Approaching Installation Of The Prince Of Wales.

APPROACHING INSTALLATION OF THE PRINCE OF WALES .

WE are in a position to furnish , for the information of our readers , tho official details connected with the approaching Installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as M . W . Grand Master , so far , at least , as regards the locality and date , the admission of Members , and the appointment or selection of Stewards . The ceremony has been fixed , by

command of His Royal Highness , to take place at the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington , on Wednesday , the 28 th April next , at 3 p . m . punctually . This building has been selected with a view to provide accommodation , so far as space and circumstance permit , not only for all

qualified members of 'Grand Lodge , but also for Master Masons , not members of Grand Lodge , who may desire to be present . In order to make the necessary arrangements , each W . M is requested to fill up and return to Grand Secretary , on or before the 31 st instant , a form containing

the names of all such Brethren ; and no Brother , whether a qualified member of Grand Lodge or not , will be admitted unless his name has been so returned within the time specified . If the needful accommodation cannot be provided , an equitable distribution of tickets for the admission

of Master Masons will be made to each Lodge . Brethren who are subscribing Members of more than one Lodge are to return their names on one list only . Tickets will not be transferable , and it is consequently requested that no Brother send in his name unless he is prepared to

attend . We have further to state that , as an additional number of Brethren will be required to assist the Executive in carrying- out the necessary arrangements for the admission and seating of the Brethren , tho M . W . Grand Master has been pleased to order that each of the

London Lodges shall have the privilege of nominating a Steward for that purpose . The W . M . of each Lodge which may desire to exercise this privilege is accordingly requested to forward to Grand Secretary the name and address of such Brother , on or before the 31 st instant .

If the number of Brethren so returned , however , exceed the number required for this service , the selection will be determined by Ballot . It is to be understood that every Brother whose name is so returned must undertake to attend the meetings whenever he is summoned , to be present

at the Hall at noon of the day appointed , and to undertake the duties assigned to him . Those who personally discharge the duties of Stewards will have the privilege of wearing a special Jewel which His Royal Highness has been pleased to sanction . The cost of such Jewel is not to exceed five pounds .

The Lifeboat Endowment Fund.

THE LIFEBOAT ENDOWMENT FUND .

WE announced , last week , the interesting fact that ninty-nine members of Grand Lodge voted in favour of Bro . Constable ' s motion , to which we have referred at length in recent issues . One hundred and fifteen of the brethren voted against the motion , which

was therefore lost by tho small majority of sixteen . In any circumstances we should regard this result as most encouraging , but when we remember that the motion was

discussed at an advanced hour of the evening , when many brethren had left the Hall , and when we further bear in mind that the idea of providing an Endowment Fund is

The Lifeboat Endowment Fund.

quite new to many of the members of Grand Lodge , we are constrained to confess that thus far the success of the agitation has exceeded our most sanguine expectations . In truth we did not think that Bro . Constable would have been able to command so large a following at this early stage of the scheme . The idea of an Endowment Fund has indeed been

readily taken up by many brethren , but adequate machinery has not yet been devised for the purpose of bringing the matter before the great body of the Order . Organisation is needed , and , if we might venture to make a suggestion , we should at once urge our friends who are interested in

the matter to form a committee , and issue a brief address to the Lodges . We are fully assured that our brethren are prepared to come forward with their subscriptions , and that cash will be readily voted from Lodge funds . But in these matters Englishmen expect that the usual business

formalities . should be respected , and without the assistance of a zealous committee we fear the idea may languish for lack of proper management . It is very evident that there is a strong disposition on the part of the members of Grand Lodore to fall in with the views of tho mover of the motion .

The suggestion is one fully consonant with the principles of benevolence which are fostered by the Fraternity , and when the matter has been more fully ventilated outside , we are quite certain that a donation from the funds of the Chief Temple of Masonry will not be w anting . We have

little or nothing to say as to the tone of the speeches of those who opposed the proposition , but we cannot forbear remarking that Bro . Havers' suggestion that a second boat should be presented to the Lifeboat Association entirely misses the object which the promoters of the Endowment

scheme have in view . The secretary of the Association has informed us that there is never any difficulty in providing new boats to replace those which are unfit for service , but the Society really needs funds to meet the cost of keeping its great flotilla in working order . A new boat ,

contributed by a well meaning person , ignorant of the facts of the case , is a sort of white elephant to the Society . It must be maintained in working order ; its crew must be paid their fees for periodical exercise , or actual service , and the station , we believe , must be visited at specific times by a

confidential agent of the Association . Moreover , in each district there is a local committee , having the immediate care of the craft in the locality , and the necessary expenses of these bodies fall upon the parent society . The annual charge upon each of the boats possessed by the Association

is £ 70 , and as there are about 400 of these craft stationed at the various exposed points on the coast , tho Society is called upon to find the very large sum of £ 28 , 000 to meet the working expenses of each year . We are prepared to say that at the present moment there is urgent need for

funds , and that the Society will be thankful to have tho annual charge of any one of its boats taken off its shoulders . If the Association were relieved to any appreciable extent from the undue financial pressure which its vast organisation entails , it would bo prepared to undertake further

work which calls for completion . There aro still many stations on the coast that need a Lifeboat , and upon some of the more dangerous points it would be an advantage if

two or more of these arks of safety could be maintained . The great cost , however , of maintaining the Lifeboat flotilla in an efficient working condition effectually prevents the Association from further extending its operations .

We feel assured that Grand Lodge cannot be fully acquainted with these grave facts , and we are quite certain that to our brethren generally they will possess all the charm of novelty . The idea has somehow or other got