Our Trestle Board

OUR TRESTLE BOARD

" For the Master to lay lines and draw designs upon . " ALL communications should be forwarded 59 , Moor Lane , Fore Street . E . C ., London . Those relating to Editorial matter to be addressed to the EDITOR ; and all others to Messrs . ADAMS BROS .

To OUR SUBSCRIBERS . —The next issue of THE MASONIC STAR , No . 13 , will complete the first quarter , for Avhich many of our subscribers have favoured us with orders , and we take this opportunity to thank them for the support they have given us . We shall be much obliged if those who have not yet remitted the amount of

their quarterly subscriptions will kindly do so during the ensuing week to Messrs . ADAMS BROS ., and if those upon whom we have no monetary claim will be good enough to intimate their wish to continue their suj > port , we shall esteem their instructions . This does not , of course , apply to our half-yearly and yearly subscribars .

We are gratified by the foreign support accorded to us . We must , however , ask our friends to make their remittances agree with our published terms . In some instances the amount has not been sufficient to include the cost of foreign postage .

In reference to the recent elections in connection with the Masonic Schools we stated in our last that we would refer in this issue to the remarks of W . Bro . Geo . W . Verry , the chairman of the scrutineers at the respective elections , in regard to spoilt votes , and we would direct the especial attention of all those who are interested in candidates for election , and have no desire to lose their

voting power , to what he said . In the case of the Boys' School there were 52 proxy papers , representing 113 votes , " not filled in , " 15 papers representing 42 votes unsigned , 10 papers issued for 100 votes filled in for 152 , and therefore rejected , and three papers representing eight votes signed for subscribers who were deceased before issue .

In the scrutiny for the Girls' School there were found 37 papers , representing 86 votes , not filled in , 50 papers representing 108 votes not signed , and 13 papers representing 28 votes filled in for 58 , and consequently rejected . In connection with this return one case alone lost , on 16 proxy papers , 45 votes .

Thus , in the two elections , 100 proxy papers were rendered useless , and 515 votes were lost to sundry candidates ; and considering how closely the polling generally runs at these elections , it does seem something more than a pity there should be such evident carelessness on the part , in the first instance , of voters who do not sign

their proxy papers before parting with them and , in the second , of those who conduct the respective applications for election . We are , or should be , much indebted to the scrutineers for taking account of these rejected votes , and to their Chairman for so fully reporting the effect upon the returns , which are thereby made so liable to challenge by the friends of disappointed canditlates .

Referrmg to the new law as to Qualification of Candidates for the Boys' School which was unanimously adopted , on the motion of W . Bro . James Stevens , at the Quarterly Court of Governors , on the 26 th ult ., The Freemtmon says : — "Men are sometimes admitted into our lodges who should never have been accepted as Masons , and , as was

pointed out at the Boys' School Quarterly Court , on the 26 th ult ., there are good grounds for believing that the admission of such persons has had the effect of largely increasing the number of applicants for the benefits of our several Institutions . We trust that the rule , as it now stanels , which requires that for a boy to be

be accepted as a candidate his father must have been seven years a member of some lodge , or must have been stricken by death or calamity incapacitating him from work within that period , will have the desired effect of keeping out of our ranks those who would join us from motives of self-interest , and , at the same time , of

reducing the pressure on the resources of our charities . It is a part of our duty—which every true Mason is only too glad to dischargeto help the sorely afflicted brother or his family ; but it does not come within our province to relieve the mere adventurer , who only desires to extract as much as possible out of the Society . "

In sending ' copy to the printing office lately—a lodge report as communicated by a correspondent , and occupying one sheet and part of another—the seconel portion was mislaid . The first terminateel with the words " the labours of the evening were followed by an excellent , " and then came a direction , " T . o . " The second

sheet could not be found , but our friend " at case " was equal to the difficulty , and completed the report with the words " tuck out . " He didn't perhaps know it , but he had only condensed some dozen or so of lines into the smallest possible compass to elescribe what is indifferently called by some amongst us a "banquet" or a " great feed . "

A brother writing from Croydon , asks us to inform him where he can procure selections of Lodge and Chapter Music other than that published by Lewis , of Paternoster Row . We shall be glad to afford him the information he seeks . Will brethren interested help us to do so ?

Our Trestle Board

In connection with the meeting of The Great City Lodge of Instruction on the 25 th ult ., a very pleasing incident occurred , which circumstances prevented our noticing in its proper place in our pages last ' week . A greatly esteemed member of the lodge , who had for some lengthened period held the lodge together by his

services generally , and particularly as its treasurer , —Bro . W . Howard Paddle , a P . M . and Past Provincial Grand Officer of Surrey , —was presented , amidst every possible token of esteem and regard , with a very handsomely illuminated address in appropriate Masonic frame , together 'with a Past Treasurer ' s Jewel . Bro . J . Leach

Barrett presided as W . M ., and a large number of friends , who had kept the secret of the intended presentation as only Masons can keep secrets , enjoyed the absolute surprise and gratification of the

honoured recipient , when , in laudatory , but certainly not fulsome terms , the presentation was made . Palmam qui , meruit ferat ; and in this instance , and in the elegree of service rendered , no testimonial of regarel was ever better deserved .

We are glad to notice that so many of our preceptors are giving attention to what has been denominated " entry drill , " i . e . the proper Masonic manner in which salutation should be given on entering the sacred precincts of a lodge . The careless , slouchingwe had almost said disreputable—manner in which this part of every Freemason ' s duty is performed by a great number of our brethren is almost a scandal upon the order , and is , in any case , a great reflection on the Worshipful Masters who permit its continuance .

In the face of so many existing abuses m the present 'working of Freemasonry in England , to some of -which our contemporaries , as well as ourselves , have lately directed attention , we ask , and whilst we exist shall continue to ask until fully answered , for what is our Board of General Purposes constituted ? We can also ask how is it

constituted , so that the craft , as represented by the " wearers of the blue" can be fairly and properly heard on these burning questions without a preponderance of " authoritative" influence , which -would render all their endeavours to improve matters perfectly useless 1

We call the attention of our readers to the advertisement of Craufurd College Company , Limited , a scheme we particularly favour as providing a much needed educational want amongst our middle class brethren . Next week we shall probably express Our opinion more fully ; nd in connection with a former article relating to proposals for scholarships in our Boys' School .

India.

INDIA .

On the 4 th ult ., at Bombay , the D . P . G . M . of H . \ D . \ M . \ ( Royal order of Scotland ) , the R . W . Bro . James W . Smith advanced to the degree of H . \ D . \ M . - , and afterwards promoted to the Knighthood of the R . - . S . - . Y . - . C . - . S . - . ; Bro . Harold R . King , P . G . Deacon of Eng . and Dep . Dist . G . M . for Bombay . The Prov . G . M . of H . \ D . \ M . \ ( Sir Henry Morland ) was absent , having broken his leg in a recent carriage accident , and a resolution of sympathy with him in his

sufferings was passed . A scheme for the erection of a Masonic Hall at Bombay for the joint use of English and Scottish Freemasons has been revived , and it is hoped the interest and influence of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , combined with the energy and enthusiasm which he , as D . G . M ., instils into the brethren of both constitutions , will cause the proposal to succeed .

Malta.

MALTA .

INAUGURATION OP A DISTRICT GRAND CHAPTER FOR MALTA . — On Tuesday , the 23 rd ult ., a special convocation of the Melita R . A . Chapter No . 349 E . C ., was held at 27 , Strada Stretta Valletta , for the purpose of installing M . E . Comp . Colonel Marmaduke Ramsay ( District Grand Master and Past Grand Superintendent of the Punjab ) as Grand Superintendent for Malta . The chapter was

opened by its principals and all companions admited . Ex . Comp . W . Watson , . ZP ., & c , then assumed the first chair for the purpose of performing the installation ceremony . M . E . Comp . Colonel Ramsay , having announced his arrival , the installing officers directed two P . Z . ' s to return and receive the patent , after examination of which a deputation of six P . Z . ' s conducted the Grand

Superintendent designate to the body of the Chapter . Ex . Comp . Watson delivered an elaborate address , and , with great solemnity , invested and inducted M . E . Comp . Colonel M . Ramsay as the first Grand Superintendent for Malta , who was then saluted according to Masonic custom , after which he invested Ex . Comps . Watson , P . Z ., and Yeoman , P . Z ., to the office of Second and Third District

Grand Principal respectively , and with the usual formalities . Ex . Comp . G . Segood , P . Z . ( D . G . Treasurer ) , was unanimously elected D . G . Treasurer . The following first appointments were announced , and those present duly invested : Ex . Comps . J . Montgomery , P . Z ., D . G . S . ; W . Pariente , P . Z .. D . G . S . N . ; G . Sedgood . P . Z ., D . G . Treas . ; G . P . Stephens . P . Z ., D . G . Reg . ; D . Cooper , P . Z ., D . G . P . S . ; J . C .

Stanley , P . Z ., D . G . 1 st A . S . ; J . W . Starkey , P . Z ., D . G . 2 nd A . S . ; F . Gardiner , Z . 515 , D . G . Sword Br . ; S . Leonard , H . 515 , D . G . Stand . Br . ; J . May , S . E . 349 , D . G . Dir . of Cer . ; W . Hughes , S . E . J 07 , D . G . Assist . D . of Cer . ; F . Seaton , 515 , D . G . Org . ; J . Linning , S . E . 515 , D . A . Assist . S . E . ; R . N . Beck ( D . G . Tyler ) , D . G . Janitor . M . E . Comp . the Grand Superintendent , in an eloquent and

comprehensive address , duly declared the D . G . Chapter of Malta solemnly constituted , formed and opened . Bj'e-laws for the district were adopted , the Committee of General Purposes appointed , and D . G . Chapter solemnly closed . An excellently appointed cold collation was afterwards served , at which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and receiveel with great enthusiasm .