House Committee, Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Bowyer , P . G . Std . Br . ; W . Roebuck , P . G . Stwd . ; J . L . Mather , George Plucknett , P . G . D ., Treasurer of the Institution ; F . Binckes , P . G . Stwd ., Secretary of the Institution ; and others . There were likewise present several invited guests , both brethren and ladies , to whom

was thus afforded an opportunity of seeing how well the new school had been prepared for the comfort and health of the pupils and the staff in charge . Of the 37 boys elected in October , 1885 , 33 presented themselves , and were formally admitted by the Committee .

Annual Meeting Of The Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STAFFORDSHIRE MASONIC CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION .

The sixteenth annual meeting of the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association was held on the 2 isl inst ., at the North Stafford Hotel , Stoke , when VV . Bro . Frank James , P . P . D . G . M ., presided , and there was a

good attendance of brethren representing most lodges in the province . The fifteenth annual report was presented by Bro . T . Mount Humphries , which showed that the amount of subscriptions contributed to the association by the various lodges amounted to £ 779 17 s . 7 d ., and a sum of £ 733 18 s . had been sent direct to London from the

province . The following brethren have given in their names as Stewards for the Festivals of 1886 : —W . Bro . W . H . Bailey , P . M . 624 , for Benevolent Festival , February 24 ; W . Bros . W . Vernon , P . M . 45 6 , R . Tooth , P . M . 637 , also of iooi , Bro . G . M . W . Randall , D . D ., W . M . 482 , for the Girls' School Festival , May 19 ; VV . Bros .

Percy Evershed , P . M . 624 , F . J . Turlcy , P . M . 1792 , for the Boys' School Festival in June . In moving the adoption of the report , the PRESIDENT said it had been carefully considered that morning by the Committee , and it was one which everyone would consider was of a very high and congratulatory character , when they considered that the association had only been

in existence something like 16 years . When it first commenced the association was started with a subscription of £ 5 5 s . only , but singular progress had been made , and they now had a subscription list of over £ ^ 00 a year , which was collected for the purpose of carrying on the work of this association . That could not be otherwise than satisfactory throughout . He did

not mean to say that £ 5 5 s . was the only sum contributed by the brethren of Staffordshire , because individual subscriptions were given direct to the various Masonic Charitable Institutions , but the subscription of £ 5 5 s . was the beginning of an organisation which had worked so much good , and so effectively , for the purpose of securing the interest of Staffordshireinconnection

with the Masonic Institutions . He had always held that loyalty to these institutions was a great point , and he would impress on all brethren of Staffordshire loyalty , because , as had been said in the report , year by year the difficulty of securing the election of any candidate became greater and greater . However , there was the fact , that since the establishment of this institution the

province of Staffordshire had never put its hand to any good work for the purpose of getting elected any candidate , whether to the Boys ' , Girls ' , or Benevolent Institution , without effecting its object . ( Hear , hear . ) Having succeeded on all these occasions , they might take credit for those successes from the simple fact that the organisation , which was formed for the purpose ,

had accomplished its object . The President said perhaps the poorest lodge in the province had from necessity to make the largest application for benefits , but he hoped that those lodges receiving benefits would endeavour to do all they could , and use every effort they could , to recompense the association , to show that they were actually grateful for the benefits conferred

upon them . In connection with the subscriptions , whether considered as to the A or B fund , they were a matter for congratulation . He thought the brethren of the different lodges would see that the longer the association existed , the greater the necessity for their holding together , and uniting in loyal support to the institution of which they were members . He then

most cordially moved the adoption of the report . Bro . J . F . PEPPER seconded the adoption of the leport , which was carried . Bro . PEPPER then moved the re-election of Bro . Frank James as President for the ensuing year . He said Bro . James had shown a great interest in the work of the association , and since his election to the office he

had not missed a single meeting . Bro . A . G . PRICE seconded the motion , and said that the Province of Staffordshire was deeply indebted to Bro . James for his great exertions in the work of the association . The motion was carried unanimously . In acknowledging his re-election , Bro . J AMES thanked the brethren heartily for the vote of confidence they had

passed in him . While he cordially accepted the office for the present year , he did desire distinctly to give them intimation that at the expiration of this year he should desire to retire . ( "No . " ) Yes , he could assure them that he had so many engagements of a public and private character that he must ask them to seriously consider before that time next year , and endeavour to find some brother to occupy the

position he now held . For a period of ten years , ever since the lamented death of the Earl of Shrewsbury , he had been President of the association , and it was true that he had never been absent from one of the meetings , either general or committee , but it was absolutely impossible that he could continue to occupy the position of President of the Masonic Charitable Association of Staffordshire after this year . The brethren of the

Annual Meeting Of The Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association.

south for a considerable period had done honourable work , aDd no doubt honourable work would continue to be done by them , and be hoped some one from the north would undertake the duties he now cordially accepted . Bro . Bodenham , who was prevented from being present through illness , was re-elected a Vice-President

of the association , along with Bro . VV . H . Bailey , 624 . Bro . Bayliss was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Humphries , Secretary , and Bros . Humphries and Turner were appointed managers of elections , and a cordial vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Bayliss for his services in tht > past . Bros . Joyce und Woodhouse were re-elected auditors .

A discussion took place on a communication that had been received from Bros . Greatbatch ( Hanley ) and Turner ( Longton ) , with regard to the expenditure at the Masonic Charitable Institutions . Bro . GREATBACH said he had carefully compared the cost of educating the boys at institutions similar to that of the Masonic Institution for Boys in London , and he

was firmly convinced that the cost of maintenance at the latter institution was excessive . The cost for educating each boy was £ 45 1 is ., whereas at other institutions , such as the Commercial Travellers ' , the Yorkshire Society , the Licensed Victuallers' Society , and the Clerks' and Warehousemen's Society , all being institutions similar in character , and on all fours with the Masonic Institution for Boys , the cost was much less .

He contended that the cost ought not to exceed £ 35 per annum per boy , and if it was reduced to that the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys would provide for thirteen boys in place of ten as at present . The matter ought to be taken in hand , and something done to reform the expenditure of the institution . He concluded by moving— " That a presentment be made from the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable

Association to the Provincial Grand Lodgeof Staffordshire —That the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association is of opinion that the expenditure at the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys is excessive and injudiciously applied , and that it is desirable for the Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire to petition H . R . H . the M . W . G . Master of England , as President

01 the Institution , to authorize the appointment of an independent committee to investigate and report to the M . W . G . M . what alterations are necessary to render the said Institution more extensively useful . " The PRESIDENT expressed his hearty sympathy with the remarks made by Bro . Greatbach . This was no new matter by any means . For years past he , from

his position , had been preaching the same doctrine , that they were not getting , as Masons , the largest amount of benefits for the enormous sums of money which they annually contributed to those Institutions . When they considered the contributions of brethren in support of the three Institutions amounted to over £ 50 , 000 a year , there was very considerable room for doing an enormous

amount of good , and the only question that had been present to his mind had been , did that £ 50 , 000 a year do that amount of good , and was that amount of discretion exercised over the funds which there out to be ? Over and over again he had brought forward to this association comparative figures of the cost of education at different institutions , and there had always been this

fact noticed , that the cost of Masonic Institutions had been largely and grossly in excess of any other similar charitable institutions . Bro . TURNER ( Longton ) seconded the proposition of Bro . Greatbach , and corroborated the remarks of the latter ; but , after some discussion , on the suggestion of

Bro . Bayliss , the proposition was withdrawn , and Bro . Bayliss moved and Bro . J . L . Hamshaw seconded a resolution to the effect that a committee be nominated to consider the whole question , which was carried . It was decided to hold the next annual meeting of the association at Lichfield , and the brethren subsequently dined together .

Obituary.

Obituary .

R . W . BRO . SIR W . W . BURRELL , BART ., P . G . M . SUSSEX . The news of the death , on Sunday last , of Bro . Sir VV . W . Burrell , Bart ., the respected P . G . M . of Sussex , has been received everywhere throughout the country with a feeling of the most sincere regret . Other prominent brethren may , perhaps , have been more widely known outside their own more immediate sphere of duty , but none were

more successful in securing the esteem and respect of all with whom they were brought in contact , whether in their own province or in neighbouring or more remote provinces . Many , even among his younger contemporaries , could boast ofa longer connection with the Craft ; but none had exerted themselves more faithfully , zealously , and successfully in order to promote its interests . During the eight and a half years of his presidency over the brethren in Sussex ,

his chief ambition had always been to strengthen and extend its influence , and it is only necessary to contrast the present position of Freemasonry in that county with what it was when its government was placed in his hands in 1 S 77 ' order to judge of the measure of success which attended his efforts . As regards the details of his career , we find he was initiated in the Royal Clarence Lodge , No . 271 , Brighton , on the 19 th August , 1864 . On the nth March , 1 S 74 , he was installed first W . M . of the Ockenden Lodge , No . 1465 ,

Cuckfield , and the same year was appointed Prov . G . S . VV . Sussex . It was also about this time—on 6 th February , 1874—that he was exalted to the R , A . Degree in the Lennox Chapter , attached to his mother lodge , but it was not till October , 18 S 0 , that he was installed Z . of the newlyconsecrated Hova-villa Chapter , No . 1466 , Brighton . In 1877 , on the resignation , through feeble health , of R . W . Bro . Lord Pelham , Prov . Grand Master of Sussex , Bro . Sir Walter Burrell was chosen by H . R . H the Grand

Obituary.

Master to succeed him , and his installation took place at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , in the presence of a large gathering of the brethren , on the 2 nd June of that year , the Installing Grand Officer being the late Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary . In 18 S 1 Sir Walter was installed Provincial Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons in Sussex by M . E . Comp . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . S . E ., so that for some

time past the entire charge of constitutional Masonry in this province had been in his hands . That he laboured successfully in his endeavours to confirm and extend its welfare is undoubted . Under his auspices was established , in 1 S 79 , the Sussex Provincial Benevolent Association . When the Health Congress was held in Brigoton , in 1 SS 1 , a meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge was specially called for the purpose of extending a hearty welcome to the members who

were Freemasons , while in the summer of the same , and that of the following year , when the Festival of the Boys ' School was celebrated in Brighton under the auspices , on the first occasion , of the late Bro . Marquis of Londonderry , Provincial Grand Master of Durham , and on the second , under those of Bro . Sir J . Whittaker Ellis , Bart ., M . P ., at the time Lord Mayor of London and G . J . VV . of Fnpland , ( he brethren of Suss-ex , with the encouiagement

of iheir chief , spared no pains to ensure the succ < Rs of the celebrations . Moreover he was a Vice-President of the Boys' School , a Life Governor of the Benevolent Institution , and by his personal donation last year constituted himself a Vice-Patron of the Girls' School . Indeed , at the annual festival of the R . M . I , for Girls , held last May , over which Sir Walter presided , so cordially was he supported by the brethren in Ihe province that the list repiesented

£ 1 , 850—a sum in excess of any aggregate ever raised by a single province for that particular Institution , while the total from all the provinces , amounting to £ 14 , 187 lis . Cd ., was the largest ever collected at a festival of the Girls ' Institution . It should also be mentioned that in February , 1 SS 0 , Sir Walter , assisted by the Prov . G . Lodge , laid the

foundation-stone of the new permanent Children's Hospital in the Dyke-road , Brighton , and , last August , laid the foundation-stone of St . Saviour's Church , Brighton , with Masonic rites . His death has created a vacancy in our ranks which it will be difficult to fill . He was , indeed , true and trusty , courteous in manner , easy of address , but steady and firm in principle .

Gold And Silver Wyre Drawers Company.

GOLD AND SILVER WYRE DRAWERS COMPANY .

At the last Court meeting the Master , Bro . Major Josephs , C . C ., in addressing the Wardens and Assistants , explained the part the company had taken in reference to the Lord Mayor ' s procession , and the handsome way in which Bro . George Kenning ( the

Immediate Past Master ) had , at his own expense , fitted up a portion of the show , illustrating the trade ot the company , thus rendering that section the chief feature of the day . In recognition of the manner in which the whole arrangements were carried out , a vote of thanks

in the following terms was proposed by Bro . Captain George Lambert , F . S . A ., seconded by Mr . Warden Lindo , and carried unanimously : — " That a cordial vote of thanks be and is hereby given to Mr . Past Master George Kenning for the part he took in illustrating the trade of . the company in the Lord Mayor ' s Show . "

Willing's Selected Theatrical Programme.

WILLING'S SELECTED THEATRICAL PROGRAMME .

DRURY LANE THEATRE . Every Day at 1 . 30 and 7 . 30 , Pantomime , ALADDIN .

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE . Every Day at 2 . 0 and 7 . 30 , GRAND INTERNATIONAL CIRQUE . ADELPHI THEATRE . Every evening , at 8 , THE HARBOUR LIGHTS ; at 7 . 15 , Farce . STRAND THEATRE . Every Evening , at 7 . 4 s , HAPPY PAIR ; at S . 15 , Mv SWEETHEART .

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE . Every Evening at 9 . 0 , CONFUSION ; at S . o , CUPID ' S MESSENGER . GLOBE THEATRE . Every Evening at S . o , THE SINS OF TH 3 FATHERS ; at 9 . 0 , THE PRIVATE SECRETARY .

SAVOY THEATRE . Every Evening at S . 15 , THE MIKADO ; or , THE TOWN OF TITIPU . OPERA COMIQUE THEATRE . Every evening , at 8 . 45 , ON 'CHANGE ; at 8 . 0 , Comedietta . OLYMPIC THEATRE . Every Evening 2 t 7 . 45 , ALONE IN LONDON ; at 7 . 15 , Comedietta .

GAIETY THFATRE . Every Evening at 7 . 30 , BORROWED PLUMES ; at S , J SHEPPARD .

TOOLE'S THEATRE . Every evening at 7 . 30 , Comedietta ; at 8 . 30 , GOING IT ; concluding with THE BIRTHPLACE OF PODGERS . COURT THEATRE . Every Evening at S . 45 , THE MAGISTRATE ; preceded by BREAKING THE ICE .

COMEDY THEATRE . Every Evening at 8 . 0 , ERMINIK ; preceded by a Comedietta . ROYALTY THEATRE . Every Evening at 8 . 15 , LA DOCTORESSE , GRAND THEATRE . Every Evening , at 7 . 30 , Pantomime , BLUR BEARD .

SURREY THEATRE . Every Evening , at 7 . 30 , Pantomime , ROBINSON CRUSOE . STANDARD THEATRE . Every Evening , at 7 . 15 , Pantomime , WHITTINGTON AND 111 s CAT .

SANGERS' AMPHITHEATRE . Every Day , at 2 and 7 . 0 , Pantomime , ALADDIN AND THE FORTY THIEVES . ROYAL AQUARIUM . Open , 12 . 0 ; close , 11 . 30 . Constant Round of Amusement .

The Viennese Lady Orchestra , and Grenadier Guards Band . JAPANESE VILLAGE . Open from n a . m . to 10 p . m . Admission one shilling ; Wednesdays half-a-crown , after six one shilling . Performances free daily at 12 , 3 , and S , in the New Japanese Shcbaya .