Masonic Notes.

The proposal to afford the lodges and chapters which contributed to the Centenary Festival the opportunity of having their arms , in stained glass , inserted in the windows of the Memorial Hall or on the wood covering of the walls , in consideration of a money payment of

£ 13 each , for which votes would be allowed , was passed without the slightest objection . The idea is an excellent one . It will help to beautify the hall , it will cost the Institution nothing , and those which pay for having their arms inserted will obtain a very handsome equivalent in the shape of permanent votes .

* * * The one unpleasant incident of the meeting was unavoidable . Bro . Frank Richardson moved that the Trustees of the Institution should be empowered to present a petition to both Houses of Parliament

against the Various Powers Bill of the London , Brighton and South Coast Railway Company , and the motion was agreed to at once , Bro . Richardson having fully explained what the railway company were desirous of obtaining power to do , and how seriously

it would encroach on the School premises , and especially the Preparatory School . Bro . Richardson certainly deserves the hearty thanks of the Governors and Subscribers for his prompt attention to the interests of

the Institution on this particular occasion , as well as generally , and we are glad to know from him that Bro . Samuel Pope , Q . C , has been retained to render such legal services as may be necessary .

* * * Bro J . L . Thomas , P . A . G . D . C , was successful in carrying out his motion to the effect that the maximum age of candidates for the Secretaryship be raised from 40 to 45 years . We think it would have been better to do

away with the limit altogether . There was reason in fixing it at 40 years , when the question of awarding a pension to a Secretary on retiring from office through age , ill-health , or other cause was likel y to arise ; but now that pensions to officers of this Institution appear .

to have received their quietus , we see no reason for the retention of a limit . The only change which Bro . Thomas will have effected will be this , under the present

rules , a good man of 41 is excluded from being a candidate ; under the proposed rule , a good man of 46 will be shut out . Abolish the limit altogether , and no man , good , bad , or indifferent , will be excluded .

Bro . Greatbatch does not appear to recognise the force of the objection we made last week to his proposal to take the power of electing the Secretary out of the hands of the General Committee , and entrust it to the Provisional Committee . Societies do not , as a

rule , enact laws for particular occasions , but for general . Had our brother ' s motion been accepted , then , whenever the Provisional Committee came to an end , it would become necessary to pass a new law to transfer the power of electing future Secretaries from

a body that was defunct , either to the House or General Committee , or to the General Court . Or it may be that Bro . Greatbatch considers the present Provisional Manangement Committee likely to remain permanently in charge of affairs . But , even in that

case , a further change in the law would become neces sary , as what is permanent cannot be provisional . However , Bro . Greatbatch ' s motion was lost , and we need not , therefore , trouble ourselves about difficulties which will never arise .

We have much pleasure in announcing that it has been arranged that the 102 nd Festival of the R . M . I , for Girls—at which , by the way , Bro . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., P . G . M . Middx ., has kindly undertaken to preside—will be held on Tuesday , the 20 th May next .

We rejoice to find that considerable headway has been made during the week by Bro . Terry in adding to the strength of his Board of Stewards for the Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , on Wednesday , the 26 th instant . This time last week the

number of brethren who had undertaken to give their services as Stewards was 244 , now it is 26 S . There has , therefore , been an increase of two dozen in the one week . This is capital news , and we trust we shall be able to record a further and still more substantial

increase in the Board between now and the Festival . Happily , those who have come forward lately have still not far short of three weeks in which to carry on their canvass , and , as Bro . Terry well knows , a good deal may be done even in three weeks , especially by those who have had experience in the office .

We congratulate our Sussex brethren on the appointment of Bro . Sir W . T . Marriott , Q . C , M . P ., as their new Deputy Provincial Grand Master , in succession to

Masonic Notes.

the late lamented Bro . Gerard Ford . Bro . Sir W . T . Marriott is a Mason of long standing , a Past Grand Steward , and P . P . S . G . W . of Sussex . He is also a man of tact and ability , and we do not doubt that he will soon be on the best of terms with all the various

lodges in the province . It must also be to them a source of satisfaction to know officially that the Duke of Connaught has accepted the office of Prov . Grand Mark Master of Sussex , which has been conferred upon him by his brother the Prince of Wales , Grand Mark Master of England .

Bro . Butler Wilkins , Dep . P . G . M . Northants and Hunts , deserves very hearty thanks for his suggestion that the brethren of Northampton should inaugurate the New Year by giving a tea and entertainment to the aged and poor of the town , independent of creed or

party . Nor are we surprised to hear that the 800 people thus entertained in the Corn Exchange , Northampton , were most grateful for the kindness and attention thus shown them by the brethren , and especially by Bro . Wilkins .

The Melbourne Evening Standard says the Victorian Freemasons have decided to create Grand Trumpeters . While they are in a musical vein , they might also create Grand Drummers , Fifers , and what not , * * * Now that the scheme for raising a fund in lieu of

granting a retiring allowance to Bro . Binckes is fairly launched , would it not be well for the London brethren to form a committee for the purpose of bringing it I before the various lodges in the Metropolis . The circular of the Provisional Committee is issued to town

and country lodges alike , but London lacks the organisation possessed by Provincial Grand Lodges , and there is some danger that the Metropolis may not contribute its proper portion unless steps are taken to follow up the issue of the circular by some practical method of collecting subscriptions .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ Wo do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

LODGE PRESENTATION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . ' ' Dear Sir and Brother , I am a member of the lodge referred to b y " West Yorkshire , " and I , along with a Past Master , took the presentation movement up . I , therefore , ask

you to allow me a few words . In " West Yorkshire ' s " lirst letter he attempted to represent that the jewel was only subscribed for by a very small number of the members of the lodge , and your leaderette is written assuming this to be the fact . This is not so . The members of the lodge number close on 50 , and there

are only about three who did not heartily support the movement . These dissentients are Past Masters . As to two of these Past Masters—one of them ( the brother of nerve referred to in " West Yorkshire ' s " second letter ) and another—were asked to contribute and they both expressed their willingness to do so and

requested to be put down for the limit , 5 s . each . But they changed their minds , and it may be interesting to know how this came about . The P . M . who was working with me asked a Bro . P . M ., in the presence of the two above referred to if be would subscribe to the presentation fund . The Past Master referred to asked his questioner if he had received

a Past Master ' s jewel , and eventuall y characterised the whole affair as " monstrous . " What a splendid illustration of the dog in the manger policy ; but this argument was strong enough to convert the brother of nerve and his follower , and they withdrew their support . Several P . M . ' s , the W . M ., P . S . W ., and all the officers and junior brethren are in hearty unison on this question . —I am , dear Sir and Brother . ALSO WEST YORKSHIRE .

Reviews

REVIEWS

HULL MASONIC CALENDAR , 1890 . This is a neat , unpretending-looking publication of but four pages , but so well is the information arranged and packed that the pocket directory for the Craft in Hull is literally a miiltum in parvo . In fact , we are inclined to call it " The Indispensable" for the brethren of that truly Masonic district . On two pages

are to be found the day in each month , for the year 1 S 90 , that the five lodges assemble , as also that most useful body , the Installed Masters Lodge of Instruction : also similar particulars for the five R . A . chapters , the three Mark lodges , the K . T . preceptory , and the Rose Croix chapter . The installation days are also noted in each case , and the several places of

Reviews

meeting , as duly chronicled . The first page is devoted to the title , and the fourth to a table , containing the names , places of meetings , days , & c , of some 20 lodges , nine chapters , and five Mark lodges in the

neighbourhood , so that the useful character of this little brochure is quite manifest . The typography is all that might be expected from the atelier of Bro . M . C . Peck , the indefatigable Prov . G . Sec . of N . and E . Yorkshire .

Notes And Queries.

Notes and Queries .

866 ] CONSTITUTIONS , 173 8 . I shall feel obliged if owners of the Book of Constitutions 173 S , who have not already done so , will kindly communicate to me the size of such copiesnot the text , but the full page , inclusive of the margin .

Also to carefully note as to the frontispiece being bound up with these volumes , or otherwise . I shall be glad to have similar particulars as to the copies having the new title page of " 5746 ; " the replies not being restricted to private owners , information as to lodges , & c , being equally welcome , only in each case , as soon as possible . W . J . HUGHAN .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft HDaeoitrp .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Royal SaVOJ / Lodge ( No . 1744 ) . —The installation meeting of this very sociable lodge took place on Tuesday , the 2 Sth ult ., at Freemasons' Hall , when there was as usual on such occasions a very large gathering of members and their visitors . Bro . W . H . Borling , the W . M ., has , like so many others , been suffering from the

fashionable complaint , and though sufficiently recovered to be present found it necessary to find a substitute to act as Installing Master . Our ever read y brother , Bro . W . M . Stiles , came to the rescue and installed Bro . VV . A . Scurrah , P . P . G . S . of VV . Middx . ( who had been unanimously elected by the lodge ) , in the admirable manner in which he performed all his Masonic work . The list of

officers is as follows : Bros . Holland , S . W . ; Ross , J . W . ; James Willing , Treas . ; H . Dickey , Sec ; Knightley , Asst . Sec ; Mordey , S . D . ; Roziska , J . D . ; Dr . Powdrell , l . G . ; Stiles , D . C ; H . Cole , Asst . D . C . ; Jeffreys and Chattey , Stwds . ; and R . Whiting , Tyler . All were invested by the W . M . except Bro . Willing , who was absent through indisposition .

It turned out that there was no other business but the installation ( with the exception of receiving the Auditors ' report ) for though an initiation was expected the candidate did not put in an appearance . The following brethren were among the visitors to the lodge : Bros . J . J . Thomas , P . M . 753 ; H . Wilson , Org . 147 ; J . T . Rowe , P . M . 16 7 ; H . T . Stiles , P . M . 1507

J . Kilvington , W . M . 1 790 ; G . R . Bolton , 1314 , P . J . G . W . Kent ; B . Kauffman , P . M . 1732 ; W . T . Petty , J . D . 2271 ; G . W . Meacock , 742 ; Robt . Seeker , P . M . 453 ; C . S . Mote , W . M . 1732 ; T . C . Edward , P . M . 1507 ; John W . Ray , I . P . M . 1624 ; James Thorn , W . M . 2331 ; G . T . Knight , 1602 ; John Vicary , 142 S ; John S . Gamier , 147 ; Arthur H . Scurrah , S . W . 2206 ; A . W .

Garrard , 204 S ; Frank C . Joseph , J . D . 204 S ; Robt . Burleton , P . M . S 60 ; H . R . Graham , S . W . 2371 ; R . Chatty , 2271 ; J . C . Saunders , D . C . 1507 ; G . Emblin , P . M . 147 ; Jas . Hemming , I . P . M . 1287 ; J . W . Towershield , P . M . 171 ; Jas . W . Cain , J . W . 179 ; E . C . Massey , P . M . 1297 ; John P . Cloake , 55 ; F . F . Dennis , 1563 ; Webster , M . P ., J . W . 2271 ; Hoare , 1007 ; Joseph

Potter , Arthur Strugnell , 2264 ; Roach , 360 ; Tucker , 913 ; Butters , 2 H 2 ; Silvester , 193 ; Lawrence , Org . 2271 ; Faulkner , 4 63 ; and P . Blatchford , 704 . After the lodge had been closed , the members and their guests dined together in the Dome Room , in the adjoining building , where an excellent banquet was served , covers being laid for some 9 S brethren , there being 47 members

and 51 visitors . After dinner , the customary list of loyal and Masonic toasts was dealt with , commencing , of course , with "The Queen and the Craft" and "The M . W . G . M ., the Prince of Wales . ' ^ both of which were most heartily received . In proposing the next toast , Bro . Scurrah said it was a very important one , being that of "The M . W . the Pro

Grand Master , the Earl ' of Carnarvon ; the R . W . Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " The Grand Officers were all men and brethren who were worthy of the offices they had been appointed to . Who that knew anything of the Earl of Carnarvon and the Earl of Lathom could say otherwise than that they were the right men in the right

places ; and he himself knew that all those who were appointed to Grand Office were men who had taken the greatest interest in Freemasonry , and had been rewarded in that manner for what they had done . He regretted that they had no Grand Officers present on that occasion . Several had promised to come , but had been prevented , includins- the

Grand Secretary and Sir Robert Fowler , who over a week ago promised to be present . From a letter received that evening from Sir Robert Fowler , it appeared that he was very ill in bed , and would not be able to leave the house for two or three days . Bro . Scurrah said he had received the greatest kindness and brotherl y consideration from Sir Robert Fowler , who was a brother who not only acted up to

his obligation as a Mason , but acted up to his position as a citizen of our Metropolis , and assisted not only his brother Masons , but his brother citizens in whatever station in life they belonged to . From what he had said , he thought the brethren would join with him in saying that the Grand Officers had been appointed for the sole reason that they were good men and good Masons , having done their work in Masonry to the satisfaction of everyone .