The Old Masonians Association.

Bro . R . H . WILLIAMS proposed "The Health of the Chairman , " referring in kind terms to the brethren who had previously acted in that capacity . Bro . MCLEOD , in replying , said it bad been to him a great pleasure to act as their President , and although leaving that position that night , he would

always be ready to give them any assistance in carrying on the excellent objects of the association . He added that 24 guineas had been collected on the list that night . Bros . Strachan and George Kenning having also become Vice-Presidents , to which body he also wished to add the name of Mrs . McLeod . He had one

more duty to perform , and that was to nominate a successor for the coming year . He had much pleasure in naming as President one of the best friends the R . M . I . Boys possessed , Bro . George Everett , P . G . Treas ., and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Alanagement . Bro . McLeod , the President , proposed " The Visitors , " to yvhich Bro . H . F . P . Inglisof the

Sec-, retary ' s office , responded . The pleasure of the evening was greatly enhanced by some excellent singing and recitations by Alessrs . C . Patrick O'Doherty , Vincent J . Lee , A . H . Stephenson , F . Dyer , and W . J . Packer . The meeting concluded by the singing of the National Anthem .

The following have qualified as Vice-Presidents by a donation of three guineas each : Mrs . J . AI . McLeod , Mrs . James Stephens , Bros . John Strachan , P . P . S . G . W . Northumberland ; George Kenning , P . P . G . D . Middx ., Patron of Institution ; Jas . Stephens , P . P . G . D . Bucks , Vice-Patron of Institution ; and Miss J . E . Terry ( daughter of Bro . Jas . Terry . Sec . R . M . B . L ) .

By a subscription of one guinea the following have become Honorary Associates of the Association : Bros . Thos . Salisbury , P . P . G . D . Notts ; J . L . Mather , P . A . G . D . C , Vice-President of Institution ; Vassar-Smith , P . G . D ., Patron of Institution ; and W . Lake , P . P . G . Reg . Cornwall ; also one guinea each from Bro . J . Leach Barrett , Vice-President of Association ; and South Middlesex Lodge , No . 8 5 8 , Vice-Patron of Association .

Educational Fund Festival Of The Province Of North And East Yorkshire.

EDUCATIONAL FUND FESTIVAL OF THE PROVINCE OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

Freemasons in North and East Yorkshire assembled in strong force at York on Wednesday , the 23 rd ult ., on the occasion of the fourth festival in aid of the Educational Fund of the Province . The fund was

established in 1887 for the benefit of children of deceased or necessitous Freemasons of the province who are unable to obtain , or until they obtain , admission to the Masonic Schools , and the festivals have been held respectively in York , Hull , and Scarborough , in 188 9 , 1890 , and 1891 . The objects of the fund have

so commended themselves to the brethren that the most gratifying success has attended the preceding festivals , and the one for 18 94 . in York has also been crowned with a considerable amount of success , a fact which is due to the unwearying exertions of Bro . J , Todd , P . G . T ., and the energetic manner in which he

has backed up the efforts of Bro . M . C . Peck , of Hull , the Hon . Secretary of the fund . In 1891 it was resolved to hold the festivals triennially , in the hope that thereby a sufficient amount would , together with the annual subscriptions , be forthcoming to maintain the fund in an efficient and prosperous

condition . That hope , so far , has been realised , for since the institution of the fund grants have been made by the committee for the education of 24 children , three of whom have been elected into the Masonic Schools ; two have attained the age of ' 5 years , by reason of which the grants have ceased ,

and at the present time there remains 19 children receiving the benefits of the fund at an annual cost of / . i . ) 2 . A pleasing feature in connection with the administration or the fund is that every application brought before the Committee has been entertained , without the necessity of issuing voting papers for the

election of candidates , the donations and subscriptions having hitherto been sufficient to admit of this being none . Since the operation of the Elementary Education Act , 18 91 , the scope of the fund has been enlarged , s " as to include the maintenance and clothing of children when occasion requires .

The meeting on the afternoon of the 23 rd ultimo of the Provincial Charities Association was held in the tboracum Lodge , St . Saviourgate . Bro . J . W . Woodall , LG . Treas ., presided , supported by Bro . the Hon . W . L Orde-Powiett , D . P . G . M .

Bro . W . H . COWPER , Provincial Charity Representative , presented his report , which recorded that at the A pril election one boy was elected to the Boys' School , and at the May election three old men yvere elected to he benefits of the Masonic Benevolent Institution , and would receive an annuity of £ 40 a year each . The Position of the province was , so far as voting power ¦¦

me ot cancuaates were concerned , in a V £ ry satisfactory condition . Six new candidates were Placed upon the list , and a number of grants yvere renewed , the total sum voted being £ 104 . 'he banquet was held in the Masonic Hal ) , the Marquess 01 Zetland , Prov . Grand Master . DresinVrl

* nd there were also present Bros , the Dean of York , » 'G . Chap . J . W . Woodall , P . G . T . ; T . B . Whyte-*<* 1 , P . P . S . G . W ., P . G . S . B . Eng . j M . C . Peck , P . G . **• , P . G . Std . Br . Eng . ; J . Todd , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., ' rov . G . Treas . ; W . H . Cowper , P . P . G . R ., Charity ^ Presentative North and East Yorkshire ; J . Sykes ? | mer j . P . P . G . Reg ., and many other brethren , 'ne PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed "The Queen , "

Educational Fund Festival Of The Province Of North And East Yorkshire.

and alluded to the deep interest her Majesty took in all Charitable institutions . The toast was duly honoured . The PROV . GRAND MASTER then proposed " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . Grand Master . " His lordship said that H . R . H . had occupied the position for 20 years , and during those 20 years Freemasonry had enjoyed a period of popularity and prosperity . His

Royal Highness had shown himself zealous in promoting the welfare of the Craft in a remarkable degree , and his lordship thought that the announcement made a few days since by the Prov . Grand Master that another member of the Royal Family would shortly become a member of the Craft would be received with pleasure by every Mason in the country , and especially by those in the Province of North and East Ridings . The toast was received with enthusiasm .

Ihe PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed " The Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , M . W . Prov . G . M ., the Right Hon . tbe Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , R . W , Dep . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " The toast being heartily drunk . Bro . the Dean of YORK , P . G . Chaplain , proposed "The Most Hon . the Marquess of Zetland , R . W .

Prov . G . M . of North and East Yorks . " He said that the toast did not admit of many words , because it was always difficult to propose the health of those who were present , because if one failed to speak of them as they desired , there was a feeling that one had failed in duty ; and if they were spoken of as they deserved there is a chance of one being thought guilty of

postprandial flattery , yvhich was unreal , and yvhich was , therefore , never acceptable to Freemasons . The claim which the Prov . Grand Master had upon the loyalty and confidence of Freemasons did not rest upon the high position he held in the country , but on the affection of every brother in the Craft , who felt that his lordship was the right man in the right place

who was eminently qualified to hold the lodges together in that harmony and stability which was so much desired in Freemasonry . His lordship was a supporter of legitimate and lawful sport , which was commendable in daily life , and they could not forget that not long ago when an onerous and difficult duty yvas to be done in critical times that his lordship was

willing to turn out from the comfort of his own home , and to devote himself to what was a difficult , perplexing , and , in some respects , dangerous duty . As the Freemasons of Yorkshire became more and more acquainted with the Prov . Grand Master they were more and more sure that they had in him a man to carry out the traditions of his office . Whether his lordship yvas to hold a higher position than he did

noiv or a more difficult position than hitherto , they all hoped that he would remain their Grand Alaster . The Dean also coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Lieut .-Col . the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , P . G . W . Eng ., Dep . Prov . Grand Master of N . and E . Yorks ., who yvas unable to be present because he yvas performing duty with the Yorkshire Hussars . The toast was received with enthusiasm .

The PROV . GRAND AIASTER , in response , thanked the Dean of York for the kind way in which he had proposed the toast and the brethren for the heartiness with yvhich they had received it . He would say that the Deputy Provincial Grand Master had speciall y desired him to express his great regret at his inability to be present . With regard to himself his lordship

said that it was now close on twenty years since he was elected to the very high position of Grand Alaster of that very wide province , and he could truly say that the courtesy and kindness with which he had invariabl y been received on every occasion on yvhich he had been on Masonic errands in the province yvere such as to make him regret very sincerely every occasion when

duty prevented him from attending those Masonic gatherings . He yvould ask them to drink to the future prosperity of the Alasonic Educational Fund . In submitting the toast to them , his memory yvas very naturally taken back to a former occasion when he had the honour of occupying that very chair for the same cause as that he was advocating that evening . The

Educational Fund was established in 188 7 , and the first festival held in aid of the fund in 1889 . He had the honour of presiding over that festival , and they were honoured with the company and support of the late lamented Duke of Cla . 'ence . He would neverforget thedeep interest H . R . H . took in theproceedings , and the great anxiety he expressed towards the future and

prosperityof the fund . On that occasion bethought the sum raised was £ 1054 . At the second festival , which took place at Hull in 1890 , the nett amount realised was , £ 524 . The third festival was held in Scarborough in 1891 , and the nett amount realised was , £ 506 ; thus the total amount raised at the three festivals was £ 2085 . He sincerely hoped and trusted that on the present

occasion the fund would be supported with the same generosity and liberality as on previous occasions . He could not too urgently put before them the necessity and the very great advantage of supporting such a fund as that one , for the money yvould be wisely distributed . The Charity representatives of the various lodges had shown the greatest energy in collecting subscriptions to the fund , and he hoped that the time

was near at hand when every Freemason would become an annual subscriber . The list would be kept open for a month , so that brethren wishing to qualify for Stewards would be able to do so . The P . G . Sec , Bro . M . C . PECK , then read the list of contributions , which amounted to ^ 481 8 s . fid . Bro . TODD , P . G . Treas ., in responding said that the four festivals must , under all circumstances , be

Educational Fund Festival Of The Province Of North And East Yorkshire.

regarded as great successes . When he said under all circumstances , he meant that they must take into consideration the depression in agriculture , the state of trade , and the many other matters from which the brethren of the province had suffered , and they must congratulate themselves that the returns had been of such a satisfactory character . He would content

himself by saying that the fourth festival which had taken place in the city of York under the auspices of the York Lodge , was a very successful one , but they could not help being reminded of the first festival , and he could not fail in being struck with the absence of that generous rivalry , if he might so call it , which was manifest on the first occasion . Those who were

present would remember that there yvas a very great competition for the first place in the lists on that occasion , which he thought was very properly held by York . The result of that festival , at which the sum of upwards of £ 1000 was contributed , was that

the fund never looked back from that moment . He would only say on behalf of the Committee who administered the fund that they felt deeply indebted to the brethren who had supported them so liberally in the past , and he hoped that they would continue to do so in the future .

Bro . WOODALL , P . P . G . T ., proposed "The Great Alasonic Charities , " which was responded to b y Bro . COWPER , P . G . Reg ., who gave some interesting statistics with regard to the work done by the Chanties . The PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed "The York Lodge , No . 236 , " and spoke of the generous hospitality

which the lodge yvas always ready to extend . Bro . J . B . SAMPSON , I . P . M ., in the absence of the W . M ., through illness , responded , and the proceedings terminated . Bros . FARMERY , DEISENHAM , DAWSON , and SANDER , SON rendered some excellent vocal music between the speeches .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . MAJOR FAIRTLOUGH , R . A . The cablegram which , arrived last week from Sierra Leone , announcing the death of Bro . Major S . A . Fairtlough , must have created painful and regretful surprise amongst all who knew him . The circumstances of his death have not transpired , but it is supposed that he has fallen a victim to malarial fever , the

scourge of that part of the world , and our gallant brother , who has been cut off in the prime of life—44 years—was born at Knells , near Carlisle , his father being the late Major James Fairtlough . He was educated at St . Andrews University , and entered the Royal Artillery in ' 1869 . He saw a good deal of foreign service in the course of his career , having been for

many years Artillery Instructor to the local forces in Canada before he took over , some three years ago , the command of the Royal Artillery in Sierra Leone . He reached the rank of major in 1885 . The period of his stay in Africa was eventful . The first cause of trouble was a series of unhappy collisions , of which , fortunately , nothing came , between English and French

levies in the Hinterland j and these were quickly followed by the repulse of a nival . force , under Captain Gamble , R . N ., by Fodi-Silah . Prompt measures were taken to crush the power of this chief . Three hundred men of the West India Regiment , under the command of Alajor Fairtlough , moved from Sierra Leone to Bathurst , whence 200 men were sent under Major

Madden to meet Fodi-Silah , whom they defeated , and whose stronghold they destroyed . While Rear-Admiral Bedford had the command of the naval forces , Major Fairtlough commanded the military during this short but brilliant campaign , and it is only the other day he was gazetted Governor of Gambia . He leaves a widow and three children to mourn his untimely end .

Bro . Fairtlough ever took the deepest interest in all that appertained to Freemasonry . If , however , he had any penchant , it was for the Mark Degree . In his younger days he occasionally visited his parents in the Lake District , and whilst there founded , in Keswick , the Bective Lodge , No . 147 , the second in the Province of Cumberland and

Westmorland , but now defunct . A correspondent writes : "Two-and-twenty years ago I hadthe honourof being . advanced by him in that lodge , from which night till 20 years later we never once met , although we kept up a correspondence from opposite ends of the world . Two years ago . however , a pleasing and unexpected coincidence happened . The occasion

was the June commemoration of Grand Mark Lodge , and I had only a few months before returned from Australia . Signing my name in the Provincial Officer ' s attendance book , I was astonished to see " Samuel Gerrard Fairtlough " on the preceding line to that on

yvhich I was about to write . Need it be said that I was not long seeking out my old Mark mentor , and thus we shook hands for the first time in 20 long years . And that ni * ht , by the way , his long and valuable services to Mark Masonry were rewarded with the distinguished decoration of Grand Sword Bearer . "

Death.

Death .

MINERS . —On the 26 th ult ., at 13 , Bartholomew-road , Kentish Town , Bro . Harold B . Miners , S . W ., of the St . James's Union Lodge , No . 180 , aged 37 .

The Countess of Lathom , who has been very unwell for some days , is now recovering , though still confined to her room .