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Article THE MASONIC MIRROR. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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The Masonic Mirror.
impossible to he efficiently carried out . Bro . Hopwood seconded the resolution , which was carried unanimously . And here our notice would have ended , if penned at all , but for the letter of Bro . Braithwaite . He , however , compels us to take up the cudgels , and , though we are reluctant to interfere with the internal management of the schools , we are compelled , in the interests of the subscribers and of the pupils , whose future prosperity in life depends in a great
measure upon tbe efficiency of their education , to do so . We shall pass over that portion of the letter in which Bro . Braithwaite attempts to draw a distinction between correspondents and ourselves , whichwhen we make statements , though founded upon information coming to us from others—we altogether repudiate . We also affirm that the facts of the case show that the two masters are not united iu action , and that , therefore , differences exist between them ; and it is a
mere begging of the question to say that there had been no personal dispute . As regards the designing and superintending the alterations in the school , we always understood that that had . been done by Bro . Roberts , the architect , and it is quite new to us that Bro . Woodward has had anything to do with them , beyond perhaps answering a few questions of the builders or workmen . But there is a question of far greater importance than the disputes
between two gentlemen , which may be easily settled by the committee asking for the resignation of one or both;—and that is the nature of the education to be afforded to the pupils—and here , without iu any way wishing to disparage the talent of the Rev . C . Woodward , we must be allowed to say that he wholly misunderstands the institution over which he has been'called upon to preside , as evidenced in the plan of education signed by him and Mr . Riley . Our boys are not designed for the university , but the majority of them will probably , on leaving the school , have to prepare for " roughing it" in the world and obtaining their living by the labour of their hands and the sweat of their brow ;
and to such Latin , Greek , and the last book of Euclid , will be perfectly useless , even if they had time to properly master them before the ago of fourteen , at which they leave our care . Some few of the boys may probably obtain admission into the merchant ' s counting house , aud to them French will be almost indispensable , and German far more useful than either Greek or Latin . What is wanted in our school is , an education which shall fit the , boys for the practical duties of life—that which
is known as a sound commercial education , with bookkeeping , mensuration , French and German ; leaving the classics for those , if such there be , whose guardians can , after they leave our school , give them a higher education to fit them for the learned professions . We by no means underrate the value of a classical education , but it is folly to expect boys of the age of fourteen to attain even a decent smattering of that which the young men of the higher classes devote their lives to the age
of twenty-one or twenty-two to become versed in . Wc have wot forgotten thc report of the examiner of the boys , Bro . the Rev . A . R . Ward , G . Chaplain , made only in March last , in which he says— " Some of the boys acquitted themselves very well indeed , especially Crichton and 0 uanziroli ; some of the others , however , very indifferently . The subject in which there was the greatest deficiency was arithmetic ; that was badly done by all , several of the boys not
answering , or trying to answer , one single question . The spelling was generally bad . " In thc face of such a report—and before efficiency has been attained in these most essential branches of education—to talk ol Greek , Latin , and the last book of Euclid , is simply absurd—aud proves to our mind that the Rev . Charles Woodward does not yet understand the object of the establishment over which he presides . We trust that our Rev . Bro . Lyall—than whom we should conceive no man to be
more competent—or somo other member of the House Committee , ivill undertake to revise the scheme of education , bearing iu mind the position the boys are probably destined to hold in the social scale , and the period which is allotted to them for the completion of their educationresting assured that should there at any time be an Admirable Criehton , an Isaac Newton , or George Stephenson amongst them , his own force of character will soon demonstrate the studies in which he takes the
greatest interest ; and we will be the last of the governors to protest against the hi ghest possible education being given to him . Until then ive may well rest content with such an cdueatioii as the majority of tradesmen ' s sons obtain at our private commercial schools , and at the public schools where boys are brought up to fill positions in the mechanical and commercial world .
We conclude by laying before our readers the letter of Bro . Braithwaite which is couched in the following terms ; - —
TO THE EDITOR OE THE EEEE-IASOITS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . SIR A - V'D BROTHER , —In reply to your article upon my letter , wherein you say " you do not see any necessity for such strong language , " I beg to say I had two ' reasons for using it : — First . Because the complaints were of so serious a nvture , that they would undoubtedly cause au irreparable injury to the institution when spread abroad in the provinces . Second . After Bro . Woodward has designed and superintended the
alterations that have made the school what it now is , ( aud it only requires the brethren to see it to admire it)—after he has laboured hard during the vacation to get it as forward and complete as possible—the charges agaiust him drew forth such language as they deserved , and such as I hope will convince our provincial brethren that there was no cause for such " strange communications . " I am charged in the same article with accusing you of having told a " barefaced lie . " Unless you did not receive the strange communications
you published , you need not take to yourself an accusation intended for the originator of the / reports . And now with regard to " official information . " I trust you are satisfied after the explanation given at the last General Committee by our worthy Bro . Hopwood , that although the assistant master , Mr . Riley , did lay a complaint before a special House Committee , there never was a dispute between the \ two masters ; that the head master had not so much as an idea that a complaint had been made until he was called
before the said House Committee ; aud that the head master has not been absent even for one day . Finally , I trust before any of the brethren forward you a report respecting either of our charitable institutions , they will previously certify themselves as to the verity of such report . I am , Sir and Brother , yours very fraternally , JS ' ottina Hill , November Sth , 1 S 50 . JOSEPH BRAITHWAITE ,
METROPOLITAN . ROBERT Bcnxs LODGE ( NO . 25 ) . —This Lodge held its second meeting this season , on Monday last , at the Freemasons' Tavern , Bro . D . Ross . Farmer , W . M ., presiding , the whole of his officers being present , likewise the following P . Ms . —Bennett , Aptetl , Newton , Clements-,
Lo Gassick and Robinson . The business of the evening consisted of three raisings , three passings , and two initiations ( Messrs . Charlton and Thoburn ) . Bro . W . Smith in a very handsome manner , offered to serve as steward at the festival of the Royal Benevolent Fund , which will take place on the 25 th January , 1860 , when it is expected that a larger number of the Craft will be present than heretofore . This institution , the 3-oimgest of our Masonic charities , is still the weakest , although not tho least useful , and ought to be well supported by the craft . We understand that eighteen Lodges have sent stewards for the next festival .
STRONG MAK LODGE ( No . 53 ) . —The second meeting for the season of this Lodge was held on Thursday , November 4 th , at Bro . Ireland ' s , the Masonic Hall , Fetter-lane , Bro . Lundy , W . M ., presided , supported by his officers , Bros . Dickie , S . W . ; Ditchman , J . W . ; Hales , S . D . ; White , J . D ., and Chambers , I . G . The Worshipful Master , with his usual ability , initiated three gentlemen into the Order , after which he performed two passings and one raising . A letter was received from the Grand Lodge , warning' tho brethren against a spurious Lodge established at Stratford
, in Essex , under the title of the " Reformed Lodge of Memphis , " and cautioning them against receiving any of the members thereof . The letter was ordered to be inserted on the minutes . The Lodge was then closed , and between thirty ancl forty brethren sat down to an excellent dinner . After which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and the evening was spent in the true spirit of Masonry .
ROYAL JUBILEE LODGE ( NO . 85 ) . — The monthly meeting of this Lodge was held on Monday evening , November 7 th , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , Bro . Clemow , W . M . ; Bro . Clout , S . W ., and Bro . Lascelles , J . W ., being present . No business was transacted , but the members dined together , in addition to Bro . Ward , P . M . No . 12 ; Bro . Ruston , S . W . No . 82 , and Bro . Workman , No . 206 . The usual toasts were given , aud the evening was most harmoniously spent .
LODGE or GOOD REPORT ( No . 158 ) . —At the regular meeting , held on Thursday , November 3 rd , at Radley's Hotel , Bridge-street , Blackfriars , Bro . Charles Smale , P . M ., acted as W . M ., in the absence of Bro . Aguilar , recently appointed to a command of one of H . M . ' s gunboats . Bro . Hobbs was raised to the third degree . A ballot was taken for the admission of a gentleman to be initiated at the ensuing Lodge . Bros . How and Merton were visitors on this occasion . After the business o £ the Lodge was concluded , the brethren dined together .
ST . THOMAS ' S LODGE ( NO . 1 C 6 ) . —This Lodge met for the first time this season at the Freemason ' s Tavern , on Saturday , thc oth of Nov ., Bro . Luce , W . M . ; Cockcraft , S . W . ; Batty , J . AY . ( pro . tern . ); Archer , P . M . ; Wyatt , P . M . and Sec . ; G . States , P . M . ( G . S . B . for Berks and Bucks , ) and many other brethren being present . The Lodge having been opened in the three degrees , the W . M . vacated the chair , and requested Bro . Archer , P . M ., to undertake the ceremony of the third degree , which he very impressively performed by raising Bro . Gilbert to that sublime degree . The W . M , again resumed the chair , when five candidates were
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Mirror.
impossible to he efficiently carried out . Bro . Hopwood seconded the resolution , which was carried unanimously . And here our notice would have ended , if penned at all , but for the letter of Bro . Braithwaite . He , however , compels us to take up the cudgels , and , though we are reluctant to interfere with the internal management of the schools , we are compelled , in the interests of the subscribers and of the pupils , whose future prosperity in life depends in a great
measure upon tbe efficiency of their education , to do so . We shall pass over that portion of the letter in which Bro . Braithwaite attempts to draw a distinction between correspondents and ourselves , whichwhen we make statements , though founded upon information coming to us from others—we altogether repudiate . We also affirm that the facts of the case show that the two masters are not united iu action , and that , therefore , differences exist between them ; and it is a
mere begging of the question to say that there had been no personal dispute . As regards the designing and superintending the alterations in the school , we always understood that that had . been done by Bro . Roberts , the architect , and it is quite new to us that Bro . Woodward has had anything to do with them , beyond perhaps answering a few questions of the builders or workmen . But there is a question of far greater importance than the disputes
between two gentlemen , which may be easily settled by the committee asking for the resignation of one or both;—and that is the nature of the education to be afforded to the pupils—and here , without iu any way wishing to disparage the talent of the Rev . C . Woodward , we must be allowed to say that he wholly misunderstands the institution over which he has been'called upon to preside , as evidenced in the plan of education signed by him and Mr . Riley . Our boys are not designed for the university , but the majority of them will probably , on leaving the school , have to prepare for " roughing it" in the world and obtaining their living by the labour of their hands and the sweat of their brow ;
and to such Latin , Greek , and the last book of Euclid , will be perfectly useless , even if they had time to properly master them before the ago of fourteen , at which they leave our care . Some few of the boys may probably obtain admission into the merchant ' s counting house , aud to them French will be almost indispensable , and German far more useful than either Greek or Latin . What is wanted in our school is , an education which shall fit the , boys for the practical duties of life—that which
is known as a sound commercial education , with bookkeeping , mensuration , French and German ; leaving the classics for those , if such there be , whose guardians can , after they leave our school , give them a higher education to fit them for the learned professions . We by no means underrate the value of a classical education , but it is folly to expect boys of the age of fourteen to attain even a decent smattering of that which the young men of the higher classes devote their lives to the age
of twenty-one or twenty-two to become versed in . Wc have wot forgotten thc report of the examiner of the boys , Bro . the Rev . A . R . Ward , G . Chaplain , made only in March last , in which he says— " Some of the boys acquitted themselves very well indeed , especially Crichton and 0 uanziroli ; some of the others , however , very indifferently . The subject in which there was the greatest deficiency was arithmetic ; that was badly done by all , several of the boys not
answering , or trying to answer , one single question . The spelling was generally bad . " In thc face of such a report—and before efficiency has been attained in these most essential branches of education—to talk ol Greek , Latin , and the last book of Euclid , is simply absurd—aud proves to our mind that the Rev . Charles Woodward does not yet understand the object of the establishment over which he presides . We trust that our Rev . Bro . Lyall—than whom we should conceive no man to be
more competent—or somo other member of the House Committee , ivill undertake to revise the scheme of education , bearing iu mind the position the boys are probably destined to hold in the social scale , and the period which is allotted to them for the completion of their educationresting assured that should there at any time be an Admirable Criehton , an Isaac Newton , or George Stephenson amongst them , his own force of character will soon demonstrate the studies in which he takes the
greatest interest ; and we will be the last of the governors to protest against the hi ghest possible education being given to him . Until then ive may well rest content with such an cdueatioii as the majority of tradesmen ' s sons obtain at our private commercial schools , and at the public schools where boys are brought up to fill positions in the mechanical and commercial world .
We conclude by laying before our readers the letter of Bro . Braithwaite which is couched in the following terms ; - —
TO THE EDITOR OE THE EEEE-IASOITS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . SIR A - V'D BROTHER , —In reply to your article upon my letter , wherein you say " you do not see any necessity for such strong language , " I beg to say I had two ' reasons for using it : — First . Because the complaints were of so serious a nvture , that they would undoubtedly cause au irreparable injury to the institution when spread abroad in the provinces . Second . After Bro . Woodward has designed and superintended the
alterations that have made the school what it now is , ( aud it only requires the brethren to see it to admire it)—after he has laboured hard during the vacation to get it as forward and complete as possible—the charges agaiust him drew forth such language as they deserved , and such as I hope will convince our provincial brethren that there was no cause for such " strange communications . " I am charged in the same article with accusing you of having told a " barefaced lie . " Unless you did not receive the strange communications
you published , you need not take to yourself an accusation intended for the originator of the / reports . And now with regard to " official information . " I trust you are satisfied after the explanation given at the last General Committee by our worthy Bro . Hopwood , that although the assistant master , Mr . Riley , did lay a complaint before a special House Committee , there never was a dispute between the \ two masters ; that the head master had not so much as an idea that a complaint had been made until he was called
before the said House Committee ; aud that the head master has not been absent even for one day . Finally , I trust before any of the brethren forward you a report respecting either of our charitable institutions , they will previously certify themselves as to the verity of such report . I am , Sir and Brother , yours very fraternally , JS ' ottina Hill , November Sth , 1 S 50 . JOSEPH BRAITHWAITE ,
METROPOLITAN . ROBERT Bcnxs LODGE ( NO . 25 ) . —This Lodge held its second meeting this season , on Monday last , at the Freemasons' Tavern , Bro . D . Ross . Farmer , W . M ., presiding , the whole of his officers being present , likewise the following P . Ms . —Bennett , Aptetl , Newton , Clements-,
Lo Gassick and Robinson . The business of the evening consisted of three raisings , three passings , and two initiations ( Messrs . Charlton and Thoburn ) . Bro . W . Smith in a very handsome manner , offered to serve as steward at the festival of the Royal Benevolent Fund , which will take place on the 25 th January , 1860 , when it is expected that a larger number of the Craft will be present than heretofore . This institution , the 3-oimgest of our Masonic charities , is still the weakest , although not tho least useful , and ought to be well supported by the craft . We understand that eighteen Lodges have sent stewards for the next festival .
STRONG MAK LODGE ( No . 53 ) . —The second meeting for the season of this Lodge was held on Thursday , November 4 th , at Bro . Ireland ' s , the Masonic Hall , Fetter-lane , Bro . Lundy , W . M ., presided , supported by his officers , Bros . Dickie , S . W . ; Ditchman , J . W . ; Hales , S . D . ; White , J . D ., and Chambers , I . G . The Worshipful Master , with his usual ability , initiated three gentlemen into the Order , after which he performed two passings and one raising . A letter was received from the Grand Lodge , warning' tho brethren against a spurious Lodge established at Stratford
, in Essex , under the title of the " Reformed Lodge of Memphis , " and cautioning them against receiving any of the members thereof . The letter was ordered to be inserted on the minutes . The Lodge was then closed , and between thirty ancl forty brethren sat down to an excellent dinner . After which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and the evening was spent in the true spirit of Masonry .
ROYAL JUBILEE LODGE ( NO . 85 ) . — The monthly meeting of this Lodge was held on Monday evening , November 7 th , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , Bro . Clemow , W . M . ; Bro . Clout , S . W ., and Bro . Lascelles , J . W ., being present . No business was transacted , but the members dined together , in addition to Bro . Ward , P . M . No . 12 ; Bro . Ruston , S . W . No . 82 , and Bro . Workman , No . 206 . The usual toasts were given , aud the evening was most harmoniously spent .
LODGE or GOOD REPORT ( No . 158 ) . —At the regular meeting , held on Thursday , November 3 rd , at Radley's Hotel , Bridge-street , Blackfriars , Bro . Charles Smale , P . M ., acted as W . M ., in the absence of Bro . Aguilar , recently appointed to a command of one of H . M . ' s gunboats . Bro . Hobbs was raised to the third degree . A ballot was taken for the admission of a gentleman to be initiated at the ensuing Lodge . Bros . How and Merton were visitors on this occasion . After the business o £ the Lodge was concluded , the brethren dined together .
ST . THOMAS ' S LODGE ( NO . 1 C 6 ) . —This Lodge met for the first time this season at the Freemason ' s Tavern , on Saturday , thc oth of Nov ., Bro . Luce , W . M . ; Cockcraft , S . W . ; Batty , J . AY . ( pro . tern . ); Archer , P . M . ; Wyatt , P . M . and Sec . ; G . States , P . M . ( G . S . B . for Berks and Bucks , ) and many other brethren being present . The Lodge having been opened in the three degrees , the W . M . vacated the chair , and requested Bro . Archer , P . M ., to undertake the ceremony of the third degree , which he very impressively performed by raising Bro . Gilbert to that sublime degree . The W . M , again resumed the chair , when five candidates were