Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 2 ( i i Roval Masonic Dcnerolenc Institution 26 G Presentation to Bro . Major-General Laurie , Grand Master of Nova Scotia 26 7 R . M . I . G ., Election of House Committee ... 208 West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution j 6 s Consecration of a Mark Masters' Lodge at

Gorleston ... :. 2 G 8 Presentation to Uro . Richard Whitehead , Liverpool 26 9 Lodge of lienevolence 26 9 Testimonial to R . W . Uro . William Kingston , District Grand Master of Nova Scotia 26 9 Australia 26 9 Royal Masonic Institution for Hoys 2119

CoRRESI'ONDEXr .: — Unearned Increment 271 The Recent ( . lections 271 Tlie I'dre at Freemasons' Hall 271 A Mis-Nomer 271 A Correction 271 Notes and Queries 271 RETORTS OK MASONIC

MEETINGSCraft Masonry 271 Instruction 273 Royal Arch 27 J Mark Masonry 274 Crvptic Masonry 274 South Africa . " . 274 The Theatres 275 Masonic and General Tidings 27 ( 1 ! Lodge . Meetings for Next Week iii .

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THE elections for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for 1 SS 3 are over ; 30 Men and ig Widows have been placed on the roll of that admirable institution . There were issued for the Widows 35 , 209 votes , and 21 , 474 were brought forward , in all 56 , 68 3 votes . Of these 34 , 360 were polled , the highest successful candidate polling 2290 votes , and the

lowest 1515 votes . Thus the votes ior the successful candidates amounted to 33 , 690 in round numbers , and for the unsuccessful to 22 , 220 , leaving 8 49 unaccounted for . These various figures make up the 56 , 683 . As regards the men 38 , 332 votes were issued , 4129 brought forward , and 34 , 262 polled , the highest successful candidate

securing 1 S 54 votes , and the lowest 65 S . The successful candidates polled 34 , 3 82 , and the unsuccessful polled 4011 votes . 4068 votes are thus unaccounted for . These items also make up the 42 , 461 . The scene in the hall was very animated all the day , and great zeal and energy were displayed by the friends of candidates . * .,

IT will hardly be credited , and yet so it is , the Scrutineers again announced that over 100 voting papers were lost by not being filled in and signed , or filled in in excess of the voting powers . We confess it seems to us one of the strangest facts amid many many strange things to-day that despite warning , and notwithstanding advice , election after election brethren who

have the conduct of the voting should display such utter carelessness , such hurtful "laches . " We can only suppose that some nervous and inexperienced candidates hastily deposit their voting papers without thought or attention in the box . To suppose that any who are experienced in elections

could act so foolishly , would be to believe that they are not competent to fulfil the duties they undertake . We , therefore , lean to the idea that candidates who are often unreasonable and suspicious , especially if success does not wait upon their exertions , hastily poll their votes , without reading the instructions , and without counting the cost .

* * THE fact that the Scrutineers went through the large number of over 99 , voles in thc short time they did , says a good deal both for their method of business and their system of organization . At any rate the best thanks of all interested in the election are due to them for the promptitude and accuracy with which they fulfil their arduous labours .

V * * OUR good brethren have many excellent qualities ; but there are two points on which , we venture to think , they might improve , —namely , punctuality and procrastination . As regards the former , we know how often ceremonies and meetings are delayed in want of a sufficient " quorum , " and though

excuses may be made for " men of business " and the like , yet for a large number of us all nothing can be said , except the custom of habitual unpunctuality . Some really procrastinate so dreadfully that they send their

voting papers , for instance , on the day of election , though they have had them a month in their possession , and some come after the election , often when there seasonable and timely arrival would have helped to win , and their absence has lost a case . " Verbum sat . "

* * * IT will be seen by a " Communique " elsewhere , which we are requested to publish , and to which request we feel bound to accede , lhat a contest is impending for two seats on the House Committee of the Girls' School . There were other candidates , but we understand that they have withdrawn .

Without affecting to predicate or prejudge the question to be decided alone by the General Committee , we think it right to subjoin a few words as to the impending election . Two facts are undoubted —( 1 ) the high efficiency of the School , and ( 2 ) the great pains and care evinced by successive Managing

Committees . The present Managing Committee may fairly claim , we think , the applause and approval of the subscribers in the faithful discharge of its " Stewardship . " In order , then , to perpetuate year by year this effective control and management , and to keep up the School at its present undoubted

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high standard of scholastic excellence , it is most advisable in the choice of the House Committee ' , or Managing Body , to select those brethren who really have time and attention and interest to devote to this valuable and important Institution . It is also most important to ensure harmony and unity of feeling and action ; that the House Committee should be composed

of brethren thoroughly working together to promote the true welfare and best interests of the School . We must all be struck with the fact , unique , so far , in the annals of similar institutions , that the House Committee—at any rate , the larger portion of those seeking re-election—made up a House List of subscriptions for

the Festival , which does them great credit and has bcen most favourably commented upon in Masonic circles . We feel sure that the General Committee will elect a body which will not degenerate from the zeal and

energy of its predecessors , but will on the contrary , availing themselves of all modern improvements in school details , render that admirable Orphanage of ours on Wandsworth-common , not only a continued pride to our whole Order , but of undeniable benefit and blessing to our poor children themselves . _

SOMETHING has been said about removing our head-quarters from Great Queen-street . We feel quite sure that the great majority of our Order will oppose strenously to any such idle chimera or any like wild o-oose schemes . To move would entail an expense on the Craft , which would embarass it for years , prostrate all its efforts , and keep it in very "low water "indeed

A wise and prudential extension of our own valuable freehold property would , we feel sure , commend itself to the customary prudence , good sense , and careful views of our kindly and liberal Order . To launch out into unheard of and unreliable building expenses , to purchase land at an exorbitant price , when we have a freehold

site of our own , of very great value and in a most central and convenient position , would be , according to our notions , the height of ineptitude and the acme of extravagance . We shall be undoubtedl y able to increase our present local accommodation to all our present wants , and with due regard to future exigencies . It may be that now the opportunity occurs it may be

desirable to make provision for a library and mnseum and one or two more committee rooms . But we make bold to say our great Masonic Hall and home are for English Masons and our English system , and cannot be remodelled or adapted to suit forei gn types or any excrescences on Freemasonry . All the Craft asks for is a hall large enough comfortably to

accommodate an evidently increasing Grand Lodge , good committee rooms , good offices , and , we think we may fairly add—though wc admit the main body of Freemasons is very apathetic on thc subject , —a good library and a suitable museum . Of this we are quite sure , despite anything that may be advanced to the contrary , that we shall find no site so generally

convenient to the great bulk of our Order as Great Queen-street . We add while it is one thing , in face of an unavoidable and moral necessity , to repair and restore , and enlarge , it is quite another thing , whether in a moment of rash excitement , of questionable vain glory , or of inexperienced enthusiasm , to rush into great buying and building operations of which no one can see the end , and no one can count the cost .

* * * Bv a regrettable mistake , the eminent actor Mr . E . ROYCE has been dubbed a brother , whereas he is not . On the old adage , " omne ignotum pro magnifico , " it is too often the habit of friendly compositors to give to distinguished

characters the epithet " Bro . " Many such mistakes are found in all Masonic papers , and it often takes a good deal of trouble to eradicate a bad habit , and put matters in the right groove . We are always amenable ourselves to correction and rectification , and shall esteem it a favour from any of . our readers who will point out to us from time to time any similar little errors .

* * # WE regret that through an oversight our report of the last convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter contained no reference to ths fact announced at the meeting that E . Comp . YV . J . HUGHAN , in consideration of his valuable services to Royal Arch Masonry , had had conferred upon him , by H . R . H .

the Prince of WALKS , Grand Z ., the rank and distinction of a Past Grand Assistant Sojourner of England . Though we confess it is somewhat late in the day , we cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of offering to our distinguished companion and brother our hearty congratulations on his having received so rare and , at the same time , so well-deserved a mark of distinction

—a distinction which is all the greater in value not only from its having been , as a matter of course , quite unsolicited , but also because the first intimation which Comp . HUOHAN received that it was in contemplation to bestow such an honour upon him was the official announcement by GR . ND SCRIBE E . of its having been conferred .