First Report Of The London Masonic Charity Association For 1879.

3 . It is also asserted somewhat loudly , that the London Masonic Charity Association isa dictatorial attempt to "tell the London brethren how to vote . " But the truth is , the Committee begs respectfully to point out , that the Association only seeks to do what brethren " many and great , " have long since been accustomeel to do , and do at every election .

Why Bro . Jones , or Bro . Brown , or Bro . Robinson is to have the power to issue circulars and cards , soliciting for votes for his candidate , and a Committee of forly-five London brethren , all well known to the Craft , may not do the same , passes the comprehension of the Committee to realize . Which is more likely , " a priori , " that the selection by Brown , Jones , or Robinson is a good one , than the

selection by a numerous committee of brethren of candidates , to which selection they bring much Masonic experience , great accuracy , and special care ? As the entire object and actual process of work , which the London Masonic Charity Association has been established to attend to and develope , have given grounds to unfounded fears and iirational objections , the Committee

thinks it well , once again , to assure its London brethren that it altogether repudiates any theory of supposed dictation , and asks for no voles from any who do not conscientiously approve of its formation and proceedings . But it docs venture to press upon all Lonelon voters for the Charities , that if they wish well to the success of the friendless and helpless , if they desire to see meritorious candidates

efficiently supported , if they approve of the honest effort which the London Masonic Charity Association has endeavoured to support , to elect those applicants whose cause is good , but whose friends arc few , then they will give their names anil votes to an Association , whose aims arc the unselfish ones of aiding those who cannot help

themselves , whose labours are devoted not to advance personal prepossessions but public claims , anil whose organization and endeavours will , the Committee has every confielence , eventually commend themselves to the honest and independent support of a large majority of the voters for the Charities in the Lonelon district .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The ijuartcily meeting i . f tl . c iiiilisailui . ; and Guvcinuis was held on Monday al Frccii'a . sons' I hill . Bro . Col . Creaton presided . Tile" other brctliicn who nllciieled were Bros . S . Rawson , W . Roebuck , Dr . Ramsay , W . II . Perryman , G . Bolton , Don M . Dewar , C . F . Matier , J . Tcrty ,

Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , 1 ) . A . Dubois , J . W . Baldwin , Rev . Richard Morris , J . II . Cox , Raynham W . Stewart , John Mason , Arthur E . Gladwell , I- ' . 11 . W . Hedges , C . F . Hogard , W . R . Applebee , A . Tisley , L . Ruf , C . Pulman , F . Binckes ( Secretary ) , anil H . Massey ( Freemason . ) After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , Bro . Binckes read a letter he hael received from Bro . John

Symonds , who lately resigned Ihc ollicc of 1 ruslec of the Institution , acknowledging the vote of thanks lo him , which was passed at the last Quarterly Ceuirl on his resignation being accepted . The letter eif Bro . Symonels was ordered to be entered on the minutes , on the motion of Bio . Raynham W . Stewart , seconded by the Chairman . On the motion of Uro . Rayham W . Stewart , seconded

by Bro . H . A . Dubois , Bro . W . H . Lovcjoy was appointed Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Institution , in place of Bro . Peter Matthews , resigned on account of retiring from practice . The list of candidates for the April election was settled at sixty-eight , and the Court declared vacancies , at that time , for sixteen boys .

The new laws , submitted lo the Court by a special Sub-Committee appointed to revise the old laws , were then taken , and considered , and after a long discussion , in the course of which several alterations were made " , were passed . One important variation in the old laws was maele , all beiys elected after the confirm uion of the minutes of this Quarterl y Court al ihe ijuaiterly meeting in April , having

to leave the School at fifteen instead of sixteen yeais of age . Another important alteration was rescinding the privilege of voting at any elections but those of boys for the school hitherto possessed by subscribers who ate lewises ( being minors ) and ladies . The proceedings closed with the usual compliment to the Chairman .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The Quarterly Court of the Subscribers anel Governors of this Institution was held , last Saturelay at Freemasons ' Hall . Bro . Col . Creaton presided . Among the other brethren present were Bros . A . H . Tattershall , Arthur E . Gladwell , T . F . Peacock , R . B . Webster , Griffiths Smith , Peters

J . E . Le Feuvre , Col . James E . , Herbert Dicketts , W . Roebuck , Rev . A . r . A . Woodford , Thos . W . White A . Tisley , A . llopwood , C . Harcourt , Thomas Massa , Raynham W . Stewart , S . Rawson , C . J . Perceval , W . Tycrman , Dr . Ramsay . John Faulkner , C . F . Matier , Leopold Ruf , James Terry , Peter de" Lande Long , D . D . Berry , II . Potter , V . Binckes , John C ,, Stevens , 11 . ' 1 ' .

I humpson , Hugh 11 . Riach , G . J . Row , I . Kingston , \ V Mann , Dr . Wontman , Hubert Berridge , !•' . II . W . Hedges ( Sec ) , and II . Massey , ( Frcrmnson ) . after the reading and confirmation of the minutes of last court the list of candidates for the April election as

settled by the last General Committee was declared . By this list it is announced thai , there arc loity-cight candidates , and that there will he ei ghteen vacancies in the School to be filled up . This was passed on the motion of Bro . Raynshaw , W . S . seconded b y Cul . Peters . Bro . T . F . Peacock , lor Bro . H . A . Dubois , who was en-

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

gaged at Tunbridge Wells , moved , and Bro . Griffiths Smith , seconded , " That Bro . John Faulkner be appointed as the Honorary Dental Surgeon to this Institution . " Bro . F . W . H . Ramsay , M . D ., who hail another motion for a similar appointment of Bro . VV . H . Lnvejoy , withdrew his motion , and Bro . Faulkncrwas thereupon unanimousl y elected .

Bro . John Faulkner returncel thanks for his election , and assured the brethren that nothing should be wanting on his part to merit the confidence of the brethren . The next business was to consider the alterations of the laws of the Institution , as framed by the Special Subcommittee appointed for that purpose . Bro . A . H . Tattershall thought that sufficient time had not yet been given to the members of the court for the

considerations of these laws . The prints had only been in the hands of the brethren recently , and he suggested that additional time should be given and that a special court should be called at which the laws might be fully considered . Several brethren hael mentioned to him that they had not had sufficient time to go carefully through the printed copies sent to them . He therefore moved that the consideration of the laws as altered be deferred to a special

. Bro . T . F . Peacock , was of the same opinion , and seconded the motion of Bro . Tattershall . Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C , on the contrary thought sufficient time had been granted . He thought the proposal of Bro . Tattershall involved more than that brother thought he conveyed . The court today

was to consider alterations which had been proposed by a Sub-Committee and which had bcr-n appointed for the express purpose of deciding upon some alterations which had been printed , and a printed copy sent some time ago to every member of the court . Looking round the tabic he saw a large number of brethren whom he knew , and he thought a better body of brethren could not be got together for a

calm , careful and dispassionate consideration of the alterations . He himself had come prepared to eliscuss them , having gone carefully over them , and a great many other brethren had come at great personal inconvenience with the same object . If another meeting were called he doubted very much whether so many brethren could be gut together , anil he was sure that a nunc competent body could not be

found , lie opposed the proposition uf Urn . T . ittei .-diall on the ground that there were a gical many laeliireii who like him ( Bro . Wooiifoii' ) had conic pe-ilcctly prepared lo consider the . ilteratiuii . Bro . Rayiihaui W . Stciv . u ' ,, P . G . D ., thought Pirn Wnodiord was peifeclly light . He wisheel it also to be borne in mind thai there was alsei a Uuartcil y Couit oi the

Boys' School cm the following Monday , and the result of Bro . Tattershall ' s motion would he tl at the brethren woulel have also to postpone on that t ' ay ihc cemsi icr . iii HI of liie new rules as affecting that Institution . He thought all the brethren were prepared to go on now . They had all had full notice of Ihc alterations proposed , which had been in their hands for the last fortni ght .

Bro . I attershall ' s motion was then put and lost , anil the brethren then proceeded to consider the new IUUS . Law LV ., as altered , was the most important , and involved the longest discission . This new law ran ab follows : — "No boy shall be eli gible for election unless the ather has been a subscribing member to a lodge for seven consecutive years , and have been a subscriber to , at least ,

one of the Masonic Institutions , except in the case of death , fire , shipwreck , or of his having become afflicted wilh blindness , paralysis , or other infirmity , during such membership , permanently incapacitating him from earning a livelihood . " Bro . Rev . A . F . A . Woodford : Bro . Chairman , 1 rise to object to a proposed alteration in this law , an alteration

which I conceive to be likely to tend gravely to the prejudice of the Institutions , and lo be most adverse to the true principles t f Freemasonry . We are now proposing to introduce the principle of benefit societies into Freemasonry , deliberately and avoivedly . ( No , no . ) If the worthy brother who says " ii " , no , " will kindly listen Lo me for a few seconds , for I do not speak without much reflection and

study of the subject , 1 think he will sec reason to change his opinion . The-great princip le of the Girls' School since 1786 ( I hold in my hands the original laws of the year of its creation ) has been for Masonic charity to the orphan daughters of " indigent Freemasons . " An objection having been taken that the rule consisted of two parts , which ought to be separately considered , the

motion was so divided , and the part referring to the seven years' subscription to a lodge was taken first . Bro . Thomas W . White , P . G . S ., did not think that the seven years' subscription was too long a time to be required . He sugge .-ted , however , that as people now moved about very rapidly , a brother mi ght remove to a place at some

distance from his lodge and neglect for a while to join another , and so lose a consecutive subscription by twelve months . He thought if the law should be altered by striking out the words " consecutive , " and add the words , " four of which shall have been consecutive . " The amendment having been seconded , was then put and carried .

Bro . the Rev . A . r . A . Woodford , on the second part of the proposition : Bro . Chairman , 1 will now resume what I was formcily contending , and to save lime will condense my remarks as much as possible . I object , as I saiel before , lo this change , because , in my humble opinion , if carrieel , it will obliterate that great distinction which exists between Freemasonry anil all other benefit societies . What

is the principle of all benefit societies but a " i | uid pro quo ? " value given for value received . What was the original object of this Asseiciation ? what the unchanging teaching of Freemasonry , but to give relief and aid to all who have a fair claim on our charity , spontaneously , gratuitously , and 011 the- unselfish principles of true Masonic beneficence ! ' Wc arc

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

now going to say for the first time that the orphan's father must have subscribed to one of the Masonic Charities , which , however , will resolve itself into this , that you must subscribe . 5 s . to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . There is too much tendency just now to make our admirable institutions , ( and not the least our excellent and useful Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ) , act as a

benefit club , or insurance system . I , for one , must strongly object to bringing into Freemasonry the principles of a benefit order , and I think il right once more to say . as I always shall , that Freemasonry is not , and never can be , and never was intended to be in any sense , a benefit society . For these reasons I beg to move that the words " or has been a ' subscriber to one of the Masonic

Institutions " be expunged . Bro . Thomas W . White seconded the motion , and said that Bro . Woodford had mentioned everything which he should have said himself on this subject . He thought that the new law , if passed , would be detrimental to the

Institution . He did not wish to say anything with regard to the Benevolent Institution , but he thought that if brethren were obliged to give anything to the Institutions they woulel give to lhat the subscriptions to which were the smallest , and they would give 5 s . to the Benevolent Institution .

Dr . Ramsay , as a member of the Sub-Committee , wished to say that the Sub-Committee diel not- make a point of this proposition , but as it was brought before thdm by some oi the members , they thought it might be put into the law and submitted to the Quarterl y Court whether the law should be so framed or not . Bro . J . G . Stevens admitted the justness of the remarks

of Bro . Woodford , that to place such a provision among the laws would be to make Frecmusonry a kind of benefit society . It was thought , however , by some of the members of the Committee that some deterrent rule should be adopted ti > prevent many hundreds of canhidates coming on for the Buys' anil Girls' Schools . Take , for instance , the number of candidates admitted within the last two

years , and if they examined what the fathers of these candidates had done for the Schools , he would venture to say that they would find in a very large majority of cases that the fathers had done nothing whatever for the Institutions . In justification of what the Sub-Committcc hael done ho would inform the Court that it was upon this principle the words now under discussion were introduced .

Ihe- Committee" thought that the whole subject should be thoroughly ventilated by Ihc Court . He did not conceive for nae moment that the proposition would be passed , the brethren having an opinion that it would be turning the Order into a benefit society . No doubt if the parents did subscribe to the Institutions , so much the better would it be li r them , and a candidate fur those Institutions would

deserinig on that . 'iccoui .-t , bee-. aiise it would show a disposition 011 the part uf the fathers of the children to support the Institutions when they were able to do so . The Committee would be perfectly satisfied if the proposition was rejected , as an opportunity had been given for the

subject being properly discussed . The words " And have been a subscriber to at least one of the Masonic Institutions " were then struck out , and the law as thus altered was carried Unanimously . The other alterations were then adopted , and the proceedings closed with . 1 vote of thanks to the Chairman .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somersetshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSETSHIRE .

The brctliicn ol Taunton held high festival on Monday last on the occasion of the dedication of their new Masonic Hall . The meetings have hitherto been held at an hotel in the town , but recently a company was formed among members of the Craft for the purpose of

purchasing a budding in the Crescent , which was originally built for a Roman Catholic Chapel . This placed was found admirably suited for Masonic purposes , and the ceremony ofjdedication was performed on Monday . The occasion crealcel an interest beyond local Masonic circles , and a great gathering of Freemasons took place , the interest being increased by the fact that the ceremony of dedication was to be performed by the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro

G . M . jJ ^ Thc day ' s proceedings commenced with Divine service at the church of St . Mary Magdalene . The brethren , to the number of 300 , met at the school-room , where they clothed themselves and then walked in procession to the church . The sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . T . Randell , M . A ., P . P . G . C , from the text 1 st Thcssalonians

ch . v ., v . 11— " Wherefore comfort yourselves together and edify or . e another , even as also ye do . " The discourse was in defence of Freemasonry . The ceremony of dedication took place at the new hall , at half-past one o ' clock . The brethren having taken their seats in the lodge room , received the Provincial Grand lodge in due form , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was

then opened by the Earl of Carnarvon . During the ceremony a choir , composed of the members ol Lodge 26 t—Unanimity and Serenity—sang Wilson ' s Anthem in G , " Praise God in His Holiness , " and two suitable hymns , also giving the responses in a very creditable manner , The ceremony concluded with the singing uf the National Anthem . After the ceremony of dedication had been performed ,

Bro . R . C . Else , D . P . G . M ,, proposed a vote of congratulation to the Earl of Carnarvon on his recent marriage , wishing him and Lad y Carnarvon all the happiness this world could afford . The motion was seconded by Uro . Payne , P . G . Treasurer , and carried by acclamation . The Earl of Carnarvon , in responding , apologised for Ihe inconvenience he might have caused the brethren in not attending on the date first fixed , but they had learned