Visit To Arundel.

VISIT TO ARUNDEL .

ON Friday , 2 nd inst ., Arundel was visited by a party of Brethren and Ladies on the occasion of the annual outing of the Strand Lodge , No . 1987 , whose members were accompanied by several Brethren of the Eccentric Lodge . The party , which in all numbered 48 , arrived at Arundel by the 12 . 37 train in special saloons . Luncheon was partaken of at the Norfolk

Hotel , where Host J . N . Hare provided an excellent repast . A drive to Parham , the seat of Lord Zouche , was the next item on the programme , and , after exploring the lovely and picturesque spot , the party found to their delight ( especially the ladies ) a refreshing cup of tea ready on the lawn , and , needless to say , something for the gentlemen . Returning to Arundel by six o ' clock the party sat down to a banquet .

There were present Bro . W . M . Stiles P . G . Treas . P . M . and Secretary , Bro . H . Singleton Hooper W . M . 1987 S . W . of Eccentric Lodge , Bro . Gilmore P . M . ( Royal Princess's Theatre ) , Bro . Campbell Assist . Sec , Bro . O'Brien J . W ., Br . ' . J . Stephens P . M ., Bro . R . Dean P . M ., Dr . White J : W . Eccentric Lodge , and several other brethren from the same Lodge , whose presence was greatly appreciated . Bro . Hare ( the Host ) is the permanent

Steward , and from remarks made at table seems to be the right man in the right place . A pleasant surprise awaited him , for Bro . Dean had the pleasure of presenting fco the popular Officer a silver cigar case and silver matchbox , and Mrs . Hare was not forgotten , a beautiful scent bottle with her initials inscribed on the silver top being presented at the same time . The party left Arundel after expressing themselves delighted with the lovely scenery of Arundel Park and the drive to and from Parham .

Annual Picnic Of The Lodge Of Truth, No. 1458.

ANNUAL PICNIC OF THE LODGE OF TRUTH , No . 1458 .

WHEN Xerxes , the Persian monarch and voluptuary , pined for a new pleasure , and even offered a reward to the man who could invent one , he had probably never been introduced to that form of enjoyment which we moderns are content to designate by the name of picnic . And without wishing to enter into a homily upon the subject , we must observe that this very rational means of spending a day seems to have become one of the special features in connection with many organisations . No wonder then

that the members of the Lodge of Truth should obey a natural impulse and endeavour to escape from fche azote of Cottonopolis to the more congenial ozone of the country , choosing Derbyshire on this occasion , a county popularised by the writings of Sir Walter Scott and Charlotte Bronte . On the morning of Saturday last , the 3 rd inst ., and at an hour when myriads of toilers were wending their way citywards , a crowd of ladies and gentlemen , numbering considerably over fifty , collected on a platform of the Central

Station , Manchester , bound for Grindleford , or , to give it its old title , Grindleford Bridge . A large and handsome saloon carriage had been provided , and tho party , which we accompanied , went to its destination in comfort . Upon arrival at Grindleford , conveyances were in readiness , and a pleasant drive was commenced by Fox House , Burbage Brook , and Froggatt Edge . It was this delightful neighbourhood through which the river Derwent meanders that supplied the author of Jane Eyre with much of her scenery for the popular novel .

A keen bracing wind blew m the faces of the company as they were driven along the high roads , winding over the hills , which became merged into a soft balmy breeze as they reached the sheltered valleys . Upon arrival at Chatsworth the major portion of the company dismounted and gained admission into the palatial mansion of His Grace the Duke of Devonshire . The present edifice , which is situated in the midst of rich and fertile meadows , dates from the latter half of the 17 th century , being built by William

Cavendish , Earl of Devonshire . Not far away is the model village of Edensor , with its pretty church , in the burial ground of which lie the remains of Lord Frederick Cavendish , cruelly murdered in Phcenix Park , Dublin , by Irish Invincibles . The day of his funeral ( 6 th May 1882 ) will live in tho memory of those thousands who were witnesses of the sight . The

old Duke , father of the deceased martyr , walked to the last resting place in company with another venerable celebrity , namely , Mr . Gladstone , accompanied also by the present Duke , then known as the Marquis of Hartington , who mourned the untimely loss of a beloved brother . The grave is a very unpretentious one , being marked by a homely inscription , and a cross which is equally as simple .

A brisk walk through the grounds , dotted with innumerable herds of deer , brought the party to tho village of Baslow , where a capital dinner had been provided at the Devonshire Arms Hotel . Perhaps the strict municipal laws which have , been enforced at Blackpool with regard to itinerant musicians may have driven some of them away to seek a precarious livelihood elsewhere * , certainly our excellent meal afc the " Devonshire " was ingested

to the accompaniment of several instruments played by a troup of burnt cork Orpheuses of fche kerb , whose stomachs , compared with ours just repletived , seemed to have suffered somewhat from a Lenten holiday . It would be crediting our party with very little musical taste to say that they envied this performance ; still they improvised a performance of their own by the aid of tin trumpets and other cheap primitive instruments , which made the welkin ring with dissonant sounds . .

Another drive of three or four miles and Haddon Hall was reached . This structure , in front of which runs the river Wye , is situated fourteen miles from Buxton , and is described by Hall and Jewitt as " the most interesting and certainly the most attractive of all the ancient mansions of England . " The building , though uninhabited , is kept in excellent preservation by the Rutland family , and visitors from all parts of the world find very many wonderful things fco claim their attention . In the state sleeping room

a bod was shown to ns which . Queen Elizabeth is said fco have occupied . If you are of an inquisitive turn of mind , you will want to know all about Dorothy Vernon , once the heroine of a romantic elopement . The attendant will probably tell you that she was the younger daughter and co-heiress of Sir George , and she was married , not without much family opposition , to John Manners ( afterwards Sir John ) , prior to the year 1567 , the door where she made her escape from parental authority being pointed out to you . It

is now called " Dorothy Vernon ' s door . " She died in 1584 , and her husband in 1611 , both being buried in Bakewell Church , which ancient edifice contains some monuments of the Vernons , Lords of Haddon , and their successors of the family of Manners , elevated to the titles of Earls and Dukes of Rutland . Before leaving Haddon the party strolled on to the terrace and were photographed , which picture will form a pleasant memento of a very happy day .

Still another drive brought the party to the Rutland Arms Hotel , Bakewell , whore a plain , but very welcome tea had been provided . Several Loyal and Masonic toasts were given , that of the Queen being proposed in very suitable terms by Bro . Thomas Pollitt Cooper W . M .

Annual Picnic Of The Lodge Of Truth, No. 1458.

That in honour of the Ladies was proposed by Bro . W . H . Worsley I . P . M ., who made some graceful allusions to those who were present , the reply falling to the lot of Bro . Dewhurst . Bro . Herring P . M . introduced the name of the W . M ., and infused into his speech a few of those touches which made his words very effective and acceptable to all .

The reply of Bro . Cooper W . M . was short and to the point , and he took the opportunity of reminding his audience that their stay in Bakewell was of shorb duration . A move was accordingly made to the station , fche party reaching Manchester shortly after ten o ' clock . On the way home the toasts were continued , Bro . Worsley proposing a

cordial vote of thanks to the picnic Committee , making special mention of Bro . Joseph Day , who had been appointed chairman by the W . M ., and to whose indefatigable zeal the success of the outing was due . Songs and recitations whiled away the tedium of travel , the contributaries being Bros . Cooper W . M ., Alfred Hebden P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C , Edward Roberts P . M . 1459 , Dewhurst , Whittaker , and Mr . Kinsey .

Among others we noticed thafc the following were present , viz ., Bros . James W . Abbott P . M . P . P . G . D . C . W . M . 1030 , A . B . Taylor S . W ., Herbert Hellewell Secretary , and Past Masters Robert Caldwell P . P . G . S . B ., and J . Archdale . As will be inferred from our previous remarks , most of the members were accompanied by their wives and lady friends .

Birkbeck Building Society.

BIRKBECK BUILDING SOCIETY .

THE forty-sixth annual meeting of this Society was held on tho 1 st inst ., at the Offices , 29 and 30 Southampton Buildings , Chancery Lane . The report adopted states that during the financial year jusb closed the total receipts have reached the large sum . of £ 18 , 967 , 010 , exceeding by more than one-and-a-half million pounds the total receipts of all the other Incorporated and Un-incorporated Building Societies in the United Kingdom —numbering 2 , 625—as shown by the Chief Registrar ' s Return , presented to Parliament on the 23 rd April last .

The Receipts from Subscriptions have amounted to £ 240 , 082 , and from Deposits to £ 14 , 678 , 767 . The Withdrawals have been £ 13 , 880 , 483 , showing a Balance over the preceding year of £ 1 , 038 , 366 , or a total increase since 1892 ( a period of five years ) of £ 3 , 438 , 741 after allowing for the large amounts withdrawn during the panic in that year . The total Liabilities on Subscriptions and Deposits now exceed nine millions ( £ 9 , 113 , 454 ) . The Balance of Assets in excess of Liabilities amounts to upwards of four hundred thousand pounds— £ 400 , 186 16 s 4 d . The total Assets are £ 9 , 513 , 641 .

During the past year the sum of £ 4 , 317 , 502 has been invested in the purchase of Government and other Stocks ; and Securities to the amount of £ 3 , 625 , 952 have been disposed of ; the difference bringing up the Investments in convertible Securities and Ground Rents , including £ 702 , 348 cash at Bankers , to £ 8 , 620 , 913 . Upwards of two millions of these funds— £ 2 , 158 , 589 —are inscribed in the books of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England ; the amount invested in Consols and ofcher British Government Securities being £ 1 , 515 , 353 .

The fifteenth triennial Bonus has been apportioned this year in accordance with the Rules . The sum , with the Bonus previously set aside but not yet payable , will absorb £ 61 , 179 10 s . This amount is provisionally credited to all members holding Investing Shares , but the Bonus , is only payable provided tbe Instalments have been regularly made , and then not until the Shares have been ten years in existence .

A further sum of £ 25 , 000 has been added to the Permanent Guarantee Fund , which now stands at £ 200 , 000 , the whole amount being invested in Consols . During the past year , 2 , 538 members have joined the Society , whilst 2 , 212 Current Accounts , and 7 , 173 Deposit Accounts have been opened , making a total of 11 , 923 new accounts . The Shareholders now on the Register number 12 , 760 , Current Accounts 17 , 818 , and Deposit Accounts , 48 , 919 , making a total of 79 , 497 Accounts now open . The number of Shares in existence at the close of the year is 65 , 985 .

Since its establishment , the Society has returned to the Shareholders and Depositors more than one hundred and eighty millions ( £ 180 , 130 , 326 ) , the whole amount having been repaid upon demand . The amount advanced to Borrowers has been £ 3 , 225 , 315 , and the amount of Interest and Bonus paid to Investors and Depositors is upwards ol three millions sterling , the exact figures boing £ 3 , 057 , 331 .

Jubilee Celebration At Lancaster.

JUBILEE CELEBRATION AT LANCASTER .

ON Wednesday , 30 th ult ., the Brethren of the various Lodges in Lancaster united in holding a banquet in the Co-operative HaU , in commemoration of Her Majesty ' s Diamond Jubilee . Fifty sat down to an excellent repast , after which the toast of " the Queen , the Duke of Lancaster , " was proposed in felicitous terms by the Mayor , who referred to the great progress made during Her Majesty's long reign .

The Mayor next gave the health of the Prince of Wales G . M ., and the present and past Grand Officers , which was also enthusiastically received . The toast of tlie Masonic Craft throughout the Empire was introduced by Bro . R . Nicholson , in an appropriate speech , and replied to by Bros . G . Kelland for fche Lodge of Fortitude , O . F . Seward for the Rowley Lodge , and J . D . Bell for the Duke of Lancaster .

The Three Lancaster Lodges was submitted b y Bro . G . Jackson , and responded to by Bros . H . Lee , J . W . Wearing , and J . E . Miller , fche W . Ms . The health of the Mayor was ably proposed by Bro . J . L . Barrow , and His Worship having responded , gavo tho health of Mr . J . L . Barrow , the Secretary of the banquet . The toast list was interspersed with songs , & c .

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n , price -, post . Crown Svo ., cloth , 10 / - ( or * in leather , gilt edges , 15 / - ) , post free . TEXT BOOK OF ADVANCED FREEMASONRY , containing the complete Rituals of the Higher Degrees , with other matters . London : WILLIAM REEVES , 185 Fleet Street , E . C .