R. M. I. Boys.

R . M . I . BOYS .

THE regular meeting of the Council was held on Friday , 31 st ult ., at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Eichard Eve occupied the chair , and was supported , amongst others , by Bros . Keyser , Strachan , Corbie , Glass , Cummings , Fitzgerald , Margrett , Dr . W . H . Kempster , Le Feuvre , A . J . Thomas , W . Eussell , Scurrah , A . C . Chapin , D . E . Badclyffe , Sec .

A letter was read from the Earl of Lathom , acknowledging the vote of sympathy passed at the last meeting . Eight new petitions were accepted , and three rejected , as not being in compliance with the Laws . The list of candidates for the April election was closed , the number being 51 , and 27 vacancies were declared .

¦ : , The Board of Management reported that five boys unsuccessful at the October election had been admitted to the benefits of the Institution , on extraordinary vacancies which had occurred during the last term by the withdrawal of boys who had ' secured good situations , the fifth case being a boy who had only the one chance of election last October .

Bro . W . Eussell gave notice of motion for the Quarterly Court of 14 th January , to suspend Law 79 , relating to the purchase of Life Presentations for the sum of 500 guineas , ' which , he contended , was an insufficient amount .

The Secretary announced that the Income for the year ended that day was £ 23 , 303 5 s Yd , being the fourth highest amount in ' the history of the Institution .

Boys School Extra Vacancies.

BOYS SCHOOL EXTRA VACANCIES .

OUR readers will probably remember that at the last revision of the Laws of the Boys School power was given to the Board of Management to fill up any extraordinary vacancies which might occur between the half-yearly elections , and from time to time we have had to congratulate friends of unsuccessful cases on this beneficent alteration . But" never before has the

utility of the concession been so marked as on the present occasion . As reported to the last meeting of the Council of the Institution , no less than five vacancies have occurred during the term ' just

ended , happily by the removal of boys who have gained good situations . This has enabled five Boys to be admitted who , polling respectively as many as 3638 , 2884 , 2544 , 2504 , and 2318 votes in October , yet failed at that severe election to secure

success . Our London Brethren , as well as the more immediate friends of the cases referred to , are to be congratulated , as each candidate

belonged to a London Lodge , but the most gratifying feature is that tbe boy Hibbs , who had only the one chance of election in October , and lost it , is now , by the present fortuitous circumstance , enabled to receive the benefits of the Institution .

Masonic Power And Goodness.

MASONIC POWER AND GOODNESS .

THESE is but one being in the "Universe who is all-powerful and all-good , and that is the Grand Architect of the Universe—God . Men can be only proximately powerful and good . This is as true of nations as of individuals , of societies as of separate persons .

There are hundreds , perhaps thousands , of secret societies in the world , but there is one among them above all others which is pre-eminent for power and goodness , and that society is Freemasonry . This is generally admitted , but whether this was so or not , it is true .

Freemasonry is a force m the world which within its sphere controls , almost without mr-n being aware of it . In this respect it is not unlike the Grand Architect Himself . All the physical laws of the universe are simply the expression of the force of His

will , yet so invisibly do they work that they are only felt in their results , not known iu themselves . The same is in some sense true of Freemasonry . Its power is not generally recognised , and yet it is energising and controlling hundreds of thousands of men .

Wherein consists this power of Freemasonry ? The Atlantic cable connects the two hemispheres , and other ocean cables unite almost the ends of the earth , but at any moment the link may be broken , for a time , at least . Freemasonry ' s Mystic Tie can never be severed . Herein it is stronger

than any profane tie . That organisation which can and has unitA numbers of the inhabitants of England , Scotland , Ireland , thc United States , Australia , India , China , Palestine , and other countries wo might name , into one band or society of friends and Brothers , lms achieved a i ' eat which is almost miraculous . Men live under different governments , with varied social usages and customs , diverse religions and politics , and yet are ali

Masonic Power And Goodness.

practically united not simply into one nation , but , more than that , into one family . How could there be a greater exercise of power displayed than in the achievement of this wondrous result ? Boundary lines between States vanish , oceans are spanned , races are united , aud all through the mysterious power of the Masonic Fraternity . We may well ask , Where can you find another influence abroad in the world which matches it in potency ?

As a power Freemasonry would be dangerous , were it not controlled' by virtue . As a matter of fact , its might is only equalled by its beneficence . Suppose fche purpose of the Craft were sinister—what might it not accomplish ? In a certain sense it controls the armies of the world—the leaders of thought aria action in all nations . But what are the purposes of the Craft ?

To promote friendship and brotherly love ? To disseminate the pure principles of morality . To teach unselfishness , a regard for the feelings of others . To inculcate the supreme truth that men may be of different political faiths , different religions , different nations , ' and different races , and yet be Brethren . Thero is no world religion at the present time unless it be Freemasonry . It may truly be said of its members :

" Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in sincere love , The fellowship of kindred minds ,-Is like to that above . " The goodness of Freemasonry is not a mere theory , but expresses itself in fact . It feeds the hungry , clothes the naked

visits the sick , comforts the sorrowing , and aids the distressed . It is not merely a beautiful system of morality , with lofty precepts and high-sounding promises , but it is a working system whioh is adapted to the needs of every-day life . Freemasonry not only sounds well in an oration , it not only flies in tbe air of speech , but it walks on the earth like a Good Samaritan , binding up

wounds , administering consolation , and contributing of its means to ameliorate the condition of the distressed . While there is much that is man-like in the Craft , there is no little that is Godlike . In power and in goodness it , no doubt at a great distance , imitates the Great Architect who is all-powerful and all-good . — " Keystone . " ' •'

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

ON the 30 th ult ., at St . James ' s Cemetery , Liverpool , were interred the remains of the late Brother Walter Charles Erwin , who for many years had been a very prominent member of the Masonic body of Liverpool . •Bro . Erwin , who was fortyeight years of age , had been in the service of Messrs . Elder ,

Dempster and Co ., as their chief accountant , for about a quarter of a century , and only about twelve months ago retired on a superannuation from the firm . Unfortunately by his early death

he was not able to enjoy the retirement long . The deceased , who leaves a widow and three children , was well-known and much respected , several Masonic Brethren being among those who attended at the grave side .

THE remains of the late Bi o . J . Littler , Sefton-park , Liverpool , were interred ou the 20 th ult ., at Euncorn cemetery . The deceased was a native of Euncorn , and was manager for Messrs . Brundrit and Co ., quarry proprietors , Penmaenrnawr , Liverpool , and Euncorn . For a great number of years he was choirmaster

at the parish church , Euncorn , and on his removal to Liverpool , about twelve months ago , he was the recipient of a handsome and valuable gift from the church people of the town . He was a member of the Ellesmere Lodge , a very large number of the members of which followed the remains of the deceased to their last resting place .

A T the meeting of the Ormskirk Board of Guardians , on J \ 28 rd ult ., reference was made to the death of J . Keale Eowe , in his 100 th year , who bad been in the workhouse twelve years . He was in 1851 initiated as a member of the One and All Lodge ,

Bodmin , Cornwall . He had led a life full of vicissitudes , and for a number of years followed his trade as plasterer in Liverpool . The expenses of his funeral were borne by the Plasterers' and Slaters' Society of Liverpool .

THE remains of the late Bro . John Gibson , of Richmond , Yorks , who died on BViday , 17 th ult ., were interred on the 20 th , in the presence of a representative gathering , including the

members ol the Lennox Lodge , No . 123 , of which deceased was a Past Master . Bro . B . V . Schofield W . M . was accompanied by a number of Brethren , others joining the cortege in a private capacity .

WE regret to record the death of Bro . E . N . Alpe , who was recently appointed Junior Warden of the Empress Lodge . The deceased , whose public avocation was that of prosecuting barrister to Somerset House , was highly respected by the members of his Lodge , though but little known in the Craft .