Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

II 2 S ] THE LARGEST GRAND LODGE . I am much obliged to the R . W . Bro . Lamonby for pointing out the error I made as to the returns to Grand Secretary . It is quite clear that these have to be made by " District lodges , " as well as Metropolitan and Provincial lodges , so that if such returns were all duly united , as respects the number of members , we should then arrive at the total strength of the Grand Lodge . This apparently never has

been done . The lodges in the District Grand Lodges , & c , do not pay any annual dues for their members , but they make annual returns of the names of such , with other particulars . However , the question at issue is not affected by my error , as an average of 50 members per lodge of the 2270 on the register gives a grand total of over 113 , 000 . W . J . HUGH AN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"AN ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OK OLD AND RARE BOOKS FOR SALE AT PRICES OFFERED . "—Part VI . One shilling , post free ( Pickering and Chatto , GG , Haymarket , St . James ' s , S . W . ) . —This part concludes the volume which may now be had complete for six shillings , or separate parts at one shilling each . The illustrations in the present issue , S . to Y . are of a most remarkable character , the reproductions being fully equal to the rare and valuable originals . The work is most credi . able to all concerned and deserves a very wide circulation . This it is sure to have , if Book buyers could only see it for themselves .

DAVID LYALL ' S LOVE STORY " ( Hoddcr and Stoughtou , 27 , Paternoster Row , London ) . —This most pathetic and interesting Volume is by the author of " The Land O' the Leal , " and is full of deeply affecting incidents and heart-melting sketches . The grave and the gay are most artistically blended in the wonderful experiences of that " child of nature" who recites his personal adventures and thrilling interviews , in a most unaffected and yet effective manner . The Book is printed and bound in the

admirable style of the Ian Maclaren series , and consists of XVI . Chapters , the peculiarity of which is that each can be read separately and inlependently of each other , and yet they are parts of one harmonious whole . David Lyall has no superior in the narratives of these simple , yet eloquent accounts of Home life and duties , love and betrayal , high resolve and devotion to grand ideals , which captivate the reader and hold him entranced until the end is reached . The Volumes of the series are published at Gs . each , and may be ordered through any Bookseller , or direct from the Publishers .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The July Quarterly Court of Subscribers to this Institution was held on the Sth instant , at the Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Richard Eve , P . G . T ., presided , and there were also present Bros . George Everett , W . H . Kempster , W . J . Everett , J . W . Burgess , C . H . Webb , Henry A . Tobias , H . Massey , Charles E . Keyser , Edw . Margrett , W . A . Scurrah , C . D . Cheetham , W . Harris Saunders , John Glass , David H . Jacobs , C . Pulman , H . Mowbray , J , Leach Barrett , H . Thomson Lyon , J . J . Thomas , and James M . McLeod ( Secretary ) .

In the course of the reading of the different minutes , the result of the Centenary Festival of the Institution was conveyed to the Court , namely that ^ 134 , 000 was the total amount of the Stewards' list . The following letter was also read :

" Marlborough House , Pall Mall , S . W ,, "My dear Sir , " nth July , 18 9 S . "The Prince of Wales desires me to let you know that he was much pleased with the arrangements connected with the dinner last night . He thought

that they were all excellent and that they reflected the greatest credit on those who had the management of the Festival . " His Royal Highness considered the evening to have been a most successful one from every point of view . —I remain , yours faithfully , "FRANCIS KNOLLYS .

"J . 31 . McLeod , Esq ., "Hon . Sec . Board of Stewards R . M . l . B . Centenary Festival . " Bro . lJoiiN GLASS , P . M . 453 , for Bro . William Russell , P . A . G . D . C , Vice Patron of the Institution ,

moved—( a ) " That in L ,-iw Jtj , line 3 , the words ' Five hundred guineas " be struck out , and the words 'Nine hundred guineas ' be substituted therefor . " (&) " That the law become again operative . " Bro . Glass said no motion ever came before the meetings was received with gre ater unanimity .

Bro . C . E . KKYSKH , P . G . T ., Treasurer of the Institution , in seconding the motion , said in the case both of fife and perpetual presentations it was considered that the amounts to be paid for them should be very much raised . In the case of life presentations , the 500 guineas , which was at one time considered enough , it was now suggested should be raised to 900 guineas .

Bro . RICHARD EVE said , with respect to resolution ( i ) , it was palpable that rule would have to be altered , and , therefore , it had to be suspended , so as to prevent it being acted on . Now that it had been altered , the suspension would have to b e removed , or they could not give effect lo the resolution . The resolutions were carried .

Bro . J GLASS , for Bro . Stanley J . Attenborough , P . A . G . D . of C , Patron and Honorary Solicitor of the Institution , moved — " That in order to recognise the r-ITorts made to elect Albert Victor Birt , an unsuccessful ( last chance ) case at the April election in the Centenary year of this Institution , an allowance of , £ 20

per annum be made to him towards his education and maintenance , provided he be educated at a School to be approved by the Board of Management , and be subject to the rules applicable to boys maintained and educated out of the Institution , and that such allowance commence from the date upon which he would , if elected , have been admitted into the School . "

Bro H MOWBRAY seconded Ihe motion , which was then put and carried . On the motion of Bro . C . K . KKYSKR , seconded by liro . W . A . SLTKLAII , the list of candidates for the election on October 14 th , was settled at 45 and the vacancies at 26 . Bro . RICHARD EVI-: said that something further had been done with reference to the site of the new Schools at Bushey , and Bro . Keyser , who was present at a

meeting of the Building Committee that afternoon , would like to make a few observations on the subject . Bro . C . K . KiiYSKK said the Committee had a meeting that day which the architect attended . Those gentlemen thought the Institution had got far enough now to invite tenders lor parts of the buildings . When they invited certain builders to tender , it would help matters if the Committee took upon themselves

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

the lead , and started by ascertaining the price of bricks , and lifts , and certain specialities which would be required . Some of these things rose in value , and the sooner tenders were got for them the better . Therefore , instructions had been given to invite tenders for bricks and lifts . They ought to be very particular in some of these matters . Then the builders must make their price including the

particular articles the Committee had . It would expedite matters in the end , and it would economise . In answer to Bro . C . Pulman , Bro . Keyser said they were going to have samples of the bricks and the prices at which they would be supplied . Five or six millions of bricks would be required ; it would be a large order .

Bro . R . EVE said the Committee told the brethren this to show them that the subject of the erection of the buildings was going on . Bro . W . A . SCURRAH added that the Committee were determined that nothing but the very best material should be used . Bro . C . H . WEBB enquired when the lists of the Centenary Festival would be published ?

Bro . J . M . MCLEOD replied that the Board of Stewasds and the Board of Management had ordered the Special Number 0 : the Freemason for that purpose . That paper had published a certain quantity for its own subscribers ; but that was not the Institution ' s own edition of it , which would be an enormous work to get ready , and would take three months to get through . There were more than 4000 lists , and more than 2000 were not yet in his possession . They wanted it to be accurate : an inaccurate one would be worse than useless .

Bro . H . THOMSON LYON asked whether it was in contemplation to have the electric light in the new buildings , because if so he anticipated the lifts would be electric and not hydraulic ? The question hinged on that . Bro . RICHARD EVE said they had not got so far as to be able to reply to that , At all events , there was no harm in asking the question . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

All Saints' Church, Weston-Super-Mare.

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH , WESTON-SUPER-MARE .

The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the new church of Weston-Super-Mare took place on Friday , the 24 th ult ., the function being undertaken by Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , P . G . M ., with full Masonic ceremonies . The ceremony was pieceded by a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at All Saints' Church at 8 a . m ., and by Divine Service at the Parish Church at noon , when an address was given by the Jiisiioi'of the Diocese , in the course of which his lordship spoke as

follows : Wt are gathered together in the House of God that we may evoke the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe upon the operations which to-day we are about to perform in His sight and , as we trust , to His glory . You are aware that we are about to lay the foundation-stone of a church for which there is great need , for there is a need—I say with all the emphasis I can—of considerable extension of the Church in this place . And we are about to take

our part in that service that will be offered at the laying of that foundation-stone with all such ceremony , with all such , I hope , reverence , as we think may in any way affect our minds with a due apprehension of the greatness of God , and of the importance of the work which we are doing . There will be those who will be likely to say " Surely such doings as those which we perceive to-day , can hardly be consonant with the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ . " And they will

compare that manner of great simplicity with which you might say , prayer was wont to be made by the riverside to which St . Paul and his earliest , converts in Europe would repair . They would compare such simplicity of worship with the acts which we to-day perform , and would say , " How can you reconcile these with the teachings of the Holy Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ? " And my answer would be , " Do not think that we suppose for one instant that in what

we are doing we are ourselves adding to the glory of God . " That is impossible for us to be doing in whatever actions we may perlorm in this manner . But we do believe that ive impress upon our own minds , and that we impress upon the minds of those who are with us , a deeper sense of the inner meaning of it all ; of the greatness of the majesty of our God ; of the necessity of our thinking of Him in all reverence ; and of our doing our utmost to make men share in the

knowledge of His greatness and His goodness . You might say , " What a contrast between the simplicity of that character St . John the Baptist , whose festival is to-day kept throughout the Christian Church , with the very actions which we are performing . " But 1 would again remind you that while it is right that in our corporate actions we should take pains to show our reverence by the very majesty of the ways we adopt , and by the solemnity of the service which we offer ; yet

that simplicity of character which St . John the Baptist exhibited and which we may well take to ourselves as the absolute necessity for the life of everyone of us , are bynomeans thingsthatareoutofkeepingthe one with the other . Individually ] Iet us strive to cultivate in all ways that we can that self-denial , that self-abnegation , that self-effacement , that simplicity—nay , I had almost said that severity of character which marks his life . But let us remember that when joined togcthet

as a great Brotherhood we have to think of the needs of others ; we have to think of the good of others , we have to think how we can help one another in realising the greatness and the goodness of our God , who honours us by tabernacling among us . And it is just because our blessed Lord has found His Church and has gathered us into it that we may in it realise His presence and that He is one with His people ; it is just because of

that that we desire to do everything we can do with dignity , to show forth our sense of His majesty and greatness . Therefore , we are gathered in the manner in which we are gathered together , here in this holy House of God , and , therefore , we proceed to lay the foundation stone in the manner that is prescribed for this occasion . Don ' t let us forget that that which the brethren of the Craft are ever aimin- ' after , that rectitude of character and conduct , that charity of disposition ,

which everyone of us must set before himself at what he must aim at , what he must strive to promote , is in the deepest sense the teaching that our God would have us learn in His Church , And as we learn it , as here in God ' s presence —for He is of a truth where two or three arc gathered together in His name—let us strive to know Him better ; to understand Him better ; to jirow more after the likeness of His dear son . If this be our aim then in our church extension we shall not strive for vain glory ; we shall not strive for

our own advantage , but w ; should be striving to promote the glory of our God , the good of our fellow men who may be gathered together into I lis church , and may leorn the love of God which passeth , as doth I lis peace , all understanding . It is that we may impress these lessons upon ourselves , and to help others to realise them , lhat we are taking part in this i ; ood work to-day--a work on which we are about to implore the divine blessing , and a work to which we are setting ourselves , I trust , just in the spirit of . 1 desire to help our brethren , which we have learned from our Lord and Master Jesus Christ . After the service the procession was formed in due order , and it proceeded to the silo of the new church , via South-parade , Waterloo-street , and Victoria-cjuad «