The So-Called "Fourth" Degree.

ment they will be afforded the opportunity of becoming better acquainted with each other , as it is right and proper they should do as members of the same body , and united therefore by a common interest in the fortunes of that body . It must be

remembered that the members of our lodges are , as a rule , in the habit of taking refreshment at home in the form of dinner or supper , and we see no just cause or impediment why they should not refresh themselves similarly when they meet for

Masonic purposes . We do not therefore understand why our socalled Fourth Degree should be abolished or less generally esteemed than it has been in the past . Those who would abuse it by over-indulgence are obviously the class of men whom it

is desirable we should keep outside our ranks . But as it is the hope of reward that sweetens labour , and as it is clear , as vve have before said , that lodges meet in better force , and do their work better when there is refreshment to follow labour , we shall take a leaf out of Bro . DRUMMOND ' S book . We shall not

object to banquets per se , nor shall we form a worse opinion of any Grand , Provincial Grand , or Private Lodge , whose usage it is to have banquets , because they do not see their way to discontinuing that usage .

Masonry In The Transvaal.

MASONRY IN THE TRANSVAAL .

We have on many occasions called the attention of our readers to the progress which Freemasonry has been making of late years in South Africa , one of the most direct evidences of this

progress being the establishment of a District Grand Lodge of the Transvaal , which already had some 14 or 15 lodges on its roll at the commencament of the present yean , that is to say , within about 12 months from the date when Bro . GEORGE

RICHARDS received his patent of appointment as District Grand Master . Several of these lodges vvere in existence before that auspicious event , but the District has advanced with more

rapid strides since its erection into a District , not only as regards strength and numbers , but in other directions likewise . This shows that the Craft has taken a firm hold as well in

the deep-seated affection of the brethren , for the tenets and principles of Freemasonry as in their fancy for a thing that is new to their experience . But the most honourable of all the steps which our Transvaal brethren have

taken in furtherance of Masonry is undoubtedly the establishment , on what is likely to prove on a large scale , of a Masonic Educational Institution , which we learn from the Johannesburg Star of the 17 th October was at that date on the point of

becoming an accomplished fact . The constitution of the new Charity , which has been framed by Bro . DA SlLVA , the District Grand Secretary , is spoken of as being of the most comprehensive character , and such as cannot fail to commend itself to all .

whether members of the Craft or not , " who have at heart the mental , and moral , and physical training of the young . " Though established under the auspices of the English Constitution , it is hoped that lodges and brethren under the other

Constitutions will give it their best assistance . It is intended to be a self-supporting Institution , with Patrons and Vice-Patrons , Presidents and Vice-Presidents , and Life Governors , whose rank as donors and subscribers will be determined by the amount

of their contributions . It will provide for the education , maintenance , and clothing of the childrenof those brethren who havedied in poor circumstances or whose position has been altered for the worse through illness 6 r misfortune . At the same time it will be

open to all brethren to place their children in the Institution , on payment of moderate fees , care being at the same time taken that the education of all , whether paying or non-paying pupils , is of the very highest character . An Annual Festival will be held and

Bro . RICHARDS , Dist . G . Master , has very kindly promised to preside at the first , which it is proposed to hold sometim e during the spring of 1897 . As for the support which is anticipated the Johannesburg Star announces that several donations

of one hundred guineas each have alread y been promised , and that five stands in the nei ghbourhood of Johannesburg have been presented as a building site . Moreover , many of the lodges in Cape Colony and the Free State have signified their intention of joining in the movement ,

Masonry In The Transvaal.

The children will be elected by ballot , and the utmost care will be taken that none are admitted until after strict examination as to their eli gibility . The scheme is an admirable one , and we doubt not , when carried out , will be not only honourable to our

Transvaal brethren , but at the same time of the greatest benefit to the children of those who , through death , illness , or misfortune have dropped out of our ranks . It is needless to add that such a scheme has our entire sympathy , and will receive , so far as we are able to render it any help , our warmest support .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

The following is ths business to be transacted on Wednesday , the 2 nd prox . 1 . The minutes of the Quarterl y Communication of the 2 nd September for confirmation . 2 . Nomination of a Grand Master for the ensuing year . 3 . Nomination of a Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . 4 . Appointment and investment of a President of the Board of Benevolence .

5 . Election of a Senior and Junior Vice-President of the Board of Benevolence . 6 . Election of 12 Past Masters to serve on the Board of Benevolence for

the ensuing year . 7 . Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants , viz .: A brother of the High Cross Lodge , No . 754 , Londm £ ? 5 o o A brother of the De Warren Lodge , No . 1302 , Halifax 100 o 0 The widow of a brother of the British Union Lodge , No . 114 ,

Ipswich 100 o o A brother of th « Lebanon L ^ dge , No . 1326 , Feltham 100 o 0 The widow of a brother of the Lodge Brotherly Love , No . 329 , Yeovil So o 0

And a resolution of a vote of thanks to the President , V . W . Bro . Robert Grey , for the courteous manner in which he has , during the past year , presided over ihe meetings of the Board .

8 . REPORT OF THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board have to report that the following presentations have been made to the Library and Museum since the last meeting of Grand Lodge , all of which have been accepted with thanks :

TITLE OF OBJECT . BY WHOM PRESENTED . Robert Burns' Commemoration Medal ... William James Hughan , P . G . D ., Sic The Great Pyramid John Chapman , P . P . G . D . Devon , Sic . The Descent of Symbolic Masonry , & c . ... John Armitage , P . M ., & c . jachin and Boaz , 1805 John Lane , P . A . G . D . C , & c . " History of the St . Michael Lodge , No . 63 , 7 James Sm ; th R . W . M ., & c . Dumfries i

Photograph of By-Laws of Prov . G . Lodge 7 - h , p p G > Std > B & of York , 17 S 5 J Royal Alpha Lodge Members' Jewel of the ) Shadwell H . Clerke . late Col . Shadwell H . Clerke ) History of the Lodge of Honour , No . 526 .. Thomas J . Birnett , P . P . G . W . Staffs . Historical Sketch and Centennial Medal I it p Morse WM

_ ner , er , .. Washington Lodge , Massachusetts ... j ' ' By-laws of Lambton Lodge , No . 7 S 9 , 1825 Robert Hudson , P . G . Std . Br ., & c . Thoughts , Moral and Divine ( Wellins Cal- > Thomas Francis , Past Prov . G . Warden cott ) 176 4 ) Hants , Stc . Backs reports of Grand Lodge of Wisconsin John W . Laflin , Grand Secretary . Old Masonic Oil Painting George Everett , P . G . Treas .

The Board also submit a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts , at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 13 th day of November instant , showing a balance in the Bank of England ( Law Courts Branch ) of £ 5528 7 s . gd ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for Petty Cash . £ 100 , and for Servants' Wages . £ 100 . ( Signed ) R ICHARD LOVELAND LOVELAND , President .

Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 18 th November , 1896 . APPEAL . 9 . By Bro . EDWARD H . GIBSON , P . M . No . 2119 , Queensland , against the ruling of the District Grand Master that a motion was in order , and could be put to Quarterly Communication , to excise from the minutes a resolution actually come to at the preceding meeting of District Grand Lodge , although no notice of such motion had been given .

10 . Names of brethren nominated to the offices of Senior and Junior Vice-President of the Board of Benevolence : Bros . David Dixon Mercer , P . G . P ., as Senior Vice-President , and Bro . Charles Alexander Cottebrune , P . G . P ., as Junior Vice-President . 11 . Names of Past Masters nominated to serve on the Board of Benevo

lence : Bros . George Graveley , 898 ; Walter Martin , 879 ; G . R . Lingley , 2381 ; George B . Chapman , 27 ; Charles Dairy , 141 ; William Fisher , S 34 . S James Bunker , 1158 ; William Vincent , 1194 ; Simon H . Goldschmidt , 1329 ; Robert A . Go _ van , 2029 ; William Kipps , 1275 ; and E . Nightingale , 87 . List of lodges for which warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge :

No . 2625 , The Guardian , London . 2626 , The Leyton , London . , 2627 , The District Grand Stewards' of Canterbury , Christchurch . New Zealand . 2628 , The Perseverance , Molteno , South Africa ( E . D . ) .

2629 , The Killarney , Killarney , Queensland . 2630 , The Tuthbury Castle , Hatton , Derbyshire . 2631 , The Commercial Travellers , Liverpool . 2632 , The Byfield , London . 2633 , The Jubilee , Brisbane , Queensland . 2634 , The Hopeful , Corinda , Queensland ,