Presentation To Bro. J. D. Allcroft, Past Grand Treasurer.

With respect to the portrait he hoped that whilst hanging npon these w 11 « if wonld not lead to any * efle <_ io __ afterward * n- " to the kindly words that , had been used to-day . So lorv a . it might plf « se Ihe governors to continue him in the office of Treasurer he trusted he wonld still continue to merit and receive their warm ap . probation and snpport . To His Roval Highness ho begged to offer

his special thanks for tho uniform courtesy and very gracious condescension with which he had always received him and listened to anything he had to say . Ho felt that acting under Hi . ** Royal Highness as President of tho hospital ho had had an example before him of devotedness to the interests of tho . chool which ho had never yet felr equal to following ; but he had endeavoured to tho best of

his ability , and in his own position , to carry out the same principles . He had been Treasurer of the hospital for eleven years , and this had given him the opportunity , amongst other things , of making very sincere and warm friendships amongst tho Governors . It had also given him a great , amount of interest to occupy the time , which , in God ' s providence , had been left at his disposal apart from his bus i .

ness . There was , however , one drawback whicb bad made itself felt dnring his eleven years of office , to which he would refer , ancl that wns whilst when he came into office the estates of the hospital had been increasing in value , dnring tho latter part of that period the reverse had been the case . Rents had been going down , and arrears had been ncoumulnfing , and , so far as their income was concerned ,

had they been dependent entirely upon their estates , they would have been in an awkward predicament . There was fortunately , however , another side of the question , and that was that the town property of the hospital hnd increased in value with about equal rapidity , and that thus the deficiency had boon made np , so that in taking the balance they were in as good a position as before . In one respect , the hospital

was very much to be congratulated . He happened the other day to have put into his bands a speech which had been made afc a gathering in connection with the hospital , in the year 1738 , in which he read that they had then abont the same number of children as at present—that i « , 1180—who were then at Hertford , Ware , and London . It was there stated that the number of deaths dnrino- the

year had amounted to 13 . They had fortunately no longer to regret such a state of things , ovving doubtless to the better sanitarv arrangements of modern days , and to the care exercised by their medical officers . When the subject of the testimonial had been first mentioned to him , the thonght that had crossed his mind was , "Is this a hint that I have been Treasurer long enough ? " and be had

hnd to consider that question , but he did nofc believe that anything of the kind bad been intended . Had he thonght so he would havo been most content to place himself in the hands of the governors , but so long as health and strength were given to him he was prepared to devote a little more time to the school . One especial reason why he would not like to give up the duties of Treasurer at the present time

was tbe fact that in the coming year he was told they were to have a new school . This had modified his intentions , and he had determined for the present , snbject to the approval of the governors , to continue his efforts , which , from what His Royal Highness had been kind enough to say , they had thought to be successful . His endeavour had been to continue the school and the property and the condition of every

thing connected with the hospital in its prosperous state , and he had always had in his mind the wish so to act that he conld feel he was acting for Him whose name the hospital bore . Alderman Sir B . S . Phillips proposed a resolution , which he was sure would be consonant with the feelings and opinions of the Governors , both present and absent . This was that the thanks of tbe

Committee and of the Governors be tendered to his Royal Highness , the President , for the very kind , generous , and admirable manner in which he bad made his presentation . If anything could add to the pleasure which must have been felt by their excellent friend , Bro . Allcroft , at receiving the testimonial , it was that the presentation was made by his Royal Highness the President . He ( fche Alderman )

though t he might venture to say that ifc was a source of great pleasure that his health had permitted him to be present upon this Impressive occasion . The Rev . Sir E . G . Moon , Bart ., as Vice President and Chairman of the Committee , seconded the vote of thanks . Alderman Sir B . S . Phillips put the motion , which was carried with acclamation . The Duke of Cambridge in responding ,

remarked on the kindly feeling of reciprocity which had always existed between the Governors and himself . He assured them he had a great feeling of attachment to every one of the Governors of the Hospital because they were Governors of the Hospital . As long as God enabled him to continue at the bead of the Institution , he trusted ho might have tho valuable assistance

and advice of the present Treasurer . He had never known oue more faithful , zealous ancl conscientious than Mr . Allcroft . The testimonial , which had been provided by the individual subscriptions of the Governors , and quite apart from tbe funds of the Hospital , consisted , aa already stated , of a three-quarter length portrait of the Treasurer , painted by Mr . Hubert Herkomer , A . Tt . A . This is an

admirable likeness , and , coming from such an artist , it is superfluous to say ifc ig painted with great skill and power . Mr . Allcroft is represented seated iu an arm chair , looking straight in front of tbe picture . It , i _ intended to send the portrait to the nexfc Royal Academy Exhibition . The piece of plato consists in tho first place of abase of polished ebony , measnring 15 inches by 14 inches . Upon

wis rises a polished silver pediment , upon which is reproduced the pinnacles outside the gates of the hospital , and each angle is one of the turrets . Upon the front is the coat of arms of the hospital , and «_ the back the coat of arms of Mr . Allcroft . Upon this threo steps '" a rl to a plinth , upon which stands a figure in frosted silver of Edward ' *¦ i the founder , whilst on each side are figures of a boy and ¦ in

. in the ancient costume—which is still worn , so far as the boys are concerned—of the children of the hospital . Upon threo sides of tne plinths are bas reliefs of the dining ball , tho writing school , and the gramranr school , and upon the ofcher is tbe inscription . The , v * - ° - forms a very beautiful work of art , ancl reflects great credit u pon the designers . —Citti Press .

Freemasons In America.

FREEMASONS IN AMERICA .

THE following are Bro . Josiah H . Druramond's Masonic statistics for 188-i , gathered from the latest Grand Lodge Proceedings : — Grand Lodgea . Members . Raised . Alabama .... 7 , 878 380 Arizona .... 355 44 Arkansas .... 10 . 209 602

British Columbia - . - 293 13 California .... 13 , 579 839 Canada .... 18 , 442 1 , 258 Colorado .... 2 . 918 276 Connecticut .... 13 , 942 508 Dakota .... 1 , 533 217

Delaware .... 1 , 378 52 District of Columbia - - - 2 , 904 152 Florida .... 2 , 117 162 Georgia .... 10 , 355 504 Idaho .... 438 27 Illinois .... 44 , 007 2 , 233

Indiana .... 23 , 700 981 Indian Territory - . 533 73 Iowa 19 , 715 1 , 475 Kansas .... 11 , 353 864 Kentucky .... 15 , 565 837 Louisiana .... 4 . 199 153

Maine .. .. 19 , 650 772 Manitoba . ... 1 , 092 176 Maryland .... 4 , 759 110 Massachusetts - - - 26 , 583 1 , 216 Michigan .... 27 , 181 1 , 379 Minnesota .... 8 , 065 647

Mississippi .... 8 , 897 299 Missouri .... 24 , 594 1 , 122 Montana .... 939 63 Nebraska - - . - 4 , 417 464 Nevada .... 1 , 247 44 New Brunswick - - - 1 . 961 104

New Hampshire - - - 7 , 987 303 New Jersey .... 11 , 946 546 New Mexico .... 321 47 New York .... 70 , 700 3 , 682 North Carolina - . - 8 , 065 310 Nova Scotia .... 2 . 801 192

Ohio 31 , 359 1 , 818 Oregon .... 2 , 981 162 Pennsylvania - . - 35 , 829 1 , 881 P . E . Island - ... 454 11 Quebec .... 2 , 840 200 Rhode Island - . . 3 . 654 130

South Carolina - - - 5 , 201 240 Tennessee .. .. 15 , 434 579 Texas .... 17 , 514 998 Utah .... 468 24 Vermont .... 7 . 739 351

Virginia .... 9 , 053 — Washington .... 1 , 390 132 West Virginia . . - 3 , 500 226 Wisconsin .... 11 , 903 664 Wyoming ... 384 80

Total - - - 587 , 321 30 , 620 Lasfc year the membership was 579 , 826 , the raised 28 , 374 , showing an increase of . 4 _> 5 , or 10 J per cent , on

the membership , and 2246 , or almost 8 per cent , on the raised . —Keystone ,

The annual rifle match between the two teams selected from the members of the South Middlesex Lodge , No . 852 , ancl the London Rifle Brigade Lodge , No . 1962 , took place at Rainham , on the 29 th ult ., and was won somewhat easily by the junior Lodge , led by Corporal N . Green ;

the South Middlesex team being led by Colour-Sergeanfc Hobbiss . After the match the two teams returned to town together , the visitors being entertained to supper by their brethren of the London Rifle Brigade , afc headquarters , where a thoroughly enjoyable evening was spent .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex will be held to-day ( Saturday ) , afc the Afchenusem , Enfield , under the presidency of R . W . Colonel Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., P . S . G . W . of England , the Provincial Grand . Master . The agenda of business , which is of the usual

routine character , contains a notice of motion by the Prov . G . Master that sums of fifteen guineas each be voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . At four o ' clock the brethren will

j proceed to the Church of St . Mary Magdalene , where ( by the kind permission of the Vicar ) a service will be held . A banquet will be served at five o ' clock , the fee for which is 8 s 6 d , exclusive of wine . We shall give a report of the proceedings in our next .