The Province Of Devonshire.

THE PROVINCE OF DEVONSHIRE .

One thing only Avas needed in order to make the annual meeting , at Plymouth , on the nth inst ., of the Prov . G . Lodge of Devon a complete success , and that Avas the presence of the Prov . G . Master , Bro . Viscount EBRINGTON , M . P ., Avhose health is

such that his medical advisers have counselled him to abstain , for the present at all events , from work , and avoid the excitement Avhich is inseparable from attendance at public meetings . In all other respects the gathering was most satisfactory . The

statistical returns , though they disclosed an increase in the number of members in arrear with their subscriptions , shoAved there had been a substantial increase in the roll of subscribing members , the total for the Province being 2920 , as compared

Avith 28 71 the previous year . The Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s report exhibited a balance on the ri ght side of the account amounting to - £ 244 , Avhile that of Bro . the Rev . W . WHITTLEY , P . G . D . England , P . P . S . G . W ., the London representative of the

Province , could hardly have been more gratifying , and undoubtedly reflects great credit on him as director-general of the voting forces of Devonshire . Bro . WHITTLEY vvas in a position to announce that both the candidates— ALBERTA DALE

for the Girls' School , and THOMAS CHAPMAN for the Male Fund of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution—Avhose cases had been officially taken in •hand by the Province , had been successful , the former in April last and the latter in May . These

successes , too , he was able to point out , had been achieved Avithout borrowing votes from other quarters , and therefore , at the close of the year , as at the beginning , the Province was free from debt , and will be able therefore to employ the whole of its

voting strength in aid of its remaining candidates , or at least in aid of those it may see proper to adopt . As regards the appointment of officers , Ave have only to remark that the Provincial Grand Master had offered the collar of Provincial Senior

Grand Warden to our Avorthy Bro . HUGHAN in recognition of his many and valuable services to Freemasonry generally , but for reasons stated in our Note last week the proffered honour vvas declined . Subsequently , a very cordial Avelcome

was given , both in Provincial Grand Lod ge and at the banquet which followed , to the newly-elected Secretary of the Boys ' School , ancl , in replying to the toast of " The Visitors , " Bro . MCLEOD took occasion to refer to the many demands

which are now so heavily pressing upon the resources of that Institution , and which will render it necessary that extraordinary exertions should be made for a long time to come in order to

meet these demands and at the same time maintain the School in a state of efficiency . To this additional expenditure for sanitary and other improvements which have been declared to be

necessary , we more than once referred in tolerably precise terms while the recent Festival of the Institution was still looming in the future . Our appeal , however , was not listened to with the favour we could have wished . The Returns Avere beloAV the

average of the last 12 or 15 years , and consequently there is greater need than ever for an exceptionall y large total at the Festival of 18 91 . We trust also that not only the 33 Devon lod ges that were referred to , but likewise all other lodges

throughout England which have not yet contributed to the Pension Indemnity Fund , will , when they resume work , take kindl y to' * heart Bro . MCLEOD ' reminder , and remit each

ot them their £ 2 ios . to the Provisional Management Committee . According to the last statement published in these columns , the total then received towards the said Indemnity

The Province Of Devonshire.

Fund was less than £ 1500 , and there still remains , therefore , upwards of - £ 1000 to be raised in order to complete the - £ 2500 paid over to Bro . BlNCKES on the 30 th June last . We trust , therefore , that both as regards this particular item and the

expenditure generally of the Boys' School , Bro . MCLEOD will succeed in obtaining substantial support from Devonshire . We see he has already secured the services of two brethren as Stewards for the ] 8 qi Festival , and when the next annual

meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge comes round , we hope we shall find our Devonian friends congratulating their representatives on the compilation , together or separately , of a goodly

total of donations and subscriptions to this Charity . We trust also that the reports of every description which will then be submitted for approval will be found as gratifying as those we have cited in connection with this year's meeting .

Good Work In Natal.

GOOD WORK IN NATAL .

We learn with great pleasure from the South African Freemason that a meeting of delegates from all the Maritzburg Masonic bodies , both Scotch and English , was held on the 7 th

July last , when it Avas resolved that a Sub-Committee should be appointed for the purpose of preparing a scheme for the establishment of an Educational Fund for Natal . The result of

this step is that a scheme has been prepared and adopted , and if the appeal that will be made to the lodges and chapters throughout the colony is successful , we shall soon see in good working condition "The Natal Masonic Educational Fund , " intended for

the purpose of providing higher education for the children and orphans of reduced or deceased Masons . Among the recommendations made by this Committee of delegates is that each lodge be invited to guarantee an annual subscription for not less

than seven years of not less a sum than £ \ o ios . ; that Royal Arch chapters be invited to subscribe hi gher amounts still , and other Masonic bodies according to their means , while individual brethren are asked to subscribe annually for a period of not less

than three years . It is also proposed lhat Life Governorships , entitling to one vote at each election , should be obtained by a donation of - £ 5 5 s ., and perpetual votes secured to lodges and chapters in return for the payment by them of

donations of £ 10 ios . There will also be votes given for annual subscriptions of half-a-guinea each . It is proposed to establish an Endowment Fund by investing all donations for Life Governorships and perpetual votes , and 25

per cent , of lodge and chapter subscriptions , the interest on such investments being devoted to annual expenditure , nor will any diversion of the capital thus obtained be sanctioned except by a four-fifths majority of the total voting strength of the

subscribers . It is also proposed that lodges and chapters shall appoint brethren to act as Stewards for obtaining donations and subscriptions , and generally to promote the interests of the fund . These are among the principal heads of the scheme as it

has been proposed and adopted , and though without still further information we cannot undertake to accept as reasonable and just every recommendation that has been made , we see clearly that , in its general conception , the plan for setting the Natal

Educational Fund on a sound foundation is a good one , ancl Avell worthy of support by the lodges , chapters , and brethren of the Colony . Indeed , we are glad of this opportunity of offering them our congratulations on having resolved to establish a Charity which is likel y to prove so beneficial .