Contents.

CONTENTS .

EDITORIAL : "HIGHER EDUCATION" .. ... Frontpage . LODGE OFFICERS : THE OUTER GUARD . . .. .. 108 FREEMASON VOLUNTEERS .. .. .. .. 108 THE MASONIC POET ' S CORNER .. .. .. .. 109 STRANGE MASONIC INCIDENT .. .. .. .. 10 !) PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE , WEST LANCASHIRE .. 109

. NOTIFICATIONS .. ... .. .. .. 109 OUR TRESTLE BOARD .. .. .. .. .. 110 LAYING MEMORIAL STONE OF HOSPITAL AT LEICESTER .. 110 REPORTS OF LODGE AND CHAPTER MEETINGS .. .. Ill ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE AND ANSWERS .. .. 113

METROPOLITAN LODGE . & C , MEETINGS FOR PRESENT WEEK 111 HIGH TWELVE . THEATRICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS .. 11 ( 3 DRAMATIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS .. .. 11 ( 5 PROVINCIAL LODGE MEETINGS FORTHCOMING .. 115 & 117 METROPOLITAN LODGES OF INSTRUCTION FORTHCOMING 118 ADVERTISEMENTS .. .. Front com ; 10 G , 112 , 110 , 120

" Higher Education."

" Higher Education . "

T is a pertinent question to ask at the present moment if there has not been , of late years , too great anxiety on the part of the managers of our Scholastic Institutions , and other

Brethren , to raise the standard of education therein far beyond the intentions of the respective founders , the

general wish of the Craft at large , and the requirements of the pupils themselves in connection with their prospects in after life . The greatest good of the greatest number

demands that the contributions of the supporters of our Schools should rather be applied to the increase of recipients of Masonic care and liberality than to the

exaltation of a few , more intellectually brilliant than others , to the status of Collegiate or University Scholars . We are as far from desiring that " our children " should

leave their " Alma Mater" unqualified to fight the battle of life as the most earnest amongst us can be ; but we differ altogether from those who would seek to impose

upon our Lodges , or the individual members thereof , a necessity for further subscriptions or donations for the foundation of scholarships or the securing of other

advantages beyond those already existing for providing a sound and practical education . The highest positions in life have , more frequently than not , been Avon by the

plodding lad who , having been well grounded in the first live of the seven liberal arts and sciences ( with the definition of which every craftsman is , or ought to be ,

acquainted ) , has applied that knowledge to mental selfimprovement as opportunities were afforded him in

connection with his experiences in commercial pursuits . And , on the other hand , they have often been lost by a too great reliance on attainments , without the application

" Higher Education."

which circumstances have prevented , however great the desire of their possessor may have been to make them fruitful . In the majority of instances the presumed benefits of

talents which , so called , advanced scholars leaving our Schools j ) ossess are lost to them because of the necessity for immediate entry into labour for the provision not only of the necessaries of life for themselves , but , as we know

m many cases , of help to the households of their parents ; and it should never be forgotten that the primary reason for candidature for the benefits of the Institution arise from the more or less distressed circumstances of the

relatives or connections of the applicants . If that primary cause has not existed , they have no business in the Schools . Are there not many of our Brethren , at this moment

subscribers to both Schools , probably out of limited means , who would be thankful if they could secure , without assistance from others , the advantages enjoyed by our pupils in respect of tuition , and consider a similar education

all sufficient for their respective sons and daughters before deciding on their future station in life . Why , therefore , should it be sought to exceed the quality of tuition in our Benevolent Institutions beyond Avhat is considered

sufficient for the children of our brethren in the middle class of society outside these Institutions ' ? Have Ave not had experience of the ill-result of Board School education as affecting those Avhose prospects in life could never be ,

except in very exceptional instances , more hopeful than continuance in manual labour Avithout the necessity of using , nay , with even the certainty of losing , very much of the superficial knowledge Avith which they have been " crammed " during school time ?

We have been led to these remarks by the perusal of a letter from a correspondent in one of our contemporaries , The- Freemason ' s Chronicle , AVIIO writes : " IF ( we think this IF worthy of caps . ) each Lodge Avere to contribute a

donation of £ 2 , there Avould be immediately available a sum of £ 4 , 500 , quite sufficient to endow tAvo scholarships of £ 55 to £ 00 each in perpetuity , " and proceeds to argue on the presumed adA antages of a "higher education " for

the pupils generally , in order that they may compete for the aforesaid Scholarships . It would , we opine , be Avaste of time to set forth the many arguments Avhich could be adduced per contra to his reasoning , for Ave cannot but feel

assured that the proposition he sets out Avith in respect of increased funds Avould never be entertained by a sufficient section of the Craft to render his scheme practicable . Why should it ? It would be better , and more in accordance

Avith practical benoA'olence , and the purposes for Avhich they Avere formed and have hitherto been conducted , to extend the present operations of our Schools to others HOAV ¦ seeking admission than to increase the advantages—if

Avhat is suggested be adA antageous , Avhich Ave dispute—of a very feAV of those now deriving benefits therefrom . Surely the education already provided should satisfy the

reasonable requirements of the pupils and their friends . It ought to , at any rate , if the care and tuition afforded are proportionate to the cost of staff and assistants , as at present shown in balance sheets .