Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

' . terest jn their welfare . No pains had been spared t ' ake them comfortable and happy , and the building I T been adorned under thc direction of Rro . -P ! with illustrated reminders of the festive on in l ' enjoyment of which all of us have Tidy tccn participating- The hall , which stands

,. er the principal entrance to the building , was neatly decorated with wishes for a merry Christmas ancl a Happy New Year , shields or " lozenges " with arms painted on iliem , and several reproductions of the Prince of Walesjs plume , which were acquired by the institution when His Royal Hig hness was Chairman of its festival . "Welcome " was also profuse ou the walls and at the entrance , and an

air of cordiality and friendship was plentifully infused into the whole structure . Bro . Terry , Airs . Terry , Miss Terry , and Mr . J . E . Terry were present acting the part of host and hostess , and with their accustomed geniality most hospitably received the aged people , and those ladies ancl gentlemen friends of the institution , who had come down with the intention of adding their quota to tbe general

amusement . The hospitable reception they met with at once made them a family party , every individual of whom at once threw themselves with the spirit of the gathering . Among those who were present were Bros . Charles G . Hill and James Terry , Mr . J . E . Terry , Mrs . Terry , Miss Terry , Bros . W . Lane , and James Linzell , Mrs . Linzell , Bro . John G . Stevens , and Mrs . Steven , s Bros . Geo . Knill ,

and A . H . Tattershall , Mrs . Tattershall , Bros . H . J . Green , and Richard Pearcy , Mrs . Pearcy , Bros . VV . J . Crutch , and R . II . Halford , Mrs . Halford , Bros . Geo . F . Cook , and Richard Fowler , Mrs . and Miss Fowler , Bros . H . W . Alford , Mrs . Gogerty . Mrs . Hill , Bro . 11 . MassepC'Frecmason" ) and Mrs . Massey , Bro . John Constable and Mrs . Constable , Bro . George Ford , Bro . W . VV . Morgan and Miss Morgan , Dr .

Strong , Mrs . Strong , Bro . John Horth Ross and Mrs . Ross , Mr . Gannon , Miss Haines , Mrs . Baber and Mrs . Dubois . The pensioners were first entertained with an excellent dinner , at which Dr . Strung presided , and the other brethren , and visitors , rendered all their assistance to see to the wants of the party . Every inmate wasafterwards presented with a goodly portion of tea and tobacco

for consumption in their resiliences and tea was provided under the direction of Mrs . and Miss Terry , and the "Matron" of the institution , Miss Morris . In the evening feats of legerdemain were exhibited by Professor Lane , and wine and cake and bonbons were- supplied at numerous intervals to the whole party of inmates and visitors . Bro . John G . Stevens gave a happy

illustration of a vestry meeting , which won for him rapturous applause and convulsive laughter . Bro . VV . VV . Morgan admirably recited " The Wreck of the Hesperus , " and Miss Terry , Mrs . Baber , Mrs . Dubois , the Misses Strong , Miss Haines and Miss Morgan filled up several intervals in the evening with some charming singing and clever execution of p ianoforte music The amusements lasted till nearly

ten o ' clock , when votes of thanks were proposed , first on th «> part ofthe Inmntc . i by one nf the brethren of the 3 SJ ' - ! um , Bro . Morris , and then by Bro . Terry to those ladies and brethren who' had assisted . Bro . Terry' nefcnowledged the vote , which was proposed on behalf of the inmates , and told the brethren that all those who were connected with the institution had their ir . terest at heart , and

always endeavoured to make them happy . It was as much pleasure to the subscribers to the Institution to see thtir friends at Croydon enjoying themselves as it was to the inmates themselves , and he trusted that for mnny years to come thev' would haLve similar happy meetings to this one . In proposing a vote of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who had taken part in tire amusements of the evening , he acknovvleged the great kindness which had been shown b y

them , and the readiness with which tbey were at all times ready to assist in a good cause . To Dr . Strong , he moved a special vote of thanks for his earnest desire to promote the happiness of thc olcl people , and for his unremitting attention to them in all their little ailments . The different votes of thanks were unanimously carried , and the London brethren and ladies , who were the last to leave the building , returned to town after enjoying one of the most pleasant days on record .

Unparalleled Masonic Munificence.

UNPARALLELED MASONIC MUNIFICENCE .

COMMUNIQUE . I have just heard from my dear friend and Bro . Charles E . Meyer ; of Philadel phia , of the handsome gift by VV . Bro . Henry C . Fox , which , so far as 1 know , is greatly in advance of any contribution heretofore of its kind , and

deserves some special recognition not only by the Grand Lod ge of Pennsylvania , U . S . A ., but general and particular acknowled gment in the columns of every Masonic journal in the world , as well as heartfelt appreciation by the Crafi universal . The particulars communicated to me are as follows . At the stated meeting of the Covenant Lodge No 6 held in

. 45 , the Grand Masonic Temple , Philadelphia , ou the 14 th ult ., the W orshipful Master , Henry C Fox , presented to the permanent fund of the lodge the sum of 5000 dols . , ( £ 1660 ) as a " slight tribute of the affection he Jelt towards the members thereof , and his reverence for the pure princi ples of Freemasonry . " The presentation

was a great surprise to the brethren , the secret having been entrusted only to the Trustees of the lodge , and I can quite fancy—though I should fail to depict—the feelings of his hearers as the words fell from the li ps of their Worshipful Master . I have never heard of such a munifi .

cent gift being made to any lodge in this country , or indeed under any Grand Lodge , and save the solitary exception of the splendid contribution by the lamented R W Bro . Stephen Blair to the "Royal Masonic Institution ' for Boys , " I believe that such an amount has never before been given to any Masonic institution whatever by an individual brother . As one of the Stewards for 1876 , on benait of the " Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " how

Unparalleled Masonic Munificence.

much' 1 should enjoy having : even a tenth of such an amount on my list from a brother , and yet such hitherto unequalled Masonic munificence ought not to be beyond the capabilities or generous impulses of our wealthy brethren . Indeed 1 doubt much if the annual ^ contributions to our three great Masonic Charities—great as they aicamount fo a sum at all com mensurate with thc wealth and

serial position of the English Craft , and I do most heartily pray that the gift of our American brother maylead to similar results in this country , and that not onl y may the permanent fund be thus increased , but may we be able to alleviate all the distress nnd misfortune which it behoves us to do , and succeed in fin-ling a home for every destitute orphan , thc legacies of our unfortunate brethren

to the . English Craft . Bro . Fox ' s munificent gift did not , I am glad to say , prevent the inauguration of another unparalleled Masonic event , viz ., that the donor of the £ 1000 invited the members and certain privileged guests to a banquet , ptior to his retiring from the chair , and so on Wednesday evening , the 15 th December last , some 400 brethren assembled

in honour of the occasion in the banqueting hall ofthe Masonic Temple , thc whole arrangements , according to the circular before me , being evidently most thoroughly Masonic . The toasts embraced " The Right Worshipful the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , " " The Fraternity , "" Our Visiting Brethren , " " Woman , " "The Centennial , ""The Press , " and , though not noted , doubtless " the toast of the

evening" wns "The Health ancl Prosperity of the Host , " Bro . Henry C . Fox . I understand that an account of tlTe banquet and speeches will appear in the racy " Keystone , " and in all probability it will have been issued ere this short notice sees the light . I must not forget to mention that a marked feature of the banquet was the total absence of all spirituous and malt

liquors , a fact certainl y to the credit of all coscerned . The brethren separated after a most pleasing evening , after singing " Auld Lang Lyne . " I await with much interest the next unique fact in the annals cf Freemasonry in the ' Keystone" State-. It has the honour , according to present evidence , of introducing the Masonic Craft in new England , the first lodge being held in Philadelphia , in which city thc first Masonic Hall

was erected , and now ccntaii s the largest and finest Masonic Temple in thc world . According to our esteemed Bro . McCalla , the first of almost everything that is good had its ori gin in the City of Philadelphia , and so we must al ! proceed there to witness its reception of the Centennian exhibitors and visitors , and if I am able to go I hope to grasp the hand of Bro . Fox , the donor of £ 1000 to his lodge , as well as the hands of many dear friends . —W . J . HL-CMI . W .

Obituary.

Obituary .

URO . ALEXANDER GORDON , 871 . Bro . Alexander Gordon , Royal Oak Lodge , 871 , died on tlie 18 th December somewhat suddenly . He was initiated in 871 in August , 28 th , 1873 , and continued a full subscribing member up to his death . He declined to take any- office : in the lod ge on account of the many other

duties he had to attend to . He was proprietor of the New Cross Tavern ( Glass House ) , and was well respected by all who knew him . At his funeral there was a large assemblage of highly respectable persons , together with a goodly number of the brethren , which showed how well he was respected by all who knew him . He has left a daughter to deplore his loss .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

The Prince of Wales on Saturday last witnessed some tent-pegging , and subsequentl y visited the principal hospitals . In the afternoon , at Government House , His Royal Highness received a Masonic deputation , who presented an address , enclosed in an elaborate casket .

His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught has sent a cheque for ten guineas to Mr . Pashley , the founder of the United Soldiers' and Civilians' New Home , North Camp , Aldershot . The Duke of Connaught is expected to perfotm the formal opening ceremony of this institution next March .

Mis Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught paid a visit to Cueta onthe 19 th ult . in his yacht Vega , and was reecived with the greatest courtesy by the Military Governor of Ceuta , General Sartorius , and the officers of his staff . After luncheon at the General ' s house , His Royal I Ugliness rode through the town and visited some of the

barracks occupied b y the Spanish troops , some of whom were paraded for the Prince ' s inspection . On Christmasday the Duke of Connaught visited the inmates of the Naval and Military Hospital . Surgeon-General Balfour conducted His Royal Hi ghness round the wards . The Duke made many inquiries , and conversed with the sick .

Bro . Lord Henry Thymic , who has accepted office as Treasurer of Her Majesty ' s Household , has been re-elected for South Wilts without opposition . His proposer was Mr . Benett-Stanford , M . P . for Shaftesbury , and his second er Mr . E . Hinxman , of Durnford House , Salisburv . The noble lord did not address the electors .

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., giaciously received a deputation of Freemasons of Bankipore on Tuesday last . Bro . the Earl of Rosslyn , P . G . M . of Scotland has sent a supply of game for the patients of the German Hcspital .

Masonic And General Tidings.

In consequence of the death of his father , Bro . Boord , M . P . for Greenwich , will not , it is stated , make his annual address to his constituents during the Parliamentary recess .

A number of gentlemen assembled at the residence of Bro . Dr . Jabez Hogg oh Saturday evening , and presented Mr . Torrens , M . P ., with a purse of £ 200 , as a slight acknowledgment of his services as senior member of the Borough of Finsbury .

The meetings of the Prosperity Lodge of Instruction , No 65 , will in future be held at No . 1 , Camomile-street , Bishopsgate . Dean Stanley , in his annual sermon to children in

Westminster Abbey on Innocents' Day , referred to the gallant conduct of the boys on board the Goliath , and especially of the little boy Bolton , who refused to leave the ship till the last , and whom he was proud to claim as a Westminster lad .

We have to record the death of Bro . James Rogers at his residence , I 6 A , Clarendon-square , on the 24 th ult . Bro . Rogers was in his 8 tst year . He vvas for 54 years with Ihe Mercers' Company , and founder and , for 36 years , Secretary of the London Coffee and Eating House Keepers ' , ' Benevolent Association ; also Secretary to the Lodge of Confidence ( 193 ) for 31 years .

Bro . Alderman Ellis has arranged with the executors of the late Mr . F . J . Clark to undertake the responsibilities of the business of Messrs . Farebrother , Clark , and Co ., at 5 , Lancaster-place , Strand . Bro . Alderman Ellis will retain his City offices , No . 18 , Old Broad-street , as heretofore .

Bro . William Ramsey , of Farringdon-street , has been commissioned by the Lord Mayor to prepare a stained glass window to take the place of the " Cotton " window in Guildhall , which is to be removed to the museum at Kew Gardens . The new window will be divided into two compartments , the upper representing Queen Elizabeth reviewing her troops , and the lower , the Armada Thanksgiving service at Old St . Paul's .

The City Masonic Club of Instruction , which holds its meetings at the Jamaica Coffee House , has just celebrated its sixth ani . iversary . About forty brethren were ' present . In the absence of the president , through illness , Bro : Tilley was called to the chair . It was stated during thc proceedings

that in the short space of six years this club , by devoting its receipts to Masonic charities , had become vice-presidents of both thc Boys' and Girls' Schools , and would by the close of the year be qualified as vice-presidents of the other charities connected with the Craft . — " City Press . "

TKSTIMONUI . TO A BASK MASACF . K . —We are pleased to observe that a committee is being formed for the purpose of presenting Bro . William Herbage ( Lodge 177 ) , the late manager of the City Bank , Ludgate HiU , and the present joint manager of the London and South-Western

Bank , with a testimonial in acknowledgment of his zeal , assiduity , and courtesy . We observe that Bro . Alderman Hadley , P . G . D ., is the chairman , and Bro . Frederick Kent , P . M ., of 8 , Red Lion Court House , Cannon-street , the hon sec . to the fund , to which we sincerely wish success .

The " Evening Standard " states that the Address of the House of Commons , in answer to the Speech from the Throne , will be moved by Mr . Matthew White Ridley , member for North Northumberland , and seconded by Mr . Mulholland , member for Downpatrick .

It is a noteworthy and significant fact that at the recent elections of Common Councilmen , thc City displayed a vigorous vitality and a very much stronger interest in the proceedings than usual . In many of the wards exciting contests took place , and men of position and influence came to the front and vigorously entered into them , in many cases with success ; notably in Farringdon Without , the largest

Ward in the City , when Mr . G . H . Mason , a new candidate , polled the unprecedented number of 975 votes , the highest ever recorded ou a similar occasion in the annals of the Ward , and was elected by a majority of nearly 250 , although several of the old representatives ( who , by the way , polled more than usual at former contests ) arc among the most distinguished members of the Court of Common Councilmen .

The " Masonic Magazine " for January contains a portrait of Hon . Mrs . Aldworth , the " Lady Freemason . " ALEXANDRA PAI . ACF AND PARK . —From thc day cf opening to the present time the visitors have averaged 8 oco a day .

The first sixpenny , day at the Crystal Palace on Monday resulted in the attendance of 8287 visitors , of whom 6186 were admitted by payment , and 2101 by season tickets .

HOLLOWAY ' PILLS AXB OINTMENT . —Dangcrouscatarrhp , bronchitis , asthma , and influenza are rite at this season of thc year ; hepatic and renal congestions frequently occtir as the result bi checked skin action , giving rise to serious symptomsand preventing attention to business ' or pleasure . No time should Ire lost en the lirst appearance of any indications of the Invasion of these disr aser < for Ihe symptoms may Ire checked effectually hy the use of these , valuable remedies . The penetrating local effect of the Ointment acts surely in the aiTccied parts , and restores them to a healthy condition ; and tire Pills , judiciously taken in accordance with the lucid directions , relieve the congestive capillaries and materially lessen the chance ol serious miseliief supervening . — ADVT .