Correspondence.

Correspondence .

VVe do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

MASONIC IMPOSTOR . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother An individual calling himself E B , and claiming to be a

member of the Tyrian Lodge , No . 253 , Derby , is going about obtaining reliet . On inquiry the W . M . of this lodge informs me that the above individual is unknown in the lodge . He is evidently the same person mentioned in my letter ot the 12 th , as claiming to belong to the Devonshire Lodge , No . 625 , Glossop . — Yours fraternally ,

JAS . NEWTON , Prov . G . Secretary East Lancashire . Manchester , October 13 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1088 LODGE OF RESEARCH . I am very pleased to note the appreciative review of the last number of the Transactions of the " Lodge of Research , " so ably edited by my esteemed friend and brother , j . T . Thorp , the Secretary . May I state that copies may be had from my friend ( 57 , Regent-road , Leicester ) for 2 s . each . Each part is complete

in itself , and I think the latest is well nigh the best of the series , though all are good . It is difficult to condense one's remarks as to the Ritual question , but apart from the argument noted by the editor , 1 recommend all brethren who desire uniformity as far as possible , to become members of the " Emulation Lodge of Improvement , " as I have been from 1864 . W . I . HUGHAN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"THE TORCJUAY PICTORIAL , 1 S 96 . "— ( Ton / nay Directory , Newspaper , and General Printing Co ., Ld . — 'This is another edition of this truly wonderful and most artistic work , brimful of the beauties , advantages , and benefits of "the Queen of Watering Places " and Neighbourhood . Bro . William Winget , P . M . 1402 , is the Secretary of this real live Company , and has done much in many ways to bring Torquay before the public . The volume is the size of the " Graphic , " and contains quite a number of new views , besides most of Ihe eld favourite resorts , faithfully represented by local

artists , and the text has also been brought down to dale , so that it is complete as to all details , and well stored with numerous interesting particulars of this choice spot . Copies can be untfor I 5 d ., fer parcels' post , securely packed , and intending visitors to the West of England , and { specially lovely Devonshire , should secure the " Torquay Pictorial . " which is considered by competent judges to be the best work ot the kind published .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of this Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the 14 th instant . Bro . J . A . Farnfield , P . A . G . D . C , the Treasurer , was in the chair , and the members present included Bros . A . Mullord , C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; C . Sheppard , H . W . Clarke

Hugh Cotter , T . W . Whitmarsh , P . G . P . ; T . B . Daniell , G . E . Fairchild , A . G . D . C ; W . Lawrence , John Hattersley , Charles Lacey , C . J . R . Tijou , P . A . G . P . i F . Dangerfield , A . Durrant , Charles Kempton , J . Newton , P . G . P . ; W . H . Halbert , H . G . Thompson , F . Mead , P . G . S . B . ; P .. Griggs , C H . Webb , A . Moore , Harry Tipper , P . A . G . P . ; and James Terry , P . G . S . B . ( Secretary ) .

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the SECRETARY- reported the death of two male and three widow annuitants . The Warden ' s report for the past month was read , the name of an accepted candidate was removed from the list , and the application of a widow for the half of her recently-deceased husband ' s annuity was granted .

The Committee then proceeded to the consideration of nine petitions—six male and three widows—with the result that all were accepted , and the names ordered to be entered on the lists for the election in May , 1897 . A vote of thanks to the Chairman'terminated the proceedings .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The following are the documents referred to in our leading article on tl e i * Removal of the Boys' School " ; Edgmond , Newport , Salop , October 3 , 18 9 6 . Dear Bro . McLeod ,

Excuse my not acknowledging your courtesy in seeding me advance copy cf report as to removal of Institution . It was duly appreciated and read all the tame , and it is haidly needful to add my full sympathy and concurrence . It could r . ot fail to be patent to all those who have been closely connected with the School that a removal is not only on every ground desirable , but absolutely essential to any material extension .

It is , no doubt , a matter for great regret that so much money has been sunk and will be lost at Wood Green ; but it is far better to face the present loss and secure the health , prosperity , and progress of the Institution , than to attempt now to retrieve the irretrievable . Probably there was no want of judgment in the original selection of the site , but the neighbourhood has not developed as was then hoped , and has become decidedly unsuitable for such an Institution as ours .

The question of " boarding out " is referred to in the report . Surely this can be much better and more economically effected where desirable ( and it seems to me very much to be wished that it should be more largely adopted ; by the provinces individually , than through the Institution , whose work is different in character .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

It is not worth while to go through the trouble and cost of an election for the small annual _ allowance . The local associations will , I hope , take up this work , and make it supplementary to the Institution adapting their grants to the needs of each case . I am rather sorry not to be at your meeting this week in case of a discussion arising , but if the Church Congress did not stop me , I am still cripple enough to prevent my coming to town with any comfort . Yours truly and fraternally , J . BODENHAM .

28 , Jermyn-street , London , S . W ., September nth , 1896 . Dear Sirs , — In accordance with the instructions contained in your letter of the 7 th instant , I went down to Bushey on the gth and carefully inspected the Grove Park Estate in order to ascertain the nature of the soil and subsoil .

Owing to the fact that the whole estate is laid down in grass , I had some little difficulty in obtaining the evidence I required to enable me to form an opinion as to the soils , but I think I eventually succeeded in ascertaining the facts of the case .

The surface soil on the greater part of the estate , with the exception of the South corner , seems to be a sand y loam containing a few pebbles ; it might be called " gravelly soil , " but can scarcely be described as " gravel . " In the South corner , between Lodge Meadow-road and the divisional iron fence , the soil is clayey .

The subsoil varies considerabl y in different parts of the estate . In the Southwest corner there is sandy clay , or loam . This extends along the Avenue-road for perhaps 130 yards ; beyond this the subsoil consists of a deep bed of flint pebbles for some distance . Further still along the Avenue-road the subsoil changes to sand , which has been dug to a depth of 18 feet .

After passing the divisional iron fence , the subsoil is a fairly stiff clay . This clay extends in a North-easterly direction down the slope , as shown on the plan by the blue dots . The beds of pebbles and sand may be taken as extending , in the same direction , to the edge of the slope , as shown by the rei dots on the plan . The pebbles and sand may even extend some distance down the slope so as to include the old pit marked " gravel pit . "

The bed of pebbles is locall y termed " gravel , " but I could not ascertain what this pit was dug for . The soil along the water-course is loamy with a few pebbles ; on the top of the opposite slope , along Lodge Meadow-road , the soil is sand with pebbles . Though a great deal of rain has fallen lately—and was falling at the time of my visit—I fcund the surface of the estate dry , with the exception of the area covered by the blue dots on the plan , and even there the dampness was not very noticeable .

Speaking of the estate generally , I am decidedly of opinion that it is a desirable property if it can be obtained on fair and reasonable terms . Within the area covered by the red dots on the plan ample room would be found for the erection of a large school , or other Institution , with dry and firm foundations . There would also be plenty of space for recreation grounds . The clayey ground at the South corner of the estate could be reserved for garden purposes , and perhaps the South-western corner might also be reserved for cultivation , if required .

Another great advantage the estate possesses is that sewers have been constructed along two of the three roads bounding the whole area , so that there would be no trouble over the disposal of sewage . This is usually a very serious question when a large institution is erected on a rural site , and it often occasions a very heavy expenditure . As regards the question of water supply , 1 have no doubt that water could be obtained on the estate b y sinking a deep well into the chalk and erecting engines and pumps . But this would necessitate a considerable outlay in the first instance , and there would be an annual charge for fuel , wages , and repairs in addition .

As the Colne Valley Water Company ' s main is already laid down the Avenueroad , it might perhaps be better to make an arrangement with them , and especially if they are willing to supply a large quantity of water on reasonable terms .

Faithfully yours , C . E . HAWKINS . Messrs . Stanley Attenborough and Tyer , 18 , Piccadilly , London . 38 , High-street , Watford , Herts , September 17 th , 1896 . Dear Sir ,

Bushey Grove Park , Herts , We beg to thank you for your letter of the 14 th inst ., with instructions to report on the above estate . By the particulars of sale dated July 15 th , 1896 , prepared by Messrs . Edward Fox and Bousfield , the property comprises 65 a . 3 r . 7 p . of park-like meadow-land , having extensive frontages to the parish roads known as Aldenham-road and Lodge Meadows-road , and a frontage of 2522 feet to the new road known as the Avenue-road , and is within one mile of the Bushey Station , on the L , and N . W . Railway , and close to the town of Watford ,

According to the particulars of sale , a purchaser will have to contribute a moiety of the cost of keeping the road known as the Avenue in repair until it > s taken over by the parish or local authority , and a considerable sum would have to be paid towards making up the road before the authorities would be likely to take over the same .

In our opinion the land is an excellent site for a large residental institution or school , the greater portion being fairly level and a good elevation ( about 23 ° feet above Ordnance datum ) , the remainder being undulated , and the whole well studded with handsome timber trees , and in addition , amain sewerand a main of the Colne Valley Water Company are laid along the Avenue , and gas main lo the boundary of the estate .

The soil is , we believe , principally gravel and sand , with chalk subsoil . The handsome building known as The Hall , now used as a residential hotel , with the park adjoining , is on the approach side of the Aldenham-road , and the residential estate known as Bushey Grange is opposite the Lodge Meadow-roidi so that it is improbable that any houses or building likely to be objectionabls

would be erected on these estates , and the value of the land in question is thereby enhanced . We have carefully considered the value of the property , and have come W the conclusion that , taken as a whole , it is worth the sum of . £ 13 , , that is about , £ 200 per acre . '

Doubtless , if treated as building land , it would realise in time a much lng " , price , but it would probably take years to develop , especiilly as there is a g " deal of land nearer the Bushey station not yet built over , and in our opinio" '" sum we have named represents the present value .

We are , yours faithfully , SEIXJWICK , SUN , W . ITo Messrs . Stanley Attenborough and Tyer . 18 , Piccadilly , W ,