Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

wards this Institution ( especially during the past year ) , I confidently venture to solicit your valuable influence and co-operation with the members of your lodge in still furthering its interests ; and trust that I shall be favoured with the name of a brother who will act as Steward on this

. " I am , Worshipful Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , "December , 1 SS 0 . " F . R . W . HEDGES , " Secretary . "Offices : 5 , Freemasons' Hall , " Great Queen-street , London , W . C . "

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving , nt the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but vvewish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ] ¦

OUR BOYS' SCHOOL . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I respectfully ask—Is thc letter of "P . W . M . " in your issue of to-day to be taken au serieux ? If so , it hath the nature of a libel on " Our Boys . "

Or is it penned in a spirit of playful satire ? If so , upon what ? Upon whom ? Faithfully and fraternally yours , FRED . BINCKES . 15 th January .

BRO . BROADLEY'S HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN MALTA . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother . — 1 have read with great pleasure your review of the above mentioned book , and particularly the references to the Knights Templar , and Knights of Malta , and their

apparent connection vvith Masonry , and to my friend , Bro . Tristram . The incident mentioned relating to his treatment by the Arab chief on making " Masonic " signs is , 1 think , detailed by our learned brother in his clever and graphic work , " 'The Great Sahara . " The indefinite article before Bro . Tristram's nameamuses

me vvhen I remember that he is a F . R . S . and LL . D ., a canon residentiary of Durham , and the author of " The Land of Israel , " and other learned works , amongst the most popular and valuable of which is his " Natural History of thc Bible . " Canon Tristram is also Provincial Grand Mark Master for Durham and Northumberland . •- Yours fraternally , EMRA HOLMES . Author of " Amabel Vaughan . "

THE MASONIC ROBBERY AT NEWPORT . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — M y attention has been directed to a letter in your last issue signed , " A P . M ., " in which an attempt is made to cast reflection on the Masonic lodges of Newport . The writsr prominently alludes to the Albert Edward

Prince of Wales Lodge , of which I have the honour to be the VV . M . I positively assert that no such idea as an appeal to the Masonic brethren throughout the country has ever been entertained by us , and consequentl y the remarks contained in the letter referred to are totally unjustifiable and uncalled for . I believe I may say the same for the other two lodges at Newport , but will only take the responsibility to vouch for my own lodge . Certain I am ,

however , that the letter of "Masonic Chanty" was not written by our authority . For the information of "A P . M ., " I can assure him that the Newport lodges are not in a state of impecuniosity , and that he would be the very last brother to whom we should think of sending the hat to . I remain , yours fraternally , W . M . Albert Edward Prince of Wales Lodge . Newport , Mon ., Jan . 12 th .

GIRLS' SCHOOL FESTIVAL . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have much pleasure to inform you that Bro . the Right Hon . Sir Michael E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., R . W . Prov . G . Master for Gloucestershire , has kindly consented to preside at the ninety-third anniversary festival this Institution in next

of May . I have further to inform you that it has been necessary to make an alteration in the date of the festival , which will be held on Wednesday , the iSth , instead of Wednesday , the 11 th May . 1 am , dear Sir anel Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , F . R . VV . HEDGES , Secretary . [ We note the communication of Bro . Hedges with gratification . See our leader elsewhere . —En . F . M . ]

Reviews.

Reviews .

HINTS ON FINE ART POTTERY PAINTING . By C . J . S . Edinburgh : Sou tter , Sons , and Co . 'The art of pottery painting is without doubt one of the oldest in the world , and as long as humanity has an appreciation of the beautiful , and a desire to be surrounded , even in the humblest homes , with that which is a "joy forever , " so long will the ceramic art flourish . The facilities which are now afforded for the exercise of this art by amateurs and

the art education of the present day will still further tend to popularise it ; but a thorough art education is not always essential . With the aid of such a work as this , any one vvho can draw , however slightly , and has some knowledge of colouring , may produce work satisfactory to themselves and a source of pleasure to their friends . There is one aspect of this art question , which we cannot do better than give in the author ' s own words . He says : "Cannot the

daughters of England help their fathers in their too often exhausting labours by such means ? And what payment so sweet as the quiet smile with which the overwrought merchant or professional man greets his daughter , as he returns from his day of worry , and finds her busy fingers have heen ministering to his comfort ! Will not the memory of such a daughter be sweet to the father after she has left his roof , as he gazes fondly upon the results of her forethought and skill . ' " Wc can heartily recommend this little \ york .

Reviews.

Technical instruction is conveyed to the learner , even to the minutest details , together with drawings showing the separate stasres of the work .

SELECTED READINGS FOR THE USE OF PUBLIC READERS , & c . London " : Sweeting and Co . The number of books devoted to "Selections from the best Authors " that have been issued , would seem to leave little opportunity for the introduction of a novelty in this class of publication , but we think thc editor has succeeded in

producing one . It is not in the selection of the stories , which , although good , may be found in other works , but the novelty consists in printing in very bold type , and with such other aids to the reader that he need never take thc trouble to write out the selection , or commit it to memory . If the editor continues to make the same judicious selection as he has done in the first number , we predict for it a great success .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

THE CHEVALIER RAMSAY . 1 am glael to see Bro . Hughan ' s note , confirming as it does my remarks and statements . By a litttle misprint the name O'Donoko was not clearly expressed . It is a very curious fact if the book was written by Ramsay , as he was both a Roman Catholic and a Jacobite . As his connection with Masonry ended in 1736 , it is not likely that he

could have much to do with Dermot . But , there may have been a connection between Ramsay and Dublin . Can Bro . Neilson help us ? Curiously enough , there vvas in old days a " Confraternite de 1 ' Arche Royale " which had to do with Pilgrims to the Holy Land , and the rules of which were

published in a rare work printed at Pans about 1730 , if I rememrjer rightly , and shewn me by Bro . Shuttleworth some years ago . No copy of it exists in the British Museum , and I searched in vain for it in Paris some time back . Does any one know where that book could now be found ? MASONIC STUDENT .

STEPHEN MORIN . It seems to me that the whole mistake has arisen , by understanding the words " Grand Orient , " as I fancied was the case , to represent the " body " of Masons , whereas it only relates to the technical term , the " Great East" or " Grand East" of Freemasonry , or that especial lodge or chapter in a particular place . In the extract quoted by

Bro . Mackenzie from Kloss , the words do not relate to the Grand Orient of Symbolical Masonry at Paris , but to the Council of the Emperors of the East and West in their Grand Orient at Paris . And it must be so , for it vvas clearly impossible that any such resolution could be passed in 1767 , by a body which had no professed relation with the " High Grades " until 1770 . It is possible of course

that individual members of one body may have been mixed up with the other body , but neither the Grand Lodge of France , or the Grand Orient of France , which latter was not in existence until 1770 , could have passed any sentence of suspension upon Stephen Morin in 1764 . To my mind it is a matter of no moment , as in 1 S 02 or 1 S 03 , the result of Stephen Morin ' s original jiroceedings were accepted and confirmed in Paris . " ¦ MASONIC STUDENT .

OCCULT LITERATURE . Mr . John Wilson , of 12 , King William-street , W . C , has issued a remarkable catalogue of over one thousand works relating to Alchemy , Astrology , the Druids , Rosicrucians , Mystics , and Gmetists , & c Those atall interested in these curious subjects should send a penny stamp to the publisher for a copy . I wonder that booksellers dealing in such works do not advertise in the Freemason . MASONIC INVESTIGATOR .

FREEMASONRY AT BATH . My dear friend , Dr . Hopkins , the veteran Freemason , has favoured the " Royal Cumberland Lodge , " No . 41 , Bath , of which he is the present VV . M ., with his reasons for believing that the Premier Country Lodge of 1724 , warranted by the Grand Lodge of England , had collapsed prior to the advent of the present lodge , chartered in 1 733

for thesame city ( Bath ) , and that the latter jwas virtually a continuation of the former through several of its members . I have not claimed that No . 2 S did any work after 1730 , but only that it had not ceased to exist before 1736 , as it was retained on the official roll up to that year . The Grand Lodge at that period was very ready to erase lodges held in England , if no payments were made to the " Fund of

Charity , " and hence I am inclined to believe that the contribution traced by Bro . Gould , S . G . D ., for 1732 , was made as an existing lodge . However , it is clear that the Craft has not been without a representative in the City of Bath for some 157 years , or over a century and a half , and should a list of members be yet discovered later than 1729 , ! think it will prove that the lodgeof A . D . 1733 was started by

several of thc members of the A . D . 1724 organisation . have never attended a lodge meeting that has proved so successful in every respect as that of the Centenary Celeoration of the "Royal Cumberland , " No . 41 , under the efficient management of Dr . Hopkins , VV . M ., and I trust he will long be spared to continue his valuable services on behalf of the Craft . VV . J . HUGHAN .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . EDWARD HUGH DOWNING . We have to record the death of Bro . Edward Hugh Downing , surgeon , of Deptford , who died at Brighton , on the 7 th inst ., aged 32 . Deceased was the son of the late Dr . Downing , of Evelyn-street , Deptford , vvho died about eighteen months since , and vvas for many vears surgeon to

the R division of police . Deceased was for some time one of the medical officers of the Greenwich Union , but resigned the position . Hc had been in declining health for some months before his death . On Wednesday afternoon , the 12 th inst ., the remains of Bro . Downing were interred in Deptford Cemetery , Brockley .

BRO . ALFRED ELLIS . On Saturday , thc 15 th inst ,, the remains of Bro . Alfred Ellis were deposited in the Tower Hamlets Cemetery , Bow , iij the presence of a large conr / iurse of brethren , and

Obituary.

other friends . Bro . Ellis departed this life on the 7 th inst ., in his 47 th year , after a long and painful illness . —He vvas a member of the Doric Lodge , 933 , and LG . of the Egyptian Lodge , 27 . As a public man he has successfully served the office of overseer to the Mile End District for a period of two years , and vvas an active member of the Board of Guardians and the Vestry of Mile End Old Town . The respect in whicii he was held vvas insomemanner evinced

by the large and influential number of friends who congregated at the grave , and at Stepney Parish Church , where Ihe funeral service was read by the Rev . J . F . Kitto , M . A ., Rural Dean of Stepney , E . Hcrethesolo , "O restin the Lord" from " Elijah , " and Handel's "Dead March"Trcm "Saul" was very beautifully rendered . The funeral cortege consisted of a hearse and four and five mourning coaches , in addition to many private carriages . In the former , after the representatives of the family , there rode Bros . Dr . Leane

Cundick , Musto , rurness , and Lacey , Messrs . Boar , Prevost , Dr . Ford , Rev . J . F . Kitto , and Messrs . Cushen and Leatherdale , ( Churchwardens ) , Bros . Stephens , Smith , and Coombs , Messrs . Siddall , Wood , Moody , Denman , and others . The imposing ceremony was marshalled by Bro . T . N . Fox , of the firm of Fox and Sons , St . George ' s East . At the conclusion of the ceremony in the Cemetery , the brethren took a last look into the grave of their departed brother , each , to the number of nearly one hundred , dropping a sprig of acacia at the head of the grave .

Scotland.

Scotland .

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF PEEBLES AND SELKIRK , The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Peebles and Selkirk vvas held in the Masonic Hall here on Monday , the ioth inst ., Bro . James Wolfe Murray , P . G . Master presiding . The other P . G . office-bearers present were : Bros . Dr . James Middleton , D . P . G . M . ; James T . S . Elliot , S . P . G . ' M . ; Captain Black , P . G . S ., " Warden ;

Rev . Alex . J . Murray , P . G . Chaplain ; Robert Sanderson , P . G . Secretary ; K . Lees , P . G . S . D . ; James Rutherford , P . G . Bible Bearer ; Robert V . Brown , P . G . Director of Ceremonies ; Anthony White , P . G . S . Bearer ; William Ferguson , P . G . President of Stewards ; John Hall , P . G . Steward ; Thomas Mercer , P . G . Inner Guard ; and Robert

Melrose , P . G . Tyler . The following lodges were also represented : St . John's , No . 32 ; St . John's , Jedburgh , No . 104 ; St . John's , Hawick , No . 111 ; St . John's , Stow , No . 216 ; St . John's , Galashiels , No . 262 . There vvas also a deputation from the P . G . Lodge of Berwick and Roxburghshire , headed by Bro . Fred Vernon ,

D . P . G . M . The P . G . Lodge vvas opened at " 3 . 45 , vvhen the follovying business was transacted : reading of minutes of previous P . G . meeting and P . G . visitations , which were unanimously confirmed ; election of non-commissioned office-bearers . The following brethren were duly elected : Bro . John F . Walker , Stow Prov . G . Treas . „ R . Lees , Selkirk Prov . G . S . D .

„ Thomas Hunter , Hawick Prov . G . J . D . „ Robert Hogg , Galashiels Prov . G . J . „ J . Rutherford , Hawick Prov . G . B . B . „ R . H , Brown , Galashiels Prov . G . D . of C „ Anthony White , Stow Prov . G . S . B . „ Robert Hunter , Hawick Prov . G . Bard . „ T . Mercer , Galashiels Prov . G . D . of M

„ VV . Ferguson , Selkirk Prov . G . P . of S „ John Hall , Hawick Prov . G . S . „ James Tully , Hawick Prov . G . S . „ G . B . Forsyth , Fountainhall , Stow Prov . G . S . „ W . Montgomery , Galashiels ... Prov . G . S . „ A . Wood , Galashiels Prov . G . S .

„ W . Tait , Galashiels Prov . G . S . „ S . G . Dunbar , Jedburgh Prov . G . I . G . „ R . Melrose , Galashiels Prov . G . Tyler . Those of the brethren present were then installed into their respective offices by Bro . J . VV . Murray , P . G . M . The financial statement of Provincial Grand Lodge vvas

then submitted by the P . G . Secretary and adopted ; and a committee to audit the accounts for the past year vvas appointed . The report of committee on bye-laws was submitted by Bro . Dr . Middleton , convener of that committee , and adopted—draft copies of the proposed bye-laws having been previously sent to the office-bearers and lodges by the P . G . Secretary . The P . G . Lodge then proceeded to consider the same , which took up a good deal of time before and after dinner .

Several alterations and additions were agreed upon and the matter again referred to the committee on bye-laws , to get completed and to send a copy to Grand Lodge for approval . Dinner was served in excellent style by Bro . Scott , of the Railway Hotel . After dinner the consideration of the byelaws was resumed , and the revisal of them was finished a little after nine o ' clock . Bros . Middleton and Elliot were then nominated as representatives from the Province or

Grand Committee , and the P . G . Secretary was instructed to forward the nomination papers to the Grand Secretary . The P . G . Lodge was then closed by Bro . Dr . Middleton , D . P . G . M ., who had taken the chair vvhen the P . G . M . left at 6 . 50 . A short social meeting vvas then held , and _ the usual toasts given and responded to . Songs , recitations , & c , were given by Bros . Brunton , Stenhouse , Mercer , Wood , Scott . The proceedings were brought to a close about 10 . 30 .

New Zealand.

New Zealand .

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND . The annual communication of the District Grand Lodge of England was held on Thursday evening , the 2 nd ult ., in the lodge room , Insurance Buildings , Auckland . The attendance was large , and the proceedings were of a very interesting character . Bro . Lodder , V . VV . D . D . G . M ., presided . The following comprised the business of the lodge .

Bro . Dr . Goldsbro vvas re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Porter , Tyler . The D . D . G . M . said that , on account of the near approach of the arrival of the D . G . M . he did not think it incumbent on him to make many changes , and would reinstal and reinvest the present officers , leaving it for th « District Grand Master to make any promotions he might deem proper . He had to heartily thank thos *