Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

UNDER the Chairmanship of the Earl of Stradbroke , Provincial Grand Master for Suffolk , the Annual Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution on the 25 th February proved a great success . This is especially gratifying from the fact that the responsibility of organisation and executive management fell to the lot of the

newly appointed Secretary , Bro . P . Colville Smith , whose succession to the veteran Bro . James Terry has only been a matter of months . Thanks to the generous efforts of the Craft in general , and perhaps a special effort on the part of the new Secretary ' s many personal friends , the record

announcement of last year , which the most sanguine supporter of the Institution hardly dared to hope to approach , was in reality exceeded by about . £ 400 . The gathering at Freemasons' Tavern was a large and enthusiastic one . The chair was supported by many

inrluential members of the Craft , amongst others , Bros . Sir Augustus Godson , Bart ., M . P . ( the Chairman of last years successful Festival ); Major Woodall , P . G . Treasurer ; Col . Clifford Probyn , P . G . Treasurer ; Sir E . Letchworth , Grand

Secretary ; Prank Richardson , P . G . Registrar ; C . E . Keyser , P . G . D . ; and a company ^ of some 700 brethren and ladies . The Chairman , in proposing the toast of " Success to the Institution , " entered into an interesting history of its rise and progress , describing the incalculable benefits it had for more than half a century conferred on deserving brethren , as

well as the widows of those who had fallen by the way and who needed the succour and help of those who had been more fortunate in battling with the world . In the course of the evening the Secretary , Bro . P . Colville Smith , P . G . D ., announced that with 426 Stewards

from London and 310 from the provinces , a total of ; £ 2 5 i 3 ° 5 4 - liacl been subscribed , the sum being made up by ^ " , 9 66 7 s . from London and £ 12 , 33 8 17 s . from the provinces . This sum exceeded the amount realised at the Festival of 1902 by nearly £ 400 . The Chairman's Province

of Suffolk contributed £ 1514 , Oxfordshire came next with £ 939 , Surrey with . £ 742 , Kent wich . £ 703 , Middlesex with £ " 6 9 6 , Cornwall sent £ 753 , Essex . £ 635 , and Sussex . £ 605 .

Installation Of Lord Stanley, M.P., As Provincial Grand Superintendent For East Lancashire.

Installation of Lord Stanley , M . P ., as Provincial Grand Superintendent for East Lancashire .

THERE was a large gathering of members of the Royal Arch at the Empress Hall , Bolton , on Saturday the , 21 st February , when Lord Stanley , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire , was installed as Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons in that province . The office has been vacant since the death , some three years ago ,

of the late Colonel Starkie , for although Lord Stanley was appointed as his successor , his absence abroad and his Parliamentary duties rendered his earlier installation

impossible . The companions of the Order in East Lancashire displayed much interest in the ceremony , which the majority of those present saw for the first time , some thirty years having elapsed since the appointment of Colonel Starkie . The principal part on Saturday was taken by Comp . Sir Edward Letchworth , Grand Scribe E ., who was assisted by

Comps . Captain Beswicke-Royds , Buckley Carr , F . Richardson , Acting G . D . C ., and others . Other members of Grand Chapter present were Comps . Capt . J . Barlow , N . A . Earle , C . D . Cheetham , J . Kenyon , P . Colville Smith , and James Newton . The general attendance numbered more than 300 .

Comp . Sir E . Letchworth said he was present as the humble representative of the Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons , the Duke of Connaught , to undertake the agreeable duty of installing the new Superintendent whom His Royal Highness had appointed . Some three years ago

the province sustained a serious loss in the death of one who , for nearly thirty years , had reigned over it , and who had won the esteem , respect , and , indeed , the love of every Mason in East Lancashire . The memory of the late Colonel Starkie would always be cherished . Owing to

unavoidable circumstances the appointment of his successor was delayed for some time , but in the meantime Captain Beswicke-Royds had ruled over the province , with credit to himself and also to Freemasonry . East Lancashire was now to be congratulated on the appointment to the office of the

distinguished nobleman who filled the office of Provincial Grand Master . Lord Stanley was then introduced into the hall , and with the usual ceremonies placed in the chair .

In expressing his thanks Lord Stanley said it would be his endeavour , as long as he held the office , to discharge the duties attached to it not only in the letter but in the spirit . Masonry , to use a colloquialism , had obtained a hold in the world and on mankind in general which , perhaps , in the dim days of the past few could have thought it would do . There

were no parts of the globe to which one could go without being brought into contact with Freemasons and their work . To give a small example from one ' s own experience , the last Masonic meeting he was asked to attend was to see the Grand Master , the Duke of Connaught , instal Lord Kitchener

as head of the Masonic world in India . Masonry would continue , and could only continue , so long as it was kept pure and above any possible suspicion . Into his hands that day had been committed the honour of Royal Arch Masonry in East Lancashire , and he trusted it would be safely guarded .

The accounts of the province , which showed a satisfactory balance , were submitted and passed . On the motion of Comp . Goulburn , P . G . T ., seconded by Comp . C . D . Cheetham , Comp . T . Murphy , Concord Chapter , No . 37 Bolton , was elected Prov . Grand Treasurer .

, Lord Stanley afterwards invested the Provincial Grand Officers for the year . Upon the motion of Comp . C . D . Cheetham , seconded by Comp . J . Booth , a grant of ten guineas was voted to the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and

Benevolent Institution . After an invitation to hold the next annual meeting at Rochdale had been accepted , the Provincial Grand Chapter was closed .

At a recent meeting of the Royal Warrant Holders ' Association , Bro . Thos . B . Tipton was unanimously elected President for the ensuing year . This is an Association composed of nearly 700 of the leading tradesmen of the kingdom , formed for the protection of those having the privilege of supplying different kinds of goods for the use of His Majesty the King and members of the Royal Family .