Masonic Notes.

As regards a brother who acts as Steward for the first time , he will have four votes in addition to those recorded above , while Stewards will receive for every 20 guineas collected over and above his personal

donation , three votes for life in addition . However , information on these and all other matters connected with the approaching Jubilee may be had on application to the Secretary of the Institution , Bro . James Terry , at 4 , Freemasons' Hall , W . C .

In our report of the proceedings at the distribution of prizes at the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys at Wood Green , on the 23 rd ult ., we omitted to mention that the Matron of the Institution ( Miss Harkom ) was

presented b y the Chairman to the Countess of Lathom , who complimented her upon the successful care of the inmates , as shown by the healthy appearance of the boys . * * *

The annual meeting ' of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire will be held , under the presidency of Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., P . G . M ., in the Town Hall , Hertford , on Tuesday , the 21 st inst . The proceedings will commence at 2 . 15 p . m ., and will be more than

usually interesting by reason of the Provincial Grand Master having undertaken to lay the foundation-stone of a new Hall for the parish of St . Andrew ' s , so that we may expect to find the town of Hertford en fete on the occasion . Among the grants proposed to be made

from the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge will be one of 50 guineas—instead of the customary 20 guineasto the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , to be placed on the list of Bro . Halsey , P . G . M ., as Steward at the approaching Jubilee Festival of that Charity .

We have the satisfaction of announcing that Bro . Sir Michael Hicks Beach , M . P ., R . W . Prov . G . M . of Gloucestershire , has consented to take the chair at the 94 th Anniversary Festival of the Boys' School to be held in June , 1892 .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play tc all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ] MASONIC LIBRARIES .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Notices of Masonic libraries have recently appeared in your valuable paper . It has been lately decided to print a catalogue for the library here , and

thus endeavour to create an interest in the history of the Craft among the younger members of the various lodges in this town . Copies of catalogues , rules for lending , or any hints which may be of assistance in our labour will be thankfully received , and duly acknowledged . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , HENRY S . BIGGS . Freemasons' Hall . Leicester .

THE IRISH CONSTITUTIONS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The minds of our brethren of the Irish Constitution in this colony have been much exercised of late upon the proper readings of Clause 102 in the ( Irish ) Book of Constitutions , which reads thus : " In

every lodge a P . M . shall be appointed Secretary , who shall keep a book ,., * .., „ The Board of General Purposes may , upon fit cause been shown , give permission to any lodge to elect to the office of Secretary a brother below the rank ol a P . M ., provided that in

the case of a lodge meeting within a Masonic province , such permission shall only be granted upon the recommendation of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the Provincial Grand Master , or the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . "

Bearing in mind that all offices in the Irish private lodges are elective , some complicated readings arise from the above rule . Thus some Masters contend that before proceeding to any election they must ask that permission be given to elect a Master Mason , below the rank of P . M . ; others that the ballot should proceed ,

and that if a M . M . is elected over a P . M . that the permission should then be obtained ; while otherscontend that if one Past Master , and one or more Master or Masters are nominated for the Secretary ' s chair , it would be illegal to proceed to the ballot , the clause

being imperative , and the P . M ., however unsuitable as Secretary , must be declared elected . Will some of the home Masonic jurists let us have the benefit of their opinions upon the point ?—Yours fraternally , A QUEENSLAND CRAFTSMAN . Brisbane , Queensland , May 25 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

946 ] ORIGINAL CHARTER OF HIRAM LODGE , No . 1 , GRANTED A . D . 1750 . * To all and every the R : t Worsh : l Brothers and Fellows of the Ancient and / ^ \ Homble Society of Free and Accepted / \ Masons now residing at or about New

I L . S . Haven in the Colony of Connecticut in \ / New England , or that may hereafter Reside ^ ^ _^ y there ; Thomas Oxnard , Esq : r of Boston in New England Provincial Grand Master of North America , Sendeth Greeting . Whereas , Application hath been made to us by our

worthy and wellbcloved Brother Cap : n David Wooster and Divers other worthy Brothers now Residing in or about the said New Haven , Praying that We would Impower them there to congregate and Form themselves into a Regular Lodge of Masons . Now Know Ye .

' 0 W . 6 tu " | 2 I* 0 o u-t O < D ' bfl t > O ? J -o c rt u o . c W-i O tn X . O O m 0 ) . c c T 3 < D U < D in ' & < D < £

That in consideration thereof and by virtue of the Power committed to us by the R : t Honounble and R : t Worshipful Grand Master of England We do hereby appoint and Impower Our True and Faithful Brother Capn : n David Wooster to be the First

Master of the First Lodge in New Haven aforesaid . And Do hereby Order that he Summons ( as soon as may be ) all the Free and Accepted Masons in or about the said Colony of Connecticut , ( taking especial care

* U „ t i . 1 U-,,.., U „ o „ „ , oU-, 11 K < . oil Dom . lnrl . 1 that they have been or shall be all Regularly made ) to meet , and together make choice of Two Wardens , that to them may seem meet . And that the said Lodge shall meet in a

Convenient place in New Haven aforesaid on such Days as shall be most Convenient , and that the said Lodge do annually on the Lodge Night immediately proceeding the Festival of St . John the Evangelist Chuse from Among their Memhers One Master and Two Wardens

to Rule the said Lodge with other Officers necessary to the good Order thereof , and Further that they Strictly keep and Observe all and every the Rules and Regulations as Contained in the Printed Book of

Constitutions ( except so far as they have been altered by the Grand Lodge at their Quarterly Communications ) with such other as they may Receive from us , or our Deputy Grand Master , or from the Grand Master and his Deputy for the time being and that the Master and

Wardens of said Lodge do Transmit to us in writing a List of the Members of said Lodge , with the place of their abode and the Stated Days and place of Meeting . Given under our Hand and Seal this Twelfth Day of

November A . D . 1750 and of Masonry 5750 . By the Grand Master ' s Command , HUGH MCDANIEL , D . G . M . BENJ . HALLOWELL , S . G . W . J Box , J . G . W . CHAS : PELHAM , G . S .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

I he Quarterly Court of the Subscribers and Governors of this Institution was held at Freemasons ' Hall on Thursday , Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., in the chair . There were also present Bros . James Brett , Alfred C . Spaull , H . Massey , F . Wright , W . F . Smithson C . H . Webb , William Vincent , G . P . Britten , Peter

de Lande Long , H . E . Nash , W . G . Kentish , W . H . Saunders , and F . R . W . Hedges , Secretary . After the advertisement announcing the meeting and the various minutes had been read , Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , P . G . D ., moved "That as a slight recognition of the valuable services of Bros .

Henry A . Hunt and Ralph Glutton , Honorary Architects , by which the Institution saved a sum of about ^ 1500 , the rank and privileges of an Honorary Patron be conferred upon each of them . " He said the motion was really a resolution of the House Committee although it stood in his name . The brethren had

heard that the cheques for the final payment for the work for the new buildings were passed last time , and now the Institution was in complete possession of the buildings erected under the orders of the Centenary-Committee with the money raised at the Centenary meeting . Those brethren who had seen the premises ,

he was sure , would agree with him that the Institution had now , in place of a very inconvenient building indeed , as perfect a building as was to be found anywhere in the country . There was every appliance there — large airy corridors

no going through one room to get to another , all rooms , kitchens , class rooms , and dormitories separate , a beautiful hall for children to do their exercise in , which were part and parcel of their education , and which were so necessary to their health ; they knew as a fact that the first thing to do when a building

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

^^M was to be erected was to employ an architect , and the last thing to do was to pay him a very large commission . As soon as it was suggested that they should enlarge the premises , two members of the House Committee , men well known in their profession , men of very great eminence indeed , of very large business

stepped into the gap and offered to do the whole thingfor love of the Institution . They had carried it out most admirably , with the result that the Institution had saved at least ^ 1500 in cash . Now the House Committee thought that such a Masonic feeling as that ought in some way to be recognised , and the House

Committee had already passed a vote of thanks to these two brethren ; but they also thought that some further recognition should be given , and therefore by direction of the House Committee he proposed his resolution that each of these brethren , Bros . H . A . Hunt and Ralph Clutton , should be elected Honorary Patrons

with the privileges attaching thereto . Of course , they knew if each of these brethren had given 200 guineas he would have had the rank and privileges , but they had given a great deal more . He therefore moved the resolution , which was a great deal of pleasure . Bro . PETER DE LANDE LONG , P . G . D ., seconded the

motion with a great deal of pleasure , as the senior member of the House Committee . If it were not for occupying unnecessary time , he would like to say a few words about the vast amount of trouble and care patience and diligence of Bros . Hunt and Clutton

during the works in question , but he endorsed every word the Chairman had said , and he could assure the brethren that too much could not be said of the great services to the Institution of Bros . Hunt and Clutton . Even what the Court was going to confer on these brethren was but a sli ght return to these brethren for those sprvines .

Bro . W . F . SMITHSON , P . G . D ., very gladly supported the proposition of the Chairman , seconded by Bro . LONG . On behalf of the Province of West Yorkshire , which he had the honour to represent , and which he was sure would commend his action , he supported this resolution .

The motion was carried unanimously . A case from East Lancashire came before the Court as to whether it should be placed on the list , and after considerable discussion it was rejected , the ground being that the child ' s state of health was not such as to justify her being taken into the School . It was stated by the Chairman in assurance to Bro . Britten , that a resolution

of the House Committee to educate one child out of the Institution after she had been there a long time arose from the fact that the child had spent 242 days in the infirmary . Consequent upon this a bed in the dormitories was vacant , and while there was an outcry for more admissions to the School this was a very serious matter . There were two other children in the

infirmary who were deformed , and could not take part in any of the exercises that the other children engaged in , or go out for a walk with them . A West Yorkshire girl , whose father had withdrawn her candidature was restored to the list , Bro . Smithson explaining the whole circumstances of the case , and

stating that he could not understand how it was the father withdrew her . The Court then settled the list of candidates for the October election as 27 candidates , for whom there were 18 vacancies . It was resolved to consider at a future time the point whether the petitioners should have henceforth a

discretion to admit petitions which were presented less than 14 days before the meeting of the General Committee—14 days being the regulation time . The CHAIRMAN announced that his Royal Hig hness the Duke of Connaught , P . G . M . for Sussex , and Past Grand Master , had consented to take the chair at the 104 th Anniversary Festival of the Institution next year . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Reviews.

Reviews .

FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTOR * FOR THE PROVINCE OF GLOUCESTER . 1891 . The compiler of this handsomely got up annual is Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , the D . P . G . M . of the province ,

whose valuable services as the "Charity Secretary ^ in the past , and which are still happily continued , have endeared him to Gloucestershire Masons . The P "j is Bro . John Bellows , so that the artistic ( as well as Masonic ) excellence of the directory is fully exp

lained-The painstaking editor has followed in the lines he Ms so carefully laid down in previous issues , so there a no novelties to record or special additions to enuincra Unquestionably this welcome annual is one of the e published , and in its own quu t way tells its story ¦¦

skillul management , continued prosperity , ana J response to the appeals of Charity , under distinguish and trusted leaders . There are 14 lodges in the coun y , with 58 9 subscribing members , being an averag e 0 4-to each ( which is less than usual ) ; three Royal tv ^ chapters , with 148 members , and Mark lodges , ^ all duly detailed and set forth in due order . Masonic Charity Association is evidently a 0

live organisation , the elaborate tables speaking V fy in praise of the well directed efforts of the aec ^ ^ and representative Committee . Thoug h there a ^^ 600 members enrolled in the province , the tola ^ . ^ for the Central Masonic Charities exceed 3 ' Sureiy years ago the number amounted to but 1403- n 0 bly . Gloucestershire has , and is , doing its duty mos