Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

PROVINCIAL PRIORY OF DEVONSHIRE . A Provincial Priory of Devonshire was held on Tuesday afternoon , the 29 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Plymouth , under the banner of the Holy Cross Preceptory . V . E . Sir Knig ht the Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., S . C . L ., 31 ° 24 , P . G . Prior , presided , and those present included Sir Knig hts Henry Stocker , 0

18 ° , P . G . Chancellor ; E . Aitken Davies , 18 , P . G . Marshal ; J . M . " Hifley , 18 ° , P . G . Constable ; J . R . Wilson , P . G . Treas . ; Geo . R . Barrett , P . G . Reg . ; W . Bennett Maye , 18 ° , P . G . Sub-Marshal ; Richard Pengelley , P . G . Almoner and Chap . ; F . C . Frost , P . G . Warden of Regalia ; James Griffin , acting

P . G . Prior ' s Banner Bearer ; Daniel Cross , 18 , P . G . Aide-de-Camp ; George Dunsterville , 18 ° , P . G . Aidede-Camp ; John Du Pre , P . G . Chamberlain ; W . H . Phillips , P . G . S . B . ; and James Gidley , P . G . Guard . Letters of apology having been read , the Provincial Chancellor presented his annual report , which was of a

satisfactory character . All the preceptories had sent in their dues and paid their returns . He called attention to Article 82 of the Constitutions , by which the Registrar of every preceptory was bound to send notice of each meeting to the P . G . Chancellor . The P . G . TREASURER reported that -the year , which

commenced with a balance in hand of £ g 8 s . nd ., closed with a balance of £ 14 7 s . 5 d . It was decided , on the recommendation of the General Purposes Committee , to vote £ 10 ios . to the Widows' Fund of the R . M . B . L , to be placed on the list of Sir Knight the Rev . T . W . Lemon , the Steward for the province .

The P . G . CHANCELLOR said that since 1863 he found that the Provincial Priory had voted £ 93 to the Fortescue Annuity Fund , £ 36 18 s . to the R . M . I . G ., £ 34 ios . to the R . M . I . B ., £ 15 to the Fund for Aged Freemasons , . £ 21 2 s . to the Devon Masonic Educational Fund , £ 6 6 s . to the Royal Albert Hospital , and £ 10 ios . to the Royal

British Female Orphan Asylum . On the proposition of Sir Knight COVER , Sir Knight D . Cross was unanimousl y elected P . G . Treas . The Prov . G . Prior then appointed and invested the following sir knights as his officers for the year ensuing—Prov . Great Officers : —

Sir Kni ght John Brewer , 1 S ... P . G . Sub-Prior . „ Rev . J . Dickinson ... P . G . Prelate . Hy . Stocker , 18 ° ... P . G . Chancellor . T . W . Coffin , P . G . Chamberlain Eng .... P . G . Constable .

J . Du Pre P . G . Marshal . „ D . Cross P . G . Treas . Jas . Griffin P . G . Reg . The Prov . Officers appointed were : Sir Kni ght G . W . Barnett ... P . Vice-Chancellor „ Major Swan P . Sub-Marshal .

Rev . H . G . Morse ... P . Al . and Chap . „ W . F . Westcott ... P . W . of Regalia . J- R . Lord P . Herald . W . G . Hill P . ist Std . Br . H . Rogers P . 2 nd Std . Br . John Taylor P . Prior ' s B . B .

J . Chapman , P . P . G . Reg P . A . D . C . ,, J . B . Cover P . Chamberln . E . H . Shorto P . Capt . of Gd . G . S . Lowe P . Swd . Br . „ H . B . Stark P . Org .

„ James Gidley P . Guard . The alms collected from the knights were devoted to the Devon Masonic Educational Fund . Sir Knight J CHAPMAN proposed , in a forcible speech , " That the Prov . Priory of Devonshire suggest to the National Great Priory of England that it is very desirable to amend the rule or regulation of the Order

by granting to all sir knights that have received Prov . honours , and that shall receive in the future Provincial rank , the right of past rank on the expiration of their term of office , or so long as they shall remain subscribing members of the Order . " The resolution was unanimously carried , and the meeting shortly after closed .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The monthly meeting of the General Committee of this Institution was held on Thursday , the ist inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Robert Grey , P . G . D ., in the chair . There were also present Bros . W . M . Bywater , Frank Richardson , C H . Webb , William Vincent !

Henry A . Hunt , Peter de Lande Long , James Brett , Alfred C . Spaull , T . W . Whitmarsh , H . Massey , w ! G . Kentish , E . Johnson , W . Morley , J . J . Berry , J . S . Cumberland , W . Clark , and F . R . W . Fledges ( Secretary ) .

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , and the carrying of a resolution adopting the recommendation that cheques be signed for various payments for the Institution , Bros . Dawson , Mintz , Kentish , Nash , Johnson , and Money were proposed for election to the vacancies on the Finance Committee at next meeting , and a vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

The export of gold from the Cape during October amounted in value to £ 127 , 000 .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of this Institution met last Saturday at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Richard Eve , Past Grand Treasurer , presiding . A large number of brethren were present . The minutes of the former meeting having been read

and confirmed , and the minutes of other Committees , and of the Quarterly Court of the 25 th ult ., having been read for information , Bro . SCURRAH asked what had been done by the Sub-Committee entrusted with the arrangements as to a new head master .

Bro . BEVIR said the Committee had been sitting that-day with Bro . Terry , Grand Treasurer , in the chair at first , but that brother being obliged to leave , he ( Bro . Bevir ) succeeded him . Without going into details , the result of the meeting was really this—that the terms on which the new head master should be

appointed was discussed and considered , and an outline of those terms was entrusted to a Sub-Committee of six , with instructions to advertise and receive applications with a view to their being considered by the Provisional Committee before the end of the present month , in the hope that the Provisional Committee

might , at its next meeting that day month , bring before the General Committee the names of gentlemen applying for the application , in order that one might be selected , subject to confirmation by that Committee . The object they had in view was that , if possible , some kind of selection might be made at the next meeting of the General Committee in a month ' s time , so that a

gentleman might be appointed by the Christmas holidays . Bro . J AMES STEVENS asked whether Dr . Morris ' s notice had expired . Bro . BEVIR said no ; it expired in April next . A large number of the under masters had given notice of resignation , so that the Institution would be without under masters in December . That had forced the hands of

the Committee . They must have time for the head master to be selected , and give him time to select under masters . Bro . J AMES STEVENS : The term of Dr . Morris ' s notice would not then have expired ? Bro . BEVIR said that Dr . Morris at the previous

meeting was present when the resignation of all the under masters' was accepted . Bro . Eve was in the chair , and was asked what arrangement should be made for carrying on the School from Christmas to April 10 . The Committee thought it was only fair to relieve Dr . Morris of his duties at the Christmas

vacation . It was then moved , seconded , and carried , that Lord Euston should sign cheques for the accounts which had been recommended by the House and Finance Committees to be paid . A question arose as to the Grand Treasurer having

refused to accept other amendments to the motion to give Bro . Binckes an allowance of ^ 350 a year , when three amendments had been rejected at the last Quarterly Court . The CHAIRMAN said he distinctl y remembered Bro . Terry saying at the time he put the motion that three

amendments had been rejected , and therefore he need not put any more . Several brethren questioned this statement , but the CHAIRMAN repeated that he distinctl y remembered it . [ What actually was said on the occasion was the following : —The CHAIRMAN : I decline to receive any

more amendments . ( Hear , hear . ) I put the original motion . You have had an amendment of £ 200 , of none , and of £ 250 . It is now £ 350 to Bro . Binckes . ] Bro . SCURRAH said he should like to ask one question with regard to the Secretary . The Quarterly Court having voted £ 350 a year to Bro . Binckes , was it now

understood that he had resigned , and that he would leave at Christmas ? Was it not made a condition that if Bro . Binckes was awarded the pension named he would resign ? The CHAIRMAN replied that that was not for him to answer ; that really became a legal question .

Bro . BINCKES : I have not resigned . Bro . SCURRAH said that many brethren were anxious to know what position they stood in . He thought it a very necessary question to ask , and the Provisional Committee should be prepared to answer it . The CHAIRMAN said that so far the Provisional

Committee had not come to any decision on the question . Bro . SCURRAH : When shall we know ? Bro . W . H . SAUNDERS : Ten years hence . Bro . SCURRAH : We understood that provided Bro . Binckes was voted £ 350 a year he would resign at Christmas . Those were the very words made use of

at that time . I want to know if an arrangement has been made that if ^ 350 was voted at the Quarterl y Court Bro . Binckes would resign . Bro . J AMES STEVENS : But that decision of the Quarterly Court really requires confirmation . A BROTHER asked whether it was not the fact that

according to Rule 34 a resolution of one Quarterl y Court required confirmation at the next General Court . This was a grant of money , and he wanted to know whether that did not require confirmation . The CHAIRMAN said the matter had been partly

considered , but it involved money questions which it was very difficult to answer . Therefore , it was operating on the minds of the Provisional Committee , and they would report on the first opportunity . The BROTHER who asked the question said his only reason for doing so was that there was a rumour that a

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

movement was on foot to contest the vote , and the bre thren would like to know at once in order that thev mig ht take the necessary steps . If this resolution did come up at the next Quarterl y Court they would know what steps to take . Bro . J AMES STEVENS said brethren were strong ly 0 t

opinion that those proceedings should not be taken , u would be injurious to the Institution and many other Institutions . He hoped Bro . Binckes would stand in the way and decline to resign , and let it be understood that he must be removed ; let it be his determination that if it was the opinion that he had committed himself

the Institution must get rid of him . His pluck had been shown and acknowledged in many instances . He ( Bro . Stevens ) contended that it was a great pit y and almost a great shame that this Institution should he involved in a public scandal through the disagreement of officials ; but the fact having taken place , the best

means to be adopted now to save the Institution being dragged before the public any more than it was at present , was by the Secretary not taking the £ 3 ^ grant , but holding to his position as long as he could . Bro . W . H . SAUNDERS : Ten years .

The CHAIRMAN remarked that it was under the consideration of the Committee as to what steps they thought it necessary to take . He did not know whether they would be able to decide before the next Quarterl y Court , but when they had decided they would not do so without taking all matters into consideration , legal and otherwise .

Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND asked whether in that case they would take any steps until the decision was arrived at for filling up the Secretaryship . Bro . Scurrah had put a very pertinent question , and he quite agreed with Bro . Stevens that the Provisional Committee , having been threatened by one of the speakers and his friends

it behoved the Committee not to give a final decision until they knew all the bearings of the case . He was delig hted to hear what the Chairman had said , and he hoped nothing would be done and no steps taken until the Committee had arrived at a decision . He also hoped that those who were pushing candidates for the Secretaryship forward would not do so until there was

a vacancy . Let the brother and his friends take Chancery proceedings . The BROTHER referred to begged to call Bro . Cumberland to order for having said he had threatened proceedings in Chancery . He never used the word Chancery . Bro . CUMBERLAND said then he would withdraw the

expression at once . The brother had talked of proceedings . Another BROTHER would like to know in what position the question would stand if the minutes were confirmed . He was sorry to say the question of the retiring pension to Bro . Binckes had been discussed as

far as he had heard in that room with very great heat , but it was a question that brethren should not get warm upon . There was a strong feeling abroad that the Institution had not been fairly dealt with , and it was desirable that brethren should speak without heat in the matter . He wished to ask when , if they confirmed those minutes that day it would have any influence

whatever on the question . The CHAIRMAN : None whatever . It must be reported at the Quarterly Court . They were only read for our own information . If , after taking advice , we find it is conclusive , we may not trouble the Quarterly Court again . Bro . SCURRAH said it was perfectly satisfactory to him .

Bro . BINCKES said he had not resigned . A BROTHER thought it would be as well to say that he was informed that some persons who were not subscribers were present at the Quarterly Court , and » that was so the voting was not good . He wished to ask how many names were signed .

Bro . BINCKES-. 384 . Bro . J AMES STEVENS said the voting was 433- " saw one person in the Quarterly Court who was not a subscriber . A BROTHER : That would be quite enough to invalidate the voting .

Another BROTHER asked whether a reverend clergyman , a Past Grand Chaplain , was a subscriber . Bro . BINCKES said yes ; he had taken pains to examine into that . The reverend brother qualified two days before . . Five petitioners were placed on the list for n « election , One petition was deferred , and one di

missed . . Bro . BINCKES wished to say that the announcenien of lists at the last festival was i ' 13 , 200 . sin 9 f "S lists had come in making it up to , £ 13 , 600 . " . - received un to that dav ^ n . 12- ; . leaving £ 275 st "

come in , all of which he hoped was good . At bankers there was £ 1339 . Therefore there was n much ground for the complaint that their ^ oat ^ were falling off , notwithstanding the unfortunate cumstances in which the Institution had been place The proceedings then closed .

The " Battle of the Giants , " as the Daily T . de f ^\' described the contest between Samson , who claims ^ the strongest man in the world , and Sandow , endef . j-Ir . victory being awarded by the judges to the la , " jtcom-Samson appears to have some curious notions a ^ petitions of this class , and desired to have it ac teJ in tne tncics i ' — - uicu

way aecerinuung wmcu »»» , J r by the rival giants , but the judges intervened sa tl ] C that only Samson ' s ordinary tricks should be . j ^ result being that Samson lost his temper , wm « - gained the victory .