Annual Festival Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

he would briefly say that whatever time might effect in respect to his military position he only hoped that it might never sever him from his Masonic duties , in which he took so much pride and pleasure . Bro . John Hervey , G . S ., said that by permission of the noble brother in the chair he would propose the toast of " The Masonic Charities , " a toast which would commend

itself to the sympathies of all the brethren . It was rarely forgotten at Masonic meetings . There was scarcely a brother round the table who was not in some way or other associated with the charities , and interested in their success . When he loo ked round the hall he could discover hardly a brother who had not been more or less a supporter of those charities . He might say this toast was a family

toast , one in which they all sympathised . He was sorry to say that one of their excellent Secretaries , Bro . Little , was unable to be present on account of ill health , which they would all regret . Bro . Binckes also was not present , and Bro . Terry had been obliged to leave ; but he fancied lie would find a good respondent in thc person of Bro . I . M . P . Montagu .

Bro . J . M . P . Montagu in reply , said that the charity jewel was the brightest Freemasons could wear , and he was sure all the brethren would strive to place it on their breasts . He hoped they would all carry out what be had said a few days ago when one of the Secretaries said he thought the Masonic Charities would suffer from the handsome way in which relief had been extended to the

Indian famine , that the chantable instincts of Masons would not fail them , and that if an extra call wire made on them thty would do more for the charities than tbey bad done before , they would give their money freely , and it was not because there had been an extra call tVat they would neglect their own charities . Bro . Peter de Lande Long proposed " Tbe Stewards . " Bro . Richards replied , and the company then separated .

Annual Festival Of The High Cross Lodge Of Instruction.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE HIGH CROSS LODGE OF INSTRUCTION .

The first Anniversary Festival of the High Cross Lodge of Instruction , was held on Wednesday , 21 st Nov ., at Bro . Mattock ' s , Coach and Horses , Lower Tottenham . Bro . William Dance , W . M . 7 : 4 , President , and Bro . C . S . Brown , W . M . 1237 , P . G . D . C , Middx ., Vice President .

There were present Bros . Mailer , P . M ., Treasurer ; Driscoll , P . M ., P . G . P ., Middx ., Secretary ; Thompson , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Middx . ; Wells ; P . M . ; [ ones , P . M . ; Linzsll , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , Middx . ; Winsdale , P . M . ; Oddy , Stephens , Burford , Garrod , Clements , Evcrdel ] , Rolls , Killick , and numcious other brethren . After the dinner , which was served by Bro . Mattocks ,

tbe host , in a manner that gave thc utmost satisfaction , the president proposed " The Queen and the Craft , " observing that the gracious lady who ruled over us had by the purity of her life and the progress and prosperity of her reign endeared herself to all classes . The president next gave " Tbe Health of thc Prince of Wales , " the Most Worshipful Grand Master , and said that the Prince

had not only identified himself with Freemasonry and accepted the position he now held as the head of the Craft , but had by his many good qualities proved himself to be in all respects a thorough English gentleman . The Vice President then proposed the toast of " The Earl of Carnarvon , " the Pro Grand Master , and spoke in high terms of the services rendered by him to the Cralt . " The

l- ' ul of Skelmersdale , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers past and present , " was then proposed by the Vice President . These toarts were enthusiastically received by thc brethren present . The next toast , '' The High Cross Lodgeof Instruction , " was then given by the President , who spoke of it as being . 1 great stcccss , it having been established about five

years , and now bore on its books sonic seventy or eighty members . The subscriptions , which were but small , were devoted to charitable purposes , and the lodge had also acquired two life governorships in the Institution for the aged , were life subscribers to the Boys' School and would shortly be in a position to become life governor of another of the Masonic Institutions . The President took

occasion to speak in high terms of tbe services rendered to the lodge bylBros . Driscoll and Thompson , and coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Garrod , who had acted as Worshipful Master at the last meeting of the lodge . Bro . Garrod responded in appropriate language , and concluded by proposing in a few well chosen words the

next toast , that of " The President , " Bro . Dance , thc Worshipful Master of the High Cross Lodge , No . 754 , fiom which the lodge of Instruction derives it authority . The Picsidcnt having responded gave "The Health of the Vice-President , " Bro . Brown , and in thanking him for acting , congratulated him on his having attained provincial honours .

The Vice-President in response , expressed his gratification at the opportunity afforded to him of being present lo act as Vice-President , and referred in happy terms to Ihe friendly and good-neighbourly feeling that had always existed between the Enfield and High Cross Lodges . The toast of " Tbe Visitors " was then proposed by the President and responded to by Bro . Winsdale and tbe toast

of "The Treasurer" proposed by thc Vice-President and responded to b y Bro . Mailer . The President then proposed the toast of " Thc Masonic Institutions " and taking Hie Girls' School as thc first in its order of formation , he said that it commenced in 1778 with a very limited number of children , but succeeded in building their first school

n " 793- It had since progressed rapidly , and in 18 51 . . . P resent handsome school at Battersea Rise was built . 'he girls were there maintained , clothed , and educated , until 16 years old , and what was more , a protecting and wiping hand was extended to those who for lack of funds outside mi ght require it . It had made marked progress

Annual Festival Of The High Cross Lodge Of Instruction.

within thc last few years , for though in 1870 it maintained and educated 100 Girls , there were now 161 in thc school . It had £ 39 , 0 = 0 invested , from which an income of £ 1162 was derived and thc donations and subscriptions for 187 C were £ 10 , 161 . Thc next in order was thc Boys' School . It started in 179 S with six boys . Like tbe girls , the boys were maintained , clothed , and educated from eight to

sixteen years old , and there arc now something like 186 boys on the establishment , it had made great progress and bad acquired a substantial and permanent position , and had built thc extensive and handsome school at VVood Green . The Institution had been liberally supported , thc donations and subscriptions for thc year 1876 , were £ 13 , 220 , this with grants and thc banker ' s balance , brought forward from

the preceding year , placed £ 16 , 9 60 at thc disposal of the Commiitee for the year 1876 , and they were thus enabled to purchase " Kent House " Convalescent Home ( an acquisition which had been attended with great ( advantages ) , to increase their invested capital from £ 2000 to £ 5000 , and to begin the year 1877 with the highly respectable balance at their bankers of £ 247 6 . The education said

the President , given at both schools was of a sound practical character , such as would enable the children to fight the battle of life , and it was gratifying to know that many of them , both boys and girls , succeeded in taking honours at the local examinations of Oxford and Cambridge Universities . The last , though by no means the least , in importance of the Institutions was that for aged

Freemasons and thc Widows of Freemasons . Whether it was tliat there was more charm in helping the young than the old he could not say , but certain it was that this Institution had not been founded until 1 S 42 , although he need not tell the brethren that the helping hand had always been held out to the decayed Freemason by his brethren in the Craft . However , in 1842 this Institution

was founded , and it had gone on steadily increasing in prosperity . Since its foundation 468 brethren and 242 widows had received annuities . At the time of the last election there were 140 brethren in receipt of £ 5 600 ; 130 widows receiving £ 4160 ; and fourteen widows at half their deceased husband's annuities , £ 280 , 01 in round numbers , brethren and widows of brethren received for the

year £ 10 , 040 . The subscriptions and donations for the last year amounted to £ 13 , 368 , and this handsome amount had enabled the Institution considerably to increase the number of annuitants ; but , notwithstanding this , there were for the next election thirty brethren candidates , and nine vacancies and thirty-eight widows' candidates , and only seven vacancies .

In concluding his notice of thc three institutions , the President said that although last year the total amount thus devoted to educating the young and helping thc old was over £ 42 , 000 , still seeing that in both the schools and the institution for the aged thc candidates were hugely in excess of thc vacancies , it behoved every brother to do his utmost to support them—for they were all equally good ,

equally noble , and equally worthy of support—and there was a benevolent association connected with the Lodge of Instruction , which hail done much towards enabling brethren to become Life Governors of the institutions he had referred to ; he would not say more on this subject , but conclude by calling upon Bro . Thompson , to whose exertions , as its Secretary says , so much of its success was

due , to respond . Bro . Thompson , in response , said that the benevolent association had been formed some four years ago , and had been the means of enabling its members to acquire many Life Governorships of tbe various institutions , amounting to £ 445 . Several of its members , too , had served as Stewaids , taking up with them over £ 400 . Thc Vice-President next proposed the toast of " The

Officers and Brethren of the High Cross Lodge , " to which Bro . H . Stephens , S . W ., responded , and the proceedings closed with a cordial vote of thanks , proposed by the President to their host , Bro . Mattock , for thc capital dinner he had placed on the table . The evening ' s entertainment was much enhanced by some excellent singing by Bros . Stephens , Burford , Farrin , Oddy , Oxley , Killick , and others .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somerset.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET .

The annual Grand Lodge of the Province of Somerset was held at Taunton , on Monday , the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master of England and Provincial Grand Master of Somerset , presiding . The members of the Craft , to thc numb'T of about 150 , assembled at thc Shire I Iall , at

halfpast one o ' clock . The grand jury room had been fitted up to meet the requirements of Masonic ceremony , and punctually to the time fixed the lodge was opened in ancient form by the R . W . Pro G . M ., the Earl of Carnarvon . The roll of the lodges was then called over , all the lodges in the province except two answering lo their names . The present officers of thc P . G . Lodge in attendance

were Bros . 11 . C Else , D . P . G . M ; Dr . Samuel Bryant , P . M . 1296 , P . G . S . W . ; Geo . Ricks , P . M . 135 , P . G . J . W . ; Rev . T . L . Challen , 973 , and Re / . Francis Reed , 261 , P . G . Chaplains ; B . Turner P . M . 53 , P . G . Treas . ; F . 11 . Prideaux , P . M . 291 , P . G . Sec . ; E . Bath , P . M . 772 , P . G . S . D . ; C . L . Fry Edwards , P . M . 1199 , P . G . J . D . ; W . M . Forty , P . M . 291 , P . G . S . Works ; W . Clark , P . M . 281 ; , P . G . D . C ;

S . Jones , P . M . 1222 , P . G . Assist . D . C ; Thomas H , Leaman , P . M . 1197 , P . G . Org . ; A . Villar . W . M . 261 ; J C . Hunt , W . M . 135 ; W . Hickman , J . W . 135 ; J . t Dunsford , Secretary , 291 , and J . Hughes , 814 , P . G Stewards ; W . Woodford , 291 , and A . J . Carter , Tylers .

Amongst the visiting brethren present were Bros . Col . A'W . Adair , P . Prov . G . M . of Somerset ; W . S . Gillard , P . M . 1168 ; Robert . M . Worlock , P . M . 1388 ; Daniel Williams , P . M . 686 ; A . Pratt , P . M . 22 ; James Mills , P . M . 1125 , P . P . G . O . ; Henry Davey , P . M . 1125 ; Henry S . Gill , 1125 ; Thomas Parkhouse , 1125 , W . M . ; James

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somerset.

H . Lloyd , 1125 ; John B . Crabb , 112 5 , P . J . W . ; Jno . W . Hunt , 1125 ; L . W . Zuegg , P . P . G . S . W ., Dorset ; George Evans , 1181 , P . G . S . D . ; Henry Stransan , 39 , Exeter , P . M . P . P . J . G . W . ; John Algar , 39 , D . C . ; James Chaffin , P . M . 326 , P . G . J . D . ; H . jTSellick , 256 ; A . O . Hill . 76 ; Jas . Ricks , 23 , I . G . ; and W . Trevena , P . M . 159 . The lodge having been duly opened ,

Bro . F . R . Prideaux , P . G ., Secretary , read thc minutes of the Prov . Grand Lodge meeting , held at the Town Hall , Bridgwater , on the 22 nd September , 18 7 6 , under the presidency of Bro . Else , the V . W . D . P . G . M ., and they were confirmed and signed . Bro . E . T . Payne , P . G . Treasurer , next read a statement of accounts for thc past year , showing a balance in

hand amounting to £ 162 18 s . 7 d . On the motion of Bio . Mejler , W . M . ( No . 261 ) , who had assisted in auditing the accounts , seconded by Bro . Ashley , the accounts were passed . Thc P . G . Secretary having announced the receipt of letters from several brethren expressing regret at their inability to attend ,

The M . W . Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon , next declared all offices vacant , whereupon Bro . Col . Adair proposed and Bro . Wilton , P . G . J . W ., seconded , thc re-appointment , of Bro . E . T . Payne as P . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year , which was agreed to with acclamation . The M . W . Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon , said it afforded him great pleasure to think that the P . G . L . had secured

once more the valuable services of Bro . Payne , who , he believed , would now enter on the eighteenth consecutive year of his high office . His Lordship then proceeded to invest the newly-appointed officers as follows : — Frederick J . Brown , P . M . 41 Prov . G . S . W . A . Villar , P . M . 261 Prov . G . J . W . Rev . F . S . B . Scale , Chap . 135 Prov . G . Chap .

Rev . Thomas Randell , 261 Prov . G . Chap . T . Payne , P . M . 53 Prov . G . Treas . H . C . Smith , W . M . 1197 Prov . G . Reg . F . R . Prideaux , P . M . 291 Prov . G . Sec . H . f . Walker , P . M . 53 Prov . G . S . D . J . C . Hunt , P . M . 135 Prov . G . J . D . G . K . Foster , P . M . 329 Prov . G . S . of Wks .

H . W . Batten , P . M . 291 Prov . G . D . of C . W . W . Westcott , VV . M . 814 Prov . G . A . D . C Sidney Lewis , W . M . 1223 Prov . G . G . S . B . E . R . Hayter , W . M . 976 Prov . G . Org . A . W . S . Bailey , P . M . 772 Prov . G . Purst . W . H . Dill , P . M . 906 Prov . G . A . Purst . T . B . Wickenden , 446 ; L . Bohn ,

261 ; T . Shciring , 814 ; T . Parker , 285 ; J . Arney , 1199 ; and Jos . Trelivin , 135 Prov . G . Stewards . W . Woodward , 291 Prov . G . Tyler . J . Salter , 53 Prov . G . A . Tyler . Thc Prov . G . Sec . next read the report of the t harity Organisation Committee , which was received and adopted ,

on the motion of Bro . G . Ricks , seconded by Bro . Ashley , and , on thc further proposition of Bro . Payne , seconded by Bro . Wilton , it was also resolved that it should be printed and distributed in . The Prov . G . M . in moving the resolution which appeared in his name on the agenda paper that the sum of £ 50 be paid out of the fund of the Provincial Grand Lodge to the Indian Famine Relief Fund , said : All of us

have been so familiar unhappily from the daily newspapers with thc sad records of this famine that very little is needed on my part to explain , eir I think to justify , such a motion as this . I had this morning placed on my table a bundle of papers which contain some interesting details , which I thought the Provincial Grand Lodge might cate to know . Unfortunately by some inadvertence I left the papers

behind me and therefore I must confine myself to the mere generalities of the question . At the same time thc main facts are doubtless in thc mind 1 f everybody here , so that I need add very little that I think would be worth communicating . I am given to understand that tbere has been a doubt in the minds of some gentlemen , whether or no , the time of great distress having passed by , any further assistance to the Indian

Famine Relief Fund is really requisite . I think I can clear that doubt u ; - - at once by assuring every brother here that it is impossible to subscribe money to a worthier or a nobler object . Through the liberality of Englishmen in general , whether in this country or in our colonies , a fine response has been made to the appeal sent forth some months ago , and hard upon half a million of money has now been raised to place at thc disposal of the Indian Government . That h . i'f million no doubt is so

considerable a sum that it will tend in an appreciable degree to the mitigation of the suffering , but I should greatly deceive myself and you if I held out any hope that the half million would at all meet thc calamity . That calamity is of the most momentous character , it is one of thc darkest which is the recollection of this generation has befallen any part of the British Empire ; and if

even another half-million is forthcoming , it would not be at all too much ; in fact it would not suffice to do that which is desired . Some years ago great famine occurred in another part of thc Empire . By a most lavish expenditure of money and great sacrifice of ^ devotion on the part of all concerned in Jndia , this famine was met in thc most energetic manner which I think the history

of an civilized notion records . Great as the area was and vast as was the population , I believe it may be said without exaggeration that not a single life was lost through that famine . Unhappily as much cannot be said of the present famine . The area being larger and thc population affected greater , from various reasons it has been

impossible to meet it in the same way . Many have succumbed , and I am afraid mauy more must succumb to the effects of famine . At the same time the Indian Government has made efforts and much has been accomplished . Yet so terrible is the state of things that in August last , only a few months ago , the Viceroy of India wrote