The Duke Of Clarence And Avondale. In Memoriam.

despatched to Sandmgham , expressing the deep regret with which the members had heard of tho serious illness of tbe Provincial Grand Master the Duke of Clarence , and their sincere hope that they would hear a moro favourable

report as to the state of hia Royal Highness . A reply was shortly afterwards received from the Prince ' s eqnerry , stating that ho was very sorry to say that the Prince ' s condition was most critical . The intelligence was received with tho utmost regret .

The Jubilee Of The Benevolent Institution.

THE JUBILEE OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE gratifying announcement we are able to make this week , in connection with the approaching celebration of the Jubilee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , is robbed of its pleasures by the unfortunate event we have just referred to . It may seem out of place to write anything of a congratulatory character in face of the

misfortune which has fallen upon the nation , yet under other circumstances we' should have been able to call forth tho heartiest enthusiasm by the announcement that a thousand Stewards have been enrolled for the Festival which will be held to mark the first fifty years' existence of

our Benevolent Institution . As it is we feel we can only record the bare details of the good fortune which has fallen upon the youngest of the three great Charities of Freemasonry , and congratulate all interested in the approaching Festival on the manifest signs of a successful celebration

which seem to be in store for it . There is no knowing what effect the death of the Duke of Clarence may have on this important celebration , but it is very certain that the Festival

must suffer , in common with everything else , from the event of the present week , which it is reasonable to suppose will for a time paralyse the nation , and affect business and pleasure alike .

Tbe remarks made b y Bro . Jas . Terry , the enthusiastic Secretary of the Benevolent Institution , on the occasion of the Winter Entertainment to the Annuitants at Croydon , and which were reported in our last issue , will have prepared our readers for the very pleasing particulars we are

now able to place before them , but it will not prevent them joining in our congratulations on the rapid rise which has taken place in the number of Stewards during the last few days , for it must be remembered that only as recently as Wednesday of last week the number stood at 919 ,

while at the time of writing yesterday it had risen to 1040 . Wo wished to discuss this week the possibilities of the future so far as they aro likely to affect the Jubilee celebration , bat speculation as to what ia in store for Freemasonry during the next few weeks is for the moment

crushed , and we must leave the matter for the present , with a fervent hope that oven yet much more may be accomplished on behalf of the Benevolent Institution , and

that its Jubilee celebration may prove , as it gave promise of doing , if not actually the greatest success ever recorded in connection with the Charities of Freemasonry , at least a very good second .

The New Masonic Year

THE NEW MASONIC YEAR

fPHE Masonic Fraternity in Pennsylvania , and also in various other Masonic jurisdictions , has just entered upon a new Masonic year . High Twelve on St . John the Evangelist ' s Day , 27 th December 1891 , introduced the Craft ' s New Year ' s Day . This subject is worthy of more than a passing thought .

In the profane world there is manifested a constant craving for new things , sometimes merely because they are to be new , at other times because there is a felt need for a change .

In the newspapers of the day , in this city of Brotherly Love , we read much concerning the desire for what is st yled a " new Philadelphia , " tbat is , a Philadelphia with better paved streets , purer water , brighter gas , electric cars ,

rapid transit , less self-serving in its officials and more fidelity and honesty among those who are paid to serve their fellow-citizens . All of these new things are highly desirable , and they probably will come in with the millennium .

The New Masonic Year

Other new things that are sought , and usually found , are new secret societies , to absorb time , money and effort , and give their initiates less opportunity to fulfil their duties to their families , and to such an ancient and honourable society as Freemasonry , together with others

that with it have won an acknowledged place in the annals of fame . The new things that we should have , as a rule we have not , while new things of an injurious character may be had for the asking .

A famous remark by Daniel Webster is timely now , He said of a certain party : " I have read its platform ; but I see nothing in it both new and valuable . ' What is valuable is not new , and what is new is not valuable . ' "

This assertion is applicable to Freemasonry . Whatever is novel in the Craft is worthless ; nay , more , is un-Masonic .

There is one Institntion in the world which values the old—old usages , old customs , old Landmarks . It measures the worth of everything by an ancient standard , which has

been handed down by honoured predecessors in the Fraternity : that Institution is Freemasonry . Freemasonry has a new year every year , but no new duty . Our motto is , New Year , old duty ; not New Year , new duty .

A poet once based his hope for improvement in his country ' s government on the possibility that

" Now Lords may give us new laws . " No new Grand Master , nor Worshipful Master , nor Grand Lodge , can be expected to give the Craft new laws . In the profane world , even , new laws are not desirable . What is desirable , is the faithful execution of the old laws Nothing other than this can be rightfully sought in

Freemasonry . We are unwise to tinker even at the minutest details of our constitutional law . The old usages , customs and

Landmarks are of course beyond the reach of any brother , for to alter them would be to make an innovation in the body of Masonry , whioh is abhorrent to the Masonic sense , and forbidden by Freeraasonry's highest law .

But we have new rulers , year by year , and new members of our various Masonic bodies , introduced through initiation month by month . These are the only novelties permissible in Masonry . New resolutions are always in order to fulfil old duties ,

and now is the time to make them , and all the time hereafter is the time to keep them . Regularity and promptness in attending Masonic meetings is now in order for every member ; tho acquisition and perfect rendition of the official work is the duty of

every officer ; and the aim of all should be to open the new year with spirit , with devotion to duty , with zealous interest , with the aim to make tbe present year exceed all that have gone before it , in the introduction of only the best material in Lodge , Chapter , Council and

Commandery membership , in the conduct of tho business of these several bodies by business-like methods , spending always less than the income , and thus building up the financial standing of every Masonic body upon tho best and surest basis .

Let us have a new year distinguished by these traits of conduct . Let us have an exemplification of the moral virtues which adorn the Freemason—uprightness of character , purity of conduct , obedience to the moral law , and faithfulness to the precepts of the Craft .

If we are careful to practise out of the Lodge the precepts of morality and brotherly love which we aro taught within it , every social and fraternal virtue will grace our conduct , adorn our lives , and cement us into

one band of Brothers . Let this be our aim throughout the new Masonic year before us , and we may rest assured we shall receive , both as indivduals and as Masonic bodies , the approval and support of the Grand Master of the Universe , —Keystone .

On Tuesday last , Bro . Sheriff Harry S . Foster was appointed S . W . of the Covent Garden Lodge , No 1614 . He was , however , unable to be present to be invested on account of illness , he having had a relapse after an attack

of influenza . His doctor bad ordered his immediate departure for the south of France , and our worthy brother went away on Monday morning last . We trust he will benefit by the change .