The Year 1883.

THE YEAR 1883 .

THERE are good reasons why we should be satisfied with the progress which Freemasonry has made daring the year that is now on the eve of closing . It is true it has not been marked by anything especially eventful ; it may be taken as a good sign that the number of

new Lodges which have been placed on the roll is not excessive , while the strength of those previously constituted has been confirmed rather than extended . Indeed , from a numerical point of view , the present state of the Craft may be looked upon as being pretty much what it was twelve

months ago . Again , though Death has removed from our midst several distinguished brethren , our losses in this respect have not been exceptionally severe either in point of numberp or merit . It is the sad fate of every one who takes

a retrospect of the . events which have happened during a particular period of time to miss many old and familiar faces , but on the present occasion our sorrow , if it is not less than usual , is certainly not greater . On the other hand , there is one feature connected with 1883 which

stands out with unusual prominence . In the whole history of Masonry there never has been a year in which the sum raised by the voluntary subscri ptions of brethren towards the support of our Charitable Institutions has reached so magnificent a total , while in the case of one of them—the Boys '

School—its Anniversary Festival , in June last , proved vastly more productive than any similar celebration in behalf of any charitable Institution , whether Masonic or non-Masonic . It is possible , of course , in some measure to

account for this by the exceptional attractions that were held out to brethren to contribute freely of their bounty ; but we are not inclined to accept this explanation as in any wise detracting from the exceptional merit of the subscription . It was made clear that there was the need for a

supreme effort to accomplish a particular purpose , and the supreme effort was made with a success which is unparalleled in the history of Charitable Festivals . No amount of explanation can deprive the brethren of the pleasure they must derive from this achievement . Then the work

of revising the Book of Constitutions has been completed in the main satisfactorily . We know there are brethren who regret that some changes should have been made , as there are those who would have gladly welcomed others

that have not been made ; but , on the whole , it may be said that , as the result of the revision , nothing has been done by way either of commission or omission which has materially affected the characteristic features of our Constitutions .

In their new , as in their old , form , they constitute on the whole a wise and politic code of laws for the government of the Craft in England , and more than this it would be unreasonable to expect .

Thus far we have spoken in general terms of the Masonic events of the year 1883 , but , doubtless , our friends will be better satisfied if we enter somewhat into particulars , so that they may read and judge for themselves whether or not our notions of satisfaction with the twelve months'

retrospect are in accordance with theirs . As regards the increase in the number of our Lodges and Chapters a comparison of the new Grand Lodge Calendar with that for

The Year 1883.

1883 will show that in the case of the former some thirtyseven fresh warrants have been granted , while iu that of the latter there have been some seventeen . When it is remembered that these new bodies are distributed among the London District , the Provinces , and Abroad , it will be seen that our statement as to the numerical increase in our

strength having been , speaking comparatively , of no appreciable extent is fully borne out by the circumstances on record . Then as to our personal losses by death they have been sufficiently numerous to excite a strong feeling of sorrow , but they have not been above the average of

past years . Among them must be mentioned one Grand Officer , Bro . W . G . Harrison , Q . C , who died within a short time before completing his year of office . Of Past Grand Officers there have passed away Bro . John Deighton , a P . G . J . D . D . P . G . M . and Prov . G . Supt . of Cambridgeshire ,

and Bros . Jas . Mason , Duff-Filer , and Lucia , all P . G . Sword Bearers . Other deceased notabilities include Lord Sherborne Past Provincial Grand Master Gloucestershire , Captain Standish Deputy Gaand Master Victoria , Bro . J . Wordsworth P : G . Steward and P . Prov . G . J . Warden

W . Yorkshire , and as well as G . M . M . Mason for the same Province , Captain Hanham , R . N ., Past Prov . G . S . W . Dorsetshire , Bro . Dr . Wilson lies D . P . G . M . Hertfordshire , Bro . Henry Murray P . Dist . G . M . China , & c . All these brethren were more or less conspicuous by their support of

our Institutions . As to our Anniversary Festivals , that of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was held on the 28 th February . Bro . Gen . Brownrigg , C . B ., Prov . G . M . Surrey , occupied the chair , and the total which Bro . Terry had the satisfaction of announcing in the course of the

evening was in excess of £ 13 , 000 . We sincerely hope that the result of the approaching anniversary will be to the full as productive , if not more so . The Festival of the Girls' School took place early in May , under the presidency of Bro . W . W . B . Beach , Prov . Grand Master of Hants and

the Isle of Wight , the result being a total of subscriptions amounting to upwards of £ 10 , 500 . The last of the three anniversaries came off at the Crystal Palace in June , the presiding genius for the occasion being Viscount Holmesdale Prov . G . Master of Kent . The total of the donations

and subscriptions which it was the privilege of Bro . Binckes to announce on this ever-memorable occasion was about , in round figures , £ 22 , 500—increased by amounts subsequently received on account of outstanding and other lists to over £ 23 , 000—of which sum £ 15 , 000 were in respect

of the General Fund and £ 7 , 500 for the Building Fund of the proposed Preparatory School . Thus , the three Festivals of 1883 , taken together , yielded between £ 47 , 000 and £ 48 , 000 if we include sums subsequently received for

the Girls' and . Benevolent , while in no previous year has the aggregate been much in excess of from £ 37 , 000 to £ 38 , 000 . It is unnecessary to enlarge on figures such as we have given : they tell their own tale .

Two other events of interest are connected with the

year ' s record of Constitutional Masonry . On the 18 th of July , the Prince of Wales , as Grand Master of the English Craft , laid the foundation-stone of the new Institute for art , literature , and science in the ancient city of York . The occasion was a brilliant one , there being a large concourse of brethren not only from the Province of N " . and E .

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