Provincial.

to read , and he felt sure some Brother present would readily second it . Bro . Stebhing read the resolution , which was as follows : — "That this Grand Lodge desires to record its deep and heartfelt sorrow on the melancholy occasion of tile death of its most valued and ever to be lamented Grand Secretary and Past Grand Warden , Bro . Thomas Norcross Firmin , whose loss to Masonry will be long and severely felt , and whose amiable manners and sincere friendship will never be forgotten . " That this Grand Lodge embraces the opportunity of passing this

sad tribute to his memory , and of testifying to his great worth and excellence as a Mason , and his high and honourable conduct as a man . In him were united the genuine characteristics of a true Brother , a sincere friend , a fond husband , a kind lather , a loyal citizen , a just and upright man and Mason : he truly cultivated brotherly love and jiractised charity , and in his life and conduct upheld the principles and illustrated the inspiration of the Psalmist , so beautifully expressed in the words— ' Behold , how good and pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity . '

" That in grateful appreciation of their lamented Brother ' s services to this province , of sincere and earnest conviction oi his distinguished character as a Mason , and in deep affectionate sympathy and condolence with his much respected and bereaved widow and family , a copy of this resolution he respectfully forwarded to them , with the earnest and heartfelt prayer of every Brother in the province , that it may please the Great Architect of the Universe to extend His mercy to them in their deep sorrow , and to comfort and console them in their irreparable lo « s and great affliction . " The resolution , having been seconded by Bro . Beach , M . P ., was put from the chair , and carried with perfect unanimity , and general expressions of sympathy and sorrow .

THE MASONIC CHARITIES . The P . G . M . said he should take upon himself again to reverse the order of subjects on the notice paper , and call the attention of the Prov . Grand Lodge to the report of Bros , l . yall and Symonds on the Masonic charities . He believed a copy of that report had been forwarded to all the members of the Prov . Grand Lodge , and therefore they were prepared to give an opinion upon it . He had himself read it with great attention , and he must state that it met his approval in every way The proposition of the Brethren referred to in their

report , in regard to the provincial committees , bethought most desirable ; and he felt it incumbent upon them to endeavour to increase the funds of all their charities as much as laid in their power , lie was convinced that the Boys' school was most ably conducted ; they were all educated according to their individual ability , and ho was happy to find that none had left but who done credit to their important society . Me was sorry to say he could not speak with the same satisfaction in regard to the Girls' School . At present the Girls in their schoolreceived no better training than was given to many national

, charity school children—they were principally taught to scrub , make beds , and wash pots and kettles . He . did not mean to say that the domestic training of any girls should be neglected ; such instruction was very needful , especially that they should be taught the useful forms of needlework . He thought that no disgrace to the highest lady in the hind ; and further , no lady could properly conduct her household without domestic abilities . He thought their charities

were very good , and the chief ornaments of the Order ; and be hoped to see them always studying , in preference to their own comforts , how far they could alleviate the wants and distresses of their poorer Brethren . Sir Lucius said , lie need not go through the whole of the report , but he might add , that he most cordially agreed with the suggestions for obtaining more efficient and combined support from the provinces , on behalf of the charitable institutions . Bro . Perkins , W . M ., No . 152 , said , it bad struck him , that in forming the local committees for the charities , the Master of each Lodge

should be included ex officio . That the representatives should be selected by the Brethren themselves—he quite agreed with , but the Master might be added . The Master of a Lodge naturally took a vast amount , of interest in all business transacted within it , and it would generally be found an advantage if the . Master were added as lie suggested . Bro . Stebhing called attention to a resolution of the P . G . L ., which almost met Bro . Perkins's views . Bro . the G . B . Portal saidthat the charities' committeeappointed

, , at the hist P . G . L . had adopted this view . It had been thought that a plan was possible , by which all members could have facilities unsubscribing according to their means , to the charities , and this was by the charity box being handed round at every banquet . There was an impression amongst Lodges , in favour of their having the management of the contents of their own charity box ; and therefore ho was willing to give up that part of the resolution . With regard to the W . M . of a Lodge acting on the charities' committee , it must be

remembered , that though a man might be found very good and efficient as Master , still , others from their peculiar habits , might possibly be better suited to act on such a committee . Bro . Perkins said it was no idea of his to withdraw the Brother appointed by any Lodge , and substitute another in the person of the W . M .: still , he adhered to his idea , that the W . M . of a Lodge was as fit a , man as could be appointed . He was not anxious , however , to make any motion to such effect . Bro . H . Ford said he was inclined to support a similar proposition ,

Bro . Perkins thought it would be better to adopt the report , with the addition that the W . M . should be one of the members of the charities' committee . Bro . Beach suggested that it would be advisable to adopt the recommendation as a rider . After some further conversation , Bro . Ford moved the following resolution : — " That approving generally of the suggestions contained in the report of Bro ? . Symonds and l . yall , it is resolved that so much of it as recommends the appointment of a special member from each

Lodge , to bo called the charity steward , as an addition to the Committee , be adopted ; and that ' the committee bo instructed to guide themselves by the general spirit of the recommendations ol the report in question , and that the R . W . Prov . Grand Master he respectfully requested to act on the committee . " Bro . Wyndham S . Portal seconded the resolution . He did not think it was necessary on the present occasion to say anything more as to the desirability of doing more for the charities than had been hitherto done . He really believed that the difference found to have

existed , was caused by members in the provinces not being kept < ra fail in the work . The support as yet given to the charities was , in by far the greater proportion , derived from the London district alone . In the last published account it appeared , that of the subscribers to the Girls' school , one thousand and forty-eight were of London , and only three hundred were of the country . 01 the Boys' school there were six hundred and sixty-seven London supporters to two hundred and thirty-six country ones . And yet a great deal more than half the objects of the . Masonic charities were provincialand nor . from London .

, If the London district were only to cbmand one half of the benefits , or even in proportion to the extent of their contributions , they would deprive the provincial body of three fourths of the advantages they at present enjoyed . He was more or less acquainted with the state of the schools , and as to the matter of the girls' education , he thought

at present it was only a question of funds , though it was advisable to keep up the industrial training of the children . The charity for aged Masons and their widows was not in so hopeful a state as could be wished , also from want of funds . The charities of the Order should be their first aim , and he had been glad to see the Right Worshipful Master take the business relative to them first , because their interest was the first , or ought to be the first in their consideration . He thought well of the recommendation that one member in each Lodge should strive to increase the charity subscriptions .

Bro . C . Sherry , P . M ., said he wished to set the R . W . Prov . Grand Master and others right upon one point , namely in reference to the Girls' school . lie alluded to a resolution only lately passed for including music and French in the education of the girls ; and indeed , those branches of learning were now included in the instruction given in the school . He had an amendment , or rather a rider to the resolution , which he should like to move . Bro . Stebbing said perhaps it would be better if the resolution now before the meeting were formallread and put .

y The resolution being read , was put from the chair and carried . Bro . Sherry then continued : —He believed it was quite evident that if too many individuals were included on the committees , nothing would be done . Large bodies , to the extent of twenty-eight or thirty , he believed would be found too numerous for the good working of the objects they had in view . There was reason to believe tho support given to the charities from London members , was six times greater than that from the provinces ; and this was anything hut

creditable to the superior numbers of Masons in the ' provincial Lodges , compared with those of the London district . He could only account for this fact , from the want of good management in the conducting ot tho business at head quarters , in London . He referred to a passage in Messrs . Lyall and Symonds ' s report , to the following effect : — "We have reason to believe that an impression is not uncommon amongst many provincial Brethren , of good social position , and holding hih Masonic honoursthat if their Prov . Grand Lod

g , ge , and , perhaps , the particular Lodges with which they are connected , are already subscribers , or can be induced to subscribe , all has been done that it is requisite to do , and that personal subscriptions may be dispensed with . It is only thus that we can account for the sniall portion of provincial as compared with London Brethren , who contribute to the funds of the schools . Of the vice-presidents , donors , and annual subscribers to each school , we find , on reference to re-