Belfast Charities.

BELFAST CHARITIES .

ON the 26 th ult ., the Ulster Hall , Belfast , was the scene of the annual festival promoted in the interests of the Belfast Masonic Charities , and probably on no previous occasion has larger or more representative patronage been extended to the function . The spacious hall was filled to overflowing , and both from a spectacular and musical standpoint the committee provided for the audience a programme recherche in its character .

The concert was preceded by a short business meeting , at which the reports of the charities—the Belfast Masonic Charity Fund and the Belfast Widows' Fund—were adopted , the speakers dwelling upon the services rendered by these organisations , which are so admirably managed and so self-sacrificingly officered that practically all the money received is disbursed for

the benefit of the members of the Order and those who were dependent upon them for support . This , continues the "Belfast News-Letter , " is what one would expect in connection with funds administered by members of a body the value of whose work in the cause of charity must be admitted by those who are the strongest opponents of its existence and the keenest critics of

its operations . Were it not for this annual meeting , the outside public would know nothing , or comparatively little , of this important work , and even then the reports submitted cannot record the self-sacrificing labours and earnest efforts of those by whom the funds are so admirably administered . But while this public meeting is held , it is not for eliciting public support .

Freemasons are capable of meeting , and do meet , all the claims made upon their charity ; but it is well that occasionally the public should be reminded that there is in existence in their midst an organisation whose members are actuated by a thorough Christian spirit , and whose action has done more undoubtedly than the members of any other organisation to promote the

practice of one of the noblest of virtues . The great and attractive feature of the annual demonstration is the processsion , and this year ' s function , looked at in this light , was probably one of '" the most , brilliant ever seen in the building . The attendance of the Brethren was extremely large , and the higher grades of the Order were well represented , the fine display of regalia imparting colour and brightness to an animated and

interesting scene . The Deputy Prov . Grand Master , the Provincial Officers , and other dignitaries having ascended the platform , on the call of Bro . James H . Woods P . J . G . W . Bro . Valentine was saluted with Masonic honours . He then took his seat as chairman , and expressed his pleasure at the reception he had obtained ,

and at the encouragement which all interested m the working of those charities would receive from such a large gathering as filled the hall that evening . That was the annual meeting in support of their two local . charities—the Belfast Masonic Charity Fund and the Belfast Masonic Widows' Fund—and he was glad to say that , as regarded their standing , both were in a position of

prosperity . Last year they had received the largest amount of subscriptions given to the Funds , but , at the same time , they had to regret that the claims upon one of them were larger than usual . This called for the hearty and earnest support of the members of the Order , and he had no doubt that support would be given .

The reports of the Funds were taken as read . That presented by the Committee of the Charity Fund referred to the sustained interest taken in it , and the fact that the appeal to Lodges to secure direct representation at the monthly Committee meetings had met with a hearty response . The total income for the last three years was shown at—1894 , £ 429 5 s lOd ; 1895 ,

£ 471 7 s lid ; 1896 , £ 494 4 s lid . Total expenditure—1894 , £ 479 4 s 6 d ; 1895 , £ 417 2 s Id ; 1896 , £ 499 10 s Id ( inclusive of £ 100 invested ) . Donations had been received from Lodges to the extent of £ 60 , and a bequest from Miss Isabella Logan for £ 10 , in appreciation of aid rendered to a deceased relative . A sum of £ 240 per annum is now expended in monthly pensions ,

it was stated , to aged and infirm Brethren and widows and other relatives who were dependent on deceased Brethren . The report of the Widows' Fund showed that the income in 1895 was £ 1 , 035 13 s lid , as against £ 1 , 077 12 s 8 d iu 1896 . Grants had been made during the year to the extent of £ 779 2 s , and donations received amounted to £ 94 . In both reports touching

and sympathetic reference was made to the lamented death of Bro . Hugh Doey , of Lodge 609 , a Brother who had been for over sixty years a member of the Order , and who was one of the earliest promoters of the Widows' Fund , as well as one of , its most hearty and liberal supporters . Not only this Fund , but Masonic charity throughout the Province , the report proceeded , had sustained a very great loss in his death .

Bro . Rev . R . J . Clarke proposed " That the reports and Treasurer ' s statements of accounts be received , adopted , and printed for circulation , and that this meeting , recognising the continued usefulness of these funds , feels it to be its duty to urge

Belfast Charities.

upon Lodges and Brethren the necessity of sustaining them by a liberally increased pecuniary aid in order to meet their ever increasing claims , and thereby promote the noble virtue of charity , the keystone of the Masonic Order . " In doing so he said the funds were administered by large and representative committees , by those who were good and true Masons , by men

who would attend to their business , and admirably discharge their important duties . Every application received the most careful and discriminating attention , and the members of the committees , by reason of their social positions and various occupations , were well qualified to deal with every claim . He , and he was sure many others , could bear testimony to the vast

amount of suffering that had been relieved through the agency of the Funds during the past year . Many families in difficulties had been put in a position of earning a respectable livelihood . Cases of deep and pressing distress had been relieved , and an incalculable amount of good had been done . It was very gratifying to know that during last year , as far as he was aware , not a single deserving applicant had been sent empty away .

Bro . John Horner P . M ., in seconding the resolution , said that the work of these charities was of such an important character that they could not help appreciating the efforts of those by whom the funds were so admirably administered . The Masonic charities were to his mind in a sense peculiar . There was nothing in that glorious word charity which in any way cast a stigma upon those who were recipients of it . In the

Masonic Charity Boards they met to give out to those who sought help what was their proper due . He did not think that any recipient of Masonic charity could ever come forward asking for such assistance with any other object ; in view than that of receiving a just and perfect right , and he knew himself , having had intimate connection with the Belfast Masonic Widows' Fund , and knowing the manner in which its gifts had been bestowed , that no charitable organisations were administered with more care .

The comfortable home of the Westbourne Lodge of Instruction—the Oliver Arms , Westbourne Terrace North , Harrow Road—has just changed hands , the new proprietor being Bro . Morton Barnes , late of the Coach and Horses , High Road , Tottenham , where the High Cross Lodge of Instruction ,

No . 754 , has been held for a period of upwards of thirty years , for a considerable portion of which Bro . Barnes has been a member . We tender our good wishes to our Brother in his new home , and trust he will be able to make the Lodge and members frequenting bis establishment so comfortable as to ensure the continuance of their support .

In the course of the speeches at the invitation gathering at the Glasgow Masonic Hall , referred to in our last issue , and reported elsewhere this week , one of the speakers suggested that shareholders , when making their will , might consider the

advisability of bequeathing their shares to the Company . The adoption of this commendable suggestion , remarks the " Glasgow Evening News , " will ultimately enrich the benevolent fund of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow .

The new Lodge at Liscard is to be consecrated on Saturday next , 10 th inst . -The Right Hon . Lord Egerton of Tatton Provincial Grand Master will officiate as Consecrating Officer , and Colonel C . S . Dean P . S . G . W . as Installing Master . The musical arrangements have been entrusted to Bro . J . T . Hindle P . G . O . and a large gathering may be expected .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

ON Saturday , 20 th ult ., the funeral took place in the Newton Cemetery , of Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas Howard , who died at his residence , Ashton Road , Makerfield , and the profound respect and high esteem felt towards the deceased found expression in various ways . His old comrades in the Lancashire Hussars resolved to pay a . last tribute by accompanying the

remains to the grave , and hence the melancholy ceremony was of a military and public character , the procession including representatives of the Freemasons and Oddfellows . The late Bro . Howard was Senior Warden of the Lodge of Faith , Ashton , and had he survived till the end of the year would have been Master of the Lodge .

fT ^ HE mortal remains Bro . Lose were laid their last 1 resting place on the 22 nd ult ., at the Plymouth Cemetery . Following the chief mourners were the Brethren of the Ebrington Lodge , No . 1847 , of which the deceased Brother was Secretary , and by whom unmistakable and deep appreciation for the very able and energetic abilities displayed by him were shown . The members of the Lodge attended en masse .