Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ments were made for the election to bo held in the Crown Room of Freemasons' Tavern . Bro . John Glass was elected in pre .-ido over this portion of tho " proceedings , which v . T . r . * carried through in due course . The result of tho ballot will he found in onr advertising columns .

Tho meeting was one of tho most numerously attended known in the history of our Institutions , between 400 ami 500 being present . As a consequence the accommodation

provided was put to a severe test , aud although all waa done that could be suggested under thc circumstances , it must yet be admitted that the arrangements were far from satisfactory .

The Blue Lodge.

THE BLUE LODGE .

" "O ^ - ^ Masonry " and tho "Bluo Lodge " aro phrases 13 often ou tho lipg of Freemasons . Thoso that use them understand exactly what they apply to , but perhaps all . do not comprehend their real significance . Blue Masonry , any tyro will tell you , is Ancient Craft Masonry ,

and tho Blue Lodge i .-s the only lawful body for conferring thc three degrees of Free and Accepted Masonry , —degrees which aro at once " ancient , " and derived from the "Craft" of operative Masons : hence tho designation ,

" Ancient Craft Masonry . " Sometimes we are told that tho Blue Lodge is so called from the colour of its decorations ; but this is an explanation which does not explain . Why are the decorations blue ?

From fcho most ancient times blue has beon regarded as a divine colour , symbolising purity , friendship , truth aud immortality . If wo fnrn to Egypt , the most ancient of civilised countries-- * , we find that the blue waters of the

sacred Nile gave to that river its name , for nila in Sanskrit signifies blue . Tho Egyptian god , Amun , " the first emanation from tho Supremo Being , " was painted blue , to

represent , his peculiarly exalted and heavenly nature ; and their goddess , Isis , was represented concealed under a dark blue veil . They also portrayed the risen bodies of the disciples of Osiris as blue .

An analogous symbolism prevailed in India . Among the Hindoos their god , Vishnu , was portrayed of this colour , in allusion to the supposed tint of that primordial fluid on which he , as Narayana , moved in the beginning of time ,

floating on the chaotic waters . The following is a curious Hindoo legend : A jackal fell into a well of indigo , and perceiving that he was of a dark blue colour , he said , , ; I am now cf a divine colour—the colour of Crishna ! What

greatness may I nofc attain unto ? " He then summoned other jackals , saying , " See my holy colour ! Tho deity of tho wood has anointed me sovereign , and by my command

justice shall to administered m the forest . " Tho beasts perceiving his distinguished colour , fell prostrate before him and paid him homage , saying , " As the king commands . ' "

Iho American Indians used blue earth for making their pipes of peace , and blue beads were highly prized by them . Among all the Eastern nations blue was a type of friendship and brotherly love . Among the Druids , blue was a

symbol of truth , and candidates for initiation into their sacred rites were invested with a garment of three colours , blue , white and green . Among the Jews , tho robe of the High Priest ' s cphod , the ribbon for his breastplate and the

plate of his mitre were blue , as was also one of the veils of the Tabernacle , So , the prophet Jeremiah tells us , the Babylonians clothed their deities in blue . The Chinese also regard blue as the symbol of deity , sinco being composed

of black and red ifc represents the obscure and the brilliant , tho male and female , or active and passive principles . Portal says blue was the symbol of perfection , and Weale

that blue "in divine language is tho symbol of eternal truth , in consecrated language of immortality , and in profane language of fidelity . "

Tho Freemaso ? i , with the aid of this illustrative light thrown on hi . j favourite colour—the colour which distinguishes Ancient Craft Masonry , and gives name , in common parlance , to tho Lodge and the degrees of Free

and Accepted Masonry , can readily understand the full force and significance of its employment , and say in all truthfulness , there is nothing trival in Freemasonry , but

everything has its due Masonic signification . Let him ponder , then , tho lessons 1 aught by Blue Masonry , an follows :

The Blue Lodge.

Blue symbolises fidelity—that lofty principle which actuates evory true Freemason iu his conduct towards his fellows and the Craft . Ifc symbolises also friendship and brotherly love , the Mystic Tie which unites Masons whereover dispersed into one family , with God as their father ,

and all tho initiated as their Brethren . It symbolises , further , the immortality of tho Soul , and hence faith in tho regeneration of tho lower nature , the resurrection of tho body , and tho eternity of tho immortal spirit in its reorganised form in tho world boyond the grave . Ifc

typifies also truth—tho truth of God , the truth set forth in tho First Great Light in Masonry , the eternal principles of justice , mercy aud love , faith , hope and charity . All this is inseparably connected with the Blue Lodge and Blue Masonry ; all this ia ours to know , to possess and to enjoy . —Keystone .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OP NORTH WALES . OUT the 28 rd inst ., a special meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter of North Wales was held at tho

Masonic Hall , Bangor , for the installation of the Most Excellent Companion Colonel the Hon . W . E . Sackvillo West P . Z . 357 as Grand Superintendent . A large number of Principals and Past Principals of the Province attended , and there was a numerous gathering of Companions . Tho

Installing Officer was Comp . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerko Grand Scribe E ., the acting Provincial Scribe E . being Comp . R . J . Davids P . Z . 606 . After formal business and prayer by Provincial Grand Joshua , the investment of tho Prov . Grand Superintendent designate took place . The Provincial Grand Superintendent afterwards appointed tho

other Principals and invested the Officers . The banquet took place at the Castle Hotel .

Star Chapter of Instruction , No . 1275 .- —On Friday , 18 th inst ., at CamberweU . Present : —Comps . Hilton Preceptor , Wingham Z ., Captain Vincent H ., C . Fleck J ., Stone S . E ., Woods S . N ., Stone P . S ., Millikin , Davis , Captain Sfcokoe Z . 1329 , Addingfcon Z . 1275 , and T . Grummanfc P . Z . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Companion Millikin candidate . Companion Millikin was elected a joining member , and Companion Captain Stokoe was olected Z . for the next meeting .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Bonevolence waa held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Robert Grey , President of the Board presided , and Bros . James Brett , Senior Vice-President , and C . A . Cottebrune , Junior

Vice-President , occupied their respective positions . The other brethren present were Bros . Pendlebury , Dodd , and Leo , representing Grand Secretary ' s department . Mather Mercer , Pcrryman , Whitmarsh , Grieve , Cundy , Grice ,

Belton , Garrod , Woodward , Haslip , By water , Hillbee , Dally , Taylor , Read , Dr . N . J . Goodchild , Laurinson , Webb , Chapman , Hedger , Slaughter , George Clark jun ., Tydeman , Henry Clark , Macintosh , Wherry ,

Chamber-Hn , Smith jun ., Massoy , King , Wood , Ginger , Piper , Cubifcfc , Cattermole , J . R . Thompson , Davey , ' Hakim , Mote , Wilkinson , Stamp , Friend , Boutcher , Lazarus , Forge , Scarlett , Weeks , Spurgin , Potch , Hunt , Wing , J . W .

Howard Thompson , Chamberhn , Bellerby , Acworth , Lambert , Coop , Kedge , Jones , Porter , Goldschmidfc , Blinkhome , and Sadler . The brethren first confirmed grants recommended to the Grand Master , at tho September

meeting , to fcho amount of £ 60 . The now list contained the names of 44 petitioners . One petition was withdrawn , one was dismissed , and one was deferred . The remainder wero relieved with a total of £ 1005 . This was made up

of ono recommendation to Grand Lodge for £ 100 , one for £ 00 , and three for £ 50 each ; two recommendations to tho Grand Master for £ 40 each , and seven for £ 30 each ; 12 grants of £ 20 each , six of . £ 15 each , six of £ 10 each , and three of £ 5 each .

Bro . Isaac Dunn was installed W . M . of tho Rose Lod » e , No . 1622 , on Saturday , thc 5 th inst ., when there was a board of upwards of 30 Installed Masters formed .