United Grand Lodge Of England.

Peter BroAvn , 90 ; Thomas Cull , 1-1-. 1 (> ; George A . Cundy , 901 ; Charles Dairy , 1-1-1 ; James Burgess Grieve , 1351 ; LeAvis Christopher Jlaslip , 818 ; DaA'id 1 ) . Mercer , lo ' -il ; George Read , Oil ; Francis R . Spaull , 17 G 8 ; Robert J . Taylor , 111 ; and Alfred Cooper Woodward , 15 oS .

Recommendations of the Beard of Benevolence for grants from Grand Lodge to the amount of £ 750 Avere adopted , and the report of the Board of General Purposes , dated 20 th Nov ., Avhich shoAved a balance in the Bank of England of £ - ! , 02 (> 0 s . 8 d ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary

for petty cash £ 100 , and for servants' Avages £ 100 , and balance of annual allowance for library £ 24 8 s . 7 d ., Avas accepted . W . Bro . John F . H . WoodAvard , P . G . Sword Bearer , moved— "That in Rule 210 , Book of Constitutions , the iWe Avords , ' recoi \ o due notice in writing 'in line

4 , be taken out , and the following inserted in their place : ' had due notice sent to him in Avriting by the secretary of his lodge in a registered letter to his last knoAvn address . ' " " Also , in line 10 , to add the Avords ' AVIIO vote ' after the Avord ' present . ' " This Avas seconded by Bro . Win , Beavis ,

P . M ., W . M . Harrow Lodge , No . 1310 , and Prov . G . Pst . Middx ., but met Avith strenuous opposition from Bro . Brackstone Baker , the Grand Registrar , and Bro . T . Fenn , and was lost . The subject is an important one , and Avill be probably further discussed in our pages . An appeal , by the

Star in the East Lodge , No . 918 , QueenstoAvn , South Africa , against a ruling of the District Grand Master of South Africa ( E . D . ) cancelling a sentence of exclusion passed by the lodge on Bro . William Bands for alleged masonic offences Avas brought up by Bro . Philbrick , Q . C ., Grand

Registrar , who explained that the unmasonic conduct complained of Avas that Bro . Bands was Master of a lodge under the jurisdiction of Scotland , in the same district , and had said he should induce candidates and joining members to enter that lodge in preference to Star in the East , No . 918

( E . G . ) As the Grand Registrar said " there is nothing unmasonic in a brother of an English Lodge being a member of a Scotch or Irish lodge , " the appeal Avas dismissed , and the District Grand Master ' s decision upheld . This terminated a most interesting and practical evening ' s work , and

Grand Lodge Avas closed in form . We cannot close this report of the proceedings Avithout expressing , on behalf of numerous brethren , their appreciation of the charming organ recitals from the Avorks of celebrated composers , admirably performed by Bro . EdAvard Cutler , Q . C ., in the absence of

the Grand Organist , during the assembling of Grand Lodge , prior to entry of the Grand Officers . Why the dull and tiresome hour of assembly cannot be always cheered by " softest music to attending ears " Ave are at a loss to

discoA-er ; but haA'C somcAvhat of an impression that " Grand Officers' Mess " has a great deal to do Avith it . If so , the sooner other arrangements are made in the interests of those who haA e a right to be considered , the better .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of this Institution held their usual monthly meeting- at the Freemasons' Hall > on Saturday last . Bro . AV . Roebuck , P . G . S . B ., Vice-Patron and Trustee , occupied the chair , and there were present Bros . Frederick Walters , C . F . Ilogard , Rev . Richard Morris , M . A ., LL . D ., Stephen Richardson . Walter . J . Gregory , W . H . Saunders , George P . Gillard , George Mickley , M . A .,

M . B ., AV . Maple . AV . W . Morgan . J . Ulasso , F . W . Imbert-Terrv , C . II . Webb , AV . A . Seurrah . AV . M . Stiles . Andrew Motion , A . E . Gladwell , G . R . AVace , J . S . Cumberland , J . L . Mather , P . A . G . C . ; and Frederick Binckes , P . G . S . B ., Secretary . Nine petitions were successively taken into consideration , six of which were accepted as candidates for the election in April , lHS ' . l ; two were deferred , and one was rejected .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A Special General Court of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held at Freemasons' Hall , on the Gth inst .. Bro . Frank Richardson in the chair , when the f ollowing recommendation of the General Committee was adopted" That the Centenary Committee be empowered to accept Messrs . Haden and Son ' s estimate for warming and ventilating the whole

of the building in three sections , as under—1 . New AVing—AVarming , ventilation , and hot water j £ l , 572 15 0 2 . Centenary Hall , Corridors , & e . — -AVarming and ventilation .. .. ... .. .. .. 71800 . " » . AA'hole of Existing Building — Warming and ventilation 1 , 364 10 0 * : 3 , GB 5 0 0 Exclusive of builders' work—say £ -1 , 000 in all . "

The Ritual.

THE RITUAL .

COXTIXUATIOX OF CHAP . V . OI- ' THE B , EV . II . J . AVlI Y . AlPEll ' s ' EKLIOIOX Of FHKEMASOXHV . "—( See pege 220 . ) f ^ Tlg lHE early adoption of the Bible as a guide in a system B H Avhich is steeped in allegory , would point to the source HI H whence the early Freemasons derived their metaphors , I MBM I even if we had no other means of forming an opinion . AVe have however in so many emblems direct references to the Bible .

that it is not possible to deny that ours is a purely biblical symbology . The temple the Mason is to erect should be built as was Solomon ' s , viz .. to the glory of God . And to illustrate the duty enjoined on us . to allow none but men of pure morals to share our lab . airs , we are reminded that the Almighty refused to allow David to commence the work ( afterwards undertaken by Solomon ) , for

well-known reasons . As David was not allowed to build the Temple , so should we refuse to allow airy men whose conduct must of necessity be displeasing to God to join in the work of Masonry . At what period the bible was adopted in English Masonry as the Great Light we do not know , but we do know that it was considered a necessary part of lodge furniture prior to the erection of the

Grand Lodge . The formation of the Grand Lodge did not in any way cancel any principle on which we insist . This body did not stipulate for attendance at holy church as a necessary act of obedience , but in the first Constitutions which it issued the Christian catholicity of Freemasonry was expressed . There is less reason to suppose that the ritual has been much

changed than there is regarding the lectures , although the latter seem to point to very much the same details , however much the interpretation of these details varies . Evidence dating prior to the middle of the last century indicates that in many important particulars our ceremonies , which are based on ritual , are at this day in remarkable accord with old lodge working . The student cannot

but be struck with the identity of ceremony , showing that the changes which have taken place are only in the esoteric part of Masonry , the exoteric part being unaltered in all essentials . It is with this fact before us that we attach great importance to the teaching of the last century . Finding , therefore , that nearly every writer of that time insisted that Freemasonry and Christianity were

almost identical we can but apply an esoteric Christian meaning to the allegory of the ritual . AVe are unable to see that any modern succession ever repudiated ancient principles ; on the contrary , all unite in asserting that ancient Masonry , whatever it was , was preserved . Of the Christianity of Masonry prior to 1717 there has

never been any doubt . The views which Avriters of the last century took of the ritual will be found in another chapter : our own are admittedly of the same complexion . The Masonic ritual is consistent with Avhat we have already stated . At lhe first introduction of the candidate we find that his

morality has been a primary Masonic qualification , but this alone has not been deemed a sufficient voucher . Before an atom of Masonic information is vouchsafed to him . assurance has to be given that his religious conceptions arc of such a nature as will enable him to appreciate Masonic teaching . It has been Avell said that a Christian must first be a Theist , so says Masonry regarding

its candidates . A Deist believes in a God . it is true , but he does not believe we possess any knowledge of God ' s attributes , whereas the first declaration required from a Masonic candidate is that he believes in the efficacy- of prayer to God . This primary condition is worthy of notice , for in it lies the essence of Theism . The Masonic requirement is emphatically that the candidate shall believe that

God Avill hear and answer prayer , which necessarily involves some conception of God , or of his attributes . A Freemason is thus , perforce , in the first instance a Theist . This is the chief condition . Should it appear that the candidate is unable to comply with it , he cannot advance ; in such case provision has been made that he shall leave the lodge without in any way

becoming acquainted with even the method of conducting lodge proceedings . AVe next come to a supposition , on which much hangs . It is part of our symbolism to assume that the candidate is in a state of menial darkness , but desirous of receiving light , especially Masonic light . The first part of the first degree is an allegoiy of this . AVe

care not whether he be a Christian , a Mahommedan , or a Hindoo ; it is nothing to us . AVe have a candidate seeking for light , we believe we possess it , and it is part of the Masonic system that we should impart it to all such as we deem worthy to receive it . No matter how gross his conception of the Deity may be , if there exist , in the candidate , a trust in God such as Ave have described , we are

bound to proceed with our instruction and attempt at enlightenment . The initiate having expressed a wish for Masonic light it is then for the first time intimated to him that the light of English Masonry is the English Bible . It is described as the volume of the sacred law . AVe now draw attention to some expressions which have never

been varied to any extent in English Ritual . It is taught that the sacred writings are to rule and govern our faith . There is no ambiguity in the exact words of the ritual , with which every brother must be familiar . The faith of an English Freemason should be ruled by the Bible . That is Avhy the sacred volume is in his lodge : it is to him God's law . It contains the code which is to govern his faith and action .

The ritual states , in some brief words , which are not to be mistaken , however wilfully the dissentient might wish to misconstrue them , that it ( the bible ) is the unerring standard of truth and justice , and that a 3 Iason should regulate his actions by the divine precepts contained therein . There is no use made of the indefinite article in the ritual—we are not left to believe that the bible is an unerring standard , although that would be pretty plain : we are told it is the unerring standard . ( To be continued ') .