The Freemasons.

wishes to bring m , such nomination being equivalent to a Eoyal command . Lodges , it may be explained , are congregations of Freemasons formed into separate clubs , who make their own bye-laAvs , ballot for new members , and elect their own chiefs . Some of these have

special privileges , dating from remote periods , or due to the fact of exalted Freemasons—Royal Grand Masters or Nvhat not—having belonged to them . The first time the Prince of Wales visited

a private lodge in this country was on the occasion of the Centenary Festival of the Jerusalem Lodge , a feAV months ago , when he won golden opinions from the Freemasons present when he formally announced his intention of making himself a

" Avorking" brother , and when he Avas , with the Earl of Carnarvon , made an honorary member of that lodge .

Freemasons , it may be remarked , rarely enter into particulars concerning the nature of "the work '' to Avhich they devote so much labour and time , but concurrent testimony proves it to be of an arduous character , and men are found Avho

declare it to exact as much care and attention as the acquisition of several languages . What all the world can understand are the charities of the Order , by means of which a vast number of boys and girls are educated , fed , and

clothed , with as close and careful supervision as is attainable by parents in any class of society , and which are looked after and ruled by honorary committees with a watchful energy Avhich it is impossible to praise too highly .

At Wood Green is the Freemasons' Boys ' School , an establishment which is Avell worth a journey to see for Avhile in every detail by Avhich the health and comfort of the lads are secured , it may challenge comparison with the best public schools

in the country its system of tuition is so carefully adapted to the individual characteristics and talents , that the annual examinations yield the most flattering results . One of the prizes given here every year is unique in character , and is

bestowed by the boys themselves . The lad who is most popular among his school-felloAVS receives a handsome medal , such medal being voted by the boys , and awarded irrespective of scholastic proficiency or the good word ofthe master .

The Freemasons Girls School , on Wandsworthcommon , is another establishment by which the craft may be content to be judged ; Avhile the A . sylum for Aged Freemasons and their Widows is what its names indicates , and confers great

benefits upon the indigent and old . This is nearly all that the most persevering inquirer can learn respecting Freemasonry , as it flourishes in England . Some important alterations have been made

recently in the rules of the two first institutions , by means of which they will be more closely identified Avith the Order than before but it is a little remarkable that the fruits of Freemasonry resolve themselves , so far as the outer Avorld is concerned , into tAvo excellent schools and a set of almhouses .

If the student turns to the various Masonic publications , he will find elaborate controversies upon abtruse subjects . "Our Ancient Brethren . " their sayings and doings , are constantly referred to , and notes and queries of an antiquarian and

archjeological character abound . A week rarely passes without familiar reference to King Solomon's Temple while Knights of Malta , Knights Templar , Supreme Grand Councils , Mark Master , Eites of Misraim , and a host of other fantastic

titles give rise to correspondence , controversy , and leading articles . For Freemasonry has branches and degrees Avhich are not " recognised , " but AA'hich yet include many of its leading authorities in their ranks .

If there could be a form of dissent which the Established Church , as such , ignored , but in which many of the bench of Bishops held offices of honour , concurrently Avith their episcocopal rank , it would furnish au exact parallel to some of the anomalies in English Freemasonry .

The Prince of Wales , for example , is a Past Grand Master and a Masonic Knight Templar ; yet the degree of Knights Templar is not " recognised ; " the Earl of Carnarvon is Deputy Grand Master , and Past Grand Master of the Mark

Degree , yet the Mark Degree is not " recognised " though no man can be member of either Order who is not first a Freemason proper .

What is called Mark Masonry furnishes perhaps the most curious anomaly of all . for while in Scotland and Ireland it is held to be an essential por-