Freemasonry In 1897.

reference to the removal of the Institution to the new site at Bushey , near Watford , there is little more to record than that Bro . Rowland Plumbe has been appointed Consulting Architect , and that plans forthe new buildings are being prepared by certain eminent Architects . It is , however , with feelings of the

utmost satisfaction that we record a munificent gift of 5000 guineas by Bro . C . li . Keyser , P . G . D ., towards the erection of a schroi chapel on the site , Bro . Keyser ' s object , in presenting this gift being lo keep down as much as possible the cost of erecting ihe new premises . Thc announcement , when the Chairman of

( he day made it at the A ; ril Court , was received with loud and continued applause , and we doubt not that a suitable mode will ere long be found of recognising such generosity . Let us hope lhat the example thus set by the Treasurer of the Institution will be followed by others of its many friends and well-wishers .

PROVINCIAL AND OTHER CHARITABLE ASSOCIATIONS .

These Institutions are of two kinds . There are those which have been founded with a view to relieving- the necessities ol o the local poor brother , his widow , and his orphans , and those which undertake the task of raising funds for the Central Charities , enabling brethren of moderate means to qualify as

Life Governors or Life Subscribers by the payment of small periodical instalments . Both these classes of association have done , and are doing , excellent work , the former bv relieving

the Central Charities of some of the heavy pressure which falls upon them , and thc latter by supplying them liberally wilh some of the funds they stand so greatly in need of . Among the best-known and most successful of the local Charitable

Institutions are those of West Lancashire , which have been tins year increased to four in number , namely , the Educational , I lamer , and Alpass Institutions , and the Victoria Jubilee Benevolent Institution , which has b $ eti founded to commemorate the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee , and towards the maintenance and support of

which there has already been subscribed over £ 1100 . East Lancashire has one such prosperous Institution which serves both for Educational and Benevolent Purposes . Then there are the Cheshire Educational and Benevolent Funds , the former of which

has been in existence for upwards of 30 years , while the latter has been founded during the Prov . Grand Mastership of Earl Iigerton of Tatton , whose appointment to that office dates from the year 1886 . Other funds of a similar character have from time to

time been established by Cornwall , Devonshire , Dorsetshire , Durham—whicli has an Fiducational Institution of some years ' standing and a "Hudson Benevolent F ' tind , " founded during the present year in recognition of the great services rendered to the Province bv Bro . R . Hudson as Prov . G . Secretary—the

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Educational F ' und , the North and liast Yorkshire liducational Institute , which celebrated its fifth Annual Festival at York in May under the presidency of Bro . the Very Rev . the Dean of York , when the sum of £ 1000 was raised in donations and subscriptions ; and last ,

but not least , the newly-founded West Yorkshire . Fund , towards which a large sum has already been subscribed , but which is not yet in full working order . Among the Associations which assist in obtaining subscriptions for the Central Masonic Institution by means of small periodical payments , are those established

by Stafford , Cambridgeshire , Herefordshire , and other Provinces , as well as by many of the London Lodges of Instruction , and by lodges both in town and country . But to whichever of these classes the Associations belong , there is no doubt they do a vast amount of good , Ihe one-class , as we have said , by relieving the

Central Charities of some of the pressure upon ( heir resources , and the other by raising funds for them under easy conditions of payment Wc are glad to be able to record that bo ' . h classes liave prospered during thc year 18 97 , and we hope to find their prosperity continued in future years .

HOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . Bro . J . II . Matthews , as President of the Board of Benevolence , has proved himself a worthy successor ol Bro . Robert

Grey in the administration of the Fund at the disposal of this Board , the same desire to alleviate the temporary distresses of brelhren and their widows and families , and the same regard for

economy having been exhibited . During the year from isl December , i 8 < 5 , lo the 30 th November , 18 , 6 , the number of cases relieved was 372 , and the amount distributed amongst them £ 8502 , while from the ist December , 18 94 , 10 -oth

Novem-!• -. ' >• . 1895 , the figures were 370 cases , and the amount £ 8800 . The record for the period from 1 st December , 18 9 6 , to the 30 th November , 1897 , is as follows ; In December , 18 9 6 , there were 4 6 cases relieved with £ 1145 ; in January , 18 97 , 17 cases with , ( , ' 480 ; in February , 33 cases with £ 1000 ; in March , 40 cases

Freemasonry In 1897.

with £ 1135 ; in April , 25 cases with £ 560 ; in May , 23 cases with £ 655 ; in June , 27 cases with £ 665 ; in July , 17 cases with £ 4 6 5 ; in August , 19 cases with £ 535 ; in September , 20 cases wilh £ ( 185 ; in October , 25 cases with £ 595 ; and in November , 42 cases with £ 1080 ; total for the 12 months , 334 cases relieved with £ 0000 .

MASONIC LITERATURE . Our record for last year undee this head was a brief one , the works that were published in 1 S 9 6 , though reflecting great credit upon their repcclive authors , beinrr few in number and

almost entirely confined to one class of publication , that of lodge and Provincial histories . This year we can point , not only to several histories of local Masonry of a similar character , but

likewise to the appearance of Part II . of Bro . Dr . Chetwode Crawley ' s " C'ementaria Hibernica , "anda Reprint of "Cole ' s Constitutions " with an introductory sketch by Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D . Bro . Dr . Crawley ' s Second Fasciculus , which was reviewed at considerable

length in these columns at the date of its publication , in every way confirms the high opinion we formed on the publication of the opening part , and strengthens the belief we then expressed that , when complete , the work will constitute one of the most valuable of the additions to the history of our Order which have been

published . He has succeeded in throwing much new light on the early history of the Craft in Ireland , and has shown that the Grand Lodge was in existence some few years previous to the dale ordinarily set down for its foundation . . As for " Cole ' s Constitutions , " which have been reproduced in exact facsimile

by Mro . William Jackson , of Leeds , with a preface by Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D ., our remarks are of so recent a date that we need not say mere than that the work of reproduction has been admirably done by Mro . Jackson ; that the Explanatory Preface by Mro . Hughan contains all the information we need as to the

original version , and that generally , thc publication will be greatly valued byall studentsof ourOldChargesandConstitutions . Among Lodge Histories the most notable tire those of All Souls Lod «* e , No . ' 170 , Weymouth , b y Bro . Zillwood Milledge , J P ., P . M ., & c , with a Preface and introduction by Bro . VV . J . Hughan , which

appeared towards the close of 18 9 6 , and was reviewed at length in these columns ; of the Lodge of Amity , No . 137 , Poole , by Bro . Alexander C . Chapin , I . P . M ., both lodges being located in Dorsetshire ; that of the Lodge of Hengist , No . 195 , Bournemouth ; and that of the Lion I . odge , No . 312 , Whitby , which was compiled

by Bro . the Kev . Fox-Thomas , for the centenary celebration in the earlier part of the year . All these as they refer to old lodges , and have been exceedingly well put together , deserve a place in this record , while in the case of brethren who may desire to become more intimately acquainted with the principal events and

personages that are referred to 111 their respective volumes , they will do well to consult the reviews which have appeared in these columns ; or better still the Histories themselves . There is also another work to which reference should be made , that compiled by Bro . the Rev . William Lee Ker , M . A ., with a view to

vindicating the claims of " Mother Lodge Kilwinning "— " the Ancient Ludge of Scotland " —to " occupy the exalted position assigned to it by the Grand Lodge of Scotland since the year 1 S 07 . " In this volume Bro . Ker has discussed what he very justly describes as an " old Historical Question . " Those who desire to learn

our opinions of the book will find them expressed at considerable length in the columns of this journal , and all we need say here is that we do not think that Bro . Ker has succeeded in throwing any additional light upon the subject . " Grand Lodge Decisions , " by our Rev . Bro . Lawrence , editor of the Indian Masonic Review

is an excellent pamphlet in which the author has brought together thc most important decisions that have been made during the last 25 years . This , loo , will be found exceedingly useful for purposes of reference . Then there are the 'Transactions of the Quatour Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , and of the Lodge of Research ,

No . 2429 , Leicester . 'These , but moreespecially those of the former lodge , cannot be too highly spoken ol , and the work of edithi " - them has been performed by Bro . G . W . Speth , thc Secretary of the Lodge , with the ability and pains he ha' always exhibited .

This year there are papers that have been read before this lodge and are republished in the Transactions , of greater interest than usual , notably Bro . Hughan ' s on the Degree Question and Bro . Klein ' s on the Great Symbol , while Bro . Gould has written a

memoir of another Masonic celebrity— -the seventh of his series —in the person of Mro . Josiah II . Drummond , Past G . Master of Maine . 'These papers and Mro . ( iould ' s Memoir of Mro . Dniinmond are in every way creditable to their respective authors . For ourselves we liave pursued our way steadily and to judge by

what we hear , the /• reemasoii—and especiall y the Royal Diamond Jubilee number has proved as attractive and trustworthy a compilation of news and opinions as in the past . Fortius appreciation ol our ellorts we are glad ul the opportunity ol express ';!! " ' ourselves as gralelul .