Approaching Celebrations.

APPROACHING CELEBRATIONS .

ALTHOUGH we have not at present seen the completion of one-fifth part of the year 1891 , it is none too early to go beyond it , ancl speak of what is in store for the Craft during 1892 , which already promises to be a busy year in Freemasonry , or at

least m that section ot the Order which takes an especial interest in the practical working of the principle of benevolence . With the announcement made at last week ' s Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , that something special will be

attempted next year to celebrate the Jubilee of the establishment of that Charity , comes a somewhat similar statement from the sister Isle , the brethren of which will be called upon , in May next year , to commemorate the Centenary of the Masonic Female Orphan School at Dublin , which , as our readers are aware , is doing a splendid work in Ireland on behalf of the orphan daughters of that Constitution .

Our brethren across the Channel have , so to speak , stolen a march on their English friends , and have already issued a programme of what it is proposed to do to celebrate , or help to celebrate , the Centenary of their Charitv , but perhaps there is no benefit in

making such an early start , as the Craftsmen are more than likely to neglect 1891 in order to take a prominent part in the special rejoicings of 1892 . The executive of the English Benevolent Institution acted very wisely in keeping comparatively quiet as to

the present year ' s Festival being the Forty-ninth Anniversary of that Institution , although , of course , there were plenty of English Masons fully aware of tbe fact , without any official intimation of it . Still a large number of those who snpported Earl Amherst last week were not cognisant of the near approach of the

Jubilee , and iiad they known what was to be expected in 1892 , many would , perhaps , have postponed their Stewardship until then , with results most disastrous to the Festival of 1891 , which might easily have resulted in comparative failure , if too early a notice had been given of the special event to be celebrated next year .

Turning to the other great division of the British Isles , we also find something special to mark the year 1892 , for we may expect our Scottish brethren to have fairly started their scheme of extended Benevolence by that time , and if the year does not

actually witness the celebration of the first anniversary of the establishment of their Charity Fund on its new basis , it will at least see its formal inauguration , so that in each of the three great divisions there will be special cause for rejoicing , each distinct from the other , yet all springing from tne

same foundation—that of Masonic Benevolence . It is very difficult , looking so far ahead , to predict what is likely to be the result of these three special events in the history of the Masonic Order . Trade may be specially brisk during the next few months ,

Approaching Celebrations.

and prosperity may reign throughout the empire to a marked extent . Will any one doubt that such a combination of advantages would not have its effect on the three celebrations we have referred to ? On the

other hand , there may be disasters of a national or local character to be experienced in the near future , which will go far toward upsetting the best of calculations , yet we venture to think that , in spite of all ,

there is an absolute certainty that the members of the Craft will not fail to support their Charitable Institutions under such special circumstances as will arise during the coming year .

Without going behind the scenes , we can well imagine the executive of the Benevolent Institution are already alive to the fact that very mnch of the success of next year ' s Jubilee celebration will depend

on who they are fortunate enough to secure as Chairman for the event , and we are not betraying any secret when we say that a large number of English Craftsmen are hoping to have an opportunity of supporting their Grand Master in that position , jus

as they did a few years back , when His Eoyal Highness gave such hearty assistance < to the Centenary celebration of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . The Grand Master of Scotland has taken the lead in the event which will call for special celebration next year in Scotland . The Grand Master of Ireland has already promised his patronage

for the Centenary celebration of the Irish Masonic Orphan School , so that the wish , which we believe is foremost in the minds of the English Craft—the acceptance of the presidency of the Jubilee

celebration of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales—would complete a trio of happy circumstances in connection with the particularly eventful series of celebrations which may be expected next year .

It has always been recognised—in the unwritten code of honour which is supposed to govern such matters—that the Institution whose Festival comes next is to have the field of Masonry to a certain extent to itself , and that the other Institutions shall

keep comparatively quiet until their turn comes round , but Centenaries and Jubilees are exceptional matters , and we think it is none too early to begin active operations for the Benevolent celebration of 1892 , although we should be verv sorrv to

suggest anything that would have a detrimental effect on the approaching Festivals of the Educational Institutions . We hardly think they would suffer from an earlier start than usual on behalf of the Benevolent Institution , while we are of opinion that a

wide publication of the special scheme which will be advocated to mark the Jubilee before the closing of the present Masonic season would make a marked difference in the outcome of the celebration . In these special matters long notice is desirable , as brethren are then in a better position to arrange among themselves for exceptional means of helping the cause , which at a later date are nearly , if not quite