Masonic Notes.

Two almost precisely similar cases will be found in the Girls' list of candidates , both of whom have failed entirely after three attempts . One of them—D . P . Anthony—obtained go votes , and the other—E . F . Griffiths—8 9 votes . Yet both of them had been pronounced eligible .

* * * We are not so simple-minded as to expect that the friends of candidates who have interest will sacrifice part of it in behalf of those vvho have little or none to help them . But at all elections there is always a

considerable number of voters who have no special claims on their support , and if steps were suggested for giving greater prominence to these unfortunate cases , perhaps fewer of them mi ght , after years of waiting , be sent empty away .

* * * We remember a case almost precisely similar to that of the boy Grossman which occurred some few years ago . He had been a candidate many times , and had only some dozen votes to his credit , when , in due

course , his last chance presented itself , much sympathy was felt for the lad , and almost at the last moment a brother—vve think it was Bro . the Rev . Daniel Ace , D . D . —made an appeal for support to the Craft generally through the columns of this journal , with the

result that the boy was triumphantly returned either at the top or near the top of the poll . This , at all events , shows what can be done by giving prominence to this class of cases . * * *

We imagine that very little , if any , sympathy whatever will be shown towards the monstrous suggestion which vvas made at the recent Boys' School Quarterly Court , and has since been reprinted in the advertisement columns of the daily press , that application

should be made to the Chancery Division of the high ¦ Court of Justice to restrain the Governors of the Institution from appropriating any portion of its funds as a pension to Bro . Binckes on his retirement from the Secretaryship .

* * * Every brother is entitled to his opinion as to the propriety or otherwise of voting a pension to Bro . Binckes for his services . We see , indeed , no objection to his opposing the pension , if he so chooses , on the

ground that Bro . Binckes has never rendered any services whatever . He will have some difficulty in reconciling his declaration vvith the facts as they are recorded in the official minutes of the Institutionthat is a matter he must settle with his own conscience .

But if we Masons cannot settle our differences of opinion without appealing to a court of law , the sooner we give up humbugging other people about our " brotherly love " the better .

The attribute which has been commonly ascribed to the English people that they never know when they are beaten is a valuable one , and there is no doubt that we have often come off victorious in our wars with other nations , where others with less of our bull-dogged

courage would have been ignominiously beaten . But the praise vve have earned on account of this attribute was never intended to act as an incitement to bodies

and individuals , when they have been vanquished in a fair stand-up battle , to go on fighting until , as in the celebrated case of the Kilkenny cats , there is nothing left of either of them .

The battle over Bro . Binckes ' s pension has been fought and won by the party in favour of it . We suppose the struggle will be renewed in January next , when the question of confirming or non-confirming the proceedings of the recent Court will be submitted

to the brethren present at the Court then appointed to be held . Then , if those in favour of the pension are again victorious , whether by a majority of 50 or 5 voices , let the question be written off as finally decided . It is certain that if the suggestion that the matter be

carried to a court of law be acted upon , the work of the Institution will be seriously impeded for many years to come , if not determined altogether , and the

victorious governors , as well as the vanquished , will disappear from the scene of their insane squabbles , leaving nothing to mark their existence but the memory of a Charity that was ruined by law costs .

* * * However , we believe there is sufficient commonsense , if not of "brotherly love , " still left among us to prevent this insane proposal to get ourselves into

Chancery from being carried out , and that vvhen the heat of the present battle is over , vve shall apply ourselves with greater zeal and energy than ever to restoring our Institution for Boys to its old footing of prosperity .

Masonic Notes.

The Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter will be held on Wednesday next , the 6 th instant , vvhen business of the usual character will be transacted From the report of the Committee of General Purposes , we learn that the present Mount Moriah Chapter

attached to the Albion Lodge , No . 9 , has memorialised Grand Chapter to be henceforth attached to the Middlesex Lodge , No . 143 , to which all its members belong , and the Committee recommend that the prayer of the memorial be adopted .

* * * They also recommend the issue of warrants for four nevv chapters , of which one will be attached to the Albion Lodge , No . 9 , in the event of the memorial of

the Mount Moriah companions being acceded to , while the other three will help to strengthen R . A . Masonry in the Provinces of North and East Yorkshire , Derbyshire , and Surrey respectively .

* * * It is also proposed that as the United Grand Lodge of England has recognised the United Grand Lodge of Victoria , the memorial from the Supreme Grand

Chapter in the same colony , which was established at the same time as the latter , for recognition , should be acceded to . As , however , this and the rest of the business to be dealt with is of a formal character , the meeting will occupy no great length of time .

* * * The triennial meeting of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar in the United States , which was held in the City of Washington , District of Columbia , in the earlier half of last month , appears to have been the

most successful Templar display which has ever been known in the United States . It vvas decidedly a " big " thing , that is to say , about 15 , 000 Templars and about the same number of ladies were congregated in

Washington during the meeting , and the residents in the capital , from the President downwards , appear to have kept open house , and otherwise to have laid themselves out generally to make the Templar pilgrims and their fair visitors as happy as possible .

Indeed , if receptions , parades , and banquets combined , on this particular occasion , with visits to the lions of the capital , and excursions into the adjoining

country constitute the main object of Templar Masonry among our American cousins , then the recent triennial makes it clear that Templarism is among the greatest and most successful of the institutions which flourish under the Stars and Stripes .

From what we have read about it in the Keystone and elsewhere , the main streets of Washington must have been almost impassable during its progress , and the presence of so many thousands of sir kni ghts perambulating the thoroughfares vvith their bands and

banners and gorgeous paraphernalia must have given " the City of magnificent distances " the appearance of a warrior town of the middle ages . Well , these things seem to delight our friends on the other side of the

Atlantic , but we fancy they have very little to do with Masonry , which is naturally modest and retiring , and , though it fears not the light of day , prefers doing what it has to do quietly and without show .

But pleasure did not constitute the whole of the appointed programme . The Grand Encampment sat in solemn conclave on certain days and dealt with the ritual and other questions . It also appointed new

Grand Officers for the ensuing three years , Sir Knight John P . S . Gobin , of Pennsylvania , being the new Grand Master , and Sir Knight Hugh McGurdy , of

Michigan , the new Deputy Grand Master , while vve rejoice to see that the veteran Sir Kni ght William B . Isaacs , of Virginia , retains his old position of Grand Recorder .

* * * The next triennial will be held at Denver , Colorado , on the second Tuesday in August , 1892 , so that until then the American Templars must content themselves with the ordinary displays at the annual meetings of their Grand Commanderies .

It is announced by the management of the Alhambra that there will be an entire change of performance on and after Monday next , and that , in order to meet the convenience of a large number of patrons resident in the suburbs , the management has arranged to alter the times of performance of the two ballets . Accordingly , on and after Monday , the 4 th inst ., " Our Army and Navy " will commence at 8 . 30 o ' clock , and the grand ballet , " Astrea , " will be presented at 10 . 20 .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

THE CHURCH TIMES AND FREEMASONRY . To the Editor , of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I note the following in last week ' s Church Times , which , I think , will be of interest to your readers , as showing the changed attitude of the Hi gh Church party towards the Craft . The note is in

answer to a correspondent : " The supposition that Freemasonry is opposed to Christianity is entirel y erroneous , and is due to the hostile attitude adopted by the Roman authorities towards the continental societies . Here in England

the Craft is distinctly an assistance to religion . " As a Masonic enthusiast , I am glad to cordiall y agree with the Church Times , and here in Ireland I think the Craft has a great futurebefore it in trying to put down religious animosities and drawing good men of all parties into our bond of Brotherhood . EMRA HQLMES , 31 , K . C . T .

The Proposed Whitehall Lodge.

THE PROPOSED WHITEHALL LODGE .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , With reference to the notes in the Freemason of thc 12 th ult ., as a member of the National Liberal Club , it seems to me that it would be a very good idea if the founders of the Whitehall Lodge in connection

with this club were to send out the fraternal olive branch to the Masonic members of the Constitutional Club hard by , and ask them to join in founding the nevv lodge . Were it to be the joint lodge of the two opposite clubs it vvould get rid of the objection vvhich may be raised to establishing a lodge in connection

with a particular political party . There are several reasons why such a lodge should be founded . The National Liberal and the Constitutional Clubs vvere brought into existence almost at the same time . The latter being in manner the outcome of the former , though for the other party in politics . The club

houses are almost adjoining , and both in numbers of members and sites of buildings are , I suppose , the largest and finest clubs in the world . They each have taken up the same aggressive attitude in political life on the two sides . Their members are recruited from the same social classes , and

apart from their political tenets have much in common vvith one another . As the Whitehall Lodge is to be held at the Hotel Victoria , exactly opposite the Constitutional Club , the members would meet on neutral ground . It mi ght be arranged that each political party should be represented in the chair in alternate years .

As Bro . Viscount Oxenbndge is selected to be first Master , it would be the turn of the Constitutional Club to nominate the W . M . for the following year . I have spoken to a well-known and ardent Mason of that club vvho , though he hates my politics , warmly agrees with the idea of a lodge in common . It is

often said , with much truth , that politics and religion cause men to differ , but the establishment of a Masonic ; lodge of Liberals and Conservatives would prove to ] the world the happy and beneficial effects of Freemasonry , and that when brethren are inside the door of

the lodge , as well as at the Masonic banquet table , those differences have been left outside , and that merit j has been their title to Masonic privileges , and that upon | them those favours have not been unworthily bestowed . i —Yours fraternall y , ! HENRY WRIGHT . . ]

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft fiDasonrp . flbetvoQolltan / IDeetfnas .

Peace and Harmony Lodge ( No . 60 ) .--This old and distinguished Iodge met at Freemasons' Hall-Great Queen-street , on the 25 th ult . Among those present vve noticed Bros . Albert Altman , C . C , P . G . S ., W . M . ; f-Rogers , G . S ., S . W .: Slade , J . W . ; H . Young , P-M- ' P . G . S . Treas . ; F . BinckesPMPGSP-G" ?^"

, , .., ..., Sec . Kempster , M . D ., P . M ., S . D . ; Capt . T . C . Walls , P . P . G . W . Middlesex , l . G . ; Masters , P . M ., Steward-Barton , P . M ., P . G . S . ; Chancellor , P . M ., ?• £ = •' . Josling , P . M ., P . G . S . ; Layton , J . P ., P . M ., P-G >' H . J . Lardner , P . P . G . D . C . Surrey ; G . H . Kenning , WH . Kempster , iun ., E . T . Altman , I . T . Cotton , O . P ° l ! f ' ¦

and others . Among the visitors vvere Bros . Smith , u . e Master North and East Yorks , P . G . D . ; T . Simpson , i •* " *' 1 745 ; Hills , P . M . ; Jones , 1623 ; and others . 1 he minutes of the previous meeting vvere read ana firmed . The ballot was taken on behalf of M essrs . »• '

Slade and F . T . Slade , and it proving to be unanimu" ^ those gentlemen vvere ably initiated , in the unavoiu absence of the W . M ., by the I . P . M . d t 0 The lodge vvas then closed , and the brethren adjourn the banquet . The usual toasts having been honoured , „ , i hy "The Health of the W . M . " vvas eloquently propose" 1 the I . P . M ., who duly acknowledged the comp liment .