Honour To Whom Honour Is Due.

HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE .

AT the present moment the eyes of English Freemasons are turned towards the Western Division of the ' Couhty of Lancashire , or at least that is the case with those who take a special interest in the great

characteristic of Freemasonry—Benevolence , as particularly exemplified in the Charitable Institutions of the English Craft ; for it is from that quarter we have

to welcome the Chairman for the next great Charity Festival . of the year—on behalf of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls , to be held in May .

We have already referred to the fact that the Earl of Lathom- has kindly consented to preside on this occasion ,, and have spoken of the great efforts likely to be put forward in connection with his Chairmanship ,

for several special reasons ; indeed it was in referring to one of them—the celebration of his lordship ' s majority as Proyinqial Grand Master of West Lancashire—that we suggested the presidency of one or other of the

annual Festivals of the Craft Institutions might well form a part of the programme in connection with what we considered was likely to be " a notable celebration . "

This was long before his lordship had consented to take the chair at the Festival , and although we do not know that our , remarks were the cause of Lord Lathom ' s decision , they . doubtless added weight to the other

arguments used to secure his much desired and generally appreciated . ^ consent to act as President at the coming Anniversary , and recognising this we hope we shall be able trj do-something in support of his Chairmanship .

We regard this occasion as presenting a splendid opportunity for the Craft at large—and Lancashire in particular ^ -td . show appreciation of a distinguished

Member of the Order , and we shall be very much surprised if this presidency of the Most Worshipful the Pro Grand Master is not accepted in that light . The Brethren of to-day are very apt to reckon the present

success of English Freemasonry from the date of the Prince of Wales ' s accession to the Grand Mastership , and there is ample evidence of an indisputable character to bear out the truth of their arguments , but the duties and calls on the time of the Prince of Wales are

numerous , and it is by no . means disrespectful to the Grand Master to say that he could hardly have accomplishedso much as he has / done if he had not been ably seconded and assisted by thoroughly genuine supporters .

In this connection we may limit our observations to the Pro and ' the Deputy Grand Masters -for they really jointl y share with the Grand Master the responsibilities

of permanent office—and we may almost give them equal credit with the Grand Master himself for the growth and progress of the Order in recent years . This being so we have but one Brother to consider with the Prince

Honour To Whom Honour Is Due.

of Wales in connection with His Royal Highness s presidency of English Freemasonry , for the Earl of Lathom has alone been associated with him during the whole term of his Mastership—for many years as Deputy

Grand Master , and in later times as Pro Grand Master —the present Deputy having been appointed" , to . . ' . that office in comparatively recent years , in succession to ' the Earl of Lathom , when that Brother ascended to the

office of Pro Grand Master , on the death of the late Earl of Carnarvon . In honouring the Earl of Lathom then , and supporting him in any of his Masonic work , the Craft is honouring the one leader of the Order who

has shared with the Prince of Wales the chief ' responsibility of the past twenty years , and in ' . thus honouring so distinguished a lieutenant they honour the chief ; and we are sure the Prince of Wales . will take almost' as

much interest in the work of . his tried supporter as though he had himself' undertaken the presidency of the Festival—which , it must be borne in mind , he could hardly have done , in view of his last effort ' si in ; 'this

direction having been associated with the same Institution as that with which the Earl of Lathom is this year associated . There exists then a special reason why : the coming Festival should receive encouragement from the

whole body of English Freemasons , and we hope every Lodge under the rule of our 'Grand Lodge will , make an effort to join in the support . of their distinguished leader . . ' ' " ' . ' . ' , ' :

Turning to the Chairman ' s own ; Province-or West Lancashire , we-find another reason for expecting ' SpeejgJ . support in connection : with this coming Festival ,- inasmuch as the present year marks the completion of Lord

Lathom ' s twenty-first year of Mastership over that district , and our Lancashire friends ' are hardly the dries to let the opportunity of . sho wing theirgratification at such an anniversary pass without making some . particular

effort in connection with itiWe do not knowwhether the two events—the Master ' s majority , and his presidency as Chairman of the 'Girls Festival—haVe yet been closely associated in the Province , but no ; -doubt

something of the sort hasbeen done , and we may pisk the question—what is likely to be the result of such , a union ? ' . >' . 1 " " \ . ' *' .. ¦ ¦ ' ¦ - ¦¦''•'•'•• ¦ : X ;**

This division of English Freemasonry boasts 108 Lodges , in everyone of which the name of Lord Lathom is revered and respected , in fact . it is safe to 'say that ' 110 other Provincial Grand ' Master is more honoured ; in : his

own county than is the chief of West Lancashire—hence we have an exceptionally wide field for operations ,: with most enthusiastic Craftsmen to . . work upon , and ., abqv £ all , a good cause , with a splendid leader .. ¦ ,. " ¦ : ; , ¦ . r

As we said when reviewing the results of Lord Lathom ' s presidency for the Boys School , in 1891 ; " those who work with Lord Lathom are never' satisfie'd