Freemasonry In 1891.

principal change among the ruling sir knights has been the appointment of Sir Knight Sir R . N . Howard to be Provincial Prior of Dorsetshire in place of Sir Knight J . M . P . Montagu , who has retired on the score of ill-health . The Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine may be said to lead a sort of passive existence . It met as usual in annual Grand Conclave , but it is evident there is room for the infusion of new blood into the executive .

There is no reason why this Order should not become better known and appreciated among Craftsmen , but this will not happen while the present condition of torpor continues . The Royal Order of Scotland , the Allied Degrees , the Royal and Select Masters , and the Rosicrucians furnish evidence from time to time of their existence , the Metropolitan and York

Colleges of the last-named Society meeting regularly and evincing their enthusiasm by the study of the more abstruse branches of Masonic science . The Order of the Secret Monitor , also , holds high festival once a year , and the occasional addition to the roll of a new council testifies that it has been making- some further progress .

OUR INSTITUTIONS . The three Institutions which it is the pride of English Masonry to have established have fared prosperous !) -, though the measure of prosperity which each has obtained has been marked by an unusual degree of inequality . In this respect , however , we are by no means surprised . The Benevolent Institution stands committed to so large an annual expenditure that

anything like a serious diminution in its annual returns would create alarm in the minds of its supporters , but the Masonic Schools are not so heavily weighted , and the effects of a smaller contribution in any one year are not so greatly felt . The Girls' School had a grand success in the year 1 SS 8 , when it celebrated the centenary of its foundation ; but since then it has been less urgent in its appeals for support . On the other hand , the Boys' School had managed to get into bad odour with the Craft to

such an extent that its incomings very seriously diminished . However , a change was made at last in the administration of its affairs , and confidence having been to a great extent re-established , the Craft set itself earnestly to the restoration of its monetary soundness with such goodwill and success that , if we except the Centenary Festival of the Girls' School already alluded to , the anniversary held at Brighton in June last has proved to be the most signal triumph in the way of Masonic appeals for support which has ever been achieved .

Ihe Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall , under the presidency of Bro . Earl Amherst , Prov . G . Master of Kent , on the 25 th February , when the sum received in donations and subscriptions amounted to within a few shillings of £ 15 , 880 , the magnitude of this success being in great measure attributable to the exertions of the Kentish Stewards , who raised amongst them the very large

total of £ 3484 . But though the total thus obtained was slightly in excess of the amount annually dispensed in annuities , the Committee of Management —very wisely in our judgment—abstained from recommending an increase in the number of annuitants on either Fund . The Festivals in the precedingtwo years had yielded in each case less than was necessary to provide the annuities , and under the circumstances they considered it better to wait till

next year , till the Jubilee Festival had been held , before suggesting a still further extension of the benefits of this most important Charity . " Thus , when the Annual General Meetingof the Governors and Subscribers was held , as usual , in May , only the actual and deferred vacancies were filled up , or rather we should say only the actual vacancies were filled , and the three deferred annuities on each fund provided for by the election of that number

of men and widows . This meeting was held on the 15 th May , when the Committee of Management submitted their report for the year , in whicli , after expressing their gratitude to the noble Chairman at the Festival , his Stewards , and the Craft generally , for the very handsome provision they had made towards the year ' s expenditure , they recommended that 20 men and 16 widows , including , in each case , the three deferred annuitants , should

be elected from lists of candidates numbering 66 men and St widows respectively . The recommendation was accepted , and the said numbers were elected , the number of men being subsequently increased to 21 in consequence of there being a tic between two candidates for the 17 th place . On the same occasion the vacancies among the Trustees of the several Funds , caused bv the lamented deaths of Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon and Bro . William

Winn , were filled by the appointment of Bro . C . . E . Keyset- as Trustee of the Male Fund , Bro . Henry Smith as Trustee of the Widows' Fund , and Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe as Trustee of the Sustentation of Building Fund . The Committee had also the satisfaction of reporting that a legacy of £ 3500 bequeathed by the late Bro . Dr . Marris Wilson had been paid over by the executors to the

Institution . A few days later a Special General Meeting was held for the purpose of considering a motion for the suspension of the rules defining the privileges in the shape of votes accorded to donors and subscribers of various grade ' s , in view of the approaching celebration of the Jubilee of the Institution , and the motion having been duly agreed to , was submitted to Grand Lodge for its approval at the June Quarterly Communication , and approved

without question . Ihe result of this move on the part of the Committee is that Stewards and contributors to the Jubilee Festival next year will receive extra privileges in the shape of votes according to the success of their canvass in the case of the former , and according to the amount of their contributions in that of the latter ; the suspension remaining in force till the 30 th June , 1892 . As for the other events of the year relating to this

Institution , they include the usual winter and summer entertainments to the inmates at Croydon and the usual Stewards' visit to the Asylum . We must not , however , close this record without mentioning the great success which has attended the efforts of Bro . James Terry and the executive generally in their efforts to obtain the assistance of a more than usually numerous

Board of Stewards for the said Jubilee Festival , and the promises of support they have received from Grand Lodge and throughout the country . The Board already numbers upwards of 800 brethren , while as rewards support Grand Lodge has already , at the instance of Bro . Sir J . P . Monckton , set a most generous example to the lodges and brethren by voting a contribution of £ 525 .

The Royal Masonic Institution for Girls celebrated its Anniversary Festival in the month of May , but not with quite that measure of success which had been expected . Bro . Lord Carrington , Past Grand Master of New South Wales and Provincial Grand Master of Bucks , presided as

Chairman ; 266 brethren gave their services as Stewards , and the sum raised by their efforts readied £ 8617 , or less by some £ 2400 than was realised in 1890 . But if in this respect the School authorities are unable to congratulate themselves , they must be well content with the prominent events which have taken place in connection with their premises at Battcrsca Rise .

Freemasonry In 1891.

In March the Institution was honoured with a visit by the Prince of Wales , who was accompanied by the Princess of Wales and their daughters , the Princesses Victoria and Maud . The occasion was the opening of the new Hall erected out of the proceeds of the Centenary Festival , and , as may be imagined , the building was well filled with a strongly representative body of Masons composed of Present and Past Grand Officers , many of the principal

officers of the Provincial Grand Lodges , and those ol the Centenary Stewards who had undertaken Stewardships for the present year . These with a number of ladies , the children , the House Committee , and the staff of Governesses had the satisfaction of witnessing the simple yet impressive ceremony performed by his Royal Highness the Grand Master , President of the Institution ; while to add to the satisfaction of all present as well as to

the general body of the Craft , the Princess of Wales most graciously acceded to the request of the executive that the new Hall should be named after her Royal Highness the " Alexandra" Hall . Later in the year the School was honoured with another visit by Royalty , the Princess Mary Adelaide , Duchess of Teck , and her daughter , the Princess Victoria Mary , the fia ncee ol the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , driving down to Battersea Rise for the

purpose of inspecting the School and witnessing the famous calisthenic exercises for which the children have obtained such universal praise . In the summer " Our Girls " were entertained at the Mansion House by Bro . Lord Mayor Savory , who is a member of the House Committee , and has on previous occasions evinced his interest in the Institution by entertaining the children at his country house at Buckhurst Hill . Other events to be

noted are the grant of special privileges to Bro . Frank Richardson , for his valuable services in arranging matters with the London , Brighton , and South Coast Railway , and to Bros . H . A . Hunt and Ralph Glutton , the Honorary Architects of the Institution , for their services in connection with the new hall . The privileges accorded to the brethren we have named were those pertaining to the grade of Honorary Patron . The elections were held ,

as usual , at the Quarterly Courts in April and October , there being elected at the former 19 out of 25 candidates , and at the latter precisely the same number from a similar list . Sundry changes have been made in the rules which govern the administration of the School , the changes having been made at a Special Court held on the 21 st of the current month . Lastly ,

as showing that the School well maintains its prestige as an educational establishment , ' we . refer"to the successes achieved b y sundry of its pupils at the Cambridge Middle-Class and College of Preceptors' Examinations , successes which were very properly recognised at the annual distribution of prizes held in May , by Lady Carrington . .

As for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , we have nothing but what is congratulatory to say of the year ' s proceedings . The chief event—the celebration of the Anniversary Festival—proved a magnificent success . It was held in the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , under the presidency of Bro . the Earl of Lathom , Pro Grand Master , on the 24 th June . The number of brethren who gave their services as Stewards was 7 67 , and the total of the

subscriptions and donations ultimately reached the splendid total of £ 29 , 680 . Such a result , obtained , too , without the offer of any special privileges either to the Stewards or the contributors , has never been realised at any previous Masonic Festival , with the solitary exception of the Girls' Centenary , when the total amounted to £ 51 , 600 , but on that occasion there were , and very properly , we think , special inducements held out to the Stewards to exert

themselves in order to raise as large amounts as possible . But on this matter , it is unnecessary to say more in this record , the material point being that this remarkable success has had the effect of restoring the somewhat dilapidated fortunes of the Institution , the Festival of 1890 having realised less than £ 10 , 000 . Furthermore , it furnishes unmistakable evidence that the confidence of the Craft in the administration of the School has been

completely restored , so that , though we cannot hope that future Festivals will realise an equal measure of good fortune , we are not without hope that now the finances have been restored , the Craft will supply the requisite funds for maintaining it in its re-established efficiency . It is also satisfactory to know that the pupils who were sent up to the Cambridge Middle-Class Examinations , were almost without exception successful , a

very considerable proportion of them obtaining honours . At the prize distribution , which took place the day preceding the Festival , the Earl of Lathom presided , and the prizes were given away by the Countess of Lathom , who expressed the satisfaction she had derived from the efficient manner in which it was conducted . Other evidences have been furnished of the favourable change which has taken place in the management of the

Institution ; to wit , the success of the branches of technical education which have been adopted , and the satisfactory athletic meeting which was held at Wood Green in the month of May . In short , the School is now firmly set up again , and the Head Master , the Rev . Bro . Hebbs , and the Secretary , Bro . McLeod , who have taken so important a part in obtaining these results , well deserve the increased

emoluments which have been voted to them respectively by the Council . We are also pleased to know that the new arrangements in regulating the affairs of the School are working satisfactorily . The Provisional Management Committee delivered their final report in the early part of the year , and the Board of Management were elected at the Quarterly Court in April , the Board consisting of 30 members—15 London and 15 country brethren—who are elected for three years , one-third , consisting of an equal

number of London and country members , retiring every year , but being eligible for re-election . This body is divided into Sub-Committees , which severally look after the finances , the petitions , & c ., & c , and as we have said , so far as there has been an opportunity of judging , the new scheme works well . As regards the elections , at that which took place in April , 28 were elected out of 45 candidates , while in October , 24 were elected out of 3 6 , five additional boys being elected on the latter occasion in consequence of the success of the Festival .

PROVINCIAL AND OTHER CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS . A very considerable increase has been noticeable in the activity exhibited by the Provincial Charitable Organisations , which have been from time lo time established for the purpose of affording relief to the Central Charities from the pressure to which they have been subjected of late years , and , what is of greater importance still , sundry new organisations of this character have been started with very fair prospects of success . Of this class of

institution those connected with the Provinces ot East and West Lancashire are undoubtedly the most important . West Lancashire has three of them , one for the education and advancement of children , with a considerable sum , amounting to from £ 18 , 000 to £ 20 , 000 invested as capital , and a lair income derived partly from dividends , but principally from donations and subscriptions by the Provincial and private lodges and chapters and their members ; the Hamer Fund for providing annuities for aged and indigent brethren ; and the Alpass Fund , which grants annuities to widows . All these have prospered