The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

has been , as we say above , the establishment of several local Educational Funds . While the Boyal Masonic Institution for Boys has full accommodation for all the children it is possible to maintain no attempt should be made to upset existing regulations , but when the day comes to propose an

extension of the existing buildings then it may be desirable to consider as a counter proposition the views now favoured by Bro . Saunders . * The question of receiving paying pupils at the Institution is merely a matter of arrangement , and must entirely depend on the views entertained by those

interested in the management of the Institution . Perhaps the new head master , when ono is appointed , should be consulted on this point , and his views , together with those of the Committee for the time being , laid before the Craft in the form of a report .

It is quite impossible to do anything with Brother Saunders' third proposal . No distinction can possibly be made in regard to the election on last applicationsall must tako equal chance , ancl the only royal road to success must be influence enough fco secure the

necessary votes . If a rule was adopted to make a distinction it would only be necessary to secure a candidate a place on the list , ancl quietly await his or her last chance , no voting would be needed , and the whole system of selection by those who subscribed the money would be done away with . Much as we regret

the necessity for occasionally rejecting , on account of age , candidates whose friends have worked hard to secure their election , we see no possible chance of lessening the hardship of doing so . Brother Saunders will probably see his fourth proposal carried , that if he is prepared to show that the new system works well in connection with the sister Institution .

The next business will be the election of sixteen Boys , from an approved list of seventy candidates . We have already referred to this part of the day ' s work , and can only hope it will be as satisfactorily

carried out as past contests have been . Altogether we anticipate a busy meeting , ancl we hope that whatever is done may result to the benefit of the Charity . One matter we Avould especially impress on those who propose to attend . They have the reputation of being gentlemen , and we hope none of them will so

far forget themselves as to forfeit their right to that distinction . It is not necessary to make a noise or create a disturbance to show opposition , but rather to discuss calmly ancl deliberately the several questions raised . If the opposition is fair , it will then stand a better chance of success .

Obituary.

Obituary .

— : o : — SIR DANIEL GOOCH , BART . BY the death of Sir Daniel Gooch , Bart ., another vacancy has been created amongst our Provincial Grand Masters . This untoward event had been anticipated by the majority of our readers , who eagerly looked forward day by dav for

any tidings that might lead them to a hope that their beloved brother was likely to recover from the illness that had laid him prostrate . But the sad event at length took place . Sir Daniel Gooch died on Tuesday , the 15 th inst .,

at his Berkshire residence , Clewer Park , near Windsor . From our " MASONIC PORTRAITS , " Second Series , we quote tho following particulars of Sir Daniel Gooch ' s Masonic record : — "Ho was initiated in the month

of February 1850 in the St . George ' s Lodge , No . 111 \ Exeter . In 1853 he was chosen to fill the chair of tho Royal Sussex Lodge of Emulation , No . 355 , Swindon , of "which , in the meantime , he had become a joining member .

During his term of office he initiated , passed , and raised twenty-eight candidates . Such indeed was tho general estimation iu which ho was held , not only in his Province

bnt throughout the Craft generally , that during this same year he was appointed Deputy Prov . G . Master of Wiltshire , and a member of the Board of General Purposes

Obituary.

while in 1854 the further hononr was conferred upon him of re-electing him Master of the Royal Sussex . He was subsequently chosen Master of the Lansdowne Lodge of Unity , No . G 2 G , Calno , of the Britannic , No . 38 . and

of tho Middlesex Lodge , No . 143 , and during these three Masterships , and his second of No . 355 , he initiated , passed , and raised as many as thirty-nine candidates , tho total of those ho has introduced to one or other of tho

degrees being no less than eighty . In 1858 , he was nofc only elected Worshipful Master of the Methuen Lodge , No . G 31 , Swindon , hut his Provincial services wero recognised iu Grand Lodge by his appointment to the

office of Grand Sword Bearer . In 18 G 8 he was appointed by tho lato Earl of Zetland to be the Provincial Grand Master of Berks and Bucks , and prior to his quitting the Province of Wilts , with which he had been prominently

connected for so many years , he was entertained at . a banquet afc Chippenham , at which Lord Methuen , the Prov . G . Master , presided . On this occasion he was presented with his full regalia as Prov . G . Master , his

Wilts brethren having subscribed amongst them about £ 100 for that purpose . The exalted office fco which he was then appointed has been held by him ever since . His administration of tho Province has been attended with

results most satisfactory to the interests of the Craft . The nnmber of Lodges and members has been doubled , and whereas , previous to the appointment to the post nothing was clone by the Province as such towards any of our

great central Chanties , ifc now takes a leading part in contributing to the needs of these Institutions . This is duo to his exertions entirely , for almost hia first act was to take measures for organising a scheme for raising

contribution- ? , and during his tenure of office , Berks aud Berks , both as a Province and by the impetus given to private subscription , has figured liberally and . most regularly at our Charitable Festivals . Such havo been

the services of our hero in Craft Masonry , but ,-they aro far from being the sum of his achievements . Is he nofc Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masonry in his own Province ? and does ho not figure in the list of those

distinguished brethren who havo taken the Mark , Templar , and High Degrees ? In 1851 , he was advanced to the Mark Degree , in tho Bon Accord Lodge , in the Metropolis , and subsequently held various office ? . The

same year he was exalted to the Royal Arch Degree , in St . George's Chapter , No . 112 , Exeter , and received the Knight Templar Degree in thc Bougemonfc or Union Encampment , No . 39 , Exeter . In 1852 he took tho

Rose Croix and Ne Plus Ultra degrees in . Exeter , and that of G . E . K ., K . H ., 30 ° and intermediate degrees in London . In 1856 he was installed First Principal iu Moriah Chapter , No . 9 , and during his tenure of office

exalted three candidates , while as Z . of the Wiltshire , No . 355 , he exalted not less that ten candidates . In 1858 ho was appointed Grand Sword Bearer iu Grand Chapter , holding this post of distinction in the Arch concurrently with the same office in Grand Lodge or Craft Masonry .

In 1861 , ho was elected First Principal of the Britannic Chapter , No . 33 , and lastly , and by way of putting the Keystone to the Arch of his reputation and the distinctions he had attained , he was , in 1875 , installed as Grand Superintendent of the Provincial Grand Chapter

of Berks aud Bucks . Ifc should be further mentioned that he has personally conducted the ceremony of consecration iu the case of the following Lodges , namely , Methuen Lodge , No . 631 , formerly of Swindon , bufc since

migrated to Taplow Bucks ; Canonbury Lodge , No . 657 , London ; Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , No . 663 , Devizes ; aud Lodge of Concord , No . 632 , Trowbridge . " Sir Daniel was twice married—first to Margaret , daughter

of the late Mr . Henry Tanner , of Bishopwearmouth , by whom he had several children ; and , secondly , to Emily , daughter of the lato Mr . John Burder , of Norwood , his widow .

There are few towns of a like size that can , in the matter of improvements , compare wi ; h Crediton , which of late years haa increased in every direction . Numbers of new houses have been erected , moro especially on the western part , and have fonnd tenants almost as soon as they were bnilt . The factories have all been

improved and modernised , and a new one built afc tbe janction of the oust and west towns . Several iaiportant public buildings are in course of construction or about to be commenced . The new Masonic HaU , a handsome structure , ia near completion , and a new Wesleyan chapel will shortly be commenced , as will also a new manse attached to tho Congregational Chapel .