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NOTICE .

The Subscription to THE FREEXWASOJV is now ios . per annum , post-free , payable in advance . Vol . I ., bound in cloth 4 s . Gd . Vol . If ., ditto 7 s . 6 d .

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United States of America . TUB FREEMASON is delivered tree in any part of the United States for 12 s . per annum , payable in advance . The Freemason is published on Saturday Mornings in time for the early trains . The price of the Freemason is Twopence p ^ jr week ; annual

lllbscription , 16 s . ( payable In advance . ) AH communications , letters , & c , to be addressed to the Editor , 198 , Fleet-street , E . C . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him , but cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage ¦ tames . '•

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

The fol ^ ving- communications stand over : — Reports of Lodges 192 , 6 73 , 710 1225 , 13 C 3 < J 33 Mark Lodge No . i S . Provincial Grand Mark Lodge ot 1 lants and Isle of Wight . Provincial Grand Lodee of Staffordshire .

The Red Cross of Constantine in Great Britain . Consecration of two Bed Cross Conclaves . LETTERS RECEIVED : —T . B . V . ; Lupus . EWIATUM . —In our article on the Emulation Lodge cf Improvement , the attendance of the brethren in the year 1870 , should have been 1114 . nut 114 .

REMITTANCES RECEIVED . T . D . HAnn * mw . —( Ottawa , Canada ) . P . O . O . £ 2 -. s . W . BEVAN . —( Hokitika , N . Z . ) l ' . O . O . ; 2 s . MOUNT IDA LODGE . —( Otago , N . Z . ) l ' . O . O . £ 1 4 s .

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BALLS . DINNERS . MEETINGS . IN ELEGANT ROOMS , AT The Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , W . C . Apply to C . E . l- 'RANCATEIXI .

Liverpool Theatres, &C.

LIVERPOOL THEATRES , & c .

"Week ending October 18 . ROYA L ALEXANDRA TJ * i !_ ATR ) - _ , Lime-street . —Lessee IJro . E . . Saker . Dramatic Lntcrtainincnts . ROYA L ^ AMHlITl . EAT RI-:, ~ fYrc . it amrlnttc-strcct . — Lessee Hro . H . Leslie . " The WamlevWii ; Heir . "

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE , Cl . n tmi-S'iuare . —Lessee Duckworth ' s Comedy "Alter AH . " T " HEATRE ROYAI . " ~ \ ViIli . imson-s . | . iare . —Lessee , " lira . Tic Freece . New Opera flmille , " Haiti , Hani . "

ST . JAMES'S HALL , Lime-street . —Proprietor , Hro . S . Hague . . Special Artistes ami Programme . N " " EW ' STAR MUSIC HALL , Wiliiamsmi-s'iuaie . — -Manager Hro . Saundets . Opera and . Special Attract ! . ins . R bruS'DA ~ firi-fATRI-: and MUSIC . H . M . L . —I'mprielor , Mr . D . 'Iranju-JJ . Miscellaneous Ki _ tertain ... ci _ ts . QUEEN'S 1 IAI . I .. — " Emerald . Minstrels , 1 ium . Mists , and I ' ancers . "

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NOTICE . All Communications , Advertisements , iffc ,

intended for insertion in the Number uf tlie following Saturday , must reach lhe Office nol later than 6 o clock ou IFcdnesdiui evening .

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TheFreemason, SATURDAY , Ot 70 / 11 : R 1 r , 18 / t .

Girls' And Boys' Schools Elections

GIRLS' AND BOYS' SCHOOLS ELECTIONS

At this period of the year , those who are interested in the welfare cf our ancient Craft , watch with earnest scrutiny , the elections for our Girls ' and Boys' Schools .

For say what the outside world will , assail us ns our opponents may , there is no better fruit of our great Masonic tree , fairer in appearance ,

or sweeter to the taste , than that which now blooms so refreshingly , for us a ! l alike , in these two great and admirable charities of our Order .

Girls' And Boys' Schools Elections

Great as is the organization of our English Freemasonry , numerous as are our lodges , improving and increasing as are all those accessories , which serve to throw aU of order and grace and

living reality around our fraternal assemblies , yet still , in our opinion our chief characteristic and our distinguishing point ought ever to bc , the practical developement of that abstract

charity and good will we profess so much , and laud so constantly . Hence , for some time , it has been a subject of no little satisfaction , nay rejoicing , to all earnest

brethren of our English Order , to observe the increasing interest manifested b y English Freemasons generally , —we will even add universally , —in the furtherance and support of all our Masonic Charities .

But the Girls' School and the Boys' School seem to have a special claim on nil thoughtful and considerate members of our good old Craft . And for this reason .

Widely contrasted as are the social positions of the respective members of our lodges , not only have we often to provide for the children of those whose circumstances are such as to prevent them

properly educating thc children God has given them , butaswc all know from personal observation and experience , that , very many are the unforseen changes and chances of this mortal life

for us all , and which often are very strikingly displayed in the history of Masonic membership . We meet , for instance , for many a happy hour ,

the companions and brethren of our '' Mystic Tie , - " we associate with them , in the unrestrained moments of heartfelt friendship , of genial mirth , of kindl y felllowship , and all

seems to be flourishing- with them and with us . But , in an unexpected hour , some sudden reverse of fortune lays low the fabric of their credit , or wealth , or social respectability , and

over their hitherto hippy life , over the gayer highway of years , have fallen thc dark and heavy eloiuls of gloom , of misfortune , nay of need . Or sometimes in a most unexpected , perhaps an

unguarded hour , a sterner visitor than any , draws near , and those we greeted last in lodge , in all the heyday of youth and strength , in all the force of a ripened maturity , in all the genial glow of

good spints and warm hearts , wc see 110 more , we miss from their wonted place , and naught remains but the lonel y home , and the silent house , and tlie bereaved witlow , and the orphan child .

It is in such an hour as this , that the best characteristics of our Order ever appear , —that the true genius , as some one has said , of Freemasonry ever . shines most bri ghtly , and cerlainl y

whalever ,-ittraciion . s or interest Ficcmasoniy lias for any of us , in the social gathering , or the friendly conclave , it never does so great credit to kself or lo us , as when it is intent on works of

mercy , and on deeds of good , relieving the helpless , cheering the aged , training up the young , anil " causing the widow ' s heart to sing for joy . " Of late years the interest of the Order iu all our

charities , antl especially the Girls' and Boys ' Schools , has largely increased , and long may it continue to augment , anil to be manifested , year

by year , more and more , in fraternal " largesse , " and in ready and discriminating support . But of course , with this increased interest , has

Girls' And Boys' Schools Elections

also come a somewhat more active scrutiny into the practical working of these great Charities and a somewhat greater appreciation of positive results than in quieter and less active days of

old . It has been for some time a matter of deep regret to all reflecting Masons , that , the ** Dead Wei ght" if we may say so , was so very great

in all our elections that the proportion of successful candidates was so small , and the proportion 1 of dissappointed petitioners so great .

It almost seemed a scandal to the administrative executive , as well as to our Masonic charity , that candidates should come up fourteen times , and be rejected at last .

Many solutions have been proposed of what appears to be a blot on our arrangements as regards the candidates for our Masonic Schools ; but none , so far , are free from perhaps even

greater difficulties and eventual objection , and we are prone to believe , that such anomalies must be left to the action of experience and of time , and arc , by wiser provisions , at any-rate , let us hope , things of the past .

In future , as the age is properly restricted at which candidates can be admitted at all , all such unsuccessful claimants will disappear from the voting papers , after a given time , and we shall

no longer be pained , with the prospect , election after election of many candidates whose expectations have in some cases been fruitlessly raised .

for whom nothing is done by anybody , and whose candidature was doomed to disappointment and rejection , apparently even from the very first .

One remedy , and one remedy alone , can be really be found for such a state of things , and it is so to increase the funds of our Educational Charities , that , they may always receive

threefourths of the candidates for admission , and there may be a fair question whether the time bc not come to institute a qualifying examination , for all children admitted within our Schools .

We congratulate the Craft and the House Committee of the Girls' School , that nineteen out of thirty one candidates will be admitted at the approaching election , but , we would just say

this , that we think a little more openness of publication , a little more freedom in communication of the details of the school operations , would elicit a greater amount of sympathy aud

interest , in the Craft at large , and further still more materially the interests of an Institution of which , M Freemasons , we may be justly proud .

We expect a great deal from Bro . Little , its energetic Secretary , aud we feel sure that we shall not be disappointed . Out of forty-nine candidates for the Hoys' School

fifteen are to be elected on the present occasion , but we would fain hops that this is the last election , at which candidates will ap ]> ear on the paper , who have applied in vain fourteen times ,

thirteen times , twelve times , eleven times , ten times , respectively . Out of the 49 candidates , live have applied four times , and eleven

three times . We can only conclude this article with the expression of our deepest interest in the welfare