Craft Masonry.

than he at present possessed weie necessary to du justice to it . In the brief paper lie should submit he could merely touch the fringe of the subject , but he trusted to interest the brethren in the study of the Old Charges and induce them to examine the works of those abler writers who had made that feature of the Craft their special object of research . The lecturer then introduced the subject by explaining what the Ancient Charges were , their origin , their use , and their discontinuance , except so far as the brief summary contained in the Book of Constitutions and recited to the Worshipful Master of a lod- ** e on his installation , a survival of the custom which formerly

obtained in reading them over for the instruction of a candidate at initiation . He described the state in which these ancient documents have been preserved and handed down to us by our forefathers , in scrolls of vellum or paper or bound as boo Vs . This part of the address was finely illustrated through the kindness of Bro . _ VV . N . Cheesman , who brought live facsimile scrolls , published by Lodge ( Juatuor Coronati , No . 2 o ; i " > , and also rare and beautiful copies of the Regius and Cooke MS ., which were freely exhibited to the brethren assembled . These interesting curiosities were explained by Bro . Peck , and a short account of each given , embodying its distinctive features .

The lecturer quoted the striking words of Bro . Hughan—the greatest authority on this subject—that these venerable documents " are our title-deeds , and prove the continuity ol the Society throughout a very long period . " Alter referring in warm terms to the labours of Bros . Hughan , Gould , Rylands and Speth , Bro . Peck said these brethren had laid the Fraternity under an obligation which can never be requited , and have elevated and enriched thc Craft in the estimation of the educated reader to an extent which can scarcely be over-estimated . 'They have shown that our claims to antiquity are well-founded , and that Freemasonry is not only thc most moral but also the most ancient of all Institutions which have

survived" The wreck of empires And the fall of thrones . " Bro . Peck then proceeded to examine one of the old charges taking the York MS . No . i , as his example . 1 Ie read this scroll and commented upon its curious traditional history , pious injunctions , and moral teachings , comparing the language with that of other similar documents , for although the old charges , of which about < * > 3 cop ies are now extant , present considerable variations partly due to the carelessness or ignorance of transcriber * :, yet , as the Lecturer pointed out , they had evidently one common original

which is lost beyond all recovery in the lapse of centuries . The object of the Masonic literati then is by careful comparison of the charges preserved to ascertain the true meaning cf the original version and it is not improbable , judging from the great progress which has ot late been made in Masonic study , that in this search many valuable discoveries will be made . For instance , he suggested that the name of Jabel and Jubal , which cccur in thc early portion of all the MSS ., may be the originals of the names of three malefactors in thc old ritual of the " Master's part " ( stili preserved in America , being derived from thc Mother Country ) , while thc victim's name was * concealed- > s

Aynon ( anon-anonymous ) , a striking instance of thc cautious reverence of our ancestors when speaking of lacred subjects . This illustration would cat ry back the legend of thc Third Dfgiecto a remote period . Those students who only believe on documentary evidence are not lit judges of an institution whose leading feature was , and still ought lobe , secrecy and fidelity . Bro . Peck rapidly sketched the opinion of the Masonic writers upon the introduction of I letmes , Abral am , and Euclid into the old charges and also thc curious account of the two celebrated pillars of stone and brick , and stopping short before hc reached the account of Namus Grecus , thanked the brethren for the great attention which they had given to his remarks .

The Worshipful Master proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . Peck and said tha ' : thc careful investigation of the sources from which the ancient charges were derived was much facilitated by the excellent reprints for thc exhibition , of some of which they were indebted to Bro . Cheesman . Bro . Mark Scott , S . W ., brielly seconded the vote of thanks , which was carried unanimously and suitably acknowledged . 'The new members were proposed , and after " Hearty good wishes " had been expressed , the lodge was closed .

British Homes Investment Corporation.

BRITISH HOMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION .

A SATISFACTORY YEAR'S BUSINESS . Ihc second annual meeting ol the members of the British Humes Investment Corporation was held on Fiiday , May jSth , at the Bridge lljuse Hotel , Southwark , Mr . T . Neville Stack , F . S . S ., the Chairman ol the Company , presiding . The Managing Director and Secretary ( Mr . M . GRI-. GOUY ) hiving read the notice convening the meeting ,

The CIIAIK . MAN said : Gentlemen , —When about this time last year 1 had the pleasure of addressing you on thc subject of our First Annual Report , 1 was enabled to state that the figures I put befoie you then as thc icsultsof the operations of the Corporation for the year lSo . ' * told a pleasant talc of rapid and continuous progress , to which I was quite right in saying 1 anticipated no check , and I am not at all surprised that the figures which I shall place befoie you to-day bear me fully oui in my prediction , because , in the first place , the Corporation olfers national economic advantages ol such

a nature as to make it a national economic necessity . ( Hear , hear . ) In the second place , because the business is conducted un economic and actuarial methods of the best kind ; in the third place , because the Corporation is move economically and better managed than any other institution of the kind ; in the fourth place , because the Corporation has a justly won and enduring reputation ; fifthly , because the most impoitant end of our scheme cannot fail U < promote the practical welfare of the great body of the people ; and , in the sixth place , because intelligent men and women ,

who may be induced lo give any attention to the plan of the Corporation , will at once perceive its vast iinpoitance Irom a national point of view . ( Applause . ) I will now brielly refer to some of the figures set forth in lhe report , and , having regard to the fact that the institution is still in its infancy , it will he admitted tint the iiugiiitude ul the figures may be desciibed as phenomena ! and unprecedented . During the year io-- / the directors received . son proposals for new certificates , representing business to the luge

amount of / . I , i oO ,. 11 a , covering a new annual subscription of / .-V , / " . * ) - ( Hear , hear . ) Now , let mc point out to you what this large amount of business means . It means that intwojears and a hall after its birth the liritish Homes Corporation has reached a position as regards its volume of new business to which some ol the most p . iwcrful life assurance companies of the United Kingdom only attained at the end ol hall a century of active life and great effort , and which has not yet been achieved by miny ol them , although long since of matured age .

British Homes Investment Corporation.

RKCUKO OI- NEW BUSINESS . Ol the proposals referred to 59 S were either not itaken up or declined , but the solid completed new business lor the year was £ ' j-l f > , jjj , producing a new subscription income of the large amount of £ 23 / 188 . ( Hear , hear . ) On making a comparison between thc figures of iSyG and 1 S 07 , I find that the proposals received in the former year were 3519 , representing £ 932 , 000 , or an average per certificate of £ 265 , while the proposals for the latter year numbered , as I have said , 3 G 41 , representing , as I have

also said , £ i , iu '/ ,. | i 2 , or an average of £ 30 . 1 per certificate —( applause)—showing a rise in the level of a healthy and significant kind . The net new business for 1 S 96 was £ 7 J '> -5 '' . showing . 1 very satisfactory increase for 1 S 97 of the sum of £ 215 , 208 over that of the previous year . ( Hear , hear . ) The subscription revenue for last year was £ 2 . 1 / 181 , in respect of an income equivalent to £ 33 , 204 per annum —( hear , hear)—so you see we have already secured a very substantial basis of receipts , which will continuously undergo accretion , for , I am happy to tell youthe volume of new business

, which has been received during the current year , and since the end of our financial year is far in advance of the best experience of the Corporation . Manv of the shrewdest and most sober-minded of our . out-do > r staff say that a total of £ 2 , 000 , 000 will be completed by the 31 st December next . I am inclined to say myself—although I am too knowing to predict before 1 know—that that sum will be secured . It must be gratifying to you all , as shareholders , to learn that the profits ol the past year warrant

your directors in declaring a dividend of 5 per cent , per annum on the preference and ordinary shares —( hear , hear )—and equally satisfactory to the certificate-holders to be informed that a substantial bonus is to be placed to the credit of participating certificate-holders . ( Applause . ) These distributions are made in accordance with the report of our actuary , Mr . Neison , who has long since attained eminence in the world of science , of which he is one of the most useful , and oneof the chief ornaments . ( Hear , hear . )

THE LOANS DEPARTMENT . There is one important department of the Corporation ' s business to which I wish to refer—1 mean the house property department , or , as we sometimes call it , the loans or advance department . This department is in charge of a loans committee composed of several of the members of -your directorate . Last year this department made advances to the Corporation ' s certificate-holders , to enable them to buy their houses to the extent of the large sum of £ 50 , 000 , and I am informed that

since the beginning of the year up to the present day we have advanced £ 70 , 003 , or , rather , at that rate for 12 months . 1 feel that I shoul-i not bring my speech to a close without expressing my high appreciation of the outdoor staff , which is composed , I am happy to say , of men of a high orderof intelligence and respectability —( hear , hear ) — as may be inferred from the large average amount ot our certificates to which 1 have alluded . I think it is only right to say that the way in which the Press of the United

Kingdom has received and praised the Corporation is very gratifying and cheering . ( Hear , hear . ) So long as the Press of England goes on describing the system of the Corporation as a popular and perfect one , and designating the results ol our operations as a world's record , we may well be satisfied . ( Applause ) . Mr . WILLIAM SiHW . ua * ( Deputy Chairman ) , seconded the motion . The report and accounts were then unanimously adopted .

Mr . Alderman IIUI- . IUKD . L . C . C , then proposed "That thc best thanks ot this meeting be given to the Chairman and Board of Directors and Solicitor for their services in arranging thc amalgamation of the business of this Corporation with the British Homes Assurance Corporation , Limited , and to the indoor and outdaar stiffs , for the able manner in which they have contributed by their efforts to the successful conducting of the Corporation's business . " Mr . VV . J < ---ARI ) , J . P ., C . C . ( Bury St . Edmunds ) , having seconded the motion , it was carried unanimously .

A CHEAT ACIIIKVEMK . NT . Mr . MAT TU | .- \ V GREGORY ( Managing Director ) : In acknowlcding the vote you have been kind enough to pass , I need hardly say that such a recognitsan of the arduous labours both of the inside and outside staffs will be warmly appreciated by them . The past year has witnessed a very great expansion in the operations of the Corporation and developments have taken place which in the near future will have an important effect , not only in building up and strengthening the resources of the institution , but in adding

largely to its profit-producing capacities . I allude more particularly to the life assurance branch , which is now running well , and already gives evidence of yielding substantial returns . From the day the department was opened there has been a steady inflow of proposals for policies , and I do not think that I exaggerate when I say that the first year ' s record in thc life branch will show policies written to the nominal amount of at least a quarter of a million . ( Applause . ) During the past year a number ol provincial districts have been opened up , from which satisfactory return ! may be

expected . In addition , your chairman is giving special and personal attention to our Irish business , and from that country the evidences are that a fruitful source of revenue will accrue to the Corporation . ( Hear , hear . ) ln Scotland , our operations have been carried on up to the present in an unostentatious manner , but the time has now arrived for bringing the institution well to the front in Scotland , and Mr . Stewart , the Deputy Chairman , who is a worthy Scotsman , and a thoroughly competent business man , will take the lead in securing for the Corporation the high position it now enjoys

alike in this country and in Ireland . VVhat has been done is but a tithe of what will be accomplished in the immediate future , and in endeavouring ( 0 keep pace with the growth and development ot business , whether in relation to thc certificates , life , accident , or agency departments , the heads of the various departments inside the ollice , and the heads of sections outside , will , in conjunction with the staff generally , put forth every possible effort to maintain the Corporation in thc leading position it now occupies . On

behalf , therefore / of the inside and outside staffs , I may say that vve greatly appreciate thc confidence you have reposed in us by the passing of the resolution . I will not now dilate further upon the prospects of thc business of the Corporation , though I should very much like to do so , because to-day the Chairman has made an exhaustive speech , and one which 1 think will be of very great value indeed in forwarding thc operations of the Corporation during the present year . ( Applause . )

1 he retiring Auditors , Messrs . Clough , Armstrong , and Ford were then reappointed . Mi . Alderman I ) . S , WARM ( llairogate ) then moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman fur presiding , and said that Mr . Stack had conducted the business ol the Corporation in a manner which deserved the hearty thanks of thc members .

Mr . ]¦' .. I' .. I > . \ KN'i * : i * r seconded the proposition , which was carried unanimously . The CIIAIKMA . N , in reply , said that hc was firmly convinced that the British 11 dines Assurance Corporation would not only fulfil its obligations in their entirety to the public , but that with increasing years it would become a great power and a great factor in the economic arrangements of the United Kingdom . ( Applause . ) The proceedings then terminated .

Ad01003

COUNTY mi"B a ' ¦ LJI-W Turna FOUNDED 1807 . SO REGENT ST ., W ,, & FIK- " 14 CORNHILL , E . G ., LONDON . OFFICE . The Dislinouisliinj- - faturc of this Office is THE RETURN SYSTEM . On Ordinary Insurances , under uhieh I '• > li .- _ \ li . > l < U-i * . * n Im have In en iiiMuv-l I ' m- Semi Years -mil w Im <¦¦ mliinie insured—wlietlior under mi Aniiiiiil nr Septennial I'uliey lieo . iii-- . Milled In , * , RETURN OP 25 Pl £ R CUNT , "f 1 Iu : I ' rciniiini . s they have -mid dining fiH- ' -i Seven Veal * .-. | i |* ii \ jit .-it lio loa has iii * i .-i-ti under their I'ulirie-. ill that Period . hiMiraiice .- mi l ' * n lining Sloel . s and mi other limn Ordinary Risks du nut j > : i i I i .-i | >; it t- in the Kelitrns , nor HIT the Ketunis g'iVL'U on union li I . s U hi eh , I lei II o' in e . \ ec . - ;¦ ul ' ila civil hold inu . ale nol i etui lied hy I lie (( Mice . J ' ulieie . s uniy he elieeled or Iraiist ' erred wil . ln . mi any e . vlra expense--. ( j . \ y . STEVENS , ' / ¦ , iirereluries . B . E . RATLIFFE , r °