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iSSiissiBi SATURDAY , J ANUARY 20 , 1900 .

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

We are pleased to have had the opportunity of recording the annual meeting at Blackhcath , on the 21 st ult ., of the Divisional Conclave for Kent of the Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine . It has in Sir Knight the Rev . Hayman Cummings a very active and energetic Intendant-General , and a wellorganised and enthusiastic conclave in the Saye and

Masonic Notes.

Sele , No . 122 , under whose banner the aforesaid annual meeting was held . The Divisional Treasurer , Sir Knight B . R . Bryant , was able to present a satisfactory Statement of Account for the past year , which disclosed a comfortable balance in hand , and , as in addition to the Saye and Sele , there are the Pentangle

and Invicta Conclaves , meeting as No . 147 at Chatham , and No . 148 , Greenwich , respectively , both in active working , and the De Shurland Conclave , No . 92 , Sheerness , which for the present appears to be in abeyance , there is reason to hope that Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine will continue to prosper in this favoured part of England .

* * * News every now and then reaches us of the doings of the brethren in the remote District of Northern China , an d we gladly note that the Craft there is increasing and multiplying , if not very rapidly , at all events very

surety and to the satisfaction of the more influential members of the Order . There are now six lodges on the District roll , of which three meet in Shanghai and the others at Chinkiang , Newchang , and Tientsin respectively . At the regular meeting of the District

Grand „ Lodge in Shanghai , on the 22 nd September last—the copy of the minutes of the proceedings at which have just reached us—Bro . Lewis Moore , Dist . Grand Master , who presided , was well supported , not only by his District Grand Officers and the

representatives and members of the local lodges , but also by many brethren of the Ancient Landmark Lodge , under the Mass . Constitution , as well as . of Lodge Cosmopolitan , No . 428 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , among the former being the District Grand Master

and the W . M . of the lodge , and among the latter the R . W . M ., the I . P . M ., and another P . M ., the Wardens and other officers and several members . Everything appears to have passed off satisfactorily , and the visitors expressed to the District Grand Master the pleasure they had derived from their attendance .

» * * Appended to these Minutes of Proceedings are two Tabular Statements , of which one contains a complete list , arranged in alphabetical order , of the Present and Past Officers of the District Grand Lodge ; while the

other gives a summary , lodge by lodge , of the subscribing members for the years 18 9 6 , 18 97 , and 18 9 S . From this it appears that substantial progress has been made during this period , the 162 members

belonging to five lodges in 1 S 9 8 , having increased to 179 members of six lodges in the following year , and to 227 members in 1898 , the increase , as compared with 18 77 when the four lodges then on the roll- only mustered amongst them 101 , being 126 .

* That such progress as this , however , should have been made is not to be wondered at , when we reflect that the English Craft has been worthily pre-sided over by such good men and true as Bro .

Cornelius Thorne , P . Dist . G . M ., who is still a diligent attendant at the meetings of the Dist . Grand Lodge , and Bro . T . W . Kingsmill , P . A . G . D . C , Past Dep . Dist . G . M ., who is also often in attendance ; but , above all , by the necessity which is continually being

impressed upon the lodges to be careful in the ' . r election of candidates . At this very meeting Bro . Moore , Dist . G . M ., said , in the course of his brief address , " I must impress once again on the W . Masters of the different lodges in the District to make

full inquiries about any one that is proposed to be made a Mason , as to his character and if he is a fit and proper person to be admitted into the secrets of our Order . A lodge does not prosper on account of

the quantity of its members , but rather on their standing in life and character . " While this principle is observed , wc may be sure that Freemasonry in Northern China will maintain its high character . * * «

It will be seen from our report of the proceedings at the Quarterly Court of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , which was held at Freemasons' Hall on Friday , the 12 th instant , that Bro . Richard Eve ' s motion for a boy who , by the death or permanent

incapacity of his father while engaged in time of war in the Naval and Military service of his Queen and country , might become entitled to the benefits of the Institution , to be educated and maintained out of it without election , provided his lather was at the time

a subscribing member of some lodge , was carried , but in a somewhat altered form . The first alteration was invited by Bro . Eve himself , and provided that "the power to place ( without election ) " such a boy " on the list of boys maintained and educated out of the establishment" should be vested not in " the Board of

Masonic Notes.

Management , " as first proposed , but in " the Quarterly Court on the recommendation of the Board of Management . " # * * A further amendment was also suggested with a view to defining more clearly the circumstances under

which the death or permanent incapacity of the father was caused , and ultimately , on the proposition of Bro . Eve , it was resolved to frame the clause relating to the father so that it should read " by the death or permanent incapacity of his father caused through being actively engaged in time of war in the Naval or Military Service of his Queen and Country . " There can , we think , be

no doubt that the motion is greatly improved by these amendments , and we are glad the new Law has been unanimously adopted . It should be added that the number of boys to be thus assisted " must not at any time exceed the number of five . " The Institution is not rich enough to make this provision for an unlimited number .

» # # In our article of last week on the "Approaching Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , '' we slightly understated the number of those whom Bro . Terry had so far succeeded in enlisting as Stewards . There is always allowance to be made for the brethren who have withdrawn their names from the

list , while several additions were made after our inquiries , of which we were unable to take any account . However , it will be satisfactory to our readers to learn that up to the present time the Board for the Festival next month is well in excess of 350 . This , under present circumstances , is none too many , and we hope , in the time that still remains , to see the Board substantially increased in numbers .

* * * We gather from the " West Australian Freemasons ' Magazine " for last month that the scheme for establishing an independent Grand Lodge for that Colony has made such satisfactory progress , that in all probability the installation of the first Grand Master

will take place towards the end of the present or the beginning of next month . It is also mentioned that the ceremony will most likely be performed by Bro . the Right Hon . Justice Way , P . G . W . England , M . W . Grand Master of South Australia . We are glad also to know that the steps taken by the English lodges in

reference to the proposed establishment of a Grand Lodge for West Australia have been strictly in accordance with the laws contained in our Book of Constitutions , the District Grand Secretary having as far back as December , 1 S 98 , addressed , by command of

the District Grand Master , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Sir Gerald Smith , P . G . W ., a circular letter to the W . Masters of the several lodges under his rule , calling their attention to Articles 2 iS . \ and 21811 , and requesting them to act in accordance with the provisions of those Articles

# » * The circular letter further stated tint the Dist . G , Master had received a letter from the Grand Secre tary notifying that "if the steps taken by the brethren in W . A . to give effect to their wishes be of a consti tutional character , neither the Grand Master nor the Grand Lodge would raise any objection to the

recognition of the Grand Lodge of Western Australia , provided the rights of those lodges which might desire to remain under the English Constitution be reserved and respected . " Our contemporary adds that only one of the English lodges—of which there are now 31 on the roll—has expressed a preference for remaining under the E . C . t

* » » Another lodge was added to the roll of the Provin - cial Grand Lodge of Cheshire on Saturday , the 13 th inst ., when Bro . Sir Horatio Lloyd , P . G . D . England , D . P . G . M . Cheshire , consecrated the John Brunncr Lodge ; Bro . Sir John Brunner , Bart ,, M . P ., principal

founder , being installed by Bro . Broadsmith , P . P . G . W . , as first Worshipful Master . The officers having been appointed and invested , the banquet took place in honour of the event , and a most pleasant function was brought to a successful close . The new lodge has our heartiest good wishes .

* * * It is with extreme regret we announce the death of Bro . the Rev . R . J . Simpson , M . A ., Past G . Chaplain of our United Grand Lodge , and Past A . G . Sojourner of Supreme Grand Chapter . Bro . Simpson was a

Grand Officer of upwards of 30 years' standing , and often did good service to the Craft by his speeches and suggestions in Grand Lodge . He had attained to a ripe age , but his loss will be none the less severel y felt . We offer our mosi respectful sympathy to the family of our deceased b . other .