Our Forty-Second Volume.

OUR FORTY-SECOND VOLUME .

ONCE more the course of events may be said to call for a few observations of a personal character at our hands , and we are pleased that we have the opportunity of addressing our readers amid such favourable conditions as surround the Craft to-day . It has often been said that

special events and celebrations come in the form of epidemics , and such certainly seems to have been the case this week , several very important Masonic gatherings having been held during the last few days , with results that can only be

described as eminently satisfactory ; but the event that more particularly concerns ourselves—the commencement to-day of our FORTY-SECOND VOLUME—can hardly lay claim to be considered in such a connection ; all the same we venture to

hope it will not be without effect on the future of English Freemasonry , as we trust the CHRONICLE will be even more useful to the Craft as it gets older than it has been in the

past , and that it may ultimately become a great power in promoting the interests of Freemasonry , and advancing the welfare of its members . We start our new volume with the

intention of doing our best to secure a repetition of the favours we have hitherto enjoyed , and for which we are indebted to our patrons of the past ; and with the hope that we may win the support of new readers in all parts where Freemasonry is practised .

The Boys School Festival.

THE BOYS SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

ABOUT this time last year it was our pleasure to add our congratulations to the many that were showered upon Brother McLeod , and others who worked with him , in

connection with the Anniversary Festival of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , when a total of £ 18 , 582 16 s 7 d was announced as the result of the efforts of a Board of 614

Stewards . This year , with a smaller Board—there being but 532 Stewards—an even greater success has been achieved , the announcement at the Ninety-seventh Anniversary , celebrated on Wednesday , being a total of £ 18 , 773 12 s 6 d , or nearly

£ 200 in excess of last year ' s amount , grand as that was justly regarded . Mere congratulations seem , as a consequence , out of place , but we feel the Craft will willingly support us in

our expressions of admiration of what has been achieved , as ¦ well as join in the hope that future efforts may prove equally successful on behalf of this most useful Institution .

The amount just announced raises the total of the subscri ptions for the year , on behalf of the three Institutions , to an amount within a few pounds of that of 1894 , the figures being :

1894 1895 Benevolent Institution 12 , 658 14 6 14 , 113 6 0 Girls School - - . 17 , 732 0 0 16 , 016 4 6 Boys School - - 18 , 582 16 7 18 , 773 12 6 Total £ 48 , 973 11 1 £ 48 , 903 3 0

The Boys School Festival.

Thus there is but the very small variation of about £ 70 on the gross total , although the proportions are not the same , the Benevolent Institution and the Boys School each showing

an improvement this year as compared with last , though most unfortunately at the expense of the older Institution , the result of whose Festival , however , has been , aud is still , regarded as eminently satisfactory .

Turning again to the returns of Wednesday it is gratifying to note that the supporters of the Festival were very widely distributed , the different Provinces displaying a lively interest in the cause , and London well sustaining the high position it

achieved last year , its totals at the two Festivals being within £ 50 of each other . It is worthy of note in this direction that nearly every Province of English Freemasonry was represented , the result from some of the outlying ones being sufficient to

prove that the Secretary of the Institution has not confined his operations to places near home , although those who know Bro McLeod ' s capacity for travelling " for the good of the cause " hardly need this proof of his zeal and energy . Still , it must be

very gratifying for him to know that with the exception of Cumberland and Westmoreland all the distant districts have responded to his appeals , and not a few of them can doubtless

refer to personal visits from him during the past year , a course which we think is usually productive of benefit to the Institutions , perhaps not immediately , but certainly at some early date .

The Festival itself was on much the same lines as many of its predecessors . There was a large gathering of Ladies and Brethren , who responded to the remarks of the chairman , Lord Egerton of Tatton , with great enthusiasm , and were

particularly demonstrative when the result of the Stewards work was made known , for , despite the most sanguine expectations , we think we may say that the grand total came as a pleasant surprise to most of those who were present ,

who could hardly have anticipated an amount equal to the splendid result last year , much less an improvement thereon . We give in other parts of this issue a full list of the

Stewards , together with the amount collected by each , and in conclusion have again to offer our congratulations to all who were associated in the very successful Festival of the Boys School for 1895 .

rpHE Anniversary Festival was held at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton I under tho presidency of thu Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire Lord Egerton of Tatton , who was supported by a large gathering of Ladies and Brethren , including the Chairman's wife , the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos .

The dinner was admirably served by Bro . John Sayers , of Brighton , whose careful and efficient provision on previous occasions won for him , we are pleased to hear , the unanimous confidence of the arranging Committee this year , the result going far to justify them in the course pursued . At the conclusion of the dinner the Chairman proceeded with the usual toasts .

Lord Egerton of Tatton , in submitting the toast of the Queen , said they not only drank to Her Majesty as the mother and the grandmother of Freemasons , but on that occasion especially as thc Grand Patron of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . The next toast included H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and the other members of the Royal Family . It was unnecessary to refer to the interest taken by the Prince of Wales in Freemasonry , as his enthusiasm was woll