Original Correspondence.

Latin origin and scarcely suitable in popular journalism for ordinary people . Y ' our obedient servant fraternally , A STICKLER FOR P LAIN ENKLISII . 4 U 1 May , 1876 . - ; [ We are sorry that our correspondent dislikes Latin ? But it is not our fault . We will allude to the subject next week or week after . —En . l

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — So many exaggerated statem cuts with reference to " extravagance " and " rccklessnefs " in connection with

the expenditure of this Institution have been circulated during the past year that I think it only due to the Committees and Executive to publish forthe information of all who continue to take a kindly interest in our welfare , the fletails of cost for the year 1875 : —

TOTAL . PER BOY . Establishment Charges ... £ 5 817 5 4 £ . 34 8 5 Office Expenditure 024 16 5 C > 1 3-i

£ 6842 1 9 £ 40 9 H The average number of boys in the establishment in 1 S 75 was 169 , as compared with 15 6 in 1874 , in vvhich year— TOTAL . PER BOY . Establishment Charges ... £ 5880 18 10 £ 37 13 11 ¦{¦ Office Expenditure 959 10 10 6 3 o

£ 6840 9 8 £ 43 if ) 11 A The result proves the maintenance , & c , cf 13 additional boys , at an additional cost of £ 1 12 s . id . only , and a reeluction in the cost per boy per annum of £ 3 7 s . 3 d . The same basis of calculation has been adopted as in former years , it being open to any one to make such additions

as in his opinion ought to be included . Trusting that the Governors and subscribers may consider this statement as re-assuring and satisfactory , I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES , Secretarv .

REGALIA . Tn the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — " R . W . O . " asks , " How is it that ( say ) ninetynine out of every hundred Past Masters wear a gold or gilt jewel , when the Constitutions distinctly say it shall be in silver , & c . ?"

Allow me to say that he and " Ad Rem" are confounding presentation jewels with thc regulation jewels . If he should become eligible to attend Grand Lodge , he will find that he will 1-c rcejuireel to wear his silver regulation jewel . With respect to thc gold jewels ( in most cases presented to the P . M . by the members of the lodge ) , he will find thev are sanctioned by the Book of Constitutions , viz .:

—"No jewel shall be worn in lodge other than those specified for the officers , except such honorary or other jewels as shall be consistent with those degrees rccogniseel by the Grand Ledge as part of ancient Freemasonry . " Yours fraternally , MAGNUS OHREN , Past Grand lun . Warden for Surrey .

Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo ; or Masonic Notes and Queries .

Can any brother put me in the way of obtaining a copy of Bro . Hughan ' s " Memorials of thc Masonic Union of 1813 : " Also a copy of Bro . Hughan ' s " Constitutions of the Freemasons of 186 9 ?" If so , I shall feel very much obliged , as they arc wanted

For the Sheffield Masonic Library , and 1 am prepared to pay-a fair price for them , or reciprocate in any way desired the favour of receiving copies to complete our set of that well-known brother ' s Masonic works . S . B . ELLIS , Hon . Sec . Brocco Bank , Sheffield .

Consecration Of The Merlin Lodge (No. 1578) At Pontypridd.

CONSECRATION OF THE MERLIN LODGE ( No . 1578 ) AT PONTYPRIDD .

On Thursday , 27 th ult ., there was a large gathering of Masonic brethren at the New Inn Hotel , Pontypridd , on the occasion of the consecration of the Merlin Lodge of the Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons ( No . 1578 ) . Upwards cf 100 of the brethren from all parts of the eastern district assembled and took part in the proceedings . Some

disappointment was created by the fact that the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Theodore Manscl Talbot , was unable to be present through a severe attack of illness with vvhich he was seized on his last day in the hunting field . In his absence , the ceremony of consecration was performed by Bro . E . J . Morris , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Among those present were : —Bros . E . J . Morris , D . P . G

M . ; J . C . Parkinson , J . P ., P . G . D . England , P . D . G . M . Middlesex ; thc Rev . A . H . Truman , P . M . ; P . P . G . C . Somerset , No . 671 -, XV . Hall , P . P . S . G . W . ; Evan Thomas , 679 , P . G . D . C ; William Morris , 679 , P . P . G . S . D . ; William Hodges , 679 , P . P . G . S . ; E . J . Thomas , 36 , P . P . G . D . C ; S . Weichcrt , a 6 , P . M ., W . M . ; W . G . Davies , 3 64 ,

P . P . G . S . W . ; and D . Hopkins , 960 , W . M . 9 60 ; Past Masters : —Brothers W . Whittington , 3 64 , S . G . W . ; W . J . Morgan , 476 , P . P . J . G . W . ; E . Roberts , 192 ; Rowland Thomas , 3 6 4 , P . M . ; J . Robertson , 079 ; W . H . Davies , 9 60 , P . P . J . G . D . ; XV . J . Thomas , 679 j Henry Green , 364 , P . G . D . ; Charles Taylor , 110 , P . G . LD . '; Evan Jones , 679 ; S . Cooper , 36 , P . P . S . G . O . ;

Consecration Of The Merlin Lodge (No. 1578) At Pontypridd.

[ . Hurman , 960 , P . P . S . G . O . ; W . Parton Garrett , W . M . 364 ; T . G . Glass , 36 , P . P . G . P . ; G . H . "White , 679 ; Charles Wilkins , no ; Samuel Hem , 9 60 ; D . Rees Lewis , no ; Evan Jones , 679 ; Wm . Taylor , 36 ; W Little , 679 ; II . Stair , 364 ; J . Williams , 36 ; T . Goodfellow , no ; and brethren representing nearly every lodge in the province .

The brethren assembled in the ante-room , and then walked in procession to the lodge-room . The lodge-room was opencel in the usual Masonic form by Bro . S . Weichert , the W . M . of thc Glamorgan Lodge , No . 3 6 , assisted by the W . M . of the Bute Lodge , No . 9 ( 10 , and their officers . The Worshipful the Dep . Prov . G . M . and the officers of Ihe Provincial Grand Lodge entered the lodge in procession , marshalled by the Prov . and P . Prov . Directors

of Ceremonies . The chair of the lodge having been taken by the XV . the Dep . Prov . G . M ., ihe ceremony of consecration proceeded . Bro . Morris , in a few preliminary remarks , spoke of the solemn nature of the ceremony they were met to celebrate , and expressed the great regret with which they would hear of the illness of the Provincial Grand Master , which had cntirclv incapacitated bim from being present on that

. The hymn was then sung . — " Hail I Eternal , by whose aid . " The petition to the Grand Master for thc formation of the Merlin Lodge was then read , together with the warrant authorising its creation . Thc officers appointed under

the warrant were as follows : —Bros . John Edwards Price , W . M . ; Matthew Wayne Morgan , S . W . ; and George Jeihn Alexander , J . W . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master then called upon the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . A . H . Truman , to elclivcr an address on thc advantages of

Freemasonry . Bro . Truman spoke of the high and holy eluties of Freemasonry , and saiel they were founded upon the three great principles which would be found in the Bible , namely , to fear God , to honour thc Queen , and to love the brotherhood . Thc brcthcrhcoel includeel members of every religious denomination , and of every shade of political

party , but these consideration ! were never alloweel to weigh in the conduct of Mascnic lodges . He said that Masonrymust have something ennobling in it , or it would not increase as it had done and was doing concurrently with the growth of religious feeling in the country . At thc conclusion of the rev . brother ' s remarks , the brethren sang the hymn : —

" To heaven ' s high Architect all praise . " Thc ceremony cf consecration was then procccelcd with , the corn , wine , oil , anel salt being carried round the lodge in live visual Masonic form . The Deputy Prov . Grand Master having declared thc lodge duly consecrated , the brethren then sang

" Now thc cv ning ' s shadows closing . The Deputy Prov . Grand Master then called upon Bro . P arkinson to present thc Worshipful Master designate for in stallation , which Bro . Parkinson then did in graceful and felicitous terms . A Boarel of Installation was then formed , nt which there were present thirty Worshipful and Past Masters ,

and Bro . Price was inducted in the Master's chair according to ancient custom , the ceremony being most ably conducted by thc Worshipful the Deputy Provincial G . M . On thc rc-assembling of the brethren Bro . Parkinson delivered the custrmary adelress in a most impressive manner , after which the lodge was reduced to the usual form , andthc Worshipful Master proceceleel to invest his officers , paying

to each an appropriate and graceful compliment on accession to office . The following are the officers : —Bros . Matthew Wayne Morgan , S . W . ; George John Alexander , J . W . ; William Williams , Treasurer ; Harry Cousins , Secretary ; Robert William Tolfree , Senior Deacon ; Israel Williams , Junior Deacon ; A . A . M'Lucas , Director of Ceremonies ; ' John Walter Morgan , Organist ; John Jones

Inner Guard ; George Frederick Down and James Jepson , Stewards . On the motion of the W . M ., seconded by the J . W ., a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to the Dep . Prov . G . M ., a vote of sympathy to the Prov . G . M . on his illness and votes of thanks to the distinguished brethren who had assisted in the ceremony . Motions were also made

by the Master and S . W . for the election of the R . W . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Talbot , and the W . Dep . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Morris , as honorary members of the lodge . Eighteen of the leading gentlemen in the neighbourhood were then proposed for initiation at the first lodge meeting in May , and two brethren for joining . Thc lodge was afterwards closed in due form . The musical arrangements vvere ably

conducted by Bro . Atkins , Mus . Doc . Oxon , P . G . O ., and the lodge-room was elaborately decorated with flags and flowers , lent by Bro . Hurman , P . M . 960 , and Bro . Meredith , no . Tun BANQUET . In the evening a grand banquet took place at the New Inn , Pontypridd , to which nearly 100 brethren sat down .

The banquet was served in a manner to reflect the greatest credit upon Mrs . Cousins , especially as a much larger number of brethren attended than . was originally expected . After the cloth had been cleared , the W . M ., who occupied the chair , gave the toasts of "The Queen , " "The Craft , " and "The Most Worshipful Grand Master the Prince of Wales , " in eloquent terms .

In giving the toast of "TheRight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , " the W . M . dealt in feeling terms upon th e illness which had prevented Bro . Talbot from being present that day . He hoped that he would soon be restored to health . The toast was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm . The Worshipful Master then proposed "The Health of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . E . J . Morris ) , "

Consecration Of The Merlin Lodge (No. 1578) At Pontypridd.

and in doing so spoke of his long connection with , and services to , the province . He dwelt upon the assistance which Bro . Morris had given towards the formation of a lodge in Pontypridd , which had resulted in the Merlin Lodge , vvhich had been consecrated that day . ( Hear , hear . ) ' He also dwelt upon the encouragement vvhich Bro . Morris had given towards the formation of the new lodge .

( Hear , hear . ) Bro . Morris , in replying , said that nearly all the consecration ceremonies in the province had been hitherto performed by the P . Grand Master in a manner which led every one to admire his knowledge of Masonic ceremonies . He said that although the brethren might have sanctioned his working of the consecration ceremony , they would have

had a greater treat had Bro . Talbot been present . He had striven joyfully to perform his duty , and when it came to his retirement he hoped that he would be followed by the good wishes of all the members ofthe several loelges . He had several times lately thought of giving way after a long period cf service —( cries of " No , no " )—and of retiring into private life . If he ultimately took this step he

hoped they would think enly of what he had done , and take little notice of his shortcomings . ( Hear , hear . ) He had been able to place upon undying record that South Wales had become a large charity-giving province . Twelve years ago they were giving some £ 40 or £ 50 a year , and during the last year their subscriptions hail amountcel to between £ 400 anel £ 500 . ( Hear , hear . )

The W . M . then gave the toast of "The Visitors , " coupling with it thc name of Bro . J . C . Parkinson , of whose reputation as a gentleman and a distinguisheel Mason he spoke most eulogistically . Bro . J . C . Parkinson , in replying , said the manner in vvhich the D . P . G . M . had treated his Masonic career might well make him bashful in the task before him . He wished

them to welcome him , not ns a stranger , but as the P . M . of an adjoining lodge , and as a friend , and as a neighbour . ( Hear , hear . ) He had assisteel at many consecrations , but he had seldom , if ever , been at any where greater premise was shown than in the beginning of the Merlin Lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) They vvere not only strong in themselves , but the proposed recruits were among the best

crass of intellectual bread-winners . In conclusion , he wished thc members of the Merlin Lodge God speed upon their voyage , and hoped he woulel be present on many occasions to see their progress . Bro . the Rev . Mr . Truman also returned thanks for thc visitors in a humorous speech , which was greatly relished .

Bro . E . J . Morris then proposed the toast of "The W . M . of the Merlin Lodge , " which was given with full Masonic honours . The W . M . returned thanks in fitting anel feeling terms . The other toasts were— " The VrovmciaV Grand Ofiicers , " "The Lodges of the Province , " and "Thc Masonic Charities and the Officers . " Thc speeches were ip . te-rsperscel with some excellent songs

by Bros . Cousins , Soper , Jones , Hurman , Titus , Lewis , and Elliott -, and the brethren separated soon after ten , after havi ng spent a mest pleasant elav , and 1 ne worthy to be marked by the whitest of white stones in the annals of Freemasonry in South Wales . Bro . E . J . Morris had been at great trouble to make up a very elaborate and unique Shakespearean programme or dinner carte , which was put before the brethren at thebanquet .

Masonic Female Orphan School, Dublin.

MASONIC FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL , DUBLIN .

Thc Exhibition Palace has recently been the scene of many very brilliant reunions , but we doubt very much whether it has evcrfpresenteel a more festive appearance than it did on the 28 th ult ., on the occasion of the presentation of the prizes to the pupils of the Masonic Female Orphan School . The brethren have from year to year shown their

d cep interest in the welfare of thc institution by attending the ceremony in very large numbers ; yet on no previous s imilar occasion has there been so vast an assemblage present , for not only was the great concert hall filled to overflowing , but even a larger number than vvere accommodated within it were unable to obtain seats . At the conclusion of the formal business in the concert room , thc

pr izes were distributed to the successful pupils by Lady G . Hamilton . The arrangements in the grand concert hall were excellent , and reflected much credit on the following brethren who acted as Stewards : —George Bell , Dr . G . Beatty , Isaac Cole , John D . Elliott , Thomas Fitzgerald , Henry E . Flavelle , Charles Foot , Robert Furlong , John F . Goodman , George Grice , Walter Gyles , George Harvey ,

George Henderson , John V . Legge , Isaac Molloy , Fletcher Moore , Wm . Peebles , John P . Ryan , J . H . Woodworth , J . J . L . Robinson , Wm . Roper , Robert W . Symmes , W . T . W elland , George Westby , James H . North , and Dr . Bennett . Prior to the opening of the proceedings the occupants of the hall had the pleasure of listening to the performance of

the following selections on the great organ by Bro . Charles O . Grandison , Grand Organist : —Introduction to sacred cantata "God is Love , " Mrs . J . Robinson ; andante in G , Batiste ; 'prelude and fugue , [ C minor , Mendelssohn ; " Beauty ' s praise , " Weber ; " Ave Maria , " Schubert ; Cornelius ' s March , Mendelssohn . His Grace the Duke of Abercorn arrived at about halfpast eight o ' clock , and was received by Bro . Shekleton ,

Deputy Grand Master , and other office-bearers . His Grace was accompanied by Lady Georgiana Hamilton , Lord Ernest Hamilton , Lord Frederick Hamilton , Mr . Gustavus , Lady Fanny and the Misses Lambart , and Colonel and Mrs . Bernard . At nine o ' clock the procession was formed , and the M . W . Grand Master , his Grace the Duke of Abercorn , was conducted from the Leinster HaU to the Grand Concert Hall .