The Topic Of The Day.

THE TOPIC OF THE DAY .

IT is many years since so much excitement was aroused in Masonic circles as is taking place in connection with the election of Secretary for the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys . Throughout the country there is hardly a Province but is talcing

official action on behalt oi one or other oi the candidates , and the interest shown in the matter of selecting a new Secretary would seem to imply that more interest is being taken in the future of the Institution

than has ever beiore been known . Within a lew hours the voting papers for the election , with full particulars of the several candidates , will be in the hands of the supporters of the Charity , and then the real

work of organization will commence . Even yet it is quite impossible to hazard a guess as to who will be the successor to Bro . Binckes , and we look forward to one of the closest and fiercest election contests ever known in connection with the Masonic Order .

We spoke last week of the " solid" vote Bro . McLeod will receive from the Province of West Yorkshire , and congratulated him on the thorough way in

which tne leaders ol that district are organizing thenforces—but they are always a model in election work . The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . T . W . Tew , has sent out a special circular to his Lodges , in which he refers to the unanimous decision of the Charity

Committee of West Yorkshire to support Bro . McLeod , and personally asks for the votes and influence of the Masons of his Province . We are very pleased to hear that Bro . Montague Guest , the Provincial Grand Master of Dorset , has

shown personal interest in Brother Baskett ' s candidature , in face of the omission of the Provisional Committee to recommend him . Brother Guest expresses himself strongly in regard to this omission , and

concludes by telling his friends that Bro . Baskett will go to the poll in spite of what has taken place . He urges them , and those with whom they are associated , to Support Bro . Baskett's candidature , and

we believe that will be done to such an extent as to prove that he should have been one of the few recommended by the governing body . The other candidates whom we have regarded as

f + ? ° y succeed are each busy on the work ol the election , and , as we said at the outset of our ' present remarks , the greatest excitement prevails- ; indeed we do not think so much interest has been shown on any Masonic subject since the Centenarv cele

bration oi the sister Institution . Let us hope that the work will be completed as successfully as was T a { . gathering , and that its ultimate effect on the institution will . be equally gratifying We must

wi , * T ls not so much a question of deciding rm +-o ^ , most ^ serving of support for the election ™« l « . , Julynext , as it is to discover who will maue the best Secretary for the next few years .

Next Week's Festival.

NEXT WEEK'S FESTIVAL .

ON Wednesday next tlio Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys will bo held , at Freemasons' Tavern , and tho resnlt of the present year so far as the Charities of tho Craft is concerned will be made known . We hope the outcome of tho Festival will be in

every way satisfactory , and that tho Right Hon . Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., First Lord ofthe Admiralty , will bo able to refer to his presidency on behalf of this Charity with pleasurable recollections , and with the satisfaction of

knowing that tho Masons of England nobly rallied to his appeal for funds to keep up the work of tho Institution . We look forward to a fairly successful result from Wednesday ' s gathering , although indications arc not wanting to lead 'to the fear that a considerable falling off will take place in

the" total as compared with that of many of the Festivals which have gone before . Wo can only hope for the best ; and urge , even at this late hour , every Mason in the kingdom to do what lies in his power to advance and maintain the reputation of the Boys' School .

The prizes won by the pupils of the Royal Masonic Institution at Wood Green will bo distributed on Tuesday next , when tho annual visitation of Stewards will also take place , and another opportunity will be afforded the members of the Craft of inspecting tho capabilities of the School at Wood Green .

The Duties Of The Tyler.

THE DUTIES OF THE TYLER .

THE officer of a Lodge that a member or visiting Brother first meets , in a Masonic Hall , is the Tyler . He is first in place , if not in importance . He is , in a certain sense , first also in importance , since he represents

the Master at the outer door of the Lodge Room , receiving messages for delivery to him . The Master cannot be everywhere afc once , except by deputy , and the Tyler is his deputy at the outer door .

The first idea that a Tyler should comprehend is that of the dignity of his office . He represents the W . M ., acts for him in an official capacity at the outer door , and as ho performs his duties well or ill , the Master will be correspondingly credited or blamed .

The office of a Tyler is no mean oflice . It is a dignified , a responsible one . He has been appointed to ii by the members '} and for the right performance of his duties he is answerable both to the Master and the Lodge . The responsibility of the Tyler is increased by the

fact , thafc , so far as all Brethren outside of the Lodge are concerned , he is Master at the outer door . No ono may give an alarm but himself ; hence no one can obtain an entrance without his permission and aid . While the Master is sovereign within , he , subject only to that Master , is

sovereign without . In this case , as in every other of a similar character , great power has attached to ifc great responsibility . No one should watch himself BO closely as a sovereign . He who controls others should always first

control himself . Hence the importance of having a thoroughly capable Brother as Tyler , one who will act thoughtfully and intelligently , one who will remember that supreme power has incident fco it great responsibility .