Freemasonry In 1899.

the School was celebrated at Brighton , on Wednesday , the 28 th June , under the presidency of Bro . Charles E . Keyser , J . ., P . G . D ., the Treasurer and one of the Trustees , who rendered a similar service under precisely similar conditions to the Benevolent Institution in the year succeeding its Jubilee . It was not

anticipated that the donations and subscriptions would be on the same scale as in previous ordinary years , but the total notwithstanding , was an excellent one , and the 260 ladies and brethren who gave their services as Stewards , had the satisfaction of raising amongst them the sum of £ 8600 , which has since

been increased to close on £ 9000 . Towards this London with 135 Stewards contributed £ 433 8 , and the Provinces with 134 Stewards £ 4262 , the most important item in the former sum being the list of Bro . J . J . Thomas , representing the Prince Frederick William Lodge , No . 753 , and the Logic Club who

comp iled a total of £ 208 . As for the Provinces , those of Hertfordshire and Berkshire , with which Bro . Keyser is connected , supported him most generously , the Returns from the former reaching £ 1101 ios ., and from the latter close on £ 553 , the Chairman ' s personal donation of 500 guineas being equally

apportioned between the two . The distribution of prizes took p lace at Wood Green , on thc 27 th June—the day before the Festival—when Mrs . Keyser handed the rewards to the fortunate recipients , at the same time addressing a few kindly words to each of them . Bro . Richard Eve , the Chairman of the Board of

Management , who presided on the occasion , referred at length to the eminently satisfactory report made by the Examiner appointed by the Cambridge University Syndicate to inquire into the progress made by the Boys during the year , nor could better evidence as to the merits of the system pursued by the

Head Master and his staff have been forthcoming than was furnished in this statement . This evidence was fully borne out by the successes which the Boys had achieved at the Cambridge Local and other public examinations . The annual

sports , which had been held in the playing fields at Wood Green , on the 24 th May , were also cited in evidence of the value of the physical training of the children , while their demeanour on all occasions is such as to impress the friends of the School with the idea that theexcellence of the mental

and physical training is having the desired effect of placing the School in the front rank of Educational Establishments , in respect of the high tone and character of its pupils . The elections were held at the April and October Courts , at the former of which 23 children were elected from an approved

list of 37 candidates , while at the latter 17—subsequently increased to 18—were elected from a reduced list of 35 . Of the other matters that were dealt with at the several Quarterly Courts , we may mention that in January , the illuminated addresses which had been voted to Bros . Stanley J .

Attenborough , A . C . Spaull , and J . M . McLeod ( the Secretary ) , in recognition of their great services on behalf of the Centenary Festival , were presented by Bro . Richardson , Chairman of the Board of Management , to those brethren , who adequately acknowledged the kindness and consideration thus shown to

them . In April a resolution to prevent plurality of voting , except for the election of children into the Institution , was adopted by a majority of votes , there being a stronger opposition than usual to the proposed amendment . It July , it was resolved to present an address of thanks to Bro . C . E . Keyser , in token of his services as Chairman at the Festival held at

Brighton the previous month , and it was agreed that the address should be a replica of that presented the previous year to Lords Lathom and Leigh , in acknowledgment of tlieir services as President ancl Honorary Treasurer respectively of the Centenary

Freemasonry In 1899.

Board of Stewards . The address was formally presented in October , and gracefully acknowledged by Bro . Keyser . At the last named Court , there was also an amendment proposed in respect of Law 77 , the object being to give power to the Board of Management to make grants to those children who failed in

passing the Entrance Examination required , until such time as - they became qualified for admission . This , too , was opposed by several brethren of influence , but was carried by an overwhelming majority . In connection with the new School premises to be erected at Bushey , it is evident from successive statements

made by the Chairman of the Board , that considerable progress is being made , but the most interesting * announcement of the year , is that H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught has graciously oromised to lay the foundation stone on a day yet to be fixed in

May , and further that his Royal Highness will preside as Chairman at the 102 nd Anniversary Festival , which will take place at Brighton some time during the month of July . There have also been a number of entertainments to the boys at Wood Green , so that the year has in all respects proved a great success .

PROVINCIAL AND OTHER CHARITABLE ASSOCIATIONS .

There can be no doubt that our Provincial Charitable Institutions and Associations are becoming increasingly valuable every year , the former , as . helping to relieve the pressure upon the great Central Charities , which are open to the whole English Craft , and the latter as being a convenient medium for raising

funds for the same Central Charities . Cambridgeshire , Cornwall , North VVales , Staffordshire , and other Provinces have established Associations by means of which many hundreds of guineas find their way into the exchequers of our Scholastic and Benevolent Institutions , while in several districts in London there are

similar Associations , for the most part worked in connection with Lodges of Instruction , which are equally successful in bringing grist to the Central Mills . The Institutions which have from time to time been formed in sundry of the Provinces are intended to confer the same advantages , but on a more

modest scale , as are conferred by the principal Chanties . Thc following are the most prominent among these local Institutions , namely , the four founded by the brethren of West Lancashire , namely , the Educational , the Hamer and the Alpass for granting annuities , and the Victoria Jubilee Institution . With

the exception of the last-named , which was started in 1897 , ' commemoration of the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee , with a capital of over £ 1000 ; the West Lancashire Charities have been for some time in existence , and are well furnished with invested funds , while the good they do in relieving the wants of poor and aged brethren

of the Province , their widows ancl their children , is of the greatest value , the number of children elected to the benefits of the Educational Institution at the annual Court of Governors , on the 6 th October , being 13 . East Lancashire has but one Institution , but its operations are both Educational and

Benevolent , thafc is to say , it provides for the schooling of the children , and gives relief both temporary and permanent to the aged and infirm brethren and their widows . Cheshire has two Institutions , one for Educational purposes , which has been in existence for upwards of 35 years , and the other for granting

annuities to those in distressed circumstances , whether brethren or the' widows of brethren . Durham , also , now has two such Institutions , the Educational one having between 20 and 30 children on its fund , while the Hudson Renevolent Fund grants annuities to brethren and widows . This year , Durham held the

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CHILDREN'SAIDSOCIETY,j§ 32,CHARINGCROSS,LONDON,S.W.^S^, ESTABLISHED 1856 . j M ^^ 'i ^ K This Society rescues children from the haunts of vice , misery and neglect . flBTOmlllPlai It places them under careful religious training and education . TBIIHBIIIMI It has a Receiving House ( Shaftesbury House ) in Canada , whence children / jffi ^^ Kllv * $ N who have been some years in Industrial Homes in England are placed out on / BIMBIII*^^ The Society ' s work is considerably curtailed through want of funds . j | lll ^ iiy : r ~ Bll ~ lrafi ^ t §^" - „ Contributions will be received by the Bankers , BARCLAY & Co ., Ltd ., 1 , Pall ^^^^ BlH ^^ ' Mall East , S . W ., or by ^^^^^^^^ S ^^^^ ARTHUR J . S . MADDISON , Secretary , 32 , Charing Cross , S . W . " ^^^^^^ " ^^^^^^^^