Board Of Benevolence.

Thrapston , Lucknow , Lynn , Newton-le-Willows , Leeds , Plymouth , Bombay , Peshawar , Sandhurst and Castlemaine ( Victoria ) , Plumstead , Teignmouth , Sowerby Bridge , Bermuda , Stockport , Gibraltar , Bungay , Loughton , Shipley , Ramsgate , and Deal . In the course of a sitting of four hours and a-half the brethren dismissed seven of these and deferred two .

The renainder were relieved with a total sum of ; 69 20 - This sum was divided into a recommendation ^ to Grand Lodge for £ 75 , one for £ 70 , and one for i , ' 6 o ; seven recommendations to the Grand Master for £ 40 each , four for £ 30 each , and one for £ 25 ; and immediate grants were made of i " 20 each to nine cases , £ 1 5 each to three cases , £ 10 each to five cases , and £ 5 to one case .

Presentation To Bro. And Mrs. Oscar Barrett.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . AND MRS . OSCAR BARRETT .

On Friday evening , the 14 th inst ., the members of the company engaged at the Crystal Palace Pantomime , made presentations to Bro . and Mrs . Oscar

Barrett , in acknowledgment of the kindness and consideration received at their hands during the past few weeks , in which they have been so agreeably and pleasantly associated together . The gift chosen for Bro . Barrett was a handsome solid silver claret jug , which was oresented in the name of the company by

WILLIAM HOGARTH , who in a happy speech commented upon the pleasant engagement all had enjoyed . Bro . BARRETT acknowledged the gift in a few wellchosen words . The presentation to Mrs . Barrett was made by Miss Edith Bruce , and it consisted of a pretty little keyless

gold watch . In place of a speech , Miss BRUCE read the following appropriate lines , composed for the occasion by Mr . Horace Lennard : Dear Mrs . Barrett , dear to all now here , 'Tis no mere compliment we call you dear ;

For you ' ve endeared yourself , by kindness done , To hearts of old and new friends , every one . 'Twould be in vain for us to try and show How much of our succsss to you we owe ; But ere we part , we have a pleasant task , Accept our thanks and this—' tis all we ask . Although the offering ' s small , we beg you take it ,

With loving thoughts from all of us who make it . And may it tick its time out loyal and true , As all our hearts , dear , beat with love for you . Mrs . Barrett was naturally affected by so much kindness , and Bro . Barrett had to say a few words of thanks on her behalf . The little ceremony altogether was marked with much warmth and enthusiasm .

A Gifted Company.

A GIFTED COMPANY .

At a recent meeting of Lodge Industry , at Lahore , a somewhat unusual occurrence took place after dinner . The occasion was that of the installation of the new W . M ., Bro . Williams , who was duly installed b y Bro . Dr . Callhrop .

After the banquet the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were being proposed when it struck one of the brethren to use a foreign language . The idea " caught on , " and though there were only one or two-and-twenty brethren present , no less than six European and seven Oriental languages found exponents . The speakers

were Bros . A . Grey , in French ; Stoddard , in German ; Dr . Calthrop , in Latin ; Kcenig , in Italian ; Manasseh , in Hebrew ; Dhulip Singh , in Urdu ; George , in Persian ; Mukerji , in Bengali ; Mohan Lall , in Sanskrit ; Dr . Calthrop , in Hindi ; Krenig , in Dutch ;

and Jusrawali , in Guzerati . Then Bro . PARKER , the District Grand Master , who had previously spoken in English , very appropriately wound up with a most amusing specimen of the lingua franca spoken by the Punjabi pleaders practising before the Chief Courts .

It is a little remarkable that the provincial language , Punjabi , was not represented , neither were Pushtu , Biluchi nor Kashmiri ; still the performance was decidedl y a creditable one , and the Masonic Fraternity of Lahore may be congratulated on their linguistic talents .

Masonic Ball At Leicester.

MASONIC BALL AT LEICESTER .

On Tueiday , the nth inst ., a Masonic ball , under the auspices of five Leicester lodges—St . John ' s , No . 279 ; John of Gaunt , No . 523 ; Commercial , No . 1391 ; Albert Edward , No . 1560 ; and Golden Fleece , No 2081—in aid of the Royal Masonic Benevolent

Institution , was held at the Court Assembly Rooms , Leicester . It was under the patronage of the Ri ght Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master ; the Ri ght Hon . the Ear ! of Lathom , Deputy Grand Master ; the Ri ght Hon . Earl Ferrers , Provincial Grand Master ; ' his Grace the Duke of St . Albans , Provincial Grand

Master of Nottinghamshire ; the Most Noble the Marquis of Hartington , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Derbyshire ; the Most Honourable the Marquis of Granby , M . P . ; William Kelly , F . S . A ., F . R . His . Soc , Past Provincial Grand Master ; S . S . Partridge ,

P . A . G . D . C . ( Eng . ) , Provincial Grand Master- C . Fendelow , 33 ° P . G . Std . Br . ( Eng . ) , S . G . I . G ., Provincial Prior ( K . T . ) , & c . ; Alderman Thomas Wright , J . P ., Past Provincial Grand Registrar and the Deputy Mayor of Leicester ; and Alderman Edward Wood , J . P . Bro . J . B . Waring was Chairman of the Committee ,

Masonic Ball At Leicester.

Bro . W . H . Swingler , Hon . Sec , and the following were members : Bros . W . M . Williams , J . H . Marshall , G . Crawford , and C . E . Birch , of 279 ; G . Newsome and W . H . Barrow , of 523 ; S . Knight , H . Howe , and H . Page , 1391 ; H . Clough-Taylor , J . D . Harris , F . Winterton , and Dr . Pratt , 1560 ; and G . Jessop , and W . H . Lead . 2081 .

All the brethren were in full Masonic clothing , and this , with the brilliant dresses of the ladies , made a very pretty scene . Bro . Henry Nicholson—one of the oldest Masons in Leicester—brought a strong and excellently balanced quadrille band , and , under his management , the music was of the best .

Supper was provided by Mr . Tanser , of the Masonic Hall , in one of the rooms downstairs . There was a large attendance , but the Committee had taken care to restrict the issue of tickets , in order that the room might not be uncomfortably crowded .

Cornwall Masonic Charity Association.

CORNWALL MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION .

The fifth annual meeting of the Subscribers to the Cornwall Masonic Charity Association was held at Truro , on Wednesday , the 12 th inst . The income for the year amounted to 281 guineas , being in excess of the previous year . A large number of the Subscribers having now completed their five annual payments , the requisite provision for them was first made , and the remainder submitted to a ballot .

The following will now be registered as life voters of either , viz .: the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , or to the Girls' and Boys' Schools : Falmouth—J . M . Carne , Mich . Little , Rev . B . Christopherson , Mrs . Fitzgerald , J . F . Dingle . Penzance—Rev . C . Bowden , ] . Lovell , ] . H . Gartrell . Truro ( Fortitude)—T . C . Mack , VV . Hi Knight .

Helston—VV . J . Winn . Bodmin—Dr . Adams , Tom Whale . Truro ( Phoenix)—Phcenix Lodge , Amos Jennings , VV . Christoe . Hayle-G . B . Pearce , W . Wagner , F . H . Pool . St . Austell—Sir Chas . Graves-Sawle , Bart . Liskeard—St . Martin ' s Lodge , St . Martin ' s Royal Arch Chapter , J . Stone , E . Venning . VV . Hammond , J . F .

Childs . Redruth—Jas . Sims , Jas . Hicks , E . M . Cock , W . Wales , jun ., Mich . Trestrail , T . C Peter , T . A . Kistler . Launceston—J . G . Moore . Millbrook—The Earl of Mount Ed ^ cumbe , J . A . Bersey , A . Hawken .

Pen yn—Mrs . i . Gill , 'I hos . Gill , Master P . Dawe . Tywardreath—Col . S . Graham Bake . St . Ives—Rev . J . Balmer Jones . St . Columb—Duke of Cornwall Lodge . Camborne—F . VV . Thomas , J . C . Burrow , Rd . Rowe , J . Newland .

Through the medium of the Association , during the five years it has been in existence , over 1400 guineas have been collected for the Institutions named , giving the province a large number of votes , which are of great value in helping to secure to candidates the benefits of support during old age , and education and maintenance for the orphans .

I he President , Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; the Vice-Presidents , and other officers were re-elected , and the following were elected a Committee of Management for the ensuing year-. Bros . Joseph Sarah , H . P . Vivian , J . J . Hawken , R . A . Courtney , G . H . B . Reed , J . Hicks , and Cams Wilson . The Hon . Treasurer , Bro . E . D . Anderton , and the Hon . Secretary , Bro . Gilbert B . Pearce , were thanked for their services .

Masonic Charity In West Lancashire.

MASONIC CHARITY IN WEST LANCASHIRE .

A meeting of the General Committee of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution was held on the 7 th inst . at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , under the presidency of Bro . Dr . J . Kellett Smith ,

P . P . G . R . Applications for children to be placed on the foundation of the Charity were considered , and the Committee resolved to adopt all the candidates , the additional yearly expenditure for these new cases amounting to upwards of £ 70 .

The draft annual report of the Institution , which voluntarily undertakes the education , clothing , maintenance , and advancement in life of the children of distressed and deceased Freemasons , read by Bro . Capt . MACSAB , was as follows .-" At the close of another year your Committee again

feel thankful at being in a position to present a report exhibiting more than usual prosperity and usefulness . The gross income of the Institution , from all sources , as disclosed by the Treasurer ' s statement of accounts for the year ending 31 st December , 188 9 , amounted to £ 2460 18 s ., being an

increase of nearly . £ . 600 over that of last year . Of this total . £ 1495 S - 8 d . was derived from donations nnd subscriptions ; £ " 735 6 s . id . from interest on invested capital ; and . £ 240 6 s . 3 d . from the annual ball . It is pleasing to note that the wave of marked prosperity which has been passing over our land for the past year

or so has left Us impression upon the funds of this noble Charity , but it must be borne in mind that a substantial addition to the funded capital will soon be needed to maintain the income from that source at even its present level , owing to the fact that the next expiring bonds will , on renewal , yield a much smaller

Masonic Charity In West Lancashire.

rate of interest from the decreased value of money . We are pleased to see that our prediction as to the anticipated liberality of our younger lodges has been amply verified , and that our oldest , as well as our very young lodges , have distinguished themselves by their munificent support of this admirable Charity . During

the year the benefits of the Institution have been extended to 214 children , viz ., 193 on the Educational Fund , at an outlay of / " 1258 4 s . lid . ; 17 on the Combined Fund ( which clothes , educates , and maintains them ) , at a cost of ^ 551 4 s . iod ., allowing a proportion of presentations , besides which ^ 25 was paid towards

the advancement in life of four children , whose time on the other funds had expired . The number of applicants whose petitions were found in order were 34 , every one of whom was placed on the foundation , whilst 35 went off , leaving , at the closing date , 221 children entitled to the benefits of the Institution . We would also ask

your special attention to the smallness of our working expenses this year , for which we venture to claim an economy worthy of note by all administrators of public charities . During the year , death has removed from our lists three of our respected Vice-Presidents—Bros . J . Prescott , R . A . Davis , and Richard Brown , all good

and worthy brethren , whose names will long live in our memories , especially the latter , who in his day performed valuable services to the Craft in general and this Institution—which he served as Hon . Secretaryin particular , contributing in no small degree to build up the substantial position it now occupies . Not a few

Life-Governors have also crossed the ' irrevocable bourn , ' but your good fortune has secured to both lists a large accession of brethren of position and of truly Masonic spirit . Special notice deserves to be drawn to the thoughtful liberality of our late lamented Bro . Crossley , of Lindsay Lodge , 1335 , Wigan , under

whose will the Institution has benefited to the extent of £ 320 . Charitable acts of this nature are certain of reward , and say to every man whom God has prospered , ' Go thou and do likewise . ' Our duties in preparing this report being ended , we desire to express our thanks to the Almighty for the good work He has

permitted the Institution to do during the past year ; to the various donors and subscribers for the liberal manner in which they have supported it ; and we pray that he who cares for the fatherless and the widow may prosper these benefactors in all their undertakings , and foster in them that truly charitable spirit which

blesses the giver as well as the . receiver . —( Signed ) Bros . G . Broadbridge , J . M'Nab , and T . H . W . Walker . " The report was unanimously adopted for recommendation to the Court of Governors , and the proceedings closed with the usual votes of thanks .

The annual Court of Governors of the West Lancashire Alpass Benevolent Institution was recently held at headquarters in Hope-street , and from the Treasurer ' s statement it appeared that the sum now invested

amounted to £ 3330 . There was a balance in hand ot ^ 197 ; the annuitants' allowance involved an outlay of £ 1 19- £ l had been contributed by lodges , chapters , and private individuals ; and £ 6 39 had been received under a legacy by the late Bro . A . H . Crossley .

Annual Ball Of The Old Concord Lodge, No. 172.

ANNUAL BALL OF THE OLD CONCORD LODGE , No . 172 .

This distinguished centenary lodge held its 51 st annual ball at Cannon-street Hotel , on Wednesday , the nth instant , under the presidency of its W . M ., Bro . Carl Theodore Fleck , P . M . 619 , assisted by a Board of

19 Stewards . The guests , to the number of nearl y 300 , commenced dancing at 9 p . m ., to an excellent band under the direction of Bro . J . L . Bareham , with the valuable assistance of Bro . Jarvis as M . C . The first half of the programme having been got through , the guests adjourned to an excellent supper , after which the President proposed " The Health of

her Majesty the Queen , and the rest of the Royal Family , " and referred to their readiness at all times to interest themselves in our Masonic Charities , as evinced by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , presiding at the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and being so instrumental in the munificent and unprecedented sum of , £ 50 , 800 being raised on that occasion .

Bro . W . H . BAILEY , in proposing "The Health of the President , " referred to the esteem in which he is held in the lodge , and that its destinies were safe in the hands of one who , by his geniality and urbanity , had endeared himself to the brethren . The PRESIDENT returned thanks , and in proposing

" The Health of the Ladies , " referred to their willingness to assist at any Charitable meeting , whether a garden party , bazaar , or Masonic gathering , and was glad to see them there that evening assisting to increase their Benevolent Fund , to which the proceeds of the ball would be added .

Bro . TATTON SYKES , in a humorous speech , returned thanks on their behalf , and expressed a hope that they should all be present at the next annual ball . Dancing was then resumed until a late hour , when the guests departed after a most enjoyable re-union . A pleasing feature of the ball was that one set of the opening quadrille was composed entirely of the relatives

of the President , viz ., Bro . and Mrs . Carl T . Fleck , Bro . J . A . Fleck and Miss Fleck , Mr . and Mrs . A . P . Fleck , Mr . A . E . Fleck and Miss L . Fleck . Amongthe other guests and brethren we noticed—Bro . R . Steele , Vice-President ; Bro . R . C D . Frances and Mrs . Frances ; Miss Holliday ; Bro . J . N . Street and Mrs . Street ; Bro . R . J . Pettit ; Miss M . J . Laseby ; Mr . W ,