Lancashire Charity.

by Bro . P . Armstrong P . P . G . D ., a vote of condolence was passed with Bro . George Broadbridge P . P . G . D . C , one of the Honorary Secretaries of the Institution , in the loss he . had

sustained by the death of his son , Bro . F . Broadbridge , Skelmersdale Lodge , No . 1380 , an esteemed member of the Masonic Order , and greatly appreciated in his professional capacity as a barrister .

. The balance-sheet of the Festival and Ball , submitted by Bro . Douglas Graeme W . M . 1380 , the Flon . Secretary , snowed that there remained a balance of £ 235 18 s 6 d , which would be handed over for the needs of the Institution . The Chairman of the Ball Committee Brother T . E . Withington

P . P . S . G . W . was constituted a Vice-President of the Charity ; and in view of his valuable services Bro . Douglas Graeme Secretary of the Ball was made a Life Governor .

Subsequently twenty-three Patrons and six Stewards in connection with the Festival were by ballot also appointed Life Governors of the Charity . Cordial thanks were given at the close to the Chairman for his presidency .

X . M . ** WM » JH »«»» J « J . tJ *» MVIM 1 I 1 TTTT A * H H WW Jl II AH K H M H ¦ W We are pleased to see from a class contemporary that Brother W . J . Carroll W . M . 1227 is recognised in shipping circles as an efficient caterer for ships' chronometers , watches , clocks , & c , & c , and that he has a high reputation among

captains and others in authority who frequent the Port of London , just as he has in our little world of Freemasonry . It was the better to cater for this class of his customers that

Bro . Carroll recently acquired new premises at 20 London Street—close to the Fenchurch Street Station—really the highway from the metropolis to the docks and other homes of our mercantile marine .

********** Bro . Charles Collette , who is still starring in the provinces in his great creation of the American Commercial in " W'hat happened to Jones " has just finished a five weeks tour through Scotland , and is now delighting his friends in

Ireland . He has revived his famous farce " Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata" and we can commend his banjo song " What an afternoon '' ( Francis , Day and Hunter ) to our

young comiques at Smokers . By the way , why does not Bro . C . C . revive his old success " the Colonel ? " As the only living representative of the little part he should interest the playgoing public .

********** The annual ball in aid of the Masonic Charities was held under the banner of Lodge Meridian , No . 893 ( Dr . J . Leslie Watt W . M . ) at Millbrook , on Tuesday evening , 30 th ult . The schoolroom was tastefully decorated for the occasion ,

and the music discoursed by Mr . Sweet ' s band was all that could be desired . Dancing was spiritedly kept up by a large assembly from 9 p . m . till 3 a . m . Bros . Bersey and

Pawley efficiently carried out the duties of M . C . The W . M . and Officers of the Lodge are to be congratulated on the success of the ball . By special dispensation , the Brethren appeared in regalia .

The' Brethren of New Zealand have started a movement for founding an Institution for the maintenance , education and equipment of orphan and destitute children of Freemasons in the colony .

Dublin Charity.

DUBLIN CHARITY .

RECENTLY we gave extracts from the annual report of the Masonic Orphan Boys School , and now we are enabled to publish some details from the 109 th annual report of the sister Institution , the Masonic Female Orphan School , which

has just been issued . It states-. —During the closing year of the 19 th century the Masonic Female Orphan School of Ireland has continued its beneficent and educational work with efficiency and success . At the beginning of the year , the number of pupils was 104 . During the year fifteen girls

left ; nine new pupils were admitted at the June election , and five in December ; fifteen out-going and ten former pupils received assistance from the Centenary Fund , and thus 143 orphans received benefit from the Charity within the year . There were three deaths , and at the close of the

year the number of pupils was 100 . The total ordinary income for the year amounted to £ 2 , 49 8 15 s 3 d , an increase of £ 91 3 s 1 id , and the total ordinary expenditure amounted to £ 2 , 343 I 7 7 d > a decrease of £ 37 10 s 5 d , as compared with 1899 . The special receipts , with , the balance of

£ 429 8 s 4 d carried forward from the previous year , enabled the Governors to provide the sum of £ 1 , 010 for investment in Masonic Hall debentures , but the account closed with an overdraft of £ 11 9 s id . Bequests were received of £ 400 from Brother Sanders and £ 19 6 s 8 d from Brother Taylor .

A sum of £ 86 15 s id was realised by letting seats on the occasion of the Queen ' s entry into Dublin ; £ 2 3 s 2 d was found in the collection box at Freemasons' Hall , and Bro . Perceval ' s scheme for collecting is subscriptions by means of stamps has already realised £ 6 .

The Governors have to reiterate their appeal for an increase in the subscriptions , especially in the annual subscriptions , which are the largest source of income . The total received from subscriptions in 1900 was only £ 1 , 411 4 s id , the smallest sum paid in any year since 1892 , when

the falling off was due to the payments made for the Centenary Fund . Twenty-three years ago , when the number of pupils was onlv thirty-six , the subscriptions amounted to £ 1 , 963 12 s id . The Masonic Order in Ireland has greatly advanced during these years in numbers and resources ;

there is a corresponding increase m the call upon its Chanties , and a proportionate response should follow . Six orphans of Governors were elected in 1900 , and one orphan of a Grand Officer . Nearly one-third of the pupils are now orphans of Governors—of whom few , indeed , when they

first subscribed , could have anticipated that the aid which they gave to the children of their poorer Brethren would be returned in kind to their own . The total school expenditure for 1900 amounted to £ 2 , 075 3 7 ° * , and the total office expenditure to £ 268 14 s , which included £ 32 18 s nd , cost

of furnishing the new offices . The average cost of boarding , lodging , clothing , educating , and maintaining ea . ch pupil resident in School , throughout the year , was £ 20 7 s id . For that sum everything- required for the health , comfort ,

and education of the children was abundantly supplied . The subscribers may be well assured that their money is well spent , and that every care is taken to secure the utmost possible benefit to the objects of the Charity from the amount placed . at the disposal of the Governors . The invested capital of the Centenary Fund amounts to £ 15 , 291- 6 s 8 d , and produces a permanent income of

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Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . OFFICES— 5 FREEMASONS' HALL , GREAT QUEEN STREET , LONDON , W . C . 2020 Girls hatte been provided vtiith Education , Clothing , and Maintenance , the full number of Girls novo receiving its benefits being 26 U . The 114 th Anniversary Festival will be held in MAY 1902 , under the distinguished Presidency of THE RIGHT HON . THE EARL OF LATHOM , P . G . W ., R . W . PROV . G . M . WEST LANCASHIRE . Telephone No . 2952 , Gerrard . Registered Office Telegraphic Address : "Girlands , London . " F . R . W . HEDGES , Secretary , do . School do . "Machio , London . " 5 FREEMASONS' HALL , LONDON , W . C ,