The Special Communication Of Grand Lodge.

when ifc is improbable that all those entitled to attend can receive them in time ; while , even if they do , to attend wonld interfere with pre-arranged business . Secondly , A few days after tho Boy ' s Festival , when all tho Provincial Brethren had returned home , and would not bo likely to bo able to spare either time or the extra expense of coming to London again . Thirdly , What day is fixed ?

Friday—the day when business men have to despatch their Australian and American mails ; and fourthly and lastly , at what time ? just an hour and a half before tho mail closes , except by payment of extra postage . These facts show upon their face a set purpose of stitling and avoiding discussion ( for I can never believe these ore accidental coincidences ) ; and aro unworthy of the authorities

from whom they emanate , and show a contemptuous treatment of the members of Grand Lorlge , who should put their foot down , and support a resolution I intend to bring forward in September next , viz-: " That notices of all Special Grand Lodge meetings , together with the agenda papers , shall be published in the two Masonio journals at least twice before the day fixed for the meeting . I am still further

impressed with these opinions from the persistent obstruction indulged in by those who shonld bo examples of courtesy and hononr ; but who induced others to continue speaking , so as to fill up the time and render it impossible for my notice of motion to come on ; thereby Grand Lodge lost its chance of obtaining some intimation of what had been done , and when the Special Grand Lodge was likely to be

held , the arrangements for whioh must have been known . Again , I protest against the manner in which the alterations were presented to Grand Lodge . Instead of having the alterations sug . gested and approved , and suggested and not approved by the Board , printed in contiguous columns , so that thoy could bo grasped at a glance , they were on separate papers , and one had

to try to do an impossible thing , viz ., read four papers afc once—the Book of Constitutions , the Revise , the recom . mediations approved , and those disapproved—to study the clause in its entirety , an inquirer bad to count the lines , look for the word or words to be left out , and those to be put in , and see what sense ( if any ) he could make of them . The suggested alterations , without

the context , was read by the President of the Board of General Purposes , and then the Pro Grand Master asked whether the brethren agreed or disagreed P I ask , what possible chance was there of coming to a well-weighed decision ? Why this haste ? Why this trying to do a week ' s work in one day ? Why this burking the question ? Why this inconvenient season , day and hour , for calling

the meeting ? And the answers all point in one direction ; the avoidance of discussion ; the desire of a few to rule the many , as displayed by them , with indifference to the convenience of the Craft at large . Let those in authority show they are Masons in heart as well as in word , and that they nse the power whioh their position gives

them , nofc for their personal aggrandisement , but for the benefit of the Craft at large , that they are earnestly at work , in endeavouring to smooth the amenities and jealousies which too evidently exist , by studying the wishes and desires of the Craft at large , and not those of a self-appointed few ; they would thus maintain one of the grandest principles of our Order , —True Brotherhood . Yours fraternally , C . J . PERCEVAL , P . M . 1607 .

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS . To ihe Editor of the FBEEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR ANU BROTHER , —I am glad to find that , afc last , one worthy brother has entered the lists of what I and many others consider a wholesome controversy on the question , as he puts it , " On the Frequent Changes of Grand Officers , " bufc , alas ! I look in vain for argument why these changes should not take place in all or many of these officesbelieving as I do that experience derived from

, Masonic service , coupled with " aptitude and ability , " is nofc confined to the present holders , and that there are many distinguished brethren who could be found equally qualified ; and especially do I conceive , in common with others , in respect of the office of Grand Secretary , that the appointment shonld vest in the Craft through Grand Lodge when the salary is paid by the Craft through the same channel .

I find in the letter of the P . M . of 387 only the expression of his " astonishment '' at the " inexperience" of those who differ from him . The late Mr . Daniel O'Connell is credited with having given advice to a young barrister : " When you are on the losing side , " he said , "it is always safe to abuse the plaintiff ' s attorney . " Is

our esteemed Brother , or are any of his kith , on the losing side ? Is the day corning wheu Grand Lodge will assert its rights as borne oat by the Book of Constitutions ? Will the Craffc in general prove as a body that they have " considered every side of the question " before " venturing " to publish their opinions , or is Freemasonry to reserve its rewards and honours for the favoured few ? I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , Nous VERRONS .

REVISION OF THE BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER—With every desire to fall in with the views of certain brethren who seem desirous of distributing Grand Honours as much as possible , the proposition of "FAIR PLAY" in last

your impression is , to my way of thinking , and I venture to add in tne opinion of many others , going a little too far . Tho executive omcers , such as the Grand Secretary , the Grand Registrar , and irector of Ceremonies , are scarcely to be expected to attain to a per-

The Special Communication Of Grand Lodge.

feet mastery of their important duties in so short a period of time as your correspondent suggests . True , the G . Secretary is " amilitary man , " and no doubt understands " tho livo years' system ; " but what , ever previous education or training a man might have had , I venture to think wo have not too many competent brethren amongst us who would care to devote tho whole of their sorvicas tn

the Craft upon the bare speculation of a five years' terra of office . Neither is it desirable that such individuals shonld bo chosen . Brethren holding these responsible positions must be experts at the business , and a matter of four or five years ' experience wonld be scarcely sufficient to render them well np in all the various points that aro brought under consideration iu Grand

Lodge . To incorporate fresh ideas into such debates would only be to create dissensions , and probably frequent obstacles . Referring moro particularly to tho office of Grand Secretary , it should bo borne in mind it is no sinecure , aud there is a great deal of heavy work connected with it . Tho present Grand Secretary has entered thoroughly into his duties , and has evidently recognised the

injunction of tho Grand Master , wbo installed him , when be gave Colonel Shadwell Gierke to understand he must devote himself entirely to the duties of his position . This tho Grand Secretary haa done most zealously and efficiently , and in my humble view ifc would be both unfair and impolitic to enforce upon him the " short service ' system , which if not entirely satisfactory to the service to which ho has the honour to belong , would be especially disastrous to tbe

Institution m which we are all interested . The motto experientio docet applies in this as in all other avocations , and it would be mosfc unwise to terminate the services of a good and zealous officer just as he has had sufficient time to grasp the true knowledge and practice of his responsible duties . I have heard many crude ideas on the subject , but not sufficient yet to convince me of any feasible reason for the ideas suggested by "FAIR PLAY , " though further information on the subject would be most acceptable to , Yours fraternally , EQUITY . 28 th June 1833 .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

[ THE following comprehensive letter has just been sent by Bro . Binckes to the Stewards for the recent Festival of his Institution . It is of such general interest , however , that we readily reprint it in our columns . — ED . F . C ] DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The unprecedented success of the recent Festival demands from the Committees and Executive the warmest possible expression of gratitude to the numerous friends by whose active and zealous co-operation , supplemented by a generous liberality , so magnificent a result was achieved . This expression is not prompted by any undue elation , bufc is merely

the outcome of sincere gratification at finding that the work done by the Institution is thoroughly appreciated by tbe Craft wifch which ifc is indissolnbly united , and thafc the governing bodies continue to retain the confidence of the brethren to whom they from time appeal for encouragement and sympathy . It is possible thafc there are some to whom tbe idea has presented

itself , thafc fche amount realised on the recent occasion having so greatly exceeded tho mosfc sanguine anticipations , no further effort will be needed for some time to come . This is altogether fallacious , as one glance afc the financial and general position of the Institution will prove . The permanent income is only £ 545 par annum , arising from

dividends on invested capital of nofc quite £ 16 , 000 . The annual maintenance of 215 Boys , with official , educational , and domestic statf , may be taken afc £ 10 , 000 . This is entirely independent of the amount necessarily disbursed annually under the head of " Special Expenditure " which , whilst varying from year to year , may be estimated at £ 1 , 200 , and to this will have to be added

the annual cost of tho new " Preparatory School , " which , nnder the most enonomical system of teaching and management , caunot be taken afc less than £ 1 , 500 for 50 boys . Of the £ 22 , 500 , the result of the last Festival , ifc must be distinctly borne in mind thafc a considerable portion has been contributed for a specific object—the building a New Preparatory School . This

amount may be taken afc £ 7 , 500 , which leaves , £ 15 , 000 applicable to the general purposes of the Institution . After defraying the expenses of the year there will be a surplus to add to the invested capital , which will still contrast most unfavourably with the amount of invested funds possessed by the other Masonic Institutions . By some , fears have been expressed thafc the success of the present

may have been achieved , at the expense of the future . I do not for one moment share in this apprehension . The wealth of the country never was greater . Commerce , though nofc , perhaps , in the mosfc prosperous condition , is certainly better thnn ifc has been of late , and I believe promises further improvement . The Craft is increasing in numbers and stability , aud never in its history held so high a

place in the estimation of the world afc large as now . This should be sufficient stimulus to its members to render tho maintenance of the Institutions of all kinds associated with ifc in thorough efficiency a well understood obligation ; and I have no doubt that snch will bo the case . My personal thanks are due to the Stewards for their ready

compliance with my special requests for a return of forms and lists . Of the 403 Stewards—the largest nnmber ever associated—not more than eleven failed to return their amounts . The energy and active interest in all that could be thought likely to conduce to tho success of the Festival evinced by the acting Presidents , the Hon . Treasurer , and other members of the Board , found a fitting supplement in tho able and genial Chairmanship of the