The Benevolent Festival.

come , and not left their Provincial Grand Master unsupported . There is nothing that a person who holds high office in the Craft can like more than to feel that he has the support and the confidence and the goodwill of his Brother Masons . We have , as Masons , many duties to fulfil ; I do not think that if I look towards the end of this hall I should be justified in detailing

every one ; but this I may say that old as Masonry is , dating as it does from time immemorial , it has one principle , which is perhaps a secret , although it is an open secret , that wherever Masonry has gone it has fertilised the minds of men ; wherever it has gone it has spread one of the finest doctrines of human nature , that of regard for those who are in distress ; and I

believe that Masonry will last through all time , because through all time its followers will be true to that great principle of fraternal love and goodwill . On the great Masonic edifice , not builded by hands , stand words , not written indeed in letters of gold , because gold fades and perishes , but emblazoned in letters of everlasting brightness—the words " Eemember Charity all you who enter here . " It is in this spirit that I ask you to drink the

toast of the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and it is in this spirit that I believe that this Institution will go on in greater strength and greater utility , and ¦ always with the fullest confidence and support of the Brethren of the Grand Lodge of England . Having drunk the toast of the Institution I now wish you to drink the health of the Brother who I mentioned just now devotes so much care and attention to the Institution , our Treasurer , Bro . Farnfield . The toast was duly honoured .

Bro . J . A . Farnfield , in acknowledging the toast , first thanked the Earl of Jersey on behalf of the executive Officers for so kindly presiding . They all knew that when his lordship was asked to preside this was not a Festival where he could have expected a very large amount of subscriptions , because of the Centenary of the Boys School , in whioh they were all so much

interested , and which they trusted might be a bumper . They could not have three great successes in one year , and it was Bro . McLeod who deserved the success , and therefore the other Institutions must take a second place . Still , thanks to the Earl of Jersey ' s advocacy , he had no doubt the annuitants would be able to be paid . Unfortunately , as was to be seen by the printed

papers put before the meeting , there was a very long list of candidates for the next election , and he . was sorry to say the vacancies were few , fourteen for the men and eight for widows . There were really only eleven for the men in the regular course , but three others were deferred , and were to be filled up as they occurred by death . Still , they hoped that when Bro . Terry announced the subscriptions they would , with the money put by

to meet a bad year by the ordinary forethought of men of business , be able to get through the year without parting with one penny of their invested capital . Ever since this Institution was established , now nearly sixty years ago , every penny piece that had been scraped up to be invested had remained a sacred trust , and he hoped that as long as he was connected with it , money put by would be kept intact , and that it might be added to .

The subscription list was then read by Bro . Terry , and that Brother afterwards informed the meeting that Bro . C . E . Keyser had offered fifty guineas if thirteen other Brethren would each give the same amount , in order to make the list over £ 10 , 000 . Another Brother at the meeting volunteered his fifty guineas .

The Sister Charities was the next toast , and it was proposed byBro . Leopold G . Gordon Bobbins P . G . D ., and responded to by Bros . Hedges and McLeod . Archdeacon Sinclair proposed the Chairman , who , he said , began his Masonic career quite early at Oxford ; he was a member of his ( Archdeacon Sinclair ' s ) own college , and belonged to the

group of brilliant young men under the late Professor Jowett , which included the names of Lord Lansdowne , Lord Camperdown , Lord Morley , and Lord Elgin . Animated by the counsels of that modern Socrates Lord Jersey devoted himself to public life in a very exemplary manner . Quite early he was promoted to the responsible post of Governor of New South Wales , where he nobly

and honorably upheld the honour of the British Crown . He also carried on his Masonic career in that great dependency , and T'as Grand Master of New South Wales . Besides his devotion to public life he had shown great interest in all charitable work , not only Masonic , but general ; he was the leader of kings in all sorts of philanthropic institutions .

The Earl of Jersey replied , and said Archdeacon Sinclair had dived into the past and made him blush very much as he rather tenderly handled the names of some of his predecessors . There were few honours and advantages which could equal in pleasure the honour and advantages of belonging to a bodv of men anxious

to promote not only fraternal feeling , but also kindly assistance towards others . He looked upon himself as a humble Mason , who had the advantage of being brought up in a Masonic School , and learning by slow degrees the valuable lessons and principles which Masonry inculcated . The , Stewards and the Ladies were the other toasts before the Brethren adjourned to Freemasons' Hall to the concert .

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will eruieavour to send a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings .

CEAFT : PEOVINCIAL . — : o ; — LODGE OF FAITH , No . 581 . THE regular meeting took place at the Gransmoor Hotel , Higher Openshaw , on Wednesday , 16 th inst ., Bro . Robert Adshead W . M . There was a good attendance . After the reading and confirmation of minutes , successful ballots were

taken for Messrs . Thos . G . Swarbrick , Hulme , and George Ogden , Droylsden , who were afterwards initiated into' the mysteries and privileges of ancient Freemasonry , the former by Bro . William Jones I . P . M ., and the latter by the W . M . The working tools were presented and explained by Bro . Chas . H . Griffiths J . W .

At the festive board , Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and honoured , the proceedings being varied by songs , & c , rendered by Bros . Griffiths , Dr . B . E . Jones S . D ., S . Andrew J . D ., A . Mellor Organist , M . Goth , J . T . Moorhouse , and others , a very pleasant evening being spent .

o o o OAKWOOD LODGE , No . 1126 . THE annual installation meeting was held on Saturday , 15 th ult ., at Romiley , under the presidency of the W . M . Bro . Harry White , who was honoured with the presence of a large number of visitors , chiefly Past Masters .

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , the W . M . installed Bro . W . H . Koss S . W . in the chair of King Solomon in a highly commendable manner . The working tools of the third degree were ably presented by Bro . Emmanuel Clough P . M . Sec . and Charity Representee , and those of the first and sepond degrees , by Bro . Hy . Greenhalgh I . P . M . and Bro . Wm . F . Brownrigg P . M . Treasurer respectively . Bro . J . W . Leathley P . M . D . C . conducted the investiture of Officers'in his usual masterly and impressive style .

The address to the W . M ., and that to the Brethren generally were given by Bro . E . Clough P . M . C . R ., the retiring Secretary , in a manner which merited the applause of the Brethren , while that to the Wardens was very efficiently rendered by Bro . J . W . Leathley P . M . The annual banquet was held at the Mersey Hotel , Stockport , and was served under the direction of the proprietor , Bro . Wm . Moones , in a highly pleasing and satisfactory manner . At the conclusion of the banquet the usual toasts were proceeded with .

The W . M . performed a most pleasing duty on behalf of the Lodge , in the presentation of a Past Master ' s jewel to the -I . P . M ., which bore the following inscription : .

Presented by the Brethren , with their best wishes , to BRO . HARRY WHITE P . M . at the expiration of his year of office . 15 th January 1898 .

Bros . H . Greenhalgh P . M . then presented Bro . White with a Jubilee jewel , and Bro . E . Clough P . M . C . R . in a very appropriate style presented Bro . White with an illuminated address , to mark the high esteem in which he was held . Bro . White , in responding , spoke of the gratitude he felt to the Brethren generally , and especially tendered his thanks to Bro . Clough , who had so ably and so willingly assisted him in his duties as Master of the Lodge .

The musical part of the ceremony was in the able hands of Bro . E . J , Greenhalgh Organist , who performed his work admirably . It is highly gratifying to note that the balance sheet showB a very substantial sum in the hands of the Treasurer . The February meeting was held on Saturday , 19 th , when Bro . E . Clough P . M . C . R . gave notice of motion to vote twenty guineas out of the Funds of the Lodge to the Boys Centenary Festival ..

6 . o o CONCORD LODGE , No . 1534 . nnHE regular meeting was held at Chester Bank , Prestwich , on Thursday , . JL 17 th inst . The principal business of the evening was that of raising Bro . James Leach to the sublime degree of M . M ., the ceremony being performed by Bro . H . B . Fawssctt W . M ., assisted by Bro . James Kershaw J . W ., and Dr . F . Stephenson S . W ., the former presenting and explaining the working tools , and the latter delivering the historical charge .

The visitors were Bros . J . G . Frost I . P . M . 1166 , E . T . Ryder 678 , and G H . Wade 992 .

o o o ALBERT VICTOR LODGE , No . 1773 . AS there was no specific business before the Lodge at its meeting on Friday , 18 th inst ., Bro . T . M . Brown I . P . M . delivered the lecture on the third tracing board to a large and appreciative audience . A proposition , made by Bro . William Lambert W . M ., " that the sum of thirty guineas be given from the Charity Fund to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " was carried without a dissentient voice .

The Annual social gathering in connection with the Lodge , held at the Pendleton Town Hall , on the 9 th , was an unqualified success , there being present nearly 200 people , consisting of members , and lady and gentlemen friends .

SANDOWN LODGE , No . 1869 . THE annual meeting was held on Thursday , 17 th , at the Masonic Hall , San down , when Bro . R . Guy was installed by Bro . Major Gordon . The annual banquet was provided at the Railway Refreshment Rooms , about forty sitting down .