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another . But what we apprehend Father Gibaud really meant to say was this , that secrecy was objectionable , and a society illegal , so long , but only so long , as it was condemned by the Bishop of Rome . These are facts and statements worth noticing and remembering , so we call attention to the extract elsewhere .

SOME foolish French newspaper , we believe the Figaro , thought fit , a little time back , to term Freemasonry the " Religion of the Future , " in irony and derision , because certain Freemasons , it said , had been invited officially to a municipal banquet at the Hotel de Ville , Paris . It is notourmisson or duty to defend the French Freemasons in these pases ; but no one surely will

grudge them a good dinner and a courteous reception . We can assure our worthy confrere that all serious Freemasons utterly repudiate any such idea or teaching as that to which he alludes . While Freemasonry knows

religion , respects religion , aids religion , it never affected to claim to be , or to profess to be , in any sense a relig ion to man or to the world . If any foreign writers ever say so , we must ascribe the assertion to a little pardonable hyperbole , or venial exaggeration .

* * WE call the attention of our readers to the letter from the Grand Lodge of Manitoba elsewhere , by which it will be seen that we have been right in every particular from the first , and that the proper and dignified action of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba fully justifies our well meant remarks and fraternal animadversions on most abnormal proceedings in every respect .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of this Institution met on Saturday afternoon , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . W . Roebuck , P . G . Steward , presided , and there were also present : Bros . C . F . Maticr , John L . Mather , Edgar Bowyer , G . P . Britten , C . H . Webb , E . E . Barrett Kidder , Rev . Richard Morris , D . D . ( Head Master ) , Frederick Adlard , Don M . Dewar , J . Terry , W . Mann , Alfred Williams , W . Maple , H . S . Goodall , W . Paas , F . Binckes ( Secretary ) , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) .

The Chairman was authorised to sign cheques for sums payable , and it was afterwards resolved to invest £ 1000 in Indian Three per Cents . Five petitions were examined , and the children named therein were placed on the list of candidates for next April election . Grants of outfits of £ 5 each were made to two ex-pupils of the Institution , and a grant of £ 10 to another . The Committee then adjourned .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The meeting of the General Committee of this Institution was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall , under the presidency of Bro . J . M . Case , There were also present : Bros . R . P . Tate , J . H . Leggatt , C . G . Dilley , G . Bolton , James Brett , J . J . Berry , W ,

H . Goodall , C . A . Cottebrune , Edgar Bowyer , T . W . C . Bush , C . H . Webb , J . M . Stedwell , Frederick Adlard , T . Cubitt , W . W . Murlis , Charles Lacey , William Clarke , J . R . Gallant , G . L . Moore , James Willing jun ., J . A . Farnfield , William March , and E . C . Massey ( Freemason ) .

The Secretary , Bro . TERRY , reported that since the last meeting of the Committee there had been five deaths among the annuitants , viz ., three males and two females . The aggregate sums which each annuitant had received were as follows : No . 1 , £ 321 ; No . 2 , £ 160 ; No . 3 , £ 100 ; No . 4 , £ 144 ; and No . 5 , £ 215—making up a total of £ 940 .

The Warden ' s report stated that on the nth October Bro . Festa had provided for the residents at the Institution at Croydon a substantial entertainment , and had sent gifts of tobacco to the male residents and a supply of whiskey , in which to drink his health , on the occasion of his commencing his year of office as Master of the Montague Guest Lodge .

On the application of the SECRETARY , who said that provision had to be madeforpaymentstotheamountof ^ ssoo , a sum of £ 2000 , nowondepositatthe bank , was ordered to be transferred to current account , the presentbalance of which was £ 1500 ; and the Chairman was authorised to sign cheques , a list of which was read by the Secretary .

There were two applications from widows of deceased annuitants to be granted a moiety of their late husbands' annuities , in accordance with the rules of the Institution . One of these was granted ; but as it appeared that

the widow of the other deceased annuitant had not been married to her late husband for the term of five years prescribed by the bye-laws , a member of the Committee called attention to the fact , and enquired whether they would not be out of order in granting the second application .

The SECRETARY said that the Committee had on previous occasions taken a merciful view of the matter when such applications had been made , and had granted the half annuity , notwithstanding the fact referred to . After some discussion upon the point , the Committee being satisfied that they had on the occasions referred to exceeded their powers , the brother who had raised

the question moved that the petition now before Committeee be rejected , as it did not appear that the applicant was eligible according to the rules . This motion was duly seconded , and the application rejected . Another member of the Committee then inquired whether it would be possible to make a grant to the applicant , to assist her until such time as she could apply to be elected herself as an annuitant on the fund . The

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

Secretary stated that there had been instances in which such grants harl been made . On the 13 th September last there was a case in which a grant of £ 15 had been made , and there was another case which had occurred at an earlier date , in which the sum of £ 25 had been granted . In order 1

enable the Committee to make a grant of this kind , however , a notice of motion was required , which would have to be considered at the next meeting of the Committee . Thereupon Bro . DILLEY gave notice that at the December meeting of the Committee he would move that the sum of fi 0 be granted to the applicant .

There were nine petititions from candidates for election on the Annuity Funds , which were all carefully considered , and in eight of the cases the names were ordered to be added to the list . The other petition , however gave rise to a considerable amount of discussion , and the motion that it be received was met by an amendment to the contrary effect ; and the amendment , on being put to the vote , was carried with only two dissentients . This being the whole of the business , the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTSHIRE .

The annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Friday , the 3 rd inst ., at the Town Hall , Swindon , the receiving lodge being the Gooch Lodge , No . 1295 , New Swindon , The Prov . Grand Master , Lord Methuen , presided , and was supported b y the following Provincial Grand Officers :

Bros . Sir Gabriel Goldney , Batt ., M . P ., D . P . G . M . ; Lord Harry F . Thynne , M . P ., P . G . W ., P . P . S . G . W . j Rev . J . A . Lloyd , P . G . Chap . ; F . H . Goldney , Past G . S ., P . G . Treas . ; T . Ponting , P . G . Reg . ; Henry C . Tombs , Past G . D ., P . G . Sec . W . T . Briscoe , P . G . S . or W . ; J . Chandler , P . P . S . G . W ., P . G . D . C . ; J . Sparks , A . J . Beavan , P . G . Pursts . ; William Knott , P . P . G . J . W ., Prov . Charity Sec . ; Alfred

Plummer , P . P . G . J . W . ; T . Graham , P . P . G . J . W . ; C . F . Marshall , P . P . S . G . W . ; T . S . Futchter , P . P . G . J . D . ; Rev . A . Law , P . P . G . Chap . ; Rev . G . E . Gardiner , P . P . G . Chap . ; S . Gauntlett , P . P . G . J . D . ; J . H . Chandler , P . P . G . O . ; W . H . Brinkworth , P . P . G . O . ; W . S . Bambridge , P . P . G . O . ; S . Badham , P . P . G . O , ; Edwin Eyres , P . P . G . Purst . ; E . Brown , P . P . G . S . B . ; Robert Cook , P . P . G . S . B . ; and many other brethren .

There were comparatively few visitors present , amongst them being Bros . Clement Tudway , P . M . 592 and P . P . G . D . C . Gloucester ; E . E . Botley , 780 ; and others . The roll of the various lodges was called , and all were found to be duly represented . _

The Prov . Grand Master , Lord METHUEN , after expressing the pleaVire at again meeting the brethren , called upon the Prov . Grand Sec , Bro . Hy . C . Tombs , to read the minutes of the last regular meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and also of a lodge of emergency , held on the 19 th July last , at Devizes , principally for the consecration of a new Masonic Hall there for the Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , No . 633 .

These minutes , which were rather voluminous , having been duly read and confirmed , The Prov . Grand Treasurer , Bro . F . H . GOLDNEY , read an abstract of

his accounts for the past year , which had been duly audited ; the Charity account showing a balance in hand of upwards of £ 50 , in addition to £ 100 invested , in pursuance of the directions of the last Provincial Grand Lodge . The accounts were approved ,

The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY then read the minutes of a meeting of the Charity Committee held that morning . The Committee recommended a donation of ^ 10 to the Provincial Benevolent Fund , and that two brethren , who had offered their services , should be approved as Stewards to

represent the province at the festivals of two 01 the Masonic Institutions in the coming year , viz ., Bro . Dr . Theobald Ringer , 1533 , P . M . 1308 , for the Benevolent Institution , and Bro . James Sparks , 12 7 , P . G . O ., for the Boys ' School .

The report of the Charity Committee , and its recommendations , were unanimously approved and adopted . A considerable discussion then took place as to the disposal of the balance on the Charity Fund account , and eventually it was resolved that £ 10 10 s . be placed on the list of each of the two Stewards named .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER , before calling for the reading of the other reports , said that these were rather lengthy , and contained much valuable information , . which he thought would be much better appreciated if the reports were for the future printed and circulated with the Provincial Grand

Lodge summons and agenda paper . The brethren would thus have time to consider them , and it would not then be necessary that such reports should be read in full at the Provincial Grand Lodge . This suggestion was unanimously approved .

The Prov . Grand Registrar , Bro . T . PONTING , then read his usual annual report , which showed that the number of subscribing members in the province , now 444 , was practically the same as for the last two or three years . The report called attention to the fact that the outstanding subscriptions in arrear showed a very slight decrease , whilst the outstanding liabilities

were considerably less , but there was no other alteration in the main feature of the returns . It was especially voted that for the past three years two of the lodges had neither outstanding assets nor liabilities . Accompanying the report , the Registrar submitted an abstract of the lodge returns , dealing

fully with the accounts , both financially and otherwise , and made out on the averages for three years , as had been done by his predecessors , and in submitting it he suggested that a summary , showing the totals of each lodge return , would be more useful than one showing the averages for three years , as it would state accurately the position of each lodge and consequently of the province at the date of the return , instead of only its general average