Further Aid For War Victims.

FURTHER AID FOR WAR VICTIMS .

y \ ESPITE the fact that nearly every Lodge in the * -- * country has already contributed to one or other of the many funds promoted for the relief of distress and suffering caused by the war in South Africa , we

venture to think the appeal of the Grand Master for assistance on behalf of the Brethren of that region will meet a hearty reception from the Provincial , District and Private Lodges , all of which the Prince of

Wales desires shall be specially communicated with on the subject . The thousand guineas voted by Grand Lodge will form a splendid nucleus on which to work ,

and we trust the result may prove so satisfactory as to show to the Grand Master that the Craft appreciates his leadership , and is ready to support him in his laudable desires .

Devon Charities.

DEVON CHARITIES .

THE Aged Widows Annuity Fund , of which Lord Northcote of Exeter Provincial Grand Master is President , held its annual meeting at the Masonic Club , Plymouth . In the absence of the Chairman Bro . Geo . S . S . Strode , J . P ., of Newnham Park , Plympton , Bro . S . J . Page presided . The report of the Treasurer Bro . F . B . Westlake was

considered highly satisfactory , for , although the Fund has been established but three and a half years , the Charity has been so generously supported that a reserve fund of £ 1 , 100 has already been formed , and the Treasurer reports that a sufficient sum is in hand to meet all pending expenses and to

pay the Annuitants now upon the Funds . A very gratifying feature is the fact that the working expenses absorbed only about 2 | per cent , of the subscriptions , all the Officers being honorary . But to place the Fund beyond the likelihood of having too heavy a call upon its resources , the reserve fund should at least be doubled . To assist in this direction a

concert conducted and arranged by the Borough Organist Bro . H . Moreton , Mus . Bac , is to be held in the Guildhall on the 14 th inst . Officers for the ensuing year were elected , as follow : — Chairman Bro . Geo . S . S . Strode , T . P ., Vice-Chairman Bro .

S . J . Page , Trustees Bros . Geo . S . S . Strode , F . B . Westlake , and John Stocker Provincial Grand Secretary , Treasurer Bro . F . B . Westlake , Secretary Bro . J . Griffin ( in place of Bro . J . Gifford , who retires ) , Assistant Secretary Bro . F .

Mabin , Auditors Bros . W . J . Stanbury and J . R . Wilson , Executive Committee Bros . S . Jones and E . H . Shorto , Exeter ; R . D . Renwick , Torquav ; T . W . Atherton , Dartmouth ; W . Allsford , C . G . Withell , and J . Gifford , Plymouth .

A MEETING of the Committee of the Devon Masonic Education Fund was held on Tuesday afternoon , at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , to make arrangements for the forthcoming Annual Meeting and election . Bro . C . Stuart Stebbing presided . It was decided to hold the meeting at Exeter on

Wednesday , 4 th April , and to elect three candidates on the Fund . The Hon . Treasurer Bro . J . R . Lord reported that they were now contributing to the education and clothing of twenty-one

children , but that before the year expired five of these would go off the Fund . Their expenditure at the present time exceeded £ 300 a year , and if the children on the Fund were to be kept up to the numbers now receiving assistance , it was

Devon Charities.

necessary that the income of the Institution should not show any diminution . It would be much more satisfactory to increase the number of children than to reduce them , but to enable this to be done a larger income was required . In answer to a question Bro . Lord stated that with one

exception there had been no response to the appeals for assistance made to the many Lodges in the Province that still withheld their support from the Institution , although some of them had written for and been supplied with , information showing the character and extent of the work which the Fund was doing .

Southampton Masonic Hall.

SOUTHAMPTON MASONIC HALL .

'I Mih . annual meeting ot the Masonic Hall Company was X held at the Hall , Albion Place , Southampton , on Saturday evening , 24 th ult ., when Alderman Tilling , J . P ., Chairman of the Company presided . The report stated that after payment of all expenses

there was an available balance in hand of £ 155 18 s 6 d . The Directors had resolved to transfer £ 32 12 s rid to the reserve fund , which would then stand at £ 53 16 s 2 d . The balance ,

£ 123 5 s yd , they recommended should be appropriated to the payment of a dividend of 4 per cent , per annum , free of income tax . They expressed regret at the death of their colleague , Bro . H . Coles .

On the motion of the Chairman , seconded by Bro . Lashmore , the report was adopted , and the dividend recommended therein declared . Messrs . John Adams , James Cole , and C . W . A . Jelhcoe were re-elected Directors , and Bro . James Lemon , J . P ., was appointed to fill the vacancy on the Board created by the death of Bro . Coles .

The installation meeting of the Buckingham and Chandos Lodge , No . 1150 , was exceptionally interesting to a gathering of some sixtv Brethren , inasmuch as the " Father

of the Lodge" Sir John B . Monckton P . G . W . installed his youngest son Bro . Herbert Paul Monckton into the chair of the Lodge . A large muster of Grand Officers was present to do honour to the occasion .

At the monthly meeting of the Lodge of Lights , No . 148 , Warrington , on Monday , 26 th ult ., a presentation was made to Bro . W . B . Roberts P . M ., who recently resigned the

office of Secretary after having held it for live years . The gift took the form of a beautiful silver flower epergne suitably inscribed .

The " Sunbeam , " with Bro . Lord Brassey Past G . M . Victoria on board , en route from Australia , left Colombo on Wednesday , for the Cape .

The Border Lodge , No . 2475 , held its annual conversazione and dance at the White Flart Hotel , Blackwater , on Wednesday , 21 st ult ., when a company of about 120 assembled .

The Doric Lodge , No . 933 , will entertain their lady friends at a gathering at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street , on Tuesday next , 13 th inst .

The members of the Bromley St . Leonard Lodge , No , 1805 , will hold a dance at the Bromley Vestry Hall , on the 27 th inst .