Masonic Halls.

No . 659 , then meeting at a Mechanics' Institute in that town ; on the 7 th of July a handsome building in Church Street , Crook , Durham , was solemnly consecrated and dedicated to the services of Freemasonry ; just previously ( June 25 th ) a company was registered for the ' purpose of

erecting a new Masonic Hall at Dawlish , in Devon , and we believe it is satisfactorily progressing ; recently , a similar building has been opened at Sittingbourne , Kent , by the Rt . Hon . the Earl Amherst , Prov . G . Master ; contractors have commenced the erection of a Hall for the

Tregenna Lodge , No . 1272 , at St . Ives , Cornwall , and though last not least , the Freemasons of the South Eastern District of London have now before them a proposal for the formation of a company to erect a spacious Masonic Hall at Deptford , an announcement in respect of which will be found in another column .

The foregoing have come under our direct notice and there may be many others of whi 6 h we have no cognizance These are sufficient in number and importance , however , to encourage efforts in other localities towards the same good end . The latest project above referred to appears to

be surrounded by fortuitous circumstances which should attract attention from the South Metropolitan brethren . An admirable site has been secured near the Broadway , at Deptford , and the erection thereon of a handsome building

would be of inestimable public advantage in many respects , though in none more , from our point of view , than in providing ample accommodation for the numerous Lodges , Royal Arch Chapters , and Lodges of Instruction which abound in that largely populated locality .

It has been said that " Masonic Halls do not pay , " and probably in some instances , in years gone by , there may have been reason for the statement . But we believe that

in most of those it could be ascertained that mis-management has been the cause of disappointment . In the present day , however , the anticipations of those who have united in the design of securing for themselves special places of meeting , and solemnly consecrated Temples fitted

m every respect for the proper performance of Masonic Rites , kept distinct from any profane use , and dedicated , as all such places should be , to the glory of T . G . A . O . T . U . and the welfare of our fellow creatures , have been but seldom , if at all , mis-calculated . Wo hear of several such

buildings which have been most successful as commercial ventures , irrespective of which there must be to each and all who participate in them a gratifying consciousness that they have not witheld their assistance from the good work of promoting the welfare of the Order .

The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The regular meeting- of the General Committee of this Institution ; met on Saturday , the 3 rd inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , when there were present Bro . Geo . Plucknett , P . G . D . Treas of the Institution , in the Chair , and Bros . James Brett , P . G . P .. C . H . Webb . John Jones , H . Dickey , Gordon Smith , W . W . Morgan , A . E . Gladwell , H . Massey and Fredk . Binckes , Sect .

As it was arranged at the July Meeting that , on account of the Naval Review on Saturday and the August Bank Holiday on the following Monday , very few brethren being likely to attend this meeting , the business to be transacted should be postponed till Saturday , the 10 th inst ., the only work done was to read and confirm the minutes of the July meeting .

Bro . John Jones suggested that the adjournment should be advertised in the newspapers . He did not think the brethren generally understood that there was to be an adjournment . The business to be transacted was very important . The Provisional Committee was to bring up its further report , and he desired that the action to be taken upon that report should not be adopted at a

small meeting . He hoped that no one would be able to say that it was done at a hole-and-corner meeting . He therefore trusted the meeting would be advertised in the usual way . Bro . Binckes said it could not be in the usual way , because the meetings of the General Committees were not advertised . He thought the brethren knew of the adjourned meeting , and , although

it had not been advertised , he had seen it noticed in some newspapers . However , there would be no difficulty about advertising . All that Bro . Jones had to do was to make a motion that the adjourned meeting for the 10 th inst ., at 4 p . m ., be advertised , and if it was seconded and carried , he ( Bro . Binckes ) would send the advertisement out at once .

Bro . Jones then moved , and Bro . James Brett seconded , that the adjourned meeting be advertised . The motion was carried , and a vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings . The adjourned meeting was held at the same place on the 10 th inst . _ , when the Earl of Euston , Prov . G . Master Norths and Hants , presided , and there was a large attendance . His lordship reported that the provisional committee had asked Mr . Frederick Binckes ,

The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

the secretary , to resign , and having regard to his long and valuable services , recommended that he should be granted a pension of £ 350 per annum . They further suggested that the salary of the gentleman to be appointed to fill the secretaryship should not exceed £ 300 a year . Bro . J . S . Cumberland moved the adoption of the report . He testified to the valuable services which Bro . Binckes

had rendered , not only to the school , hut to the order , and described him as a pioneer in the interests of masonic institutions . Bro . Dr . Morris seconded the motion . Bro . John Jones moved as an amendment , that the amount of the pension be £ 200 a year . This did not find a seconder . Bro . James Stevens said he should be glad to support the resolution of Bro . Cumberland if he could be satisfied

that money subscribed towards a charitable purpose could be legally employed in providing a pension . Bro . Scurrah said he was connected with one of the largest hospitals in London—which was , of course , a charitable institution—and some years ago an executive officer belonging to that institution , after counsel ' s opinion had been obtained , was granted by the committee a pension of £ 300 for

the remainder of his life . The resolution to adopt the report of the provisional committee was then put and carried . The usual routine business of the committee was then proceeded with , and applications from candidates were received and granted . Sixteen vacancies were declared for the October election . A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting . "We may state here that there will be no meeting of the General Court in September .

We Notify That:-

We Notify that:-

The Lebanon Lodge , No . 1326 , Bro . Charles William Baker W . M ., will meet on Saturday next , at 3 p . m ., at the Railway Hotel ' Feltham , Middlesex . There are four raisings on the agenda , and a candidate for initiation is also proposed . The Macdonald Lodge , No . 1216 , which meets at the Head Quarters of the First Surrey Rifle Volunteer Corps , is greatly

interested in the candidature for election in October to the privileges of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys of John Francis Besly , aged 8 years , the orphan son of the late Bro . G . H . Besly , a much-respected member of the Lodge . Bro . Besly was a LifeGovernor of the Girls' School , and a Life Subscriber to that of the Boys ' . The lad ' s case is supported by several well-known Freemasons .

Proposed Masonic Hall At Deptford.

PROPOSED MASONIC HALL AT DEPTFORD .

A meeting of Freemasons resident in the neighbourhood of Deptford , S . E ., and interested in the several lodges , R . A . Chapters , and Lodges of Instruction in the district , was held on Friday evening last , at New Cross Public Hall , Bro . J . G . Thomas presiding . Considering the time of year , and the many " out of town " engagements of numerous brethren , the attendance was reasonably good .

Amongst those present were : —Bros . J . J . Pitt , Vinberger , Roberts , Geo . Skudder , Wall , Geo . Bolton , Walter Martin , J . Stevens , Dawkins , Kipps , Dennant , Bax , Pakes , N . Brokenshire , & c , & c . The meeting was of a purely preliminary character , and chiefly for the inspection of designs and plans submitted respectively by Bros . Roberts and Wall , who conjointly received the thanks of the

brethren for their gratuitous services in the preparation of perfect details , which afforded much satisfaction . It was also to learn from sundry others important information as to existing Masonic Halls , the particulars of their arrangement , cost , management , and productiveness , and some very useful and interesting- discussion resulted thereupon . In the end , it was resolved that sufficient data had been obtained to justify the calling of a general meeting of

the Craft in the locality , and consequently the 6 th of September ( Friday ) , at 8 p . m ., at the New Cross Public Hall , was fixed upon as the date and place for further consideration of the project . We will not anticipate what will then be set before the Freemasons of the south-eastern district . There should be a large attendance , and we feel certain none who attend will be disappointed in respect of the certain interest which will attend the proceedings .

UNION WATERLOO L ODGE OF INSTRUCTION—No . 13 . ' —On Thursday , 8 th inst ., at the Earl of Chatham , Thomas Street , Woolwich . Among those present were Bros . Chasteaneuf , W . M . ; Barnes , S . W . ; Willingshall , J . W . ; Cox , S . D . ; Lackland , J . D . ; Maisey . I . G . ; Davis , P . M ., Preceptor ; Carter , P . M . ; Woods and Pirie . The ceremony of passing was rehearsed with Bro . Pirie as candidate . Two sections were worked by Bro . Carter , P . M ., assisted by the brethren .

SELECTION OF OFFICERS . —We believe it sound policy to retain a thoroughly good officer until his equal can be found and elected . However gifted and learned a new officer may be , every companion , even slightly observing , knows that it requires not a little time for him to get used to his new place , and acquire the skill necessary to discliarg-o his duties without balk or halt . This being the fact ,

what should be expected of one whose gifts are not great , whose learning is faulty , whoso business so overwhelms him that he cannot possibly discharge official duties ; or what can be expected of one whoso sole recommendation is " He is a right good fellow ? " The truth is that ho only is fit to govern and direct the work of a Masonic body , Grand or constituent , who has a genius for government and is far master of

supplemented by sound available knowledge , so himself that every obstacle will yield to his sway , and genuine harmony prevail . If such a companion is found and elected to office , let him bo retained until one like , or nearly like him , is prepared to fill the station ; then if the first will retire , the body may be reasonably sure that the good work done will not be marred by one whose mark is a zero . " Masonic Record of Western India .