Contents.

CONTENTS .

EDITORIAL : PROCRASTINATION 191 & 192 CHARITY ( 2 ND COMMUNICATION' ) 192 MASONIC " POET ' CORNER " 19 , " OUR TRESTLE BOARD 193

NOTIFICATIONS 193 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE 194 GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS 194 UNITED GRAND LODGE AGEXDA 195

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTIONS 194 & 195 MASONIC ' - 'BITTER-SWEET" 19 . ") QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 19 fj

PROVINCIAL NOTES 19 ( i METROPOLITAN LODGE AND CHAPTER MEETINGS FOR THE CURRENT WEEK 19 ( J ADVERTISEMENTS Front cover , 190 , 197 , 198 , 199 , 200

Prorrastination.

Prorrastination .

FTER credence lias been given to what were presumed to be official statements , —firstly , that the Special General Court of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys for the

consideration of the lately-issued report was to have been held on the 24 th inst ., and secondly on the 31 st , —we now

learn that the date appointed is the Gth June , and , with many of our readers , await confirmation thereof by some sort of direct announcement , such as should be conveyed

without probability of being overlooked , to every subscriber interested in the future well-being of the Institution . In connection with the importance of the forthcoming

General Court the customary method of notifying place and time for the ordinary Courts is not by any means sufficient .

Presuming that the Special Court will be held on the Oth proximo , we would ask why forty days should intervene between the determination to hold the meeting and the

meeting itself' ? The particulars which have been placed before the subscribers and the general public are such as should have had much earlier consideration , in order to

avert the serious consequences attaching to prolonged delay . We pointed out in our article of the 9 th inst ., that " delays are dangerous , " and we have only to refer to

other columns of this number of our journal for evidence in justification of our then expressed fears . If so long a period as nine months had not been taken up in the

preparation of a report based upon an enquiry which appears to have demanded but fifteen days' hearing , much of the present unfortunate state of things might have

been avoided , particularly on the eve of the approaching Festival of the Institution . Assuming , however , that the Com :: ;;; tec of I ; : vc : il -:. ' . lo : i cor . 11 not have lessened tho

Prorrastination.

period of time between the commencement and conclusion of their greatly-appreciated labours , there certainly should have been no reason for an expenditure of nearly six weeks before the Special Court was called for

consideration of their report . These few weeks have really proved disastrous , for not only have the affairs of our Institutions been freely and most unfavourably discussed by the public

press , but our own lodges , and , as we learn , individual members , are resenting the delay , and seem to fear that there is a want of straightforwardness in some one or other quarter having control of the arrangements for the

Special Court . It is pointed out that during such period of six weeks , the two meetings at which nomination and election of the House and Audit Committees are respectively made by the General Committee are appointed to be

held . As a matter of fact , the former was held , for nominations , on the 4 th inst ., seven days after the report was presented to the Quarterly Court , and the latter will be held , for election , on the 1 st June , five days before the

Special Court . The effect of this is , that the same House Committee , with only two other brethren , have been nominated , and must all , or , at least , all but two , be re-elected for the ensuing year . On the other hand , it is pointed out

that inasmuch as the Mark Grand Lodge is to meet on the 4 th June , and United Grand Lodge on the 5 th , there may be many provincial brethren in London who could . conveniently stay over the Gth , and so be able to attend the

Special Court . However it may be , Ave think it would have been better to have ascertained the feelings and wishes of the aggregate body of subscribers to the Institution before making any arrangements whatever in relation

to either Committee or officials for the next year . The Special Court will be all-powerful , and we hope will declare in the strongest possible manner what shall be done as regards both the past and the future of the Institution ;

and take care that the procrastination , which has done it so much damage during the last ten months , shall not be continued . As to the supposed injury which will be done to the School by this report and its consideration , in

connection with the anticipated returns at the approaching festival , we have too much faith in our brethren to believe that when they see a determination to put matters straight they will withhold similar generous support to that they have hitherto given .

It is of greater importance at this moment to establish faith in the purity of the management and working of oui respective institutions in the future , than to consider any

temporary effect on present expectations as to contributions . We may be sure that they are all too near our hearts to suffer , if only the charitable instincts of the Craft in cr . ioral moot with r ; 3 'io : isive efforts to i : 23 y > tho cstab-