Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Ancient and Accepted Rite .

Invicta Chapter , No . 10 . The last meeting of the session was held at 33 , Golden-square , VV ., on the 17 th ult ., E . P . Bro . Rev . Fayer , D . D ., presided , Ihe ceremony of peifecting Bro . Major Lewis H . Isaacs being undertaken by 111 . Bro . VV . M . Bywater , ; , 2 ° . Besides the above brethren there were present 111 . Bros . Henry Lovegrove , 31 , and G . Mickley , 31 ; E . P . Bros . George Powell , J . J . Pakes , F . A . Manning , C B . Brener , VV . J . Songhurst , A . D . Green , Capt . Hastings Jones , and F . VV . Faulkner .

Our Portrait Gallery.

Our portrait Gallery .

COMP . G . G , BENEDETTI , whose portrait is this week added to our gallery of portraits of VV . Masters ar . d M . E . Zs ., was initiated in the Excelsior Lodge , No . 1115 , in 1877 , and has served the office of W . M . He was exalted as a Royal Arch Mason in the Sphinx Chapter , No . 1329 , and having already served as M . E . Z . of the Star Chapter , No . 1275 , of which he is a joining member , was quite recently installed as 2 . in his mother chapter .

Lodges Of Instruction.

Lodges of Instruction .

PROSPERITY LODGE , No . 65 . The usual weekly meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday , the 6 th inst ., at the Weavers' Arms , London Wall , E . C , when there were present Bros . Emden W . M . j E . Croft Wise , S . W . j T . VVhite , J . W . ; D . Harlow , P . M ., Preceptor •' W . C . Thomas , P . M ., Treas . ; H . T . Meadows , Sec ; William Baker . SD . '

W . J . Greig , Asst . Preceptor , J . D . ; Spencer , I . G . ; Jas . Smith , P . M . ; Maidwell , P . M . ; Hughes , P . M . ; Niven , R . Sarson , Strong , Shepherd , Drake , Downs , j . Kinipple , Butcher , Buss , Evans , and J . G . Robeson . The lodge was opened , and the ceremony of installation was performed , Bro . Niven acting as W . M . elect . The VV . M . vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Niven , who invested his officers . The ceremony of initiation was then rehearsed , Bro . Butcher actio " as candidate . The lodge was closed . * "

LA TOLERANCE LODGE , No . 53 S . A meeting was held en Wednesday , the Oth inst ., at the Frascati Restaurant Oxford-street , W ., when there were present Bros . M . Becdle , VV . M . ; T . Smale P VI ' S . W . j L . Goldstein , J . W . j J . Paul . P . M ., Preceptor ; J . Thorn , P . M . ' Asst ' Preceptor ; Geo . Hill . P . M ., Treas . ; VV . E . Willby , P . M ., Sec ; A . Terry S D : J . Mason , LG . ; W . Proctor , P . M ., Tyler ; and L . S . Genese . ' ' '

The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes were read . The ist and 2 nd Sections of the Lecture were worked by Bros . Paul ar . d Hill . The ceremony of inflation was rehearsed , Bro . J . Thorn , P . M ., being the candidate . The W . M . having tisen the first , secor . d , ar . d third times , and the S . W . duly elected VV . M . for the ensuin " week , Ihe ledge was dosed . 'Ihe 13 th ballet cf Ihe Charitable Association wa " s won by Bro . T . H . Clear .

RANELAGH LODGE , No . S 34 . A meeting was held on Friday , the ist inst ., at the Six Bells HcttI , Oueen-street Hammersmith . Present : Bros . James Banks , W . M . ; Robert Reiel , S . VV •F H * Tompsett , J . W . ; A . Williams , P . M ., Preceptor ; F . Cragg =, P . M Ser •' ' Phillips . S . D . ; Wm . Hide , J . D . ; J . J . l . ewin , I . C ; VV . Hinds , Steward ' - ' VV W . Williams , P . M . ; VV . J . Coplestone , P . M . ; R . II . Williams , P . M ., P . P ' iV Middx . ; Joseph Cox , W . M . S 65 ; Hans Scharien , W . M . SIJ : 1 . Worth A l ' Dalton , H . Sellick , T . Knights , and A . J . Clayton . J ' J "

The lodge having been duly opened , and Ihe minutes of Ihe previous meeting read and confirmed , it was opened in the Second and Third Degrees , and resumed to the Second . Bro . Worth offered himself as a candidate for raising , and he was examined and entrusted . The lodge was resumed in Ihe Third Degree , and Ihe ceremony of raising rehearsed . The lodge was resumed to the First Degree . The 2 nd Section of the Lecture was worked by the brethren , under the direction of the Preceptor Bro Reid was elected W . M . for the 15 th inst ., the next meeting being officers' night . The lodge was then closed .

HARROW LODGE , No . 1310 . A meeting ot this lodge was held on Friday , the ist inst ., at the Waterloo Arms , High-street , Marylebone , VV ., when there were present : Bros Westnn W . M . ; McVey , S . W . ; Lavine , J . W . j Jabez Mason , Sec ; Aubrey SDRoberts , J . D . ; Beasley , I . G . ; Wood , P . M .. Preceptor ; Lynn , P . M . ; Rudrum , PM ' ' Dingley , Thompson , Mills , Driver , Ball , and Johnson , ' '

Lodges Of Instruction.

The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Lewis acting as candidate The lodge was opened in the Second Degree . Bro . Driver having been examined an J entrusted , Ihe lodge was opened in the Third Degree , and Bro . Driver dulyraiseel to the degree of a Master Mason . The VV . M . rose for the first , second and third times , when Bros . Thompson , Lavine , and Beasley were elected unanimously members of this lod > r _ All Masonic business being ended , the lodge was closed . a

ISLINGTON LODGE , No . 1471 . The usual weekly meeting was held on Tuesday , the 5 th inst ., at the Cocli Tavern , Highbury , when there were present : Bros . R . P . Upton , P . M ., W . M ¦ 1 E . Thomas , S . W . j C . Smith , J . W . ; W . Hancock , P . M ., Preceptor j J . VV . Clar ' k . ' P . M ., Asst . Preceptor ; C . M . Coxon , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Herts , and J . Duncan

P . M ., Sees . ; C . C . Renaud , S . D . ; CT . Rayner , J . D . ; M . Hepner , I . G . j E J . Harrison , H . F . Packs , E . Faux , C Horst , V . J . R . Longman , H . Parkinson , ] L . Langton , A . F . Hardyment , C . VV . Rayner , G . Yexley , G . A . Hopkins , VV . Ranlev A . Oliver , P . M ., J . R . Carter , G . T . Stock , M . Tuck , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . Essex ; _„_ T . Spotswood .

The lodge was opened and the minutes read and confirmed . The lodge having been opened in the Second Degree , the W . M . vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Faux and the lodge was opened in the Third Degree . The ceremony of raising was then rehearsed , Bro . Parkinson being the candidate . Bro . Upton resumed the chair , and the lodge was closed down . Bro . J . R . Carter was elected a member of the lodge . Bro Thomas was elected W . M . for the next meeting , and appointed his officers in rotation . The lodge was then closed .

THE OLD TROCADERO went the way of all things but in its stead there has been ra ' sed a Trocadero which bids fair to akogether eclipse the memories of the old favourite place of amusement . A magnificent restaurant has been raised upon its site , and Messrs . J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , have succeeded beyond their anticipations in making this the most attractive and comfortable resort of the kind in Europe . A Misonic Temple is included ini : s many attractions and exceptionally good arrangements are being made for the convenience of lodges . Application for particulars should be made to the proprietors , J . Lyons an I Co . Limited , Cadby Hall , Kensington . —[ Aovr . ]

The Equitable Life Assurance Society Of The United States.

THE EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES .

Since our last notice of the above distinguished society , in January of this year , we have had the piivilege to peruse the report and balance-sheet to December 31 st , 1395 , which is remarkable for the enormous growth of its totals , the undivided surplus on a 4 per cent , standard having now reached £ 8 , 442 , 502 , which is in advance of the preceding year's total by £ 655 , 044 , whilst the assets have increased by £ 3326 , 058—bringing the total of that category up to the magnificent total of , £ 41 , 876 , 955 . The total income of the scciety amounted to £ 9 , 260 , 642 , and the amount paid to policyholders , £ 4 , 076 , 805 ; new assurances written , £ 27 , 516 , 360 ; whilst proposals for

assurance examined and declined reached the sum of £ 4 , 718 , 436 . The latter item shows the determination of the control to eliminate doubtful business , in pursuance of their rejection of new proposals from those parts of the world where the mortality is unfavourable , as well as in those countiies where the conditions and enactments are arbitrary and adverse to the general interests ot thc general body of policy-holders . Notwithstanding Ihis bold , withal wise , couise , the volume of business is exceptionally large , and , though of the most lucrative character , the cost of the assurance is exceedingly small , frequently resulting , as we have already observed , in no cost at all , with an

ample marginal pre fit in the bargain . The securities under the heading of "United States Stocks and other Investments , " as per market quotations on December 31 st , 1895 , showed an appreciation in value on their cost price of no less thanj £ 644 , 439 , and this fact is very impressive when the unfavourable conditions of trade and commerce in the period acted so detrimentally to all interests on both sides of the Atlantic . It would appear , indeed , that , in despite of all disadvantageous circumstances , the progress ot the society is unassai ' able , and the grand adminstration of its executive ever to be rewarded wi ' . h the fullest measure of benefit .

hor 29 years British insurers have enjoyed the matchless advantages of the American insurance , and during the year last past English policy-holders or their survivors have been paid from the British branch alone over £ 300 , 000 in death claims and matured policies . If the objection should be suggested that the Equitable Life of the United states is an American office , pur el simple , the answer emphatically is that , through its centre , Si , Cheapside , E . C , whence , we understand , an exodus is shortly to be made to larger and more commodious premises at 6 , Princes-street ( opposite the Bank of England ) , the policies issued therefrom are under the immediate jurisdiction of the British courts of law , pr . tecied by a special security for £ 100 , 000 in the Bank of England ,

ves ed in the trustees , the Right Hon . the Earl of Denlvgh and the Right Hon . the Earl of Kintore , and when such a security is in vogue , and it is considered that the transactions of the society are under a far more stringent State surveillance in America than obtains with us here , enquirers should be satisfied that their interests will be in safe keeping , and that they are environed by a double posse of guardians . Additional and highly interesting testimonies are published by grateful policy-holders , who are loud in their praise cf the extreme promptitude of the officials in the satisfaction of claims and the marvellous issues realised by the Tontine system of the society , and the following will more forcibly give point to these facts than a mere description in general terms :

Writing from Stromncss , on March ist , 1 S 95 , Mr . Win . D . I-irth says : "I am in receipt of your letter of 27 th inst , enclosing cheque for £ 700 in favour of Mrs . Catheiine M . Brass , be ' ng amount payable under this policy ( No . 271 , 185 ) . I have to thank you for the exceeding promptitude-with which this claim has been settled . In every way the matter has been most satisfactorily conducted . " Mr . L . J . Vergara , of 36 Weighton Road , Anerley , writes 12 th March , 1 S 95 : " Having this day presented at your office the papers in connection with my late father ' s life policy , and forthwith received payment of my tlaim for £ 5 , 743 1 is . iod ., 1 have gieat pleasure in testilying heieby to the p : ompt'tude of your settlement . "

Mr . Arthur Long , Stock Exchange , London , June 28 th , 1 S 95 : "I have much pleasuie in expressing my sa'isfaction at the prompt mariner in which you have setlk'd tr . e claim under Policy No . 212 , 162 , and also at the small amount of trouble given . " Mr . John H . Phipps , 246 Oxford Street , Manchester : ' •I must take this opportunity of thanking you for so promptly settling these policies . I got your cheque by return of post on my sending you the necessary papers . "

Letters of this kind continue to pour into the Manager ' s hands , and they are the best possible proof of the valuable and highly appreciated work well and continuously peifoimed by this establishment , who . e only concern it appears to be is to g ive ; a maximum of benefit lor a minimum of cost , administering the same with the nitwal giace and courtesy which make a visit to the officia ' s a pleasure and an event to he remembered .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . FRANCES SHARRATT . We regret to announce the death of Bro . Frances Sharratt , which occurred at his residence , Cromwell Lodge , Norwood , on the 2 nd inst . Bro . Sharratt was for upwards of 24 years a member of the Beador . Lodge , No . 619 , and had been twice elected to the chair . At the time of his death he held the office of Treasurer . He was the recipient of a handso .-ne testimonial in recognition of his successful efforts for the promotion of the welfare of the lodge . Bro . Sharratt was also " . /<• and Treasurer of the Beadon Chapter ,