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LET our good brethren in some foreign jurisdictions clearly understand what . it is we arc complaining of and find fault with in England , as there is a little misunderstanding seemingly on the subject . We do not for one moment affect even to question the full independence of all legall y formed and existing jurisdictions , and their power and right to make such alterations from time to time in their general laws and regulations which commend

themselves to their sense of what is needful , or best for their own jurisdictions . But wc object strongly to their calling" themselves Freemasons , claiming intercourse and recognition from -us and others , and deliberately departing from the old landmark of universal Freemasonry since 1721 , —reverential recognition of the GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE . We . also . distinctly repudiate all bodies which under the guise of Freemasonry

abandon their honoured position of toleration nnd neutrality , and mix themselves up with political , religious , or even social questions , with which as Freemasons they have positively nothing to do . We further repudiate all Freemasons everywhere , who in any way , actually or by implication , link themselves on to illegal secret associations and conspiracies against the State , or in any measure appear to sympathize with

or identify themselves with such hateful and pernicious bodies as Carbonari , Philadelphes , Fenians , La Maryane , Madre Natura , United . Irishmen , Nihilists , and Americp- Hibernian Destructives and Dynamiters . Until some-of the foreign jurisdictions retrace their steps , disavow such destructive and dangerous tendencies and theories , as our Grand Lodge has unanimously and distinctly decided , we can have nothing to do with them , lior allow the slightest interchange of Masonio amenities .

# * # WE call attention to a' most important paragraph elsewhere relating to some discussions anent the . Grand Lodge of Quebec . It would seem clearly established therefrom that on the 17 th February , 1874 , the Grand . Lodge of Quebec , as a term of its recognition by the Grand Lodge of Canada , through a Joint Committee formed to bring about a settlement between the

two Grand Lodges , agreed to recognize the Concordat between the Grand Lodge of Canada and the Grand Lodge of England , and , if reluctantly , the legal existence of the three English lodges at Montreal specifically . The report of the Committee agreeing to this concordat went before each Grand Lodge , and was unanimously approved of . Bro . GRAHAM was then Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Quebec . In 1 S 81 the Grand

Lodge of Quebec by an " ex post facto " resolution deliberately repudiated thc above agreement and concordat . Bro . GRAHAM was again Grand Master on tlie throne when this second resolution was passed . ' Comment seems to . us superfluous . - But we commend the fact , for fact it is , to the very serious consideration of all our American brethren , and equally our good brethren in thc Canada and Quebec Grand Lodges . It is to us new matter . Wc shall recur to the subject next week .

# * # THE Grand Lodge of South Australia has been formed , as we . read in the South Australian Register of April 18 th , and out of 33 lodges only one refuses to connect itself with the movement . Of which Constitution that is deponent saith not , as he is not told . There are 20 English lodges , with 1428 members ; 7 , Irish lodges , with 572 ; and 6 Scotch , with 541 ; in all

2541 subscribing members . We should have ourselves augured better for the reality of the movement and the stability of the . " venture , " if we had not noted the absurd statements by many itinerant agitators . To one we called attention some time back , but no response has come from the Antipodes , namely , the bold assertion of the contributions of the brethren of the English lodges in South Australia to benevolence , those contributions

in fact representing * * the admirable figure of o . The high character of the new GRAND MASTER , and his ability and social position , seem to show that the severance was really desired- by thc majority of thoughtful English Freemasons . The English Grand Lodge , of course , is not likely to seek to put any impediment in the way of such a deliberative enunciation of Masonic public opinion . For it , ' the matter ends . We feel bound , however , to protest against the odious , and un-Masonic allegation of . the

Sydney Freemason , that it is love for the cash which makes our Grand Lodge antagonistic and indifferent on the subject . . The words which follow ' are un-Masonic , unfair , and untrue— ' ' A certain lew have sent home garbled statements , and it . suits the governing powers to . continue to wink while certain fees are annually floating into their treasury . " Thc Grand Lodge of England , one of the richest Masonic bodies in the world , can afford to smile at such ridiculous outbursts of ill-considered petulance .-

* * * WE . take the following from our esteemed contemporary the Masonic Token ( Portland , Maine , U . S . A . ) . We felt a good deal about its expression of opinion , but quite reciprocate its kindly assurances * . " The London Freemason of April iglh launches a heavy editorial at the Token in answer to one censuring its course on the Quebec question , which it supposes to have

seen in the Token . Wc trust the explanation that it was some other paper will be a ' sufficieht reason for it to withdraw what it says about the- Token . We may also add that it is impossible for the Token to say that ' The Freemason has lost the entire confidence of thc Token . ' VVe have the utmost confidence in its judgment and the . utmost respect for its opinions , even vhen they oppose doctrines which arc considered settled among us . " .

# # THE price of Masonic books is greatly on the increase amongst us , probably fostered by an augmented demand in America , where , amid our very numerous Brotherhood , the creation andsustensation of Masonic libraries is , very much to the credit of our American Brotherhood , liberally encouraged and developed . We hear week by week of books which we

ourselves purchased for a few shillings some 20 years ago fetching as many pounds , and we are informed on the best of authority that the demand for Masonic and Hermetic books is very much on the increase just nowr Indeed we are told every now and then of prices asked for and obtained which , to say the truth , are very absurd , and seem to us out of all proportion either to intrinsic value or external considerations . But a very curious and inflexible law is that of supply and demand .

History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

( Continued from page 28 / . ) 0 .. The measures that were adopted at this time were taken chiefly for the purpose of re-establishing order and securing a return of- that confidence which had been so rudely shaken by the malversation of the late Secretary . . Steps were also instituted with a view to-bringing thc boys more directly under the observation of the Committee , and to this end a list of those on the

establishment was made out and inserted in the minutes , full particulars being furnished as to the . age , date ot election , progress in study , & c , of each boy . From this list it seems that the number had gradually been reduced from 70 in 1821 to 48 , so disastrous had been the . conduct of Bro . Jackson . during his three years' tenure of the Secretaryship . But once . these arrangements had been completed the Institution went on its way , not

brilliantly , but tranquilly , without enthusiasm , and we fear we must add , without any marked degree of energy . The' chief characteristic of Bro . Moore ' s administration appears to have been a desire to keep things going as quietly as possible . He was not averse from progress ; on the contrary , under his auspices the Charity recovered much of its lost ground , and when he gave up the-reins of government the" strength of the Institution had been once

again increased to 65 . The Minutes bear silent testimony to the great personal interest he took in all that related to the Institution ; and a few years after his death , when another Committee were considering whether any , and if so , what steps could be taken in order to extend the benefits of the Charity , very kindly reference was made to the great zeal and' activity he had shown , and to the care with which hc had looked into every * " detail of

his ' work . Again , he is highly to be commended for having marked out for himself , on entering upon his oflice , a particular line of policy and consistently followed it to tlie very close of his career . It is stated incidentally a short time previous to his election that the funded property of the Institution consisted of ^ 900 Four per Cent . Stock . When he resigned in 1841 this property amounted to over ^ 6 . In short , Bro . Moore restored public confidence in

the Institution , he largely increased its funds , and as a consequence , its permanent income , and hc all but . raised the number of boys on the establishment to what it had been in Bro . Lindo ' s time . Yet any attempt . on the part of any Governor or member of the Committee to suggest any plan , which lay in his opinion outside the scope of his duty , was summarily and even severely checked . He appears to have adopted pretty much the same

views as his Royal Highness , the President of the Institution , and to have formally set-his face against whatever was not included in the bond which prescribed for him and the Committee the course they should follow .. To us it soems as if the deference which was lawfully and Masonically due to the illustrious President occasionally degenerated into something very like subservience . We say ihis not without reason . '

In October , 1830 , Bro . Coe , than whom it is impossible to imagine a heartier or more indefatigable supporter of the * Charity , gave notice of his intention " to take the sense" of the Governors and Subscribers'" on thc

propriety of erecting a Building for the Maintenance and Education of the Children , " and it was arranged that a Special Meeting should be held on the Sth of the following monthfor the consideration of- so important a proposal . But when the day arrived , thc paucity of members present was such . that the discussion was postponed , and in the end , deeming , that in the circumstances discretion was clearly thc better part of valour , Bro . Coe "

withdrew his proposal altogether . At the Quarterly Meeting on the 14 th April , 1834 , it was resolved , on the motion of Bro . Lythgoe , seconded by Bro . Coe , "That the Governors view with alarm the deficiency of the Receipts at the last Anniversary Festival" —the amount is stated in the Freeifinsons ' . Quarterly- Review to have been about JI 2 K 0—" as compared

with former years , and coupling that with the difficulty which existed in procuring the Stewards for that Festival , they cannot but attribute it to thc Orders of his Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master , especially-as one Lodge in thc Graft has openly declared a determination not to send a Steward whilst the first of those orders continues iii force . " It .

was further resolved that a Sub-Committee consisting of Bros . 1 . R . Smith , Thomas -F . Savory , R . F . Mestayer , Joseph Lythgoe , the Rev . Gilbert Gilbert , and R . H . Giraud—three to fqrm a quorum—be appointed "to frame a circular to be addressed by the Secretary to each Lodge subscribing to the Institution , detailing theOrders ofthe M . W . G . M ., and requesting the sentiments of thc Members in open Lodge thereon . " And in order that tlie

inquiry might be made as complete and comprehensive as possible , it was likewise arranged that the Sub-Committee do . " correspond with the Governors of thc Female Masonic Institution on the steps which may appear to be necessary or expedient with reference to such Orders , and that they ' be requested to communicate the result of the whole correspondence to the ¦ next Quarterly or a Special General Meeting of the Governors of this

Institution . " At thc Committee Meeting in May was -submitted a report of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on the rntlr April , al which there were present Bros . Moore , Savory , the Rev . G . Gilbert , and Lythgoe , when the first three declined to serve , and Bro . Lythgoe requested the Secretary to summon the other members on the 26 th of the month , when it was resolved •' " in consequence of Bros . Moore , Savory , and Gilbert having withdrawn

from the Sub-Committee that it be recommended to the Governors at large to call a Special General Meeting , to determine the ' steps necessary to . be taken with reference to the Orders of thc M . W . Grand Master , and that the remaining members of the Sub-Committee donot proceed further at present . " In this dilemma , ' the Committee , on thc motion of Bro . Lythgoe , seconded-by Bro . 'Crucefix , unanimously resolved

" That the Treasurer be requested by this Committee to call a Special General Meeting of the Governors and Subscribers to take into consideration the subject matter referred to a Sub-Committee at the last Quarterly General Meeting and the Report made thereon . " These strongly-worded propositions , and the , apparent determination of Bro . Lythgoe to proceed in the matter , must have had somewhat of thc effect of a bombshell suddenly

plumped into the midst of thc President and his familiars . At all events , on the 23 rd May , thc day appointed for the Special Meeting , the- chair was taken by no less a personage than his Royal Highness ' thc President ^ and Bro . Lythgoe , perceiving | no doubt the inability of pressing his inquiries , moved that no further proceedings be taken , on which his" Royal Highness

the Dukeof Sussex was " graciously pleased to explain fully the reasons which had induced him , as Grand Master , to issue the Orders lo be observed by the Board of Stewards for thc future Masonic Festivals , " and the resolution was adopted . In 1839 the Committee were , invited , to accept a sum of ^ 25 , being the one-third part of the proceeds of a Ball organised in aid of the funds of the three Masonic Charities by Bro , Crucefix and his fellow-