The Systematic Educational Institution.

were £ 112 , for twelve cases , in amounts ranging from £ 5 to £ 20 . The grants for education , being for 26 children on the books for the year , amounted altogether to

£ 261 10 s 9 d ; and the total sum expended by the Almoners in relief in small amounts was £ 54 Is 9 d , covering 52 cases , extending from 2 s 6 d to £ 5 . These figures give ample proof of the right of existence of such an Institution as this , and

show its claims to continued support . A very good margin remains between the income and expenditure of the year , namely , a net gain of £ 651 17 s 9 d . In further aid of the established position of the society , it is proposed that a

Festival shall be held during the current year , which it is hoped will result in a substantial addition to the fund . The report goes on to advocate an " active and kindly interest in the various Masonic Charities " as a means of

relieving the routine of ordinary occupation , and observes that " a work like this , in which there is so little of formality , and so much to unite us in pursuit of our highest principles , must ever be a practical advancement

of our Order , besides being a blessing to those who unfortunatel y have to crave our assistance . " After acknowledging the support accorded by Lodges to the Society , the Committee tender their thanks to the Right

Worshipful Provincial Grand Master for the deep and everincreasing interest with which he has all along supported this Charity , adding that , although every one in connection with it has worked with hearty assiduity , yet to him

is mainly due the great and important results which , under his fostering care , have crowned all the efforts of the Committee with the cope-stone of success . In announcing the retirement of their hon . Secretary , who has served the

office for ten years ( besides his former similar position for a like period with the preceding Charity Institution ) , the Committee observe that , in retiring , he desires dutifully to thank the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master and

every member of the Institution "for the great forbearance , kindness , and brotherly courtesy which he has received at their hands , without any exception , upon any single occasion . " In the Appendix to the Report are

printed the forms of petition for admission to the Educational Institution , and for relief , the Lodge certificate , and the general form of Lodge recommendation . Extracts of the rules are followed by the

Treasurer ' s and Almoners' balance-sheets , and a report of the annual general meeting of the society , held in Manchester in January last , when 54 out of the 94 Lodges of the Province were represented . Amongst the

resolutions passed , after the usual votes of thanks had been accorded , was one to the effect that the Festival this year should " take the shape of a party given for the children whom we educate , and that they should be brought to the

Masonic Hall and have a tea there , so that the Committee might see their adopted children . " There is also an " In Memoriam" to deceased officers and life governors of

the Charity , and a list of the donors and subscribers to the funds . The compilation is altogether a very interesting one , and is admirably printed in pamphlet form by Brother Andrew , of Manchester .

Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association.

STAFFORDSHIRE MASONIC CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION .

THE fifteenth annual report of this valuable Institution has just been issued , and the Committee , in presenting an account of their Stewardship , are happilv enabled

to congratulate the Province upon the continued success of the Association . The objects of the organisation are divided into two parts—the "A" Fund being to increase the number of Life Subscribers and Life Governors to the

Royal Masonic Charities ; and "B" to forma systematic Benevolent Fund for the education and advancement in life of children of distressed or deceased Freemasons in the Province of Staffordshire , and to give assistance in elections to the Masonic Charities . Under the first of

these headings the snm col lee fed during the year wa « £ 665 13 s , which , after providing for 2 ^ who had right of election without ballot , will enable the Committee to ballot for 65 Life Subscriberships , absorbing £ 433 5 s . Several

Life Subscriberships , the results of Stewards' efforts at the several Festivals , had been received in full , and at once paid over by the Treasurer . Under the heading " B . " the subscription to that Fund amounted to £ 106 19 s , and

Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association.

grants have been paid during the year for the educacation of children while residing at their own homes , amounting to £ 48 0 s 9 d . Satisfaction is expressed that the Province has been represented by Stewards

at each Festival during the past year ; and special mention is made of the splendid lists taken up from the Abbey Lodge , No . 264 , by Bros . W . H . Bailey P . M . and Sec . P . G . Registrar , and C . Graham P . M . P . P . G . W . ; also from

the Etruscan Lodge , No . 546 , by Bro . A . G . Prince P . M . P . P . G . S . of W . Bro . Bailey , who undertook the duty as Steward for the Boys' School in 1884 , the Girls' and Boys '

Schools in 1885 , attended in a similar capacity to represent the Province at the Benevolent Festival last February . The payments to the London Institutions have been during the year : —to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ,

£ 141 15 s ; to the Institution for Girls , £ 194 5 s ; and to the Boys , £ 359 2 s ; making up the very creditable total of £ 695 2 s . Other amounts which had not passed through the hands of the officials of the local Association , but paid direct to London , mako a grand total for the year of £ 753 18 s , from the Province of Staffordshire . The work being done

for the cause of Masonic Charity in the Province was recognised at the June meeting of Grand Lodge , when the Secretary , Bro . T . M . Humphries P . M . 539 P . P . G . Supt . of Works , Walsall , was elected a member of the

Management Committee for the Royal Masonic Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . Each election during the year had been attended by the

Secretary , and that of the Boys in October last year by Bro . Turner , of Longton ( one of the managers of Charity elections ) . Their efforts had been mainly to repay the

heavy debt incurred in 1884 , viz ., 1 , 100 Boys votes , 90 Aged votes , and 308 Widows' votes , which had been accomplished , and jointly with North Wales and Salop they had succeeded in electing to the Boys' School , viz .: F . W . Higgison , son of the late Bro . F . B . Higgison , of St . Peter ' s Lodge , 419 , and of the St . John ' s Lodge , 601 ,

Wellington ( Salop ) . At the May election for Aged Freemasons , all arrangements had been made for securing the return of the late Bro . Hodgson , of Leek , but he died only a few days prior to the day of polling ; hence some

difficulty was found in placing the votes , which were ultimately loaned for re-payment in May next . There are now five boys , three girls , and two widows enjoying the benefits of the Institutions , and the

amounts sent up since 1871 have gradually increased from five guineas in that year to £ 695 2 s in 1885 . A list of the members is followed by a summary of subscrip tions , statement of votes received for the Masonic Institutions in

1885 , and an abstract of the rules of the Association . We congratulate the Association upon the very satisfactory report they have submitted , and trust we may have a continuance of the efforts which have so long characterised the brethren of the good old Province of Staffordshire .

The Provincial Grand Chapter of the Hol y Royal Arch for the Province of Essex will be held in the Library of Colchester Castle , on Monday , the 3 rd day of May next , at half-past one o ' clock p . m ., when the attendance is

required of the Provincial Grand Officers , with the Prin cipals and Past Principals of the Chapters in the Province All R . A . Masons are invited to be present . The Provin

cial Grand Chapter will be opened punctually at two o ' clock , and a banquet will afterwards take place at the Red Lion Hotel , Colchester . Tickets , including wine and dessert . 10 s 6 d each .

Bro . James Stevens P . M . P . Z . has accepted the invitatinn of Worshi pful Bro . S . C . Wakefield , Provincial Grand Steward Oxon , and W . M . of the Windrush Lodge , No 1703 , to deliver his Lecture explanatory of the Ritual

and Ceremonial of the First Degree , under the title of " Knobs and Excrescences , " at the ensuing meeting of the Lodge , at Witney , Oxfordshire , on tho 5 th May . A large gathering of brethren from neighbouring Lodges is anticipated .

FUNERALS orooerly carried out and personally attended in London or Country by Bro . G . A . HUTTON , 17 Newcastle Street . Strand , W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .