Masonic Charities.

interests of the other charities , but of the Benevolent Fund , and he therefore thought it injudicious to make any allusion to those charities . Under all the circumstances he must support the amendment . Bro . Barrett , in reply , stated that the only reason for referring to the other charities was , that the only argument ever used against annual festivals lor this charity was , that they would injure those of the other institutions . The amendment was then put , when there appeared for it , 10 ; against it , In . The chairman having given the casting vote against

the amendment . Bro . Savage moved , as a second amendment , that the further consideration of the subject bo postponed to the next annual meeting . Tlie amendment having been seconded , Bro . Warren reminded the brethren that the effect of carrying it would be to postpone the consideration of the subject for two yearsas next year they would be told it was no use then to agitate the question , as they would have a festival in due course in eight months . The amendment was negatived by 12 to IIand the original

, motion carried . Bro . Savage wished to ask a question before they proceeded to the poll . By Hide 35 it was provided that "at no period shad there be on either fund more annuitants from Lodges in the London district than from those in the country . " Of course that rule applied to the period of elections , as death might cause a variation at other times . The question he wished to ask was—how many they could elect from the Loudon district that day ? By the report it appeared that twelve of the present annuitants came ii-om London and eleven from the

country , but there were also three others on the funds receiving half of the pensions of their late husbands , which they would continue to receive another year , viz ,, one from London and two from the country , so that there were actually thirteen of each class receiving annuities—so that if ho read the law aright they might now elect three from London ( if they obtained the majority ) , aiid must elect three from the country whether they got a majority or not , Was he right ? The Chairman . "Certainly ; the law referred to the number in

receipt of annuities , uot to the amount of those annuities . " The poll was then proceeded with , and resulted as follows : — MALE FUND . ELECTED .

CANDIDATES . Age . Appli- Votes . I " . ™" cations . wcm ' __ Slade , T „ Southampton 65 1 16510 20 Drews , E . C , London 64 2 15815 20 Dale , John , Whitby 67 1 14099 20 . Owen , W . H ., Gravesend 56 1 12366 20

Satterly , Thomas , London 79 1 11232 25 Barlow , John , llaslingden 80 11 10050 30 Kinnear , James , London 76 2 9861 25 Grcathead , Matthew , Richmond , Yorkshire ... 89 1 9237 80 Harper , John , Hull ... 72 11 9099 25 Battam , John , Jersey .,. .,. ... 67 6 8719 20 Jackson , James , Stanesfield , Yorkshire ... 72 6 8682 25 Young , George , London 69 5 8182 20 BrookWilliamHiiddersfield 65 5 8290 20

, , . Gilford , John , London 72 1 80 IIS 25 Smith , Thomas , Burnley 69 6 7981 20 Collard , William , Rumsgate 81 6 778-3 30 Marsh , Charles , Tollbridge Wells 69 3 71-16 25 Jardine , William , London 70 7 6855 25 Beckett , John , Wakefield 65 1 5 G 7 S 20 Roberts , Joseph , Staley , near Mottram ... 69 7 'J 2 J 6 20 Reeves , Thomas , London 74 1 2870 25 Bunker , William , Sunderland ... ,.. 71 5 2671 25

WOMEN . ELECTED . Green , Elizabeth . Hadleigh 69 2 3265 20 Lilly white , Jemima , London 75 2 2934 25 Brooks , Elizabeth S ., London 62 2 2836 15 Nicholson , Elizabeth , London 61 2 2 JR 6 15 Dear , Esther , Ramsgate 84 3 995 20 King , Eliza S ., Bermuda , 60 4 736 15

VISIT OF THE ROVAI . FIIEFJIASONS' Gnus' SCHOOL TO OXFORD . —On Wednesday last the seventy children of the school , with the matron , schoolmistress , committee , and masonic friends accompanying them , visited Oxford , by the train arriving at the Great Western station soon after eleven o'clock . They were met there by a deputation of the Brethren of the Province who had subscribed towards the expenses of the day . Carriages in attendance conveyed the party over Pacey ' s bridge , bv Beaumont-street , passing slowly by the University Galleriesand Martyrs' Memorial

, , to St John's College , where the party alighted and walked through the college and the gardens , leaving by the private gate opposite Wadham , to the corner of the parks , to view the exterior of the new museum . They then proceeded past Wadham college , the end of Broad-Street , the Raddifl'e Square , All Souls' , University and Queen ' s Colleges to Magdalen . Here a capital luncheon was provided at twelve o ' clock in the hall of Magdalen College , by the kindness of Vice-President , Bro . the Rev . John Sedgwick ,

B . D . ; after which the chapel was visited . The party , on leaving Magdalen walked to the Oxford end of Magdalen bridge , and returned past the front of the Botanic Garden up Queen ' s lane to New College gardens , entering by the private door near St . Peter's church . After viewing the gardens , the old city walls , and the chapel- they proceeded to the Radcliffe library , and before leaving it ascended to the platform around the dome to see the panoramic view of Oxford . Thence to the Bodleian library and the theatre ; up Broad-streetpa « t Trinity College , Balliol Collegeopposite which

, , the cross marking the spot were Archbishops Cranmer , Ridley , and Latimer Buffered martyrdom , were pointed out ; by Cornmarket sttcet to the Town Hall . A plentiful and handsome dinner was provided in the Town Hall , the platform at each end being occupied by ladies invited by the brethren and the committee . At the conclusion of dinner , a copy of the " Hand bonk for visitors to Oxford , illustrated by l 1 0 wood cuts , " was presented to each of the children and staff of the school , and the members of the London committees who were present , by Miss Bowyer , Mrs Liddell , and

Mrs . Cottrell Dormer . Captain Peyton also presented them with a photograph ol St . John ' s college The whole party then proceeded to Visit Christ Church , its library , hall , and kitchen . To the Broad walk , Christ Church meadow , on board some of the large house boats , and thence across the river to Grandpont , were Br . Randall kindly invited the party to take tea , The whole proceedings were of the most pleasing character , the appearance of so many young and innocent creatures , orphans of deceased brethren , many of whom occupied superior positions in life , created an interest far surpassing that of many more pretentious spectacles . Their reception atOxford was one of universal kindness , all the expenses being defrayed by the Brethren , who also entertained many gentlemen from a distance with the proverbial hospitality of the craft .

Provincial.

Provincial .

vrom the Masonic Mirror . HAMPSHIRE . A Grand I . od ? : e of Emergency of this Province was held on Monday , 28 th of March , by command of the R W . Prov . Grand Master , Aclmj . val Sir Lucius Curtis , Bart ., at the Masonic Hall adjoining the Black Swan , High Street , Winchester . The Lodge was opened in due form some time alter noon . There were presentin addition to the R . W . Prov . G . M . the RWBro

, , .. . Wyndlmm S . Portal , Junior Grand Warden of England , as D . Prov . G . M . ; Bro . W . W . Beach , M . P ., Prov . S . G . W . ; Bro . Rastrick , Prov . J . G . W . ; the Rev . Bro . G . R Portal , Prov . Grand Chaplain ; Bro . Ilollingswortb , Prov . S . G D . ; Bro . Dr . Clark , Prov . JG . D . ; Bros , O . Sherry and C Copcland , as Grand Directors of Ceremonies ; Bro . J . R . Stebhing , Prov . G . Sec , pro . tern . ; Bro Lisle , Prov . G . Purs ., and about seventy other Brethren . The following Lodges were represented on this occasion : —Nos . 90 , 152 , 319 , 387 , 428 , 462 555717995 and 1025

, , , . Sir Lucius Curtis said , the first business they would proceed to consider , would be the third item on the notice paper , namely , the passing of some suitable resolution on the melancholy occasion of the death of their departed Worshipful Bro . Thomas Norcross Firmin , the late Grand Secretary of the province . Bro . Firmin had been known to most of them now present , and he ( Sir Lucius ) felt called upon to state , that he believed a better . Mason never breathed in this world . He had a resolution of condolence to propose to the Meeting , which lie would thank Bro . Stebhing ( who had kindly prepared it )