Freemasonry In 1899.

T . Wakley , junr . The foremost Provinces were those of Kent , which took the premier place with £ 819 ; West Yorkshire with £ 702 ; Surrey with £ 649 : South Wales ( E . D . ) , the Chairman's Province with £ 631 ; and Monmouthshire , though mustering only 11 lodges , with £ 47 8 . It is needless to say that all

interested in the well-being of the Institution were delighted beyond measure with such a return , and the Committee of Management being thus relieved of all anxiety on the question of ways and means , for the current year , lost no time in passing

a vote of thanks to the Chairman ancl his Stewards for the splendid services they had rendered , the address of thanks to Lord Llangattock as Chairman , being subsequently presented to his Lordship engrossed on vellum in album form , and beautifully illuminated . But the Committee did not rest contented with a

mere expression of their thanks , however cordial . On the igth May , when the annual meeting of Governors and Subscribers of the Institution was held , and the annuities that had fallen vacant since the preceding annual meeting were to be filled , they recommended that , " having regard to the

exceptionally brilliant result" of the gathering in February , " an increase of five be made on the number of annuitants on the Male Fund , and of three on that of the Widows' Fund . " The proposal was adopted with acclamation , and the numbers elected were 23 instead of 18 men , and 19 instead of 16 widows ,

the deferred annuities being in each case included . Thus , the establishment now consists of 207 male annuitants , receiving each £ 40 per annum , and 248 widows , receiving £ 3 ? . apiece , the augmentation in the permanent outlay amounting to close on £ 300 . Beyond the foregoing facts , there is not much

to record . Grand Lodge voted its customary donation of £ 70 towards providing the annuitants in residence at Croydon with fuel during the winter months . The Chairman , and later in the year , his Stewards , visited the Institution at Croydon , and were pleased with the excellence of the arrangements for the comfort

of the inmates , as well as with the evidently good health and hi gh spirits of the Old People . The usual New Year ' s and Summer entertainments were also organised for their delectation , •and several musical and other entertainments were given by private individuals or lodges , no effort being spared

in order to afford these worthy old folk as much pleasure as possible . Nor must we omit to mention that the Committee in recognition of his great ancl long-continued services , considered they were justified in increasing the salary of Bro . J . G . Stevens ° y £ 50 .

lhe Koyal Masonic Institution for Girls has fared even better than the R . M . Benevolent Institition . Equally with the latter it suffered in 1 S 9 8 , owing to the necessity for ensuring a bumper Festiv . il for the Boys' Centenary , and equally wilh the same , it found itself under the necessity of making unusual

efforts in respect of its 11 ith Anniversary , in order to repair the shortcomings of thc previous year . These efforts were eminentl y successful , and when thc ioth May came round , and Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , Prov . G . Master of Somersetshire , who had kindly consented to act as Chairman , presided at the

banquet in Freemasons' Tavern , his lordship had the felicity of hearing it announced by the Secretary , that ladies and brethren to the number of 547 had given their services as Stewards , and that by their united efforts , donations and subscriptions had been

obtained to the amount of £ 21 , 045 , of which London with 26 5 Stewards , was responsible for £ 10 , 990 , ancl thc Provinces and Foreign Stations with 282 Stewards , for £ 10 , 055 . " m ° st prominent among the London lists were those ol the Fellowshi p Lodge , No . 2535 , per Bro . Eliab Rogers , and Sir J . B . Monckton ,

Freemasonry In 1899.

for £ 647 ; the Eyre Lodge , No . 2742 , per Bro . W . H . G . Rudderforth , for £ 377 9 s . 6 d . ; the Buckingham and Chandos Lodge , per Bro . Sir J . B . Monckton , for £ 340 2 s . 6 d . ; the Royal Naval Lodge , No . 59 , per Bro . Daniel Mayer , for £ 291 18 s . j the Empress Lodge , No . 2581 , per Bro . Imre Kiralfy , for £ 247 5 s . 6 d .

Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D , of the House Committee , for £ 23 6 5 s . ; the Prudence Lodge , No . 83 , per Bro . E . A . Smith , for £ 210 ios . 6 d . ; and the St . Leonard Lodge , No . 1766 , per Bro A . Cunnington , for £ 201 us . 6 d . Foremost among the Provincial supporters of the Chairman , was his own Province of

Somersetshire , which raised the splendid sum of £ 2207 12 s ., the number of Stewards , including the Chairman , being 28 , and the most important list—that of Lord Dungarvan , for £ 6 35 5 s . Other Provinces that were well to the front were Essex , with £ 726 1 is . ; West Yorkshire with £ 582 5 s . ; Surrey with £ 521 6 s . 6 d . ; and

Middlesex with £ 489 ios . In short , the result , which far exceeded the most sanguine expectations , may be looked upon as a record one , for an ordinary year , at all events , as regards the Festivals of this Institution . The fdte and distribution of prizes , which forms so interesting a part of these annual celebrations , took place on

the Monday preceding the Festival itself , the central figure in what is ahvays the most attractive of the year ' s Masonic functions being the Countess of Cork and Orrery , the mother of the noble Chairman , who not only handed each prize to its recip ient with a few kindly words of congratulation and

encouragement , but also after acknowledging the thanks of the assembly for her services , gave the children some wholesome advice for their future guidance . There is not much to record in connection with the Quarterly Courts of Governors , in the way of ordinary business . A vote of sympathy with the

relatives of the late Bro . Col . James Peters , P . G . S . B ., who was one of the Trustees of the Institution , and had served on the House Committee for a long term of years , was passed at the January Court . In April , Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., was re-elected Treasurer . In July , the Earl of Lathom was elected

a Trustee in place of his father , the late Earl , and Bro . Walter H . Jessop , M . A ., M . B ., F . R . C . S . E ., was chosen Honorary Surgeon Oculist , in place of Bro . Jabez Hogg , P . G . D ., deceased . As for the elections , there were admitted by ballot at the April Court , 16 from a list of 3 6 approved candidates , and at the

October Court , there were also elected 16 from a list of 33 candidates . Of the other events that have occurred , there is but little to be said . The usual entertainment was provided early in the year for the children remaining at School during the Christmas holidays , and in May a concert was held at the

Institution . The 24 th June was set aside as ' •Ex-Pupils' Day , " the attendance of Old Girls being not less numerous than usual . It should also be mentioned that the successes of the School at the different public examinations at which girls are allowed to enter have been in every respect most creditable , as

well to the children as to the experienced staff of Governesses under Miss Redgrave , by whom they are trained . In fine , the year has been a prosperous one , save as regards the loss thc Institution has sustained by the death of many of its staunchest supporters ; and as it has already been announced that the Earl

of Dartmouth , Prov . Grand Master of Staffordshire , has consented to preside at the 112 th Festival , in May , 1 9 , we may not unreasonably look forward to a continuance of the success which has been the lot of the School during the year so soon about to complete its course .

There remains lhe Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , the governing powers of which , under the circumstances , have every reason to be satisfied . The 101 st Anniversary Festival of

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THESURGICALAIDSOCIETY. Chief Offices ^ -SALISBURY SQUARE , FLEET STREET , E . C . PBESIDENT-THE RIGHT HON . THE EARL OF ABERDEEN , G . C . M . G . This Socieiy was established in 1 SG 2 to . supply Trusses , Elastic Stockings , Artificial Limbs , & c , aud every other description of mechanical support to the Poor , without limit as to locality or disease . Water Beds and Invalid Carnages and Couches are Lent to the Afflicted . It provides against imposition by requiring the certificate of a Surgeon in each case . By special grants it insures that every deserving applicant shall receive prompt assistance . OVER 325 PATIENTS ARE RELIEVED EVERY WEEK . Annual Subscription of £ 0 10 ( i ') ,-, _ . _ , _ . , _ Life Subscription of £ 5 5 0 j Addles to two recommendations per annum . CONTRIBUTIONSAREEARNESTLYSOLICITED. Bankers—Messrs . BARCLAY & Co ., LTD ., te , Lombard Street . RICHARD C . TRESIDDER , Secretary . [ 132