Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The quarterly meeting of the General Committee of Grand Lodge , and the monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence , were held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall , svhen the former of whose business naper for the next quarterly communication was read . Bro . Robert Grey , President of the Board of Benevolence Bro . James Brett , Senior Vice-President , and

Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Junior Vice-President , were in their usual places . Bros . E . Letchworth , G . S ., A . A . Pendlebury , Asst . G . S ., W . Dodd , and W . H . Lee , represented Grand Secretary's office ; and there were also present Bros . Henry Garrod , Charles J . R . Tijou , David D . Mercer , James Bunker , Charles Belton , W . M . Bywater , Charles Dairy , E . C . Mulvey , S . V .

Abraham , T . W . Whitmarsh , G . R . Langley , G . Read , S . H . Goldschmidt , George Graveley , A . C . Woodward , \ V . Hopekirk , Walter Martin , W . F . Haines , R . Wake , W . H . Gardener , W . F . Lamonby , F . W . Croker , E . H . Johnson , M . Speigel , P . E . Campbell , HermannVosges , * ] . Gordon Langton , W . F . James , Arthur Digby Green , Charles B . Todd , George B . Chapman , J . Hitching , rharles T . Barlow , A . G . Sandberg , John Oliver , F . A .

Hazzledine , C . H . Dancocks , John G . Stevens , R . Lockhart Lawson , J . Branson , J . H . Hawkins , L . R . Bartlett , E . F . Shoebridge , C . H . Stone , John R . Reep , T . W . W . Bullock , Fredk . Clark , F . Varley , A . Williams , John B . L .

Lancaster , S . S . Hasluck , A . Lefeber , Maurice Angel , W . Russell , John Grist , John Dipple , A . J . Manning , W . Gilbert , J . C . Conway , J . H . Wood , Edward Grisbrook , Edwin Hill , G . J . Reed , G . Brosvn , W . M . Stiles , William J . Harris , B . Kauffman , C . J . Knightley , E . Y .

Jolliffe , T . C . Edmonds , D . Varrall , W , A . Scurrah , A . A . Scurrah , John F Jones , H . Massey , and Hy . Sadler , G . T . The PRESIDENT , before business commenced , said that although there svas an unusually long list of cases before the Board , he svas sure it would be the

feeling of all the brethren present that this Board should heartily congratulate her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , Patroness of the Order , on that day completing the 74 th year of her age . Long might she live to reign in happiness and prosperity over this vast Empire .

The Board first confirmed recommendations made to the Grand Master at the April meeting , to the amount of £ 540 There were 54 cases on the nesv list . These svere qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Ipswich , Cosves , Sandown , Southport , Hasvick ,

Poole , Calcutta , Jersey , Stow-on-Wold , Chipping Sodbury , Lostsvithiel , Gravesend , Stowmarket , Middlesborough , Battle , Plymouth , St . Day , Blyth , Meltham , Hereford , Wakefield , Newbury , Welshpool , BirminghamRamsgateWindsor

, , , Dover , Stanmore , Liverpool , Cambridge , Gloucester , Ewell , Constantinople , and Bourne . In the course of a five hours' sitting seven of these were deferred for further

iniormation and four were dismissed . The remainder were relieved with a total of ^ 1015 . This sum was composed of one recommendation to Grand Lodge of iioo , and one of £ 50 . There were four recommendations to the Grand Master of £ 40 each , and nine of £ 3 ° each . Fifteen petitioners were relieved svith ^ 20 e" « 'li , three with ^ 15 each , eight with ^ 10 each , and tsvo *'"> £ s each .

Sentiment In Masonry.

SENTIMENT IN MASONRY .

1 he enthusiast is a very necessary ingredient in the Masonic body politic . By the enthusiast we do not mean "ie crank who rides his own hobby to death , to th < -- detriment of every other feature of a Craft , one of whose proudest boasts is that it is many-sided , but the

m * in who recognises boldly the fact that the Freeasonry of to-day is in its very essence a standing proest against that narrow utilitarianism that is the otninant note of our modern life . Masonry is prac' , certainl y , and works an amount of tangible good at it would be difficult to over-estimatebut the

indi-, ' ual who rests his advocacy of it solely on the ance ° f being able to give such an answer to the question of Cui bono ? as will fit in with the canons of eteenth century criticism , would have a sorry case . most of us set to work to analyse the ground of our

pan . the Craft We should find that n 0 sma " are •'' rests u P " ie very k * ' ** ' •*•*P rinc 'p les me '" P *! f t contrast alike to the individualism and utilitarianism , and that for the small space of a

Sentiment In Masonry.

Lodge meeting at least , We are carried into a domain which is unreal , and in a notable degree archaic . Brotherly love , relief and truth are all alike sentiments , all at variance svith the doctrine of laissesfaire . They teach us that man has duties beyond the sveary routine of competition with his fellows , and that in this svorld

as svell as in the next , there is a pleasure to be found of a higher nature than that derived from coming out on the top and seeing some weaker brother of humanity go to the svall . We learn to love that ssdiich is noble for its osvn sake , and we find the acme of Masonic effort , the summit of our Masonic profession ,

in svorking out in practice the grand doctrine that the good of the community is something far transcending the selfish aims of the individual , and that the noblest exercise of the human heart and mind is that of giving peace and contentment to the throbbing heart of

humanity in general . Our lodges are bits of the beautiful past dovetailed with skilful art into the temple of the svorld of to-day , and whilst this be so , there is room and a worthy place for the enthusiast in Masonry . —South African Freemason .

BRO . GEORGE HAND , whose portrait we are enabled , through the courtesy of the Editor ofthe Local Government Journal to present to our readers , is a well-known and respected citizen . The businessand social circleof svhich Bro . Hand has for many years been a prominent member has lately been

largely extended by his candidature for the high and honourable office of Sheriff of the City of London , his qualifications for which are of a high order . His claims to the support of the Liverymen of the City are very strong , from the fact that he is a member of the Loriners ' , Spectacle Makers ' , Shipsvrights ' , Fishmongers '

and Homers' Companies , as svell as a member of the Court of Assistants of theTin-plate Workers' Company . Bro . Hand has been engaged in commerce in the City of London for upwards of 24 years , and is the owner of property in various parts of the City . His interest in the welfare of the City , both as a large ratepayer and employer of labour , is , therefore , of a substantial

character , and should be of paramount service in promoting his candidature . Not the least reason for our readers rendering Bro . Hand support at the coming election is the fact that he is a svorthy member of the Craft , and has recently follosved up his connection therewith by becoming a member of the Royal Arch , having been exalted in the Aldersgate Chapter , No . 1657 , on the 15 th inst .

The' Countess of Derby has started a movement at Ottasya for presenting the Princess May of Teck svith a svedding gift from the svomen of Canada on the occasion of her marriage svith the Duke of York .

Presentation To Coup. James Weaver , P.Z. And S.E. 862, P.Z. 177 And 1319.

PRESENTATION TO COUP . JAMES WEAVER , P . Z . AND S . E . 862 , P . Z . 177 AND 1319 .

On Monday , the Sth inst ., the companions ot theWhittington Chapter assembled at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleetstreet , for the purpose of presenting Comp . James Weaver , founder , P . Z . and S . E . of the chapter , with a

handsome silver inkstand , in recognition of his kindness , courtesy , and services to all since its foundation . Comp . DEHANE , M . E . Z ., expressed in a fesv chosen words the pleasure he and the companions felt in presenting him svith a token of their esteem and gratitude , and trusted that he might live many years to be

amongst them . Comp . WEAVER said the presentation came entirel y as a surprise , and until Comp . Dehane , in proposing his health , told him he had been entrusted by the companions svith a communication after he left the last

meeting , the result of svhich he svould read to him in order that he might participate 'in their pleasure , he had no idea that any such event was going to take place . It had taken him so much by surprise that he felt some difficulty in finding svords to express his thanks to the companions , but from the bottom of his

heart he thanked them , and should look upon their present as one of the brightest jewels he possessed , as it svould remind him of the friends he had made and the happy times he had spent svith them . The kind words spoken by Comp . Dehane he valued as the feeling held tosvards him

by the companions of the Whittington Chapter . The following was engraved on the inkstand : " Presented to Comp . James Weaver , P . Z ., S . E . 862 , by the companions of the Whittington Chapter ,

for his uniform courtesy since its foundation . Sth May , 18 93 . " The enjoyment of the evening was much enhanced b y songs , music , & c . Comp . Weaver played his own last composition— " Ode " to Mr . and Mrs . Oscar H . Barrett .

A Cornish Poet.

A CORNISH POET .

Bro . James Dryden Hosken , of Lodge True and Faithful , Helston , Cornwall , is undoubtedly a poet . Born 32 years ago , the reception svhich his publications have met with from The Times , The Academy The Wescr Zeitung , a svell-knosvn

continental paper , and the fact that Mr . Gladstone recently asvarded him , £ 100 from the Royal Literary Fund leaves no doubt that he is an ornament to the Craft . Like others svho have attained distinction in the world of letters , he has had a hard fight for success—from a

financial point of viesv . Early apprenticed to the sedantry occupation of a saddler , his delicate constitution broke down , and at 18 years of age he had to seek out of door employment , and after a period of unemployment and viccisitude he took up the work of a rural postman , but a few friends , in the hope of bettering his position , secured him a situation as night sorter in London . His health ,

hosvever , again broke down , and he returned to Helston , where lie accepted the minor position of a postman , which is still his occupation . It is therefore surprising how he found time to write his Greek drama , " Phaon and Sappho , " svith which Mr . Gladstone was greatly

impressed , and the reception which his first essay met with at the hands of Andrew Lang , Leslie Stephen , Dr . Garret , Maurice Macmillan , and also from Mr . and Mrs . Leonard Courtney , shows the unanimity of litterateurs on the merits of Bro . Hosken ' s poetic gift . Messrs . Methuen and Co ., the well-known publishers , have liberally undertaken the publication of another volume , which will be produced at 5 s ., and , as

Bro . Hosken will get the retail bookseller ' s discount , we hope this may induce brother Masons to subscribe for the work , and thus do something to assist him in obtaining a practical result of his labours . He has a wife and family dependent upon him , and brother Masons will shosv their appreciation of a brother of whom they have so much reason to be proud , by ordering a copy of the forthcoming volume , " Verses by the Way . "

The Committee appointed by the Mansion House meeting of last week to arrange for the presentation of a suitable gift to the Duke of York and his fiancee include the Lord Mayor , Bro . Lord Brassey , Bros . Alderman Sir J . Whittaker Ellis , Bart , j Sir H . E . Knight ,- and Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P . j Lord Rothschild , Bros . Lord Addington and the Hon . Evelyn Hubbard , Bro .

Alderman Sir Joseph Savory . Bart ., M . P ., and Sir David Evans , K . C . M . G ., and the Chi A Rabbi . The Committee of the Ladies of England , associated together for the same purpose , include the Countess of Ancaster , Lad y George Hamilton , Lady Algernon Gordon-Lennox , Lady Rothschild , the Viscountess Newport , Lady Theodora •Guest , Lady Emily Dykes , and Lady Audrey Buller .