Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The first meeting of the Board of Stewards was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Monday , the 3 rd inst . Tbe following brethren were unanimously elected officers of the Board of Stewards : — President , R . W . Bro . Lieut .-Col . N . Lc Gendre Starkie , Prov . G . M . of East Lancashire . Acting Vice-Presidents ,

Right Hon . Lord Crcinornc , No . 0 ; VV . Bros . John Wordsworth , V . P . and Trustee ; I- A . Rucker , P . G . D ., V . P . ; Horace Brooks Marshall , C . C ., V . P . ; Clement R . N . Bcswickc Royds , P . P . G . VV . E . L ., V . P . ; Lieut .-Col . Somerville Burney , P . P . G . D . Essex . Hon . Treasurer , L G . Stevens . P . Sl . and Treas . No . 554 . Hon . Secretary , VV . ib-o . Frederick Binckes , V . P ., P . G . Stwd ., and

Secretary to the Institution . Honorary Vice-Presidents , Vice-Patrons and Vice-Presidents of the Institution , Present and Past Grand Officers , Present and Past Grand Stewards , Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers .

It was resolved , " That thc ensuing Anniversary Festival be held at the Crystal Palace . " "That ladies and brethren dine together at the same tables , without restriction as to numbers . " "That tbe orice of dinner tickets be—ladies , 15 s . ;

brethren , 2 is . " That the sum to be deposited by each Steward to thc fund for defraying the expenses of the Festival be £ 2 2 s ., to include dinner ticket for Steward . " "That the musical arrangements of the Festival be referred to a Sub-Committee , consisting of the President , Vice-President , Acting Vice-Presidents , Treasurer , Secretary , and six brethren ; and that they report their pro- ceedingsto thc next meeting . "'

"That the usual complimentary dinner tickets be sent , anil that complimentary ladies' tickets be sent to the Secretaries of the Masonic Institutions , and two to the residential staff of each School . " "That the Chairman of this meeting , Bro . J . A . Rucker , P . G . D ., the Hon . Treasurer , and Hon . Secretary bea

Subcommittee , to provide badges for the Stewards , and the other usual requisites for the Festival . " A supply of dinner tickets will be sent to each Steward , who , however , will be responsible only for those actuallydisposed of by him . A duplicate sheet for donations , & c , will also be sent , if required , to each Steward .

Literary And Antiquarian Notes.

Literary and Antiquarian Notes .

The Lord Mayor talks of g iving three conversazioni , at one of which the City Companies will exhibit some of their pictures , at another their plate , at a third general objects of interest which they possess . A splendid collection of Fragonard's Paintings and Drawings have been sold in Paris , doo of the artist ' s works had been gathered together by the late M . Walfcrdin ,

an ardent admirer of the art of the eighteenth century , who lived until last January in the midst of pictures and scientific instruments , secluded in an old house in the He St . Louis . Tbe paintings alone realised some £ 8000 ., the best prices being paid for two reduced copies of panels executed for Madame du Barry's Chateau de Luciennes , "The Bold I . nver" and "The Surprise , " which sold for £ 1200 , and " The Happy Lovers , " which brought jfSoo .

Thc Drawings of the late Viollct-le-Duc arc now being exhibited at the Paris Cluny Museum . Some of the most interesting works are his plans for the restoration of Napoleon lll . ' s Castle of Pierrefonds , his unsuccessful designs for the Paris Grand Opera , and several spirited episodes of the Franco-Prussian War .

The South Kensington Museum has tried thc electric light with great success , the lamps being placed in the hall containing Sir F . Leighton ' s new fresco . The Brush system is adopted , and the lamps will be used on Mondays , Tuesdays , and Saturdays till 10 p . m . During the spring and summer the electric lighting of the British Museum has been suspended , but the experiment is considered to have been perfectly successful .

According to the Acmietny , an unknown M . S . of Saint-Simon has just been discovered in the Archives of the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs . It is entitled " Henri IV ., Louis XI 1 L , et Louis XIV ., " and contains details and criticisms of great historical interest . 'Vhc Athena-uin says that Mr . Browning will bring out before long a companion volume to the " Dramatic

Idyls" be published last year . Sir Charles Gavan Duffy , who is now on his way to this country from Australia , has prepared for immediate bublication a history of the Young Ireland movement , between 1 S 41 and 18 49 , in which he played a leading part .

From Notes and Queries we learn that the May number of the / . a : u Magazine and Review will contain an article by Sir Travers Twiss on Medi . eval Law in Cyprus , in which much new light will be thrown on the administration of the island under the House of Lusignan and the Venetian Republic .

1 he Royal Academicians have bought with the Chantrey Fund , from the exhibition which is about to open in Burlington-gardens , Mr . Poynter ' s " A Visit to .-Esculapius" ( 250 ) , Mr . Orchardson ' s "On Board H . M . S . Bellerophon" ( 2 O 2 ) , Mr . II . VV . B . Davis ' s "Returning to the Fold" I 255 ) , and Mr . Brett ' s " Britannia ' s Realm "

US 7 ) . Professor Saycc is preparing a thoroughly revised edition of George Smith's " Chaldean Genesis . " The translations as well as the text will be corrected and enlarged , and full use will be made of tbe tablets recently acquired by lho British Museum which relate to the earlier chapters of Genesis .

The front p illars of Tonx-giano ' s altar , which Mr . J . II . Middleton discovered a few months ago in the Ashmolean Musciiir ., and which the University authorities have since given up to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster , were replaced in their old position in the chapel of Henry VII . on monday last . The altar , to which they originall y belonged was " destroyed in 1243 .

Literary And Antiquarian Notes.

At a general Assembly , held on Friday , Charles B . Birch , sculptor , was elected an Associate , and Frederick Stacpoolc an Associate Engraver . The Art Union of London held its annual mcctinglastweek at tbe Lyceum Theatre , Mr . G . Godwin , F . R . S ., presiding in the absence of Lord Houghton . The years subscriptions amount to over £ 12 , 000 ., and the print of thc

year is an engraving of Mr . Oswald Brierley ' s picture , "The Loss of the Revenge . " Sir WaltcrStirling , _ in seconding the adoption of the report , lamented the demolition of Temple Bar , which had succumbed not to the ravages of time , but to general bad taste and a lack of appreciation of archaeology . He was sorry Cleopatra's Needle had been brought to this , country , and hoped the Pyramids would not follow it , to be placed in Trafalgar Square .

Thc ninety-fourth Exhibition of thc Society of Painters in Water Colours was opened to thc public in their gallery , 5 , Pall Mall East , on Monday . There are close on three hundred exhibits , and , if wc judge them by the talent they collectively display rather than numerically , the only possible conclusion to arrive at it is that it is in every way worthy of its predecessors . One of the most effective pictures is 120 , which , occupying , as it deservedly does , a

central space immediately facing the entrance , at once attracts the attention of the visitor . It is the work of Sir John Gilbert , R . A ., President of the Society , and represents the Battle of the Standard , fought during Stephen ' s reign , in tne year 113 S . Sir Gilbert exhibits another and only less effective picture than that we have named , the scene delineated being sufficiently indicated by its title of "The Prisoners / ' "A Ballast Wharf on the Thames , " "A

French Fishing Smack , " " Honueur , Normandy , and other works by Mr . George IT . Andrews , are admirable specimens of that artist's ability . Mr . Duncan has sent several contributions , which all testify that bis great skill as a delineator of marine scenery is still as vigorous as ever . This is especially noliceable in his " Old Billingsgate , " No . qR , which is unquestionably one of the gems of the display , and his "North Berwick Lifeboat . " " Ailsa

Craig , " . by Mr . Francis Powell , is a grandly simple performance . Messrs . Thomas J . Watson , E . A . Waterlow , Walker Field , and VV . E . Walker , the new Associates , give many and various proofs that they arc in every way worthy of thc honours recently bestowed on them . Mr . R . Thornc Waite , Associate , is well represented by eight pictures . Mr . Paul Naftel is even stronger still in respect of numbers , that which struck us as his best being" Through thc

VVood Pont-y-Gypyn , North Wales , " ( No . 4 0 ) . Amongst other contributors whose pictures will be deservedly appreciated must be mentioned Mrs . Allingham , Miss Clara Montalba , Messrs . S . P . Jackson , F . Tayler , Birkct Foster , F . Powell , G . Dodgs ' on , VV . C . T . Dobson , R . A ., II . M . Marshall , E . Radford , T . M . Richardson , whose " Pass of Glencoe " is one of the features of the gallery ; Carl Haag , whose "Sphynx of Gcczeh and thc Pyramid of

Cheops , " ( No . 121 ) is greatly lobe admired ; H . Moore , Oswald VV . Brierley , S . Read ' s , "Interior of Burgos Cathedral " ( No . 193 ) , worthy of all praise ; E . Buckman , "A Scramble—Yarmouth" ( No . K ) 7 ); and A . VV . Hunt , " Uokehy" ( No . 221 ); Mrs . II . C . Angcll , whose fruit and llowcrs are well nigh unsurpassable ; Mr . J . D . Watson , and Mr . Alfred D . Fripp . The usual style of

catalogue is issued to the public , but Bro . G . M . Haigh has compiled one which is printed on hand-wove paper , and merits to be described not simply as a novelty , but as the neatest and compactcst gem of a catalogue we have ever had the pleasure of seeing . It is a great advance on anything of the kind , and the public must appreciate it if they have in them sense and taste .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

A meeting of Grand Masters' Council , No . 1 , of Royal and Select Masters of England will be held at Red Lion-square , on Thursday next , at live o ' clock . Several candidates are down for admittance , and other business , including the appointment of officers . At a meeting of thc St . John ' s Lodge , No . 6 73 ,

it was proposed and resolved that the sum of fifty guineas be granted from the funds of the lodge for the R . M . I , for Boys . A report of the proceedings will appear in our next . We have been informed that Bro . Higgins has withdrawn his nomination of Bro . Thomas Francis Peacock for the House Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

On Monday the Lord Mayor will preside at thc twelfth annual meeting of the Royal Albert Merchant Seamen ' s Inisitutinn , to be held at the Mansion House . His lordship is one of the Vice-Presidents of the charity . The Fifteen Sections were worked at the Union Waterloo Lodge of Instruction , No . 13 , on Thursday evening , 29 th ult ., and held at the Earl of Chatham Arms

Woolwich , by Bro . J . G . Milbourn , Preceptor of the Excelsior and Temperance Lodges of Instruction , in thc absence through illness of Bro . N . Brown . A large attendance of the brethren testified to the unanimity and good feeling _ which exist in this district . Thc Sections were most impressively rendered by the brethren , amongst

whom Bro . Gooding ' s working eliciting tbe warmest and heartiest encomiums , Bros . G . Davies , P . M ., Preceptor , and A . Cleall , the efficient and indefatigable Secretary , being present and affording valuable assistance . Altogether a most enjoyable and profitable evening rewarded the attendance of the brethren .

I he Prince of Wales presided on Saturday at Marlborough House , over a meeting of the Royal Commission for the Australian International Exhibitions . There were present—The Earl of Carnarvon , the Earl of Kimbeifey , the Right I Ion . Sir Michael E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., the Right Hon . Hugh C . E . Childers , M . P ., Sir Daniel Cooper , Bail ., Sir | obn Rose , Bart ., Sir Frederick l . eighton , Mr . Warrington ' W . Smyth and . VIr . T . A . Wright , ' Secretary .

The Rig ht 1 Ion . Lord Viscount Sidinouth has promised to preside at the next anniversary of the Friend of the Clergy Corporation , at Willis ' s Rooms , St . James ' s , on Tuesday , June 22 nd . Her Majesty has conferred the Order of Victoria and Albert on the Duchess of Marlborough , in recognition of her unremitting and invaluable exertions in mitigating the misery and distress in Ireland .

Masonic And General Tidings.

The City and Guilds of London Institute for Advancement of Technical Education has voted £ 150 , and the Clothworkers' Company 100 guineas , to thc buildin ^ fund of the Birkbcck Literary and ' Scientific Institution . Mr . Arthur Charles , Q . C ., and Mr . Alfred Wills , Q . C ., were on Wednesday elected Examiners in Common Law to the University of London for the ensuing year .

1 he London Congregational Union , of which Mr . Albert Spicer is Treasurer , has an . income of £ 3582 , from subscriptions during the past year , and £ i 2 S gs . yd . b y collections . Thc grants for the same period were 3 / . 23 SS 2 s . 4 d . to the Church Aid Society , and £ 6 ^ 3 4 s . for sites .

I he fifty-third anniversary festival of the Printer's Pension Corporation , will be held on Tuesday next , thc nth inst ., at thc Freemasons' Tavern , under the presi dency of Bro . the Right Hon . Sir Francis Wyatt Truscott , supported by the sheriffs of London and Middlesex .

B y permission of the Treasurer , Bro . J . D . Allcroft , J . P ., the next ordinary evening meeting of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society will be held in the Court Room of Christ ' s Hospital , on Monday , when a paper will be read by Mr . William Pitman , C . C ., entitled "Topographical Notes on thc Ward of Farringdon Within . " The Rev . S . M . Mayhew , M . A ., F . S . A ., will exhibit some antiquities , and the Hon . Secretary , Mr . Birch , will read a short communication on the Old Tern pie , in Holborn .

Thc annual general meeting of St . Peter ' s Hospital will be held , by permission of the Lord Mayor , at the Mansion House , on Tuesday , when his lordship will preside . The " Windsor Strollers , " amongst whom is

Lad y Monckton , gave a dramatic performance in the Music Room , Queen Anne ' s Mansion , on Thursday last , for the benefit of St . Andrew ' s Convalescent Home , Clewer . Wc believe that a new evening paper will make its _ . ipper . incc in the course of a few days , under the editorship of Mr . Frederick Greenwood .

I he first meeting of the Gucl p h Lodge since the recess will be held this day ( Saturday ) at the Red Lion , Leytonstonc . Sir William Goldncy , M . P ., one of thc new baronets , is a Governor of Christ ' s Hospital . The Brewers' Company , thc Clothworkers ' Company , and the Fishmongers' Company have each contributed 100 guineas to the building fund of Girton College .

The Mercers' Company have voted a donation of £ 52 10 s . in aid of the funds of the Royal Hospital for Children and Women . Thc Lord Mayor , supported b y Bro . Sheriff Woolloton , and Bro . Sheriff Bayley , and the under-sheriffs , Bro . Crawford and Bro . Wragg , will preside at the twentyeighth anniversary festival of the City Orthoixedic Hospital

to be held at thc Albion on Friday . __ The inaugural dinner of the Horns Tavern , Kennington , under the management of Messrs . Smith and King-, will take place on Thursday evening , May 13 th , when the chair will be taken by H . D . Rawlings , Esq ., and the vice chair b y A . Probyn , Esq . The musical arrangements will be tinder tbe direction of Mr . Chaplin Henry . '

the 1 st of May in Liverpool was celebrated as usual by a procession of gaily decorated horses , wagons , and trade insignia , and as lor the first time in the year the weather' was warm , bright , and summcrlike , the show attracted thousands of spectators , who lined the streets , and gave the city all the appearance of an organised fete . The show of horseflesh on these occasions in Liverpool is always extremely fine , and and Saturday proved no exception to the rule .

On the 2 <) lh nil . a most successful concert was given in the New Cross Public Hall in aid of thc Irish Distress Fund . ' The ball was well filled , and all classes , rich and poor , alike showed a warm sympathy in thc objects of the concert . It was under the patronage of the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and several gentlemen of the neighbourhood , among whom we may mention Bro . Joseph Clever , while Bro . Joseph Clever , jun ., acted as one of

the . Stewards . The nett result amounted to £ 23 os . id ., which has been handed over to the Lord Mayor . The hipping Forest Committee have g iven the superintendent and keepers the strictest possible orders to prevent bird shooting , birds ' -nesting-, and bird snaring by every means in their power , and nothing is to be allowed to be destroyed within the Forest precincts except venomous reptiles , like adders or vipers . '

1 he funeral of thc late Mr . George Grosssmith , the well-known reader and reciter , took place on Thursday , the 30 th ult ., at Kensal Green Cemetery . The chief mourners were the two sons , Mr . George Grossmitb , thc popular actor , and Mr . Walter Wecdon Grossmith , and his brother

Mr . VV . R . Grossmith . Mr . J . L . Toole , Mr . Charles Milwood , Mr . John Gardner , and several other intimate friends of the deceased were among the followers , while many assembled on the grounds to pay theirlast tribute of respect to one who was so universally admired for his geniality and kindness of disposition to all with whom he was associated .

Wc stated some time since that the brethren at Cheltenham were about to present to the newly-restored old parish church of that town a stained glass window for the east end of the building , and that the execution of the work had been entrusted to Messrs . Lavers and Barraud , of Bloomsbury . The window has now been completed , and has been put together at the manufacturers' works in

Endcll-strcet , where , we are requested to state , Bro . Lavers will be pleased to show it to any brethren or others who may care to inspect it . The window will cost the Masons of Cheltenham about £ 330 , a very generous gift . The ceremony of unveiling and presentation will take place

on the 2 dth inst ., the day following the holding of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire at Stroud . It is expected that a sermon will be preached on the occasion by the Chaplain of the Province . One of the local lodges ( No . S 2 ) holds its regular meeting in the evening of the same day .