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century has seen a remarkable advance in lodge life and lodge literature ; and we must be content with what we have gained , as " half a loaf is better than none , " and look on hopefully and confidingly to the future . Much complaint is made of a " rush " into Masonry . We think and believe that

18 S 2 will not pass away without a considerable increase in our initiation fees , and this reform is one which we may all . take part in , inasmuch as it is both real and practical , and will undoubtedly do good to Freemasonry in more ways than one .

It is interesting to note , as far as we are concerned in England , how wonderfully our ' \ vork of charity goes on , in which remarkable we venture to think , without self-praise , ws set a good example to all other jurisdictions . Indeed , if some jurisdictions would seek to do what we are doing in the simple and sound cause of Masonic

chanty , and leave politics and perversities alone , it would be better for them , for Freemasonry , and for the world . It is interesting „ to keep before us thc following summary of Grand Lodge grants through the Board of- Benevolence in iSSr , making in all tlie goodly sum of £ 9953 •' January , £ 520 ; February , . - £ 813 ; March , £ 1435 ' April , £ 535 ; May , £ 760 ; June ,

^ 960 ; July , . £ 735 " August , £ 5005 September , £ 365 ; October , ^ 810 ; November , ^ 1630 ; and December , ^ " 890 . And then we must remember we have no account of the charity votes of Provincial Grand Lodges and of private lodges . The "tollle" of English Masonic Charily is therefore very large indeed .

In Scotland Freemasonry is progressing well and happily , thanks to the able efforts and skilful labours of Bro . D . M . Lyon , who has succeeded by indomitable energy in extricating that distinguished body from a sad financial " embroglio . "' Wc wish Scottish Masons and Scottish Masonry all success and prosperity .

In Ireland we have little to report , much to our regret , as we said before , though , curiously enough , we often see reports of Irish Grancl Lodge proceedings in Ultramontane and extreme journals . The attitude of ihe Irish brethren in the recent struggle for order and law , as against rebellion and Nihilism , is worthy of all praise .

In America our great Order seems majestically marching onwards , and sweeping all detractors and maligncrs before it . Wc wish it every happiness . Its one great-weakness , seems at present irremoveable , its want of a central authority to define the law of Masonry accurately and

definitively . Each state Grand Lodge is a " law to itself , " and the decisions of the numerous Grand Masters are as often conflicting as they are curious . But we tender heartily warm congratulations to our American brethren , knowing their " thorough " work in and for Freemasonry .

In Canada a curious question has arisen between the Grand Lodge of Quebec , with respect to some English lodges , still hailing from our Grand Lodge . A little moderation will , we venture to think , eventually settle the mater pleasantly for all , and that is worth , Masonically speaking , a good many angry resolutions and a good many severe speeches .

On the Continent of Europe Freemasonry seems in a very critical position . It is doubtful in some jurisdictions whither true Craft Mason ^* is to be found , and altogether there is a spirit of unsettledness and change afloat , which threatens to sap' old foundations , and disturb venerable and valuable Landmarks .

The general aspectof Cosmopolitan Freemasonry is , on the whole , however , healthy and hopeful . True , that rancour has not ceased , nor is mendacity still , nor can we hope that tbe opposition and hatred of irreconciliable foes are done

away with . But Freemasonry is " moving on , and it is not too much to say that the world , once hostile , or scoffiing , " incredulous , or unjust , now watches Freemasonry with interest , admires its principles , and applauds its efforts .

So let us take heart , and keeping close together , like the I heban Phalanx , neither fearing unreasoning foes , nor heeding untrustworthy friends , —let us seek still , in the good providence of T . G . A . O . T . U ., to demonstrate in 1 S 82 , as in 1881 , thc loyal and benevolent " outcome " of all true and real Freemasonry .

Death , which has been very busy amid our ranks in the world around us , neither sparing the palace of kings or the cottiges of the poor , has , alas ! fallen heavily on our Masonic Fraternity , and taken from us many whom we could ill spare , many whom we could sorely afford to lose .

They have left us and gone from us , and their " place on earth and in the lodge knows them no more , " but we have not forgotten them . No ; we still as tenderly recall their pleasant presence and their warm hearts , their Masonic work and their humanitarian worth , and -for us our " Masonic Diptychs " are a very " sacred roll . "

Among the esteemed brethren whose loss we deeply deplore , we may remember here Bros . Thos . Price , P . M . 186 ; Chas . J . VV . Davis , Asst . G . D . of C . Middlesex ; J . S . Woolley , D . D . Moore , P . AH , P . G . S . B . England ; S . W . Iron , P . M . 902 ; George Little , Q . C , Vice Chancellor ofthe County Palatine of Lancaster ; Hudson Lester , P . M . ion ; Geo . Jaffa , P . M . 1 . --70 ;

Sir R . C . Musgrave , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . S . W . Cumberland and Westmorland ; Henry Leslie , Manoah Rhodes , P . J . G . W . West Yorks ; Jas . Prickett , 540 ; R . Webster , 1570 ; W . II . Bickerton , P . G . See . Glasgow ; John M'Kclvie , P . G . J . W . Cumberland , Chas . Venables , G . Org . Berks and Bucks ; John Coutts , P . G . P . ; W . H . ' Roberts , Richard Roberts , P . M . 1473 ; Samuel

James Scarnett Carman ; J . S . Gissing , P . P . G . J . W . Suffolk ; J . Broadbent , WM . 991 ; J . E . Middleton , P . G . S , ; Edward Fearon , Past Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Cumberland and Westmorland

W . T . Collard M ) iitrie , P . M ., P . Z * . 11 ; C . Coote , P . G . Org . Middx . ; Macrae Moir , A . G . Maekay , R . H . Thomas , Thomas Meggy , W . J . Meymott , P . M . 14 ; W . Bristow , P . G . Sec . Worcestershire ; Ex-Sheriff Woolloton , Hugh Saunders , P . M . 315 ; W . Laidlaw ,. P . P . G . S . B . West

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Lancashire ; Jas . Iredale , P . D . G . M . Cumberland , * George-Lyall P . P . G . J . D . Surrey ; Richard Boggett , P . P . G . S . B . North and East Yorks ; H . J . Adams , Thomas Thomas , P . G Tyler Hertfordshire ; R . W . Lowry , J . Crossley , senior , A . O . Steed , Thos . Bates , J . VV . Lightbound , John Hemery , P . P . J . W . Kent ; T . B . Myers , W . Cottrell , Dr . Henry , Bro . Daj ' , of Dewsbury , and others .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held on Thursday afternoon , at Freemasons' Hall , Lieut .-Col . Creaton , Grand Treasurer , in the chair . ' There were also

present Bros . Joshua Nunn , Arthur E . Gladwell , John A . Rucker , H . A . Dubois , J . I-I . Matthews , Charles Brown , Donald M . Dewar , Rev . A . F . A . 'Woodford , E . Letchworth , F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) .

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , the brethren adopted a recommendation of the House Committee to grant £ 5 to one of the girls , Kate Helps , who was not able to return to the School .

The brethren also adopted a report of the House Committee with reference to an account of a former architect ofthe Institution , that it having been included in a former account which had been settled and acknowledged by him , it be not paid .

The Chairman was authorised lo si gn cheques to the amount of £ 119 2 s . iod . The CHAIRMAN informed the brethren that , the Institution was well able no . v to invest another £ 1000 , and leave sufficient on the current account to carry on the Institution . He would therefore move "That . £ 1000 be invested on account of the Sustentation Fund . "

The motion was seconded and carried . Thirteen candidates were placed on the list for next April election , which , wilh eight unsuccessful at last October election and seven candidates since placed on the list , made a list of twenty-eight candidates for April . Twenty-one vacancies in the School for that election were declared . A vote of thanks to thc Chairman closed the proceedings .

The Templar History Of The State Of New York.

THE TEMPLAR HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK .

The Grand Commandery of the State of New York has placed in the hands of Robert Macoy , the Grand Record , an important trust , and the State G . Bodj * expects the Recorder to discharge his duty . The origin and history of the Templar organization can be revealed ; no other one is so capable as Sir Robert , and his efforts must not cease until he can exclaim " EureEa ! " The members of this Order in New York who have given this subject any

attention hold the moral conviction that New York and not Pennsylvania is the older in its Templar birthright . Sir Macoj * must overslaugh Sir McCreigh ; he can do it , and his energies must not flag until victory perches on his pennant . We transfer the following fugitive piece from his storehouee , showing prima facie evidence of the prestige of New York . But it is not enough—forward !

. " Nearly one hundred years ago , there appeared in the streets of New York , a company of men uniformed as Templars , who acted as an escort-to lodges of Freemasons . This form of procession and the numbers in it , must at-least have required fifty Kni g hts Templar to do the duty which was assigned and they performed , in said escort duty . "The public journals ' of that day described that the procession wasjl

headed by a platoon of 1 emplars , while the flanks were guarded by rights and left lines , and the rear closed also by platoons ; hence , if there were ' but six men in each platoon , with twenty on each side of the lines , the number would go over fifty , to which must be added the offic * rs . Therefore it is safe to say that the above number were in the procession . By ' what name the body was marshalhd under , or who were their oflicers , the ^ journals fail to say .

" We have not been able to ascertain up to the present writing from what source these Templars emanated , of how often they met , or where they met . We have examined the resources of our libraries for light upon the matter , also thc rjjjy directories of the time , ancl have signally failed to identify their beginning or wl at time they ended , if , indeed , thev had an endine * .

It is possjble that this body may have had their origin in a Blue Lodge , as it appears that lodges of Freemasons " conferred the higher Degrees upon members of the Fraternity . If this w * . s the fact , then it is ea ; ily understood why no particular name other than the - Old Encampmant ' does appear as attached to them .

"Another c-uestion occurs to us in connexion with ihe subject , which perhaps will remaiil unanswered , because there is no way of solving it . That is , the style and character cf the order conferred , and whether more than one was given to the members to constitute them Templars ?

" VVe were in hope that ere this some earnest knight would have opened the door to more light upon the precise relation to the Templar Body to the Orders in this State—if any existed—as it is very important at this juncture of the confraternity that all facts bearing upon the history of chivalry in this jurisdiction should be made plain .

" Our neighbours of Pennsylvania date the introduction of Templarism into that State in 1794 . They give credit of said introduction to a body styled ' Encampment , No . I , of Philadelphia , ' and that the said encampment conferred the orders by virtue of a « Blue Lodge ' warrant . But our Pennsylvania friends in this statement seem to have ' fallen into an error so

far as the date of 1794 is concerned , or thc subsequent statement . If an encampment existed at Harrisburg , or in part of Pennsylvania , in 1793 , then of course thc date of 17941 s in error . However , wc shall not split hairs upon the date , but assume that the earliest date is correct , which fact clearly admits that Templarism began in this city several years prior to that date .

" VVe hope that this subject—or rather the part which seems to be now of great importance to the order—will receive the attention of those who maybe interested in making , the history perfect . " Hebrew Leader .