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K^SS&S^ SATURDAY , DECEMBER 9 , 1899

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

The Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday , the 6 th instant , when , as will be seen from our report , the business on the paper of agenda was disposed of .

The Earl of Warwick , Deputy Grand Master , presided , and was very strongly supported both by the Grand Officers , Present and Past , and the representatives of the private lodges . We are glad that the excitement

of a contested election for the office of Grand Treasurer will be avoided next March . Bro . Harry Manfield , the defeated candidate in March last , was the only brother nominated , and is thus , even at the present time , virtually the Grand Trcasurcr-clcct for iooo-l .

As regards the motion of which Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., had given notice , for a grant of looo guineas to the Lord Mayor ' s Transvaal War Fund , the resolution was accepted in general terms

with acclamation , the only other feeling evinced being one of regret that the vote of a far larger amount was out of the question . A discusiion , however , arose as lo the nunner in which the sum should be appor-

Masonic Notes.

tioned among the several Relief Funds that have been started , Bro . R . D . M . Littler , Q . C , Past Dep . G . Registrar , and others being of opinion , not only that the wives and widows and orphans not " on the strength " should benefit , but also that officers' widows

and wives and the loyal people in Natal and Cape Colony , who had lost all their property , and were fighting for Queen and country , should participate . Accordingly , it was referred to the Board of Benevolence to determine in what proportion and to what Eunds the money should be allocated .

* * The Earl of Euston , M . W . Pro G . M . M ., presided at the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , which was held at Mark Masons' Hall , on Tuesday , the 5 th instant . There

was a fair attendance , and , as will be seen in our report of the proceedings in another column , there was only one nomination—that of Bro . John Dimsdale —for the office of Grand Treasurer for the year

ipoojj . This is a matter for rejoicing , as contested elections for office are always to be avoided , if possible . We notice also , with pleasure , that the proposed grant of 100 guineas to the Daily Telegraph Shilling Fund was voted with acclamation .

* We mentioned , a short while since , that the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., owing to the multiplicity of his engagements , was under the necessity of declining the invitation addressed to him by the Grand Lodge of

Virginia to be present at the approaching centenary of the death of Bro . General George Washington , when several thousands of brethren from all parts of the United States and elsewhere are expected to be present to do honour to the occasion . We learn , however ,

that his Royal Highness , though unable to attend , has sent a framed portrait of himself , in his full Masonic clothing , as a present to the Grand Lodge of Virginia . It is just one of those graceful acts which are associated with the Prince , and have made him so deservedly popular with all classes .

? . # * We regret to find from our report of the proceedings at the recent annual convocation at Chingford , of the Prov . Grand Chapter of Essex that in the matter of numerical strength the Royal Arch has

shown a tendency towards decrease . The statistics furnished at the meeting by the Prov . G . Scribe E show a total of 341 companions , and though the proportion of chapters to lodges is by no means unsatisfactory—being at the rate of one chapter to about

every three lodges—the aggregate membership is decidedly low—at all events there has been a reduction in the number of R . A . Masons during the past year to the extent of about 16 . We do not desire to attach undue importance — which , after all , may be

nothing else than one of those fluctuations in the wrong direction which are unavoidable at times—to this reduction . The Royal Arch in Essex has the advantage of being presided over by one of the most distinguished members—Comp . his Honour Judge

Philbrick , Q . C . —and its prestige is not likely to suffer under his auspices . But there certainly is room for improvement in the matter of membership , and this will probably result if the private chapters develop a little more activity .

We are glad to hear that Freemasonry in Dorsetshire has prospered during the past year . The annual meeting at Blandford , on Monday , the 27 th ult ., at which Bro . Montagu J . Guest , Prov . G . M ., presided , was well attended . It is clear from the reports that were presented

the lodges are doing good work , and the Treasurer ' s accounts show capital balances in favour of the Province . Owing to this fact , the brethren were in a position to vote sums of 10 guineas to the Girls ' School , 20 guineas to the fund for erecting new

premises for Lodge , No . 417 , at Dorchester , and 50 guineas to the Mansion House Transvaal War Fund , We may also , mention , from information which has reached us through a private channel , that Bro . J . H , Whadcoat , V . Prov . G . W ., purchased the Charity or

alms box which , in the course of the evening , was cir . culatud among the brethren , for 25 guineas , to serve as a nucleus for his list as Steward at the ] approaching Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . » # *

It . must have been a subject of deep regret to Earl Ferrers , Prov . G . Master of Leicestershire and Rutland , that at the last moment he found himself unable to carry out his intention of presiding at the annual meeting of his Prov . Grand Lodge at Leicester , on Thursday , the 30 th ult . Had he been present , not only would he have heard reports in every respect

Masonic Notes.

favourable of the proceedings of the lodges and the financial position of the Province during the past year , but the agreeable duty would likewise have devolved upon his lordship of presenting his respected Deputy , Bro . S . S . Partridge , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., with the portrait by A . Hacker , A . R . A ., and the silver salver

subscribed for by the brethren of Leicestershire and Rutland in recognition of his eminent services to Freemasonry , both generally , and in the two counties just mentioned . It will , however , be a consolation to him to know that Bro . J . Herbert Marshall , P . Prov . G . W ., very ably discharged the duty in his lordship ' s absence . We mention elsewhere

that we are unfortunately compelled to hold over tho report . of the meeting till next week , but as regards this interesting incident in the proceedings , we think it as well to anticipate its publication , if only that we may take this early opportunity of congratulating Bro . Partridge and the brethren of the Province on the kindly relations existing between them , of which this presentation is the latest sign .

* » * The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will be held at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday , the 13 th instant , when , no doubt , the opportunity will be taken of expressing the deep regret with which they

have heard the news of the death of Bro . John Newton , P . G . P ., who for so many years had been one of them , and served on the House Committee , and also the sincere sympathy they have for the widow and children in their bereavement . The chief business of

the meeting will , no doubt , be the consideration of petitions , which are always more numerous as the close of the period within which they must be delivered approaches . ••*

Among those who have been appointed to the staff of the Sixth Division , which is now about to proceed to South Africa as soon as it has been mobilised , and transport found for its conveyance , is Bro . the Rev . F . Bethune N . Norman Lee , Chaplain to the Forces , G . Chaplain of United Grand Lodge . We wish him a successful performance of his duty and a speedy return home .

* * * According to our American exchanges great preparations have been made for celebrating on Thursday , the 14 th instant , the centenary of the death of Bro . General George Washington , who was made a Mason in the lodge at Fredericksburg , and was

subsequently W . Master of the Alexandria-Washington Lodge , No . 22 , Alexandria . The Grand Lodge of Virginia will direct the arrangements , which will be of a very simple character , consisting of certain " exercises" at Washington ' s tomb , for which the sanction of the lady-regents at Mount Vernon has already been obtained . Two addresses will also be

delivered , one by the G . Master of Virginia , and the other , in all probability , by Bro . McKinley , President of the United States . It is expected that fully 10 , 000 members of the Order will assemble to do honour to the occasion . The subsequent banquet , at which a number of representative brethren from all parts of the country will be present , will be held in Washington .

•« « At the 16 th annual assembly of the Great Priory of the Order of the Temple in Canada , which was held in the City of Windsor , on the iSth September , Supreme Grand Master , D . L . MacWatt , presided , and in the course of the proceedings delivered the

address which is customary on these occasions . According to the report which appears in the Canadian Craftsman for October , the Most Eminent , in the course of his remarks , suggested that as , according to the oldest Templar document that has come to light , a warrant was issued in the Province of Ontario

for the City of Kingston , Ont ., in the year 1800 , Great Priory might celebrate the centenary of the event by holding its annual meeting in that City in 1900 . Before Great Priory was closed , the suggestion was adopted , and it was arranged that next ycat ' 3 meeting of Great Priory should be held in Kingston .

••* The demands on our space this week arc so heavy that we find ourselves , to out great regret , under the necessity of holding over several reports and notices till our next issue , among them being a full report of

the proceedings at the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire on the 30 th ult ., and notices of the Masonic services rendered by our recently deceased Bros . G 0 ge E . Lake , P . G . D ., Dep P . G . M . Herts ; E . L . P . Valeriani P . G . Std . Br . ; and S . H . lutsum .