Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 30 ; Roval Masonic Institution for Girls 39 6 Koyal Masonic Institution for Boys 307 Consecration of the VYaldeck Lod-e , . \ 'o . iq 6 g 307 Roval Masonic Ik-nevolent Institution ago Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk 399 West Lancashire Masonic Kducational Institution 390 Dorset Masonic Charity 3 uo India 39 'J CORRESPONDENCECharity Voting 400 Blackballing Candidates 401 What is the Test of Poverty ' - 40 ; Reviews 401 Mark Masonry 401 Masonic Notes and Queries 402 . Summer Outing of the Bedford Lodge , No . 157 4 ° - I

Annual Dam-net of the Tempcrance-in- !) ic-Kast Lodge of Instruction . No . SyS 402 Summer Outing of the Upton Lodge , No . 1227 402 Scotland 403 Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania 403 REP-IRTS or MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 403 Instruction 404 Royal Arch 405 Ancient and Accepted Rite 40 . ; Knights Templar 405 Obituary 405 The Theatres 4 ( 16 Music 400 Science and Art 4011 Masonic and General Tidings 407 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 40 S

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MANY of our readers will have followed the doings of the Hnglish fleet off Alexandria with the very deepest interest . The account of the gallantry and services of Bio . Lord CHARLES BERESFORD will have gratified

naturally manj'of his brethren and friends ; and the one feeling-of ail our readers , we presume , will be one of pride and confidence in the distinguished Admiral , his officers and men , and also of satisfactory conviction lhat the iron may as much be relied on as the once wooden walls of Old England .

* * THE Quarterly Court of the Girls' School on Saturday last was not without importance . Twenty girls were placed on the list for the October election , and seven vacancies were declared . Bro . ' 1 ATTERSHALL brought forward his motion with reference to the election by purchase of a candidate having

a sister in the School , declaring the ineligibility by purchase of such a candidate as well as by election . The motion was carried by twelve to nine ; but , curiously enough , the battle will have to be fought over again in the General Committee , where the opinion of the GRAND REGISTRAR has to be read , when that opinion , as asked for by a resolution of that body , will come before

it . It is known that the opinion of our learned brother is adverse to the view of Bro . TATTERSHALL and others . Thus the Quarterly Court had to come to a conclusion on confessedly imperfect data , and it was ruled by the CHAIRMAN 7 to be out of order to refer to an opinion intended for the General Committee at a Quarterly Court ; yet , as the Quarterly Court is

the superior body to the other , wc cannot see why , as an aid to the discussion , such an opinion might not have been read for information . Bro . TATTERSHALL , after some discussion , withdrew his resolution about compulsory Committee-retirement until the nest Quarterly Court , when he will bring forward a fuller and clearer resolution . A further grant was properly and heartily accorded to our worthy Bro . WEBER .

THE Quarterly Court of the Boys' School took place on the mth inst ., when sixty-two candidates and twelve vacancies were declared .

* = 1 : A Gtion deal may be said on the two points raised on Saturday last in the Quarterly Court of the Girls' School . As regards the purchase of a candidate who has already a sister in the School , everything turns on the exact verbiage and meaning of the law . Abstractedl y it would seem as if the

election and purchase of candidates stood on a different footing ; and practically , if any girls are admitted by purchase at all , it matters not to the Institution , supposing the amount paid be sufficient , whether the candidates be related or not . It is no doubt most desirable that as regards the election to the Charity , as a Charity , any appearances of favouritism , nepotism , or

" family party" should be carefully avoided and forbidden , and therefore one of the same family can only be admitted , * but when it becomes a case of purchase . wecan easily realizeadistressingcase where the refusal would operate

hardly if thc same rule is to apply inexorably . We do not conceal from ourselves that probably the feeling of our brethren is against this purchase of a sister , but we are glad the question has been raised , and the sooner it is settled authoritatively and finally the better .

As regards the compulsory retirement of Committeemen , there are two sides clearly to the question . Much may be said forthe proposition , a good deal may be said against it ; but we venture to think that the balance of

convenience and benefit for the Institution lies against any change . At present , 'f we are dissatisfied . with the House Committee , we can change them one and all . If we carry Bro . TATTERSHALL ' S motion , we can only change three annuall y . On the whole , then , we are of opinion that it is one of those

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cases where '" quieta non movere ought to be our motto ; the more so as it is pure ' 3 ' a problematical move , a leap in the dark . We are all satisfied with the present House Committee , and as , in truth , there is generally a change every year , we do not see that much will be gained by such an alteration in the laws . If Bro . TATTERSHALL ' motion be eventually carried , we shall have to redraft the whole law relating to the annual election of the House Committee afresh .

WHAT a pity it is that our good brethren will not road and study the Book of Constitutions . Hardly a day passes but , alike in our columns and in numerous oilier ways , the most lamentable ignorance is displayed by members of our Order , even by W . M . ' s and those higher in rank ; and the stereotyped reply to appeal and objurgation is one and the same—" ivc had

not read the Book of Constitutions . " But why not ? What is the reason ? what the excuse ? We can only then urge upon all our brethren the advisability of studying the Book of Constitutions , of giving a copy of it to every

newly-initiated candidate , as is the wise custom in many lodges now , as well as to every new VV . M . and to every Secretary and Treasurer amongst us , so that none may plead ignorance of provisions which are absolutely necessary , alike for thc normal and abnormal life of Masonry to-day .

* * WE once again repeat a friendly warning against personal correspondence . It would almost seem as if even the slightest matter cannot be commented

upon or discussed in our columns without the evil genius of personality stepping in and marring and perverting the words of those who should be , who are bound to be , courteous , considerate , fair-dealing , kindly-speaking brother Masons .

* * WITH reference to the question latel y in our columns about a conspiracy to blackball , we beg to say that there have been several cases of appeal to the Board of General Purposes against exclusion for indiscriminate blackballing . The first was in 1 S 25 , when a brother had avowedly blackballed a candidate

without being able to allege anything against his character , and had also expressed , in a private conversation , his intention of blackballing every future candidate . With respect to the first charge , the Board considered that in blackballing the candidate he had onl y exercised his undoubted right , at the same time they described his conduct as unbrotherly . As to the

second charge , thc Board were unwilling to believe that the brother would deliberately have carried out so unjust and highly unmasonic a purpose , and as it was only a threat they ruled that his exclusion was premature and unnecessary . There were two other cases ; one in 1864 was an appeal against the exclusion of three brethren for blackballing indiscriminately all

candidates proposed . In this case the appeal was dismissed and the exclusion upheld . There was another in the same year , in which the Board , after expressing their strong disapprobation of the practice , considered the evidence

insufficient , otherwise they would no doubt have upheld the exclusion . We do not thin it would be right to publish the names of the lodges , but they can be found by referring to the Grand Lodge reports of 7 th September , 1 S 25 , 2 nd March and ist June , 1864 .

" THE procession in honour of the 150 th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania took place on Saturday , June 24 th . Every man in line was dressed in black and wore a white lambskin apron , bound with blue . The Past Masters and officers wore their jewels , pendent from a blue ribbon , on the left lappel of their coats . There were

in line about five thousand men . During the formation of the procession , members of the Grand Lodge assembled in special communication , and celebrated the anniversary of thc first grand communication of the Grand Lodge . Later in the day ceremonies were held in the Academy of Music , where an address of welcome was read by R . VV . Grand Master DICK .

Addresses were also made by other distinguished Masons , including Governor HOYT . There was both vocal and instrumental music . The festivities of the day were closed with a banquet by the Grand Lodge in Masonic Temple . " Wc have received the above irom an esteemed friend and

brother visitor in the Masonic Pilgrimage , and to him , and many other good men and true , Publisher and Editor beg to hold out the right hand of true Masonic fellowship and regard , though across dividing waters . We refer to the matter again elsewhere . BEANS and bacon are a very good dish , which many of us have relished before , and , let us hope , many of us may relish again . But we hear they