The First Point.

" Lament for Jephthah , ye who know his fate , Weep and lament ; ' Broken the beautiful rod , And the strong staff ; Mizpeh is desolate I ' But for sweet Adah weep not ; let the word

Be : ' Joy to the captive , freed from earthly dust , Joy for one witness more to woman ' s trust , And lasting honour , Mizpeh , be the strain To her who died in light without a stain !"'

The second point of the signet will beexolained

in the next paper . C . S .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The Quarterly General Court of this Institution was held on Monday , 17 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . J . Symonds , V . P ., was unanimously elected to fill the chair . There were present Bros . J . Hervey , G . S ., V . P . ; B . Head , H . Browse , T . Fenn , Major Creaton , F .

"Walters , J . R . Sheen , E . Cox , J . C . Parkinson , S . May , RaynhamW . Stewart , and A . Pratt , V . P . ' s ; E . H . Patten , J . B . Moncton , W . Famfield , Walker , H . Smith , Chadwick , A . H . Tattershall , W . Young , H . Massey , T . W . White , H . Empson , D . Rose , M . A . Loewenstark , J . L . Hime , j . Terry , R . J . Spiers , T . Barton , J .

Weaver , J . Stevens , A . L . Codner , and others . Bro . Binckes , the Secretary , read the minutes of the previous meeting and the general meetings held monthly . The minutes requiring confirmation were confirmed , and Bro . A . Perkins was unanimously re-elected Treasurer .

In addition to those already on the list , Bro . B . Head proposed , and Bro . Walters seconded , "That Bros . H . Massey , G . Smith , and T . Young be added to those who represent the Life and Annual Subscribers at the Committee meetings . " ( It was carried unanimousl y . )

Agreeably to notice previously given , Bro . Parkinson , V . P ., P . M . 181 , proposed , and Bro . Fenn seconded , " That Vice-Presidents being individual donors of fifty guineas each , shall have two votes for life , instead of one , for every additional five guineas contributed by them in one payment . "

Bro . Parkinson ' s remarks and views are so

much in accordance with our own that we give his speech in \ extenso . He said : I rise with considerable diffidence to propose the resolution of which notice has been given ; for I know I am in the presence of men who have devoted their energies and time to this Institution for years , and

that their administration has been so pure and excellent as to have commanded the esteem and confidence of the entire Craft . I desire , in the first place , therefore , to thank those brethren , in the name of subscribers , who arc , like myself , supremely satisfied with the internal management of

our Charities ; and who have nothing but gratitude to express for the self-denying labours by which that management is secured . It is not given to us all , brethren , to work in the same way ; and though the absorbing character of my own avocations has made it impossible forme to act upon any of the

Committees to which the Craft owes so much , my testimony to the admirable working of our Masonic Schools will not , I hope , be unacceptable when I tell you that it springs fromindependent observation , the results of which have been laid from time to time before the public . Through the friendship of the

late Mr . Charles Dickens ( who though not himself a Mason , took , let me tell you , a warm and ardent interest in the objects of the Craft ) , and by reason of the kindly sympathy of the editors of the Daily News , I have been permitted to bring the great merits of both our Girls' and Boys' School before

the outer world , and , as I have been proud to learn ( from correspondents in the four quarters of the globe , who are known to me only by name ) , with the happiest results . It is as one , therefore , whose interest in this Institution has been publicly testified and is of long standing , that I venture to

address you now , and to ask your assent to an alteration in our laws , which though trivial in itself , affirms an important principle , and is calculated to augment our usefulness by increasing our means . In a word , brethren , I wish you to give

further encouragement to members of our Order to become Vice-Presidents of this Institution , and to encourage Vice-Presidents to continue theirbencvolencc . Youknowwhat that rankmeans—asubstantial donation and a certain number of votes for life . I

want you to give a small special privilege for sums of not less than , £ 5 5 s . subscribed in addition to that donation of fifty guineas ; and 1 hope to prove to you that larger subscriptions , and more of them

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

than our returns show at present , are not too much to expect from the circumstances in which we find the Craft to-day . Speaking always in round numbers , some forty thousand pounds are spent in Freemasonry every year in London alone , and with the exception of an independent sum of some seven

thousand pounds which London contributes to the Masonic Charities , what have we to show for this vast amount ? " Leather and prunella . " Yes , brethren , Masonic millinery absorbs more money than Masonic charity . Ribbons and white leather , medals and laces , jewels , collars , aprons , silvering ,

gilding , and show , represent a far larger expenditure than we bestow upon either the succour of the orphan or the relief of the distressed . During the past twelve months , more than six thousand certificates were issued by the Grand Lodge of England ; as a necessary consequence , more than six thousand

aprons were bought ; more than seven thousand pounds were spent in this one item of Masonic adornment , and this by the new blood brought into the Craft in a single year . It is unnecessary to multiply statistics . We all know that the two huudred Freemasons' lodsres which flourish in

London represent a heavy outlay ; and we all know the direction in which that outlay goes . I would not have it diminished . I do not wish for one moment that any of the items I have quoted should be reduced . In all ages and among all civilised people the value of symbolism and the importance

of emblems have been insisted on and felt . The insignia , the orders , and adornments of Freemasonry are the outward and visible signs of the solemn mysteries and great principles we unite together to preserve and to hand down unsullied to our successors . Experience proves the efficacy of our

emblems in fostering emulation , and in making precept practice ; and I am prepared to defend them as logically justifiable , wise , and sound , should they ever be assailed . It may be asked , however , if our symbolism has quite kept pace with our prosperity , and if , in particular ,

it has been adapted to our enlarged capacity for charity ? It is plain that the Order devised and granted by the late Duke of Sussex , and having for its object the increase of the number of Stewards and Life Governors of our Boys' and Girls'Schools , has fulfilled its purpose admirably . That

honourable testimonial is extensively worn ; but I ask whether , in our altered circumstances , its scope might not be extended with advantage , and if the kind of stimulus which has been so effective in creating Life Governors might not be used for increasing the number of Vice-Presidents ? But you may say it

would not be cared for ; it would fall short of its purpose . The zealous promoters of education do not need this form of encouragement . Brethren , there is no escape from this dilemma : either symbolism is useful , and should be adopted to the utmost ; or it is useless , and should be altogether

set aside . We don ' t give a corporal a good-service stripe , and tell him he must wear that and nothing else after he has won his commission . We don ' t tell a divine that , having acquired the right of wearing a Master ' s hood , there shall be no lawn for him if he conies to be a bishop . We don't say to

the barrister , when we give him a silk gown , that he should not have ermine when he sits upon the bench . But in charitable Freemasonry we say , spend a comparatively smallsum of money on the Charitiesjdevote to them a small degree of labour and time , and you shall achieve honorary distinction ; but devote five

times the money , or time and labour , which , as in the case of our brother committee-men , are practically unlimited , and you shall achieve—nothing . Our repertory of distinction is exhausted . You may have , under certain circumstances , another stripe or two on your arm , but the corporal's uniform is the

highest you can wear ; your silk shall never give way to ermine ; lawn sleeves are not for you . Observe , brethren , I confine myself purely to the Charities of ourOrder , and to those who serve them faithfully and devotedly in person and by purse . For the committee-men and Vice-Presidents of our

Chanties we have no symbol , and , up to this time , no special privilege in voting . In the matter of symbolism , I shall content myself on this occasion with having raised the question , and with hoping that some of the advisers of the Grand Master whom I see present , may think it worthy of

consideration whether the example set by the Duke of Sussex should not be followed , and whether some modest insignia should not be devised for committee-men of a certain standing and for Vice-Presidents , which shall be to Life Governors and Past Stewards what the badges of the latter are to

the rest of the Craft . With respect to the motion I have to propose , Ibelicvcit to besound in principle , and in accord with justice and common sense . It is prospective in its operation ; it will interfere with no man ' s rights . Its aim is to induce those who

have already given freely to our Charities to give more , and to acknowledge their services in what will be , I submit , a graceful and appropriate way . Give your support , I pray _ you , brethren , to a motion which enforces the principle of recognition of ser-

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

vice , which fosters a larger and wider interest in our Charities , and which , by creating an inducement to increased benevolence , may gladden many a widow ' s heart , and bring sunshine into many a shady place , by enabling us to still further relieve

those who are desolate and oppressed . After some discussion the motion was earned . The election of candidates was then proceeded with , and the result will be found in our advertisement columns .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

On Wednesday morning , the 12 th mst ., the Prov . Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire held their annual meeting in the Masonic Hall , South Parade , Huddersfield , under the presidency of Bro . Bentley Shaw , P . G . D . of England , D . P . G . M . of West Yorkshire . Most of the Prov .

Grand Officers were present , and about 150 brethren from various parts of the province . The preparatory lodge had been opened up to the third degree by the "W . M . and officers of Lodge of Huddersfield , 290 , and previous to the entering of the Prov . Grand Officers . Bro .

Smith , P . M ., called the attention of the brethren to a somewhat singular fact in the records of Masonry , viz ., that the three principal chairs of the lodge were occupied by one family—Bros . J . L . Rhodes , W . M . ; J . W . Rhodes , S . W . ; and D . K . Rhodes , J . W .

The routine business of the Prov . Grand Lodge having been gone through , and the candidates to be supported at the forthcoming elections in the various Masonic charities agreed upon , the investment of the officers for the ensuing year was proceeded with .

The following brethren were among those invested : —Lieut-Colonel Harpin , of Holmnrth , P . S . G . W . ; Henry Day , of Dewsbury , P . J . G . W . ; Dr . Elliott , P . S . G . D . ; Fred . Whitaker . P . J . G . D . j Jonas Craven , of Huddersfield , P . G . Registrar ; Henry Smith , Wakefield , P . G . Secretary ; Clarke , Bingley , P . G . Chaplain . Bro . C . Oldroyd was

unanimously re-elected P . G . Treasurer . A petition for relief was received and attended to , and after a communication from the Secretary of the Masonic Institution for Boys had been read , the lodge was closed . A banquet afterwards took place in the banqu . 2 ting-room .

Masonic Miscellanea.

Masonic Miscellanea .

—•—WE arc informed that our distinguished Bro . W , Romaine Callender , jun ., D . P . G . M . East Lancashire , has accepted the office of Intendant-General of the Red Cross Order for South Lancashire .

A NEW conclave of the Red Cross Order , to be named the " Hydaspes , " No . 53 , is about to be opened at Lahore , with Bro . Walter Adlard , P . M ., D . G . W ., as first M . P . S . A charter has been granted for a conclave at Detroit , Michigan , U . S . A . ; it is named "Michigan , " and numbered as -54 on the roll . Bro . D . B Tracy , 33 ° , is the first M . P . S .

FREEMASONS' LIFE BOAT . —In last week ' s issue , in the list of subscriptions for the above object , Bro . Hind , 141 ( 2 nd sub . ) , should have been ios . 6 d . instead of 2 S . 6 d ., and Lodge of Harmony , 372 , £ 1 was omitted .

THE Fifteen Sections will be worked in the Camden Lodge of Instruction , held at Bro . Vinall ' s , Adelaide Tavern , Haverstock-hill , on Monday next , the 24 th inst ., at seven o ' clock precisely . Bro . T . A . Adams , P . M . and Preceptor , will be in the chair . Any brother in search of Masonic information will have a great treat , as the sections will all be worked by first-class Masons .

UNITED STRENGTH LODGE OF INSTRUCTION No . 228 . —This—one of the oldest lodges of instruction in existence—meets every Wednesday at the Bull and Gate , Kentish Town-road , under the guidance of Bro . J . N . Frost , one of the ablest Preceptors of the present day . The Fifteen Sections

will be worked on Wednesday next , the 26 th inst ., when no doubt a large number of brethren will be present , as , from the many well-known P . M . 's who have promised to assist , a great treat may be expected . Bro . Frost will take the chair at seven o ' clock .