Original Correspondence.

oppoitunity and every facility afforded to them of assisting in the recent investigations by the Committee of Inquiry ? And ii they had , how is it that they announce so much ignorance of the nature of the evidence then submitted ? 2 . If Bros . Ramsay and Hogard , or any , or either of the members of their respective Committees , heard , or It new anything * of , this evidence ; and if they have NOT

" subordinated their views to any official influence whatever , " nor " failed to maintain the most steady allegiance to the important interes's entrusted to their care , " how comes it that they so positively and " unanimously concur in entering a protest against decisions" which have been arrived at by an impartial Committee of Inquiry selected from different provinces ?

It appears to me , then , that the two simple issues which present themselves for consideration in regard to this matter are , in the first place , that the members of the House and Audit Committees , individually as well as collectively , have been guilty of maladministration and neglect of a very reprehensible character , or they are not guilty . And in the next place , that the " conclusion " of

the report of the Committee of Inquiry , are either in accordance with the " insight of evidence , " or contrary to it . In other words , that the Inquiry Committee have reported on facts , or they have invented them , as Bros . Ramsay and Hogard would seem to imply . Thus , this " remonstrance" by the Chairmen of the

House and Audit Committees , becomes nothing less than a very serious charge against the Committee of Inquiry , and the Craft can only a true verdict find , on appeal , after knowledge of the " Shorthand writer's notes of the evidence . " I , therefore , strongly urge the prompt and full publication and circulation of these " notes , " together with the

Inquiry Committees Repott ; and pending these , I , for one , shall be content to hold over my judgment . Nevertheless , I cannot help repudiating the suggestion that the Inquiry Committee have deliberately foresworn their Masonic integrity for the base purpose of gratifying feelings of peisonal animosity of any kind or degree by the issue of a Report contrary to evidence ; more particularly

when I remember that its members are all of them well known brethren and honourable gentlemen , and that many of them , like Bro . Malcolm , the Coroner for this Borough , possess sptcial judicial expeiience and ability . In conclusion , may I add the hope that you will permit a full and free discussion in jour columns of this very important matter , involving , as it does , not only the welfare

of a Royal and most useful Institution , but also the character , official and personal , of those to whom the management of its affairs has been confided ; and further , that all communications may be signed in full , so that no masked batteries may be brought into use during this inevitable conflict , which must now , unfortunately , ensue . —Yours fraternally ,

TUDOR TREVOR , Leeds , nth May . P . M . Prudence , 206 a

D * . ar Sir and Brother , We all know that the inhabitants of a certain mythical world consist of boojums and non-boojiims . I'he Subscribers to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , are now , for the first time , and by the kindness of Bros . Ramsay and Hogard divided into Binckesians and non-Binckesians .

This result has been achieved b y delay in the issue of the Philbrick Report to the Subscribers , while that report has been considered by the existing Committees of the School j and these Committees have sent to you for publication a letter , dated the gth May , addressed by them to Bro . Philbrick , which , seeing the report itself had not yet become public , I am amazed they should have ventured to

ask you to publish , and against the publication of which , by these Committees , I venture now to enter my most energetic protest . Every one who , having read the letter of the Committees , now leads the Philbrick Report , will read it with a predisposition in its favour , or against it , according as he is a Binckesian or non-Binckesian . Here then we have the foundation for a war of speeches and letters , every one of

which will do more or less injury to the School . The Philbrick Committee , tiom its constitution , commanded the full confidence of the Craft , and before those to whom it is addressed know what their report contains , the Committees whose administration that Committee was appointed to investigate , have pronounced that confidence to have been misplaced , and the report to be an unfair statement of the evidence upon which it rests , evidence those Committees admit they have not been able to

peruse . Can anything be more monstrous ? Can anything be more calculated to damage the School which , whether well or ill managed noiv , has , beyond question , done good work in the pas' , and . for all its subscribers jet lenow , may be doing it still ?—I remain , yours fraternally , HUGH H . RIACH .

P . M . S 74 , ii iS , and 1523 . May nth . P . S . —Since the above was written , a friend has told me his report reached him to-day . Mine has not yet arrived , May 12 th . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother ,

The result of the inquiry of the Philbrick Committee into the general condition and management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys is now published in the form of a carefully compiled book which is intended for circulation among the Governors and Supporters generally of the Institution . The Committee was composed cf men of most exceptional business and legal ability , and the recommendations

of such a body must merit the earnest consideration of the Governors and Subscribers . The report discloses a state of things which calls for an immediate and thorough re-organisation ; nor can this be effected too soon , for , if in the face of such disclosures matters are allowed to drift on , or are only patched up , there must inevitably be a falling- off in that charitable support for which this Institution has hitherto come in for so large a share .

Original Correspondence.

The discipline and educational arrangements of the School leave nothing to be desired , but the feeding , clothing , and medical supervision of the boys is most unsatisfactory , notwithstanding that the charges per boy per annum under each head are from 20 to nearly 50 per cent , higher than those of other similar Charities , as shown by a tabulated analysis published with thc report .

The fault of the administration lies chiefly in the fact that there are two authorities at Wood Gieen where there should be only one . Dr . Alfred Barry laid stress on this some years ago , when he pointed out that the Head Master of a school must be also the principal , and entirely responsible for the conduct of the Institution domestically as well as educationally . No one who looks over the progress of

the Institution during the last few years , and who understands the way in which it has been effected , can fail to look with admiration upon the indefatigable activity and constant hard work by which it ; Secretary has raised it from a small Charity to perhaps the most prominent position among the unendowed institutions of this country . There have been totals of annual collections which have

fairly caused astonishment , and it is we . l known how much this is due to the energy and tact of Bro . Binckes . But the duties of the Secretary are , without doubt , in the office , as distinct from the School , at which place the Head Master must have entire and untrammelled control . It may be doubted whether the present system of government can be effectually altered without the removal of

some of the chief causes of friction , but on this point the Report of thc Committee is silent , as indeed it is characterised throughout by the moderation with which its radical opinions are expressed . Even if these changes should be necessary , history , from Caesar , downwards , offers many examples of cases when men have had to be sacrificed to the causes for

which they have laboured so long , and the retirement may obtain no less honour , because , perchance , it obtains some sympathy too . Whoever fills the respective posts , it is clearly the duty of the Secretary to adopt a system of accounts fitted to the magnitude of the sums in his charge , so that detailed balance sheets can be annually before the

notice of those interested in the Institution , and to leave Wood Green to the Head Master , whose duty it is , as adviser of the School Committee , to propose , and of that Committee to sanction such chan £ es in staff and arrangements as will enable the Head Master of Wood Green to obtain the proper and responsible control of the establishment .

LIFE GOVERNOR . PROPOSED CONFERENCE OF PRECEPTORS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , It has been thought desirable that a conference of Preceptors in Freemasonry should be held at some

convenient and central part of London within a short time . In the furtherance of that object , the Secretary of the St . Ambrose Lodge of Instruction will be glad to receive communications from Preceptors on or before Monday , the 27 th inst , addressed to the Baion ' s Court Hotel , West Kensington . —Yours faithfully , FREDK . CRAGGS . THE HEROES OF "THE MISSOURI . " To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Sir , On behalf of the Committee of the " Captain Murrell Testimonial Fund , " of which the Lord Mayor is President , I beg to solicit your indulgence for the insertion of this letter , in order to call attention to the efforts we are

making for the presentation of a testimonial to the gallant captain and devoted crew of the Missouri , in recognition of their bravery and humanity in the rescue of nearly Soo lives from the sinking Danmark , a Danish vessel , in the Atlantic during a storm in April last . The King of Denmark promptly recognised Captain Murrell ' s services in thus preventing a great calamity to many a Danish household

by conferring on him the Orderof the Dannesbrog ; the citizens of Baltimore and Philadelphia , whither the Missouri was bound , and the rescued passengers landed , have right nobly shown their appreciation of the worth of British seamanship ; whilst at Cardiff , his native town , preparations are making for a public banquet , under the auspices of the Mayor , in honour of Captain Murrell ' s heroic

conduct . My Committee feel strongly that London should not be wanting in its recognition of the noble conduct of Capt . Murrell and the brave sailors of the Missouri . Barely £ 400 has as yet been subscribed towards the fund , which it was hoped might have reached £ 1500 , so that , from the captain to the humblest member ct the crew , each man of the Missouri might have had a worthy souvenir of an

incident unique almost in the annals of seamanship . It is with these feelings that my Committee believe an appeal in your columns may not be in vain in eliciting a fitting response . Amongst those already contributing I may mention the Danish Ambassador and the Lord Mayor 10 guineas each ;

the members of Lloyd ' s , i I 25 j Messrs . Rothschilds and Sons , £ 26 5 s . ; the Corporation of the Trinity House , £ 21 ; and the Skinners' Company , £ 5 5 s . Contributions may be paid into Messrs . Dimsdale and Fowler ' s Bank , 50 , Cornhill , E . C ., to any member of the Committee , or to myself . —I am , Sir , yours faithfully ,

WM . CONOLLY . Botolph House , Eastcheap , E . C , May 14 th . P . S . —The date for the presentation has been arranged for the 2 dth inst .

A MASONIC IMPOSTOR . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , A man named Robert Bain is soliciting relief , and will probably be heard of in the Midland Counties . He states he was , until recently , a member of Lodge 1303 . I have made inquiry , and find his statement to be entirely

false . 1 am satisfied that if brethren who relieve these wanderers would make a practice of making inquiry as to character to the Secretaries of the lodges to which they profess to belong , the result would be such as to speedily extinguish the Masonic tramp . —Yours fraternally , SECRETARY 1410 .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft Jteoitrjj *

ROYAL ATHELSTAN LODGE ( No . 19 ) . — An ordinary meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the gth inst ., at the Cannon-street Hotel , when there were present the W . M ., Bro . W . Nicholson , and the following brethren : Bros . A . Wormull , S . W . ; G . Sneath , P . M 7 , as J . W . ( pro tem . ); H . R . Ramsey , S . D . ; H . Poston , J . U . ; A . D . Green , I . G .: W . M . Bywater , P . M ., P . G .

S . B ., Treas . ; C . B . Barnes , P . M ., Sec ; G . H . Hoyle , I . P . M . ; H . Glenn , P . M . ; W . Pound , P . M . ; F . E . W . Collard , P . M . ; E . A . Corderoy , P . M . ; W . S . Pound , S . S . Stracker , Milton Smith , E . G . Young , J . A . Davies , A . E . VV . Gwyn , Org . ; G . R . Carsberg , F . P . Hinckel , and A . W . Hillier . The visitors were Bros . A . Sandberg , A . Britten , J . Piper , and C . A . Crook .

The lodge being duly opened , sundry business was transacted , and votes for the Charities collected and appropriated . * 'Hearty good wishes" havingbeen offered , the lodgo was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet , at which the W . M . presided , and gave the usual toasts . These were briefly and pleasantly responded to .

Amongst others , Bro . Pound , P . M ., replied for " The I . P . M ., " Bro . Collard , P . M ., for "The P . M . ' s , " Bro . Ramsay for "The Officers , " and each of the visitors made a few genial remarks . Bros . Corderoy , P . M ., W . S . Pound , two of the visitors , and others , gave songs and recitations , and thus helped to pass a very pleasant evening .

FAITH LODGE ( No . 141 ) . —This old lodge held its last meeting of the session at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleetstreet , on the 30 th ult . Among those present were Bros . W . J . Hakim , W . M . ; W . Carter , P . M ., Treas ., acting S . W . ; Wetzlar , J . VV . ; W . Stuart , P . M ., Sec ; Langdale , S . D . ; Bye , J . D .: Shepperd , I . G . ; C . Dairy , P . M . ; T . C . Walls , P . M ., P . G . W . Middx . ; Coop , P . M . ;

and others . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . There was no regular business on the agenda , but a long and harmonious discussion took place upon various matters in connection with the general prospects of the lodge . Numerous letters from absent members having been read , the lodge was closed , and the brethren separated .

CAPPER LODGE ( No . 1076 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of the above prosperous lodge—which is a Patron of one and Vice-Patron of the other Charitiestook place on Thursday , the 9 th inst ., at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street , City , Bro . C . D'Oyley Meats , W . M ., presiding , assisted by the following officers and brethren : Bros . H . B . Hollidav , P . M . ; 1 . Dorton , P . M .,

Ireas . ; P . McCarthy , P . M . ; F . Brien , P . M . ; W . Nivins , P . M . ; W . H . Harris , P . M . ; W . Watkins , P . M . ; A . T . Dale , S . VV . ; J . Tytheridge , J . W . ; VV . Ware , Sec . ; W . C . Crow , S . D . ; J . White , J . D . ; F . C . Ward , I . G . j C . Sayers , D . C ; M . Sherwin , Org . ; J . Hillier , N . Stockvis , J . Thompson , E . Keymer , J . Oakes , W . Robinson , J . Foster , G . Buttery , B . Spencer , and T . H . Maple .

Among the visitors were Bros . W . Grieg , P . M . 200 , P . P . G . P . Kent ; T . Jenkins , S . W . and W . M . elect 299 ; G . Brown , P . M . 1 C 9 ; G . Wood , W . M . 16 S 1 ; C . Fowling , S . D . 1472 ; B . Wake , 2030 ; G . Horner , 749 ; C . Jolly , P . M . 1472 ; and others . The lodge having been opened and the minutes of the previous meeting confirmed , Bro . G . Hillier was raised

to the Sublime Degree , and Bro . Buffery passed to the Degree of F . C ., both ceremonies being admirably worked by the W . M . and his officers . A notice of motion by Bro . Dale , S . W ., "That it is desirable to organise a summer outing , " was then discussed , and a Committee was formed to arrange the same , and from what we know of the liberality of this most hospitable lodge , when it is arramred .

it will be on a scale of munificence not often equalled and never surpassed among the metropolitan lodges . The lodge was then closed . The banquet was , as it ever is at the "Guildhall , " splendidly served , and the cloth having been cleared , the W . M . gave thc usual loyal and Grand Lodge toasts in brief but well-chosen sentences , and the response of thc

brethren was equal to the occasion . Bro . Watkins , in the unavoidable absence of the I . P . M ., Bro . Temple , proposed the toast of " The VV . M ., " and in so doing , said he had no doubt they knew what he was about to do , seeing that the gavel had been temporarily placed in his hands by the W . M . It was to propose the toast of Bro . Meais' health . Of course he never anticipated having thc

honour of proposing such a toast after serving his time as I . P . M . ; nevertheless , it gave him great pleasure to have thc opportunity of proposing the health of so worthy and excellent a Mason as their W . M .. He felt sure they must haye noticed and were proud of the admirable manner in which he had not onl y performed the ceremonies of passing and raising , but conducted the discussion afterwards .

It showed them that Bro . Mears had the interest of their lodge at heart . Unfortunately , Bro . Mears not been so well of late , but now that their recess had arrived , he trusted that he would recruit his health , so that when they resumed business they would have him among them in the best of health and spirits . Let them however show him that they could do without him just for that once , and drink the toast

of his health in bumpers . Bro . Meats , in response , said he could only say that hc was doing his best both in the working and for the welfare of the lodge . So far as the words used by Bro . Watkins were concerned , " let us show him that we can do without him , " he could tell them at once that he did not intend that they should do without him , for he had arrived at the

summit of his Masonic ambition , and meant to stay there [ till he was turned out by his successor , and when he came among the Past Masters he should do as they were doing , and ever had done—all that was in their power to promote the prestige of the lodge and the happiness of the brethren . He hoped they would do their best in its entirety for the success of their summer outing ,