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the number of new candidates is 44 . while only 25 widows have been added this year to the list for the Female Fund . But after all it is not of material importance whether the excess of candidates over vacancies is caused by the large number unsuccessful last year and previously , or by the unusual number of applicants since ; the impossibility of helping all who need help

remains , and until a way of grappling with the difficulty , which , in spite of the successive additions made , keeps on recurring annually , there must continue to be these annually recurring disappointments . It is out of the

question to go on enlarging the sum expended for annuities , and now amounting to close on £ 14 , 000 a year , and while that is so , there is nothing left for these poor old folks but to bear with such philosophy as they can muster to their aid the disappointment in store for them .

• « BUT let us turn from a picture which is infinitely sad , to a consideration of the two lists for the Male and Widows' Funds respectively . We have said that , as matters stand at present , there are fifteen men , including the three deferred annuitants , to be elected from an approved list of 5 8 . We have

also shown that of the latter number fourteen remain from the election in May , 1885 , this being the fifth application of Nos . 1 and 2 , the fourth of Nos . 3 , 4 , and 5 ; the third of Nos . 6 , 7 , and 8 ; and the second of Nos . 9 to 14 , inclusive . The remaining 44 have been approved during the pas . t twelve months . London sends up sixteen candidates , the District of Bengal one

case , and the provinces amongst , them 41 , the two Yorkshires having five each ; East Lancashire four ; Devonshire three ; Cheshire , Cumberland and Westmoreland , Hants and Isle of Wight , West Lancashire , Northumberland , and Warwickshire two each ; and Cambridgeshire , Cornwall , Kent , Middlesex , Lincolnshire , North Wales , South VVales ( West Division ) ,

Surrey , Sussex , Worcestershire , J ersey , and the Channel Islands ( Guernsey ) one each . Of the old candidates No . 5 has 500 votes to his credit ; No . 2 has 441 votes , while Nos . 6 , 14 , 13 have 269 , 257 , and 241 votes respectively ; the remaining nine having under 100 votes . Thus the election would seem to be a pretty open one , as , with the exception of Nos .

5 and 2 , there are none 01 the old candidates , who can reckon on theit present credit being likely to prove of appreciable advantage to them . As regards the Widows' Fund , there are only nine vacancies at present , including the three deferred ones , and 71 candidates , of whom 46 remain from last year , and 25 have been newly placed on the list . Of the former , No . 1—poor old lady—has

been a candidate for eight years , and brings forward 441 votes ; Nos . 2 to 6 inclusive have stood five contests alread }' , Nos . 5 and 6 having to their credit 1236 and 1245 votes , respectively , while No . 3 has 366 votes . No . 7 has stood four ballots , but to little purpose , her votes brought forward being only 20 . Nos . 8 to 15 are about fo make their fourth venture , No . 13 having

I 2 i 3 votes to the good ; No . 8 , 305 votes ; No . 15 , 225 votes ; and No , 10 , 172 votes . Of the 11 who have stood two previous contests , namely , Nos . 16 to 26 , both inclusive , No . 19 brings forward 1355 votes ; No . 22 , 355 votes ; No . 18 , 290 votes ; and No . 26 , 216 votes . The 20 who made their first attempt in May , 1885 , are Nos . 27 to 46 inclusive , and of these No . 27 has

869 votes ; No . 37 , 874 votes ; No . 32 , 589 votes ; No , 3 6 , 53 S votes ; No . 31 , 409 votes ; No . 29 , 216 votes ; No . 46 , 257 votes ; and No . 42 , 135 votes . Thus there are some half-dozen or more of these who start with a good score in hand , and if their friends work well , should find themselves well placed at the close of the poll . In this case , too , 21 of the candidates hail from London ,

one from a District abroad , and 49 from the Provinces , namely , nine from Kent ; five in each case from Devonshire , Hants and Isle of Wight , East Lancashire , and Lincolnshire ; four from West Yorkshire ; three each from Cumberland and Westmorland and Suffolk ; two from Berks and Bucks

and one from each of the following : Dorsetshire , Durham , West Lancashire , Middlesex , Somersetshire , Staffordshire , Sussex , and N . and E . Yorkshire . Let us hope that in both contests the most deserving cases will be returned .

* # * WE are very pleased to report that another honour has fallen to the lot of the youngest Grand Master in America , M . W . Bro . THOMAS J . SHRYOCK , Grand Master of Maryland ; whose kindness and attention to brethren hailing from this country , especially those in distress , have been experienced

by many . The Governor of the State of Maryland has appointed Bro . SHRYOCK , Brigadier General and Chief Engineer of Maryland , the appointment having been confirmed by the Senate . We rejoice , in common with his many friends , in another compliment being thus paid to the Grand Master of Maryland , and we are also much pleased to hear that his administration of the affairs of Grand Lodge bids fair to be most successful .

* # * THE Report of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodgeof Pennsylvania for the year 1885 is , like all other reports emanating from the same source , most interesting , and the account it furnishes of the doings and position of the Craft in that jurisdiction most satisfactory . Everything seems to work

smoothly , while if we take the numerical and financial state of the Society as a criterion of its soundness , there cannot be the shadow of a doubt as to its being healthy and vigorous in all its parts . The GRAND SECRETARY ' S statement of account shows a total of receipts , including the balance forward from 15 th November , 1884 , of 118 , 833 dollars , the principal items being for

rents , 35 , 172 dollars ; for dues , 47 , 698 dollars '; and for initiations , 13 , 533 . The payments amounted to 109 , 525 dollars , of which 21 , 860 dollars were paid to Committee on Temple ; 12 , ooodollars to Sinking Fund ; and 63 , 975 dollars for interest . The balance in hand at the close of the twelve months , on the 15 th

November , 188 5 , was 9308 dollars . The Sinking Fund at the close of the same period showed a total of 322 , 448 dollars , of which 305 , 700 dollars were invested in approved securities , and 16 , 748 dollars in cash . This , as compared with the total ' at the corresponding period in 1884 , gives an increase in the twelve months ol 28 , 019 dollars . As regards the current ytar , the Finance

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Committee have estimated it will yield a total , including the balance carried forward , of 130 , 571 dollars , the Dues being set down at 43 , dollars , rents at 35 , 000 dollars , and Initiations at 10 , 000 dollars ; while they consider the expenditure will amount to 129 , 525 dollars , thus leaving a balance to the good of about 1046 dollars . These figures , though

necessarily given in mere outline , will serve to give an excellent idea of the financial position of Pennsylvania , while , as regards numbers , the Grand Lodge can boast of a membership of something like 38 , 000—the actual number on the 27 th December , 1884 , being given as 37 , 1 75 , and atthe close of last year it would have reached , and most probably exceeded , the

figure we have stated . Lastly , the GRAND MASTER ' S address at the annual Grand Communication at the Masonic Hall , Philadelphia , on the 28 th December , is not a lengthy one , but it contains pleasant matters to read , and its delivery must have evoked a considerable amount of enthusiasm from the brethren who heard it , We trust all future reports that reach us from this jurisdiction will be as satisfactory as this .

Consecration Of Lodge Dalhousie, No. 720 (S.C), At Bonnyrigg.

CONSECRATION OF LODGE DALHOUSIE , No . 720 ( S . C ) , AT BONNYRIGG .

The Visiting Committee of the Grand Lodgeof Scotland , headed by the convener , Bro . James Crichton , consecrated and erected a new lodge in the village of Bonnyrigg , on the 7 th inst . The event , that was to have taken place on the 2 nd of last month , was unavoidably postponed on account of a severe snowstorm having rendered the presence of many visiting brethren improbable ; it had been looked forward to in Masonic circles

in Edinburgh with considerable interest , and upwards of a hundred of the brethren of the various lodges in the district went to ; Bonnyrigg to take part in the ceremony . The new lodge is to be named the Dalhousie , No . 720 , and a charter was issued by Grand Lodge on the 5 th November last . Already a membership of twenty-five has been enrolled , and the various

offices filled up , Bro . Robert M'Kenzie being elected Master . The ceremony of erecting the new lodge took place in the lodge room at the village Coffee-Rooms , Bro . Crichton opening and raising the Grand Lodge , with the assistance of Bros . James M'Kenzie , R . W . M . 2 , as S . W . ; and Albert Apthorp , P . M . 405 , as J . VV .

Bro . Major HILLS , who acted as Grand Marshal , read aloud the charter granted to the new lodge , after which the jewels and clothing of the lodge were delivered to the presiding Grand Master , and the ceremony of consecration , which was accompanied by music and the customary solemnities , ; duly performed . The ACTING GRAND MARSHAL then formally proclaimed the new lodge

by its proper style and title . The ceremony of the installation of the office-bearers was then performed by the ACTING GRAND MASTER , each in turn being invested with the emblems of his office on taking the usual obligations . In his address to the newly-inducted office-bearers , Bro . Crichton urged upon them always to remember that the cement which bound Freemasons together was that of brotherly love .

Bro . M'KENZIE made a suitable reply , and thc lodge was soon afterwards closed . The company then repaired to the Bonnyrigg Public Hall for refreshment , where the Master of the new lodge took the chair . After the usual

loyal toasts had been honoured , the toasts of " Prosperity of the Grand Lodge of Scotland " and ol "The Newly Organised Lodge " were similarly complimented , and a few songs were contributed by various visiting brethren . Deputations were present from 19 different district lodges , nearly all of which were represented by their Master and Wardens .

Prince Leopold Lodge Of Royal Ark Mariners, No. 238.

PRINCE LEOPOLD LODGE OF ROYAL ARK MARINERS , No . 238 .

The consecration of the new Royal Ark Mariner Lodge , to be known henceforth by the style and title of the Prince Leopold , No . 238 , took place at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , on Tuesday , the 20 th inst ., the ceremony being carried out by Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., assisted by Bro . Robert Berridge , G . D . of C .

Lodge having been opened , eight candidates were elevated to the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner , after which Bro . Matier proceeded with the task of consecrating the lodge , the duty , as it is almost needless to say , being fulfilled most ably and impressively . Bro . T . C . Walls was then formally installed in the chair of N ., and . Bros . A . Tisley and T . Olver Harding inducted into the chairs of J . and S . respectively .

The other officers having been invested , and a vote of thanks passed to Bro . Matier for his services as Consecrating Officer , accompanied by his election as an honorary member , lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to banquet at the Holborn Restaurant , under the presidency of Bro . Walls , and a very pleasant evening was spent .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

On Wednesday afternoon , the 14 th inst ., the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire was held at Sheffield , under the banner of Britannia Lodge , No . 139 . The occasion was one of special interest to the Craft , and the attendance of brethren was extremely large . The meeting was held in the old Banqueting HaU of the Cutlers' Hall , and

upwards of 300 members of the Craft were in their places when W . Bro . Waterhouse opened his Iodge . The R . W . Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . T . VV . Tew ) , the W . Deputy Grand Master ( Bro . H . Smith ) , having entered the lodge , were saluted in due and ancient form . They were accompanied by a large number of Past and Present Provincial Grand Officers . R . VV . Bro . TEW then addressed the brethren . He said it was the desire of the executive to promote in every possible way the unanimity and