Board Of Benevolence.

Sydney , N . S . W ., Croydon ,, Norwich , Derby , Whitehaven , Halifax . N . Z ., High Barnet , Cambridge , Kingston-on-Thames , Knutsford , Bedford , Lowestoft , Birkenhead , Twickenham , Dover , and Port of Spain . The ages of some of the petitioners were very high . One was S 3 , another 82 , one 79 , one 78 , one was 7 6 , one 75 , one 74 , two were 73 , and two 71 . One had subscribed 47 years to his lodge , another 38 years , three

-o years and over , others 26 , 25 , 17 , 16 , and 15 . Three of these 48 cases were deferred . The remainder were voted a total of ^ 1185 . Two petitioners were recommended to Grand Lodge for ^* ioo each , and one case of three orp hans for £ 50 . In five instances £ 40 was referred to the Grand Master for his approval , and in 12 cases £ 30 was recommended to the Grand Master . Thirteen petitioners were voted £ 20 each , and 11 were voted £ 10 each . One petitioner got £ 5 .

Important Masonic Gathering At Wigan.

IMPORTANT MASONIC GATHERING AT WIGAN .

NEW HALL OPENED BY THE EARL OF LATHOM . On the 15 th instant an important function took place at Wigan in connection with Freemasonry . The united lodges of the town , housed previously in Leader ' s-btiildings , decided upon more commodious premises ? The inaugural ceremony of opening the Masonic Hall , now situated in Tower-buildings , Wallgate , took place on the 15 th instant , the ceremony being performed by the Prov . Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , P . G . W ., who was supported by many other officers of distinction associated with Masonry in the Province of West Lancashire .

The Earl of Lathom , who was received in the approach of the hall by the principal ollicers of the province and local W . Ms ., along with the Masonic brethren of the district , was presented with a handsome gold key , with which he opened the premises . In a congratulatory speech upon the progress in West Lancashire , the Earl dwelt upon the significant part Wigan had played , and comp limented the brethren upon the handsome premises in which they had become located .

The ceremony was followed by the installation of Bro . Edward Hughes , of the Holmes Lodge , No . 2708 , alter which a banquet took place . The golden key presented to the Earl of Lathom is hand wrought . The stem is richly chased , and from it laurel leaves spring in the for . n of a capital and support the bow of the key . On the front shield is beautifully enamelled in

true heraldic colours the Wigan coat of arms , and on the reverse side is artistically engraved the following inscription : " Presented to the Right lion , the Eirl of Lathom on the occasion of the opening of the new Masonic Hall , Tower - buildings , Wigan , 15 th October , 1901 . " The key is surmounted by the Royal crown , and the whole is enclosed in a handsome dark blue velvet case .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

Triune Brotherhood Lodge , No . 2121 ( E . C ) . INSTALLATION OK BRO . CAPTAIN BLACKHAM , R . A . M . C . Bro . Captain R . J . Blackham , R . A . M . C , was installed VV . M . of the above lodge at Kasaali , Punjab , India , on the iSth ult . 'lhe installation banquet was held alter the ceremony . Amcng the guests were Major Foide , Commandant of Kasaali ; Colonel Barrow , F . M . O . ; Major Maxwell , Mr . Minns , Deputy Commissioner ; Bro . Barker , Deputy Commissioner , and nearly all the leading ollicers and civilians of the neighbourhood .

The dinner was provided by Bro . Sparke , P . M ., P . D . S . G . VV . Bengal , and was worthy of the occasion . A delightful programme was performed by Sanawar School Board , and the afterdinner speeches were enhanced by numerous songs by brethren and visitors . Bro . Jenn , Dist . G . Org . Punjab , presided at the piano after dinner . lhe chief musical event of the evening was a song specially composed in honour of the new W . M ., and sung by Bro . Major Carter , secoad in command Essex Regiment .

Himalaya Preceptory Knights Templar . Sir Knight Colonel Shearer , D . S . O ., was installed Eminent Preceptor and Eminent Prior cf the Simla Preceptory and Priory on the 5 th instant . Himalaya ( Rose Croix ) Chapter , No . SO . Pro . Lieut . VV . Alves was installed M . W . S . of this chapter on the 14 H 1 ult . The following brethren were appointed by thc new M . W . S . to principal ofiices : Bros . Lieut .-, ! ' £ " ' " > li 'Z Prelate ; Captain R . J . Blackham , ist General ; andthe Earl of Suffolk , 2 nd General .

The November Magazines.

The November Magazines .

Tho Pall Mall MugazillO opens with an appreciative article on the late President McKinley , by William Waldorf Astor , which is followed by an instructive paper entitled "The Race to the Poles , " by Dr . Nansen , in which the present conditions and problems of Polar exploration are carefully examined , there are interesting articles on the Old Bailey and hook-hunting as a business , tne latter setting forth the romancerealityand possibilities of collecting . A

, , resicent of Bermuda sketches the life of the Boer prisoners in that West Indian paiadise ; while William Archer ' s "Real Conversation " is this time with Prole-ssar David Masson . "Insect Weapons and Tools" contains some revelations ol ilie microscope , exhibited by a series of photo-micrographs . There is a vtibatim translalion of Lieut .-Col . Dclannay ' s sensatio-. al paper on the possiui

••>} a j * rc * nch invasion uf England , illustrated by a series of photographs Rowing the rapid embarking and landing of troops . Interesting articles on thc Ugui les of the Mont Blanc group , and the scenery of the Canadian Rocky curitains * , together with some capital complete stories , go to make a really splendid number . f t h J

¦ I Lo Playgoer is a new illustrated monthly magazine of thc stage and amusements generally , edited by Fred . Dangerficld , at Elli . igham House , Arundelreel , Strand . The lirst number is of the greatest interest to all playgoers , the 1 "upa ! contents comprising papers on the Art of Ellen Terry by Brain Stoker ; skil *!" ' ' I * ' """ "' ^ t - ' " - ' ^ oU , a review of "The Silver Slipper / ' a iih «« 1 il """ "i" * " - '! l ' ' Cinc-uevalli , and critical articles on the hero f 1 I 11 Y . " ' ' " *' J ii , c st : ' ^ " lj -lU y- " 1 ' ' ni , i * lr Faces " is the title of a series 0 xc-llent * Uf wt " ' knuw " plays , which with the illustrations generally are

The November Magazines.

The Royal Magazine reproduces some very fascinating faces in " From the Stalls . " "Pictures that cost over a pound" deals with the marve ' s of modern pyrotechny , and there is an interesting account of ho * v the Rev . F . VV . G . Gilby succeeds in preaching to the deaf and dumb ; also a sketch of Franco Piper , the banjo king , and pipers on chalk sculptures and deep sea diving .

The supply of fiction is as good as ever , and special mention may be made of the following complete tale : " The Kiss of the Sun God , " " A Matter of Assurance , " " The Infatuation of Cotterwink-Dane , " " Circumstantial Evidence , " " The Seat of the Scornful , '' and " Hallindina and the King ' s Lair , " a story for children .

The Smart Set has contributions by live titled writer j . Prince Vladimir Vaniatsky is the author of a clever story , ' * The Sensrtion of the Archduchess ; " Countess Loveau de Chavanne relates the mystery of a beautiful Pirisian known as "The Black Rose ; " Lady Violet Greville writes entertainingly of " Fashion in the Garden ; " Baroness von Hutten tells the story of an artist ' s love for a girl whom he calls " Bread and Butter ; " and Lady Katharine Morgan contributes an amusing poem , " From One to Twelve . " A reading of these contributions does

not suggest that they have been printed merely for the names ot the authors ; on the contrary , the work is in every case of an unusually interesting and brilliant character . Other contributions that may be mentioned are "The Wonderful fdea , " which is the leading novelette of the current number ; " The Ambassador ' s Burglar , " a humorous play in two scenes ; " At the End of the Cruise , " a running story ; "The Princess of Lilies , " and several excellent selections of verse .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Peace and Harmony Lodge , No . 359 . There was a large gathering of brethren at the meeting of this lo 3 ge on M mliy evening , the 2 ist instant , visiting night , at Southampton . The proceedings after the banquet were varied by a pleasant interlude . The Junior Warden of the lodge , B . o . A . Smith , presented the W . M ., Bro . Lovell Stevens , on behalf of the subscribers , with a small solid silver cradle in remembrance of the interesting fact thit during his yeir of office a son and heir had been born to him . Bro . Smith added that the initiitive for the presentation was due to the Senior Warden , Bro . J . L . A 4 i > ns .

The W . M . expressed his warm thanks to the brethren fjr their gi't , which he and his wife would forever treasure , not merely for its intrinsic value , but as an expression of the kindly feelings entertained rcva-ds them in connection with an event which , hi believed , " broke the record " in the history of the Lodge of Peace and Him ) ny . The visitors included several brethren from the ancient Lidgj of ( E : inomy at Winchester , and during the evening it was stated that Uro . Beach , son of the late lamented Bro . VV . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , was about to become a joining member of that lodge , of which his lite revered father was the Senior Past Master .

Benevolence Lodge , No . 489 . PORTRAIT PRESENTATION . A very pleasant gathering took place at Bideford , on the 17 th inst ., when a ceremony interesting especially to Bideford and Birnstaple brethren was observed . The members of the lodge present were Bros . E , J . Tattersill , W . M . ; VV . Ascott , I . P . M . ; G . II . Andrew , P . M . ; F . Baxter , S . VV . ; J . W . Land , J . W . ; the Rev . R . VV . \ . Smart , Chap . ; F . A . Searle , Treas . ; H . Ascott , Sec ; Caleb Sqiire , S . D . ; I' } .

Andrew , J . D . ; T . Fry , I . G . ; H . W . Huxham , Org . ; W . H . PuJlLon ' -e , D C . ; . I . Rattenbury , Stwd . ; R . Grant , Tyler ; W . B . Seldon , F . W . Purchase , W . B . Dart , R . E . L . Hookaway , W . Giddie , R . C . Maye , J . T . White , 251 ; and the Rev . Thomas Russell , 251 . There were , in addition , a large number of visitors from Birnstaple , including Bros . T . R . Seldon , H . Brooks , J . Cummings , F . Elliott , J . F . Fox , C . Lock , W . J . Lord , II . W . Sly , F . J . Ford , R . HosegooJ , H . J . Hanco ; k , and R . Malta , 481 .

The lodge having been opened , the usual business wis transicted . Thi W . M . then reminded the brethren that they had a particularly pleasant task t > perfor n that evening—and that was to present Bro . Russell with a large-sized portrait of himself and to ask him , after accepting it , to hand it back to the lodge , to be hung upon its walls , and thus make a worthy additbn tothe picture portrait irallery , which was commenced some time ago . He spoke in the highest terms of Bro . Russell ' s services Io Freemasonry , not only in the Bideford Lodge in yeais gone by , not only at present

in the Barnstaple Lodge , but also in the Province of Devon . He hoped that Bro . Russell would live many years to be able to occasionally look upon his own picture . Bro . Rev . T . Russell said he found it dillicult to express himself as he should like in return for the very kind expressions which the Worshipful Master had used towards him . But it was his first duty to accept , as he did most gratefully , the presentation which they had made to him on behalf of the brethren of the lodge , and tothinkthem most sincerely for the feelings of fraternal reeard whicli had pronpted the pre .

scntation . He had also to request that the lodge would in turn accept it from himself , and , if thought worthy of a place among so many brethren more worthy than himself , to allow it to hang in the lodge room . It was said that it was the unexpected that happened , and certainly , when he joined thc lodge a quirtsr of a century ago , and shared with others the work of resuscitating it , he never expected that the little he hai

had the opportunity of doing would lead to his being , a Warden of this luge and important province , nor did he expect he should have been honoured in the other ways that he had been , lie again thanked the lodge for the picture , which , if it could not , unfortunately , be called the portrait of a handsome man , wis , at least , thinks to Bro . - Puddicombe ' s skill , a handsome portrait . The lodge was afterwards closed in the usual way .

A Masonic banquet was subsequently held at Bro . Ascott ' s New Inn Hotel . The VV . M . presided over a Urge company . The usual loyal ai d Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and were interspersed with good examples uf vjcal ability .

Beadon Lodge , No . 619 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . MORGAN BEEDLE . The installation meeting of the above lodge was held oa the iOth inst ., at the Holborn Uestaurant , Bro . Lorenzo A . J . Faull , VV . M ., in the chair , and there w * re also present Bros . Morgan Beedle , S . VV . ; VV . Greenaway , J . W . ; J . C . Hiys , P . M ., I ' reas . ; C . Norrington , P . AI ., Sec . ; J . Swallow , S . D . ; S . I . J . Wise , J . D . ; W ,

II . Lilly , I . G . ; C . Meierhoff , P . M ., D . C . ; C . J . Jones , Stwd . ; H . Massey , P . M . ; J . VV . Avery , P . M . ; Moss Chapman , P . M . ; VV . Seaman , P . M . ; Carl I * . Fleck , P . M . ; F . Croft Wise , P . M . ; G . Perry , F . VV . Antill , A . Caley , R . Beam , G . J . Fowler , G . Budd , J . VV . Rise , J . Taylor , II . J . Moodie , K . Mason , W . M . Foster , A . C . Ardley , G . W . Barnard , VV . L . Davies , G . J . Randell , R . Henc ' itey , J . Ke . it . S . Campbell , J . E . Ohschlai , II . C . Phillips , J . W . Hirrison , F . Willis Pml--. it , A . E . Gisborne , VV . 1 . Bowler , P . M ., Tyler ; and a large number of visitors .

Bro . Lorenzo Faull opened the * lodge , and Bro . C , Meierhoff , P . M ., D . C , presented to lum Bro . Alorgan Beedle , S . VV ., and W . M . elect , for installation . Bro . Faull then installed Bro . Morgan Beedle as the Alaster of the lodge for the year ensuing . Bro . Faull was invested as the I . P . M ., aid the other brethren chosen as officers were Bros . W . | . Greenaway , S . W . ; J . Swallow , J . W . ; J . C . Hiyes , P . M , IVeii . ; C . Norrington , P . AL , Sec ; S . J . J . Wise , S . D . ; W . H . Lilly , l . D . ; C . I .

Jor . es , I . G . ; C . Meierhoff , P . AL , D . C . ; J . II . Ohlschlager , Stwd . ; G . Budd , Org . ; and T . Bowler , P . M ., Tyler . After the addresses had been delivered by B . o . Haul ) , and the whole of the ceremony performed to perfection , Bro . Beedle initiated Bro . Alartin Edward Chamberlain . Bro . Norrington , P . M ., Sec , moved that the lodge should vote 50 guineas to the list of Bro . Hayes , P . M ., I ' reas ., who was goin ¦* 10 stand as lodge Steward for the next Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , lhe motion was seconded by Bro . Meierhoff , P . M ., D . C ., and carried unanimously .