Masonry In The Spirit World.

MASONRY IN THE SPIRIT WORLD .

JUDGING from brief reports that have reached us , the Brethren of Liverpool recently had somewhat of a comical experience in regard to Freemasonry , as viewed from a Spiritualist ' s point of view ; a certain Mrs . Britten having

undertaken to deliver a Lecture on " Freemasonry : Its origin , spiritual meaning , and mystery , " prefacing her observations by a solemn declaration that she had not received her knowledge from any human being , her argument presumably being that it

came from another world , communicated , it may be conjectured , by the spirit of a deceased member of our Order , or , it may even be claimed , by the Grand Master who met such a tragic end just before the completion of King Solomon ' s Temple .

We regret we were not present to join in the good natured laugh which followed the relation of what the chairman of the meeting describes as a ludicrous travesty of the different ceremonials in the Graft , as set forth in some spurious works

published in America , as we have a fancy for hearing both sides of a story , and have had . to sit out many a heavy , long drawn out dissertation on the merits of the Craft , or of some of its particular virtues , and can imagine these revelations

from the spirit world would have come as a pleasant change , although we are afraid we should have started to the meeting with the firm conviction that we and others who were

present were about to be humbugged—a result which , from information received , as it is customary to put it , seems to have befallen the Brethren who attended on the faith of the

programme put forth . It appears that the Lecture was given under the auspices of the Liverpool Society of Spiritualists , a body which , it is fair to imagine , have a certain knowledge of what is required

from one respectable member of society towards another , and on that account we can hardly dismiss the travesty as an attempt at practical joking . We must rather assume that the Spiritualists have faith in the utterances of such of their

enthusiasts as this Mrs . Britten , and are foolish enough to believe that the messages are inspired in Che manner claimed , or surely they were unwise in selecting the Masonic body as a dupe , as it should have been self evident to them that the

Order contained within its ranks sufficient of light and learning to expose any of the tricks and subterfuges of the ordinary medium , who is generally accredited with the desire to seek an audience from among the ignorant and superstitious , rather than from the educated classes of the community .

Perhaps the promoters of this meeting were wise , however , inasmuch as they were probably aware of the secrecy enjoined on Freemasons , and argued it would be impossible to disprove the assertions of any of the fanatics of Spiritualism without

divulging some of the secrets of the Order ; and if that was the basis on which they arranged for the Lecture in question they will probably claim a success , as it is hardly likely any of the

audience will come forward fco challenge Mrs . Britten in regard to her utterances , -while her threat that if the statements she had made were denied she would call on a number of

Masonry In The Spirit World.

Freemasons to arbitrate upon them , and state whether they were true or false , would be inoperative for the same reason . On the whole , then , we fear members of the Order are placed in the position of having to consent by silence to what is put

forth by the Lecturer , or run the risk of violating their obligation , which latter course no one would wish them to adopt in connection with so trivial a matter , which , after all ,

is perhaps best dismissed as an outburst of excessive fanatacism on the part of the lady spiritualist , that pleased her associates , and is not likely to injure Freemasonry .

West Lancashire Educational Institution.

WEST LANCASHIRE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION .

A MEETING of the Court of Governors of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution was held on Friday , 6 th inst ., in the Masonic Hall , Hope Street , Liverpool . Brother Dr . J . K . Smith presided .

Fifteen children , recommended by the General Committee of the Charity , were elected on the foundation of the Institution . The Treasurer Bro . Callow reported that the income of the Institution for the past year , including a balance , amounted to £ 2 , 500 , the expenditure on the maintenance of the children and incidental charges totalled up to £ 1 , 654 , and the invested capital now reached about £ 23 , 000 .

Bro . Dr . Crawford , Chairman of the Ball Committee , intimated that a meeting would be held at an early date , and he trusted he would be able to announce a surplus , including donations , of about £ 500 .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

IT is wifch much gratification we give publicity to the following information , which , as the Secretary of the Institution observes , should induce further support for the excellent work that is being carried on . The letter is copy of one that is being sent to supporters of the Institution throughout the country :

DEAB SIK AND BBOTHBB , —It affords me much pleasure to issue the accompanying statement of the results achieved by " Our Boys " at recent examinations . The successes gained in the first division of the London University Matriculation and in the Senior Cambridge Local are especially gratifying to the Board of Management , as showing an early and excellent result of its policy in retaining deserving boys for higher education .

It will be noted that our boys are much below the average age of most of the competitors , and the fact that from a school of 277 boys , no fewer than 77 were entered for these high-class examinations , of whom 69 were successful , is a sufficient proof of the sound educational work being given in the School .

Trusting this information will be of service to you , and induce you to continue your kind interest in the welfare of the Institution . I am , Dear Sir and Brother ,

Yours faithfully and fraternally J . M . MCLEOD , Secretary .

RESULTS AT PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS , 1895-6 . London University Matriculation , December 1895 . FIEST DIVISION . — "E . J . Ooupland , aged 16 § years . Cambridge University Examination , December 1895 . —Results received 28 th February 1896 . SBNIOES . —( Aged 16 to 18 ) 8 boys entered , and all passed . Average

age , 16 years . JUNIOBS . —( Aged up to 16 ) 36 boys entered ; 2 second class , one " distinction" Mathematics ; 7 third class , one " distinction" Arithmetic ; and 21 other passes . Average age , 14 J years . PBEMMINABY . —32 boys entered ; 30 passed , one " distinction " Geography .