Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee held their monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Saturday , the 6 th inst . Bro . T . Hastings Miller , V . P ., occupied the chair , and among those present were Bros . G . P . Britten , Alfred Williams , S . Richardson , C . F . Hogard , T . Griffiths , G . H . Phillips ,

J . Rayner , VV . Roebuck , G . S . B ., Vice-Pat . and Trustee , j . Glass , Joyce Murray , Jas . Moon , F . VV . Ramsay , M . D ., G . Cooper , H . Young , J . L . Mather , Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D ., Trustee , Rev . Richard Morris , L . L . D ., M . A ., G . P . Gillard , Edgar Bowyer , P . G . Std . B ., H . Hooper , VV . Maple , Thos . Cull , J . S . Cumberland , A . E . Gladwell , G . P . Festa , H . Venn , and F . Binckes , P . G . Stwd ., Sec . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read

and confirmed , and those of the House Committee read for information , nine petitions were submitted and considered , with the result that eight were accepted and the names ordered to be placed on the list of candidates for the April election , and the other was deferred . Grants towards outfit in the case of four ex-pupils having been made , and the other business dealt with , the proceedings concluded with the customary vote of thanks to tbe Chairman .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The regular monthly meeting of the Committee of Management was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday afternoon . Bro . Edgar Bowyer , P . G . Std . Br ., presided , and there were present with others Bros . C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; H . Maudslay , Samuel Brooks , J . Newton , Hugh

Cotter , R . Turtle Pigott , P . G . A . D . C ; Alex . Forsyth , A . H . Tattershall , J . L . Mather , Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; J . A . Farnfield , C . J . Perceval , W . J . Daniel ! , VV . Belchamber , Joseph Freeman , John Bulmer , Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; C . H . Driver , Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; Wm . Hilton , J . J . Berry , and James Terry ( Secretary ) . The minutes of the last meeting having been read and

verified , the Wardens' report was read , and the Secretary reported the deaths of two male annuitants . The Committee took into consideration the petitions of six candidates , four male and two female , and in the result they were all accepted , and the names ordered to be placed on the list for the election in May , 1 SS 7 . The usual authority was given to the Chairman to sign

the cheques for paying the quarters annuities ; but , in order to provide the requisite funds , it was at the same time found necessary that thc Committee should sanction the withdrawal from the bank of £ 2500 , and this was accordingly ordered to be done . In answer to inquiries from various members of the Committee , the SECRETARY stated that at the present

time there were nearly 90 female candidates for election in May next , and not one vacancy , whilst for the men there were over 40 candidates and only one vacancy . He added that he should be very glad to receive the names of members of the Committee and other brethren as Stewards

for the approaching Festival in February , 1 SS 7 , as t " number at present enrolled for that occasion was below the average . The appeal , we are happy to say , was attended with favourable results . A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings .

The Influence Of Masonic Teachings Versus Freemasonry On The Wane.

THE INFLUENCE OF MASONIC TEACHINGS VERSUS FREEMASONRY ON THE WANE .

IN MEMORIAM—BRO . F . W . W . BOOTH , P . M . 3 S 7 , & c . The London papers of a week or two since announce that Monsignor Capel ( who is at present living in literary

retirement ) intends to publish a work on " the influence ano power of the Catholic Church in the United States . " It would be very bad form to eulogise one Society entirely at the expense of another , therefore we have no intention of finding fault with whatever power or influence it may possess there or elsewhere , nor of the Catholic Church , as a body , in any way . VVe could not help feeling , however ,

on reading the announcement referred to , how much might be written by a sufficiently well-qualified American brother on the influence and power in the same territory of a Fraternity whose sway and strength expands throughout the civilised world , mainly through the humanisation of races and the exercise of deeds of Charity and Brotherly Love . " Will it be always necessary , " asks one writer , " to

acknowledge that there are Masons and Masons ? " while distinguished brethren complain in desponding tones of the present position and future prospects of our Order . In reply to the query , we say that it will ; but surely there is nothing to be gained by a morbid contemplation of what ought to be . Let us rather refuse to have our energies in the good cause extinguished by a pall wrapped around us ,

the only excuse for which must be to hide from us as cowards what we ought to know is inevitable . For our part , we find there is very little difference between old men who perhaps never were Masons and old P . M . ' s . The one says , " When Iwasayoungman , " and | the other groans , " When I was Senior Warden ; " both find fault too often without thought , and both wish to go back to their " good old

times , " sincerely believing they would be better for us . Meantime Society will not either go back or stop , and the world goes on even at a faster rate . When we wish for the " good old times" is it not really the time when we had less responsibility , less care , and perhaps were more fortunate ? Let us do our part in the world as we find it , remembering that "he who perseveres in a just cause will finally

overcome all difficulties "—a maxim equally as profitable in the ordinary affairs of life as to desponding Masons . That there are frequent reasons for regret that unworthy men get amongst us it would be foolish to deny ; but we believe there are no more now than formerly , taking into account the vast increase of numbers . Let us be thankful , too , that

there are very many true Masons ( perhaps as many or more than the Fraternity 40 years ago numbered altogether ) , and proudly recognise the fact that whatever else Freemasonry is , its teachings cannot be found fault with . The sudden death of a worthy P . M . of Airedale Lodge , No . 387—the late Bro . F . VV . VV . Booth—furnishes us with an opportunity of paying a tribute of respect to his memory

The Influence Of Masonic Teachings Versus Freemasonry On The Wane.

and , at the same time , to demonstrate the opinions wc hold regarding the Masonic future . Bro . Booth was initiated in the Airedale Lodge , No . 3 S 7 , in 1 S 66 , and up to the time of his death was a member of it , and of the Moravia Chapter attached , being a P . M . of the former and a P . Z . of the latter . He was also a Mark Mason and a Knight Templar , and filled the office of Charity Steward of the lodge for many years , until he

resigned about a year ago in consequence of reverses ol fortune , which we need not dwell upon . Suffice it to say , the circumstances which brought about those reverses were not dishonourable , but such as _ the most uptight and honourable man has too often in these days to suffer , Having known him in his prosperity as a man of position and comparative affluence , we havealso partaken of his hospitality , and enjoyed his friendship under those conditions .

It has likewise been our lot to feel for him , and to sympathise with him , under far different circumstances , during a period when the master had to become the servant , struggling for daily bread with a broken spirit and the iron hand of poverty gnawing at his heart . At his daily work on Tuesday , he died early on the Thursday morning following , truly in harness both as a Mason and a man . The happiest hours of his life were those occupied in connection

with Freemasonry , and his zeal was unimpaired to the last . It has been well written that life's real heroes and heroines are those who bear their burdens bravely and give a helping hand to those around them ; and if our late dear brother could not conquer the sting of his misfortunes , he at least showed true heroism in his efforts to do so . Up to the time of his reverses no man was more ready than he to give a distressed brother " a lift on the way . " Of a

sympathetic , generous nature , he loved Charity work , and would have preferred being Charity Steward of 3 S 7 to the highest municipal or other honour that could be conferred upon him . Hood wrote , " How small is the sum ot Christian Charity under thc sun , " and as we grow older we learn to appreciate those ministering spirits in the garb of men who , despising the selfishness of the world at large , grasp the rough hand of a poor but worthy brother of the Craft , and

bend to dry his tears . How can we be otherwise than hopeful of our beloved Order , whilst its pages are gilded with the records of such deeds as this , done unostentatiously and without hope of reward , simply in the name of Masonry ? Do the little bits of worthless dross on the lapidary' table detract from the beauty of the diamond from which they have been separated ? What , we proudly ask , are the failings of the few to the virtues of the many ? VVe hasten to

assure all those worthy , but we think too-anxious brethren , who are , no doubt , zealously in fear for the Craft , that as the want of greater care is felt to be necessary , the lodges will certainly exercise that care , just the same as brethren feel called upon to execute deeds of Charity or carry out any other of the tenets of the Order . We can tell them with' pride that change of fortune in Bro . Booth's case could not change the feelings of those brethren whose

friendship he enjoyed in better days ; and as a Past Provincial Grand Officer of VVest Yorkshire ( at the regular meetings of which province his burly figure was well known ) he met with the genuine sympathy which leaves no loss of position . Many a strong man would have been stronger for a touch of the kindly sympathetic nature of Bro . Booth . Many a iveak Mason might probably have more easily resigned himself to altered circumstances ; but

both strong and weak are human , and the secrets of the heart lie unrevealed to us'in the grave . Still , it was not alone in his own lodge , nor yet far and wide in the Province of West Yorkshire , that Bro . Booth found true friends and sympathisers where no doubt he least expected them . Outside of Masonry , too , this little leaven 01 the mass beamed out , and was strikingly displayed at the outset of our late brother ' s brief illness in

a manner at once touching , praiseworthy , and rare . There is a Hebrew proverb which reads " Look not on the vessel but on what it contains , " and it augurs well for the future of Freemasonry that its teachings still bring out the best qualities of men , and incite them to do their best to mitigate the sorrows of their less fortunate fellows . To act the

part of the good Samaritan in this age requires something more than the natural disposition to do it . The praise of men is erratic , and the fear of man ' s censure smothers many a good resolution . It is also true enough that , like Nicodemus , many men would steal to Heaven if nobody might see them , who will never get there because of the ever anxious fear that some one will .

VVe fear our desponding brethren fail to grasp the magnitude of our Institution , in the despair of zealous minds harassed by regretable local circumstances . Until we know of a church without hypocrites we will not despair of our Society ; nay , we must confess that , . while we are aware of far too many having entered our ranks who will never appreciate Freemasonry as we would have them appreciate it , yet we have further confidence for this

reason . Two persons applied some ten years ago for admission into a lodge . Both were Atheists , an- as such we strongly opposed them personally , with the result that they were respectively withdrawn and were never proposed . Not long after both were initiated in a lodge , or lodges , because there will alwaysbedegreesof care exercised inthese matters , not only in different lodges but in the same lodge at different periods . We would have our desponding brethren to take courage by the result . VVe met both soon after they had

passed the Third Degree , and since then have been constantly brought into contact with them . Better men and better Masons cannot be found , and it is scarcely necessary to add they are not Atheists . The almost hopeless strain of recent writers on Masonic apathy and blindness reminds us of a poem of considerable merit we met with recently , the subject of which was an old sexton . After repining at thc inevitable , becomes to a better state of mind , and the last stanza is as follows : —

" It may not be . With Time , he goes A shadow , through that place of woes , World-worn , and fain to have repose , Yet murmuring not at fate . It seems to him , on life's dark edge , At once a joy and privilege To trim that grave , and wait . "

All we have to do is as Masons to trim our individual lamps daily whilst we are here , so that they may shine brilliantly both inside and outside our lodges , and on the world around us . We must wait , though life is so very short , for the rectification of thc errors of a period . Yet it villi come , for there is more goes on silently and unseen in this world than is dreamt of in the puny philosophy of man . —Communicated ,

Grand Council Of The Allied Degrees.

GRAND COUNCIL OF THE ALLIED DEGREES .

The annual meeting took place in the Masonic Hall , SA , Red Lion-square , W . C , on Thursday , the 4 th inst . Bro . the Rev . Canon Portal , M . W . G . M ., presided , and among the Grand Officers and others to support him were Bros . J . L . Mather , D . G . M . ; Robert Berridge , G . S . W . ; C . F . Matier , G . Sec . ; James Moon , G . Treas . ; B . R .

Bryant , A . G . D . of C . ; Alfred Williams , P . D . G . M . ; C . H . Driver , P . G . S . W . ; Robert Roy , P . G . D . ; J . S . Cumberland , P . G . D . ; R . Loveland Loveland , P . G . I . G . ; R . J . Rastrick , F . R . Sewell , H . Pigeon , jun ., \ V . E . Stewart , J . Brittain , J . D . Hayes , F . Davison , A . H . Jefferis , and J . Terry . _ . , , , The minutes of the previous meeting have been read and

confirmed , the following report as to the progress of the Order , and its financial position was submitted and accepted unanimously : " The Council regret that the number of certificates issued since the last meeting of Grand Council has fallen below the average , which may be accounted for by the fact that the Secretaries of some of the councils have omitted

to make application for certificates for brethren admitted , and the Executive would desire to impress on the W . M . ' s and Secretaries the necessity of applying immediately after the various meetings are held . " The number of registered members is now 502 , 47 certificates having been issued during the year . " A warrant has been granted to Stewart Council , No . 16 ,

London , which was consecrated on Monday , 26 th January , by the Grand Secretary , assisted by many Grand Officers , both present and past . Several candidates were admitted to the various Degrees , and the meeting was highly successful . "A warrant of confirmation has been granted to the Council of Concord ( T . I . ) , Liverpool , who have surrendered

their warrant from the mother tabernacle , and whose members were formally obligated by the Grand Secretary on January 4 th . " The Grand Master has much pleasure in acknowledging the services of R . W . Bro . John L . Mather , the retiring Deputy Grand Master , and has nominated as his successor in this high position R . W . Bro . Charles H . Driver , P . G . S . W . " The Council regret to record the death of R . W . Bro .

William Prince , P . G . J . W ., one of the founders of Port Natal Council , No . 41 . He ; died on 14 th October at the early age of 2 G , sincerely regretted by his brethren both at home and abroad . " The Grand Treasurer ' s accounts are as follows : — " To Balance forward £ 54 9 1 ,, Cash a / c Banquet Tickets 13 10 o „ Cash a / c Fees , Certificates , & c . ... 29 6 1

" Less £ 97 5 2 " Expenditure 95 16 11 " Balance in hands of Grand Treasurer ... £ 183 " Audited and approved 23 rd October , 1 SS 6 . " ROBERT BERRIDGE , G . S . W . *) " CHAS . H . DRIVER , P . G . S . W . r Auditors .

"ALFRED WILLIAMS , P . D . G . M . J " By order of the Council , " CHARLES FITZGERALD MATIER , " Grand Secretary . " SA , Red Lion-square , London , W . C . "

Bro . Jas . Moon having been re-elected Grand Treasurer , the following were invested as Grand Officers for the year , viz : — Bro . Rev . Geo . R . Portal G . M . „ Chas . H . Driver D . G . M . „ Dr . Stewart G . S . W . „ A . H . Jefferis G . J . W .

„ C . F . Matier , P . D . G . M G . Sec . „ James Moon G . Treas . „ Rev . Richard Morris G . Chap . „ Lieut .-Col . Sewell G . S . D . „ R . J . Rastrick G . J . D . ,, Robert Berridge G . D . of C . „ James Terry G . D . A . of C .

„ Henry Faija G . Swd . Bearer . ,, C . Fendelow G . Std . Bearer . „ James Shilcock G . I . G . „ Dr . E . M . Lott G . Org . „ Percy Wallis * ) „ Money {¦ G . Stewards . „ Dr . B . Langley Mills ) „ E . J . Mills G . Outer Guard .

The Grand Council was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the customary banquet at the Holborn Restaurant , under the presidency of the Grand Master . In the course of the evening thc usual order of things was varied by the presentation of very handsome gold jewels ( manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , London ) ,

to Bros , the Rev . G . R . Portal , M . W . G . M ., and R . Berridge , P . G . S . W ., for their services in connection with the installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as G . Master ot Mark Masons , thc jewel presented to Bro . Portal being the gift of the Stewards at this year's Mark Benevolent Festival , and that to Bro . Berridge of the Special Stewards at thc installation . A

The Provincial Grand I ^ odge of Cambridgeshire will hold its annual meeting at the Red Lion , Cambridge , on Friday , the 19 th inst ., under the auspices of thc Lodge of the IhreeGrand Principles , No . 441 . The centenary celebration of the independence of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , which took place in the Academy of MusicPennsylvaniaon Fridaythc 24 th

, , , September last , appears to have passed off splendidly . The building- was crowded in every part , and the addresses of the chiefs—Bros . Mitchell , GM . ; Vane , P . G . M . ; and others—were very eloquent , and were listened to with rapt attention by the audience . Thc meeting of the Grand Lodge thc day followincr was also well attended , and the

ceremonies appointed for the occasion admirably carried out . TOBACCONISTS COMMENCING . —An Illustrated Guide of no pages How to open respectably from jtfao to jeaooo ; " three stamps , H . Myers & Co ,, 109 , Euston-rd ., London . Telephone No , 7541 , —[ A DVT . *