Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hertfordshire.

Charities followed from the chair . Bro . Halsey was pleased to think that every brother in Hertfordshire knew what the Charities wore , and supported them to the best of his ability . Ho considered it a wonderful thing , and a most gratifying feature in connection with Freemasonry , that notwithstanding cries of bad trade and severe

times the support given to the Charities did not fall off . This proved that however much brethren might have to curtail their expenses they looked npon benevolence aa the last call which should be di 3 regarded . He coupled with the toast tho name of Bro . Terry , congratulating him on his improved state of health , and hoping he might

long be spared to be among them and plead the cause of Masonic Charity . Bro . Terry responded . The kind way in which the mention of his name had just been received was an evidence that when a man endeavoured to do his duty he was respected . Not only had the brethren kept up their support of the Charities , but they had subscribed

sufficient to allow each of tho three to be extended , and this too at a time when nearly every Charitable Institution was reducing its sp here of operations—closing wards or leaving beds empty . Tho brethren could accomplish a great deal if they would all do something , however small . He hoped the day would come when every

brother , as soon as he received his third degree , would enrol his name as a Steward for one or other of the Institutions . The Provincial Grand Master then proposed the toast of the Visitors , and that having been acknowledged the proceedings were shortly afterwards brought to a conclusion .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , hut as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

RENUMBERING OF LODGES .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Although not much of an advocate of " change for the sake of change , " I cannot help thinking that the suggestion is a feasible one that aims at the renumbering of our Masonic Lodges , in order that we may really know to a nicety the

number and strength of the Craft . Many Lodges that have ceased to exist are still retained on the register , and thus it is made to appear that the numerical strength of the Order is greater than is obviously the fact . It is difficult to see what " confusion " would arise from the alteration , as brethren would soon settle down to the

new order of things . I presume the numbers only , and not the names of the various Lodges would be changed , and the only variation would be in reply to the query as to the age of one ' s maternal

parent . I do not apprehend any great difficulty is likely to arise from that circumstance , while , on the other hand , we should be accurately informed of the actual strength of the Masonio body , which would be in many respects most desirable . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , fraternally yours , A READER .

The Boys' School Festival.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your excellent periodical , of the 27 th ult ., I find among the list of Stewards for the Boys' School Festival the name of Bro . John Early Danks , "Union Lodge , 414 . " As Bro . Danks is not a member of the Lodge of Unionbut of Grey

, Friars Lodge , No . 1101 , the report should have stated "Uniou Chapter 414 . " This was explained to me by Bro . Danks at the Prov . Grand Lodge meeting on the 29 th ultimo , which I attended , aud was mnch surprised at the paucity of numbers in that noble building , the New Town Hall , Reading .

There appeared to be a general grumbling on the dais as to the dispensation of the regalia , and tbe general management . I was ttioch pleased to find that the right man was in the right place , viz ., J-w . Flanagan , the founder of the Kendrick Lodge , Reading , as Junior Grand Warden . Rather stringent remarks were made

respecting the Senior Grand Warden , who lives in the Province of onrrey . It wag aiso remarked thafc it is high time the Provinces was divided , viz ., the Province of Berkshire ( or Berks ) and the Province of Buckinghamshire ( or Bucks ) . wish it to be distinctly understood that these remarks are made solel y for the benefit of the Graft generally .

Believe me , yours faithfully and fraternally , W . P . TVEY P . M . 1101 , n ,, „ P . Prov . G . S . B . Berks and Bucks . Xhe Grange . Theale , Berks , 27 th July 1885 .

We are gratified in being able to offer our cougratula'cms to the members of the Wilson lies Lodge on the ¦ " oriour couferrcd on one of their most esteemed members " ^ Bro . Henry J . Moxon—by his appointment to the office J * Provincial Grand Standard Bearer of Hertfordshire .

] e offer of the office was an hononr conferred on the ° clge , and by the unanimous voice of the members Bro , oxon was selected as the recipient ; the appointment , r « erefore , is really of double value .

Presentation To Bro. W. A. Scurrah.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . W . A . SCURRAH .

THE election of Bro . Scnrrah to the chair of the Henry Levander Lodge , No . 2018 , was taken advantage of by a few of his Masonic friends , who , a short timo since , held a meeting at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen Street , W . C . Those present wore Rios . W . M . Stiles P . M . 1507 , 1732 , 1744 , in the chair , H . W . Field ,

C . J . Knightley , J . Glynn , A . Thomas , and W . A . Scurrah . Letters were read from Bros . J . Hamilton and H . Dickey exensing their absence on account of pressing business engagements . The Chairman stated the object of the meeting was to present to Brother W . A . Scurrah a W . M . ' s apron and case from a few old Masonic friends as a mark of the respect and high esteem in which they held him as a

friend and as a Mason , he having in a very short time made for himself a name in the Craft , both in respect of the Masonic Charities and his knowledge of the Ritual , and to express their gratification at the honour that had been done him by the members of the Henry Levander Lodge in having elected him W . M . of that Lodge . Brother

Stiles expressed a hope , on behalf of the donors , that Bro . Scnrrah might live for many years , and in due course be advanced to the highest Masonio honours . A Worshipful Master ' s apron with silver levels , & c , was then presented . Bro . W . A . Scurrah in accepting the present , said it was his opinion that Freemasonry was one of the noblest institutions of the land . All thafc he had done and all he

hoped to do was from a conscientious conviotion that every Brother should carry out the three grand principles of the Order in his life and actions . In thanking the brethren for their very handsome present , Bro . Scurrah said ho conld not forget that the donors were old and tried friends , and he thanked them for this fresh proof of

their esteem . Somo of the other brethren present made some suitable remarks upon the presentation , and the brethren then separated . The apron bore the following inscription : — "Presented to Brother W . A . Scurrah by a few sincere friends on his being installed Worshipful Master of the Henry Levander Lodge . Jnly 1885 .

Royal General Theatrical Fund Dinner . —Happily the " universal depression" which affords profitable employment to royal commissioners , and inspires melancholy leaders in the " dailies , " spares at least the Royal General Theatrical Fund—one of the most useful and most carefully administered of existing charities . The

annual dinner , held on the 24 th nit ., proved the most successful yet given , while the subscriptions announced amounted to £ 1200 . A special interest was felt in the occasion as Mr . Bancroft presided . In tbe speech of the evening , proposed in graceful and sympathetic terms by the chairman , who referred to his own days of hard

apprenticeship , when fame and fortune seemed at times but a mirage , and from the trials of those days pointed an eloquent appeal for those to whom the mirage proves no omen of coming pleasant places , but leaves them too often in the thirsty desert of disappointment . Mr . Bancroft spoke with affectionate respect of the profession

" to which I have the honour to belong ; " referred to his old friends T . Swinburne and Simpson , who had given him kindly encouragement when encouragement meant new strength , and hope . The

chairman ' s voice suffered from the strong emotions of the occasion , but he was listened to with hushed attention and loud and long were the plaudits given , not so much to the able aud earnest chairman as to the kind friend whose farewell to the honours and cares of

management could once more receive the regretful God speed of many a private friend and lover of dramatic art . Mr . Justin McCarthy proposed Literature and the Stage , but though he " caught tho Speaker ' s eye , " he was but irreverently listened to , and subsided with virtue's usual recompense . Mr . Yates made an amusing

speech for the Drama and the Stage . Mr . Pinero , evidently not yet consoled by the ,: Magistrate" for certain misadventures , said unkind things of Mr . Gilbert's young person of fifteen , and spoke still more severely of her factious brothers and cousins , who mako first nights hideou 3 to sensitive authors by irreverent

comments and indelicate interruptions . The pleasantest episocle in -the evening ' s proceedings was the descent of the ladies from their gallery to the dining room , Mrs . Bancroft leading the way , when the cheers and handkerchief waving that greeted her appearance might have been a loyal outburst in honour

of a Princess ; but then , is she not a qneen of hearts ? The musical arrangements by Bro . Wilhelm Ganz gave delight to the guests , and made ample compensation for certain of the speeches . Miss Grisvold and Miss Little sang , amid much applause ; especially exquisite was " Who is Sylvia ? " Mdlle . Donilly gave some exquisite French

chansonettes , and made a most favourable first appearance in England . We need not say with what pleasure the ever popular Sims Reeves was listened to , as he sang the old . favourites , " The Bay of Biscay , " "The Death of Nelson , " and " My Pretty Jane . " He shared the

honours with 'Mr . and Mrs . Bancroft . It but remains to say the dinner was well served , with that attention to the comfort and convenience of the guests which especially distinguishes the management of the Freemasons' Tavern .

The Actors' Benevolent Fund . —The public may be said to have enjoyed a great tro-it—that is to say the happier public , to whom guinea stalls and generally raised prices means bnt added satisfaction—on Tuesday , 2 Lsfc ult ., when the Executive of the Actors ' Benevolent Fund held their festival performance at tho Lyceum . A

fine programme had been secured . All the leading actors and actresses in London strove to contribute to the success . Madame Sarah Bernhardt gave her weird Macbeth sleep walking scene , amid the hushed silence of tho bousa . Every seat aud each

corner for standing room was occupied , and Mr . Irving could well be proud of the result , when tho balance sheet announced a sum of £ 5 G 0 raised for the Charity on whose behalf he had giveu his theatre . and for which he had brought to bear all the tact and ability needful to bring about such a triumphant result .