Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 355 Supreme Grand Chapter 2 ; 6 The New Grand Ollicers 2 ; 6 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 256 Bro . Hughan ' s Objections to the " Sydney Freemason " and its Report 257

CORRESPONDENCETerritorial Grand Orient of Morocco and Dependencies 25 S Election Voting 25-3 In Memoriam 25 S The New Grand Ollicers 25 S A Letter of Thanks 2 ; S Itinerant Masons—\ Caution 258 Reviews 259

Masonic Notes and Queries ... 259 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 250 Freemasonry in Portsmouth 259 The Bordeaux Rxposition ' . 260 REv-m-rs or MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry ' . 260 Instruction 261 Roval Arch 2 G 1

Mark Masonry 262 Allied Degrees 262 The Theatres 263 Music 263 Science and Art 263 Masonic and General Tidings 26 4 I Lodge Meetings for Next Week 2115 i Historical Calendar 260

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WE have been favoured with a view of the address to the QUEEN from Grand Lodge , which , signed by H . R . H . the M . W . G . M ., is to be presented to HER MAJESTY by a deputation , headed by H . R . H the PRINCE OV WALES , on May the ioth . We have also seen the casket in which the address is to be

preserved , and we think it rig ht to express here our highest admiration both ol the address and the casket , and to which wc shall again more fully allude when we record the presentation of this fitting representation of English Masonic loyally and devotion .

- WE warmly concur , as we feel sure does our entire brotherhood , ever loyal and devoted , in all the expressions of encomium and sympathy which have attended the Duke of ALBANY ' marriage . The numerous offerings of regard and affection from the fraternity , in various circles and localities ,

evince the friendly and attached recognition of his brethren in Masonry to his great gifts and growing promise ; while the warmth of feeling and good will displayed by the public at large are most marked and commendable . We trust that the future happiness of the august pair will be commensurate with the auspicious commencement of their hymeneal voyage ; that

all the good wishes and affectionate solicitude which have been so heartily expressed for their happy matrimonial career may be fully realized , and which , perhaps , are best summed up and echoed in ihe good old Masonic aspiration ,

"So mote it be . " We shall all feelj this still more strongly , when the sad news of the bride ' s sister ' s death has come suddenly upon a happy family , tc cast a cloud of temporary gloom over all that was so fair , and ] 03 ' 0 us , and bright , and gracious .

* * THE more we think of this new Territorial Grand Orienlot Morocco and Dependencies , the more are we puzzled and bothered thereanent . What do all these proceedings mean ? Where do they tend to ? The absurdity of calling an English speaking Grand Lodge a Grand Orient at all is only

equalled by the illegality of its formation ; and the utter bad form and incongruity of all proceeding connected with its formation must be patent to all thinking Masons , and , despite the very high authority of Bro . PATTERSON ,

such irregularity in Masonic normal procedure , such disregard of constituted authorities and established precedent , must render the recognition of such a body by the Grand Lodge of England at present at any rate , utterly impossible . *

THE appointment of the new Grand Officers must give satisfaction , as the close attention paid to long services and a faithful discharge of Masonic duties by those who select our high officials is alike most commendable and satisfactory . As an illustration of some recent remarks of ours on this subject , we beg to point out that the average membership of the new Grand

Officers , whose Masonic career appears in our last impression , is that , ( and we beg our readers to note the fact ) , of twenty-seven years and nine-tenths , or , in fact , just twenty-eig ht years . The highest amount of service is fortytwo years , the lowest ten years , namely that of Bro . CUSINS , who , however , legitimately comes under the exceptions and principles of selection , also

formerly mentioned , namely , his eminent Masonic and musical services . The conductor of the Philharmonic Concerts , and master of music to the Q UEEN is a very proper person to be Grand Organist . We congratulate the authorities on their evident thoughtfulness of choice , and we ma } ' add that many of the appointments will be most popular and acceptable in the provinces . *

THE meeting of Grand Chapter was marked by the appointment and investment of the Grand Officers of the Arch , of which our readers must see the report elsewhere . Grand Chapter is in a very prosperous condition financiall y , and Royal Arch Chapters are happily and properly increasing amongst us . * * * WE are rather inclined to think that the question of purchase for a candidate in the Schools requires to be very carefully considered , and that it will not do

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simply to assume certain facts and then argue upon them , as a famous judge once told a distinguished barrister he was doing ; but so much is involved fully and tr uly , in the matter at issue , that wc must beg to invite , as the CHAIRMAN has fitly recommended , calm , careful , deliberate discussion . Undoubtedly , the election of two sisters and two brothers is forbidden

dist inctly , except in the case that the number of vacancies is in excess of the number of candidates at the time of petitioning . This is rather a difficult rule ; as in practice such knowledge could only be certainly attained at the meeting fixing the number of vacancies . Still , the fact that an exception is made at all shows that the law , though in one sense like that of the Medes

and Persians , yet admits of qualification , limitation , modification . "A priori" there would seem to be no connection between a candidate admitted by voting and a ca ndidate admitted by purchase , but we apprehend that the solution of the doubt must turn on the exact verbiage of the law . If , in order to purchase an admission , a candidate must otherwise be eligible , then

if that candidate be barred by the existing law as to two members of the same family at the same time , the candidate who proposes to purchase is not eligible under the terms of the law , and the Committee are estopped from taking the proposal into consideration . But if the word eligible only applies to age and scholastic fitness , then a question would come in whether the

purchasing clause applied to such a case at all . And then , another consideration meets us necessarily , —Is it absolutely necessary that an application for pui chase should be by petition ? We apprehend that in practice it

is not so , though we should like to be officially instructed on this point , and that many purchases have been effected without petition at all . Is that so , or is it not so ? At any rate , here we have a charming moot point to exhilarate our Masonic Solons and "Solomons" intensely .

* * WE understand that the arrangements for the Girls' School Festival are in satisfactory and pleasant progress , and that all gives augury of a most successful meeting . There are now 310 Stewards , and we beg to remind any who intend to be Stewards , and have not yet sent in their names , that if

they wish to help the Secretary 111 his ceaseless labours and amid the multifarious claims on his time and thought , they should not lose a post in making their intentions known to him . To praise the Girls' School in all its

arrangements , work , and " outcome would be alike unseasonable and unneeded . Suffice it to say that we have no doubt that its excellent arrangements and striking results will commend it to the hearty , and generous , and marked support of our kindly and understanding Brotherhood .

a *• BKO . BINCKES has put forth a very characteristic and well-written appeal to the London brethren and lodges within the area of the City to rally round their distinguished Bro . the LORD MAYOR , the J . G . W ., and to make his presidency a remarkable success , —a fact to be remembered and noted in

Masonic annals . We can only hope that this appeal will meet with a ready and hearty response , and that the . support of the City lodges and brethren will be both thorough and substantial , evincing all respect on the one hand for their worthy brother as the civic ruler and head of their ancient and stately Corporation , and realising the undoubted and pressing claims of the

Boy ' School on their earnest sympathies and large-hearted liberality . And then even beyond this , we do not see why the lodges of the metropolis generally , as well as all our provincial friends , should not aid in the good work , and we feel sure that alike in the provinces and in London the position and claims of the Boys' School are now fully admitted , and that it is our duty

no less than our privilege , to endeavour ( 1 . ) to complete the School by a junior institution ; and ( 2 ) by a liberal " subsidy" of Masonic sympathy and goodwill to render the Boys' School able to carry out its real good work and progress in its undoubted career of usefulness and importance for cur great English Craft .

WE call attention elsewhere to an interesting communication from our wellknown and distinguished Bro . FABIEN , of the Scottish Rite , Paris , in reference to the great Bordeaux Exposition . As that Exposition will interest

a large number of persons from the Colonies , among them , doubtless , many brethren , we are glad to note the fraternal feeling of our French brethren of the Scottish Rite at Bordeaux ; and while we have no doubt but such friendly offer will be properly appreciated , we thank Bro . FABIEN for communicating the interesting fact to the Freemason .

WE call special attention to Bro . HUGHAN ' S clear and effective repudiation of the garbled representation of his words which appears in the S y dney Freemason , February 22 nd , 1882 .