Proposed Removal Of The Boys' School.

As regards the question whether it would not be better to educate the children at schools in the neighbourhood of their own homes , as is done by sundry of the Provinces , we are aware there

are two rival policies , of which one adopts this view , while the other is in favour of educating them in one central Institution as now established . We realise that there is much to be said in

behalf of both policies , but with all respect for our correspondents who seem to favour the local school plan , we prefer that which was contemplated from the very foundation of the Boys ' Institution in 1798 . but which , for lack of the necessary ways

and means , was not carried out till 1857 , firstly because the buildings are already there to be occupied ; and secondly , because boys , as a rule , are better trained , and learn more at a big public school than at small clay schools in the

neighbourhood of their own homes . They are better trained , being under one roof , and subject to one uniform system of discipline , while at home they arc just as likely to be petted and pampered as they are to be held in a state of firm discipline ; and they learn

more , both because a public Institution can afford to have a superior staff of masters to those at small local schools , and likewise because they mix continually with other boys of their own age , standing , and capacity , and by so doing they gradually

acquire those habits of self-control , and self-respect , and that kindly consideration for others which , as they advance in years , enable them to become good and brave young men , ready to battle their way through life , as they have previously

done in the cricket field or the gymnasium . The spirit of healthy emulation is rife among them ; they strive to win their way to the front ; and what they have done at School , they are . prepared to do or attempt over again when they are men . There is

a deeper meaning than some people are apt to discover in the old saying that " Waterloo was won in the playing fields at Eton . " As for the suggestion that " a new and greatly enlarged Boys' School is , in the light of ' free education / the many varied

means of educational advancement so liberally provided by the County Council and other public bodies , neither urgent nor even necessary , " we suppose this is equivalent to a suggestion that the children of our deceased and indigent brother Masons

should be sent to Board and other elementary schools of the lower order , where they will have the children of labouring folk for their associates , and where , if they acquire anything at all in the way of knowledge , it will , in addition to a little reading ,

writing , spelling , and simple arithmetic , be a superior knowledge of bad manners and an inexhaustible store of impudence . But this is entirely opposed to the generous policy which the Governors and Subscribers of our scholastic Institutions have

hitherto pursued—at least , during the last 30 or 40 yearsof bestowing upon the children entrusted to their charge an education and training somewhat superior to what they would

probably have received had their fathers lived or not fallen into necessitous circumstances . This it is , and the success which has attended this policy , which so fully justifies the pride that all English Masons take in these Institutions .

As for the proposal to remove the School to a healthier and , at the same time , more commodious site , we do not understand by this that the Board of Management have it in contemplation to erect new buildings which will accommodate a

largelyaugmented establishment . If they are wise , they will allow for such an increase in numbers as is possible and probable during the next quarter or half a century . What we imagine they contemplate is that the building shall be large enough to

accommodate all who are expected to reside on the premises , and that the grounds in which those premises are situated shall be extensive enough to allow of large playgrounds and playing fields . We do not see any immediate demand for an increase in the number of

children . However , there is no need to pursue the subject further , at least for the present , as the Board of Management intend laying their reasons for the proposed removal of the

School before the Governors and Subscribers at an early date , and when they have done this , we shall all be in a better position to judge of their plans .

THE OUEHN has exhibited her interest in the Arts and Industries Exhibition , recently opened hy ~ Lord Rothschild at Wolverton , by sending various exhibits , among them being King William III . ' s favourite clock , a suit of Eastern armour , a seven-barrelled gun , the whole of the barrels being fired by a single pull of the trigger , a brace of pistols , and a suit of chain armour .

American Freemasonry.

AMERICAN FREEMASONRY .

We regret that in a recent article or Notes , we should in any way have disturbed the equanimity of the Masonic Nome Journal . Our contemporary , however , appears to have somewhat misunderstood the purport of our remarks . Thus , we did

not lament the fact " that there are some fifty Grand Lodges in America . " It does not cause us any pain that the Craft in the United States deems it desirable that every State or Territory shall have its own Grand Lodge to preside over it . We are

aware of no particular reason why this should not be the arrangement if those most interested deem it to be the most beneficial . But our American brethren must not be surprised if occasionally we take exception to some of the " rather absurd

propositions of Masonic law" to which some of their more recently established Grand Lodges " have given their adhesion . " We do not doubt that these are " generally of comparativel y rare application , " but as our esteemed contemporary admits that

there are such " absurd propositions , " we are only doing our duty in taking exception to them , and for this reason , that these " rather absurd propositions " may hereafter be taken as precedents in determining important points of " Masonic law . "

ff ever there is to be anything in the nature of an Interjurisdictional Masonic law , it is before all things desirable that we should do our utmost to prevent " absurd propositions " from being incorporated in that code . There

are many things in Masonry that are favoured by the younger G . Lodges in the United States to which the senior G . Lodges are directly opposed as we are . We need not mention more than the solitary case of " public installations , " which are

favoured in some jurisdictions and forbidden in others . These we look upon as " an absurd proposition of Masonic law , " because there is nothing in Masonry to justify them . As for what our contemporary affirms in respect of the essentials of

Masonry , we have no doubt that " the conceptions of their older Masonic jurisdictions " are very correct , and , what is more , they carry them out in practice . " We have a strong and intense feeling of admiration for American Freemasonry , but this does

not prevent us—nor , indeed , ought it to be allowed to prevent us—from objecting to these " rather absurd propositions of Masonic law " which are occasionally laid down by some of its junior Grand Lodges . After all , the United States derive their

Masonry from the Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom , and it is as much to our interest as it is to that of our American brethren that the ancient landmarks , the established usages and customs of the Order , should be respected .

"Liber Ordinis Templi."

"LIBER ORDINIS TEMPLI . "

The Calendar of the " Great Priory of the United Relig ious and Military Orders of the Temple and St . John of Jerusalem , & c , in England and Wales and the Dependencies thereof" for

A . D . 1896 , is a most useful , instructive , and original compilation of considerable value , and is a real boon for the fratres , who , it is hoped , will warmly appreciate the labours of their esteemed Vice-Chancellor , Bro . C . F . Matier , K . C . T .

This most welcome annual for 1896 is even more welcome than usual , because it contains a full report of the important meeting of the Great Priory on the 8 th of May last , when the new statutes were agreed to , and also a complete roll of all the

members arranged under their several preceptories , with the years of their admission and other particulars . There is also the regular list of the preceptories , with their numbers , places of

meeting , dates of warrants , & c , as well as the " preceptories removed from the roll " since the year 18 75 , with the " cause of removal . "

These registers are of great interest to students , and so curious and helpful are some of them , that I am emboldened to ask for still more , sqas to make them complete from I 791 . " Bro . Matier would kindly let us have a list of all the warrants

erased since the year when the famous Bro . Thomas Dunckerlcy was Grand Master ( and similar particulars as to such ) , it would be of great utility , though I know it would mean no little labour and care to produce , but it would be ivorth it . This list , however , from 18 75 , is valuable , as it contains one of the old " Time