Freemasonry And The War Funds.

FREEMASONRY AND THE WAR FUNDS .

IT is very satisfactory to see that the Freemasons of * England are well to the fore in supporting the different funds promoted for the relief of the victims of the war now in progress in South Africa , and it will afford us considerable gratification to record week by week the doings of our Lodges in this good cause . Among the amounts acknowledged since our last issue we notice the following :

LORD MAYOR'S WAR FUND . Unity Lodge , Wareham , No . 386 - - - £ 7 2 6 DAILY TELEGRAPH FUND . Shillings . Grand Chapter Club --.... 1050 Polish National Chapter , No . 534 .... 420

Alexandra Palace Lodge , No . 1541 - - . 315 1 Ditto ( Second Donation ) - - - - 63 J ° Israel Lodge of Instruction , No . 205 - - - 42 j 1 D Collected at ditto - - . . - 145 j Faith Lodge , No . 141 --.... 122 Skelmerpdale Lodge , No . 1658 - 100 Boyal Commemoration Lodge of Instruction , No . 1585

, Musical Evening - - . . . JQO Pythagorean Lodge , No . 79 - - - . - 84 Victoria Park Lodge , No . 1816 - - - - 80 Einsbury Lodge , No . 861 --- - - 50 Eermor Lodge , No . 1313 , Southport go Borough of Greenwich Lodge of Instruction , No . 2332 - 43

Clarence and Avondale Lodge of Instruction , No . 2411 - 42 Friars Lodge of Instruction , No . 1349 - - - - 42 Southwark Lodge of Instruction , No . 879 - - - 42 Tyrian Lodge , No . 1110 , Eastbourne - - - - 30 Capper Lodge of Instruction , No . 1076 - - - 21 Selwyn Lodge of Instruction , No . 1901 - - - 21 Imperial Lodge of Instruction , No . 1694 - - - 15

A collection at the Lodge of Edinburgh , No . i on the Scottish roll , on the 31 st ult ., realised ten guineas , which was sent to the Lord Provost ' s Fund .

Hants And Isle Of Wight.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT .

rpHE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Mark Lodge X was held on the 27 th ult ., at the India Arms Hotel , Gosport , the Prov . G . M . M . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Past G . M . presiding , supported by his Deputy Bro . Richard Eve and representatives of every Lodge in the Province . After the transaction of the usual business the following were appointed as Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year :

Bro . G . P . Lancaster .... Senior Warden A Millidge . . . . Junior Warden Major Napier Clevering - . . Master Overseer J . J . Coates - - . Senior Overseer C . Brnwn - - - . . Junior Overseer Eev . P . B . N . Norman-Lee - - - Chaplain

B . Boughton Smith - - - Treasurer io ' S'll " ¦ " " Registrar D . O . Hobbs .... Secretary S ; ° A ^ 8 " Senior Deacon W . C . Pearce .... Junior Deacon

n £ " n " Inspector of Works C . Culleri Director of Ceremonies i ; * l ° Assistant Dir . of Cers . ^ r ^ - Swane - Sword Bearer WH . Barrell - Inner Guard J . Exell .... . Tyler .

We have received an interesting communication from Bro . J . H . Whadcoat , in reference to our remarks under the heading of "Outside calls on Masonry , " which we propose to deal with at an early date .

Devonshire.

DEVONSHIRE .

A MEETING of Subscribers to the Devon Masonic Educational Fund was held on Tuesday afternoon , at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , for the purpose of electing two children on the Fund . Bro . F . B . Westlake P . G . S . W . presided , and there was a large attendance of Brethren .

There were five candidates for the two vacancies , four of then being new applies tions , while the other case , supported by the Exeter and Torquay Brethren , brought forward 1 , 401 votes . This candidate was now elected first on the poll , the

total number of votes recorded in her favour being 1 , 785 . The other successful candidate was a child of a late Brother of the St . John Lodge , No . 1247 , on whose behalf 1 , 574 votes were polled . A third case polled 1 , 032 votes , a fourth 4 82 , and a fifth 30 votes .

On the motion of Bro . Allsford , two or three alterations were made in the bye-laws , one of which created the new rank of Patron , conferred upon donors of not less than forty

guineas to the Fund . These alterations , supported by the Chairman , were unanimously agreed to , and Bro . Westlake , amidst hearty applause , announced his intention to at once qualify as a Patron of the Fund .

The Chairman next called the attention of the Brethren to the honour that had been conferred upon their Provincial Master the Hon . Sir C . H . Stafford Northcote , who had been appointed Governor of Bombay , and said he was sure they would all heartily join in offering their congratulations to Sir

Stafford on this appointment . They were proud of him as their Grand" Master , and they were prouder still to know that he had been selected for so distinguished an honour—an honour of which he was in every way worthy . At the same time their gratification was tinged with regret because of the

possibility that Sir Stafford ' s absence from England might involve the resignation of his position as Provincial Grand Master of Devon . This , he was sure , they would all greatly deplore , 'but seeing that the period over which the appointment extended would soon pass , he believed he was expressing

the feelings and wishes of the whole Province when he suggested that an effort should be made to induce Sir Stafford to retain his appointment as their Provincial chief . There was no doubt that they would thus be furthering the interests

of the Province , and he had much pleasure in proposing that a resolution of congratulation on his appointment be sent to Sir Stafford Northcote , accompanied by an earnest request that he would continue to hold the position of Provincial Grand Master .

Bro . C . Piper seconded the motion . They all rejoiced at the great and deserved honour that had been conferred upon their Provincial Master , and it was , he was sure , the universal feeling of the Brethren throughout the Province that he should be asked to continue in the position which he had filled with so much ability rnd dignity .

Ero . Gregory supper . ed the motion , and suggested that every Lodge in the Prov nce should pass a resolution on the lines of that which had just been proposed . If this were done he did not think Sir Stafford would have any hesitation in complying with their request .

Bros . Allsford and Blackler also supported the resolution , which was carried with acclamation .

Sir H . Stafford Northcote Prov . G . Master has addressed a circular letter to the members of his Province , in which he says : — " It has occurred to me that the Brethren of the Province

of Devonshire , who are always ready to take their share in every effort which has for its object the relief of the afflicted and distressed , may like to contribute to the Red Cross Fund which is being raised with the object of caring for those of