The Approaching School Elections.

appeal to those Governors and Subscribers who arc not committed to any case or cases for their support and influence , and on the usual grounds—that , while the other children will have , at least , one more chance of winning election , it is as regards these two boys and three girls their onl y chance ,

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum.*

ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM . *

The second Part of the Volume for the current year of the Transactions of Lodge Quatuor Coronati is one of the most elaborate—at least , as regards one of thc papers it containsas any it has been our privilege to comment upon , while if we

say it is one of the most "interesting" and " valuable , we apply these epithets without the slightest desire that they should be interpreted in that every-day sense to which Bro . Dr . CRAWLEY takes exception . The earlier papers are by Bro . W .

N . CHEESMAN , P . P . D . G . D . C . North and East Yorkshire , and Bro . the Rev . J . B . CRAVEN , P . M ., that of the former having reference to a lodge long since extinct , which was founded in 1799 , at Selby , in Yorkshire , and lasted for about 15 years , while it was finally

struck off thc roll of Grand Lodge in 1822 . This lodge had a Masonic jug , of which Lodge No . 566 , Selby , is the fortunate possessor , and it is the pictures and symbols on the surface of this jug which Bro . CHEESMAN describes , at the same time

furnishing a number of extracts from the Minute and Treasurer ' s books , which plainly show that the vessel played a prominent part in the lodge proceedings . Bro . CRAVEN ' S paper introduces to us a remarkable scroll belonging to the Kirkwall Kilwinning

Lodge , No . 3 8- , on the roll of Scotland , the illustrations of the two parts of the scroll enabling the reader to follow Bro . CRAVEN in his remarks on it . But the paper which Bro . SYDNEY

T . KLEIN , J . ., read at the meeting on the 7 th May on the subject of " The Great Symbol , " is probably about the most elaborate that has ever been submitted for the consideration

of the lodge . It is a paper of great length—of a greater length than those we are accustomed to find in these Transactions , and treats of a subject of such difficulty that it would be unjust to the author to express , after only a single reading , an opinion of

its merits . A history of Geometry from the very earliest time down to about the middle , or latter half , of the 16 th century , serves as an introduction , and this is folllowed by a minute examination of" The Great Symbol " itself , which , it is needless

to say , is to be found in the P . M . ' s jewel . Bro . KLEIN likewise propounds most ingenious theories respecting " Naymus Grecus , " and the meaning of " Curious " in the term " Curious Mason , " in certain MSS . of the Old Charges still preserved to us , but

while we admit and admire the ingenuity of the theories , we cannot say we are prepared to accept them . There is , indeed , much in Bro . CRAWLEY ' careful criticism—which , though , in his absence it was read out in the lodge itself , must , nevertheless , be looked

upon as forming part of the discussion that followed the reading of the paper—that inclines us , at all events , to wait until we can consider more fully "the demurrers , " which he is not without hope he may be able to lay before the lodge , before determining

the value of Bro . KLEIN ' theories . The critics appear to have ungrudgingly bestowed the highest possible praise upon Bro . KLEIN ' essay , nor can we imagine a case in which such commendation could be more worthily bestowed , if only for the

courage—to say nothing of the time and labour he must have devoted to the compilation of his paper—with which he has attacked a subject of such acknowledged difficulty . The Reviews which follow Bro . KLEIN'S essay are of more than usual importance

seeing that they include one from the pen of Bro . R . F . GOULD of the second Fasciculus of Dr . UlIETWODE CRAWLEY ' S " Ca * mentaria Hibernica ; " two of Bro . WHITTING ' S " History of the Lodge of Hengist , No . 195 , Bournemouth , " by Bros . HUGHAN

and GOULD respectively , and two by Bro . G . W . Sl'ETH , one being a review of the " History of Freemasonry in Whitb y from 1764 to 18 97 " by Bro . the Rev . EGBERT FOX-THOMAS , and the other of the " Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of the State of Washington . "

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum.*

The Part also contains a record of the Summer Excursion to Peterborough , and a paper by Bro . W . J . HUGHAN on " The Three Degrees of Freemasonry , especially iii relation to its oldest known Records of the Master Mason's Ceremony . " This ,

as one of the great Masonic " Vexatas Quajstiones " of the day , was , as might be expected , followed by an elaborate discussion , the most prominent among the critics being Bro . GOULD , whose remarks are quite as elaborate as thc paper of which they are

the criticism . In addition are " Notes on ' Free and Freemason , ' * " with the usual " Notes ancl Queries , " "Obituary , " and "Chronicle , " while the numerous Illustrations with which the Part is embellished greatly enhance its value .

Grand Lodge Of South Australia.

GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The " Masonic . Guide of South Australia" ( Sherring and Co ., Adelaide , is . ) , ably edited by the R . W . Bro . Philip Sansom , Past D . G . M ., is now in its ' 15 th year of issue , and is published under the Patronage of the Right Hon . Chief Justice Way , the M . W . G . Master , and P . G . W . of the Grand Lodge of

England . Those who have the set of these most useful Guides have the History of Freemasonry in South Australia in a nutshell , and the present Edition is beyond question the best and most complete of the series . For the size , and considering the youth of the Grand Lodge , I know not its equal of the kind for

the extent , value , and variety of the information afforded , and its general compactness , accuracy , and completeness . Its scores of pages are brimful of interesting facts , tables , and memoranda for the guidance of the brethren , so that a diligent study of this

handy Annual will admirabl y fit the Masters and other officers of the Lodges to properly discharge their duties and render the members exceptionally well informed as to all that concerns the welfare of their Grand Lodge .

•The Grand Lodge of South Australia was formed in 1884 , having now 38 lodges on its register , and I see by the excellent report just published by the courteous Grand Secretary , Bro . J . H . Cunningham , that there are 2266 subscribing members . The senior lodge is the " Friendship , " No . 1 , dating from 18 34 ,

warranted by the Grand Lodge of England , but Masonic meetings took place prior to that year under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Ireland . There are 20 lodges of English origin on the roll , five were planted by Ireland , but two have lapsed , and six by Scotland , one of which has ceased to work ,

and of the eleven constituted by the Grand Lodge of South Australia one has been withdrawn , thus leaving 38 in active service . Besides these there is a lodge of Irish origin , the " Duke of Leinster" chartered in 1855 as No . 3 6 3 , and meeting in Adelaide , which , so far , has declined to throw in its lot with

the new Grand Lodge . Its membership runs to 153 and evidently is very prosperous as a Iodge , but such prosperity would assuredly continue if it joined the Grand Lodge of South Australia , and its union with that organisation would be a source of strength to the Grand Lodge as well as be for the general interests of

the Craft . Of course , in saying so , I have nothing to serve but the welfare of the Fraternity and fully recognise the right of No . 363 to hold aloof as long as the members desire . There is no lack of good feeling on both sides , and it is given a place in the Gtiide the same as those of the S . A . Jurisdiction .

There is a Grand Royal Arch Chapter for South Australia , having the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge as the M . E . Z ., with Comps . Philip Sansom and J . Shakespeare as the H . and J . respectively . There are only two chapters on its Roll at present held under the wings of Nos . 4 and 16 , having a total of not

quite 100 members , and the Royal Arch chapter in connection with No . 363 ( I . C ) , has 40 companions . These should come before the Rose Croix chapter , No . 113 ( English Constitution , having 22 members , and the Provincial Priory , with the Percy Preceptory , No . 57 ( E . C ) , with 33 members .

The two Mark lodges working by warrants from the Mark Grand Lodge of England , have each exactly 44 members , so they are doing well , No . 41 dating from 18 59 , but renewed in 188 3 , and No . 432 from considerably later . The Mark lodge of the Irish Constitution , No . 363 , has 61 members , so the Degree

is very popular comparatively speaking , though , according to the progress made elsewhere , the Degrees above the first three are not much patronised . The brethren , in my opinion , are wise in

not going in for independence under present circumstances , as they are really better under the Grand Bodies of England , as vigorous branches , rather than to have small Grand Organis . v t . ions of their o \ yn for these Degrees ,