Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 3-1 United Grand Lodge 3- Grand Mark Lodge 32 s Roval Masonic Institution for Boys 331 CORRESPONDENCEHonorarv Secretaries 332 The Girl ' s' School 332 Hro . Captain Bedford Pim 333 Review ? 333 Masonic Notes and Queries 233 Ireland 333 Funeral of Hro . Major Savory 333 Great Paul 33 . >

REPORTS OF MASONIC M EETINGSCraft Masonry 334 Instruction 33 < i Roval Arch 336 Ma ' rk Masonry 336 Red Cross of Constantine 337 In Memoriatn 337 The Theatres 33 $ Music 33 8 Science and Art 33 S Masonic and General Tidings 339 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 340

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THU Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge took place on Wednesday , xvith a numerous attendance , and an all but just now unprecedented "bill of fare . " Bro . J . XMEsSTEVENsraisedaquestionof privilege , and brought forward a comp laint as regards a motion for District Grand Lodges , which had been refused , ( as wc held properly ) , by the PRESIDENT of the BOARD of GF . XF . KAL

PURPOSES ; but after an exliaiisti \* e speech by the G . REGISTRAR , it xvas ruled to be distinctly out of order , ( as xve ventured to surmise ) , by the PRO G . M . Bro . Baron de FERRIERES ' S resolution xvas carried unanimously . An amendment xvas moved to Bro . CLABON ' S resolution , and carried , that the Provinces should have an opportunity of considering the proposed

increase of the capitation list to the Fund of Benevolence . Bro . STEWART s motion }\* as carried , after a dix'ision . On account of the lateness of the hour Bro . BUDDEN ' S proposal for musical scholarships stands over for consideration

at the December Quarterly Communication . The G . TREASURER ' S resolution for coals xvas unanimously and pleasureably agreed to . The various Boards xvere elected , and \ x * e call attention to the report of such elections elsexvhere .

THE monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Boys School xvas holden on Saturday last , amid unusual numbers . The voting took place for the House and Finance Committee , and some changes took place , and some " new blood " xvas adinittedintothegovcrning body . We wish that some more scientific arrangement could be made as to the identification of the voters

and the registering of the votes . Even before the business commenced , the energetic SECRETARY had to say , " he | must assume that all present xvere Life Governors ; " and , it seems to us , that on another occasion no one ought to be admitted into the room without receiving a paper from a Board of Scrutineers . As it is , there must come over all a sort of quasi unsatisfactory

feeling , that the present mode of voting is very loose , and affords a loophole to any who are determined to steal a march on an opponent . At present , the sole test is the attendance book , xvhich may or may not be signed . We say this as " amici curia ; , " because it is clear that these elections are groxving in importance , and that another year even may witness a larger list of candidates , and a larger number of voters .

* " * A GOOD deal is said , and said very hastily , about nexv blood in our School Committees , and a proposal is entertained in some quarters , by a compulsory retirement of a portion of the members , to introduce yearly fresh members into the House Committees of the Girls' and Boys' Schools . But xve

must remind all such xvorthy reformers , that the introduction of new blood nets both ways , and so markedly , that in many societies and chibs at the present hour this rule is being given up , for the folloxving reasons . There are only three modes of carrying out compulsory retirement , and they are , seniority of election , paucity of attendance , absolute ballot , to all and each

of which methods there are many patent objections . As a rule , you generally takeoff by any of these methods , except , perhaps , the smallest number of attendances , ( xvhich , however , may be purely accidental for the nonce ) , the strongest members , and you introduce weakness , in that you have a perpetual system of change . Just when members

know their work and have mastered the , needful routine they are displaced by those who hax'e ex'erything in their duties forthwith to learn , and though some may deem such routine work easy and unimportant , and within the capacity of anyone , it requires clearness and ability , time and attention ( xve say nothing of character ) , to become efficient

members of any such committees , and to give satisfaction to subscribers , and promote the xvelfarc of the School . In our humble opinion , the best course to follow is to have a direct nomination annually of the xvholc Committee , as it gives a power of changing the members at a stated period if the

Subscribers or Life Governors are dissatisfied with their proceedings , or object to their management of thc affairs of the Institution , We admit , however , at once , that we do not like to see any House Committee setting up a House List of Candidates , constituting themselves self-elected electors of the House

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Committee . Such proceedings , sooner or later , are pretty sure to arouse opposition and evoke antagonistic lists . Least of all , do we approve of factious hostility and personal feelings as regards individuals and committees , xvhich cannot be too much deprecated by all who have the xvelfarc of our

Institutions at heart . But xve still venture to think that , by the exercize of moderation and common sense , the present system of annual nomination without compulsory retirement , may be well maintained alike for the good of the Institutions , and the peace of thc members .

WE are x * ery sorry that by a little editorial oversi ght the letter signed " OBSF . RXER , " in reference to the sanitary works at the Girls' School , appeared in our last impression , as it is clear to us the writer is beyond his depth and out of his record . Had he been at the meeting of the General Committee , he would hax-e heard that tenders forthe works

proposed had been sent in by two perfectly independent offices , and that all the details , & c , had been submitted to a high Government official . Those of us xvho hax-e had to deal with drains and disconnecting pipes , ( and who has not in London , alas ?) , know xvhat the expence is , and xvith such a system of surface' drainage as the Girls' School possesses , the

estimates appear to us perfectly reasonable . Of one thing we arc sure , that neither red tape nor unseasonable parsimony xvill preprevail xvith the Life Governors of the Girls' School ; and we hope and believe that a goodly gathering xvill unanimously support the authorities in their commendable anxiety that the drainage system

of the Girls' School may be satisfactory and perfect . One point as regards the drains at the Girls' School deserves notice and consideration . The lamentable fact that the unscientific treatment of the drainage is the cause of constant ailments , and is as marked in the new buildings as in the old , is one which must force itself upon the attention of us all .

I he further fact alluded to , that in a portion of the newest buildings a landspring , which had not bee / i properly and scientifically sealed up , is constantly demandingattention and causing inconvenience , requires in ouropinion ,

some little explanation . We therefore ask tivo questions , which we hope may be answered on Saturday next , —Under whose direction xx-as that portion of the nexv buildings constructed ? and what is the best way of stopping the present and prevailing nuisance ?

WE think it xvell to call attention to a letter elsewhere , by which the claims of our esteemed Bro . Captain BEDFORD PIM , R . N ., who is a candidate for the City Remembrancer ' s office are pressed upon the fax * ourable consideration of many of our readers xvho belong to the ancient and distinguished Corporation of the City of London . As a rule—a good rule in the abstract

—in the Freemason we do not much concern ourselx'es with elections to office , as there is a possible abuse of Freemasonry , whether in municipal contests or personal struggles , from which , as Freemasons , xve cannot too much keep aloof . But in the present instance , the xvorthy and gallant candidate has the good wishes of all his brother Masons ; of all who know him ; of many xvho

in some matters may not agree with him ; on account of his kindliness of heart and geniality of manner , his untiring industry , and his business habits . We cannot conceive , for certain most important details , any one more fitted

for the post to xvhich he . laudably aspires , and he has our most hearty good xvishes for his success , as well as for that ancient and honourable Corporation which xve trust may long exist in its integrity , usefulness , and independence , and of xvhich he seeks to become a faithful ancl valuable public servant .

By the decease of GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI the Italian Freemasons lose a P . G . M . The career of the departed was so intermingled xvith political episodes and abnormal proceedings , that it is impossible in an entirely neutral paper like the Freemason to do more than chronicle thc fact , which

appears to have educed many demonstrations of regret from large masse of the Italian people . As Freemasons , therefore , we think it xvell solely to record the death of GARIBALDI at Caprera as thc passing away of a man of note in the turbulent and confused history of those later days j and our

lips are closed , as hreemasons , and our pen is stayed by the unchanging laws of our great Order , in any attempt in these peaceful pages to dilate upon his long career or his eventful story . It must suffice for us to say that he held a high rank in Italian Freemasonry .

* * WE have to announce , with deep regret , the decease of that distinguished Freemason , and xvell known Masonic student and book collector , Bro BOWER , loxva , U . S . Wearc favoured with biographical memoirs of him from thc pens of our esteemed Bros . W . J . HUGHAN and T . B , WHYTEHEAD ,