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NOTICE . The Subscription lo THE FREEMASON IS now ios . per annum , post-free , payable in advance . Vol . I ., bound in cloth 4 s . 6 d . Vol . II ., ditto Js . 6 d . Vol . III ., ditto 15 s . od . Vol . IV ., ditto 15 s . od . Jkading . Cases to hold 52 numbers ... 2 s . 6 d . United States of America . T 11 E F REEMASON is delivered free in any part of the United States for 12 s . per annum , payable in advance . The Freemason is published on Saturday Moriiiners in time lor thc early Hains . The price ot thc Freemason is I wopence per week ; annual subscription , ios . ( payaWc in advance . ) All communications , letters , & c , to be addressed to the lulitor , 19 S , Flecl-strccl , K . tr . Thc Hditorwill pay carefulattention to all MSS . entrusted lohim , nut cannot -. iiidcrlakclo return them unlcssae-companicd bvpostaire stamps *

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

All communications for Tlic Vive inn snn should ne -written legibb on one side nf the paper only , ami , if intended for insertion in the current number , must lie received not later than io o ' clock a . m . on Thursdays , unless in very special cases . The name ami address of every writer must be scut to ns iu confidence . "So-called Ancient Landmarks" v / Ul appear next week .

Public Amusements.

Public Amusements .

Sadler ' s "Wells Theatre . On Saturday cM'iiinjf , November IJ , and ( liningtin-week , THK KNIGHT OK AH HA . Connor , Mr . , | . 11 . Allan ; Volpenc , Mr . Dudley ; Haron Chiainbouilie , Mr . Power ; Count Olfc-nboer , Mr . Lacy ; Manuel . Mr . Boustield ; Jose , Mr . J . Hudspeth ; Captain , Mr . Cullen ; Princess Minimi , Miss M . Cooper ; Uaioncss , Mis . Stepliensun . After which THK AKTI- 'Ul . UOUUKIi . Air . Hudspeth , and

Miss Braman . To be followed by a Grand Hallet Divertissement ; Madame liosine and full Corps de Ballet To conclude wilh TIIK DUKK'S DAUGIIITU . I . cyarderc , Mr . , | . 11 . Allen ; Duke de ( Juiiznyiie , Mr . Power ; Duke De Nevers , Mr . W . Lacy ; Cocadassc , Mr . Shepherd ; J'assepoil , Mr . I luds |) elh ; i ' eyndes Mr . Dudley ; Staiipit / , Mr . LSouslield ; IJIanchc De ' . \ e \ eis , Miss ' . M . Cooper ; Blanche De Cayltts , Mrs . Stephenson ; Papily , Miss llasljns _ . s . Staye . Manager , Mr . C . T . lluileiijh .

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Victoria Theatre . On Saturday evening , . November ( . til , aud every evening during the week , the I ' cifoiniancx- will commence with THltklC KKl ) MKX . Otto , . Mr . C . Seimeltj Albeit Mr . Prescolt ; Gucly , . Mr . Parker ; Mos . s Geld , Mr . II . Leigh : Hcinhault , Mr . liainbow ; Colonel Ynnos , Mr . Evans ; Doctor Mir . 'i , Mr . Parkes ; Pohle , Mr . I- ' . Fawn ; Hans Dr .

Orn , Mr . Guest ; Fran :, Mr . M . C . Sidney ; Blasins , Mr . Vaughan ; Noenuil , Miss . M . Henderson ; l . ona , MtsC . T . Buileigh ; liataillcur , Miss Allen ; Geitiude , Miss Lee . To be folio'ved hy a Giand Mallei Diveilissement , Madmuisclle Kosine , and full Corns tie Hallet . To conclude with The

BlilDALOl- ' Tllli BOUDKIiS . lied Honald , Mr . Ham . bow ; Adam , Mr . Leigh ; Albeit , Mi . livans ; Glenbrac , Mr . Vaughan ; Guy of ihe Gap , Mr . I ' . Faun ; Sieenie , Mr . C . Sennet ; Ihand <> ' the Brae , Mr . Parkes ; Black Wylie , Mr . Guest ; Lauiette , Miss Allen ; Jessie , Miss Lee . Stage Manager , Mr . C . 'I * . Buileigh .

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Royal Polytechnic . Open . it 12 . 'mil 7 . Admission is . New ( Iliost , TDK WIIITF LADY OF AVKNEL . II 11- ; SI . KLI'INC . DLACTY , l ) v Mr , tlcnri-cljii . kland ,.-, ssi , t ,, | lit Miss ,-s Alice I ' . mil and Florence I lun er . l OAI ., AM ) lll )\ V'fu ' . sAVI-ir , l . i I'mk ^ n ( iaidncr . I . eeturc-s un Natural Philosophy by Mr . Kim : ; lhc DUcr and D : \ iln . Hell and mam other Ir 1 it et 1 : 1 i m iu-tjt > .

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Madame Tussaud ' s Exhibition . On view a M . i , . i , ilicciit Marriaec 1 iroupo ! ILK . II THK TR 1 NCF . SS I . Ol'ISK and tlie MAKlHTS OF I . ORNL , aLo a new portrait . Model ol DR . I . IYINl , Vl OXK , the jtreal AFRICAN ICXI'I-OKI . K ; the * ' Claimant , " sir Ko ,-cr Tichborne ; Hudson , the" Railway Kim-: " anal 11 . R . I I . I'll L FRINC'li Ol- WALLS in the Robes ol the ( Jider ot the ( larter . Open Irom 10 a . in . to to p . m . Admission is ., Children under 10 , ud . LxttA Rooms Get .

Liverpool Theatres. &C.

LIVERPOOL THEATRES . & c .

Week commencing Nowmber 1 I . ROVAI . AI . KXAXDRA Tl I FATRK , I . inu -street . —Lessee Mo . li . Saker . Mr . liandmiin in " Dead or Alive . " ROVAI . AMI'illTHLATRL , ( ire . it Cliarlotle-slreel .--l . es ~ e , Mr . II . Leslie ; . Manager , Mr . Arihuf Ciller . . Mr . II . Talbot iu " Kin ., o' Scuts , " ••Man ol the World , " , \ e , PR 1 XCK OF WALKS TJIF . VI KL , Clai ion-sip AA cio-ed , but will be- opened shortly by Mr . S . Larry . TliFA 'l Kt- KOYAL , Williamson . si | uare . l . ess \ c , l ! ro . " ~ l ) e Prove . - Miscellaneous Lutcrlaiiiiiiciit , and " Can-can Carnival . " ST . JAMKS'S MALL , Lime-street .- d'roprietor , liro . S . I liii-ue . / eiiurniani cs be the Mate i oope-. COOKIi'S UKCI'S , Willi .,, ! , Liuwn-sUcclA'i Actors . Messrs . Cook and Weidnn . NL \\'> OMi ; S CIRCUS , . Wliiteehapel . — I ' roprictnr , Mr lan . es XcWsolllc . N " T : W STAR MI'MC HALL , William-squarc-MaiAA A ' Saunders . Mr . ircori . c Lcybourne and a talented companv TLMI'LI-r OF MA 01 C , Camdcn-. strcct . —I ' lolcssur Anderson and Family .-Wurld of Maeie . /"" VUliliN ' . S HALL . —Gitard ' s Ureal American 1 ' anorama .

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TheFreemason.,SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 9 , 1873 . SECOND EDITION :.

House Committees And Their Rights.

HOUSE COMMITTEES AND THEIR RIGHTS .

A point of principle is involved in the forthcoming election of a Secretary to the Masonic Girls' School , which it is important should be clearly understood . The extent of the powers

nnd influence which it is expedient to entrust to the House Committee , and the stage at which its governing body , the General Committee , ought to assert its rights , were the two problems which

really prompted the animated discussion of Thursday week , reported fully in another column . A reference to what took p lace will make it obvious tothe meanest understanding that the

representative of the House Committee , who presided officially over that discussion ( I 5 ro . Joshua Nunn ) , played the part of an advocate rather than a judge ; and his arbitrary enforcement of

a purely suppositious ancl fictitious law will be of substantial serviee . if it ierul independent supporters ofthe Institution to review their position by the

lig ht of his conduct in the chair . Let it be understood that the duties of the House and General Committees are clearly

defined y the Jaws of tJie Institution . First as to the House Committee : —This consists ot twelve members elected from and by the General Committee ; ancl its " proceedings

shall be properly registered , and reported monthly to the General Committee . " The limit of the functions ofthe House Committee , with respect to the ofiicers of tlie Institution , is clearly

laid down . They shall define the duties of , ancl appoint the Matron , Head Governess , and Assistant Governesses ( the latter in conjunction with the Head Governess ) - , and they shall have

power to suspend the Matron , Head Governess , Assistant Governesses , or any person employed iu the establishment , and appoint others to discharge their duties , until the next meeting of tlie General Committee . The careful omission ofthe

Secretary from these regulations , shows that the law , both in spirit and in letter , excludes the appointment of that officer from the jurisdiction of the House Committee , and that the intention

is lo place him m n more indepciuluiit position , as the representative of the general interests of the Institution , than would be possible if he were the mere nominee of its domestic managers .

Indeed the care with which it has been thought desirable to limit the powers of the House Committee is one ofthe chief lessons to be derived from a careful . study of the Institution ' s laws .

1 he Finance and Audit Committee is to consist of nine members drawn from the General Committee , " not more than three of whom shall be members of the House Committee " '

and the election and dismissal of the Secretary , Collector , and all paid ollicers ( other than the Matron , Head Governess , and Assistant Governesses ) shall rest with the General Committee , ichu

shall determine the a mount if the various Salaries . The only passage in the laws which can by any possibility be construed into giving tho House Committee any sort of control over the appointment of Secretary is that which says

House Committees And Their Rights.

"They shall inquire into the character and qualifications , and examine the testimonials of candidates for . any vacant office , except that of Treasurer , and report thereon to the General

Committee . " It is for the reader to say how far the imp cation contained here , weighs against the omission of the Secretary from the list of officers the House Committee isempowered

to appoint , or against the specific law which places hhe election , dismissal , and emoluments of the Secretary , exclusively in tho hands of the General Committee .

But in truth analogy ,-ind common sense both point to the extreme desirability of upholding the Secretary as an independent officer , and in keep / rig his appointment , in practice as well as

theory ,, in the hands of thc general body . The original Railway Acts show that Parliament has guarded with considerable jealousy , the independence of . a railway secretary . While a board

of railway directors has almost unlimited power over the rest of the finances ofthe Company they represent , the salary of the Secretary is left to the shareholders , and determined at

their general meeting . The theory is that a Secretary should always represent the interests , of the general body , and that if the Secretary were the nominee or creature of the directors , those

interests might be less jealously guarded than is desirable . Jt is plain that the laws governinn- the two Masonic Institutions were framed in this spirit ¦ and it is to be regretted that any section

of the Craft should think it expedient to give them a different reading . This was the real point at issue between Bro . John Symonds , and Bro . J . C . Parkinson on Thursday week , when

the Chairman of the meeting , Bro . Joshua Nunn , ( a House Committeeman ) threw the weight of his official authority into the scale ,

and by refusing to allow Pro . Parkinson to put the amendment he proposed , ensured the passing of Bro , Symonds ' s resolution .

Bro . Parkinson attempted to move this amendment to the resolution proposed b y Bro . Symonds ,

That this General Committee do proceed to the election of a Secretary at its meeting of the 28 th November .

The object here was precise and definite . The princi ple affirmed was that the General Committee preferred to retain its power of adjudicating on all uoints connected with the

office of Secretary , to delegating its trust in a lump to the House Committee . Bro . S ymonds , ns the advocate of the latter course , objected , like a shrewd tactician , that Bro . Parkinson ' s proposal

was not an amendment , and could onl y be brought forward later as an ori ginal motion , an objection which was endorser ! with suggestive eagerness by Bro . Nunn as Chairman . So

far no great harm was clone . It is what followed which calls for explanation or reproof . Bro . Parkinson " to make his motion an amendment" then proposed to move

That the duties , Ike , of Secretary be not referred to the House Committee , but that this Committee do proceed to the election of a Secretary at its meeting on the 28 th

Aovember . A proposal for a Sub-Committee with instructions to report , but to be composed ^ of afair propor-