The Institutions, &C.

mouth , Feltham , Teddington , Ormskirk , and Buenos Ayres . Eight of the cases were deferred , being incomplete , and five were dismissed . A total sum of £ 930 was voted to the remainder . This sum was made up of

the recommendation of one case to Grand Lodge for a grant of £ 100 , and of four eases of £ 50 each . There were recommendations of four cases to the Grand Master for

£ 40 each , and three of £ 30 each . Fifteen petitioners were granted £ 20 each ; seven £ 10 each ; and two £ 5 each .

o o o Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . PREVIOU S to the election reported in our last issue the annual meeting of the Institution was held ,

under the presidency of Bro . J . A . Farnfield , who formally announced that Viscount Dungarvan Provincial Grand Master of Somersetshire would preside at the next Anniversary Festival , on the 27 th February 1895 .

The Report of the Committee of Management ^ . which was read by the Secretary Bro . Teny , and afteiwards adopted , stated , among other matters , that the result of the last Festival , held on the 28 th February , under

the presidency of Bro . Col . Noel Money , C . B ., Provincial Grand Master Surrey , was the receipt of subscriptions , up to the present time , of £ 13 , 068 6 s 6 d ; but as the annuities alone will this year absorb no less than £ 16 , 140

( there being 195 Male Annuitants , each receiving £ 40 a year , 240 Widows , each entitled to £ 32 a year ; and 33 Widows , each in receipt of £ 20 , as one half of their late husband ' s annuity ) , it is manifest that increased support

is necessary , unless it is desired to draw on the other funds of the Institution in order to pay the current pensions , to say nothing of the ordinary expenses of working the Fund .

The premises at Croydon were reported to be in a perfect state of repair , and , the Report having been adopted , Bros . Newton , Talbot and Lawrence were elected on the Committee of Management .

On the proposition of Bro . C . E . Keyser P . G . D ., Bro . Farnfield was re-elected Treasurer , and then the election of Annuitants was proceeded with , the result being as stated in our last .

o o o Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

AS will be seen from an advertisement in our present issue a Matron is required for the Boys School , the qualifications for the office being set out in the announcement referred to . Applications must reach the Secretary of the Institution by Friday , Sth proximo .

Western District Masonic Association.

WESTERN DISTRICT MASONIC ASSOCIATION .

A SPECIAL general meeting of members was held at the Masonic Club , Princess Square , Plymouth , on the 18 th . Bro . J . B . Lord presided , and forty members from the various Lodges in the Three Towns and district were present . The new code of rules was adopted , and the following Officers were appointed : Bros . Captain

G . Strode-Lowe P . M . 1855 P . J . W . President , C . G . Withell P . M . 70 and 2025 ancl J . R . Lord P . M . 1247 Vice-Presidents , W . Allsford P . M . 202 Treasurer , J . Gilford P . M . 2025 Secretary , W . Furgurson P . M . 1212 and H . E . Sitters P . M . 1205 Auditors . Bros . G . Whittley P . M . 156 and G . Dunsterville W . M . 189

were elected on the Executive Committee . Bro . J . B . Gover expressed the belief that Exeter Brethren were in favour of the revision of the rules adopted by the Westcountry Brethren , and he thought they would be able to elect two more candidates on the fund .

The Anderson Bates Memorial.

THE ANDERSON BATES MEMORIAL .

" The greatest of these is charity . SO spake the mighty apostle , and the sentiment prevails as a truism to-day . The leading Masonic

Institutions , vital tributes to the generosity of the Brethren of the Craft , are amongst the greatest of their kind in the land , and the annual contributions that flow into them are colossal in amount . Although the hidden

The Anderson Bates Memorial.

mysteries and mystic arts of the Brotherhood ?„ re not for the uninitiated , one Masonic virtue is apparent to the world , and that is the all-pervading quality of charity . Brief paragraphs in our daily journals testify to the amount of the contributions which flow into the coffers of

the Masonic Institutions at the great festivals , and the main object of Masonic existence may be said to be to provide for Brethren and their families who have fallen into distressful circumstances . Amongst the most important

of the officials in Masonic life are the charity stewards , who emulate each other in their roll of subscriptions collected by systematic visits to the Lodges in their Province , and who delight in taking the largest amount

to the Central fund . Many methods are resorted to , to attract the gifts of the charitable-minded , and speaking generally such undertakings as may be arranged meet with satisfactory success . But in addition to the three

great Central Institutions in and around London , in many Provinces there are special charities which are confined to the one particular district . Lincolnshire , as a Province , boasts of several snch funds , and Grimsby

has now determined to do her best to perpetuate the Masonic fame of Worshipful Bro . Anderson Bates , a Brother highly esteemed among Masons and who has held the highest of the Offices that have come within his

opportumtes . Only a short time ago I was favoured with an invitation from the Pelham Pillar Lodge to join them at their Installation festivities , and had a very pleasant time . W ith that recollection fresh upon me I

accepted the invitation for Friday night ' s proceedings with alacrity and heartily thanked Bio . Carr for bearing me in mind . This Lodge ( the Pelham Pillar ) is typical of the town wherein it has a local habitation and a name

and is one of the strongest Lodges in Lincolnshire , many seafaring Brethren being admitted into its ranks . There are two other Lodges in Grimsby , but the Pelham Pillar is known as the popular Lodge . In one of the periodical

balancing of accounts of this Lodge some 18 months ago it v * as discovered that there was a balance of £ 5 which seemed to be unnecessary to be appropriated for any Masonic purpose . What should be done with it , was the

query within the portals ? Why not make it the nucleus of a Benevolent Fund named after the Worshipful Bro . Anderson Bates who has done so much for Lincolnshire Masonry in general and Grimsby Masonry in particular ?

The notion was approved with avidity , and steps were quickly taken to augment the solitary five-pound note from which originated the idea . That was a marvellous five-pound note ! Prior to Friday it had multiplied

sixtyfold and had reached the magnificent sum of £ 300 . But the goal aimed at is £ 1000 , to be devoted to a charity to be designated the Anderson Bates Benevolent Fund . A Masonic reception and ball was suggested , and was

quickly taken up by prominent Masons in the town and neighbourhood . Lincolnshire official Masonry has been recently greatly enriched by the admission of the Earl of Yarborough to its ranks . That nobleman will , no doubt ,

on Major Smyth ' s retirement from the office of Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire , already contemplated , be invited to assume that high position with the acclamation of all the Brethren . Lord Yarborough is at present

Senior Grand Warden of England , and Provincial Grand Mark Master of Lincolnshire , and his high rank enables him to have the assistance of many of the most distinguished Brethren in England at Lincolnshire

Masonic functions . He readily promised his aid and assistance on this occasion , and arranged to entertain at the lordly hall of Brocklesby , a number of guests for the occasion . Thus was success assured at the outset !

It may be stated that the Anderson Bates Benevolent Fund , which it was confidently anticipated would be considerably augmented by the festival of Friday night ( 80 th March ) , is a new local charity , established for the

immediate relief of poor and distressed Masons , their widows , and orphans . * * * The festival was a great success , ancl resulted in the augmentation of the Anderson

Bates Benevolent Fund by the substantial sum of £ 200 , making thc total £ 500 , half the amount required for completion . — " Past Master , " in " Retford News . "

The Marquis of Zetland presided on'Wednesday at the Festival of the Charities Association of N . and E . Yorkshire . A report will appear next week .