Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday . Bro . J . A . Farnfield , P . A . G . D . C , Treasurer , presided , and there were present Bros . C . A . Cottebrune ; P . G . P . ; C Kempton , Charles Lacey , J . Norton , W . J . Murlis , William Clarke ,

P . G . P . ; David D . Mercer , A . G . P . ; E . West , Hugh Cotter , Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; A , H . Tatteshall / S . Brook , John E . Dawson , P . G . S . B . ; J . L . Mather , P . A . G . D . C . ; F . Woods , R . Griggs , Chas . Daniel , C . J . Perceval , C . H . Webb , W . Belchamber , J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; J . S . Cumberland , W . H . Halbert , T . B .

Purchas , Fred . Mead , P . G . S . B . ; A . Forsyth , C . F . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br . ; W . A . Scurrah , A . Durrant , W . H . Ferryman , P . G . P . ; W . H . Making , J . Dixon , Thos . G . Bullen , G . Std . Br . ; W . J . Crutch , ancl Jas . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . The minutes of the previous meeting havino * been

read and verified , the SECRETARY reported the deaths of five annuitants ( four men and one widow ) , and read a letter from a widow annuitant resi gning her annuity , as she had inherited some property . The Warden ' s report for the past month was read , and also a letter from the Secretary of the Inland Revenue abandoning its claim to assess the Institution

to Corporation Duty . A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Bro . J . A . Farnfield for his services in obtaining this result . The following report from the Sub - Committee appointed to inquire into the working of the Secretary ' s office vvas presented , adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes :

To the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The Sub-Committee appointed at the meeting of the Committee on Wednesday , the nth September last , " to enquire into the working of the Secretary ' s office , " have to report that they have held two

meetings , namely , on the 31 st of October and 5 th of November respectively , and the Secretary produced the minutes containing the report of the Sub-Committee defining his duties and emoluments at the time of his appointment in 18 72 , and the dates of the minutes showing the various changes in the latter that have

been made , also the minutes containing the appointment of a permanent clerk , as well as the report of the Sub-Committee defining the duties and emoluments of the Collector on his appointment , all of vvhich were fully considered and due enquiry made as to whether each had faithfully performed his allotted task . The

Sub-Committee have much pleasure in stating that they found such was the case , and that , at the " instance of the Secretary , the office hours had been extended from 4 p . m . to 5 p . m ., such extension having been rendered necessary in his opinion by the ever-increasing work of the Institution .

In view of certain statements that had been made , that the Collector had received commission on sums which had not been received b y him , the Sub-Committee desire to call particular attention to Clause 9 of the report of the Sub-Committee appointed on the 9 th June , 1880 , to consider the duties to be performed bv

him , and the commission to be paid , ancl which report vvas approved at a Special Committee on the 22 nd of June , 1880 . Such clause is as follows : 9 . " That he be paid a Commission of 5 per cent upon all sums received by him , with the exception of those paid on the day of the Festival and up to and

inclusive of the settling day , and also excepting any amounts paid into the office , and for which receipts are given by the Secretary or Clerk . " On enquiry of the Secretary , he pledged himself that in no case had moneys sent to him after the settling day been handed over to the Collector , in order that

he should receive a commission on them , unless the person so remitting the money requested that it mi ght be so handed over , and as no member of the Sub-Committee ( even including the mover of the resolution upon which the Sub-Committee vvas appointed ) vvas able to name any one case upon vvhich enquiry could be made

, and as no complaint had been received at the office , your Sub-Committee are of opinion that all moneys which the Collector had been paid he was fully entitled to , in accordance with the terms of his appointment . Looking at the fact that the Committee of Management had latel y had so favourable an opinion from

Bro . Smith , the Grand Lodge Auditor , as to the mode of keeping the accounts , your Sub-Committee do not think it necessary to again travel over that ground . Dated this 13 th day of November , 188 9 . Applications were made b y two widows for the half of their late husbands' annuities . In one case the application was granted , but in the other it was deferred

for the necessary certificate . Ten petitions ( six male and four widows ) were then considered , with the result that four of the former were accepted and two refused , and the four latter accepted , the names being ordered to be placed on the lists of candidates for the election in May , 1890 . The usual vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman , and the Committee adjourned .

The marriage of Mr . W . C . B . Beaumont , eldestsonof Bro . W . B . Beaumont , M . P ., vvith Lady A . Vane-Tempest , youngest daughter of the late Bvo . the Marquis of Londonderry , was solemnised at St . George ' s , Hanover-square , on 1 uesday , among those present at the service being the Uuchess of Albany , the Duke of Cambridge , the Duke and Duchess of Teck , and Bros , the Duke of Abercorn , the Earl of Cork , and Lord Alcester .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

On Saturday , the 2 nd inst ., Lady Whitehead ( the Lad y Mayoress ) , accompanied by her two daughters and Miss Soulsby , paid a visit to the Institution , and vvas received b y Bros . Sir John Monckton , Col . James Peters , Edward Letchworth , and Frank Richardson ,

and conducted over the premises . The children went through their calisthenic exercises and military evolutions , and afterwards sung several part songs . Upon leaving , her ladyship expressed the utmost gratification at all she had seen and heard , and stated her intention of paying another visit at a future date .

Masonic Centenary Celebration At Huddersfield.

MASONIC CENTENARY CELEBRATION AT HUDDERSFIELD .

In connection with the celebration of the centenary of the Lodge of Harmony , No . 275 , between 400 and 500 members of the Order , from the various lodges in the Province of West Yorkshire , attended Divine service at the Huddersfield Parish Church , by the kind permission of the Rev . Canon Bardsley , M . A ., vicar ,

on Sunday , the ioth inst . The brethren met at the Masonic Hall , South Parade , and walked from thence in procession to the church . Masonic clothing vvas worn , and the sight , as may be imagined , was a very imposing one . Fortunately the weather was gloriously

fine , and a large number of people witnessed the spectacle , the most attractive part of it being the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , who brought up the rear . They were headed b y the P . G . M ., Bro . T . W . Tew , vvho vvas preceded by a sword bearer , and supported by the two standard bearers and Bro . Henry Smith , Dep . P . G . M .

On arriving at the gates of the church the brethren drew up on each side of the street , in order to allow the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge to walk through , each of them saluting the Provincial Grand Master as he passed . The brethren filed in afterwards , and followed the officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge into

church . At the gates the procession vvas met and preceded into church by the Rev . Canon Bardsley , wearing his surplice , and the churchwardens ( Messrs . Alfred Sykes and W . H . Armitage ) , each of whom bore his staff of office . The service , which vvas commenced by the singing of the processional hymn " All

people that on earth do dwell , " vvas intoned by Bro . the Rev . C . Dudley Lampen , vicar of St . Andrew ' s , Huddersfield , and Prov . Grand Chap , of West Yorkshire . The first lesson—1 Kings , viii ., 22 to 54—was read b y Bro . A . H . J . Fletcher , M . A ., Chap . No . 275 ; and the second—1 Corinthians , xiii—by the Rev . Canon

Bardsley , M . A . Litany was said b y the Rev . W . H . Norman , M . A ., curate . Under the superintendency o Bro . J . North , the choir abl y led the musical portion of the service . The Jubilate Deo was sung to Sullivan ' s service in E , and the anthem " Behold how good and joyful" ( Clarke-Whitfield ) , was also rendered , the

solos being given by Bro . W . Riley and Masters Binns and Easter . After the singing of the hymn " Nearer , my God , to Thee , " Bro . the Rev . P . F . J . PEARCE , Past Prov . Grand Chap . West Yorkshire , preached an eloquent sermon

from the words— As we have therefore opportunity , let us do good unto all men , especially unto them that are of the household of faith " ( Galations , vi ., 10 ) . The celebration of the centenary of the Lodge of Harmony might , the preacher said , seem to some a matter of indifference ,

but it was not so to the members of that lodge , to the revered chiefs of the Order , and a numerous following in the Province of West Yorkshire . After an appeal to the Masons present to let that celebration infuse them vvith fresh zeal to pursue the high objects of the Order , the reverend brother said that Freemasonry vvas

necessarily very little understood by the uninitiated , and there were no doubt , as they might expect , many errors in circulation concerning it . For some of these Masons themselves were perhaps responsible ; for , whilst the well-known saying was perfectly true that no one who was a good Mason could be a bad man , it was

also true that vvith all the care exercised by the Order in reference to the initiation of new members , unworthy men did sometimes obtain possession of their secrets and privileges , and it was moreover true that some , whose characters were without cause for rebuke when admitted to the Brotherhood , had , through the neglect

of Masonic teaching , fallen into evil practices , and these , greatly to the dishonour of the Fraternity , had misrepresented the Order , and caused outsiders to form a wrong estimate of its work and worth . They admitted none to their fellowshi p but those whom they were assured lived lives of virtue and morality , and

there was nothing in their Constitution which Moses and Christ did riot fully allow and generally sanction . Those who presided at the initiation of their candidates must either be deceived by others or betray their sacred obligations if unworthy men were ever admitted to the distinguished privileges of the Fraternity . And if such were admitted one of two things must surely soon

come to pass . Either a man ' s character vvould be improved , or the open and frequently cited Word of God , the repeated prayers to the Almi ghty , the earnest exhortations to faith , hope , and Charity , and every Christian virtue must make the lodge room as unpalatable as the devotional service in such a church as that . Masonry was truly the sister of religion . The central

Masonic Centenary Celebration At Huddersfield.

point of all her innumerable lines , squares , and circles was the love of God , as it vvas of true Christianity . He maintained the close connection between Freemasonry and revived reli g ion . He did not claim for Freemasonry that it vvas a religion or that it was simply Christianity under another name . It did not profess

to be either , ancl its advocates made no such assertion . But he did most distinctly affirm that it vvas a high social institution , whose practice was in harmony with the spirit and faith of Christianity . He denied the statement that a man could not be a true Mason and a sincere Christian at the same time , or that

the tendency and teaching of Masonry were opposed to revived religion . The teaching of Freemasonry was to seek above all things the attainment of the hig hest excellence of character , and that not only for persona ] advantage , but also for the good of others . The Bible was ever open in the Iodee room , ancl was

frequently read and recited in their lectures and ceremonies . It seemed to him that the Bible and Freemasonry were distinctly alike , in that they taught men to live and labour for their own moral improvement and for that of others , and this , not with the cold formality of those performing duties they dared not

neglect ; not with the forced zeal of transient or exaggerated emotions , but vvith the grand enthusiasm of a heart that had learnt from the ever Blessed Giver of all good g ifts that the only true blessedness vvas in blessing others . Both recognised that he who attained the hig hest personal excellence must be the greatest

benefactor to his fellows . Freemasonry pointed men to the goal towards which they must run . It readily admitted that those vvho attained to the hig hest excellence of character , and did the most for God ' s glory and the good of mankind , were those who had taken the supreme earthly degree , and had become livingly linked to the

Most Hig h by virtue of the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ . Freemasonry gave them a creed vvhich , so far as it went , was both true and beautiful . But if it gave them a creed it did not profess to give them a Christ , and it vvas Christ who saved the soul . It vvas

Christ who filled the heart with true love to God and man . It vvas the reception of Him , and the full development of His lig ht in them which transfigured Freemasonry , grounded its most blessed teaching of truth and morals , and gave perfection to the schemes and to the lives of men .

An offertory was taken on behalf of the Huddersfield Infirmary , ancl realised between £ 31 and £ 32 . When the bags had been taken to the west end of the church they were placed on the alms dish , and the Prov . Grand Master , preceded by the ' churchwardens , and accompanied by his Sword and Standard Bearers , carried the alms up to the Communion rails and presented them .

The service shortly afterwards concluded , and the procession returned in reverse order ( the Provincial Grand Lodge in front ) to the Masonic Hall , where light refreshment was provided , and the brethren separated .

Banquet And Ball Of The Eclectic Lodge, No. 1201.

BANQUET AND BALL OF THE ECLECTIC LODGE , No . 1201 .

On Friday , the ist inst ., a meeting of the Eclectic Lodge , No . 1201 , was held at Freemasons' Hall , the work consisting of passing Bros . R . E . Baker and S . H . Lloyd to the Degree of F . C . The brethren subsequently sat down to a banquet , the feature being the presence of lady friends of the

members , at the special invitation ot the W . M ., in commemoration of the 21 st anniversary of his admission into Freemasonry . Many excellent speeches vvere given , notably that of Bro . Foreman , I . P . M ., in proposing the toast of "The W . M ., Bro . Barrett , " at the same time presenting him

with a silver cigar case and Mrs . Barrett with a superb bouquet from the officers of the lodge . A dance brought a most enjoyable evening to a close . Amongst those present vvere Bro . J . Leach Barrett , W . M ., and Mrs . Barrett ; Bro . A . T . Foreman and

Mrs . Foreman ; Bro . Amsden and Mrs . Amsden ; Bros . Let and H . P . Anley ; Bro . Beazley and Mrs . Beazley ; Bro . Chauffourier , S . W ., and Mrs . Chauffourier ; Bro . J . R . Davis and Mrs . Davis ; Bro . Frolich ancl Miss Frolich ; Bro . Hawkins ; Bro . Haworth and Mrs . Haworth ; Bro . Dr . S . Lloyd ,

P . M ., Mrs ., and Miss Lloyd ; Bro . R . H . Lyon , J . W ., and Miss Lyon ; Bro . Lockyer and Mrs . Lockyer ; Bro . Jos . Mander , P . M ., and Mrs . Mander ; Bro . Munday , P . M ., and Mrs . Munday ; Bro . Pedlar and Mrs . Pedlar ; Bro . Restall and Miss Restall ; Bro . Richardson , P . M ., Org ., and Mrs . Richardson ; Bro . Surridge , S . D ., and Mrs . Surridge ; Bro . A . E . Taylor ,

P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . Surrey , Sec , and Mrs . Taylor ; Bro . J . H . Watts ; Bro . Baker and Miss Easton ; Bro . and Mrs . Tatum ; Bro . Gartley and Miss Vincent ; Bro . and Mrs . Arliss Andrews ; Miss Dews ; Bro . John Maclean ; Bro . ancl Mrs . Chas . Cooke ; Bro . E . A . W . Taylor ; Bro . Allengame , Mrs ., and Miss Long ; and several others .

Bro . Lord Mayor Sir H . Isaacs presided for the first time at the Court of Aldermen on Tuesday , and having thanked them for the kindness they had invariably shown him in the past , expressed a hope that they vvould extend to him the same kindness during the period of his Mayoralty . On tne

motion of Bro . Sir VV . Laurence , the Court unanimousl y passed a vote of thanks to the late Lord Mayor , Bra . Alderman Sir James Whit * head , Bart ., forhisdistingui-ded services during his term of office , and it vvas ordered that the address should be engrossed on vellum and presented in the usual manner .