Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 2 77 United Grand Lodge 258 Consecration of the Lullingstone Chapter , No . 1837 = 79 Royal Masonic institution for Girls 280 Masonic Celebration 280 Correspondence betxveen the Grand Chapter of Quebec and the Grand Chapter of England 2 S 0

CORRESPONDENCEOrder of Precedence in Grand Lodge 282 Rebuilding of the Temple 282 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ... 282 The Fire at Freemasons' Hall 282 Reviews 283 Notes and Queries 28 3

I REPORTS or MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 2 S 3 Instruction ... " 2 S 4 Ruyal Arch 28 s Ma ' rk Masonry 2 N 5 Cryptic Masonry 28 : ; Rosicrucian Society 38 ); Australia . ' 286 North Africa 2 S 7 Legality of Lodges in the Prox-ince of

Montreal 286 West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution 286 Funeral of Bro . Thomas Bnrroxvs , of Stockport 286 Masonic and General Tidings 287 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 288

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THE very important report of the Board of General Purposes demands , as it will receive , the very serious attention of the Craft . There can be no doubt , we think , that the Board has taken exactly the right line , and has recommended what is alike the most reasonable and common-sense course for our Order to follow , and which lies within the possibility of befitting achievement . The

proposal itself , we think , will commend itself to the general approval of Grand Lodge . The Craft will , we feel sure , heartily commend the idea of duplicated accommodation in the old locale , and on its own ground . Any proposal to move to the Embankment or elsewhere is headed by the insurmountable difficulty of expense . Freemasons' Hall and Freemasons '

Tavern have so long , as the Board reminds us , been associated with English Freemasonry , that it would be prejudicial to disassociate them , or to seek to sever the long-standing connection . Many serious questions , as the Board properly reminds us , might arise as to " good faith" with our lessees , Src , & c . We see that a notice of motion is given by Bro . RAYNHAM STEWART on the

same subject ; but it seems to us quite clear , that the only safe course for Grand Lodge to pursue , is to leave the whole matter in the hands of the Board of General Purposes , with which rests the proper responsibility , and which under its able head will no doubt alike seek to give satisfaction to , and carry out , the natural wishes of Grand Lodge .

WE are pleased to notice in the report of the Board of General Purposes a paragraph relative to the Grand Lodge Library and the Grand Lodge Museum . We venture to repeat our hope that in the readjustment of Freemasons' Hall it will be found possible to make distinct provision for a Grand Lodge Library and a Grand Lodge Museum .

V BY a letter elsexvhere attention is called to the need of a reading room and writing room . Indeed we think that now every necessary question of increased accommodation may fairly be considered . ]

* * * THE selection of the Crystal Palace for the "locale" of the anniversary Festival of the Boys' School settles once for all , the " vexata quajstio " of where the gathering is to be . A good deal might be said for Brighton , but perhaps year after year it was not wise or desirable to send our metropolitan

friends down to Brig hton . Still " London on the sea " has many charms for the weary and pent up inhabitant of our "little village , " and probably another year , Brighton may again be chosen for the great festival of our Boys' School . In the meantime we express the hope that all efforts will be made to render the festival gathering a signal success .

* * * WE all of us know well the energetic and untiring Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and gladly accord him , on the good old principle " Palmam qui meruit ferat , " much recognition for valuable services and successful results . We often hear him speak , and we as frequently

realize the results of his painstaking efforts alike remarkable and commendable . On a recent festival he indulged in a prophetic vein and sought in forcible words to discount the possible and probable returns of the Boys' Festival . As a rule we do not affect to believe in " Prophets " of whatever " species " they may be , and we are inclined to think , that

unintenionally the abnormal result thus sketched out might serve in some cases to diminish returns , and hold back efforts . And a further point , it appears to us , we ought clearly to keep before us . If the attraction of the double voting

is 4 o raise the special returns to an unheard of figure , we shall not feel satisfied if the general returns are not kept up in the same proportion . If the special fund is to have all the honours , and the general fund to languish , we shall according to our view have done more harm than good , inasmuch

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as one of two consequences must inevitably follow , either we shall have to use our small capitalized property , or we shall have to make another special effort to obtain the annual income necessary for the actual wants of the yearly needful expenditure of the school . We will trust however that the

actual returns will meet all objections and surpass all expectations . If Bro . TERRY turns out to be a true prophet he may well exercise his new powers on other occasions and for other purposes . We wish Bro . BINCKES heartily all success in his energetic and ceaseless labours for the Boys' School .

* THE able writer of the amusing little letter we published last week headed , " Unearned Increment , " touches upon a point on which we have heard a good deal . We have ourselves alxvays ^ held that the proceedings of the authorities of the Boys' School were wise , reasonable , and seasonable , and

we cannot profess to see on what possible ground exception is taken , or complaint is made of the double votes . It is an entire question of contract . Those who originally paid £ \ o ios . on contract for two votes in perpetuity , can in no sense Masonically or fairly complain , because the authorities for " good and sufficient reasons " offer another contract for four votes for the

same amount . It is idle to contend that A . B . who paid the required £ \ o ios . for two votes is damnified because C . D . no-iti gets four votes for ^ 10 ios . In either case it was a clear case of ' * contract " and contract alone , of voluntary payment . A . B . was at liberty not to give his £ 10 ios . if he did not like the terms ; C . D . is equally at liberty to give his /' 10 ios ., if he does .

The object of the authorities was clear and rational , viz ., to obtain a specific sum in a very short time for a pressing object , and they were entitled to and justified in holding out this little humble " lure " for those who interest themselves in the present and future of the Boys' School . Some of our good brethren jump rather hastily to conclusions every now and then without

having duly weighed the premises . The logical consequences of certain preliminary conditions they do not seem to realize , and we have on all such questions too of ten to deal with assertions instead of arguments , " a begging

of the whole question , " and as the climax and close of all possible discussion , the ancient and feminine mode of settling everything " It is , because it is . " We venture to think that the apprehensions of our able correspondent are unreal and illusory , though the point he takes is both clever and amusing .

A curious question comes again before us . from Quebec , but now it is a question of a R . A . Chapter . This is a chapter established at Montreal before the creation of the Grand Chapter of Quebec , and safe-guarded in its position and privileges by the original " Concordat " between the Grand

Lodge of Canada and the Grand Lodge of England . Whether this chapter has been dormant or not does not clearly ^ appear , but it exists , and is working . Two questions have surged up instanter . One is a question of fact , the other a question of jurisdiction . As to the fact it is stated on one side and denied on the other , that the original charter was surrendered , and

a new chapter " affiliated " to the Grand Chapter of Canada . The District G . Superintendent of Montreal declares , that in the confusion attendant on the Masonic break-up in Canada the original charter was made away with , ( apparently it does not now exist ) , and a Confirmatory Charter was obtained from the Grand Chapter of England , and that under that charter the

chapter is now working at Montreal under our jurisdiction . The Quebec Grand Chapter raises like the Grand Lodge of Quebec , the question of universal and local jurisdiction . AH chapters as lod ges they contend are under the Quebec jurisdiction , and therefore , the Grand Chapter of Quebec calls on our Grand Chapter to cancel this confirmatory charter , and compel

this chapter at Montreal to pay allegiance to the Grand Chapter of Quebec . The old difficulty supervenes one of " bona fides " and constitutional law . If the statements of the District Grand Superintendent are correct , the Montreal Chapter is a legitimate and working chapter under the English jurisdiction , and comes as a matter of necessity under the provisions of the

old agreement between the Grand Lodge of Canada and the Grand Lodge of England . It would be impossible for the Grand Lodge of England to deny to its English lodges the right of holding a properly warranted chapter as the completion and complement of English Freemasonry under the Union Act of 1813 . And , therefore , our authorities have wisely refused

to interfere with the working and position of the chapter at Montreal . The correspondence is now published and deserves perusal and thought . So far whatever may be the explanation of the dormant condition of the chapter

since 1864 , we think many of us will see at once that the Grand Chapter of Quebec is weighted "ab initio " with this grave difficulty of asking for the impossible , seeking the unattainable . The transaction , such as it is , took place before the formation of the Grand Chapter of Quebec .