Our First Care.

OUR FIRST CARE .

npHE present is not the first occasion on which we * have used this title under similar circumstances ; but there is ample excuse for the repetition , and the text seems to us so appropriate that we have no

hesitation m once again putting it at the head of our remarks . Our first care—the first thought of the year in connection with the great Charitable Institutions of the Craft—is most appropriately associated with our old folk : the Brethren who have worked for the Craft

in years gone by , and have helped to make the Order what it is to-day , or their Widows . They have laboured for our advantage in the past ; how appropriate that those among them who need assistance should be first

provided for year by year in the great work of Masonic benevolence as carried on by the present generation , and it is in furtherance of this object that we again direct the attention of our readers to the Anniversary

Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which is to be held on Tuesday , 27 th inst ., under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master of Buckinghamshire the Rt . Hon . Lord Addington .

We cannot by any means be accused of taking a gloomy view of affairs if we say that we regard the near future of the Masonic Institutions with

considerable concern . It seems almost impossible that the Chanties of Freemasonry , in common with other permanent funds , can be kept up to ordinary standard just now , in face of the many special calls made upon

the liberality of the entire nation , in connection with the war in South Africa ; and it is accordingly with very much gratification we are able to state that the work of supporting the Chairman of the Benevolent

Institution for the year appears to be progressing most satisfactorily , and we may now confidently hope that the result to be announced on Tuesday week will not be so far behind the average of recent years as many anticipated .

It is very gratifying to find Lodges in all parts of the country voting sums of money in support of our Benevolent Institution , almost as readily as they would have done had there been no special calls upon their

resources , and we sincerely hope it will be found that individual members of the Order are equally ready to support our first , and , in the opinion of very many , our most deserving Fund of Masonic Benevolence . We

trust the Chairman of the year will be so liberally supported by his own Province , and by members of the English Order generally , that in due course the worthy

Secretary of the Institution Bro . James Terry may be enabled to announce yet another brilliant achievement on behalf of the cause with which he has been so long associated—the world-famed Benevolent Institution of English Freemasonry .

Bro . Taylor Worshipful Master of the Columbia Lodge , in London , has notified President McKinley of the latter ' s election as an honorary member of the Lodge .

New Temple At Hornsea.

NEW TEMPLE AT HORNSEA .

rriHE Masonic Temple , to which we briefly referred in a JL recent issue , is a two-storey building , and is constructed of red and white bricks , with stone dressings and rusticated quoins . On the upper floor there is a beautiful Lodge room , with large ante-room and lavatory . The Lodge ceiling is shaped and panelled , and round the room has been

constructed a raised platform . Over the dais is an ornamental arch and keystone supported on fluted columns , with carved Corinthian caps . The building has been designed by Bro . P . Gaskell P . M ., of the firm of Freeman , Son , and Gaskell ,

of Hull and Hornsea . The cost of the land and building was about £ 650 . On the occasion of its dedication the Worshipful Master Bro . W . L . Harrison opened the Lodge in ancient form and the ceremony proceeded .

The work of dedication was most solemn and impressive , and will long be remembered by all present . The Lodge had been duly constituted , and at a given signal the Organist commenced playing a suitable march . The doors were then thrown open , and the Provincial Grand Officers , bearing the

elements of consecration , entered the Lodge in procession , Bro . Peck bringing up the rear , and taking the chair of Worshipful Master . By successive stages the new Temple was consecrated to " Freemasonry , virtue , and universal benevolence . " Bro . J . G . Wallis P . M . officiated as D . C ., and Bro . P . Gaskell P . M . as Chaplain .

Next came the ceremony of installing Bro . G . W . Brown S . W . as the new Master . The ceremony was performed by Bro . W . L . Harrison , the retiring Master , assisted by Bro . Past Master Redfern . This part of the afternoon's

proceedings was equally as successful as the first , and the new Master took his seat on the dais amid the hearty good wishes of the assembled Brethren for a prosperous and happy New Year .

Before the closing of the Lodge the Worshipful Master expressed the thanks of himself and his Brethren to the Provincial Grand Secretary for the obligations he had placed them under in consenting to fill the place of Lord Bolton . On the call of Bro . Past Master Wallis , hearty votes of

thanks were also given to Bro . Past Master Gaskell , the Architect ; Bro . Past Master Redfern , the Hon . Solicitor ; and to Bro . W . L . Harrison I . P . M ., fordoing a large amount of gratuitous work in connection with the new Lod ge . Bro . Blashill , amid warm applause , presented the Lodge with a

new pianoforte , subscribed for by some of the members . Bro . Past Master Harrison , on behalf of himself and the Worshipful Master , asked the Lodge to accept curtains , poles

& c , for the Lodge room , and Bro . W . Thirsk presented the Lodge with a Chaplain ' s collar and Steward ' s jewel . These gifts were received with acclamation . The installation banquet followed .

The Sections of the first degree will be worked in the New Concord Lodge of Instruction , No . 813 , at the Farleigh Hotel , Amhurst Road , on Wednesday next , commencing at

8 o ' clock ; and those of the second and third degrees the following Wednesday . The chair will be taken by Bro . H . G . Gush P . M . 1541 Preceptor of the Lodge , with Bros . J . A . Powell Treasurer and E . G . Piatt S . W . 1327 as his Wardens .

A Masonic concert was held in the large hall of the Ilfracombe Hotel on Tuesday evening . Although most of the reserved seats had been previously taken , the severe

snowstorm ( a most unusual event in Ilfracombe ) kept a great many from attending . The Brethren of Lodge Concord appeared in Masonic clothing .