The Benevolent Festival.

When the supporters of the Institution know that an aged brother has gonehome with : £ 10 towards his quarters expenditure , or that a widow has £ 8 in hand with which to meet her expenses for the next three months .

In the case of the other Institutions there is not the same tangible return . There the investment is purely of a speculative nature , but happily it has so far proved to be a successful speculation , and we hope it

may always so continue . We are almost afraid to pursue this phase of the subject further , for fear of invidious companions , but the difference that exists between handing over to a number of recipients a definite sum in cash , and in the other case paying

for the early training of boys and girls , seems to us so manifest that it is really unnecessary that we should do so . Our object on this occasion is to so write that we may be the means of securing at least a few additional workers for the Benevolent Festival of 1894 . which .

we should have mentioned , is to be held on the 28 th February ; but we feel that our readers , in the majority of cases at least , know as much about the Institution as we do , can as fully appreciate its benefit , and as readilv recognise its claim for sunnort . Tint

—. / o J . x they may , perhaps , have been waiting for the personal appeal which , despite the energy of Bro . J . Terry the Secretary , and his co-workers , may not have reached every quarter , and in now making that appeal we assure our readers we do so in all sincerity , and in the

firm belief that a hearty response is absolutely needed , nay even demanded , if the Fund is to be carried on next year on the same basis as it has been carried on in the past . There is some time yet before the day of the Festival , and doubtless there are brethren who have almost decided to act as Steward on its behalf ,

but have not yet given in their names—these may produce a tangible addition to the list of the Stewards ere the day of the Festival , but at present we have the fact to deal with that the record only

contains the names of about one hundred brethren , a number which , even allowing for the most active working on their part , would certainly not warrant the prediction of a success for the coming event . When that roll of Stewards is doubled in number it will be

time to pause for the purpose of looking around and weighing the chances of success , but until that happens there can be but one answer to the question of how the Festival is going—more support and more workers must be secured , and the whole time at

disposal must be devoted to attracting them . It has often been urged that the work of supporting the three Institutions of the Craft might be more systematised than is the case at present , and that if each Lodge on the Eegister was regularly to send up

a Steward to one or other of the Institutions all these special appeals would be ^ unnecessary . It might be so , but we imagine the remedy would be worse than the evil . Under existing conditions there is always a lively competition among special workers , and there

is also the glorious feature of uncertainty to urge individual supporters to special effort , all of which would be removed if the work was made a regular humdrum sort of affair . Besides this , it must be remembered that to make it compulsory for each

Lodge to periodically elect and support a Steward would virtually place a tax on Freemasonry , and relegate Freemasonry to the level of a Benefit Society , a result which is by no means desirable . We much prefer the existing system , and although it gives

annual cause for anxiety and speculation , we hope it will not prove a bad method for the Festivals of the future , more particularly that to be held in February next , on behalf of our Aged Brethren or their Widows . We cannot close our present remarks without a

word in reference to the Province over which the Chairman presides . Surrey has been tried in these matters in years gone by , and has nobly done its duty . The present chief of the Province is immensely

The Benevolent Festival.

popular , and this fact , coupled with the general desire of the brethren of the district to do the best in their power for the poor and distressed , should at least guarantee a good list from the district . Let ua

hope the Surrey total of February next will be the best ever sent up from that Province , and that it may be hard presssed by many others in the race of supporters of the Benevolent Institution , and further .

that all will join in the most desirable work of supporting Col . Money in his presidency of the year .

United Grand Lodge

UNITED GRAND LODGE

THE Qnarterly Communication was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall , London . The Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe Depnty Grand Master presided . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Hants and the Isle of Wight acted as Deputy , G . M ., Brother Thomas

Frederick Halsey , M . P ., Prov . G . M . for Herts as Past Grand Master , Bro . Victor A . Williamson , C . M . G ., as G . S . W . ; while the Right Hon . A . Akers-Douglas , M . P ., the G . J . W . of the year , was in his place .

Grand Lodge having been opened and the minutes confirmed , The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe read the communication received from Sir Francis Knollys on behalf of his Royal Highness the Grand Master , which was as follows : —

Marlborough House , 21 st October 1893 . Sir Francis Knollys is desired by his Eoyal Highness the Most Worshipfnl Grand Master of Freemasons of England to thank the Grand Officers and Brethren of United Grand Lodge of . Ancient Free

and Accepted Masons of England for their address and kind congratulations and good wishes on the occasion of the marriage of his Royal Highness the Dnke of York with the Princess Victoria Mary of Teck .

The Earl then moved that the letter be entered on the minutes , and Bro . W . W . B . Beach seconding the motion , it was carried . Bro . Alfred Cooper P . M . 259 proposed the re-election of

his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as Grand Master . Bro . Sir W . Marriott , Q . C , nominated Bro . Charles W . Hudson P . P . G . W . of Sussex , for the office of Grand Treasurer . He had been in the Craffc over 20 years , and served numerous offices both in Sussex and elsewhere .

Bro . F . Gordon Brown P . M . 1 nominated Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Dimsdale , banker , P . M . 1 , and hoped and felt sure that brother would receive the confidence of the brethren of Grand Lodge . He fcrnsted he would nofc be unsuccessful in taking a place amongthevery brilliant brethren on the dais .

Lord George Hamilton nominated Bro . William Mason Stiles , who had for 20 years been an active Mason . During mosfc parfc of that time he had been Preceptor of the Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction ; and five years Secretary of the mother Lodge . He had been Steward

of the various Charities , and was Vice-President of all three , and had contributed out of his own funds , upwards of £ 600 to the Institutions . Ho ventured conscientiously to think that he was a suitable candidate from his qualifications for the office of Grand Treasurer .

Bro . S . H . Baker P . M . 1200 214 and Treas . 2472 , nominated Bro . William Shurmur , reciting his Masonic career , which commenced in 1873 , in which year he was initiated in the Royal Standard Lodge , No . 1289 , he Associated himself with other Lodges , and in 1890 he was nominated fche

firsfc W . M . of fche Lodgo named after himself . The petition for this latter Lodge was one of fche mnst remarkable ever presented to the M . W . G . M . for approval , containing as ifc did the names of no less than 03 petitioners . Afc the

consecration there were nearly 400 brethren present , including over 100 Installed Masters . It had now 150 members on its roll , and has donated 700 guineas to the Masonic Institutions .

The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe announced thafc H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . had appointed Bro . Robert Groy President of the Board of Benevolence , and Brother Groy was re-invested .

The Earl also announced lhafc Bro . James Brett P . G . P . had bean again nominated for election as Senior Vice-President of the Board , and Bro . Charles Alexander Cottebrune P . G . P . as Junior Vice-President , and that as