Masonic Lifeboat Fund.

MASONIC LIFEBOAT FUND .

LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 15 , 1868 .

An appeal lias for some time past been made through our advertising columns for aid to enable the object therein set forth to be speedily carried out . The idea had been ventilated in our pages on several occasions during the last three years . On the occasion of the loss of Bro . G . V . Brooke ,

numerous suggestions Avere made to us for purchasing a number of lifeboats by means of funds to be collected exclusively from Freemasons , Avith the vieAV of placing such lifeboats on the most dangerous parts of the English coast unprovided Avith such means of savins : human life . Several

of the communications then received by us upon this subject contained suggestions so crude and undigested , and all involved so large a sum that we felt it would be hopeless to expect any such extensive projects to be carried out by the

members of our Fraternity in England alone . It was not considered right or proper for us to appeal to members of the Masonic body holding under sister jurisdictions , unless Ave preferred to constitute ourselves trustees for a general fund for supplying

lifeboats , Avhich we declined to do , as being beyond the limits of our legitimate functions . Bro . Woodhouse , of Carlisle , who has never failed to urge the subject upon our attention , suggested some months ago that subscriptions to

a fund should be commenced for the purpose of " purchasing or having built a lifeboat to to be placed on some part of the coast to be decided

upon . " Several other brethren having shortly afterwards revived the subject , and approving of the more limited proposal , promised subscriptions in aid of the object , and after several letters appearing in our pages a notice was inserted in our

advertising columns soliciting subscriptions . We regret however to learn that the subscriptions come but slowly in , and that many of our readers and not a feAv distinguished members of the Masonic Order , who had signified their approval

of the object , and promised donations , have not yet come forward and contributed , although we feel assured that they have only to be reminded to obtain from them that active and zealous co-operation which is generally accorded by them to all

really charitable objects , and especially those associated with the Masonic body . We are induced to call attention to the subject

Masonic Lifeboat Fund.

upon the present occasion in consequence of tlw appearance of a letter relative to the Masonic Lifeboat Fund Avhich will be found in another column . We earnestly appeal to the Masters , officers ,

and members of the various lodges throughout England , to rescue Freemasonry and Freemasons ( who have the reputation of being the most charitable body of men in the world ) from the charge of being indifferent to the successful

carrying out of so humane and important an object as that of providing the means of saving some of those lives annually sacrificed by hundreds on our iron-bound coast for want of more lifeboats . We trust Ave shall not appeal in vain in so noble a

cause , and that the single lifeboat for Avhich we UOAV solicit subscriptions will be but the forerunner of many others proA * ided by funds contributed by the Masonic bodies in Scotland and Ireland ; such a good example set by English Freemasons will assuredly be speedily followed .

Freemasoney And Civil Engineering.

FREEMASONEY AND CIVIL ENGINEERING .

It is , Ave believe , pretty generally known that we number amongst us the principal celebritiesin science , arts , and manufactures , and , we may add , very many amongst those who rank high in ' commercial and industrial pursuits , —but amongst

the giant intellects that have sprung up within the last half century , and who have , by their genius , created the new condition of things , and entirely changed the character of by far the largest portion of the earth ' s surface—we refer to the

Engineers , Avho , as a body of scientific men , Avere unknoAvn sixty years ago . Amongst the Engineers and the highest of those in the present ranks of that profession , ever since its constitution , have ever been known members of our ancient ancl

honourable Order . It is Avifch unusual satisfaction , therefore , that we record the accession of a distinguished brother to the high and important office of President of the Institution of Civil Engineers—an honour

second only to that of President of the Eoyal Society of Great Britain . In electing Bro . Charles Hutton Gregory to the presidential chair for the year 1868 , the members of the Institution of Civil Engineers have done themselves honour , and have also conferred a well-deserved mark of confidence ancl respect-