Craft Masonry.

down the list of applicants for the Schools he found that less than one-quarter of the parents had done anything for the Charities . That lodge should be proud of ils position , and they were looking forward to the time when the Past Masters might have some reccgnition for the work done . Bro . J . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . Boys , in reply , said he must first refer to a subject that should have been touched upon earlier , and express his regret that the Grand Secretary —who did such grand work in the Craft—was not well enough to be present . The Grand Secretary would have responded to the toast of the Grand Officers in a manner

that would have encouraged the W . M . to have gone further in his allusions that his Royal Highness might be pleased to confer some rank upon an eminent P . M . of the lodge . From the record that lodge had of work done for the Charities , he was with the W . M . in saying that the lodge ought to have some recognition . With regard to the Masonic Charities , he was glad to hear the VV . M . say that the money sent by that lodge was not contributed with any sense of deriving benefit , but was that grand exhibition of Masonic Charity which showed that they could help those who could not help themselves . It was a pleasure and pride to come to a lodge where they so highly bestowed

their Charity , showing as it did that they had the right class—those who ought to become Masons—and he only wished it was more generally the case . The Benevolent Institution was providing for some 5 C 0 old people , £ 16 , 500 being spent in annuities , and that immense amount of relief would otherwise become the care of the State . In the case of the iGirls' School , 265 were being educated , clothed , and fed , and no institution in the country could beat it for the manner in which the girls were turned out to fight the battle of life . Of the 27 S boys in the School , one-fifth had fathers living , so that they cared for those boys whose fathers were once belter off , as well as for the

orphans . The Institution was conducted on broad principles , the boys being educated and clothed as they would educate and clothe their own , not covering them in the garb of charity , and he hoped they were thus discharging the highest duty charged upon them . In a school where boys were admitted at seven and left at 15 , they were enabled to pass one-fourth in the examinations of the Cambridge Local , University , Science , and Art Examinations . The demands upon the Institution had grown immensely , and on Friday of last week 40 candidates presented themselves , and only 14 or 15 could be elected . At that meeting they received the practically unanimous vote of the brethren present ,

and they had now bought a new site where they could extend the benefits to a much greater number and give them that accommodation which was so essential for their physical development . Although there had been a little opposition , he was happy that opposition had diminished , and he trusted that b y the time the foundation-stone was laid of the new building they would show it was a wise move . He hoped that lodge and every lodge would believe it was a forward movement , a progressive movement that

would build up the Institution and enable them to turn out more boys , who would in time become good men and Masons . On their behalf , he appealed to them and reminded them that their Institution , unlike most Institutions , was short of invested capital . It was only their generosity that enabled the work to be carried on , and that lodge—which had done so much—would , he felt sure , do better in the future , especially as the W . M . would serve as Steward on behalf of the Cripplegate Lodge for the Boys School .

Bro . Sheriff R . H . Rogers , W . M . 2499 . acknowledged " The Visitors , " and said the work of the I . P . M . had been an object lesson to him , from which he hoped to profit . The W . M . had alluded to the fact that he ( Bro . Rogers ) was born in Cripplegate . The joy of his boyhood was to watch a golden cow in a small milk shop , which was now a rental of £ 600 or £ 700 a year . It was said of Napoleon that when he died France would be written across hi ; heart . He loved Cripplegate and when the last trump was sounded , Cripplegate would be found written on his heart . The office of Sheriff showed him there was a great deal of work to do , and as a lover of the City he loved the work .

Bros . Denny , W . M ., Priest , Romaine , and Davis also responded . In giving " The Installing Master and Past Masters , " the W . M . said that of the 20 who had passed the chair , 13 were present that evening , and as six had gone to the Grand Lodge above there was only one absentee , and that spoke volumes for their lodge . The I . P . M . had fully upheld the dignity and honour and had done everything it was possible for a Mason to do . He had to ask the I . P . M . to accept a Past Master ' s jewel , and all would agree with him that no Master had more thoroughly deserved it . This was the third Bro . Groner who had passed the chair , and each and all were good and thorough Masons .

Bro . S . Groner , LP . M ., tendered sincere thanks . He fully recognised the serious responsibility he undertook and knew the Mastership of such a lodge was no li ^ ht undertaking . He had conscientiously tried to do his duty , as that was the only means of repaying them for the kindness extended to him ever since his initiation . As long as he lived he should always continue to take the liveliest interest in I In lodge as he had done in the past . For the . beautiful jewel and their hearty good wishes he thanked them sincerely . It would always serve to remind him of happy associations and many happy

recollections . Other toasts were given before the su * cessful meeting was brought tn a close . Bio . F . Cozens was assisted in the musical arrangements by Miss Helen Inne ; , Miss Lcuise Jenkins , and Bios . W . Fell and Frank Swinford .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

Rose of Lancaster Preceptory , No . 158 . The annual meeting was held en Monday , the 5 th instant , at the Clifton Arms Hotel , Blackpool . Sir Knight E . A . Taj lor presided . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Sir Knight Thom is Forrester was installer ! by the V . E . Grand Commander , Sir Knight Clement Robert Nuttall Beswicke-Royds . The event was maiked with great interest , as it is only a fortnight ago Sir Knight Thomis Forrester was installed as the first M . W . S . of the Blackpool Rose Croix Chapter . The

following tfheers were invested : Sir Knights S . Hill , ist Con . ; A . Blamm , 2 nd Con . ; John Wray , P . P . G . C . of G . ; Henry Gardner , Treas . ; E . A . Taylor , P . E . P ., Reg . ; E . A . Thompson , Marshal ; J . K . Hargreaves , C of G . ; H . Gardner , Almoner ; C . Noden , Herald ; and Richd . Escolme , ist S . B . After this , on the motion of Sir Knight E . Taylor , seconded by Sir Knight Thomas Forrester , E . P . — "That the sum of 10 guineas be given fo the West Lancashire'AIpass Benevolent Instithtion "—five guineas were voted to the VVest Lancashire Hamer Fund .

At the close cf the successful meeting , Sir Knight Thomas Forrester invited th *; whole of the sir knights and visitors to partake of his generous hospitality , and most loyally were they entertained .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Robert Grey , P . G . D ., President of the Board , presiding . Bro . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President , and Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Junior Vice-President , occupied their usual places . The Grand Secretary , Bro . E . Letchworth , the Assistant Grand Secretary , Bro . W . Lake , Bro . W . Dodd , Bro . Recknell , and the Grand Tyler , Bro . " Henry Sadler , represented the department of the Grand Secretary . The other brethren who signed the attendance book were Bros . Henry Garrod , William Fisher , William Vincent , Hugh M .

Gordon , J . H . Matthews , George Graveley , James Bunker , S . H . Goldschmidt , W . Kipps , William P . Brown , T . W . Whitmarsh , J . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . for Boys , Robert Gowan , Walter Martin , James Kew , George Powell , Charles Dairy , Felix Kite , James W . Burgess , George Allen , H . Purdue . Robert Hall , H . Massey , William Brickel , Charles Dawson , William Jerrett Miller , A . A . Drew , Henry Roberts , F . W . Jordan , N . Goodchild , R . E . H . Goffin , C . James , W . J Mason , Albert Clark , Rev . S . J . Roco , C . T . Williams , F . W . Barker , H . W . Nicholson , Henry J . Ollive , and Jost-ph William Miller .

The total sum which the Grand Master was recommended at the September meeting to approve of being granted in sums of ^ 40 and £ 30 respectively , was i . 200 , but one grantee of / 30 , to whom . £ 18 had been paid on account , had died since the payment of the . £ 10 , and the brethren , therefore , confirmed the Grand Master ' s approval of the remaining recommendations . The new cases numbered 37 . The petitioners in these cases were ejualified through lodges in the London

Board Of Benevolence.

district , and at Guernsey , Leighton Buzzard , Lucknow , Jersey , Carnarvon , Baildon Secunderabad , Richmond ( Surrey ) , Penistone , Thames ( N . Z . ) , Longt 0 n ' Chichester , Manchester , Bolton , Maidstone , Port Louis ( Mauritius ) , Bishop Auckland , Hong Kong , Stockport , Uxbridge , Aldershot , Bedford , Ipswich , and Peshawur . In dealing with these cases the Board sat nearly three hours-and-a half , and the result of its deliberations was the voting of a total sum of ^ 785 to

34 out of the 37 petitioners . One petition was deferred until the next meeting f 0 r further information , and two had their applications dismissed . The various awards were as follows : There was one recommendation to Grand Lodge to con . firm the granting of . £ 100 to the petitioner ; the Grand Master was asked to approve of gifts of . £ 40 to each of three petitioners ; and . £ 30 to each of 10 petitioners ; while immediate grants were voted of . £ 20 in nine cases , £ 10 in seven instances ; and . £ 5 in three .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

Wycombe Lodge , No . 480 . This lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , High Wvcombe , on Tuesday , the 13 th inst . Present : Bros . J . Mount , P . M . 257 , acting as W . M . ( in the absence of E . J James , the W . M . ) ; F . Johncock , S . W . ; C Batting , I . W . ; J . J . Suncox , M . O . ' C . Rose , S . O . ; G . J . Rees , J . O . ; J . Bliss , I . P . M ., Sec ; H . Hambling , S . D . ) H . Hunt , J . D . ; J . Coppock , I . G . ; J . Williams , Stwd . ; and miny other brethren . The lodge having been duly opened , the minutes were read and confirmed . Bro

W . Birch being present , was duly advanced to the Mark Degree . It was resolved on the proposition of Bro . Bliss , I . P . M ., seconded by Bro . Nicholson , P . M ., that a Past Master's jewel be presented to the W . M ., Bro . James , for his services in the chair . Bro . F . Johncock , S . W ., was then unanimously elected into the W . M . 's chair for the year ensuing . Bro . Johncock having suitably responded , the Audit Committee were elected , and the lodge was closed .

Our Portrait Gallery.

Our portrait Gallery .

BRO . F . PAGE , W . M . 1613 . Bro . F . Page , who has just been installed W . M . of the Cripplegate Lodge , No . 1613 , was initiated in the London Rifle Brigade Lodge , No . 1962 , in February 1890 , and the following year was elected a joining member of No . 1613 . In 18 92 he assisted in founding the Wood Green Lodge , No . 2426 , while in 18 94 he joined the Kingswood Lodge , No . 2278 , Broxbourne , in the Province of Hertfordshire .

After working his way through the various offices in the Cripplegate , he has at length been installed as its Worshipful Master , and from the report we have published , there is good reason to believe that he will uphold its reputation . Bro . Page is a Life Governor of the Girls' School and Benevolent Institution and a Life Subscriber to the Boys' School , and has served in all five Stewardships , namely , three for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and one for each of our Schools .

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