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  • May 25, 1889
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The Freemason, May 25, 1889: Page 11

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Page 11

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Ad01102

PARIS EXHIBITION—Now Open . PARIS and BACK for 23 s . 3 d .

Ad01113

T ^ J T EASTERN RAILWAY . — 3 From CHARING-CROSS and CANNON-STREET TERMINI . Cheap Fares for Parties of Artisans , & c . Full Particulars by Handbills to be had on application .

Ad01112

S - ^ J _ EASTERN RAILWAY . — PARIS , Switzerland , Italy , & c . THE ROYAL MMI EXPRESS ROUTE from CHARING-CROSS and CANNON-STREET . -FOUR SERVICES DAILY . ve fharing-cross VirX Calais Via Boulogne Via , Calais Via Calais 3 Cannon-street 8 . 20 a . m . * o . 4 oa . m . ir . oa . m . 8 . 15 p . m . Arrive Paris $ . 4 ° P-m . S . S 7 P- " > . 7-= S p . m . S . Jo a . m . # The route via Folkestone and Boulogne is 28 miles horter than via Calais , and is the quickest route ; 20 minutes are allowed for luncheon at Boulogne . The Albert Victor , Louise Dagmar , and Mary Beatrice run in the Special Express Services , via Boulogne , throughout the year . Express Through Services to Switzerland , & c , via Calais and Rheims , or via Paris , in connection with the above tfa ALL CONTINENTAL TICKETS , single and return , for the Short Sea and Mail Routes , via Dover and Calais or Dover and Ostend , whether issued at stations or at booking offices , are AVAILABLE by the South-Eastern Railway . MYLES FENTON , General Manager .

Ad01111

BLACKWALL to MARGATE and BOULOGNE . SS . "HERALD " Leaves BLACKWALL PIER at io a . m . THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS during the month , returning the following working day . RETURN TICKETS ( available for one month)—10 / - and 12 / 6 ; Margate , 4 / - and 5 / -. ROBERT WALPOLE , 15 S , Leadenhall-st , London , E . C .

Ad01110

" TOBACCO BLOOM " IN PACKETS AND CIGARETTES , FINEST QUALITY AND FLAVOUR , Of Tobacconists in Town and Country . SPECIAL AGENTFRUNKLIN ( late Medex ) , 155 , OXFORD STREET , W . Wholesale—RUTTER & Co ., LONDON .

Ad01109

/c~COCKERELL'S \ f 13 , CORNHILL , E . C . t » r ^ OC ^ For Prices , see Daily Papers . Cj / Trucks direct from the * Colliery to every Railway Station .

Ad01108

M . B . ROSENBERG , HIGH-CLASS TAILOR AND OUTFITTER , Ladies' Jacket and Ulster Maker , W , LIVERPOOL STREET , LONDON , E . C .

Ad01107

HEPBURN and COCKS , ESTABLISHED 1700 . 93 , CHANCERY LANE , LONDON , W . C . ( Two Doors North of Union Bank ) . MED , BALLOT , CASH , and DESPATCH BOX , and FIRE-PROOF SAFE MANUFACTURERS . Ah ' -Tight and Travelling Boxes in stock , and made to order , . . . oraccs and Strong Booms Fitted up with Iron Frames and Shelves . Sets "i stands and Boxes made to fit Xtecesses to Order . , Estimates given . Price Lists . •> N . B . TSTR 0 NG DEED BOXES of the following dimensions forwarded ? i , ' ? I > aid P 1 ' 0 ne <* cash—vta .: 16 in . by 12 in . by 9 J in ., 17 a . 6 d . M'n . bylQin . by 8 in .. 14 s . 6 d . ; and 13 in . by 9 in . by 7 s ., lis . 6 d .

Ad01106

MASONS' CERTIFICATES , & c ., FRAMED TO ANY DESIGN . 17 H . M O R E L L J { and 18 , Great St . Andrew St ., Bloomsbury , W . C , London . rjaruifacturer and ImPorter ° * all kinds of Picture Frame and fe „ ,, ? . '' ve Mouldings ( Two Million Feet always in stock ) . Every misite for the Trade and Exportation . Illustrated Book of __ ^ Patterns post free for three penny stamps .

Ad01105

T ADY CLERK or SECRETARY , — &* An EX-PUPIL R . M . I . G . desires RE-ENGAGEMENT . nree years' experience . Good References .- Excellent Brixt and ^ U'ck at Fi S ures , —M A 114 , Vassall-road ,

Ad01104

"U / ANTED — Two Copies of " The Ian , R ° SICRUCIAN " for April , 1877 , and one for cni . !? ' 79 > velIow covers . —Apply to Dr . WYNN WEST-^ JSg ^ Camden-road , N .

Ad01103

A CAMBRIDGE GRADUATE ZOM ( P - !^ ' P -Z ' P-M . W . S . i 8 ° , Professor of Latin and K ^ Sy , "The College , " South Kensington ; Examiner for Pr - , hJexIey Heath College ) has some time disengaged Naln ! c- Visit 'ng Tuition . Lectures on History and meZ ~ £ ci ?? - Foreigners taught English through the N ° tKng . hHi W nch , ~ "Address ' * ° " ' Lancastei > road >

Ad01114

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . Bro . KNILL desires to thank his numerous supporters who , by their Votes , placed him at the head of the Poll at the recent Election of the above Institution .

Ad01115

NOW READY . —PRICE 5 / - { CLOTII , GILT ) . TheEngravedListofRegularLodges FOB A . D . 1734 . I N FACS I M I LE . WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND EXPLANATORY NOTES Br WILLIAM JAMES HTTGHAN " , Past Senior Grand Deacon of Enalanil ; Past Senior Grand Warden of Iowa , * i ' . Prat . S . G . W . and P . Prov . G . Sec . of Cornwall ; $ c , frc , H'C . LONDON : GEORGE KENNING , 16 , GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .

Ad01116

FRAZER'S Purify the Blood , Improve the Complexion , Insure —————— Good Health , Make Work a Pleasure , and Life S ULPHU R Enjoyable . Sold by Chemists at i / ij , or post free —~—™"—~~ JJ Stamps from FUAZER & Co ., so , Ludgate Hill , TABLETS London . Agents Wanted . LiberalTerms . Whole-- ———— " sale : The Grocers' Association , Ltd ., London , S . E ,

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

[ Several letters on the Boys' School and other matters of interest stand over for want of space . ] The following communications unavoidably stand over : CRAFTEarl of Lathom Lodge , No . S 34 , MARKYork Lodge , No . 334 . Granville Lodge , No . 390 .-INSTRUCTIONKensington Lodge , No . 1767 . St . Ambrose Lodge , No . 1891 . Beaumont Lodge , No . 2035 . OBITUARY—Bro . William Wells . The Poet Burns . A Masonic Lodge held " Al Fresco . " Masonic Service at Beswick , Manchester . BOOKS . Sec , RECEIVED . " Canadian Craftsman , " " South Australian Freemason , " "The Tyler , " " Australasian Keystone , " " Keystone , " and " Freemasons Repository . "

Ar01118

SATURDAY , MAY 25 , 1889 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , History repeats itself . The report of Bro . Philbrick and his colleagues reminds one how in 1 S 54 Charles Dickens wrote his Christmas story of " The Seven Poor Travellers " who experienced the hospitality provided at Rochester under the will of Richard Watts . This

gentleman by his will , dated in 1579 , founded a charity for " Six poor travellers , who , not being Rogues or Proctors , may receive gratis for one night lodging , entertainment , and Fourpence each . " I fancy Bro . Philbrick must have been reading the story shortly before drafting his report . At any rate the following extracts seem so singularly ad rem that it will interest your readers to reprint them .

"This , " said the matronly presence , ushering me into a low room on the right , "is where the travellers sit by the fire and cook what bits of suppers they buy with their fourpences . " "Oh ! then they have no Entertainment ? " said 1 , for the inscription over the outer door was still running in my head , and I was mentally repeating in a kind of tune

"Lodging , entertainment , and fourpence each . "They have a fire provided for ' em , " returned the matron , a mighty civil person , not , as I could make out , overpaid , " and these cooking utensils . And this , what's painted on a board , is the rules for their behaviour . They have their fourpences .... but not much is to be got for fourpence at present , when provisions is so dear . "

"True , indeed , " I remarked . I had been looking about the room , admiring its snug fireside at the upper end , its glimpse of the street through the low mullioned window , and its beams overhead . " it is very comfortable , " said 1 . " HI conwenient , " observed the matronly presence . I liked to hear her say so , for it showed a commendable anxiety to execute in no niggardly spirit the intentions of

Master Richard Watts . But the room was really so well adapted for its purpose that I protested , quite enthusiastically , against her disparagement . "Nay , ma ' am , " said I , " 1 am sure it is warm in winter and cool in summer . It has a look of homely welcome and soothing rest . It has a remarkably cosy fireside , the very blink of which , gleaming out into the street upon a winter night , is enough to warm all Rochester ' s heart . And as to

the convenience of the six poor travellers " — "I don't mean them , "_ returned the presence , "I speak of its being an ill-conwenience to myself and my daughter , having no other room to sit in of a night . " This was true enough , but there was another quaint room of corresponding dimensions on the opposite side of the entry , - so I stepped across to it , through the open doors of both rooms , and asked what this chamber was for ?

Original Correspondence.

"This , " returned the presence , " is the Board Roomwhere the gentlemen meet when they come here . " Let me see . I had counted from the street six upper windows besides those on the ground-storey . Making a perplexed calculation in my mind , I rejoined "Then the six poor travellers sleep upstairs ?" My new friend shook her head . "They sleep , " she

answered , "in two little outer galleries at the back , where their beds have always been ever since the Charity was founded . Itbeing so very ill-conwenient to me as things is at present , the gentlemen are going to take off a bit of the back yard , and make a slip of a room for 'em there , to sit in before they go to bed . " " And then the six poor travellers , " said I . " will be

entirely out of the house ?" " Entirely out of the house , " assented the presence , comfortably smoothing her hands , " which is considered muchibetter for all parties and much more conwenient . " I had been a little startled ; in the Cathedral by the emphasis with which the effigy of Master Richard Watts was bursting out of his tomb ; but I began to think now

that it might be expected to come across the High-street some stormy night and make a disturbance here . . . My questions and her replies brought us back to the Board Room so essential to the dignity of "the gentlemen , " where she showed me the printed accounts of the Charity . From them I gathered that the greater part of the property bequeathed was marsh land , but in time it had been

reclaimed and built upon and was very considerably increased in value . I found , too , that about a thirtieth part of the annual revenue was now expended on the purposes commemorated in the inscription over the door ; the rest being handsomely laid out in chancery , law expenses , collectorship , receivership , poundage , and other appendages of management , highly complimentary to the importance of

the six poor travellers . In short , I made the not entirely new discovery that it may be said of an establishment like this in dear old England , as of the fat oyster in the American story , that it takes a good many men to swallow it whole . So much for my story . May I add that in the discussions which have already taken place , I regret to have noticed

an attempt to make Bro . Binckes the scapegoat for the evils at Wood Green . Now , I have no personal acquaintance with our brother , or any particular reason for taking his part , and I do not deny that he must bear his fair share of blame . But I think it unfair to lay everything upon his shoulders . The report seems to afford ample evidence that a very considerable amount of blame attaches to the Head Master , and the House and Finance Committees ,

and vie now understand why Bros . Ramsay and Hogard should have attempted , a fortnight ago , to discount the impression the forthcoming report was likely to produce in the Craft at large . However , to elaborate these statements would necessarily take considerable time , and as my letter has already , I fear , somewhat unduly trespassed upon your space this week , I must holdover further comments for the present . —I am , your obedient servant , F . H . ROOKE . 45 , Lincoln ' s Inn Fields , 20 th May .

To the Editor of the "Freemason " Dear Sir and Brother , Though there can be but one opinion as to the existence of an unhappy state of things in the Boys ' School , there may be many opinions as to the conclusions arrived at , and the recommendations suggested by the

Committee of Investigation . It is one thing to discover abuses , it is another to apply appropriate remedies . I do not dispute the accuracy of the statements which the Committee have made , but I do entirely demur to their proposals for the future government of the School . Throughout the whole of the report there is one grand aim in view —the destruction of the Secretary and his influence . All

the officers are , no doubt , more or less condemned , but the Secretary is the arch offender . All that he has done , his labours in season and outot season , his enthusiastic efforts , and their effect on the growth and prosperity of the School , are calmly set aside , as if of no value . If any doubt existed as to the animus of the Report , that doubt will be removed by a perusal of the bitter reply from the Chairman

of the Committee , which appears in your last number . The teaching of the School is skipped over with a light step ; in a sentence , the education is said to be satisfactory , but no proofs are given , and the subject is not dwelt upon . We discover , however , incidentally , that the Master is severe , and , as he has iocked up the library and deprived the School of its use , there seems no special reason

to believe that his interest in his boys is very warm . He may be a good schoolmaster , and he is well-known as an industrious student , with a special leaning to Anglo-Saxon literature , but in what way such studies have fitted him to undertake the domestic details of a large establishment is not apparent . Usually , a man of this order of mind would be the very last to comprehend such details , or to take the faintest interest in them . And yet the whole

recommendations of the Committee of Investigation culminate in this—that the Head Master is to take the management of the house and all it contains . That is , he is no longer to limit his attention to those duties which he is said to have performed satis f actorily , but he is to leave the very work for which he has been trained , and is said to be well suited , in order that he may occupy his mind and energies with affairs and details , for which no one pretends that he is qualified , and in which he has had absolutely no

experience . The Committee endeavour to support their authority by quoting Dr . Barry . Now , every one who knows Dr . Barry must entertain for him feelings of deep respect and affection ; and if the matter in dispute were one of ecclesiastical procedure , or classical learning , we could only listen to him with submission . But on a matter which relates to the

internal arrangements of a public institution , one may venture to hold an independent opinion . Dr . Barry ' s experience as Principal of King ' s College , as Canon of Westminster , and even as Master of Cheltenham Grammar School , gave him no acquaintance whatever with the domestic life of suGh an establishment as the Masonic Boys' School . King's

College is a day school . Moreover , Dr . Barry had nothing to do with the school ; he was Principal of the College proper . At Cheltenham each master has his boarding house and conducts it as his own 'personal venture , and as he thinks proper . The experience of the one place sheda no light on the other .

“The Freemason: 1889-05-25, Page 11” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 17 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fvl/issues/fvl_25051889/page/11/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
CONTENTS. Article 1
Untitled Article 1
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS. Article 2
STEWARDS' LISTS. Article 4
SUMMARY OF THE PROVINCES. Article 5
ANALYSIS OF THE RETURNS. Article 5
DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. Article 7
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Article 8
BRO. DR. HASKINS' CONCERT. Article 9
PRESENTATION TO BRO. G. F. BARRELL, P.M. 469., P.A.G.D.C. Article 9
THE THEATRES. Article 9
Obituary. Article 9
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To Correspondents. Article 11
Untitled Article 11
Original Correspondence. Article 11
Masonic Notes and Queries. Article 12
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 12
INSTRUCTION Article 14
Royal Arch. Article 15
INSTRUCTION. Article 15
Mark Masonry. Article 15
Cryptic Masonry. Article 15
BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE. Article 15
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS. Article 15
MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS Article 16
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Ad01102

PARIS EXHIBITION—Now Open . PARIS and BACK for 23 s . 3 d .

Ad01113

T ^ J T EASTERN RAILWAY . — 3 From CHARING-CROSS and CANNON-STREET TERMINI . Cheap Fares for Parties of Artisans , & c . Full Particulars by Handbills to be had on application .

Ad01112

S - ^ J _ EASTERN RAILWAY . — PARIS , Switzerland , Italy , & c . THE ROYAL MMI EXPRESS ROUTE from CHARING-CROSS and CANNON-STREET . -FOUR SERVICES DAILY . ve fharing-cross VirX Calais Via Boulogne Via , Calais Via Calais 3 Cannon-street 8 . 20 a . m . * o . 4 oa . m . ir . oa . m . 8 . 15 p . m . Arrive Paris $ . 4 ° P-m . S . S 7 P- " > . 7-= S p . m . S . Jo a . m . # The route via Folkestone and Boulogne is 28 miles horter than via Calais , and is the quickest route ; 20 minutes are allowed for luncheon at Boulogne . The Albert Victor , Louise Dagmar , and Mary Beatrice run in the Special Express Services , via Boulogne , throughout the year . Express Through Services to Switzerland , & c , via Calais and Rheims , or via Paris , in connection with the above tfa ALL CONTINENTAL TICKETS , single and return , for the Short Sea and Mail Routes , via Dover and Calais or Dover and Ostend , whether issued at stations or at booking offices , are AVAILABLE by the South-Eastern Railway . MYLES FENTON , General Manager .

Ad01111

BLACKWALL to MARGATE and BOULOGNE . SS . "HERALD " Leaves BLACKWALL PIER at io a . m . THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS during the month , returning the following working day . RETURN TICKETS ( available for one month)—10 / - and 12 / 6 ; Margate , 4 / - and 5 / -. ROBERT WALPOLE , 15 S , Leadenhall-st , London , E . C .

Ad01110

" TOBACCO BLOOM " IN PACKETS AND CIGARETTES , FINEST QUALITY AND FLAVOUR , Of Tobacconists in Town and Country . SPECIAL AGENTFRUNKLIN ( late Medex ) , 155 , OXFORD STREET , W . Wholesale—RUTTER & Co ., LONDON .

Ad01109

/c~COCKERELL'S \ f 13 , CORNHILL , E . C . t » r ^ OC ^ For Prices , see Daily Papers . Cj / Trucks direct from the * Colliery to every Railway Station .

Ad01108

M . B . ROSENBERG , HIGH-CLASS TAILOR AND OUTFITTER , Ladies' Jacket and Ulster Maker , W , LIVERPOOL STREET , LONDON , E . C .

Ad01107

HEPBURN and COCKS , ESTABLISHED 1700 . 93 , CHANCERY LANE , LONDON , W . C . ( Two Doors North of Union Bank ) . MED , BALLOT , CASH , and DESPATCH BOX , and FIRE-PROOF SAFE MANUFACTURERS . Ah ' -Tight and Travelling Boxes in stock , and made to order , . . . oraccs and Strong Booms Fitted up with Iron Frames and Shelves . Sets "i stands and Boxes made to fit Xtecesses to Order . , Estimates given . Price Lists . •> N . B . TSTR 0 NG DEED BOXES of the following dimensions forwarded ? i , ' ? I > aid P 1 ' 0 ne <* cash—vta .: 16 in . by 12 in . by 9 J in ., 17 a . 6 d . M'n . bylQin . by 8 in .. 14 s . 6 d . ; and 13 in . by 9 in . by 7 s ., lis . 6 d .

Ad01106

MASONS' CERTIFICATES , & c ., FRAMED TO ANY DESIGN . 17 H . M O R E L L J { and 18 , Great St . Andrew St ., Bloomsbury , W . C , London . rjaruifacturer and ImPorter ° * all kinds of Picture Frame and fe „ ,, ? . '' ve Mouldings ( Two Million Feet always in stock ) . Every misite for the Trade and Exportation . Illustrated Book of __ ^ Patterns post free for three penny stamps .

Ad01105

T ADY CLERK or SECRETARY , — &* An EX-PUPIL R . M . I . G . desires RE-ENGAGEMENT . nree years' experience . Good References .- Excellent Brixt and ^ U'ck at Fi S ures , —M A 114 , Vassall-road ,

Ad01104

"U / ANTED — Two Copies of " The Ian , R ° SICRUCIAN " for April , 1877 , and one for cni . !? ' 79 > velIow covers . —Apply to Dr . WYNN WEST-^ JSg ^ Camden-road , N .

Ad01103

A CAMBRIDGE GRADUATE ZOM ( P - !^ ' P -Z ' P-M . W . S . i 8 ° , Professor of Latin and K ^ Sy , "The College , " South Kensington ; Examiner for Pr - , hJexIey Heath College ) has some time disengaged Naln ! c- Visit 'ng Tuition . Lectures on History and meZ ~ £ ci ?? - Foreigners taught English through the N ° tKng . hHi W nch , ~ "Address ' * ° " ' Lancastei > road >

Ad01114

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . Bro . KNILL desires to thank his numerous supporters who , by their Votes , placed him at the head of the Poll at the recent Election of the above Institution .

Ad01115

NOW READY . —PRICE 5 / - { CLOTII , GILT ) . TheEngravedListofRegularLodges FOB A . D . 1734 . I N FACS I M I LE . WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND EXPLANATORY NOTES Br WILLIAM JAMES HTTGHAN " , Past Senior Grand Deacon of Enalanil ; Past Senior Grand Warden of Iowa , * i ' . Prat . S . G . W . and P . Prov . G . Sec . of Cornwall ; $ c , frc , H'C . LONDON : GEORGE KENNING , 16 , GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .

Ad01116

FRAZER'S Purify the Blood , Improve the Complexion , Insure —————— Good Health , Make Work a Pleasure , and Life S ULPHU R Enjoyable . Sold by Chemists at i / ij , or post free —~—™"—~~ JJ Stamps from FUAZER & Co ., so , Ludgate Hill , TABLETS London . Agents Wanted . LiberalTerms . Whole-- ———— " sale : The Grocers' Association , Ltd ., London , S . E ,

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

[ Several letters on the Boys' School and other matters of interest stand over for want of space . ] The following communications unavoidably stand over : CRAFTEarl of Lathom Lodge , No . S 34 , MARKYork Lodge , No . 334 . Granville Lodge , No . 390 .-INSTRUCTIONKensington Lodge , No . 1767 . St . Ambrose Lodge , No . 1891 . Beaumont Lodge , No . 2035 . OBITUARY—Bro . William Wells . The Poet Burns . A Masonic Lodge held " Al Fresco . " Masonic Service at Beswick , Manchester . BOOKS . Sec , RECEIVED . " Canadian Craftsman , " " South Australian Freemason , " "The Tyler , " " Australasian Keystone , " " Keystone , " and " Freemasons Repository . "

Ar01118

SATURDAY , MAY 25 , 1889 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , History repeats itself . The report of Bro . Philbrick and his colleagues reminds one how in 1 S 54 Charles Dickens wrote his Christmas story of " The Seven Poor Travellers " who experienced the hospitality provided at Rochester under the will of Richard Watts . This

gentleman by his will , dated in 1579 , founded a charity for " Six poor travellers , who , not being Rogues or Proctors , may receive gratis for one night lodging , entertainment , and Fourpence each . " I fancy Bro . Philbrick must have been reading the story shortly before drafting his report . At any rate the following extracts seem so singularly ad rem that it will interest your readers to reprint them .

"This , " said the matronly presence , ushering me into a low room on the right , "is where the travellers sit by the fire and cook what bits of suppers they buy with their fourpences . " "Oh ! then they have no Entertainment ? " said 1 , for the inscription over the outer door was still running in my head , and I was mentally repeating in a kind of tune

"Lodging , entertainment , and fourpence each . "They have a fire provided for ' em , " returned the matron , a mighty civil person , not , as I could make out , overpaid , " and these cooking utensils . And this , what's painted on a board , is the rules for their behaviour . They have their fourpences .... but not much is to be got for fourpence at present , when provisions is so dear . "

"True , indeed , " I remarked . I had been looking about the room , admiring its snug fireside at the upper end , its glimpse of the street through the low mullioned window , and its beams overhead . " it is very comfortable , " said 1 . " HI conwenient , " observed the matronly presence . I liked to hear her say so , for it showed a commendable anxiety to execute in no niggardly spirit the intentions of

Master Richard Watts . But the room was really so well adapted for its purpose that I protested , quite enthusiastically , against her disparagement . "Nay , ma ' am , " said I , " 1 am sure it is warm in winter and cool in summer . It has a look of homely welcome and soothing rest . It has a remarkably cosy fireside , the very blink of which , gleaming out into the street upon a winter night , is enough to warm all Rochester ' s heart . And as to

the convenience of the six poor travellers " — "I don't mean them , "_ returned the presence , "I speak of its being an ill-conwenience to myself and my daughter , having no other room to sit in of a night . " This was true enough , but there was another quaint room of corresponding dimensions on the opposite side of the entry , - so I stepped across to it , through the open doors of both rooms , and asked what this chamber was for ?

Original Correspondence.

"This , " returned the presence , " is the Board Roomwhere the gentlemen meet when they come here . " Let me see . I had counted from the street six upper windows besides those on the ground-storey . Making a perplexed calculation in my mind , I rejoined "Then the six poor travellers sleep upstairs ?" My new friend shook her head . "They sleep , " she

answered , "in two little outer galleries at the back , where their beds have always been ever since the Charity was founded . Itbeing so very ill-conwenient to me as things is at present , the gentlemen are going to take off a bit of the back yard , and make a slip of a room for 'em there , to sit in before they go to bed . " " And then the six poor travellers , " said I . " will be

entirely out of the house ?" " Entirely out of the house , " assented the presence , comfortably smoothing her hands , " which is considered muchibetter for all parties and much more conwenient . " I had been a little startled ; in the Cathedral by the emphasis with which the effigy of Master Richard Watts was bursting out of his tomb ; but I began to think now

that it might be expected to come across the High-street some stormy night and make a disturbance here . . . My questions and her replies brought us back to the Board Room so essential to the dignity of "the gentlemen , " where she showed me the printed accounts of the Charity . From them I gathered that the greater part of the property bequeathed was marsh land , but in time it had been

reclaimed and built upon and was very considerably increased in value . I found , too , that about a thirtieth part of the annual revenue was now expended on the purposes commemorated in the inscription over the door ; the rest being handsomely laid out in chancery , law expenses , collectorship , receivership , poundage , and other appendages of management , highly complimentary to the importance of

the six poor travellers . In short , I made the not entirely new discovery that it may be said of an establishment like this in dear old England , as of the fat oyster in the American story , that it takes a good many men to swallow it whole . So much for my story . May I add that in the discussions which have already taken place , I regret to have noticed

an attempt to make Bro . Binckes the scapegoat for the evils at Wood Green . Now , I have no personal acquaintance with our brother , or any particular reason for taking his part , and I do not deny that he must bear his fair share of blame . But I think it unfair to lay everything upon his shoulders . The report seems to afford ample evidence that a very considerable amount of blame attaches to the Head Master , and the House and Finance Committees ,

and vie now understand why Bros . Ramsay and Hogard should have attempted , a fortnight ago , to discount the impression the forthcoming report was likely to produce in the Craft at large . However , to elaborate these statements would necessarily take considerable time , and as my letter has already , I fear , somewhat unduly trespassed upon your space this week , I must holdover further comments for the present . —I am , your obedient servant , F . H . ROOKE . 45 , Lincoln ' s Inn Fields , 20 th May .

To the Editor of the "Freemason " Dear Sir and Brother , Though there can be but one opinion as to the existence of an unhappy state of things in the Boys ' School , there may be many opinions as to the conclusions arrived at , and the recommendations suggested by the

Committee of Investigation . It is one thing to discover abuses , it is another to apply appropriate remedies . I do not dispute the accuracy of the statements which the Committee have made , but I do entirely demur to their proposals for the future government of the School . Throughout the whole of the report there is one grand aim in view —the destruction of the Secretary and his influence . All

the officers are , no doubt , more or less condemned , but the Secretary is the arch offender . All that he has done , his labours in season and outot season , his enthusiastic efforts , and their effect on the growth and prosperity of the School , are calmly set aside , as if of no value . If any doubt existed as to the animus of the Report , that doubt will be removed by a perusal of the bitter reply from the Chairman

of the Committee , which appears in your last number . The teaching of the School is skipped over with a light step ; in a sentence , the education is said to be satisfactory , but no proofs are given , and the subject is not dwelt upon . We discover , however , incidentally , that the Master is severe , and , as he has iocked up the library and deprived the School of its use , there seems no special reason

to believe that his interest in his boys is very warm . He may be a good schoolmaster , and he is well-known as an industrious student , with a special leaning to Anglo-Saxon literature , but in what way such studies have fitted him to undertake the domestic details of a large establishment is not apparent . Usually , a man of this order of mind would be the very last to comprehend such details , or to take the faintest interest in them . And yet the whole

recommendations of the Committee of Investigation culminate in this—that the Head Master is to take the management of the house and all it contains . That is , he is no longer to limit his attention to those duties which he is said to have performed satis f actorily , but he is to leave the very work for which he has been trained , and is said to be well suited , in order that he may occupy his mind and energies with affairs and details , for which no one pretends that he is qualified , and in which he has had absolutely no

experience . The Committee endeavour to support their authority by quoting Dr . Barry . Now , every one who knows Dr . Barry must entertain for him feelings of deep respect and affection ; and if the matter in dispute were one of ecclesiastical procedure , or classical learning , we could only listen to him with submission . But on a matter which relates to the

internal arrangements of a public institution , one may venture to hold an independent opinion . Dr . Barry ' s experience as Principal of King ' s College , as Canon of Westminster , and even as Master of Cheltenham Grammar School , gave him no acquaintance whatever with the domestic life of suGh an establishment as the Masonic Boys' School . King's

College is a day school . Moreover , Dr . Barry had nothing to do with the school ; he was Principal of the College proper . At Cheltenham each master has his boarding house and conducts it as his own 'personal venture , and as he thinks proper . The experience of the one place sheda no light on the other .

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