The Increase Of The Boys' School.

seems to us , a forgetfulness of the original reference of the Quarterly Court to the House Committee , and we do not note that any reference whatever has been made to the recent " instruction of another Quarterly Court . " We cannot understand , either , why the matter has again

to go to the House Committee . The House Committee having reported to the General Committee , for the duty of the General Committee , as we understand it , is to pass the report on to the Quarterly Court , and if the General Committee does not see the need

of a Special Court it should say so by distinct resolution . The consequence is , and will be , that the matter will be " hung up" until the next Quarterly Court , and the subject , perhaps , hastily decided , without giving to it that cool , calm consideration which it undoubtedly

demands . We regret this , as we feel sure that all that is wanted is a clear business-like statement of needful additions to the School to secure the assent of our liberal Craft . We remark also . that in the report reference is again made to the " preparatory school , "

and it is suggested that the boys from eight to twelve shall be located in the " new buildings , " and from twelve to sixteen in the " old . " Now , this is an entirely novel suggestion , and we apprehend scholastically unworkable and quite contrary to the normal condition of similar institutions . It is one thing to

have a preparatory school in another building , which may be a good thing , and quite needful in the progress of time , and developement of the larger school ; but it is quite another thing to have the actual school and the preparatory school in the same building and under the same head

master . We cannot believe that it will answer , and we know no precedent for it . We are also struck , as all must be , with the financial calculation . On what authority is based the apparently singular statement that you can accommodate 120 boys for ^ 25 , , and

seventy for £ 22 , 000 ? We do not profess to understand on what system of probable expenditure such an estimate can be founded . Altogether we feel bound to repeat our humble opinion , previously expressed , that the proposal as originally contemplated for the

preparatory school , and the suggestion of the increase at Wood Green , are rather hasty in their inception , and incomplete in details , and require alike architectural estimates and more minute information , in order to be appreciated and understood . We are very glad to see that Bro . Jesse Turner ,

¦ whose business habits are well known , agrees with the view we have ventured to express , that by a small outlay for dormitory accommodation , £ 1800 or £ 2000 ( which he says is quite feasible ) , we may increase the school to 200 , for which number it was expressly built , ( with

additional dormitories ) , and so with the increase of eleven boys ( a very sensible augmentation ) , the school may be left for the next three years to work on in peace and quiet . It may be then a question of large needful increase . We shall

not grudge it if it be really required , but just now , for many reasons , we feel sure that it is most inopportune and unwise to announce fresh building operations , and to make a new appeal to the Craft .

Charity Voting.

CHARITY VOTING .

We have read the remarks of our able Bro . * " ]• Simpson on this very difficult subject with Jhe attention which they deserve , and we feel bound to say , at the outset , that we are like the 'ady in dispute with her good husband in the old story—we are " not convinced . " We think that

our respected P . G . C , with the best intentions in >« e world , over-estimates the " evils" he com-P'ains of , and that the " remedy " he suggests would be decidedly " worse than the disease . " liter giving the very closest attention to the sublet in all its bearings , alike theoretically and P actically , for years , havinc incidentally seen

ore of the minute and actual working of the iasonic voting system than falls to the lot of B ost of the Craft , we beg at once to demur to o . Si m pson ' s theory of great abuses or evils existpur ' i ° P resent charity voting system . Like all r reiy earthl y institutions it has its weak points

Charity Voting.

no doubt , " and is susceptible of improvement , for nothing is perfect here . But the " reform " which Bro . Simpson suggests , would simply be revolution , in that it would bring with it evils greater than any now existing , and would put a stop to all personal interest in the charities , and would ,

as far as the provinces are concerned , simply take away from them the voting privileges for which they have liberally paid and - manfully laboured . To delegate to a committee in . London , made up only of metropolitan brethren , the whole voting power of selection for the charities—for

no provincial brother could afford time or money to attend the needful ^ assemblies of the central committee—would introduce a very questionable novelty , and would practically deprive the candidates of all provincial support or local interest , and would , ipso facto , " kill the golden

goose . " We say nothing of the breach of faith involved , as regards those who have largely subscribed on the faith of certain well-known rules and regulations . Who of us , seriously speaking , is prepared to delegate to a committee sitting in London , composed if you will of the elite

even of . the brethren of our Order , either the power of selection or the power of erasure ; the right of limiting the number of candidates or recommendation of special cases ? The only result of such a system must be—we say it with all respect to our good

brother the Past Grand Chaplain—favouritism and partiality . Nay , do we not open the door to possible jobbery of the most malignant character ? At the present moment the only evils we know of are counterbalanced by publicity , open voting , and free discussion ; butgiveus the proposed central committee , shadowed out by our kindly

critic , and all these requisites will be wanting . In . the next place , there are no evils attendant on the present system which cannot be checked by careful supervision , by the action of open discussion and public opinion . The polling days are admirably conducted , and fair play is given to all petitioners and all cases . By no possibility could a central committee advance the cause of

comparative or absolute -selection , because in the nature of things we defy any one to lay down infallible canons and absolute axioms of what constitutes the " most distressing case . " So long as an application for relief is a bona fide and proper one per se , so long has it a " fair claim

upon our charity , " and in so far as it conforms to . our regulations in so far is it a befitting case to be submitted to the notice of the subscribers . It is impossible to believe that 10 or 20 brethren , however gifted , would be in a better position to select the most absolutely distressing cases than

the subscribers , and until we can agree upon some distinct conditions of ineligibility , all cases which conform to our regulations , and are in themselves prima facie proper and justifiable , have an absolute right to be entertained . On one point only do we agree

with Bro . Simpson , viz ., that in the original reception of the case the committee of the institution should make a little more enquiry , and require a little more evidence of absolute poverty ! Why should not a special paper of questions , be prepared by each charity and

made } a condition of acceptance ? This is a common pre-requisite in all well conducted charities . The questions need be few , but they might be pertinent and go to the root of the matter , the distinct need of eleemosynary aid . For , as we recently observed , the greatest

evils lie in the want of conscientiousness in those who put forward applicants for relief , when their family or relations might fairly spare the funds of the charity . But how this evil is to be remedied by our good Past Grand Chaplain ' s proposals we do not profess to see or understand . We feel sure that the general feeling of the Craft

will be to " let well alone , " inasmuch as the evils in our Masonic charity voting are so few that they can very easily be removed by the public opinion of the Craft , while the " cure " proposed for the imaginary malady savours , in our humble opinion , something like those imaginative advertisements , which skilful empirics put forth for the attraction and edification of the

easy-going and credulous . We deprecate in conclusion the use of great names as an " argumentum ad rem , " or " ad hominem , " as we feel strongly that we all have reason and intellect

Charity Voting.

given to us by T . G . A . O . T . U . for good purposes and proper use , and we decline to submit our own clear perceptions of what is needful and right , to any ,: Pope , " or any number of "Popes " in the world ! Thanking our worthy brother for the kindly enunciation of his views , we regret

that we can neither record our agreement with his argument , nor our approval of his suggestions , though made , we know and believe , with the best motives , and with the most fraternal feelings . We will next week go into the question of exchange of votes , to which some objection is raised .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but -we wish , In a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —EDJ

H . R . H . PRINCE LEOPOLD . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — By a singular error you do not seem to be aware that H . R . H . Prince Leopold is W . M . of the time honoured Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 . H . R . H . was elected W . M

February , 1876 , and is still W . M ., our esteemed Bro . Phil brick , Q . C ., being the Dep . Master . I am , yours obediently and fraternally , A MEMBER OF THE ANTiguiTY . [ We have to apologise for the error , which certainl y ought not to have appeared in the Freemason . —ED . ]

THE GIRLS' SCHOOL FESTIVAL . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me to contradict the statement contained in your report of one of the speeches at the recent festival of this Institution , that I was not present on that occasion . With the exception of the forenoon , when I was

engaged with the noble Chairman at his lordship ' s house , I was at Freemasons' Hall the whole of the day and evening , examining and arranging the Stewards' lists , in which work I received the able assistance of Bros . T . W , White and R . B . Webster . These brethren accompanied me into the dining hall where Bro . White kindly

announced the lists , in consequence of my voice being weak I should not trouble you with this correction were it not for the fact that the statement has somewhat startled some of ray friends . Yours truly and fraternally , R . WENTWORTH LITTLE .

EXCLUSION OF THE HEBREWS . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — With pleasure I make you the following statements , as you wish : — About ten years ago some German Grand lodges denied not only the initiation of Jewish aspirants , but also the

right of visiting the lodges to brethren of Jewish faith . It was the first step , when all German Grand Lodges conceded the right of visitation . The next position was gained when the Grand Lodge of Concord at Darmstadt , the independent Lodge Minerva at Leipzig , and the Grand Lodge of Royal York at Berlin altered the sections in the constitution which prohibited the initiation of

non-Christians . A new position was won , when the German Grand Lodge League ( Grand Masters' Union ) voted and published a series of fundamental principles , which should be a common basis for all German lodges . In this declaration there was no profession of faith required for admission into pure ancient Freemasonry is an universal brotherhood in the sense of the Old Charges of 1723 .

Notwithstanding all these- progresses , there were some daughter lodges of Royal York , in which all Jewish candidates were blackballeel , as they did not like to have any Jewish brother in the ranks of their mem . bers . But this is , as you will perceive , only a local prejudice , as the law of Royal York does not hinder the initiation , and a great many of its lodges have initiated Jewish

candidates and affiliated Jewish brethren . At present there are only two Grand Lodges which rest on a unmasonic basis—viz ., the Grand Mother Lodge of Three Globes and the Grand Countries Lodge ( Swedish Rite ) at Berlin . At the annual Grand Lodge Conference of the Grand Mother Lodge of Three Globes , the Jewish question was

discussed three times , and twice the majority of lodges voted for repealing of the famous section 16 5 of the constitution , without success , as some brethren voted against it and so prevented the necessary majority of two-thirds . We hope for better success this month , as the great majority of lodges , and the whole of the Grand Lodge Directory will vote in the sense of Masonic universality . In the

Grand Lodge of Three Globes the matter is only a question of time , for the abrogation of the section which demands a two-thirds majority . Of the Grand Countries Lodge ( Swedish Rite ) , which rests on thorough unmasonic principles , laws , and traditions , or , as Bro . Schiffmann has proved in accordance with the statements of my own ( " History of Freemasonry " )

" only by fraud . " I say of the Grand Countries Lodge nothing is to be hoped , as it is intolerant in all its convictions and traditions , and neither Masonic in doctrine , nor in law , nor in its historical fundaments , nor in its usages , founded by a Masonic swindler i ^ Von Zinnendorf ) without any legal warrant , this Grand' Lodge is the worthy rival of the Roman Catholic Church and of