The Benevolent Festival.

another visit to Croydon , accompanied by Bro . Terry , and personally acquaint the old people there of the great success that had attended his presidency . There * might be many outside our ranks who * looked upon Freemasons as a body oi men who liked to meet together for enjoyment , but they , as Freemasons , knew there was more to attract them . They endeavoured

to do what they could for the benefit of humanity at large , and there was no better exponent o £ their principles than the Chairman of that evening . The Brethren knew what Lord Llangattock had done for that meeting , and he asked them to make up for any shortcomings on his partiby a most hearty reception of the toast of the Chairman . ' -The t ' oa ^ t was most heartily received , ' and was accorded musical honours .

The Chairman , who appeared to be really pleased with his reception , said he always feltat a loss to respond on such occasions as the present . " He could only return his heartfelt thanks . He wished to take the opportunity , in the name of the Institution , of thanking the Stewards , and all the other supporters ,-for .: their handsome donations ^ and for having made his" term of office so great a * success . He looked upon the jewel of the Festival , and felt he should ever prize itamong his most treasured possessions ; He was proud

ofthe honour that had been conferred upon him as Provincial Grand Master of the Eastern Division South Wales . He was proud of his twenty-two Lodges , and' proud ' to feel * that they were all working together * for the good of Freemasonry ; ' He desired to publicly express his appreciation of his Deputy Prov . Gtand Masted ' and to say how loyal he had been , and what assistance he bad'rendered ih'tbe work of Freemasonry . He rejoibed to see so splendid a gathering * , * and could but feel that' such , meetings must be profitable and

enjoyable' to * them all : ' ** 'Let them coatitiue to show the world what Masons wete—hot only gooddinette , and ^ wearers of fine clothing , ' but that they carried out theprinciples of the Craft , which , as they knew , were' founded ' on the Volurhe of the Sacred Law . They belonged to the oldest society of the world ; and shbuld so act as to show they respected themselves , and so deserved

the respect of others . 'They were one * in hope and doctrine , arid should remain one-in charity * ;¦ . ¦¦ ' . Bro . Richard'Eve * P . G . T . proposed the ' next toast ; They had bad ' a splendid bumber for the Old People , and now the Brethren had to look forward-to ' what Was instore for the others . He hoped the pockets of the Craftwbuld remain open for the other Institutions , whose prosperity he had much pleasure'tb submit as the next toast ' . "'' ¦

*¦ Bro . ' F . R ; W . Hedges Sec . Royal Masonic Institution for Girls congratulated the 'Benevolent Institution on being able to give the first proof that confidence in the ability of the Craft to support its Charitable Institutions ' was ' well ¦ founded . •' He congratulated the Chairman and his Provittce , '' andareferred'back' to - 1897 , when Lord Llangattock presided on

behalf of the'Girls School , the result oh that occasion being- upward' of sixteen tltousknd pounds , of which the Chairman ' s Province contributed' 1 , 000 guineas . That ' did not ; however , ' exhaust the good work of * the Province in recent years , for it contributed £ 605 to the Boys School-last year , " and' with its £ 600 odd "that - 'riigh ' t reached the respectable total of £ 2 , 300 for thethree yearsi ' - ^ :- * ¦ ¦ '•:-v : a

Bro . McLeod also replied , pointing out that the splendid success of the Boys -Centenary did not release them from anxiety as'to the future : ' They wanted last year's return left to pay for the special work ' they then s ' et themselves to achieve , and they wanted just a sufficient amount this and succeeding years to carry on the work .

' - . - '¦ Bro ; E . Letchworth * Grand Sec . proposed the next toast—those Brethren who , in the capacity of Steward and by their personal efforts , had produced the handsome •amount announced by Bro . Terry . They had also to thank the Stewards for the splendid entertainment tbey had provided for the large gathering that evening .

The toast was duly acknowledged by Bi-o . Thomas , followed by Bro . James Lewis Thomas , after which Bro . Dr . Sutherlandproposed the toast of the Ladies ; to which Bro . Lennox Browne replied . The usual concert was given in the Temple , a pleasing feature being an exhibition ' of Bro . David Devant ' s "Living Pictures . " The Music was under the direction of the Westminster Singers .

Derbyshire.

DERBYSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held on Friday evening , 17 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Derby . The Provincial Grand Master Bro . Abraham Woodiwiss presided ^ and was supported by a large number of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers present and past .

The reports- of the various Lodges showed that the number of members had increased , and that the Charities had been generously supported . Bro . Sir Thomas Roe was elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , in succession to Bro . W . Cooper . The Provincial Grand Master appointed his Officers , as follow :

Bro . J . H . Lawson -. * .- . •. . Deputy W . Cooper . ¦ .-.. - •.- '* .-. - - Senior Warden G . A . Capes > - - - - Junior Warden F . 0 . Wardley- . : ¦ ¦ * -.-. - - ¦ .- - . Master Overseer T . W . Lumley-e - - - - Senior Overseer

Re V ; U . W . Groves - -.. - - - > _ , ¦ - ,-. Rev . Thos .-Orrell- - ... - I oha P lalns Sir Thomas Roe - - - -, Treasurer W . Whitaker - - ¦ ; .- . - . ¦ . ••- .. - Registrar Percy Wallis : j :. •. * ¦ ¦ . - ¦¦ - -.-.. - ¦ ¦¦ ¦ .. - ¦ - .... Secretary ... ¦ - J . Payne Hall- - , - - - Senior Deacon R . A . Little' *"*" - •* ¦ •- ¦¦ .- ¦ . . . Junior Deacon T . Oldham , - - Inspector of Works

Frank Iliffe - - - - Director of Ceremonies T . F . Rowan- - - - - Assist . Dir . of Cers . A . R . Price - Sivord Bearer W . H : Bass , ; -r ; : .- ' , ; . * . - * ; - Standard'Bearer W . 0 . Riley - - - . . Organist W . Hart - - . .. . . . . Asst . Secretary W . Woodiwiss .... Inner Guard W . R . Brvden-. •*> . ¦•" <; .. . : ¦ ¦ . . \ a •¦ •;; -.-. ¦

G . Morrall , , . ,.- ... .- - ,. [ -. 0 . Baggaley * - : * ' - " - ' ' - * * . > 'Stewards R . H . Higge ' tfc * *¦' -: - ' ¦ - '**¦ - ¦ ' - ' ' - . ¦ ' )¦' - ' Arthur Slinn - . - - - Tyler .

Two grants on behalf of the Masonic Institutions were made at the Gripplegate Lodge ,- No . 1613 , last week , - £ 10 being given' ; in-suppiort ' df the'list of Bro . ' Hooper P . M ., a Steward for the Benevolent Institution , and £ 20 for the list of Bro . B . Groner W . M ., a Steward for the Girls School .

, The Brethren *•of the -Josiah Wedgwood Lodge , No . 2214 , held their annual conversazione and dance in the Town'Hall ,-Burslem , on 14 th inst . The party , numbering over 100 , consisting of members of the Lodge and friends , thoroughly enjoyed ^ themselves .

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RoyaiMMasonicInstittitioti1orBo^Sr WOOD GREEN , LONDON ^ M , SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRlBUtlONS : Grand Patron—HEW MAJESTY "THE QUEEN .: i , President— H . R . H ... * , THE PRINCE - OF WALES , -K . G . j -. M . WJG M . l -. P * , / - ^ ^ , ;„) / THE ' RT . HON . THE : EARL XMHE ^ Sf ; ^' M ^ W . P G : M . ' Patrons ( ex-officioj—^ RT HON . THE EARL"'OF WARWICK , R . W . DEP . G . M . Treasurer— -CHARLES E . KEYSER * , ESQ ., P . G . ' DEACON , . PATRON OF INSTITUTION . Bankers—LONDON & WESTMINSTER BANK ,- LTD .- ( BLOOMSBURY . . BRANCH ) , . HIGH HOLBORN , LONDON , W . C . ; . 2337 Boys hatfe received the benefits of the Institution since its foundation in 179 & 1 283 Bo ^ s are novO being Educated , Clothed ,-and Maintained , and special grants are also made to 17 unsuccessful candidates [ .-at , the iCentenary elections , jr The ONE HUNDBED AND PIEST ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL will , be held on 28 th June i 899 , under the Presidency of W . 'BROTHER-CHARLES E . KEYSER , I . A ., F . S . A ., J . P ., PAST GRAND DEACON , Tre : asurerandpatronoof : thejlnstitutipn . The-services of Brethren as Stewards ( representing , Lodges or .... Provinces ) V . and - -, Ladies ,- , are / earnestly * requested , and will bo gratefully acknowledged . CONTRIBUTION S EARNEST !/? SOLICITED . Secretary—J . MORRISON McLEOD , VICE PATRON , 6 FREEMASONS' HALL , LONDON , W . C .