The New Grand Officers.

Wales's Lodge , H . R . H . appointed Bro . Grey his Deputy Master , to which office he was re-appointed this year . Bro . Grey assisted H . R . H . in the ceremony of initiating his brother , the Duke of Connaught , in March , 1874 , and raised His Royal Highness to the third degree on the evening : preceding the great event at the Royal

Albert Hall . Bro . Grey served on the Board of General Purposes in 1865 as W . M . of the St . Andrew ' s Lodge ; and is again a member this year as Deputy Master of the Prince of Wales ' s Lodge . He is Vice-President of each of the charities , of which he has served the stewardships four times . He is also P . Z . of Chapter No . 7 .

GRAND SWORD BEARER . Dr . William R . Woodman , Grand Sword Bearer in Grand Lodge , Grand Director of Ceremonies in Grand Chapter , is the son of an Exeter surgeon . He was a pupil of the late John Haddy James , surgeon to the Devon and Exeter

Hospital , and a distinguished Waterloo officer ; he afterwards served the office of house surgeon . He was appointed assistant surgeon to the "North Star" in the Arctic Expedition under Captain Sir Edward Belcher , but the appointment was not finally confirmed . When he had

completed his medical career in London he went to Paris , to benefit by further study , and was just in time to volunteer his services as surgeon to attend the wounded of the Coup d' Etat of December 2 nd , i 8 jjr , and was under fire during the three days and nights of that exciting period .

He was initiated in the St . George s Lodge , Exeter , in April 1852 . He afterwards joined the Grenadiers' Lodge , No . 66 , worked his way up from the lowest office to that of W . M . in 1863 ( this lodge has always been distinguished for its perfect working « nd strict ritual ) . He

entered the Royal Arch in 1864 , in the Britannic Chapter , No . 33 , and served all the offices with distinction , and his working in the chair was unusually excellent and thorough . He was one of the leading brethren who assisted Bro . Little in transferring the Bard of Avon Lodge from

Stratford-on-Avon to Middlesex , and saving' it from extinction . He assisted in founding the Campbell Lodge in Middlesex , and is also a member of the Royal Middlesex Chapter . He is a Prov . Grand Steward of Middlesex , and Prov . Grand Sojourner in the same Province . He

served the office of Secretary to the Lodge of Union ( No . 444 ) , Starcross , Devon , and is now S . Warden and W . M . elect . He has ever been an ardent supporter of the charities , all of which he has served with zeal , and it was a great pleasure to him to be called on on Thursday , the

day after the Installation , in company with the Secretary ( Bro . Little ) , to assist the Earl of Shrewsbury in escorting the deputation from the King of Sweden to the Royal Masonic Girls ' School . He has also done good service in the Christian Orders , and has long held the office of Grand Recorder in the Red Cross and

Secretary General in the Rosicrucian Society . He is a Mark Mason ( No . 1 Lodge ) , a Knight Templar , and a Rose Croix . ASSISTANT GRAND PURSUIVANT . Bro . E . P . Albert was initiated in the Lodge of Joppa ( No . 188 ) , 23 years ago , passed the

chair and all the various offices , and has acted as Hon . Secretary for 12 years . Was one of the founders ot the Montifiore Lodge , No . 1017 ; acted as W . M . for two years under an emergency , oa the death ofthe first Master , and has been Hon . Secretary of this lodge for 7 years

is a Royal Arch Mason , and served the Chapte as M . E . Z ., similarly to that of W . M ., on a pres ' sing occasion , receiving the thanks of the lodge and chapter ( inscribed in the minutes ) , besides substantial marks of their favour in the shape of a service of plate and a number of jewels ; is an

Honorary Member of the Lodge of Friendship ( S . C . ) at the Mauritius , which was unanimously voted to him for his services in procuring for the brethren a warrant under the Constitution of Scotland , electing him also Proxy Master to

represent their interests at Grand Lodge . He is also an Honorary Member ofthe oldest lodge of Scotland ( the Canongate and Leith ) , unanimousl y awarded to him for supporting the dignity of the Scotch lodges on some special occasion . [ We shall continue these notices next week . ]

The West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution.

THE WEST LANCASHIRE MASONIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION .

We have perused the report of this useful subsidiary Educational Institution with much interest and attention . It seems , to use the words of the report , that " continued prosperity , progress and usefulness " are the happy lot of this benevolent offshoot of West Lancashire

educational sympathies . The society has now vested funds to the amount of £ 1 i , jj 15 is . 4 d ., and the interest of the same amounts to £ 4 81 12 s . nd . To this has to be added the proceeds of the Masonic ball , , £ 224 , and donations and subscriptions to the amount of £ < 88 19 s ., making

a total of actual income of £ 1299 in round numbers . If to this is added the balance of 1873 , £ 695 , and the repayment of a Mersey Dock Bond , £ , 510 , the audit side of the balance sheet reaches to £ 2516 is . iod . Per contra , paid for educating 46 children , and for the

advancement of 2 , . £ 288 15 s . yd ., some minor miscellaneous expenses , £ 61 , in round numbers , and £ i < fr $ o invested . The balance that is carried forward is £ 215 is . 4 d . Financially this is a very satisfactory report , and reflects great credit on the managers and the West Lancashire

brethren . The committee propose now , " in certain cases , " to grant also " clothing , " and we think the suggestion a very good one , and likely to tend to the personal elevation of the children . The amount paid for education seems to range from £ 10 to sSi $ s . annually , as the

maximum and minimum amount respectively , and we feel strongly that the mere payment of a fixed sum is not in itself the only test of good education . We should like to ask one question , in all friendliness and good will , having had for years the education of the young very

much at heart , how is the worth of such education tested ? Is there any examination of the children ? Any ascertaining of their actual proficiency ? We are , from long experience , impressed with the advisability , in order to render education both valuable and lasting in its

effects , of imbuing children with something of that " esprit du corps" which arises from a regular school residence , from kindly treatment , careful supervision , good food , healthy recreation and the continuous training under skilled direction . As an assistance to many struggling

widows and widowers , as a great blessing to many a poor orphan , as a preservation , above all , from the workhouse , we think the West Lancashire Educational Institution , however , deserving of much commendation , and all "hearty good wishes . " We wish indeed well to it and all our warm-hearted Lancashire brethren .

The Grand Orient And The Chapitres.

THE GRAND ORIENT AND THE CHAPITRES .

As some of our readers know , some time ago the Grand Orient of France decided by a large majority , to exclude in future all the representatives of the " Chapitres " from their body , that is , all who did not belong to symbolical Masonry .

To this resolution no one had a right to object , as , even supposing , as some alleged , a " concordat" to exist between the High Grades and Symbolical Masonry , it was clearly in ihe power

of either side to terminate such an arrangement . Indeed , we do not profess to understand how such an agreement ever could endure for any length of time , and we fully sympathized with the French Grand Orient in the difficulties of

their position , and thought that on the whole their ^ decision was the best solution of all the existing controversies , " qui juris nodos et legum enigmata solvit . " But owing , it appears , to some intricate arrangements of which we do not

quite realize the good or object , it is evident that , notwithstanding their removal of all the delegates of the " Chapitres " from the Grand Orient , the Grand Orient still claims to keep the control over and the regulation of the " Chapitres , " through " Le Conseil doTOrdre . " Now ,

this it is which we cannot understand . They have dissolved the "liens" which bound the " Chapitres " to the Grand Orient , and yet it is asserted that "Le Conseil de l'Ordre , " emanating from the Grand Orient , is still the supreme authority to which all the " Chapitres" are

The Grand Orient And The Chapitres.

amenable , and which Conseil de l'Ordre is still practically the mouthpiece of the Grand Orient . So that the Grand Orient still legislates , in some fashion , for the Chapitres , though the Chapitres have nothing to do with the Grand Orient any longer . One would have

thought that the simple and more Masonic way would have been to have allowed the Chapitres , henceforth , " entiere liberie , " so that , if they liked to form a " Grand Chapitre de la France , " they might have the opportunity and full consent of the Grand Orient to do so .

It is , in our humble opinion , the only possible arrangement by which peace and fraternal good will can be preserved . It is impossible to suppose that the " Chapitres " will be content with the government of the Conseil de l'Ordre , and it is in vain for the Grand Orient , in' our

opinion , to try to do what no one else has ever succeeded in doing in this world , namely , to " have their cake and eat it . " They have severed the Chapitres from the Grand Orient , and the Chapitres are "dans leur droit" in now seeking to form a government and central authority of their

own . The Grand Orient have condemned three chapters , the chapter of " Candour , " the " Star of Progress , " and the " Free Knights of St . Andrew of Scotland , " all in the Valley of Bordeaux , which have declared that , in consequence of the resolution of the Grand Orient

previously alluded to , they have separated from the Grand Orient , and ceased all direct and indirect relations . We regret the step of the Grand Orient in the interests of Masonic toleration , justice , and fair play , as we cannot understand why the Grand Orient should wish to

keep any authority over the High Grade Chapters which they have resolved are not to be represented in the Grand Orient itself . We are complaining against the Roman Catholic authorities for foolish interdicts and unreasonable condemnations , and here we have before our

very eyes , such is the inconsistency of us all , proving too truly , " que nous sommes tous mortels , " the Grand Orient of France ] " frappant " with " major and minor excommunication , " these three " chapitres " in France . We are sorry for it , we repeat , as we think it a mistake , and we venture frankly to say so , because we are of

opinion , though not belonging to the High Grades ourselves , that they have a right to fair play and Masonic consideration ! It is their undoubted privilege , we venture to conceive , to establish , under their altered circumstances , a grand governing "Chapitre" of their own , rendered necessary for their independence and preservation , by the act of the Grand Orient itself .

The Prince Of Wales And The " Scottish Freemasons' Magazine."

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE " SCOTTISH FREEMASONS ' MAGAZINE . "

We most deeply deplore , in the best interests of Freemasonry in Scotland , and as an act of injustice to a most loyal body of men , the Scottish Freemasons , the utterly uncalled for and very unbecoming remarks on this subject in our contemporary of May ist . We believe that such

opinions in no way represent those of our good brethren across the border , and will be at once repudiated by them one and all . The Scottish Freemasons are every whit as loyal as the English Freemasons , and the distinguished deputation from Scotland was most warmly greeted in Grand Lodge , April 28 th .

Original Correspondenece.

Original Correspondenece .

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

AN INSTALLATION JEWEL . To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Deeply delighted as I was with the Installation , being privileged to he present , 1 yet cannot but feel for many excellent and disappointed brethren . It has occurred to me that , as a consolation to many who , absent in body ,

were present 111 spirit , our Royal Grand Master might authorise the institution of an Installation Commemoration Jewel , to be worn hy all affiliated Freemasons at the date of his installation . Such a jewel would be a happy commemoration of a great event . If the jewel had simply an enamel miniature of our Grand Master , surmounted by the Prince of Wales ' s feather , and on the reverse the fivepointed star , with these watch words , "Loyalty and