Presentation To Miss Della Everett.

PRESENTATION TO MISS DELLA EVERETT .

At the conclusion of the business of the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys on Friday , the 17 th ult ., the Chairman , Bro . RICHARD EVE , said that he had been deputed by the members of the Board and other intimate friends of the Institution to perform a very pleasing duty . It was within the recollection of all that , by the kindness of their good friend and colleague , Bro . George Everett , their boys had been enabled , for the second time , to hold the Annual Athletic Sports on the beautifully-situated grounds at Kempton Park .

Unfortunately , Bro . Everett was unable to be with them on the chosen day through a severe attack of illness , but his place was admirably filled by members of his family , who worked hard to render every boy and visitor happy . None worked so hard or did so much to conduce to their comfort as Miss Delia Everett , and one and all felt a deep debt of gratitude to her for the grateful manner in which she had brought about a happy day . It was felt that a mere vote of thanks

was not sufficient , and their indefatigable Bro . James Stephens had carried through a project which would better show their appreciation of what they all recognised as a kindly and important service . He , therefore , begged Bro . Everett to convey to his daughter a letter signed by thc subscribers to the gift , and the accompanying diamond ring , as a souvenir of the occasion , and to mark the friendly feeling all entertained towards her and himself .

Bro . GEORGE EVERETT said : Although I am very much better in health , 1 am yet not very strong , and when our Chairman commenced addressing me I felt completely taken aback , not being in a fit state to bear surprises . This is , however , a very gratifying one . I was sorely troubled at the time of the Sports in being unable to be with you , but was delighted to hear that all appeared to have had a happy day . I was only too pleased to know that in my absence my children

were able to make things comfortable . Their kind presentation would be a very pleasant surprise to his daughter , and he felt very proud to think all entertained such kindly feelings towards her . He did not feel equal to the occasion , but assured them he would never forget their kindness as long as he lived . The letter accompanying the ring was as follows : "Jany . 17 th , 1896 . " Dear Miss Everett ,

" Please receive the accompanying Ring [ from the gentlemen whose names arc appended as a slight token of their regard and esteem , and in grateful recognition of the exceptionally kind and energetic manner in which you ( in the enforced absence of your dear old ' Dad' through illness ) assisted the Sports Committee in making the preliminary arrangements , as well for your indefatigable exertions on the day of ' Our Boys '' Sports at Kempton Park on June Sth , 1895 , in which you succeeded in not only making the visitors happy and comfortable , but also , indeed , the Boys themselves , culminating in the event being one of the most pleasant associated with the Institution .

" With our united best wishes for your future happiness , we are , yours very faithfully , Richard Eve ( Chairman ) , J . J . Thomas , J . W . Burgess , T . H . Roberts , C . W . Hudson , Geo . Corbie , W . A . Scurrah , H . A . Hebb , J . E . Le Feuvre , H . Manfield , J . M . McLeod , C . Pulman , H . Bevir , R . V . Vassar-Smith , Hugh E . Diamond , H . Pritchard , John Glass , J . P . Fitzgerald , Alfred C . Spaull , Charles E . Keyser , C . K . Benson , R . Cummings , W . Russell , W . F . Smithson , W . H , Bailey , J . Willing , jun ., Geo . E . Fairchild , S . J . Attenborough , Clifford Probyn , Oscar Philippe , Jas . Speller , W . B . Fendick , E . M . Krellwitz , G . Mickley , Christopher Sims , and James Stephens ( Hon . Sec . ) . "

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Grand Master's Lodge , No . 1 . The meeting of this lodge , on Monday , the 20 th ult ., at Freemasons' Tavern , was one of the most numerously attended in the course of the history of the lodge , there being about 100 brethren present . Itwas the annual meeting for the installation of anew W . M . and Bro . T . Poultney Griffin , the outgoing Master , presided . Among other members of the lodge who attended was Bro . the Right . Hon . the Lord Mayor , Sir Walter Wilkin , who was Master of the lodge in 1 S 73 . There were also present the following wearers of the purple , many of whom also are members : Bros . Mai . Woodall

Woodall , P . G . T . ; Richard Eve , P . G . T . ; Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale , P . M ., P . G . T . ; Sir Wm . Marriott , Q . C , Grand Deacon ; R . V . Gould , P . G . D . ; Dr . Ralph Gooding , P . M ., P . G . D . ; Sir George D . Harris , P . G . D . ; Maj .-Gen . Hay , C . B ., P . G . D . ; Col . Dundas , P . G . D . ; Charles Belton , P . M ., P . Dep . G . D . C ; Charles Martin , P . A . G . D . C ; J . T . Collins , Dep . Prov . G . M . Warwickshire , P . G . S . B . ; T . Hastings Miller , P . G . S . B . ; Maj .-Gen . Gadsden , P . M ., P . G . S . B . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ; and W . P . Brown , P . Dep . G . Std . Br . Bro . Griffin installed Bro . Joseph Rock , P . G . Stwd ., S . W ., the W . M . elect , as W . M . of the lodge for the ensuing year . The following

brethren received the collars of office : Bro . T . Poultney Griffin , P . G . S ., I . P . M . ; Richard Creed , P . G . S ., S . W . ; E . W . Stillwell , G . Stwd ., J . W . ; Dr . Ralph Gooding , P . M ., P . G . D ., Treas . ; Charles Belton , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , Sec . ; Thomas Dinwiddy , S . D . ; E . M . Morriss , J . D . ; Bradshaw Brown , P . M ., P . G . S ., D . of C . ; A . P . Youle , I . G . j H . L . de Montmorency and John Dimsdale , Stwds . ; and Goddard , P . M ., pere ct jils , Tyler . Bro . Dr . Gooding delivered the addresses . Bro . Richard Eve proposed , and Bro . Sir Joseph Dimsdale seconded a gift of five guineas to the Boys' School Scholarship Fund ; but as it was pointed out by Bro . Beltonsich amotion required

, notice , Bro . Eve gave notice of motion for next meeting . The brethren afterwards enjoyed a magnificent banquet in the Crown Room , and a concert by Bros . Dabell , W . Lewis Barrett , Sutton Shepley , May , and Henry Taylor , Bro . Henry Rose ( F . R . A . M . ) , P . M . 2000 , at the piano . Bro . J . Rock , W . M ., in proposing "The Queen and the Craft , " said the Queen was a lady who had reigned over this country tor many years , and he could not help thinking that the greatest privilege of the historian of our times would be to write the

history of that Queen's life . I here could be in it nought to extenuate , nor could there be ought to set down in malice . As Masons , they loved the Sovereign of their native land , they remembered the allegiance they were bound to when they became initiates , and in whatever trials , turmoils , and aflliclions her Most Gracious Majesty might be at the present time , it must be satisfactory to her to know that at least she could rest peacefully in the breast of 100 , 000 Masons who had sworn allegiance , and whose fidelity and obedience would never betray her .

Bro . Sir W . T . Marriott , Q . C , G . D ., replied to the toast which included "Thc Grand Ollicers , " and caused some amusement b y saying that however hard the work of the Grand Ollicers was , it did not impair their digestion , and that night they had done justice to the hospitality of the Grand Master ' s Lodge . Bro . T . Poultney Grillin , I . P . M ., in proposing "The Health of the W . M ., " said the lodge had paid Bro . Rock the highest compliment it was in the power of any lodge to pay one of its members by placing him in the chair of that ancient and distinguished lodge , and he and the brethren ware perfectly certain thjy had not made any mistake .

Whetherthey regarded their W . M . asa Mason or as a man , or as a genial companion , they rej / iced that they had made no mistake . M ire than 20 years ago he ( Bro . Griffin ) had the pleasure of introducing Bro . Kock into Masonry , and therefore he personally had great pleasure and pride in seeing him occupying the proud position of W . M . of the Grand Masters' Lodge . He had seen him pass the chair of St . John's Lodge , No . go , of which he saw many members then prtssnt . The brethren had seen Bro . Rock

work in that lodge and knew what he could do ; they had what the Yankees called " a live man ; " they had a genial companion , a man and a brother , who was always ready to do whatever he could to help anybody . They read in that Ancient Book they were tajght a » Masons to venerate about a certain man whj was foolish enough to build a hiute upon the sands of the seashore , and when Had Wiather came he was obliged to re we fiom that hou « . I'he brethren of Grand Mister ' s Lodge hid not been su foolish as to build their hopes upon the seashore or upon the sands , for they had laid the basis

Craft Masonry.

of their present year ' s Mastership upon a Rock , and a Rock , he thought , that would not fail them either when the rough weather came or at any other time . If the W . M . would absent himself for an hour or two from the table he ( Bro . Griffin ) would be able , perhaps , to say more than he could then , but the brethren all knew what Bro . Rock was , and those who did not should ( ro there and see him work , and what sort of man thev had put in the chair . He wished him a prosperous year of office , and that when he left the chair he would feel he had done his duty .

Bro . Joseph Rock , W . M ., replying , said he knew perfectly well that one half of th * : enthusiasm of the brethren was directed towards the chair and not towards the individual who then occupied it . It always had been , and it always should be , that that chair be respected ar . d honoured , but if he could only gain one corner in the brethren's hearts as he had striven to do since he came into the lodge , he should be well recompensed even if he had never been exalted to the high position of W . M . He thought Masonry was one of the grandest institutions for cementing friendships and binding men together that

was ever devised in the annals of the world , and for himself he would try to do his utmost , that that premier chair on the roll of the Grand Lodje of England should not be sullied or soiled by his occupying it . He once heard in his old mother lodge a short quotation as to Masonry— " Let us then , like the lamplighter , illumine our little spheres , that those who follow us may find they have left a track of light behind . " When he left the chair to a more worth > occupant he hoped that the brethren of No . 1 would feel that if he had done nought else he had not degraded it , and that he had left a little

track of light behind . He then proposed "The Past Masters . " The lodge would be nothing and should be nothing without a grand phalanx of Past Masters . That night they had a fairly good complement—at the least 10 , and when they reflected that all these brethren had passed the chair and had each left a streak of light behind , he was perfectly certain that its work of cementing friendships would call for a burst of enthusiasm which had not been heard in'that room for some time . He was going to couple with the toast the name of one of the most worthy brethren who ever filled that chair ,

and was then occupying a chair of far greater importance , Bro . Sir Walter Wilkin , the Lord Mayor . Many of the brethren of the lodge had come into it since the date when Bro . Wilkin was in the chair , for it was nearly a quarter of a century ago when that happened , but he did not look a year older . Might his light and his prestige lon ? live , might everything redound to his honour . Jfor it was sure to refljet on No . 1 Lodge ! Bro . Sir Walter Wilkin , P . M ., said that the toast which had been so cordially proposed and drunk gave him both pleasure and pain—pain , bscause he renumbered that

he was number five in the list of Past Masters , and that brought back a flood of memory as to those who had gone . But his comfort wis that there were others coming on in their wake carrying on the old story to their successors and all the blessings and privileges of Freemasonry . The W . M . had been good enough to tell the brethren that his brother citizens had placed him in a responsible position , but he could assure the brethren there was no honour so great as that of a man who carried out the true principles of Masonry , and he did not know any period in England's history when that was

more necessary than now . Brotherly love was a powerful word , especially to Englishmen scattered over the face of earth and water ; it enabled them to recognise the fact that they must exercise themselves for the general good , and that when trouble and distress arose they were bound to see how far they cou'd assist in alleviating those troubles . His membership of No . 1 Lodge had always been a proud day of his . life ; he had never had an unhappy moment attaching to that lodge . His sorrow was that his time was not so much at his disposal as to join with the brethren constantly on those

occasions , but his heart was still with the brethren , and he trusted theirs was with him . When he looked at his colleagues around him he knew at once why they were proud of their Past Masters ; they had chosen those who knew the duties they owed to Masonry-Masonry being no other word than that of General Society . The principles they acknowledged were those which governed , or should govern , the world , and if they were better understood , the world would be the better for it . He thanked the brethren on

behalf of himself and his colleagues , and hoped and trusted he might still be spared to the brethren ; that he might still remain No . 5 among the Past Masters , and not have the pain of going up higher . His hope also was that No . 1 might ( still go on and flourish . Bro . Rock , W . M ., next proposed "The I . P . M . and Installing Master , Bro . Griffin . " As words would fail him to say what he thought of his old and esteemed friend , he would give the brethren only a few lines of a

quotation" His magic was not far to seek , He was so human , whether strong or weak ; Far from his cot he neither sank nor soared , But sat an equal guest at every board . No beggar felt him condescend , No prince presumed , for still he himself bore At manhood's gentle level , and where'er He met a stranger , there he left a friend . "

Was not that an epitome of their worthy Past Master , Bro . Griffin * ' Was there any one who would say that those lines did not apply to him more , presumably , than to any one else present ? Those words would be remembered—would not be forgotten—of their Past Master even when he ( Bro . Rock ) had passed away . Bro . T . Poultney Griffin , I . P . M ., in response , said he thanked the brethren for their kindness to him while hc was in the chair , and overlooking all those shortcomings which he better than any one else knew , but which by their kindness were almost not

recognisable . The brethren had served him with a loyalty he should never forget . He should be ungrateful if he sat down without thanking Bro . Dr . Gooding for delivering the addresses to the Master , Wardens , and brethren in the recent installation . Personally , he sincerely thanked Bro . Dr . Gooding . The year had been a successful one ; they had had five initiates , and he hoped to live many years to see more come in . Bro . Walter Peace , C . M . G ., Agent-General for Natal , responded to the toast of

" The Visitors , " and said the remarks of the Lord Mayor appealed very forcibly to his mind—connected as he was with a part of the world in which of late there had been very little peace , and the brethren would believe him when he wished from his heart that that spirit of brotherly love which animated Freemasons might only be spread broadcast over that part of the world with which he had been so long connected—hc meant South Africa . "The Officers " and the Tyler's toast concluded the evening .

Probity Lodge , No . 61 . There was a brilliant assemblage of the brethren of Halifax and its neighbourhood at the Freemasons' Hall , St . John ' s-place , in that town , on Monday , the 27 th ultimo . The occasion was the annual installation ceremony of the above lodge , but what added greatly to the interest was the fact that the occupant of the chief civic chair of Halifax was also to be placed in that of King Solomon . Bro . Geo . 11 . Smith , Mayor of Halifax , after a membership extending over some dozen years , has reached the goal of his

Masonic ambition ; having , as he himself explained , climbed step by step from thc lowest rung of the ladder to the hi ghest . In a lodge numerically so strong as Probity , promotion comes slowly , and ' pertinacity and application are needed to secure thc desired result . Bro . G . II . Smith has shown both , and now occupies thc proud position of being W . M . of his mother lodge , and that the oldest lodge in West Yorkshire . In most lodges in this province it has now become a recognised custom for the out-going W . M . to install his successor , and this rule was observed . Bro . AUred Binns discharged

the duty of Installing Master with great feeling . He was assisted by a few of the many able Past Masters , of whom Probity can justly boast , and the ceremony was rendered throughout in a manner which left little to be desired . Bro . W . Scott Milligan , 44 S , sang the air from " St . Paul , " which is becoming so constant a feature on these occasions , and , though suffering from a cold , acquitted himself with great credit . There must have been in all quite " 90 brethren present , amongst whom were Bros . Hy . Smith ,

Dep . Prov . Grand Master ; Alfred Arnold , M . P . for 11 ilifax , P . P . G . W . ; T . H . C Scratcherd , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; J . W . Bilme , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; Herbert G . E . Green , P . M . ioio , Prov . G . Sec ; Geo . Buckley , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C ; W . Gaukroger , J . P ., P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; Joseph Matthewman , P . M . 1019 , Prov . A . G . Sec ; W . Wright , P . M . ; W . E . Smithies , P . M . 1231 , P . P . G . D . ; W . F . Morris , P . M . 173 O ; j . T . Last , P . M . 2321 ; and numerous . ) other brethren from Hudderslield , Bradford , and neighbouring towns .

I'he VV . M . appointed the following brethren as his officers for the year : Bros . All Binns , I . P . M . ; K . M . Kerr , S . W . ; J . II . G . Davis , J . W . ; the Rev . II . F . Wonna cott , Chap . ; ] . W . Balme , Treas . ; Jas . Duff , Sec . * , Alexander Scott , S . O . ; Geo . VV . Baxter , J . D . ; Brook R'jwley , I . G . ; W . Ackroyd , Librarian ; J . H . Murgatroyd ,