The Detection Of Crime.

much of the English jealousy on the subject is the fear , no doubt , that a high class body of detectives mig ht be used for political purposes . Thoug h we believe such an idea is a chimera , vet it is one which is characteristically English and deserves to be treated with respect .

That love for the Constitution , and that reverence for law and liberty combined , are , as it were , the clue to the real greatness of the English character , and the permanency and solidity of jinohsh institutions . As long as we hold to them fast and firm we are , humanly and

politically speaking , safe . But though this be so , there is no reason why we should run into the other extreme and prevent our detective officers carefully and perfectly fulfilling their important " metier . '' We are all of us aware from time to time of many remarkable robberies , acts of

violence , murders , crimes of special nature , which seem to defy detection , and evade the retributive punishment of a stern but tranquil justice . Why should this be so ? Of course in all things and all organizations of this earth imperfection and imcompleteness are to be found .

Nothing is absolutely perfect here , free from actual flaw or possible failure . But still the defect of proper detection is so great a blow to social welfare , and so great a reflection on the administration of the law , and so undesirable on every account , that we should always make the

greatest efforts , to use a common expression , to put everything into " ship shape , " to tighten up all the links which go to compose the encircling chain of police supervision and detection , as against that " classe dangereuse" which preys , so to say , on the very " vitals of society . "

We doubt very ' much whether we do enough to encourage the " esprit de corps" of the detective police . In our humble opinion , detectives should be purely detectives , judiciously and carefully selected from the divisions , and employed solely for detective purposes . A policeman who is

acting as a detective to-day , and may be standing at a crossing to-morrow , looking after . the light carts and timid old ladies , loses that interest in Iris special work , which is absolutely essential for the very purpose of detection , and in order to

encourage a class of " skilled detectives , ' we would give higher pay , and special allowances for emergencies , and for clothing , " coloured clothes , " as the old soldier ' s term was , with occasional rewards , and good superannuation pensions . And we feel sure that the expense

thus incurred , however it might startle some would-be economists , would not be thrown away , but would save in the long run a large amount of the property of the public , would laise the character of " Scotland Yard , " and materially augment the safety of the metropolis .

In all this we are not complaining of the detective system now in vogue . What it does do , it does well , it does very well , but we venture to think it might yet do better . There is in London , as elsewhere , in all large towns , and even in rural districts , a class of sleek but ill-conditioned

scoundrels , male and female , ( and the females are the worst — ask the police ) , who act as the " fences " of multitudinous light-fingered gentry and femininity . Without their aid and countenance , and " cheek , " and skilled criminality , our pickpockets , and housebreakers , would be

nowhere . It is this most dangerous class of all , with which only skilled detection can successfull y cope , and until it does so , society must be alarmed , and social security impaired b y those sadder and startling crimes of humanity which

take away our breath for the moment , which apparently are undiscoverable by the police , and onl y serve to make the fortune of the secret receiver of stolen property , who battens on the plunder of a suft ' ering public .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

l IVe do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving * - 'ineopinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in linff ? " .- , i fldLy t 0 all > t 0 permit—within certain accessary 'units—free discussion . —Eu . l

INSTRUCTION . To the Editor of the Freematon . "ear Sir and Brother , — ti ' am a rov nc-al brother , staying for a short ime in London , and eagerly availing myself of every opportunity to witness thc working of Metropolitan Masonry , influenced b y this motive , I visited the Emulation Lodge

Original Correspondence.

of Improvement with the most sanguine anticipations , from thc high reputation which ^ that lodge enjoys for the precision ami accuracy of its working . 1 retired from the lodge a sadder , though not a wiser rain . The Master " gabbled " the ceremony of the Third Degree with considerable fluency antl tolerable correctness , but without any attemnt at emphasis or impressiveness . The Wardens

"bungled , " as Wardens will , but did not deem it necessary to repeat correctly the parts in which they had blundered . Thc Deacons stood not " upon the "order of their going , " but stumbled , now against each other , now against thc candidate , with charming " insouciance . " The candidate evidently regarded the whole thing as a hnrr- and nnitp - "iirrperlpfl in r-nmmnnir-arincr hie fpplin . rc tn

one brother . The Instructor enunciated his corrections in a contemptuous tone of superb pococurantism , without troubling himselfin the slightest degree to see them carried out . And this was the Emulation Lodge of " Improvement . " Save the mark ! In my little country town we should call ita " slovenly rehearsal . " I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , RUSTICUS IN URBE .

THE WIDOW OF THE LATE BRO . FARNFIELD . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have been asked so many questions with respect to Bro . Henry Greene ' s motion to grant an annuity to my- ^ mother , that I think it only fair to state through the medium of your paper , that the notice of motion was given

without any previous communication with my mother , brothers , or myself , and , therefore , of course , without our sanction . The notice was not renewed at my earnest request , as I am both able and willing to supplement the income left by my late father so as amply to provide for my mother and sisters . Bro . Greene knows , and it is , therefore , almost

unnecessary to state here , that we arc deeply sensible of the good feeling which prompted him to act as he has done in the matter . By inserting this letter you will greatly oblige , yours fraternally , J . A . FARNFIELD . [ We ' publish this letter at the special request of our esteemed Bro . J . A . Farnfield . ]

THE " FREEMASON . " Dear Bro . Editor , — A few days back I accidentally called upon a brother Mason . It was towards the eventide , and the first thing that caught my eye after the formal salutations had subsided was thc " Freemason . " I took it up , but in so doing the — "there's nothinrr in it . as usual . " was the ohservatinn .

I put it down again , made no comment , but silently said , I shall get my own on reaching home . I very eagerly enquired , " has my * Freemason ' arrived yet ? " The reply was "Yes ; I devoured it at the same time I did my dinner , and certainly it helped to digest my solid menu . " These are the remarks I wrote round the margin of the paper : — " I don ' t remember thatl have ever read with such

nleasure and delight the varied articles that appear in this week's issue ; they are really full of intrinsic value , and show the thoughtfulness of the writers and the appreciative worth of the editor . Some of the following particularly drew forth marks of approval on the writer's part , viz .: Earnestness in the performance of Masonic duties ; ' 'Making Lodge Meetings attractive : '' Let us be Sociable : ' 'Some of

the Peculiarities , ' etc . All these short papers had a charm for me , and I came to the conclusion that there was something 'in it' worth reading and thinking about . More , I am inclined to think that if we Freemasons were more in 'the spirit' we should get at the core and inner part ot the essence of our Ordei's power -, but remarks

depreciatory , made abstractedly , like the ' nothing in it , ' are calculated to lower the blue Standard . I believe in ever raising it high up and above all others , so that our detractors may see rays of lig ht emanate from it ; and short papers , such as those mentioned , will soon draw down " hearty good wishes " for the " Freemason . " AUGEN MASS IIAUEN .

HISTORY OF THE CRAFT . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am a young Mason and naturally wish to know something of the history of the Craft . Would you ,

or one of your numerous subscribers kindly inform me of any book that bears on tl * e subject . A reply will greatly oblige , yours fraternally , F . C . [ Obtain Findel ' s History , from Bro . Kenning , 19 , 8 , Fleet-street . ]

BRO . SIMPSON'S MOTION IN GRAND LODGE . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — May I ask why Durham , the University of the north , has been omitted in thc motion proposed by the Rev . R . J . Simpson , Grand Chaplain ? If the project mentioned by him be accented I certainly

think north country Masons will feel very much chagrined that no notice is taken of their claims . As a member of the University of Durham , and an officer of Provincial Grand Lodge , I take the earliest opportunity of pointing out the great injustice of confining the scholarships to the older universitiss . There are as many old and influential Masons in the north , who , while anxious that

the project brought forward by the Grand Chaplain should succeed , would still fiel injured if their claims were not also considered . I trust you will kindly g ive this letter a place in your valuable columns , and oblige Very faithfully yours , " vV . LEHMAN , Prov , G , Chaplain of Durham .

A Little Friendly Gossip On Some Of The Topics Of The Day.

A LITTLE FRIENDLY GOSSIP ON SOME OF THE TOPICS OF THE DAY .

BY PHILANTIIROPOS . ( If ' ritteii Especiall y for the " Freemason . " ) No . 5—EDUCATION . —Continued .

As I am writing these papers for the purpose of information more than discussion , and am stating , I hope

inoffensively , my humble views on the subject , having studied it , and practically attended to it for many years , I propose in this papersimply to deal with thc matter from its purely scholastical aspect . It is , I think , happily evident that we have , or soon shall have , sufficient accommodation in our elementary schools for all of school age who can

attend them , but it is one thing to have the schools , it is quite another thing to fill them . Unfortunately , the difficulty of attendance is still a grievous difficulty for the schoolmaster . Of the 2 , 744 , 300 children on the registers , 2 , 221 , 745 were present on the day of inspection , and the average of the yearly attendance was 1 , 813 , 800 . On both these points considerable

improvement must be made , and though we cannot hope that the next report will testify that all the improvement we look for has been arrived at , yet we may fairly trust to a larger average attendance , and to an increased number present on the day of inspection . It will be a happy time for all true friends of education when they are told , that in " one way or other the whole school age available for the

elementary school is alike on the registers , and even in partial attendance , inasmuch as then our generation will have done its duty , of not allowing any little atom of the aggregate knowingly to grow up in utter ignorance in its very midst . It is to this end that all our efforts should be directed without party zeal or sectarian bias , to extend the area of education , and to increase the roll of the educated .

And here there comes in a most important question , "You have the schools , and the children you are rapidly getting in . What about the education given ?" The report very properly complains that the actual education of a large number of the children is still imperfect , and this we must at once concede . But then we feel bound to say this . Education may be said to be partly in a

transition state , and the numerous changes of the last four years have rather interfered with the unexcited discharge of the schoolmaster ' s duties . We are hardly yet settled down to our work , and we must not be too impatient for results , but must leave a good deal to time and toil , In the meantime we may be satisfied of this , that the

general tone and scope ol education are rising amongst us , some think are already too high . I do not , for this reason mainly , that those who have had most to do with education know well the shortness of time in which we can educate the children in the elementary schools , and that if children wish to be fully educated they must build on elementary education , an

after education of their own , whether in night schools , or Sunday schools or classes , or libraries , or lectures , and the like . I will defy any one [ to lay down a minimum of education for a school without doing serious damage , alike to education and the child -, and the aim of the true teacher is to impart as much as he or she can in a short time , in a thoroughly sound and lasting manner . I quite admit

that thc argument at first sight is a formidable one , " do not over educate the child of a working man , for instance , and simply give him thc rudiments of a fair education , for if you do you may unfit for him his work . " But when you come to look clearly into such an averment , you soon find out its fallacy and its unsoundness . The child is sent to school to be taught the elementary

portion of education , its rudiments , but with a view also , do not forget , to after improvement and self education . No one can seriously venture to contend that school education is all for the child . And what ri ght , moral or individual , have you or I , to fix an arbitrary standard of elementary education , and say to A , B , C , D , " You are the sons and daughters of working people , and , therefore , I will only

give you a certain amount of teaching , because if I inspire you with higher tastes , or put you in the way of . acquiring higher branches of human learning , you . will be rendered unfit for your station in life , and that calling which , humanly speaking , is to be yours ? " No one has a right or Warrant , so to speak , or so to act j and it is quite clear that those good folks who still advocate

educating people to fill their proper places alone , who think the minimum is preferable to the maximum for a large class of our children , have no confidence in education per se . Remember here , by education , I mean good , sound , useful , religious education , and that 1 would give liberally and loyally , and unstintedly to all . It is no valid objection to say , as some do , that some may make a bad use

of education . So may some people do with anything here , without any exception , Does it belong to us to forecast the future , or limit the onward progress of events ? Certainly not ! We have no authority anil no call to say " a Httle learning is a dangerous thing , " and then build our theory of etlucation on the application of this axiom to thc poor little atom by an infinitesimal process of

education . No , we are to do our duty in ' our time and generation , we arc to educate all who ought to be educated , and we are to leave the result confidingly in the hands of a higher power than man . Hence , I would give to every child a thorough grounding in reading , writing , and arithmetic

up to practice , in dictation , grammar , and history , in music , drawing , geography , and the use of the globes , and last , not least , book-keeping , double entry and English composition . It is impossible in an elementary school , it appears to me , to teach foreign languages , or thc higher branches of arithmetic or mathematics . 1 believe a good deal of harm . is done by cramming the chjldren , for instance ,