The Vote Of Confidence In The Committees And Executive Of The Boys School.

de against the School Committee and Bro . Rinckes . And these facts were rendered more * tense by the distinct and undeniable truth , that } jL write r himself of the pamphlets , open or ., resSed , and two brethren of West Yorkshire , bad recently attended a meeting out h

0 f the province , at Hull , where the parnp-] ets containing numerous unjustifiable , unworthy and personal charges against the entire administration of the School , had been p laced before 23 brethren in Hull , laid it is said , on the table by one of the

, three visitors . Hence it was patent to the meanest capacity that the whole proceedings of the last 12 months , whether defamatory of the official authorities or damaging to the financial prospects of the School itself , were still in full swing , in active operation , and must be checked ,

and must be clearly reprobated , if the real and lasting interests of a great institution were not to be sacrificed to most unwise prejudices , and most unfounded imputations . And we must be permitted here to observe , that anything more opposed to Masonic teaching and practice than the persistent circulation of these foolish and

unfratemal pamphlets we have never heard of or known . We feel , and all will agree with us , that somehow a stop must be put ' to proceedings so opposed to every true principle of Freemasonry . It was also equally plain that the Report of tHe West Yorkshire committee was a partial and onesided one , skilfully drawn up as far as the tables are concerned , but based on no reliable evidence ,

and certainly not on the evidence of any one who knew anything about the School . Whether we take the evidence ofthe D . P . G . M . as printed in the suppressed pamphlet to be a correct version of the evidence tendered , he being a member of the committee , with quasi judicial functions , or

the tables which Bro . Peeler it seems originally sent to the" Freemason , " and which we note arc again printed in the Report , we all must feel how utterly unreliable such so called evidence is : No one brother seems to have been called before the committee , who could have

g iven the committee any distinct information on the state of the School , nor was the evidence in any way ever submitted to any one connected with the School . For once our good brethren in West Yorkshire have forgotten " Audi alteram partem . " That the meeting of Monday became at last very impatient with the obvious

device to speak against time , we are not at all surprised and we think that the best thanks of all are due to Brother Clabon for his admirable chairmanshi p fiom first to last , as well as for his very properly closing , by a vote of the meeting , a very perverse and useless debate . We could have wished that the motion for

confidence , brought forward in the interests of peace , could have passed without opposition and " una voce . " But it was not to be ; nay , it was quite clear that in the present state of feeling of many of our good brethren in West Yorkshire , such a motion had very little chance of

acceptance as a soothing and a healing motion , though such was the intention of the proposer , who more than any one else , would naturally have the kindliest feelings for his West Yorkshire brethren . For this unfortunate stale of affairs in that good old province has been brought about

by unwise statements , foolish assertions , fallacious arguments , and , we regret to add , by a good many underhand and questionable proceedings . Several brethren , ill qualified even to affect to lead their brethren , have greatly contributed , instead of throwing oil on the troubled

waters , to add fuel to the flames . It will be sortie consolation to the administrative , therefore ? £ . ? ' Binckes , and all sincere friends of the institution , to remember that brethren from every province in England , and we have reason to know from West Yorkshire itselfsupported lL — ££ .

, . —•» - — -- — , - ___ ne motion of confidence , and we trust that when tnese angry feelings are past and gone which ibis reckless distribution of pamphlets has stirred "P . that the old " Entente cordiale " between the province and the Bovs' School will be revived .

vve hope that able brethren like the Mayor of Wakefield , Bro . Gill , Bro . Tomlinson , the nevv Chairman of the Charity Committee , and others may induce our good brethren in WestYorksnire ere long , to take a calmer view of things . VVe hve in an age of great sciolism , and greater

The Vote Of Confidence In The Committees And Executive Of The Boys School.

presumption , when the deductions of the reasonable are often discredited , and the puerilities of the loquacious are often praised , when logic is often at a discount , and common sense left out of court . Let us be on our guard then , sternly too , as regards our great educational

institutions , in respect of the quack medicines of the empiric , and the hopeless " high falutin " of the impostor . Education just now seems to be the hobby of every one who has got the gift of the gab , and is threatened with the worst of all interferences and patronage , the interference of

the charlatan , and the patronage of the incompetent . In this last discussion many have come forward to pronounce resolute opinions who have g iven no thought to the subject , and can only be a laughing stock to those who , for the best part of their lives have thought carefully over

the whole matter , and have devoted themselves to its habitual control and practical development . We congratulate Bro . Binckes and the House and Audit Committees on the result of Monday ' s proceedings , and we trust that our next anniversary festival of this great institution , will

evidenceTthat the provinces most heartily endorse the resolution of the Quarterl y Court , and disregarding all these hateful personalities , retain every confidence in those to whom are properly commi'ted the present arrangements and the future fortunes of the Royal Masonic Institution for our Orphan Boys .

The Enlargement Of The Girls' School.

THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

We feel quite sure that the Quarterly Court on Saturday last came to a wise decision in accepting Bro . Col . Creaton ' s motion for enlarging the Girls' School on the present site , and utilizing the present building . We feel equally persuaded that they exercised a wise discretion

in rejecting Bro . Raynham Stewart s amendment , which was practically an amendment entailing building elsewhere , in fact , the School of the future . Now we ventured to point out , just as Bro . Mason observed , that , in our opinion , the time for selling the present School site had not

yet arrived , and that it would be quite sufficient to consider the propriety of doing so when that good time coming did arrive . At present it . was clearly the better policy on every account to turn to the best account what we had , the more so as by Bro . Col . Creaton ' s scheme we should be

able to accommodate 200 girls , a very good number . The discussion of Saturday brought out nothing new . Bro . Dudley Rolls made an effective speech in favour of the School of the future , but the feeling of the meeting was so strong in respect of utilizing and adapting the

present buildings , only twenty-five years old , that the amendment was rejected by an overwhelming majority , and thc original motion , eventually carried unanimously . We congratulate Bro . Col . Creaton on the success of his motion , and hope that the House Committee will at once

take steps to carry out the resolution . If next April we can accommodate 200 children , it will be a very grand announcement to make to the Craft , that the committee will fill up the . School to its full capability , and endeavour comfortably to maintain and fittingly to educate 200 orphan

daughters of Masons . The sympathies of the entire Craft are with this admirable Institution , and we sincerely trust that the resolution of the last Quarterl y Court will lead to the permanent prosperity and the increased utility of the Girls ' School . We call attention to Bro . Col . Creaton ' s scheme elsewhere .

Old Minute Books.

OLD MINUTE BOOKS .

Why is it that we know so little of the early lodge life of English Masonry ? Are their no Minute Books , or were they burnt by scrupulous brethren years ago ? VVe are of opinion that many more exist than some of us dream of in our Masonic philosophy , and that a

careful search in old lodge chests will reveal to the Masonic antiquary and student many archaeological treasures . Bro . S . B . Ellis , of Sheffield , has recentl y been studying the old Minute Books belonging to the Chapter of Paradise , Sheffield , and the extracts he has most carefully made , ¦ we are requested to state , will appear in the

Old Minute Books.

" Masonic Magazine " for May . They are very striking and interesting , and will suggest many points of discussion amongst Masonic students . Take for instance these three . At one time the chapter is called an "Encampment , " at another

the three Principals are termed the "three Kings , " at another a Royal Arch Mason is described as a"citizen ofthe world . " These are a few of the very many interesting little matters which crop out of our Bro . S . B . Ellis ' s lucid arrangement of the chapter extracts . We have said

enough , we think , to make all our brethren read tor themselves the facts contained in the pages of the May " Masonic Magazine , " and we thank Bro . S . B . Ellis in these anticipatory remarks for his kind and interesting contribution to our current archaeological literature .

Comparative Cost Of The Boys' School.

COMPARATIVE COST OF THE BOYS ' SCHOOL .

We shall call attention to this most important subject again in our next issue , as certain facts came out at the Quarterly Court to which full justice could not then be done , and which are very remarkably in favour of the Boys' School administration .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

I We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving ofthe opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , ia a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . ]

CARDINAL MANNING ON THE STAGE . To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Sir , — I read , with some regret , the article which appeared with this heading- in your last issue , and I hope you will allow me to say that I am sure you have misapprehended the drift of Cardinal Manning ' s words in reference

to the stage . It is not with the stage itself that the Cardinal quarrels , unless the representations be in themselves bad , but it is against thc associations and surroundings of theatres that he feels bound to put those of whom he is the pastor on their guard . I have heard him say this in private ; and in his published sermons there is a passage which perhaps you will kindly allow me to quote : " I have

been often asked , during the long years of my duty of directing souls , whether it is lawful to go to a theatre . My answer has always been : If the representation is not bad in itself , I cannot forbid you . " After speaking of the abomination of the French stage , his Eminence continues : " As to our own theatres , 1 thank God it is not often they are openly or publicly stained . Such things happen

sometimes . Such scandals are imported among us . I leave the whole of this to your own consciences , saying only , that I would to God that those who can refrain from such things , as an offering to our Divine Redeemer , would refrain for ever . " I am , Sir , your obedient servant , WILFRID MKNNEI . L .

MASONIC DESIGNATIONS . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The thanks of your readers are due to your able correspondent , Bro . Hughan , for his information anent the proper Masonic designations of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers , etc . Probably not one toast list in a hundred at

our lodge banquets has the correct titles prefixed to the several names , and those who like to be correct in such matters will appreciate Bro . Hughan ' s " contribution . " Might I ask what is the correct designation of the Pro Grand Master ? Sometimes he is " dubbed " Right Worshipful , and others Most Worshipful . The latter hardly

seems correct , for there cannot well be two Most Worshipfuls . In a circular issued not long since from the R . M . B . Instit ., the designation was M . W . in one place , and R . W . in another . I have not yet seen the Pro Grand Master ' s title in any document emanating from Grand Lodge—he is simply styled Pro G . M . Yours fraternally , A W . MASTER .

MASONIC MEDAL . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have just met with a bronze medal of which I give you the following description : —It is ij inches in diameter , and i-i 6 th inches thick , and evidently of

modern execution . Obver . se a triangle enclosing the allseeing eye , the triangle being surrounded by radiated beams extending almost to the edge of the medal . At the head of the tiiangle is a ribbon with the motto , " Lumen De Lumine . '' Reverse the incription , " Quoerite tt invenietis " on the exterior part , and en the field in three lines the following initial letters : —L . D . S ., C . D . T . D . L ., P . II . D .

S . A . D . E . I may observe that the medal was cL' * ribed to me as having been struck for a French lodge . I shall be glad if any of your readers can give me any information as to this medal , and as to the meaning of the ritual letters . Yours truly , Bolton , 10 th April / 18 7 6 . J , N ,