New Year's Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

event which somewhat told against the Festival of 1896 , as the Province of Sussex was coming up very strong for the Festival of 1896 , but he ( Bro . Terry ) felt that he was bound when he knew ihs Duke of Connaught was going to be Chairman in 1 S 97 —and his Roval Highness ' s Province of Sussex would support him vigorou > ly—to let the Prov . G . Secretary know so that they might not be taken unawares . On the fact becoming known in

the province it stopped all the contributions of Sussex for 1896 ; but it was . 1 great advantage to have so popular a Prince as the Duke of Connaught as Chairman . Their prospects were therefore bright . But they had an enormous number of candidates , accepted and to be accepted , for the next election ; the list was very heavy , but it could not be helped , and h'nee the necessity of the good the Institution was doing . To take a

few figures—they required annually , without office expenses , £ 16 , 400 for annuities . The Boys' required £ 13000 to keep the children and pay estab'i hrr . rnt and office expenses , and the Girls' Institution a trifle under . He was glsd to ihink all the Institutions had been so prosperous . Everyone round Ihe ( all 5 would be glad to feel lint the Benevolent Institution had not lost its hold on ihe affections of the Order , and was supported stronger and

stronger . Just in passing , he would refer to his business working life of 50 years . Out of that 31 } , years had been spent in the service of the Benevolent Instiiulion , and in that time the change had been wonderful . Thirty years ago they were paying £ 2300 a year in annuities ; they were now paying £ 16 400 . Thirty years ago the male annuitants received £ 26 a year and the widows £ 25 ; the men were now getting £ 40 and the widows £ 32 .

Collectively , the increase made a large amount . He recommended the Institi tion to ihe efforts of the brethren , and hoped that whenever there was sn opportunity they would not neglect to bring it to the notice of their lodges and chapters , or anything in Masonry they were connected with . The ccunlry had solved the prcblem what to do with its boys and girls ; it had

not decided the question what to do with its old people . The Benevolent Institution had . It had one annuitant resident in Canada who every quarter had he r annuity sent to her . They were doing a good work , and had strong claims on the benevolerce of the brethren . He was certain that all around the table would neverallow the Benevolent Institution to fall away , but would help the Committee in their work .

Thetrasts of "The Chairman , " "The Staff , " and "Dr . Strong and Dr . Waite " were also given and responded to , and in the evening a beautiful musical entertainment was given under Bro . P . Fitzgerald , the following taking part : The Concord Part Singers , Bros . George May , Vivian Bfrnctt , James Brand , Vernon Taylor , George Pritchard , and McCall Chsmbers , ar , d Miss Ada Cleveland ( violin ) , and the accompanist , Mr . Hcibert Cooke .

New Year's Entertainment At The Girls' School.

NEW YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENT AT THE GIRLS ' SCHOOL .

The custom , which has now been in vogue many years , of giving the pupils cf the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls who remain in the School buildings during the Christmas holidays an entertainment in celebration of the New Year , was duly kept up for 1896 on the 3 rd instant , and with the tnest favourable result . There were only 13 of these pupils who did not go down home for the Christmas of 1895—a smaller number than on previous occasions—but the House Committee determined not to interfere with the

usual course which had been pursued , being convinced that it would bs no less bright and happy than the experience of past years had shown a mcelingof themselves , the Matron and Governesses , the children , and the Committee ' s visitors always was . Their conviction was by no means erroneous , and when the evening ' s entertainment was concluded , it was genera'l / admitted that it had been the most successful in the long list of the Girls' School New Year gatherings .

1 he roll cf those who attended comprised the names of—Bros . Frank Richardson , Alfred C . Spaull , and F . R . W . Hedges ; Mrs . D . Richardson , Miss A . Richardson , the Misses East , Mabel Cooker , Mrs . McManas , the Misses Saunders , Percy W . Spaull , Maud Goodhand , A . C . Sadler , Bro . H .

Massey , Miss Massey , Miss Helen Massey , Bro . C . Hammerton , Mrs . E . Verrinder , Miss N . E . Verrinder , George John Garner , Violet Hanson , E . V . Austen , J . N . Chapmen , R . Chapmen , W . Sydney Spaull , L . Lucas , E . E . Connor , E . F . Tupnell , K . H . Luke , H . L . Matthews , T . Y . Bullen , Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , H . A . Hunt , Bro . J . II . Matthews , and Bro . Edward Terry .

These lariies and the members of the House Committee received the visitors at five o ' clock , when tea and coffee were served , and a very cordial reception it was , which m ade every one feel quite at home . The tea was followed by a " Coloured Sketching Entertainment" by Mr . G . J . Garner , in the ; Alexandra Centenary Hall , and this part of the entertainment , which 1 isled an hour , seemed to give great amusement , as the artist , who did all

his sketching off-hand in view of the whole company , executed it with remarkable rapidity and faithfulness , although his likenesses were more speaking than flattering , more particularly when he delineated a lady . This , however , perhaps made the sketches more amusing , as the company as a whe \ c understood that it was a bit of fun . All the representations were of persons of the " Good Old Times , " which make the present generation

wonder how people could have made such frights of themselves , not thinking that a few years hence a similar judgment may be , and will be , passed on us . The artist was repeatedly encouraged in his work by the applause of the viewers , and at the conclusion of the performance he received a hearty round . The interval between tlrs portion of the amusements and a conjuring entertainment by " Professor Bellairs " was occupied by that exercise

winch , of all pleasures , is the most attractive to ladies—dancing , and this , which cccupie : d r early another hour , the House Committee as fully enjoyeel asihe ' r fair friends . They threw themselves into the Terpsichorean gyrations with the greatest energy , and as far as the fewness of the number of the Hou e Committee went , did not suffer the ladies to stand in need of partners . The conjuring entertainment fully satisfied both young and old , as all the tricks wi re pei formed with extraordinary neatness and rapidity . The

Pro-Jes . 'or himself must have been much gratified with the enthusiastic warmth which every one of his feats met with , and with the demonstration which followed his final piece of magic . The children of the School then had I heir Tw-lfth Night supper , and at the invitation of the House Committee the visitors pariook of a bountiful supper . Dancing followed , and was kept up wiih unflagging spitit until past 11 o ' clock , when the visitors bade goodbye to their hosts , the staff , and the pupils .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Nottinghamshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE .

The annual meeting , was held at the Masonic Hall , Nottingham , on Thursday , the 12 th . ult ., under the presidency of Bro . the Duke of St . Albans , Prov . G . M ., who was supported by Bro . Lieut .-Col . William Newton , J . G . D . England , D . P . G . M . The following were also present—Bros . Edwin C . Patchitt , Prov . S . G . W . ; Wm . Burrows , Prov . J . G . W . ; E . Hind ,

Prov . G . Treas . ; H . J . Hobson , Prov . G . Reg . ; Arthur Stubbs , P . P . G . W ., Prov . G . Sec ; Alf . Aplin , Prov . J . G . D . ; Samuel V . Holgate , Prov . G . D . C . ; J . G . Martin , Prov . A . G . D . C . ; Edwin W . Kidd , Prov . G . S . B . ; Saml . Phillips and Geo . Alter , Prov . G . Std . Brs . ; Wm . T . Cockrem , Prov . G . Org . ; J . P . W . Marx , P . P . A . G . D . C , Prov . A . G . Sec ; J . Valpy-Thomas , Prov . G . Purst . ; Jno . James Turner , Prov . G . Tyler ; Parker Woodward , James G . Carver , Hy .

W . Hutchinson , W . J . Lazenby , Henry Hallam , and ] . W . J . Barnes , Prov . G . Stwds . ; C . G . Wragg , J . M . Perry , C . B . Truman , H . George , G . Baxter , J . T . Spalding , A . H . Bonser , and A . W . C . Peskett , P . P . G . Wardens ; Rev . James Farmer , P . P . G . Chap . ; A . Lawson , C . Rogers , J . A . H . Hirst , and T . Roberts , P . P . G . Treasurers ; J . H . Bradwell and S . Pegler , P . P . G . Regs . ; G . Baxter , J . Townrow , R . Pender , G . Chapman , and G . Marshall , P . P . G . Ds . ; R . C . Sutton ,

J . J . Gee , J . Wright , and H . Walker , P . P . G . S . of Ws . ; G . W . Dominy , R . F . Vallance , ~ C . A . Bolton , and F . C . Parker , P . P . G . D . Cs . ; C . H . Gascoyne and E . G . Loverseed , P . P . G . S . Bs . ; W . Clarke , H . Vickers , T . Salisbury , G . G . Bonser , andG . Clarke , P . P . G . Std . Brs . ; J . Taylor , J . Levy , and H . E . Wilson , P . P . GPursts . ; together with Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of the lodges and numerous visitors .

Prov . Grand Lodge having been opened , the Prov . G . M . and Deputy Prov . G . M . were saluted according to ancient custom ; and the circular convening Prov . Grand Lodge having been taken as read , the roll of Prov . Grand Officers , all of whom were present who had not sent apologies , and of Worshipful Masters and Wardens of lodges was called .

The minutes of the summer meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge , held at Nottingham , June 6 th , 1895 , were taken as read and confirmed , and the Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s report having been received and passed , the PROV . G . M . moved , and the D . P . G . M . seconded , a vote of sympathy with the family of the late Bro . Sir Henry Bromley , Bart ., P . P . S . G . W ., and Grand Superintendent for the Province of Nottinghamshire , which was carried unanimously .

The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY , in presenting the report of the Committee of General Purposes , referred to the very unnecessary trouble caused to the Secretaries and expense to the province through the annual change of Prov . Grand Treasurer under the present system of carrying on the finances , and explained that the scheme recommended by the Committee , though at first sight appearing to give more work to the Secretaries , would

in reality save them this unnecessary trouble and save the province considerable expense . If it were adopted it would also put an end to the unfair monoply by the Nottingham lodges of the office of Provincial Grand Treasurer , thus in future there would be no reason whatever why lodges meeting away from Nottingham should not nominate a Provincial Grand Treasurer in their turn , for he being an ex-officio member of the General

Purposes Committee , could sign all cheques at the meetings of that Committee , and avoid any expense whatever . The P . G . S . also called the attention of Prov . Grand Lodge to the foundation of a Masonic Library and Museum for the province , and urged those brethren who had articles of Masonic interest to present the same to the province , and forward them to the Curator , Bro . Jno . P . Briscoe .

Bro . Sir J TURNEY did not remember that the consent of the directors to the placing of cases in the Masonic Hall had been given , and moved that the question of the Museum be deferred until the next meeting in order that the Directors might further consider the matter , feeling sure that the question would not lose by this , as they were anxious to promote , as far as possible , the advantages of Freemasonry . Bro . T . T . SPALDING seconded ; and after some further discussion , it

was moved by the D . P . G . M ., and seconded by Bro . HY . GEORGE , P . P . G . W ., that the report of the Committee of General Purposes be . adopted and passed , with the exception of the paragraph , " The Directors having given their consent to the placing of cases in the Masonic Hall . " _ In reply to the P . G . M ., Bro . Sir J TURNEY expressed his satisfaction , and the report of the General Purposes Committee , omitting the paraeraDh . was adopted and passed . * -

The report of the Benevolent and Educational Committee was received and passed . Bros . T . J . HAYTER , W . M . 1493 , and A . H . BONSER , P . M . 1852 and 2 4 , gave notice that they were attending as Stewards at the annual Festival of the Girls' School . The reports of the Worshipful Masters of the lodges of the province were read and presented .

Prov . Grand Secretary ' s annual report of the state of Masonry in the province was received . Bro . Rev . J . FARMER , P . P . G . C , the Treasurer of the Busssll Memorial Fund , reported that the larger scheme of providing a sufficient investment to found a permanent Masonic Scholarship had proved beyond the financial capability of the province , and was abandoned , and a more

modest one adopted , by which the bulk of the sum collected would be applied directly to the professional or University education of . the late Deputy ' s son , and that a general meeting of the donors would be called to arrange the details for the benefit of the boy , who is likely in every way to do credit both to himself and to the benevolence of the subscribers . The Fund amounts in actual receipts and promises to £ 180 .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER nominated Bro . T . W . Robinson , P . P . S . G . W . ; R . Filzhugh , P . P . S . GW . ; and Sir S . G . Johnson , P . P . S . G . W ., to represent Provincial Grand Lodge on the Committee of General Purposes . The PROV . GRAND MASTER nominated Bro . C . B . Truman , P . P . S . G . W ., to represent Provincial Grand Lodge on the Benevolent and Educational Committee .

A letter having been read from Bro . Sir S . G . Johnson , P . P . G . W ., asking , with the consent of the seconder , to withdraw his nomination for the office of Prov . Grand Treasurer , of Bro . Geo . Clarke , 47 , P . P . G . Std . Br .,