Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

REMOVAL OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , By the courtesy of the Secretary , I have received an advance copy of the Special Report of the Board of Management on the proposed removal of the Boys' School .

As to a good deal which is contained in such report there is probably no difference of opinion . The site and surroundings of the School are not such as would now be selected for the erection of a new School , and the space is insufficient for games on the grand scale which is now considered essential to the education of youth . But , granting all this , is it not the very time when the subscribers may , and ought to , consider—Is it necessary that we should expend another ^ 100 , 000 in the

erection of a new School ; or , seeing the altered circumstances in which we now live , cannot we do better for our children by some different arrangement—ex . gra ., by grants in aid of education and clothing outside the walls of an " Institution ? " On this point I would direct attention to the following paragraph on page 3 of the report : " The Board can only answer this contention by pointing out that this question was settled as far back as the year 1851 , when the first , schoolhouse was arranged for , the subscribers of that day condemning the system practised before that time which some would now desire to revert to . "

The Board can only answer this as in the above extract I Do they seriously mean to argue that because in 1851- —45 years ago—when a good upper-middleclass or commercial education was not to be obtained except in a few favoured localities ; when there was little or nothing besides the great public schools , only available for the rich , and some old-fashioned Grammar Schools not yet awoke from their lethargy and teaching little beyond Latin and Greek , with here and there a " private adventure School" some very good , but many indifferent , and

some very bad indeed—because , I say , in 1851 the then subscribers determined to have a School of their own , the subscribers of „ the present day are not to be permitted to reconsider the question and to say " Under the altered circumstances of the present day and the greater educational facilities throughout the country , it is not necessary to expend a large sum of money in order to bring the children to one large special School . " But the fact that the matter was decided in 1851 is the " only answer " the Committee can make !

The Committee say , a little lower down , with reference to " out-educated boys . " " There can be but slight supervision over such boys or over the grant in aid . " Why not ? Every School to which a boy is proposed to be sent could be previously approved by the Committee , and a local Committee , or Representative of the General Committee , could report periodically . I appeal to any brethren who have experience of the working of the Mark Educational Charity .

Again the Committee say " After election each parent or guardian has the option given him or her for the boy to be educated in or out of the Institution , " and " In no case has it been known that preference has been expressed for outeducation , a convincing proof that they fully appreciate the advantages of the public school life given therein . " The Committee have omitted to state that the maximum allowance to outscholars is £ 20 per annum . Let them try the experiment of giving for the benefit of " out-scholars " the average cost of maintenance , education , and clothing inside the Institution , or three-fourths , or even only two-thirds , of that amount .

Now , dear Sir and Brother , the question is a very serious one , and is not to be disposed of either by cheap sneers at Board Schools and the folly of those who would , it is suggested , send the sons of our deceased or impoverished brethren to herd—horribile dictu—with the sons of labourers ! or by your suggestion that the brethren who have hitherto supported the Institution stultify themselves if they decline to continue that support if ( in their opinion ) a wholly unnecessary expenditure is incurred in the erection of new Schools .

I venture to point out a fallacy which appears to underlie the arguments in favour of removal—( 1 ) "The Schools are insufficient and in ' a bad locality , '" therefore ( 2 ) it is necessary to build others elsewhere , " Q . E , D . " But the second is the very point at issue . When that is proved to our satisfaction we are quite willing that you should remove the ' ¦ therefore " to the end of the sentence , and add so that it shall read— " therefore we must find the money to do it , Q . E . F . "

I do not care to be drawn off into any bye issue as to whether the opponents of the scheme ought to have come forward at an earlier period . I am quite ready to admit that all the Committee have done is in the hi ghest degree fair and honourable and with a view to the benefit of the Institution , but it may fairly be remarked that those who are actively engaged in the management of any Institution are the last to appreciate that the means used have become obsolete or unnecessarily expensive , and while they propose to put up a new machine , there are equally good machines already in existence much more readily available .

Again , I would urge the necessity of affording some opportunities to the subscribers generally of expressing their views . There is no difficulty in sending voting papers by post , and the mere " bringing it to the notice of the Quarterly Court , and obtaining from that body its full consent and approval , " may be legal , but it will not alone command the moral sympathy and support of the brethren who are prevented from recording their views without a considerable expenditure of time and money .

And 1 venture to repeat that while many—the writer among the numberwould feel themselves bound to acquiesce in a resolution for the erection of a new School if passed by a fair majority in the manner indicated , no such sentiment would attach to any less general expression of the views of the brethren . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , D . P . G . M . AND PAST G . O . Bristol , September 7 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

Till-: UNIOUE RECITER . Compiled and Edited by J . J . Nesbitt , M . A . Trinity College , Dublin . London : Simpkin , Marshall , Hamilton , Kent , and Co ., Limited . Dublin : Carsrn Brothers , 7 , Grafton-sfiect . —Our Rev . Bro . Nesbitt refers in his brief Preface to the exceeding care he has taken in the compilation and editing of this volume . His purpose in issuing it is , he tills us , "to furnish both the dramatic reciter and the

elocutionist uilh a new collecticn of pieces for recitation and reading , " and in his endeavcurs to carry this purpose into effect , he has . spared neither trouble nor expense . He has sought and received permission to include in his collection several poems by the best authors in Australia and America as well as at home . There are also many original pieces which he has paid for and others of which he has purchased the copyright , the result being that among the contiibutors and friends to whom he is indebted

Reviews.

for this co-operation are several of the best known writers of recitative poems , and short pieces of our day , such as the Primate of All Ireland ( the Most Rev . Tj r . Alexander ) , Lady Lytton , Robert Buchanan , Bret Harte , Miss M . Betham-Edwards , Clement Scott , the Very Rev . Dean Copley , and others . In the Introduction the Editor explains the principle which has governed him in his selection of pieces , that of including " what are most suitable for public and private recitation — for the platform as well as for the drawing room — and , at the same

lime to combine the indescribable something of recitative fitness with a high standard of literary merit . " He also explains the requirements which are necessary in order to ensure a successful recital , the most important essential being that the reciter should first obtain " a full grasp of the author ' s meaning" and then convey it to the audience "in the most forcible and true-to-life manner . " He is opposed , as a rule , to musical accompaniments , especially in cases in which the reciter is dependent upon another artist for the music . He also furnishes a few practical hints to those who may

feel inclined to recite either publicly or in private , and it is with pleasure we add that such persons will do themselves a service if they ad ^ pt th » se hints . As for the collection of pieces , they include every variety of poem that is likely to create an impression upon an audience , and what , in our opinion is a recommendation of the greatest moment , there are none of them of immoderate length . It is , indeed , a most admirable collection and selection and we feel sure will find favour with those numerous brethren who , by their recitations help so materially to render our after-dinner proceedings interesting and agreeable .

"THE TRESTLE B OARD . " Quarterly Magazine of Lodge Leven St . John , No . 170 . This is a new candidate for ~ the favour of the Craft , the first number having been issued last month . The magazine is the organ of a single lodge , and as might be expected , is on a modest scale ; but if future numbers are as readable as this , the Trestle Board should have before it a long and prosperous career . The main purpose in issuing it appears to be the very laudable one of keeping " our brethren abroad more in touch with their mother lodge , " and at the same time of exciting an interest on the part of those remaining at home in the work of Masonry , so that they may in time fashion for

themselves " nobler conceptions of the great plan of Masonry ; higher ideals of what Masons ought to be and ought to do , and truer life results in the production of good work and square work—work fit for the great ideal Temple . " It is a worthy ambition , and to judge from the character and variety of the contents of this opening number , one which the lodge may well hope to attain . Be it added , that all communications for the Trestle Board must be addressed to R . B . Wood , Masonic Hall , Renton , that the price of a single number is fourpence , and the annual subscription , including postage , is . 6 d .

"CANADIAN CRAKSTMAN "— " Canadian Craftsman" Publishing Company of Toronto ( Limited ) , 7 S , Bay , Toronto . —The most important feature about the August number of our contemporary is the very full report it contains of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Canada ( Province of Ontario ) , at its 41 st annual communication , held in the city of Belleville on the 15 th and 16 th July . There are also the usual sensiblywritten Editorial Notes and certain Craft Tidings , with sundry quoted articles of interest .

"THE CRAFTSMAN "—Printed for the Proprietor and Publisher , Bro . F . J . Harries , by Western Mail , Limited . —The September issue of this readable journal is quite up to the high standard which the editor has succeeded in establishing for it , both as regards the wisdom and sound sense of its editorial utterances and the amount and variety of the news which is to be found in its pages . There is perhaps less than usual

this month of original matter , but the quoted articles or essays , such as " The Use and Abuse of Ritual , " by W . Bro . Oswald G . Wood , Punjab , from the Indian Freemason , " An Ancient Tracing Board " from a lecture by Bro . Sadler at the Israel Lodge of Instruction , and others , are of such a character as to make ample amends for any falling off in the amount of editorial matter . There is also a letter written by a Cardiff brother from Matabeleland , which is now likely to prove of exceptional interest .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

10 S 5 ] THE NEW "CONSTITUTIONS . " { A CORRECTION . ) I omitted a line ( in error ) in No . 1084 , entitled " Book of Constitutions " and regret the fact , as it suggests a change having been made for the better , which could not be . What I meant to say is , " there is a very full and accurate index ,

the additional lavis being re-arranged and duly indexed therein , and carefully tested , so that the volume now is a complete whole , instead of the new Rules from 1884 being on slips or separate pages . I hope to refer at length to this new volume of 1896 in a week or two , and to give a few particulars of all the previous editions . W . J . HUGHAN .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Newall Lodge , No . 1134 . The regular meeting of this prosperous lodge was held on Tuesday , the ist inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester . The chair was taken by Bro . Harold Waterhouse , W . M ., punctually at'the time stated on the summons . The minutes ° t the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . R . J . Moor was passed , trie ceremony being performed by the W . M ., Bro . Martin presenting the working tools-It is needless to all the work was admirably performed , and a most genial alio

say pleasant evening was spent . Among those present were Bros . Harold Waterhouse , W . M . ; R . W . Martin , S . W . ; James Green , J . W . ; John Waring , P . M ., See . ; A . K . Boothroyd , P . M . 2359 , S . D . ; VV . H . Brown , J . D . j A . H . Dulfin , P . M ., P- £ - G . D . C , D . C . ; G . S . Smith , P . M ., P . P . G . Org ., Org . ; Ben Eckersley , P . M . ; 1-Webb , P . M . ; R . J . Moore , E . C . Moss , W . L . T . Askrigge , J . Ogden , S . V . Samuels , L Rylance , F . Brierley , T . H . Drew , W . Mallinson , E . M . Williams , and M . Oliver . Visitors : Bros . S . Gaskill , W . M . 1 G 3 ; S . W . Glover , and E . H . Flower , P . M .

Lodge of Obedience , No . 1753 . The annual installation meeting of this lodge took place on Monday , the 31 st ult ., at the White Hart Hotel , Okehampton , when Bro . John VV . Reed was inducted into tn chair in succession to Bro . VV . P . Moon . The ceremony of installation was perforinc by Bro . W . A . Gregory , P . M . 1254 , P . P . G . Treas ., and who for many years has auiy discharged the duties of Installing Master of 1 753 with much ability . The bretnr present numbered over 60 and the Beard of Installed Masters was composed of pro

, F . R . W . Hedges , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . G . ; J . C . Pierce , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C . j " f J . Futcher , P . M . ; Charles Piper , P . M . ; W . P . Moon . W . M . ; E . T . Fulford , 1 •>»' 1254 ; P . P . G . Treas . ; F . Jk Hayne , I . P . M . 10 G ; H . Joseph Wills , P . M . 106 ; 1 {' Shapcott , VV . M . 1254 ; G . Wilson , P . M . and Sec . G G , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Ridge , 1 - »' 12 S 4 ; John Rowc , VV . M . 1332 ; J . F . Railing , P . M . 1332 ; John Moass , P . M . i-1 ' P . P . G . S . of W .: Wm . Edwards . P . M . 12 S 4 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; C . H . Ship way . I »>

12 S 4 ; H . M . Pratt , P . M . 10 G ; VV . A . Stone , W . M . 12 S 4 ; F . Luget , I ' »• ij . P . G . Org . ; Frank Hubber , P . M . 1284 ; G . L . Stile , P . M . 1284 ; G . Styles . l- ' 12 S 4 ; and H . Hellings , P . M . 10 GG . The members of the lodge present were UI F ' , v . Edwards , J . W . ; Rev . G . Reed Lucas , Rev . T . Ward-Brown , J . D . ; Rev- f - e Saulez , G . J . Gibson , Sec ; W . L . Palmer , I . G . ; W . Pollard , A . D . C . ; H- ' ^ and A . Amand , Stewards ; J . D . Prickman , J . A . Lucas , John Pyke , W . H . y ° [ | j , H . Hellings , W . Partridge , G . Glandfield , John Powlesland , Chap . ; George Clw »'>