Freemasonry In 1890.

examinations , at which its pupils have competed , while the excellence of its training and discipline was very conspicuous at the distribution of prizes and annual visit of the Festival Stewards on the day preceding the anniversary celebration . It remains for us to add that the Centenary Hall has been proceeded with so expeditiously that the building is now virtually finished , and will be formally opened early in the New Year by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., and President of the Institution . The Hall will certainl y prove a worthy memorial

of the auspicious event it has been erected to commemorate ; while , thanks to a resolution proposed by Bro . Charles Hammerton , a Patron and member of the House Committee , and unanimously agreed to by the Governors and Subscribers at the Quarterly General Court , Grand Lodge and the Provinces and lodges which took a leading part in the Centenary Festival , will have their association with that event commemorated in the Hall itself by means of stained glass windows or panels placed on the walls of the edifice .

The Royal Masonic Institution for Boys celebrated its 92 nd Anniversary Festival , at Freemasons'Tavern , on the 2 nd July . For a longtime , Bro . F . Binckes , the Secretary , experienced great difficulty in obtaining the services of some distinguished brother to act as Chairman , but at length Bro . Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., First Lord of the Admiralty , the Senior Grand Warden of the year , very kindly undertook to preside , and his lordship ' s appeal , supported as it was by the

efforts of a Board of Stewards , numbering 272 brethren , resulted in a return of ; £ 9353 > ' ch , by subsequent additions and outstanding lists , was ultimately increased to close on , £ 9750 . The total , as compared with that of 188 9 , shows a clear falling off of nearly £ 4000 , and there can be no doubt that it will need a very strong effort on the part of the friends and supporters of the School in order to restore the necessary equilibrium between the Dr . and Cr . sides of the School accounts .

However , we must not lose si ght of the fact that a sum which cannot now be far short of £ 2000—several weeks ago it was stated as amounting to £ 1800—has been raised from the Craft towards the Pension Indemnity Fund , so that the total sum subscribed is in reality about ; £ i 1 , 750 , or more nearly what it has been our duty to record year by year for the last 15 or or 16 years than the Festival itself alone furnished . But if our Boys' School has

not received such an amount of support as we anticipated for it during the year , it has undoubtedly made great progress in the very difficult task of setting its house in order . The Provisional Management Committee have gone about their work of re-organisation in such a manner as to deserve the thanks of the entire English Craft . It is early yet to judge of the effect of the changes they have already introduced , but there is good reason for believing that they will conduce

materially to the well-being of the Institution . As regards several of their most important recommendations , such as the erection of a swimming bath and the enlargement of the schoolroom accommodation , though they have been approved by the General Court , it hes been found impossible owing to the lack of means , to give effect to them , but what has been possible has been done thoroughly and well . The changes on the staff , which the . Committee considered desirable

have been made , and Bro . the Rev . H . Hebbs , who entered on his duties as Head Master after the close of the last Christmas holidays , has already done much in establishing a good tone in the School . The report he presented to the Committee in the early part of the year was the reverse of pleasant , but he is loyall y supported in his endeavours b y the authorities , and we are not without hope that his efforts to bring the-School into good order will be successful at an earlier date

than he seemed to think possible . The change in the office of Secretary has also been effected . On the 30 th June Bro . Frederick Binckes , after completing 29 years' service retired with a present of ^ 2500 in lieu of pension , the proposal to raise this sum for the purpose , which emanated from a distinguished member of the Craft in West Yorkshire having been adopted by the Committee , and fourfifths of the money is . already raised . On the 12 th July Bro . J . Morrison McLeod

was elected by an overwhelming majority of votes to fill the vacant office , and on the 9 th of August he entered upon his duties , nor , from what he has been able to accomplish during the short period which has since elapsed , do we think it likel y the Governors will have any reason to repent of their choice . On the contrary , it seems to us that Bro . McLeod is just the very man that is needed to occupy so important a position . He entered on his career with the best wishes , of a host of

friends in the Provinces , and he has already most favourably impressed those who only knew him by repute or who knew him not , by his courtesy and thorough business habits . There has also been a complete revision of the by-laws of the Institution , and though there are brethren who think that some of the changes which have been sanctioned were unnecessary , it is generally held that in what is most essential

to the prosperity of the Institution , to its success as a school , and its efficient and , at the same time , economical management , the amended by-laws will be a great improvement on the code they supersede . On this point , however , we shall be in a better position to judge 12 months hence , when a reasonable time for their trial has elapsed .

PROVINCIAL AND OTHER CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS . This class of organisation is greatly increasing in popular favour , and in time no doubt will materially assist in relieving the central Masonic Charities of some of that severe strain to which their resources have for several years been subjected . West Lancashire , which can boast of three of these organisations , has been even more successful than in previous years in obtaining donations and

subscriptions in their behalf . The East Lancashire Systematic Educational and Benevolent Institution has likewise been able to do more efficient work , while at the same time it has had the good fortune to be able to increase its invested capital . The Cheshire Educational Institute , which has been in existence for upwards of a quarter of a century , has also done well , while the North and East Yorkshire Educational Fund had the satisfaction of realising just over £ 500 at its second annual Festival

which was held at Hull on the 27 th May under the presidency of our esteemed Bro . J . Woodall Woodall , Past G . Treasurer . Then there are ' the Provincial and Lodge Associations , which afford facilities to brethren for becoming Life Governors and Life Subscribers to our principal Charities—these , too , are increasing in number and rendering increased service , the Staffordshire , Cambridgeshire , Cornwall , and other Provincial Associations together with those organised in connection with

London and other lodges of instruction having been the means of raising very considerable sums towards the several festivals of the year . There is , indeed , no kind of Masonic Charit y Organisation , whether belonging to the more ambitious class , which take upon themselves to educate the children of deceased and indigent Freemasons and to provide annuities for poor brethren and their widows , or to the less aspiring , which is content with obtaining supplies for our three Institutions , which has not prospered fairly during the year 1890 .

THE BOARD OK BENEVOLENCE . This Board , which is entrusted with the administration of our Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence , seems at length to be in a fair way of bringing its expenditure more nearly within the limits of its income . Its functions , as exercised under the guidance of Bro . Robt . Grey , President , appear to have been discharged as generously as ever , and yet with a nicer discrimination of the cases brought under its notice . We are unable to include in our statement of the relief administered during the present year

the return for the current month , as the Board will not meet till after the publication of this number of the Freepiason , but the following is a table of the Returns for the n months from January to November , both inclusive , namely : January , 36 cases relieved with £ 775 ; February , 34 cases with £ 920 ; March 32 cases with ^ 650 ; April , 37 cases with ^ 800 ; May , 25 cases with £ 555 ; . June , 20 cases with £ 606 ; July , 25 cases with £ 575 ; August , 6 cases with £ 125 ; September , 17 cases with £ 360 ; October , 37 cases with £ 872 ; and November , 34 cases with £ 925 . Total for the 11 months , 303 cases with £ 7157 .

Freemasonry In 1890.

MASONIC LITERATURE . There is not much to be said under this head . "The Master Masons' Handbook , " b y Bro . Fred . J . W . Crowe , with an introduction b y Bro . W . J . Hughan P . G . D ., published by Bro . George Kenning , has deservedly met with a considerable amount of favour , and will be found invaluable by those who desire to know about the several divisions and sub-divisiuns of Freemasonry . In the way of

history , Bro . Josep h Hawkins , P . M ., P . Z ., has compiled , and very ably compiled , the " History and Records of the Harmonic Lodge , No . 216 , and the Sacred Delta Royal Arch Chapter" attached to it ; and there has also appeared a volume of "Addresses" by the late Bro . Gerard Ford , P . G . D ., Deputy Grand Master of Sussex , which show that much lamented brother to have been as earnest in his love of the Craft as he was able in expounding its principles . There has also been published in

their regular course the " Transactions ot the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , " the task of editing which has been most carefully performed by Bro . G . W . Speth , the Secretary of the lodge . As regards our Craft periodical literature , what we feel called upon to say concerns chiefly this journal , which , thanks to the increasing support and encouragement it receives , is able to maintain its position without difficulty as the chief organ of Masonic opinion in this country .

OBITUARY . The losses which the Craft has sustained are neither more nor less numerous than they were in 18 S 9 , but they include one , the equal of which has not occurred for a long period of years . We allude , of course , to the late Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master , Pro Grand Z ., and Provincial Grand Master of Somersetshire . His lordship was initiated into Freemasonry as far back as February , 1856 , in the

Westminster and Keystone Lodge , No . 10 . At the very outset of his career he took part in the discussions in Grand Lodge on the great Canadian question . In 186 S the late Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M ., appointed him to the Provincial Grand Mastership of Somersetshire , rendered vacant by the resignation of Bro . Colonel A . Adair . From 1870—74 he held the important office of Deputy Grand Master of England . In 18 75 he had the honour of installing his Royal Highness the

Prince of Wales as M . W . G . M ., and was appointed b y him to the still more important office of Pro Grand Master . He was also ex officio Grand H . in Supreme Grand Chapter from 1870—74 , and Pro Grand Z . from the following year . In addition he was a P . G . M . ot the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , having been elected to the office in i 860 in succession to Bru . Lord Leigh , and P . M . P . S . Grand Commander of the Supreme Council , 33 ° , of the Ancient and Accepted

Rite . Thus his lordship had held at different periods nearl y all the most important positions in Freemasonry , while it is well known that he took an active and generous part in supporting our Institutions . OE his extra-Masonic career as a Statesman and man of letters , it does not come within our province to speak here , but that he was eminent in these as he was eminent in Freemasonry is known to our readers . There have also died during the year Bro . the Earl of

Multovvn , who was appointed S . G . W . of England in 18 S 3 , and G . Scribe N . of Supreme Grand Chapter in 18 S 8 ; Bro . E . Baldwin , J . G . W . of England and Asst . G . Soj . in 1854 ; Bo . Alderman Stone , J . G . W . and P . G . Soj . in 18 75 ; Bro . Lord John Taylour , who , after achieving distinction , firstly , as a District Grand Officer of New South Wales , and then as a Past Grand Officer of Hants and the Isle of Wight , was appointed J . G . W . and P . G . Soj . in 1888 . Another very serious

loss is that caused by the death of Bro . the Rev . J . Edmund Cox , D . D ., G . Chap , of England from 1846 to 18 57 , while among other Grand Officers , we have to lament the death of Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D ., who rendered valuable services to our various Institutions . Bro . the Rev . P . H . Ernest Brette , D . D ., who was one of the brethren on whom the brevet rank of P . S . G . D . was conferred

in the year of the Queen ' s Jubilee ; Bro . Harold F . King , a P . D . D . G . M . of Bombay , and also a Jubilee P . G . D . ; Bro . J . Anthony Rucker , S . G . D . 18 74 ; Bro . Robert Bradley , a Jubilee Past G . S . B ., and Prov . G . Secretary for many years of Berks and Bucks ; Bro . Simeon C . Hadley , P . A . G . D . C ., and Bro . W . H . Perryman , Grand Pursuivant in 188 7 , and A . G . D . of C . in Grand Chapter at the time of his death .

SCOTLAND . The Grand Lodge of Scotland , like that of its neighbour south of the Tweed , has sustained a further loss of lodges by the establishment of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania , and the setting up of a clandistine Grand Lodge in New Zealand , but it has warranted 10 lodges , which appear to be about equally divided between home and abroad . The personnel of Grand Lodge remains for the most part unchanged ,

the most conspicuous disappearance from the roll of Past Grand Officers being that of the Earl of Rosslyn , Past Grand Master Mason of Scotland , whose health had been seriously affected for some time , and who died earl y in the month of September . This is a serious loss to the Craft in Scotland , for the late Earl , like his English confrere , Lord Carnarvon , was a man of the hi g hest culture , and like him , though a less prominent position , had played an active part in the world

of politics . Moreover , like our late Pro Grand Master , he had at different times held many exalted positions in Masonry , being at the time of his death not only a Past Grand Master of Grand Lodge and Past Grand First Principal of Grand Chapter , but he was Grand Master of the Order of the Temple , Deputy Grand Master and Governor of the Royal Order of Scotland , and M . P . Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council , 33 ° of the Ancient and Accepted Rite . He

was also representative of his Grand Lodge at the Grand Lodge of England , and had commended himself especially to his English brethren by occupying the chair at the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys in 1880 . Among the principal changes in the Provinces we note that Bros . Sir H . MacAndrew and Sir Hector Munro were installed by Bro . Sir A . C . Campbell , Bart ., Grand Master , on the 23 rd October , as Provincial Grand Masters , the former of Inverness-shire ,

and the latter of Ross and Cromarty , while Bro . James Berry has been appointed Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire , vice Bro . the Hon . Frank Lyons . Another event of interest which , as it must have the effect of drawing still nearer together the brethren under the Constitutions north and south of the Tweed , is woith recording is the affiliation on 21 st June of the Lord Mayor , Bro . Sir H . A . Isaacs , P . J . G . W . England ; Bro . Sir J . B . Monckton , P . J . G . W . ; and Bro . ex-Sheriff Harris , as

members of the famous Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) , No . 1 . There was also a return visit paid in November by the brethren of the St . David's Lodge , No . 31 , Edinburgh , to the St . Nicholas Lodge , No . 16 7 6 , Newcastle-on-Tyne . But the great event of the year , the event which will ensure its being especially commemorated in the annals of Scottish Freemasonry , is undoubtedly the grand bazaar in Edinburgh during the current month , held with a view of

raising a sum of £ 10 , 000 in support of the G . Lodge extended scheme of benevolence . Many concerts have been held in furtherance ot the same object in different towns , and there was a supplementary bazaar in Aberdeen , which was open for two days in November , and resulted in a gain of over , £ 1500 . There will also be another supplementary bazaar held in Glasgow early in January , 1891 , in aid of the same object . Butthe central , the principal effort toobtainthe required sum , wasmadeatthe Edinburgh bazaar , and with what splendid success may well be imagined when we

state that at the close of the five days' sale the total , including the contribution from the Aberdeen bazaar already stated , was . £ 15 , 433 . This is indeed a result on which our Scottish brethren deserve the heartiest congratulations , and we are satisfied there are none in England , Ireland , or the British Colonies and Possessions who will net most readily tender these to them , and that , too , with a feeling of pride that it is a branch of our British Freemasonry which has achieved this great success .

IRELAND . Our record of Irish Freemasonry is , unfortunately , always brief , and the present one will prove no exception to the rule . The roll of Grand Lodge has , of course ,