British Monarchs And Masonry.

note . It cannot be said that their project has raised much enthusiasm as yet—the pressing interests of the day leave us small leisure to meditate upon events a thousand years old . But an appeal to the Freemasons of England would ensure the success of the Commemoration , if they could be

persuaded that it was not only the best of Kings but also a Grand Master of their Craft whom they were summoned to honour . And it does not take much evidence to persuade

Freemasons in a matter of this sort . The uninitiated , however , would almost incline to suspect that Archdeacon Wilberforce was perpetrating an e'aborate joke . — " Evening Standard . "

Our War Orphans.

OUR WAR ORPHANS .

On Thursday Audrey Rennett , the daughter of a Brother who died of enteric . fever during service in South Africa , was admitted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls at Battersea ; while two lads—Harry Douglas Luck , son of a

coloursergeant of the Northamptonshire Regiment who was killed in the Tirah campaign ; and Thomas Cecil Percy Davies , son of a sergeant in the Army Ordnance Corps , who also died of enteric fever during the present war in South Africa—have been this week admitted to private schools at Knowle ,

Warwickshire , and Blackheath , because there is no room in the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys at Wood Green . They will , however , receive the maximum outdoor grant of £ 30 per annum each , and will be taken into the new Schools now in course of erection at Bushey , Herts , as soon as the buildings are there ready for occupation .

These three children have been patriotically provided for by the Freemasons of England , who have admitted them to the benefits of the two Educational Institutions of the Craft without the usual form of election .

New Hall At Millom.

NEW HALL AT MILLOM .

THE Millom Masonic Buildings Company , Limited , was registered on 28 th December , by J ordan and Sons , Limited , 120 Chancery Lane , W . C ., with a capital of £ 1 , 000 in £ 1 shares . Object , to provide a Masonic Hall or Temple , with

a Club House and other conveniences , at Millom , Cumberland , for die Whitwell Lodge of Freemasons , No . 1390 , or other Lodge , Chapter , or Association of Freemasons . The first directors ( to number not less than five , nor more than seven ) are to be appointed by the subscribers . Registered Office : Bank House , Market Square , Millom , Cumberland .

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

A MASONIC Service , arranged by Bro . Elliott Fletcher W . M . of the Priory Lodge , was held at St . Alban ' s Church , Southend , on the 10 th inst The Service was conducted by the Rev . E . E . Kimber , curate-in-charge of

St . Alban ' s and Chaplain of the Priory Lodge , who was assisted by the Rev . T . W . Brown , vicar-designate of Walthamstow , the Rev . T . Varney P . P . G . Chap . and

Chaplain of St . Andrew and Albert Lucking Lodges , and the Rev . F . C . St . John Methuen , rector of Vange , and- cousin of Lord Methuen . There was a Masonic choir , and the service took the form of shortened evening prayer .

Our report of the Installation meeting of the Mount Lebanon Lodge , No . 73 , is unavoidably held over . » * A monument erected in Brockley Cemetery in memory

of the late Bro . Walter Martin P . G . A . P ., & c , being one of the objects for which the Walter Martin Memorial Fund is being raised , was unveiled on Saturday . The President of the Fund Br ' o . James Terry P . G . S . B . performed the ceremony . The Fund will close on 30 th March .

The installation meeting of the Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . 1524 , will be held on Thursday next , 31 st inst , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , E . G ., at 3 . 30 p . m . Brother

Albert Smith is the W . M .-elect , and in addition to his installation the business set down on the agenda includes two raisings , three passings , and the election and initiation of a candidate .

By the death of Mrs . Briscoe , of Walsall , which occurred through an accident early in the month , the Walsall Hospital will receive a legacy of £ 200 , Wolverhampton Orphanage £ ioo , and the School for the Blind

Church Service.

and the Masonic Charities £ 50 each . These and several other benefactions to Charitable Institutions were left by the late Bro . Briscoe , and were to be paid on the decease of his widow . » * * The annual meeting of the members of the Liverpool

Masonic Club was held at the Masonic Hall , Hope Street , on Friday of last week , when Bro . R . Ripley was re-elected Chairman , Bro . T . J . Jarman chosen Vice-Chairman , Bro . E . R . Latham Treasurer , in succession to Bro . G . Broadbridge , to whom hearty thanks were given after twenty-one

years service , Bro . J . T . Callow Secretary ( re-elected ) , Bro . Captain Macnab Librarian , and Bros . Samuel Armstrong , Sweetman , Broadbridge , and Morgan Members of the Committee . • •

I had Freemasonry on Thursday and Friday evenings last week flavoured with the brogue , and the experience was sweetened by the infusion . I have heard many a tale of how Freemasonry is conducted in the Sister Isle , some of them tall , and , on the whole , to the prejudice , by comparison ,

of the Craft in Scotland . It is not my intention , however , to say here whether these tales have been verified by my experience or not . I found Freemasonry , as it is conducted in the Lodges in Belfast , pretty much as we have it in Scotland , the essentials the same , the forms in which they

are conveyed having , in some instances , faults , while others call forth praise . There is a greater rigidity to ceremonial in rule in Ireland than in most Lodges here , securing additional order in the Lodge Room , and increased respect to the chair . The fees of membership are collected at each

meeting , and vary , according to the style of the Lodge , from one shilling upwards . The non-payment of these fees for twelve months subjects the member to be struck off the roll of membership , not only as a voting member , but as a visitor to his own or any other Lodge under the Constitution

of Ireland until such dues are paid up . So strict is the rule on this point that any Lodge knowingly receiving a Brother who is in arrears is liable to his Lodge for the amount of his arrears at the , time . The names " of all Brethren in default are at once recorded in , Grand Lodge . — ¦ " The Mallet , " in ¦ " Glasgow Evening News . "

A very beautiful and instructive oration was recently delivered by the Grand Orator ( Idaho ) Bro . Charles C . Stevenson . The following is quoted because it has so much of truth as well as much of beauty : —We are proud of our noble institution ; we are proud of its intimate connection

with the advancement and improvement of the world . We are proud of those armoured knights of old who battled so valiantly for the cause of light . We are proud of all the distinguished sons of light whose brilliant deeds and glorious achievements have brought honour to our noble Fraternity .

But while we may become reminiscent , and indulge in the pleasant and agreeable privilege of revelling in the beauties and delights of a glorious history , we should never IOJG sight of the fact that Masonry is also a practical Institution , designed to perpetuate God ' s word , and to carry out in a

great measure the injunctions contained in the great Book of Revelations . The Fraternity of Freemasons is to-day a great breathing , living entity . Its doctrines and principles , inspired of God , contain all that is essential for a perfect and upright life . The lessons of the lectures are calculated

to improve and ennoble mankind , but the great aim of our noble Institution will -be lost sight of if we fail to put into execution those excellent instructions with which we are all invested . We , the proud . possessors of this noble production of the builders of old , have no easy task in maintaining in

their fullest splendour , the tenets . and cardinal virtues of Masonry . " To soothe the unhappy , to sympathise with their misfortunes , to compassionate , their miseries and to restore peace to their troubled minds , is the great aim we have in view . On this basis we form our friendships and

establish our connections . " No gallant knight on prancing steed ever went forth to battle for a grander cause . We , in the character of plain and unostentatious Freemasons , girded with a simple and spotless vestment , have much to

do in these latter days . While the operative tools have been laid aside the speculative implements ¦ of Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth have been placed in our hands for use . Read that , Brethren of Australia , and , reading , profit thereby . ' — " Masonry . "