Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., Senior Vice-President , took the President ' s chair , in the absence on a continental trip of Bro . Robert Grey . The Senior Vice-President ' s chair was occupied by Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President , and the chair of Junior

Vice-President by Bro . S . Vallentine , G . P . Bros . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , W . Dodd , and W . H . Lee represented Grand Secretary ' s office . The other brethren present were Bros . Henry Garrod , David D . Mercer , Wm . R . grown , S . V . Abraham , George R . Langley , W . M . Bywater , William Fisher , J . H . Matthews , James Bunker , S . H . Goldschmidt , Walter T . Glazier ,

Burcham Cooper , Joseph Corbett , C . Wilfrid Murland , H . Massey , C . Clark , E . Moore , F . Mills , C . N . Mclntyre North , W . A . Scurrah , Saml . George Myers , J . Brindley James , William Perrin , H . Lazarus , J . Dennis , A . C . Dandridge , J . Boulton , S . Pardee , M . Bash , W . Cleghorn , W . L . Crow , and H . Sadler , G . Tyler .

The brethren first confirmed recommendations to the Grand Master made at the March meeting , to the amount of ^ 380 . There were 30 cases on the new list , qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Bangalore , Harwich , Cheltenham , Ivybridge , Hurstpierpoint , New Miiford , Camberley , Jarrow , Richmond , Dover , Diss , Hythe , Riverhead , Linslade , and Birmingham . Six of these cases were deferred till

the next meeting , being incomplete , and one case was dismissed . The remainder were relieved with a total of £ 570 . This amount was composed of one recommendation to the Grand Lodge for £ 50 ; three recommendations to the Grand Master for . £ 40 each ; and seven for £ 30 each ; six grants of , £ 20 each ; three of £ 15 eacl 1 . " two of £ 10 each ; and one grant of £ _ . The Board sat three hours .

Annual Dinner Of The 1vest Middlesex Lodge Of Instruction , No. 1612.

ANNUAL DINNER Of THE 1 VEST MIDDLESEX LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 1612 .

The usual weekly meeting was held at the Feathers Hotel , Ealing , W ., on Monday , the nth inst ., when there present Bros . W . A . Cocks , W . M . ; C . Mead , S . W . ; L . H . Walker , J . W . ; E . J . Acworth , Treas .

J . Tidmarsh , Preceptor ; G . H . Gabb , Sec ; W . A . Buckland , S . D . ; G . Harper , J . D . ; H . R , Elkin , l . G .-, Burbrook , F . BotVey , P . M . 1906 ; J . J . Fewkes , W . Freemantle , A . A . Hardy , E . C . Porter , P . M . 1612 ; A . Pooley , W . M . 1612 ; E . Prince , W . M . 209 ; Pritchard , C . C . Sanger , T . Simpson , W . Squire , E .

T . Taylor , W . M . 1567 ; H . S . Timpson , and j . Wells , P . M . 1612 . Visitors : Bros . Toye , 172 ; A . J . Hanson , 382 ; Rev . C . J . Smith , 2157 ; R- Lancaster , 2163 ; and W . F . Sanger , 216 3 . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed .

The lodge was opened up to the Third Degree , and closed down . The brethren then adjourned to the dining room where an admirable menu had been prepared by Bro . F . Stephens . The chair was occupied by Bro . John Tidmarsh , P . M . 2163 , W . M . 2157 , Preceptor , and the vice-chairs by Bros . Alfred

Pooley , W . M . 1612 , and George Harper , W . M 2163 . On the removal of the cloth the usual loyal toasts were dul y honoured . In proposing the toast of "The West Middlesex Lodge of Instruction , " Bro . POOLEY said it had always been a matter of regret to him that the lodge had been

allowed to collapse , and he had resolved that , when he became Master of the mother lodge , one of his first endeavours would be to revive the lodge of instruction . He had been able to secure the very comfortable and convenient room in which they met , but he experienced

some difficulty in obtaining a competent Preceptor . At last , however , he succeeded in inducing Bro . lidmarsh to accept the position , and he considered himself and the brethren very fortunate in their choice , for the past session had been a most successful one in

every respect . 1 heir Preceptor was a good worker , a "tin but kind disciplinarian , and he had spared no pains to secure at every meeting an accurate and intelli gent rendering of the Masonic ritual . The consequence was that their weekly meetings had been well attended and had proved very enjoyable and profitable

plhcrings . They had received very valuable support jrom the brethren of the jersey Lodge , ol whom no ess than 12 were present that evening , and he trusted 'he friendl y relations between the two lodges would 'wig continue . He looked forward with every con'idence to a very successful future for their revived , . - — . m . j mmmmm ^^ i ... . U . U . L IUJ 1 , 11 . 11 IblircU

loilge of instruction . The toast was received with mi * ch enthusiasm . fhe PKI- CI-I ' thanked the brethren for their nearly reception of the toast and for the kindly e erence made by the proposer to his services during thl , . n ° drawing to a close . He had taken up * L . , - * wt » uiuiiiii g iu «* biusg , lie IlclU liilVCH UU tles with

v" ° , . some amount of diffidence , but , being Cl ^ i r" ** ° ^ t '" cei * emonics and being like Ghaucer ' s el-wii , 0 xenford who " gladly wolde he lerne , and s * oiy teche , " he had entered heart and soul into the _ 1 [ and was gratified to find that his services had ackn * " ? , acce P table t 0 the brethren . He thankfully tend ow , e d ged the uniform courtesy and kindness ex-M-Kt to , * anc ' ' hearty co-operation of the . ^ ters of the Wfist MirlrllpsPY . Inrl inr ^ . KI nJ „ n « r , f

, ti 0 ' ' , y , Preceptor of the Priory Lodgeof Instrucconsid-T A " * ' - r indefatl ' g : b ' eSecretary , Bro . Gabb . He was a ed t ' ' record of work done during the session ver y creditable one . The ceremonies had been

Annual Dinner Of The 1vest Middlesex Lodge Of Instruction , No. 1612.

carefully and regularly worked , the tracing boards frequently explained , and a start had been made in section working . He hoped the latter would be further developed next session . Bro . E . J . ACWORTH , P . M . 133 , 1612 , 2077 , 2265 , P . G . Treas . Essex , next responded , and , as Treasurer , was glad to be able to announce that the finances were

in a satisfactory condition . Bro . G . H . GABB , Sec , also replied , and gave some very interesting details regarding number of members , attendances at meetings , & c . The toast of " The West Middlesex Lodge , No . 1612 , " was cordially received , and was responded to by Bros . POOLEY , W . M . ; HARPER , Asst . Sec . ; and

ACWORTH , Treas . After " The Visitors " had been given and responded to by those present , the Chairman was accorded musical honours , and the proceedings terminated with the singing of " Auld Iang syne . " During the evening excellent songs were rendered by Bros . Botley , Gabb , Pooley , and Porter .

Presentation To Bro. Butt , P.M.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . BUTT , P . M .

Bro . T . Butt , P . M . 700 , was , on Thursday , the 14 th inst ., entertained at a dinner by the Past Masters and brethren of the Nelson Lodge , and also presented with a handsome and valuable solid silver tea service of the value of 35 guineas , as a token of their regard and esteem , and on his retirement from the police force

after 32 years' service . Bro . Butt was for many years Treasurer of the Nelson Lodge , and was one of the most popular superintendents of the Metropolitan Police , from which he now retires . The dinner took place at Bro . Chambers' comfortable hostelry , the Star and Garter , Fowls-street , Woolwich , Bro . E . B . Hobson , P . M ., in the chair ,

supported by the fojlowing brethren : Bros . J . Warren , P . M . and Sec , Vice-Chairman ; W . Webber , P . M . ; J . Sanderson , P . M . ; S . E . Southgate , P . M . ; R . Naylor , P . M . ; G . Taylor , S . W . ; H . King , P . M . ; Capt . VV . Ward ; W . Lawson , J . W . ; G . Mitchell , P . M . 715 , P . P . G . D . Kent ; G . H . Nichols , J . D . ; H . Pammant , D . C ; G . H . Porter , I . G . ; W . Davies , Forrest , Kitley ,

Lane , A . Mitchell , J . Chennell , Sharman , Evans , P . M ., and , of course , Bro . Butt , who occupied the post of honour on the right of the Chairman . The speeches were appropriate and the harmony of the highest order , everyone present being delighted with the excellent arrangements made by the Committee .

Ireland.

Ireland .

THE MASONIC ORPHAN SCHOOLS CENTENARY CELEBRATION . The arrangements for the forthcoming bazaar are sufficiently forward to enable the Irish Times to give the following preliminary description , which appeared in its issue of Saturday last : The celebration will commence on Tuesday , May , 17 th . The gates will be thrown open to the public at

three o ' clock , and the grand Masonic opening ceremony will take place at half-past three . A chorus of 300 voices and a procession of unexampled brilliancy have been organised for the occasion . Let us suppose onrselves to be entering the buildings , which have hitherto been associated chiefly with the Horse Show , and endeavour to describe the scene which they will present .

The north end of the front hall , next the entrance , will be occupied by a spacious dais and platform , with tiers of seats rising to the gallery overhead . Beneath the dais the visitors will lind extensive and well-ordered cloak rooms . To the right are the offices of the Executive Committees , a bank , and a telephone . To the left , retiring rooms , a post office , and a parcel

office . Passing into the hall at either end of the dais we find ourselves in the '' Seventeenth Century Market Place . " The centre , for Co feet in width , is floored and enclosed for two-thirds of its length , and is set apart for the "living whist , " the living chess , the calisthenics , and school-drill , so much admired at the distribution of prizes , and , unless

wc are much mistaken , the ample floor will at times be made available for dancing , when the military bands favour the assemblage with appropriate music from the gallery . The entire hall will be draped and decorated with a copious display of bunting . Beyond the flooring a large space is allotted to a Fruit and Flower Market , originally undertaken by Sir James Spaight , and on his

lamented death most kindly carried on in the name of thc Grand Lodge of Limerick , over which he presided , by Mr . and Mrs . FiuGerald Bannatyne . The Flower Market and all the decorations by which the Front Hall will be transformed into a Seventeenth Century Market Place , have been designed by Bingham M'Guinness , Esq ., R . H . A . The Flower Market will have a fountain

in the centre , surrounded by a group of tents , and will contain a magnificent collection of plants and flowers , mainly presented by Mr . and Mrs . Bannatyne , but to which all having gardens within reach of Dublin will no doubt gladly contribute . Another striking object in the middle of the hall will be '' Rebecca ' s Well , " designed by Bro . James M'Connell , and erected by the

Lodge ot Israel , No . 126 . Round the central enclosure , and at the upper end of the hall , spaces are allotted for the exhibition of a number of large and valuable articles belonging to different stalls , polo carts , jaunting cars , a" mermaid" boat in full sail , pianos , an organ , a type-writer ( which will bc worked by pupils of the school ) , a " wheel of fortune , " & c . The place of honour

Ireland.

will be occupied by the original picture , " Our Girls , " which the respected President of the Royal Hibernian Academy , Bro . Sir Thos . Alfred Jones , has painted for this occasion , when his generosity will , no doubt , be as fully appreciated as it was 10 years ago at the Masonic Bazaar , where his painting of ' Our Masonic Jewels " realised more than one hundred guineas .

The east and west sides , and the south end of the hall will be occupied by the stalls , which will be placed under the galleries . The general design will represent a quadrangle of old town walls , with picturesque towers and gateways , and quaint old houses at irregular * intervals . A medi .-eval town hall will occupy a central position on the southern side , facing the entrance .

Here the " Grand Master ' s Stall " holds the most conspicuous place , with a gateway on either side , through which " Old Dublin " is approached . To right and left the Deputy Grand Master ' s Stall and the School Stall , where the pupils , present and past , will be found at work together , will flank the Grand Master ' s Stall . From each angle of the hall will rise turreted archways ,

also leading to "Old Dublin . " The Munster Stall occupies the centre of the eastern side , with Wicklow and Wexford , Meath , and the Midland counties beyond it , and North Connaught , the south-eastern counties , and the Bray Lodge , 22 , nearer to the entrance . Here , again , an arched gateway and postern underneath the wall will give approaches to the east hall , which will be

fitted up for dramatic , musical , and other entertainments , to the art gallery with the extensive collection of signed photographs gathered together by Lodge No . 25 , to Canon Bagot ' s working diary , and on to the grounds , where a variety of outdoor attractions will be found which we cannot now describe . Returning to the Front Hall we find the western side occupied by two stalls

from Antrim , by the Armagh Stall , by the stall of the Military Lodge , 728 , over which Viscountess Wolseley will preside , and , next the entrance , the stall of the Meridian Lodge , 12 . From this side , through attractive archways , the visitors may pass to the western hall and dining rooms , where the University refreshment department is preparing on a Gargantuan scale to

meet the demands for those creature comforts which are indispensable to the complete enjoyment of a holiday . The ladies attending the stalls in the front hall will have a wonderfully varied field for the selection of costume , from the period of the seventeenth century . The galleries will be provided with seats ; the spectators can look down from the town walls , or

through the old casements , upon the busy scene below , and at night the whole will be illuminated by brilliant gas and electric lighting , for which Messrs . Edmundson and Co . will be responsible , the electric installation which was employed at the Castle during the past season having now been transferred to Ball ' s Bridge for this occasion . "Old Dublin" will next call for notice .

Dedication Of A New Masonic Hall.

DEDICATION OF A NEW MASONIC HALL .

There was a large attendance of brethren at Budleigh Salterton on the I ith inst ., when the new Masonic Hall of the Lodge of Harmony , No . 372 , was dedicated . In the absence of Viscount Ebrington , M . P .,

Prov . G . M ., the ceremony was performed by Bro . W . G . Rogers , P . G . D . England , D . P . G . M . Bro . Captain Webb Elphinstone Stone , P . P . S . G . W ., occupied the S . W . 's chair , and the J . W . ' s chair was filled by Bro . J . Stocker .

The oration was delivered b y Bro . E . T . FULI-ORD , P . M ., and , owing to the absence of the P . G . Chaplain , he also performed the duties of that officer . Bro . H , Griffin , P . M ., Treas ., presided at the organ . The building is situated in a convenient part of Budleigh , and will admirably meet the lodge . Bro . Capt . Webb Elphinstone Stone , P . P . S . G . W ., laid the

foundation-stone in August last , and the building has been erected by Bro . Hayman , 106 , from the designs of the Hon . Architect , Bro . W . H . Strickland , 372 . At the conclusion of the dedication ceremony a banquet was held at the Rolle Arms Hotei . Among those present were Bros . G . Bennett , W . M . ; Past Masters J . Taylor , G . W . Madge , W . Britton , T .

Dunsford , J . Sargent , Capt . Webb Elphinstone Stone , P . P . S . G . W . ; G . Coombes , Thomas Hyne , P . P . G . S . B . ; Adam Pidsley , P . P . G . P . ; XV . Pidsley , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; F . G . Cowd , S . W ., J . XV . Trump , } . W ., J . C . Palmer , P . P . S . G . W ., Chap ., J . H . Grifiin , P . M . 372 , Treas ., H . C . Perriam , Sec , C . W . Layman , S . D ., F . G . Blight , J . D ., T . Gray , D . C , J . Sanders , I . G ., and S . W . T .

Andrews , Stwd ., of the lodge ; W . Pratt , G . P . Webber , Webb , Smith , Elphinstone Stone , W . P . Parkhouse , J . Wallas , VV . Please , P . M . 164 , W . Curry , VV . H . Strickland , H . Wintle , and H . Marker , of 372 . The visitors included Bros . VV . Rogers , G . Davie , 281 , P . G . S . ; J . Stocker , 39 , P . P . J . G . W . ; H . B . Stark , 166 , P . P . G . O . ; A . Hayman , 106 ; Frank Grace , 106 ;

W . H . Wright , 106 ; G . Coombs , 1054 ; W . F . Sanders , 1254 ; E . T . Fulford , P . M . 1254 ; J . Baker , P . P . G . T . ; H . Shooter , 112 , P . G . Tyler ; J . Opie , I . G . 164 ; A . Wilson , Sec . 164 ; R . Passmore , 16 4 ; W . T . Blake , P . M . 106 ; W . J . Dixon ; J . L . Towning , P . M . 372 ; W . Haynes , P . M . 106 , P . P . G . P . ; Tilt , 106 ; W . H . Churchill , P . M . 106 , P . G . S . B . ; W . Gregory ,

P . M . 1254 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; F . R . Hearn , P . M . 1254 ; T . Freeman , P . M . 106 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; Ellyard , P . M . 1864 ; L . Layard , 1864 ; J . T . Melhuish , 106 j W . D . Coles , 1284 ; C . H . Clark , S . W . 1254 ; H . Peters , 106 ; T . W . Brushfield , 1305 ; A . Pearson , W . Hudson , J . Churchill , J . Williams , J . Edwards , H . Perry , S . W ., F . Hayne , Sec , and E . M . Bastin , ol 106 ; and G . E . Merrick and F . Newcombe , of % g .