Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

BRO . KEYSER'S MUNIFICENT MASONIC GIFT . To the Editor of the "Freemason " Dear Sir and Brother , In your issue of the ist inst ., in again calling attention to Bro . C . E . Keyser ' s gift of 5000 guineas for the purpose of erecting a chapel in connection with the new Masonic Institution for Boys , you say " the Provinces of Berkshire

and Hertfordshire have special cause to congratulate themselves in reference to this generous gift inasmuch as they will have perpetual scholarships in the school . " You do not , however , state how , or in what manner , this is to be accomplished . The value of a perpetual presentation to the Boys' School is at the present time about ^ 1500 , so the cost of the two would be , say ^ 3000 . Where is this amount to come from ? If from the Keyser gift , what about the chapel ?—Yours fraternally , HORS DE COMBAT .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"MANNING ' S MASONIC REGISTER OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS ' FOR THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR 18 97 . "—This most compact and useful annua ] of some 350 pages is so well arranged , that its size is only 2-V inches by 4 inches , and is issued by the well-known Masonic Publishine Company of Dock-street , Philadelphia , U . S . A . ( Proprietors and Publishers of the Keystone ) . It is a wonderful compilation , giving as it does the names of the chief officers , all the Past Masters , Trustees , place , and time of meeting of each Iodge ( considerably over 400 in number ) , chapter ( exceeding 120 ) , council—Royal and Select Masters ( 22 ) , commanderies—Knights Templar ( 23 ) , & c ,

all Masonic bodies being duly represented and described . When it is remembered that Pennsylvania is the third as respects size as a Grand Lodge in the United States of America , having nearly 50 , 000 members on its roll , one-third of the number being Royal Arch Masons , it will be evident that these varied and interesting particulars cannot fail to be of immense advantage to many thousands of Craftsmen who consult the pages of this accurate and ably-edited directory . The Grand Lodge , Grand Chapter , and Grand Commandery , as well as all the other governing bodies , are also carefully noted , and all needful particulars supplied , so that the " Register " is a necessity for all members of the Fraternity in the ' * Keystone State . "

"BELL ' S CATHEDRAL SERIES . " NO . 5 , Oxford . This handsomely-illustrated and well got-up Handbook of "The Cathedral Church of Oxford , a description of its Fabric and a brief History of its Episcopal See " is written by the Rev . Percy Dearmer , M . A ., and , as with the others of this remarkable series , is edited by Messrs . Gleeson White and E . F . Strange , for Messrs . George Bell and Sons , Covent Garden , London . The volume extends to 136 pages , and is not only fully illustrated ( many of the fullpaged plates being very choice ) , but the author has also done his part most thoroughly ,

and having learnt the best of what he knows within Christ Church walls , it has been most pleasant [ for him ] to gather these notes of the Cathedral's history and architecture . The publication of this handy and instructive work is not like adding to the " world ' s overcrowded Library " needlessly , because " certain recent discoveries in the Cathedral have thrown the best of the old books out of date , and made it necessary for someone to weave together the older and the later knowledge . " This Mr . Dearmer has ably done , and having had the advantage of the assistance of Mr . J . Park Harrison ( who

made these special discoveries , and has generously allowed the substance of them to be incorporated in the present issue ) , it will be evident that this , the fifth of the series , is of the utmost value to those who desire the latest and best about this famous Fane . The author has been equally fortunate in obtaining permission for the reproduction of several important drawings and photographs . " The Cathedral Church of Christ , in Oxford , " was originally built for the small Monastery of St . Frideswide , but was raised to the rank of a Cathedral in the 16 th century . Its eventful History is faithfully and lovingly pourtrayed in the early chapters , and in subsequent ones its present

condition is graphically described , the illustrations , as far as possible , fitting in most appropriately with the text . As to the exterior , the author feelingly alludes to its being hidden as a " Cathedral " in a rather intricate environment of College buildings and private gardens j " but the one feature which in part rises above its misfortunes is the Spire , " but entering the building by passing unaer the screen , _ all is changed , " we find ourselves in one of the most charming and distinctive interiors of a country of interesting churches . " But we must leave the author to tell his own tale , as he does most admirably , simply stating that copies of this beautiful little volume , and the others of the series , may be had for eighteenpence each .

Distribution Of Prizes At The Girls' School.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT THE GIRLS ' SCHOOL .

On Monday afternoon the Stewards for the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls for the present year paid the usual Stewards ' visit to the School at Battersea Rise to view the School and witness the presentation of prizes to the children b y Lady Llangattock , wife of the Chairman of the icyth Festival , Bro . Lord Llangattock , 1 ' rov . G . Master of South Wales ( Eastern Division ) . His lordship accompanied Lady Llangattock , and a very large party of ladies and brethren also attended .

Members of the House Committee received Lord and Lady Llangattock and Miss Rolls , and among them were Bros . Sir J . B . Monckton , R . Loveland Loveland , Frank Richardson , Edward Terry , H . A . Hunt , Ralph Glutton , Sir Reginald Hanson , A . C . Spaull , E . Letchworth , Col . James Peters , and J . H . Matthews . Bros . Colonel Gordon , H . A . Tobias , James Stephens , W . G . Kentish , F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) , and Jas . Boulton , P . G . P ., were also with the party .

There was an alteration in the usual programme , the calisthenics playing the principal part of the first division of the entertainment . In addition to the ordinary drill , a new figure , designed specially for the occasion of the Diamond Year of the Oueen , was introduced , which consisted in the girls who formed the corps arranging themselves so as to produce first the year 18 37 , the date of the Oueen ' s accession , and then 1 S 97 , the year of her Majesty ' s Diamond Anniversary . The evolution was vociferously and enthusiastically cheered .

Bro . EDWARD TERRY then called up the girls to receive the prizes at the hands of Lady Llangattock , which they did in the following order :

PRIZES PRESENTED BV THE INSTITUTION . Gold Medal for Proficiency ( with £ 5 by the late Bro . William Winn)—Constance Green . Silver Medal for Good Conduct ( with £ 5 by the late Bro . William Winn)—Selina Booth .

Distribution Of Prizes At The Girls' School.

Cambridge Local Examinations ( 41 entered , 38 passed ) . Senior—Mabel Bohli . Class III . Honours . Distinction in Religious Knowledge . Junior—Constance Green . Class I . Honours , ist Division . Distinction in English , French , and Religious Knowledge—Agnes Anthony , Eleanor Blott , Alice Cash , Ethel Brine , and Rose Davies . Preliminary—Mabel Collins . Class III . Distinction in Religious Knowledge . Gladys Jones—Distinction in English .

College of Preceptors'Examination ( 31 entered , 25 passed)—Jessie Richards . Proficiency in Lower Classes—3 rd , Ada Mathew ; 4 th , Margaret Sims j 5 th , Bertha Sanders ; Gth , Agnes Robinson . PRESENTED BY FRIENDS OF THE INSTITUTION . Religious Knowledge ( Bro . Robert Grey)—Mabel Bohli , Constance Green , andJMabel Collins .

English Subjects ( Bro . A . C Spaull)—Constance Green , andjMargaret Vivian . Arithmetic and Mathematics ( Bro . Thomas Fenn )—Eleanor Groombridge , and , Selina Booth . Mental Arithmetic ( Bro . G . W . Kentish)—Catherine Castle . Music , 1 st Prize ( Bro . J . H . Matthews)—Gwendoline Robson . Music , 2 nd Prizes ( The "Wentworth Little" )—Mabel Messenger , and Jessie Richards .

Singing ( Mrs . Robert Brown)—Ethel Davis . French ( Bro . Eugene Monteuuis)—Constance Green . French , Special Prize ( Bro . Oscar Philippe)—Mabel Bohli . Drawing ( The " John Boyd " )—Eliza Pettier , Mabel Messenger , Mary Harrison , and Mary Maslen . Shorthand and Type-writing ( Bro . R . Loveland Loveland)—Florence Gauntlett . Needlework ( The Misses Tobias )—Selina Booth , Edith Morgan , Ruby Butcher ,

and Elsie Kilpm . Fancy Work , First Prize ( Mrs . Henry A . Hunt)—Lizzie Simcock . Fancy Work , Second Prize ( Mrs . Homewood Crawford)—Edith Buck . Good Conduct—ist Prize ( The Supreme Council , 33 ° )—Jessie Codling . Good Conduct—2 nd Prizes ( Bro . Frank Richardson)—Hildi Collard and Kitty Randall . The best Prefect ( Bro . E . Letchworth )—Florence Gauntlett . Order and Attention ( Bro . Ralph Glutton)—Ethel Davis , Hetty Arkell , and Jessie Hicks .

Cookery—ist Prize , £ 5 ( Bro . D . P . Cama)—Lizzie Simcock . Cookery—2 nd Prizes ( Bro . Henry A . Hunt)—Mary Prince and Edith Winterbottom . Usefulness in Domestic Duties ( The " Yates , " St . James's Lodge , No . S 42)—Emma Branthwaite . Calisthenics and Deportment ( Bro . Col . James Peters)—Kate Rath . Smimming ( Lady Monckton ) — Beatrice Turner , Clare Whettam , and Viole White . Amiability ( Bro . John Faulkner ) ( Selected by her Schoolfellows)—Alice Cash .

J UNIOR SCHOOL . General Proficiency ( Bro . Frank Richardson)—Gladys Hogg . Arithmetic ( The " Henry Levander " )—Noel Platt . The fortunate recipients were . received with great applause as they advanced to take their rewards .

Bro . EDWARD TERRY then proposed a vote of thanks to Lady Llangattock . He said thebrethren all felt greatly indebted to her ladyship , as did also the pupils , for attending on this occasion . Lady Llangattock had expressed her admiration for the Institution , and for everything she had seen in it , and she had assured him that it had given her , as well as Lord Llangattock , great pleasure to attend .

Lady LLANGATTOCK , in acknowledging the vote , which was heartily agreed to , said : Mr . Terry , ladies and gentlemen , I can assure you that it gives me very great pleasure to be here on this interesting occasion , and I consider it a great honour to be asked to present the prizes to the girls that belong to such a grand and efficient Institution as this is , the management of

which , from what I have seen and heard , reflects the greatest credit on the responsible officers . They may well be proud of such an Institution . I trust this may not be my last visit by many to this interesting School , for , having seen it , I shall always take the greatest interest in its welfare . I thank you extremely for the kind way you have spoken of us , and the hearty welcome you have given us .

Lord LLANGATTOCK also spoke . He said , although it was always delightful to hear the eloquence of a lady yet he should have been somewhat disappointed if he had not been allowed the opportunity of delivering a speech which he had been preparing all the morning —( laughter)—thinking that he would be called upon to return thanks for his wife to a vote which he knew would be passed . It was a sign of the times that a wonderful change in the position of ladies had taken place in the last 60 years . The ladies were not so dependent on their husbands now as they used to be , and

perhaps during the next 60 years they would take even a more prominent part in the business and affairs of the world than they did now . But as he was to be Chairman of the Festival on Wednesday he would say a few words on his own account and thank the company for their welcome to his _ wife and for the extremely happy day he had passed at that Institution last week and the kindness he had received . He was delighted to receive that kindness , and with all he had seen ot tne ocnooitne in it

, cnuaren , ana witn tne tone ot tne place . ( Hear , hear . ) He hoped that those who had not received prizes would not be disheartened , but try their best to win prizes in the future . He felt that every future visit he paid to the Institution the greater would be the pleasure lie wpuld experience . Last week he was afraid he nearly killed poor Miss Buck , walking at least two miles round the building visiting the various departments . He saw the dormitories , the kitchen , scullery , the laundry , the carpenter ' s shop , the swimming bath , & c , and he looked with astonishment at the staff . Miss Buck was heart and soul he could see in making

every one in the building happy and comfortable . Miss Redgrave , the Head Governess , who taught the children ; Mrs . Roworth , who educated them in music , he could not but praise , and that day the company had seen what a splendid leader in music Mrs . Roworth was . As to the physical drill they had just seen , how creditable it was to Miss Redgrave . The children went through it without any sign of having been so beautifully _ taught . He could see that their lives were made lives of happiness . He had not forgotten the wonderful work he saw from the gallery last week which was repeated to-day when the children formed the 1837 and the l ! ^ 97- He wondered whether our ancestors ever thought of and realised , if they could realise , the wonderful changes that had taken place in this country between those two vears . In the first

place there was the wonderful growth of this great school . There were some who might recollect that it was very small . Going to another subject there was in 1 S 37 no discovery of gold in California and Australia , and steam was in its infancy . In the early days of the Queen if one wanted to go to America or Australia he , might be tossed about for months on the waves if the weather was not favourable . Now they could go to America in seven days . There was a wonderful difference in the railways , in the early part of those sixty years there was not much comfort on railways , but now there was comfort , whatever