The Boys School.

Wharton P . Hood , thanking the Court for Honorary Bank conferred at the last meeting . The list of candidates for the October election was closed , there being forty-six approved candidates for sixteen vacancies . The Secretary reported the result of the ninety-seventh

Anniversary Festival , held on the 3 rd inst ., and that the total of the lists had now reached £ 19 , 057 ls Od . Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the Chairman , the Stewards , and the Hon . Secretary of the Festival , for the splendid result of their labours .

The Secretary reported that on instructions received from the Board of Management he had ( through the M . W . Pro Grand Master the Earl of Lathom , and the V . W . Grand Secretary ) approached H . R . H . the M . W . Grand Master with the view of ascertaining whether it would be His Eoyal Highness ' s pleasure

to honour the Institution by presiding at the Centenary Festival in 1898 . He was glad to be able to inform the Court that the M . W . G . Master had graciously signified to the Earl of Lathom that he hoped to be able to preside on the occasion . The announcement was received with enthusiasm .

rpHE usual monthly Council meeting was held on Friday , 28 th J _ June , Bro . C . E . Keyser Patron and Treasurer in the chair , supported by Bros . Everett , Fairchild , Pritchard , Stephens , A . C . Spaull , Pulman , Ac-After the usual routine business the list of candidates for

the October election was closed , there being 46 candidates for 16 vacancies . Notice of motion was given by Bro . Richard Eve Chairman of the Board of Management to increase the salary of the Head Master , by 100 guineas , to 600 guineas per annum .

The following additions and new lists have been received in connection with the recent Festival :

LONDON . Lodge . Steward . Addition of Eaising list to £ s . d . £ s . d . 18 George Burt 10 10 0 30 19 6 23 Charles Martin 110 81 18 0 173 Mrs . G . S . Fairchild 10 4 6 330 4 6 754 Benjamin Stocker 3 3 0 126 0 0 1196 James S . Mountford 110 34 13 0

1287 George Eidout 5 5 0 183 15 0 1719 Hubert T . Bailey 8 8 0 55 13 0 2182 Henry T . Telling 5 5 0 85 11 0 Unattached J . M . McLeod New List . 63 0 0 E . Barnes New List . 21 0 0

THE PROVINCES . BERKSHIRE . 414 W . J . Maurice 3 13 6 66 13 6 CHESHIEE . 2368 Sundry Stewards 2 2 0 123 18 0

ESSEX . 1437 Harold E . Smith New List . 10 10 0 GLOUCESTEESHIEE . 839 E . P . Sumner 5 5 0 78 15 0 KENT . 1917- John W . Elvin 27 6 0 184 16 0 NORTH AND EAST YOEKSHIEE .

312 Rev . E . Fox Thomas 18 18 0 49 17 0 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE . The Province Col . Wright 4 4 0 166 19 0 OXFOEDSHIEE . 357 H . Collison New List . 10 10 0 *

SUREEY . 1924 T . H . Griffiths 2 10 107 1 0 SUSSEX . 732 T . Billing 2 2 0 12 12 0 2483 H . J . Capon 10 10 0 34 2 6 WARWICKSHIEE . 74 Sundry Stewards 10 10 0 115 10 0 587 R . J . R . Mackenzie 5 5 0 15 15 0

WOECESTEESHIEE . The Province T . E . Arter 57 15 0 ) la „ Bro . Westwood 57 15 0 J 1 BiS 1 & ° FOREIGN STATIONS . CYPEUS . 2277 Surgeon-Capt . W . Kiddle 10 10 0 21 0 0 PUNJAB . 1960 J . H . Leslie 18 17 0 132 10 0

Ad00702

New Barnet School of Music , STATION ROAD , NEW BARNET . For all Particulars and Prospectus , apply to the Secretary , THE NEW BARNET SCHOOL OF MUSIC will bo happy to provide Jugb . class entertainments and Ceremonial Musio for Masonic Meetings , ^ onseorations , Installations and Ladies' Nights . For terms : —Bro . John Robert , Station Road , New Barnet , N .

Mark Benevolent Fund.

MARK BENEVOLENT FUND .

THE twenty-seventh anniversary Festival of this Jbuncl in connection with the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons took place at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen Street , on Wednesday ., with considerable success , owing no doubt to the energetic manner in which the Grand Secretary , Brother C . F . Matier P . G . W ., & c , assisted by an influential Board of Stewards , worked to secure so desirable a result .

Bro . Lord Skelmersdale P . G . W . presided , and was supported by the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston Pro Grand Master , the Right Hon . Viscount Dungarvan D . G . M ., and many others . The occasion was also graced by the presence of several

ladies , among whom were Lady Skelmersdale , Lady Agnes Cooper , Mrs . Jas . Stephens , Mrs . Carrell , Mrs , Oliver , Mrs . C . F . and Miss Matier , Mrs . Clowes , Mrs . Apelt , Mrs . Piggott , Mrs . Brewer , & c .

After an excellent dinner , which was served in Messrs . Spiers and Pond ' s best style , the noble chairman gave the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts , which were duly honoured .

In proposing the Grand Officers , Lord Skelmersdale referred to the fact that it was the present Pro Grand Master who had initiated him into Freemasonry , while everybody knew what good work Lord Dungarvan had done for the Craft .

Lord Euston , in responding , said that so long as he held his present high position he would keep Mark Masonry up to the highest standard that it could possibly be . He was pleased to be present to support the Chairman who had done so much for the cause of Freemasonry , and in all that pertained to the Craft . He was sure they all wished him prosperity .

Lord Skelmerdale , in returning thanks , said he was most pleased to do all he could to support so excellent a charity as the Mark Benevolent Fund , and he was desired by Lady Skelmersdale to say how grateful she was that the toast had been so well

received , because he might mention that had it not been for her ladyship he would never have gone into Freemasonry at all . With reference to the toast of the evening he found that the festival had grown more successful year by year , and he trusted a similar success would be accorded to him . Their invested

capital was very small , and they had to depend year by year upon subscriptions . They had had no election for some years , from motives of economy , because each election cost about £ 40 , and the Board thought that the money might be better employed . There were now seven candidates awaiting election , acd

they would be able to place three or four of them upon the list of Annuitants . They were also educating fourteen Boys and six Girls at an average cost of £ 17 each , and he might mention that the reports of the children were most satisfactory . He considered

they quite deserved the help that had been extended to them . He did not know how much would be collected that evening , but he hoped the result would not be less than in former years , and as his Father had made a record in 1878 so he trusted they would equally support his son .

The Grand Secretary then announced the subscription lists , which evoked considerable enthusiasm , the culminating point being reached when it was stated that the grand total was £ 2 , 108 9 s 6 d . This amount had only been exceeded on three other occasions , and there are yet eleven lists outstanding , which

may still swell the total . Among the amounts it may be stated that twenty-one lady Stewards collected £ 79 , that nineteen members of the General Board gave fifty guineas , and that thirty-one London Stewards brought up £ 412 14 s 6 d , the remainder being subscribed in the Provinces .

The Rev . Hayman Cummings proposed the Ladies , and said he considered that the Fund had gained by the presence of the Ladies , who would do more when they came to know more of Freemasonry . He thought it would be a great day when the ladies could come among us and learn more of its details . The

Craft owed the ladies another debt by the action of the twentyone lady stewards who had brought up such a large amount , and he was sure they would all go away more deeply impressed with the benevolence and charity of Masons .

Lord Dungarvan , on behalf of the fair sex , expressed their pleasure at learning so large a sum had been collected , and that last year ' s result had been exceeded . They hoped that next year the amount would be still higher .

Major Carrell , in responding for the Board of Stewards , said that all their trouble was repaid by the amount subscribed by the Brethren ; they desired to thank the noble chairman for having

contributed to make the festival such a success . Bro . Frank Richardson in courteous terms proposed the Visitors , for whom Bro . Darley Hartley of East London , South Africa , replied .

This concluding the business of the evening the company adjourned to the Drawing Room , when an excellent concert was provided by Bro . Frederick Bevan , who was assisted by Miss Florence Bethell , Miss Maud Home , Miss Ethel Bevan Bros . Edward Branscombe and Albert Fox .