Masonic Miscellanea.

Masonic Miscellanea .

—*—THE Inauguration Festival at Freemasons' Hall will be held on the 14 th proximo . The G . Stewards , 20 brethren nominated by the M . W . Grand Master , and upwards of 80 elected by various lodges will compose the Board of Stewards on this important occasion . THE Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire , will be held at the Abbey Lodge , No . 432 , Newdegate Arms , Nuneaton , on Wednesday , March 31 st . A Sermon will be preached at the parish church by Bro . the liev . C . J . E . Smith , P . G . C , Warwickshire , and a collection made on behalf of the Annuity and Benevolent Funds . Banquet at 4 o'clock ; tickets ( including dinner , dessert and a bottle of wine ) , 10 s . 6 d . each .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

^ Announcements of Births , Marriages , and Deaths relating to the Craft , or their families , will be inserted , free of charge , if properly authenticated . ]

DEATH . PAI . IN . —On March 3 rd , at Barnes , in the 01 st year of her age , beloved by all who knew her , Helen , relict of John Palm , LL . D ., late of Cleveland House , Barnes , and mother of Dr . Palin , of " The Rose of Denmark" Lodge No . 975 , Barnes .

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Clje Jreniimii , SATURDAY , MARCH 13 , 18 G 9 .

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THE Fni- ' -xusox is published on Saturday Mornings in time for tho early trains . The price of Tn FK * -I ' M : ASOI- is Twopence por week ; quarterly subscription ( including postage ) 3 s . 3 d . Annual Subscription , 12 s . AU communications , letters , Ac , to be addressed to the EiHToit , 3 & 1 , Little Britain , ''' . ( J . Tho Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him , but cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage stamps .

The Parliament Of English Freemasonry.

THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLISH FREEMASONRY .

" Remove not the ancient landmark . " We deem it our duty to call the attention of the English Craft to a series of proposed

alterations in the laws respecting thc Fund of Benevolence , which , if carried out , will assuredl y be the most gigantic innovation ever introduced into the Constitutions of the Order .

It is gravel y proposed , not onl y to alienate a portion of tho Fund of Benevolence from the purposes for which it was ori ginally intended , and is still kept sacred—namel y , the relief of

our brethren in temporary distress—but to limit the future increase of the Fund , by handing over its surplus revenue to other institutions . Such arc the main features of JBro . CLABON ' scheme ,

as mooted at the Quarterl y Communication of Grand Lodge on the 3 rd inst ., but we are glad to inform our readers that they were not suffered to pass unchallenged .

Bro . J . R . STUBBING , P . G . D ., in an earnest and vigorous speech , warned Grand Lod ge against the adoption of . such a perilous course , and ally protested against laying down a "hard and fast

line as thc future sum total of the Fund of Benevolence . He enunciated an opinion , in which we heartil y concur , that a capitalized amount of £ 20 , 000 would very inadequatel y

repre-ent tbe resources which a powerful bod y like the Grand Lodge of England should always havo at its command , and intimated that even

double that sum would hardl y meet the views of those whose thoughts extend to thc future , and its possible claims .

1 O the potential arguments of Bro . Stabbing we may add tho following extract from the Book of Constitutions , Art . J . page 9 ( J : — "THK FUND Al-PUOl'KIA . KM TO THE OllJEOP OP BEXJJVOLKXCK SIIAIX BE SOLELY DEVOTEO TO ClIAUlTY j" and we shall be greatly disappointed if th * Free-

The Parliament Of English Freemasonry.

masons of England will consent thus to limit the just heritage of their successors in the Craft , or permit the funds as they accumulate to be diverted to any other object under heaven ,

however noble or beneficent . The question will come before Grand Lodge in June , and if the brethren generally realise the importance of the occasion they will delegate a Brother from each Lodge to

attend and strenuously oppose the restriction of their Masonic privileges . With other portions of Bro . Clabon ' s scheme we are iu perfect accord . Increased powers in

the award of pecuniary grants ought to be given both to the Grand Master and to the Lodge of Benevolence , and we would therefore entreat our worthy and eminent Brother not to hazard the

rejection of many excellent suggestions in his projected alterations by pressing the adoption of measures which , we confidently predict , will never obtain the sanction of the Ciaft .

Zetland Commemoration Fund.

ZETLAND COMMEMORATION FUND .

AVe earnestly commend to the warmest support of the Craft this testimonial to the merits of our noble and venerated GRAND MASTER . The long period during which Lord Zetland has

presided over the Freemasons of England has been one fraught with great results to the Order in general , and will doubtless constitute an era in its history . Tlie urbanity and dignity with

which the Grand Master has administered the affairs of the fraternity deserve the hearty response of the brethren , and we are satisfied that the contributions eventually received will

be worthy of the "Zetland Commemoration , " as well as proportionate to the number and importance of the -lasonic Order . AVe shall revert to this subject from time to time as occasion may require .

The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The " 1 st anniversary festival of this institution was held on AVednesday evening at the Freemasons ' Hall , when the chair was occupied by Earl De ( frey

and Ripon , the Deputy Grand Master of England and Provincial Grand Mauler <> f West Yorkshire . About _ 00 sat down to dinner , among whom were Brothers Lord Eliot , P . G . W . ; Stephen Blair , G-M .

of East Lancashire ; Augustus Smith , t ! . M . nf Cornwall ; II . Murray , district G . M . of China ; the Rev . G . Senior , P . G . Ch . ; — Shaw , G . S . D . ; L . Evans ,

Pres . of B . C . P . ; J . Ilervey , G . Sec ; Br . Farmer , AV . M . ; I ' ., iIea . l , P . G . D . ; II . Browse , G . J . D . ; AV . Young , P . G . S . B . ; Captain CVpe , P . G S . B . ; R . G . Spoii \ s " P . G . S . D . ; ami Secondary Potter , J ' . G . AV .

The object of the institution is to provide maintenance and education for the sons of indigent Masons . L ' ntil the year 1857 grants were made for the purpose of clothing the boys and placing them

at various schools near their parents' residences . Appeals having been made to the craft , however , fi ir funds to enable a school of their own to be secured . In 1850 a convenient mansion aud ten acres of

freehold land at AVood-greon were purchased at an expenditure of i' 3 , 500 . The building , after sonic alteration , was inaugurated as a school in 1857 , when 25 boys were admitted . In 1800 the number

raised to 105 , but in consequence of a very large expenditure rendered needful from a variety of causes , including the erection of new buildings , there exists a debt of 1 () , ()()() A

During the evening the following prizes wore presented by the chairman to three of the boys who had distinguished themselves—a silver medal to Adam

Andrews James for general good conduct ; a silver medal to AA ' altcr Rumbelow , for intellectual exertion and success , and a prize of five guineas in cash to Hairy AVildman , who had obtained the first prize

The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

at tbe Oxford Local Middle Class examination in June last , who had been iii the first class for honours in the Cambridge Local Middle Class examination in December lpst .

The CHAIRMAN , in proposing the toast of the evening , " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " said that , as a Minister of the Crown as well as in virtue of bis office , a . Deputy Grand

Master of England , be was deeply interested in the success of institutions which were established for the purpose of promoting public education . AVhen the funds would permit of the extension of the

domitory accommodation 200 boys could be received into the institution . The boys now in the institution received a sound English education , aud those who exhibited talent had every advantage offered them

to enable them to pursue their classical and mathematical studies . The subscriptions announced during the evening amounted to 12 , 000 ? ., of which Her Majesty had

contributed ten guineas , the Chairman 500 guineas , and Brother S . Blair , the Provincial Graud Master of East Lancashire , 1 , 000 guineas ; the Stewards and Provincial Grand Lodges and Lodges of AVest

Yorkshire , 2 , 411 Z . ; the Provincial Grand Lodge and Lodges of East Lancashire , 3 , 885 _ The body of the hall and the galleries afforded accommodation for about two hundred ladies . The musical

arrangements were under the management of Brother AVilliam Ganz , who was assisted by Miss Rose Hersce , Miss Agness Flower , Miss Abbott , Miss Eyles , Brother George Perron , Brother Frederick Penna , and Brother Ciabatta .

The Editor's Portfolio.

The Editor's Portfolio .

[ Under this heading wc purpose presenting our readers with choice extracts from -ivories relating to Frcein .-isonry , or other interesting subjects . ]

A UKAUTI - UI . MASONIC l'lt . VYKli . O Thou , whose temple we are ! On tho mountain of Thy truth let our sublime edifice display its g lory . Let the eye of the Master meet the Kon of Li ght as he enters . Let the greater lights , bv the help of the

less , illuminate the whole , scene of his duty and of his pleasure . Behold us with Thy brightness , at ( his hour , leading a young son into Thy temple . Like the temple , let him be beauteous without , and all glorious within . Let his soul be capacious as Thv truth , and

his affections pure as the serene heavens when the silent moon gives her light . Let him obey as the sun , who labours until perfect day with increasing strength ; and let all the purposes of his heart be as the stars , which tell of worlds unknown , and are notices of

boundless benevolence Let him move like the heavenly orbs , in harmony ; and should he stretch across tint universe , may he disturb no soul in his course . AA'ithin this temple may he be sacred as the altar , sweet as the incense , and pure as the most hol y plaee . Among Thy ministering servants may he he

read y as an agent of God , and faithful as a beloved son And when his service is finished , may his memory be celebrated by love on the durable monuments of eternity ; and his reward , in the silent , solemn joy of heaven , be sure from the hand of God , the Grand Master of us all .

A I . 1- ( 'I ' . \ D . They tell a story that one day Rabbi Jtulah and his brethren sat in fho church on a fiist day disputing about rest One said it was to have sufficient wealth , yet without sin . The second said it was fame and to

be ( liaised of all men . The third said it was possession of power to rule the State . 'Ihe fourth said it must be only in the old age of one who is rich , powerful , famous , and surrounded by children and children ' s children . The fifth said it were all in vain unless a

man kept all the ritual of Moses . And Rabbi Judah , the venerable , thetallest of the bretheren , said , "Ye have spoken wisely , but one thing more is necessary . He only can find rest who to all tilings addeth this that he kept the traditions of the ciders . " There sat a fair-haired boy playing with lilies in his

lap , and hearing the talk , dropped them in astonishment from his hands and looked up —that boy of twelve—and said , " Nay , father , he only can find rest who loves his brother as himself—with his whole hnnrt .

and soul . He is greater than fame , wealth and power ; happier than a happy home without it ; better thon honoured age — he is a law to himself above all traditions . " ,

We are glad to lenni that JL . ord Lei g h , P . G . M . for Warwickshire , has nearly recovered from his late severe accident .