Grand Lodge Of New Mexico.

Committees . A parrot-like examination shonld not satisfy a Committee ; other means should be added—a receipt produced , or other written evidence would be good collateral . ( 3 ) . Prompt collection of dues , to a want of

which many Lodges owed their indebtedness . The G . M . appended to this part of his address the practical rider that " a prompt collection of dues , every three or six months , makes easy payment for the members , and small bills to

meet . ' He suggested that to own their Masonic homes should be the ambition of all Lodges . It gave to any Lodge a great advantage , not only in the sense of feeling " it is our own , " but also in a financial way . " No rent to

pay ! " How often this item of expense ate up the revenues of the Lodge , and how often Lodges became disheartened from this cause ! Referring to the installation of Officers elect of the Mimbres Lodge , No . 10 , Georgetown , he

said" The hall was crowded with earnest workers , and we enjoyed a most refreshing Masonic love-feast . " In March he issued a dispensation , for the organisation of a Lodge at San Marcial , the brethren of which deserved great credit for

the fine and secure hall they had prepared , the regalia and paraphernalia , and , above all , for the skill they exhibited in the work . He predicted for this Lodge a brilliant future . The dedication and consecration of the new hall of the

Deming Lodge , No . 12 , he described as " a profitable and enjoyable occasion . " Several answers that had been given to questions coming up to him for decision during the year were read- , and the G . M . then related a peculiar case in

which Masonic charity is extended . " Bro . Crouch died at Deming , leaving a wife and famil y in destitute circumstances , and a communication was received appealing for help in supporting them . It appeared that this brother

was a delegate to the Convention at which this Grand Lodge was formed ; was a member at the first session of the same , at which the law was enacted , that any unaffiliated Mason , remaining such for more than one year ,

should be debarred from all Masonic privileges . ' Bro . Crouch was an unaffiliated Mason at the time of his death , and had been snch for more than one year . Under the circumstances , I deemed it proper to address a letter to

each Lodge in this jurisdiction , stating tbe case fully , and adding , ' If you deem this a case where Masonic charity should be extended , you may send to Bro . James M . "Wilson "W . M . of Deming Lodge , No . 12 , such amount as

you deem proper , with the assurance , on my part , that it will be carefully expended for the support of the family of our deceased brother , John S . Crouch . ' I am happy to say that a liberal response was made to this appeal . " In

conclusion , he assured the brethren who exalted him to the position of Grand Master that what he had done in the Masonic vineyard had been done with an eye single to the welfare thereof . Errors might have been made , as " to err

is human ; " but , if so , they had been errors of the head , and not of the heart . The Report of the Grand Secretary was then presented , giving the returns and the annual dues of Lodges , recording the initiation of a "Library

Improvement Fund , " and other matters , and setting forth that the actual expenditure during the Masonic year jast ended compared favourably with that of previous years , particularly when they took into consideration the utter

absence , at the outset , of stationery , dispensations , charters , and the necessary articles of office furniture . At the second day ' s session various reports were received , dealing with accounts , ways and means , bye-laws , and

returns of chartered Lodges within the jurisdiction , from the latter of which it was shown there had been an increase of 45 members daring the year . Officers wero elected , and the next Annual Communication was fixed for 22 nd

November next . A report was presented to the Committee on Appeals and Grievances , after which several votes of thanks were passed , and a voluminous report of the

Committee on Foreign Correspondence was appended to the Proceedings of Grand Lodge . At the close ol' the proceedings , a banqnet was given by the Chs \ pman Lodge . No . 2 , at tbe Plaza Hotel , in honour of Grand LocW and the new Grand Officers .

The Systematic Educational Institution.

THE SYSTEMATIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION .

THERE is a trite saying amongst Masons , and we , o ton hear it reiterated , both in the Lod < je-room and at the banquet-table , that Charity is doubly valuable when it is

The Systematic Educational Institution.

systematic , when the flow of benevolence is constant , and can at all times be depended upon . Of necessity , we must always look for a certain degree of fluctuation in all matters where pecuniary interests and charitable deeds are governed by changes of circumstances . Still , the

importance of system as a principle can scarcely be overestimated . A cheering example of this is exemplified by the Tenth Aunual Report of the East Lancashire Systematic Educational and Benevolent Institution , which has just been forwarded to us , together with a list of the subscribers to the Treasurer ' s and Almoners '

balance-sheets . The President of this organisation is Brother Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkio R . W . Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire , who is assisted in the trusteeshi p b y Bros . George Miller and James A . Birch ; Brother G . P . Brockbank ( of Bolton ) as Treasurer , Bro . James

Heelis ( of Manchester ) Hon . Sec , Bro . J . L . Hine ( of Manchester ) Chairman of the General Committee , and Bro . Chadwick ( of Manchester ) Secretary . With such a goodly array of names at the head of the administration , there is scarcely room for surprise that the beneficent

scheme should continue m so healthy and satisfactory a condition , more especially as the active executive is warmly seconded by most of the Grand Officers of this important Province . After congratulating the donor 3 and subscribers , brethren , Lodges , Chapters , and other

associations , who have aided their funds during the year , the General Committee report that their proceedings have had a satisfactory result in every respect . The new bye-laws , which came into operation in September 1884 , are found to work well , and in a manner that shows the value of the

trouble , carefulness , and attention bestowed upon their compilation , as they now stand . It is confidently expected that they will be found to be more in accordance with the enlarged scheme of the Charity , and more suitable for the present circumstances of the gradually increasine-business of the Institution . The donations and

subscriptions during the year amounted to £ 923 10 s 4 d , and the income and interest account from investments to £ 272 6 a Id ; making up a total income of £ 1 , 195 16 s 5 d . The total subscriptions and donations are thus subdivided— Prom Lodges and Chanters to the end of the

year £ 544 19 s 4 d , from the St . Joseph Preceptory £ 5 , and from private individuals £ 274 15 s 6 d . As a result of a Masonic ball held at Bury , an addition of £ 10 was made to the funds ; while , as the proceeds of a sermon at Oldham , the substantial offertory of £ 30 was received , aud

thanks are tendered to Bro . Henry Thomas and many others of the brethren at Oldham and Bury . At Rochdale , Lodge 54 arranged an amateur dramatic performance , which resulted in an addition of £ 2 Is 6 cl , for which thanks are returned . A very successful amateur dramatic

and operatic performance was given at Manchester , entitled " The Dragon of Wantley , " under the auspices of Bros . J . R . Beard , Jas . MacLaren , and others , from which a balance of £ 26 9 s was handed to the Treasurer . In

addition to this , two dividends from the Brunswick Building Society was received , amounting together to £ 62 5 s , and a new subscription of £ 5 has arisen from the Lodge of Instruction No . 581 . The Committee add : —

" Another pleasing addition hag also been made to onr funda , iu conneoted with a te 3 titnoni . il to onr respected Bro . George Parker Brockbank , our present Treasurer , upon his recent appointment to the office of Grand Standard Bearer of England . Several of his fii nd 3 and br . 'fchren , who had long admired his consistent ; Masonic career ,

determined to present him with a tesbim mial of thnir rarest nnd conifriuul'itian . Upon coiwiUinr ; with him , it was » rranged that , afr . er prnvidiig for a simple hut elegant . "ortr'e of silver plate for Mrs . Brockbank , the residue shonUl he devote i to the various Mas mis

flh-irines , Metropolitan and Provincial , of w i' ; h re-uluo the sum of E 21 OH vva- < handed ho t . hi-i Institution . Ir , will , no doiibt , ha considered that grateful t > ia'dcs are due to Bro . Brockbank , whoso personal wishes havo earned ns this donation . "

The expenditure of the establishment was £ 124 2 * 4 d , somewhat in excels of last year ; but this is in a measuio accounted for by the grant to the Secretary of a gratuity for his valuable services and considerable personal trouble and attention in connection with the revision of the

byelaws , and attending numerous meetings incident thereto . This , and several other items of necessity , will of c uirsu not , occur next year . The hank balance nnd balmce in rVeasntvr ' s hands at the end of 1 ^ 81 was £ 417 18 s 2 d ;

i-. ' . c amount at the present true is £ 569 15 s lid . In ddition to this , during the year the , sum of £ V ) 0 has been permanently invested with the Corporation of Leicester . The grants for relief ( besides tho grants by the Almoners )