Freemasonry In 1891.

during the year now approaching its completion . East Lancashire has one such Institution , entitled the East Lancashire Systematic Educational and Benevolent Institution , which has a capital sum invested of about £ 10 , 000 , and an income sufficient to enable it to render a considerable amount of help in educating and advancing the children of poor or deceased members . The Cheshire Educational Institute , which has been in existence between

25 and 30 years , has from £ 3000 to £ 4000 invested as capital , and is well supported by the lodges and brethren in the Province , while among those institutions which have been established in recent years , the most successful are the N . and E . Yorkshire , the Hants and Isle of Wight , the Devonshire , the Dorsetshire , and the Lincolnshire . In addition to these must be mentioned the Associations which have been organised

by Staffordshire , Cambridgeshire , Herefordshire , and other Provinces for the purpose of contributing Life-Governorships or Life-Subscriberships to the Centra ! Charities , and there are also many organisations of a similar character connected with private lodges and lodges of instruction . All these kinds of Charitable organisations are valuable , whether , as in the case

of the Lancashire and similar Institutions , they take upon themselves the duty of educating orphans or supporting the aged poor ; or as in that of Staffordshire and other local or lodge Associations they are the medium for raising annually an appreciable amount of support for the principal Charities .

THE BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . . We are able to repeat almost verbatim the remarks we made in our Summary of last year . The Board has continued the policy it has gradually been enabled to adopt of keeping its expenditure within its income , while at the same time it has afforded , in ample measure , the necessary relief to all cases which on inquiry are found worthy . The Returns for

the 12 months from ist January to the 30 th November , 1891 , are as follow January , 1891 , 19 cases relieved with £ 392 ; February , 29 cases with £ 1010 ; March , 39 cases with £ 980 ; April , 31 cases with £ 765 ; May , 30 cases with £ 890 ; June , 22 cases with £ 660 ; July , 21 cases with £ 615 ; August , 12 cases with £ 360 ; September , 24 cases with £ 575 ; October , 30 cases with £ 970 ; November , 29 cases with £ 710 . Total for the 11 months ended the 30 th ult . 2 S 6 cases relieved with £ 7927 .

MASONIC LITERATURE . Our store of literature has been enriched during the year by the publication of two works of very considerable importance . One of them is from the pen of Bro . H . Sadler , G . Tyler and Sub-Librarian of Grand Lodge , and is entitled "Thomas Dunckerley : his Life , Labours , and Letters . " This is a most admirable biography of one of the most active and energetic ,

as he was also one of the most distinguished , members of our Society during the 1 Sth century . Dunckerley probably did more to strengthen and promote the success of Freemasonry than any other man of his time , and Bro . Sadler has drawn a very able picture pf his life and doings , embodying in it not only what was already known of him , but E . ISO much that must havebeen entirely new to the great majority of his readers . By the publication of this

work Bro . Sadler has not only enhanced his own reputation as a man of letters , but has at the same time done a most important service to the cause of Masonic literature . The other work is by Bro . John Lane , of Torquay , the well-known Compiler of " Masonic Records , " the title beingthe" Centenary Warrants and Jewels . " It exhibits all that scrupulous care and accuracy for which Bro . Lane has so justly acquired fame , and will materially assist the brethren who interest themselves in the study of lodge history by

affording them an amount of information which has never before been published . The Quatuor Coronati Lodge have continued their excellent series of Transactions and Essays on important subjects , while for purposes of reference we are glad to see the number of Provincial Calendars is on the increase , and that those already established are every year becoming more and more valuable . As for our periodical literature , what we have to say concerns chiefl y this journal , which we have good reason for believing is every year establishing itself more and more firmly in the good opinion of the Craft .

OBITUARY . The roll of the losses which the Craft has sustained is a long one , though we rejoice to say it does not include any Mason of equal eminence with him who died so unexpectedly in the summer of 1890 . Unfortunately , however , it includes many leading brethren whose services were always available when it was felt that they would be of value to the Craft . Among the more

serious losses must be mentioned Bro . Lord Methucn , who early in the year resigned the office of Prov . Grand Master of Wiltshire , which he had held since 1853 , and died a few months later ; Bro . Alderman Sir R . N . Fowler , Bart ., iVI . P ., P . G . W . ; Bro . Lord C ' hcylesmorc , better known as Bro . H . W . Eaton , for many years M . P . for Coventry , who was J . G . Warden in 1 S 55 ; Bro . Sir J . Alexander Macdonald , G . C . B ., Premier of the Dominion

of Canada , who was a P . S . G . W . of England , and the representative of our Grand Lodge at the Grand Lodge of Canada ; Bros , the Rev . Thomas Cochrane , M . A ., P . G . Chaplain ; Col . C . Hambro , M . P ., P . G . D . and Past . D . P . G . Master of Dorsetshire ; J . L . Stothcrt , P . G . Std . Br . ; Sir Francis Roxburgh , P . G . R ., P . G . D . and Past President of the Board of General Purposes ; Reginald Bird , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . of Oxfordshire ;

W . A . Barrett , Past G . Org . ; G . H . Haydon , P . A . G . D . C ; and Henry Venn , Past G . Stwd . 'lhese were members of Grand Lodge , but in addition we have to lament the loss of Bro . Sir James Meek , P . P . S . G . W . North and East Yorkshire ; Mark Douglas , P . P . G . D . Durham ; Craig , P . P . G . D . West Yorkshire ; George Newton , P . P . J . G . W . West Yorkshire ; Geo . McCallum , P . J . G . D . Cambridgeshire ; E . T . Carlyon , Past Prov . G .

Sec . Cornwall ; James R . Ling , P . P . J . G . W . Cambridgeshire ; the Rev . W . F . Reynolds , P . P . G . Chap . Middx . ; F . B . Williams , P . P . G . S . B . Cornwall ; and H . Miller , P . P . G . Org . Chershireand East Lancashire , among Provincial Grand Officers ; Bros . J . Blyth , J . Moon , Geo . Henderson , Rev . W . Tebbs , A . Escott , member of the Board of Management Boys' School ; John C . Havers , P . M ., P . Z . 5 ; and J . J . Berry , a very generous supporter of

the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , among Metropolitan Masons . There have also died Bro . J . Finlay Fmlayson , author of " Symbols and Legends of Freemasonry ; " Bro . Sir Patrick Colquhoun , a prominent G . Officer for many years of the Order of the Temple ; and Bro . William Winn , P . M . 657 , who will always be remembered as one of the greatest benefactors of our three Charitable Institutions .

SCOTLAND . To the North as to the South of the Tweed Freemasonry has prospered during 1 S 91 . ' 1 he previous year closed amid a blaze of enthusiasm caused by the success of the Grand Bazaar opened b y Bro . Sir A . C . Campbell , Bart ., M . P ., M . W . G . M ., in Edinburgh , on the 2 nd December , and much of this enthusiasm was continued into the present year by the opening of a supplementary bazaar at Glasgow , at which the goods that had never

Freemasonry In 1891.

been unpacked at Edinburgh were disposed of . The result of these efforts , which were made in behalf of the Scottish Fund of Benevolence , was announced some time ago in the shape of a net gain to the Fund of about £ 14 , 500 , and as at the outset we believe it was proposed to raise a sum of £ 10 , 000 , our Scottish brethren are to be warmly congratulated on the success of their scheme . By this means their Grand

Lodge will now have a substantial invested capital , the interest on which alone , to say nothing of the regular contributions it receives , will enable it to relieve the necessities of its poor deserving members . We may also congratulate Grand Lodge on having raised the minimum age for the admission of initiates- -except in the case of Lewises—from 18 years to the same limit as in England , that is to 21 years , not because we desire to see complete

uniformity of regulation in the government of the two Grand Lodges , but because we are of opinion that as a rule men should be of full age before they take upon themselves the obligations required of them on their admission into our Order . As regards the personnel of Grand Lodge , regret will be felt that Bro . Sir Archibald Campbell did not allow himself to be renominated for the office of Grand Master . The good he has effected during his tenure of

the office has been very substantial and will prove ot enduring benefit to the Craft in Scotland and throughout the British Colonies and Possessions ; but though he has retired from the more active pursuits of Freemasonry , his acts will be remembered to his advantage , while the personal kindness he displayed in their discharge will entitle him to the affection and respect of Scottish Craftsmen all the world over . Moreover , a most able successor

has been found in Bro . the Earl of Haddington , who , as Grand Master Depute had already won for himself fame as a zealous and able brother . The new Grand Master Depute is Bro . Sir C . Dalrymple , Bart ., M . P ., while Bro . Lord Saltoun is the new Substitute Grand Master . Among matters of lesser importance we note the constitution of Inverness-shire as a Prov . Grand Lodge , with Bro . Sir H . MacAndrew as Prov . G . M . ; the laying of

the foundation-stone of a new church at Strathpeffer by Bro . Sir Hector Monro , Prov . G . M . of Ross and Cromartie ; and the performance of a similar ceremony in respect of the new hospital at Dundee , by Bro . Sir Archibald Campbell , Bart ., M . W . G . M ., in September . Nor must we omit to reiterate the expression of our sincere regret at the death of Bro . Sir Henry Morland , Grand Master of All Scottish Freemasonry in India ,

whose services to the Craft were most valuable , and who for so many years had been at the head of the Scottish Craft in India . It is , however , some satisfaction to know that steps have already been taken in India to commemorate the virtues of our late distinguished brother , and that at no very remote period of time there will be associated with the Indo-Scottish Fund of Benevolence a new fund which will bear the appropriate name of the " Morland Memorial Fund . "

IRELAND . Of the proceedings of the Craft in this part of the United Kingdom , we are fortunately in a position to give a fuller account than in former years . As usual , the most prominent event has been the celebration in the Leinster Hall , Dublin , of the Anniversary Festival of the Masonic Orphan Schools , located in the Irish capital . On this occasion the prizes are distributed to

the successful pupils with all possible pomp and circumstance , and not only are all the leading members of the Craft in Ireland assembled to do honour to the Festival , but there is also a very large gathering of the elite of Dublin society to witness the interesting ceremony . Since this event , which took place at the end of April , the authorities and friends of the Institution have been very actively bestirring themselves in order to ensure

a grand success for the Centenary Festival which takes place next year , and we trust their efforts will secure the object in view . In Royal Arch Masonry there has been a change in the Supreme Grand Chapter , of which the Duke of Abercorn is now Grand King in place of the respected Comp . Judge Townshend , who has retired from office . Sundry new Masonic Halls have

been dedicated , as at Donaghadee and Fivemilctown , and the meetings of the different Provincial Grand Lodges have been well attended . Lastly , a number of Northumbrian brethren visited Dublin , and were entertained with all that generous hospitality which is so characteristic of the Irish Freemason by the brethren of Lodge No . 126 .

IHE COLONIES . To say all wc should like to say of the condition " of the Craft in our British Colonies and Possessions would occupy more space than is at our disposal . We must content ourselves , therefore , with the statement that generally our Society has fared prosperously . Bro . the Earl of Jersey in the month of February was presented with a loyal address of welcome b y

the Masons of New South Wales on his arrival at S ydney to enter upon the Governorship of the Colony , and a few months later his lordship was installed as Grand Master of their United Grand Lodge , in succession to Bro . Lord Carrington . In Victoria , Bro . Sir W . J . Clarke , Bart ., has been reinstalled Grand Master , while in the other Australasian Colonies no changes of moment have taken place , except it be in the bitterness of feeling which

for nearly two years has prevailed amongst the Craft in New Zealand in consequence of the irregular establishment of a Grand Lodge , which the Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom have very properly declined to recognise . In India one untoward circumstance has occurred in the death , already referred to under the head of "Scotland , " of Bro . Sir Henry Morland ; but the Scottish Craft is nevertheless in a most prosperous state , and the most

complete harmony exists between it and the English Craft throughout the limits of this vast empire . In Madras a new District Grand Master has been installed in the person of Bro . Col . Moore , and Bro . Major-Gen . Sir Charles Warren has taken formal possession of his office of District Grand Master of the Eastern Archipelago . In Canada , the marvellous energy of the Grand Master , Bro . J . Ross Robertson , who has been continued

in office for another year , has been working wonders , and there never was a time in the history of Canada as a Masonic power independent of this country when the Craft was in a more prosperous state . The Sovereign Great Priory has suffered a second great loss by the death of Sir Knight James A . Henderson , Q . C , who only survived his appointment to be Supreme Grand Master in succession to the

late Sir Knight Colonel McLeod Moore for a few months . The present chief of the Sovereign Great Priory of Canada is Sir Knight Henry Robertson , Q . C . In Quebec the status quo remains , but both in this Province and elsewhere throughout the Dominion the Craft has fared well , the Grand Master of British Columbia , Bro . Marcus Wolfe , having been especially

active in his duties , and having , moreover , laid the foundation-stones of two new churches with full Masonic ceremonial . However , enough has been said to show that in the Colonies , as at home , the year 1891 has been a successful one , and will leave its mark in the annals of British Freemasonry . May the year on which we are about to enter prove as successful !