Ladies' Night Of The Moira Chapter, No. 92.

with a sweet smile , but our wife , who has previously mixed a glass of whisky n ( J water to sustain our worn-out frame , ? This is our individual experience , but there is one more experienced than any of us here . Solomon , king of Israel , who sneak s more highly than anyone else of the merit of wives , and certainly it must be acknowledged that he was an authority on the subject , after telling us that all things are vanity , that everything on earth is vain except wives , he winds up the

Rook of Pioverbs with the beautiful words that the price of a virtuous wife is far beyond rubies . I have no daughters , and cannot therefore speak from experience 0 f wort an as a daughter , but their faithfulness has been exemplified in the wellknown words , " A son is a son until he takes him a wife , a daughter is a daughter all the days of her life . " In all conditions of life woman is our faithful friend and counsellor , and after the new London Government Bill has become law she will

also be our common counsellor , probably our alderman , and possibly our Lord Mayor , but to-night woman has appeared to us in an altogether novel and more charming and fascinating capacity than ever , namely , in that of our honoured guests , and I assure the ladies present that if they have only derived one tithe of the p leasure to-night which their presence has given to the companions and myself , our humble efforts to entertain them have not been in vain . I must not ,

however , forget the unwritten law that whenever ladies honour our board with their gracious presence the toasts are few and the speeches are short . I am afraid I have already seriously transgressed that law , but the fascinating subject on which 1 been addressing you must be my excuse , and I will only add that it has occurred to us that the ladies might not disdain to accept a slight souvenir to remind them what great pleasure their company has given us tonight , and we

have taken the liberty of asking their acceptance of the same . I shall presently call upon Companion Donnison for a response , and I now ask all the companions present to do due honour to the toast of "The Ladies . " ,, The health of the ladies was drunk with enthusiasm , and the souvenir referred to by the M . E . Z ., which consisted of a beautifully-chased sterling silver p in-tray , was then presented to each of the fair recipients , and by all of them

very greatly admired . When the applause had subsided , Comp . F . A . DONNISON rose and said : Most Excellent and Companions , in replying to the toast for the ladies , the agreeable task has fallen to me of thanking you , on their behalf , for such a charming evening as you have given them in this historical Masonic tavern . I have also to thank Comp . Oppert for his kind thoughtfulness in presenting the ladies with a souvenir of this particular evening . In again thanking you , I trust this evening may be repeated annually .

Comp . R . F . GOULD , P . Z ., next addressed the ladies and companions in the following terms : The duty now devolves upon me of proposing what , under ordinary circumstances , would be termed the toast of the evening , but to-night must take the second place , and become , if I may so express myself , the toast of the evening—once removed . My recollection of the M . E . Z . extends back quite a number of years ; but I won ' t say how many , because when you regard his

comparatively youthful appearance , you would all be of opinion that the E . D . Oppert , with whom 1 was acquainted long ago in the Far East , must have been merely a namesake or , at most , a very remote ancestor of the worthy companion who is presiding over us with so much ability and geniality on the present occasion . I shall , therefore , simply say that I have known the Chairman of to-night for a long while , and am fully cognisant of his fraternal zeal . But , as his last exploit is the most famous of them all , i shall pass entirely over his lesser Masonic

achievements , and come at once to the bright and daring inspiration which has resulted in a banquet to which ladies have been invited , and whose welcome presence among us will always be associated with the name of the M . E . Z . for the present year . I shall now , therefore , ladies and companions , ask you to drink " The Health of Comp . Oppert , " and I feel sure you will do so most cordially , and witn a sincere appreciation of the excellent programme of music , which he has so thoughtfully and generously provided for our entertainment .

The M . E . Z ., in reply , said : I was deeply touched by the kind words with which you , Comp . Gould , proposed the toast of myself , and cannot help feeling the greatest gratification at the very kind and charming manner in which the ladies received the same . I can only attribute to undue partiality and our old friendship the too kindly words which you , Comp . Gould , have offered ; but I desire to show to the ladies my appreciation of their kindness by at once admitting them to all the secrets and mysteries of our Order . They often ask us ,

what is Freemasonry V I will immediately tell them what it is . It is a pure religion , based upon morality , and illustrated by symbols . One of the first tenets of a Freemason is to honour and respect womanhood , and the chief characteristic of a true Mason are purity of thought and uprightness of conduct . Knowing this , you know all there is to be known about Freemasonry , and if I may be allowed to address a word of advice to the young unmarried ladies present , I would say that , other things being fitting , they should give the preference to a Freemason in bestowing their hand and heart . Again I thank you most heartily for your kindness .

The toast of " The Visitors " was acknowledged in the first instance by Comp . T . H , GARDINER , who remarked that being so frequent a visitor at the Moira Chapter his personal sentiments were well known to the members . He tendered the thanks of all the visitors to the M . E . Z . and companions of the chapter for the cordial welcome and lavish hospitality which they had experienced . The ° ^ / - n wasun 'T '" his own experience , as he was mainly replying for ladies , and ( without wishing to trespass upon the province of the companion who had responded for that special toast ) he could not dissociate them from his soeech .

h ^ u ' he com P amons of tlle visitors' great interest in all they had seen and heard that night , and begged the chapter to believe that never did visitors more lervently express the wish so commonly heard at festive gatherings of the Prater" f th ' ¦•y m ' be invitcd again > and should take upon himself to say that it the visitors present were to receive an invitation to be present at some future entertainment of the same character given by the Moira Chapter they might be relied upon to accept it with alacrity .

< -omps . AIIKL SINNER and ALI-KED DONNISON also responded , i ; , - . - -then said : I am afraid , ladies and companions , you must be urea ol listening to the sound of my voice- ( cries of " No , no" ) -but I can give jou the promise that this will be the last toast of the evening . Though last , it is loi the least . It embraces those who have rendered signal service to the cause of rearnasanry , „{ general , and to this chapter in particular . Amongst them is , first and tortmost , the father of the chapter ( Comn . Cornelius Thornnl . To rh «

W „ m generatl ? n he is personally unknown , but to us , when we were younger , in K , , CVer remaln a VCr y dcar friend ' ' ^ member meeting him for the last time n uu ope over a quarter of a century ago , when he told me he expected to be in « , ) , -V !* ° . n time ' S rcater attractions have since tied him to the land beliJvft u . Sp f nt S 0 many y ™™ ' namel >' ' China ' Hu has got married , and I foi n , l J l . roud . P ° f , or of a small family . I hepe some opportunity will be , ! L „? assur . S hlm of the "early regards and the very best wishes of all those

but uBfn ,, 8 . -,, P' w , ckham Noakes was to have responded to this toast , valued 1 Comn w y , il , nCSV > v ? [ m fr ° 'n bei " S l Jrcsent- ' Hi 3 cIdest so " . himself wiTh P' W , ckham K Noakes . hoover , is present , and I trust he will charge anThi con nrV"CSSagC ' . r r bell r ' , t 0 his ^ her that we all hope to see him of Coir ! ' T l t 0 rcd t 0 1 > erf . ect health - ' P le with 'his toast the name Comm ^ Uee nnn - ' i 7 , ° , Unre , . exertj ° «» . *> Hon . Secretary of the special grwt ttte „ tIE " ^ ' ? "i ' ' arran £ '" ents for the ban . p ' r , is to a very « t « t a ditwnn ? ™ , ( thls ««»' . "g . although there has been , to a certain »*« , a division of labour between us , inasmuch as he has done all the work

Ladies' Night Of The Moira Chapter, No. 92.

and I have got all the glory . Comp . Gould , I am sorry to say , had to leave , but amongst the other prominent P . Zs . present I must not omit to name Comps . Bohm , Wilkinson , and Hooker . Comp . GREINER , who on rising to respond was very warmly greeted by the company present , remarked that the kind and flattering manner in which the M . E . Z . had associated his name with the toast of the P . Zs . demanded his warmest

acknowledgments . That the companions—visitors as well as members—would be delighted to meet the- ladies was , of course , a foregone conclusion ; but whether the ladies would be satisfied with the entertainment which would be provided for them was by no means equally certain . That they were , had therefore , relieved his mind of a heavy load of anxiety ; and , in once more acknowledging the far too complimentary manner in which the allusior . s to his own name had been received , he begged to assure them that his memory would long retain a recollection of the kindly words and kindly faces of the ladies and companions who were seated at the table .

A magnificent programme of vocal and instrumental music had been arranged , in which Miss Perceval Allen , Miss Violet Cameron , Miss Edie Reynolds , and Bros . Reginald Groome , J . W . Ivimey , Franklin Clive , and H Sparling took part . The songs of the various artistes were much admired , also the violin solos of Miss Edie Reynolds , and the sketches , humorous and musical , of Bro . Herbert Sparling . The musical director was Bro . Reginald Groome , and the accompanyist Bro . J . W . Ivimey .

A most enjoyable evening was spent , and on separating much regret was expressed—especially by the ladies—that similar meetings were not more frequent .

General Committee Of Grand Lodge And Board Of Benevolence.

GENERAL COMMITTEE OF GRAND LODGE AND BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The quarterly meeting of the General Committee of Grand Lodge and the monthly meeting ol the Board of Benevolence were held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , W . C . The three chairs were occupied by Bros . James Henry Matthews , President ; David Dixon Mercer , Senior Vice-President ; and Henry Garrod , Junior Vice-President . Bros . E . Letchworth , G . Sec ; W . Lake , Asst . G . Sec ; W . Dodd , G . S . Recknell , and H . Sadler , G Tyler , represented the Grand Secretary ' s department .

The other brethren present were Bros . Charles J . R . Tijou , Lewis Lazarus , W . Fisher , Henry A . Tobias , J . Boulton , W . F . Lamonby , W . M . Bywater , C . A . Cottebrune , S . If . Goldschmidt , F . W . Hancock , E . W . Nightingale , W . Martin , W . Kipps , John Ellinger , Thomas Jones , W . H . Caton , C . Pulman , J . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . 15 . ; Charles Henry Stone , E . W . Nightingale , W . Wills , Richard Carey , T . W . Stacey , W . C . Lane , David Drynan , A . W . Duret , Thomas Cohu , T . J . Henochsberg , Baron de Bush , J . T . Ashley , H . Thompson , P . P . S . G . W .

Surrey ; R . James Coates , H . Massey , E . S . Godfree , W . Balchin , J . W . Burgess , R . W . Ker , C . H . Webb , A . J . Scurrah , W . M . 87 ; F . W . Crutchett , R . W . James , Henry R . Romney , Henry Cornford , J . Joel , George Horwill , H . Appleford , Major H . Vane-Stow , Palmer Bryant , Albert Leighton , E . Emanuel , W . W . Parkinson , Joseph Hatton , A . F . Cutler , E . Frisby , G . T . Harrap , H . W . Nicholson , Charles Lamb , George Weaver , Thomas Andrew , Arthur White , Percy W , Shaw , W . Fielder , B . Douthwaite , E . W . Sinnett , Edward H . Quicke , and A . McQueen .

At the meeting of the General Committee the business paper for Grand Lodge Quarterly Communication of June 7 th was submitted to the brethren . At the meeting of the Board of Benevolence which followed , the brethren first confirmed recommendations to the Grand Master made at the April meeting to the amount of £ 210 . The list of new cases contained the names of 31 petitioners , who were qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Wallingford , Devonport , N . Z ., Plymouth , Great Yarmouth , York , Shipley Gate , Holyhead ,

Brighton , Croydon , Bangalore , Guernsey , Allahabad , Farnborough , Woodbridge , Liverpool , Worsley , Sunderland , Oxbridge , and Sidcup . Two of these were deferred , and four were dismissed . The remainder were voted a total of , £ 785 . One case was recommended to Grand Lodge for £ 150 , one for £ 60 , and three for , £ 50 each . Two petitioners were recommended to the Grand Master for £ 40 each , and six for . £ 30 each . The other awards were five of , £ 20 each , six of £ \ o each , and one petitioner was granted , £ 5 .

Presentation To Bro. Wray, Of Blackpool.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . WRAY , OF BLACKPOOL .

A splendid presentation , emphasising the regard in which Bro . Wray is held by thc brethren of the Fylde , was made at the Clifton Arms Hotel , Blackpool , last week . A meeting of Fylde Masons was held , some 40 attending , repre . sentative of almost all the lodges in the Fylde . Bro . TOM W . KAY , P . M . 1476 , presided , and having made some observations upon the occasion that had called them together , he spoke in eulogy of Bro . Wray .

The Secretary , Bro . W . B . RICHARDSON , P . P . J . G . W ., then read the following address :

"To W . Bro . John Wray , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br ., P . / ,., P . A . G . Soj ., P . M . M ., P . P . J . G . D ., P . E . P . P . P . G . Pr ., E . and P . P . D . C . R . Croix . " Dear Sir and Brother , —Very many of your fellow Masons in the Fylde of Lancashire ask your acceptance of this address and the accompanying purss of gold as a mark of true esteem and affection , and as a memento of your long service in the advancement of Freemasonry , and of the willing help you have always extended to your brethren in their various Masonic duties .

" We recall with grateful appreciation the genial and careful manner 'in which you have occupied the many offices you have been entrusted with and worthily filled ; and now that the present state of your health does not justify constant active continuance in your work and labour of love , we wish you to take with you in your comparative retirement some token of our fraternal regard and of our lasting remembrance of your Masonic work , extended as it has been with advantage to Freemasonry over a period of nearly 30 years .

" That the Great Architect of the Universe and Father of all may abundintl y bless you and yours is our earnest hope . " On behalf of the subscribers :

" C . E . HINDI . E , W . M . 703 . W . H . BAYNES , W . M . 1061 . J . W . EM . Moir , W . M . 1256 . T . WVLIK KAY , W . M . 1476 . A . J ASPER ANDERSON , W . M . 2349 . EDMUND TAYLOR , M . E . Z . 703 . T . FORRESTER , W . M . 296 . E . A . THOMPSON , E . P . Rose of Lancaster Preceptory W . BOND , M . W . S . 136 , B . C . R . C . Blackpool Chapter Rose Croix . " April , 1899 . "