Belfast Charities.

amounting to £ 121 , making a total of £ 829 . Donations amount to £ 120 . One very pleasing feature of the year has been the liberal manner in which the younger Lodges have supported the Fund , and to them , as well as to those older Lodges who have been generous and consistent contributors since its inception in 1873 , the Committee return thanks .

The Chairman , who was cordially received , said they were met that night with a two-fold object in view , first to receive from the Committees managing the Belfast Masonic Widows Fund and the Belfast Masonic Charity Fund a report of their stewardship for the past year . The reports

from both were , he was pleased to say , of a most encouraging character . While they had increased their revenue , it must be borne in mind that the responsibility had also increased . During the past year in connection with the Masonic Widows Fund 113 families had been assisted . This was a pretty

severe strain upon the local organisation , and it required great care and attention on the part of the members of Committee in seeing personally after the wants of so many families . They could understand that comfort and relief was brought to homes suffering from the loss of the head of the

family and breadwinner . If the members of this Committee could only put before them but one-twentieth part of their experience , they would find how important it was to have such a noble organisation . It was not a Charity Fund , it was a Widows Fund established for the purpose of assisting the

widows and orphans of deceased Masons , and , so far as they were concerned , helping their Brothers' children . Thus it became a family matter , and , therefore , they had to treat this Fund with consideration and kindness . The Masonic Charity Fund had been established thirty-seven years , and

during that time the amount of relief it had brought to their poor and distressed Brethren was incalculable . They did not propose to support any of the Brethren or to make them a charity , but they wished merely to act the Brother ' s part ,

and make the path of life a little easier for the distressed . He concluded by moving— " That the reports and Treasurers ' statements of accounts be received , adopted , and printed for circulation . "

Bro . W . T . Brathwaite Prov . S . G . W . said it afforded him great pleasure to second the resolution moved by their Deputy Provincial Grand Master . It was very gratifying to find that from the establishment of these Funds there had been a steady increase , which enabled the efficient Committee

in charge to build up a very large reserve as a guarantee for the future . The past year had been a record one , and he hoped the Brethren would long continue to give their hearty

support to such deserving objects , so that the Office bearers might be enabled to extend to their uttermost the truly Masonic tenets—benevolence and charity . The resolution was enthusiastically adopted .

Bro . Rev . R . J . Clarke Prov . G . C . moved— "That this meeting , recognising the continued usefulness of these Fo unds , feels it to be its duty to urge 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 . " He said it did not require many words to commend the resolution to the warm sympathy , the kindly consideration , and the active support of that great assembly —a truly and essentially Masonic gathering . It was a cause

for thankfulness and honest pride that both the Masonic Funds spoken of were in so satisfactory a condition , and that they were so efficiently managed by Committees thoroughly representative , experienced , and devoted to their work . Of these Brethren—to whom the Charities were deeply indebted

—they might say that " even their leanings are on mercy ' s side . " Every application was considered with the greatest care , and he had never known of a single deserving case that did not receive immediate and substantial help . Their thanks were due to the Treasurers and Secretaries , for their

unwearying devotion to their labour of love . They might expect in the coming year , and in the immediate future , to have exceptional claims upon their Funds . Many of their Brethren were fighting the battles of their beloved Queen and country in South Africa . True , they anticipated that a

grateful country would make creditable provision for her infirm and disabled soldiers , as well as for the widows and orphans of the fallen in war ; but over and above this provision he thought that they as Masons would like to do something for their Brethren—something " extra special " as

the newspapers said . Moreover , there would be cases of relatives of the disabled and of the killed that did not come within the Government regulations . To meet , all such cases , to do as they should like to do—to do as they had done in the past—it would mean an extra drain upon their resources , and

Belfast Charities.

therefore they appealed for increased liberality and generosity , and they felt confident their appeal would not be in vain . Bro . M . H . Turnbull , LL . B ., seconded the resolution , which he considered a sort of public declaration of their rights , and a renewal of the solemn covenant by which they

claimed it as a duty and privilege to relieve and assist their Brother Masons and families . The motion was unanimously adopted . Sir Otto Jaffe having taken the second chair , Bro . A . P . Dalzell moved a cordial vote of thanks to the Provincial

Deputy Grand Master Bro . Robert J . Hilton , J . P ., for presiding . He was certain he might express their feelings of pleasure at seeing present with them Bro . Sir Otto Jaffe , . taking an interest in their Charities . They had heard that the past year had been a record one in the matter of

subscriptions for their two Charities . In his opinion , and in the knowledge of the joint Committees , this might be accounted for in a great measure by the very great and deep interest that Bro . Hilton had taken in the Funds . The resolution was passed with acclamation , and suitably conveyed by Bro . Sir Otto Jaffe .

Bro . R . J . Hilton , received with applause , having acknowledged the compliment , the proceedings in connection with the annual meeting concluded and the concert followed .

commercial traveller . The deceased was P . M . and P . Z . of the St . Martin ' s-le-Grand , and a generous supporter of all the Masonic Charities , though , unfortunately , at his death he did not leave any great provision for his widow .

A strong effort is being made to secure the election of Mrs . Harriett Parkes to the benefits of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . She is 6 g years of age , and widow of the late John Prior Parkes , pharmaceutical chemist and

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

''A SPRIG OF ACACIA . ''

THE Brethren of South London have sustained a . severe loss in the almost sudden death from pneumonia of Bro . Wm . Hy . Kidson , F . C . A ., M . L . S . B ., on Saturday , 24 th ult . On the previous Wednesday he was present when Sir R . Mowbray was declared M . P . for Brixton , in his

capacity of Conservative Election Agent . Initiated in the Avondale Lodge our Brother took great interest in the Order , and was really "the" Founder of the School Board for London Lodge , No . 2611 , of which he was I . P . M . at the time of his death . In the higher degrees he had made

considerable progress . A requiem mass was sung at the Church of St . John the Divine , Kennington , on Wednesday , 28 th ult ., at 7 a . m ., when some hundreds of mourners appeared ,

while the coffin was literally covered with floral tributes . The body was interred at Bury St . Edmunds the same day . Of a happy , loving disposition , it will be difficult indeed to supply his place . ~ X ~ ] £ TK have to announce with much regret the decease of

VV the wife of Bro . A . C . A . Higgerty P . P . J . G . W . Berks P . M . 1214 and 2417 P . Z ., & c , the highly respected Preceptor of the Wandsworth Lodge of Instruction , No . 1024 . Bro . Higgerty is well known in Masonic circles , especially in South London , and a great amount of sympathy has been extended to him in his sad bereavement . The

funeral started from 38 Childerbert Road , Balham , S . W ., for St . Luke ' s Church , Battersea Rise , where the first part of the funeral service was impressively rendered by the Vicar , Bro . the Rev . Chas . E . Gordon . The interment took place in St . Mary ' s old cemetery , and was largely attended , the

deceased , as well as Bro . Higgerty , being universally held in the highest esteem . Among the large number of beautiful wreaths sent may be mentioned those from the Wandsworth Lodge , No . 1044 , the Wandsworth Lodge of Instruction , No . 1044 , the Bolingbroke Lodge , No . 2417 , the Wandle Lodge

of Instruction , St . Michael le Querne Lodge , No . 26 97 , Bro . W . G . King , Bro . Wills , Bro . Moorhead P . M . ( Sec . Wandsworth Lodge of Instruction ) , Bro . Cowley , Bro . Bolton , Bro . Grist , Bro . Welsh , the Cabmen , the Railway Employees ( Clapham Junction Station ) , & c , & c . At the

graveside the scene was very affecting , the touching burial service being impressively rendered by the Chaplain of No . 1044 Bro . the Rev . C . E . Gordon . Among the Brethren who attended the funeral as a mark of respect were Bros .

Wood W . M . Bolingbroke Lodge , No . 2417 , Wills P . M . 2417 , Cowley P . M . 1044 , Moorhead P . M . 24 , Crutchitt LP . M ., Baniield 26 99 , Ralph Grist 26 97 , Louis Grist , C . A . Martin , Woodcock , Wilson , J . Taverner P . M ., J . N . Churcher , C . Welsh P . M . 1044 , and others .