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^reelmas^^ SATURDAY , J ANUARY 9 , 1897 .

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

The first great Masonic function of the year took place at Longton on Thursday , the ; th instant , when the first stone of the Free Library and Technical Institute , which is about to be erected in that town , and will be known as the " Sutherland Institute , " was laid

with the customary ceremonial by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . Master . His Royal Highness was assisted b y his Grand Officers , and there were likewise present Bro . the Earl of Dartmouth , Prov . G . Master of Staffordshire , and the oflicers of his Prov . Grand

Lodge , together with a numerous gathering of the members of neighbouring lodges and visiting brethren , while a large concourse of spectators was gathered from all parts of Staffordshire and watched with great interest the unusual proceedings . We hope to publish a full account in next week ' s issue .

Masonic Notes.

The Byfield Lodge , No . 2632 , will be consecrated on Monday , the 1 ith instant . The ceremony will be performed by the Grand Secretary , who will be assisted in his task by Bros . Geo . E . Fairchild , P . A . G . D . C , as S . W . ; James Terry , P . G . S . B ., as j . W . ; the Ven . Archdeacon Stevens , G . Chaplain , as Chaplain ;

Frank Richaidson , P . G . D ., as D . of C . ; and C . J . R . Tijou , P . A . G . Purst ., as I . G . The iirincipal officers designate are Bros . James Boulton , G . P ., W . M . ; W . Gladding , S . W . ; and Flint , J . W . Wc doubt not that everything will pass off satisfactorily , and that as

soon as it has found its feet—which it is likely lo dc very speedily under the auspices of so capable a Mason as Bro . James Boulton—it will prove itself a worthy constituent part of our Grand Lodge . It has our most cordial good wishes for its success . * * *

The Lodge of Virtue , No . 152 , Manchester , which celebrated the centenary of its constitution on Wednesday the 31 st ult ., was founded by the "Ancient , " or "Atholl" Grand Lodge , the Warrant , No . 201 , originally granted in July , 1777 , to a body of brethren , authorising them to meet as a lodge at the Cock Inn ,

Stretford , near Manchester . But according to Lane s "Masonic Records , " this lapsed about 17 S 2 and the Warrant was re-granted to sundry brethren to meet at the Moseley Arms , Shude-hill , Manchester , on the 30 th December , 1796 . From that date forward the lodge has been in continuous working , having moved its

quarters at pretty frequent intervals till the year 186 4 , when it migrated to its present home at the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street . Its number was in the Atholl days 201 . After the Union in 1813 , it became 250 on the roll of United Grand Lodge , and in 18 32

and 1863 was changed successively to 177 and 152 . The centenary meeting , which , we have said , took place on the 30 th ult ., was in all respects a success and we trust that the lodge may go on and prosper even to a greater extent than it has done in the past .

* # # The New Year ' s entertainment to the inmates of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution—of which a full and particular account will be found in another part of our columns—took place on Wednesday , and , thanks to the energy and kindly supervision of the Secretary ,

proved a great success . The dinner , which was served under the direction of the Matron , was excellent , the wine excellent , the entertainment which followed the repast excellent , and the enjoyment of the old folks and their visitors unqualified . Bro . Terry , as usual , made a stirring speech , in which he earnestly appealed

for support in behalf of an Institution which is doing such excellent service on so large a scale , and we trust the effects of his speech will be made apparent at the Festival on the 24 th February by sundry substantial lists , or additions to lists , directly traceable to his remarks . We mention elsewhere that a considerable

measure of support is needed in order to ensure the success of the Festival which is about to be held under the auspices of the Duke of Connaught , and Bro . Terry ' s speech is well calculated to enlist some of that support . # ?• 3 F

We have to acknowledge our indebtedness to Bro . J . M . McLeod , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , for the very interesting particulars appended to the statement of income for 1896 . which he kindly furnished last week for our article on " Masonic Benevolence in 1896 . " Some of these particulars are noted in o-ir article on the " Removal

of the Boys School , which will be found in another column . But it is worth while mentioning that the total amount received by the Institution during the 10 years from 1887 to 18 9 6 , both inclusive , was ^ 189 , 8 95 os . gd ., ot which . 655 , 111 9 s . 4 d ., was received in respect of the years 188 7 to 1890 , which were under the old regime , and . £ 134 , 78 3 1 is . 5 d . in respect of the six years of the new rdgimc .

* * We are also informed that out of the income of . £ 23 , 603 2 s . for 1896 , . £ 8 , 175 2 s . was expended in the purchase of additional Capital , while £ 3000 waa paid as part of the purchase money of the new property at Bushey . But in addition to the ordinary income , there

were received in respect of the "Scholarship Fund , donations amounting in all to . £ 1604 9 s . 6 d . This sum , having been raised for a special purpose , quite distinct from the purposes to which the ordinary donations and subscriptions are devoted , has been very

properly excluded from the Statement of Income for the past year . But the point we are chiefly desirous of emphasising in reference to the above particulars and the others cited in our leading article is that , in the face of such figures , it will only be a duty on the part of

Masonic Notes.

Bro . Greatbatch that he should withdraw the reckless statement he is reported to have made in the Jtenturia Lodge on the 15 th ult ., to the effect that " matters are almost as bad as ever they were " in the management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

* Apropos of the consecration of the Jubilee Lodge , No . 2633 , Brisbane , a report of which appears in another column , we have much pleasure in drawing attention lo the very substantial progress which is

being made in English Masonry ir . Queensland , as many as three other Craft lodges having lately been constituted . Thc venerable but still energetic District Grand Master , The Honourable Aug . C . Gregory , C . M . G ., & c , accompanied by his equally active

District Grand Secretary seems to spare no pains in administering his government and in furthering the advancement ofthe Craft . They lately constituted a new lodge called Excelsior , No . 2624 , at Mackay , the sugaropolis of Queenstown , some 700 miles from Brisbane

under very favourable auspices , the D . G . Sec . acting as Consecrating and Installing Officer . This event happened at a time when three other Mackay lodges where holding their Annual Installation Meeting , and the occasion was utilised to finish up their Masonic Festivals by holding a Masonic Church Service .

* * * This service was held in the Anglican Church . The brethren , being clothed in the school-house in the grounds , entered in procession , led by the choir singing an appropriate hymn . The service was truly Masonic

throughout , the lessons being special , and the sermon by Bro . the Rev . Abel Turner , M . A ., was an eloquent and impressive discourse , and well calculated to convince the large congregation of the beauty of our principles and the beneficent nature of its Institutions .

* * * Again , in the months of August and September two other lodges were consecrated , namely , the Killarney , No . 2629 , in the beautiful mountain district of that namej some 200 miles from the metropolis

and the Hopeful , No . 2634 , at Corinda , only a few miles out of town . The ceremonies in both cases were highly successful , the R . W . D . G . Master in each carrying out the ceremonies of consecration and constitution . # * *

In our report of the Council meeting of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , it will be observed that our Yorkshire Provinces , despite the disagreement with Bro . Smithson in his action in supporting the removal

of the Institution to Bushey , desire him to continue as their representative on the Board of Management . This is the move noteworthy , as it was the Province of North and East Ridings of Yorkshire which commenced thc opposition to the removal .

* » Thc first meeting of the Board of Stewards for the approaching Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday , when Bro . the Right Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott ,

( J . C ., P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . Sussex , was chosen President ; Bro . Sir J . B . Monckton , P . G . W ., Acting President ; Bro . Lennox Browne , P . D . G . D . C , Hon . Treas . ; and Bro . James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Hon . Sec . The usual preliminary arrangements were agreed to .

BRO . LORD WOLSELEY , Commander-in-Chief , has awarded the long service and good conduct medal to 215 non-commissioned officers and men of the regular army . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES has sent abrace-and-ahalf of pheasants to each of the members of Bro . Edward Terry ' s company who appeared at Sandringham on New Year ' s Day in " Love in Idleness " and the ' * Holly Tree Inn . "

THE LEGAL MUSICAL SOCIETY , of which the Lord Chancellor ( Bro . Lord Halsbury ) is President , held its annual dinner at Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday evening . There was a numerous muster ot guests , and after dinner an excellent programme of vocal and instrumental music was ( riven .

LONDON STILL remains among the healthiest cities in England , notwithstanding that last week , according to the Registrar General ' s Returns , the mortality rose from 15 . 1 to 20 . 8 , per 1000 , that of the 33 great towns being 22 . 3 . The death-rate at Brighton was above the average , and that of Croydon the most favourable but one . THERE WAS the usual festive gathering at Drury Lane Theatre on Wednesday evening ( Twelfth Night ) after the

performance of the pantomini " , and Bro . James f'ernandez , Master of the Drury Lane Fund , cut the Baddeley Cake . Before doing so , however , he made touching reference to the late Bro . Sir Augustus Harris and his large-hearted hospitality . Mutual good wishes for the New Year were afterwards exchanged amongst those present , and the health of Bro . Oscar Barrett was drunk with great cordiality .