Masonic Benevolence In 1897.

On comparing the above ligures with those for 18 9 6 , we remark , that while there has been a considerable reduction in the number of cases relieved , from 375 to 330 , there has been an increase in the amount distributed amongst them from £ 8722 to £ « 8

35-A general idea of what has been done during the year in supporting the Mark Benevolent Fund , and the different Provincial Charitable Institutions will be found in our review ot "Freemasonry in 18 97 , " in the Christmas number of the Freemason .

Grand Lodge Of Ohio.

GRAND LODGE OF OHIO .

The Grand Lodge of Ohio held its 8 Sth annual communication in the city of Columbus on the 20 th and 21 st October last . It is a very powerful organisation , having as many as 49 8 lodges on its roll , while the membership , which , at the close of

September , 1 SS 7 , amounted to 32 , 8 5 8 , was at the corresponding date in 18 97 , 41 , 713 , the increase during the decennial period being 88 55 . The Grand Treasurer ' s statement of account to the 15 th October , 18 97 , shows a total on the receipt side , inclusive of a

balance of 25 , 292 dollars brought forward from previous account , ° f 51 * 57 6 dollars , while the expenditure was 25 , 174 dollars , the balance in hand being 26 , 402 dollars . The M . W . Grand Master , Bro . BvRTON SMITH , to whom , in recognition of his services , a

jewel was voted on his retirement from office , was prevented by stress of circumstances from attending , but his place was ably filled by his Deputy , Bro . NELSON WILLIAMS , now the M . W . Grand Master of the jurisdiction , who not only read the address

which Bro . BAR ION SMITH had compiled for the occasion , and which contained a full account of the principal events of the year , but supplemented this by a report of his own doings . Naturally , the bulk of these addresses relates to matters

of local interest , but one or two subjects were dealt with to which reference may very properly be made . Thus , as regards the question whether or not the lodges and chapters of the body known in the United States as the Eastern Star , should

be permitted to hold their meetings in Masonic Malls , though no objection was raised to such bodies enjoying that privilege under certain conditions , it was distinctly recognised both by the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge that the aforesaid Hastem

Star is not in any way connected with Freemasonry , except in so far as that it iscomposedof Master Masons , their wives , and daughters , & c , who meet together for social purposes . The other clay we noted in one of our articles that in one of the Masonic

jurisdictions in the United Slates the Grand Master referred with complacency to the officers of the two bodies being publicly installed on the same day and expressed a hope that the time would come when the ceremonial observances prescribed for such occasions

would be performed from the same ritual . It is evident , therefore , that our Ohio brethren have a clearer and more correct idea of what is and what is not Freemasonry than those of the younger and more immature Grand Lodge we referred

to in our former article . Another question that was dealt with was that of Perpetual Jurisdiction over rejected candidates , more than one case having occurred during the year , particularly with the Grand Lodge of

Pennsylvania , in which the Grand Lodge of Ohio had found itself involved in differences on the subject with other Grand Lodges . Here again we find that Ohio is far more reasonable in respect of this absurd dogma . True it affirms the right of a lodge which

lias rejected a candidate for initiation to have a voice in his subsequent acceptance by another lodge in another jurisdiction , but it does not go the monstrous length of claiming that this ri ght shall endun .- for ever . It holds by what it calls the doctrine of

Temporary Jurisdiction ; that is to say , it allows the lodge which has rejected a candidate to have a voice in his subsequent election by another lodge elsewhere during a definite period of time , but it considers that when that period has elapsed , the

lodge in whose jurisdiction the once rejected candidate has taken up his residence has a perfect right to deal with his renewed application for membership of our Society on its own merits . This , though it may not accord with our Hnglish ideas

upon candidature lor the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry is at least a reasonable view to take and those who care to read the Report of the Committee to which the question was referred will find that it is based upon grounds which are

Grand Lodge Of Ohio.

perfectly reasonable . It only remains to note that the Grand Treasurer ' s account discloses the fact that the Grand Lodge contributed a handsome donation towards the support of the Masonic Home which has been lately established under its

auspices ; that , as usual , there is appended to the Report of the Grand Lodge proceedings a very elaborate Rejjort on Foreign Correspondence , and that , in addition , there is also a mass of

statistics relating to the Masonic Home , and the lodges on the register . The present Grand Master is Bro . NELSON WILLIAMS , and the Grand Secretary , Bro . J . If . BROMWELL , who has already filled the office for 10 years .

The Grand Lodge Calendar.

THE GRAND LODGE CALENDAR .

" The Freemasons' Calendar and Pocket Book for the year 1 S 9 S " is published all in good time , and is both opportune and welcome . As an annual , it is very useful , its utility being well known to all concerned in the welfare of the Craft in England , and its value for reference as to the past is equally well attested , especially from the yeir 1 S 14 , though , as a matter of fact , its details embrace a much more remote period .

Each year of issue enables one to judge of the continued prosperity of the Grand Lodge of England , that for 1 S 9 S being no exception to the rule . The 11 el number of lodges on the register , as given in the Calendar for 1897 , was 2190 ; but for the present year the total has increased to 2241 , being an increase of 51 during the last 12 months . The Metropolitan District is credited with 11 of that number , the Provinces 23 , and the Colonies ,

& c , 17 , so that the increase has been pretty equally distributed . The Provinces of Berks , Bucks , Durham , Kent , Norths and Hunts , Sussex , Wilts , and Worcester have each added one to their rolls ; Cheshire , Northumberland , Surrey , and West Yorkshire t-xo each ; West Lancashire has added three more to its great total , making now 118 ( the largest Province of the kind in the world ) , and Devon has galnedfour , being the most of any during the year .

Bengal has now 46 lodges ( an increase of one ) , there being 133 m East India in all under the Grand Lodge of England . The largest District Grand Lodge is Queensland , which has 54 on its Register , being an increase of three ; and there are still , unfortunately , the solitary lodges each at Sydney ( N . S . Wales ) and Melbourne ( Victoria ) . The lodges have increased from 16 in 1896 to 22 at the end of 1897 , in Western Australia . In North America , the three lodges in Montreal ( Quebec ) and one at

Halifax ( Nova Scotia ) still cling to the Grand Lodge of England , but it seems to me a pity so to do when there are active and prosperous Grand Lodges which would gladly welcome them into their folds . NJWZ ' . aland , notwithstanding the formation of a Grand Lodge ( premature in origin , however good else it may be ) , his 64 lodges on our Register ( besides those of other jurisdictions ) divided into five District Grand Lodges , SJ that the ' •Sovereign " character of the new Grand Lodge is not yet realised .

Though there used to be so many military lodges ( which were the medium of spreading a knowledge of the Craft more than any other means ) , there are now but three ; in lhe Royal Scots 2 nd Batt . ( 316 ) , the Royal Irish Fusil . ers 2 nd Batt . ( 497 ) , and the East Surrey Regiment lit Batt .

The Rolf of Past Grand Officers is now a very long one , and so are the tables and lists of R-markable Occurrences , Public Works' functions , Grants to the Central Masonic Charities and those of a special kind . The regular tables of the Provinces , as also the Roll of Provincial Grand Masters , are simply invaluable , and are of considerable utility for ref irence . In fact , lhe preparation of this part of the Calendar has involved a great

deal of labour , spread over a good many years , but none the less a spicial feature of each issue . The Calendar portion , however , giving thi day of meeting under each month of all the London lodges and chapters , as well as those of the various Boards and Committees , is an independent compilation for each year , and I fancy , if brethren who have not tried their hand at such work , would even take the lodges and chapters , say of an ordinary

si * ed Province , and arrange them for 12 months , in due chronological order , they would all the more appreciate the strictly Calendar portion of this publication . Particulars are supplied of the Grand Chapter of England just as for the Grand Lodge , and from the data furnished it appears that there are now 1 S 0 chapters in London , 521 in the Provinces , and 131 Abroad , makings

total of 832 , being an increase of only 12 during the year , The usual information is added as to other Grand Lodges in comrnunicition with the Grand Lodge of England , and various particulars of a general character , thus rendering the Calendar indispensable for all zealous Craftsmen resident in this country , and a real boon for Masters and Secretaries of lodges . W . J . HUGHAN .

Ireland.

Ireland .

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS TO BRO . R . W . ^ HEKLETON , M . A ., Q . C , J . P ., $ c , LATE DEPUTi GRAND MASTER OF IRELAND .

On Monday , the ist November last , at the Freemasons Hall , Dublin , the Board of General Purposes , on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , presented an address to the fate Deputy Grand Master , Bro . R . W . Shekleton , Q . C , on his retirement from office . The ceremony was of a peculiarly touching character , for it partook of the nature of an affectionate personal farewell to . the brother who ha 4 f ° r