A Masonic Victory.

A MASONIC VICTORY .

'TPHE first Anniversary Festival of the year in * association with the Charitable Institutions of English Freemasonry has been held , and has resulted in another great success being achieved , no less a sum than ^ 20 , 220 being announced on Tuesday last as the

year s subscription of the Craft to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows , the celebration of which was held under the presidency of the Rt . Hon . Lord Addington Provincial

Grand Master of Buckinghamshire , who was supported by a large number of Brethren from his own Province , and by representatives of most of the other divisions of England .

It would have occasioned little or no surprise if the amount subscribed by the Craft had this year shown an immense falling off , as compared with the records of the past ; as we believe nearly everyone

feared that the exceptional calls made on the benevolent during the past few months , in connection with the different Funds promoted to relieve distress and suffering caused by the war , would have a marked effect on

all permanent Charity receipts , those of Freemasonry among the number , but happily those gloomy forebodings have been proved to have been groundless , and instead we have to record another brilliant victory

for the Craft , the subscription of ^ 20 , 220 odd being about two thousand pounds in excess of the sum subscribed for the same Institution last year , and which amount placed it at the head of the three Institutions for 18 99 .

Truly the Craft of England has shown it can rise to special occasions as they occur , for in spite of all that has lately been done by Lodges and individual Brethren in answer to outside appeals , here we have a splendid advance on the records of the past in connection with

one of the special Funds of English Masonic benevolence , and a record we must all be proud of , one which calls for the heartiest congratulations to all who have in any way contributed to its achievement—the

Chairman of the year , the splendid array of Stewards who supported him , and last , but by no means least , the veteran Secretary of the Institution and his staff , who have the very best of rewards for their special efforts in seeing so grand a total subscribed .

The Craft will be delighted at this early success of 1900 . May the two celebrations yet to follow during the current year be equally as satisfactory , and equally deserving of being regarded as brilliant victories in the annals of Freemasonry !

The Festival was held at the Freemasons' Tavern , the immense resources of which were taxed to their fullest capacity , for not only was the large Hall filled , but overflow gatherings occupied other of the fine rooms of the establishment . After an enjoyable dinner , bountifully furnished by Messrs . Spiers and Pond , the Rt . Hon . Lord Addington proceeded to give the usual Loyal toasts .

In proposing that of Her Majesty the Queen he said their hearts were thrilled that morning when they heard of the surrender of General Oronje , and . they prayed the Great Architect of the Universe that before next

A Masonic Victory.

Christmas the scattered Freemasons of the Transvaal might be able to drink together , as he then gave them , " The Queen and the Craft . " When submitting the toast of the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and other members of the Royal Family , Lord Addington made special reference to the great interest evinced by the Prince and Princess in the care of the sick and wounded from South Africa .

The toast of the Grand Officers followed . All missed the able and distinguished personage of Lord Lathom , but in bis successor as Pro Grand Master thiy had a worthy Mason ; and in giving his toast he asked the Brethren to drink to his renewed health , as Earl Amherst had recently suffered from a severe attack of illness . Bro . Major Woodall P . G . Treas . of England responded .

Next came the toast of the evening—Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows . The Chairman said he had approached his duty of that evening with the feeling that their hearts were heavy , and their pockets were light , but he had also been told that the benevolence of Freemasons was universal , and that deep down in their hearts was a cord of sympathy for the distressed . He referred to the admirable manner in which the Charity was conducted , and the great benefits it conferred , and hoped the result of the evening would satisfy all expectations .

Bro . C . E . Keyser P . G . D . responded , regretting that the illness of Bro . J . A . Farnfield imposed the duty upon him , as Bro . Farnfield had replied to the toast for very many years past . On behalf of the Institution he accorded thanks to the Chairman for his presidency , and he took upon himself to congratulate Lord Addington on the result . Except on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Institution they had never had so large a board of Stewards . Members of the Craft gave freely and willingly . They had shown they did

not forget the old Institution , and if they subscribed elsewhere they still found enough to carry on the good work of Freemasonry . They had an admirable Secretary in Bro . Terry , who had filled the office for many , many years ; he hoped he would be the officer of the Institution for many other years yet to come . He believed the Institution was as well managed as any Institution of its sort . He wondered if it had occurred to the Brethren to think what the acquisition of one of the annuities of the Institution meant to the old people —an amount paid quarterly in advance , to enable them to end their days in

peace . Bro . James Terry then announced the lists . There were 599 Stewards , 268 from London , 328 from the Provinces , and 3 from Foreign parts . London contributed £ 11 , 699 10 s , the Provinces £ 8 , 489 16 s , and Foreign parts £ 31 10 s —a total of £ 20 , 220 16 s . with 56 lists yet to come in . Bro . Letchworth Grand Secretary proposed the toast of the Chairman , who responded ; Bro . Smithson gave " Success of the other Institutions " and the list concluded with " The Ladies . "

Progress At Our Schoools.

PROGRESS AT OUR SCHOOOLS .

WE have very much pleasure in announcing that of the 45 Girls entered for the Cambridge Local Examinations , 42 passed , the details being as follow : 2 Seniors ( 1 in 2 nd class honours , with distinction in

English ) . 20 Juniors ( 3 being in 2 nd class , and 2 in 3 rd class honours , with 3 distinctions among them ) . 20 Preliminary ( 3 being in honours , with 5 distinctions ) .

The record in connection with the Cambridge Local examination held in December 18 99 in the case of the Boys School is as follows : Seniors ( age 16 to ig ) . 16 Boys entered and 15 passed ; 3 with honours in 3 rd class ; 1 distinction for French . Average age 15 years , 2 months—a very low one .

Juniors ( age up to r 6 ) . 35 Boys entered and 30 passed ; 2 with honours in 2 nd class , and 4 with honours in 3 rd class . Average age 14 years , 2 months .

Preliminary ( age up to 14 ) . 33 Boys entered and all passed . Average age 13 years , 1 month . 3 distinctions for Geography and Religious Knowledge . Total : 78 Certificates , 9 Honours , and 4 Distinctions .

During the last ten years , 50 candidates from the Boys School have passed the Senior , 244 the Junior , and 180 the Preliminary Cambridge Local Examinations . Of this total of 474 , 102 have gained Honours , and there have been 44 Distinctions .

Several matters are held over in consequence of the pressure on our space .