Distribution Of Prizes.

April night " and " The mice in council , " were sung by the choir , after which " Peace and Quiet" was played by E . T . Piatt , W . J . Hodge , J . H . Hewett , J . Mackey , J . Bloomfield , and H . M . Hare . At the conclusion of this piece , Bro . BROADLEY , who had been the judge for the dramatic ability prize , said he had been struck with the acting of

the boy Hare , who had had a small part , but had acted that part exceedingly well . He should give one guinea to Hare , and two guineas to W . J . Hodge . Bro . RAYNHAM STEWART said he had much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to Bro . Col . Carteret .

Bro . F . BINCKES seconded the resolution , which was carried with acclamation . Bro . Col . CARTERET responded , and the company adjourned to the

Gymnasium , where a collation awaited them . The band of the Institution played some music in the grounds during the evening . After seven o'clock athletic sports vvere indulged in .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berks And Bucks.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF BERKS AND BUCKS .

The Right Worshipful Prov . G . Master , Sir Daniel Gooch , Bart ., presided at the Prov . G . Lodge which was holden at the Auction Mart , High Wycombe , on Monday , the 25 th inst . The Prov . G . M . was supported by the Deputy Prov . G . M ., Bro . Rev . J , Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . C , and the Prov . G . Officers for the year as follows : Bros . John Tomkins , 945 ,

Prov . S . G . W . ; Major G . L . de M . Taylor , 1899 , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev F . R . Harnett , 840 , Prov . G . Chap . ; Rev . Henry Lewis , 945 , Prov . G Chap . ; J . VV . Martin , 414 , Prov . G . Reg . ; R . Bradley , 414 , Prov . G Sec ; G . Tottle , 1501 , Prov . J . G . D . ; William Ravenscroft , 1101 , Prov

G . S . of W . ; H . S . Hannigton , 574 , Prov . A . G . D . C ; Henry Perks , 209 , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; T . Slatter , 1770 , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; W . Guille , 1410 , Prov . A . G . Purst . ; H . J . Stollery , 20 9 , G . H . Charsley , 1894 , C . H , Trench , 2043 , John Line , 1410 , and Joseph Greenaway , 1101 , Prov . G . Stwds ; and W . Hemmings , Prov . G . Tyler .

The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened at 1 . 30 p . m ., when Bro . Bradley , Prov . G . Sec , called over the roll of lodges in the province , and it was found the whole vvere represented . The minutes of the annual Provincial Grand Lodge , holden at Windsor , ort Monday , the 27 th June , 1887 , were , on the motion of the D . P . G . M .,

taken as read , and confirmed . The financial statement of the Prov . G . Treasurer , and the Report of the Charity Committee , were both of a very satisfactory character , while the Prov . G . Secretary ' s report , as to the conditions of the lodges in the Province , showed a total membership of 834 as against 794 at the corresponding period last year . Bro . Charles Stephens ,

the Prov . G . Treasurer , was unfortunately absent through illness ; this the Prov . G . M . felt all present would much regret . However , Bro . Stephens had rendered good service in the past , and all wished him a speedy recovery . He ( Sir Daniel ) had great pleasure in proposing Bro . Stephens's re-election . This was seconded and unanimously agreed to .

Provincial Charity jewels were presented to Bros . Anthony T . Kersley , 574 , and Reginald Maples , 574 ; and Bro . S . G . Kirchhoffer had bars added to his Provincial Charity jewel .

Announcement was made that in one or two cases where the individuals named did not reside within the province that dispensations had been granted for their appointment , the following were invested as the Prov . G . Officers for the next twelve months .:

Bro . Jowett , 591 ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ E . L . Shepherd , 945 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Lewis , 945 ... ... ... ¦ •¦•1 P ,. „„ r ri ,, ™ „ A . Williams ... ... ... __ j Prov . G . Chaps . „ C . Stephens ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ H . Creed ... ... ... ,,. Prov . G . Reg . „ R . Bradley .., ... ... .., Prov . G . Sec . „ Sydney Payne ... ... .,. Prov . S . G . D . „ Trench ... ... .., ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Finch ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W „ Odell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C .

„ Seymour ... ,.. ... ,,, Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Fisher ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br „ R . C Mount ... ... ... .., - ) D „ . „ J . Morris ... ... ... j Prov . G . Std . Brs „ Sherwin ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org .

„ Sells ... ,., ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . ,, J . H . Hawkes ... ... .,, Prov . G . Purst . „ G . J . Cosburn ,.. ... ,., ... Prov . A . G . Purst ,, Page „ Lockyer

„ Bowen ... ,,, ,., ... D „ , p _„ , t J-Prov . G . Stwds f ) *¦ > dvl lt , tl , , , , ,,, „ Thompson ,, Tubbs ,., .,, ,,, ,, „ Hemmings ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler ,

Amongst other business transacted the sum of 25 guineas was voted from Provincial Grand Lodge to the Charity Fund , and the various lodges who have subscribed to that Fund were voted grants , amounting in all to 105 guineas , in aid ol the several Masonic Institutions . With regard to the notice of motion given by Bro . J TOMKINS ,

Prov . S . G . W .: — "That this Provincial Grand Lodge of Berks and Bucks respectfully requests Grand Lodge to take into consideration the present condition of the Masonic Boys' School , and , if thought fit , to appoint a Committee to enquire into its discipline and management , " some considerable amount of discussion ensued . It seemed to be the general opinion that

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berks And Bucks.

this was a matter that scarcely came within the scope of Grand Lod ge to deal with . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER suggested an alternative proposi . tion that should be recommended to the House Committee to take further action in the matter .

Bro . CHARLES BELTON , a member of that body , stated that his confreres had requested Bro . Philbrick , the Grand Registrar , to appoint a Committee of Inquiry , and that it was fully expected that Bro . Philbrick

would undertake that responsibility . It was eventually decided the recommendation of the Provincial Grand Lodge should be forwarded to the Grand Registrar to bring before such a Committee .

In addressing the brethren the PROV . GRAND MASTER congratulated them on the steady progress that was being made . Since their last meeting two new lodges had been consecrated , and a fuller addition to their roll was shortly to be made . As regards the Craft in general the success of the recent Festival on behalf of the Girls' School was intensely gratifying . He

was pleased to see so goodly an attendance that day , and trusted they mi ght have as successful a gathering next year , when the Provincial Grand Lod ge would be held at Reading .

Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed . A luncheon was afterwards served at the Town Hall , where the Prov , Grand Master presided . He was supported by a large majority of those who had attended the Provincial Grand Lodge .

Burns And Freemasonry.

BURNS AND FREEMASONRY .

Burns , beyond question ( says Hunter , in his " Lectures on Freemasonry " ) , derived considerable advantage from Masonry . It is evident from the statements which he has placed on record , that it contributed greatly to his happiness in admitting him into close and intimate fellowship with the wise , intelligent , and social , and furnishing him with opportunities

for enjoying the "feast of reason and the flow of soul" in the most rational and ennobling manner . It presented him also with one of the best fields that he could find for the improvement of his mind and the display of his talents . In no other society are all the members treated with so much indulgence , and placed on a footing of so much equality . In the Mason ' s

lodge merit and worth are sure to be apprec iated , and to meet with appreciation and respect . When the young and humble ploughman of Lochlea joined the Lodge of Tarbolton he was still in a great measure unnoticed and unknown ; but no sooner did he receive the stamp of Freemasonry , then he took his place with Sir John Whitford of

Ballochmyle , James Dalrymple of Orangefield , Sheriff Wallace of Ayr Gavin Hamilton , writer , Mauchline ; John Ballentine , Provost of Ayr ; Professor Dugald Stewart of Catrine ; Dr . John M'Kenzie of Mauchline ; William Parker , Kilmarnock ; and a whole host of Ayrshire worthies , high and low . By coming in contact with these men , his manners vvere refined , his

intellectual energies stimulated , and his merits acknowledged and applauded , Nay , Wood , the tailor ; Manson , the publican ; Wilson , the schoolmaster j Humphrey , the " noisy polemic ; " and all the meaner brethren , seem very soon to have discovered his high intellectual qualities , for they were not long in raising him to the second highest office in the Lodge—an office

that caused him , on ordinary occasions , to occupy the master ' s chair , and perform the work of initiation . In the school of the lodge , he must , in a great measure , have acquired that coolness of demeanour that dignity of deportment , that fluency and propriety of expression , and that acquaintance with philosophy and humanity , which so astounded and electrified the sages

and nobles of Edinburgh , and made his advent in that capital one of the most remarkable incidents in literary history . Instead of a clownish , bashful , ignorant rustic , the most learned and exalted citizens found that he was able and ready to take his place by their side , and that in everything in which intellect vvas concerned , he was in some respects their equals , and

in others greatly their superior . Burns was principally indebted to Freemasonry for any little gleam of prosperity that shone on his earthly p ilgrimage . It was the Freemasons of Ayrshire who invited him to their tables ; who furnished him with advice ; who read his productions into fame ; and purchased and circulated the Kilmarnock edition of his poems . It was by in

the advice of his brother Mason , John Ballantine of Ayr , to whom he - scribed his poem , entitled " The Brigs o' Ayr , " that he repaired to Edinburgh , and not , as is generally said , by the letter of Dr . Blacklockto the Rev . George Laurie , of London , which says notone word of hiscomingto Edinburg h but merely suggests the desirableness of his poems . His brother , Gilbert '

expressly states that when Mr . Ballantine heard that the poet vvas prevented from publishing a second edition , from the want of money to pay for the paper , he " generously offered to accommodate Robert with what money he might need for this purpose ( £ 27 ); but advised him to go to Edidburgh as the fittest place for publishing . " When Burns , acting on 4 —> <__*_> •___>¦___•i _ 4 •> •u .-r biiw ni , l , \ , JV hfiui , v » V ¦ UULIIIJIIIIIC : ¦ » T IIVU ± - * ««¦ » »• - ' } *~ *¦* f

^ this advice , set out for Edinburgh , he had not , as he himself states , a single letter of introduction in his pocket , and vve vvould be quite at a loss to know how he was able to form so sudden an acquaintance with the nobih y and literati of the Scottish capital , were vve not assured , on g 00 authority , that he owed this , in a great measure , to his apP eara " un uu ... V .. hJI , W' . Uh .... WHVU * ..... _ ,, ... O . gLV _< l | , lL _ . l . (_ l __ l *_ tLt ~ , WV . «•* . _ , Tl Vn into

. , ^ among the Masonic brethren . It was they who introduced him best circles of Society ; who put money in his purse to supply his wa . . -g who secured subscribers for the new edition of his poems ; who formed ^ companions in his tours ; who were his chief epistolary corresponded > who gave him accommodation in their houses ; who obtained his appo ' far

ment in the excise ; and who , last of all , put him in possession of a the chief object of his desire . As Masons , we are proud that ^ ° Burns was enrolled in the ranks of our Order , and while we should st to avoid the thoughtless follies that laid him low and stained his nam f- ' . should endeavour to imitate his ardent zeal , his open and generous di P sition , and his manly and lofty independence . —Ayr Observer ,