Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held their regular meeting at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday . Bro . J . A . Farnfield , P . A . G . D . C , Treasurer of the Institution , occup ied the chair , and there were present Bros . Jaines Brett , P . G . P . ; W . Belchamber , Charles Sheppard , S . Vallentine , P . G . P . ; W . Fisher , Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ;

T . W . Whitmarsh , C . H . Webb , T . B . Piirchas , P . A . G . D . C . ; H . G . Thompson , C . J . R . Tijou . A . G . P . ; W . Webber , A . R . Trew , R . D . Cummings , A . H . Hickman , S . V . Abraham , P . G . P . ; A . Durrant , Charles Kempton , W . J . Murlis , T . B . Daniell , W . Vincent , J . Dixon , James Bunker , and John Mason , acting Secretary .

The minutes of the preceding Committee having been read and verified , the Acting Secretary reported the deaths of two male and three widow annuitants . The Warden's report for the past month having been read , the petitions of the widows Of two recently " ^ deceased annuitants for half their late husbands' annuities were acceded to , and the Committee , having passed a vote of thanks to the Chairman , adjourned .

Funeral Of Bro. J. Derby Allcroft.

FUNERAL OF BRO . J . DERBY ALLCROFT .

At the pretty little village of Onibury , Salop , and in the most unpretentious ot churches to be found in the kingdom was laid , on Thursday , 3 rd inst ., all that remained of the late Bro . the V . W . Past Grand

Treasurer of England ; John Derby Allcroft . On the following morning , at 12 o'clock , there mustered in strong force at the gates of Stokesay Court ( the finest house in Shropshire ) representatives of the county , tenantry , church , and the great Masonic body , of which latter Bro . Allcroft in his time had the distinguished honour of winning the first blue ribbon ever offered for

competition amongst the most worthy of its members , viz ., that of the office of Grand Treasurer . At the time of his death our brother was the high sheriff of the county , therefore a body of the Shropshire constabulary , under the direction of one of its chief oflicers , headed the procession to the place of interment . The young squire of Stokesay , Mr . Herbert J . Allcroft , as

chief mourner , and accompanied by his brothers , making up the first carriage , appeared upon thc scene , other carriages followed ; afterwards personal friends and members of the Masonic body , in the persons of the Prov . Grand Master for Shropshire , Bro . Sir Offley Wakeman , Bart .,. Broi-E . Y .-Jolliffe ,. P . P . G . W . Middlesex , Secretary of the Aldersgate Lodge and Chapter ,

and Bro . J . Percy Fitzgerald , the father of the Derby Allcroft Lodge , and of which Bro . Jolliffe is the Treasurer . These two brethren -represented the lodges referred to , and expressly journeyed from London on Friday for that purpose . The lodge at Ludlow , of which Bro . Allcroft was a member , was represented by several of its Past Masters and officers .

The procession' was considerably increased by the addition of members of the county families and the tenantry of Stokesay . Arriving at the parish church , which quickly became filled to its utmost capacity , the funeral service was most impressively conducted by three reverend gentlemen of the district , the interment taking place in quite a comfortable corner

of the pretty churchyard there in an ordinary grave , which shows the unpretentious and evangelistic character of our late brother . As the young Squire , Mr . Herbert J . Allcroft , stood bare-headed at his father ' s grave with downcast eyes one could but help wondering if he was contemplating the difficulties of walking in the footsteps of his worthy and distinguished

father , one whose Charity and large-hearted sympathy knew no bounds ; to whom the distressed were never refused a patient hearing , and who well knew liberality andeven princely munificence . To all charitable objects , be they Masonic or un-Masonic , the name of John Derby Allcroft is to-day as familiar as the word Charity itself .

The display of choice flowers and exotics , containing many kindly sentences and quotations , was exceedingly beautiful . Bros . Jolliffe and Fitzgerald were the bearers of two exceedingly handsome wreaths , which were sent by the members of the Aldersgate and Derby Allcroft Lodges , showing the affectionate regard held by them for the memory of their lirst Master , the ¦ late Bro . John Derby Allcroft , the Philanthropist .

The Funeral Of The Late Bro. G. C. Turner.

THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE BRO . G . C . TURNER .

On Saturday afternoon , the 22 nd ultimo , amidst general marks of * respect , the mortal remains of this TOuch-respected brother were consigned to their last resting-place in the Clevedon Cemutery . Deceased w as a prominent member of the Coleridge Lodge , No .

' 75 o , and an honorary member of the Loyal Lily of the Valley Lodge of Oddfellows ; and every instituhon having ior its object the welfare of the town found " 1 him a warm and active supporter . The mourners ** ere Messrs . William W . Turner ( brother ) , William burner ( son ) , E . Hagley ( brother-in-law ) , W . L . and •' - J . Hagley ( nephews ) , W . W . Purnell , — . Fry , W .

The Funeral Of The Late Bro. G. C. Turner.

Furse , H . L . Cooksley , and C . Purnell . Between 20 and 30 members of the Coleridge Lodge , wearing white kid gloves and sprigs of acacia , attended the funeral amongst the brethren present being Bros . A . B . Wickenden , Alonzo Dawes , J . Jupp , Rev . T . H . I . Child , T . Grant , D . Charles , J . R . Lovegrove , R . Ewings , W . Stuckey , F . W . Mills , H . L . Hayman , Bert . Hayman , E . H . Hazell , H . W . Mackenzie , O . Klemm , W .

Somerton , W . W . Winsor , J . H . Davis , and G . W . Knowles . Bros , the Rev . A . R . Cartright ( who was in Scotland ) , W . F . Langworthy , F . G . Leman , H . Amos ( who were also out of town ) , R . S . Newnham , and H . Coates were unavoidably absent . Every house along the route bore marks of the respect held for the deceased and sympathy with the bereaved widow and family .

American Grand Lodge Proceedings.

AMERICAN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS .

If a part only of the money which is wasted in printing the proceedings of Masonic Grand Bodies could be applied to some useful purpose , it would be productiye of results which would astonish the members of the Craft . For all practical purposes most of this money is absolutely wasted . The " record" could as

well be kept in manuscript as in printed volumes , which , as a rule , are not accessible to the Craftsman who has occasion to consult them . After about 25 years' diligent reading of Masonic proceedings , this writer has . been forced to admit that it has been done at an enormous waste of time . In order to obtain the kernel of wheat which is always to be found in even

the dullest of these transactions , it has been necessary to dig down through quantities of chaff . Bread and butter are too dear and life is too short in which to ascertain what has been the legislation of any particular Grand Body on any particular subject . Take , for example , the question of " affiliation , " in the great jurisdiction of Pen-ny-mo-sy . We open at the earliest

accessible volume and read through reports on every possible subject but that we are investigating , and take up the next volume and repeat the process until hours of time are lost and weariness of brain and body result , when we probably reach the conclusion that the " pork is not worth the shilling , " and so die in , ignorance of what the law of Pennymosy is . All this because the

learned and highly esteemed Grand Secretary of Pennymosy , who is one of thecleverest fellows on earth and who has been exceedingly kind to us on a score of occasions , has not the faintest idea of what an index is , and if some were to tell him , . would not know how to make one . Some one has said that " a book without an index is

of no more value than an index without a book , " or words to that effect , and he is right . In ' this ; ige " wfieh we have so many better things to do than to read reports of credential committees and other highly interesting , but necessary , information with which the proceedings of every Grand Body are encumbered , every name and every subject should bc indexed . This takes

work and it takes brains , but without it the book is an absolute waste of good paper and printer's ink . I have a great number of proceedings , for which I am profoundly indebted to the dear good souls of Grand Secretaries , who after persistent dunning have yielded them up to me , and which I have for the most part read and then solemnly placed on high shelves , with

the sad reflection that no one would disturb their repose until the sheriff sold them to the paper mill , or the hand which placed them on their lofty perch was dust . Now , if these volumes were even passably indexed , they would be valuable , for there is much embalmed therein which is not only interesting but

profitable reading , As matters stand . it is absolutely lost and will never be found . Whatever is worth printing in the proceedings is worth indexing . I wrote on this subject to one of the ablest of the Grand Secretaries and correspondence writers which this country has produced ( and that ' s paying him a high compliment ) a short time since , and this is what he fired back at me :

I do not understand your meaning respecting the Grand Secretaries indexing their proceedings . Am I to understand your reference to be the ' proceedings ' or reports on correspondence r If you refer to the business transactions of our Grand Lodge , you will p lease ' look again and see my index . If your reference is to the report on correspondence , 1 reply that to

index such a work is not only impracticable , but without value . To index a report on correspondence prepared by myself would be a small job and easily performed , as there is but little matter of interest justifying any indexing , and but few subjects could be classified . I have , after a fashion , indexed the Grand Lodge proceedings for fifteen years . I do not think that my

achievements in that line will entitle me to the 'higher seat ' in the good world that you mention . However , the effort has been annually made . " Now here is a man who has left an indelible impress upon the records of the Craft , whose thoughts should live and whose opinions ought to be quoted long years after he has paid the debt of nature , who through the mere force of his intellect has made the Masonic name

itself the synonym of learning in his jurisdiction , but who , though he himself has doubtless lost months of valuable time wading over pages of trash hunting for the wheat , cannot appreciate a suggestion that an index to the very valuable contribution which he annually makes to current Masonic literature , would add immensely to its present and future value . This brother has at different times written regarding * ' perpetual jurisdiction , " . " forced affiliation , " " ' public installation , "

American Grand Lodge Proceedings.

the necessity of the Past Master ' s degree as a prerequisite for installation , " and many other topics , and without knowing his views there can be no such thing as an intelligent discussion of these questions , but in order to know them one would require a " horse memory , " or must needs make an examination , pago by page , of the thousands of pages he has written .

Even if one had the inclination , but few have the time in which to do this . -I submit that the good brother ' s thoughts must perish with him solely because life is too short in which to hunt for any , even Solomon ' s , ideas in an unindexed book . If these Masonic book-makers were to act upon the suggestion "that there is but little matter of interest

justifying any indexing in what they write , and eliminate that which is of no interest before it is printed , they would make an awful hole in their manuscripts , for it is doubtless true that much is printed which is without permanent value , but it would be an immense loss , notwithstanding sins of omission and commission , if the correspondence feature of our proceedings were

to be . abolished . But all of us who indulge in that kind of literature will doubtless heartily agree in saying that nothing should be given a place in a Masonic report which is " not worth indexing . " At a certain meeting of the Grand Lodge of the brother whose thoughts are " not worth indexing , " the committee on by-laws made a report that " all lodges

in the county of Jerusalem shall have the concurrent jurisdiction hereby created in the city of Salamander , " & c . Turning to this index made " after a fashion " I lind that this important piece of legislation is indexed " By-laws , Report of Committee on , 77 . " It bobs up again under the heading " Report , " but it does not appear under the title "Jurisdiction " or the nameof

the county or city ' affected , and it is "after this fashion " that something over 300 pages of important matter are disposed of . As . well look in the tomb of an Egyptian mummy for light on the subjects embraced in the book , as in the 200 entries with which the " after a fashion " index of my esteemed friend consists . —FREDERIC SPEED in the Voice of Masonry .

Mother Kilwinning Lodge.

MOTHER KILWINNING LODGE .

" Mallett " in the Glasgow Evening News of thc 2 nd inst . says : " 1 am in receipt of the following communication from Kilwinning , which cannot fail to be of interest to all who revere the memory of the old Lodge No . o : — On Saturday , about throe o ' clock , the foundation-stone

of the old lodge was discovered . We found that it had been laid in the south-east corner of the building , being the first stone laid . The stone measures 22 by iSJ inches , and has '* been quarried from'Stevenstori Quarry . In the stone we found a brass plate , oval in shape , about 9 inches over all'in size . Thc inscription on the

plate is as follows : "' Archibald ! Coniites de Eglintounc , honoratississimi dtictu et auspiciis , ejusque Legate Joannis Allan , & c , & c , Restourata Architectonice , Antiquum et Architectorum , Doniicilium Primarium de Kilvininc denuo edificatum . Fundamcntis Locatis , Martn XXIV ., MDCCLXXIX ., ac Archtectonic . e VMDCC LXXIX . '

['" Under the guidance and auspices of the Right Worshipful Archibald Earl of Eglinton , and of his Depute , John Allan , & c ., & c , Masonry revived , and the Ancient and Primal Lodge of Master Masons of Kilwinning rebuilt . Foundations laid on the 24 th day of March , 1779 , and of Masonry 5779 . ' ] .

"The stone , I am further informed , was taken possession of by the Secretary , Bro . Laurence Matheson , in accordance with instructions from the lodge . A few facsimiles of ' Masons' marks , ' copied from the old building , I reserve till next week , when they will be given in sketch . "

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . PERCY HARRY WHITE , I . P . M . 1305 . The news of the startlingly sudden death of Bro . Percy H . White , M . B ., M . R . C . S ., & c , was received by his many friends with the deepest feelings of regret . Bro . Qr . White , who was the . I . P . M . * of the Weyside Lodge , installed his successor , Bro . Gilbert H ; White , as recently as June 27 th in a manner which will long

dwell , for its impressiveness , in the inemury of the members present . Bro . Dr . White also attei . ded the usual banquet in the evening , when he appeared in excellent health , and was , as usual , exceedingly cheerful and genial . A few days after he was attacked with typhoid fever , and died at his residence , 3 , Moorestreet , Cadogan-square , London , on the 24 th ult ., in his

38 th year . 'I he deceased was initiated in 1886 in the Weyside Lodge , No . 1395 , Woking , and served the ollice of W . M . in 1892 . He was also a rising member of the Weyside Chapter ( Royal Arch ) , and of the Cmur de Lion Chapter ( Rose Croix ) . He was the fourth son of the late Mr . Richard White , of Norwich . For several years Bro . Dr . VVhite carried on his profession at Woking , but some live years ago he disposed

of his practice to Dr . A . Howlin , joining as partner an eminent surgeon-dentist in London . Here hc immensely increased thc practice , and had made quite a name for himself as a skilful dentist . The funeral look place on the 29 th ult ., when the remains of our deceased brother were interred in St . James Cemetery , Dover . ' Among the numerous wreaths sent was a beautiful one from the oflicers and brethren of the Weyside Lodge .