A Few Ideas On Masonic Organisation.

in their ultimate bearing . The apron might be enlarged to the dimensions of the ecclesiastical , thus presenting the appearance of an under vesture , susceptible of endless variation . But we may safely at all times modify the rigour of habit or custom , and adapt ourselves

to the circumstances in which we are placed ; and by analogy , " discipline , " as Frederick the Great justly observed , " is not maintained by a blind adherence to certain fixed rules , but rather by an intelligent relaxation of them , according to the exigencies of the occasion . " One of the greatest inconveniences might

arise from the difficulty of coalition amongst Freemasons , scattered throughout a large and heterogeneous concourse of people in the open air , when it might be desirable , in the interests of peace , that they should have some ready means of attrition , or drawing together as a compact body , and thus displaying a moral force in an imposing but inoffensive aspect .

Again , on festive occasions , where the harmony of apparel should not be deemed unworthy the consideration even of a man whose mind is

set on higher things , the incompleteness of our present Masonic costume might be advantageously improved hy the adoption of garments at once distinctive , and yet not necessarily obtrusive . The military have their uniforms and the Church and bar their gowns , in which they appear before

the Sovereign on State occasions ; and , therefore , it does not seem unreasonable that so vast and influential a body as that of the Freemasons should have an appropriate raiment in which they might take their place amongst those just mentioned , and thus , as it were , assert their

standing in the community at large . Such a movement might be carried out under the suggestions of a special commission , composed of delegates from the various international Grand Lodges of the world , and regulations might be framed with the view of ensuring

uniformity in carrying out the design . It would , of course , he desirable to observe economy in an undertaking applicable to the diversity of fortune in so widely-spread an organisation , so that no Mason should , owing to prudential considerations , be debarred from

appearing m the general assembly of his brethren . In order , however , to distinguish the office bearers and those who , by their eminent services , may have fairly earned the honorary rewards of the Craft , it might be found judicious to restrict the use of fciucls to those that had received

them in open lodge from the highest authority as the reward of superior merit , for Masonic actions performed , for special services generally , and not simply , as at present , at the option of the wearers in right of . their respective grades ; these latter being easily distinguishable by other

more convenient means . Under such a system , one class of Masonic jewels only would he recognised ; and these again might be protected in the distribution by the promulgation of general statutes , thus constituting a special honorary Masonic Order of

Knighthood , open to all grades and invested with peculiar privileges , which , by an international congress , might be secured in all parts of the world , under certain rigid restrictions , for these latter would be absolutely necessary in order to protect the integrity of the institution .

Should these remarks , thrown out broadcast , invite the attention of our chiefs to the subject , we shall be glad still further to develop our views ; but as we cannot say " which seed will grow and which will not , " we must , in the meantime , await the germinating influence of public opinion .

HOLLOWAY ' S OINTMENT AND PILLS . — Skin Diseases . —Scrofula , scurvy , scorbutic alTcctions , ami all cutaneous eruptions caused by hereditary taints , imperfect digestion , deleterious gases , or an impute slate of the blood , may be most speedily cured by Holloway ' s wellknown remedies . The active principle in both Ointment and I'ilis is so harmless , yet so powerfully purifying .

soothing , and restorative , that the most inexperienced person may use them with the certainty of producing Ihe best results . The Pills quickly remove all impurities from the circulation and system generally , while the Ointment eradicates the superficial blemish or deep-seated local mischief . In the irritations of the skin , very annoying to infancy , this Ointment will prove itself the best friend .- [ Advt . l

Royal Masonic Schools.

ROYAL MASONIC SCHOOLS .

Special General Courts of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls and Royal Masonic Institution for Boys were held simultaneously at Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday , the 25 th inst , Bro . J . Symonds , V . R , in the chair . There were also present : Bros . T . C . Parkinson , V . P . ; Bridges , V . P . : F . Walters , V . P . : W . Young , T .

W . White , S . Noble , H . Massey , F . Binckes , E . H . Patten , and others . Bro . J . C . Parkinson , V . P ., proposed , and Bro . F . Walters , V . P ., seconded , that the following clause be added to Rule 8 , viz .: — " Every Vice-President , upon completion of a further donation of Fifty Guineas , by payments of not less than Five Guineas each , shall become a Vice-Patron . " Carried

unanimously . Bro . J . C . Parkinson , V . P ., proposed , and Bro . Young , seconded , that the following be adopted as a new rule , to follow Law 9 : — "Every Vice-President , being an individual donor

of Fifty Guineas , shall have two votes for life , instead of one vote , for each additional Five Guineas contributed by him in one payment . " Carried unanimously . A cordial vote of thanks to the chairman brought the proceedings to a close .

GIRLS' SCHOOL COMMITTEE .

A meeting was held on Thursaay , the 25 th instant , at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . W . Young , chairman . Bros . Bridges , J . R . Sheen , Frederick Walters , H . Massey , T . W . White , A . D . Loewenstark , S . Noble , H . Browse , J . Nunn , Fred . Binckes , E . H . Patten , and others , were also present .

The minutes of the previous General Committee meeting were read and confirmed , and the minutes of House Committee meeting were read for information . The twelve brethren nominated were elected on the House Committee . The nine brethren named on Audit Committee were elected , Bro . Cox having withdrawn his nomination .

There were five petitions presented from applicants to he accepted as candidates for election into the Girls' School . Two were accepted , viz ., Sarah and Mary Young , the other three being deferred . It was agreed to recommend to the House

Committee the desirability of lending the school during the vacation , viz ., on July 5 th , to the Rev . Dr . Thompson for the purpose of holding a concert , under the most distinguished patronage , for his schools—he being the minister who presides at the church where the girls of the Institution attend .

Bro . Joshua Nunn gave the following notice of motion : " That a special court be held on Thursday , June 29 th , to consider the desirability of erecting a new infirmary away from the main buildings , but within the grounds , and that the members of the House Committee be the committee to carry out that design . " The usual vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

1 he General Committee of the Grand Lodge , at which the usual routine business was gone through and some notices of motion were given ( the particulars of which will appear next week ) , was held at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday , the 24 th inst . Bro . J . Clabon , P . G . D ., in the

chair ; after which was held the Lodge of Benevolence . There were present at these meetings Bros . J . Clabon , P . G . D . ( chairman ) , Lord Leigh , J . Savage , J . Hervey , Baker , J . Nunn , J . Brett , T . Coutts , j- Bovd , Gover , Halsey , Thomas , J . ' Mills , Garrod , Pratt , F . Walters , S . May , J . Weaver , II . W . Hemswortli , C . A . Cottebrune ,

S . Gale , C . J . Hogg , Rosenthal , If . G . Buss , R . W . Little , J . Glaisher , J . R . Sheen , W . Smith , Bev . Vaughan , Child , Levander , Forbes Johnson , M . A . Loewenstark , Ware , Williams , Robins , Cockcroft , Marston , Alexander , Simpson , Tallent , and others . Thirty cases came under consideration ; one was dismissed , three deferred , and the others

Lodge Of Benevolence.

were relieved ; ^ 395 being voted away this meeting . " The lodge was closed after four hours' hard labour .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Annual General Meeting of the subscribers of this Institution was held in the Board Room at Freemasons' Hall on Friday , 19 th inst . Bro . John Savage , P . G . D ., V . P ., was elected chairman . There were present Bros . B . Head , J . Hervey , H . Muggeridge , S . May , E . Cox , R . Spencer ,

V . P . ' s ; H . Empson , E . H . Patten , Hyde Pullen , E . J . Fraser , S . Gale , James

Stevens , H . Massey , H . M . Lev } ' -, G-. Bolton , J . L . Hine , C . A . Cottebrune , N Wingfield , W . H . Libbis , J . Terry , T . W . White , John Chadwick , J . R . Sheen , F Adlard , H . G . Warren , A . Pratt , & c .

Bro . W . Farnfield ( Secretary ) read the annual report , which showed that the last year ' s income of the Male Annuitants ' Fund was nearly £ 4 , 000 , and that of the Female Annuitants' Fund about £ 3 , 000 .

Since the last election ten annuitants have died , and as the income of the Institution is sufficient to allow of an increased number of annuitants being received , nineteen males and thirteen females would be

admitted at this annual election . It was added that this addition to the number of recipients of the funds could only be maintained by an annual increase of the income of the institution . The report was adopted .

Bros . F . Adlard , Dr . John Dixon , and W . H . Farnfield were re-elected on the Committee . Bros . John Symond , J . R . Sheen , and H . G . Warren v / ere re-elected auditors .

The poll was then declared open , and for the result we refer our readers to the advertisement on our first page .

After the declaration of the poll , thanks were voted to the Chairman and the Scrutineers for their valuable services so cheerfully given and efficiently rendered .

Masonic Miscellanea.

Masonic Miscellanea .

?—THE M . W . G . Master , the Earl de Grey and Ripon , and suite , started on their return journey to England on the 24 th inst ., and wc hope his lordship will be present at the Grand Lodge on 7 th June .

WE beg to call the Attention of the companions to the advertisement of the annual festival of the R . A . Chapter of Improvement , and hope to see a large muster both at the meeting and at the banquet .

THE LITTLE TESTIMONIAL FUND . —ERRATUM . —In the additional subscriptions published last weel ; , the sum appended to Lord Bective ' s name ; should have been £ 20 ; not £ 10 , as erroneously printed . THE Fifteen Sections will be worked on

Wednesday next , tbe 31 st inst ., in the Pythagorean Lodge of Instruction , at Bro . Wall's , the Prince of Orange Tavern , Greenwich-road . Bro . Shaw I . G . 79 , will preside , and the lodge will be opened at half-past seven precisely . A GRAND Lodge of Mark Masters will be held

at Freemasons lavern , Great Quecn-strect , W . C , on Tuesday , June 6 th , at five o'clock in the afternoon . A Lodge of Improvement will be opened at half-past three o ' clock , to give brethren attending Grand Lodge the opportunity of witnessing the ceremony of advancement ( sec advertisement ) .

RED CROSS OK CONSTANTINE . — The Imperial Ecclesiastical and Military Order of Knights ofthe Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , which claims to have ils origin on October 28 , A . D . 312 , at the memorable battle fought at Saxa Rubra , the conferring of which can be traced by authentic written

proof in England from 1788 , is progressing very fast in the United States . Warrants have been granted for conclaves at the following places in Pennsylvania : Washington , Uloomsburg , Reading , Harrisburg , Allcntown , Bcllefontc , Philadelphia , Ashland , Mauch Chunk , and York . — Keystone , Philadelphia , U . S .