Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

evening ' s festival . They were as happy as the brethren could make them . The last promise made to them was that they should know the result of to-night's subscriptions . One said to him : " It is not that we know our future is assured ; we hope that you may be able to put others in the same position . " There was deep gratitude in that ; it

was a gratitude that he was perfectly certain would come home to ah the brethren , and in giving to them " The Health to the Institution , " which he now did , he wished it , in the future , God-speed ; might it always fulfil that good work which they wished it to do , and which they knew it

was doing . The toast having been drunk , the Secretary , Bro . P . Colville Smith , then read a summary of the lists , of which we give the totals : — London—443 Stewards ... ^" 14 , 43 6 13 6

Provinces—68 3 Stewards ... 25 , 016 16 6 . £ 39-453 °

Bro . James Stephens , Treasurer of the Institution , in returning thanks , expressed the great gratification he felt at the result . It was a record , and he thanked the Chairman , whose popularity was such , that they wanted such men at the head of affairs . After stating that two or three years ago the Committee put on extra annuitants instead of piling up

money for the future , he said they had already resolved to put on more , and after the success of this evening , he thought they would supplement that by another ten . Sir E . Letchworth , Grand Secretary , in proposing " The health of the Chairman , " said the brethren knew the

important duties which devolved upon Lord Stanley as a member ot the Government , : md the brethren were the more grateful to him for finding time to come among them that ¦ evening . They all knew that the provinces of Lancashire , East and West , were never behindhand in the cause of

-charity , and he ventured to believe that the magnilicent result just announced was , to a large extent , due to the popularity and inlluence so distinguished a brother possessed in his province . Lord Stanley , in reply , thanked Sir E . Letchworth for his

kind expressions . How was he to express his gratitude to the brethren , or repay the kindness they had shown him . It was such men as Bro . Colville Smith , and such friends who sat at the table and helped on the good work and contributed so largely to the funds that the great result of the night was due . There was no feeling of soreness

in the cause of charity . That was shown by the kind message which had just been placed in his hands from West Yorkshire . " West Yorkshire , in losing the provincial record , desire to convey their warmest congratulations to their friends and brethren of East Lancashire . " That was very

pleasant . Other provinces were the same . He tendered to East Lancashire his warmest thanks . He could not repay them , but he wished them success . The Institution was doing a great work . The brethren helped it generously they had minded those who needed it , and had nobly

answered the appeal made to them . They had the reward which was always given , the reward of feeling they had done a good work ; the reward which was not seen always at the time , but still it existed whether it was seen now or in future times .

Bro . Col . Beswicke-Royds , D . P . G . M . East Lancashire , proposed " The other Institutions , " and wished the Girls ' School and the Boys' School every success at their respective festivals . Bro . F . R . W . Hedges responded , and , in doing so ,

congratulated the Institution on its successful announcement , and the chairman on his province . Bro . Sir Arthur Trendell proposed "The Stewards . " Bro . Charles D . Cheetham , P . G . D ., Chairman of the East Lancashire Charity Committee , replied , and said the

London brethren had handsomely supported the provincial brethren by bringing forward the noble sum of £ 14 , 426 . He was always proud of what London did in the cause of Masonic charity and of charity generally . It was the pride of every Englishman ; it was the wonder of the world . As

lino , CHAHI . ES n . CIIEETUA * . ! , P . U . II . far as the provinces were concerned , the East Lancashire brethren did not think they would have had such support ; but they gave them their thanks for what they had done . Coming to East Lancashire , he might say it had Charities

of its own ; they clothed and educated the young , and gave annuities to old Masons and widows . They had a fund with _ £ iooo to the good . At these festivals its records were : 1 9 , . £ " 7600 odd ; and the next year £ 8400 . They made up their minds that this year they would top the tree .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

United Grand Lodge of England .

THE Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday , March 1 st , and in accordance with recent custom when a contest for the Office of Grand Treasurer has occurred , it was summoned for two o'clock in the afternoon . The M . W . Pro Grand Master , Earl Amherst , opened Grand Lodge , and was -supported by the R . W . Deputy Grand Master the Rt . Hon .

T . F . Halsey , M . P ., with R . W . Bro . George Richards , District Grand Master of the Transvaal , as Past Grand Master . The minutes of the last quarterly communication , as far as they related to the election of Grand Treasurer having been read by the Grand Secretary , the Pro Grand Master announced that the poll was opened , anil from that lime until six o ' clock ; t steady stream of brethren passed through the Temple to