Results Of The Three Great Anniversary Festivals Of 1899.

Boys' School , £ 12 , 640 Ss ,, making a total lor the year o £ 91 , 643 . ln 1 S 93 , when again the Returns were below the average , the Benevolent Institution received £ 8855 18 s . 6 d .

the Girls' School , £ 14 , 011 3 s . 6 d . ; ancl the Boys' School , £ 21 , 840 8 s . 3 d . ; the total for the whole year reaching £ 44 , 707 ios . 3 d .

Last year , when the Boys' School celebrated its Centenary , the Benevolent Institution received £ 97 66 17 s . ; the Girls ' School , £ 9512 8 s . 6 d . ; and the Boys' School , at its Centenary , under H . R . H . thc Prince of Wales , M . W . G . Master , and

President of the Institution , £ 141 , 203 os . 11 tl ., giving a total of £ 160 , 4 82 6 s . 5 d ., while the present year , of comparative depression , has yielded , as we have shown in round figures , some £ 50 , 000 . Thus , as regards the three extraordinary years , there

has been an increase from £ 75 , 390 , in 1888 , to £ 91 , 6 43 , in 1892 , to £ 160 , 482 , 111 18 9 R ; and in thc three years of comparative depression an increase likewise from £ 32 , 4 66 , in 18 S 9 , to £ 44 , 707 , in 18 93 , to £ 50 , 000 in 1 S 99 . These are remarkable figures , and well worth a careful study .

Boscombe Hospital.

BOSCOMBE HOSPITAL .

LAYING THE FIRST STONE . IMPOSING MASONIC CEREMONY .

"Sunny Boscombe" celebrated the anniversary of Her Majesty ' s Coronation on Wednesday , the 28 th ult ., in right loyal fashion , the day being chosen as the occasion for la ) ing with full Maconic honours , the first stone of the new Boscombe Hospital . Probably , no rmre fitting celebration of the long reign of our beloved sovereign the Queen could have been devised than the laying of the foundation stone of such a beneficent

institution , and when it became publicly known that the brethren had given their patronage and support to the new building it was felt that the ceremony would be worthy of the occasion . The necessity for embarking on a scheme for the provision of a new hospital to replace the old cottage buildings has long since been demonstrated , and now , we are informed , there are more

than three times the number of applications for beds than the capacity of the premises will enable the committee to deal with . In these circumstances the committee , with the sanction of the general body of subscribers , decided upon a scheme for placing the institution upon such a footing a > to make it worthy of the locality in which it is placed .

Plans for the new buildings have been prepared by Bro . G . A . Bligh Livesay , of Boscombe , for a hospital to consist of an administration block and three pavilions , containing wards for men , women , and children , but at present funds will not warrant such an extensive building . The committee , have , therefore , arranged to begin the new hospital by the erection of two

pavilions , each containing ten beds for men nnd women patients respectively . The site of the new hospital is atthe rear of the existing one , on the , at present , waste piece of land at the foot of thc water tower . The main approach will be from the Ashley-road , and the building will be within a very short distance from Boscombe railway station . The site at present belongs to the Bournemouth Gas and Water Company .

The two pavilions , the foundation stone of which was laid on the above day , are 50 feet long , 27 feet broad , and 13 feet high . Thc wards will have a cubic air space per bed of 1755 feet , and a floor area per bed ot 135 square feet . The buildings will be connected wilh each other by a corridor , and with the present hospital by a temporary corridor . Each pavilion will contain ward kitchens , larders , stores , lavatories , ike . There

will also be an isolation ward , entirely separated from the wards , with the exception of opening into the miin conidor , which will be carried right through the building . If funds will permit , it is also proposed to proceed with the building . The whole of the premises will be built on arches , so that a frte current of air may How beneath the wards . The pavilions will be built of Bridgwater bricks , with Ponland stone dressings . The floors and

ceilings will be fireproof , and the walls will be strong enough to carry another storey if necessary . The whole of the lloors will be of Terratzzo stone . The wards themselves will be entirely separated from the kitchens and s'ores , 8 : c ., by the main corridor . On the south side of each pavilion there will be a verandah overlooking a carriage drive . The buildings will be lighted by electricity , and the water mains and electric light cables will be carried in a subway under the main corridor .

The builders are Messrs . Miller and Sons , of Bournemouth . The cost of the two pavilions is estimated at about £ 8003 , and towards this more than half has been raised .

Boscombe was quite en fete for the occasion , the Shelley and Ashley Roads being gaily decked with streamers , . Vc . Two or three commodious maiquees had been erected on the site of the new hospital , and the arrangements made were of the most admirable description . Ladies and gentlemen who had been invited to witness the interesting proceedings began to anive soon after noon , and among the crowded audience present , in addition

to the Freemasons who arrived later , were Sir John and Lady Thursby , Sir Matthew and Lady Dodsworth , Mrs . Maberly , Alderman and Mrs . J . A . Hosker , Alderman G . M . Hirons , Alderman J . H . R . Smythe , Councillor H . C . Stockley , Rev . Dr . Moore White , Rev . " F . Sloper , Rev . H . Ebben , Rev . C . H . Partite . Dc . P . W . G . Nunn , Dr . A . Heygate Vernon , D-.

Weakes , Dr . J . S . Dickie , Dr . Saul , Mr . W . Tucker ( Mayor of Christchurch j , Mr . G . Marshall ( ex-Mayor of Christchurch ) , Messrs . I ' . lMoser , T . Lampard , H . S . Bellairs , A . G . IVatt ( secretary of the hospital ) J . J . Aston , A . J . Abbott , A . Maples , A . D Angibai , Corbin Harris , S , Wnitiy Ciandler , and E . J . Knibbs , and many others .

Boscombe Hospital.

The brethren met at St . John ' s Lads' Institute , shortly alter 110011 , under the presidency of the Prov . Grand Masier , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., and Bro . Edgar Goble , Dep . Prov . G . M ., Past G . S . B . Eng . There was a large attendance from all over the county and district . In addition to the Prov . G . M ., Bro . VV . W . B . Beach , M . P ., there were also present the following officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight :

Bros . Edgar Goble , Past G . S . B . Eng ., D . P . G . M . ; A . E . F . Francis , P . G . S . W . ; E . G . Farr , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . A . T . Richardson , P . G . Chap . ; John W . Gieve , P . G Treas . ; Captain H . G . Giles , P . G . Sec ; A . T . Hicks , P . f . G . D . ; C . S . Du Sautoy , P . G . Supt . of W . ; F . H . Sheppard , P . G . D . D . of C . ; S . Frampton , P . A . G . D . of C . ; J . M . Godfrey , P . A . G . D . of C . ; R . Young , P . G . A . D . of C . j H . Hussey , P . G . S . B . ; H . Siebert , P . G . Org . ; G . F . Lancaster , P . Asst . G . Sec . ; and J . Chandler , F . W . E . Evans , and H . S . Duko , P . G . Stwds .

Altogether there were 170 brethren present , the officers of the local lodges including the following : Bros . Wm . W . Mattocks , W . M ., J . A . Cr . iwshiw , S . W ., J . A . Nethercoate , J . W ., F . Mapp , P . M ., Tre .-is . and Org ,, W . Woodhouse , P . M ., Sec , W . W . Miller , S . D ., K . Jones , j . D ., G . E . llames , I . G ., R . Hod-jes , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., D . C ., C . H . M . ite , Stwd ., W . J . Holloway , Tyler , E . W . Rebbeck , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W .,

D . Sydenham , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . Dorset , ] . Druitt , jun ., P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., C . T , Miles , P . M ., P . P . G . Supt . of Works , VV . Woodhouse , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D ., W . H Vye , P . M ., W . Humphry , P . M .. and K . T . Cuihr , P . M ., all of 195 ; H . W . G . Knight , W . M ., D . Williams , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . Bristol , Chap ., J . Marsden , Treas ., J . J . Brazier , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., Sec , H . T . Pottle , S . O ., Henry Youngman , P . M . 1571 , D . C , C . W . Sillence , Org ., W . J . Holloway , Tyler , H . E . Hawker , P . M .,

P . P . J . G . D ., and G . E' . Bridge , P . M ., aU of 2208 ; F . H . Cottam , W . M ., A . C . Grosutt , S . W ., J . A . Hosker , J . W ., Rev . R . Hosgood , Chap . ; C . T . Miles , P . M ., P . P . G . Supt . of Works , J . N . McRae , J . D ., A . T . George , LG ., D . W . Preston , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., C . W . S . Collins , Org ., W . J . Holloway , Tyler , C . W . Wyatt , P . M ., P . P . G . Supt . of Works , F . H . Cridland P . M .. A . E . F . Francis , P . M .,

P . S . G . W ., and J . W . S .-ndell , P . M ., all of 215 S H . A . Wooff , W . M ., W . G . Abbott , J W „ A . T . Hicks , P . P . J . G . D ., Treas ., W . Farranee P . P . G . S . B ., Sec , D . Galbraith , I . G ., F . Walden , P . M ., S . B . Morse , P . M ., J . Phillips , P . M ., and F . Hibbs , P . M ., all of 132 ; and T . Schaler , W . M ., G .-S . Love , S . D ., J . Selley , Org ., S . II . Humphrey , Stwd ., J . W . Jolliffe , P . M ., R . Catt , P . M ., and A . Algar , P . M ., all of 319 .

The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened at a quarter to one . o ' clock in the hall . The banner of the Boscombe Lodge , No . 215 S , was placed to the right of the Prov . G . Master ' s chair , and the Prov . G . Master ' s banner on the left , the room being otherwise arranged in accordance with Masonic ceremony .

The roll of the lodges having been called , and the brethren of the Prov . Grand Lodge saluted , the Prov . Grand Master addressed the brethren on the object of the special occasion . The brethren then formed in procession to the site of the new hospital . The procession , which marched down the Shelley and Ashley-roads , on arrival at the site , entered a large niirquee , and the brethren took up their seats on a raised dais , where the stone to be laid was suspended from a triangular frame , covered with bunting .

On reaching the dais , the brethren opened left and right , and facing inwards , formed an avenue for the P . G . M . Daring this part of the proceedings , the choir , under the leadership of Mr . A , T . George , sung the well-known hymn , "O God our help in ages past . " The brethren having been seated , the vessels containing corn , wine , and oil were placed , together with the mallet and trowel , on a pedestal , and when silence had been proclaimed by the Prov . Grand Director of

Cere-, Sir J TiiURSiiv addressed the assembly . He said he had been asked to say a few words in offering to them a hearty welcome to the town of Boscombe . He did so with pleasure , because he did not think there was any town in England which had made so much progress as Boscombe had during the past few ycars . He well remembered the time when he had to journey

from Christchurch to Boscombe with scarcely any houses in between . Now there were residences practically all the way from Christchurch to Bournemouth . ' There had been erected in Boscombe some very important buildings . They had . 1 beautiful church , one of the finest hotels in England , one of thc best thf aires in the provinces , and a charming pier to walk upon . Some of them , however , thought that one thing was wanted , and that was a

new hospital to meet one of the ever-increasing needs of the place . They had carried on a hospital on a small scale , accommodating some 12 patients , for a good number of years , but the time had arrived when they decided to erect a new hospital . The new building was to be erected in what was one of the poorest parts of the district . He then called upon the Prov . G . M . to lay the stone . Psilm xxiii . was then sung , followed by the Te Deum .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER said : Ladies , men , and brethren , be it known to you , we are loyal Masons , faithful to the laws of our country , and enjoined by solemn obligations to erect handsome buildings to be serviceable to the brethren and to reverence God , the Great Architect of the Universe . We have secrets concealed amongst ourselves , which may not be revealed , and which no man hath discovered : but these secrets are true and

honourable , and not repugnant to the laws of God or man . They were entrusted in peace and honour to the Masons of ancient times , and as they have been faithfully transmitted to us , it is our duty to convey them unimpaired to posterity . Had our Craft not been good and our calling honourable , we should not have existed for so many centuries , nor from our ranks so many illustrious brethren have arisen ready to promote our work and

further tlie cause . We are now assembled this day in the presence of you all to lay the stone of this building , which we trust will be of service to this locality , and may God prosper as it seems good to Him . And as it is the first duty of all Masons in every undertaking to invoke a blessing from the Great Architect of the Universe on their work , I will call upon you all to unite with the Provincial Grand Chaplain while he invokes the blessing from God .

The PROV . G . CHAPLAIN having offered prayer , and the choir sung the anthem , " O Lord , our Governor , " The PROV . G . SECRETARY read aloud the inscription on the stone as follows : " This stone was laid with Masonic ceremony by \ V . \ V . B . Beach , Esq ., M . P ., Provincial G-and Master of Hants and the Isle of Wig ht . June 28 , lSejo . President , Sir John Thursby , Bart . Chairman of Committee , Mr . E . H . Bellairs . Secretary , Mr . A . G . Pratt . Architect , Mr . G . A . Bligh Livesay , F . R . I . B . A . Builders , Messrs . Miller and Sons . "

Mr . E . II . BELLAIRS , on behalf of the Committee , then presented the Prov . G . M . with a silver trowel , bearing the following inscription : " Presented to YV . W . B . Beach , Esq ., M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Hants