Original Correspondence.

• and protect the pipes , with a small shallow enamel-lined basin under the tap , with overflow pipe and chained enamel lined drinking cup . Let this be the work and duty of the Municipality , just as street lighting , watering , and cleaning are . There would be nothing to apprehend from obstruction of the streets by crowding—provided the street taps were sufficiently numerous—nor from the playfulness of the

city arabs , provided the police were awake . Moreover , after a shoit time the arab would regard them with the same indifference as he now does the lamp-posts . Of course it is not supposed that an organisation of this kind would at once eradicate drunkenness , but it would certainly tend materially to diminish and prevent it , and would place within easy reach of all classes of the people a condition which they are entitled to command as being almost as necessary to life as the air they breathe . I am , & c , C . MOREHEAD , M . D .

THE MOONS OF MARS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " 'Dear Sir and Brother , I have read , as will most Freemasons , throughout the world , with pride anel pleasure your article on the Mrorrs of Mars , " in your issue of the 13 th inst . -Bro . Dr . Bedford has doubtless honoured our Craft . His

insight into the mechanism of the heavens is something wonderful , and his position is somewhat similar to thc geologist , who , by reason of his knowledge of the particular configuration , and the nature of the strata in any locality , asserts the existence of precious metals and minerals , and sets the mining engineer at work , who is rewarded by thc discovery .

AVe can readily decide which is entitled to the most honour . Twenty-three years before the moons were dug out of the depths of infinite space ; Bro . Bedford pointed them out , gave a physical reason for their existence in the locality of the solar system . I have satisfied myself of the date of Bro . Bedford ' s predictions . His "New Theories of the Universe" now called the Bedfordian system of Astronomy , was entered

at Stationers' Hall , on the 17 th of October , 1854 , as you have stated in your article , and it is numbered 8 b 10 , C . B . Vol . 21 in the library of the British Museum . Bro . Bedford was initiated in the Bank of England Lodge , No . 265 , and he is Life-Governor of all our charities . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , W . E . GOMPERTZ , "P . M . and Sec . 86 9 and 1495 .

" THE BURGLARY SEASON . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Since you have opened the columns of your valuable paper to the all important subject of burglary 1 cannot but express my admiration at thc fearless and impartial manner in which you treat both with the ,

ci-.. line of the typ ical " Bill Sykes , " and the guardian of the peace-, and 1 trust that through the coming season wc shall have a little more attention from our rural constables . Clapham , Dulwich , and Hornsey are by no means the onlv favoured localities in which burg laries have been committed , for during the past month many cases have been reported in the neighbourhood of Sydenham , one of few flower pots

which was my own , although beyond a and same choice plants , no damage was done , or loss sustained , as [ having been induced to try electricity asa safeguard , I had thc whole of my windows and doors fitted last year with the Electric Burglar Alarm of Francis and Co ., and on this occasion they proved highly satisfactory in their working , as on the thieves window the large

forcing their way into my library bell poured forth a loud peal , which was soon answered by the presence of myself and man-servant m time to see the fellows decamp without spoil , leaving behind them the instruments , alike useful for forcible entries and breakin" - skulls However , robbery ant ! bloodshed were omitted irom their programme that night , at least as regarding

us and I shall not fail to recommend the means of security above referred to whenever opportunity offers , as they appear as certain in their action as the ordinary electric house bells , and may be connected with them at trifling cost . Apologising for thus troubling you , I am Sir , yours , ' b XV . R . R OBINSON . truly ,

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The Quarterly Court of the Subscribers and Governors of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held on Monday last in the Board Room , Freemasons' Hall . Bro . John Symonds , Vice-Patron , presiding . There were among the brethren present Bros . S . Rawson H . A . Dubois , H Browse , Raynham W . Stewart , A . K . Ware , George

Wvatt , I . B . Wilson , Joyce Murray , J . E . Le Feuvre , J . Mason H . Hacker , H . Massey , ( Freemason ) , W H . Perryman , G . Bolton , J . M « ry , Thos . W . White , A . H . Tattershall , O . Durrant , Hon . R . W . H . Giddy , John G . Stevens , / Eneas J . Mclntyre , Thomas Randall , C . K Matier , Alfred H . Diaper , George Jeffrey , Col . Creator , Col Henry BaseviRev . A . F . A . Woodford , H . S . Massa ,

, 1 Edward Curteis , W . Mann , Walter Hopckuk , Benjamin Head I I . Berry , J . M . P . Montagu , Frederick Davison , DavW Roberts ! FG . Baker , Fras * R . Vine , J . A . Birch , I . L . Hine , and F . Binckes , Secretary . ' The Secretary , Bro . Binckes , read the minutes of the former Court , and Ihe subsequent meetings of the different confirmed

Comni tees , which were put to the brethren and . The minutes also of the special committee on further accommodation vvere also read , and Bro . Binckes informed the Committee that the tender of Mr . Prout of Southgate , for the erection of the new buildings , at a cost of £ 2497 . had been accepted , subject to enquiries and approval ct sureties . These enquiries had been made , and thc result

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

was ! perfectly satisfactory , and the operations would begin during the current week . Bro . Binckes further stated that Bro . Edward Harris , the late collector of the Institution , to whom the Quarterly Court of last January had awarded a pension of £ 120 a year on his retirement , died on Thursday of last week . Bro . Raynham Stewart , V . P ., in the absence of Bro . W .

Roebuck , moved that ten ooys be now elected instead of nine ; room for a tenth boy having been createtl by th e mother ofthe boy Cunnah , who was elected in April , having chosen to have him educated out of the Institution . Col . Creaton , V . P ., seconded the proposition , which was then put and carried . Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C .., having given

notice of motion to insert in rule 30 , after " to elect boys , " " anil also shall have power to accept or reject any recommendation of the General Committee , " rose am ! saiel that since he hael given notice of the motion , he had had a communication with Bro . Symonds upon the subject of the proposed alteration in the rules of the Boys' School , ami Bro . Symonds had very properly called his attention to

certain difficulties which in his ( Bro . Symonds ' s ) opinion would inevitably rise on a hasty adoption of the resolution . Of course trailer all circumstances , knowing the interest Bro . Symonds , who was now presiding as chairman , took in the Institution he should be glad , as in courtesy he was bound to do , to give way . But he felt especially induced to do so , seeing that as the Chairman woulel

remember , on his ( the Chairman's ) appearance at Sheffield , some twenty years ago , with their late lamented Bro . Hopwood , that great provincial movement was begun which hat ! culminated in such signal success , anel which hael demonstrated the great interest the brethnai in provinces displayeel in the Masonic Institution * -.. The Chairman hael pointed out to him that there wouU be some doubts

as to the bearing of the rule respecting the powetsrof the General Committee and the Quarterly Court , ant ! he also calleel very properly , his ( Bro . Woodford ' s ) attention , to' the fact , as he hael great interest in the question himseffj that grave eloubts existed as to the ruling of BJO . Clabon . on a special point submilteel to a former Court .. As these eloubts existed , and he believed other reasons niiffiitr . be

adduced , he thought on the present occasion he ; hael better withdraw his motion . He belicveel that all the brethren vvere agreed in this , that oil thc ( -piling day it was advisable , if possible to keep their discussions as short as coulel be , anil also that it was ' . inadvisable to make alterations in the rules of" our Institutions without a strict and careful pre-cronsideration . He woultl

therefore withtlraw his motion , reserving to himself his privilege as a Life Governor to -give notice of his motion to another General Committee ; and if he should chink it necessary to bring it forwarel at the next Quarterly Court he would do so . He would co nsequently ask thc-permission of this Quarterly Court to withdraw the motion of which he hail given notice , an d which stood on the paper

in his name ; but he had n .-ason to believe Coat before this was elonc , Bro . Symonds , who hael taken a very active part in the question , was -wishful to say a few words upon one or two incidents which had taken pl * K . Tlie Chairman said he was not aware of tint : motion of which Bro . Woodford had given notice until last Saturday , when he saw the worthy brother at the Quarterly Court

of the Girls' School . He ( the Chairman ) then ventured to suggest to him that he should withdraw tite motion , first , because the wording would require considerable care ,, and secondly , because no notice had been given cf a similiar motion to the Girls' School . He thought it would ,- be a great pity to break up thc assimilation of thc laws- which hael been effected at considerable trouble , and which had

been attended with great advantages ; He also gleaned from what he had reatr in the Freemason of Saturday last , that Bro . Woodford seemed to have been under a misapprehension with regard to Bro . Clabon ' s ruling at the Court in January , or whether he had given any ruling at all . He ( Bro . Sytmpnds ) brought under the notice of the Court in January the case of Taylor , No .. 32 on the list of to-day ; but he had not then seen th ? petition , and was

not aware of the actual circumstances of the case . He could therefore deal with the question only as one of doubt . He had seen a proof of the balloting paper in which it was stated that the father oi the boy liad subscribed , he believed , only one and a half year , and tbat he died some years after he had ceased to be a subscribing member of a lodge . He had subsequently seen an amended proof , in which it was stated that since he had subscribed till death . He was not in a position

nt the time to say which of these statements was correct , and Bro . Clabon thereupon made the suggestion that , treating the question as one of doubt , they should leave the responsibility of its acceptance with the General Committee . Bro . Clabon did not , as Bro . Woodford imagined , rule that it was incompetent for the Quarterly Court to deal with the recommendation of thc

General Committee , acting upon thc well-known principle of law that a lawyer should not go beyond the case that is laid before him . Had he ( Bro . Symonds ) seen the petition , he could have pointed out to Bro . Clabon that the case on the shewing was clearly not eligible according to the laws of the Institution , and then , no doubt , Bro . Clabon would have ruled that under the

regulation by which the Committee made a recommendation to the Quarterly Court , this boy could not be placed on the list . The General Committee had to recommend to the Quarterly Court those boys who were eligible . It seemed to him that that gave power to the Quarterly Court , if they found by accident a case

had slipped in upon the list which by thc laws was not eligible , to strike it out . At the Court , in July last , a motion was made to strike off the case of Taylor because it was not eligible according to the laws . He ( the Chairman ; felt bound to rule at that meeting that the time for such a motion had gope by . The case had gone to the

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Quarterly Court in January , and Was placed on the list for election in April . As it had gone on the list there was no power to strike it off . That was how the case stood at present . Bro . Clabon had not ruled that the Court had no power to reject a recommsndation . Between this time and the next Quarterly Court he would communicate with Bro . Clabon , and be prepared to make any

statement which he might think necessary , unless , as he hoped would be the case , the brethren should have the op . portunity of hearing Bro . Clabon himself . Bro . Walter Hopekirk rose to make some observations on what Bro . Woodford had said . Bro . Col . Creaton rose to order . He thought he understood that Bro . Woodford withdrew his motion to save

any discussion . Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford said he thought Bro . Hopekirk was in order , as he had a right to speak on his ( Bro . Woodford ' s ) motion to withdraw the motion . Bro . Col . Creaton repeat-id thatjthe motion waswithdrawn in order that time might be saved . Bro . Walter Hopekirk again rising ,

The Chairman said the could not quite agree with Bro . Woodford . If he had a motion to submit to the brethren they woulci listen to it . Bro . Walter HopeSirk said he rose to give an answer' in explanation . Bro . Col . Creaton said that Bro . Hopekirk would have an

opportunity of submitting any observations he had to msJ-e when the motion came on at- thi next Quarterly Court . The motion was then withdrawn , and the brethren proceeded with the election cf ten boys out of an approved list of fifty-seven candidates . At the close of the poll the following was found to be the result : —

SUCCESSFUL . Cox , Gjorge Samuel . „ ... ... 2329 Waelelington , T . Herbert ...- 2253 Watkin , Hugh Robert .... , ... . 2138 Arrnitage : ' , Harry ... ... .,, ... ... 2119

Smith , Frank 2097 Stevens , Alfred ... ... .,, ... ... 2000 Gedge , Persy Aubrey ... ... ... ... 1970 Stanton , William ... 1915 Shrapnel , H .. V . N . Scrope ... ... ... ... 1805 Johnston , William Studer 1736

UKSUCCE 3 SFULV Deeley , Richi ! . P . Francis ... ... 687 Shury , Solomon , Hiram ... ... 16 55 Searle , Harr ;* Bulmer ... ... .... ... 1448 Dyer , Frederie-k ... 1 3 01 Ceeley , John R . Gorelon .... ... 1207 Bingham , Herbert ... ... ... ... ... 1023

Garstin , William Lionel ..- ... ... ... 994 Taylor , Ernest Geo . W . J . 879 Sharp , Colir . Bell ... . ^ .... 850 Woon , Albert Allen ... 6 77 Busher , Samuel Longton „ ... ... 6 50 Tayler , Richard Tom ... ... ... ... 612 Roberts , Samuel Curry .... ... Coo

Mackay , J . Montague Held .... ... ... 5 86 Crew , Frederick Alt ... ... ... 574 Fairman , William Henry .... ... ... ... 574 Wilkinson , Percy Charles . .... . . . 5 / 3 Nash , Stanley Harry ... ... 428 Gurney , John Henry ... ... 405 Day , Arthur Harris .. ... 398

Wait , Emanuel . . . . ... ... 395 Shapland , F . G . Lambert . ... ... ... ... 344 Webb , Charles Thomas ... ... ... ... 301 Riley , Robert . „ ... ... 253 Green , Charles William , ... ... ... ... 248 Furze , William Ernest ... ... 239 Hutton , John F . Ws ... 227

Rogers , Gordon ... . „ ... ... ... 188 Barclay , Henry G .. Hackett ... 159 Ridpeth , Lovell Hope 141 Williams . George Alfred ... ... 133 Watkins , Fred .. Charles ... 116 Perrin , Gustav Teasdell ... ... ... ... 106 Spalding , Edmund Purcell ... 97

Denton , Herbert ... ... 60 Evans , John McMillan 42 Marshall , Robert James ,. 3 8 Gover , Joseph ... ... ... ... , „ 35 Chandler , Arthur John 33 Ward , James ... ... ... ... ... 30 Newboult , Hany il

Morley , William Moore ... ... ... ... lj Collins , Joseph Barrett is Minshull , Sam Bradford ... ... i [ Cole , Alfred Thomas 1 ° Frost , Christian Frederick ... i ° Gibson , Walter James 7 Bell , James Herbert ... , 5

Allen , Albert Charles 5 Mlin , Charles James Fox 4 Edmonds , Richard Herbert ... 3 Giles , Frank Arthur ... •' Matthews , Robert 2 Parker , George Shadwell 3 Atkin , John Batson ... "

Jepson , James Thomas Parker , William James ... ... ... . ~" The number of votes polled in the course of the day was 28 , 870 . Bro . Rawson , the Chairman of the Scrutineers , who

announced the result of the election , said that there we thirty-seven voting papers , equivalent to 147 votes , lost-The Chairman having declared tbe successful candidates , . Bro . Binckes said they would be admitted to ther Ins tution at the House Committee meeting , on thc last Frm >