Our Trestls Board

OUR TRESTLS BOARD

" For the Master to lay lines and draw designs upon . "

There is a curious case before the Superior Court at Montreal , North America , in reference to a claim for a sum of about X 125 as the value of certain Masonic furniture purchased from a former W . M . of the St . George ' s Lodge , No . 410 , E . C . The particulars of the case promise to be of considerable importance to the brethren in Montreal , and generally to the fraternity at large . They are

certainly peculiar , and , briefly stated , are as follows : —In July . 1887 , the W . M . in question was suspended by the District Grand Master from Masonic privileges , for refusing , during his term of office , to produce the books of the lodge . It is assumed that thereupon the then S . W . became the person legally entitled to take control of the lodge room and its effects , and he thereupon called upon the tyler of the lodge and janitor of the Victoria Chapter .

R . A . M ., connected with the lodge , to hand over the keys to him , and his request was complied with . In January , 1888 . the lo . lge room in the Odd Fellows' Hall in St . James" Street was destroyi d by fire , together with the furniture in question , and here , we should have thought , would have been at that time an end to all questions of proprietorship , particularly if any insurance had been effected thereon .

But it would seem that the plaintiff sets up a purchase from the suspended W . M ., on the llth February , 1888 , one month after the effects had been destroyed , and alleges illegal detention by the present W . M ., the Senior Warden of the previous year , and by the Janitor of the Chapter , who are jointly made defendants in the action . They , of course , say that the suspended W . M . never had

any property in the furniture and regalia in question ; that the lodge rooms were leased to the lodge itself and not to him : that his only right at any time to the rooms and Masonic effects of the lodge , was in a representative capacity while a member and officer of the lodge : that his suspension took from him whatever Masonic

privileges he had theretofore enjoyed : and that in any case the destruction by fire renders restoration impossible . The case has been put over until the 1 st May ( yesterday ) and we shall be curious to learn in what manner this probably unique appeal to a legal tribunal outside Masonry will be settled .

We desire to again call the attention of such of our readers as are Life Governors or subscribers to any or all of our three Charitable Institutions , to the manner in which their proxy papers for voting should be prepared to prevent the loss of their interest on behalf of candidates , and to save the time and lessen the labour of the scrutineers at our several elections . On each occasion , for

many years past , the Chairman of Scrutineers , after presentation of the report as to result of the polling , has had to remark on the large number of papers which on account of informality in preparation have been compellably rejected . At the Boys' School Election last week , there were no less than 73 proxy papers , representing 1 ( 53 votes , not filled in for any case : 32 papers , representing

111 votes , not signed ; 31 papers , representing 78 votes , filled in for 177 , and of course could not lie polled ; 3 papers , representing 17 votes , filled in for only 3 votes ; a bundle of 100 votes not filled in for any case ; and so on . No . ( J 2 case , although successful on a last application , was very badly managed in this respect , and lost a total of 50 votes .

There is such a simple way of avoiding the losses we have above described , that it makes the result all the more deplorable . On receipt of the proxy paper , the signature of the voter should be at once affixed to it , even if the case be not named , and the proxy has to be transferred to another for polling . Before the proxies are polled , the number of votes should be plainly written in figures

against the name of the candidate or candidates selected , and no other mark whatever should appear on the face of the proxy . The erasure of all or any of the names of candidates by lines over or across them is most objectionable , creates confusion , and frequently delays the declaration of the poll beyond the time usually appointed for the return of the scrutiny . Brethren , please note , and c . ury on the hint to others .

Here are silly ways of marking proxy papers : —Proxy worth 1 vote marked XI—Proxy worth 2 votes marked | | X—Proxy worth 20 votes marked to read 21 & c - > & c . Comment on such carelessness is needless . The pity is that innocent candidates suffer for the neglect to Observe simple instructions .

We hail the resolution of the Quarterly General Court of the Girls' School on Saturday last with much satisfaction .- The Petitions Committee will surely be very useful in preventing the acceptance of candidates for election the circumstances connected with whom may not merit some amount of support from others than immediate friends and relatives . There will not be so many

" last application" cases as we have lately had , and the scandal attached to a total poll of many less than fifty votes will be avoided . Of the ' last application" cases on Saturday , four out of seven were elected , the lowest total being 1 ( J 7 !) . but of the three unsuccessful , the votes received were respectively only 31 , 2 !) and 17 . These latter were all first as well as last applications , each burn in

1878 , and therefore very nearly of the age which precludes election , and neither of the fathers had subscribed to either Masonic Institutions during their lodge memberships of respectively 13 , 10 and 8 years . The chances of success under these circumstances were so very small , that we doubt the propriety of the placing of their names on the list at all .

Our Trestls Board

A similar resolution should be adopted in the case of the Boys ' School . In this Institution there were on Friday last ten " final application " candidates , of whom four only were elected . Of these the lowest polled 2 , l ( i 2 . But of those rejected the votes recorded were severally l , ( i 3 ( i , 1 / 103 , 527 , 43 !> , 55 , and It ) : the first having applied on four occasions : tlie second , third , and fifth on three :

the fourth and sixth on five . In only the first and second of these six cases were the fathers subscribers to the institutions during their lodge membership , and the numbers polled at once show the consideration given by the Craft to the practice of benevolence by our brethren whilst opportunity is afforded them . The lads

representing these six cases were all born in 1878 , and therefore age had to be considered in connection -with their eases and the number of applications : nevertheless , we think that totals of only 55 and 19 , aftor three and five applications respectively , prove a necessity for closer examination of circumstances before including applicants in the list of candidates .

We have at times received several enquiries , and have published one or more , as to the disposal of the votes which are recorded against the names of brethren and others whose addresses are nnltu . iicn . in the lists of governors and subscribers issued by the respective masonic institutions . It seems to have been thought by many that the proxies were utiliy . ed and recorded in favour of some

candidate or candidates at each election : a somewhat absurd conclusion , but , nevertheless , entertained in certain quarters . In order to afford assurance to those who doubt , we have personally satisfied ourselves that proxy papers are never prepared for voters whose addresses are not known , and an official authority is given for this statement .

V . W . Bro . Edward Terry , Grand Treasurer , England , lias now entirely recovered from his recent indisposition , and is again appearing with his usual success as Dick Phenyl in Street La render , at Terry ' s Theatre , London .

We Are Requested To Notify That :-

We are requested to notify that :-

A . new lodge in connection with the volunteers is to be consecrated this afternoon ( . May 2 nd ) , under the title of the " London Scottish Rifles" Lodge . No . 2310 , at 8 a , Red Lion Square . W . C . W . Bro . Capt . James ITepburn-lIastic , P . M . 1 . 211 ) , & c , is the W . M . designate . The ceremonies of consecration and installation will be performed by the V . W . Bro . Col . Shadwell II . Gierke . P . G . D .. Grand Secretary , assisted by W . Bros . R . Berridge , C . F . Matier . Rev . G . W . Weldon and Frank Richardson .

The Richmond Lodge , No . 2032 , Bro . Edward Dare . W . M ., will hold its installation meeting ( Bro . Henry Sapsworth , W . M ' . elect ) on Tuesday , the 7 th inst .. at the Masonic Hal ] , Greyhound Hotel , Richmond , Surrey . Lodge will lie opened at 3 . 15 p . m .. and work in three degrees and installation ceremonies . Banquet at ( i . 30 p . m .

The West Yorkshire Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons will meet at the Freemasons' Rooms , Station House Inn . Eastwood , on Wednesday next , the 8 th inst .. under the banner of the Prince Edward Lodge M . M . M ., No . 14 . at 3 . 15 p . m . The R . W . Bro . Charles Letch Mason , Past G . Std . and Prov . Grand Mark Master , West Yorks . will attend with his Grand Officers . Particulars

of Bro . Wm . Cook . P . G . S . O ., and Prov . G . Secretary M . M . M .. 3 Bull Green , Halifax . The Stockwell Lodge of Instruction , No . 133 ' . ) . and the Stockwell Chapter of Improvement are removed to the White Hart Tavern . Abchurch Lane , E . C , London : the former meeting on Mondays from (! to 8 p . m ., and the latter on alternate Fridays at ( i p . m .

The installation meeting of the " Ubique " Lodge . No . 1780 , Bro . Capt . W . Lewis White , / I . A ., W . M ., will be held at the Cafe Royal , Regent Street , London , on the 13 th inst ., at 4 p . m . There is a full evening ' s work in the three degrees , including tlie initiation , if approved , of Capt . W . B . Faber , of the Royal Artillery .

Aide-de-camp to Major-Gen . Williams , commanding the Woolwich district . Bro . Major J . Ritchie , R . A ., will instal Bro . W . R . Arnold , R . A ., the W . M . elect , as W . M . for the ensuing year . This Lodge is composed chiefly of officers , warrant oflicers , and stall ' sergeants of the Royal Artillery , and a large attendance of members and visitors is expected on this occasion .

The Sackville Lodge , No . Kill ) , Bro . William Hosken , W . M ., will meet at the Masonic Rooms , East Grinstead , on Tuesday next , the 7 th inst ., at ( i . 30 p . m . Initiation and election of W . M .. and treasurer for ensuing year . The installation meeting of the Amherst Lodge , No . 1223 .

Bro . Wm . Sparrowhawk , W . M .. will take place at the Amherst Arms Hotel , Riverhead , Kent , on Saturday , the -1 th inst ., at 3 p . m . Bro . Alfred Herbert Lee , W . M . elect , will be duly installed by his predecessor . Banquet will be served at 5 p . m . Bro . J . II . Jewell , P . M ., P . P . G . R .. Gatlands , Westerham , is Hon . Sec . of the Lodge .

Press Exchanges And Books Received.

Press Exchanges and Books Received .

J ' roceedings of the Grand- L-ulgc of Scotland , 188 !) ; Mailrin Jlecord ( April ) : Masonic R-cord of Western India ( Allahabad ) South African Frccmas . - . n : Canailian Craftsman ( Toronto ) . We have to thank several of our foreign "Exchanges * ' for veiy kindly notices of our journal , and for attention called to sundry

article- ! therein , more particularly at the present writing , The Canadian ( -raftsuiait ( Toronto ) : The Madras Masonic Jlecord ; the Masonic Record of Western India ( Allahabad ) ; and the South African Freemason ( East London . Cape Colony ) . Interchanges of courtesies arc at all times agreeable , and are still more so when offered with such evident sincerity and friendship .