Royal Masonio Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIO INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The monthly Council Meeting of Life Governors , held on Friday , the 29 th ult ., was presided over by Bro . Charles E . Keyser , P . G . D ., Patron of Institution , and amongst those present were : Bros . Geo . Everett , j . Bodenham , ] . E . Le Feuvre , A . C . Spaull , Geo . E . Fairchild , J . P . Fitzgerald , James Willing , jun ., Jas . Stephens , C . Pulman , Jas . Brett , James Terry , J . Leach

Barrett , J . W . Burgess , Henry Cruttenden . J . S . Cumberland , Jas . Eberall , Alex . Howell , Dr . W . H . Kempster , J . D . Langton , A . F . Lamette , H . T . Nell , John Strachan , John Wood , and J . Morrison McLeod , Secretary . After the ordinary business , the Secretary read letters from Bro . Herbert T . Allcroft , Major Scriven . Mrs .

Cooper , and Mr . Embleton ( West Yorks . ) , acknowledging receipt of the several resolutions of sympathy on the recent losses sustained by the death of Bros . Allcroft , J . Bagot Scriven , Geo . Cooper , and T . W . Embleton , all of whom had rendered special service to this Institution . On the recommendation of the Board of

Management , the four years service of the Matron were recognised by the unanimous adoption of a motion to increase her salary . On the Minutes of the Board of Management the following extract will prove of interest to the Craft : — " Resolved , 15 th Dec , 18 93 , That the following extracts from the Head Master ' s report of this date

be entered upon the minutes and circulated amongst the members of the Board : — ' It is very gratifying to note that the case of mumps ( reported last month ) has remained an isolated case , being the third time in eight months that we have succeeded in confining infection to the solitary case in which it has shown itself on each occasion—a

convincing proof of the wisdom and economy of having a sanatorium . This year the expenditure on the sanatorium has saved an infinitel y larger expenditure , to say nothing of anxiety and confusion in the conduct of the School . ' The football season has been very successful indeed , we having won the most part of our matches .

" Fives" has taken a good hold in the School , and shows an increase of activity . I hope I may be allowed to express my sincere and grateful thanks to the Board for the many improvements they have made in the School this term . The new furniture for the readingroom and for the hall , the suits for playing games in , the renewal of the pianos , the alterations for the better

in boots and clothes , the relaying of the match pitch in playing field , not to mention other smaller matters , are enough to mark this term and year as a singularly notable one . I naturally feel that , in helping my work here so generously and so trustfully , you have laid me

under a new and larger obligation . The boys have grown to appreciate your gifts , and a knowledge of how to use them rightly . There has been no such term of good work , good feeling , and vigour of mind and body since I have had the honour of being your Head Master . '"

The Petitions Committee reported on 34 petitions examined by them , and the Council in each case accepted its recommendations , with a result that 25 new cases were accepted , three rejected as not coming within the laws of the Institution , and four deferred for further consideration on completion of certificates . The new laws require investigation by the Petitions

Committee into cases remaining over as unsuccessful from previous election , already showed good fruit , two such cases being found ineligible . In one , the friends wisely withdrew the name , and in the other ( hailing from West Lancashire ) as the recommending lodge and province withdrew their support on account of the improved circumstances of the mother , it was resolved

to advise the Quarterly Court to strike out the name of Hurst , John Henry , Another of the new laws gave power to the Board of Management in the event of an extraordinary vacancy occurring in the School to admit the highest unsuccessful candidate at the preceding election , and it was reported that such a vacancy having occurred , the boy

Keginald Branwhite Jay , bailing from Norfolk , who polled 2099 votes last October , would be admitted in January with the 26 other boys then elected . The number of candidates seeking election in April was declared as 43 , to be reduced to 42 by the removal of Hurst , and the vacancies to be declared are 30 , in order to bring up the full number of 265 on the School roll .

Much satisfaction was expressed at the announcement that Bro . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., would preside over the next Festival . Some very kind things were said to the Secretary , and a resolution adopted with acclamation conveying " The best wishes of the Council to him on his recent marriage , " which Bro . MCLEOD feelingly

acknowledgedandallud-, , ing to the kindness so generally shown to him , hoped the step he had taken would , by rendering his domestic life happier , tend to assist him in the discharge of his duties . A cordial vote of thanks and best wishes for the New Year to the Chairman of the day—proposed by Bro . J . S . C ' UMHicuLANl ) , and seconded by Bro . G . Lv- KKiiiT—concluded the business .

Bro . the Duke uf l . ' edford has made a donation of £ 500 to the fund which is being raised by the St . Giles's Library Committee for completing und equipping the new library .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

COLOMBO . Old Sphinx Lodge ( No . 107 , I . C . ) . —There was a big gathering of the Ceylon brethren at Freemasons ' Hall , Slave Island , on the 6 th ult ., to witness the ceremony of installation of the new W . M . The lodge having been duly opened , and the minutes of the last meeting having heen confirmed , the W . M ., Bro . S . T . Smith , informed the

brethren that the P . P . D . G . M ., Bro . John Maitland , had kindly consented to install his successor . Bro . W . M . Roddy was then presented for the benefit of installation , and the P . P . D . Grand Master performed the ceremony in his usual grand and impressive style before a large Board of Installed Master , the different Constitutions being represented by—England , Bros . Lukis , W . M ., and

J . N . Grant , P . M ., P . Z ., of 454 ; Hercules John Scott , W . M ., P . D . S . G . D . Hong Kong and South China , and B . Brenner , P . M ., of 2170 ; and Dr . Jacquet , P . M . 2323 ; Scotland , Bros . Ridal , R . W . M ., and John Gamble , I . P . M ., of 611 ; and Ireland by Bro . John Guthrie , P . P . G . Sec . ; and many other Past Masters . The W . M . then invested his officers as follows—and the

impressive and faultless manner in which he addressed each in accordance with the beautiful Irish ritual promised well for the working of the lodge under his guidance : Bros . Lieut . S . T . Smith , I . P . M . ; H . J . Orford , S . W . ; F . G . Merrett , J . W . ; John Guthrie , P . P . G . Sec , Treas . ; C . E . Mulgrue , acting Sec ; F . Forester , S . D . ; G . Sanders , J . D . ; and T . C . Williams , I . G . Bro . Capt . G . Hearn , being at home on " sick leave , " was invested

Secretary by proxy . The lodge having been duly closed , the brethren adjourned to the Galle Face Hotel , there not being sufficient accommodation in the banqueting hall for the large number of brethren who had gathered together to pay homage to the new W . M . Here a most recherche' repast had been prepared , and after the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , a most successful evening was brought to a close , the band of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment discoursing sweet music during the evening .

Bonnie Doon Lodge ( No . 6 u , S . C . ) . — This lodge met at Freemasons' Hall , on the 30 th ult ., for the installation of the R . W . M . and officers for the ensuing year . The Installing Master was Bro . John Maitland , P . P . D . G . M ., and the impressive ceremony was excellentlycarried out . Bro . E . J . Hayward , 115 ( I . C ) , presided at the organ . The following is the list of officers for the ensuing year

Bros . Staff Quartermaster-Sergeant J . W . Ridal , R . W . M . ; J . Gamble , I . P . M . and Treas . ; Sergeant A . J . Baker , Depute Master ; Lieut . S . T . Smith , Substitute Master ; Colour-Sergeant Major F . G . Merrett , S . W . j Sergeant W . H . Bird , J . W . ; Master Gunner W . M . Roddy , Sec ; Colour-Sergeant Major M . Carey , S . D . ; Sergeant J . C . Greie * , LD . ; Colour-Sergeant w . J . Ayers , I . G . ; H . A .

Ahlborn , D . C ; A . Rivers and F . W . Gay , Stewards ; and Sergeant J . 'Little ; ohn , Tyler . The brethren afterwards re-assembled at the Galle Face Hotel , about 3 6 being present , when ample justice was done to an excellent dinner . By kind permission of the officers , the 2 nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment was present , and discoursed sweet music during the whole

of the evening . The toast list was as follows : " The Queen and Craft " ; "H . R . H . the Most Worshipful Grand Master of English Freemasonry " ; " The Grand Master and Grand Lodge Officers of all Scottish Freemasonry " ; " The Grand Lodges of England and Ireland "; "The Grand Lodge of all Scottish Freemssonry in India "; ( at this period a congratulatory telegram was sent to Grand Lodge at

Bombay , at the time holding the annual installation banquet ); "The Right Worshipful Master "; "The Retiring Officers "; "The Installing Master" ; "The W . M . ' s of lodges in Ceylon "; "The W . M . of the St . George Lodge , No . 2170 , E . G . "; "The P . M . ' s of the Bonnie Doon "; "The Visiting Brethren" ( responded to by Bro . Captain bandeman , of the Imperial Chinese Navy , Lodj ; e Golden Gate , California ); "The Ladies "; "The Wardens and Officers of Bonnie Doon "; " Bonnie Doon " ( proposed

by Bro Hercules J . Scott , the W . M . of St . George Lodge , No . 2170 , E . C . ); and the Tyler's toast . Some excellent songs and speeches were given , and a thoroughly enjoyable evening was spent . We should state that during the installation ceremony a telegram was received from the chairman of the St . Andrew ' s dinner , Calcutta , addressed to the chairman ot

the St . Andrew ' s dinner , Jolombo . As there was no such function taking place in Colombo this year , and as" Bonnie Doon " was the only representative meeting of Scotsmen taking place , it was decided to accept the telegram , which conveyed good wishes from the Calcutta Scots to those of

Colombo . An explanatory telegram was sent in reply , conveying " Hearty good wishes" to "brither Scots " in Calcutta . We may add that Bro . Ridal is the eldest son of Bro . ) ohn Ridal , a P . M . of Royal Brunswick Lodge , Sheffield , late of Rydalhurst , Wadsley , near Sheffield .

Jubilee Celebration Of St. John's Lodge, Antigua.

JUBILEE CELEBRATION OF ST . JOHN'S LODGE , ANTIGUA .

In celebrating the jubilee of St . John ' s Lodge on the 9 th ult ., the brethren spared no pains to show their loyalty to the Craft and to their Royal Grand Master the Prince of Wales . All the arrangements for the day were in the hands of a Committee , of whom Bro .

D . N . Rannie , P . M ., was the guiding spirit . To them credit is due for the unqualified success ol the whole undertaking . The lodge room proper remained in working order , but the banqueting hall was tastily decorated with flags , flowers , palms , mottoes , and three very prettily executed scrolls with appropriate Masonic designs of the insignia , & c , of the various Degrees

from time to time given in the lodge . At the south end of the room were the Prince of Wales plumes composed of palms , surmounting a framed copy of the Queen's letter to the nation on the occasion of the death of the Duke of Clarence . In the east on a slightly raised platform was a pedestal supporting the Charter and over the street entrance to

Jubilee Celebration Of St. John's Lodge, Antigua.

the lodge was a transparent arch intended for the evening , with the legend "Jubilee of St . John's Lodge , No . 492 , E . R . 50 years . Gloria in Excelsis . " At 10 . 30 , 57 Masons representative of the Craft Degrees , Royal Arch , & c . proceeded to the Cathedral led by a band playing " God bless the Piince of Wales . " With unwonted punctuality the

brethren arrived at the Cathedral at 11 . and were met at the west door by the Bishop with his Pastoral Staff and the clergy , all of whom , with one exception had responded to the invitation to be present on the occasion . Bro . Gallwey , the Organist of the lodge , presided at the organ . The service was choral , and intoned by Bro . the Rev . F . W . Haines

The lessons were Eccl . xi . and xii . and I Cor . xiii ., read by Bro . the Rev . C . H . Branch ( Lodge Chaplain ) . Bishop Branch , by special request of the lodge and of Bro . Chaplain preached . He took as his text " I have considered the years that are past , " Ps . lxxvii—5 —( Prayer book version ) . First referring to the profitableness of reviewing the past of out lives or of any

definite portion thereof , with the object , by self examination , of mending our ways and taking forward rather than retrograde steps for the future , the preacher although not himself a Freemason , said he had reasons for personal and diocesan interest in the Order . He was the son of a Mark Master Mason , the father of two Freemasons , and the brother of one of high distinction : he

numbers among his very intimate and trusted friends here and elsewhere several Freemasons . The reasons diocesan were , to use his own words , " Not only is it true that at every period there have been found Freemasons , even among the highest dignitaries of the Church ( for one of the Archbishops of Canterbury in my own remembrance was a Mason ) , but the

very first Bishop of this see , Bishop Davis , was a Freemason , a fact which the fourth Bishop of the see cannot help remembering while preaching to Masons . There are also no less than nine out of the 35 clergymen who serve under me who are Freemasons . And , furthermore , at the laying of the foundation-stone of the cathedral the Masons of this lodge took a prominent part

and last , not least , on the . birthday of your Grand Master the Prince of Wales , I willingly preach to you , as the Bishop of a Church whose loyalty is sincere , who makes it part of her daily prayers to ask God ' s guidance for him , and to say every day as you do today , " God bless the Prince of Wales . " After this - . eloquent introduction his lordship

admonished and solemnly warned the brethren—notwithstanding the grandeur of Freemasonry , of which he had no doubt , spread as it is all over the world , with its noble intentions , its acts of Chirity , and principles 6 f purity , and its aim at promoting the one brotherhood of man , all which , with the great antiquity it claims entitle it to be considered a grand

institutionnot to substitute Masonry for Christianity , for " other foundation can no . man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ . " Whatever the obligations , the honours , the scope , the future , the strength of its foundation and the glories of Freemasonry , these are not to be compared with similar considerations with regard to Christianity .

Glancing at the past historv of St . John s Lodge and of Masonry in the island , he then laid it as a duty upon the brethren to maintain their honour as Christian Masons in the years to come . He appealed to each to keep constantly before him his responsibility as his " brother ' s keeper . " and unwittingly lectured the brethren on what they recognised as the five points of

fellowship . " Here we would give in the Bishop's own words a passage which among the many gems of thou 2 ht characterising the whole sermon—may be pondered with profit by all men , whether or not of the mystic Brotherhood— " Oh , Freemasons , it behoves those who make such claims as you do to the possession of light and knowledge to keep a good conscience . Let

conscience keep the guard ' s seat , no matter what mental faculty it is that holds the reins and drives the coach . In God ' s name I beseech you not to play tricks with your consciences A Freemason without a sensitive conscience ought to feel wretched , if he does not . " . The service concluded , the brethren returned to the lodge , the band playing "Auld Lang Syne . "

Among those upon whom the Qu'en has signified her intention of confening honour in connection with the New Year are included Bro . Thomis Koe , M . P ., who receives the honour of Knighthood , and Bro . W . H . Preece , Engineer-in-Chief to the General P « .. st Oflice , who has been

made a Companion of the Order of the bath . The Hon . Robert Meade , C . B ., Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies , has been made a Knight Commander of the same order , while Sir H . Mortimer Uuiand , i . ur reci nt envoy to Abdul Rahman , Ameer of Afghanistan , has been made a Knight Commander ofthe Star ol India .

ELECTKICAI . SANITATION AT WORTHING . — lhis popular healtn resort , which has now tom-jktcly r- c ivt-ied liom the disaster which so sadly betel it last umint-r , jj now about to be the scene of som ^ must inteiestinu exiiufnu-nts in the shape of sewage disinfection liy means nl electrolysed sea water The Town t . ouncil hive Vuied a considerable sum uf money to enable M . Hermite , the celebrated t-Tencn -sanitary engineer whio-e method has proved

s 1 successful at Havre , Lorn nt , & c , to get to ww K dutinir the present m ^ nth to demonstrate ihe ellio < : iiu > ... li .. S ) stem for the fiist time in an l- ' nglisi town . I h .- results will be watched with the keenest interest by all the most eminent sanitary authorities of the day , as well as by the general public , for it the system prove as successful as M . Hermite fully anticipates it will be a very valuable so . ution uf a problem which intimately concerns the welfare of every s . aside community in the kingdom .