Scottish Benevolence.

SCOTTISH BENEVOLENCE .

ri ~ l HE G . Sec . of Scotland has issued a circular reminding JL Lodges that at their meetings on St . John ' s Day they must , in terms of a resolution of Grand Lodge , make a collection on behalf of the Annuity Fund . He mentions that the Grand Master trusts that in its consideration the Craft will

be favourably influenced bv the knowledge of the great good that since its establishment in 18 S 9 the Annuity Fund has done to many deserving indigent Brethren , their widows , and orphans . There are at present on the roll of annuitants 61

members of Lodges , 48 widows , and 32 orphans , involving an expenditure of £ 1 , 305 . In annuities Grand Lodge has spent upwards of £ 12 , 000 . The collections of last year realised £ 445 , and for the years 1899 and 1900 the subscriptions have amounted to £ 951 .

Irish Benevolence.

IRISH BENEVOLENCE .

THE half-yearly meeting of the Board of Governors of the Dublin Masonic Orphan Boys School was held at the Schoolhouse , Richview , Clonskeagh , on the 13 th . The report of the scrutineers of the ballot for the election of five pupils was read , and it was resolved the five candidates who obtained the highest number of votes should be elected .

Northumberland.

NORTHUMBERLAND .

TTl HE Annual Convocation of this Provincial Grand 1 Chapter was held on the 1 st inst , at the Masonic Hall , Grainger Street West , Newcastle . Companion the Right

Hon . Sir Matthew White Ridley , Bart ., M . P ., Grand Superintendent presided , and there was a numerous attendance . The following Companions were appointed as Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : —

COMP . T . Purvis ... H . W . C . Bell ... J . J . Cartmell Ridley ... Scribe E . W . E . Harker ... Scribe N . J . G . Youll ... Treasurer

T . J . Armstrong ... Registrar Leonard Nixon ... Principal Sojourner W . F . O'Connell ... 1 st Assist . Soj . F . W . Sykes ... 2 nd Assist . Soj . J . Askwith ... Sword Bearer

J . Turnbull ... Standard Bearer J . Straker Wilson ... Dir . of Ceremonies A . P . Farthing ... Assist . Dir . of Cers . Jos . Banks ... Assist . Scribe E . A . -C . Richardson ... Orcanist Joshua Curry ... J anitor .

It was arranged that the next meeting be under Gosforth Chapter . In the evening a banquet took place at the County Hotel , a large number of Companions being present .

T FIE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Tuesday afternoon , 30 th ult , at the Grand Assembly Rooms , Barras Bridge , Newcastle , under the banner of Lord Warkworth Lodge , No . 1870 . The Prov .

Grand Master Bro . the Rieht Hon . Sir Matthew White Ridley , Bart , M . P ., presided . There was a very numerous attendance of Brethren , including Bro . R . Hudson Prov . G . Secretary Durham P . G . S . B . Eng .

The reports showed that the Provincial Grand Lodge had increased in numbers during the past year , and was in a satisfactory financial position . The Whitley Lodge , No . 2821 , was Consecrated and

Northumberland.

dedicated by the Provincial Grand Master , with all due ceremony , and Bro . W . Spicer was installed W . M . of the new Lodge . The new W . M . appointed the following as his Officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . Jas . Carmichael

I . P . M ., Fred . Edward Jamieson S . W ., J ohn C . Clernitson J . W ., Charles D . Main Treasurer , John V . Wedderburn Secretary , Augustus Whitehorn S . D ., W . Sharp J . D ., Chas . Evans Walton D . C ., Frank Greaves I . G ., W . J . Bullock and Adam ; Coverdale Stewards , George Roots Tyler .

The Prov . Grand Master then invested his Officers for the ensuing year as follow :

BRO . J . Cartmell Ridley ... Senior Warden Caut . George Lisle ... Junior Warden Rev . Jessie H . Ison ... Chaplain Ralph Carr ... Treasurer R . Herbert Shaw ... Registrar Fred . H . Corder , B . A . ... Secretary

J . P . Smith ... Senior Deacon James Arthur Waite ... Ditto Summers Hunter ... Junior Deacon Young Ferry ... Ditto Leonard Nixon ... Supt . of Works J . Straker Wilson ... Dir . of Ceremonies

Robert Anderson ... Asst . Dir . of Cers . Joseph Banks ... Dep . Dir . of Cers . Edward Stephenson ... Sword Bearer Charles Henry Keay ... Standard Bearer David Stothard Chapman ... Ditto

George Donkin ... Assistant Secretary L . Winstone ... Organist John Turnbull ... Pursuivant George Robert Turner ... Assistant Pursuivant Joshua Curry ... Tyler .

The Prov . Grand Master announced that Provincial Grand Lodge would meet in Newcastle next year , under the banner of Newcastle-on-Tyne Lodge , No . 24 . At the conclusion of the proceedings the Brethren dined together at the Grand Hotel .

The ceremonies of Consecration and Installation will be rehearsed by Bro . James Terry P . G . Sword Bearer P . Prov . G . S . W . Norths , and Hunts . P . M . 228 1278 1360 and Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , on Friday next , 23 rd inst , at the Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , No . 1056 ,

held at the Mail Coach Hotel , 60 Farringdon Street , E . G ., commencing at 6 . 30 p . m . The Lyric Vocal Quartette ( Bros . Thos . Powell , Charles Strong , Etherington Smith , and Horace

Reynolds ) have kindly consented to , render the Musical portions of the Ceremonies , accompanied by Brother Frank Swinford P . M . P . P . G . Org . Middlesex . Masonic clothing will be worn , with morning dress .

» * •Bro . Alderman Frank Green , Lord Mayor of London , presided for the first time on Tuesday , at a meeting of the Court of Aldermen . He assured his brethren that he was

fully sensible of the importance appertaining to the Court , and it was his desire to maintain its dignity and usefulness . A resolution of thanks to the late Lord Mayor Bro . Sir Alfred Newton for the excellent manner in which he had fulfilled the important duties of chief magistrate was adopted .

* * * The Sections of the second and third degrees will be worked on Wednesday next , 21 st inst ., at the Hammersmith Lodge of Instruction , No . 2090 , at Wycombe House , 263

Hammersmith Road , W ., commencing at 7 . 45 p . m . Bro . W . Hillier P . M . 1366 16 37 will occupy the chair , supported by Bros . J . Knight I . P . M . 861 S . W ., A . Williams P . M . 2090 J . W ., H . Warren S . W . 2090 Treas ., R . W . Gale 2000 Sec , & c .