Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of this Institution met on Saturday last at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . S . Rosenthal in the chair . There were also present lim-.. William Roebuck . G . P . Britten , Rev . Richard Morris ( Head Masler ' i , I .. Rut , W . If . IViTvmnn , Don . M . Dewar , Alfred Williams , W . Maple , F . Adlard . W . II . Saunders . F . Baxter . A . F . Godson , F . Binckes ( See . ) , and II . Massey ( Freeiuiison ) .

The repm-t of the Audit Committee was read and received , and ordered lo be entered on the minutes , and the Chairman was authorised and requested to sign cheques as recommended by the Audit Committee . There was but one petition for the admission of a boy on to the list of candidates for the October election , but as he was not present to read , the petition was deferred .

One outfit was granted to a former pup il of the Institution , and the SECRETARY reported that in the case of another boy to whom a grant was made on condition tint his friends found the remainder of the sum necessary to article him to an architect and surveyor , the condition had been comp lied with . The grant was therefore confirmed . A vote of i hank ; : to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

An emergency meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was . held on the 3 rd inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Southampton , under the presidency of R . W . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., the P . G . M . There was a large attendance , ncluding the following brethren : YV . Bros . W . Hickman , D . P . G . M . ; 1 . K . I . c Feuvre , P . G . S . W . ; Dr . O'Connor , P . G . J . W . ; Frost . P . G . Treas . ; A . ) . Miller , P . G . Sec ; G . J . Tilling-, P . M . 14 O 1 , P . G . " Supt . of Works ; C . H . Wliitcomb , P . M . 1703 . P . G . J . D . ' ; T . I . ashmore , P . M .

- oil . P . G . D . C . ; V . Brown , P . M . and Treas . no-,, P . G . Purs . ; W . Bowyer , P . M . 1401 , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; V . Meredith . 4 S 7 ; J . Wallmgford , P . M . 903 ; S . Myer . P . M . 130 ; 1 . Robertson , S . W . r , o ; F . A . Mer ' scll , l . P . M . ^; R . W . Mitchell , P . M . 903 ; W . Ftirhcr , P . M . -, ,, . (; | . Hunt , J . W . IS . ' . I ; F . W . Downing-, l . P . M . 901 ; C . J . Phillips , P . M . i-, o , P . P . G . S . D . ; R . R ' . I .. Rosoman , P . M . 1401 ; G . Davis , W . M . 13 " ; J- Cole , P . M . 1 u ); | . T . Craven , P . M . VI- ; W . Berry , W . M . i ; So ; D . O . Hobbs , S . D . 1401 . A . Alyar , Set . 17 S 0 ; I .. II . Saunilvrs , S . ISC ,, ; Rev . A . C . Ilervcv , S . D . ; , or , ; R .

Dampier-Child . S . D . I . M ' .. : While . P . M . 217 ; II . Cawte . P . M . 342 , P . G . R . ; 1-.. Gohle , P . M . . 300 ; 1 ' . I . Howell , P . M . ami Sec . vq ; P . S . Wright , 551 ; Clavton , W . M . 09 S ; C li . Whih-omb , P . M . 1 / 05 ; R . Child , i ; ni II . P . Aslatt , P . M . 394 , P . P . S . G . D . ; | . I . avcrtv . S . W . 142 S ; A . I .: llanrnx , I . G . 17 , -1 , ; W . Miles , Org . 1776 ; \ V . Cole , 339 ; ] . I ' .. AUli-., J . D . 339 ; G . Brooks , W . M . 111 : ; J . R . Sharp , 1112 ; G . W . F . Mortimer , S . D . 111 . ?; ) . De-. v , I' . M 0 ; l . nnglands . J . W . -,- n ; T . U . Hill , 13-9 ; | . R . I layman . W . M . \ o ., ; A . J . Blackmail , ' ' , 30 ; T . P . Payne , W . M . 3 'J 4 i Henry Ushmorc , l . W .

-,., |; | . li . iclcu . KHl , W . M . 312 ; I . Mario , P . M . 17 S 0 , P . P . G . P . ; G . A . Green , P . M . . ;¦ : > , P . P . G . D . ; J . Short , 530 ; II . Webb , J . I ) , 359 ; . ] . ' <• l-instead , 130 ; II . Cork , Sec . i' « , ; F . 1 ! . ' Tanner , 17 S 0 ; ) . Hart , J . D . i ' , o ; ' | . Adams , P . M . and Sec . 339 , P . P . D . C ; -W . | rnvev , -, iy : A . l ' i . irlield , P . M . 13 , J ' . G . D . ; A . P . Young , Steward , - ,- 1 ; F . C Kemp , ' 1 -,. >; W . A . Mar , halls . iy , 02 S ; R . Croistlale , 13 . 31 , P . G . S . H . ; Douglas . P . M . ir , i Groves , W . M . 175 ; W . Danicll , I . G . 903 , A . Wheaver , W . M . 1703 ; IS . P . Horn , 003 ; W . Smith , 903 ; J . Howell , Sec . 1703 ; G . W .

Slii , ! :, P . M . i . |„> s ; | . Crook , 17 S 0 ; ] . C . Stroud , 359 ; G . Pcarce , 339 ; I . Clark , P . M . iv , ; ) . R . Weston , P . M . 130 , Vvt . P . P . G . R . ; | . T . Gidden , . 339 ; Williams , W . M . ; ' W . Short , ? v , i A . A . Ileadlcy , wo , P . O . Chap . ; M . S . Futcher , W . M . I ; I . \ P . D . C . Wills ; C . Trnvors , D . C . 142 S ; " S . K . Kllis , P . M . . 3 ( 2 ; C . W . A . Jelli . -o .-. P . M . . 30 ; I " . Powell , W . M . 003 ; G . Pack , P . M . 175 ; T . F . Rodwell , -, vi ; G . Wareiiam , 3 . 39 ; O , Hav-om . 339 ; W . T . Duprce , j . D . 1009 ; W . G .

Clarke . , v .: S . Johnson , 123 O ; \ V . M . Outridge , J . W . 4 S 7 ; II . Wheeler , I ' . M . 331 G . Peatman , Org . 4 N 7 : W . Footner , W . M . 1 -, 72 ; W . lirunwin , S . W . .,,- , ; T . Wood , IOO . J ; | . S . Pearre , P . M . 17 S 0 ; A . Wendovcr , W . M . n . ' . , ; | n ,, . liter , 3 So ; K . S . Main , 1770 , P . P . G . Org . j T . Good , 1 S 34 , P . G . S . ; . 1 . S . Palmer , f , s , '|> . |> . G . W , ; Alfied Scott , 331 , P . G . S . ; J . Gieve , P . M . 1040 , P . G . S . ; J . l ! igi ;; aiid J . Fxcll , P . G . Tylers ; and G . Harrington , 330 , W . Yare , 239 , It . Fame -., ' 309 , G . Carter , . ' 57 , and Val Yennirumlie , 142 S , Tylers .

The chief busine-s of the meeting was to receive and consider the report of the Provincial Bye-laws Committee , who brought up a code of bye-laws which provoked a brief discussion , and ultimately , on the motion of W . Bro . | . K . 11 \ Y . M \ N , it was reivilted lo the Committee , whose number was strcnglliencd by the addition of the Provincial Grand Registrar , Bro . Laura-ter . and the Master or other representative of each lodge in the province , ¦ . ich representative being a member of Provincial Grand Lodge .

'I he provmct ; was shown to stand seventh in financial rank , as contributors ( o the total of . £ . | -5 , 7 / . J given to the Schools and Benevolence in ( he past 'even years . The seven provinces standing first are West Lancashire , £ M ^<> " ; West York , 2 pu ; Kent , £ 3315 j Warwickshire , £ , ' 3215 ; Midifle-. c \ , / , ' - '" , ; . ; ; . Lincolnshire , £ 2034 ; Hampshire and Isle of Wight ,

/ . ' lo / i . There are now thirty-live lodges in the province , and five of these were reprc-cnted by seven Stewards , whose lists reached a sum of / JHII , at the late Festival for ibe Boys . The province has contributed in all £ 1 ( 172 , and to tiiis must be addetl / . ' 5 H 3 for the Girls' School , and £ i 2 / C > for the Benevolent Fund , the aggregate contributions to the three funds being £ ' j 8 j () . A larjic number of the brethren afterwards sat down to a banquet , provided by Bro . Darinall , the P . G . M . presiding .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

A meeting of the Grand Chapter of the above province took place on the 3 rd inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Southampton , under the presidency of the M . H . Comp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Superintendent , as ' / .. ; M . K . Comp . W . Hickman , as II . ; and M . H . Comp . T . P . Payne , J . ; Comp . G . A . Green filling the P . S . chair . The following companions signed the attendance book , viz . :

( omp'i . M , I-.. Frost , I . 1 ' .. 237 and 4 S 7 , P . G . I reas . ; R . Sharpc , / . no ; R . Osborne , ' / . 4 S 7 , P . P . G . R . ; R . W . Downing , P . G . Org . ; V . Brown , '/ .. 003 , P . P . G . A . S . ; p . Powell , 903 , S . K ., P . P . G . D . C .: A . Portsmouth , 6 y 4 and 414 , P . / .. ; J . 11 . Askham , J . 723 ; G . Peatman , Org . 4 S 7 ; C . 11 . Wliitcomb , P . Z . 903 , P . P . D . C ; J . Cole , II . 394 ; W . Waters , J 130 ; C . W . Bcmister , A . S . 130 ; G . P . Lancaster , / .. . 342 , P . P . G . S . ; R . Dampier-Child , 173 ; R , Rood , 130 ; !' . S . Wright , P . Z . 54 G ; G . M . Passenger , jun ., P . Z . 130 ; S . Mycr , N . 130 ; T . I . ashmore , A . S . 130 ; G . Douglas , J . 1331 :

, R . CroiMlale . II . 1331 ; !'•• C . Kemp , 304 ; | . Iicer , 339 ; T . S . Fulcher , P . Z . 5 . Sfi , P . G . II . ( Wills ); J . C . Stroud , " 350 ; Henry Cashmore , 130 ; A . Sto ' . t , 173 ; G . Davi s 391 ; J . II . Davcy , ' 330 ; W . Short , 130 ; W . lirunwin , P . S . y' , 3 ; ^ | . Hart , , VJ 4 j A . Algar , A . S , 350 ; G . Silverthorne , 350 ; D . Hebbs , P . S . 350 ; . G . Paclc , ] . 173 ; J . Robertson , N . 394 ; 1 .. II . Saunders , 175 ; C . A . Dyer , P . Z . 350 , 301 ; 11 . P . Arthur , 350 ; W . Ilerry , N . 339 ; II . Dusautoy ,

U . 330 , P . P . G . S . ; W . Uoivver , P . Z . % s <) , P . P . G . S . B . ; H . P . Paris ( L'nitcd States ); G . J . Tilling , ' / .. 359 ; O . A . Ilurstll , A . S . 173 ; J . S . Pearce , 359 ; J . Dew . P . Z . 6 91 , P . P . G . | . ; C . W . A . Jellicoe , Z 394 ; Rev . A . A . I Jeadley , A . S . 309 ; K . Coble , N . 309 ; J . 11 . de Rbeims , P . S . 4 S 7 ; W . jenvey , 130 ; G . Cross , j . 359 ; J . W . Lamb , ' / .. 0 . 14 5 G . Honil , P . Z . 407 , P . G . A . S . ; J . Harvey , A . S . O 94 ; J . N . Palmer , Z . 175 ; S . P . Iillis , P . Z . 342 ; J . Naish , P . Z ., J . 7 O ; M .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

Emanuel , 130 ; II . P . Aslatt , P . S . 130 ; J . Brown , 394 ; J . 13 . Thomas P . Z . 394 , P . P . J . ; J . Clark , P . S . 359 ; " J . Wallingford , P . Z . 903 , P . P . G ! A . S . ; J . O'Connor , H . 237 ; J . R . Dayman , N . 237 ; G . M . Mason , 342 ; ] . lirickwood . 342 ; J . Gieve , 407 ; J . Howell , 903 ; K . iMeredith , 4 S 7 ; R . ' Barnes P . J . 342 ; W . M . Oiitridge , K . 4 S 7 ; G . P . Arnold , E . 342 , P . G . P . S . ; G . R . Strick , ' 142 Francis Smith ¦

N . S ; T . , II . 404 , P . P . G . A . S . ; W . , 903 ; C . Tiavess , D . C . 14-. S T . Williams , 342 ; | . R . Weston , I- ' .. 130 , P . P . G . E . ; G . Drake , 342 ; W . A . Marl shallsav , 142 S ; T . Craven , P . Z . 342 ; J . W . Wilmott , II . 342 , P . P . G . S . B . ; A . II Ilancox , 903 ; W . Miles , 342 ; K . Groves , 4 S 7 , S 03 , P . P . G . D . C . ; J . Biggs and j . Exell , P . G . Jans . ; ! .. Cawvin , 903 , li . Carter , 257 , and W . Vare , 359 , Jans ' and Asst . Jans .

The Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s accounts , which were adopted , showed a balance in hand of £ 46 4 s . nd . The Provincial Grand Treasurer having been re-elected by the Grand Chapter , tlie Prov . Grand Superintendent invested the officers for the ensuing year as follows ; M . H . Comp . Hickman ... ... ... ... Prow G . H .

,, Lamb , ( 194 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . J . ,, J . H . Le Keuvre ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . S . H . G . Frost ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . C . W . A . Jellicoe ... ... ... l > rov . G . S . X . Croisdile , 1331 ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S . G . J . Tilling ... ... ... ... Prov . G . 1 st A . S . G . H . Pack , 175 ... ... ... Prov . G . . 'nd A . S .

,, Or . O'Connor , 237 ... ... ... Prov . G . Keg . ,, Taylor , 309 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sw ' d . Br . ,, Barnes , 342 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . Snick , 142 S ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . Pearman ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . M . H . Comps . Biggs and Hxell ... ... ... Prov . G . Jans . After the transaction of formal business , the Grand Chapter was closed in ancient lorm .

Worshipful Masters—Ii.

WORSHIPFUL MASTERS—II .

BY BRO . WII . UAM JA . MI-S HUGHAN . Bro . Whytehead has drawn attention to a very important subject in a thoughtful and suggestive article on " Worshiplul Masters ; "' but as a matter of fact , I find it much easier to agree with him in his estimate of many

Installed and Past Masters than to furnish a prompt remedy for so unsatisfactory a condition of things . The evil appears to me proximately to have its origin in the insatiable thirst after office , to obtain which some " brethren will almost do anything , and after which they care little or nothing about the responsibilities attached lo the positions attained .

Though the present requirements or pre-ietpiisiies for the chair of a lodge arc but carrying out the rule of over a century and a half , as to the Masters being selected from Wardens of twelve months' service or more , 1 have often thought that the Scottish system of electing brethren lo th :.- chair from the Master Masons , by increasing the number of eligible brethren , is in many respects a great advantage ; though 1 <| uile admit there are disadvantages attached to such a system , and as it is never likely lo be the law in Hngland , we need not discuss the plan .

As in Germany , so in Scotland , the Master may be re-elected as often as the members desire ; bet in Hngland and Ireland that officer can onl y be elected for two consecutive years , unless by a dispensation , and then onl y in cases of real necessity ; but as he is eli gible again for election after one year has elapsed , the alteration of the law would not reall y result in much benefit , neither do I think it at all called for .

My impression is that Bro . Whytchcad has reached the real source of the trouble and difficulty in alluding to the class of members we keep adding to our ranks ; for , unless the membershi p of the Craft be raised considerabl y in social status and general intelligence in many parts of Hngland , 1 fail to sec how we can expect to have good Masters elected by the votes of brethren utterly incompetent to exercise their Masonic franchise . It is too much the

custom lo open the lodge , and if there is no " work " ( I ' . I-., " no Degrees to give" ) the Master closes almost immediately after the members have assembled , acting as if the business of the lodge was simply to confer Degrees , and too many , alas ! favour the same view ; hence , when there are no Degrees to give , the majority of the brethren stay away from the meeting , unless , indeed , a postscript is lo be found on the " summons " to the effect that a baiuiuel is to follow .

As also many of the annual subscriptions payable by members are not sufficient of themselves lo meet all the expenses incurred by banquets , suppers , & c ., there is naturally a desire and a necessity almost to encourage the " initiation " of new members as in ich as possible , for without such additional aids the lodges thus acting would soon be unable lo continue from lack of funds . Now , lo meet the expenses of banquets , & . 'c , partaken of by

subscribing members out of the fees payable by candidates on initiation is a most pernicious system , and , in my opinion , is one reason why , in some lodges , the ncmbetship is drawn from a class below the fair standard , socially and intellectually . I cannot myself understand how ordinary policemen , able seamen , labourers , and others , can possibly be suitable candidates for Freemasonry , however honest , honourable and respectable they may be , as their incomes arc not sufficient to enable ihem to afford

such a luxury , and if they desire to join a secret society it certainly should be such as the "Odd Fellows , " the " Foresters , " or other excellent benefit

societies . 1 have long advocated the increase of the minimum fee for initiation to six guineas , and the fees for " registration and certificate " to oncguinca or more , believing that such a change would , at all events , tend to secure a better class of members financially and socially , though , of course posjibly not morally . Candidates should be in good or " respectable circumstances "

when proposed for the Craft , and hence when men seek lo join who are destitute of such qualifications they must do so cither from mistaken notions of the society , or " from mercenary or other unworthy motives . " To improve the class of Wardens , then of Masters , and then of our Provincial Grand Ollicers especially , we must begin at the beginning , and obtain an improvement in our new members , so that the change for the better may gradually work upwirds .

I trust that the capital and most timely article b y my friend will tend in that direction as soon as possible , b y leading the belter class of members ( Masonically , socially , and generally ) to carelully guard the ballot box ; for if two or three are agreed in a lodge to keep out unsuitable candidates they can easily do so , and earn the gratitude of all right-thinking Craftsmen by excluding improper material . I most warml y support Bro . Whytchcad in his laudable attempt to raise the standard of Masters and members of lodges and I hope to sec a useful correspondence on the subject in the Freemason .