Ad00704

ARMFIELD'S SOUTH PLACE HOTEL , FINSBURY , LONDON , E . G ., This new and I andsomely-furnished Hotel is now FULLV LICENCED . Its position is central , and charges are moderate ; the sanitation is perfect . Passenger lift to eich floor . SPECIAL CONVENIENCE FOR MASONIC LODGES , DINNERS AND ClNDERELLAS .

Ad00705

rpEOFANI'S HIGH-CLASS CIGARETTES . Awarded Two Gold Medals for Quality and Make , International Tobacco Exhibition , 1 S 95 .

Ad00706

A Feature of the Metropolis . SPIERS & POND'S / CRITERION RESTAURANT , PICCADILLY CIRCUS , LONDON , VV . EAST ROOM . Finest Cuisine , unsurpassed by the most renowned Parisian Restaurants , Luncheons , Dinners and Suppers a la carte and prix fixe . Viennese Band . GRAND HALL . Musical Dinner 3 s . Cd . per head . Accompanied by the Imperial Austrian Band . WEST ROOM . Academy Luncheon 2 s . Gd ., Diner Parisien 5 s ., during both of which the renowned Mandolin Quartette performs . BUFFET & GRILL ROOM . Quick service ;\ la carte and moderate prices . Joints in each room fresh from the Spit every half-hour . AMERICAN BAR . Service of special American Dishes , Grills , & c . Splendid Suites of Rooms for Military and other Dinners .

Ar00700

NOTICE . In consequence of Friday next being Good Friday , the "Freemason" will be Published on the evening of Thursday , lho 7 th inst- » instead of Friday , as usual .

Ar00707

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

« * apc 1 ll "' ' . " ° f thc U ° ard of Stcwards { ° ' ¦ "ion forC " 'S"Val ° f thc Ro * al MaSOnic Insti " T «« day tS , , ' P ^^ sons' Hall , on We re ao L ; " ; j V ' when the following brethren Si ' Joh „ B M t 0 " 3 ° f thG B ° ard ' nal"e ' y : Br ° ' J B ' Monckt 0 " - P . G . W ., Patron , President SATURDAY , APRIL 2 , 1898 .

Masonic Notes.

Bro . Colonel Clifford Probyn , Grand Treasurer elect , Patron , Treasurer ; Bro . Stanley J . Attenborough , P . A . G . D . C , Patron , Chairman of the Ladies'Stewards ; and Bro . F . R . W . Hedges , P . G . S . B ., Vice-Patron , Secretary of the Institution , Hon . Secretary . We

understand that the distribution of prizes will take place at the Institution , St . John ' s Hill , Ba : te .-sea Rise , on Monday , the 16 th May—the Monday preceding the Festival—when the agreeable task of handing their awards to the prize-winners of the past year will be gracefully discharged by Lady Hanson .

* * * We are indebted to the courtesy of Bro . Herbert R . Heap , P . M ., Prov . J . G . D ., Treasurer of the North Wales Masonic Charitable Association , for a copy of the report for tbe year 1897 . From this we ate glad to find that the Association has latterly been faring

very prosperously , and we heartily congratulate our North Wales brethren on this fact . The Association comprises two Funds , which are known respectively as the "A , " or London Fund , and the "B , " or Provincial Fund , and from the two Tabular Statements which have been compiled for the purpose of showing

the amounts contributed to each during the eight years from 1890 to 18 97 , both inclusive , we learn that the total received by the "A" Fund in 1 S 90 was . £ 105 , the number of contributing lodges being 10 ; in 1 S 91 it was ^ 58 fro m eight lodges ; in 1892 , ^ 70 gs . 6 d . from six lodges ; in 1 S 93 , ^ 99 3 s . from five lodges ; in 1 S 94 , £$ j \ 12 s . from six lodges ; in 1895 , ; £ 143 17 s . from

seven lodges ; in 1896 , £ 2 ii is . from 12 lodges ; and in 1897 , ^ 271 19 s . from 11 lodges . There are 20 lodges on the roll of the Province , of which St . Mark's Lodge , No . 2423 , Connah's Quay , was warranted in 1892 , and the St . Trillo Lodge , No . 2569 , Colwyn Bay , in 18 95 , and of these 20 there are only two that have not given anything to the Fund .

* * * All the lodges in the Province have contributed to the " B " or Provincial Fund , the amount received in 1890 being ^ 49 19 s . 6 d . fro m 12 out of 18 lodges ; in 1891 , _ £ so 3 s . 6 d . from 11 lodges ; in 1892 , . £ 48173 . 6 d from II lodges ; in 1893 , £ 42 ios . from nine out of 19

lodges ; in 18 94 , £ 52 Ss . 6 a . from 13 out of 19 lodges ; in 18 95 , £$ i 4 s . from 14 out of 20 lodges ; in 18 9 6 , £ 77 ios . sd . ; and in 1897 , . £ 92 Cs . Thus last year both Funds were in clover , the " A " Fund in particular , obtaining contributions exceeding by _ C 6 o , those | obtained in 18 9 6 , while the latter in their turn were £ 6 y in excess of the total raised in 1895 .

» » The Treasurer ' s Statement of Account for the " A " Fund shows a total of Receipts—including a balance of . C 72 1 Ss . 6 d . from previous year ; ^ 52 ios . from Pro - vincial Grand Lodge ; £ 21 from Chapter No . 3 84 ; and £ 21 in the shape of "Sundries "—amounting to

£ 439 4 s . 6 d . ; while the payments to the three Festivals of 18 97 , and in respect of the approaching Boys' Centenary , amount to . C 415 16 s ., the balance remaining in hand being £ 23 8 s . ( 5 d . ; and , as we understand that great efforts are being made in order that the Province may make a good return at the great

gathering in behalf of Our Boys in the Royal Albert Hall in June next , under the presidency of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , we doubt not that North Wales will compile a total of Returns which shall redound greatly to its credit .

Ihe Treasurer s Account for the "B , " or Provincial Fund , including a balance from 18 9 6 of £ 49 17 s . Sd ., amounts to . £ 159 iSs . nd ., while the payments reached £$ g 3 s . id ., of which . £ 15 155 . was disbursed in relief and for thc education of a boy , while , £ 15 was laid out in the purchase of votes ; the balance remaining in hand at the close of the Account being ; £ ioo 15 s . iod .

* * * It only remains for us to add that the 13 th annual report of Bro . C . K . Benson , who is thc London representative of the Province , is included in lb pi . _; phlet we have received , and from this it appears that there will be available at thc elections during the current

year the following votes , namely , in the present month S 97 Boys and 577 Girls ; in May , 366 Men and 285 Widows ; in October , 518 Boys and 542 Girls ; but these , we are told by Bro . Benson , will be devoted towards liquidating the indebtedness incurred by the Province in carrying the election of a girl candidate in

April of last year . The Province , however , from the "Statement of Votes Owing by and Due" to it "for the year 1897 , " would appear to be very favourably circumstanced . In short , the report is in every way satisfactory , and we trust that future annual reports will be equally so .

Masonic Notes.

It is with very great pleasure we publish the particulars of the consecration of two of the new lodges for which his Royal Highness , the M . W . Grand Master , has been pleased to issue warrants . These are the Wandle Lodge , No . 26 99 , in the Metropolitan District , which was consecrated by the Grand

Secretary , and the other the Doric , No . 2695 , Harrogate , which is in the Province of West Yorkshire , and in the unavoidable absence of Bro . the Ri ght Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master , was ushered into existence by his respected Deputy , Bro . J . C . Malcolm , P . G . D . England . At both ceremonies there was a

large concourse of brethren , and to judge from the manner in which everything passed off and the enthusiasm which prevailed , we should say there is a bright and prosperous future before each of them . They certainly have our most cordial wishes for their future career . * * *

There is a yet a third lodge , which was started on its career at Stafford on Friday , the 25 th ult ., the Consecrating Officer in this case being the Grand Secretary . The lodge , which bears the name of " Foster Gough , " after the late Bro . Col . Foster Gough , LL . D .,

Prov . G . M ., and ranks as No . 2706 on the register of United Grand Lodge , is composed entirely of Installed Masters , the number of founders being 102 , while the first W . M . is none other than Bro . the Earl of Dartmouth , the successor of the late Bro . Col . Foster Gough as Prov . G . Master of Staffordshire .

* * * Our worthy Bro . " Level , " who compiles the Masonic column of the Cape Argus , has been reviewing the Grand Lodge and Cosmopolitan Calendars for the current year , and in the course of his remarks has laid some stress on the errors which are to be found in

those sections of or particulars in these annuals which refer to South Africa . We naturally regret that errors should have been discovered in these publications . Unfortunately , there is no law that we are aware which exempts the compiler of a Calendar from the frailties of human nature , and just as some one has declared

that he was the best general who made the fewest blunders , so we imagine the best editor or compiler of Calendars will be he who manages to commit the fewest possible mistakes in the very minute details it is his business to obtain . Unfortunately , the accuracy of the particulars furnished in these books is not

determined wholly and solely by the care exercised by the editor , He is dependent on an infinite variety of people , some of whom are willing , some unwilling , to afford him the information he asks for ; some of them are prompt , but some dilatory , in forwarding it , while some are themselves models of accuracy in the returns they make , and others—the very reverse .

* * » In offering these remarks , we have no desire to avoid such uncomplimentary criticisms as are justly due . In the course of our duties , we have probably more frequent occasion to consult these Calendars than our readers or the great bulk of the Craft have . But as

regards them both , wc know full well how exceedingly careful are those to whom the compilation of the details is entrusted . In the case of the Grand Lodge Calendar , there is not a change in * a day or place of meeting which is not noted at once in the Grand Secretary ' s office , and the correctness of which every

opportunity that is possible , having regard to time and circumstances , is taken of verifying . Every care is taken in order to ensure that the particulars which thrc publication of this Calendar is intended to supply shall be as correct and up to date as possible . If Bro .

" Level " will try his hand at "Calendaring" just for a month , he will quickly discover that it is easier , and at the same time far more pleasant , to criticise the inaccuracies of others than to avoid inaccuracies himself .

# * * As for the Cosmopolitan Calendar , the particulars which the editor furnishes are the best and latest he is able to obtain ; but the range of inquiries is very formidable , and the information for which he is dependent upon others is not always forthcoming , or when it is forthcoming , proves afterwards to be incomplete

or erroneous . We know the editor will spare no pains in order lo make the " Cosmo " as near perfection as can be , and his efforts in this direction will be more or less successful , according as those he is dependent on for his details are prompt and careful in furnishing them . « .

BRO . LORD AND LADV CO . NNKMAKA have left London for Brighton , where they intend spending some weeks , for the benefit of Lady Connemara ' s health . |