Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 4 S 1 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 452 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 452 Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex 452 Provincial Grand Chapter of Kent 453 The Grand Lodge Question in Australia ... 454 Under the Tongue of Good Report 454 Consecration of Saint Mary Abbotts Lodge ,

No . 1974 454 Visit of the Lord Mayor , J . G . W ., to Welshpool 4 SS Province of West l-ancashirc and the Book of Constitutions 4 . 3 The Third of August 455 Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association 455 C ORRESPONDENCEThe St . his of P . Ms 456 Thc Girls" School 45 6

Reviews 457 Masonic Notes and Queries 457 Rgi"iRTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 4 ^ 7 Instruction 457 Scotland 458 South Africa 45 8

Australia 4 .. 8 Jottings from the Antipodes , 45 8 American Items 458 Dancing in Lodge Rooms 4511 Obituary 459 The Theatres 400 Music 4 * 10 Science and Art 4 60 Masonic and General Tidings 4 61 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 4 62

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SOME plans and designs in the new Junior Boys' Schools were to be seen at the last General Committee , having been considered by the House Committee , without , as far as we understand , any one being accepted . And to this decision none can object , as it is quite clear , we venture to think , that all the plans exhibited are in excess of our wants , above our

means , and utterly beyond the mark . We do not need , we say it advisedly , to have great building operations again for a little boys' school . We do need a junior school , and Bro . RAYNHAM STEWART ' S idea was a very fair and good one , that for £ 8000 we ought to have our junior department thoroughly well and comfortably set up . In all school buildings which deal

with the housing , and feeding , and sleeping of children , as well as the teaching , a good deal of expense is necessarily incurred in preparing such a building , both for scholastic purposes and on an hygienic system , by which the proper number of cubical inches is obtained for the scholars . We want for our junior school a good teaching room , certain class rooms , good dormitories ,

and a well constructed dining room , & c , and one or two needful buildings , but we ought not to exceed £ 8000 in providing such needful accommodation , the more so as we build on our own land . We trust , therefore , that the House Committee will revert to the original idea , and issue instructions for a fresh competition , affixing / ' 8000 as the maximum of expenditure . Some of the

designs , beautiful as they were , seemed more proper for a college than a preparatory school , and were apparently destined for a larger number of boys than is now required , or happily , we trust , will be for some time to come . Two great points ought to be kept before us * . ( 1 ) At what rent we shall set

ourselves down in the expenditure ; and ( 2 ) That we do not build for ostentation or for building's sake , merely to spend money , but because the greater school is suffering materially from the wantofa junior or preparatory school .

& tic THE passing away of an old friend and very worthy brother , E . H . PATTEN , as recorded elsewhere , will be noted with much regret by many who remember him in his active work and unfailing geniality . Indeed , to some of us , now no longer young , the name of Bro . PATTEN conjures up

memories of much Masonic kindness , much personal worth , and many good active efforts in the best of all causes—Charity . Some readers of the Freemason , in West Yorkshire especially , though now themselves " few and

fewer , " will remember his visit , and that of Bro . CREW to Doncaster , where the second step was taken in the energetic Provincial movement in favour of the Metropolitan Charities , which has culminated in such wonderful results . * *

IT is very curious how prejudices linger , even in cultivated minds , about Freemasonry . ' Years ago , perhaps , they took up some fad about our Order , and they have never changed , not they , one jot or tittle , lt is true , and we fear it must be confessed , that Freemasonry , say , half-a-century ago , did not always present itself in the most engaging form . It was slovenly in work

and rough in exterior . It was not particular as to those it admitted ; it was little heedful of public opinion ; and one great proof of its inherent excellence is to be found in the fact that it has survived all these defects and drawbacks , and stands before the world in renewed power and living reality . Out of a very little what a very deal has emerged , and one of the most wonderful

things connected with the annals of Freemasonry is the difference all must observe as between its past features and its present developement . And , therefore , some old-fashioned people who cling to the ideas current in their youth , who never change , may be pardoned if they are not so believing or

enthusiastic as we think they ought to be , when they are told of the onward advance , of the great work of English Freemasonry . But what shall we say of those who , without reason , without thought , in perfect ignorance of the subject they deal with , and the Order they ridicule , repeat , like parrots , those childish attacks on Freemasonry , which , made often by the most

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worthless of men , have found a too ready acceptance with the careless or the prejudiced . Luckily , Freemasonry heeds none of these things , minds none of these phases of passing opinion , but speeds on its mission of charity , toleration , and sympathy , retaining the firm allegiance and ardent admiration of its own members ; and , let us hope , destined yet to win the gratitude and commendation of the world .

:. * TILE Keystone tells us , that Dr . Le Plongeon , a distinguished archaeologist , writes the following letter from Nevada , Yucatan , which seems to point to the existence of Ancient Freemasonry in Mexico . " 1 have discovered the ruins of an ancient Masonic Temple , where the priests and magicians

used to gather in order to celebrate their mysteries . The Masonic Lodge of those belonging to the First Degree fronts towards the north ; that of the Masons belonging to the Second and Third Degrees points to the south . I have found a few of the mystical dice , a stone on which is carved an apron with a hand on it , and a cabalistic stone ( the stone is of such a description

that your correspondent is of opinion that he found a similar one in the Temple of Heliopolis ) . I have taken copies in clay , and shall try to establish the relation between these discovered Masonic attributes and those found at Memphis and Thebes . I think I may not be mistaken if I suspect a relation as well with those attributes discovered by Gorringe on the

pedestal of the Cleopatra obelisk at present in Central Park , New York . " Without at all attempting to discount such a discovery , we feel it right just to offer a few words of warning , as to these alleged Masonic similarities . We think these figures , which are not necessarily Masonic , have been too hastily assumed to be so . The evidence of the Cleopatra obelisk is a little hazy and dubious .

* * * A FAIR lady of the name of " Augusta , " who writes from Darmstadt , has addressed a letter to some one which is now at our office in the Editor ' s basket . If any German brother or German non-mason in Great Queen-street or elsewhere rejoices in an "Augusta , " at Darmstadt , or anywhere else in

the Fatherland , and expects a letter from her , let him apply at our office , and he will have this most agreeable and tenderest of effusions handed over immediately to him . It is not everybody who has an " Augusta " who writes to him so kindly and lovingly ; and we are very sorry

that , as the envelope was destroyed , we are perforce detaining the long expected missive from some anxious and pining good German brother or non-Mason . It is always wrong to separate loving hearts ; it is surely most hard that "Augusta's" cherished epistle is not in the hands of her " lieber " correspondent .

* * THE General Committee of the Boys' School at its last meeting , as will be seen by our report , unanimously voted Bro . BINCKES an increase of £ 100 per annum . Considering his increased work and his new duties in connection with the preparatory school , & c , do not think that any subscriber will deem the

augmentation either uncalled for or unreasonable . The Committee was unanimous in respect of the proposal , and we think all must admit that the remarkable progress and prosperity of the Boys' School must be mainly and fairly attributed to the zealous services of its Secretary . It may be well to

remind ourselves that the labours of the officers of our Schools are increasing year by year , until the work becomes a very serious matter indeed . At present there seems to be no possible limit to the needs of the Craft on the one hand , or the extension of the responsibilities of our Charities on the other .

- * MANY of our readers have been shocked with the reckless manner in which some of . our contemporaries have published , after the American style , in large letters ( very bad form by the way ) , statements disparaging to that fine regiment , the Royal 60 th Rifle Regiment , and have persisted in repeating

the allegations offensively and unnecessarily , apparently for the love of excitement or desire of profit , when the very same paper furnishes an official denial to the assertion . Such a course of action is very hard on our gallant countrymen abroad , and reflects little credit on our press at home . In a short time we shall come to disbelieve alike correspondents and telegrams .

* * * THE immortal PECKSNIFF is yet to the fore . We meet him still , day by day , as large as life and as full of unction . In Masonry and out of Masonry , in the press and in the pulpit , at the bar and in the House of Commons , there he is as ever , radiant and paradoxical , soapy and simpering , persuasive and confiding . For the last few days he has been reviling the