Contents.

CONTENTS .

EDITORIAL : INDIGNATION 203 EOYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS 201 REVIEW— "ARS QUATUOR COROXATORU . M " 201 MASONIC "POET ' CORNER" — "T HE GRAND OLD CRAFT" ... 205

OUR TRESTLE BOARD 20 ;" QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 205 NOTIFICATIONS 20 . ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE 20 G

MASONIC " BITTER-SWEET " 207 GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS 207 PROVINCIAL NOTES 208 GLEANINGS 208 METROPOLITAN LODGE AND CHAPTER MEETINGS FOR THE CURRENT WEEK 20 S ADVERTISEMENTS Front cover , 202 , 209 , 210 , 211 , 212

Indignation

Indignation

T would be ridiculous in the extreme to affect surprise at the character and result of the meeting of the General Committee of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys

on Saturday last . Anything so disorderly it has , fortunately , never previously been our lot to witness in

connection with Freemasonry , within Avhose charmed circle - ' Order , peace and harmony" are presumed to , and in fact most generally do , prevail . Nor can the uproar of

last Saturday afternoon be wondered at by any reasonable member of the Craft -who recognises the fact that the deepest feelings of those who have the prosperity of our

Masonic Charitable Institutions at heart , have been stirred to the very utmost by the revelations contained in the report of the Committee of Investigation . Indignation

becomes a virtue under certain circumstances ; and those are wanting in appreciation of the highest Masonic principles who can meekly submit to a continuance , in even the

slightest degree ,, of those abuses which the late investigation has brought to light , or permit the past mismanagement to sink into oblivion without resentment and explicit condemnation .

We have , hitherto , in the controversy which has arisen in respect of the present state of affairs in connection with this institution , kepi ; our personal feelings in subjection ,

entertaining an earnest desire to interpose a shield , however slight , between justice and the infliction of its penalties ; and in the strong hope that those to whom the blame

"for mismanagement is undoubtedly to be credited , would , after the manner of honourable men and sincere

Freemasons , lessen the effect of the blow which they have administered to Masonic charity by admissions of un-¦ skilfuhiess and voluntary retirement . In which case

Indignation

the unseemly proceedings at the meeting of the General Committee would have been averted , and a further addition to an already more than sufficient scandal prevented .

But our hopes ( and they were shared with many other brethren ) have met with most regrettable disappointment ; and a fatal indisposition on the part of the offenders to

bend to the storm , which can and will assuredly rend if further resisted , has already placed them outside the pale of brotherly consideration as a collective body . In their

individual relation to the craft they are each and all most worthy and estimable men and brethren , and it would be as difficult as it would be invidious to select any one or

two more worthy than others for full acknowledgment of Masonic services rendered , or the possession of all those social virtues and high principles which originally justified

their election as Managers of the Institution . Masonic friendship and esteem is still their due as individuals ; but there we stop ! Collectively they have been " weighed in

the balance and found wanting , " and their present position as a late body is no other than might have been expected after an investigation which proves that all effective

control had been surrendered by them to others not appointed for the discharge of the especial duties with which the Subscribers to the Institution had entrusted them

alone . They have now ceased to hold their former positions as Managers of the affairs of the Institution , and the trust which had been confided to them , and which , if

the " report" does not lie , they have betrayed in more respects than one , has been ignominiously taken from them . They have wrecked themselves as a vuinai / ement , but , thank God ! not the Institution .

There is a time for silence , and a time to speak plainly . It would be almost a crime in this instance to cry " peace , where there is no peace . " The silent but treacherous

current has frequently been more fatal than the furious gale to many a good ship . Bather the storm with all its mighty power , than a dead calm and a drifting tide .

Courageous men know how to strive against the former , and though damages may have to be repaired , they save their craft from being cast away . So we trust , and believe ,

will our Boys' School , under skilful mastership , weather the present tempest , and escape the wreck which might

have resulted from a continuance of the mischievous inactivity , on the part of the late management , which was surely drifting it towards destruction .

It is to be hoped that , notwithstanding the perfectly justifiable indignation expressed at the meeting of the General Committee , the gathering of to-day for the purpose

of considering the report of the Committee of Investigation will approach and carry through the serious business of the meeting in a cool and collected manner . To our mind