Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

„ , Wm . Firth ? , oz John J ^ rker A , Wm . Glover n ' T . H . Good 'J ,, Thos . J . Kassell ' j ! _ W . W . Macvay ., ¦ > lohn Simpson ' ' A" Total ... ... 7 ° 7 l 6 °

CHANNEL ISLANDS . —J ERSEY . The Province , A . Schmitt 105 o o FOREIGN STATIONS . —PUNJAUB . The Province , G . Davies 10 10 o RED CROSS OIIDKH . Grand Council , H . C . Levander ... 119 13 o ] 2 g A . J- Brogden 52 10 o W . Williams 42 o o

ROYAL ORDER OF SCOTLAND . G . P . Brockbank 21 o o KNIGHTS TEMPLAR . Holy Palestine Preceptory , Rev . P . M . Holden 10 10 o Girls' School General Committee Club , II . W . Hemsworth 15 tS o

Total £ 8214 11 o With 12 lists lo come in . The announcement of this total was received with loud applause . Col . Adair then proposed " The other Masonic Institutions . " Having ' been 2 K years a Mason ,

and more than half that time a Life Governor o . all the charities , he had been able to watch the very great progress in their organisation and administration . Those who were old Masons would agree with him as to the excellent manner in which the work of those institutions had been

done , and the organisation and administration had been carried out in the last quarter of a century . Those who were young Masons , if they chose to study the records of the Craft , would also agree with him in what he had staated .

Not only was the state of those charities such as must conduce to the happiness of Masonic hearts , but when the outside world asked what Masonry meant , they mig ht be directed to the Masonic Institutions for an answer . ( Hear ,

hear . ) Bro . James Terry responded , and congratulated Bro . Little on the magnificent achievement of that evening . He apologised for the absence of Bro . Binckes , and reminded the brethren that the two festivals already held—that of the

Benevolent Institution and that of the Girls Schoolhad resulted in a total list of subscriptions of nearly £ 10 , 000 . He appealed strongly for support for his o > vn institution , but said he would leave it entirely in the hands of the brethren . At the same time , the brethren should remember

that the aged Masons who had in days gone by done service to the Craft were entitled to the brethren ' s sympathy as much as ths rising and younger generation . ( Cheers . ) The Rei / . C . J . Martyn proposed " The Stewards of the Day , " to which Bro . Joseph

Smith , P . G . P ., responded ; and the brethren then adjourned to the Temple , where they joined the ladies in listening to a concert . During the evening a selection of vocal music was performed , under the direction of Bro . Chaplin Henry , by Midame Thaddeus Wells , Miss Bessie Stroud , Miss Marion Severn . Master

P ' M , Master Pounds , Bro . Lester , Bro . G . T . Carter , Bro . Phillips , Bro . Farmer , Bro . Chaplin Henry , Mr . Arthur Matthison , and the ° ijou choir of boys' voices . At the pianoforte Kros . F . H . Cozens and Fountain Meen presided . Mr . Arthur Matthison also told one of his celebrated sea stories . Bro . James Hayho was toastmaster .

Presentation To Bro. Alderman J| . P. Bull, P.M. And Steward, 540.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . ALDERMAN J | . P . BULL , P . M . AND STEWARD , 540 .

No brother who has been so fortunate as to be invited to an anniversary banquet of the Stuart Loelge , Bedford , No . 540 , can have failed to be struck with thc admira hie manner in vvhich every detail has been carried out and the hospitable gatherings been maele thc very perfection of Masonic

festivities . The agency by which this has been brought about may perhaps have iemained unseen , but if so , it has not been unknown , nor has it been thought proper that it should longer remain unrecognized . Accordingly , on Wednesday , \ pril 26 , the last lodge before the summer recess , there was a large gathering of

brethren and visitors assembled for the purpose of making some suitable recognition of the great zeal and assiduity displayed by Bro . Alderman J . R . Bull , P . M . and steward 540 , & c . The W . M . ( Capt . Green ) was unfortunatel y prevented from being in his accustomed place by that other " mystic tie , " the claims of which are sometimes held to be superior to even _ the urgent call to the

Presentation To Bro. Alderman J| . P. Bull, P.M. And Steward, 540.

duties of thc Craft ; the W . M . ' s absence being explained by thc fact of his marriage on the succeeding day to the daughter of the worthy Chaplain of the lodge ( the Rev . Chas . Brereton , B . C . L ., Rector of St . Mary ' s , and Rural Dean ) . The chair was assumed by the I . P . M ., Bro . Lester , when the votes for the Masonic Charities were relegated to the hands of Bro . Secretary , after vvhich Bro . Kilpin was

passed to the Second Degree . At the conclusion of' the ceremony the lodge was resumed in the First Degree , when Bro . William Joseph Nash , J . P ., thc senior Past Master ( by request of the W . M . ) , presented Bro . Bull with a Past Master ' s jewel , in recognition of his valuable and willing services as W . M ., P . M ., and Steward of the Stuart Lodge . In the course of a most excellent speech

Bro . Nash spoke in the warmest terms of Bro . Bull's twenty-eight years' connection with the lodge ; of the able manner in which he had filled every office to which he had been appointed in regular ascent , from Steward to W . M ., ( retaining the former office from sheer love of work for work ' s sake for very many years ); of his willingness at all times to render aid , and impart instruction to all who vvere

desirous of receiving it ; of the excellent lectures he had g iven ; of liis hospitality to the lodge ( referring doubtless to the fact of Bro . Bull , when mayor of the borough , having given a banquet to the brethren of the lodge , as he also did on the occasion of the 25 th anniversary of his initiation" ); in conclusion , Bro . Nash referred to the selfdenying manner in which , year by year , at their

anniversary , Bro . Bull , still retaining his Stewardship , gave up in the most self-denying manner his own comfort to promote the enjoyment of his brethren and their visitors . Bro . Bull having returned thanks to Bro . Nash and the brethren in most feeling terms for this mark of their appreciation and esteem , and the lodge having been closed in due form and perfect harmony , the brethren partook of one of

those excellent suppers for vvhich Bro . Wicks is justly famed . The jewel , which is an excellent specimen of workmanship , is of 18 carat gold . On the ribbon from which it is suspended is a golden scroll with the name anil number of the lodge , whilst the date of Mastership is on the bar at the top . On the back of the

square is engraved the inscription : — Presented by thc Stuart Lodge , 540 , to Bro . John Richard Bull , in fraternal acknowledgment of his services as W . M ., P . M ., and Steward . April 26 th , 1876 . " May every lodge possess as deserving a brother , and may his deserts be as properly recognized .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . T . COOMBS , PRQV . G . SEC , DORSET . With deep regret we announce the death of Bro . T . Coombs , one of the oldest solicitors of Dorset , which took place at his residence , South-street , on Sunday , 30 th ult ., after a protracted and somewhat painful illness , in his 5 8 th year . Deceased had been in a failing state of health for more than a twelvemonth , and at times he was

unable to leave his home for months together . He was well-known throughout the county , having held various public appointments . For many years in succession he held the post of Under-Sheriff , and was also Hon . Secretary of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Dorset , vvhich he recently resigned . He was likewise clerk to the magistrates of the Dorsetshire division and

also the highway clerk . Deceased always warmly identified himself with the Volunteer movement , having officiated for many years as hon . secretary of the Dorset Volunteer Association , in addition to which , up to a very recent date , he held the command of the Dorsetshire Rifle Corps , succeeding Captain Kindcrsley , on his resignation . He was likewise much interested in all local matters , and ,

in adelition to having been twice chosen as mayor , was an alderman of the borough at the time of his death . He was steward for several large properties , and was always kind and courteous to the tenantry , by whom , in common with many others , his losr . will be deeply felt . He has left a widow , two daughters , and a son ( Mr . T . Coombs , jun . ) , by whom he will be succeeded in business , the latter

having only recently concluded his studies in London , where he passed a most successful examination . The remains of the lamented gentleman were interred in the cemetery on Wednesday afternoon , in the presence of a large number of spectators . The funeral was of a private

character , though several Freemasons , members of the Town Council , and professional friends attended at the cemetery to testify their respect for the deceased . The service was conducted by the Rev . E . W . Pears , rector of St . Peter's , and during the interment many of the principal places of business in the town were closed .

BRO . WILLIAM KERR . Death for some time has been laying his hand heavily on the old men in Galashiels , and again another link is broken that bound together the past and the present in the death of William Kerr , Church-street , well known in the town and neighbourhood as " the doctor's man . " His death was very sudden , he havinj taken ill on Saturday

nig ht and died on Sunday morning . He was 73 years of age . Long before the days of railways , or even many stage coaches , William Kerr rode the post between Jedburgh and St . Boswell ' s Green , while Alexander Gumming rode the post between St . Boswell ' s Green and Galashiels . In these days thc mail bags were nearly all carried on horseback . After that he was an hostler at the present Commercial Hotel , which is known all over Scotland , and

was there when the present proprietor , Mr . Maxwell , was born . After that he tried business upon his own account at Clovenfords , where he displayed on his sign board the fox and the hounds . He next opened a public house near by thc Corn Mill , ia the house occupied by Mr . Melrose . But he was too honest and tco good-hearted ; he possessed too much of the dove and too little of the serpent to be a successful man of business : and as a matter of course he

Obituary.

did not succeed . After that he entered the service of the late lamented Dr . John Weir , who was then full of life and ' hope , and had attained to the very height of his profession and an extensive practice , when he was carried off in the prime of life . Bro . Kerr then went to Dr . G . Macdougall , Old Town , then a comparatively young man , but who afterwards , by his studyand indomitable perseverance , rose

to the highest pinnacle of his profession , and had a practice extending over both town and country . It was while in the service of Dr . Macdougall that Bro . Kerr was known in town and country as " the doctor ' s man , " and it may truly be said that two more genial-hearted men never sat in the same vehicle . The doctor ' s face was always radiant with smiles , which were clearly reflected in the face of his

man Willie . In all but professional matters Willie was the doctor ' s right hand man , and whatever orders were committed by the doctor to Willie were carried out to the letter . He was a man of truth , honesty , and integrity , and was in the service of the doctor and his family for over twenty years , and when no longer able to work they bestowed on him an annual income to help to lighten

thc burden of his declining years . Willie Kerr was made a Freemason on the 14 th of April , 1829 , so that he has beeu for nearly fifty years a member of the Craft , and during that time has taken a lively interest in all its concerns . He was made a brother of the Craft , we believe , in the house now occupied by Mr . Stalker , which was then a hotel , so that his death occured

only a few yards from the spot where he first saw Masonic light . He had taken a great interest in the work of excavation for the new Masonic Hall , and was looking forward with pleasure to the laying of the foundation stone with Masonic honours on the 12 th of May ; but death has closed his earthly pilgrimage , and he has now passed the river of death , and it is to be hoped that he has joined

the Grand Lodge above , where he will reap the joys of a well-spent life . Since the death of Bro . William Wood , he has held the honourable office of Bible-beaier in the lodge , to which office he was annually elected . On all important occasions Bro . Kerr was never absent from a lodge meeting , and the excellent songs which he sung on convivial occasions always brought forth rounds of

applause . He was the oldest member of the lodge . From his sudden and unexpected death , there was no time to make arrangements for a Masonic funeral , but a few of the brethren met in the house of the deceased , and from there accompanied his remains to the grave , in full Masonic costume , but without jewels . Peace to his ashes , is the sincere prayer of the large circle of friends who knew him .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

WORKING MEN ' COLLEGE . —A series of readings were recently given by Bro . Emra Holmes , in the Lecture Hall , Tower-street , Ipswich , in connection with the Working Men's College . Dr . Christian , the Principal , presided . Bro . Holmes's popularity does not appear to wane , as evidenced by the crowded and appreciative audience who listened to his readings during the evening , but from the

character of ths program-ne we should imagine it has increased 50 per cent . Bro . Halmes commenced by reading Milton ' s " Satan ' s Address to his Peers . " This imaginary address by Satan to his followers in heaven was will rendered . " The Private of the Buffs " cam : next , vvhich enumerated some Chinese experiences . " Out of the hurly burly , " by Max Adler , was the next on the programme .

The perils of a satirical editor were humorously hit off The rowdyism of American journalism was in this reading very cleverly satirised , and in Bro . Holmes ' s hands found , an able executant . " Hohenlinden " ( Campbell ) w . is given in graphic style . "The Marionette Man , " by Ton Hood , was a piece in which Bro . Holmes's powers of mimicry vvere fully brought into play . This terminating the first part , Miss Butcher gave a selection on a pianoforte kindly

lent by Messrs . Whight and Mann . Resuming the programme , Bro . Holmes gave " Only a Christmas Rose , " from thc " Masonic Magazine . " An extract from Pickwick next convulsed the audience with laughter , the pirt selected being " Bob Sawyer ' s evening party . " " A Night in Parliament , " a piece abounding in satire , humour , irony , which was well relished by the audience , brought the programme to an end . A unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Holmes .

An engraving of the first church built in England will appear in the " Masonic Magazine " for June . On Wednesday evening there was a demonstration in honour of Bro . H . E . Adair , who for twenty-seven years has represented Ipswich in Parliament . The hon . gentleman was presented with a magnificent candelabra . There was a large meeting , which was addressed by Lord

Waveney , R . W . P . G . M . Suffolk , Mr . Colman , M . P .. Mr . H . W . West , and other gentlemen . Mr . R . C . Ransome presided . The plans of Sir Gilbart Scott for the restoration of thc exterior of the octagon and lantern of Ely Cathedral have been provisionally approved . The work will involve an outlay of about £ 5000 .

We believe that it has been arranged that the summer half-yearly communication of the' Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire and Rutland should be held at Melton Mowbray , under thc banner of the Rutland Lodge , No . 1130 , on Monday , 29 th May . A new establishment in connection with the

Pepple s Cafe Company has been opened in Ludgate-circusbuildings . Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Knight will preside at the 12 th annual meeting of the Alexandra Orphanage & ybe held at the London TavernJonlthe 18 th inst . |