The Approaching School Elections.

It will be seen that taking the candidates for the two elections together , there are 13—eig ht girls and five boys—who must win vacancies this time or have their names removed from the list . The g irls are Nos . 4 , 6 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 29 , 31 , and 35 , and

the boys Nos . 4 , 6 , 7 , l 8 , and 29 , and , following the custom we have adopted for several years , we earnestl y appeal to all Governors and Subscribers who are not pledged to support

any candidates to give all their votes and use all the influence they possess in behalf of these children , who have onl y this one opportunity of securing the benefits which they have been adjudged wo ' rthy to receive .

The District Grand Lodge Of Burmah.

THE DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BURMAH .

It is evident , from the report of the proceedings of this District Grand Lodge at its Quarterl y Communication , on the 27 th December last , that the Craft is prospering under the rule of Bro . J . COPLEY MOYLE , as it did under that of his respected

predecessor , the late Bro . DONALD G . MCLEOD . The District is not a large one , but , so far as the District Grand Master had had time to judge , the lodges were doing their work admirably , and if only they were stronger in respect of membership , there

would be little , if anything , to be desired . All the lodge dues had been received , and it was hoped that one of the lodges , which had lost its W . M ., Wardens , and I . P . M ., through their being transferred to other stations , and had not enough members to

be able to hold a meeting , mi g ht be revived if it were removed to another locality , where there were reasons for believing that it wouldprosperand increase in membership . The District Grand Lodge funds , too , would appear to be in a sound condition ,

there being credit balances on the General and Benevolent Funds amounting together to over 1943 rupees . The District Grand Master , in the course of his address , referred in hig hl y complimentary terms to the services rendered by the

Rev . Bro . Clarke , District Grand Chaplain to the Greenlaw Masonic Orphan Society b y preaching a sermon on its behalf , which had resulted in a collection of over 400 rupees . Later in his remarks he drew attention to the diminution in the

membership which was noticeable during the first three-quarters of the year , but which mi g ht be rectified b y the returns of the remaining quarter , and he suggested that with a view to " increasing the number of Subscribing Members of the lodges , "

unattached brethren should be invited to rejoin . " Many of these latter , he pointed out , had resigned " undoubtedl y from very insufficient reasons , " and , as he very trul y urged "Wor . Masters can do much towards making the work of

their lodges possibl y more attractive b y determining that there shall be always something more done than the mere routine work . Members should not onl y feel sure of a hearty welcome in their lodge , but of acquiring something in the shape

of knowledge . " He added that he felt sure it was sufficient to draw the attention of the Rulers in the Craft then present to the facts he had dealt with , and to remind them further " that quality was more to be prized than quantity , " and that it was

not so much the subscriptions as the regular attendance and co-operation in the work of the lodge that was to be desired . " It is this kind of advice which is needed in order to induce brethren to rejoin lodges , and keep them

there . No doubt , as the D . G . Master had previousl y remarked , brethren "b y remaining unattached" " neglect the spirit of their Masonic obligations , " but there can be no question that a very large proportion of the Unattached leave their lod ges

because there is no attempt made to interest them or to arouse in them a desire for the acquisition of knowledge . They have tired of the " mere routine work " which has been served up meeting after meeting , and in despair of attaining a clearer

insig ht into our mysteries have withdrawn from active membership . It is lo be hoped that the wise counsels of the Dist . Grand Master of Burmah will be taken to heart , not onl y b y the brethren in his District , but also b y those in other parts of the jurisdiction of our Grand Lodtre .

AT THE ANNUM , MKKTINI : of the Hertfordshire County Council a letter was read from Bro .-Karl Cowi ^ cr , who has been the chairman for the past 10 years , offering to resign his pos . tion , on ihe ground of ill-healch . The Council , however , on the motio . i of Loid Clarendon , s » condrd by the Hun . A . Holland Hib ' jert , unanimously re-elected his loidship , and Sir John Evans , K . C . B ., was unanimously re-appointed vice-chairman .

Freemasonry In Dumfriesshire.

FREEMASONRY IN DUMFRIESSHIRE .

Dumfriesshire is a small Province on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , but it contains some old and remarkable Lodges which have very interesting Histories , one dating back to the 17 th century . In the " Freemason ' s Directory , " Edited by Bro . James Smith , P . M . ( P . Prov . G . Treas . ) , and published for 1899 , being the sixth issue , a few facts are noted which prove unmistakeably how long ago some of the old Lodges were at work , and when regularly constituted .

The " Dumfries Kilwinning " Lodge , No . 53 , has records preserved from 168 7 , its origin being still earlier , hut it did not give in its adhesion to the Grand Lodge until the year 1750 . Its History has been ably written by my friend , Bro . James Smith , in an attractive form , and two out of four of the copies of the " Old Charges " in its possession are reproduced in the same volume . It was known as "The Old Lodge of Dumfries , " so the Editor tells us .

Then there is the "Thistle , No . 62 , with its Charter of 1754 , but a little older Records , whose origin is also uncertain . The members own a copy of the " Old Charges , " more singular than valuable . The third of the remarkable trio is No . 6 3 , and called the " St . Michael's Kilwinning , " which was warranted in 1755 , but the existing Records only go back a little over a hundred years . Its History has also been entertainingly written by the Dumfries Masonic Historian , Bro . Smith ( now of the Town of Shotts ) .

No . 100 , Lochrr . aben , dates from 1766 ; No . 107 , Langholm , from 1767 , as respects Charter , but Records from 1747 ; No . 140 , "Operative , " Dumfries , from 177 6 ; and still another of that century , No . 194 , of 177 8 constitution , with Records from 173 S .

A little Province truly , but not easy to beat . Its list of dormant Lodges cited by the Editor includes five of last century . There are also other particulars in this wee brochure proving how anxious Bro . Smith has been to do ample justice to his Province . W . J . HUGHAN .

Consecration Of The Lodge Of Verity, No. 2739.

CONSECRATION OF THE LODGE OF VERITY , No . 2739 .

This lodge has been founded by 23 members of the Stock Exchange and is in connection with that important institution ; it having long been felt that there was ample room for a second lodge there . It is in no way instituted as a rival of the old established Lodge of Prudence , but rather

as a supplement to it , and in proof of the truth of the remark overheard , " we believe we are supplying a want . " There were in the course of the proceedings , six candidates for initiation , and eight joining members proposed and seconded , to be balloted for at the first regular meeting of the lodge .

The consecration took place at the Cafe Monico on the 6 th inst ., when the founders and their guests , numbering nearly 100 in all , had the gratification of witnessing Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , perform the ancient and interesting ceremony in an impressive manner . He was ably assisted by Bros . Thomas Fenn , P . G . W ., as S . W . ; W . Russell , P . A . G . D . C , as J . W . ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , M . A ., P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; James H . Matthews , Pres . Board of Benevolence , as I . G . ; and Frank Richardson , as D . C .

Lodge was opened in the Three Degrees , and the Consecrating Officer called upon the D . C . to read the warrant , to which H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Grand Master , had graciously attached his signature . The CONSECRATING OFFICER then called the attention of the assembled

brethren to the beauty and sacred character of the ceremonial , and alluded to the importance of the lodge being instituted , and felt sure that all present would join with him in wishing it a successful and useful career . The gold vessels of Grand Lodge were lent for the occasion by Bro Sir Albert Woods , Garter King at Arms .

The Founders having expressed their approval of the first officers , whose names were engrossed upon the warrant , The CnAi'LAiN delivered a stirring oration upon the value of Masonry in the completion of a man ' s character . Those under the rank of Master having retired , Bro . John Renton

Dunlop , P . M ., P . G S ., was then installed as first Master in the ancient chair , and he appointed Bros . Edward Roehrich as S . W . and Albert G . Neville , J . W ., and inves ' ed them with the collar , badge , and other insignia of their respective offices , giving to each a charge , description , and explanation in ancient Masonic form .

The W . M . was then , at the suggestion and instance of the Grand D . of C , deputed by the Founders to ballot on their behalf for a Treasurer , and elected Bro . Arthur E . Stearns to that office , and in investing him with the insignia of his office made a graceful reference to Bro . Steam's family connection with his mother lodge .

The W . M . then appointed Bros . A . W . Stearns , Sec . ; J . T . Bridgewater , S . D . ; Michael Greive , J . D . ; T . G . Detmar , I . G . ; Horace Quare , D . of C . ; and R . W . Gjddard , Tyler . At the instance of the-W . M . the Consecrating Officers were elected Inn . members by the Founders with one consent .

The proposi : ions , for initiates six in number , and for joining members eight in number , were then made , and nothing more being offered , the W . M . closed the lodge . After the banquet , which was splendidly served , the usual loyal toists were given , the W . M . proving himself qualified for the post by his terse and epigrammatic speeches .

Bro . THOMAS FEXN , in replying to the toast of " The Grand Officers , " enlarged upon ihs splendid and unique position occupied by the Lodge of Piudence in regard to its funds , and hoped that the Lodge of Verity would strive to emulate it , and would obtain a like success—a hope in which all the founders of the new lodge devoutly joined .