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ROYAL MasonicInstitutionforBotys, WOOD GREEN , LONDON " , N . Grand Patron : —HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN . President : —H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., M . W . G . M . A QUARTERLY COURT of the GOVERNORS and SUBSCRIBERS will be held at Freemasons'Hall , Great Queen Street , Lincoln's Inn Fields , London , on Friday , tbe 14 th day of January 1898 , for the transaction of the ordinary business of the Institution . To consider Notice of Motion by the W . Bro . William Russell Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies : — " That Law 79 be suspended . " To receive a statement from the Board of Management respecting the progress in the development of the Bushey Site for the New Schools . To approve and declare the List of Candidates for the election on Friday , 15 th April next , and to determine the number of Candidates then to be elected . The Chair will be taken at Four o'clock in the afternoon precisely . By order , 3 . M . McLEOD , Secretary . Office , 6 Freemasons'Hall , London , W . C , 4 th January 1898 . * » * The Centenary Festival will be held in Juno 1898 , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., M . W . G . M ., President of the Institution , in the Chair . The services of Ladies and Brethren as Stewards on this allimportant occasion are earnestly solicited , and will be gratefully acknowledged . Special Voting Privileges to Stewards only .

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THE RAILWAY HOTEL , HARROW , ADJOINING THE L . & . N . W . R . STATION . The Railway Hotel , now entirely re-decorated and furnished contains the best and Most Comfortable Lodge Accommodation , with ample Ante-Rooms , Large Banqueting Rooms and every convenience . THREE LODGES ALREADY MEET HERE . SPECIMENS OF MENU , WITH PRICES , SENT ON APPLICATION . Proprietor --- - - C . W . HOWELL . LODGE Summonses , Lists of members , Menus , & c , of every description . Morgan , Printer , Freemason ' s Chronicle Office , New Barnet .

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Freemasonry In Devon And Cornwall.

FREEMASONRY IN DEVON AND CORNWALL .

fT ^ HE Masonic Craffc Devon and Cornwall has been so JL prosperous during the past year that there is a danger lest its great popularity should prove a source of weakness rather than strength , as is too often tbe case with such large accessions to the membership . Not for very many years past has a Provincial Grand Master for Devon had the duty to discharge of constituting

four new Lodges in one year . This the Hon . Sir Stafford Northcote , M . P ., has done in 1897 , so it is quite a record year . The new Lodges are the Dart , No . 2641 , Dartmouth ; the Sir Francis Drake , No . 2649 , Plymouth ; the Queen Victoria , No . 2655 , Sfc . Budeaux ; and fche Northcote , No . 2659 , Exeter . All

but tbe first were warranted during 1897 , and have been started , with the co-operation of Brethren belonging to old Lodges , who feel that there is room for this large addition to the strength of the Province , making the number of Lodges fifty-seven , witb a membership of about 3 , 500 subscribers .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon assembled in the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , in September , the attendance being so numerous that even that fine building was taxed to its utmost capacity to supply accommodation for tbe members and visitors , all the reports were of a favourable character , and the meeting was most united and hearty throughout . Seven Brethren were

appointed to past rank , besides the usual appointments which are made annually , and the resources of the Club were sufficient to enable the Brethren to dine without having to leave the premises , so that , for convenience and excellent arrangements , the 1897 gathering will not soon be forgotten . The Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall was held in August

Freemasonry In Devon And Cornwall.

in the Public Hall , Liskeard , - and was most successful in all respects . The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe Past Deputy Grand Master of England Provincial Grand Master presided . The procession to the parish church was a large one , and , as ifc included the four "little Lewises " ( sons of Freemasons belonging

to St . Martin ' s Lodge , No . 510 , held in the town ) , who had to carry the Bible , & c , this part of the proceedings waa of more than ordinary interest . The Lodges still remain afc 30 , but never returned so many members before , the total for the last year being 1 , 868 , being rather over 60 , on an average , to each Lodge . The

Cornwall Masonic Charity Association continues its good work , and the Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund , established in 1864 , has considerably over £ 5 , 600 invested , with eleven annuitants on the list , and the same number of educational grants for five years each .

The Mark Provincial Grand Lodge for Devon was convened at Exeter , Sir Stafford Northcote Provincial Grand Master being in the chair . The number of advancements during the financial year had considerably increased as compared with the previous year , and fche funds were in a healthy condition ..

The Mark Provincial Grand Lodge for Cornwall was held quite recently at Truro . Owing to fche regretted resignation of Bro . Sir Charles B . Graves-Sawle , Bart ., the Deputy Prov . G . M . Bro . Colville Smith had to preside . There are eleven Lodges actively at work , and are mostly in a prosperous condition . Lord .

Halsbury ( Consta . ble of Launceston Castle ) , the Lord High Chancellor , was proposed as successor to Sir Charles Graves-Sawle , and as ifc is anticipated that H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , as Grand Master , will accede to the wishes of the Brethren , there is every probability of the new Provincial Grand Master

being installed by the Pro Grand Master the Earl of Euston as soon as arrangements can be made . Lord Halsbury is a P . M . of No . 6 , London , in the Craft , and Past S . G . W . of England . His lordship has only recently joined the Mark Degree , and was advanced in the Carnarvon , No . 10 , London .

The Eoyal Arch Grand Chapters have been duly held for both counties , and so the Provincial Priory of Knights Templars for Devon ; and as ib is considered that the interest is increasing inTespect to both these ceremonies , it is confidently expected that both Chapters and Preceptories will enjoy the warm support of the Brethren during 1898 ; as also the Eose Croix Chapters in Devon and Cornwall . •-

-Both fche Western Provinces have had occasion fco rejoice during the past year on the Grand honours that have fallen to their share . Bro . John Brewer , so long the respected Provincial Grand Secretary , was appointed a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies by H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , at the Eoyal

Albert Hall , London , and later on was advanced to the rank oi Past Grand Sword Bearer in the Grand Chapter . Bro . John Stocker , the courteous Provincial Grand Secretary of Devon ,, at fche regular Grand Chapter of Eoyal Arch Masons , had the honour of being appointed one of the Assistant Grand Directors

of Ceremonies by the Prince of Wales ; and Bro . Bernard F . Edyvean , the indefatigable Charity Eepresentative for Cornwall , was selected to receive the still higher rank of Past Grand Sword Bearer ; another Cornish Brother so honoured being Bro . John

Leech Barrett P . M . of the Cornish Lodge , London . Bro . F . B . Westlake , of Plymouth , the able London representative of the Committee of Petitions , has the double honour this year pf being Junior Grand Deacon of the Mark Grand Lodge , and Grand Aide-de-Camp in the Great Priory of Knights Templars .

During the year both counties have repeated their successes of years past in the management of their votes for the Central Masonic Charities , but it is becoming more and more evident thafc these results cannot continue indefinitely , unless the Brethren and Lodges contribute considerably more to their funds .

At the present time , the number of children in the Institutions and the annuitants are far in excess of the annual contributions , and iu some instances almost glaringly so . The festival of the Benevolent Institution was held in February , when over £ 18 , 500 was subscribed , Devon sending np some £ 120 by its Stewards , Bro . F . B . Westlake and others . Cornwall , by Major J . G .

Shanks , contributed £ 180 . For the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls considerably over i . 16 , 500 was obtained , Devon doing £ 35 , and Cornwall , per Bro . E . D . Anderton , over £ 70 . The Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys realised £ 15 , 000 , Cornwall , with Bro . Anderton and Mrs . Anderton , as Stewards , taking up £ 102 , and Devon , per Bros . Wilson and Westlake , a trifle less .

The Mark Benevolent Fund realised about £ 2 , 500 , Bro . John Taylor and another Steward securing £ 64 for Devonshire subscriptions . The local funds are meeting with a fair share of support ,

but there is still room for increased aid in many quarters . The Fortescue Annuity Fund , the Devon Educational , and fche Widows ' Annuity are all prospering , and there being no salaries paid , and no establishment charges to be met , they deserve to be generously supported by Brethren and Lodges . — " Western Morning News . "