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  • Nov. 13, 1875
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  • ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS.
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Original Crrespondence.

uoeni is made up of many old " saws , " which he has incorporated into and perhaps expanded in his witty verses . Bro . Bernard will have it that 1 did quote Butler , though 1 1 say I did not , and in his superabundant spirit of the truest Masonic teaching , he not only gives me the lie direct but is persuaded that I have never read Butler at all . This , I beg to observe , is a piece of gratuitous and vulgar

impertinence . After a longish life , and much careful study of the English as well as foreign and ancient classics , it is a little too bad to be told by a brother svho professes to write Masonically , though he knows nothing of me he says , that he will be " greatly surprised " if I possess - " any familiarity " with the poem .

Those of us who have read "Typcc" will remember hsw the amusing writer finds one great merit in poor " Toby , " that he knew his Hudibras , and as Butler has been very familiar to me for many years , and many are the quotations I have transcribed for " lectures" and other purposes from its pleasant pages , lam not likely so to have blundered . I was also aware that an old

controversyhad taken place about this very couplet , and that the commonly quoted verses were not Butler ' s actually , though very commonly attributed to him—that is to say . that the correct version was somewhat different . I should then not have been guilty of such literary " laches , " as quoting Butler for what he did not actually write . III . With regard to Bro . Bernard ' s misspelling , when in

one place he spells " odorous " " orelerous , " and 111 another " oderous " in the same copy one cannot but feci that a writer who is so slipshod in his spelling , and also in his verbiage as " do he , " which is a pure " provincialism " is not a competent critic of any other writer , and thai all

such pesuelo criticism in his hands is ridiculous and unmeaning , in fact hardly deserving of notice . IV . One thing is clear from this correspondence , how personal and how perverse some Masonic correspondents can be . T . pt me rerommenil Bro . Bernard before he ventures

again to assail others to remember , that ignorance is not criticism , anel vulgarity is not wit . The Freemasonry we both profess tei believe in might have taught him a truer love , and as 1 do not wish to waste my time in replying to a correspondent who , instead of being critical , is only personal , I must decline the honour of continuing such a puerile and worthless logomachy . TIIK WHITISH or THE AHIICI . I :. [ This coirespondence must now cease ] .

THE MASONIC CHARITIES . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Allow me to corect what appears to be an error in your article entitled "Recent Provincial Grand Lodges , " published in your last number . You say , " In West Lancashire , under the presidency of

our active and distinguished Deputy Grand Master , the Provincial Grand Lodge ( in accordance with the powers of the Book of Constitutions ) has unanimously resolved to tax all the lodges in West Yorkshire for the purposes of benevolence , and in order to aid the charities . " And you further add , " No doubt this may appear , and probably will be , a heavy burden on some lodges which are not so

prosperous as others , but it is a step which we venture to deem greatly calculated to promote the cause anil real end of Freemasonry . " * Now I think you must surely be in error , for West Lancashire has no power or authority to tax West Yorkshire for the benefit of the Masonic charities . . But if you really mean that West Lancashire is about

to tax all the lodges in that province for the benefit of the charities , I for one am very glad to hear of it , inasmuch as I have for a long time thought that a pro rata system of support of our charitable institutions would be more reliable and efficient than the present impulsive and desultory mode . In fact , I have on two separate occasions brought the

subject under the notice of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire ; the first time was so far back as 18 G 8 , and the second was at our last Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Sheffield on the 20 th ult . On the first occasion I proved from statistics extending over the previous five years that less than twopence-halfpenny per member would have been sufficient to meet all the claims made upon

West Yorkshire during that time ; and I have not the slightest doubt that a similar small sum pro rata would meet all our present claims . This , I think , is an answer to your remark that the pro rata principle would be a heavy burden 011 some lodges , for surely any lodge ought to be able out of its yearly income to afford such a small sum , nay , even were it doubled or trebled , it would only be cutting down a supper or two

during the year , in order to meet any additional demand for the support of our charities . And when wc consider that the lowest yearly subscription to a lodge is one guinea per year , it is obvious the pro rata system would not be a burden upon any . I remain , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , S . O . BAILEY , P . P . G . S . of W ., W . Yorks . * West Yorkshire was a misprint for West Lancashire .

THE MARK . DEGREE . To Ihe Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me ( through your paper ) to thank " Mark Master " for answering my queries so fully , and for which

I am obliged , especially for answer No . 4 , and if the English Royal Arch Masons , not being Mark Masters , are debarred from entering a chapter while at work in Scotland , Ireland , Canada , and the United States , fire , the sooner it is made likewise compulsory in England the belter , either before

Original Crrespondence.

exaltation or before Royal Aich certificate is granted . If the Mark Degree is recognized by the lodges so much abroad it should be in England -, at all events , I am about to be exalted ( hence , my making the enquiry I have ) , and have come to the conclusion that I had better become a Mark Master also , as I should feel rather vexed , as an

English Royal Arch Mason abroad , to find myself shut out of a chapter at work through not being a Mark Master . The English Masonic laws want mending on this point , it appears , otherwise it would render their own Royal Arch perfect , so as to enable them to enter foreign chapters without the inconvenience of being elebarred therefrom . Yours fraternally , As- ENQUIRING M . M .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir anel Brother , — I do not propose to take part in this controversy , for it is in able hands , further than to say that I quite concur with " P . M . of Mark Lodge " as to his statements anent the York Grand Lodge and Mark Masonry . I note a statement of Bro . Yarker ' s that the York Masons

recognised the Knights Templar and the priestly order of Mclchezidck . Where Bro . Yarkcr got his information from I know not ; it is new to mc , and will be , I fancy , to Bro . W . J . Hughan . The York Masons worked no degrees but the three Craft , and the R . A . Knight Templarism appeared among them about 17 S 0 , not earlier , anil it was altogether a separate grade , though the G . S .

of the Vrrk Grand Lodge then appears also to have been a Templar—hence the seeming union . Bro . Yarker may be in possession of facts of which I am ignorant . Of course he has some authority for his statement , so I shall be glac to know it . The old idea , so long prevalent , that York was the origin if High Grade development is a pure myth . A MASONIC STUHENT .

MASONIC JEWELS . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am very IIIULII obliged to Bro . Nepean for his reply to my letter upon the subject of Masonic jewels , but 1 certainly cannot agree with him in his saying that the jewel does not appertain to the Third Degree . I beg to

eiuote liro . Nepean s words , Certainly the rule laid down in the Book of Constitutions is rather vague , but we have no intimation either in the ritual or elsewhere that I know of , that that jewel in any way appertains to the Third Degree . " Now , in the first place , the " five-pointed star " represents the five p s of f p , which appertain to the Third Degree , and in the second place , on those points you are raised , and therefore must consider that the jewel

belongs to the I lurd Degree . As the question regarding this jewel has turned up , it will be as well to have this question finally settled at the-Grand Ledge " whether the jewel is a Third Degree jewel , " ' and all M . M . ' s entitled to wear it , " shoulel Ihcy wish to do so . What is the "Charity jewel " mentioned by Bro . Nepean ? I remain , yours fraternally , AN Esonmso M . M .

To Ihe Editor if Ihe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The much-vexed question of the legality of wearing such jewels as the five-pointed star , and square and compasses , as honorary jewels , is still open in your columns , and I am greatly surprised to see that they find in you an editorial adherent .

I fail to discover that the Hook of Constitutions in any way mentions the live-pointed star as a jewel appertaining to any degree in Masonry , nor do I see it mentioned anywhere amongst the jewels , except as forming part of that appointed for the D . G . M . Your correspondent Bro . J . J . II . Wilkins very dogmatically assures " An Enquiring M . M . " that the five-pointed star is a perfectly

legitimate jewel , ivc , because , forsooth , he has worn it in Grand Lodge , and at the installation of the Prince of Wales as M . W . G . M ., but because he incorrectly wears it , and it passes unnoticed by those who are engaged in more important work elsewhere , it does not f . illow that it is a legal jewel . I have seen the Mark jewel worn both in Grand Lodge and at the installation referred to , but that

does not constitute it a legitimate jewel . I agree with him , however , that the question should be at once set at rest , and can only say further that so much am I convinced of its illegality that should a brother enter a lodge in which I were W . M . I should at once request him to remove it .

I am yours fraternally , J . DANIEL AIOOIII :, P . G . S . B ., ling ., P . M . 281 , 1051 ; W . M . 1561 , tic [ Our correspondent docs not see that the five-pointed star is " consistent" with the three degrees recognised by Grand Lodge , the Mark jewel is not . —Ei > . ]

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys met on Saturday , November 6 , at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . J . Symonds , Vice-Patron , in the chair . The other brethren present were Bros . J . Boyd , Winn , Moutrie , Herbert Dickctts , I . I . II .

Wilkins , S . Rosenthal , Jesse Turner , J . C . Dwarber , J . G . Chancellor , J . W . Dosell , H . V . Garman , Hyde Pullen , George Palmer , -W . Paas , A . II . Diaper , F . Aellard , W . Roebuck , Col . Ridgway , N . G . Philips , F . J . Cox , C . Horsiey , II . Day , J . France , Benjamin Head , and others . Bro . Binckes , the Secretary , read the minutes of the

General Committee of October 2 nd , winch were confirmed . On the minutes of the Audit Committee being read , and which showed a balance in favour of the institution of £ 3681 5 s . 51 ! ., it was recommended that £ 2000 Consols should be purchased as an investment .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Bro . Dvvarber wished upon this to ask a question . He was not so frequent in his attendance at their committees as he ought to be , and the question he wished to put was . solely for the purpose of obtaining information , and that was , would the vote of the committee be final upon thh matter as to the proposeil investment in Consols . The Chairman said he believed so , as it was so in the

Girls' School . Bro . Dvvarber said he wished to have an answer either in the negative or affirmative . Had that committee the power to come to such a vote , or was there any other power to negative their action in this matter ? Several members . —No , no . Bro . Dwarber was very happy to hear it , and so he

believed would be every brother present , and he thought they ought to congratulate themselves on their prospects for the future . He was glad they had got some money to be invested in Consols , but at the same time he hoped there would be no attempt to force this charity beyond its healthy and natural limits . He hoped that it would allay the agitation which had been got up out of doors , and as they had

got something in Consols , it would be a happy thing for them to point to , and thus allay those agitating sr i 1 its who made attacks on their institution . It was then proposed , seconded , and carried unanimously , that £ 2000 Consols be purchased on behalf of the institution . Bro . Col . Ridgway ' said , as one of the members of the

committee , although he was not so frequent in his attendance as he ought to be , he thought that was a good opportunity for expressing his great satisfaction at the resolution which had just been passed . He could scarcely agree , however , with the brother who had just sat down , that while they invested a sum in Consols , they o : ; ght not to push the benefits of the society beyond natural and

health ) limits . Now , for his part , he believed tl-at there could be no limit to charity in Masonry , and tha ; no limits could be deemed unnatural or unhealthy when they looked at the progress of the school , the good ti . at was done in it , and the interest that was taken in it by the Craft . Their school afforded an immense amount rf education to the sons of their poorer brethren , and there could

scarcely be any limits to such a healthy extension of it . ( Cheers . ) He knew not what took place out of doors , but he thought that too much attention ought not to be paid to it , and if there was any complaint to be made , let those who made it come in doors and bring forward some specific resolution , for they all had a deep interest in the institution . They had to consider the proper condition of the school ,

and after having secured such great results in the benefit of education , they had still been enabled to invest £ 2000 Consols for future operations . It was for that the committee had great cause for congratulation , and it ought to inspire them with confidence for the future ( hear , and cheers ); and show to the world at large the successful position to which they had attained .

The next business was the reception of three candidates for the next election , and their names were orelered to be placed on the list . Bro . Binckes , the Secretary , then rose , and said he wished to call attention to a charge which had been made against him in a pamphlet which had been circulated by a member of the Provincial Grand Ledge of West

Yorkshire , i i conjunction with the late Head Master of the School , this being the first committee meeting since it had been issued . He should not have brought the matter forward weie the charges confined to the management of the institution or its condition , his own manner , demeanour , or the language he employed , for those were matters upon which every brother had the right fully and freely to

express his opinion ; but when imputations were made upon him in a pamphlet circulated throughout the Craft , in which he was charged with being guilty of a malversation of the funds of the institution , and after having for 14 years acted as their Secretary , he felt bound to clear himself in the mind of every member of that institution . Such a charge could not be made with impunity , for it cut at

the very root of mutual confidence which without he had no right whatever to hold the position of their Secretary . He confidently asserted , without fear of contradiction , that no item of expenditure , whether it was for food , clothing , or anything else , had ever been passed without the proper voucher for it being brought before the committee . In a pamphlet published in reply to one by himself at page 20

he found the following words : — " Since writing , and as we had hoped , concluding , the preceding pages , wc have discovered an item in the accounts for 1872 , 18 73 , anel 1874 , which of itself is enough to warrant us in contlemning in the strongest terms the way in which the school expenditure is presented . We refer to the item under the head of " Gratuities " to ( with grants and outfits for ) boys

leaving the institution . The amount expended ( see different reports for 1872 , 1873 , and 1874 ) for the last three years is £ 314 5 s . ( viz . £ 119 in 18 72 , £ 126 ios . in 1873 , and £ 68 15 s . for 1874 ) , of which sum only £ 172 10 s . are accounted for , leaving £ 141 15 s . of which no account is rendered . " In page 30 it goes on to say : — " In fine , all the retums under this head of grants are so confused that

it is not surprising that those who before investigated them have been entrapped . We have looked in vain for the missing sum of £ 141 15 s ., and must wait , perhaps , till some satisfactory explanation is given of this most bewildering statement of accounts of a great and noble institution , supported by the voluntary gifts of some hundreds of our brethren . " Now , he said , it did not require anv

great knowledge of the English language to sec that if these words meant anything at all they meant this , that he , as the Secretary of their institution , had embezzled the sum of £ 141 15 s . Although every item was doubly checked , the inference which his accusers wished to be drawn was that he had appropriatcel £ 141 15 s . to his own use . Now , he had had a statement prepared ,

“The Freemason: 1875-11-13, Page 11” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 23 March 2023, masonicperiodicals.org/periodicals/fvl/issues/fvl_13111875/page/11/.
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Title Category Page
TABLE OF CONTENTS. Article 1
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 1
Royal Arch. Article 4
Red Cross of Constantine. Article 4
Scotland. Article 4
CONSECRATION OF THE MORECAMBE LODGE, No. 1561. Article 5
CONSECRATION OF THE ELLIOT LODGE (No. 1567). Article 6
Masonic and General Tidings. Article 6
Reviews. Article 7
FREEMASONRY IN INDIA. Article 7
ROYAL ARCH MASONRY IN CONSTANTINOPLE. Article 7
TO OUR READERS. Article 8
TO ADVERTISERS. Article 8
Answers to Correspondents. Article 8
Untitled Article 8
OUR ROYAL GRAND MASTER'S VISIT TO INDIA. Article 8
NEW LODGES. Article 8
SEMPER EADEM. Article 8
MASONIC TRUTH. Article 9
JOTTINGS OF TRANSATLANTIC FREEMASONRY. Article 9
ALBÆ DIES. Article 9
Original Crrespondence. Article 10
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Article 11
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Article 12
CONSECRATION OF THE MOUNT EDGCUMBE LODGE, NO. 1554, AT CAMBORNE. Article 13
THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS, AND THE PROVINCE OF WEST YORKSHIRE. Article 13
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM. Article 13
METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 13
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Original Crrespondence.

uoeni is made up of many old " saws , " which he has incorporated into and perhaps expanded in his witty verses . Bro . Bernard will have it that 1 did quote Butler , though 1 1 say I did not , and in his superabundant spirit of the truest Masonic teaching , he not only gives me the lie direct but is persuaded that I have never read Butler at all . This , I beg to observe , is a piece of gratuitous and vulgar

impertinence . After a longish life , and much careful study of the English as well as foreign and ancient classics , it is a little too bad to be told by a brother svho professes to write Masonically , though he knows nothing of me he says , that he will be " greatly surprised " if I possess - " any familiarity " with the poem .

Those of us who have read "Typcc" will remember hsw the amusing writer finds one great merit in poor " Toby , " that he knew his Hudibras , and as Butler has been very familiar to me for many years , and many are the quotations I have transcribed for " lectures" and other purposes from its pleasant pages , lam not likely so to have blundered . I was also aware that an old

controversyhad taken place about this very couplet , and that the commonly quoted verses were not Butler ' s actually , though very commonly attributed to him—that is to say . that the correct version was somewhat different . I should then not have been guilty of such literary " laches , " as quoting Butler for what he did not actually write . III . With regard to Bro . Bernard ' s misspelling , when in

one place he spells " odorous " " orelerous , " and 111 another " oderous " in the same copy one cannot but feci that a writer who is so slipshod in his spelling , and also in his verbiage as " do he , " which is a pure " provincialism " is not a competent critic of any other writer , and thai all

such pesuelo criticism in his hands is ridiculous and unmeaning , in fact hardly deserving of notice . IV . One thing is clear from this correspondence , how personal and how perverse some Masonic correspondents can be . T . pt me rerommenil Bro . Bernard before he ventures

again to assail others to remember , that ignorance is not criticism , anel vulgarity is not wit . The Freemasonry we both profess tei believe in might have taught him a truer love , and as 1 do not wish to waste my time in replying to a correspondent who , instead of being critical , is only personal , I must decline the honour of continuing such a puerile and worthless logomachy . TIIK WHITISH or THE AHIICI . I :. [ This coirespondence must now cease ] .

THE MASONIC CHARITIES . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Allow me to corect what appears to be an error in your article entitled "Recent Provincial Grand Lodges , " published in your last number . You say , " In West Lancashire , under the presidency of

our active and distinguished Deputy Grand Master , the Provincial Grand Lodge ( in accordance with the powers of the Book of Constitutions ) has unanimously resolved to tax all the lodges in West Yorkshire for the purposes of benevolence , and in order to aid the charities . " And you further add , " No doubt this may appear , and probably will be , a heavy burden on some lodges which are not so

prosperous as others , but it is a step which we venture to deem greatly calculated to promote the cause anil real end of Freemasonry . " * Now I think you must surely be in error , for West Lancashire has no power or authority to tax West Yorkshire for the benefit of the Masonic charities . . But if you really mean that West Lancashire is about

to tax all the lodges in that province for the benefit of the charities , I for one am very glad to hear of it , inasmuch as I have for a long time thought that a pro rata system of support of our charitable institutions would be more reliable and efficient than the present impulsive and desultory mode . In fact , I have on two separate occasions brought the

subject under the notice of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire ; the first time was so far back as 18 G 8 , and the second was at our last Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Sheffield on the 20 th ult . On the first occasion I proved from statistics extending over the previous five years that less than twopence-halfpenny per member would have been sufficient to meet all the claims made upon

West Yorkshire during that time ; and I have not the slightest doubt that a similar small sum pro rata would meet all our present claims . This , I think , is an answer to your remark that the pro rata principle would be a heavy burden 011 some lodges , for surely any lodge ought to be able out of its yearly income to afford such a small sum , nay , even were it doubled or trebled , it would only be cutting down a supper or two

during the year , in order to meet any additional demand for the support of our charities . And when wc consider that the lowest yearly subscription to a lodge is one guinea per year , it is obvious the pro rata system would not be a burden upon any . I remain , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , S . O . BAILEY , P . P . G . S . of W ., W . Yorks . * West Yorkshire was a misprint for West Lancashire .

THE MARK . DEGREE . To Ihe Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me ( through your paper ) to thank " Mark Master " for answering my queries so fully , and for which

I am obliged , especially for answer No . 4 , and if the English Royal Arch Masons , not being Mark Masters , are debarred from entering a chapter while at work in Scotland , Ireland , Canada , and the United States , fire , the sooner it is made likewise compulsory in England the belter , either before

Original Crrespondence.

exaltation or before Royal Aich certificate is granted . If the Mark Degree is recognized by the lodges so much abroad it should be in England -, at all events , I am about to be exalted ( hence , my making the enquiry I have ) , and have come to the conclusion that I had better become a Mark Master also , as I should feel rather vexed , as an

English Royal Arch Mason abroad , to find myself shut out of a chapter at work through not being a Mark Master . The English Masonic laws want mending on this point , it appears , otherwise it would render their own Royal Arch perfect , so as to enable them to enter foreign chapters without the inconvenience of being elebarred therefrom . Yours fraternally , As- ENQUIRING M . M .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir anel Brother , — I do not propose to take part in this controversy , for it is in able hands , further than to say that I quite concur with " P . M . of Mark Lodge " as to his statements anent the York Grand Lodge and Mark Masonry . I note a statement of Bro . Yarker ' s that the York Masons

recognised the Knights Templar and the priestly order of Mclchezidck . Where Bro . Yarkcr got his information from I know not ; it is new to mc , and will be , I fancy , to Bro . W . J . Hughan . The York Masons worked no degrees but the three Craft , and the R . A . Knight Templarism appeared among them about 17 S 0 , not earlier , anil it was altogether a separate grade , though the G . S .

of the Vrrk Grand Lodge then appears also to have been a Templar—hence the seeming union . Bro . Yarker may be in possession of facts of which I am ignorant . Of course he has some authority for his statement , so I shall be glac to know it . The old idea , so long prevalent , that York was the origin if High Grade development is a pure myth . A MASONIC STUHENT .

MASONIC JEWELS . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am very IIIULII obliged to Bro . Nepean for his reply to my letter upon the subject of Masonic jewels , but 1 certainly cannot agree with him in his saying that the jewel does not appertain to the Third Degree . I beg to

eiuote liro . Nepean s words , Certainly the rule laid down in the Book of Constitutions is rather vague , but we have no intimation either in the ritual or elsewhere that I know of , that that jewel in any way appertains to the Third Degree . " Now , in the first place , the " five-pointed star " represents the five p s of f p , which appertain to the Third Degree , and in the second place , on those points you are raised , and therefore must consider that the jewel

belongs to the I lurd Degree . As the question regarding this jewel has turned up , it will be as well to have this question finally settled at the-Grand Ledge " whether the jewel is a Third Degree jewel , " ' and all M . M . ' s entitled to wear it , " shoulel Ihcy wish to do so . What is the "Charity jewel " mentioned by Bro . Nepean ? I remain , yours fraternally , AN Esonmso M . M .

To Ihe Editor if Ihe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The much-vexed question of the legality of wearing such jewels as the five-pointed star , and square and compasses , as honorary jewels , is still open in your columns , and I am greatly surprised to see that they find in you an editorial adherent .

I fail to discover that the Hook of Constitutions in any way mentions the live-pointed star as a jewel appertaining to any degree in Masonry , nor do I see it mentioned anywhere amongst the jewels , except as forming part of that appointed for the D . G . M . Your correspondent Bro . J . J . II . Wilkins very dogmatically assures " An Enquiring M . M . " that the five-pointed star is a perfectly

legitimate jewel , ivc , because , forsooth , he has worn it in Grand Lodge , and at the installation of the Prince of Wales as M . W . G . M ., but because he incorrectly wears it , and it passes unnoticed by those who are engaged in more important work elsewhere , it does not f . illow that it is a legal jewel . I have seen the Mark jewel worn both in Grand Lodge and at the installation referred to , but that

does not constitute it a legitimate jewel . I agree with him , however , that the question should be at once set at rest , and can only say further that so much am I convinced of its illegality that should a brother enter a lodge in which I were W . M . I should at once request him to remove it .

I am yours fraternally , J . DANIEL AIOOIII :, P . G . S . B ., ling ., P . M . 281 , 1051 ; W . M . 1561 , tic [ Our correspondent docs not see that the five-pointed star is " consistent" with the three degrees recognised by Grand Lodge , the Mark jewel is not . —Ei > . ]

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys met on Saturday , November 6 , at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . J . Symonds , Vice-Patron , in the chair . The other brethren present were Bros . J . Boyd , Winn , Moutrie , Herbert Dickctts , I . I . II .

Wilkins , S . Rosenthal , Jesse Turner , J . C . Dwarber , J . G . Chancellor , J . W . Dosell , H . V . Garman , Hyde Pullen , George Palmer , -W . Paas , A . II . Diaper , F . Aellard , W . Roebuck , Col . Ridgway , N . G . Philips , F . J . Cox , C . Horsiey , II . Day , J . France , Benjamin Head , and others . Bro . Binckes , the Secretary , read the minutes of the

General Committee of October 2 nd , winch were confirmed . On the minutes of the Audit Committee being read , and which showed a balance in favour of the institution of £ 3681 5 s . 51 ! ., it was recommended that £ 2000 Consols should be purchased as an investment .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Bro . Dvvarber wished upon this to ask a question . He was not so frequent in his attendance at their committees as he ought to be , and the question he wished to put was . solely for the purpose of obtaining information , and that was , would the vote of the committee be final upon thh matter as to the proposeil investment in Consols . The Chairman said he believed so , as it was so in the

Girls' School . Bro . Dvvarber said he wished to have an answer either in the negative or affirmative . Had that committee the power to come to such a vote , or was there any other power to negative their action in this matter ? Several members . —No , no . Bro . Dwarber was very happy to hear it , and so he

believed would be every brother present , and he thought they ought to congratulate themselves on their prospects for the future . He was glad they had got some money to be invested in Consols , but at the same time he hoped there would be no attempt to force this charity beyond its healthy and natural limits . He hoped that it would allay the agitation which had been got up out of doors , and as they had

got something in Consols , it would be a happy thing for them to point to , and thus allay those agitating sr i 1 its who made attacks on their institution . It was then proposed , seconded , and carried unanimously , that £ 2000 Consols be purchased on behalf of the institution . Bro . Col . Ridgway ' said , as one of the members of the

committee , although he was not so frequent in his attendance as he ought to be , he thought that was a good opportunity for expressing his great satisfaction at the resolution which had just been passed . He could scarcely agree , however , with the brother who had just sat down , that while they invested a sum in Consols , they o : ; ght not to push the benefits of the society beyond natural and

health ) limits . Now , for his part , he believed tl-at there could be no limit to charity in Masonry , and tha ; no limits could be deemed unnatural or unhealthy when they looked at the progress of the school , the good ti . at was done in it , and the interest that was taken in it by the Craft . Their school afforded an immense amount rf education to the sons of their poorer brethren , and there could

scarcely be any limits to such a healthy extension of it . ( Cheers . ) He knew not what took place out of doors , but he thought that too much attention ought not to be paid to it , and if there was any complaint to be made , let those who made it come in doors and bring forward some specific resolution , for they all had a deep interest in the institution . They had to consider the proper condition of the school ,

and after having secured such great results in the benefit of education , they had still been enabled to invest £ 2000 Consols for future operations . It was for that the committee had great cause for congratulation , and it ought to inspire them with confidence for the future ( hear , and cheers ); and show to the world at large the successful position to which they had attained .

The next business was the reception of three candidates for the next election , and their names were orelered to be placed on the list . Bro . Binckes , the Secretary , then rose , and said he wished to call attention to a charge which had been made against him in a pamphlet which had been circulated by a member of the Provincial Grand Ledge of West

Yorkshire , i i conjunction with the late Head Master of the School , this being the first committee meeting since it had been issued . He should not have brought the matter forward weie the charges confined to the management of the institution or its condition , his own manner , demeanour , or the language he employed , for those were matters upon which every brother had the right fully and freely to

express his opinion ; but when imputations were made upon him in a pamphlet circulated throughout the Craft , in which he was charged with being guilty of a malversation of the funds of the institution , and after having for 14 years acted as their Secretary , he felt bound to clear himself in the mind of every member of that institution . Such a charge could not be made with impunity , for it cut at

the very root of mutual confidence which without he had no right whatever to hold the position of their Secretary . He confidently asserted , without fear of contradiction , that no item of expenditure , whether it was for food , clothing , or anything else , had ever been passed without the proper voucher for it being brought before the committee . In a pamphlet published in reply to one by himself at page 20

he found the following words : — " Since writing , and as we had hoped , concluding , the preceding pages , wc have discovered an item in the accounts for 1872 , 18 73 , anel 1874 , which of itself is enough to warrant us in contlemning in the strongest terms the way in which the school expenditure is presented . We refer to the item under the head of " Gratuities " to ( with grants and outfits for ) boys

leaving the institution . The amount expended ( see different reports for 1872 , 1873 , and 1874 ) for the last three years is £ 314 5 s . ( viz . £ 119 in 18 72 , £ 126 ios . in 1873 , and £ 68 15 s . for 1874 ) , of which sum only £ 172 10 s . are accounted for , leaving £ 141 15 s . of which no account is rendered . " In page 30 it goes on to say : — " In fine , all the retums under this head of grants are so confused that

it is not surprising that those who before investigated them have been entrapped . We have looked in vain for the missing sum of £ 141 15 s ., and must wait , perhaps , till some satisfactory explanation is given of this most bewildering statement of accounts of a great and noble institution , supported by the voluntary gifts of some hundreds of our brethren . " Now , he said , it did not require anv

great knowledge of the English language to sec that if these words meant anything at all they meant this , that he , as the Secretary of their institution , had embezzled the sum of £ 141 15 s . Although every item was doubly checked , the inference which his accusers wished to be drawn was that he had appropriatcel £ 141 15 s . to his own use . Now , he had had a statement prepared ,

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