Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 133 The Lord Mayor and Sheriff of London at the Clerkenwell Lodge 134 Freemasonry in Canada and thc United States 135 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 13 ; Masonic Ball in Liverpool 135 New Zealand 13 S

CORRESPONDENCEOur Charities 13 } The Election of Grand Treasurer 137 Grand Lodge of Ireland 137 French Masonry 138 Reviews 138 Masonic Notes and Queries 13 S

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 138 Instruction 141 Royal Arch 141 Mark Masonry : 141 Knights Templar 142 Annual Ua . vio , viet of the Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , No . 1507 J 42

The Morgan Monument 142 Fatal Accident to Bro . Dr . Hughes , of Liverpool 142 Royal National Lifeboat Institution 142 Obituary 143 The Theatres J 43 Masonic and General Tidings 144 Lodge Meetings for Next \ Veck 143

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BY a little oversight the comparative account of the returns for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Festival , so successful in itself , stood over for a week , or rather had to give way to the imperative claims of the full report of Grand Lodge . We do not think that much is lost by the delay , inasmuch as it enables us by our analysis of the lists to-day to recall to the memory

and renew the interest of our readers in many lands to the remarkable results of our lirst great Masonic Charity Festival for 1883 . Indeed we are sometimes inclined to believe that too much is made of the matter , that too much is said of such returns . There is nothing in which some scribes are so apt to be loquacious and longwinded , precise and peddling all at the

same time . It seems to us that in making up our statistics we neither need an exuberant glorification or a philosophical treatise—the dwelling ' on . great-small things that serves to be only an excuse for tedious prolixity or , gentle dulness . But we do require a careful financial abstract and resume , which may equally serve as a reminder and an encouragement to us all .

That we now seek to give , and we hope that our readers will not find fault either with its length or with its long array of simple yet speaking figures . As we all know the results of the last Benevolent festival may thus conveniently be summarized—London with 137 Stewards sent up £ 764 6 , and the Provinces , & c , with 13 ^ Stewards , remitted £ 5401 . The highest return

from London is sent by the Grosvenor Lodge , 1257 , Bro . D . Moss , Steward , namely , £ 343 6 s „ a remarkable "tottle . " The next highest return is that of our old friend the Earl of Carnarvon , 1643 , the Rev . C . Darby Reade , Steward , with £ 189 2 s . ; and he is followed by the Upton Lodge , 1227 , Bro . Adolphus Clark , Steward , with - £ 17 8 10 s . The Montague Guest

Lodge , 1900 , Bro . G . P . Festa , a very energetic brother , next appears with £ 160 ; and the Eccleston Lodge , 1627 , Bro . G . Fisher , is near with £ 153 Two"lodges , " arcades ambo , " are next to the fore , the Brixton , 1949 , Bro . H . B . Marshall , with £ 150 3 s . ; and the Strand , 1987 , Bro . J . Willing , with £ 150 . The Strand is a new lodge only consecrated

a few weeks back , so its contribution is both abnormal and commendable . No . 175 , as given in our list , must be a mistake ; whatever it be . it is quickly followed by the Cripplegate Lodge , 1613 , Bro . W . Medwin , with £ 143 17 s . ; and the Domatic , 177 , Bro . W . Herbage , with £ 140 is . The Kilburn , 1608 , Bro . F . Baker , is next in succession

with £ 132 6 s . ; while the Prosperity , 65 , Bro . J . Roberts , and the Era Chapter , 1423 , Bro . James Terry , come forward equally with £ 125 each . The VVest Smithfield Lodge , 1623 , Bro . J . Lardner , with £ 114 Ss . 6 d ., now puts in an appearance . We note the Temperance , 169 , Bro L . Moore , with £ 108 8 s . ; Merchant Navy , 781 , Bro . R . Ould , with £ 106 10 s . ;

and Zetland , 511 , Bro . Ascher Barfield , with £ 106 6 s . The Marquess of Ripon , 1489 , Bro . W . Stephens , with £ 105 ; and the Royal Jubilee , 72 , Bro . F . Thurston , with £ 100 , close this interesting list . The remaining returns , though probably equally meritorious actually , as to exertions and results , do not exceed two figures . It is a little

noteworthy that while the lodges and chapters from 1 to 1600 set before us 9 8 subscribing lodges and chapters , from 1600 to 2000 31 lodges and chapters are represented , 129 in all ; from No . 1 S 00 there are 13 contributors . The provinces , as we said before , appear with 135 Stewards and bring up £ 5401 . Surrey , the province of our distinguished

Bro . General J . STUDHOLME BROWNRIGG , the Chairman , heads the list with £ 1000 , and is followed by W . Yorkshire with £ 430 2 s . Herts comes next with £ 381 9 s ., and is closely succeeded by Middlesex with . £ 345 8 s . 6 d . Suffolk now appears with £ 312 is . 6 d ., and Essex shows with £ 235 4 s . Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire follow suit with £ 221 Ss ., pressed

upon b y Warwickshire with £ 218 13 s ., Bristol with £ 216 18 s ., W . Lancashire with £ 214 5 s ., Gloucestershire with £ 213 3 s . ; E . Lancashire with £ 212 is . 6 d ., and Sussex , with £ 210 . Nottinghamshire forwards £ 190 , and Hants and Isle of Wight £ 149 16 s ., Kent £ 148 5 s ,, and are followed by Berks and Bucks with £ 109 12 s . 6 d „ Oxfordshire £ 100 is ., and Dorsetshire £ 100 . The

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number of provincial lodges remitting from No . iSoois 10 , and whereas from 1 to 1600 the number is 96 , the number from 1600 to 2000 is 15 . Much has been done , but yet how true and clear it is that much remains to be done . We

must keep asking ourselves the question , while so many lodges do so very well , how many also do nothing at all ? Since we have written the above we find that the whole amount of the Festival is £ 13 , 140 in round numbers . We again heartily congratulate all concerned .

* * THE Girls' School , whose Festival next occurs , always comes before us with special claims on our sympathy and support . Admirably administered , and most " thorough" in all its developements anddetails , it seems ever to appeal to the inherent chivalry of Freemasons for the kindliest countenance and the

readiest aid . If prosperity has characterized its career , if success goes with its progress , the reason undoubtedly is that it has been admirably managed , and as a female scholastic institution is , we believe , unapproached and unapproachable by any similar institution at home and abroad . We have seen a good many institutions destined for the education of girls , but we

remember none which appears so entirely to come up to the "idea" of its original founders , to be alike so economical in its expenditure , practical in its outcome , and effective in its entirety , as our Masonic Girls' School on Wandsworth Common . Long may it so continue , —a help and blessing to the orphan and the needy , a pride to our Order , an ornament to our Craft .

But in order that it may be kept in thorough efficiency a large annual income is needed , as 239 girls , ( with the necessary staff ) , cannot , we need hardly say , be housed , clothed , fed , and educated for nothing ; and the list of Stewards is increasing slowly , but a much larger number is required , in order to render the Festival of May next a success in every sense . Wc

trust , therefore , that our brethren and readers who are thinking of becoming Stewards will send in their names at once to the SECRETARY . NO one can realize , except those who have to do with the matter practically , what an amount of extra labour is thrown upon the Secretariat of our great Charities

by our wonted Masonic procrastination and—what shall we say ?—unpunctuality . Even those who long ago made up their minds to be Stewards keep back their official letter often until the last moment , forgetting that thereby an immense amount of additional labour and trouble is thrown upon all in the office . Let all our kind readers make a note of what we say . .

* * IF we understood the arguments of several speakers at the last Grand Lodge aright , and if we follow out their arguments to a logical conclusion , it would almost seem as if most of our Grand Lodge Offices which are now held practically " quamdiu se bene gesserint" should be one and all of a

certain limited term , and the holders incapable of re-election . How far this would increase the stability and advance the prestige of Grand Lodge may be a matter of question , and we hope sincerely in future years , that our good brethren will remember that Grand Lodge is not a debating club , and that of all the evils which could affect English Freemasonry the

greatest undoubtedly would be a system of agitation on the one hand , and an unseen and dominant " caucus " on the other . Our attention has been specially directed by others to a recent letter by our worthy Bro . HEADON , P . M . of the Great City Lodge . The " gist" of that letter amounts to this , that there are , as no one can deny , a large number of worth y brethren specially

fitted for Grand Honours . We quite agree with Bro . HEADON , and hope that in due time his own modest estimate of his own merits may be properly regarded by our rulers , and the aspirations of his friends may be duly rewarded . In all great orders like ours , the number of those selected to rule

must be always comparatively a limited one , and we can only desiderate for all who deem they are overlooked , or left out in the " cold shade " of our Masonic " aristocracy , " that a propitious sun may one day smile upon them also , and exhilarate them with its warmth , and rejoice them with its splendour . * *

LET us trust that the Board of General Purposes will duly " digest " and " assimilate" the 800 amendments submitted to its critical and legislational capacities . It is not quite so easy as some people affect to think to draft laws binding on a great body for years to come . We trust , therefore , that sense and simplicity will mark the revised draft when

completed , and that no tendency to private views , pet "fads , " or the slightest yielding to " red tape " will be allowed to mar or interfere with the grateful reception by all of a Masonic " Codification , " intended to last our time , and , let us hope , some generations of Masons still unborn . It is most important for us all that our Book of Constitutions should be perfectly clear , and provide as far possible , for every case that may occur .