Public Night Of The Prudent Brethren Chapter, No. 145.

Hutton , Collett , Wood , Chalford , Smout , jan . Sec ., and Eskell . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Hutton being thc candidate , also the ceremony of passing . Bro . Eskell , P . M ., was elected a member of this lodge of Instruction , and promised to he present as often as he could , and give all the assistance in his power . Bro . Smout sen . was elected W . M . for the next meeting .

, LEICESTER . —Union Lodge . — ' 1 he annual festival of this lodge , which meets under the joint sanction of tbe Town Lodges took place at Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Friday , thc Sth inst ., when there was a large attendance . The Seven Sections of the First Lecture were worked as under : — First Section by ... Bro . Thos . Colman , J . D ., 297 .

Second do „ T . A . Wykes , W . M ., 323 . Third do , I . P . Chamberlain , I . G ., 279 . Fourth do , J . Read , S . D ., 1391 . Fifth do „ T . Worthington , P . M ., 50 . Sixth do , John T . Thorp , P . M ., 523 .

Seventh do , Edgar Taylor , 523 . The questions by Bro . George Toller , jun ., P . M ., 523 , 15 60 , G . S . B . The whole of the lectures were given with the most praiseworthy correctness , and at the close of the proceedings a hearty vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to those concerned .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The monthly meeting of the Committee of this Institution was held on Thursday at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Col . Creaton , V . P ., in the chair . There were also present Bros . S . Rawson , Raynham W . Stewart , Capt . John Wordsworth , F . Adlard . Griffiths Smith , Thos . Cubitt , Joseph

Smith , J . G . Stevens , W . Hilton , Charles Lacej , L . Steam , H . Massey , W . T . Nettleship , and James Tetcy Secretary . | J " ( After the reading and confirmation of the minutes the Secretary reported that the result of the festival of the previous evening , was £ 11 , 126 13 s . 6 ( 1 . with 9 lists to come in Bco . Raynham W . Stewart proposed a vote of thanks to his Grace the Duke of Manchester , K . P ., Prov . G . M .

Norths and Notts , who presided on the occasion . Capt . Wordsworth seconded the motion which was put and carried unanimously . Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., moved a vote of thanks to the President , Treasurer , and members of the Board of Stewards for the great exertion evinced by them on the occasion of the festival .

Capt . Wordsworth seconded the motion . Rro . Joseph Smith acknowledged the compliment , but said that the great exertion came from the Secretary . He then gave notice of motion for next meeting that in consequence of thc great success of the two last festivals a gratuity of £ 50 be presented to

the Secretary . Bro . Terry then said that Bro . Wills the horticulturist lent the beautiful flowers and shrubs which adorned the great hall where the concert was held . Bro . Joseph Smith moved a vote of thanks to Bro Wills , and said that the great hall was never so beautifully decorated before .

Capt . Wordsworth seconded the motion which was put and carried nem . con . Bro . Terry afterwards re * d the warden's report which stated that Bro . Cutbush having offered to send in a number of Standard rose tree to the asylum and the offer having been accepted , the trees were sent in on thc 9 th February .

A vote of thanks was passed to Bro , Cutbush for the present . Bro . Raynham Stewart said that in consequence of the great success of the festival he should ask the brethren to invest £ 3 000 which was placed to meet any deficiency there might be at the festivals . As however the

festival was a great success he should move that five additional widows be elected next May . There were at present but eleven vacancies for widows , and 42 candidates . There were 31 men and fifteen vacancies . There were 130 widows now in the fund and 14- ; men . Fifteen vacancies were declared for the male fund , and eleven on the female fund .

Bro . Stewart moved the five additional vacancies , and the motion hiving been seconded by Bro . Joseph Smith , was carried , and the vacancies for the women for the next election were ordered to be sixteen . On the motion of Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , seconded by Captain Wordsworth , the £ 3000 above mentioned was ordered to be invested .

The balloting papers for next election were thereafter settled . A letter having been received from Bro . Hurst , of Yorkshire , suggesting that money should be invested to provide for the future , Bro . Stewart contended that thc course the brethren were now pursuing was the right one . The Chairman said that if at any time the funds

should not be sufficient to meet the demands made upon them the number of annuitants would have to bc reduced . He hoped , however , that no necessity for such a step would ever happen . The brethren had really done that day the very thing that Bro . Hurst had suggested . A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings .

were present , including many ladies . Later on they tV , t n " * ed by a large P - ladies and gentlemen in ine ball room , who kept up dancing with much spirit to S w ° " ° - Dervin ' excellent band . Bro . Hawkes , * i . ' P 2 ' acted ¦*** hon- sec * - and to his exertions a great part of the success of the evening is due .

100 The annual and amal gamated ball of the brethren of the Royal York Lodge , 313 , and the St . Cecilia "age , 16 36 , took place at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on luesday , the 12 th inst . At the banquet , which was Presided over by Bro . S . T . Frost , W . M . 31 *! . unwards of

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

We have much pleasure in stating that their Royal Highnesses ihe Prince and Princess of Wales have graciously consented to inaugurate the new buildings of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and that the Most Worshipful Grand Master will appoint a day in March for thc ceremony . LORD CARNARVON . —In reply * to a vote of

thanks passed by thc Committee ofthe Anti-Slavery Society , Loid Carnarvou refers with satisfaction to the fact that under his administration of the Colonies slavery was abolished on the Gold Coast . The Queen has conferred the vacant Green Ribands of the Order of the Thistle upon the Dakr of Hamilton and Brandon , Premier Peer of Scotland , and

upon the Marquis of Lothian . ROVAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . —The total amount received at the Festival of the Institution on Wednesday last was £ 11 . 126 13 s . 6 d ., with nine lists to come in , B RO . A RCHIBALD F ORBES AT M ANCHESTER —On Monday , Bro . Archibald Forbes delivered a lecture

to a large audience in the Free Trade Hall , Manchester , on his personal experience as War Correspondent of the Daily News . The lecturer ' s graphic description of thc passage of the Danube , thc fighting in the Shipka Pass , and the two first assaults on Plevna , were listened to with intense interest , and the various touches of humorous and personal adventures were also peculiarly acceptable to the

audience , who frequently expressed their admiration of Bro . Forbcs ' s gallantry , and their appreciation of the public services which he has rendered . Early on Wednesday morning , a fire occurred at Bro . the Earl of Zetland ' s town residence , No . 19 , Arlington-street , Piccadilly . The brigade steamers were instantly in attendance , and by their means the flames

were confined to the basement . Captain Shaw , in his official report , states that the fire originated by the overheating of a stove adjoining , and the following is the extent of the damage : —Back room on first floor and contents nearly burned out , roof over damaged by fire and cutting away , library on ground floor and contents severely damaged by fire and heat , and the rest of the building and contents slightly by heat ancl smoke .

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales has been pleased to appoint the Rev . F . A . Hervey , M . A ., as Domestic Chaplain , vice the lite Bro . the Rev . Wm . Lake Onslow , P . G . C . Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Holmesdale , M . P ., R . W . P . G . M . Kent , has kindly consented to preside at the seventh annual meeting of the United Kingdom Railway

Officers' and Servant ' s Association , which will he held at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street , on Wednesday week , the 27 th inst . The Belgrave Lodge of Instruction will be removed to the Harp Tavern , Jermyn-street , Regent-street , on Friday , 22 nd February , on which occasion the Fifteen Sections will be worked . Bro . T . H . Pulsford , P . M . 1158 ,

& c , m the chair ; Bros . E . Farwig , S . W . 180 , S . W . ; G . Willson , Organist 1321 , J . W . The lodge will be opened at 1 o ' clock precisely . BIRKBECK LITERARY ; AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION . —Southampton Buildings , Chancery Lane . —This Institution , which was established in 182 ^ , and is the parent of the large number of Evening Class organisations

is , no longer able to accommodate the large number of students seeking its educational advantages . Lord Northbrook , proposes that a movement should be set on foot to obtain suitable premises , and the Lord Mayor has promised to preside at a Meeting , to be held at the Mansion House , on Wednesday next , at three o ' clock , for the purpose of inaugurating a fund to provide the Institution with a

building suitable to its large and important operations . The Annual Display and Assault of Arms of the City Gymnastic Club , will take place at St . James ' s Hall on Saturday next . A detachment of Her Majesty ' s Scots Guards will be in attendance . Full particulars as to time , prices etc ., may be obtained of the Manager Bro . Albert Austin . The Queen has been Graciously pleased to

appoint his Grace the Duke of Abereorn , K . G .. ( M . W . G . M . of Ireland ) , to be the bearer of the Order ofthe Garter to his Majesty the King of Italy . General Lord William Paulct , G . C . B . ; Admiral the Hon . Sir Henry Kcppel , G . C . B . ; Lord Frederick Spencer Hamilton , Attache' in her Majesty ' s Diplomatic Service , the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Viscount Newport , M . P ., will be attached to his Grace ' s mission . Mr . V . Buckley of the Foreign Office has been appointed Secretary .

Bro . H . P . Matthews announces his annual Evening Concert to take place at the Town Hall , Shoreditch , on Monday evening the 18 th inst . Bro . Matthews is a comic vocalist of great ability ; his songs being always good and free from vulgarity . THE PRINCESS MARY VILLAGE HOMES . — The Prince of Wales has consented to preside at a dinner

to be held on the 20 th March next , in aid of the funds of the Princess Mary Village Homes for little Girls , situated at Addlestonc in Surrey . Upwards of 150 little girls are now in these homes , for whose maintenance funds arc urgently needed . Constitutions of the Ancient Fraternity of

Free and Accepted Masons , containing the Charges , Regulations , E . A . Song , dire . A copy should be in the possession of every brother . It may be obtained for 2 s . at the office of the Freemason , or will be sent post free to any part of the United Kingdom on receipt of twenty-five penny stamps . Address , Publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , London . —ADVT .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 16 . Lodge 715 , Panmure , Cannon-st . Hot . „ 1364 , Earl of ' - " etland , Old Town Hall , Hackney . ,, 1641 , Crichton , S . M . H . For the Week ending Friday , February 22 , 1878 .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Lily , Greyhound , Richmond . Manchester , 77 , London-st ., Fitzroy-sq . Star , Marquis of Granby , New Cross-rd . Eccleston , Grosvenor Club , Ebury-square , S . W . Percy , 113 , Southgate-road , N . MONDAY , FEBRUARY iS .

Lodge 1 , Grand Masters , F . M . Tav . „ 8 , British , F . M . H . „ 21 , Emulation , Albion Tav ., Aldersgatc-st . „ 5 8 , Felicity , 101 , Queen Victoria-st . „ 1 S 3 , Tranquillity , Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-st . „ 720 , Panmure , Balham Hot , Balham .

„ 862 , Whittington , F . M . H . „ 901 , City of London , Guildhall Tav ., Greshanl-st . „ 907 , Royal Alfred , F . M . H . „ 1139 , Marquis of Dalhousie , F . M . H . Chap . 12 , Prudence , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . „ 131 O , Asaph , F . M . H .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Prince Leopold , Lord Stanley Tav ., Kingsland . Strong Man , Old Rodney ' s Head , Old-st ., E . Sincerity , Railway Tav ., Fenchurch-st . Station . Camden , Stanhope Arms , Up . James-st ., Camden Town . Tredegar , Royal Hot ., Mile-end-road . St . James ' s Union , Union Tav ., Air-st . Wellington , White Swan , Deptford .

Perfect Ashlar , Victoria Tav ., Lower-rd ., Rotherhithe . Upper Norwood , White Hart Hot ., Church-rd . Marquis of Ripon , Pembury Tav ., Amherst-rd ., Hackney . Loughborough , Warrior Hot ., Brixton . West Smithfield , New Market Hot ., West Smithfield . Leopold , Woolpack Tavern , Bermoudsey-st . St . George's , Globe Tav ., Greenwich . London Masonic Club , at 101 , Q-ueen Victoria-st . E . G ., 2 nd and 4 th Monday every month , at 6 o ' clock .

TUESDAY , FEBRUARY 19 . Board of Gen . Purposes , at 3 . Lodge 30 , United Mariners' , Guildhall Tav . „ 73 , Mount Lebanon , Bridge House Hot . „ 95 , Eastern Star , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . „ 162 , Cadogan , F . M . H . „ 165 , Honour and Generosity , Inns of Court Hot . ,, 194 , St . Paul's , Cannon-st . Hot .

,, 435 , Salisbury , F . M . H . » * . *! 39 i Stockweil , Surrey M . H . ,, 16 95 , New Finsbury Park , Finsbury Park Tav ., N . Chap . II , Enoch , F . M . H . „ 19 , Mount Sinai , Anderton ' s Hot ., Flett-st . „ 186 , Industry , F . M . H . „ 1348 , Ebury , MoipethArms , Ponsonby ,-st ., Millbank . Rose Croix , Oxford and Cambridge , 33 , Golden-sq .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Metropolitan , 269 , Pentonville ret . Yarborough , Green Dragon , Stepney . Domatic , Surrey M . H ., Camberwell New-road . Faith , 2 , Westminster Chambers , Victoria-st . Prince Fieri .-. "Wm ., Lord ' s Hot ., St . John ' s Wood . Dalhousie , King Edward , Triangle , Hackney .

Prosperity , Hercules Tav ., Leadenhall-st . Florence Nightingale , F . M . H ., William-st ., Woolwich . Constitutional , Bedford Hot ., Southampton Bdgs ., at 7 . Israel , Rising Sun Tav ., Globe Road . Royal Arthur , Prince ' s Head , York-road , Battersea .

Beacontree , Red Lion , Leytonstone . Excelsior , Commercial Dock Tav ., Rotherhithe . St . John of Wapping , Gun Hot ., High-st ., Wapping . Islington , 23 , Gresham-st . Metropolitan Chapter , Jamaica Coffee Ho ., Cornhill . Mount Edgcumbe , 19 , Jermyn-st ., St . James's .

WEDNESDAY , FEBRUARY 20 . Gen . Com . Grand Lodge and Lodge of Ben ., at 6 . Lodge 140 , St . George ' s , Trafalgar Hot ., Greenwich . „ 174 , Sincerity , Guildhall Tav ., Gresham-st . „ 190 , Oak , F . M . H . „ 700 , Nelson , M . H ., William-st ., Woolwich . „ 9 6 9 , Maybury , Inns of Court Hot ., Lincoln's Inn .

„ 1044 , Wandsworth , Spread Eagle , Wandsworth . „ 11 5 0 , Buckingham and Chandos , F . M . H . IF 1349 , Friars , Cheshire Cheese , Crutched Friars . „ 1382 , Corinthian , George Inn , Cubitt Town . „ iflO' ' , Metropolitan , Anderton ' s Hot ., Fleet-st . „ 1624 , Eccleston , Grosvenor Hall , F , bury-st ., S . W . „ 1673 , Langton , 101 , Queen Victoria-st . Rose Croix Chap ., Bard of Avon , 3 * , Golden-sq .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Confidence , Railway Tav ., Railway-place , Fenchurch-st . Burdett Coutts , Salmon and Ball , Bethnal Green-road . Jordan , Devonshire Arms , Devonshirc-st ., W ., at 8 Mt . Lebanon , Horse Shoe Tav ., Stones-End , E . Pythagorean , Portland Hotel , London-street , Greenwich . New Concord , Rosemary Branch Tav ., Hoxton .

La Tolerance , Horse avid Groom , Wras \ ey-st ., Oxiord-st . Peckham , Maismore Arms , Park-road , Peckham . Stanhope , Thicket Hot ., Anerley . Finsbury Park , Finsbury Park Tav ., Seven Sisters ' -rd . Southwark , Southwark Park Tav ., Southwark Park .

Duke of Connaught , Havelock Tav ., Dalston , E . United Strength , Grafton Arms , Kentish-town . Whittington , Red Lion , Poppin's-court , Fleet-st ,, at 8 . Lewis , King ' s Arms Hot ., Wood Green . Royal Jubilee , 81 , Long Acre . Langthorne Swan Hot . Stratford .