Candidates For The Schools.

CANDIDATES FOR THE SCHOOLS .

rpHE lists of candidates for the April elections of the J- two Educational Institutions have now been settled , and present features which may be described as satisfactory , it being possible to provide for upwards of one half of the approved candidates when the regular time for the poll comes round . -

In the case of the Boys School , the election for which is fixed for Friday , 15 th April , there are fifty candidates , of whom twenty-seven can be admitted , while in the case

of the Girls School , the election for which takes place the following day , Saturday , 16 th April , there are only twentysix candidates , for whom fifteen vacancies have been declared .

The Boys School list contains six candidates whose age precludes them from taking part in a subsequent election , should they be unsuccessful in April , while there are four candidates similarly circumstanced on the ballot

paper for the sister Institution . These ten cases , at least , should be attended to , as the others , no matter how deserving , can be brought forward again if they are not admitted at the coming election .

A Notable Discovery!

A NOTABLE DISCOVERY !

ONE of the disadvantages of belonging to a Society so ancient and so firmly established as is Freemasonry is that the members seldom , if ever , have an opportunity of hearing of anything that is fresh in connection with the Order . More modern organisations have frequent opportunities of

celebrating events , and making special rejoicings in regard to different matters , which are denied to Freemasonry , for the reason that its founders and its foundation are forgotten in the remote ages of antiquity , and it is regarded as impossible

to fix any reliable data for much that would provide suitable material for " special" assemblies . Recognising all this it may be imagined with what feelings of lively satisfaction we were asked to publish an announcement to the effect that

' Just as we go to press we hear that invitations have been issued to numerous experts and distinguished Brethren , to meet in the Board Room of General Purposes Committee , Freemasons' Hall , London , on Tuesday next , to examine

into no less a subject that the discovery of the Genuine Secrets of a M . M . If this discovery is confirmed a new era will commence in Craft Masonry . " We can well understand with what excitement the writer of this

information transmitted it to the press—excitement so great that he even forgot to sign his name , or give any clue to his identity . But perhaps this small omission was the outcome

of his great modesty , for the Brother who could bring about such a result as is here foreshadowed would win a name for himself among his fellows as would place him on the highest

A Notable Discovery!

pinnacle of fame , or perhaps—but no , we will not pursue the matter any further , jokes are so rare in Freemasonry that we must not put a damper on the enthusiast who seeks to depart a- little from the beaten track . Has our Brother read the

paragraph we last week quoted from the "Graphic , " in which a fair writer appeared to discover for herself the genuine secrets of the Craft , summed up in the one expressive word—Vanity ? If not , we would advise him to take the

lesson to heart and seek to discover for himself how much truth' there is in this latest exposure of Freemasonry . "Vanity of vanities ; all is vanity , " said the Preacher , and why should Freemasonry be any exception to the rule ?

R.M.I. Boys.

R . M . I . BOYS .

rr \ HE leaders among the unsuccessful candidates at the I October election of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys have been singularly fortunate since that contest took place , no less than six of them having been received into the School to fill extraordinary vacancies which have arisen the last few months . In our issue of the 8 th inst we gave

details in regard to five of these extra vacancies , while the latest has been filled by the Board of Management admitting Leonard Oliver Manley—a London boy , who stood with 2 , 179 votes to his credit at the conclusion of the last election —to the benefits of the Institution .

This reduces the list of candidates for the next election from fifty-one to fifty , from whom twenty-seven boys are to be elected at the contest in April .

Owing to the lamented death of Mr . C . P . Vilhers , the distinction of " Father of the House of Commons " will now fall upon our respected and esteemed Brother William W , Bramston Beach , who has been the Parliamentary representative of North Hants , without a break , since 1857 .

Bro . Beach has been Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since 1 st June 1869 , and has frequently presided at the Quarterly Communications of Grand Lodge . It will also be remembered that at the recent celebration of the Bi-centennial Festival at St . Paul ' s Cathedral , he

represented H . R . H . the Grand Master , and his services are ever at the disposal of the Brethren and the Craft . We trust he will live long to enjoy his newest title—a complimentary one , it is true , but very expressive , in view of the long record needed to acquire it , and the ever recurring changes in political life .

. There is a laudable ambition on the part of those who carry on the literary work of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , to secure suitable premises for its valuable library , and where Masonic students may work and consult , and to this end the W . M . Brother Sydney T . Klein appeals to the

members of the Corresponding Circle to get other Brethren to become subscribers . The Lodge , during the twelve years it has been in existence , has done more than any other branch of Masonry in spreading Masonic knowledge and bringing to

light much of its history that had been deemed lost , or had been unknown . It continues this great work , and with an increased membership the proposal to secure premises for library , museum , and offices , could , in the opinion of Brother Klein , be accomplished .