A Pleasant Scene.

care . In England the love of home in its intense practicability has been at the foundation of all our real greatness and national prosperity . But the lesson the Prince Consort essayed to teach us was another one . High rank and great place , the ceaseless exactmetits of needful ceremonial , often

left but little time for the enjoyment of domestic retirement and sympathies . But it was not enough to be intent on Court duties , on the brilliant gathering ; on the splendid outer life ; there was an inner life , of simple home tastes and pursuits , which had to be fostered , upheld , and

vitalized , if all was to go well and to be well . Nothing , we venture to think , has so strengthened the Throne in the hearts of the English people as Ihis fellow-feeling with their most cherished ideas and actual daily , hourly , often trying and laborious , existence . And so to-day we , as

Freeniasons , remembering that our Gracious Sovereign is not only the daughter of an old Grand Master , but our ever kindly Patroness—that three of her sons and one of her sons-in-law are members of our great fraternity , that we boast more than one little " Lewis" of the

"House of Brunswick "—we shall rejoice , as all patriotic Englishmen will rejoice , over that little family gathering which took place on May ioth , in that great castle , so bound up with the imperishable memories of England , of the English Throne , and of the English people . May the

hopes of many millions , and the trust of many loyal hearts , be fulfilled in those of the coming generation , who when we of this present epoch are passed away , and gone from the " Battlefield of Life , " will yet have high duties to

perform alike in the holy interests of civilization , and peace , and progress ; in the conservation of society , in the living welfare of our own great country , as well as in the increased hat > piness , liberty , and union of the great brotherhood of mankind .

The Merry Month Of May.

THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY .

May is amongst us in all its freshness and brightness , with the balmy breezes of the closing spring , and with the genial warmth of tho opening summer . Though ours is proverbially changeable weather , and London is specially credited with fogs and rain , King Charles the

Second used to say , and he was a very good judge of the matter , that the climate of England was on the whole the best he knew , as it enabled you to he out of doors , after all , more than in any other . And we citizens of our " Little Village " may well be glad when May therefore puts on

her most smiling face for us . As we all know , an English May in the country is very pleasant , especially when fine , and we are inclined to think that fromthe last fortnight inMay , and until the end of June , there is not much anywhere that can compare with the aspect of our good old Fatherland .

The hedges are leafy , the daisies are visible , the grass is lifting up its head , the hawthorn is fragrant in pink and white , while the chestnuts are beginning to bloom , and the oaks to be green again amid an increasing freshness and verdure of lane and mead , of wood and covert . A fine

May is therefore not only very pleasant to the " country mouse , " but has its special attraction for the " town mouse . " For all our Londoners , pent up between interminable rows of dull brick , or smoky stone , or pretentious stucco , often sigh for a glimpse of green fields , for the hum of bees ,

for the cawing of rooks , for the songs of birds , and the umbrageous shelter of lime or elm . And those of us are wise in their generation , especially those to whom belong the cares and responsibilities of famil y life , if they run down with their belongings , great and small ,

to have a look at the pastures and shady lanes within some easy distance of town . Nothing is so health y for us all as to have from early years the love of natural sights and common things . Especiall y is this so in that wonderful creation , that treasure house of goodness and wisdom and compassion , wherein the Great Architect of the

Universe has given us all so many clear tokens of His presence , of infinite contrivance and design , of omni potent constructiveness and care . In that glorious handiwork of excelling majesty and mercy there is nothing , however humble , from which we may not learn something alike striking to the intellect , and refreshing to the mind , In-

The Merry Month Of May.

deed , every consideration or survey of this world ' s frame and fabric and goodly sights and pleasant scenes must lead us all to the inevitable conclusion , as it has led so many of the wisest and

best of earth , that the hand which made all these outer things and us is indeed Divine . Therefore , in this merry month of May let us not be chary of visiting , with our young and with our old , the fair extent of rural spots around our overgrown and toiling and sweltering metropolis .

Happy privilege for our married brethren , goodly chance for some rash , if trembling aspirants for all the mysteries of Hymsn , that they can enjoy , in the company of those they love the best , the sights and sounds of this merry month of May , amid the pleasant perfume of hawthorn

hedges and budding trees and verdant fields , already studded with the daisy , the cowslip , and the primrose . But what a melancholy " outcome " and " lookout" for miserable bachelor Masons , still left to wander on "separatim " in this troublesome world , whose solitary excursion

must be , for the most part , to the Welsh Harp or the Spotted Dog , to Greenwich or Black wall , and who return as they go , little better for their outing , slightly heated and considerably bored . Even May , with all its refreshing hours and gladdening and revivifying influences , has its Nemesis for all those infatuated persons who ,

despite warnings very many , and chances not a few , resolutely continue " unblest and singularly single , " with no dear , dear Jezebel to cheer , to worry , togovern , or to obey , still , " save at circui t unretained , and save at chess unmated . "

Notice.

NOTICE .

The June number of the "Masonic Magazine " which is the closing number of the 2 nd volume , will be increased in letter-press . The ] photograph of H . R . H . the Grand Master is not yet ready ,

owing to the great demand on the Photographer , but we will publish it with the MASONIC MAGAZINE as soon as our arrangement is perfected . In order to prevent-disappointment , nonsubscribers should send an order at once to the

publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , E . C ., who is most anxious to accommodate all who apply in time . The price of the single number is < 5 d ., seven shillings for the whole year , and postage paid . With the end of the second volume it is a good

time for many of our brethren to subscribe for the next twelve months . We beg to call attention to the very interesting illustration of the Girls' School on another page , which originally appeared in the Illustrated London AVw ; . ? .

We shall publish in the next Freemason some interesting letters from Bro . Buchan , W . J . Hughan , and " Masonic Student" on the Guild Theory . We shall also insert a communication

from our esteemed Bro . Hughan , relative to a Mark Lodge of the last century , in America .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

STEWAKUS' LIST , 18 75 . _ .. .. £ s- <>•

LODGE I Bro . Paterson , Alderman ... 52 10 o „ 2 „ Thomas Greetham ... 44 2 o , 1 4 „ J- S . H . McEwan ... 51 9 o „ S » Francis Morgan 60 18 o > , 8 „ J . Lewis Geigcr 19 19 3 >•10 Rev . T . Cochrane ... e ? is o

„ 11 „ E . J . Bradstreet ... ... 32 o 6 „ 14 „ A . L . Bristow 21 00 „ 15 „ H . G . Martin 88 4 o ii ' 8 „ J . F . Muggins 34 13 o 21 .. . 1 . K . Stead , 18 f . o

Chap . 21 „ Griffiths Smith 17 17 o Lodge 22 „ G . Phythian 52 10 o „ 2 3 ,, Henry Venn 10 10 o „ 27 „ J . B . Poole 73 10 6 .. 33 » W . Lugg 78 4 6 „ S 3 it M . Dubosc 15 15 o „ 46 11 Dr . J . H . Paul 24 3 o

, 1 59 „ Fred Lough 115 10 o „ 6 5 „ E . C . Mather 30 9 o „ 66 „ J . A . Rucker ... ... 52 10 o „ 91 „ T . R . Marshall 40 19 o „ 95 „ Geo . S . Ayrcs ... ... 39 18 o 1 , 00 „ G . D . Stibbard 87 * o

„ 101 „ Ihos . Beard 16 16 o ,, 143 „ G . N . Strawbridge ... 7290 „ 145 „ Geo . Parkcs 31 10 o „ 162 „ Geo . C . Capper 30 9 o „ 174 „ Charles Lacy 109 4 o 11 ' 77 11 W . J . Ferguson 31 10 o * i > ' 79 ti James Kevv 40 o o

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Lodge 180 „ A . Cameron 23 12 o „ 180 „ W . II Pannell 26 ; o „ 181 „ Wm . Sharratt 29 8 o 11 18 5 „ J . H . Ross 52 10 o „ 185 „ John Constable 420 12 o

,, 192 ,, Geo . Newman ... ... 47 5 o „ 194 ,, Dr . R . Fowler 6 7 4 o 11 1 97 „ Geo . Findlay 37 16 o 11 198 ,, H . C . Lambert ... ... 22 10 „ 227 „ Percival Sanford ... ... 24 3 o „ 231 „ G . A . Ibbetson ... ... 28 9 o , 1 2 35 „ H . Robinson 43 1 o

11 256 „ J . A . Farnfield 37 16 o „ 259 „ F . W . Ramsay 11 n o 11 5 . 14 „ John Boyd 21 o o > i 657 „ W . H . Stevens ... ... 102 18 o 11 7 ' 5 » J . J-Clemans 21 o o 11 733 11 ^•Cooper 40 00 1 . 781 „ John Wright 52 10 o

11 822 „ Percy Trower ... ... 52 10 o „ 860 „ Dr . J . C . White 47 15 o „ 862 „ W . Jones , J . Hayward ... 29 8 o „ 907 „ Thos . Griffiths ... ... 43 i o 11 933 11 J- < - >•Stevens 142 16 o Chap . 1056 „ Elias Gotthiel ... ... 31 10 o Lodge 1118 „ W . E . Blakevvay 21 o o „ 11 5 0 „ J . B . Rochester ... ... 26 So

„ - 1126 „ R . H . Pearson ... ... 2 4 13 6 11 I 2 57 „ John Elliott 24 13 6 „ 1260 „ George Harrison ... ... ^^ 12 o „ 1328 „ Jas . Lewis Thomas ... 133 7 o 11 ' 329 „ E . Clarke 48 17 o 11 ' 339 11 C . Hammerton 10 10 o 11 ' 348 „ J . Palmer 174 o o „ r 36 i „ R , H . Thrupp 44 5 o

11 ^ 383 11 W . Hyde Pullen 170 2 o „ 1397 „ Dr . f . H . Galton 23 12 6 „ 1425 „ A . H . Longhurst 33 1 6 „ 1426 „ N . B . Headon ... ... 211 1 o 11 1471 11 J . L . Mather 49 7 o

11 H 7 S 11 A - M . Watkins 57 15 o „ 1489 „ W . J . Murlis 120 00 „ 1491 „ S . Poynter 118 o 6 11 ' 5 4 , 1 J . B . Shackleton 52 10 o

PROVINCES . Bristol : J . F . Norris 66 13 6 Berks and Bucks : W . Knight , Powell , Laxton ... ... ... ... ... 75 2 o Cheshire : J . Salmon , W . Goodacre ... 21 o o Derbyshire : W . E . Diamond , II . Whitham 10 10 o Essex : A . Lucking , C . F . I logard , A . W .

Naylor 86 6 6 Herts : T . S . Carter 17 17 o Kent : T . S . Carter , II . M . Baker , G . F . Carnell ... ... ... ... ,,, 142 3 o Lancashire , E . D . : T . Entwistle , G . P . Brockbank , Rev . P . Mains 42 00

Little , II . A . Dubois , J . G . Marsh , | . Coulton , B . H . Swallow , F . Keily , R . P . Tebb , S . Wickens , J . S . Sweasey , J . Johnson , J . Faulkner , F . S . Knyvett , E .

Lancashire , West : F . C . Lunt , Col . Birchell , W . Leader , J . D . Moore , M . D . ... 63 11 o Lincolnshire : John Sutcliffe , W . Marshall , J . Robinson , W . H . Roberts , J . R . Tong 6 3 o o Middlesex : Col . Burdett , | . C . Parkinson , R . W . Stewart , J . T . Moss , R . W .

Hopwood 581 19 o Monmouthshire and South Wales : Col .

Lyne , Capt . Homfray , L . A . Homfray , S . B . Power 464 10 o Oxfordshire : F . P . Morrcll ( including £ 10 10 s . from Prince Leopold , and £ 26 5 s . from Earl of Jersey ) 68 4 o Long 10 10 o

Shropshire : J . H . Spaull , J . Corbett , J . Beresford , J . Bagnall , Briscowe 64 1 o Somersetshire : C . L . F . Edwards 21 o o Suffolk : Rev . C . J . Martyn , Peter de L . Long 64 19 6 Surrey : George Wright , Thos . Long , Rev .

C . W . Hall 75 13 o Sussex : Dr . T . Trollope ... ... ,,, 76 2 o Warwickshire : Walter Short 21 00 Yorkshire , North and East : B . Tesseman , Henri E . Voigt 34 13 0 Yorkshire , West : Sir H . Edwards , Bentley Shaw , T . Hill , Capt . Wordsworth , Rev . A . W . Hamilton , Henry Smith , T .

Schoheld , R . Arnison , R . E . Collinson , J . E . Wavell , G . E . Webster , II . W . Lofthouse , J . Nixon , J . Binney , H . Pawson , H . W . Maleham , W . Roddewig , B . Broughton , T . W . Andrews , R . Craig , P . C . Lowrie , C . Peglcr , A . Brilton , F . Crossley , T . N . Tindall , W . White , W . C . Smith , Capt . T . E . Clark , J . Simpson , W . Clayton 580 17 o MISCELLANEOUS .

J . E . Saunders 10 10 o W . R . Woodman 10 10 o Thomas W . White 34 . 13 0 Palestine Rose Croix : Rev . P . M . Molden ... 31 10 o Premier Red Cross : Capt . G . Cockle ... 10 10 o Red Cross , 17 : Wm . Richards 16 16 o

Mark Lodge , 104 : T . W . Murley 34 1 o A . Mansfield , 10 10 o D . Nicols ... ... ... ... 39 18 o A . Tvvynan ... ... ... ... 10 10 o E . C . Woodward id ifi o

james Mason 15 15 0 FOREIGN . Bombay , 549 : E . Tyrrell Leith 21 o o Total £ 71 268 3 o The total is exclusive of 14 lists to come in ,