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ROYAL Masonic Institution for Girls , ST . JOHN'S HILL , BATTERSEA RISE , S . W . CSrSTITTTTED 1788 . Chief Patroness : HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN . Grand Patron and President : Hia Royal Highness THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., M . W . G . M . Grand Patroness : Her Royal Highness THE PRINCESS OF WALES . The 108 th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL WILD TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY , THE 13 TH MAY 1896 , THE RT . HON . THE EARL OF YARBOROUGH Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire , in the Chair . Brethren willing to act as Stewards on this important occasion are most earnestly solicited to send in their names to the Secretary as early as convenient . Stewards are greatly needed , and their services will be very gratefully received . —————F . R . W . HEDGES , Secretary . Offices—5 Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C .

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g g-raV- ' ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ '' ¦ ' A"J * J [ ' ' ^ ] j ^!^ gi ^^ J ^ W ^ . ^^ WJgg " ^ V ^ ¦ j ^^ - ^^ yl ^^ g SATUEDAY , 14 TH MAECH 1896 .

Compulsory Membership.

COMPULSORY MEMBERSHIP .

THE following appears in Bro . Common ' s report on correspondence , under the heading of Kentucky : —A Brother of one of the Lodges had for four years been trying to move his membership , but the Brethren had refused to grant him a dimit , notwithstanding the fact that he was under no charge for dues or otherwise . The rule in Kentucky is that no Officer of a Lodge , being installed , can receive a dimit during his tarm of office . To prevent him

demanding a dimit as a right , the Lodge constantly elected him to office , and when he declined to be installed the Lodge would instal him by proxy . Furthermore in order to forestall any question as the validity of installation by " proxy , the Brethren would each year re-elect him to the same office , so that if not legally installed he would hold over as his own successor . Thus did

the Brother find himself in a quadrennial fix , and at a great inconvenience , because he was a good man and could not be spared by his Lodge . Upon this application however , the Grand Lodge ordered his Lodge to fill his place at the next election , and grant him a dimit , or show the reason why . By turning to the number of the Brother ' s Lodge we find another feature

Fearing , perhaps , that the Grand Lodge would not grant his petition , he had declined to pay his dues , thus forcing the Lodge to suspend him , by which action his office was vacated . Then after the next election he could pay his dues , thus re-instating himself , after which he could demand a dimit as a

right . All of which demonstrates that even Kentuckians cannot beat a Kentuckian . But it would be better if Kentucky would fall in line with the majority of Grand Lodges , and recognise the principle that membership in a Masonic Lodge is voluntary , and the right of dimit inherent . — ' Masonry . "

PRESENTATION AT PLYMOUTH . A DEVOTED Freemason , a worthy Brother , and a respected citizensuch are the qualifications of Bro . J . R . Lord P . P . G . Tr . P . G . D . C , who on Tuesday evening , 10 th inst ., was the central figure in a function the like of which has rarely , if ever , been witnessed at the Masonic Club , Plymouth . When the movement was initiated it became evident that it was full y

approved , all Masters of Lodges in the Three Towns and district enrolling themselves as members of the Committee , and promising their united support . Bros . Stebbing and J . T . Allingbam were most assiduous in their duties as Treasurer and Secretary respectively of the Fund Committee , and to them a great deal of praise is due for the successful issue of the Committee ' s efforts .

The Masonic career of Bro . Lord has been an honoured one . Initiated in Lodge St . John , No . 1247 , in March 1870 , he was unanimously selected to preside over it for tbe year 1874 . During his Msstership H . R . H . the Prince of Wales opened the Phmouth Guildhall , and Lodge St . John , under Bro . Lord ' s direction , played a prominent part in the day ' s proceedings . On vacating the chair he was appointed Treasurer of the Lodge , which office he still holds . Bro . Lord has held the office of P . G . Treas . for the Province of

Compulsory Membership.

Devon , and a few years since had the distinguished honour of being appointed the Permanent P . G . D . C . He has acted as Almoner of the Three Towns Casual Relief Fund for thirteen years , and has carried out the duties of Treasurer of the Devon Masonic Education Fund for ten years . Having taken such a large amount of interest in the affairs of the Club in Princess Square , Brother Lord was selected the Chairman of Directors of the

Freemasons' Hall and Club Company , Limited , and still holds that position . He also fills the following Offices : — P . M . of Temple Mark Lodge , No . 50 , P . P . G . J . W . Devon , P . Z . and present Scribe E . of St . John Chapter , No . 70 . Brother Lord was also one of the Founders of Unity Chapter , and its first Z ., and is Past E . Com . of the Royal Veterans' Encampment , and is its present Treasurer .

" The proceedings of the 10 th opened with a tea , presided over by Bro Stebbing , with Bro . Lord as the guest . A large number of Brethren , accompanied by ladies , were present . The catering of Bro . Harvey , the Club Steward , gave great satisfaction . Bro . Captain Quinn , in a few introductory remarks , referred to the esteem in which Bro . Lord was held by all Freemasons . He pointed out

that Bro . Lord had lived up to the principles inculcated by the Order , and that all the Brethren entertained feelings of greatest pride towards their Brother . Two rewards were attributable to men , the first the approbation of one's own conscience , and the next the approbation of a host of friends . . Tbe former belonged to the individual , but it was in the latter that they that evening had the privilege of indulging .

Bro . G . Strode Lowe then presented Bro . Lord , on behalf of the subscribers , with a framed illuminated address , a large life-like portrait , a smoking cabinet , suitably inscribed , a purse of gold , and an album containing the names of subscribers . Bro . Lowe remarked that it gave him great pleasure to be so closely connected with that evening ' s proceedings . Alluding

to Bro . Lord s Masonic career , he stated that their respected Brother had that day attained his twenty-sixth Masonic birthday , and that during his connection with the Order his heart and soul had been devoted to Masonry . The speaker especially referred to Bro . Lord's kindly actions towards all their charitable institutions , and to the assistance he at all times rendered to their poor and needy Brethren .

Mrs . W . Willoughby having contributed a song in her usual excellent style , Bro . J . R . Lord rose to return thanks for the handsome presents—more especially for the kindly expressions that had been made by Brethren of such high esteem and high rank in the Order . What he had done for Freemasonry had been to him a labour of love , and hardly merited the kindness shown him . He , however , appreciated the feeling remarks that had fallen from the two previous speakers .

Thanks were accorded the executive officers of the Presentation Committee , Bros . G . Strode Lowe ( Chairman ) , F . B . Westlake ( Vice-Chairman ) , Stebbing ( Treasurer ) , and J . T . Allingham ( Secretary ) . Bro . Lord then presented the Officers and Brethren of Lodge St . John , No . 1247 , with the portrait .

In acknowledging the gift , Bro . Major Rendle promised to see that it was hung in the Lodge Room amongst the portraits of other worthies . The company adjourned to the large hall , where an entertainment , under the direction of Bro . W . Willoughby , Mus . Bac , was followed by a dance . — " Western Mercury . "

FURTHER TRAVELLING FACILITIES . FOR some time past the question of taking some step with the view of arresting the continued decrease in the second class traffic , which for some years has been a prominent feature in Railway Accounts , has been engaging the careful attention of the principal Railway Companies , and we are authorised to state that the Directors of the Great Western and London and South Western Railways have just decided to reduce the second class fares generally over their respective svstems , to a sum eauivalent to abonf .

ljd per mile , in the hope that this substantial reduction may induce many who would otherwise travel third class to avail themselves of the second class carriages . We are also informed that with a view to securing as far as practicable uniformity in the mode of calculating the first class fares , the Directors oi the above Companies have now determined to reduce the first class fares to about 2 d per mile in all cases in which they are at present in excess of that amount .

The exact date on which these alterations are to come into force has not yet been finally decided , as it will take some time to arrange the necessary details for giving effect to such important changes over the extensive systems of the two Companies referred to

FARM PRODUCE FOR LONDON . THE Great Eastern Railway is bringing the producer and consumer of produce into direct communication so far as the consumers in London and the producers in Cambridgeshire , Essex , Hertfordshire , Norfolk , and Suffolk are concerned . On 1 st December last they brought into operation reduced rates for the conveyance of farm produce in the districts served by the Company to London . People in the metropolis seem to have been very ready to avail themselves of the advantages these concessions in tMp

important question of railway rates afforded . The Great Eastern Railway Company have since received so many applications from consumers for the names and addresses of persons who are prepared to supply small quantities of farm produce direct that they have compiled a list of such persons in the five counties mentioned . Anyone who would like to have a copy of this list , which contains the names and addresses of about 600 persons who are able and willing to supply , can get one gratuitously on application to Mr . H . G . Drury , Assistant Superintendent of the line , at Liverpool Street Station .

FURNISHED LODGINGS FOR TOURISTS . THE fourth edition of the Midland Railway Company ' s list of furnished lodgings in farmhouses and country districts will shortly be published for the tourist season of 1896 . The list will embrace the numerous country districts which the Midland Company ' s main line and connecting branches traverse , including tho Peak District of Derbyshire , the Western and

Southern counties , the West Riding of Yorkshire , the Lake District , & c . A few boarding-houses and hotels will also be included in the book , so that holiday travellers may have a wide variety of choice . Tbe list will be closed for entries before 20 th inst ., so that persons who desire their lodgings to be advertised should at once acquaint the nearest Midland station-master .