The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

of more or less abject poverty , while thc vacancies that were declared , including the three on each Fund to deferred annuities , wcre only 33 , namely , on the Male Fund , 19—iC immediate and 3 deferred ; and on the Widows' Fund , 14 , that is to say , II

immediate and 3 deferred . And though in accordance with our experience of past years , it is tolerably certain that these figures will be slightly increased between now and the third week in May , there will still remain from 70 to 80 old brethren and widows for whom no election is possible and who must continue

to endure their poverty , with such patience and philosophy as they may be able to command , for at least another 12 months . However , we have now described the position of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution in all its most important features , and it

only remains for us to express the hope that a fortnight hence we may be able to record that what is at present only the promise of a successful Festival on the 26 th instant has been fully realised .

A very large sum , as usual , is needed for the requirements of the present year , and we sincerely hope that under the auspices of Bro . Lord GEORGE HAMILTON it will be forthcoming .

The Masonic Home Of Pennsylvania.

THE MASONIC HOME OF PENNSYLVANIA .

In the Freemason of the gth February , 18 95 , we furnished many interesting particulars concerning the establishment and progress of the Masonic Home in Philadelphia , an Institution which may be said to resemble in some respects that branch of

our Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which is known as the Asylum , at Croydon . We mentioned , among other things , that this Home was opened on the 1 st January , 1 S 84 , with one inmate , and at the close of the year 18 94 it provided

accommodation for 37 . In this period of 11 years the number of aged brethren who had been nominated for admission was 97 , of whom 6 7 had been admitted , 20 had declined , three hacl been withdrawn , live had died , and two remained on the list . Of

those admitted , 29 had died , and one hacl been ' ¦ honourably discharged , " the remaining 37 constituting the inmates at the date of the report on which our article was founded . We further

mentioned that the 3 6 Masonic Bodies and eight individuals on the roll as supporters of the Home in 1884 , had become 10 years later , 136 Masonic Bodies and 35 8 individuals ; that the total amount received in behalf of the Institution from thc outset was

129 , 000 dollars ( £ 25 , 800 ) , and the total amount expended , 9 8 , 500 dollars ( £ 19 , 700 ) , thc balance of over 30 , 000 dollars , representing the sum invested ancl the cash in hand for current outlay . We also stated that a Mrs . OUEEN hacl made to the Home as a

memorial to her late brother , Dr . DlCKEY , the very handsome donation of 12 , 000 dollars ( £ 2400 ) , towards the erection of additional premises , to be known as the " DlCKEY Wing , " and that generally the Home was in a flourishing condition , and was very

generously supported by our Pennsylvanian brethren . The report of the Managing Committee for the year 18 95 , which was submitted and approved at a meeting of the Corporation held in the Masonic Mall . Philadelphia , on the ioth ult ., is published in

the Keystone of the 18 th of the same month , and from this we learn that the Institution has been similarly prosperous during the period to which the said report relates . The 136 Masonic Bodies and the 35 8 individuals on thc roll of supporters have

now increased to I 42 and 409 respectively , while the contributions from the Grand Bodies of Pennsylvania , which in 18 94 consisted of 500 dollars from Grand Lodge , 300 dollars each from Grand Chapter and Grand Commandery , and 100 dollars

from the A . and A . S . Rite , or in all , 1200 dollars , are now returned , as comprising 500 dollars each from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , 300 dollars from Grand Commandery , ancl 250 dollars from the A . and A . S . Rite , or altogether , 1550 dollars . We arc

likewise told that the ¦ ' DlCKEY Wing , " or to give it the full title set forth in the report , the " SAMUEL J . DlCKEY Extension , " has been completed and legally convoyed to the Board of Managers ; and is occupied , the first-floor as a chapel , the

second and third-floors as dormitories , and the basement by the steam-heating plant for the whole Institution . Moreover , the alteration and enlargement of thc old dining-room

has , we are told , " greatly increased our facilities for a larger family , and we are prepared to admit all deserving applicants provided our finances will increase as the number admitted grows

The Masonic Home Of Pennsylvania.

larger . " It seems also that the estimate of the sub-Committee — " that we have room for double the number of brethren now under our care "—is looked upon as a moderate one . But the most satisfactory statement of all is that , owing to Mrs . QUEEN ' generous gift and the liberal support of the brethren , the

Committee are now in possession of a " new building of large capacity , " and have been enabled , ' * without encroaching upon our invested funds , to put in general good condition all of our property , " and that " for several years there will be need only of enlarging and building up our investments ancl our permanent

income . " 'Ihe new building contains 22 sleeping apartments , each of which is intended to accommodate two brethren , ancl to furnish and fit these would , of course , entail a considerable outlay even at the moderate cost of 200 dollars per room . However ,

sundry brethren and Masonic bodies have undertaken to furnish 10 of the number , ancl doubtless others will be found ready ancl willing to follow this example . Add to this that the reports of the various sub-Committees are described as being satisfactory , and that the contributions made to the Home on Donation Dav

amounted to upwards of 6000 dollars , ancl it will be seen that the Masonic Home of Pennsylvania , though it has only been in existence for the brief period of 12 years , is already well furnished with the means of support , and is , indeed , like our own

Institutions , a recognised part of Pennsylvanian Masonry . We heartily wish this new and already prosperous Masonic Charity a long continuance of the good fortune it has heretofore received , and that it may at all times find itself in a position to provide for the needs of all " deserving applicants . "

The Schaw Statutes Of 1598-9.

THE SCHAW STATUTES OF 1598-9 .

The two CODES of 1598-9 are signed by William Schaw , who became " Maister of Wark" from 158 4 ( in succession to Sir Robert Drummond ) "to the King ' s Majesty" ( James VI . of Scotland ) , and was also " Prcncipall Warden and Chieff Maister of Maissones , " as recorded in a minute of thc ancient Lodge of

Edinburgh of Sth June , 1600 . The senior document was reproduced in the Book of Constitutions Grand Lodge of Scotland , 1848 , & c , but better still in Bro . D . Murray Lyons' invaluable " History of the Lodge of Edinburgh , No . 1 " ( 1873 ) , the latter having the first and concluding portions in facsimile .

Thc second Code had long been lost sight of , but was discovered in the charter chest at Eglinton Castle , and in 1861 the

late Earl of Eglinton , through the lamented M . W . Bro . John Whyte-Melville , then D . G . M ., presented to the Grand Lodge of Scotland a copy of " Memorials of the Montgomeries , Earls of

Eglinton . " As Bro . Lyon states , it is "to his lordship ' s munificent encouragement of archaeological research that the present generation of Freemasons owe their acquaintance" with this important MS . and work .

The Statutes , dated 28 th December , 159 8 , were "to be obseruit be all the Maister Maissouins within this realme , Sett

down be Williame Schaw , Maister of Wark to his Majestic ancl generall Wardane of the said Craft , with the consent of the Maisteris efter specifeit , " whilst those of date 28 th December , 1 599 , arc mainly addressed to the "Judge of Kilwynning , " though in part of a general character , and based upon the senior

Code . It would appear as if a question had arisen as to precedence , ancl that this deliverance of Schaw was authoritatively to settle thc matter . Thc Master Mason of King James seems to go out of his way to insist on the recognition of the exact status of this lodge , as in the lirst clause it is

termed" The heid ancl sccund ludge of Scotland , " and in the next clause the term employed is the " ludge of Kilwynning sccund ludge of Scotland . " The " Warden of Kilwynning " is described " as sccund in Scotland " in the 6 th clause , and so are thc " Warden ancl deakon" in the follovviiv '

regulation . The gth provides that " na prentis nor craftis man be admittit nor enterit bot onlie within the Kirk of Kilwynning , as his paroche ancl sccund ludge ; " thc 12 th empowers "the warden and deaconis ol thc sccund ludge of Scotland present

of Kilwynning" to take the oath " of all maisteris and fallowis ol craft within thc haill boundis commit to thair charge , " who were not to " accumpanie wilh cowanis , " and the 13 th again describes the lodge as the second in Scotland . Thc third " item " is most emphatic as to seniority or pre-