The Masonic Season And The Charities.

THE MASONIC SEASON AND THE CHARITIES .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MAY 17 , 1 S 02 .

With the Girls' School Eestival of "Wednesday last the London Masonic season ( excepting * so far as regards the approaching Grand Loclge ) may be said to liave closed , and we can now count tip the gains or losses which the various Charities may have made , as compared with the preceding year ; and on the

whole it cannot be regarded as unsatisfactory , though the full gain , and something more , lias been obtained by the Boys' School , whilst the Girls' School lias maintained its ground , the subscriptions for the latter being as nearly as possible the same this year as last .

In 1861 the subscriptions at tbe Eestival for tbe Eoyal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their Widows amounted , in round numbers , to £ 3000 , extraordinary exertions having been used to promote its interest , whilst this year the subscriptions were only about £ 2200 , a very fair and handsome amount when compared with previous years .

This year special exertions have been made to increase tbe funds of tbe Boys' School and most successfully , tbe subscriptions being £ 3600 against £ 1600 last year- whilst the Girls' School winds up the season , as it did last year , with a collection amounting to £ 2500 the total for the three Charities being £ 8300

, in 1862 against £ 7100 in 1861 , showing bow rapidly tbe Charities are growing in favour with the Craft , though tbe amounts subscribed to either , will occasionally vary , from a variety of circumstances , from year to year .

The chair was occupied on "Wednesday last by tbe M . W " . Grand Master , who we regretted to see was still labouring under traces of his late indisposition , which compelled him to depart at a comparatively early period of tbe evening , and leave tbe remainder

of tbe business in the bands of tbe S . G-. Warden , Sir Hedworth Williamson , who made Ms maiden bow before the London brethren on this occasion . We

were certainly gratified to bear Sir Hedworth admit that no brother should accept office , who is not prepared to discbarge its duties ; it being a most striking and novel doctrine to emanate from a Grand Warden , and indeed in some years , we have been disposed to doubt whether tbe Grand Wardens were more than

ornamental appendages of Grand Lodge—without any duties to perform . We have , however , had some excellent exceptions Avithin tbe last tliree years , and are delighted to find that this year we have two Wardens , upon whom AA * e may rely for a performance

of their duties . Tbe Eestival was one of the best we have attended , it not being too crowded , and all tbe

arrangements—whether hy tbe proprietors of the tavern , tbe Stewards , or tbe Secretary—being all that could be desired . The meeting , too , was most orderly , excepting towards the close , and tlie little confusion that then ensued may be easily obviated in the future by alloAving tbe Secretary's report of subscriptions to

be divided into two or three , with a toast or tAvo and song between , thereby avoiding the tedium caused by . . three-quarters of an hour's reading of figures at one period , hoAvever gratifying may be the general result . If , however , tbe labours of tbe London Masons have

closed , those of tbe country brethren AA'ill shortly be in full activity in connection with their Prov . Grand Lodges . That for Lincolnsbiz-e has just been held rather earlier than would probably liave been the case , bad it not been with tbe view of installing a very

promising- young Mason , tbe Duke of St . Albans , as Prov . Grand Master , in succession to the late lamented Earl Yarborough , and we trust his Grace may bave a prosperous and bappy reign . Here however we would direct tbe attention of his Grace and of tlie

Lincolnshire brethren to tbe fact that tbe Proy . Grand Lodge , was held within tbe Witbain Lodge , a custom UOAY almost wholly exploded , it being admitted on all bands that the superior lodge cannot meet within the inferior . There might be no objection to opening tbe Witbam Lodge in order to receive the Grand Master , and his

ollicers , Avitb becoming honour , though even that we hold to be unnecessary—but , having been so opened , immediately on the reception of the Grand Officers it should have been closed ; ancl the Prov . Grand Lodge opened—that being the ruling body of the day . Whilst we direct the attention of his Grace the

Duke of St . Albans to the anomaly that was committed of holding the greater body within the lesserthe governing within the governed—we do not do so with any other feeling than that of pointing out to a young and zealous Mason what is now the custom in

the various provinces , with perhaps two or three exceptions , throughout the kingdom . At the sametime we can scarcely understand how , two such Masonic authorities as Dr . Oliver and Bro . Hall , the Prov . Grand Master for Cambridgeshire , could sanction , hy

their presence , the holding of a Grand Lodge within the subordinate lodge , unless indeed they were not made aware of the fact , and forgot to inquire as to whether or not the Witham Lodge had been opened . As the Prov . Grand Lodges are held we shall

occasionally remark on the proceedings , with the vieAv of pointing the attention of others to any practice or results we may deem worthy of imitation ; whilst , in any thing we deem objectionable , we shall he doing but simple justice to the brethren themselves to call their attention to it , in order that it may be amended in the future .