Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

QUARTERLY COURT . The Quarterly Court of the Subscribers to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held on Friday , the 26 th ult ., when there was a full attendance of brethren . Bro . Eve , P . G . Treas ., was elected Chairman of the meeting . There were also present : Bros . E . Terry , G .

Treas . ; Langton , W . Lake , Bourne , Plucknett , Smithson , Cubitt , Scurrah , Brett , Cohen , Jones , Marwood , Hastings Miller , Mather , Hogard , Carter , Kidder , Dicketts , Morgan , J . Terry , Powell , Dr . Morris , John Stevens , Hemming , Hoppett , Paas , Storr , Still , Blyth , Spaull , Dixie , Webb , Cumberland , Binckes , and others .

Bro . BINCKES , Secretary , having read the advertisement convening the Quarterl y Court , the minutes of the last Quarterly Court were read and confirmed , after which the minutes of the Special Court of 6 th June were read and passed as correctly entered . Minutes

of the General Committee ot 4 th May , 6 th and 29 th June , and 6 t . h July were also read . One petition deferred by the General Committee for further information was considered and accepted , making a total of 70 candidates , from which 16 boys are to be elected in October

The CHAIRMAN said that , as a member of the Provisional Committee , and as their Chairman at the meeting held that afternoon , he had only further to report , in addition to the report which they had alread y madeand which was now in print ( and which he now moved mi ght be taken as readl , that the Provisional Committee had

appointed as Matron , to enter on her duties on tbe ist August , Miss Harcombe , Matron of the Royal St . Ann ' s Society at Red Hill . They had also made an ad interim appointment of a doctor for two months , during which time advertisements would be issued for applications for the post . The gentleman appointed

pro tem . was Dr . John Joseph Lock , who practised in the neighbourhood of Wood Green . Further , in accordance with the authority conferred on the Provisional Committee , they had conferred with Bro . Binckes in regard to the terms on which he should retire , and that matter was still under consideration .

It was proposed by Bro . BEVIR , Prov . G . Sec . Wilts , and seconded— " That thc report of the Provisional Committee be received , and that its proceedings and recommendations do receive the sanction of this General Court , which authorises the Provisional Committee to carry the same into effect . "

The motion was opposed by Bros . DICKETTS , SCURRAH , and CUMBERLAND , who considered that the Provisional Committee should complete their report on all matters before them before asking the approval of the Committee ; but , after some discussion , Bro . Bevir ' s motion was put , and carried b y a large majority .

There being no other business before the meeting , the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Summer Excursion Of The Quatuor Coronati Lodge, No. 2076.

SUMMER EXCURSION OF THE QUATUOR CORONATI LODGE , No . 2076 .

A most enjoyable trip , which even the showery weather of the forenoon was unable to seriously mar , was undertaken by this lodge on Saturday , the 20 th ult . We have it on good authority that " absence makes the heart grow cold , " and the chief object of the brethren in undertaking the excursion was , possibly

to break the long interval between the stated lodge meetings in June and October , thus , by a timely outing , renewing the pleasures of social intercourse . True , however , to the antiquarians' tastes and studies encouraged b y the lodge , a spot of abiding interest to Freemasons was chosen , the city of St . Alban

England ' s proto-martyr and the traditional founder of the Craft in these isles . Does not the Grand LocW MS . ofthe "Old Charges" ( which is dated 1 5 S 3 ) state distinctl y " Inglande in all this season stoyde voyd of any chardge of Massonrie untill St . Albon ' s tyme , and in his dayes the Kyng of Ingland that was a

pagnym he did wall thee towne aboute that is called St . Albon ' s , and St . Albon was a woorth y knyght & stewarde of the kyngs householde and had thegou ' ment of thee realme and also of the towne walls and loved Massons well and chirished them muche and he niayde their paye right good ( standing as the realme did ) for

he gave them ljs vjd a weeke and three pence to their cheire , fore before that tyme throw the land a Masson toke but a peny a daye and his meate untill St . Albone amended it and gave them a charter of thee kynge & his counsel ! for to houlde a gen ' all counsel ! And gaue it tbe name of an Assembl ye and was thereat himself

and healped for to make Massons and gave the chardges as yee shall beare afterwarde righte sone . " Bro . W . Simpson , the W . AL , was unfortunatel y detained at Balmoral on business , and a few other brethren who rarely miss a lodge meeting were unavoidabl y . absent , but the following members assembled at St . Pancras , under the S . W ., Bro . Col . S . C . Pratt—viz

Bros . W . M . Bywater , P . G . S . B ., J . W . ; Professor T \ Hayter Lewis , S . D . ; Dr . W . W . Westcott , J . D G W . Speth , Sec ; Prof . W . Mattieu Williams , and Dr . W . J . Chetwode Crawley ( of Dublin ) . With these were the following members of the Correspondence Circle , viz . : Bros . Dr . W . R . Woodman , P . G . S . B . ; S , Richardson , C . B . Barnes , F . A . Powell , J . S . Cumber-

Summer Excursion Of The Quatuor Coronati Lodge, No. 2076.

land , C . E . Ferry , Col . J . Mead , and G . H . Piper D . P . G . M . Herefordshire ; and the following visitors Bros . D . B . W . Richardson , F . Pegler , Sydney T , Klein , C . Bowley ( of Belfast ! , Mahaim ( of Liege ) , and R . T . Webster ( of Margate )! A saloon carriage , attached to thc 11 . 10 a . m . train

took the party comfortably to St . Alban ' s , where a frugal lunch awaited them at thc PeaHcn Hotel ; after which a visit was first paid to the church of St . Peter ' s . Here they were met by the curate , Bro . Rev . Valentine Faulkner , under whose auspices the church was inspected , the chief point of interest being the monument

ot Edward Strong the elder , for whom Dr . Anderson claims the honour of having been appointed Junior Grand Warden under Grand Master Sir Christopher Wren in 1685 . The truth of this can scarcely be admitted , but the Strong famil y appeals to our sympathies as Masons in a high degree . Timothy

Strong was a quarry owner and builder in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire . His son , Valentine , was a notable builder in his day , and on his tomb at Fairford , Oxfordshire , 1662 , is described as "Valentine Strong , Free Alason . " Valentine ' s son , Thomas , was engaged at Trinity College , Oxon , in 1665 , under Sir C . Wren .

and 111 16 75 made the hrst contract with the commissioners for re-building St . Paul ' s . According to the famil y memoirs , written in 1716 , he laid the first stone in the foundation with his own hands . Dying in 1681 , he was succeeded by his brother Edward , buried at St . Peter ' s , St . Alban ' s , who associated with himself his

son Edward , the younger . The " memoirs" state"About the year 1706 , Edward Strong - , junior , began the lanthorn on the Dome of St . Paul ' s , London , and on the 25 th Oct ., 1708 , Edward Strong , senior , laid the last stone upon the same . " This last claim is

reasserted on the monument in question . Skirting thc city , the old church of St . Michael ' s was next visited . Apart from its high architectural interest , the church is noticeable for containing the body and statue of Lord Bacon , "the wisest , greatest , meanest of mankind . "

Sauntering through the fields and along the banks of the river , and under the spreading elms , a typical scene of English rural beauty , at its best , the brethren made their way to the Abbey , where they where met b y the Rev . W . Urwich , who has made the register and archives of the edifice his special study for years .

Under his capable guidance every part of the structure was visited and its history explained , the old work admired , and the restoration criticised , Some difference of opinion was apparent as to the taste , but none as to the solidity and thoroughness of the restored parts , or as to the public spirit and generosity of Lord

Grimthorpe , who for years has borne the enormous cost of what is more than restoration , for it was necessary in many parts to entirely reconstruct . Lord Grimthorpe himself now joined the party , and kindly submitted to a course of " heckling , " the reasons for this and that alteration being fully explained by his lordship in

answer to home questions , and he incidentally supplied many details as to the structure of the abbey , its foundations , vaults , & c , which were of great interest . The party having been generously admitted by the Rector , the Venerable Archdeacon Lawrence , free , thus entailing a loss on the restoration fund , a collection

was made , which , we are glad to say , considerably more than covered the charge for admission . Lord Grimthorpe was thanked for his explanations , and , there being still an hour to spare before dinner , the brethren struck once more across the fields , visiting the old Roman walls and moat , and reached an eminence

whence a beautiful view of the Abbey and its surroundings was obtained . Dinner was served at the Pea Hen at six o ' clock , after which votes of thanks were moved and carried to Bro . Rev . V . Faulkner , and to the Rev . W . Urwich for their kindness in affording the brethren so much

instruction and the pleasure of their company , and suitably acknowledged , Mr . Urwich eloquently pointing out that St . Albans was the scene of more than one martyrdom , interesting in ecclesiastical history . Bro . Speth was thanked for making the arrangements , and indicated that Bro . Klein would be their guide next

year through a district of great interest around his own residence at Stanmore ; whilst in 1 S 91 , he ( Bro . Speth ) hoped to introduce them to Sandwich , the city of the dead , the Roman ruins of Richboro' Castle , Minster Church and Abbey , Dandelion Gateway , near Margate ,

and other monuments in the Isle of Thanet . The party returned b y the 8 . 32 train , to which a saloon carriage had been added for their separate use , it being unanimously admitted that the day had been most enjoyable .

Anglo-American Lodge, No. 2191.

ANGLO-AMERICAN LODGE , No . 2191 .

ENTERTAINMENT' TO AMERICAN BRETHREN . A special meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , the 23 rd ult ., at the Criterion , Piccadilly , for the purpose of extending a hearty Alasonic welcome to several distinguished American Masons , on that day passing through London on their way home from thc Paris Exhibition , on which occasion there was a large assemblage of the brethren of the lodge and their English guests to the number of about 100 brethren .

The lodge was opened by Bro . Fred . Kedge , the W . AL of the lodge , the other offices being filled as follows : Bros . John Skinner , acting as S . W . ; G . H Reynolds , acting as J . VV . ; W . Hancock , S . D . ; James Rowe , J . l ) . ; | " . B . " Gumming , Treas . ; G . Reynolds , Sec . ; Rev . " J . S . Brownrigg , Past G . Chap ., Chap . ; F . Jackson , acting as I . G . ; Herbert W . Schartau , P . G . Org . Middx ., Org . ; I . B .

Anglo-American Lodge, No. 2191.

Grieve , Stwd . ; R . F . Potter , Tyler ; and others . The nof the American guests were Bros . Charles E . Meyer i ' " \ 2 95 > W . J . Kelly ( Chairman of the Masonic Ten ' inl , ' < - ' ¦ mittee ) , 59 , Washington ; VV . Millett , Philadel phia ; ' p " !'* Case , 32 , Sakatah ; and Dr . C . V . Hart , 1 , and ' u ' iv Rogers , P . AL 5 , of Denver , Colorado . Bro . I . I T ' ,. ' ¦ P . G . I ) , of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria , " was l '"' present . Among the English guests were Bros \ v ' , " Hughan , P . M . 131 , P . S . G . D . ; A . Pendlebury , ' Asst r Sec ; George Nugce , 1 G 91 , P . J . G . W . Middlesex- V . !' \\ ii * * l ¦

; ,..... i .. — - . r ... " o o c : r- \\ i \ 1 .. 1 ... u—1 r i- > . It . Whytehead , 1611 , P . P . S . G . W . ; John Read , I . P . M o , ' ' P . P . G . Org . ; Leu-is 'Thomas , P . A . G . D . C . ; F . W ' \\< ° ' P . G . D ., D . P . G . AI . Surrey ; C . Parsons , 16 37 , P . A G h ' r Middlesex ; Dumas , P . J . G . D . ; Richard Eve , Past ( ,,- ' ; , Treas . ; VV . Cope , 1351 ; C . Beckett , 2000 ; R . Hovenri 2140 ; J . [ . Carody , 16 S 5 ; Wm . Groves , P . M ' , "' A . Hamilton , I . P . M . 017 ; VV . S . Heath , 7 66 ; I ]\ Jf ' P . M . y o ; C . J . Cutler , P . AL 212 -, M . Callaway Go W

P . M . 2140 ; Gerald A . Shoppee , 2140 ; E . C . Massey r , . and many others . ' ' " '' As soon as the lodge was opened , the W . M . briefly m . a hearty greeting anel welcome to the American brethren ' ' ° whose honour the meeting- of the lodge had been convene I and the business of the lodge proceeded , which included Up raising of Bro . Jessurun to the Sublime Degree of a A [ \ i

Bro . Brackstone Baker , P . G . D ., and Representative of , ' . Grand Lodges of America to England , rose and said that ji . was extremely glad to see so large a meeting both of mul ) . hers and visitors . As Bro . Kedge , the W . M ., had welcomei the American brethren at the opening of the lodge , so he 0 II behalf of the lodge , at its close , begged to renew the hearty gratitude and heartfelt welcome , and the sincere acknuvy .

lodgment of the advantage the brethren of the lod ge had in thc presence of their distinguished American brethren —Hrns C . E . Meyer , Kelly , Milleck , Case , Hart , and Rogers . \ VC | - ' it not invidious he should have singled out Bro . Meyer , who had hastened his journey from Paris in order to he present at that meeting , and who would embark on the following day for the United States . When hc was here a year a > nithi .

very object of the establishment of the lodge was vindicated by his presence ; the institution of the Anglo-American Lodge haying arisen in consequence of there boiii" - a great many Masons in London who were connected with brethren in the United States frequentl y feeling the want of a suitable Masonic home to which they could introduce well-vouched-for American

Masons when on a visit to this country . With that idea the English brethren referred to had put their heads together and had formed this lodge for the purpose of welcoming their American brethren who were passing through London " , either on their way to the Continent , or on their return journey . They were now glad to entertain those American brethren who had honoured them with their presence ,

persuaded that when they went back they would carry with them a pleasant flavour of thc welcome they had received . Then addressing Bro . Meyer and his companions personally , Hro . Baker said—We extend the heartiest welcome to you with the sincerest desire to give you a hearty reception , knowing that if we went over to your side we should receive a like

greeting at your hands . Of this we had a living instance in our Bro . Secretary and in Bro . Skinner , who , taking a journey to America , were treated as sumptuously as the Shah of Persia has recently been treated in this country . VVe are glad to see you , and whenever you or your countrymen come to this country properly recommended , ne shall be glad to give them the same welcome as we are now glad

to give to you . Bro . Kelly , in reply , said that one of the conditions whicli he made upon leaving the States was that he should not he called upon to make any speeches , but now that condition had been broken by Bro . Meyer , for by command of Hro . Meyer , hc had now to rise and reply to Bro . Baker's speech . Bro . Baker was acknowledged in America to be a

largehearted Freemason ; and while they in America were by no means moderate of their abilities , they certainly did know what were their shortcomings . They were , however , a young country , and that very fact of their being- so young'a nation was their excuse ; and in the violation of any forms Masonic or social he distinctly said that their apology should be their youth . This reception to himself personally and to

his colleagues had been peculiarly pleasant , for they had been taught that , come from what quarter of the world they might , they were , among the Masons they met , among brothers and friends . Some few years ago he himsell happened to be standing- in the corridor of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia when a gentleman came in who , from his dress and appearance , seemed to he

an Englishman , and he looked about him m a strange way as if he were lost . It was his ( Bro . Kelly ' s ) good fortune to note this gentleman , and on approaching him to know if he could serve him in any way , learned that he was an Englishman on his way from the Province of Ontario , and that he was a Mason , and had concluded that he would like to see the Alasons of Philadelphia . H ' ' to

Grand Master and the Grand Secretary were fortunately be found and they all had a long talk with the Eng lishman who related the eventful experiences of a life of travel , hut said that in no connection and in no place did he feel such confidence and lind such friendship as amongst Masons . The effect produced upon those three Americans by t " incident had never been effaced , and when he came into that room , a perfect stranger to every one there , he did not seem welcome

strange , for every body seemed ready to give him a and they generally came to him and asked him how he was . and altogether he had felt perfectly at home . The positu'i ' i however , was somewhat novel . He was not in any condiW . ' for making a connected address to the meeting , because m listening to Bro . Baker ' s speech and noticing his words lu ' had felt so interested that everything else was driven out <' his head , except the cordiality and geniality of the brethren , and last but not least , the kind hearted Masonic address oi

Bro . Baker . 'The lodge was then closed , and the brethren of the lo'I ? and their guests repaired to the Victoria Hall , where a banquet of a recherche kind was served , under the siipi'i " " tendance of Bro . G . P . Bertini , assisted by Mr . J . Hoogan , after which the usual list of loyal and Alasonic toasts « ' : i > dealt with with all the enthusiasm so characteristic ol I'" - ' '

masons . .-It is not unworthy of notice that when " The Health 0 Her Majesty" had been drunk , and the National A' *"" - ' | j followed as a matter of course , not a brother presenJ . i "' P ^„ more heartily in singing " ( iod save the thieon ' "'' the ten American brethren who were the guests ol evening . .. . It is only fair to add that " The Health of the PrcsiiH- '