Ar00700

( Continued from page 251 . ) I sincerely hope M . M . is not in supreme command of the PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE , nor of the Court of Governors to Avhich they have to report . The temperature of the atmosphere is somewhat oppressi \ e at the moment , but as I peruse his fiA ^ e salient points of reform and

retrenchment , I feel it Avill be necessary to keep myself under restraint , lest I may inadvertently say something to hurt . His . first MUST '" make a clean sweep , < fce .. " AVIIO arc "the discredited stajf" to begin Avith . The steward and matron haA'c resigned ; I suppose it does not make much difference to the doctor even if he be one of those "discredited . " I cannot find that the

under masters or servants are discredited . The collector is only overpaid ; AA'ho else remains to be pensioned oft ' . ' Does he call the Head Master discredited' Does he call the Secretary discredited . ' I cannot find it in the : report or the resolutions ; true , the Head Master is represented as very seA-ere to the boys , and as Aveak and non-assertive Avith the stcAvard , matron , and their staff ; true . also .

the secretary is represented as actiA e , energetic , persevering , and , Avonderf ul to relate , doing not only his own AA'ork Avell , but picking up odd ends of left undone duties of others , and therefore he has done too much ! Who else is there to be pensioned . ' But this language , " make a clean sweep of the irhole discredited xfajij " sounds mighty poAverf ul and almost authoritative . Grand !

II . MUST . " Appoint a young and energetic secretary at a reasonable salary . " Ah ! It is the secretary he Avants to be at . is it . ' He certainly puts it very reasonable—begin at £ 200 and increase by not more than £ 10 per year to £ 400—20 years' sendee before reaching £ 400 ! ! Why does he not apply for the post himself . ' Is "M . M . " not young . ' or not energetic . ' or Avould he not be Avorth

half the amount even as his own master . I fear to knoAV him more intimately lest I might learn to dislike him . If young . I hope he will improve in wisdom AA'ith years : if old , I beg of him not to trouble us Avith such absurdities . A secretary is not a mere clerk , as " M . M . '• ' seems to think . III . MUST , though not in itself unwise , yet it Avould require to

be attended to Avith great discretion to avoid the swooping down upon the Institution by the Charity Commissioners , for if AVC accumulate funds beyond present prospective requirements , they may take the management in their OAVII hands . According to my opinion , our reserve fund should never exceed the amount sufficient to fulfil the engagements Ave enter into ; in this respect ¦ ' sufficient

unto the day is the evil thereof AVIII be found a tolerably safe motto . IV . <; Reduce the cost , " & c . Why , certainly AVC all Avant that , provided Ave can still have efficiency , but AVC don't Avant to ' lose the ship for sake of a pennyAvorfch of tar . " , ; M . M . " may rest assured this point Avill haA e careful attention .

V . Frame rules for the New Committee to help them in their Avork , " I think if ' M . M . " reads the rules and the bye-laws of the various committees , and the report of the Investigation Committee , even he Avould find it difficult to make very many new rules , or alter many of the present ones unless he makes one to fine the members of the various committees for absence or inattention to the trust reposed in them ; but if the General Court shoAved more

interest themselves , and AY ere not quite so disposed to slide through the reports and routine on Court days in such a perfunctory manner , matters Avould very soon improve with committees and officers also . Please let us have no more such irritating communications till after the dog days arc over , or Avhen heat is conducive to comfort , and oblige , Yours faithfully and fraternally , A VICE-PRESIDENT .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

G . T ., PORTSMOUTH . —Send ns your postal address and wo , will reply by private letter . We cannot publish your communication as it is written .

ANNUAL OUTING OF THU STABILITY LODGE—y > o . 217 . —The annual summer outing of this Lodge Avas held in delightfully fine Aveather on Wednesday , the 2 ( ith ult ., at S anbury . The party started from Waterloo Station , at 11 a . m ., and , arriving at Sunbury , drove to the Magpie Hotel . They crossed the river by boat and rambled along the bank of the Thames towards Shepperton ; after

which , at 2 p . m ., they sat down to dinner under the presidency of the W . M . Bro . W . Eckersall . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts Avere briefly given ; and Bro . Elgar , Sec ., 1 . 329 , responded for the visitors . Bro . Marfieet , P . M ., proposed " The W . M ., " Avho in response expressed his great pleasure at presiding over such a gathering . This Avas , par excellence , a Stability Day , and as the

elements Avere inviting them out , he Avould not make a long speech , but simply express hi'i hearty approval of such a meeting , it being the only time that ladies Avere invited . There . must be A ery little labour ( and that of love ) and very much refreshment . —Bro . Gorrie , P . M ., proposed " The Ladies , " and Bro . Nixon . P . M ., Sec , humorously responded . —The afternoon Avas spent in boating

and other excursions , and at 6 p . m . the party sat doAvn to an excellent tea , after Avhich the W . M . congratulated those present on the pleasant day they had had , and regretted the absence of Bro . Taylor , P . M ., Avho was prevented by illness from attending . The evening having been spent near the river , the party returned to Waterloo , after spending a most enjoyable day , to which the host ,

Bro . Freeman , had added his share by his able catering . Among those present were Bro . W . Eckersall , W . M ., and Mrs . Eckersall ; Bro . Woolmer , J . W ., and Mr . Woolmer , jun . ; Bro . Hinks . Treas ., and Mrs . Hinks ; Bro . Nixon , P . M ., Sec , and Mrs . Nixon ; Bro . Marfieet , P . M ., Mr , Marfieet . jun ., and Miss Marfieet ; Bro .

Addington , P . M ., M . E . Z . 1275 , and Mrs . Addington ; Bro . Gorrie , P . M ., and Miss Gorrie ; Bro . Finch and Mrs . Finch ; Bro . Garner , Bro . and Miss Itter , the Misses Taylor , Bro . Hancock , Bro . Cowley , P . M . 1622 , P . Z . 1275 . and Mrs . Cowley ; Bro . Elgar , Sec . 1329 , and Mrs . E | gar ; Mrs . C . H . Stone , Mr . Stone ,. ju __ ., and others .

Our Trestle Board

OUR TRESTLE BOARD

" For the Master to lay lines and draw designs upon . "

In this number of the MASONIC STAR will be found the Prospectus of the Company which has been formed for the purpose of continuing its publication , and increasing its usefulness amongst the members of the Craft . Avho have now an opportunity of securing for themselves some interest in the undertakin" -. It is not for us

in our editorial capacity , to enlarge upon the qualities of our journal—" on their own merits modest men are dumb "—but AVO may be permitted , Avithout a suggestion of egotism or presump tion , to record as facts the high appreciation of our endeavours to establish a popular Aveekly Masonic organ at a low price , and the unsolicited expressions of satisfaction Avith which our A'enture has

been received , not only at home but in far distant colonies . These important factors in a successful career will now more than ever stimulate us personally to attain perfection , and to make the new-Company ' s itaper still more deserving of support , it only remains that such effort should be fairly seconded , and AVO have every confidence not only that it Avill be , but also that the opportunity for sharing in our labours and profits Avill lie gladly Avelcomed .

AVe called attention in our last number to the proposed establishment of another Class Lodge , all the more objectionable to the Craft as connected Avith a political club . It is satisfactory to note that our London contemporaries are presumably of the same Avay of thinking as ourselves . At least , they give publicity to a letter

on the subject from a Past Grand Officer of England , who considers that it " invites the serious consideration of every Craftsiiriu- Avho treasures the traditions of the Order as hitherto regarded in our country . " and speaks of it as " a dangerous innovation , and not in keeping with the spirit of British Freemasonry . "

It is to be hoped that " those members of the National Liberal Club Avho are Freemasons " Avill see the error of their ways before they attempt to raise up that strife Avhich Avould surel y follow the grant of any " charter orAvarrant" in respect of which there might be even a presumed connection of politico with Freemasonry .

But , Avhy doubt . ' Whatever the result of last Tuesday evening ' s meeting , Avhen " a member of the Liverpool Dramatic Lod ge , No . KiO ' . l . . IS to have nmde a statement to the brethren , " Ave have our M . W . G . M . and his advisers between the . petition and the grant , and can hardly conceive that past " traditions of the Order . " will be held of no account by them .

Since the foregoing paragraphs Avere written , we are pleased to read in the Birmingham- f ' os : of the 1 st inst .. the following : — "Regarding the movement to establish a Masonic Lod ge in connection with the National Liberal Club . 1 am told that some time since the Primrose Club—which , as its name implies , represents a very

ditt ' erent partisan ; stripe '—thought of doing the sani . » thing , but found the Prince of Wales inexorably opposed to the idea , as the Grand Master is afraid of Masonry becoming in any waj involved in politics . " We cannot doubt that our M . W . G rand Master entertains the objection herein stated , and that he Avill strictl y uphold

the traditions of the Craft by refusing to entertain any like proposal from "" the members of the National Liberal Club who are Fresmasons . " Moreover , AVC hope that all future petitions from clubs , cliques , or classes may meet with rejection , in order that the equality of Freemasons qua Freemasons meeting as '' brethren on the same level " may be maintained without disturbance .

We had an opportunity during the past Aveek to spend an hour or tAvo Avith Sweet Larenilrr at Terry ' s Theatre , and it was most satisfactory to notice the continued favour Avith which the play is still received by full houses , and the appreciation of the audience

which the talent of the performers commands . Our provincial brethren visiting London could not do better than make the acquaintance of our Grand Treasurer , in his character of Dick Phenyl , in this charming and interesting original drama .

We have receiA-ed , but too late for publication in this issue , some interesting information in connection Avith colonial matters , and more especially Avith the proposal to form a HCAV Grand Lodge in NOAV Zealand . We shall hope to publish the same in our next Aveek's number .

We Notify That:-

We Notify that:-

-The King Solomon Lodge of Instruction . No . 2020 , Bro . Richardson , P . M . of the Mother Lodge , Preceptor , will meet en Moiuhiy , the 8 th inst .. at 8 a . Red Lion Square , London , at 7 . ' -i 0 p . m . The Knights Companions of the Provincial Grand Lodge of

London and the Metropolitan Counties , of the Royal Order of Scotland , vail , meet in Council at ' A' A , Golden Square , London , on the l . 'ith inst .. and subsequently banquet at the Zoological Gardens at ( j . 30 , as advertised at pige 201 .

The Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Middlesex Avil hold its Annual Convocation at the Greyhound Hotel . Hampton Court , on Saturday next ( Oth inst . ) . at \ i p . m . Particulars are advertised at page 201 .

The West Smithfield Lodge , . No , 1 G 2 S , Bro . J . Brashier , W . M ., Avill take its summer outing to Virginia Water , on Wednesday rert , the ICth inst . ¦