Reform At Thb Boys School.

half hour ' s conversation with the , " chief" for some one , and we are still of opinion that a system of accounts that permits f-uch an omission—assuming there is such au omission—is practically useless , and ifc is no answer to the complaint to point to a certificate , or any number of

certificates , from the officials . Say at once an omission has occurred , and thafc steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence of the irregularity and the difficulty is half surmounted , but no amount of shifting of responsibility will satisfy us and those who think as we think .

There is one other point we may refer to as hkely to perionsly affect the yearly average as set forth by Brother Hobbs , bufc in this case we admit it is a matter thafc may not perhaps como under tho special consideration of the nccountant . We refer to the holidays , of which we believe

our boys have nine weeks per year . Seven of these weeks fall in the half year July to December , and two in that of January to June . This makes a wonderful difference in a half year ' s expenditure afc such a School as that nssociated with the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ,

as must be apparent when the annual returns and average are prepared . But it is a fair matter to leave out of consideration in drawing up a return showing average cost

per boy for a stated period with a strong desire to make the cost show as low as possible . It will be found , however , to have a different effect on the next half year ' s accounts thau it gets credit for in those recently issued .

After having perused these remarks the reader may ask what are tbe motives that have actuated us on the present occasion ? We reply , that we desire to show that all tho odium that has been showered on the past officials of the Charity is not deserved , and we also desire to prove to the

reformers who are so enthusiastically working on their particular views of the situation that things are not quite BO glowing as they are represented to be . We do not think it well they should be carried away by the apparent success of their efforts , only to awaken a few months hence

to a far less satisfactory picture . Forewarned is forearmed , and ifc is well that onr now management should be advised of rocks on which they may probably come to grief in the

near future . Possibly we shall not get many thanks for our work , but if our utterances only lead to a little better understanding on the whole subject we shall be amply repaid .

God Given Work.

GOD GIVEN WORK .

An Oration by Bro . James Albert Zabriskie , Grand Orator , before the Grand Lodge of Arizona , 13 th November 1889 . " T AM NOT MASTER OF MYSELF , " said Martin JL Luther ; " God hurries and drives me to my work . "

It was this feeling thafc he had a God-given work to do , and that it was his duty to do it , and to do it well , that made him the strong , resolute , and successful reformer that he was . Ia his zeal for truth , as he understood the truth to be , it was not his but God's work that he was

called to do . ' Even a weak man , which the world knows Luther was not , becomes stronger of purpose when he really feels that

ho is called to be of service to his fellow men in a line that his genius and energies , feeble though they may be by nature , may be cultivated to the extent of rendering his efforts effective for good .

We all , whether strong or weak , feel more vigorous when under good than when under bad influences , whether these influences como to ns by natural selection , or whether we have been lured by association with stronger natures to good or evil .

As we are not masters of ourselves , but are creatures of circumstances largely , and are driven to our work , how important is it , then , that the driving power that impels and hurries us to its performance should , so far as it lies in human power , bo well chosen ! This , Masonry is

especially designed to assist in accomplishing , and does , in very many instances , accomplish for its votaries . If we place ourselves in its power , and are driven to our work by its precepts , we shall find that we are nofc apt to

materially err . Striking instances may have presented themselves to your observation , as they have to mine , where a brother has been restrained from doing a contemplated wrong by tho reflection that fche eyes of the Lodge

God Given Work.

were upon him , and that if he did right he would be in harmony with his brethren . He knew that ifc was expected of him that ho should be an honour and not a disgrace to the Order , and that his obligation as a Mason required him to maintain a respectable character . He knew that

the work thafc was marked out for him , as a Mason , to do , waa in tho interest of truth , charity , temperance , virtue , and all the graces and beautiful accomplishments that adorn mankind , and whether , consciously or not , he was driven to his work , saved from disgrace , and received the plaudits of hia brethren not only , but of the profane world as well .

Wo aro nofc masters of ourselves , but are hurried and driven to our work under the guidance of a humanising spirituality that is urging us to do right ; that is holding up onr hands and fortifying the weaker parts of our natures . These influences are nofc fche peculiar propert y

of any race , class or condition of people ; nor are they confined to , or dependent upon , country , climate , or age . Thoy are present in all lands , and have been in all ages . The same spirit of brotherhood and mutual dependence , one upon another , that actuates the Masonic Fraternity

throughout tho world to-day , and will , we trust , for all time to come , influenced , softened and humanised the hearts and consciences of the votaries of the ancient mysteries

ages before the Temple of Solomon had been conceived of by David , or even tho foundation-stones of the city of Jerusalem itself had been disturbed in the beds where they had rested since the dawn of creation .

To-day should you go to Kamschafcka , to the snow-clad Alps , tbe Apennines , the Andes , or torrid Sahara , or wheresoever it may or might be your fortune to wander on tho face of the wholo earth , there you would find brethren

and realise that you are not masters of yourselves , nor should you be , but mutually dependent upon those about you , as they in turn are to a similar extent dependent upon you , and all entirely dependent en a higher power than either .

The part that Masonry has had in civilising mankind , in softening its harsh nature and bringing men into sympath y and fellowsnip with each other , it is not my purpose now to discuss . By methods peculiar to itself , untainted by

bigotry or selfishness , it has ever peacefully gone along in the even tenour of its way , while other would-be reforms , and even religions , have resorted to persecutions , violence and intolerance to compel obedience to their dogmas .

Christianity itself , in its earlier and more crude forms , was bigoted , cruel , and intolerant to a degree that now a mere allusion to the undisputed truths of history with regard to it , and the early practices of the church , is enough to bring fche blush of shame to the cheeks of tho professed followers of the meek and lowly Nazarene .

Masonry has never made war , nor countenanced oppression ; neither has its people claimed the absolute mastery of themselves or others . It is authoritativel y stated that the foundation-stones of many of the synagogues of ancient times , as well as of the cathedrals of a later day ,

with other temples of worship in different ages of the world , were saturated with the gore of brave and undaunted victims of religious cruelty , tyranny and persecution . Also that the escutcheons of the Saints were trailed in blood ,

and that the walls of one , at least , and perhaps scores of the early religious temples of worship on this continent , represent the enforced labour of the aborigines during more than half a century , and that every stone in its ramparts is cemented with the blood of a victim .

As with tho Cross first came civilisation to these shores , so also came with it persecution and intolerance to the extent of brethren burning each other , hardly more than a century since , in the service of him whom Masonry invokes , but by whom ilasonry was never taught bigotry or

martyrdom . Instead of these , the same God who taught the Pagans , fche Buddhists , the Jews , the Christians and Mohammedans , at various periods of the world ' s history , to persecute , torture , and murder their fellow men in His service , taught the earlier exemplars of Masonry to place

upon their trestleboard that other more humanitarian sentiment , " Love one another , " which Ave interpret to mean , " Love the whole human race , but more especially those to whom we are bound by the peculiar ties of Freemasonry . " The Scriptural exclamation , " Behold ,

how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dAvell together in unity , " has been adopted as a " watchman ' s cry " in our Order , and , while it is especially applied to tho brethren of the mystic tie , they recognise the right of humanity in general to a place in their affectionate regard ,