Perpetual Annuities.

It may be urged that if some special concession is not made Brethren will not come forward with such handsome donations—more the pity , but even if the Institution lose them altogether it would almost be

better than entering on an arrangement which we can see no justification for , if the matter is to be treated as strict business . Bufc as we have said , it is not the repetition of such individual donations that has to be

considered , bufc rather the possibilities now opened up to well organised Provinces or combinations of Brethren who desire to get such a tangible return for their generosity , as is provided by a perpetual right of

presentation to an annuity of £ 40 per annum , purchased at a price of 1200 guineas only , instead of about £ 1600 , which should be the price , calculated on the present value of Consols .

The £ 1260 received from West Yorkshire if invested to-day in 2 J per cent . Consols would bring in an income of £ 32 a year so long as no reduction was made in the rate of interest allowed on these government funds , but in view of past experiences we know that such a rate is

by no means a certainty , and that being so we must allow a small margin in our calculations for compulsory reduction . The question at issue is , therefore , can the Institution undertake to provide perpetual annuities at

an annual loss of £ 8 , for the sole purpose , it is imagined , of having £ 1260 given in one sum as the purchase price ? We are of the same opinion as many

others will doubtless be—we hardly see how to refuse such a splendid donation from an individual , though we regard the arrangement as unsound finance , but we should hardly take the same view if a combination of

Craftsmen desired similar terms .

The Boys School Election.

THE BOYS SCHOOL ELECTION .

AS we said last week , the ballot paper for the coming election of the Boyal Masonic Institution for Boys contains particulars in regard to forty-three candidates ,

who will compete for thirty declared vacancies , so that upwards of two-thirds of the applicants will speedily be provided with maintenance and education .

There are four last application cases , of whom No . 5 , P . A . Thomas , comes forward for the third time , with seventy-one votes already polled ; he is one of eight children left to the care of a widowed mother , fche wife

of an Initiate of the Glamorgan Lodge , No . 36 , in the Eastern Division of South Wales ; the father was

initiated a short time prior to his decease , which occurred at the end of 1891 , and was a subscriber to his Lodge at that date . No . 28 , A . E . Packham , is one of four children dependent on their mother , of whom

two are partially provided for . The father was initiated in the City of London Lodge , No . 901 , and subsequently joined the Epping , No . 2077 , in the Province of Essex . No . 31 , Frank Edward Fenner , an only child left to a

mother ' s care , is fche son of a Brother initiated in the Buckingham and Chandos Lodge , No . 1150 , London , while the remaining last case is No . 37 , Herbert Lord , one of three children left by an initiate of the Derby Allcroft Lodge , No . 2168 , London , who rose to the

dignity of Master in that Lodge . Two of the candidates are parentless : No . 33 , B . H . Brooks , one of a family of two , left by an old member of the London Bifle Brigade Lodge , No . 1962 ; and No . 41 , A . S . Vernon , an only child of a former

member of the Temple Lodge , No . 101 . With so large a proportion of vacancies we hope these special cases will be successful at the coming contest , and particularly

The Boys School Election.

so those who now come forward for the last time their age will allow . Summarising the Masonic districts to which the fathers of the candidates belonged , we find that London

is answerable for sixteen cases single handed , and shares responsibility with other districts in five more . Devonshire , Kent , and the Eastern Division of South Wales each have two candidates on the list ; Derbyshire ,

Dorsetshire , Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , and Oxfordshire each have a case of their own and ' share responsibility in a second ; Beds ., Berks ., West Lancashire , Lincolnshire , Norfolk , Northumberland , Somerset ,

Surrey , Sussex , and North and East Yorkshire , each have a single candidate ; while Durham , Essex , Gloucestershire , Hereford , and Middlesex each share with another district responsibility in single cases . It

will thus be seen that the claims are spread over a large area and , as we said last week , when speaking of the sister Institution , a keen competition is likely to be one of the results . Let us hope the most deserving cases will be successful .

Bro . McLeod , the Secretary of the Institution , has inaugurated a new feature in connection with the ballot papers which , small in itself , has already been widely appreciated . He has had the Boys School forms

perforated , so as to allow of their easier separation , and anyone who has had a large number of the forms to deal wifch will at once recognise the advantage of the proceeding , for without the perforation it is no unusual

thing for the proxies to be torn . The wonder is the innovation has nofc been adopted ere this , bufc Bro . McLeod is nofc less deserving of thanks on that account .

The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Parish Church Schools , Denton ' s Green-lane , St . Helens , will be performed on Easter Tuesday by the Mosfc Worshipful Pro Grand Master of England and

Prov . Grand Master of West Lancashire , the Bight Hon . the Earl of Lathom . Full Masonic honours will be observed , and probably 400 or 500 Masons from the

various Lodges in Lancashire will be present . The arrangements are being carried out by the Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . W . Goodacre .

o o o It was arranged that the fifteen sections should be worked yesterday ( Good Friday ) at the St . Luke ' s Lodge

of Instruction , No . 144 , at the Victoria Tavern , Gertrude Street , Chelsea , commencing at 6 . 30 p . m ., in accordance with regular custom .

Masonic Hall For Glasgow.

MASONIC HALL FOR GLASGOW .

AS already mentioned in our columns , the Brethren of Glasgow have started on a determined effort to provide a suitable Masonie Hall for their city , having registered a Company with a capital of .-620 , 000 for the purpose . Tho scheme as set forth by the promoters gives every promise of success , and we hope the desires of our Scotch Brethren may be fully realised . Tho capital is

divided into £ 1 shares , of which 5 s is payable on application , and 5 s on allotment . An eligible site has been acquired for the proposed buildings , which it is intended shall consist of a large Hall , with necessary accommodation , two Lodgo Rooms , offices and Business Premises . The whole is to be erected at an estimated outlay

of £ 11 , 000 , which , with the cost of the ground and furniture , & c , will bring the initial outlay up to about £ 16 , 000 . To the investing members of the Order wo have always considered the security provided by well arranged Masonic Halls should offer special attraction ,

and on this principle we think they should weigh the claims of the Glasgow Hall Company . Further particulars are given elsewhere in this issue , or may be obtained from the offices of the Company , 212 West George Street , Glasgow .

o o o It is announced that the Midland Railway Company contemplate issuing tickets from London to Scotland every Saturday

during August and September at a single fare for the double journey , the tickets being available for return any day within a fortnight . This should prove a great concession to Tourists , and be productive of increased traffic .