Consecration Of The Robert Freke Gould Lodge, No. 2874.

The W . M ., in response , thanked the brethren for the trust they had reposed in him , and assured them that he was fully conscious of the h ' gh honour which had been conferred on him by those present . He would ever do his utmost to ensure the welfare of 2874 , and he was confident that he would be ably supported by the officers and brethren of the lodge .

The toast of the evening , "Success to the Robert Freke Gould Lodge , was proposed and received with the greatest enthusiasm , the hope being expressed that the true object of the formation of this lodge , viz ., that it should be a lodge of relief to the Inhabitants Lodge , No . 153 , would ever be borne in mind , and that it should prove an offshoot of which the mother lodge might be ever proud .

The toast of " The Visitors" was ably responded to by Bros . A . Risso , 115 ; J . DISCOMBE , 153 ; G . O . SPRATT , 27 S ; [ . DE SOTO LYONS , W . M . 670 ( S . C . ); PEARCE , 576 ( S . C . ); and S . ROBERTS , 325 ( I . C . ) . After the Tyler ' s toast , the brethren separated , proud in the knowledge of having taken part in a ceremony that will live long in the memory of Freemasons of Gibraltar . We have to add that the Founder ' s Jewel was manufactured by George Kenning and Son from a design by Bro . W . H . Rylands , P . A . G . D . C .

Board Of Benevolence,

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE ,

The last meeting of the Board of Benevolence for the year 1901 was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . James Henry Matthews , President , occupied the President's chair ; Bro . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President , and Bro . Henry Garrod , Junior Vice-President , occupied their respective positions ; and Bros . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , VV . Lake , Asst . G . Sec , William Dodd , G . S . Recknell , and Henry Sadler , G .

Tyler , represented the official department of Grand Lodge . The other brethren present were Bros . C . J . R . Tijou , James Block , R . W . Ker , J . S . Pointon , S . I . Notley , E . W , Nightingale , W . Kipps , F . W . Hancock , W . M . Bywater , R . Clay Sudloiv , S . H . Goldschmidt , Lieut .-Col . G . E . E . Blunt , F . W . Golby , George Simonds , Woodhouse Braine , G . M . E . Hamilton , Major Henry Wright , Charles Henry Stone ,

R . C . Hallowes , John Rayner , H . Lichtenford , George Mc . P . Dale , Walter B . Marcus , E . W . Higgs , H . S . Syer , E . Mills , George J . Hearne , R , E . G . Lander , J . H . Jenks , J . A . Smith , Alfred Cocks , Arthur Ball , W . A . Bowser , Josiah Henson , F . P . Weinel , Wm . Gower , James W . Langdon , F . J . Eedle , G . R . Crickmay , F . Stotzer , John J . Olley , G . J . Abbott , James Beard , T . R . Roberts , H . T . Johnson , A . T . Eyers , George Rankin , J . Cooper , S . J . Cowley , George Bartlett , and W . Busby .

The brethren first confirmed the grants above £ 20 and under £ 50 which they recommended for the Grand Master ' s approval at the November meeting , and which his Royal Highness had since sanctioned to the amount of , £ 440 . The new list contained the names of 40 petitioners who were qualified through lodges in the London District , and at Penryn , Hampton Court , St . John ' s Antigua , Kingston , St . Vincent , Lincoln , Wednesbury , Portland , Pembroke Dock , Louth , Wareham , Liverpool , Holyhead , Sutton

Bridge , Bnghthngsea , Hull , Rawal Pmdi , and Boston . Twenty-three of the cases were from London . The total amount voted was ^ 1255 to 35 cases . Four were deferred , and one was dismissed . Grand Lodge was recommended to approve of grants of ^ 100 in each of three cases , £ 75 in one case , ^ 60 in another , and ^ 50 in two instances . The Grand Master's approval was asked to ^ 40 being given in each of seven cases , and £ 30 in each of eight cases . Seven grants were made of , £ 20 each , and six of £ 10 each .

The total number of cases relieved in the year 1901 is 356 , and the amount voted ; £ 10 , 525 . The following is a statement of the number of cases and the amounts for the last four years : 18 9 8 . 1899 . 1900 . 1901 . Month . Relvd . Amount . Relvd . Amount . Relvd . Amount . Relvd . Amount .

January ... 30 ... 850 ... 18 ... 460 ... 20 ... 535 .,, 26 .., 765 February ... 29 ,.. 850 ... 22 ... 530 ... 28 ... 830 ... 27 ... 8 30 March ... 38 ... 1125 ... 39 ... 930 ... 38 ... 1125 ... 38 ... 925 April ... 28 ... 715 ... 24 ... 515 ... 25 ... 785 ... 36 ... 1055 May ... 40 ... 1155 ... 25 ... 785 ... 37 ' ° 7 ° 4 ' ' 475

June „ . 29 „ . 775 ... 15 ... 515 ... 21 ... 570 ... 26 ... 760 July ... 1 9 .,, sss ... 24 ... 690 ... 13 ... 410 ... 20 ... 490 August ... 1 4 ... 43 s ... 13 ... 395 ... 17 , „ 420 ... 1 5 ... 515 September ,,. 1 3 ... 315 ... 13 ¦•• 3 ' 3 > 3 360 " 34 ° October ,.. 29 ... 725 ... 25 ,,. 895 ... 38 ... 1015 ... 44 ... 1085 November ' .,. 44 ,,, 990 ... 42 ... 1075 ... 26 ... 720 ... 37 ... 1030 December ... 24 ,., 615 ... 26 ... 700 ... 41 ... 1240 ... 35 ... 1255 337 £ 9 ' ° 5 286 £ 7803 317 £ 9080 356 ^ 10525

Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

CHRISTMAS NOTES . As Christmas is so near at hand , we have thought it might prove interesting if we were to briefly consider some details relative to this festive season . It was an ancient superstitious idea that cocks crowed all through Christmas eve—the fact is simply that the weather being usually cloudy and dark , cocks are wont to crow , not only in the day , but also at night . Shakespeare , in " Hamlet , " alludes to this superstition :

" Some say that even 'gainst that hallow'd season , At which our Saviour ' s birth is celebrated , The Bird of Dawning croweth all night long , The nights are wholesome , and no mildew tails , No planet strikes nor spirit walks abroad , No fairy takes , no witch halh power to charm , So gracious and so hallowed is the time . "

It is a curious lact that cocks bfgan to crow during the darkness of the eclipse of the sun , 4 th September , 1820 , and it seems that crepttscitltim ( twilight ) is the sort of light in which they crow most . Christmas Eve , though often observed by us as a festive time , in the early Church was always observed as the Sabbath Day , and , like it , preceded by an eve , or vigil . It was a superstition , and yet a beautiful idea , with our early ancestors , that if we were to go into a cow hojse at midnight on Christmas

Science, Art, And The Drama.

Eve all the cattle would be found kneeling in adoration of the New Born Babe . It was also firmly believed that bees sung in their hives on Christmas Eve in joyful welcome of the coming day , Christmas Day is so called because of its derivation from Christi Missa , the mass of Christ ; and thence the Roman Catholic Liturgy is termed their Missal , or Massbook . It was about the year 500 A . D . that the observation of this day became

general in the Catholic Church . It may be mentioned , by the way , that the word Mass is derived from the last words spoken by the officiating priest , when , with his blessing , he dismisses his congregation " Ita missa est . " Yule was an old word formerly used to signify Christmas—it is derived from the Saxon word ol ale , which was much used in the festivities and merry makings of the period . Ol , or ale , did not only signify the liquor then made use of , but

gave denomination to the greatest festivals , as , for instance , there was not only that of Zehol , or Yule , at midwinter , but also bride-ales , Iamb-ales , leet-ales , midsummer-ales , Whitsun-ales , and many more . The initials I . N . R . I ., generally affixed to crucifixes , we are familiar with ; but it may not be generally known that . there were other initials sometimes affixed I . H . C , Jesus Hiimanilatis Consolatoi—Jesus , the Consoler of Mankind ,

and I . H . S ., Jesus Ilomiiittm Salvatot—Jesus , the Saviour of Men . I . N . R . I . are found on the most ancient crosses . The sacred songs at Christmas were called carols , being derived from two Latin words—catttare , to sing , and rola , an interjection of joy . Bishop Taylor observes that the " Gloria in excelsis , " the well-known hymn , sung by the angels to the shepherds at our Lord's nativity , was the earliest Christmas catol . Bourne

cites Durand to prove that in the earlier ages of the Church the Bishops were accustomed on Christmas day to sing carols among their clergy . It was also the custom at their ancient feasts to single out a person , and place him in the midst to sing a song to God . In the West of England it used to be the custom , which we believe is still observed in some places , on

Christmas eve , about 7 or 8 p . m ., to commence the singing of carols , which continued till late at night . On Christmas day in all the churches , especially at the afternoon service , in lieu of psalms , these carols were substituted , the whole congregation joining , and at the end it was usual for the parish clerk to declare in a loud voice his wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the parishioners .

TERRY'S THEATRE . There is an attractive programme at this theatre just now . The chief piece is entitled " My Artful Valet , " adapted from the French , by James Mortimer . It deals with the embarrassments of Mr . Leopold Fitz Jocelyn , who , being engaged to Jessie Chadwick , daughter of a retired tanner , at Birmingham , wishes to extricate himself from a previous entanglement with Mrs . Lovering , a young widow , who was deeply attached to him . The

" artful Valet , " Spinks , is enabled to assist his master by his cunning contrivance of personating him by wearing his clothes , while Jocelyn adopts his valet's livery , and , for the nonce , takes his place and duty . It may easily be imagined what complications ensue , and the straits to which master and man are subjected to evade discovery . It is a bright bustling piece , which is cleverly rattled through by the chief characters .

Mr . James Welch , as the Valet , is most amusing ; the Master , Mr . C Blakiston , is well suited to his part ; and Mr . T . W . Percyval gives a good character sketch as Count Evitoff , a Russian diplomatist . The female characters are efficiently rendered by Misses Knight , Lee , and Emery . The second piece is " Sheerluck Jones , " a good-natured skit on "Sherlock Holmes , " now playing at the Lyceum Theatre . It is divided into four scenes , or pars . The chief incidents of the American play are facstiously

treated ; what pleased us most was the clever make-up of the characters in facial appearance and dress . Mr . Blakiston , as Sheerluck Jones , has managed to catch the mannerisms of Mr . Gillette . Mr . Willes as Prof . McGillecuddy , Mr . R . Norrie as James Scarabee , and Mr . Carter Pickford as Dr . Rotson , looked and acted well their respective parts . Miss Knight and Miss Lee efficiently rendered Madge Scarabee and Alice Baulkney . To appreciate this travestie one should see previously " Sherlock Holmes . "

THE BLOCK-HOUSES in South Africa are having 2000 copies of "The Smart Set" sent out to them with best wishes to Tommy Atkins from the proprietors of tha magazine . THE UNI TED MARINERS met at the Restaurant Frascati , on Tuesday , the 17 th instant , for the purpose of electing the VV . M ., Treasurer , and Tyler for the ensuing year . Prior to the election Bro . H . V . Dorey was raised . The manner the impressive ceremony was carried out reflected the greatest credit upon the Worshipful Master and

the other officers of the lodge . Bros . John Croager , S . W ., was unanimously elected Master for 1902 ; Thomas Smith , P . M ., Treas . j and L . G . Reinhatdt , T y ler . The visitors' list included : Bros . George Grant , Sec . 2 S 61 ; W . Archibald Collins , W . M . 2234 ; F . W . Wheeler , J . D . 1707 ; and George H . Poulton , Stwd . 215 / . After the purely Masonic business ^ had been disposed of an adjournment was made to the Gordon Banqueting Hall , where ample justice was done to an excellent supper . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were interspersed with

vocal and instrumental music and recitations . Bro . Wheeler opened the programme with a "Fine Old Irish Gentleman , " " Nothing New , " and "Sticking Out ; " Bro , A . E . Remington , P . M ., gave a capital rendering of "Good Bye , Dolly Grey ; " whilst Bro . Newbold's "Big Ben" was well received . Bro . Couldrey , P . M ., contributed " The Lowther Arcade , " and a humor Jus ditty entitled " Smack my Mother ; " and Bro . Thos . Smith , P . M ., vocally told a story concerning the life that 5 lead by

" The Men at the Nore . Bro . Kretchmin sing " Der liebeGjtt hatts treu geinetnt " in the vernacular , and that no mistake might be made by the brethren unacquainted with the German tongue , explained that it was the very latest toast to the ladies . Bro . Collins , one ol the correspondents attached to the Russian Army in China , gave a highly interesting account of his experiences , winding up with a story as related to him by a Cossack concerning bear catching extraordinary . Bro . Carrick , P . M ., presided at the piano throughout the evening .

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