Masonic Adullamites.

There is yet a third class . It has been apparent for some time that the ranks of our Order are recruited in a more or less indiscriminate manner . The fundamenta l

principles laid down regulating the admission of neophytes are not always borne in mind . Every year the numbers ranging under our banners increase in a kind of geometric

progression . We do not insinuate for one moment that it is the aim of any to secure benefits , either present or ultimate , by joining our Order , but it is a singular fact ,

which may be worth more than a passing thought , that , greatly as our numbers have swelled during the last decade , still more , in proportion , have the demands on our

various Benevolent Funds concurrently increased . If more care were exercised in respect to admission to our Lodges by those in whose hands are vested the power

of according that privilege , it is possible—indeed , very probable—that the ever-increasing appeals on behalf of the necessitous might , in a measure , cease , and so permit of

more assistance being accorded to those much in need who cannot help themselves , i . e ., children of tender age

of whom every year there is so great an excess in point of numbers over and above our present financial ability to deal with .

Our space this week is exhausted , but our subject is not . We shall , on a future occasion , resume the theme ,

and give further details regarding the classes which , for lack of a better sobriqmt , we can only describe as Masonic Adullamites .

"Our Schools." -Elections.

" Our Schools . " - Elections .

jpS |? j | OME \ YHAT more than ordinary interest has been taken 1 ^ 11 in relation to the Quarterly Courts of Governors and Sub-Prol } f scribers , and the Elections , of the Masonic Schools for Boys jftaadl and Girls , held respectively on Friday and Saturday last . This is the first time that these meetings have fallen on consecutive days , and there was a general desire to see how far the alteration would meet the wishes of those brethren who , residing at great

distances from London , were yet anxious to be " on duty at both meetings , without being compelled to pass an intervening day ( Sunday ) in the metropolis . There can be no doubt that both collective and individual interests have been promoted by the new arrangement ; for . whilst the attendances of provincial brethren have been in no wise lessened , and the same amount of service was

rendered both at the general business of the respective courts and in the discharge of the duties towards candidates and assistance at the scrutinies , the opportunity for return of the country brethren to their distant residences in time for Sunday rest and religious duty was afforded to , and generally availed of , by them . By seven o ' clock on Saturday evening most of them were on their roads

homewards , more or less satisfied with the results of the proceedings of the two days and their respective labours , the fatiguing nature of which none know but those who have passed the ordeal . First in order , because h' Id on the earliest day named , we must notice the Quarterly Court of the Boys' School , held on the 26 th ult . This was well attended , and was presided over by W . Bro . William

Roebuck , P . G . Swd . Br . The customary opening business having been disposed of , the motion proposed by W . Bro . James Stevens for the expunging of Law 55 and the enactment of a substituted law , was discussed ; and after some slight alteration of verbiage , and the rejection of a proposed amendment whereby exceptions should be allowed in favour of the brethren who had qualified as Life

Governors of the Institution , was unanimously adopted . The new rule is that— " A boy shall not be qualified for election unless the father has been a subscribing member of some lodge for seven years . If the father 1 ) 3 dead , he must have been a subscribing member of some lodge for three years . But should death or permanent incapacity , occasioned by paralysis , blindness , fire ,

shipwreck , or other calamity , have occurred within seven years of his initiation , this rule shall not apply , if , at the time of such occurrence , the father was a subscribing member . " The motion of W . Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., patron , on behalf of the House Committee , for declaration of three additional vacancies in the list of candidates , was also carried without a dissentient

voice , and thereby the number of boys to be elected was increased from twenty-one to twenty-four . The ballot at once commenced , and shortly before six o ' clock the scrutineers , after a bus 3 afternoon ( no less than 5 ' . ) , 2 < ') 0 votes having been counted up , which , with 33 . 309 , brought forward from previous elections , made up a grand

total of 92 , 5 i ) 9 ) reported the following as the successful candidates , viz .: —Grimsey ( Somerset ) , last application , 3 , 702 votes ; Ball ( London ) , 2 . 810 ; Troop ( E . Lane ) , 2 , 058 ; Fursey ( Sussex ) , 2 , ( 333 Ghinneck ( Devon ) , 2544 ; Gaches ( Norths , and Hunts ) , 2 , 535 ' ; Land ( Norfolk ) , last application . 2 , 46 fi ; Bland ( London ) . 2 , 453 ; Green ( EVJCX ) , last application , 2 , Ml ; Mossop ( Cumb . and West . ) .

"Our Schools." -Elections.

2 , 389 ; Murlev ( London ) . 2 . 374 ; Cox ( Somerset ) , last application , 2 . 330 ; Rush worth ( W- Yorks . ) . 2 . 245 ; Turner ( London ) , 2 . 230 ; Menpes ( Kent ) , 2 . 221 ; Baylis ( London ) . 2 . 217 ; Kendall ( W . Yorks . ) . 2 . 204 : Pinder ( W . Yorks . ) , 2 , 175 : Wilson ( London ) , 2 . 149 ; Brown ( Kent ) , 2 , 141 ; Morgan ( S . Wales , E . Div . ) , 2 . 11 ( 5 : Evcrton ( Worcestershire ) , 2 . 07 ( 5 ; Windsor ( Oxfordshire ) , 2 , 0 ( 5 ( 5 ; and Harris

( Wilts ) , 2 , 032 ; and these twenty-four lads wore declared duly elected from a list of seventy-seven candidates . It will be observed that the polling was very closa , and excepting only in the case of Grimsey , who distanced the second successful candidate by nearly one thousand votes , ranged within about eight hundred from the second to the last elected . London carried six cases . West

Yorkshire three , Kent and Somerset two each , and the following provinces one each , viz .: —E . Lancashire , Sussex , Devon , Norths , and Hunts ., Norfolk , Essex , Cumberland and Westmoreland , S . Wales , E . Div ., Worcestershire , Oxon , and Wilts . Of the nine last applications four only were successful , viz . : —Grimsey , Land , Green and Cox . Grimsey and Cox are Somersetshire lads and that province is to be

congratulated and credited with able management m securing such capital positions for their two candidates and preventing much sorrow and disappointment . Of the lads left ; i out in the cold " much sympathy was expressed for Wood , whose seventh and last application resulted in failure for want of but some three hundred votes ; and , in a lesser degree , for Gray , whose sixth . and last application closed

with a total of but 1 , 133 ; Harvey , second and last application . 818 votes , Scott , fiftli and last , 132 votes , and Lamborn , second and last , 98 votes , ought not , in our opinion , to have been put forward by their friends without some prior assurance of much greater support , and the question must some day arise , if it is not already ripe for discussion , as to the adoption of means to prevent what has been

denounced , m the strongest possible terms , as most injurious to our character and standing as Freemasons . There are now on the list of candidates for next election nine lads , who , on their first application last Friday , were credited with but 41 votes amongst them ; the last had not even one polled for him , and although much power may be in reserve on their behalf , it is an open question as

to most , if not all of them struggling on from election to election only to meet with final rejection after all . For such possible , wo may say probable , contingencies some remedy is needed , and should be provided . After the usual declaration by the chairman , Bro . Verry , as chairman of the scrutineers , made what is unfortunately almost a customary announcement in respect of spoilt votes , and it

can scarcely be credited that so much inattention to the requirements named on proxy papers should continue on the part of the friends of the respective candidates , and those who possess the voting power . We may refer to this matter next week ; and now pass on to the proceedings in connection with the Girls ' School on the 27 th . Over these , W . Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall

Past Grand Treasurer , presided : and after the withdrawal by W . Bro . Percival , Vice-President , of his notice of motion— " In the event of the recent addition to Law 55 being confirmed , to add the following rider , viz . : ' That this Clause shall not apply in the case of a child whose father was a Life Governor of the Institution at the time of his death ,

'"—( which withdrawal was made by him with a view to . assimilate the regulation with that agreed to on the previous day in respect of the Boys' School . ) and a discussion arising out of a remark by the Chairman , that possibly the unsuccessful candidates of the day might be provided for at the ensuing elections in April and October of next vear . the ballot commenced for the election of nine girls

from a list of sixty-three approved candidates . The poll was declared shortly after five o ' clock , 59 , 059 having been counted up , which , with 19 , 404 brought forward from previous elections , made up agrandtotalof 79 , 123 votes . Thesuccessfulcandidates were : —Short , Warwickshire , 5 , 308 votes ; Sims , London . 4 , 221 ; Pooler , London , 4131 ; Mackey , Malta and London , 4 , 109 ; Turton , North Yorkshire ,

, 3 , 907 ; Wells , London , 3 , 080 ; Belton , Northumberland , 3 , 508 ; Bissett , London , 3 , 305 ; and Wilson , West Lancashire , 3 , 105 . In this election , as in that of the previous day , there was a considerable margin of excess votes for the first successful candidate , 1087 ; whilst the polling of the remaining eight ranged within 1 , 000 vooes from the second to the last elected . London carried four

cases , and the following provinces , viz ., Warwickshire , Malta ( with London ) , North Yorkshire , Northumberland , and West Lancashire one each . Of the four last applications , only one was successful—Bissett , with 3 , 365 votes . Geach , on third application , failed , having but 555 votes ; Wells , on second application , with but 77 votes ; and Smith , on his only permissible application , with

48 . Our remarks in reference to similarly rejected candidates for the Boys' School are applicable in this instance , and with even greater force , when we note that there still remain on the list cases with a total of but 129 votes after three applications , of but 10 after a second attempt , and of not even one in several of the first applications . We are strongly led to think that before candidates are placed on the lists their friends should be required to

satisfy the respective committees that at least the lodges to which the fathers were attached would use their best interests on their behalf , and so prevent what has been openly expressed by many as a scandal on the craft . There may , of course , bo , and it is only reasonable to expect there are , divergences of opinion as to the best means of prevention , but we are confident that there can be but a small minority who will not agree with us that such a state of things as now exists in connection with these elections should be amended .

LABOUR AND REFRESHMENT .

We had fully intended to continue this week ou" sibj . ct matter ruder above heading . We are , however , oblige ! , cwing to p : essurc : > n our space , to defer doing so until next week .