Masonic Sarcasm.

or excitable folly ; which only grieve the thinking and intelligent , and make the Masonic and kindl y-hearted sigh ? We can only remark we suppose that they do amuse somebody , though whether that somebody is worth amusing is another and a different question . We saw , for

instance , an anonymous fly-sheet the other day , which , very un-Masonic in tone and temper , was vulgar in conception and utterly worthless in its " tout ensemble . " It could only have emanated from a very petty , narrow mind , utterly incapable of elevating itself , either to Masonic good feeling ,

sense , or decorum . There was nothing witty in it , or even amusing , that any one could laugh at a line of it j approval was utterly impossible , since being a merely personal attack , and penned in evidently an unworthy and vindictive spirit , it was as idle as it was ridiculous , and as

unjustifiable as it was un-Masonic . Some great and dignified , and intellectual individual had been " sat upon , " " snubbed , " " snufred out , " " pro tem ., " so he prints at once that foolish broad sheet . What a commentary on Masouic good will , Masonic professions , and Masonic

brotherly love ! But such is the world , "my masters , " even in Masonry , and while the puppets move up and down , or talk with squeaking voices , and beat themselves with passion , and throw themselves into ridiculous " poses , " the

Masonic philosopher shrugs his shoulders , and leave them silently and complacently to that obscurity which is their proper lot , to that oblivion before which happily fade away to-day the impertinencess of the igaorant and the personalities of the un-Masonic .

The Powers Of A Quarterly Court.

THE POWERS OF A QUARTERLY COURT .

We are told , though we can hardly credit it , that some doubt still lingers as to the real meaning of the laws of our educational Institutions in this respect , and as to the actual powers of a Quarterly Court . It was said at a recent Court , though nobody paid attention to so childish a

remark , that the Quarterly Court had no power to receive a report from a Committee , or even to refer anything to a Committee . We could only charitably suppose that any brother who could deliberately make such a statement , and seriously , must , as our young men like to say , be " off his

nut . " Yet any such contention is ically too puerile and too perverse to demand attention , or require confutation . It falls at once with its own inherent absurdity , pre-supposing outhe part of the objector an entire unacquaintance with the phraseology and purpose of laws , and the dictates of

custom and common sense , the Quarterl y Court , we repeat , is superior to all other Committees necessarily , and is , as we before pointed out . supreme . We believe it was contended , and has since been somewhere repeated , that because among the powers of the General Committee it

is laid down that it is to receive " all reports from Committees , " therefore , admirable logician , no reports can be ordered or received except by the General Committee . If this argument be good , the House Committee could not delegate to a Sub-Commitlee any work without reporting to

the General Committee and the Quarterl y Court , the Supreme Court of Appeal , on almost any subject , if it does order a report must submit it first to the General Committee . Had good Bro . Obstructive taken the trouble to read carefully the words of the laws , did he enter into

the construction of paragraphs , or the rules of legislation itself , he would understand , if he can do so , that all such provisions must relate to matters in what the lawyers term '' pari materia . " The laws relative to the General Committee only affect proceedings ofthe General

Committee , and do not profess to touch upon , nor can they touch upon , the proceedure of the Quarterl y Court on the one hand , or the House Committee on the other . As we said before , we can ourselves hardly realize the fact in our own m * nds , that such obtuseness and such ignorance should prevail as to the powers of the Quarterly

Court , and we doubt very much whether any one competent to understand the question at issue , does seriously entertain any doubt on the matter . We hope that if any such objections be made at the Quarterly Court , it will be at once overruled b y the Chairman , as to discuss such a frivolous ob jection is both a waste of time , and an insult

The Powers Of A Quarterly Court.

to the common sense of the meeting . That the Quarterly Court has power to refer any number of questions to any number of Committees , is perfectly clear , and that without any reference whatever to the General Committee , an inferior body itself , we should have supposed must be

patent to the dullest mind amongst us . We cannot , however , legislate for thick-headedness and perversity , but we can prevent the valuable time of a meeting being taken up by objections in which nothing is objected , and by casuistry by which nothing is manifested except a spirit of personality , or an insensibility to decorum .

Restoration Of St. Alban's Abbey.

RESTORATION OF ST . ALBAN'S ABBEY .

By a report elsewhere it will be seen that this movement progresses , and we are requested to state that all brethren desirous of joining the Committee should send in their names at once to C . E . Keyser , Esq ., 47 , Wilton-crescent , S . W . The maximum subscription is five pounds , but any lower sum will be received . We wish the proposal all success .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

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

KOYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — It was only yesterday afternoon that I found myself in a position to justify a definite correction of a statement which has obtained wide-spread publicity through the co'umns of both the Masonic and ordinary daily press .

Messrs . Willis , Percival , and Co ., were the Bankers of this Institution , and the late Bro . S . Tomkins , a partner , was neither Trustee nor Treasurer , as he was to Grand Lodge and the other Masonic Institutions , and it is held this Institution has no Incus standi as a claimant on thc the private estate . Thc information , therefore , should be — " The claims of all the Masonic bodies on the estate of

Messrs . Willis , Percival , and Co ., have been paid in full , with the exception of thai of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . " In consequence of the loss thus sustained , in amount £ 894 , and on that account alone , we are compelled to obtain assistance from our present bankers to discharge the bills for the past quarter . Surely , under these exceptional circumstances , we have

the best possible basis for an exceptionally urgent appeal for sympathy and for increased practical support in our hour of need . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES , Secretary . 6 , Freemasons' Hall , "W . C , 10 th , February .

REPRESENTATIVES FROM GRAND LODGES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The question is often asked , have representatives any duties ? In a circular I have just been sent , and dated December , 1878 , anel issued by the Granel Lodge of Kentucky , it is stated that " the Most Worshipful Campbell

H . Johnson , in his official communication as our Grand Master last year , tabulated thc following as his views upon the duties of a Grand Representative , and they were approbated by the Granel Lodge : — " First . To visit at all regular sittings the Grand Lodge to which he is accredited ; interchange published proceedings , and eleposit with the Grand Secretary copies of all

official documents emanating from the appointing power . "Second . To acquaint himself thoroughly with the Constitution , code of jurisprudence , and forces of work in vogue ir . the Grand Lodge which he represents , that so he may be able to communicate them , when desired , to the Grand Lodge to which he is accredited . " Third . To welcome , vouch for , and introduce worthy

Masons from the jurisdiction which he represents ; to detect imposters , if any , and to see to the judicious distribution of charity where demanded . " Fourth . To strengthen the golden chain of pure attachment between the Grand Lodge , encourage mutual customs and goodwill , and give due warning of perils that may

threaten to both . " How very few representatives fulfil these four requirements . The majority , I fear , consider themselves ornamentals . Yours traternilly , JAMES H . NEILSON . 5 , Up . Mount-street , Dublin , 18 th February .

THE ADMISSION OF MEMBERS . To the Editor if the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Is it not true that the Grand Lodge should interforce some restriction to prevent lodges accepting

propositions for membership from candielates residing at a considerable distance and under other jurisdictions , especially so to prevent London lodges admitting members resident in other jurisdictions and from places within reach of established lodges , thus facilitating the bringing dis-

Original Correspondence.

credit on the Craft by the admission of unworthy members ? Last weeks' Freemason records a similar transaction to one I communicated to the Freemason some time since , when a candidate for Masonry , knowing he would be rejected by the two lodges in the town and neighbourhood of his residence , succeeded in securing membership in the

Phcenix Lodge , 173 , London ; and as , in the case recorded last week by a member of 471 , the individual intruded himself as a visitor where he would not be received as a member . Surely this is not a proper state of things , and something ought to be done to prevent the repetition of such censurable proceedings . If the credit and good

character of the Craft is to be maintained this surely is not the way to secure it . Will you , Sir , kindly give an expression of opinion on the subject , the Freemason being looked up to as an authority . Fraternally yours , A MEMBER OF 201 .

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you afford space in your journal for me to acknowledge , with gratitude , the following sums received since the Festival , on the 12 th inst ., viz .:

—Lodge £ s . d . 14 Bro . P . C . F . Tatham 10 10 o 181 „ Joseph E . Turner ... ... 10 10 o 781 „ Clement Breden ( additional ) ... 10 10 o 1397 „ Robt . Wm . Inglis 28 7 o Province of Dorset , Bro . J . P . F . Gundry 101 1 o

£ 160 18 o Amount announced ^ 3 , 873 10 6 Total ... 14 , 036 8 6 with ten lists yet to come in . Your compliance will be much esteemed bv , Yours fraternally , JAMES TERRY , Secretary .

Reviews.

Reviews .

DEBRETTS PEERAGE AND BARONETAGE , & c . Dean & Co ., 160 A , Fleet-street , E . C . This most useful work comes before us with much prominence and effect as one of thc most handy and needful handbooks of the day . It is , in fact , indispensable to all ,

and we do not wonder , noting its correctness and fulness , to hear on all sides how much it is appreciated and approved of . We can honestly commend it , and we dj so gladly to-day , having proved its accuracy and experienced its want .

THE BROAD ARROW . 2 , Waterloo Place . A publication intended for the public servants of the country , and is ably edited , and full of interesting and important information . We have been struck , however , with a review in the issue of February Sth , to which we think it light to call attention . The review praises the Masonic Magazine properly for February , but uses these

words respecting its editorial management . " Both poetry and fiction in this number of the Maso'iic Magazine are unusually good , while the initiated will find much that will attract his special attention . We regret , however , to see that the editor feels it requisite to disavow sympathy with the very best and most sound Masonic article in the whole magazine . Mr . Kenning would do

well to clear out of his pages the mass of soft padding which seems to find favour in the eyes of the editor , and give more scope to good , sound , true Masonic principles , such as good Masons abroad as well as good Masons at home are capable of appreciating . We have had too much lately of the sophistication of Masonic truth . " We fear that the reviewer can hardly have reid the

article . The best of the joke is that the Editor had translated the article itself from the Chaine d'Union , but thought it needful to add a note of warning . And for this he is blamed ; but what for ? Bro . Berton traces the origin of secret societies to the combination of servants against their masters , oppressed against oppressors , subjects against rulers , and puts forth

the theory of a " droit de travail , " which does not suit our view of the facts of history , or the progress of Freemasonry . Freemasonry does not come from secret societies qua secret societies . He , no doubt , recognizes the operative guilds , but more as a combination of trade unions , organized against capital and masters than anything else . It is

against this view that the Editor rightly protests as we have always done . It is quite clear that the reviewer knows nothing of the opinions of the editor , or he would not accuse him of sympai ! y with the " sophistication of Masonic truth . " As is well known to others the editor has long been foremost in advocating the simple historical view

of Freemasonry but he regrets mistaken theories and mischievous suggestions , as well as crude notions , and is not likely to fall into the rhapsody or nonsense of a French sentimental revolutionary school . We say this in fairness to our contempary , because we feel the remarks of the reviewer , are alike penned in ignorance and injustice .

OUR HOME . Louisville , Kentucky , U . S . Avery useful little Masonic paper . No . 14 , Vol ., 1 , has appeared , and we wish it heartily all the success it deserves . THE MASONIC ADVOCATE . Indianopjlis , Indiana . One of the best Masonic papers we know , we are always pleased to see it , indeed too much praise cannot be accorded to it . - ¦ — THE MASONIC ECLECTIC . Admirably edited , and always worth reading .