Masonic Notes.

would join it , and I know others who would also . I have thrown out this suggestion to you in the hope that you will mention it to some of your friends who are both fishermen and Freemasons ; and I trust that it may result in the formation of a piscatorial lodge . — Yours , & c— " OXON . "

* * * If the main object in forming a new lodge is to gather within its folds those who from community of interests and similitude of tastes are likely to dwell together in unity , we cannot conceive a more promising

p roject to that end than the proposal for a lodge composed of the disciples of Izaak Walton . The meditative and gentle angler would surely never have any

differences with his brothers ; but what does the writer mean when speaking of disputes as to the relative merit of wet-flies and dry-flies . A special by-law , perhaps , might be framed to get over this one difficulty .

We have been invited to express our opinion as to the conduct of a brother engaged in trade who has been forwarding his circulars to the Secretaries of lodges , no doubt—as our correspondent suggests—for

distribution among the members , and thus endeavouring to obtain their custom . It is hardly necessary for us to state that such conduct is most objectionable , and that

anything in the nature of Masonic touting for custom is entirely opposed to the spirit which is supposed to actuate men when they become Masons . * * *

In this particular case a man who is a fishmonger by trade and a Mason by repute is soliciting in this manner the custom of members of certain lodges in an inland province , and among the credentials he enumerates is his " Masonic position , " to which he refers in the most

open manner . We suppose that nothing will ever succeed in putting a stop to these fishy proceedings , though it is possible that the public condemnation by the authorities and the press may cause them to be of less frequent occurrence . * * *

It seems that through some inadvertence , which we deeply regret , the speeches which were delivered and the remarks which were made by Bro . Smith , who is J . W . of the Doric Lodge , No . 933 , at the last monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Bovs '

School , were erroneously set down to Bro . Jones . Bro . Smith is naturally indignant that the credit which belongs to his motions and his speeches should be thus unceremoniously handed over to a Bro . Jones who is

entirely unknown to fame . Of course there is so great a difference between Smith and Jones that our correspondent will see our mistake was due to a lapsus calami .

A correspondent has written to protest against the proposed grant of a pension to Bro . Frederick Binckes in consideration of his 28 years' service and upwards as Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , the grounds of his protest being , as is so frequently the

case , '' principle and expediency . " We have not space or time to follow this worthy brother through all the reasons he advances in justification of his protest . We , in our turn , however , must protest against his assertion

in the first of these reasons , that " The intelligence of the age has long since condemned life pensions and legislation by its commutation of them has affirmed that it is immoral . " * * *

We think our correspondent will discover , on reflection , that he has here been confounding "life pensions " and " perpetual pensions . " Theformerare beinggranted every day of the year by the State , by banks , railway companies , insurance companies , & c , while only a few

of the latter remain , the majority of those which were granted in former days having been commuted by the State . Thus , so far as the '' intelligence of the age " has anything to do with the granting of a pension to Bro . Binckes , we may state fearlessly that it is in

favour of the proposal . If Bro . Binckes had served the State in a civil or other capacity , there would be no question as to his having a pension awarded him on retirement , it would be his at once , according to bis pay and the years of service he had given .

* * * Again , his fourth reason , that " the creation of a pansion establishes a precedent . " This cannot be the case with reference to the pension proposed to be given to Bro . Binckes . His predecessor , the late Bro . A U

Thiselton , after 35 years' service was awarded a pension equal to some two-thirds of the emoluments he had been receiving . The late Matron , Miss Hall , was awarded a pension for life after 22 years' service , and married shortly afterwards . Therefore , the precedent has been already created .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

THE SECRETARYSHIP OF THE BOYS ' SCHOOL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In justice to numerous friends who , under adverse circumstances , have most kindly g iven me their generous support , and to myself as feeling acutely the unmerited obloquy to which I have been subjected ,

I cannot refrain from requesting space in your paper to enable me to p lace on record my protest—effectual or ineffectual as the case may be—against the unmeasured bitterness of tone which has found expression in some of the communications from provincial localities , with resolutions embodying disapproval of the action

recommended by the Provisional Management Committee . For nearl y 30 years my conduct has been before the Masonic world , and in that lengthy period of public life I do not fear to assert that I have never been guilty of an official act upon which I can look back with regret , or of which I need feel ashamed . With what justice ,

therefore , is it asserted that , because the report of- a Commission conveys an unfavourable opinion of my estimate of the duties of my position , I have therefore "forfeited the confidence of every member of the Craft ? " Mistaken in my estimate I may have been ; false to my trust , I defy anyone to maintain .

From the date of my appointment in 1861 I have laboured assiduously and successfully , and have been complimented by repeated acknowledgments of my services from those best qualified to form an opinion . If it is to be accepted that apathy and repose are satisfactory substitutes for " energy and activity" so

let it be . At my time of life I should welcome such an understanding , and it is no secret that for a considerable period I have longed for relaxation . Controversial argument I wish to avoid , and I should hesitate to trouble you and your readers with these few lines were I not anxious to make known to friends and

opponents alike that my abstention from wordy or written discussion has not been dictated by any such motive as that of allowing judgment to go by default , but by a firm conviction that from every point of view

it is wise and politic to avoid public strife and dissension , and rel y upon your own inner consciousness , supported b y the favourable verdict of those possessing the best means of forming a dispassionate judgment . — Yours faithfull y and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES .

DR . MORRIS AND THE HEAD MASTERSHIP . To the Editor of the " Freemason .. " Sir , We notice with great regret the resolution passed b y the General Committeeon October 5 th to terminate the appointment of the Rev . Dr . Morris , the present head master of the Boys' School .

Dr . Morris is very well known outside the Masonic body : firstly , in regard to his connection with King ' s College School , London , where he was for seven years a master and lecturer ; secondly , from his great literary reputation as an English scholar ; and thirdly , from his

general successes in the educational world , especiall y in connection with the R . M . l . B . These latter are too well-known to need dilating upon here . The printed reports of the University Local examinations , together with the annual reports of the School Committee , bear ample testimony to this fact .

But our object in addressing you is not altogether to draw especial notice to these particulars , but to direct the attention of the Craft generally , the supporters of the School , to the very marked change and great improvement which have taken place in the regime of the establishment under the auspices of Dr . Morris . On this

point we claim to have had a very practical experience , each of us having passed nearly six years in the School , under three successive head masters , and are , therefore , we think , more competent to express an opinion as to what Dr . Morris has done for the good of the School as it actually affects the moral training and education

of the pupils than those who have been there under only one head master , or than those of the governing body , or of the Craft generally , who cannot have had the same facilities for becoming intimately acquainted with the internal working of the School as we have had . One of us wished to give evidence upon this point

before the last Committee of Inquiry , and wrote to a member of the late House Committee , testifying his readiness to attend when desired , but was not even treated to the courtesy of an acknowledgment of that letter , which undoubtedly reached its destination , for the addressee mentioned its reception to a member of the Craft .

We do not hesitate to say that the system of education and discipline pursued in the School underwent a complete revolution for the better even during the first few years of Dr . Morris ' s rule , which onl y those who actually passed through it can fully appreciate . Vexatious and unnecessary restrictions upon our liberty were removed , and we could obtain certain much valued

privileges by application to studies and b y good conduct . Our curriculum of study was greatl y enlarged , more high mathematics , elementary science and other subjects were added , and with a view to our ultimate aims in life some of us were encouraged and assisted in the stud y of special subjects outside the ordinary school curriculum ; we , the writers , have each attained

Correspondence.

the highest grade in our respective faculties at the University of London , and we feel that the careful training by Dr . Morris was a very considerable factor in our success at the University . The friction between the educational and the domestic staff ( mentioned in the report of the Committee of Inquiry ) existed quite as much in our time as it has of

late , and we were painfully aware of it , for it left us in a state of uncertainty which authority to obey when their opinions clashed . Dr . Morris , by his wise and considerate procedure , poured , as far as he was able , oil on troubled waters , and enabled the work of the educational branch to proceed much more smoothly than before .

Under these improved conditions the educational status and moral tone of the School rose rapidly , and we can testify to the very great difference in the average attainments of the boys on leaving the School before and during Dr . Morris ' s tenure of office , and to the much happier relationship which was brought about

between masters and boys . We cannot but regard Dr . Morris as the true friend of his pupils , both past and present , ever willing to lend a helping hand to the sons of Freemasons . In him we felt we had a friend , and one , too , to whom are particularly applicable the lines of

Langridge—A friend's hand in mine , lads , A kind hand and true , In rough ways and dark days , It helps a man through .

Gratitude to our old head master and justice alike , compel us to address you in order that the Masonic Craft may see the kind of man on whose shoulders they placed great responsibility , and how faithfull y he carried out his trust .

We ask the Masonic Craft generally whether the resolution of October 5 th is in accordance with the reputation of that body for justice and fair treatment , or whether it be not rather an example of excellent services ill requited .

We would add one word more . We are certain that the opinions which we express are not those of ourselves alone , but also of very many others who have had the good fortune to be pupils of the Rev . Dr . Morris . We enclose our cards , and are , Sir , yours faithfully ,

TWO OLD PUPILS OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL . October 15 th . NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE LODGE , No . 24 .

To the Editor of the "Fremason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am greatly obliged to Bros . Lane and Strachan for their replies to the question raised by me in your issue of 28 th September , and I at once admit Bro . Lane ' s correction that the " St . Nicholas Lodge " ( Modern ) was warranted 29 th November , 1766 , and not

2 nd April ,-1813 , as stated by me . But as you very properly point out in a foot-note to Bro . Lane ' s letter that my query is only in part answered , and as Bro . Strachan has the advantage of living in Newcastle , and may probabl y have access to the lodge minute books , he will be able to say whether the " Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge , " No . 24 , claimed its centenary warrant upon its old " Athol " or " Modern " warrant .

Bro . Strachan will no doubt have observed that the warrant ( Modern ) of the "St . Nicholas Lodge " only dates from 29 th November , 1766 , and not 1755 , and 1 hold that this warrant was extinguished when they amalgamated with the " Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge " on 10 th August , 1814 , as they took the number due to the

old "Athol" warrant , purchased on 2 nd April , 1813 . This old warrant , Bro . Lane points out , and been in desuetude since 1766 . It appears , therefore , that the following has been established . ( a ) The Athol Grand Lodge granted a warrant in I 75 " 3 i Dut nott 0 a Newcastle lodge , and this warrant

lapsed in 1766 . ( b ) The Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge was warranted as an Athol lodge 24 th September , 1805 , and purchased the lapsed ( Athol ) warrant of 1752-3 on or about and April , 1813 , apparently for the purpose , and it was successful , of getting precedence in number at the Union .

( c ) The " St . Nicholas Lodge , " although warranted by the " Moderns" on 29 th November , 1766 , really ceased to exist as a lodge when they amalgamated with the " Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge" on ioth August , 1814 . "Q . E . D . "—How did the " Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge " get a centenary warrant , and how is it retained

in the olhcial Calendar as having been warranted in I 7 S 2-3 ? I look forward with pleasure to the perusual of Bro . Lane ' s new work , " A Handy-Book to the Study of the Lists of Lodges . "—Yours faithfully and fraternally , 14 th October . P . G . R .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Notwithstanding Bro . T . Y . Strachan ' s statement that the Newcastle-upon-T yne Lodge was formed by the fusion of the Athol and St . Nicholas Lodges , I still am

of opinion that the latter lodge was absorbed by the former , which is quite a different thing . The antiquity of the St . Nicholas Lod ge , which was erased in 1814 . could not , with any propriety , be taken by the Athol Lodge , which , under the new name , continued to retain