Our Tenth Volume.

OUR TENTH VOLUME .

THE time has once more come round for ns to address a few words to onr readers in regard to ourselves . We this day start with the Tenth Volume of the FKEJSMASON ' S CHRONICLE , and it behoves us to look back on the past , and thank those friends who have so warmly supported us . The misfortunes of Masonic literature have been so often

recorded that we feel ourselves the more honoured when we look around and find that we are now strongor than ever , and that the number of our supporters and helpers is daily on the increase . Still we are far short of what AVO

might reasonably expect when wo take into consideration the numerical strength of the brotherhood we have evei striven to serve . Our aim has been , zealously to uphold and support the true principles of Freemasonry , and to

assist in that great work of charity which has earned for the English craft the admiration of tho world . How far we have succeeded , it is not for us to say ; we can only

reiterate the expressions of every installing master , and hope " that our future conduct will bo such as to merit the esteem of the brethren and the gratifying testimony of a clear conscience . "

The Charity Festivals Of 1879

THE CHARITY FESTIVALS OF 1879

THE meeting of Wednesday brings to a close the customary festivities of our Charities for the year ; we are accordingly enabled to compare the results with those of the past . The total amount of subscriptions , as announced at the Festivals of the present year , exceed

by upwards of £ 300 those of 1877 , and as during that year there was a larger sum added to the funds of our Institutions than had ever previously been received , we may hope that 1879 will eventually show in advance of that highly satisfactory period . Be this as it may , there can be

no question but that the Craft has most faithfull y discharged its duty , and by the support of its members shown that , notwithstanding the general depression of the times , the Freemasons of England are able and willing to supply the requisite funds to carry on the noble Charities

of which they can boast . The results achieved by Bros . Terry and Hedges , on behalf of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and Royal Masonic Institution for Girls respectively , led many to believe that the efforts of Bro . Binckes and his Stewards for "Our Boys" would

fall short of the totals of previous years , even if other matters did hot arise to impede the flow of funds . That Mich did arise no one will deny , and yet we find that the Secretary of the Boys' School is enabled to announce at this latest Festival of his Institution the grand total of

£ 10 , 534 , a result nearly £ 400 in excess of that announced last year . We wonld ask how has this result been achieved ? Not , as Bro . Binckes observes , by the extraordinary exertions of any individual Province , but by an all - round" steady support , a support which , in our opinion , is far better than the spasmodic efforts of a section

, which for years after may be conspicuous by its absence , and thus leave the work they had created to be carried on and provided for by others . The lists themselves present some peculiar features , embracing as they do moro " large "

The Charity Festivals Of 1879

amounts than is usual . Thero are twenty-six Stewards who can boast of having contributed totals of three figures each , and when we say that some of them exceed , while others nearly approach , the half way to four figures , it will bo believed tho labours of these energetic workers

have boon well directed . As regards the number of Stewards for the Boys' School , 1879 is somewhat behind its predecessors ; this may , however , in somo measure be accounted for from tho fact already mentioned , that no Province has this year made special exertions on its behalf .

We consider that the Committee , Stewards , and others who have assisted to ensure the success of the Festival of 1879 deserve especial praise for the handsome way they

supported the chairman of the day , and we hope that his latest experience of the English Masonic Charities may lead him to renewed efforts towards the foundation of similar institutions for Scotland . Wo can assure him that

in such a task he has the hearty good wishes of tho brethren South of the Tweed , and in many cases will receive their tangible support . The particulars of the first two anniversaries of tho year are so well known to our readers that it is unnecessary for us to again recount

them , suffice it to say that , as with all our Institutions the expenditure for the future is based on tho results of the Festivals , it is necessary to keep up to the standard of tho past in years to come , even should wo only desire to con . tinue the same benefits as at present . But , so long as we

are obliged to turn away one deserving case that presents itself , we must keep on increasing our efforts , and until wo are able to provide for every candidate that is brought forward , we must continue our appeals for further support . The Committee of the Girls' School are , in consequence of

the success of the last Festival of that Charity , already making arrangements for increasing the number to receive the benefits of thoir Institution , and wo should very much like to see them in a position to take a similar step next year , and to be followed by the other Charities , —the

Boys' School and the Benevolent Institution , But this wo must leave to the liberality of tho Craft , never doubting but that the efforts of thoso who have labourod in the past will serve as an incentive and guide for those who are to follow in so laudable a course .

The brethren of the Metropolitan Lodge No . 1507 , and Royal Savoy No . 1744 , have combined to hold jointly a Summer Festival , under tho presidency of the Worshipful Masters , Bros . J . Douglass and J . Willing . The date fived is Thursday , 24 th July , and the place selected is the Rve

House , Hoddesden , Herts . The large grounds facing this popular resort will bo reserved for the festival by Bro . R . Teale , the proprietor . There will be a good band for dancing , & c , after the banquet , which will take pluuo at 3 . 30 . The indefatigable exertions of Bro . W . M . Stiles ,

who is the Secretary to both Lodges and W . M . of the King ' s Cross , together with the popularity of the W . M . ' s , will doubtless render this meeting a very enjoyable one . Special arrangements will be made with the Great Eastern Railway .

The consecration of the Penge Lodge , No . 1815 , will take place ou Saturday , 5 th July , at the Thicket Hotel , AnerlDy-Toau . The ceremony , which will commence at 3 . 30 p . m ., will be performed by Bro . H . E . Frances P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . Surrey . Bro . Robert Jackson P . M . 104 is the W . M . designate . The banquet is fixed for 6 . 30 ,