The City Of Westminster Lodge Ball.

important secrets . Their W . M . was present under peculiar circumstances . Bro . Cox had been working with energy for the success of their ball , but unfortunately met with an accident of a very serious kind . He was still suffering from the results of that accident , and was with them that evening under very trying conditions . The least they could do was to drink his health and wish him a speedy recovery ,

for he had concerned himself about every detail in the arrangements for the night , and was so anxious for a successful issue that he had come among them an invalid . Before they rose and drank to the health of Bro . Cox , he wished to add another word . Their W . M . had his wife with him , who had been nursing him in order that he might be present , and , like a good wife , she had succeeded .

They would therefore include Mrs . Cox in the toast . Bro . E . B . Cox , Worshipful Master , thanked the company for the manner in which the toast had been recognised , and also expressed his thanks to the Secretary for his kind words of sympathy in reference to the accident he had received . He sincerely hoped that all present had enjoyed themselves , and trusted

that would not be their last lodge ball . He was sure it would not be if they were as well supported in the future as they had been on the present occasion . "The Ladies and Visitors" was next given by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , who remarked that it vvas a pleasing duty to propose that toast , as they could not possibly have a ball without the ladies . If the members had a ball to themselves he did not know who would do the

dancing . He vvould tell those visitors who were not Masons that one of the tenets of the Order was to be happy ourselves and to communicate happiness to others . It was on that principle that they ventured to undertake the ball , and from the smiling faces he saw around him he thought they had succeeded in communicating happiness . He coupled with the toast the names of Bro . Berther and Mr . Saunders , to respond respectively for the ladies and the

visitors . Bro . BERTHER and Mr . SAUNDERS responded . The former thanked the brethren very sincerely for the courtesy and kindness shown the ladies , who , he had no doubt , would be pleased to go down at once to the ball room to re-commence the dancing . The suggestion of Bro . Berther was at once acted upon ,

and dancing was sustained wilh unabated vigour until a late hour in the morning . The company then separated , expressing themselves in warm terms of commendation at the admirable arrangements made for their comfoit , and re-echoing the hope expressed by the W . M . that this would not be the last ball given by the City of Westminster Lodge . The large company present included Bro . E . B . Cox ,

W . M ., and Mrs . Cox ; Bro . Hill , S . W ., and Mrs . Hill ; Bros . Brunder , J . W . j Shand , P . M ., Sec ; Eastg ^ te , P . M . ; Bro . and Mrs . Millis ; Bros . Neat and Hewitt ; Bro . and Mrs . Ferris ; Bro . Marks ; Bro . and Mrs . Berther ; Bros . Clarke , Emanuel , Beach , Piccidillo , and Dennis ; Bro . and Mrs . Radclyffe ; Bro . Le Clere , and others . Amongst the visitors were Bro . J ., Mrs ., and Misses Diprose ; Bro . and Mrs . T . Diprose ; Bro . and Mrs .

Coombes ; Bro . and Mrs . Morgan ; Bro . and Mrs . V . Larner ; Bro . and Mrs . Valeriani ; Bro . Kirby , Miss Alice Pritchard , Miss EstelleTuck , Bro . and Mrs . Jackson ; Bro . and Mrs . Lusty ; Bro . Made'l , Bro . and Mrs . Kelly ; Mrs . Pailthorpe , Bro . and Mrs . King ; Bro . Hatton , Bro . and Mrs . Dukey ; Bro . and Mrs . Batchelor ; Bro ., Mrs ., and Miss Land ; Bro . and Mrs . Buret ; Bro . J . Kay and Mrs . Herman ; and many others t ; o numerous to mention .

Masonic Charity In West Lancashire.

MASONIC CHARITY IN WEST LANCASHIRE .

The annual report of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , just published , is of a highly satisfactory nature , showing that the " pet Charity " of the province is doing a work worthy of the highest commendation and most cordial approval . The Honorary Secretaries ( Bros . G . Broadbridge and R . Martin , whose zeal and self-sacrificing labours command universal admiration ) say in their report for the year : —

" Your Committee , in presenting their report , have again the gratification of announcing another year of continued prosperity and usefulness , with a still increasing interest and regard by the brethren of the province for this favourite Charity . The income from donations and subscriptions for the year 1887 amounted to £ 1514 19 s . 2 d . ; included in this amount is £ 125 19 s . 2 d . paid since the Treasurer ' s

accounts were made up . The annual festival and ball produced £ 265 ns . 4 d . The interest on invested capital and cash in banker ' s hands yielded £ 750 ns . Sd . A sum of £ 41 8 s . 6 d . was received for returned income tax , and £ 60 was received from the Court of Chancery on account of one of the boys on the combined fund towards his maintenance , making the total income from all sources

£ 2632 ios . 8 d ., being the largest sum received in any one year in the history of the Institution , the increase in donations and subscriptions over the previous year being £ 463 3 s . 7 d . This large increase is to be attributed to the special efforts mad : in several lodges to celebrate the Jubilee year of the Patroness of our Order , and for which we express our grateful lhanks . You will

note with pleasure in the lists a reduced number of ledges with the words " No return " against the names . Still , the number is more than it should be , and we should like the unspeakable pleasure of announcing in tie next report that every lodge had sent a list , however small . During the year 183 children received the benefits of the Educational Fund , at an outlay of £ 1138 os . 4 d . Twenty

children were on the combined fund , the fund which provides for the children's maintenance , in addition to clothing and education ; the outlay under this head , reckoning the annual value of the presentations to public schools , was £ 616 8 s . 3 d ., and the sum of £ 42 ios . vvas paid for the advancement in life of eight children , The Treasurer ' s statement shows £ 1635 8 s . 7 d . paid on behalf of the children on the foundation , but to this must be added _ £ i 6 i

ios ., the proportionate annual value of presentations , making the total outlay for 1 SS 7 £ 1779 iSs . 7 d ., being the largest sum yet expended in any one year . The expenses of administration , including the cost of printing and distributing the reports and the purchase of a fireproof deed box , was only £ 77 gs . Sd . ; this , we think you will agree , is a pleasing feature in the accounts . During the year five rig hts of presentation to public institutions were purchased

Masonic Charity In West Lancashire.

at a cost of £ 1575 , and an agreement had been entered into for another , on payment of £ 350 . These rights of presentation secure to the Committee the privilege for 21 years of having a child who is on the combined fund in the respective schools , where they are entirely educated , clothed , and maintained . By this arrangement the cost per child under three of

the presentations is £ 25 per annum , and as to other two only £ \ S 15 s . This economic plan enabled your committee during the pa . t year to declare several vacancies on the combined fund , whicb , but for this scheme , they otherwise could not have done , the amount set apart for the purposes of this patticular fund being lim ' ted by a special resolution of the Court of Governors to a fixed sum per

annum . F . fty-six children were elected on the foundat . on during the year , being all applicants duly qualified ; seven of them being placed on the comb ' ned lund . Twenty-six children ceased to be on the foundation . In the majority of cases letters of thanks have been received from the children or friends , acknowledging the favours conferred upon them by the Institution . At the close of the year 203

children remained on the foundation , and during the ensuing year 27 children will have attained the age when they cease to be entitled to the benefits of the Institution ; but at the March Court of Governors , lg children will come up for election on the Educational Fund and one fir the combined , so that we may conclude the expenditure for the year iSSS will equal , if not exceed , the large expenditure

of the past year . VVe have had to record during ths past year the loss by death of one of our Vice-Presidents , and a larger number thin usual of Life-Governors ; among the latter was our esteemed brother , Dr . S . J . M'G . orge , who for so many years acted as one of the honorary medical officers . To the donors and subscribers who have so nobly supported the Institution during the

past year , and to those brethren particularly who have , by their efforts as Charity Stewards in their respective lodges , contributed in * no small degree in obtaining the splendid results disclosed in the printed lists , our warmest thanks are tendered , and vve ask , on behalf of the helpless little ones , deprived of the fostering hand of paternal tenderness , a continuance of these efforts and of that fraternal feeling

in favour of this Institution . Doing this , we may delight ourselves with the reflection of a venerable patriarch : — ' When the ear heard me , then it blessed me ; and when the eye saw me , then it gave witness to me ; because I delivered the poor that cried and the fatheiless and him that had none to help him . The blessing of him that was ready to

perish came upon me , and I caused the widow ' s heart to sing for joy . ' " From the statement of the Honorary Treasurer ( Bro . J . T . Callow ) , it appears that the total value of the invested funds of the Institution on 31 st December last vvas £ 20 , 344 13 s . Sd ., including five right , of presentation to certain public schools fcr 21 years .

The final meeting of the Committee of the ball vvhxh took place in January in aid of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution has been held at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , when it vvas reported that the gross receipts from the ball amounted to £ 392 15 * 3 . 6 d ., the expenditure to £ 184 6 s . 3 d ., leaving a balance of £ 208 gs . 3 d . to be paid to the above-named Institution .

The accounts were passed , and the ballot was taken for Life Governorships amongst the Stewa r ds , when the following were elected : Bros . G . Banner , W . E . Coxon , T . J . jarman , M . Hart , S . Jude , H . H * . Smith , j . Kelly , T . Sowden , T . Wood , J . G . Hallvvood , and R . H . Leake . Cordial votes of thanks were given to the executive officers , the services of the Honorary Secretary , Bro . Leake , being especially recognised .

Bro . the Lord Mayor has consented to become President of the London General Committee of the Paris Universal lixhibition of 1 SS 9 , his lordship having previously received an intimation from our Foreign Offic * i to the effect that his presidency vvould in no way affect the position taken up by the British Government towards the Exhibition . It is officially announced lhat the Queen will hold a Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace , on Friday

next , the 9 th inst ., and that on Wednesday , the 7 th inst ., the Prince of Wales will , by Ihe Queen's command , hold a Levee at St . James ' s Palace , at vvhich presentations to his Royal Highness vvill be deemed equivalent to presentations to her Majesty . Mrs . Garfield , widow of the late Bro . President Garfield of the United States , who had been staying for some months at Bournemouth with her son , left last week for New York by a steamer of the North German Line .

The Queen invested his Highness Bro . the Maharajah of Kuch-Behar vvith the distinction ol a Grand Cross of the Star of India . His Highness vvas introduced by the Secretary of State for India , and Bro . Sir A . Woods , Registrar of the Order , was in attendance , and carried the insignia of the Order on a cushion . NORTH-WEST LONDON DENIAL INSTITUTE . — Extract from

Kentish 1 ' o-wn Magazine , for Apr ! ' , ' 1886 . — "The above-named Institute , under the special patronage of tha Clergv , Medical Men , Gentlemen and Ladies of the N . and N . W . districts , affords in its daily and extensive practice , wondrous exempli , fication o £ the great progress that has been made in the science of dentistry dining quite modern days , ar . d also proves indisputably the great boon which the above-named Institute

confers daily upon numerous sufferers . Defective teeth and gums are well known to be the foundation of the must painful complaints that afHict mankind , and that the several ailments of the mouth need the skilled attention of eminent scientists , if they are to be cured , or even alleviated , and in order that such skilled attention might be within the reach of all grades , the NOIUH -VV EST LONDON DENTAL INSTITUTE was established . Situated at 80 , Fortess-road

Junction-road , Kentish Town , under the superintendence of Mr . A . W . FURBER , L . D . S ., Koyal College of Surgeons of England , assisted hy a staff of sk'lled and qualified gentlemen , this Institute supplied artificial teeth ; latest scientific improvements ; extracts teeth , and performs all other necessary operations painlessly , and bestows benefits that omnot be overestimated upon this portion of our largely-populated suburbs that would not seek the aid of Hospitals and Charities in the Metropolis . We may add that Mr *

A . VV . FURBER , L . D . S ., R . C . S . E ., has had 20 years' experience in hospitals and private practice , is of a very kinuly disposition , and eminently litted for the position that he holds , where he has earned the golden opinions of all who have consulted him . Mr . FUKBER is also a well-known Jbenefactor , having devoted ten years ot his early practice to serve the poor , during which period his well-tutored and able hand relieved [ free of cost" ] no less a number than 20 , 000 suffering patients . "—Fees at this Institute are moderate , and Free to " the Unemployed , "

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS . The annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was held in the Masot . ic Hall , Boston , on the 27 th December , last , the chair being occupied by Bro . Richard M . Field , Dep . G . VI ., and the attendance of Grand Officers and brethren being very numerous . After the usual preliminaries , the Grand Master elect , Bro . Henry Endicott

was duly installed in office , the ceremony being carried out by Bro . William Parkinson , Past G . M . The princi ple Grand Officers were afterwards installed by Bro . Endicott , who also made the usual appointments , the folljvving being the list of the Grand Officers for the year 1 S 8 S , namely : Bros . Samuel Wells , Dep . G . M .-James M . Gleason , S . G . W . ; Dana J . Flanders , J . G . W . ' :

John Carr , Grand I reasurer ; Sarens D . Nickerson , Past G . M . Recording G . Sec ; Benj . A . Gould , LL . D ., Corresponding G . Sec . ; Rev . Charles H . Leonard , D D , and Rev . Fielder Israel , G . Chaps . ; George H . Rhodes , G . Marshal , Chas . M . Avery , VV . F . Andrews , and Charles S . Robertson , G . Lecturers ; Charles H . Norris , S . G . D . ; Joseph B . Mason , J . G . D . ; and Chas . VV .

Parmenter , S . G . Stwds ; Chas . E . Gilford , H . VV . Gore , and V . A . Bradford , J . G . Sevvards ; M . Williams , G . S . B . ; Z . L . Bicknell , G . Std . Br . ; John G . Thorngood , and F . VV . Dallinger , G . Pursuivants ; W . H . Gerrish , G . Organist ; and Henry G . Parker , Tyler . The brethren adjourned to banquet , and G . Lodge vvas closed in ample form about 10 p . m .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . FRANCIS BUCKLAND . On Saturday last , the mortal remains of Bro . Francis Buckland were consigned to the earth at the Cemetery , Kingston-on-Thames . Deceased was initiated in the Lodge of Israel , No . 205 , nearly 30 years since , and joined the Dobie Lodge , No . SSg , when he took up his abode at Kingston-on-Thames , now 20 years gone . He passed the

cnairin that lodge , was P . Z . of the chapter affiliated therewith , and received the purple of the province as P . S . G . D . Bro . Buckland became one of the founders of the Brownrigg Lodge , No . 163 S , held at first at Thames Ditton in the summer months , but removed later on to Kingston . In that he also filled the chair , and for several years much of the work both in the Dobie and Brownrigg Lodges was

done by him . He was very accurate in the ritual , and his easy address and impressiveness of delivery were remarkable . His last working in lodge vvas in 1 SS 6 , when he installed Bro . J . Drewett—whom he introduced into Masonry —in the chair of K . S . in the Brownrigg Lodge , a ceremony which he did with some difficulty , owing to his state of health . His re-appearance in lodge was most gratifying to

every member , and when , on his removal to Southsea for his health's sake , he resigned membership , he was elected an honorary member—a compliment he highly valued . Since Christmas last Bro . Buckland had been pretty much confined to his room , and the malady from which he suffered—cellular dropsy—increased to such a degree that his case vvas hopeless . In his last days he vvas much cheered

by visits from several brethren from Kingston , one of whom was with him till the end came , on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult ., at 6 a . m . He vvas sensible to the last , and often spoke with gratitude of the fraternal bonds which bound him to so many . By Bro . Buckland's wish he was laid to rest at Kingston , and on the day above named the rites of the Church were performed in the presence of a gathering of

nearly 70 friends , of whom the greater part by far were known to be Masons by apparel and significant emblem . There was a profusion of flowers on the coffin when borne to the cemetery , but all vvere then removed , and the only floral device afcervvards seen on it vvas that offered by the

Brownrigg Lodge—a beautiful arrangement of white flowers set in acacia , which was placed in position by Bro . Geo . Moorman , W . M . Bro . Buckland was held in high esteem as a Mason and as a professional man . In every act and deed he practised the golden rule , and never forgot to be a gentleman in the fullest meaning- of the word .

Willing's Selected Theatrical Programme.

WILLING'S SELECTED THEATRICAL PROGRAMME .

DRURY LANE THEATRE . Every Evening at 7 . 30 , Pantomime , Puss IN __ B OOTS . Morning Performances Mondays , Wednesdays , and Saturdays , at 1 . 30 .

ADELPHI THEATRE . Every Evening at 8 , THE BELLS OF HASLEMERE ; at 7 . 15 , Farce . ST . JAMES ' S THEATRE . Every Evening at 8 . 30 , A SCRAP OF PAPER ; at 7-55 > OLD CRONIES .

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE . Closed . Re-open shortly with J OSEPH ' S S WEETHEART . GAIETY THEATRE . Every Evening at 8 , FRANKENSTEIN ; at 7 . 15 , LOT 49 * OLYMPIC THEATRE . Closed . Re-open Thursday next with C HRISTINA .

COMEDY THEATRE . Every Evening at g , THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ; at »> SUNSET . PRINCE OF WALES'S THEATRE . Every Eveningat 8 , 30 , DOROTHY ; at j . 45 , J umuWOX . STRAND THEATRE . Every Evening at 8 . 30 , KATTI ; at 7 . 45 , T HROUGH rut * FIRE .

SAVOY THEATRE . . q Every Evening at 9 , H . M . S . PINAFORE ; at *>• MRS . J ARRAMIE ' S GENIE . TOOLE'S THEATRE . » Every Evening at 7 . 30 , WAITING CONSENT ; at S . i 5 > RED RAG ; at 9 . 0 , DOT .

ROYALTY THEATRE . Every Evening at 8 . 30 , French Plays . AVENUE THEATRE . c ? Every Evening at 8 . 15 , THE OLD GUARD ; at 7-3 ° > ft ^ OF TEA .

TERRY'S THEATRE . „ « . Every Evening at 8 , A SHOWER OF B LACKS ; at ° - < w THE WOMAN HATER . SURREY THEATRE . Every Evening at 7 , 30 , IN THE RANKS .