Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 481 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ( 82 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 4 82 Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire 4 82 Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex 4 82 Provincial Grand Lodge o £ North Wales

and Shropshire 483 Consecration of the Cheltner Mark Lodge , No . 343 483 CORRESPO . VlJE . VCE" Brethren , Take Notice" 485 A Masonic Mendicant 485 The Order of the Temple 485 A Masonic Charity Sunday 485

Masonic Ceremonial at West Calder 48 s Notes and Queries 4 86 RRPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 486 Instruction 488 Royal Arch , 4 88

Ancient and Accepted Rite 4 88 Rosicrucian Society 488 Grand Lodge of Scotland 488 Consecration of the Amity Chapter , No . iyi 489 Presentation to Dr . Jabez Hogg , P . G . D .... 4 8 9 Obituary 490 Masonic and General Tidings 490 Lodge Meetings for Next Week Cover .

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THE Quarterly Court of the Girls' School took place on Saturday , when 14 were elected out of 29 candidates . Of these , the highest polled 2181 , and the lowest 1769 . There were 44 , 226 votes to deal with , and the 14 successful candidates thus polled 27 , 176 votes . The unsuccessful candidates polled 12 , 538 votes , and 4512 votes remained unpolled . These figures deserve

noting . Two hundred and sixteen voting papers were again rejected by the Scrutineers . Of these n I were not signed at all , 12 were April papers , and 93 were signed , but not filled in for any candidate . YVe confess that this one fact reveals a state of mental confusion or hopeless carelessness , equally incomprehensible to the ordinary

mind of those who have to do with such elections . There was but one feeling of regret at the absence of Bro . Lieut .-Col . CREATON , however courteously and ably Bro . ROBERT GREY discharged the duties of Chairman .

It hardly seemed to many the same thing to miss the familiar presence of their old and valued Chairman . We hope soon to see him back amongst us again . The Hall was very full all the day , and , as we previously stated , the polling was very high .

* * * THE Ouarterly Court of the Boys' School took place on Monday . There was a large attendance , and the Hall presented an animated appearance to the declaration of the poll . Bro . ROEBUCK presided , and , as on Saturday , Lieut .-Col . CREATON ' S absence was must regretted . There were 56

candidates , and 30 to be elected . The highest successful candidate polled 2306 votes , and the lowest 1015 . Thus there were 49 , 594 votes polled for the 30 successful candidates . The unsuccessful candidates polled 7656 votes , and 67 S 7 votes remained unpolled . There were 43 voting papers ,

representing 204 votes , rejected by the Scrutineers on various grounds , some of which seem utterly inexplicable and unreasonable to contemplate and realize in respect of those who manage the elections for candidates . Indeed there is something very odd about such peculiar blunders , and especially the polling voting papers of a . preceding election .

* * * OUR esteemed brethren are very procrastinating as regards rilling up and forwarding their voting papers . Many voting papers are posted even by old Masons by a mid-day post on the day of election , the consequence is ,

they generally reach the person interested qfUr the poll is closed , as happened on Saturday with many voting papers . In future , brethren wishful to help a particular case might post their proxy the day before the election at any rate , so as really to benefit the candidate selected . " Verbum sat . "

• • • THE simple fact that over 6000 boys' votes remained unpolled , and over 4000 girls ' , demands very serious consideration . What is the reason of such abstention ? These totals seem to be higher than any we previously remember , and there is probably some reason for this increased number of

non-voters , at a time too when all such votes are in great request . It was a subject of general remark and admission that never at any previous election had votes been so anxiously looked up , and so sedulously gathered in . Indeed it may be truly averred that no labour was spared , no canvassing omitted to obtain votes .

* * * IF those who so attack Freemasonry could witness the animation and zeal displayed by our much maligned Order , in regard to our great Charities , we think they would find cause to modify their sentiments and amend their vocabulary . It is a very striking scene which Freemasons' Hall presents at

our half-yearly School elections , and too much praise cannot in truth be accorded to that Masonic sympathy which never seems to weary , those annual efforts and sacrifices which seem to grow with the growth and expand with the necessities of our really great and noble educational Institutions . .. ..

* * * WE cannot agree with our correspondent in the last Freemason relative to a suggestion for a " Masonic Sunday " for our Charities . We feel sure that any such proposal will be discountenanced and refused at once at head

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quarters , and we can ourselves see , " prima facie , " many prevailing objections against what now will be a grave innovation on the established order of things . In the metropolis for above a hundred years all such gatherings and processions have been in our opinion properly forbidden j nothing but some very special cause would justify the alteration of a longstanding and wholesome rule .

* * * A SUBJECT has forced itself on our attention , and we think on that of others , that we have no Association for giving intermediate relief to duly qualified and accepted candidates for our Charities . It is a hard struggle many have to keep even appearances up , as we know , from the time they are elected as candidates for our admirable Masonic annuities , and our little

orphans boys and girls are elected as candidates on our School lists . ' * A stitch in time save nine , " the old proverb says , and while the " grass grows the horse starves . " Can nothing be done to help deserving and fitting candidates in the interim between acceptation and election ? We feel sure that such a Society is now needed , and would find very useful work cut out for it to do , and would prove very useful in more

ways than one . We shall be answered , we fear— " There is the Board of Benevolence . " So there is , and right admirable and seasonable help it gives . But widows can apply but once , and too often their resources are used up before the day of election comes . If such a Society is considered superfluous , then the great Charities themselves ought to have a candidates' Committee , which should examine into all petitions , and report

on them to the General and Managing Committee , and have the power of granting temporary relief . This examination into petitions has been found useful in more than one province where the Charity Committee inquires into , reports upon , and recommends each case to the Provincial Grand Lodge , and we feel sure also that a little more inquiry into the allegations of petitioners to the Charities would not be useless or unadvisable .

* * * WE trust that the appeal put forth by the Grand Lodge of Scotland may prove successful , and that a Charity Fund may be raised commensurate with the needs and importance of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . We think that it is a fair criterion of the reality of the Masonic professions of any

jurisdiction , when its works of charitable utility and benevolence proceed " pari passu" with its aggregate increase and material prosperity . Any jurisdiction which neglects the great duty and work of Charity may well be described as in a dormant condition , as far , at any rate , as our great Masonic virtue , —is it not the greatest ?—is concerned .

• • • THE Amity Chapter * was consecrated on Tuesday last by Col . SHADVVELL H . CLERKE , G . S . E ., and aftera very effective ceremony , —of which a report elsewhere appears , —another chapter was added to our lengthening list . We have never concealed our opinion that the mistaken policy of bye-gone

years , in placing difficulties in the way of increasing the number of chapters , has had a great deal to do with the apparent apathy as regards the Royal Arch Grade which seems to have marked our English Freemasonry . Any such unwise view has , happily , now been given up , and we shall , no doubt , be permitted from time to time to ] chronicle and hail new Royal Arch chapters attached to old lodges amongst us .

# » WE understand that the GRAND SECRETARY is about to proceed with a party of distinguished brethren to the Isle of Man to consecrate two lodges there , and it is , we think , very interesting to note this continued increase of

lodges under our English Grand Lodge , believing as we do , that each new lodge may become a centre of light , benefit , and utility to the district in which it is localised , and that the principles of English Freemasonry tend so greatly to the dissemination of the active principles of Charity , Loyalty , and Toleration .

* a * WE believe that no appointment Has yet been made to the provincial leadership of West Yorkshire . In all probability the matter will ere long be settled , both for the welfare of the province and the interests of Freemasonry . * * *

IT will be in the recollection of our readers that Alderman Sir F . WYATT TRUSCOTT , who was both YV . M . of the Grand Masters' Lodge , and Grand Junior Warden during his Lord Mayoralty , and Alderman Sir J . WHIT - TAKER ELLIS , Bart ., M . P ., who held precisely the same Masonic offices in his , called special meetings of their lodge for the purpose of entertaining the Grand Officers of the year and other distinguished brethren . It seems

that Bro . Alderman FOWLER , M . P ., has determined to follow their example , and his Mayoralty and occupancy of the chair of No . 1 . will be signalised by a similar entertainment . The banquet is fixed for the 5 th November , and we have no doubt there will be the same hospitable reception by the LORD M AYOR and his lodge , and the same gratification experienced by his . guests .