election for Secretary of tho Institution . Bro . R . J . Macintyre , Q . C , proposed , and Bro . J . M . Clabon seconded , the re-election of Bro . Lieut .-Col . Creaton aa Treasurer , and the

resolution was carried unanimously , amidst loud cheering . The brethren then proceeded to elect 18 Girls out of a list of 46 candidates , and tho scrutineers announced , shortly after four o ' clock , the subjoined result . Ifc will be seen from the number of votes recorded that nothing less than nine hundred could be reckoned on as a safe return , one under that number being the lowest polled in favour of

any of the successful candidates . Afc fche October election the least number successfully recorded was 1104 , bufc then there were only four candidates , and if we trace the list down to 18 places , we find that the votes only overreached 300 . Taking the successful candidates as they stand in order on tbe poll , ifc may bo remarked thafc Rosamond Laybourne came before the Court for the second

time , with bufc 346 votes brought forward in her behalf from the last election . Our Welsh brethren , however , appear to have laboured most zealously and well in her behalf , augmenting the number of her votes by 1213 , and placing thoir candidate at tho head of the poll with , the grand total of 1559 . Little Laybourne is a daughter of the lato P . M . John Laybourne , of the lea Locige No . 683 . of Newport ,

Monmouth , who , after subscribing to his Lodge for 15 years , died in 1872 , leaving four children dependent on hia widow . There was another candidate from the same Province , viz ., Edith Corrall Williams , who obtained 83 votes in October , but who , prior to this election , was for some reason withdrawn , leaving the brethren to concentrate their efforts on Laybourne . As we anticipated , Florence

May Jones , coming with 884 votes to her credit , stood high upon the poll ; having gained 556 on the day of tho election , she was lifted into the second place with a total of 1410 . The case was a deserving one , the mother having beon loft with five children , [ and the brethren of East Riding of Yorkshire are onoo more to be congratulated on fcheir success . Our late Bro . Jones , P . M . of North York Lodge No . 602 ,

also held provincial office , and had worked assiduously for ten years iu the interests of Freemasonry . The third ou the list is Florence E . M . Palmer , on whose behalf a second application was made , and who came fortified with 1018 votes to the good . Her late father was a brewer ' s foreman , and a member of tho High Cross Lodge No . 754 ; he died in 1873 , leaving five children dependent ou their mothor ,

who resides at Romford . Next stands Helen Mary Busher , who brought the very respectable figure of 865 from the October Court , and who succeeded in raising thafc number on Saturday to 1310 . It is a trito saying that the West Lancashire brethren , when deter , mined and united , are hard to beat ; can do anything they choose ; and in the case of the Busher family we have a fair evidence of the

veracity of the statement . Helen has already a sister in tbo Institution , and a brother in the Boys' Schoolj still the parents have seven children dependent on them . Bro . Busher had sub . scribed for fourteen and a quarter years to the Sincerity Lodge No . 292 , Kendal , and doubtless tho vigorous manner in which his cause has been continuously pushed by the brethren represents a vast amount

of good work done by their P . G . S . B . for many years . Wo recently pointed out that in relation to Katherine Annie Peele , she was one of the candidates who , if unsuccessful on this occasion , would be de . barred , by the age limit , from making another application , but the efforts of our Durham brethren were successful in raising their 344 votes in hand to a total of 1238 , and in thus placing her fifth upon

the list , Mrs . Peele has reason to feel grateful to her late husband ' s Masonio friends , for he had only subscribed to his Lodge threo and a half years , and does not appear to havo held any office . Notwith . standing , there is already one daughter in the Institution , and thia second success will entirely relieve her of maternal responsibilities . Sussex next figures on tho list , with Catherine Frances Hide , whose

widowed mother has one other child dependent on her , at Brighton . Our late Bro . Hide was a member of Yarborough Lodge , 811 , for seven ye-rs , ; at tho last election , his friends polled no fewer than 1256 votes in the child ' s favour , this number unaided being sufficient on Saturday to place her sixth ou the poll . Gloucestershire brought forward an eminently deserving case , and no one will begrudge the

success scored on behalf of little Thurza Ann Veal , who with five other children , had been bereft of both parents . Their late father was a member of Prince of Wales ' s Lodge , No . 951 , for seven and three-quarter years , and wo are pleased that the little orphan for whom 686 votes were polled on the last occasion , was successful now with a total of 1218 . Another deserving case was that which stood

next upon the ballot paper , viz ., Mary Eliza May , whoso success we had looked upon as almost a foregone conclusion . At the last election , the Western Division of South Wales scored for her 745 votes , and these on Saturday were raised to 1211 , placing the candidate eighth upon the list . Our late Bro . Mott , who belonged to the Sfc . David's Lodge , No . 951 , had sewed in several offices in the Pro .