Hamer Institution.

HAMER INSTITUTION .

A MEETING of the West Lancashire Hamer Benevolent Institution , under the presidency of Bro . P . Armstrong P . M . 724 , was held on the loth , at the Masonic Hall , Hope Street , Liverpool . The recommendation of the general committee as to the election of two candidates on the foundation of the charity was unanimously adopted .

Bro . Isaac Turner and Bro . Pittaway , two of the auditors , gave a favourable report as to the present state of the funds and the progress of the institution . The twenty-first annual report of the " Hamer , " prepared by Bro . R . Bottomley , Honorary Secretary , congratulated the Brethren of the Province on the continued success of the charity .

It was founded in 1873 , to form a fund for benevolent purposes , and to perpetuate the name of the late James Hamer P . Prov . G . T ., and by the end of the year 1876 the fund had accumulated to £ 543 , and one application for assistance had been made . At the end of the year 1881 the capital account amounted to £ 1 , 138 .

During that year the one annuitant had died , but another Brother had been elected in his place , at an annual cost of £ L 0 . Five years later the fund was £ 2 , 457 and the amount paid to annuitants was £ 45 . In 1888 the annuity was increased to £ 20 , and in 1892 it was further increased to £ 26 , and at the close of

the year 1891 fourteen annuitants were upon the foundation , at a cost of £ 305 , whilst the capital account had advanced to £ 4 , 077 ; and at the close of the year 1894 the fund amounted to £ 4 , 919 , and the amount paid to fifteen annuitants , and in specific grants to five Brethren , amounted to £ 357 , or £ 122 in excess of the amount granted to thirteen Brethren in the previous year .

In November an appeal was issued to the Lodges , as it was feared there would be a large falling off in the income , the amount up to that time being £ 80 less than in the previous year up to that date ; but thanks to half a dozen Lodges ( out of 110 in the Province ) , who contributed £ 209 out of a total of £ 411 , the

income was £ 2 in excess of last year , whilst the amount granted had increased by £ 122 . By this result the Committee were compelled to admit the correctness of the opinion formed by the Committee in 1880— " That , should the Institution require it , they may , judging from what has been done for others , always calculate upon receiving ample support . "— " Liverpool Mercury . "

An event full of interest for the Freemasons of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire will shortly take place . Bro . W . H . Smyth , of Louth and Scarborough , who has been Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire for many years , had placed his resignation in the hands of the M . W . Grand Master of England ( the Prince of

Wales ) , in consequence of failing health , and the Right Hon . the Earl of Yarborough will , it is thought , be appointed to fill the vacancy thus created . Owing to his long and honourable connection with the Craft , Colonel Smyth has made many friends , by whom the announcement of his intended retirement

from the prominent position which he has so long held , with credit to himself and satisfaction to his Brother Masons , will-be received with genuine regret . Colonel Smyth is almost as well known in Yorkshire as in Lincolnshire , from the fact that for a lengthy period he and his family have spent a considerable proportion of each year at Scarborough . — " Leeds Mercury . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

ON Thursday , 14 th inst ., the remains of the late Bro . Robert Hornby , who died very suddenly on the 11 th , in the forty-second year of his age , were interred at Anfield Cemetery , Liverpool . The funeral service was conducted by the Rev .

Joseph Passfield , and the Downshire Lodge of Freemasons , of which deceased had been a member for some years , was represented by several of the members .

A HIGHLY respected inhabitant of Brightlingsea passed away on Monday , 4 th March , in the person of Brother T . Wilson-Webb , builder . Deceased , who was sixty-two years old , had been ailing through the winter , and died of consumption .

He was a member of the Freemasons Lodge Hope , No . 433 , and had served in the capacity of Tyler to the Lodge for nearly twenty years . The funeral took place on Saturday , amid every mark of respect , though owing to the influenza epidemic the number of

Masons preceding the cortege was only fifteen . The service was conducted by the Rev . A . Pertwee , Chaplain to the Lodge . At the close of the service at the grave side , the Masons dropped their emblems upon the coffin . — " Essex County Standard . "

BRO . REV . R . HODGSON , for a quarter of a century vicar of St . Margaret ' s , Dunham Massey , died on the 14 th inst . He was a curate of Buxton in 1850 ; was afterwards vicar of Warton , Lancashire , and Pilton , North Hants ; and became vicar of St . Margaret ' s , Dunham Massey , in 1870 . He was a prominent Freemason , and Provincial Grand Chaplain .

The Secrets Of Freemasonry.

THE SECRETS OF FREEMASONRY .

] 3 R 0 BABLY there has never been a more anxious period in the history of Masonry than the present . There has never been a more anxious period in the history of humanity than the present . The old standards are being questioned , the old dogmas

and doctrines are being hauled into the fierce light of modern thought and made to show their claims to consideration . Unrest , uncertainty , a feeling of moral disquietude , of mental and spiritual inconoclasui , are becoming alarmingly prevalent . Perhaps the most evident sign of the changing times 13 the

serious decline of moral earnestness , and the substitution therefore of a reckless frivolity , which aims at being smart and ends by being disgusting . Has Masonry nothing to oppose against the rising tide of levity , immorality and lawlessness but a few

flimsy barriers of acacia wood bound together by the shreds of half a dozen secrets ? Are we to sit quietly by and see the very existence of good government and social order destroyed , while we chew the cud of silence and dream of the Lost Word ?

As speculative Masons we are taught to subdue our passions , act upon the square , maintain secrecy and practise charity , and keep a tongue of good report . If we live up to these obligations , we shall not have much spare time on our hands for discussions of the secrets of Masonry , and they may be put aside for a more

convenient season without harm to any one . As for ourselves we have a profound respect and veneration for the true secrets of Masonry . They are of priceless value , for they contain the promise and potency of a well ordered life , a peaceful death , and

a glorious immortality . Each must discover for himself what these true secrets are , for the way of life is not marked by signboards of human contrivance or human erection . To each soul God speaks the true word , and we answer to Him and to Him alone , for our use of it . — " Masonic Guide . "

"O. C." Ramblers.

"O . C . " RAMBLERS .

A CONCERT which was promoted by tho membors of this Bohemian Society of " Old Chums , " for tho benefit of the funds of the Metropolitan Hospital , Kingsland ; and held at the Assembly Rooms , Stoke Newington , on 28 th ult ., has proved financially a great success , and when all matters are settled there will be a substantial sum to hand over to the Secretary of the Institution , which is so sadly in need of assistance .

The concert was under the management of Bros . L . Van Boolen as Musical Director , Thomas Feistel as Stage Manager , T . H . Palmer , and Bro . Harry Willsmer as Hon . Secretary and Treasurer , assisted by the following talented artists : Misses Beryl Clive , Beatrice Ashton , Ethel Parker ; and Miss Florence C . Howard as Accompanist ; and Bros . Robert J . Harris , and Richard Evans .

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New Barnet School of Music , STATION EOAD , NEW BARNET . PATRONS : Tho Right Rev . the Lord Bishop of Lincoln . The Very Rev . Dean of Rochester . Rev . G . E . Gardner , M . A . Rev . Professor Shuttleworth , M . A . Sir Joseph Barnby . T . Morgan Harvey , Esq ., J . P . Ebenezer Prout , Esq ., B . A . Vicary Gibbs , Esq ., M . P . E . H . Turpin , Esq ., Mus . Doc . George C . Martin , Esq ., Mus . Doc . PROFESSORS : Violin . Singing . Mr . John Saunders . Bro . John Probert . Mr . George F . Leipold . Mr . James Blackney . Mr . Gerald Walenn . Mr . Henry Cooper . Bro . Charles E . Tinney . Pianoforte . Bro . J . Henry Leipold . Harmony and Counterpoint . Bro . Fountain Meen . Br 0 i J # Henry Leipold-Mr . F . A . W . Docker . Mr > p # A > w > Docker > Mr . George Hooper , A . R . A . M . Miss Maude Gurson . Violoncello . Miss Maggie Wilks . Mr . Edmund Woolhouse . Mr . E . J . Paddi . Organ . Mr . F . A . W . Docker . Elocution . Trumpet and Cornet . Miss Ada Giles . Bro . John Solomons . Miss Helen Steven . For all Particulars and Prospectus , apply to the Secretary , NEW BARNET SCHOOL OP MUSIC . THE NEW BARNET SCHOOL OF MUSIC will be happy to provide high class entertainments and Ceremonial Music for Masonic Meetings , Consecrations , Installations and Ladies' Nights . For terms : —Bro . John Probert , Station Road , New Barnet , N .