The Masonic Year 1875.

G . St ., Harry Hodges G . S . B ., C . 0 . Grandison G . O ., and H . Minchin 409 M . B . G . I . G . On the 20 th April , the Duke of Abercorn , M . W . G . M ., presided n the annual distribution of prizes to the pupils

of the Mns . mic Female Orphan School , Dublin . His Grace congmdilated the authorities on the satisfactory progress the School had made , one of the pupils at the Royal Dublin Society ' s Art Examination haviner obtained a certificate

from the Council of Education , South Kensington , while two others obtained certificates from the Royal Dublin Society . There are forty girls on the establishment , four vacancies having been declared and filled up at the election held on the 7 th instant , from an approved list of eight

candidates . From the report for the year 1874 , it appears this Institution possessed invested property to the extent of over £ 8 , 6 ' 00 , and that the income from all sources , and including a balance in hand to start with was over £ 3 , 100 , while the expenditure was only between three and four

pounds in excess of £ 1 , 900 . It is in contemplation to fully extend the benefits of this School , even to doubling the number of pupils , if the finances will allow , and as soon as suitable premises have been obtained . We hope and trust our Irish brethren will be successful in their

efforts to place this School on a firmer and wider footing . As regards Masonic orphan boys , the Craft maintains twenty-three such , at Bro . the Rev . S . S . Sheen ' s , Adelaide Hall , Merrion-square . There were two elections in the

course of the year , at the first of Avhich , held on the 13 th of May , two Avere elected from an approved list of eleven candidates , while at the other , on the 7 th of November , the same number were chosen from a like number of

candidates . Among other events that marked the progress of Masonry during the year , we must mention the election of Judge Townshend as President of the Grand Chapter of Prince Masons , in succession to the late Duke of Leinster , Judge Townshend having for some time filled the office of

Vice-President , and having virtually , in fact , discharged the duties of the higher office long before the death of His Grace . The address or report of the Judge on taking up his appointment contained satisfactory evidence of progress , the Order having , in point of numbers , a little more than

doubled itself in the course of the last twenty years . It should also be noted that a new Masonic Hall , Parsonstown , Dublin , for the use of St . Brendon ' s Lodge , 163 , was opened

and dedicated in the month of June . The committee having obtained a house in William-street , had the top floor and all partitions removed , thus leaving available a room of considerable dimensions . Instructions were issued

to , and carried out under the direction of , Mr . A . B . Milne , C . E ., to make the necessary alterations for the conversion of the building into a hall suitable for holding the Lodge meetings . In Scotland , Masonry continues to advance with a steady

progress . Though the record of the year contains no such exciting event as the installation of a Royal or Vice regal G . M ., the greatest activity has prevailed

throughout the Craft , and sundry matters deserve a place in this chronicle of the year . First and foremost must be mentioned a proposal for establishing a Royal Masonic Benevolent Insitution , which is to combine within itself all the

advantages of our English Benevolent , Girls' and Boys ' Institutions . The scheme originated with Bro . Capt . Geo . R . Harriott , Prov . G . M . Wigtown and Kirkcudbri ght , and was noticed by us at some length in one of our earliest numbers . Later on in the year Ave Avere enabled to

announce that tho proposal had every prospect of success , among those brethren whose support Avas promised being Bros . D . Murray Lyon , Ayrshire ; Dr . Cowan , and J . Young , Perthshire ; Dr . Pagan , Fifeshire : Col . Acheson ,

Dundee ; J . Laurie G . Secretary , Major Ramsay , J . Murray , & c . Since the date of this latter announcement , however , we hava heard nothing further of the scheme , and must content ourselves Avith wishing that no loner time

may elapse ere it assume a more tangible form . As yet there exists only in Scotland " The Fund of Scottish Benevolence , " founded in 1846 , so that this addition to the charitable institutions of the Craft north of the Tweed will doubtless be hailed Avith acclamation and cordially

supported by them . On the 15 th April was held a meeting at the Peacock Hotel , Newhaven , for the purpose of presenting to Bro . John Laurie , Grand Secretary , and P . R . W . M .

of Canongate and Leith Lodge , No . 5 , a splendid testimonial , in recognition of the valuable services he had rendered as R . W . M . of the Lodge . The testimonial took the form of a combined clock , barometer , & c , & c , together

The Masonic Year 1875.

Avith a massive and elegant tea and coffee service for Mrs . Laurie . Bro . Oflicer S . S . C ., P . S . G . D . and P . M . No . 1 , presided , and after the usual toasts had been disposed nf , proposed the health of Bro . J . Laurie in feeling and appropriate terms , expressing tlie

pleasure it afforded him in haA'ing been the medium of conveying to his esteemed Bro . a testimonial to Avhich the latter ' s eminent services as a Craftsman so justly entitled him . Bro . Laurie replied , expressing his Avarmest gratitude for the very substantial token of the esteem and

friendship Avhich he had received that clay , and expressed himself as ready and anxious to do all in his poAver to promote the Avelfare of the Craft . Amongst other events of more than local interest may be recorded , that the foundation stone of the neAV public school buildings at Tarbolton was laid ,

under the auspices of the Tarbolfcon Lodge , to which the great poet , Bro . Robert Burns , Avas affiliated ; that the laying of the foundation stone of the New Schools at Cumnock , in Ayrshire , Avas carried out on the 19 th August , the ceremony being performed by Colonel Mure , M . P ., Prov . G . M . of

Ayrshire ; and that the memorial stone was laid , by the same P . G . Officer , on the 25 th September , of the neAV schools now in course of erection at Kilwinning , in the same county . On both these occasions the attendance of brethren was very numerous , especially at the latter , Kilwinning being held

peculiarly sacred among Scottish Masons . At the Quarterly Communication of Grand Chapter , Comp . L . Mackensy G . S . E . was received as the representative of the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania . In the first instance , correspondence had arisen owing to Comp . Mackensy being already a

representative of the Grand Chapter of Oregon , and the matter was accordingly submitted to Grand Chapter . It having been pointed out that it Avas not uncommon in America for

the same Companion to hold two or more such commissions , it was moved and carried , amid cheers , that , in deference to the wishes of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania , Comp . Mackensy be received as their representative .

Nor is the condition of Freemasonry less' flourishing in the Colonies and dependencies of Great Britain . The visit of the M . W . G . M . to India has been attended , thus far at least , with one public display of Masonry . His Royal Highness accepted the invitation of the Bombay Lodges

to inaugurate , Avith the usual Masonic ceremonial , the Elphinstone Wet Dock , and the first stone was laid accordingly , in the presence of a vast assemblage of spectators , and to the intense gratification of the brethren of that district . A Ball , also , Avas given by the Craft in honour of the

Prince ' s visit , the Town Hall being used for the occasion . No doubt , when the Prince reaches Calcutta , the capital of the Bengal Presidency , the brethren in that district , one of the oldest constituted provinces out of Great Britain , will accord to him the same hearty Avelcome as their fellows

in Western India . It is hoped , indeed , that His Royal Highness Avill be able to spare the time to lay the foundation stone of the NBAV Masonic Hall , Avhich is about to be erected for the use of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal . In accordance Avith a resolution passed on 24 th of June b y

the D . G . L ., a committee was appointed , and met at Freemasons' Hall , Bentinck-street , Calcutta , on the 3 rd July , Avhen the necessary resolutions for building the neAvhall were agreed to , and it Avas arranged to form a company , called " The Bengal Freemasons' Hall Building Company , "

Avith a capital of 1 . 50 , 000 rupees , in shares of 100 rupees each , bearing interest at 6 per cent . It Avas expected that everything Avould he in readiness to commence operations by the time of His Royal Highness ' s arrival , and a forcible appeal to him to inaugurate the building Avas intended to

be made . We doubt not , if time and circumstances permit , His Royal Highness will accede to the Avishes of the Bengal brethren . Early in the year ( on 26 th February ) R . W . Bro . Captain Marmadukc Ramsay Avas installed at Freemasons' Hall , Lahore , as D . G . M . of the District Grand

Lodge of the Punjab , the R . W . officiating as D . G . M . G . Daley , P . D . D . G . M ., having duly installed Bro . Ramsay , the latter addressed the brethren , briefly congratulating them on the satisfactory progress the Craft had made in the seven years since the District Grand Lodge had been

constituted , there being seventeen Lodges and 483 subscribing members noAV , as against seven and 217 members He further added that the Masonic Institution in the District , commenced by Lodge " Hope and Perseverance , "

possessed 12 , 8 Q 0 rupees invested money , and maintained and educated four boys , two at the Bishop ' s School , Simla , and two at the Lahore High School . The Grand Lodge of Canada held its twentieth annual