Hampshire And Isle Of Wight.

HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT .

A LABGELY attended meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge Committee was held at the Junction Hotel , Eastleigh , on Saturday , 3 rd inst ., when the question of the forthcoming elections to the Boys and Giils Schools was considered , and the voting power of

the Province reported on . Two girls were adopted as candidates for the Girls School , one being a last chance , which the Committee pledged themselves to carry through successfully if possible ; and the claims of a third candidate will come up wifch the view to her

adoption for the following election . One Boy was adopted , and a second also contingent on voting power being obtained from the Province of Dorset , on which

the case has some claim . Some charitable grants were made , and a sum of fifty guineas was granted from Provincial Grand Lodge funds as a special donation to each of the central Charities . Bibles were selected for

presentation to the four " Lewises" who took part in the recent ceremony of laying the foundation stone of Sfc . John ' s Church , Boscombe . The books will bear a suitable inscription on the covers , commemorative of the interesting and solemn ceremony in which these young lads assisted .

Belfast Masonic Charities.

BELFAST MASONIC CHARITIES .

THE annual meeting in connection with fche Belfast Masonic Charity and Widows' Funds was held on the 12 th inst . In the absence , through ill health , of Bro . Thomas Valentine , J . P ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the chair was taken by Bro . Harold B . Smyth

P . P . S . G . W . The Chairman regretted exceedingly the circumstances which placed him in thafc position , as had ifc nob been for ill-health the Bight Worshipful the Provincial

Grand Master would have occupied it himself . He would not detain them with a long speech , but there was one thing he would mention , and he mentioned it without fear of contradiction , and that was that there was

not a single charitable institution which so well deserved commendation as the two principal Masonic charities . The Masonic Charity Fund as being the elder was properly concerned with their poorer Brethren during

their life , while the Widows' Fund , which had attained its majority , looked after those who were left behind by deceased brethren . Out of every £ 1 subscribed for those charities 19 s 9 d went to the relief of the afflicted

brethren or their relatives , and the trifling balance went towards the management and the expenses of printing . Their subscriptions were gathered from high and low , rich and poor , in the Masonic Order , and they gave these

subscriptions not with any hope or expectation of getting any return for themselves , or those who might come after them , but with the object of helping , aiding , and assisting

those of their poor brethren , who , in the supreme wisdom of fche Great Architect of the Universe , had been brought into sorrow , sickness , or any other adversity . of

The annual reports and ^ statements accounts were then submitted , and taken as read . The annual report of the Charity Fund showed an income of £ 407 5 s during the past year , with an

expenditure of £ 39117 s Id ; that of the Widows' Fund an income of £ 727 6 s lid , with an outlay of £ 601 12 s , distributed in ordinary grants to sixty-eight widows and

their families , and three special grants , amounting to £ 30 . The meeting was most enthusiastic , an expression of regret that it was nofc possible to make larger grants being pretty generally endorsed .

There is some talk of endeavouring to establish a Lodge at Tring , says the " Bucks Herald , " but whether it will be carried out is at present uncertain . There have for some years been a good few brethren resident in and

about Tring , who afc present attend Lodges in the neighbouring towns . This is , of course , somewhat inconvenient , and a number of brethren having

younger lately been enrolled , or come to reside in Tring , they are anxious , if possible , to have a Lodge of their own in the town .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

UNION CHAPTER , No . 268 . A MEETING was held in the Masonic Room , Queen ' s Arms , Ashton-under-Lyne , on Tuesday , the Gfch inst . There were present : —Comps . Walter Eastwood Z ., John Smith H ., Allen Shaw J ., A . W . Siddall P . P . G . S . B . Treas ., Ernest Moss P . Z . Scribe E . Prov . Gr . Swd . B ., Geo . W . Davies Asst . Soj ., William Beo 2 nd Asst . Soj ., Walter Newton P . Z . P . P . G . D . C , J . Kershaw P . Z . P . P . G .

P . S ., J . W . Hulley P . Z ., John Turner P . Z . Visitors : —Comps . Dr . Thos . D . Foreman Z . 210 P . G . D . C , W . Thornley P . Z . 210 , Ed . Roberts 1055 ( FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE ) . The minutes having been confirmed , a ballot was taken for Bro . Henry Lees Holland , Lodge of Union , No . 268 , and this being successful , he was prepared and duly exalted by Comp . Dr . Foreman , fche ceremony being carefully and efficiently done .

Supper followed these proceedings , which in turn was succeeded by the festive board , where Loyal and Royal Arch toasts were submitted . Companion John Smith proposed the health of the Visiting Companions . Ho gave thorn a very hearty welcome and expressed tho pleasure he experienced in seeing them , making a special reference to Comp . Foreman , of whom he said that no man to his knowledge could have rendered the ceremony of exaltation in a more beautiful or impressive manner .

Comp . Foreman in reply said thafc Comp . Smith was in the habit of uttering pleasant things in a characteristically pleasant way . For his own part he might say that it was a matter of gratification to him to work at any time , and he felt sincerely happy that on this occasion he had performed his duty satisfactorily . He had one particular desire , and that was to see the other Companions work , and in this he would do all he could to assist them . Songs and recitations were rendered by various Companions , a , very pleasant evening being spent .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

BRIGHTON LODGE , No . 426 . THE installation meeting was held at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on the 13 fch , when Bro . J . Jackson Clark Prov . G . S . D . was installed W . M . by the outgoing Master , Bro . W . B . Isworth . On the closing of the Lodge the Brethren sat down to a banquet , under tho presidency of the newly-installed W . M . The usual toasts were honoured .

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London in Paris . SPIERS AND POND ' s ENGLISH GEILL -A-It-TID OLYMPIA RESTAURANT . LUNCHEONS , DINNEBS & SUPPEBS . 26 BOULEVARD DES CAPUCINES 26 ( Communicating with Theatre ) . Champagnes guaranteed Extra Dry , as in England .