London Masonic Charity Association.

LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION .

A further meeting of this Association wis heltl on the : ; olh ult ., in the Drawing Room , Fret-masons' Tavern Col . Creaton presided . The other brethren who aite-ndcd were Bros , the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford and A . Tisley ( Joint Secretaries ); C . J . Perceval ( Tieasurer ) ; A . E .

Gladwell , Dr . Jabez Hogg , S . Rosenthal , E . T . H . Southwood , George Faulkner , E . Mallett , John White , Hyde Pullen , and H . Massey ( Freemason . ) Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . VVoodforel , in submitting to the meeting the circular of thc Asso . ia ' . ion , slid it was proposed to have it neatly p i-. ilc ' , and teigt the r wilh thc byelaw . - sent round to every subscriber eif the Boys' and Girls '

Schools . Hc then read tho c . rcu ' ar , which , with a very few minute alterations , was adopted by thc brethren . Bros . Woodford , Titley , Hes . iithal , Souihwo . nl , and John White were appointed a Sub-committee ti attend the tlcctior . Bro . Perceval , who with Bros . Woodford , Gladwell , ami Tisley , hatl been through the list ot tha candidates f . ir the

forthcoming elections , afterwards explained these cises to Ihe brethren , but before eloing so read his letter which appe-ared in the Freemason of the 31 st Augus' , and saiel that tlie sentiments there expressed were the sentiments of ihe Association . They wanted to act fairly and honestly by all , and to have for London a fair proportion if its tandidates returned to the Schools . If after giving votes tti

London candielates sufficient to secure their election they hael some votes to spare , they could then help the provinces in cases which were paramount to others . At present the capital of votes was very small , but if they concentrated their energies on one case they could get it through . There were very few vacancies in the Girl's School for next election , and if the London brethren could get one case in

they would consider themselves very fortunate . Thc Committee , after due deliberation , decided to support the cases eif Ethel Stone and Kmma Eliza Williams for the Girls' Election ; and those of Green , Balcomb , Watkins , Froit , Nichols and Gile s for thc Boys ' , this being , the last chance of the three first be . ys , and the last chance but one of the other three .

Bro . Chailes Atkins , P . M . 27 , was elected a member of the Association , anl Bros . II . Massey , Tyerman , and Littell members of the Committee . It was retmesteel that brethren would senel in their voting papers ( signee !) to Bro . Tisley , one of the joint Secretaries . Thc meeting lasted nearly two hours and a half , and was brought to a close by a vote of thanks to the Chairman .

CmcuLe ' . R . The Committee of The London Masonic Charity Association has great pleasure in calling the attention of the Vice Patrons , Vice Presidents , Lile Governor-- , anil Subscribers of the London Masonic Charities to the important object which it has been established to further and effect . The necessity of a thorough combination ant ) concentration

of " voting power in order to ensure the success of a candidate , is now an established " factor " in the history of our valuable Masonic Charities . Owing to their rapid increase of late years , applications for their benefits have become more numerous , and success has in consequence become more and more proportionally difficult of attainment . It is no doubt true , that individual effort has done ,

and may do , a great deal in the laudable endeavour to assist deserving cases , and to place them in a satisfactory position on the poll , but" events " are , as it has been truly said , often " stronger than men , " anel , at this moment , without the combination and concentration of votes , not only must many deserving cases be ilissappointed , year by year , until their time of continuance on the list has expired ,

but it may even be a question whether , owing to the overwhelming effect of the system of combinetl voting , any but well organised arrangements , much less individual action , can henceforth be successful . In London , as thc voting is now condurtcel by worthy inelivielual brethren , without any attempt at organisation or combination , a large number of votes is practically

wasted at thc various elections , inasmuch as more votes arc recorded for this or that particular candidate than are absolutely required to render thc applicant successful , and much of the London voting power is frittered away , and has too often no perceptible effect at the Masonic elections . Deserving cases in London come up many times , and often utterly in vain , because the voting power , which if

combit cd and properly utilized would have secured their election , is unskilfully employed , or unwisely polled . The Provinces , wise in their generation , have already all adopted , or are rapidly adopting , the principle of combination and concentration of votes , with singular and powerful effect , as the lists of our Masonic beneficiaries attest , and your committee makes bold to say , that unless a

somewhat similar course be pursued , in all good feeling in London , successful London cases must soon be few anil far between , while the best interests of the London candidates will be giavely jeopardised , and the votes of thc London subscribers practically nullified . For such is the power of the accumulation of numbers , and the uniform concentration of " voting power , " that London candidates

will hardly ever be enabled to come to the " fore" at all , unless a like simple and sensible system of combination anil concentiation of the votes be adopted , and without ilelay . Uneler these circumstances a Committee has becn formed , ( not a elay too soon , ) to attend to and aid thc London

cases , by carefully selecting thc most deserving , and by a proper use of voting papers , voluntarily placed at its disposal by the members of the Association and the London brethren in general , to endeavour to make such a voting a . success . In this way the Committee hopes to secure all deserving London cases , and to help many candidates who now for want of such support often appeal in vain ,

London Masonic Charity Association.

though with strong claims , on thc voters in ihe metropolis . The Committee , however , in saying this , is not to be unde-rstooel as endorsing any censure on our existing voting system , which , in the opinion of the Committee , acts fairly for all the candielates . It only seeks to call attention to a piinciple of \ oting action , perfectly legitimate , over which however no chaiitable association has or can

hive any control . There is nothing , thc Committee begs to observe in conclusion , selfish or narrow in its proposals or its organisation . This move-merit is simp ' y dictate el by o mmon sense , and is practicilly the . result of the " necessity of the case . " It is ne ; t established in hostility to or antagonism with any other boely or system , hut appears to be : a fair and needful

use of voting privileges and voting pow . r . The Committee then confidently a ) peals to all the subscribers to the Charities voting in the London t : i > trict to give the Committee their hearty and general suppoit , to join th : Association in order to render it thoroughly efficient , and to confide to it their voting papers . These will be thankfully received and faithfully applied to tlieir destined

purpos - . The Committee begs to transmit the bye-laws of thc Association for the perusal of the Subscribers to the Charities . ' 1 he Committee tvou'tl a * k the Subscribers to sign the accompan > ing form , anti senel it to the S ;_ ietuie-The Committee , would also ask ihe Subscribers to sign ( but not fill up . Vfhcir voting papers for the Boys' anel Girls '

Scheo's when they receive them , and forward them at once to thc Secrctaiies . The Committee will duly fill up the voting paper . ' . The cases supported by thc Association at the ensuing October election 011 behalf e . f the Committee arc the fellowing : — For the Girls' School : —

1 . Ethel stone , No . 14 . 2 . El za Ann Williams , No . 29 . For thc Boj s' School : — 1 . Charles Wm . Green , No . 3 . 2 . Arthur C . Balcome , No . 50 . 3 . Frederick C . Watkins , No . 18 . 4 . Christian F . Frost , No . 9 . 3 . Richard H . Nicholl ? , No . 21 . 6 . Frank Arthur Gilc =, No . 15 . All communications to be addressed to Brti . A . Tisley , St . Dunstan's Vestry , Fleet-street , E . C .

Review.

Review .

REPORT OF THE LANCASHIRE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR 18-7 . This report is now before us , ami it is one eif increasing prosperity and usefulness of the charity . Eighty-eight children have " enjoyed , " the report states , the lasiing and valuable benefits of a gooel education , thc sum paid for this purpose being /_ 8 o 17 s . 3 d . The Institution h-s

lnvts'ctl capital to the amount of £ 13 , 886 12 s . 71 I . Of the eighty-eight children educated , leirty . three are girls and forty-five are hoys . The highest amount paid for education is James Mott , £ 4 ( 1 18 ? ., the lower-t is Jimes McVickers , £ 1 1 is . Oil . The average amount of money thus spent on the education and advancement in life of eighty eight children appears to be £ 6 1 is . n _ d . We

wish that another year the list of girls could be sepiratcel from the boys , so that we may ascertain the cost of each sex , and wc should like to know a liule more specificall y what is spent on education , what on advancement in life . To the initiatctl in Lancashire the margin as between £ 4 6 i 8 s . and £ 1 ns . 6 tl . is no doubt easily explaineel and perfectly satisfactory , but to us outsiders it elocs strike

us a little . Perhaps some good Lancashire brother can explain the " modus educandi " and the ratio of payments . We arc glad to note that the work of the Institution is now before a sub-committee , and we shall await its report with great interest , as we cannot help thinking more may be

done by thc provincial Institutions than yet has been accomplished . Still the report is a most interesting one , per se , and too much praise cannot be accorded to our VVest Lancashire brethren for the zeal which has sustained , and the Masonic sympathy which bas furthered so useful , and important , and true a charity .

Obituary.

Obituary .

SIR . F . MARTIN WILLIAMS . BART . M . P . It is our painful duty this week to record the sudden death of our esteemed brother Sir Fredk . Martin Williams , Bart ., M . P ., V . W Deputy Grand Master of Cornwall , which sad event took place at Hcanton Court , Barnstaple , on Tuesday evening last , the 3 rd inst . An inquest was held at the Manor-house Hcanton Punchardon , on

Wednesday , when , from medical evidence , it appeared that the cause of death was the rupture of a blood-vessel on the brain , causing apoplexy . Sir Frederick was the eldest son of the late Sir Williams Williams , the first baronet , of Tregullow , Cornwall , and was born in 1830 , and was therefore 48 years of age . He had represented Truro in the Conservative interest since thc year 1865 . The deceased was a deputy-lieutenant anil a magistrate for

Cornwall . Hc was a member of thc firm of Twedtly , Williams and Co ., bankers , Redruth and Truro , and managing partner of the Trethellan Smelting Works , the Perron , Foundry , and other important companies , and he was engaged in extensive mining and other operations . The following brief sketch of Sir Frederick's Masonic career , which we cull from thc " Rosicrucian and Masonic Record , " for January last , will , no doubt , be read with

interest : — " We have now the pleasure of presenting our readers with the portrait of the Second Grand Sovereign of the Red Cross Order in England , since the revival in 186 5 . This estimable Mason was installed in the Premier Conclave in July , 1866 , and became Grand Viceroy to Lord Kenlis shortly afterwards . He retained that position till March , 1874 , when , under the new Statutes limiting the

Obituary.

period for holding office as Grand Sovereign to three years , Lord Bective ( Kenlis ) retired , anel Sir F . AI . Williams was unanimously elected to succeed his Lorelship as head of the Oreler . Under Sir Frederick ' s sovereignty the progress it the " Red Cross" continued unabatcel . notwithstanding that Ameiica , Canada , and Scotland established independent Grand Councils during that period . The K . H . « . and

bt . John the E \ angehst grades were authorized to he attached t-i every Conclive possessing the requisite number of R . .. Masons amongst its members , and the icsult has been most satisfactory , about twenty Conclaves , up to thc present time , having availed themselves of the privilege . This will be a nttcwrrthy record in the wotthy baronet . reign . In March , 18 77 , hc enthroned his successor ,

Colonel Francis Burel .-tt , as Graml Sovereign ; Sir F . M . Williams is also a Vice-President of the Rosicrucian Society . It is almost needless to add that this distinguished Mason has won very hi _ h honours in cither luauchcs of Fteeniastnry and its kintlrctl Orders . He is a Past Grant ! Warden of Englane , D . G . M . for Cornwall , Prov . Prior Knights Templar , and Prov . Grand Mark Master fur the same county . In the A . and A . Rite he is

a 32 , and is likewise a membvr of the Royal Oreler of Scotland . Although his connection with the Craft dates only from January , 1 S 73 , when he was initiated in Loelge 331 , Truro , Sir Frederick has taken a deseneelly exalted position , and his munificent support of thc great Masonic Charities , as well as hi- liberal contributions to ihe Cornwall Masonic Annuity Fun . l , pro \ cs that he thoioughlv realizes his responsibilities as a Mason , by losing no opportunity of carding iis sublime primipies into practice . "

BRO . J . A . GOOCH . We deeply regret having to tecorel the somewhat sudden death of Bro . Joshua A . Gooch , fringe and la : e manufacturer , of Dovt -street , Norwich , which event occurred on Tuesday the 27 th inst ., from conge stion of the lungs . Deceased hatl not been well for some time , which may partially account for the suddenness of the visitation .

His age was 31 ) , anil he had for sometime l-een a number of the Norwich Board of Guardians . Bro . Gooch also took a leading part among the Norwich Freemasons ; he was W . M . ot Lodge Perseverance . His funeral took place , with full Craft honours , on Friday week , at the cemetery . Notwithstanding the heavy elownpour , there was a large attendance of brethren at the grave of one so loved in life and mourned in death .

The New Sheriffs Of London And Middlesex.

THE NEW SHERIFFS OF LONDON AND MIDDLESEX .

We are inelcbted to our contemporary the City Press for the following account ol Bro . George Burt , one of the new Sheriffs of London and Middlesex , who was elected em midsummer day , and will be admittcel into otlice aud enter upon his duties 011 the 28 th instant .

Bro . George Buit evas born at Swan . ge , Dorset , on October 2 ml , 181 .. His father , Mr . Robert Burt , was a stone meichant there , and brought up Lis son to follow the s _ me trade . At the age of 19 , the late Mr . Mowlem ( also a native of Swanage , and Bro . George Burt ' s uncle ) brought him to London as an assistant in his business . In 1844 , Mr . Mowlem took Bro . Burt anel Mr . Freeman

( who hael previously married Mr . Bun ' s elder sister ) into partnership , the firm from that time being known by its present title of " Jo-n Mowltm and Co . " The senior partner died in 1 S 68 , and the business was carried on hy Mr . Freeman and Bro . Burt until 1875 , when Mr . John Mowlem Burt , the elder son of the newly . elected sheriff , was taken into partnership , and these three gentlemen now

constitute thc firm so well known in London as road and general contractors , and in Aberdeen and Guernsey as quarry owners . They were the fust to manufacture and lay elown thc pavement known as " narrow cubes . " The first roaelway so laid was that of old Blackfriars-brielge , in the year 1840 . Bro . Burt's career has been most active , anel lately in his well-earned retirement his efforts have

been largely devoted in promoting the prosperity of his native place anti its neighbourhooel , where he is greatly respected . He generally lives at Swanage , where he recently erected a residence . Bro . Burt married Elizabeth , daughter of the late Mr . John Huiison , of Stowbridge , Norfolk , May 19 th , 184 c His family consists of two sons anel three daughters , the eldest of thc latter being married to Captain T . Davies Sewell . Bro . Burt has been an active

member of the Metropolitan Asylums Board from its commencement . He also holds many other public appointments , both in London and Swanage . He is a member of the courts of the Glass-sellers ' , Shipwrights ' , and Farriers * Companies , having served the office of master three times

of the first-named guild . He holels a distinguished position in Freemasonry , being Past Provincial Grand Senior Warden of Dorset , anel Past Master of No . 18 Old Dundee Lodge , London , and No . 1 , 146 , De Moulham Lodge , of Swanage .

A fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon in the warehouse of Sir C . Price and Co ., oil refiners , Castle Baynard Wharf , Upper Thames-street . With such inflammable material thc fire obtained an almost immediate and complete mastery of the premises , anel raged until the building and its contents were entirely destroyed . It was with great difficulty that the firemen succeeded in preserving from a similar fate thc adjoining premises , to which thc fire at one time spread .

We regretto announce that Bros . Chas . Jardine , and F . Boncey lost their lives in the dreadful accident on the Thames on Tuesday evening . As a complete list of lost and saved is not yet known , we arc unable to give our readers any further names of brethren . We are happy , h owever , to say that Bro . H . Reed , of tj , Oxford-street , a nd his wife were among the saved .