Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.

sibility they had for educating their own children , bufc endeavoured to assist them to do so to the best of their power . Now , Mark Masonry he believed and hoped was progressing every day , and they were glad to see it ; bufc

they must remember that the more Mark Masonry progressed the more likelihood there was of their Fund being called upon to educate tho children of the poorer Mark Masons ancl the * heavier would bj the demands on the

Annuity Lund . Therefore he asked them to recollect that when they saw they were only educating 2 G children and hacl only four old Mark Masons on the books for tho Annuity B ' und , thafc ifc was simply because the Fund hacl

not been started many years ; the demands ou ifc Avere likely to increase every year . Consequently he hoped that no one would relax his efforts to keep up the good Charity in every wny he possibly could . Canon Portal hacl told

them of a small beginning . That Avas only 19 years ago , and the Fund had gone ou steadily increasing year by year till lasfc year there were no less than 157

Stewards ancl no less a sum than £ 2 , 207 4 s 9 d collected . They Avould hear presently from fch ' -ir worthy Secretary , Bro . Matier , who worked very hard , ancl who

did such excellent Avork for this good Charity , the sum collected fchafc night ; but he Avas glad to tell them fchero wero 163 Stewards , fche largest number ever yet seen afc one of their Festivals . He had alluded fco the

large sum collected for the Girls' Charity . That alone , he thought Avould be quite enough to make those who were Avorking that nighb feel pretty Avell certain that there would be a good deal of difficulty in drawing money

out of Masonic pockets . That large sum of £ 50 , 500 came out of Masonio pockets and it Avas a pretty good haul . Therefore , nobody need besurprisedto hear that night thab a less stim than last year was forthcoming . But

he looked upon the number of Stewards , 163 , as mosfc satisfactory , becanse it showed that a larger number of Mark Masons all over the country Avere taking an interest in the Mark Benevolent Fund , and he felt

certain that the numbers having now got up to such a pitch they would never decrease , but that the Mark Benevolent Fund would always ba represented in that

room , or Avherever else its Festivals might be held , by Stewards from all parts of the country . Ho thanked fchem for the Avay they received the toasfc of his health , and asked them to drink with him with extreme

heartiness , success to the Mark Benevolent Fund , coupling Avith the toasfc the name ancl health of Bro . Matier , whom he UOAV asked to announce the result of the SteAvard ' s efforts . Bro . Matier , Seoretarv of fche Fnnd ,

said he could not unfold to fche company a budget the same as Avas unfolded by Bro . Hedges on the occasion of the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

He could not say this had been the largest amount ever contributed ; bufc he hud to congratulate the meeting and the Marquess of Hertford on his being the Chairman when there Avas one of the largest ; amounts eA * er

subscribed . As his Lordship had alread y told them , there Avere many reasons why the amount which he hacl to announce that night Avas not larger . The Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , of Avhich every Mason Avas

most justifiably proud , had obtained a great aud unqualified success on the celebration of its Centenary , and he onl y hoped that when the Centenary of the Mark Benevolent Fund took place—he supposed none of those

present UOAV would be present then—the Secretary of that day would be able to make the same announcement , Bro . Hedges had made , that it Avas the greatest and mosfc splendid success ever realised in

f reemasonry . Bro . Matier then announced the subscri ptions , of which Ave give details elsewhere . Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke proposed fche health of those brethren who had served on the Board of Stewards

that day , and Avho had so excellently and energetically contributed to the success of the evening . Brother Matier had looked somewhat downhearted about his list nofc beinr >* so large that night as it Avas last , year , but Avhen fchey

"ousiclered the circumstances , he thought the Board of Stewards Avere fco be congratulated exceedingly upon the success they had achieved . They had hacl a somewhat uphill

game to play , and he thought they hacl played it mosfc successfull y . They had brought up a very handsome a riiouufc to this excellent Charity , and they Avho were ^ customed to the working of these things knew what an l -fiinense amount of labour Avas involved in getting up the auiouufc ; thoy knew the hours of the nidit a Steward had

Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.

fco devote to the completion of such excellent work , and he therefore thonght they should be acting very improperly that night if fchey parted Avithout recognising the merits of thoso meritorious brethren in getting this exceedingly

large sum , and coming before fche Festival wifch such lists iu their hands . He would couple Avith the toasfc the name of a well-known and highly esteemed brother , Charles Driver , the President of the Board of Stewards , who , wifch

great energy and ability , had devoted himself to the work . Bro . Driver , in reply , said every one was impressed that nig ht with the kind feeling which had prompted all the speeches . Tho Stewards had been this year not so

fortunate as they were last year with the lists they brought up ; but ifc was not for want of hard work on their part . They all admitted that circumstances over which they had no control had given to one great Charity

this year large success , and probably that strongly affected nofc only this meeting , but other meetings of a kindred nature ; but Avhen they knew how the SteAvards were assisted by other Stewards—Bros . Williams , Very , and

Church , all members of the General Board—and other distinguished past Mark Masters , it was nofc afc all to be wondered at that they had this year a success , and he conidered a very great success indeed—that they had

this year , under all the disadvantages he had mentioned , succeeded in getting the second largest ; amount collected in any one year . The work the Stewards had done had

been , a work of pleasure , and was one they had all interested themselves in , and fchey mighfc be depended on on all future occasions for doing the utmost in fcheir power to advance the interests of the Mark Benevolent Fund . He

trusted fchafcnext year , when they would starfcon equal ground wifch the other Charities , they would show a larger amount than they had shown this year . He thanked the brethren most heartily for the compliment paid the Stewards . He

hoped they felt those brethren had done the best they possibly could do for the Fund , and that they intended to do so as long as fchey were Mark Masters . Lord Saltoun said he was very much taken aback at being asked to

propose the next toasfc , bufc nevertheless he felt it was a very great honour conferred on him , Avhich they would all confess when he told them that the toasfc was that of the Ladies , Avho had so kindly graced the meeting , and who ,

he was perfectly certain , Avhen after this they knew what the Charity Avas wifch Avhich they were afc thafc moment connected , would on future occasions use their utmost endeavours to forward its interests , and do all in their

power to make next year and folloAving years the subscriptions even larger than they were that night . It was very difficult to speak for the ladies , but speaking for themselves ( fche Masons ) , he Avas perfectly certain thab the ladies

attending a meeting of this sort added to its pleasure , to its beauty , and to its success . He hoped the ladies Avould accept a humble apology from himself for not being a more capable exponent of their value . Bro . Randall responded ,

after which the Marquess of Hertford proposed the Visitors . Masons Avere aUvays hospitable , and therefore liked to see visitors at their gatherings . He hoped the visitors thafc night Avould go away impressed with the merits of the

Mark Benevolent Fund , and Avould do what they could to help ifc in the future . Sir Lionel Dayrell replied . In uttering words of thanks , Avhich came from his heart , he felt he Avas expressing the feelings of fche rest of fche guests .

They thanked the brethren most heartil y for having invited them to be present afc fcheir festive board , and for their excellent entertainment . They also congratulated their hosts on the munificent sum collected . The

visitors Avould go away thoroughly impressed Avith what fchey hacl seen and heard , and he would further say that the pleasure thab had been afforded them Avould

nofc be the pleasure only of that night , for they AVOUIC ! carry away Avith them mosfc pleasant recollections fchat Avould be stored in their memories . The company then adjourned to the drawing-room , where a concert vvas given .

HOLLOWAY ' S TILLS are the medicine mosfc in repute for curing- the multi Curious maladies which attack humanity when wot and cold weather gives ' place to more genial to tiperativres . Ia short , those Pills afford relief , if they fail of being au absolute remedy in all the ' disturbances of circulation , digestion , and . nervons energy which at times oppress avast portion of tho

population . Under tho wholesome , purifying , and strengthening- powers exerted by those excellent Pills , tee tongue becomes clean , the appetite improve .- ' , digestion is ijiiickonetl , and assimilation perfect . Holloivay ' s mt'di'inej possess the highly estimable property oC clea'ising tee whole mass oi' blood , which , in its renovated condition , carries purity , strength , ancl vigour to ovory Usbiio of the body .