The Topic Of The Hour.

THE TOPIC OF THE HOUR .

IMPEOBABLB as we regarded the brief outline we were last week able to publish of the proposals in regard to the future of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , it seems that the details were perfectly correct , and that the

Board of Management , having secured sanction to remove the School from Wood Green , principally because they urged the fact of its being on a clayey soil , and surrounded by

undesirable neighbours , have selected a spot almost , if not equally as clayey , and quite as likely to become hemmed in by undesirable property during the next ten years as was ever the case with the estate at Wood Green . The new site

may possess merits , but it has few , if any , advantages , except in the matter of size , as compared with the existing property at Wood Green , and certainly nothing that will justify the great expenditure of funds the change will entail .

We are told that the matter does not concern us , and that the Board have a perfect right to do as they please . We question this , as if they are the means of bringing discredit on the Boys School they will not personally suffer ,

but some poor orphans will have fco bear fche brunt ; besides which , they cannot tarnish the name of the Boys Institution without affecting the whole question of Masonic benevolence . A few years hence the Graft may have occasion to regret the " job " that is now being perpetrated at their expense .

We should willingly support any reasonable scheme for the improvement of the future prospects of the Boys School , but there is not one point in the objections urged against the

existing School—beyond that of space—that does not find its counterpart on the new site , and that being so we can but again offer a protest against its acquisition . Surely there are more desirable properties in the market than the one selected .

Cheshire.

CHESHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Macclesfield , on "Wednesday / 30 th ult . The inhabitants gave a kindly welcome fco the ] members of the . Graft , for in the centre of the town the roadways had been swept and sanded ,

the buildings gaily decorated for the occasion , and large crowds witnessed the procession , of Masons irom the Drill Hall , where the meeting was held , fo the ancie ' nt Parish- Church in the Market Place .

Lord Egerton of Tatton Prov . G . Master was unable fco attend owing to the effects of his recent accident . In his absence the Brethren were presided" over by his Honour Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who was

supported by the Hon . Tatton Egerton , M . P ., P . G . W . Eng . as acting Deputy Prov . G . M ., and a large number of Provincial Officers present and past , while there was a large attendance , all the Lodges of the Province being well represented .

Bro . John Clayton P . P . G . J . W . submitted the report of the Committee of Benevolence . It stated that the funds of the

Province were in a healthy condition , and that the fees and dues payable by the Lodgea showed an increase over last year . The balance outstanding to fche credit of the fund amounted to £ 182 lis 5 d . Grants had been made during the year in six cases , amounting to £ 40 . The Election Committee attended the election of boys and girls in London last October , and again in

Cheshire.

April 1896 , and in May for aged . Freemasons . As directed by the Committee of Benevolence , the Election Committee expended their votes in favour of two girls from the Province , being successful in both cases , with 3 , 658 and 3 , 561 votes respectively . At the election in April , although Cheshire had one girl on the

list , it was decided not to run fche case , but to pay off borrowed votes . In May 1896 , at fche election of aged Freemasons , the Committee were directed to elect a candidate , which they succeeded in doing with an expenditure of 4 , 052 votes . Eor October Cheshire had one boy and one girl on its list , bufc as the

friends of the boy had withdrawn him from this election in favour of the girl , it was hoped the election in her ease would be successful . Wifch reference ^ to the paragraph in last year ' s report as to the joint management of the two local institutions , the Committee thought , judging from the great success of the

joint festival , at Knufcsford , fche accomplishment of the scheme must be gratifying to everyone concerned . About £ 1 , 200 was realised , which would go fco the benefit of the two institutions when the accounts were made up in fche proportions which the donors had specified . The interest on the invested capital of the benevolent institute was now sufficient to grant annuities fco

fourwomen and two men , which would absorb £ 96 . One of the annuitants having died thia year , the Committee would be able fco add two other annuitants to the four already on the funds . Besides what the local fund was doing for the poor aged people of Cheshire , grants had been made from the funds of the R . M . B . I . of London during the last year to the Province of Cheshire amounting to £ 165 .

Bro . Annett P . P . G . Treasurer read a report of the Cheshire Masonic Benevolent Institution , which spoke of the great success of fche festival afc Knutsford in July last , and mentioned that as a result of it , and including £ 303 balance left over from last year , there was now at the bank on behalf of fche various provincial charities £ 1 , 244 .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master gave expression to his regret , in which he was sure he should be joined by the Brethren present , at the enforced absence of the Provincial Grand Master . That absence was due to the unfortunate carriage accident which happened a short time ago , from the effects of which Lord

Egerton was to some extent still suffering . His lordship desired him to express to the Brethren the great disappointment which it was to him to miss the opportunity of meeting fchem . On behalf of the Provincial Grand Master Sir Horatio Lloyd was glad fco be able fco congratulate the Brethren on the progress and

position of Masonry in Cheshire during the past year . A new Lodge , the Travellers , at Chester , had been added to the roll of the Province , having been duly consecrated a short time ago , and , in addition , His Royal Highness the Grand Master had already granted the petition of the Brethren of New Brighton

for a Lodge fco be consecrated there . Those Lodges would bring the roll of the Province to the number of 48 . The membership of the Lodges still continued steadily to increase . During the last five years the numbers of subscribing members of Lodges had been 1 , 856 , 1 , 963 , 2 , 141 , 2 , 233 , and in the year 1895 had

reached 2 , 275 , making an increase of 419 in the five years . Even of more consequence than the figures were the facts , which he had learned from those whose duty it was to investigate these matters , that all the Lodges were really working well , and that the Provincial Grand Officers appointed to examine the

minute books of the several Lodges reported that , without exception , fchey were most satisfactory . There was also , he thought , much ground , from what they had already heard at that meeting , for congratulation . The charity council ' s report was eminently encouraging with regard fco the two Benevolent Institutions . ( During the past twelve months £ 165 had been

granted from the funds of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution of London . ) The festival held this year for fche joint benefit of the two had been so successful as to call for their warmest congratulations . Nearly £ 1 , 200 was subscribed in connection wifch that festival , and that would enable the Committee to place two more annuitants on the fund . It was