The Centenary Festival Of The Girls' School.

np to some three hundred or three hundred and fifty , to a board comprising fourteen or fifteen hundred names . We have onr own idea of what may be looked for , but we do not see any tangible reason why we should g ive the

preference to any particular total , ranging from £ 30 , 000 to £ 60 , 000 . The outcome of the Centenary Festival may realise the one , or it may produce the other , and whatever speculation is indulged in with regard to the total we are

afraid there is nothing to be done but to patiently wait until the announcement is made , on Thursday next , at the same time wo may venture the opinion that it will be nearer the latter figure than the former .

We hardly think it is necessary for us to recapitulate the arrangements which have been made to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of those who will attend the two celebrations at the Albert Hall next week . Those who

intend to be present—and we understand " all the world and his wife " have secured tickets—are acquainted with tbe programme , and the few who are yet shut out will have full details supplied to them on application to the

office of the Institution , either for tickets or programmes ; all we need ask them to do is to be as quick as possible in making up their mind , and if there are yet any who are

wavering as to what they should do , we wonld once more point out that there is a grand opening available and a noble result waiting for them . It is yet possible for those who are still undetermined to raise the total number

of Stewards to fifteen hundred , and this alone is a consummation devoutly to be wished , even setting aside the corresponding increase which would take place in the ultimate total as the result of so large an addition to the

number of active workers . Remember , 1500 Stewards are wanted , and there yet remain five days to raise the total to that number . Who will volunteer for the service , and secure for the Grand Master of England such a result as would put all other celebrations far in the shade , and realise the fulfilment of his fondest hopes ?

The Masonic Emblems

THE MASONIC EMBLEMS

IT cannot be denied by those who have passed through the vails , that the very progress of Masons , in their journey from darkness to light , is regulated at every point and stopping place by some incident or illustration familiar to them as readers of God's inspired volume .

The ladder wich Jacob saw has been adopted by us , the three principal rounds of which are Faith , Hope , and Charity ; and our whole course and progress are regulated by that beautiful implement which is to mark the degrees

by which we are to ascend from our state of ignorance and indifference to the highest intelligence , to tbe brig htest honours , and to the highest points of virtue and usefulness

in Freemasonry . There is not an emblem , not a badge , nofc a sign or signal , not an implement of our Craft—there is nothing connected with our Heaven-ordained Brotherhood which is

not designed either to teach a moral lesson , to inculcate some truth , to vindicate and establish some virtue , to propagate some righteous principle of humanity , to relieve the sufferings of our kind , or to scatter light and knowledge

among men . Every piece of furniture in one of our Lodges , implement or instrument of work , every figure on the checkered

floor , everything the eye can behold , impresses—or ought to do so—the mind with some truth , some principle , some moral or religious sentiment , or some precept of humanity .

The square which is used by all Masons , the level and the p lumb , which likewise are found in every region , and in every Lodge where Masonry has established its beneficent influence , teach such lessous of morality , virtue , and

relig ion as must command the respect of all regulated minds . The square enjoins morality , the plumb rectitude of conduct , and the level admonishes us that we all share in a common equality .

In a word , the level , with the square and plumb , constitute the immovable jewels of a Lodge , impress us that all men are equal by birth ; that talent , probity , aud the noble

exercise of the gifts with which we have been endowed by the Creator , alone make the difference between the men of this or any other generation of the sons of Adam . The working tools of the Societ y alone should be quite enough to win the esteem of every man who has a ri ght appreciation of the duties , and the obligations , and the

The Masonic Emblems

wants of life . There is scarcely an instrument belonging to the Fraternity that does not inculcate some token of industry , and that does not imprint on the mind the importance and necessity of labour . They not only enforce

the lessons spoken of above , that all men are equal , and aro actuall y equal by nature , but they impress the other more important one , that man must labour , and must not be ashamed of toil .

The apron which Masons wear , besides being an emblem of innocence , is the sign of industry ; and all the badges and implements of our Craft , impart two ideas most essential to be perceived , those of labour and equality . The

curse pronounced upon Adam ( and consequently upon his posterity ) was : " In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread until thou return unto the ground . " And tho rites

mysteries , ceremonies , and observances of Freemasonry recognise this stern command . Tho very pillars of a Lodge represent wisdom to devise , strength to support , and beauty to adorn . —Freemasons' Repository .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon is to assemble at Ilfracombe on Wednesday , 13 th June , the large hall in the Ilfracombe Hotel being selected for the purpose . The Committee of Petitions will meet at quarter-past twelve , under

the chairmanship of Bro . W . D . Rogers P . G . D . the Deputy Prov . G . M . At three o ' clock the Province will meet , the R . W . Bro . Lord Ebrington , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., presiding . The agenda paper shows no lack of business to

transact , and the appointment of the new Officers is always a source of interest , not forgetting the election of Prov . Grand Treasurer , which office , according to report , is likely to fall to a popular Plymouth brother . The Prov . G .

Secretary ' s analysis of the returns of the 51 Lodges shews the membership to have slightly increased , the total now being 2 , 694 , as compared with 2 , 640 in 1887 . The present Lodge Concord , No . 1185 , held in the Masonic Hall ,

Ilfracombe , and warranted m 1866 , is called after an old Lodge which was originally chartered afc Devonport in 1784 , and was working later on at Ilfracombe , but was erased in 1828 .

Bro . W . Rees is the Master , and Captain Iviney the I . P . M . The membership of the Lodge has increased full y 50 per cent , during the last year . — Western Morning Neivs .

One of the matters to be decided at next Wednesday ' s Communication of Grand Lodge is the election of a number of Present and Past Masters to serve on the Board of General Purposes , and among the brethren nominated

is Bro . Charles Belton , the present Master of the Dene Lodge , No . 2228 , P . M . P . Z ., P . G . S . W . Surrey , & c , who has served on the Board since June 1886 , and has acted as its Vice-President dnring the past year . We do nofc

desire to make any invidious distinction between the candidates , whose claims will be decided next week , but we know that Bro . Belton has conscientiously discharged

his duties in the past , and that ifc will be his endeavour to retain the approval of the Craft in the future if he is re-elected , a matter which will of course rest with those who are present at Grand Lodge .

At the Albion , on Thursday , 24 th ult ., the annual meeting of the Joppa Chapter took place ; the election of Officers resulted as follows—Comps . Lewis M . Myers , CO ., M . E . Z .,

H . P . Isaac P . Z . H ., J . W . Dewsnap P . Z . J ., M . J . Emanuel P . Z . S . E ., J . Lazarus P . Z . Treasurer , Isaac Myers S . N ., H . Davies P . S ., W . S . Lyon 1 st A . S ., H . Saqai 2 nd A . S ., Goddard Janitor .

The Natal Mercury states that notification has been received in the Colony that the Supreme Council of England and Wales have , upon the recommendation of

Illustrious Bro . R . I . Finnemore , 32 nd degree , Inspector General , been pleased to confer fche thirtieth degree npon Bro . Julius Schulz , M . D ., of Durban , and upon Bro . F . L . Jousson , of Durban .

Death.

DEATH .

CUMBERLAND . —At Alfred House , Rosendale Road , West Dnhvich , S . E ., on Thursday , 21 th May , in his 19 th . year , Mr . 3 . B . S . COMuuBLAND , son of Bro . J . S . GuiiBEKLiUD , P . M . 2128 , & c . The funeral took place at Norwood Cemetery , on Monday last .