Prince Albert Victor.

corner of Her Majesty's dominions , in connection with the happy event which has this week evoked such au overflow of love and spontaneous felicitation from one end of the kingdom to the other .

The Approaching Festival Of The R.M.B.I.

THE APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE R . M . B . I .

BEARING in mind the old adage that " Familiarity breeds contempt , " we had almost felt constrained at the commencement of what we may designate another term in our existence to depart from a custom which has

become a time-honoured one with us—that of making a special appeal on behalf of each Masonic Charity Institution Festival as it approaches . We feel , however , there are many reasons why we should continue to observe the

custom , and say a few words concerning each of the succeeding meetings , the success of which so materially depend on the amount of publicity which is given to them . As we have said , the custom has become a time-honoured one with

us , and on that account ought not to be discontinued , more especially after what we said last week , when we announced our determination to carry on our work in the future on much the same lines as have guided us in the pnst , but

there are much stronger reasons why we should not omit a passing reference to each of the Masonic Festivals in turn . They come upon us so frequently , however , that it is next to impossible to write anything new concerning them , and for this reason we feared we mierht cause that

contempt for them in our readers' minds which arises from too great a familiarity ; but wo hope the nature of the cause they are intended to benefit will prevent anything like contempt being engendered . It might , perhaps ,

be considered that enough has been said concerning our three Institutions and their Festivals to place every brother in possession of full information concerning them ; and that for a time , at least , they might be expected to go on

prospering on the reputation of the past alone , but what a different state of affairs is really the true one . We venture to think that , even bearing in mind the enormous number of brethren who have made themselves personally

acquainted with the Charities , by serving the office of Steward to one or other of them ; the enormous number of brethren who must have supported them in tho past ; and the thousands of printed references to them which have

been circulated during the time of their existence ; they would all but disappear in the course of a few years if left wholly and solely to themselves , left to live indeed on their reputation of the past . The only way in Avhich it can be

hoped to continue them even on their present basis alone , without any thought of extension , is to be continually urging their claims on the Masons of England , by begging

of those who have worked in the past to continue to do so in the future , and by entreating others to at once make a start in securing support for them .

There is one great advantage attached to the system under which the funds aro collected to carry on our Charities . It seldom happens—indeed , wo might say never —that a brother repents having put himself forward as a

Steward . We suppose that by far the greater number of those who serve themselves feel it their duty to induce others to do the same ; it is not a question of relating personal experiences in order to deter others from a similar

course , but usually the reverse . The men who speak strongest in urging others to act as Stewards are those who have tried the work themselves , and not nnfrequently have tried it two or three times . They do not then refer

to it as a labour , but as a duty , and in that sense consider that every Mason should undertake his share of it . It is on this basis that we now urge our readers to do their best to advance the interests of the Benevolent Institution , the Festival of which takes place on the 25 th of next month .

It is true that much has been done for this Institution in the past , and what do we find is the result of this : —briefly , that the Masons of England are pledged to distribute no less a sum than £ 13 , 200 per annum as annuities

to aged brethren and widows who have hern elected from among numerous applicants who have proved themselves worthy of sympathy from their more fortunate

brethren . Upwards of 1027 annuitants have received the benefits of the Institution since its foundation in 1842 , and there are at present no less than 352 ( 170 Men and 182

The Approaching Festival Of The R.M.B.I.

Widows ) being paid , quarter by quarter , sums of money which enable them to pass the declining years of their life , if not in luxury , at least in comfort and free from actual want . Is it too much to ask for sufficient support to enable

this good work to be continued ? Is it too much to ask every reader of these lines to do something for the funds of this Institution ? or are our frequent appeals on behalf of it out of place or unnecessary ? To each question wo

answer most emphatically in the negative . Nothing that we can do is too much if it only helps to secure a few pounds on behalf of our Old People , and nothing that our readers may do in response to our request will be too

much recompense to us for what we write . Our desire is that the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution should be supported far and wide , that its claims should be urged

on every possible occasion , and that its wants , its work and its requirements may become familiar to every Mason , not in order to breed contempt for them , but to secure for them that encouragement they so richly deserve .

An Excellent Lodge History.

AN EXCELLENT LODGE HISTORY .

EVERY ono of our old Lodges has , in its series of minute books , information of deep interest and lasting value to the Craft , and every Brother who patiently and critically examines these old records ,

selecting from them the facts that are most curious and instructive , and composing them into a literary mosaic , merits the thanks of the Fraternity . In a large degree the history of any old Lodge is the history of the Craft

in its jurisdiction , for the time covered by the recital . Customs and events are generally uniform , and from one Lodge history you may largely learn that of its contemporaries . We have recently had laid upon our table

a volume , in handsome form , entitled , " A Brief History of Washington Lodge , No . 59 ,. F . & A . M ., Philadelphia , from 1793 to 1884 , compiled from the records , and authenticated sources of information , by P . M . Brother

William B . Reed , " the present Secretary of the Lodge . Although brief , the material for it has been admirably digested , and bears upon its face the evidence of protracted and intelligent labour . No one who has not

undertaken such a work appreciates the drudgery of going over old books of minutes , written in all sorts of chirography , with all kinds of ink , blurred by carelessness , pale with age , and occasionally worn out by time .

Hence , those who perform this work , and do it well , are entitled to receive not only fair credit , but unstinted praise . Such we accord to Bro . Reed . We are sure that the only criticism he will receive will be—Tour history

is too brief ; why did you not make it fuller ? But brevity is a virtue ; it is far better to stimulate than to satiate . The cry for more is praise ; the cry , enough , would be censure .

Washington Lodge , No . 59 , was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania during the Grand Mastership of Bro . Jonathan Bayard Smith , on 3 rd June 1793—yellow fever year in Philadelphia , when Bro . Stephen Girard

distinguished himself , and glorified Masonry , by remaining in the city to minister in the hospitals , while others fled the scourge . The Lodge then met in what was known as the "Free Quakers' Hall " ( now the Apprentices' Library ) , S . W . corner of Fifth and Arch Streets . Among the first

members were a number of the " Free " or " Fighting Quakers . " This Lodge was prosperous from the outset . In four years its membership advanced from 9 to 97 . It participated in the Washington obsequies in 1799-1800 . In

after years it was practically the mother of many Lodges . We instance a few which were formed , mainly or entirely , out of its membership : Columbia Lodge , No . 91 ; St . John ' s Lodge , No . 115 ; Orient Lodge , No . 289 ; Vaux Lodge , No .

393 , and Lodge No . 432 . While the Lodge occupied the " Pennsylvania Freemasons' Hall " ( on the site of modern No . 814 Filbert Street ) , one of its members—Bro . Chas . S . Stewart , occupied the first floor of the Hall for a school

room , and by contract with the Grand Lodge it was agreed that the education of the children of poor Brethren should ! : c in lieu of rent . Durine- the war of 1812 this Masonic

pedagogue , in the language of Bro . Reed , " tired of teaching the ' young idea how to shoot , ' resolved to do a little shooting on his own account . He returned safe and sound , and was appointed Secretary in 1816 . " One of the