Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS , 6 93 The " Cosmo" for 1 S 8 S 604 "Masonic Facts and Fictions " 6 94 Board of Benevolence 6 95 Consecration of the Talbot Lodge , No . 2231 6 9 $
Ancient and Accepted Rite fioj Gibraltar 6 95 ' The Craft Abroad 69 ; CORRESPONDENCEThe Grand Treasurership 69 ) Charitable Associations 6 97
Notes and Queries , 697 REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry G 9 S Instruction 503 Royal Arch 503
Instruction ^ 03 Mark Masonry 503 Knights Templar ...... J 03 Theatres 503 j Masonic and General Tidings 704 Lodge Meetings for Next Week iv .
Ar00101
As this will be our last appearance before Christmas , we take Christmastide . tne opportunity of wishing our friends and supporters the usual compliments of this festive season . Not all people exhibit the same reverence as the Christian for this particular festival , but men of all creeds appear to have settled among themselves that the season
of the year , if not the day itself , is one which may properly be devoted to the observance of those kindly offices of Charity and goodwill which it is the especial object of all systems of morality and religion equally to inculcate . The Parsee , the Mahommedan , the Hebrew , the Christian , are alike interested in upholding these observances , and though each may adopt a
different mode of celebration , and may even select a different day or period , all are actuated by a desire to strengthen and promote Charity and goodwill among men . Thus " the Compliments of the Season " include almost every form of good wish which it is possible to express , and may be tendered with equal propriety to people of every variety of religious faith . And just
now , unfortunately , there happens to be a greater need than ever for the fulfilment of all kindly duties . The political outlook on the Continent of Europe is the very reverse of encouraging , while' at home there appears to be even more than the usual amount of suffering and distress to cope with . As regards the former , we must content ourselves with hoping that peaceful
counsels may in the end prevail ; as regards the latter , not a day passes , we are happy to say , without some scheme being devised which will bring food and warmth and work to the poor who need it so grievously . This is as it should
be ; and the toast will be drunk more genially , and " Hearty good wishes " be uttered more cheerily , when it is seen that our poor and distressed neighbours are admitted to a share in those " Compliments of the Season " which take the form of generous Christmas beef and pudding .
* * * „ . ,. WE are near enough to the opening of the New Year to The Approaching _ v - 10 Festival of the justify our taking stock of its prospects as regards the Fes-R . M . B . I . J J b r r a
tivals of our several Charitable Institutions ; and as that of the Royal Mascnic Benevolent Institution will be celebrated first in the order of time , it is our duly to place before cur readers such information as it is in our power , so that they may be able to judge for themselves whether , having regard to the special circumstances of the year we are about entering
upon , there is any reasonable likelihood 01 the Anniversary proving as successful as the heavy pressure upon the resources of the Institution would seem to demand . It is natural that people should hesitate about repeating the same story year after year , yet what can they do if the repetition is unavoidable ? This year , for instance , the number of annuitants on both
Funds of this Charity is greater than ever it has been before , nor should we be justified in withholding this announcement from our readers , merely on the ground that it has been our duty to make precisely the same statement annually for a long time past . Whenever it has seemed necessary and , at the same time , practicable to increase the number of annuitants , the
Committee of Management , with the approval of the general body of Governors and Subset ibers , have taken on additional old brethren and widows , and as these increases have been of almost annual occurrence for quite a dozen years , our reiterated statements as to the number being greater than ever have been not a mere figure of speech ,
but absolutely true . These increases in number have , of course , entailed corresponding increase of expenditure , and where only about £ 6800 or £ jooo was required for the-payment of annuities , the figure has been slowly but surely enlarged , till at length it stands at the enormous figure of £ 15 , , to say nothing of the further sum
of about £ 3000 , which is required annually for the expenses of management , maintenance of building , and so forth . But what makes the matter worse still is that , though there are now some 400 , or rather more than 400 , annuitants , taking the two Funds together , now as against some 200 or more about 12 or 14 years since , and although this head of expenditure has to
increased , as we have said , from about ^ 7000 ^ 15 , , there has been an almost , if not quitea , corresponding increase in the number of applicants for admission into the Institution . There is yet one more meeting to be held before the roll of candidates for the election in May , 1888 , will be completed , but with the number remaining over from the last election , and the
Ar00102
brethren and widows whose petitions have been accepted thus far , there is already a list of about no candidates , which , when the January Committee has been held , we may expect will be enlarged to from 125 to 130 . In short , there is every reason to believe that , in spite of the augmentation of numbers agreed to at the annual meeting in May last , there will be quite
as many candidates for election in the coming as in the current year . But , it will be asked—How stand the vacancies ? and people will arguenot without reason we admit—that with a larger number of annuitants there should be a larger number of deaths , and that consequently the number of annuities to be filled up must be greater . This would be found
true enough , no doubt , if the average death rate were taken for a series of years . But , as a matter of fact , the vacancies , we rejoice to say , have been singularly few , the result being that the applicants , notwithstanding the frequent creation of fresh annuities , have not been appreciably reduced . This year the vacancies on the two Funds together do not exceed 10 at
present , and therefore in May next we may anticipate there will be almost as marked a disproportion in respect of number between the vacancies to be filled and the applicants to fill them , as there was in May of the present year , or in May 1886 . Tnis then is the position of the Benevolent Institution : the annual expenditure is about AS . ooo . of which £ 15 , 000 isdevoted
to annuities , and the permanent annual income is ^ 3 600 . There are now some no candidates and about 10 vacancies , and after next Committee meeting there will be , in all probability , close on 130 of the former . Thus , in order to maintain an equipoise between income and . expenditure , the proceeds of the Festival which will be held on the 29 th February should be , in
round figures , sufficient to provide the £ 15 , 000 for annuities . If this sum is exceeded , so much the better for the Institution and its ability to meet the heavy demands on its resources , but with the centenary ol the Girls ' School , and the urgent needs of the Boys' School in order to meet its necessities , we dare not compromise ourselves by being over sanguine .
However , there is this consolation , that Bro . TERRY was fortunate enough to secure , at an early date , the services of an influential Chairman in the person of R . W . Bro . Sir GEORGE Er . LiOT , Bart ., M . P ., whose Province of South Wales , Eastern Division , is sufficiently strong to enable it to render him substantial support , and which is certain to put forth its strength in order to
ensure the greatest possible success for a Festival in which their respected chief will fill so important a part . The other Provinces too , as well as the lodges in London , will no doubt be as active and as generous as they have been in past years , but the services of more brethren as Stewards are urgently needed , the Board numbering at the present date only some 180
or considerably less than last year's Board , at the corresponding period in 1 S 86 ; and we earnestly press upon our readers , or those of them whose engagements will permit of it , the importance of lending a helping hand to Bro . TERRY in his present arduous campaign . There are two clear months still remaining before the Festival will take place , and there is time
therefore for a brother who puts his shoulder to the wheel to compile a very serviceable list of contributions . Need we repeat , what we have said on so many previous occasions , that it is most important there should be a strong
body of Stewards , if only that the duty of providing the necessary funds for the year's requirements may be fully and faithfully discharged . There is urgent need for further help , and we believe that when the extent of the urgency is known , the help will be readily forthcoming .
# * # IT is more than probable that ere these remarks meet the eye The Masonic . ' J Asylum , of our worthy friends and brethren in New York , the splendid Kew York . . > r
efforts which have been made during the past two years b y their M . W . Grand Master , Bro . FRANK R . LAWRENCE , to free the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund of New York from its heavy load of debt , will have proved successful , and that their Charitable Asylum for destitute Masons and the widows and orphans of Masons will at length find itself , in a position
to confer those benefits for which the Fund was originated nearly 50 years ago , but which , owing to the . absorption of its means in defraying interest charges and reducing its liabilities , it has hitherto been prevented conferring . Two years ago , when Bro . LAWRENCE was for the first time installed Grand Master , the debt amounted to 500 , 000
dollars ; a little while ago it had been reduced to 160 , 000 dollars , and now , if the Masonic Fair recently held in New York and opened by the GRAND MASTER on the 27 th ult ., has realised the just expectations formed of its success , the debt must be nil or not far removed from it . This almost
unprecedented success is due to the efforts of Bro . LAWRENCE and the generous support he has received from the brethren and their friends , and we lake an early opportunity of warmly congratulating our distinguished brother and the lodges and members in his jurisdiction on the gratifying result of their joint labours .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS , 6 93 The " Cosmo" for 1 S 8 S 604 "Masonic Facts and Fictions " 6 94 Board of Benevolence 6 95 Consecration of the Talbot Lodge , No . 2231 6 9 $
Ancient and Accepted Rite fioj Gibraltar 6 95 ' The Craft Abroad 69 ; CORRESPONDENCEThe Grand Treasurership 69 ) Charitable Associations 6 97
Notes and Queries , 697 REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry G 9 S Instruction 503 Royal Arch 503
Instruction ^ 03 Mark Masonry 503 Knights Templar ...... J 03 Theatres 503 j Masonic and General Tidings 704 Lodge Meetings for Next Week iv .
Ar00101
As this will be our last appearance before Christmas , we take Christmastide . tne opportunity of wishing our friends and supporters the usual compliments of this festive season . Not all people exhibit the same reverence as the Christian for this particular festival , but men of all creeds appear to have settled among themselves that the season
of the year , if not the day itself , is one which may properly be devoted to the observance of those kindly offices of Charity and goodwill which it is the especial object of all systems of morality and religion equally to inculcate . The Parsee , the Mahommedan , the Hebrew , the Christian , are alike interested in upholding these observances , and though each may adopt a
different mode of celebration , and may even select a different day or period , all are actuated by a desire to strengthen and promote Charity and goodwill among men . Thus " the Compliments of the Season " include almost every form of good wish which it is possible to express , and may be tendered with equal propriety to people of every variety of religious faith . And just
now , unfortunately , there happens to be a greater need than ever for the fulfilment of all kindly duties . The political outlook on the Continent of Europe is the very reverse of encouraging , while' at home there appears to be even more than the usual amount of suffering and distress to cope with . As regards the former , we must content ourselves with hoping that peaceful
counsels may in the end prevail ; as regards the latter , not a day passes , we are happy to say , without some scheme being devised which will bring food and warmth and work to the poor who need it so grievously . This is as it should
be ; and the toast will be drunk more genially , and " Hearty good wishes " be uttered more cheerily , when it is seen that our poor and distressed neighbours are admitted to a share in those " Compliments of the Season " which take the form of generous Christmas beef and pudding .
* * * „ . ,. WE are near enough to the opening of the New Year to The Approaching _ v - 10 Festival of the justify our taking stock of its prospects as regards the Fes-R . M . B . I . J J b r r a
tivals of our several Charitable Institutions ; and as that of the Royal Mascnic Benevolent Institution will be celebrated first in the order of time , it is our duly to place before cur readers such information as it is in our power , so that they may be able to judge for themselves whether , having regard to the special circumstances of the year we are about entering
upon , there is any reasonable likelihood 01 the Anniversary proving as successful as the heavy pressure upon the resources of the Institution would seem to demand . It is natural that people should hesitate about repeating the same story year after year , yet what can they do if the repetition is unavoidable ? This year , for instance , the number of annuitants on both
Funds of this Charity is greater than ever it has been before , nor should we be justified in withholding this announcement from our readers , merely on the ground that it has been our duty to make precisely the same statement annually for a long time past . Whenever it has seemed necessary and , at the same time , practicable to increase the number of annuitants , the
Committee of Management , with the approval of the general body of Governors and Subset ibers , have taken on additional old brethren and widows , and as these increases have been of almost annual occurrence for quite a dozen years , our reiterated statements as to the number being greater than ever have been not a mere figure of speech ,
but absolutely true . These increases in number have , of course , entailed corresponding increase of expenditure , and where only about £ 6800 or £ jooo was required for the-payment of annuities , the figure has been slowly but surely enlarged , till at length it stands at the enormous figure of £ 15 , , to say nothing of the further sum
of about £ 3000 , which is required annually for the expenses of management , maintenance of building , and so forth . But what makes the matter worse still is that , though there are now some 400 , or rather more than 400 , annuitants , taking the two Funds together , now as against some 200 or more about 12 or 14 years since , and although this head of expenditure has to
increased , as we have said , from about ^ 7000 ^ 15 , , there has been an almost , if not quitea , corresponding increase in the number of applicants for admission into the Institution . There is yet one more meeting to be held before the roll of candidates for the election in May , 1888 , will be completed , but with the number remaining over from the last election , and the
Ar00102
brethren and widows whose petitions have been accepted thus far , there is already a list of about no candidates , which , when the January Committee has been held , we may expect will be enlarged to from 125 to 130 . In short , there is every reason to believe that , in spite of the augmentation of numbers agreed to at the annual meeting in May last , there will be quite
as many candidates for election in the coming as in the current year . But , it will be asked—How stand the vacancies ? and people will arguenot without reason we admit—that with a larger number of annuitants there should be a larger number of deaths , and that consequently the number of annuities to be filled up must be greater . This would be found
true enough , no doubt , if the average death rate were taken for a series of years . But , as a matter of fact , the vacancies , we rejoice to say , have been singularly few , the result being that the applicants , notwithstanding the frequent creation of fresh annuities , have not been appreciably reduced . This year the vacancies on the two Funds together do not exceed 10 at
present , and therefore in May next we may anticipate there will be almost as marked a disproportion in respect of number between the vacancies to be filled and the applicants to fill them , as there was in May of the present year , or in May 1886 . Tnis then is the position of the Benevolent Institution : the annual expenditure is about AS . ooo . of which £ 15 , 000 isdevoted
to annuities , and the permanent annual income is ^ 3 600 . There are now some no candidates and about 10 vacancies , and after next Committee meeting there will be , in all probability , close on 130 of the former . Thus , in order to maintain an equipoise between income and . expenditure , the proceeds of the Festival which will be held on the 29 th February should be , in
round figures , sufficient to provide the £ 15 , 000 for annuities . If this sum is exceeded , so much the better for the Institution and its ability to meet the heavy demands on its resources , but with the centenary ol the Girls ' School , and the urgent needs of the Boys' School in order to meet its necessities , we dare not compromise ourselves by being over sanguine .
However , there is this consolation , that Bro . TERRY was fortunate enough to secure , at an early date , the services of an influential Chairman in the person of R . W . Bro . Sir GEORGE Er . LiOT , Bart ., M . P ., whose Province of South Wales , Eastern Division , is sufficiently strong to enable it to render him substantial support , and which is certain to put forth its strength in order to
ensure the greatest possible success for a Festival in which their respected chief will fill so important a part . The other Provinces too , as well as the lodges in London , will no doubt be as active and as generous as they have been in past years , but the services of more brethren as Stewards are urgently needed , the Board numbering at the present date only some 180
or considerably less than last year's Board , at the corresponding period in 1 S 86 ; and we earnestly press upon our readers , or those of them whose engagements will permit of it , the importance of lending a helping hand to Bro . TERRY in his present arduous campaign . There are two clear months still remaining before the Festival will take place , and there is time
therefore for a brother who puts his shoulder to the wheel to compile a very serviceable list of contributions . Need we repeat , what we have said on so many previous occasions , that it is most important there should be a strong
body of Stewards , if only that the duty of providing the necessary funds for the year's requirements may be fully and faithfully discharged . There is urgent need for further help , and we believe that when the extent of the urgency is known , the help will be readily forthcoming .
# * # IT is more than probable that ere these remarks meet the eye The Masonic . ' J Asylum , of our worthy friends and brethren in New York , the splendid Kew York . . > r
efforts which have been made during the past two years b y their M . W . Grand Master , Bro . FRANK R . LAWRENCE , to free the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund of New York from its heavy load of debt , will have proved successful , and that their Charitable Asylum for destitute Masons and the widows and orphans of Masons will at length find itself , in a position
to confer those benefits for which the Fund was originated nearly 50 years ago , but which , owing to the . absorption of its means in defraying interest charges and reducing its liabilities , it has hitherto been prevented conferring . Two years ago , when Bro . LAWRENCE was for the first time installed Grand Master , the debt amounted to 500 , 000
dollars ; a little while ago it had been reduced to 160 , 000 dollars , and now , if the Masonic Fair recently held in New York and opened by the GRAND MASTER on the 27 th ult ., has realised the just expectations formed of its success , the debt must be nil or not far removed from it . This almost
unprecedented success is due to the efforts of Bro . LAWRENCE and the generous support he has received from the brethren and their friends , and we lake an early opportunity of warmly congratulating our distinguished brother and the lodges and members in his jurisdiction on the gratifying result of their joint labours .