Masonic Charity In The Past Year.

MASONIC CHARITY IN THE PAST YEAR .

IT is very gratifying to find that the amounts received by each of the central Institutions during the year just closed are in advance of 1895 , the aggregate showing an improvement of no less than £ 6 , 263 8 s 6 d , the actual totals

being £ 68 , 918 2 s 5 d for 1896 , against £ 62 , 654 = 13 s lid for 1895 . The greatest increase is in the case of the Benevolent Institution / which takes the first place with a return of £ 25 , 650 16 s 6 d , an increase of nearly £ 4 , 000 compared with

1895 . The Girls School shows an improvement of nearly £ 1 , 500 , and the Boys an advance of just over £ 900—results which call for the heartiest congratulation on all sides .

The grants of the Board of Benevolence are also in advance of 1895 , the totals being £ 9 , 132 against £ 8 , 765 . We append a summary of the receipts and grants : —

1895 1896 £ s . d £ s . d Benevolent Institution- -. 21 , 746 15 6 25 , 650 16 6 Boys School- - - - 22 , 696 18 1 23 , 603 2 0 Girls School - - - - 18 , 211 0 4 19 , 664 3 11 Board of Benevolence - - 8 , 765 0 0 9 , 132 0 0

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Donations and Subscriptions - - - - . 18 , 725 8 6 Dividends - - - - - - - 3 , 909 6 4

Donation , Grand Lodge 1 , 600 0 0 Donation , Grand Chapter ... - 150 0 0 Interest oh Cash at call - - - - - 6 18 Perpetual Presentation - - - ¦ - - 1 , 260 0 0 £ 25 , 650 16 6

Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Donations and Subscriptions - 20 , 470 5 7 Grand Lodge Subscription - 150 0 0 Grand Chapter Subscription - 10 10 0

Dividends and Interest on Cash at call - - 1 , 931 5 2 Income Tax returned 22 15 4 Gain on Sale of £ 10 , 000 Consols - - - 813 11 10

Music Fees 70 00 Science and Art Department ( Grants earned ) - 38 12 6 Prize Funds 36 5 0 Sundry Beceipts - - - - . . . 59 16 7

£ 23 , 603 2 0 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . Donations and Subscriptions - - - - 17 , 070 0 6 Grand Lodge 150 0 0

Grand Chapter 10 10 0 Interest on Investments - - - - - 2 , 235 3 6 Interest on Deposits 48 13 7

Beceipts for Musical Instruction - - - 130 10 0 Income Tax recovered ----- 664 Centenary Window Memorials ... 13 0 0 £ 19 , 664 3 11

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

THE monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday , 23 rd ult ., at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . J . H . Matthews the new President took the chair , Bro . D . D . Mercer the chair of Senior Vice President , and Bro . C . J . B . Tijou that

of Junior Vice President . After confirming recommendations to the Grand Master made at the former meeting to the extent of £ 400 , the Board relieved f orty-six out of fifty-four new cases with £ 1 , 145 , in sums of £ 50 , £ 40 , £ 30 , £ 25 , £ 20 , £ 10 and £ 5 .

Masonic Material.

MASONIC MATERIAL .

A lecture delivered by V . W . Bro . J . B . Trivett , Grand Inspector Workings , at the New South Wales Masonic Club , Sydney , 28 th August . SOME few weeks ago the indefatigable and zealotw Secretary of this Club asked me if I would introduce some " Burning Questions " at one or other of the Friday night gatherings of the

members , in order to induce debate upon some subject which would be of immediate consequence to the Craft , arid relate to the present working of our Lodges . As with material things , so with the ethical , anything of a burning nature should be carefully regarded , since a rash or careless discussion of most

questionsespecially with ardent thinkers for an audience—is apt to cause friction and bitterness ; but a calm and dispassionate expression of opinion , and suggestion of reform , offered with a singleness of purpose for the benefit and improvement of our Craft methods , must be productive of some degree of advancement and advantage

to the fraternity generally . It is with this commendable desire of endeavouring to elicit the consideration of the brethren that I ask your forbearance this evening whilst I offer my individual opinions on the subject of " Masonic Material . " I have frequently in the course of my Masonic experience heard

the expression that Grand Lodge is what the individual private Lodges make it ; and that Grand Lodge officers also are what the Grand Lodge choose to elect . This remark is , of course , a truism , but the underlying idea is that you should not make invidious comparisons , not offer depreciatory criticism anent that

Grand Lodge or those Grand Lodge officers whom you have created , but should take primary action of electing only such Brethren as shall afford you satisfaction in regarding them as your Grand Lodge or officers . Equally so is it true that we should not adversely comment on the quality of the Masons we

may encounter in our mortal pilgrimage , and dolorously sigh because they are of inferior calibre ; but we should strike directly at the root of the evil , and take the radical action of so effectually tyling our doors that only worthy and admirable novitiates may be able to effect an entrance . How is this most

desirable action and result to be obtained , in practice ? Let us in the first place consider what is the procedure , ordained by our Constitution , for making Masons . Clause 110 Book of Constitutions directs that " no person shall be made a Mason without having been proposed and seconded at one regular

monthly meeting and balloted for at the next regular monthly meeting , which ballot shall not take place unless his name , age , profession or occupation , and place of abode , with the names of his proposer and seconder , have been sent in the summons to all the members of the Lodge . " In this clause we are

instructed as to the formal procedure to be observed primarily , i . e ., that ample notice is to be given to all members of the Lodge of the intended ballot for admission . In the case of a proponent who lives in the vicinity of the Lodge-room ample opportunity is

afforded to enable the Lodge members to make enquiry , and to satisfy themselves of the bona fides of the applicent and of his fitness as regards character and disposition to be admitted to their brotherhood . Some of our Lodges seem to regard their Lodge as a committee of the whole to make the requisite enquiries , and