Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berks And Bucks.

contributed towards their funds . He coupled with the toasfc the names of fche Secretaries of the Boys' School and the jBenevolent Institution . Bro . F . Binckes , who wns warmly received said , always unprepared , and liable to be called upon in any emergency , he felt bound

to obey tbe command of the President of the day , though he should like to have had three or four minutes jnsfc to collect his thoughts , so that he might frame his reply in terms that would be acceptable . He could not lose sight of the observations made iu the earlier part of the day witb reference to the honours conferred upon the

Secretaries of the three Institutions that day fortnight by the Most Worshipfnl Grand Master . So far as he was concerned , he desired to express hia great gratification thafc thafc distinction had been welcomed by a large number of his old friends . He had worn the blue and the crimson for many years , and those who knew

anything about colours were aware that the natural result of the mingling of blue and red was purple . After twenty-six years service as Secretary of the Boys' Institution , in addition to ten years prior to entering upon that duty , he was pleased that such an honour had fallen to his lot . It relieved him from a very great difficulty , inasmuch as he

had often been called upon to respond for the Grand Officers , and had to make explanations why be only had fche red collar on . Bufc he assured them that no distinctions that had been , or which might hereafter be , conferred upon him would lessen hia exertions on behalf of the Masonio Institutions , and especially that with which he was

intimately associated . He had not yefc had tbe courage fco don the purple of his new office , bufc he was delighted to be here to-day and to express , for the first time since he had received it , his pride at the hononr conferred upon him . He was very much indebted to the Province of Berks and Bucks for their kindness and liberality in

years gone by , and he hoped to live many years to express that gratitude for whafc they would do in the future . With regard to the recent Festival of the Boys' School , unquestionably the result was to a certain extent disappointing , but when they considered the Festival was held in the midst of the Jubilee rejoicings

all over England , that was fully to be expected , bearing in mind tbe many calls made upon the brethren in connection with metropolitan and local celebrations . Under these circumstances it was nofc fco be expected they conld do so much on behalf of his Institution as they might have done , the Boys' Festival being the last of the three .

It was nofc for him or any one else to find fault ; the Craft had done nobly in tbe years gone by , and their contribntions this year would be very large in the aggregate . Although they would havo to compete with the large fund that was certain to accrue to the Centenary of tho Girls' School next year , yet there were some who would take

oare that the interests of tbe Boys should nofc sutler . Those interests were very large , and he was sure there was not ono present , nor anywhere else , in whose breast beat a Masonic heart , but would echo the same chord of sympathy towards the Institution , and would take caro the School did nofc suffer for want of thafc support which it

deserved , and which just now it so absolutely needed . Thoy had their distribution of prizes at Wood Greon on Saturday , nnd it must be recollected that 250 sons of Freemasons were not clothed , maintained , and educated for nothing . He hoped those brethren whose breasts were emblazoned with the jewel which betokened thafc they

had acted as Stewards for the Girls' School , would do liko service for the Boys next year ; and if they had not already served a Stewardship fchey would make np their minds at once , and show their conviction thnfc the Boys' Institution was fche mosfc deserving of the three . Having suffered this year from the disadvantage of

nofc securing a President for the Festival until three weeks before it took place , he was happy to state thafc they had already obtained the consent of a distinguished brother to preside at the Festival nexfc June ; his name would bo duly announced . Thafc relieved him from a great anxiety , and he hoped his friends of the Province of

Berks and Bucks would nofc forget tho Boys in the fnture ; they had never done so in the past . Ifc was pleasant to have a place in fcheir estimation nnd regard , and to be looked upon as a friend ; and he asked to be allowed to reciprocate those feelings towards them . Bro . J . Terry said it was not for him to go over the same ground

as that which had been traversed by his excellent friend the Secretary of the Boys' Institution . He might , however , say he had had the courage to don the purple with which he was adorned afc the Alberfc Hall , and fche first time he had worn it was afc the Prov . Grand Lodge of Berks and Bucks . Ifc was said that a certain class

of people " rush in where angels fear to tread * , ' whether they looked upon him as one of thafc class , and Brother Binckes as fche other , he did not know . Coming to the subject of the toast , however much they might estimate their advantage in connection with tho Boys ' and Girls' Schools , he reminded them they never could be girls , and

never could be boys again . He hoped , however , they might live fco be very old Masous , though he trusted they would not be overtaken by adversity , ancl compelled to seek relief at the hands of the Benevolent Institution . Therefore he said , support the Girls ' School by all nr ?_; is afc its Centenary Festival , and jrive all they

could to Bro . l ,. i _ ekes , who had already secured a Chairman for next year . As a matter of fnot a chairman had been secured for all the next year ' s Festivals , and he had no hesitation in announcing thafc Bro . Sir George Elliot , Provincial Grand Master for the Northern Division of Walea , wonld preside afc the Festival of the

R . M . B . I . They all started , therefore , on common ground , and neither had any advantage over the other in thafc respect . So clamorous was the demand this year thafc the committees felt themselves constrained to place 30 additional annuitants on the Fund , at an increase of cost to tho Institution of

, 81 , 000 ; and every year , in the future , so long as that number was kept there , the sum of . 615 , 000 would be required to defray the expenses of tho Institution . Thev could pufc off

250 lifctlo boys with any excuse ; but they could not do thafc with the old men and the old women . Ifc would be no use to say to them when quarter-day came round , " You will havo to stand aside and wait . " The Institution could never consent to do that when they

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berks And Bucks.

had placed those old people on fche Fund . The brethren would say with one voice , " Never shall onr old people know the day when the Fund shall not be ready for their acceptance . " With £ 15 , 000 to raise , with seventy candidates still left ont in tho cold , and 57 placed on the Fund , he ventured to hope thafc , large-hearted as they had

been in the past , they would continue to be first and foremost io that Institution , which the M . W . G . M . had declared to be the most deserving of their means . They had given tho Institution a large amount of support during this year ; a sum of money ifc had never received before had been realised . The Stewards brought ! in £ 19 , 400

and when thafc was augmented , as ifc would be before the year was out , by 2 , 000 guineas from the Province of West Yorkshire , 3 , 000 guineas from East Lancashire , and 1 , 000 guineas from Cambridge , as Jubilee contributions , they would see that , irrespective of the gran fc of Grand Lodge and the result of the Jubilee meeting at tbe Albert

Hall , the Benevolent Institution would receive a total of between £ 25 , 000 aud £ 26 , 000 this year . He felt sure that the Craffc had not led them on with any delusive hopes , or that the Institution would be left out in the cold , but that they would enable it to swim on in

the fall tide of prosperity , never thinking of " this far shalt thou go , and no further . " He hoped to have the pleasure of meeting the brethren of this Province wherever they might happen to be , for the Charities had not a better body of well-wishers than were to be found ranged under the Mastership of Sir Daniel Gooch .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master next proposed the Provincial Senior and Junior Grand Wardens and the Grand Officers appointed that day , coupling the toast with the names of Bro . J . Tomkins G . S . W . ( Mayor of Abingdon ) and Bro . W . F . Summers Provincial Grand Organist , who responded .

In responding for tho W . M . ' s and the Officers of the Etonian Lodge 209 and the Winsdor Castle Lodge 711 , Bro . H . J . Stollery W . M . 209 said it was a great honour to the Wiudsor Lodges to welcome Provincial Grand Lodge under fcheir banners . He was delighted to see so numerous and distinguished a gathering . He had attended as

Steward for the Girls and Benevolent Institution , and hoped to "Dotheboys" next year . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master then proposed the Provincial

Grand Treasurer and Provincial Grand Secretary , paying a deserved tribute to each for the ability with which they discharged their duties , and expressing regret that Bro . Stephens had been obliged to leave early in the afternoon .

Bro . R . Bradley , Provincial Grand Secretary , thanked fche brethren most heartily for the cordiality with which the toasfc had been received . Ho was sorry that severe domestic affliction prevented the Provincial Grand Treasurer from remaining with them , although he attended during the business part of fche meeting . During the ten

years ho had been fcheir Secretary , they had always received him with tho utmost kindness and consideration . Ifc bad been a source of great pleasure , pride aud gratification to him to have received honours in Grand Lodge . He might mention thafc he appeared thafc day in the plumes of his new office ; he shonld nofc have done so ,

bufc the brethren of tho threo Lodges in Reading wore kind enough to present him with his now regalia in order that he might be there that day . This was the reason he presented such a gorgeous appearance , and hd must say it was a source of great gratification to recoi .- - _^ iuch a gift afc their hands , Bufc one thing pleased him

infinitely more , and thab waa the spontaneity and unanimous expression of kindness with which his appointment had been received by all the brethren of tbe Province . Speaking of fche posifcioH of the Province , he said they hold their own in numbers , and pat in a good appearance afc the Charities . He thought fche very

fact that Provincial Grand Lodge had thafc day given no less than seven Charity jewels to Stewards who had qualified for two of fche Masonic Institutions was evidence that tho Province did its duty in that respect . There was a sincere and earnest desire in all the Lodges to perforin the ceremonies in the best manner possible . He

was glad they had had such a successful meeting that day , and he hoped next year , when they mot ab High Wycombe , they would have equally as good a muster . The toasfc of the Provincial Grand Stewards was then proposed

and acknowledged , tho list being closed by the Tyler . An excellent selection of music was rendered , under fche direction of Bro . W . F . Summers , Provincial Grand Organist , assisted by Mr . Walter Church , Mr . W . B . Keinpton , and Mr . George May , of the St . George ' s Chapel Choir .

Eboracum Lodge, No. 1611.

EBORACUM LODGE , No . 1611 .

HPHE regular meeting of this Lodge waa held ou Monday , the -1- 13 th ult ., afc the Masonic Hall , Sfc . Saviourgate , York , when it was opened , in the absence of the W . M . through illness , by Bro . Millington P . M ., there bein _ r present Brothers T . B . Whytehead P . M ., J . Blenkin P . M ., W . B . Dyson S . W ., S . J . Dalton J . W ., G . Balmford P . M Treasnrer , J . Kay Secretary , W . Lackenby S . D ., J . H .

Shonksmifch , W . Storry I . G .,. P . Pearson , W . Routledge , T . W . Halliwell , W . H . A . Coates , G . G . Pook , R . Ware , J . Thorpe , JShaw , W . Ream , A . Archer , F . II . Vaughan , J . W . Blenkin , 3 . Smith , J . J . Spetch , G . Chapman , W . Sharp , and H . Chapman . The acting W . M . proceeded to initiate a candidate , and then passed

Bro . J . Shaw to the second degree , after which Bro . Whytehead P . M ., took the chair and raised Bros . H . Chapman and Vaughan to the third degree . Bro . W . Shaip then presented to the Ledge a . efc of electro-plated ware , consisting of knives , forks , spoons , sugar basins , & c . Bro . C . Ware presented a bound volume of the

C into-.. CM . for 183 ( 5 . Bro . H . Chapman gave a metal cash box for the use of the Stewards , aud Bro . T . B . Whytehead gave to the library emblematically bound copies of Dr . OliTcr ' s " Symbol of Glory " and "Antiquities of Freemasonry , " and some other works ; for all these gifts votes of thanks wore passed .