Cheshire Charity.

certain help from other Provinces , they had been able to elect a boy and a girl on the funds of those Institutions . On the motion of Bro . J . H . Bellyse , seconded by Bro . J . Armstrong , Colonel Dean was re-elected Chairman . Bro . H . Jackson was re-elected Vice-Chairman . On the motion of

Bro . J . Armstrong , it was decided to increase the number of annuitants to receive the benefits of the Charity from eight to twelve . Bro . Simm was re-appointed Treasurer , of the Cheshire Educational Masonic Institution , and Bro . F . Stevenson and Bro . A . J . Thompson joint Secretaries of that body .

Bro . J . Armstrong moved that the number of annuitants to receive the benefits of the Charity be increased from eight to twelve . He pointed out that for some time past they had been using only the interest on their invested capital to give annuities , but with further funds at their disposal he thought

they would have no difficulty in providing for twelve annuitants . There was no doubt they would have an increase of £ 100 a year from the Lodges , and that would bring up their annual income to something like £ 580 , which would still leave a margin for investment after providing for twelve annuitants .

Bro . Fred May seconded the motion . Bro . Annett Treasurer said that their income did not average the amount spoken of by Bro . Armstrong . After a discussion the motion was carried unanimously , to take * effect from January next .

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

ON Sunday , 3 rd inst ., special sermons were preached in St . Paul's Church , Macclesfield , on behalf of the fund for the widows and orphans of soldiers killed in the Transvaal war . The Vicar preached morning and evening , and in the afternoon there was a special service , attended by about forty

members of the two local Lodges . Amongst those present were the Mayor ( Aid . Hill ) , and Bro . T . W . Sheldon W . M . of the Combermere Lodge of Union , and Bro . W . Harrison W . M . of the Lodge of Unity .

The Rev . L . Fowler Chaplain of the Lodge of Unity , No . 267 , and curate of St . Paul ' s Church , preached from the text : " Behold , I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God" ( 1 Kings v . 5 ) . After cordially welcoming the Brethren to Church , the preacher | exhorted

hia hearers to see to it that the temple of their lives , which they were building for God , was built on the foundation of sincerity and truth , and adorned with that virtue of charity which is the highest star in the firmament of Masonry . In placing the object of the collection before his hearers , viz .,

the fund for the relief of the poor widows and orphans of our soldiers and sailors engaged in the present war , the preacher said : It is very possible that many of you have already shown your liberality in subscribing to this fund . So far , so good . But have you done all that you can ? That is the

point to be considered . What great sacrifices have you made ? A little spontaneous charity does not cost you much . Have you given largely as God counts largeness ? O , surely those men who at the call of duty have gone to death for Queen and Empire have a right to look to us who remain at

ease at home for the magnanimous support of those whom they leave behind . They have done what was asked of them , and whether they die a glorious or unrecorded death , they have been obedient to the call of dutv , and we should not

fail in our duty . . . . They gave their lives , and what can a King do more . O , my Brethren , is it too much to ask on behalf of those who are left behind that you " Pay , pay , pay ! " The collection at the afternoon service amounted to £ 8 , and for the day to - £ 12 .

At the recent annual dinner of the Eccentric Club , a suggestion was made to send a few shillings , perhaps guineas , to one of the Funds now being organised for our Soldiers and Sailors in South Africa . The Charit y Box went round , and over twenty pounds was collected . ' Round went the

box again , and this amount was increased by various gifts until the Chairman announced that one hundred pounds had been subscribed . But the " Eccentrics " do nothing by halves , and this handsome sum was quickly raised by tens , twenties

and even fifties , to the truly marvellous amount of seventeen hundred and twenty-eight pounds . It is hoped , however , that even £ 2 , 000 may be reached , which it has been decided to hand to Lady Buller ' s Aldershot Fund . Bravo Eccentrics

Church Service.

We know it is the custom of some of our readers to skip the portion of our pages we devote to Lodge reports , as they consider there is so little of general interest in the accounts of ordinary meetings . We will not question the justice of

their opinion , but they will probably agree there are exceptions to most rules , and if they will read the report of the Gallery Lodge installation , which we give elsewhere , they will doubtless admit it proves the exception in this case . Of

course it is not every Lodge that can attract such brilliant speakers , nor is it every Lodge that seems to arouse such pleasant memories—if it were so the " after dinner ordeal "

at our Lodges would not be nearly so trying as it very often proves now-a-days , when one has to listen to a long tirade of senseless adoration and fulsome flattery , very often wholly undeserved .

From notes supplied by Bro . D . Murray Lyon , Grand Secretary , our contemporary , the " Mallet , " in " Glasgow Evening News , " is informed that 7 , 513 members were initiated during the last official year—the highest point

reached in any previous year in the Lodges under the Scottish Constitution . The income to Grand Lodge was £ 7 , , an increase of £ 151 on the previous year . Grants in Benevolence and annuities from Grand Lodge amounted to

£ 1 , 880 . Since 1889 , the year in which the Annuity Fund was established , through the exercises of Lord Blythswood Past Grand Master , £ 11 , 000 has been paid out in annuities . The total Funds , value of property , & c , at the credit of Grand Lodge , amounts at the present time to £ 78 , 632 .

Bro . C . J . Goovaertz , for many years with Messrs . Spiers and Pond , has great pleasure in informing the Brethren and his numerous friends that he has taken the management of the Bunch of Grapes , Lime Street , E . C ,

where the Brethren will find excellent accommodation for Lodges of Instruction and other meetings . The house has been wholly renovated , and special attention paid to the Masonic accommodation . The Confidence Instruction

Lodge , No . 193 , holds its meetings here every Wednesday , at 7 p . m ., and Brethren wishing to join the Lodge will receive a hearty welcome . They will also find the house complete with new grill and dining rooms , while all articles supplied are of the very best quality .

Reuter ' s New York correspondent states that the Prince of Wales has sent a photograph of himself , bearing his autograph signature , to the Grand Master of Virginian Freemasons , in recognition of the invitation to take part in the

Masonic ceremonies at Mount Vernon on the occasion of the 100 th anniversary of Washington ' s death . The Earl of Londesborough and the Officers of the Constitutional Lodge

at Beverley , East Yorkshire , have sent a wreath of evergreens to be placed on Washington ' s tomb , and Canon Weeton has sent some verses to be read at the celebration .

We may remind our Hertfordshire Brethren that the next meeting of the Cranbourne Lodge of Instruction , No . 1580 , will be held on Tuesday next , at the Red Lion Hotel ,

Hatfield , at 7 . 30 p . m . Brethren desiring instruction or practice would do well to avail themselves of the fortnightly meetings of this Lodge , which is held under the Preceptorship of Bro . F . W . Robinson P . M .

Bro . Charles Imre Kiralfy—eldest son of the well known Bro . Imre Kiralfy—was installed Worshipful Master of the Empress Lodge , No . 2581 , on Wednesday . Our report of the proceedings will appear next week .

The Brethren of the Vernon Lodge , Retford , have unanimously decided to invite the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire to hold its next summer meeting at that town .

The annual supper of the Alfred Newton Lodge of Instruction , No . 2686 , will take place on Tuesday , 23 rd January next , at 7 . 45 p . m .

We are again compelled to hold over our summary of contributions to the War Funds and several other items until next week , in consequence of pressure on our space ,