Original Correspondence.

discovered in the MS . records of the Presbytery of Jedburgh , parish of Minto . It is as follows : — " 1652 . James Aiiaslie , A . M called nth January , and admitted and instituted ( after being sustained by the General Asernbly ) 9 December , 1652 , objection having been taken because he was a Freemason , and the neighbouring

Presbytery consulted previous to entering him on trials . The n jC 5 bytery of Kelso , 24 ' h February , 1652 , shewed ' that to their judgment their is neither sinne nor scandale in that word , because in the purest tymes of this kirke Maisons having that word have been ministers , that Maisons and men having that word have been and are daylie in

our sessions , and many professors haveing that word are daylie admitted to the ordinances . ' " The minute of the Lodge of Edinburgh of 1636 speaks of the Freemasons of Edinburgh , and the above extract clearly shews that the word " Freemason , " although not found in Masonic records between 16 3 C and 1729 , was yet

in general use between these periods . But the extract is also important as shewing that " in the purest times of the ( Scotch ) Kirk , " which the Presbytery minutes indicate were prior to 1652 , some of its ministers had been Freemasons , and that at that date " many professors " were so . This is another evidence that non-operatives

were admitted members of the Order prior to Ashmole ' s admission in 1646 . Indeed , as the minutes of the Lodge of Edinburgh shew , several eminent non-operatives were admitted members of the lodge in 1634 , and the immediately subsequent years ; and wc find one in active

membership of it so early as 1600 . We have no record of his admission , but it must have been prior to 1599 , the date of the olelcst existing minute of the lodge . Yours fraternally , P . M . No . 1 , S . C .

SIXTY-SEVEN YEARS A MASON . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The following extract from the minutes of the

Lodge of Sincerity , now numbered 174 , may , at the pre sent time , be interesting to your numerous readers . Yours truly , J . NEWTON , P . M . and Sec . 1 74 . May J 4 th , 18 79 .

" Quarterly Nigh * . " Lodge of Sincerity , No . 231 , March 10 th , 1812 . " At a lodge of instruction held on Sunday , March 8 th , Brn . Price proposed that Robert Whitaker become a Mason in this lodge—seconded by Bro . Watkins , and canied nem . con .: and also that Mr . James Norris , taylor ( sic ) , aged

twenty-four years , be made a Mason in this lodge , and seconded by Bro . Wade , and carried nem . con . " March 10 th . * The loelge this evening was opened in due form , and Mr . James Norris initiated in the First Degree of Masonry , and passed to that of Second Degree , or Fellow Craft .

" Proposed by Bro . Hall , and seconded by Bro . Judge , that Bro . Nonis become a regular subscribing member of this lodge , anil carried nem . con . "The R . W . M . went through part of the First Lecture , and closed the lodge in its usual good harmony . " * The loelge was then held at the Lion and Castle , Cherry Garden Stairs , Bermondsey .

A CORRECTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I desire to call your attention to a slight error you have made in last week ' s number of the Freemason under the heading of " Assistant Grand Pursuivant , " Towards the end you are pleased to mention the

excellent working of La Tolerance Lodge of Instruction , and give me credit of being the Preceptor , which is not correct j the office I hold is that tf Treasurer . From the commencement of the lodge our Preceptor was , is now , and I trust will be for some time to come , Bro . T . Alex . Adams , I' . G . P . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally ,

CHARLES I . W . DAVIS , P . M . Royal Union , No . 382

ORIGINAL RESEARCH . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The work called "Original Research "to which I tele drawn your attention in previous numbers , will , I ¦ Kg to say , be published at a minimum price in the course

w Ihe year . It will be dedicated to the Grand Lodges of a " nations , to whom copies will be presented , with right of 'fanslation , in the earnest hope that it may be the means ° ' spreading the sacred truths therein set forth , not onl y among brethren , but among all orders of men . I am , yours fraternally ,

W . N . CRAWFORD Orchard Hill , Guernsey , 10 th May , 1879 .

A NEW NOVEL ? To the Editor of the " Freemason . " D « r Sir and Brother , — I am much amused to see an advertisement of a tvv novel , bearing the attractive title of " The Freemason's J . "gliter , " by J . F . Smith , published , I believe , by the rrn of Tinslcy Brothers . Now , some twenty years since „ 0 Qk in a storv . in narts . entitled " Amv Lawrence , the

^ mason's Daughter , " by J . F . Smith . The volume is in sta l > 0 SSeSS i ° now , and I believe that I am correct in ' . '" S that the story had previously appeared in the slo u . m , ls of the London Journal . I cannot say that the y 'es ai ' e identical , the titles are nearly so . r ° urs trul y and fraternally , SENIOR WARDEN .

A Visit To The Girls' School

A VISIT TO THE GIRLS' SCHOOL

I wish in the much read and truthful pages of the Freemason to record the impressions of a visitor to this remarkable Institution for the first time . Strange as it may seem to some of my readers , though an old Life Governor and Steward , I had never had the opportunity of seeing the " tout-ensemble " at St . John ' s Hill , Battersea Rise ,

with my own eyes . I had heard of it , and had myself spoken about it , basing my confidence , not undeserved , on its yearly reports , but this year , " health and weather permitting , " I determined to seek for personal evidence , in lieu of passive authority , alike for what I believed as for what I said . So on one fine day , one of the finest of this most uncongenial year , and despite a treacherous east

wind , in company with two very well dressed and angelic beings of the " softer sects , " as Mr . Samuel Weller has it , I betook myself in such pleasant company to that classic common , on the borders of which rises the new , the large , and almost imposing building , entitled the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . The School is not a school built qua a school , but is an adaptation of a private house , by

needful alterations , to the purposes ' of a school . It has increased in numbers from 60 to 120 , and now to 200 inmates , and the recent additions have been most skilfully made by Bro . Massa , reflecting credit alike on him and the Building Committee , under Bro . Lieut . Col . Creaton . I was specially struck with the new hall , the infiimary , and the laundry , all on the most modern and approved

principles , whether of ventilation or of hygiene , and which it is not difficult to see at a glance must add materially to the comfort , wants , and efficiency of the School . Tin re are now , as I have already said , 200 girls , and I will venture to add 200 healthier or happier looking girls are not to be seen in England . Indeed it was impossible for any one , especially those acquainted with

educational work and similar institutions , not to come to the conclusion that one of the great ends of any such establishment was fully secured in the comfortable appearance and smiling faces of the children , who , though many of them had been deprived from early years of the inestimable advantage of parental care and supervision , had yet found in the good Providence of God a happy home for

themselves , and sincere friends , and motherly care , and skilful tuition in that pleasant and peaceful refuge for many a poet and otherwise destitute little girl—the Masonic Girls ' School 011 Wandsworth Common . Indeed , I think it right to add that the Schtiol is really " sui generis" and " unique , " as far as I know , and I think I know what I am writing about , amongst all similar institutions in

England , nay , in Europe . There are many admirable homes where 200 girls are trained and cared for , but then they are class schools , so to say-, and all on a level . Now the peculiarity of the Girls' School , like as the Boys ' School , consists in this , that it is made up of different , and often of most contrasted , classes , and the difficulty , the " crux , " at once confront us , how are you to give a good

uniform education for these poor girls , differently broug ht up , and even fitting often widely different stations in life , without reducing the School to the level of a merely elementary or eleemosynary school , on the one hand , or elevating - it above the needs and proper position of the childicn on the other ? In the Girls' School , as it seems to me , ( all praise to

Miss Davis and the House Committee ) , the happy " mean " has been found , so that the education imparted is alike practical and thorough , real and useful , needful and beneficial to all alike , fitting them thoroughly for the " rough battle of life , " preparing them for the after struggle of each individual career . Without forgetting to develope latent talent or to draw out existing ability , without losing sight of the truth , that all education , to be education , is to

expand , adorn , enrich , and control the mind ; and that what God has implanted we are bound to seek carefully and tenderly to nourish and advance , the children are proficient , as their own neat and comely dresses show , in all housewifery , in sewing , and marking , and knitting , in all the duties of the house , and in cookery . Some of us remember the old song" Had she been a daughter of mine

I'd have taught her to hem and to sew , " and the House Committee have always very wisely encouraged this good old-fashioned work , so needful and so beneficial for girls . I was quite struck with the carefulness and clearness with which the girls have been prepared for their " repetitions , " and the admirable manner in which the German

and French were pronounced , not merely the " French of Bowe , " ( see Chaucer ) , convinced me how really first rate was the instruction imparted . The calisthenics were most striking anil worth seeing , being alike healthy for the girls and graceful and pleasing in themselves . Thus , go when you may , look at what you will , listen to this , and observe that , everything seems to

point to a thoroughly reliable and intelligent , and able instructress , one who knows her " metier" and likes and loves it for its opportunity of doing good to others , and there can be no question that to Miss Davis the success of the School , scholastically , if I may so say , is entirely attributable . To her untiring zeal and important labours the School owes its great vitality and prestige , and

under her skilful direction the talents of the orphans are alike most carefully supervised and properly developed . All who saw the School on Monday must rejoice to think that the School is under her direction , assisted as she is by willing teachers , most of them , we believe , trained by

herself , and who carry out her admirable plan of teaching and instruction , and steady , kindly interest in the personal work , anil happiness , and welfare 04 ( , he children . The School is also very fortrnjiatie in having as Matron Miss Jarwood , who has , I bAljpve , been fifty years in the Institution , was originally ' & pupil , and in whom the Com-

A Visit To The Girls' School

mittee and Subscribers have most properly every confidence . Her kindness and motherly care to all are ever evinced in many ways , and I was pleased to realize that where so much personal sorrow must often exist in the mind of a poor orphan , the genial consideration and the unceasing friendliness manifested for all in the School , had secured to Miss Jarwood the regard and attachment of the pupils and

teachers . I have seen many girls' schools , large and small , but I never visited any which had more the appearance of a home , and less of a mere school , than our Masonic Institution for Girls . To the House Committee the best thanks of all subscribers of the School are due for the unceasing attention to , and watchful control over , all matters affecting the routine , discipline , and character of the School . We should

all feel that to their wise measures and sensible administration it is really owing that the excellent qualities of Miss Jarwood and Miss Davis have been encouraged and supported , until , alike ir . its domestic and scholastic character , the School may fairly challenge comparison with any existing institution . Long may it flourish , a blessing to many a poor orphan , and securing for itself the loyal admiration , attachment , and sympathy of thousands of honest-hearted Masons . W .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . EDWIN HUGHES , P . M . 249 . On Friday , the 16 th inst ., the remains of Bro . Edwin Hughes , P . M . of the Mariners Lodge , No . 249 , were interred at Southdown-road Cemetery , Liverpool , the funeral being attended by a large concourse of people . The deceased was a well-known solicitor in Liverpool , and during the earlier portion of his life he served under Garibaldi in

the fight for national liberty in Italy , and also in the great American war , in connection with which he saw some active service . The corte ' ge left the late residence of the deceased , Brooklands , Elm Vale , Fairfield , Liverpool , at half-past ten . Amongst those present were Mr . R . Hughes , son ; Mr . William Hughes , brother ; and Mr . H . W . Cooke , brother-in-law of ( he deceased ; Dr . Commins , Mr .

CuunciIIor M'Ardle , Dr . Speer , Captain Murdock , 1 st L . A . V . ; Bro . Dr . Sheldon , Bro . Captain Berry , Messrs . Walter Commins , John Atkinson , W . H . Pride , Martin Browne , C . Connor , A . Crilly ( of the Financial Reform Association , of the council ot which Bro . Hughes was a member ) , Henry Vaughan , M . Hynes , D . Callow , H . Neale , managing clerk to the deceased , and others . The burial service was read by the Rev . H . Postance .

BRO . JOSEPH POORE . Bro . Joseph Poore , P . P . G . J . W . of the Isle of Wight , Senior Past Master of the Albany Lodge , No . 151 , late 176 , died at his residence , in Newport , on Sunday , the 4 th inst ., in the 87 th year of his age . Bro . Poore was initiated into Freemasonry in the Union Lodge , No . 626 , held at the Blue Anchor Tavern , St . George ' s-square , Portsea , Hants ,

on the 17 th April , 1814 ; joined Lodge No . 148 August 20 th , 1816 , and was enrolled a Mark Mason in Gibraltar , where our brother was engaged on the fortifications . On his return to the Isle of Wight , in 1817 , joined the Vcctis Lodge , No . 578 , and the chapter Mark and Albany Lodge , No . 151 , late 176 , in 1838 , from which date until his decease he continued to be a subscribing member , and

during the long period of forty-one years was the most regu . lar in attendance at the meetings of the lodge , always endeavouring to promote the interests of Freemasonry , and that of the Albany Lodge in particular , te the best of his ability . The remains of our venerable Bro . Past Master Poore were followed to his last resting place in Carisbrooke Cemetery , on the 91 I 1 , by the Rev . the Worshipful Master ,

Past Masters , and brethren of the Albany Lodge , who at all times entertained a high estimate and fraternal regard for his straightforward , honest braring , and integrity of purpose , anel most sincerely did they sympathise with him at the time his kind heart was deeply sorrowing , on the 18 th November , 1870 , when he lost the dear partner of his life ,

with whom he had blissfully enjoyed fifty-four years of conjugal happiness , their spinster daughter dutifully attending to and comforting her aged parents with loving cheerfulness to the end of their lives . Out of a family of eight children , five daughters and one son survive , with grand and great grandchildren .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

NINETY-FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL . The following subscriptions have since come in : — Lodge . £ s . d . 6 Bro . Sir G . Prescott , Bart . ... ... 21 o o 18 „ J . Mowltrm Burt ... ... 31 10 o 172 ,, John Watson ... ... ... 40 17 o 402 „ C . T . Jacoby ... ... ... 10 10 o 771 „ W . V . Brown ... ... ... 21 o o 829 „ William Etheridge ... ... 10 10 o Tohn Mason ... ... ... 10 10 a

. „ , ( W . B . Woodman , M . D . 444 and Rose of I List £ . 27 . o Devon Conclave , j Annonnced * Exeter / V . in error 103 10 o ——— 2 3 11 o Various Additions to Lists ... ... 28 5 ft jC « 97 ' 3 » Bro . R . J . Kerr , Gloucester ( omitted ¦ last week ) .,, ... ... £ 32 10 o