Ar00800

THE UNITED KINGDOM RAILWAY OFFICERS' AND SERVANTS' ASSOCIATION , AND RAILWAY ORPHAN FUND . PRESIDENT .

HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER , K . G . The Tenth Annual Festival in aid of this Institution will be held at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street , E . C , on Wednesday , March 16 , 1 SS 1 . The Right Hon . the EARL OK LATHOM will preside .

HONORARY STEWARDS . His Grace the Duke of VV . Birt , Esq . Richmond and Gordon . H . A . Brassey , Esq ., M . P . His Grace 'the Duke of VV . < CunIiffe I 3 roo _ s , Esq ., Grafton . M . P . His Grace the Duke of M . C . Buszard , Esq ., Q . C ., Montrose . M . P .

The Right Hon . the Earl of E . J . Cave , Esq . Ilchester . O . E . Coope , Esq ., M . P . The Right Hon . the Earl of Spencer Charrington , Esq Sheffield . G . Courtauld , Esq ., M . P . The Right Hon . the Lord VV . Y . Craig , Esq ., M . P . Airey . A . Dawson , Esq . The Right Hon . the Lord Baron de Ferrieres , M . P .

Leigh . VV . Francis , Esq . The Right Hon . the Lord Myles Fenton , Esq . Waveney . R . Garrett , Esq . The Right Hon . the Vis- H . J . Gardner , Esq . count Sandon , M . P . T . Rowley Hill , Esq ., M . P The Right Hon . Lord John J . R . Holland , Esq ., M . P . Manners , M . P . Lieut .-Col . Howard , J . P . Sir Daniel Gooch , Bart ., C VV . C Hutton , Esq ., J . P

M . P . C . Hall , Esq . Sir Trevor Lawrence , Bart ., Col . R . N . F . Kingscote ; M . P . M . P . Sir Henry Tufton , Bart . J . M . Klenck , Esq . Sir H . Drummond Wolff , "j . P . Knight , Esq . K . C . B ., M . P . J . VV . Mellor , Esq ., O . C .. Sir John Monckton , Knt . M . P .

Sir T . J . Nelson , Knt . I . S . Manley , Esq . Rev . C . J . Martyn , M . A . G . Merewethcr , Esq . S . C . Hadley , Esq ., Aid . of J . Pender , Esq ., M . P . London ( Treasurer ) . J . Phillips , Esq . Col . C . Alexander , M . P . j . Rankin , Esq ., M . P . Capt . J . E . F . Aylmer , M . P . C . T . Ritchie , Esq ., M . P .

J . E . Acworth , Esq . James Robertson , l ' -sq . T . C . Baring , Esq ., M . P . John Shaw , Esq . Henry Ford Barclay , Esq ., John Staples , Esq . ( Aid . of J . P . London ) . J . Barrett , Esq . T . Vesper , Esq . A . C . Barclay , Esq . W . Willis , Esq ., O . C ., M . P . M . Biddulph , Esq ., M . P . Baron dt Worms , M . P .

OBJECTS OF THE INSTITUTION . The Association is designed to give temporary and permanent assistance to persons in the Service of Railway Companies or Railway Contractors in cases of Accident or Severe Illness ; to provide them Annuities in old age , or if otherwise incapacitated for work , and at death to assist

their families . Forty Annuitants have been elected , and upwards of £ 29 , 000 have been distributed to necessitous cases since May , 1863 . # THE RAILWAY ORPHAN ASYLUM FUND is established to provide a Home for the offspring of those who lose their lives in carrying out their hazardous duties .

DONATIONS or SUBSCRIPTIONS , to be announced at the Festival , are earnestly solicited . 'The smallest sum will be thankfully received by thc Secretary , Mlt . JAMES SALMON , at the Offices , 31 , Finsbury Pavement , London , E . C , or bv the Stewards .

N . B . —Subscriptions of Five Shillings and upwards per annum entitle to one or more Votes . Donors of Five Guineas become Life Governors , and arc entitled to one Vote for Life at every Election . P . O . Orders should be made payable at Finsbury Pavement .

Ad00804

TO CORRESPONDENTS . The largely increased circulation to the Freemason necessitates our going to press at an earlier hour on Thursdays . It is therefore requested that all advertisements and reports intended to appear in the current number may be sent to our offices not later than 5 p . m . on Wednesdays . Short notices of importance received up to 12 o ' clock noon on Thursdays .

Ad00805

TO OUR READERS . THF . FREEMASON is published every Friday morning , price 31 ! ., and contains the fullest and latest information relating ; to Freemasonry in every degree . Subscriptions , Including Postage : — „ .,,,,. , _ . , ? ,. \ . India , China , Australia United Kingdom . Canada , the Conti- N Zca ,, 4 ni , & c . nent , & c . 13 s . 15 s . 6 d . 17 s . 6 d . Remittances may he made in Stamps , hut Post Ollice Orders or Cheques are preferred , the former payable to GEOHIIE K EXXIXC , Chief Office , London , the latter crossed I-ondon Joint Stock Hank .

Ad00806

TO ADVERTISERS . THE FREEMASON- has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe . In it thc official Reports of the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland are published with the special sanction of the respective Grand Masters , and it contains a complete record of Masonic work in this country , our Indian Empire , and the Colonies . The vast accession to thc ranks of thc Order during the past few years , and the increasing interest manifested in its doings , has given thc Freemason a position and inllucnce which few journals can lay claim to , and the proprietor can assert with confidence that announcements appearing in its columns challenge tlie attention of a very large and influential body of readers . Advertisements for the current week ' s issue are received up to si . o ' clock on Wednesday evening .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

Owing to pressure on our columns the following stands over : — ' N De Tabley Lodge , No . 941 .

BOOKS , Sic , RECEIVED . "New York Dispatch , " " Jewish Chronicle , " "Allen's Indian Mail , " "Era , " "SundayTimes , " "Hull Packet , " "Citizen , " "The Sydney Freemason , " "The New Zealand Freemason , " "Referee , " "Broad Arrow , " " Canadian Craftsman , " "Hebrew Leader , " "Der Long Islaender , " "Yarmouth Gazette , " "Brighton Gazette , " " Mystic Tie . "

Ar00807

THE FREEMASON . SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 26 , 1 S 81 . « .

Ar00802

THE Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution took place on Wednesday last at Freemasons' Tavern , under the distinguished presidency of Bro . SIR HENRY EDWARDS , Prov . Grand Master for West

Yorkshire . 1 here were no less than 390 Stewards , and the Great Hall was filled in every part . Bro . TERRY announced as thc result of the exertions of this goodl y and numerous band of Stewards—numerous , so far , beyond all precedent

—that £ 14 , 262 4 s . od . were returned ( a striking proof of the unchanging liberality of the Craft ) to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . This is a most striking , and even startling , return , and reflects the greatest credit on collectors and donors .

* * WE were much struck at tlie last meeting of the Board of Benevolence with the careful and exhaustive manner in which all the petitions for relief were treated by a most patient and

discriminating Board . Some complain that thc grants are too large ; after some experience we wish to say that we do not think so , and that the theory that there is any sacrcdness in the accumulations of the

Fund of Benevolence is a mistake altogether . If there be any use or benefit in a Fund of Benevolence , it is impossible to limit the amount of grants voted after careful scrutiny and thoughtful discussion .

* * WE cannot understand why the Grand Lodge grant to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution should be charged to the Fund of Benevolence , and those for the Boys' and Girls' Schools to the

Fund of General Purposes . Wc repeat what we said on a former occasion , that it would be both more business-like and satisfactory if all these payments were charged to the one Fund for General Purposes . Then we should see at a glance what

was thc whole amount granted b y the Board of Benevolence for Masonic Charity , in accordance with the provisions of the Book of Constitutions , year by year . The amount is , no doubt ,

comparativel y insignificant , but uniformity of system is a great desideratum in all accounts . And as we know no valid reason for this difference , we trust that our suggestion will be well received by those in authority .

* * WE have lately had brought before us forcibly the great , and wc fear increasing , evil of itinerant Masons . Wc wish all lodges would set their faces steadfastly against Masonic mendicancy , but ,

unfortunately , so good hearted [ and impulsive are Freemasons in this respect , that they are only far too ready to give relief to such applicants . Hence much evil accrues to Masonry and society , in that

unworthy objects are hardened in their unmasonic efforts , and often the really needful case does not receive the help it asks for , the consideration it merits . Both in America and Great Britain there

seems to be a growing " caste of professional beggars who live on Masonry , who do no work , and arc utterly idle , worthless , ill-conducted members of society . We recommend all lodges

carefully to scrutinize the papers and enquire into the often fictitious wants of those who "tramp " from lodge to lodge , asking for relief , and , in fact , depending on the warm-hearted charity of our bre-

Ar00803

thren , whom they wilfully deceive , often with fictitious " papers , " oftener with unreal assertions of need and distress . * * * WE were rejoiced to note that at a recent

initiation in the Aldersgate Lodge the newly-initiated candidates received each a small copy of the " Book of Constitutions , " as well as the lod ge bye-laws . We do most sincerely recommend

this most sensible proceeding to the attention of all our readers , that so , by degrees , this excellent and , befitting habit may be introduced into all our lodges .

* * IT is satisfactory to note that some Roman Catholic writers are at last opening their eyes to the grave injustice of the common Ultramontane attack on Freemasonry , especially in Great Britain and

America . A Father DESCHAMPS has stated in a recent tract , extracts from which appear in the Philadelphia Keystone , and of which an account will appear in the March number of the "

Masonic Magazine , " which see , that both in Great Britain and America the Freemasons cannot fairl y be accused of cither irreligious or revolutionary principles . This is as it should be .

* * Wc shall publish next week a pamphlet by Bro . Major Bond relative to the Masonic Charities ; pressure , owing to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ' s Anniversary Festival , prevents its appearing until then .

* * WE notice that by our recently published Grand Lodge accounts , from July 1 st to August loth , 1 SS 0 , for the Fund of Benevolence , the receipts were £ 2202 6 s . 1 id ., and the expenditure , £ 2468

iSs . od ., leaving a balance due to thc GRAND TREASURER of £ 266 11 s . id . But as this balance includes a payment to the Royal Alasonic Benevolent Institution , ( which , as we said before , we object to see here ) , of £ 200 , the whole balance

against the Fund for under six weeks is onl y £ 66 1 is . iod . For the Fund of General Purposes from July 1 st to September 30 th , three months , the receipts are , including preceding balance , £ 6124 us . 1 id ., the expenditure £ 1280 ios . 7 d .,

leaving a balance in favour of Grand Lodge on this account of 48 44 is . 4 d . We cannot hel p making the remark , that we venture to think that these accounts might be brought a little closer up , but as

before long we shall review the Balance Sheet for 1 SS 0 , wc shall be able to consider thc whole question of our Grand Lodge accounts , carefully and clearly compiled as they are .

* * WE call attention to a curious statement of facts elsewhere relative to thc Lodge "The Gael , " No . 609 , S . C , and which is taken from page 5 of No . 20 of the " Proceedings of thc Grand Lodge of

Scotland . " It seems that this lodge had sent a sort of begging letter around Scotland , and even into F . ngland . The lodge , it appears , had got into debt £ 100 , though its highest number of

members seems to have been "twenty-eight entrants . " The lodge has accordingly been censured by the Grand Lodge Grand Committee , whose censure has been approved of , and is to be admonished by the Prov . Grand Lodge . It certainly does seem a " strong order . "

* * THE financial condition of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , thanks mainly to the persevering zeal and able administration of Bro . D . M . LYON , Grand Secretary , which have been very properly

acknowledged by a recent vote of the Grand Lodge , has been gradually improving . The quarter ' s accounts for thc time ending January , 1881 , were as follows : Income £ 1291 12 s . 4 d . ; expenditure £ 723 6 s ., leaving a

balance in favour of Grand Lodge of £ 568 6 s . 4 d . According to SIR M . S HAW STEWART ' S remarks , when Bro . D . M . LYON assumed office , in 1877 ,

the Grand Lodge owed £ 10 , 500 , in next May it would only owe £ 3 , 500 . We wish Bro . D . M . LYON all success in his generous exertions and his effective arrangements .