Masonic And General Tidings.

Orient is not , owing to its present constitution , a legal body ; and , secondly , that it has so departed from the fundamental teaching of Freemasonry as to have lost its position of sole jurisdiction . And here I leave the matter , awaiting the onward course of events •which settles matters better than the pen of the ready writer . MASKELYNE .

The Girls' School.

THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

( Communique ) . It wil ! be seen by a report in our last that some question has been raised with reference to the opening of the New Building by H . R . H . the Princess of Wales . Nothing would delig ht the Craft more than such an announcement , than such a factbut so far , the matter does not appear

, to have been attended to "in due form . " H . R . H . the Princess of Wales cannot be asked to attend a public ceremonial in an informal way , and we think it a pity that her name was mentioned until assent had been given for her kindly and gracious attendance . The brethren think the matter ought not to have come before the General Committee at all . as it is a matter , according to our

apprehension , solely for the Building Committee . Until the Building Committee hands over to the House Committee the special work entrusted to its charge , it is alone responsible for all matters and all arrangements connected with the new buildings . We therefore recommend the Building Committee alone to hold a special meeting , anil by a proper and formal application endeavour to obtain the

presence and the patronage of that august and charming lady , H . R . I I . the Princess ' of Wales , at the opening of the new wing of the Girls' School . But no time is to be lost , as many are the pressing demands on the time and appearance of our Royal Family , ever anxious to support all that is philanthropic , all that is useful , and all that is excellent . We have every confidence in our gallant Bro . Col . Creaton .

Original Correspondents.

Original Correspondents .

[ We do net hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—wi-hin certain necessary imitR—free discussion . —ED . 1

PROVINCIAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Your article in last week ' s Freemason on " Provincial Educational Institutions" has afforded me much pleasure , evincing as it does—and as your paper always has done—your great anxiety to secure the best means of

rendering Freemasonry . a " thing of life , " and not a mere form . The question of the Schools is one that has caused a great many of our Lincolnshire Masons to be exercised in their minds as to how the future is to be met , andas tothe expediency of initiating a movement for the organisation of such an Institution as you outline . Considerable opposition may no doubt be anticipated from " vested interests , " tic , but the difficulty to be faced

is well biought out in your leader , and I have sent letters to several Masonic friends , calling their special attention to it , in the hope that a matter of Craft importance will receive that mature consideration we think the question deserves . Thanking you for the able exposition of my own views , I am , dear Sir and Brother , fraternally yours , A LINCOLNSHIRE W . M .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . To Ihe Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The subject of tlie letter from Bro . Raynham Stewart , inserted in your last number , is unquestionably of such great interest and importance that , if the House Committee should ever appear to be so oblivious of their

duties as to neglect to pay due attention to the system of education pursued at the school , any subscriber who may either by motion at the quarterly court , or by any other process—call attention to the matter , will undoubtedly deserve the best thanks ofthe Craft . It is not however apparent , from your correspondent's letter , that any grounds exist for supposing that plain

needlework , & c , are disregarded in the training of the pupils . On the contrary , the last annual report contains a long list of wearing apparel , and domestic linen made up by the girls in addition to their studies in ( what Bro . Stewart calIs ) accomplishments . Indeed , he himself expresses satisfaction at the explanations which followed the discussion on his prooosed motion , and hopes

that outsiders will now cease to " animadvert . " No further allusion to the question need have been made if Bro . Stewart had not added to his letter one of the most extraordinary and objectionable paragraphs ever penned in connection with our school ; and one , which , if permitted to pass unchallenged now , may be quoted in the future , to the serious detriment of a noble institution . The

passage referred to reads . " We all know how difficult it is to get domestic servants in these days , and I believe it arises in a great measure—not because they are educated morally , religiously , or intellectually—but because they are

educated above their position in life . If this means that about 160 children of Freemasons , whose circumstances have become reduced through death or misfortune , should simply be educated to a point qualifying them for domestic service , at a cost of some £ i 2 , 000 or JC' 3 I ° a year , it may reasonably be doubted whether

Original Correspondents.

many present and prospective subscribers to the Institution will consider "the game worth the candle . " Nor is it likely—if this view were adopted—that in future elections we should be troubled wirh an excessive number of candidates . Bro . Stewart has been so liberal a supporter of our Schools , that it ought to be unnecessary to remind him that the object of our Institution

isnot to provide moral , religious or intellectual servant girls , but—to take the place of parents , to instruct , clothe , and maintain the children of our less fortunate brethren whilst young , and , by judicious education in accomplishments as well as in domestic duties , to fit them to occupy such a position in life as they mig ht have been expected to fill had their parents enjoyed the blessings of health and prosperity ; and in this , there is good reason for believing , the efforts of thc committee have hitherto been rewarded by

success . I am , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , HENRY T . THOMPSON .

To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — There appears to be one or two things in Bro . R . Stewart's letter which if not explained may mislead some of the subscribers , who live at a distance , and have no means of knowing for themselves . He still clings to his statement about the girls learning latin and geometry

as the primary things—now , this would be pardonable in any one but him , but for one wbo has served for the length of time he has 011 thc House Committee , not to know or profess not to know , that latin is one of the things we do not teach in the school , and further , that there is no one in thc school that knows sufficient of latin to teach it , I say , not to know these things is

unpardonable , and as to geometry , all that is taught is such as would be given in any ordinary school . In reference to the question of cookery , the girls learn everything that is likely ever to be of any use to them , unless we intend to send them out as professional cooks , which I suppose he really means , or if a girl has no aptitude for making pastry and sweets , then fit her out as housemaid ,

or perhaps laundress . Surely subscriptions would very soon lessen if we say the education we mean to give our children should they need it , shall be to fit them for domestic servants—and I confess , however he may twist this part of his letter , it is the only construction thatcan be put upon it . Surely these children have a right to expect that they will secure such an education as shall fit them for the

Society of their relatives , and friends of their departed parents , and if his statement has thc slig htest foundation of truth that "we educate our girls beyond their station , then Freemasons are far below ordinary society in the social scale . As to the misgivings , and asking himself what becomes of the girls after they leave the Institution . Let him ask those who take the trouble to find out , and whose duty it is to register them as far as is possible to

trace . As to his remarks being directed against thc House Committee , I am sure by the admirable way they have managed they are perfectly indifferent which way he wished to " direct his remarks . " lam a little curious to know who the "People" are . Evidently they are not Life Governors or even brethren in

the Craft , or he would not speak of them by the very distant word , "People "—but should they , whoever they are , wish to send him again as their spokesman , they had better send him with a formal petition in writing and save a repetition of this unseemly fiasco— "Much ado about nothing . " Yours faithfully , IOIIN MASON .

A QUERY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I shall be obliged if you will enlighten me on the fol lowing point of Masonic Law in your next : —

A P . M . having left his lodge for many years as a defaulter , is re-elected , does he bring back with him his rank as a P . M . ? P . M . [ Yes he is still P . M ., but he ba ? again to serve 12 months in the Chair , to regain his position in Grand Lodge . —ED . ]

The Installation Engraving.

THE INSTALLATION ENGRAVING .

It was with more than ordinary interest that the present writer saw for the first time a complete work , the first sketch of which he had the pleasure of seeing at 5 p . m . on the 28 th April , 1875 . It is unnecessary to recall this date to brethren , it is as historical as thc occasion celebrated . Never in any era had so many illustrious

Craftsmen been gathered together , and possibly never had such a hall been prepared for their reception as when they proclaimed the future Sovereign of our Empire , the Sovereign of the Antient Order- . Thc work is worthy of the occasion . With some experience in art matters , knowing of the difficulties successfully combatted , difficulties extending over a period of two years

in collecting and collating portraits , to be afterwards revised for details , it remains a marvel to the writer how a task of such magnitude , has been carried out " ab ovo usque ad malam , " in so short a space a time . Wc know of works entailing not one tenth of the labour

bestowed on this , and for which subscriptions were taken during the Franco-Prussian war which are now only in course of delivery . Thc Albert Hall , recalling as it does the Colliseurn in the main features of its architecture , or the " Plaza de Toros " of Seville or Madrid , presents in its many con-

The Installation Engraving.

verging and diverging lines features that would task the genius of a Canalctto . That primal difficulty has succumbed to the trained eye of the artist , the perspective is as faultless as that of a photograph , nay , more so , for the lens is too frequently at fault , whereas a trained eye seldom if ever errs . Taking the work " en bloc" as an historical memento

there is no picture we have seen whether from Van Helzt at the Hague , to the Terburg of our National Gallery , or thc " Garden Party at Chiswick" of Desanges , that contains , even taking in the last named , ( the two first contain at the utmost some fifty portraits ) , one fifth of thc number limned in this Installation Engraving . In a portrait th ; crucial test is the likeness ; that wanting ,

whatever art may be displayed in colour , in chiaro-oscuro , in tone , in draping , in accessories , all else is void . It is the mask of the class'c player minus the voice . In the present work nine hundred tests are given , in faces taken at all distances , and though we have spied for faults critically—and in such a mass of portraiture considering thc difficulty of treating them , faults are

excusable—not only have thc features . been shown but the expression , the man behind the mask is preserved . It is possible we have but noted the features of those known to us , but from these we form a not infallible judgment . As an engraving the work may well stand on its merits , it combines " eau forte " for the features , line cngravin g for thc architecture , whilst mezzotint is cunninely

introduced to afford the necessary colour and relieve the otherwise monotone arising from thc concentrated white of the faces . It may not te out of place were we to make a few remarks on thc rules of the " Printsellers' Association "Artist ? s proufs have the names of artist and engraver in pencil autograph , proofs before letters the same engraved ,

letter prints give the title , wheras plain proofs have three lines in the body of the letter . In conclusion considering the energy displayed in undertaking and carrying out to its full and ripe completion , a work of so much historical interest to the Craft throughout the world , it is to be hoped that the few numbers yet

remaining in the several grades more especially the artist ' s proofs and the proofs before letters may be rapidly disposed of . Labour like this bestowed on a work of a more general interest would have reaped a harvest . an hundred fold , the special interest of the Installation calls for a special acknowledgment from the Craft to our indefatigaablc Bro . Edward James Harty . H . W . S .

Pine's List Of Lodges A.D. 1729.

PINE'S LIST OF LODGES A . D . 1729 .

In answer to our esteemed R . W . Bro . G . R . Harriott ( Prov . G . M . Wigton , & c . ) 1 have pleasure in stating that through the kindness of thc lamented Bro . George Bease , Editor of the Masonic Record of Western India , I have been favoured with a letter of introduction to Bro . Tyrell Leith , By BRO . WILLIAM J AMES HCGIIAN .

D . District Grand Master of Bombay , Sec , the owner of Pine's List of Lodges A . D . 1729 ( not 1719 , as Bro . Harriott states in error ) , and have had the valuable little book sent me for perusal , and for transcription if necessary . I most warmly thank our distinguished brother for the opportunity of thus making known to the Craft one of the most curious ( and so far unique ) works on

Freemasonry . Thc first of the kind was issued in 1723 , one of which exits in the archives of thc Grand Lodge of England , as also another of A . D . 1725 . Thc learned Mason Bro . Albert Pike has a copy likewise of 1725 , though not quite the same edition , a facsimile of which this uncrowned king of thc " Hauls Grades , " presented to me .

Our great want however , is not so much these lists of 1 7 3-3 ' 9 i as those of 173 1 , 1732 , and 1733 , neither of which have been traced ot late years . Their production at the present time would be hailed with great satisfaction , especially by ourselves , and several brethren in the United States , as wc hope then to be able to finally settle the question of priority of origin as respects Freemasonry in America .

No . 79 , which is left vacant in Pine ' s List of 1734 , is credited in 1735 , at Dublin , to a lodge at Philadelp hia , and as I believe the Editor of the list of 1735 ( Ireland ) obtained his information from one of the lists now missing , I am anxious to confirm my opinion of the matter , or to reject it as untenable . To do either , I must await the discovery of these lists . The 1729 list is dedicated to " The Right Hon . James ,

Lord , King , Baron of Kingston , in thc Kingdom of Ireland , Grand Master A . D . 1729 , A . L . 3729 , " and the following is the Roll of Lodges , the days of meeting and the names of " signs" being omitted . I have also omitted from this republication of the list of 1729 , 1 ) 16 5 th page , which simply contains " A Table shewing the number of lodges which meet on the same day of week , & c . " The size of the pamphlet is about 6 } inches by 2 J inches . Page 1 . Constituted ,

t . St . Paul's Churchyard 1691 2 . Furnival's Inn , near Holborn 1712 3 . Westminster 4 . Ivy Lane 5 . Poultry July nth , 1721 6 . Clare-street , & c Jan . 19 th , 1722 7 . Behind the Royal Exchange ... Jan . 28 th , 1722

8 . Edgnorth A pril 25 th , 17 22 g . Noble-street May , ... 1722 10 . Brewer-street Nov , 25 th , 1722 11 . Knave's Acre Feb . 27 m , 1722 12 . Swithin's Alley May 27 th , 1723 Page 2 . 13 . Duchy Lane Mch . 28 th , 1723 14 . Great Queen-street Mch . 30 th , 172 :. 15 . Southwark April ith , 1723