Staffordshire.

Church , and fche balance to Bro . Boothman towards his church restoration fund . Bro . Boothman acknowledged the gift to his fund , adding fchat he was proud to know fchat thafc was the second time since he had been rector thafc fche P . G . Lodge had attended his church .

On the motion of Brother Newuham , seconded by Brother Bodenham , it was decided to increase the allowance to the " Provincial Grand Stewards from £ 20 to £ 30 . Bro . Col . Bindley proposed a vote of thanks to Col . Strick and the officers of the Artillery Volunteers for their kindness in

placing their headquarters at the service of the P . G . Lodge . The officers had been so kind that they had even altered their drill to meet the necessities of preparing the place . One of the officers , Brother Capt . A . B . Jones , had laboured indefatigably in making fche preparations . Bro . Piercy seconded the proposition and ifc was carried unanimously .

The Earl of Dartmouth , reverting to the question of the endowment in connection with the Wolverhampton Orphanage , suggested that the Committee of the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association should be requested to draw up a scheme which the various Lodges would have an opportunity of considering , so that they could get at fche wishes of the Province . This was approved .

The sum of ten guineas w & s voted to the Boys Scholarship Fund . An invitation was received from . Handsworth for the P . G . Lodge to meet under the banner of St . James ' s Lodge in 1898 , the year following the meeting at Lichfield .

On the proposition of Col . Bindley , seconded by theP . S . W ., a vote of thanks was tendered to the three Lodges at Hanley for their exertions to make the meeting successful , and promote the comfort of members . A vote of thanks was also accorded to the clergy who had officiated afc the church . P . G . Lodge was then closed .

The Brethren proceeded to the Victoria Hall , where a banquet was provided , and was attended by upwards of 350 members of the Craft . After dinner , the Earl of Dartmouth proceeded to propose the usual toasts .

Bro . Bailey Grand Treasurer responded for the Grand Officers , observing that he loved his Province , and he prized his appointment as Grand Treasurer , because it had brought to Staffordshire an honour which was great . Bro . Greatbatch , in proposing the health oi the P . G . M ., said they welcomed the Earl of Dartmouth as the vicegerent of the

Sovereign , and head of the Masons of Staffordshire . They would understand that anyone in the position of the Earl of Dartmouth would have innumerable duties to attend to , so that he could not be amongst the Masonic fraternity so often as he desired fco be . But seeing the many duties he had to look after the Masons

would be sorry to put another burthen on his shoulders . He had had a deal of correspondence with the P . G . M ., and he never knew him to miss a post without replying to a letter . The Masons of Staffordshire never made a better appointment than when they made the Earl of Dartmouth Provincial Grand Master . The toast was drunk with full honours .

The Earl of Dartmouth said he was deeply grateful to Bro . Greatbatch for what he had said and to all present for the way the toast had been received . All he could ask of them was " Nothing extenuate , nor set down aught in malice . " He assured them he deeply realised the responsibilities of the position he occupied , and he only regretted that he could not find more time to devote

to the duties of the office . But he took it from what had passed that day , thafc they would acfc on the suggestion he had given , and that when they were to separate they would take the initiative . Bro . Greatbatch had told them that he ( the Earl of Dartmouth ) never allowed a post to pass without replying to a letter . He always answered letters as soon as he possibly could .

There was an' interesting paragraph published some time ago giving two different systems of distinguished men in dealing wifch letters . Lord Dufferin attributed much of his success to answering every letter in half-an-hour . Some mi ghfc be answered at once . The sooner a person answered them the sooner he got rid of the less important ones , and the better would he be

enabled to deal with the more important ones . Another distinguished person said he took a simpler method of dealing with letters ; he never answered letters , because he found that in course of time they answered themselves . That was nofc a system which he would advise anyone to follow . It was a great

saving of time and trouble to reply to letters as soon as they could . In his visits through the Province he had visited seven Lodges . He should like to take that opportunity of saying that he had derived pleasure from his visits in every instance . He had been P . G . M . three years , and had met with nothing to find fault with .

After a brief interval the Earl of Dartmouth proposed the health of Col . Bindley D . P . G . Master , and the Officers of P . G . Lodge present and past .

Staffordshire.

Col . Bindley , who was very heartily applauded , responded , expressing his belief that they would soon be able to complete the orphan scheme , which would nofc be infcefered with by the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association gathering at

Trenfcham . He mentioned as illustrating the importance of the orphanage proposal that last October there were five orphans of Masons admitted to the Institution at Wolverhampton . He had been received with great loyalty and kindness in every part of fche Province .

Bro . Pepper proposed fche toast of the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association , and Bro . Bodenham , in responding , said although he was not now one of the Officers of the Association be yielded to none in the interest which he took in ifc . During the twenty-five years the Association had been in existence they had sent £ 11 , 000 to the Royal Masonic Institutions , and in local

charities fchey had spent something like £ 600 . He spoke of the importance of making an effort to extend the usefulness of the Association locally . It was a testimonial to the Association thafc since the re-organisation of the Boys School the Association had had a voice on the Board of Management . He hoped the

Trentham gathering would be successful , and thafc it would not interfere with the Wolverhampton Orphan scheme , which was quite in harmony with the objects of the Association . He hoped he should meet them all at Trentham on the 16 th July . — " Staffordshire Advertiser . "

A Colony For Epileptics.

A COLONY FOR EPILEPTICS .

WITH all the pomp and ceremony of Masonic ritual and regalia , Lord Addington Provincial Grand Master of Buckinghamshire on Tuesday laid the foundation-stone of a new home for women at the Colony for Epileptics , Chalfont St .

Peter . The colony , which is managed by the National Society for the employment of Epileptics , owes its existence to the munificence of Bro . J . Passmore Edwards , who not only purchased the site , a farm of 135 acres in one of fche most healthy and picturesque parts of the county of Buckinghamshire , but has also built a home for thirty-six men , contributed £ 2 , 500 to the

erection of this , the first home for women , and has promised in addition to be responsible for a home for children . The house begun on Tuesday under such auspicious circumstances will give accommodation for some thirty-five women , so that when this portion of the scheme is completed there will be about seventy colonists in residence .

There was a large attendance of Masonic Brethren at the function , and the proceedings were witnessed by a number of interested spectators . The members of the Craffc marched in procession to the ground , and the stone was fixed in position by

Lord Addington with workmanlike precision . Corn , wine , and oil , emblematical of plenty , joy , and peace , were poured on the stone , after which the plans and tools were presented , and Lord Addington declared the stone well and truly laid .

Mr . E . Montefiore Micholls , Chairman of the Executive Committee , in explaining the objects and progress of the colony , said it was inaugurated in August 1894 , with eighteen inmates , but the new home , formally opened by the Duke of Devonshire on 26 th November last , brought the total accommodation up to

thirty-six . The inmates did all the work of the farm , all the joinery and bootmaking , and they were much better for regular employment . The new home for women was quite an experiment , and was based upon the result of experience o £ similar institutions at Maghull , near Liverpool , and afc Bielefeld , in

Germanj , where the system was most beneficial and successful . They hoped before long to establish a dairy and jam factory , but before that was done they must have a laundry for the women to work in , and the Committee earnestly appealed for funds for the laundry and a medical officer's residence . At the present time there was absolutely no provision in this country for epileptic

children , but Mr . Passmore Edwards had promised to build a home for boys and a home for girls . The support of royalty had been secured , the Duke of York having consented to become the Patron of the Society . In conclusion Mr . Micholls presented a lovely bouquet of flowers to Mrs . Passmore Edwards , and moved a vote of thanks fco Lord Addington and fco Mr . Passmore Edwards .

In seconding , Dr . Buzzard said the medical staff were perfectly satisfied with the practical results obtained at the colony , and he emphasised the need of a house for a resident doctor . The vote was carried by acclamation , and briefly acknowledged .

Among those present were the Archdeacon of London , General Moberley , Dr . and Mrs . Buzzard , Miss Burdon Sanderson , Dr . and Mrs . Ferrier , Mr . and Mrs . Pearman , Colonel Montefiore , Dr . Shuttleworth , Dr . Outterson Wood , Sir Samuel Lewis , Mr . and Mrs . J . L . Roget , Mr . and Mrs . J . Euston , Mr . F . D . Mocatta , and Mr . W . E . Chapman , who superintended the Masonic arrangements . — " Daily Chronicle . "