Belfast Masonic Charities.

out of its abundance tried to relieve them . The crowning glory of the Masonic Order was that charity which " suffereth long and is kind . " It was that charity that united and consolidated the members of the Brotherhood , and , like the

keystone of the Order , was at once its ornament and its strength . And that charity , which " suffereth long and is kind , which vaunteth not itself , which endureth all things , " found its reward when one tear less dropped from the orphan ' s cheek , and one sigh less broke from the widow ' s heart .

Out of the Widows Fund the splendid sum of £ 839 was distributed among 104 widows and the families of deceased Masons , and out of the Charity Fund the sum of £ 460 , was devoted to the relief of the aged and the indigent , making a grand total of nearly £ 1 , 300 expended in sending a little

more sunshine into darkened homes , and making the route of life a little easier for the footsore and weary . The funds of the Society were not recklessly expended , and he affirmed from personal knowledge that not one farthing was given away without the most careful and minute inquiry into the

merits of every case . They tried to be generous , but they also tried to be just , remembering that above all things it was required of stewards such as they were to be found faithful . The resolution commended anew those splendid Charities to the sympathy and liberality of the Brethren of the Province , and it asked them to continue their efforts on behalf of these

Funds during the present year as they had during past years , and he was sure they would all do so . Bro . John Gregg , J . P ., said it afforded him great pleasure to second the resolution which had been so ably moved . His observations were to be brief , but he could not help

thinking that their friends who were assembled in that building liked to hear something of the good work which had been done by Committees , in addition to what had been said by the Brother who had just spoken . One of the objects of their Order was to relieve the sorrow and the suffering of the

distressed and the desolate , and in trying to carry out that duty the Committee , as they had already heard , had during the past year disbursed close on £ 1 , 300 , and many families through the organisation of those Funds had been enabled to obtain a livelihood , and thereby become independent . He

was proud to say that the Freemasons aimed at meeting , and did meet , every claim made upon them , and that there was not a single instance of a deserving applicant being refused that help which was needed . Therefore , he thought it was

abundantly proved that they were trying to carry out those great and true Masonic principles—namely , benevolence and charity . He could not help referring to the great loss the Masonic body had sustained by the hand of death , in the removal of two of the Trustees in connection with their Funds

during the past year—Bros . Valentine and Ewart . They had always striven by word and deed to advance the interests of Masonry , not only in the Province , but all over the kingdom , and it was their duty to try and emulate the good deeds which the deceased had done , until the Master called the members there to meet them in the Grand Lodge above .

The resolution was then put and passed that the Reports be adopted . Bro . James M'Connell moved that the best thanks of the meeting be tendered to the Right Worshipful the Deputy

Provincial Grand Master Bro . R . J . Hilton , for his dignified conduct in the chair . He thought everyone welcomed Bro . Hilton as a worthy occupant of the chair , and as a worthy successor to their late Bro . Valentine . He was also sure that

all felt satisfied the choice had fallen on Bro . Hilton , as they believed in the future it would be found that their choice was an eminently happy one . Bro . Arthur Williamson seconded the resolution . He

was certain that all joined in those congratulations Bro . M'Connell had offered their Deputy Provincial Grand Master on the position he occupied , while they promised to do all they could , as loyal Brethren of the Craft , to sustain him in his honorary duties .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who was loudly applauded on rising to reply , thanked them for the hearty reception they had given him . He would have referred to the death of their late Bro . Valentine but he knew it was part and parcel of the Reports of the Committees . In Bro .

Valentine ' s death they had lost a distinguished leader , one of the noblest , truest , and best of men or Masons it had been his privilege to meet . He was gratified that in the position he now occupied his appointment had Bro . Valentine ' s sanction and approval . He thanked the Brethren again for their kindness to him , and most heartily for their vote of thanks .

The concert was then proceeded with , Bro . Leighton P . G . O . P . P . S . G . W . being an efficient conductor . — "Northern Whig . "

Belfast Masonic Charities.

" Old Boys " of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys dined together on Saturday night , at Anderton ' s Hotel , and spent a very pleasant evening , most of the speeches being full of reminiscences of past days spent at Wood Green . The " browny , " a mixture strongly suspected of combining

the humble properties of salts and senna , which was administered in the old times as a remedy for all complaints , was vividly remembered , and contrasts were drawn between the humble games of former times and those which now to tne

absorb attention . Incidentally reference -was made distinguished positions which some of the Old Boys have attained , a shout of . pride greeting the name of Colonel Sparkes , who led one of the native regiments to victory at Omdurman .

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Patron of Scottish Freemasonry has graciously consented to become Patron of the Festival to be held by the Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) No . 1 , in celebration of the ter-centenary of its consecutive minutes . The date fixed is the 5 th July , when

His Royal Highness , who is a member of the Lodge , is to visit Edinburgh to attend the Highland and Agricultural Society ' s Show . The arrangements are in the hands of an in tne

influential Committee , who at a meeting neia u-ranu Lodge Board room , on Thursday , resolved that the celebration should take the form of a grand banquet , tickets for which , price 21 s inclusive , will be ready shortly .

The Tredegar Lodge of Instruction , No 1625 , which was recently located at Wapping , and the Mother Lodge of which is held at the London Tavern , Fenchurch Street , was removed to Bro . W . Stone ' s , the Spread Eagle , Gill Street , Limehouse , on Thursday of last week . The meetings open every Thursday evening at seven .

Meetings of the New Cross Lodge of Instruction , No . 1559 , are held every Tuesday , at 7 . 30 p . m ., at Bro . Lake ' s , the Kemble's Head , Long Acre , W . C . Visitors are cordially invited .

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