Masonry In Season.

MASONRY IN SEASON .

Ab is generally the case at this period of the year , reports are appearing in the press in different parts of the country , of efforts made by local Lodges or individual "members of tbe Craft , on behalf of the aged in needy circumstances or the children of the poor in their midst , the beneficiaries including , not only

those associated with the Masonic Order , but many outside of it , the sole qualification for help being the need for it at this special season of the year , and the sole desire of the donors being to do a kindly action for as many of their less fortunate fellow creatures as is possible .

Such seasonable consideration for those outside our ranks may certainly be regarded as one of the brightest characteristics of Freemasonry , and a fitting conclusion to the year ' s work of our Brotherhood , even were there nothing else to point to in

such a connection , but this is but a very small part of what is going on around us at this season of the year , for although outsiders are receiving attention in many quarters those within the fold are by no means being forgotten , as the events

of the near future will amply demonstrate , we looking forward to the pleasure of publishing within a few weeks from now the result of the efforts of the year ' s Stewards of the Benevolent Institution , many of whom are doubtless very busy

at this period of goodwill and benevolence , on behalf of the army of annuitants who are already elected on to the funds of the Institution , or the many old people who are candidates for its bounty .

It is very certain the instances of such thoughtful consideration for outsiders , on the part of members of the Craft , as come under our notice , represent but a very small proportion of what actually occur , and we have heard criticism

offered in regard to the cases that are actually noticed in the different papers , the opinion sometimes being that such benevolence is best practised in private , and not published to the world , but we are not of that opinion , rather believing

that records of such kindly consideration for the needy serve more as examples for others to copy than as evidence of desire to appear favourably in the eyes of the world . We are convinced that many of the movements now in force for the

relief of distress at this period of the year are the direct outcome of previous announcements published in regard to such action on the part of others , and we feel no hesitation

in giving as much publicity as is possible to benevolence practised just now , in the hope that others who are able to , will go and do likewise—imitation in so good a cause being the sincerest flattery .

The Chirgwin Memorial.

THE CHIRGWIN MEMORIAL

PABT of the memorial dedicated to the late Bro . Chirgwin ( more than once Mayor of Truro ) by the Freemasons of Cornwall and other friends , has just been placed in Truro Cathedral . It consists of a stained glass window filling one of the two lights in the partially-built first bay of the nave on the north

The Chirgwin Memorial.

side of the building . The subject of the window ( which forms one of •tbe series of historical persons and events , planned from the first for the formation of a complete history of the Christian Church ) includes in the upper part the figure of the Venerable Bede , Church historian and divine , who was born at Jarrow A . D .

673 , and died there A . D . 735 . He is commemorated m the Kalendar of the Book of Common Prayer on 27 th May . His remains still rest in Durham Cathedral , under a stone marked " Hac sunt in fossa bedse venerabilis ossa . " On each side of him are depicted St . John Damascene , the last great father of the

Eastern Church , and Aleuin , the founder of Christian education in Western Europe . Below is given Bede , on his death-bed , concluding his great work of translating the Gospel according to St . John , and being raised up to catch sight once more

of the Church of Jarrow , endeared to him by many holy memories . The design and execution of the stained glass by Clayton and Bell leave nothing to be desired . The other part of the memorial , consisting of an inscribed marble tablet , will be fixed in a few weeks . — " Western Morning News . "

Masonic Treat To The Aged.

MASONIC TREAT TO THE AGEO

ON the 20 th inst . the annual treat to the aged of Cleckheaton , provided by the members of the Zetland and Friendship Lodges , took place at the Town Hall . A substantial tea wat . served in the afternoon to about 120 old folks , and afterwards there were short addresses and an entertainment . Bro . S . Law presided , and gave the aged guests a hearty welcome , and later

on the Bev . W . Leicester also spoke . Songs were sung by several friends , and Mr . S . Blackburn showed his phonograph . As the guests left each received a parcel containing a Christmas

loaf and a packet of tea , and also a shilling presented by Mr . Alfred Law ; and arrangements were made for parcels to be sent the following day to a number of old folks who could not attend — " Bradford Observer . "

Theatrical Help.

THEATRICAL HELP

BRO . F . W . PUBCELL annually gives the proceeds of one performance to the Masonic Charities , and his generosity in this respect is not confined to Bury , but is shared by other towns in which he has theatres . This year his efforts , so far as this borough was concerned , were with a characteristic generosity supported by the renowned troupe of amateur minstrels known

by the name of Minnehaha , who have , during a period of fifteen years , contributed by means of their performances no less a sum than £ 11 , 062 16 s lOd to Lancashire Charities , and the laudable object , together with the admirable bill of fare , was a guarantee of a large house on Tuesday evening ( 17 th instant ) , when this

ethiopian troupe occupied the boards of the Bury Theatre . The gathering was not only a large one , but brilliant , dispensation having been granted for the Brethren to appear in Masonic Craft and Boyal Arch clothing . The performance was under the patronage of Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie Prov . G . M . of East Lancashire ,

and many other prominent Masons . The performance was unfortunately delayed in starting , owing to a mishap on the railway which delayed the troupe in their arrival , and the audience were kept waiting three quarters

of an hour longer than the time announced before the proceedings commenced . Brothers Y . Brown and F . W . Purcell asked the indulgence of the audience , and it was readily granted , but the programme , which was a lengthy one , had necessarily to be curtailed .

Though opportunity prevented gratitude being expressed it was doubtless felt both for the kindness of Brother Purcell and tbe Minnehaha Minstrels for their entertainment . — " Bury Guardian . "