Admission Of Candidates.

who will not only endanger the harmony and good feeling which it is our chief business to promote throughout the Craft , bt \ t may likewise lower us aud our Societ y in the estimation of the public ? At present , and without the slightest suspicion of Phavisaicisra , wc may honestly boast

that it we do not deserve the high reputation we enjoy , we spare no pains to deserve it . Let us not then relax in our endeavours to maintain that reputation . Let us bear in mind the sage advice so strenuously urged upon us all by one of our ablest and most experienced officers during thopasfcyear ,

ancl so pertinently impressed upon the members of Cornubian Lodge at the recent installation of its Worshipful Master , that ifc is impossible to betoocautions in the admission of now members . We see no objection to an increase of the Order numerically , provided it brings with it increased strength

in reputation and character . The Craft is deeply indebted to those brethren who take upon themselves to administer such counsel , and we thank them . Wo trust the example of Bros . Hervey and Pearce will not bo lost upon the officers of other Lodges , ancl that they too will follow such excellent examples .

Grand Lodge Of Pennsylvania.

GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA .

WE have received a copy of the Abstract of Proceedings of this Grand Lodgo during the year 1875 , and offer our most fraternal acknowledgments for the same . It is a very elaborate volume , containing , indeed , far more than is usually to be found in these records . First

come the minutes of the Quarterly Communications held in June , September , ancl on the 1 st December , ancl then follow those of the annual meeting on the 27 th December , when the new Grancl Mastcrwasinstalled according to ancient custom , together with addresses delivered by the retiring and

newlyelected Grand Masters respectively . In addition , are the reports of the various Committees on Finance , the New Temple , the Library , & c , & c , together with those of the Trustees of the Grand Locige Charity Fund , ancl Girard Bequest . All these contain the amplest information on the

work achieved by Freemasonry in this jurisdiction , and will prove of great interest to all Craftsmen . The bulk of the volume , however , consists of a review of the proceedings of all the North American Grand Lodges , the preparation of which must have been a very laborious task , and reflects

the highest credit on Bros . E . Coppee Mitchell , Chairman of the Committee on Correspondence , and John C . Uhle , who , between them , shared this important duty . This review offers a complete picture of the Craffc iu North America during the preceding year . All important points are

noted , ancl some valuable statistics are given , showing the numerical strength throughout the United States and British North America . Lastly comes the Special Report presented at the Quarterly Communication held in March of last year , in which a consideration of the status of

different foreign Masonic Bodies forms the chief point of interest . The principal matters to be noted herein are that the Committee of which Bro . Richard Vaux , a . Past Grand Master , is the Chairman , submits thafc the Grand Lodge Dietof Germany , composed of the Grand Masters and

certain representatives of the eight Grancl Lodges , is not a body with which the Grancl Locige of Pennsylvania can hold any Masonic intercourse , or towards which it feels itself justified in extending any recognition . It is further submitted that other Grand Bodies , including , among

them , the Grand Orients of France , Brazil , Portugal , Hungary , nnd Egypt are not in such a condition as to call for recognition from the Pennsylvania Grand Locige . Wo shall , doubtless , have occasion to note , on future occasions , sundry of the particulars contained in this very elaborate abstract . Suffice it now to call attention to the statistical

table , in which are recorded all necessary information as to the Lodges holding- under this Grand Lodcfe . On the 27 th of December , of the year 1874 , up to which date the return is made out , there were 529 Lodges , with an aggregate membership of 38 , 157 brethren . The

number ot admissions was 600 , of initiations 1 , 9 / 4 , of resignations 642 , of suspensions or expulsions 946 , and of deaths 4 ' 27 . These figures are eminently satisfactory , except as regards the one head of suspensions ancl expulsions ,

which is really a very formidable figure , representing , as it docs , , i total of close upon one thousand , or one in every thirty-eight members . Our Peunsylvanian brethren will doubtless pardon ns if we suggest , that certain remarks of

Grand Lodge Of Pennsylvania.

ours made at different times on tho incautious admission of candidates may bo considered by them with some profit ; in which case wo venture to say that this formidable array of brethren who neglect or set at naught the obligations thoy have contracted will be very sensibly reduced . We

note , likewise , with pleasure the compliment paid to Bro . Hughan , in connection with the recent discovery as to early Freemasonry in Philadelphia , a discovery which has settled the precedence—so far as age is concerned—of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania over all other American Grand

Lodges . We cannot , of course , marvel that a question of this character should have awakened so strong a sense of interest in the brethren of this jurisdiction . Ifc shows how strong is the Masonic feeling in their hearts when they are thus prompted to lay so much stress on a priority of two or

three years only . We have referred to this on previous occasions , ancl we only do so now , because it would be un-Masonic of us to let pass the tribute of respect which is

paid in this abstract to tho eminent historical services of a worthy English Mason . We will merely add that our Pennsylvanian brethren have our heartiest good wishes for their continued prosperity .

I or some time past ifc has been the custom to give an entertainment to those of tho pupils who remain at our Girls' School during the vacation . These , numbering about 30 , were entertained on Friday , the 5 th , by the House Committee . Tho decorations , which were executed by the

pupils , were tasteful and artistic . Tea having been partaken of , a series of dissolving views , with an amusing description of the scenes , & c , was given , the apparatus being kindly lent by Bro . F . Cox . Dancing was then commenced and thoroughly enjoyed . During the intervals ,

Bros . Cox ancl March sang some songs , and Bro . John Boyd afforded great amusement by some mechanical dancing figures of " the cure , " & c . Refreshments were then served and bon bons distributed , which caused great amusement . Master Dicketts proposed the health of the

young ladies , which was cordially received . All present spent a very pleasant evening , ancl the children seemed greatly to appreciate the efforts of their friends , who are afc all times willing to do all they can to amuse the pupils . Several well-known supporters of the School were present ,

among them being Bros . Colonel F . Burdett , P . G . M . Middlesex , B . Head , P . G . D ., J . R . Rucker , P . G . D ., J . Nunn , P . G . S . B ., aud Mrs . Nunn , J . Boyd , P . G . P ., E . H . Finney , T . W . White , A . H . Tattershall , C . Moutrie and Miss Moutrie , H . Dicketts , T . Kingston and Mrs . Kingston ,

E . Cox and Mrs . Cox , H . Muggeride , T . Massa , J . G . Marsh , J . Faulkener , H . Massey , Mrs . Massey , and the two Miss Masseys , Griffiths Smith , W . Lane ancl Mrs . Lane ,

W . Rucker , L . Hirsch aud Mrs . Hvrsch , Mrs . F . Binckes and the two Misses Binckes , Dr . Eady , H . M . Levy , and also Bro . Robert Wentworth Little ancl Mrs . Little , whom all were pleased to see among them .

It will be seen from an announcement - made in our advertisement columns that some very important , business will come before the Quarterly General Court of the Boys ' School , to be held on Monday . We allude , of course , especially to the proposition that will be submitted by Bro .

Snow , one of the Vice-Patrons of the Institution , to the effect that the buildings surrounding the playground be raised by adding an extra story , so as to provide an increased sleeping accommodation for fifty boys ; and further thafc fifty boys be admitted at the October election .

The proposal is very simple , and will , unquestionably , if carried , prove a great boon to those deserving candidates whose admission is at present impossible , owing to want of the necessary space . However , we are nofc about to discuss the merits of Bro . Snow ' s resolution . The question

of enlarging the School is already before the public—that is to say , it is contemplated to erect a Preparatory School for the accommodation of a hundred little boys ; and it may be wise to treat this extension of the School ancl Bro . Snow ' s proposition as parts of one general scheme ; or ifc

may be considered more expedient to take these several steps seriatim , and at intervals , as the financial arrangements of the Institution permit . But whether the proposed entertainment be dealt with summarily or piecemeal , it will always command our support .