The Purchase Of Lyncombe House.

THE PURCHASE OF LYNCOMBE HOUSE .

AS will be seen from our report , in another column , of the adjourned Quarterly General Court of the Girls ' School , the voto authorising' the expenditure of £ 6 , 500 for tho purchase of Lyncombo House and Ground was confirmed by a large majority . Thus tho purchase may bo

considered as complete , notwithstanding the fact that so excessive a price has been paid for the property . It now remains for each to do his best to make good use of the additional space at the disposal of the committee . We hope

all feeling will bo sunk in the general desire for the welfare of the charity , and that although many nnkind things have been said during the discussions which have taken place within the past few weeks , it will never be proved that the Institution suffered becau ' se the views of one section were

opposed to those of another . Those who have lost , must naturally feel •disappointed , but let us hope that the winners will exert themselves to show the minority that they wero sincere in their desire to acquire tho property .

We regret that we are unable this week to refer more full y to the subject ; we have already to hold over several important items , and must leave any further comments on this subject to a later issue .

The Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund.

THE ROYAL MASONIC PUPILS ' ASSISTANCE FUND .

THE preliminary arrangements in connection with the formation of this Fund are being rapidly proceeded with , and day by day the founders are receiving additional support as the result of their labours . A meeting was held last week for the purpose of settling the business to

be transacted at the first general meeting , which will now be called as soon as the date , & c , can be decided which will best suit the chairman and others interested . We shall duly announce tho time and place of meeting , and

hope that numerous brethren will assemble in order to arrange the necessary particulars previous to the actual starting of tho Fund . It is unnecessary for

us to again detail the support that has been given to the proposal , as our advertisement pages contain the full list of patrons up to the prpsenb time .

It is no doubt known to many of our readers that the subject has been brought before some of the Provincial Grand Lodges , with various results ; either the question has been postponed or a grant made , while in but a few

instances has any objection to the formation of tbo Fund been raised . While this hitter may in a measure be said to be tbe case in the Province of Warwickshire , it must not be overlooked that in realitv tlie brethren them annrnvn

or the scheme , and by their own resolution show the actual need of its foundation . The following copy of a resolution , sent out b y tho Provincial Grand Secretary , amply testifies this : —

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WARWICKSHIRE . ROYAL MASONIC PUPILS' ASSISTANCE FUND . . At a special meeting of tho Officers , present and past , of tho Pro-? "icial Grancl Lodge , and tho W . M . ' s of tho several Lodges of the province of Warwickshire , convened by circular , and held at Warwick , J'th January 1880 , the Ri ght Hon ancl Right Worshipful Brother om Lei S T . G . M . in the chair . After fully discussing the desirability

The Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund.

of forming a Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund , as recommended by Lord Roaslyn , it -was resolved unanimously— " That whilst fully approving of the principles of the scheme advocated by Lord Rosslyn , the Freemasons of this Province would bo relnctant to see a Fourth Masonio Charity established for this purpose in England , believing

thafc the machinery for carrying on such a Charity is unnecessary , and would be exceedingly expansive . The brethren fear that should the Royal Masonio Pupils' Assistance Fund be established it would be the cause of reducing the amount at present subscribed annually to the Boys' and Girls' Schools , and tho brethren pledge themselves

to continue and , if necessary , to increase their present contributions to those Charities upon the condition that the Managing Committees of thoso Schools shall undertake to provide temporary assistance , by Scholarships or otherwise , to thoso pupils who shall require such assistance npon their leaving the Schools , from the funds whioh shall bo at their disposal . "

The above is accompanied by an official request to tho respective Masters in the Province that they will bring the question before their Lodges at the earliest convenience . We may , therefore , expect to hear further on the subject from this district .

It will be seen from the above that the actual objection of the brethren of Warwickshire arises from the fact that they consider the expense of management would be great and unnecessary . At the present time it is impossible for us to contradict the former , as no estimate can be formed

of the amount of work that will arise , bufc we feel sure we are justified in saying that the founders do nofc contemplate any serious outlay under this head . So far as we understand tho work will be participated in by very many of the subscribers , without any desire for payment . As

we have pointed out from time to time , individual support will be sought for rather than large monetary contributions . We are not in favour of making heavy grants , of money to either boys or girls , who , after the education they have received in our Schools , should be able to

undertake any duty they may be called upou to fulfil , but we feel the necessity for some organised system for obtaining for them situations where their ability will be appreciated and their education prove of practical service . Of course it will be impossible to carry on this work without

some outlay , bufc we cannot agree with our Warwickshire brethren in saying it is unnecessary . If tho object for which the fund is proposed is good , and there is an actual need for its foundation , we maintain there are certain necessary expenses in connection with it without

which it cannot be started or carried on . The brethren of Warwickshire fear that should the fund be established , it would be the cause of reducing tbe amount afc present subscribed annually to the two Schools . This argument was brought forward at the time of the establishment of the

Benevolent Institution , and was strongly supported then by a section of the Craft who , as now , thought that the work of one Charity is distinct or in opposition to the others . On the contrary , we have no hesitation in saying that one really helps the other , and that a visit to a Lodge by

either of the Secretaries as often leads to a Steward being appointed for the three as it does for the one more intimately connected with the brother who advocates tho cause of our Institutions ; we do nofc mean that the three Stewards are secured there and then , but it is seldom that

a Lodge , when once it starts on the support of the Charities , leaves off after the first Stewardship , it is usually found that another brother undertakes to represent the Lodge the following year , and it is seldom that the same Institution

is again selected . It will thus be seen that a certain amount of sympathy must exist between the Charities , and that it is merely a matter of time for each , in their turn , to receive the benefit of tlie other ' s exertions . This argnment