Provincial Charity Funds.

PROVINCIAL CHARITY FUNDS .

IT is seldom an issue of our paper contains more * conclusive and varied evidence of the growth of Provincial Charity Funds than is the case this week , when we record work in this direction in the Provinces of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , West Lancashire ,

Dejvon , and Durham—and even this , probably , by no means exhausts all that has been done or arranged for during the last few days , by those who are officiall y appointed by Provincial bodies to manage local funds of Masonic benevolence .

In view of all that is done in this direction it must be a surprise to many that the great Charities of the Order are able to hold their Own as they have so far done , and even extend their spheres of

usefulness ; but what is said elsewhere in regard to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution—that the desire has always been to prevent the operations of the Provincial

Institutions hindering the regular flow of contributions to the great Central Charities of the Craft—holds good throughout the country , and may be said to be the key note on which the many Provincial funds now existing were established , and are maintained .

We remember some fifteen or twenty years back communicating with the officials of the different Provinces , with the view of discovering what local means then existed for the organisation and dispensing

of Masonic Charity . The returns we were then able to compile were very different to what would be the case now ; indeed we might almost say that the stupendous work that is being carried on at the present

time in almost every part of the country is virtuall y the growth of the last quarter of a century . It would be exceedingly interesting to summarise what is reall y

being done in this direction , and later on we may ask our readers and those who are most interested in the work of the Craft in the Provinces to assist us in

compiling a statement which would not only show the extent of the good work , but would , we are convinced , redound to the credit of our Provincial Charity Funds .

Our Grand Master.

OUR GRAND MASTER .

IT is most gratifying to know that the Prince of Wales had so far recovered from his ac . cident as to be able to leave the Isle of Wight on Wednesday , for Scotland . His Royal Highness , accompanied by Princess Victoria of Wales , and attended by Major-General Sir Stanley Clarke , crossed

to Portsmouth Dockyard , where a special train had been provided for his conveyance to the north . The Royal party was received at the South Railway Jetty by Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Marshall , K . C . M . G ., and Sir Charles

Scotter ( Directors ) , Mr . C . J . Owens ( General Manager ) , and Mr . G . T . White ( Traffic Superintendent ) of the London and South Western Railway . His Royal Highness , who has greatly benefited by his stay at Osborne , arrived at Ballater for Balmoral on Thursday afternoon , where special

Our Grand Master.

preparations were made for his reception . Not only was the platform laid with crimson cloth but the raised gangway which was used on the occasion of the arrival recently of her

Majesty the Queen was erected , to enable the Prince to walk from the Royal saloon to the carriage in waiting without unnecessarily straining his injured limb . The Grand Master walked without assistance from the saloon to the end of the

gangway , and stood with his hat raised during the salute of the guard of honour . He was joined in the phaeton by the Princess Victoria of Wales , and' drove away amid hearty cheers from those present . Balmoral Castle was reached in about forty minutes , the avenue being lined by Gordon Highlanders .

Torquay's New Temple.

TORQUAY'S NEW TEMPLE .

TORQUAY'S new Masonic Temple , the home of the Jordan Lodge , No . 1402 , was used for the first time on the 13 th inst . The Temple has not yet been decorated , and in consequence the ceremonial opening by the Grand Master of Devonshire has been postponed until December .

The members of Jordan Lodge have hitherto met in the Masonic Hall , Park Street , which belongs to St . John ' s Lodge , No . 328 . ' The new temple occupies a more central situation , and when decorated will be one of the most beautiful in the

county . The Lodge was formally opened by the W . M . Bro . Charles Hill , who congratulated the members on the success of their undertaking . Bro . J . G . Turle S . W . was then installed as W . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremony being performed by Bro . J . Lane Past A . G . D . C . England .

To Bro . J . Lane was presented a large portrait of himself as a Past Officer of the Grand Lodge of England , in recognition of his many and valuable services to Freemasonry generally , and the Jordan Lodge in particular . Bro . J . Dodge the senior P . M . of the Lodge present made the presentation .

The portrait will be hung in the Lodge Room . A Past Master ' s jewel was presented to Bro . C . Hill , the retiring W . M ., in recognition of his efforts in promoting the erection of the Temple which , with its very complete furnishing , was

greatly admired by the many Visiting Brethren . All the fittings are voluntary gifts from Officers and Brethren . The very handsome oak pedestals , the work and gift of Bro . H . C . Goss , were especially admired . Portraits of Past Masters have been presented by Bro . J . C . Dinham .

On Tuesday , 13 th inst ., Freemasonry was brought prominently under public notice at Falmouth , where the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall had not previously held its annual meeting for nearly a dozen years . After such a prolonged spell of fine weather , says the "Western

Mercury , " it was particularly disappointing to the visitors to assemble on the first really wet morning experienced for many a day . But amid those sombre conditions there was ground for satisfaction and thankfulness , in the thought that

the refreshing showers were bringing benefit to the land . So if the regalia of the members as they marched in large numbers to the Parish Church was shorn of much of its brilliancy by a clouded sky , comfort issued from the circumstance that the drought showed signs of disappearance .

KNIGHTS OF CONSTANTINOPLE . THE Bed Cross Council met at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , on the 2 nd inst .,. Sir Knight C . G . Withell Illus . Sov . Three Knights were installed , Sic Knights John B . Gover , Ledden , and Crocker . The ceremony was performed in an efficient manner by the various Officers . The Sir Knights afterwards adjourned to the refectory , where a pleasant time was spent .