The Earl Of Rosslyn, K.T.

Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland , Deputy Grand Master and T . of the Royal Order of Scotland , Preceptor of the Chapter General of the Religious and Military Order of the Temple for Scotland , V . P . Lieut . Gr . Commander of the Supreme Council for Scotland of tho 33 ° of tho A . and A .

Rite , and representative at tho said Council of the Supreme Council for tho Northern Jurisdiction of the United States . It will also no doubt be in the recollection of our readers that his lordship , in the absence through domestic affiiction of the Grand Master Mason of Scotland , headed the

deputation from that country which Avas present at the installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as M . W . Grand Master of England , that ho attended tho banquet which followed , and

which may indeed be considered to have been a part of that auspicious event , and that ho returned thanks , in bis capacity of chief representative of such deputation , for the Masons of Scotland .

Such , in brief , has been the career of the distinguished brother who will preside on Wednesday next at the Boys ' Festival . Considering that he is an English as well as a Scotch Mason , and having regard to the deep interest he has evinced in the Charitable Institutions of what we must

describe as moro immediately his own section of the Craft universal , we take leave to congratulate Bro . Binckes on having enlisted tho snpport of one so distinguished . We trust that English "Craftsmen generally will show their senso of Lord Rosslyn ' s kindness in accepting tho onerous

and by no means enviable task of presiding at ono of their Festivals by supporting him loyally . If possible , let the result exceed anything that has been done before , on the one hand out of compliment to his lordship , and on the other because the money is so sorely needed .

Norths And Hunts.

NORTHS AND HUNTS .

EXCEPTION has recently been taken to a statement of ours in onr analysis of the last Subscription List on the ground that Northamptonshire and Hunts was among the absentee Provinces , whereas it was , in truth , a contributory . We must , however , bo permitted to point out

that the only materials that are available for making our analysis are the particulars , officially supplied us , of the subscriptions announced at the Festival . Theso particulars , which arc furnished for publication in our columns take the form of a list of the amounts of the several Stewards '

Lists . They are arranged under headings— " London " and the Provinces , which have sent up Stewards , in alphabetical order . It would be ultra vires on our part if we took

upon ourselves to make the slightest alteration either in the names or amounts , except in cases where it was clear that an error had accidentally been allowed to creep in . Now a reference to the List of Contributions to the last

Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , which appeared in the FREEMASON ' S CUHONICLE for 17 th May last will show that the Province of Northamptonshire and Hunts was not included . If , as we have some grounds for surmising , and as , indeed , not nnfrequently happens , a

Steward hailing from London or elsewhere sought and received contributions or promises to contribute from Lodges or brethren in this Province , and included them in his list , that must be known to the officials of the School , and the amounts wonld of course be credited to the Lodges

or brethren so contributing in the next published- list of Governors , & o ., of the School . But unless we also had been ini ' unned of this , we could not venture on taking cognizance of it . Wo repeat that wo can onl y deal Avith the names and figures before us ; if we went beyond this , we should

be continually in hot water . However , our analysis of Festival lists arc not , as a rule , intended to convey strictures on unrepresented Lodges and Provinces . We have always made it a point to offer such reason as seemed to us most probable for a Lodge or Province not being included in a

particular list . They supported the Benevolent at its last Festival , or they arc reserving all their strength this year for the Boys or the Girls . It is only when we have found Festival after Festival and year after year passing by and that a Lodge or Province makes no sip-n that it takes the

slightest interest in our great Central Charitable Institutions , it is only in such cases as these , when Ave feel there must be laxity someAvhere , that Ave make bold to chide the Lodge or Province which has been so regularly conspicuous by its absence . As regards Northamptonshire and Hunts it

Norths And Hunts.

has been our dnty—a duty , wo say unreservedly , that we have fulfilled with a great deal of pleasure—on several occasions to note its contributions to this or that Institution , and to show that we bear in mind what has been done

during the last five years , and therefore that we should only have been committing a grievous Avrong had we eA en for a single instant thought of casting a slur on its fair fame , Ave append a list of its contributions to the different Charities since Jnnuary 1875 : —

1 S 75 It . M . B . T . Lodcie 3 C 0 ( Pomfrat ) £ 15 5 0 K . M . I . B Province 113 8 0 1 S 7 G R . M . B . I „ 121 0 0 1877 lUU . Pr . „ 105 0 0 1878 * It . M . B . I . „ 300 0 0 1879 ,. „ 50 0 0

„ + P .. M . I . G . „ 31 10 0 „ f It . M . B . T . ( 1 SS 0 ) „ 10 10 0 £ 7 tG 13 0

Thus , Northamptonshire and Hunts m the last five years—the current year being of course included—has raised a total toAvards tho Charities of £ 746 13 s , giving an average per year of as nearly as possible £ 150 ; or , if the amount had been equally distributed among the three

Institutions almost enough to have constituted the Province a Vice-President of each , that is , on the assumption it had all been sent up in tho name and on behalf of the Province . We feel certain that after this

explanation our brethren of Norths , and Hunts will acquit us , not OTily of having been guilty of any inaccuracy in our last analysis , but likewise of having conceived the intention of wittingly causing them any annoyance .

* On this occasion the Dnke of Manchester , Grand Master of the Province , was the chairman of tho Festival . •f These amounts hnvo come to our knowledge since the timo we

made our analysis . The latter of the two was raised at the recent meeting at 'Welliiicrborongh of tlio Provincial Grand 'Lod ge , and is intended to form the nucleus of a subscription towards tho Festival of the It . M . Benevolent Institution in 1880 .

An Hour Amongst The "Old People."

AN HOUR AMONGST THE " OLD PEOPLE . "

" TT 7 HERE is this Benevolent Institution of onrs , that we hear VV so much about ? " enquired a young friend of mine who had just caught the enthusiasm which fires tho newly-initiated ; and for the life of me I could hardly say exactly where . I expect , like many more of my brethren , I had been content to hear and read all ahoiik tlio substantial benefits towards which we had subscribed our

little mite—to know that the Institution is ably and economically managed , and that it would far extond its sphere of usefulness , if it had the means . I had pictured to myself a stately and superb edifice , where " want and age sit smiling at the gate , " and was quito satisfied to believe that those who had , thi'ough " unforeseen circumstances of calamity and misfortune , " been compelled to throw themselves

upon the bounty of the brethren were tenderly cared for , and tho autumn of their lives made happy through tho instrumentality of the great principles of brotherly love , relief and truth . My provincial friend , however , was not to be put off in any snob , fashion . A sturdy north countryman , with a big heart , and a big pocket too , had come up to " see the sights o' town , " and paramount

amongst these was the Benevolent Institution on whoso behalf he had promised his Lodge to become a Steward for next year . It was " somewhere down Croydon way , " a brother told me ; and accordingly Croydon-ward we turned our attention . Down across the omerald meadows , beyond tho din and the bustle of great London ; past smiling gardens and lawns , skirting tho clumps and

wooded knolls that aro just now specklod with the blossom of the chestnut , and powdered with scented may , a pleasant half-honr ' s ride from London-bridge brought us to tho bustling station at New Croydon . A more charming spot could nowhere be found , oven in the very heart of tbo oountry , for tho recent showers had freshened Damo Nature , so that she looked quite young and

blooming , and as natty as though sho had just been turned out of tho proverbial band-box . Nearing the station wo had noticed , as of course most observant travellers along that much frequented " iron road " havo done , a handsome bnilding in the Tudor style of architecture , before which staid old ladies and gentlemen were sauntering contentedly , amidst

a perfect parterre of flower-beds , enjoying a bath of glorious sunshmo in this bright " leafy month of Jnne . " It was very little trouble to find the place , for everybody hereabouts knows the Masonic " almshouses ; " and after abont three-quarters of a mile walk , past tho handsome and well-appointed villas which grace this favourite suburb of the metropolis , wo came upon tho object of our visit .

Whatever opinons we might have formed beforehand of the style nnd character of our Old People ' s home , I must confess the sight of it far surpassed my most sanguine anticipations . A settled air of quiet and refinement pervaded the whole scene , as our aged brethren and sisters paced the trim terraced walks , or lounged npon convenient seats placed hero and there for their accommodation . Song-birds innumerable warbled iu joyous unison with the happiness and con-