Contents.

CONTENTS .

EDITORIAL : CONTRADICTION 179 & 180 C HARITY ( COMMUNICATED ) ISO THE LATE BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALEX . W . ADAIR , P . P . G . M . FOR SOMERSET ISO MASONIC "POET ' S CORNER" —OPENING AND CLOSING HYMNS 181

OUR TRESTLE BOARD 181 SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL A . AND A . RITE 181 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE 182 THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTIONS 182 & 183 MARK MASONRY : INSTALLATION MEETING OF THE KINTORE

LODGE—No . 333 183 PROVINCIAL NOTES 183 MASONIC ,: BITTER-SWEET " 184 COLONIAL , DISTRICT AND FOREIGN ITEMS 181 & 185 METROPOLITAN LODGE AND CHAPTER MEETINGS FOR THE CURRENT WEEK 18-1 ADVERTISEMENTS Front cover , 178 , 185 , ISrt , 187 , 188

Contradiction.

Contradiction .

HE Special General Court of tho Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , for the purpose of considering the Report of thc Committee of Investigation appointed under Resolution

of the Quarterly Court of 27 th July , 1888 , is , we arc informed , to be held on Friday , the 31 st inst . The manner

of calling Special Courts of our Institutions , under ordinary circumstances , is by requisition of qualified brethren stating time of meeting , and tho advertisement thereof in

throe at least of the daily papers six days prior to thc appointed date . Under ordinary circumstances this is far from sufficient for thc required purpose , and AVC know of

brethren Avho , until tho recent Special Court of tho Girls ' School for authorising the outlay of a large sum of money on buildings had terminated its business , Avere in ignorance

of the particulars of time and place of the meeting , and did not , in consequence , give tho attendance they had

contemplated . Some better means for necessary publicity should be adopted even under ordinary conditions . In vieAV of the extraordinary conditions affecting the forthcoming

Special Court of the Boys' School , a far more universal notification of time and place of meeting than can possibly

be given "by advertisement in three at least of the daily papers , " is absolutely necessary , or Ave shall have a hole and corner affair which may not fairly represent the feelings

and wishes of the large majority of those who look upon tho disclosures of tho lately-issued report with regret and indignation . Every Governor and Subscriber to the Institution has a right to expect direct information on this

point , and if it is not given we may expect to hear of much disappointment and many doubts as to the open character of the approaching enquiry . Already is the caution

whispered , " Look out for a packed meeting ! " We hope there will really be no opportunity given for the justification of such caution .

Contradiction.

Meanwhile , contradiction appears to be the order of the day , and oven thc Chairman of the Committee of Enquiry Avho , Ave feel assured , is , on behalf of himself and colleagues ,

fully prepared to await the consideration of tho Special Court on Avhat he and they have reported , is drawn into a controversy upon a point Avhich Ave think ought never to

haA 7 e arisen . Before—many days before—the published report was issued to the general body of subscribers , —and it should be observed that for the sake of what was considered .

an adA'antageous secrecy the copies thereof Avere to have been circulated simultaneously , Avhich they A \ r orc not , —tho impugned Committees had it " under consideration " and

could not " refrain from an expression of astonishment at its conclusions . " They protested against decisions " armed at , in their opinion , contrary to the weight of evidence , "

and repudiated suggestions made by the Committee of Investigation . They challenged tho production of tho stenographic notes made at thc enquiry , and this alone

appears to have concerned Bro . Philbrick , who , by a letter which he sent to our contemporary , and which AVO reproduce in another column , informs them and the Masonic

public that such notes were in possession of the complaining Committees seven days after the Quarterly Court of

tho 27 th April , and three days before thc challenge wan made for their production . Like Bro . Philbrick , AVO " forbear comment on that Avhich speaks for itself . " Their

reply to his letter , which Ave also reproduce from the samo columns , begs the question altogether , and is much more

likely to strengthen that desire for " a clean sweep " in respect of management of tho Institution , Avhich is daily increasing amongst the brethren , than to lessen it .

We read elsewhere of appeals for a consideration of tho past in connection with this and tho other Charitable Institutions . Unfortunately , these are made at an

inopportune moment . It is with the present state of tilings that the Governors and Subscribers of tho . Boys' School have to do , and no question of personal feeling or gratitude for

the most earnest services should be permitted to interfere Avith the course of whatever reform may be determined in the interests of the School itself . If ever occasion has

arisen for strict adherence to one of those cardinal virtues Ave theorize upon—Justice—it has arisen now ; and whether it be members of the Committees or of the Official staff

Avho have to account for the mal-administration and malpractices which the report has made public to the world , there should be no hesitation in attaching tho blame to

whomsoever it may be due , and adopting such measures as may prevent recurrence of the objectionable features Avhich may make our Institution a bye-word for many a day .

That done , and not till then , if it be possible " let the dead past bury its dead . " Remembrance of all that has