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CONTENTS . LEADERS— PAGH Freemasonry in Natal ... ... ... •¦• 4 Secret Societies in America ... ... ¦•• ••• ••• 4 Grand Lodge of Canada ... ... ••¦ ••• 4 New Schools at Radcliffe Hall , Lancashire ... ... ... ... 4 4 Mark Masonry ... ... ... ... ••• ••• 4 4

MASONIC NOTESMasonic Veteran Association of Illinois and Diamond Jubilee Address to theQueen ... ... ... ¦¦• ••• 4 7 Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Maryland ... ... 4 7 Grand Lodge of Ncrth Carolina ... ... •¦• • • 4 7

Reviews ... ... ... ... ... — 4 $ District Grand Lodge of Northern China ( E . C . ) ... ... ... ... 4 2 § The Era Lodge and the Albert Hall Meeting ... .., ... ... 4 9 Royal Arch ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 9 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ... ... ... ... 4 9 Poetry—The Gift ... ... ... ... ... ... 430 Freemasonry in Scotland ... ... ... ... ... 43 °

General Committee of Grand Lodge and Board of Benevolence ... ... 430 The Craft Abroad ... ... ... ... 430 Craft Masonrv ... ... ... ... ... ... 430 Masonry's Influence ... ... ... ... ... .:. 43 ' Obituary ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 43 " Lodgeof Instruction ... ... ... ... ... ... 43 l Secret Monitor ... ... ... ... ... ... 431 Masonic and General Tidings ... ... ... — 43

Freemasonry In Natal.

FREEMASONRY IN NATAL .

It is immensely gratifying to note that in the great majority of cases , whenever a body of Masons , or several bodies , have combined together for the purpose of celebrating , in an especial manner , the completion of the 60 th year of her Majesty's

accession to the throne of the United Kingdom , the plan adopted has been either to contribute to some charitable institution already established , or the establishment of such an institution , either for the temporary or permanent alleviation

of distress . At home , our Grand Lodge , as representing the whole English Masonic community , has given some £ 15 , 000 , of which upwards of one-third has been handed over to the Prince of WALES ' S Hospital Fund , and the balance among the

Central Masonic Institutions . In many of the Provinces an extra amount of zeal and energy has been exhibited in behalf of the local Masonic Educational and Benevolent Associations , while many sums have been contributed to local , but

non-Masomc , Charitable objects . In the , Masonic Districts holding under the Grand Lodge of England , which are scattered throughout the British Empire , as well as in the jurisdictions of the several Grand Lodges which are independent

of our Grand Lodge , the same course has been pursued , and whenever it has been decided to commemorate , in an exceptional manner , the Queen's Diamond Jubilee , there invariably has the commemoration assumed a charitable form . Here , an

Educational Fund , already established , has been greatly strengthened and extended , there such a fund has been started . Here it is a Benevolent Fund which has been extended , there it is a Benevolent Fund or an Educational and Benevolent Fund which

has been inaugurated . Elsewhere we read of the endowment of Victoria cots in Children ' s Hospitals , or contributions towards the erection and endowment of Victoria Hospitals or Victoria

Wings to Hospitals already existing . At no previous epoch in the history of Freemasonry has our respect for the loyalty and charity which are the fundamental principles of the' Craft been so universally and at the same time so generously exhibited .

Under the District Grand Lodge of Natal the same feeling prevails that something of a permanent Charitable character should be started in commemoration of the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee . In our " Notes" of last week , we briefly noticed certain of the remarks addressed b y Bro . WESLEY FRANCIS , District G . Master ,

Freemasonry In Natal.

to his District G . Lodge at its half-yearly communication in March last . At that meeting the report of the District Board of General Purposes contained the following paragraph : Careful consideration has been given to the suggestions of the R . W . District Grand Master as tc the creation of a fund for the relief , in

necessitous cases , of deserving aged and indigent Freemasons or of their widows , if need be . The Board recommends as a suitable means of celebrating , Masonically , the 60 th year of HER MAJESTY ' reign , that such a fund should be established for the relief of aged and indigent Freemasons ( or of the widows of such Masons ) who have been long contributing members of

Lodges in this District , and have been uniformly in good repute ; and the Board suggests that a Committee be elected by the District Grand Lodge at this Communication , to acquire information , and to formulate a scheme for the establishment and administration of such fund , and to report at the next Half-yearly Communication of District Grand Lodge .

In his address , Bro . WESLEY FRANCIS spoke cordially in favour of this proposal . He pointed out that the existing Fund of Benevolence was sufficient to meet the purpose for which it was established . The new scheme , however , which is a purely

voluntary one , is intended " as a means of providing in days to come for the maintenance of aged Freemasons , who , having borne the heat and burden of the day , in their old age require some substantial aid in contradistinction to the casual aid

granted from our existing Benevolent Fund . " In short , it is proposed to establish a Fund which shall accomplish what is done by our Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The

recommendation was accepted , and the District Board of General Purposes was appointed a Committee , with power to add to their number , to acquire information and formulate plans for the establishment of the Fund . The advice which the District

Grand Master tendered to the District Grand Lodge was sound , and we trust it will be acted upon . He warned lodges against the exhibition of any feelings of jealousy or rivalry . " It should be , " he said , " the pride of the lodges to endeavour to give as liberally as possible , each in accordance with the means

at its disposal . The keynote of our Order is to do good , not to receive it , on the principle that it is ' more blessed to give than to receive , ' and I trust that whatever is done will be done with good will , in good spirit , and with good feeling . " VVe need

hardly add that the proposal , like all other proposals of a similar character , has our heartiest good wishes for its success , and wa trust that before the present year has run its course , the Natal Fund for Aged and Distressed Masons and their Widows will be an accomplished fact .

Secret Societies In America.

SECRET SOCIETIES IN AMERICA .

There is a highly interesting article on this subject by Bro . W . S . HARWOOD , which has been reprinted , by special permission , from the North American Review for May last , and which forms part of Appendix B to the report of the Proceedings of

the Grand Lodge of Iowa at its 54 th annual Communication at Oskaloosa on the ist June and two following days . From this it appears that in December , 18 96 , " the membership of the Secret fraternal Orders of the United States " amounted , " in

round numbers , to 5 , 400 , 000 , exclusive of the " many thousands who are members of the labour organisations , though they , to a greater or less extent , are knit together by secret threads , " nor about half a million members of the " secret military Orders , as

the G . A . R . ; " nor has any account been taken of the many other thousands who are identified with the fraternities of the colleges . " It follows that , taking the present adult population at 19 millions , and allowing that many of the above 5 , 400 , 000 are