Monthly Masonic Summary.

Monthly Masonic Summary .

THE great event of the month has been the resignation by the Marquis of Eipon of his high office of Grand Master of English Freemasonry . It appears that he has become a

Eoman Catholic , and has been received , the " Tablet" says , in the Oratory at Birmingham . The "Times" is of opinion—and probably the "Times" is right—that ,

in the midst of the special and hostile policy of the Eomish Church towards Freemasonry everywhere just now , a convert of such high rank and distinguished position as Lord Eipon would be required as a proof of his sincerity to take so marked a step .

We deeply deplore the fact itself on every account , and on every ground—public and private , social and Masonic . But there seems to be little practical good in "crying over spilt

milk ; " and probably in this , as in many other events in life , "the least said , the soonest mended . " We can only record the fact with very sincere regret .

By the Book of Constitutions , the Vast Grand Master becomes Pailer of the Craft until the next election . Our Eoyal Brother the Prince of Wales will he solicited by Grand Lodge to accept the Grand Mastership until the next regular election .

WE omitted to state in our last what an admirable reception ( save for one little untoward mistake ) , the Devonshire and Cornwall Prov . Grand Lodges had given our Eoyal Brother at

Plymouth , on August 14 th . Sixty-eight Lodges marched in procession , and it is calculated between 2 , 000 and 3 , 000 Masons were present . ' THE Grand Lodge ( or Orient ) of the

Netherlands has prevailed rrpon their Grand Master , Prince Frederick of the Netherlands ( now 77 ) still to continue in the office he has held for 57-years . He has consented to do so , and , we believe , much to the satisfaction of our Dutch brethren .

WE purpose , as soon as the Calendars are out , to give a list of all the Grand Lodges hi the world , with the number of Lodges ; and though it would be very interesting , if possible , to ascertain

the number also of Freemasons attached to our Grand Lodge , we fear that at present , owing to imperfect tabulation such an effort would not be crowned with anything Eke success , or correct as a statistical Eeturn .

THE voting papers for the two schools are out . The Girls' school election takes place October 10 th , with 29 candidates and 15 to be elected . The Boys' school election takes place October 12 th , with

44 candidates and 13 to be elected . EDITOK . G