The October Election Of The Girls' School.

father was a Past Master of the West Middlesex Lodge , 1612 . We thus see three London cases , in which there are five children dependent in each , whose fathers all did good service to the cause of Masonry . What will Masonry

be able to do for those left behind in need of assistance ? No . 19 , Mary Ann Dickinson , is one of three children dependent on their stepmother . Her father was a member of the Royal Standard Lodge , No . 1298 , and remained a

member until his death . As far as our memory serves , he was much respected , both by the members of his Lodge , and by a large number of brethren in the north of London . Looking at the chance of a candidate whose case is well

supported , we think young Dickinson should be successful next month . We know of many , with less ground to work on than the " Royal Standard " should have , where a case has been carried on the first application , but it

means hard work for some of the friends of the child . No . 32 , Emily Mary Fulford , is a very similar case . Here also there are three children dependent on a widowed mother . The father was a member of the Israel Lodge ,

No . 205 , until his death , in August last , and had so far advanced there as to be entrusted with the office of Junior Warden . We cannot believe the brethren of No . 205 will do aught but their best for his child in her time of need .

Nos . 17 and 18 are cases to which especial attention should be drawn , as in both the two parents are living . Doubless , as we have often said before , there are special reasons why the applications are approved .

but until those special reasons are made known on the ballot papers we shall always consider the particulars supplied to voters are incomplete ; No . 18 , Margaret Ellen Grammer , is one of six dependent children , and No . 17 ,

Grace Ellen M . Barnard , one of four . The father of the former was a member of the Cripplegafe Lodg-ft , No . 1613 : and the latter , of the Belgrave Lodo ; p , No . 749 . Both are described as supporters of the Charities , and , as we have said , both are alive .

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight sends up four now candidates , and no donbt will soon prove the benefit , of the excellent system of organisation existing in the Province on behalf of one or all of these children . No . 12 . Kathleen

Mary Holman , is one of ten dependent children , both of whose parents are living . The father was initiated in 1858 , rose to Provincial Office in the Province of Surrey , and was P . M . of the Phoenix Lodge , No . 257 . Why not

say the reason of his child s eligibilit y for the Masonic School ? No . 11 , Edith Coxwell , is one of six fatherless children accredited to this Province through the Royal Gloucester Lodge , No . 130 , of which the father was a

joining member . No . 14 , Isabel Davies Kni ght , is also one of a family of six left to the care of a widowed mother . Her father was a member of the Yarborough Lodge , No . 551 , and rose to the office of Senior Deacon

therein . No . 30 , Eva Marian Lillywhite , is one of three children now relying on their mother . Her father was a Past Master of the Phoenix Lodge , No . 257 , and a Past Grand Officer of the Province . She has a brother in the

Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and on that account her eligibility , to the exclusion of other families from the benefits of the Schools , is a matter of question in the minds of many .

Kent sends up Nos . 27 , 28 , and 31 . No . 27 , Edith Jane Menpes , is one of eight dependent childreu , whose father died in April last ; he was a Past Master of the

Mailing Abbey Lodge , No . 1063 . No . 28 , Bessie Caroline Holleyman , is one of four children of an old Past Master of the United Military Lodge , No . 1536 , now left to the care of their mother , and No . 31 , Lilian Woods , is one of three similarlv circumstanced . Her father was a member

of the Adams Lodge , No . 158 . We are convinced the brethren of Kent will do their best to carry these three cases , and unless they are heavily handicapped in other quarters we should not be surprised to find all three on the list of successful .

West Yorkshire has two cases besides that of Isabelle May Pinder , to which we have already referred . These are Nos . 13 and 25 . No . 13 , Kate Broughton , has both parents living , the father being a Past Master of Goderich

Lodge , No . 1211 . She and two other children are now dependent . No . 25 , Mabel Allatt , is one of three children left to the care of the mother , their father having died in

April 1881 . He was a Past Master of the Philanthropic Lodge , No . 304 , and also of No . 1042 . We do not , think our West Yorkshire brethren ought to have much difficulty in carrying these three cases . We are aware it will entail

The October Election Of The Girls' School.

heavy work on them , but they have been accustomed to work hard in the past , and are not likely to let their candidates suffer from any neglect in this respect in the future . Essex has a most deserving case in No . 33 , Flora

Richardson , who is one of four children left parentless . Her father was a Past Master of the United Lod ge No . 697 , and had gained Provincial honours in his district . We sincerel y hope the Craft will be able to take charge of

this one of his children at an early date . No . 22 , Bessie Gardner , is one of five dependent children , whose father is the surviving parent . He was a member of the Good Fellowship Lodge , No . 276 , but further than that we know nothing of his Masonic or private career .

Lincolnshire is answerable for one of the brought for . ward cases . No . 3 , Mary Alice G . Smith , who was a candidate in April last , and then had 197 votes polled on h u behalf . She and two other children are parentless , and o

that account are deserving of especial consideration at th hands of the Masonic Brotherhood . Her father wa Senior Warden of the Pelham Pillar Lodge , No . 792 , and

was a subscribing member thereof until the time of his ' eath , in January 1881 . No . 9 , Flora Burkill , is one of four children whose parents are both living . Her father was a member of the St . Matthew Lodge , No . 1447 .

Suffolk puts forward No . 15 , Ida Elleu Strathern , who is one of nine children dependent on a widowed mother . The father was a joining member of Prudence Lodge , No . 388 , and attained to the office of P . M . therein ; he

was likewise a Past Grand Warden of the Province . He has a record of 37 | years' Masonic life , and judging fro n the particulars furnished , the case is among the most deserving on the list . No . 8 , Mathilde Pratt , is one of five fatherless

children , whose father was initiated in St . Luke ' s Lodge , No . 225 , in 1867 . Here also there is a long record of Masonic membership , which we should like to see recognised by the affordiug of early relief to his daughter .

Sussex , too , has one very distressing case , No . 29 , Rvelyn Martheze Conti , whose father , the Organist of Yarborough Lodge , No . 811 , is insane . This child and four others are dependent . Under the particularly painful

circumstances the case should , and we trust will , receive the warmest support of our Sussex brethren . The other Sussex case is No . 16 , Ethel Kirkman , who is an only child , dependent on a widowed mother . The father was a member of the Union Lodge , No . 38 .

We now consider the Provinces which have but single cases on the list . These are Berks and Bucks , Devonshire , Northumberland and North and East Yorkshire . No . 7 , Kate Jane Adams , is the Berks and Bucks candidate , her

father having been a Past Master of the Buckingham Lodge , No . 591 , and a Past Provincial Grand Deacon . She is one of eight children dependent on their mother . No . 34 , Ettie Louis " e Chapman , is an only dependent

child of a late member of the Brunswick Lodge , No . 159 , Devonshire . Both parents of this candidate are deceased . No . 10 , Eleanor Phillips , from Northumberland , is one of five fatherless children , accredited from the St . George ' s

Lodge , No . 431 , in which her father was initiated in 1876 . No . 6 , Mary Frances Read , is the North and East Yorkshire candidate , and is an only dependent cl ild . Both her

parents are dead ; her father , who was a member of the Humber Lodge , No . 57 , having died in October 1883 . These four cases to which we have last referred stand perhaps as good a chance of being successful as any on the list .

Masonry.

MASONRY .

MASONRY is undoubtedly the oldest institution among men . We can trace it to the building of King Solomon ' s temple , where , if it did not originate , it was more particularly organised . This evidence is in the Bible ;

yet there are able Masonic historians who assert that Masonry is as old as the world . This may be an extravagant idea , yet the principles of Masonry must necessarily

be as old as the creation , and be connected with the matter and need of created things . It must be admitted , then , that when the earth was first formed , it was imbued with all the natural sciences which it contains . That sect or

class of men , therefore , who first discovered the proper application of moral nature to the life and comforts of men would be the oldest moral and religious order founded on the divine laws and works of the Creator .