Reports Of Meetings.

EEPOETS OF MEETINGS

PROVINCIAL . ROYAL GLOUCESTER LODGE , No . 130 . THE members of this ancient Lodge , which obtained its Centenary Warrant so long ago as 16 th April 1872 , assembled for their usual monthly meeting at the Masonic Hall , Southampton , on Thursday of last week . The W . M . Bro . Bernard Harfield P . P . G . S . presided , and was

supported by his Officers and the following : R . Boughton-Smith P . P . S . G . D ., Rev . E . J . Ashwall , R . F . Osborne P . M ., R . W . Lees P . G . S . D ., J . Methuen P . P . S . G . D ., W . H . Mitchell P . M . 1461 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , with others .

After the Lodge had been opened , Bros . A . L . Powell and J . Brierley , being candidates for the second degree , answered ^ the usual questions and were subsequently passed to the degree of

Fellow Craft by the W . M . ; the ceremony being worked in a masterly manner . Several newly made Brethren received their Grand Lodge certificates , and there being no other business , the Lodge was closed and the Brethren adjourned to supper .

o o o PRINCE OF WALES LODGE , No . 1035 . ON Monday , , 14 th inst ., the Annual pic-ric was held at Llangollen , when upwards of seventy Ladies nnd gentlemen were present , amongst them being Bros . Z . Davies W . M ., John Tunstall I . P . M . P . P . G . P ., W . Peters P . M ., John Davies P . M ., C . Burchall

P . M . Treasurer , J . Jones S . W ., James Edwards J . W ., H . B . Hankin Sec , F . B . Duncan S . D ., W . Hudson J . D ., Thomas Hurst I . G ., George Roberts , R . S . Rowlinson , Blackey , J . Jones , Cope , W . Jones , Peacock , Parry , Williams 1313 , Saunders 249 , and Carr and Bulcock 1094 . The catering was excellently done by Brother Shaw , Royal

Hotel . After dinner the W . M . presented to Bro . John Tunstall ( on behalf of the Ledge ) a very handsome clock , bearing the following inscription : — Presented to BRO . JOHN TUNSTALL I . P . M . P . PROV . G . P .

by the Past Masters , Officers and Brethren of the Prince of Wales Masonic LodgCj No . 1035 , as a mark of their appreciation of his services to the Lodge . Mrs . Tunstall was also presented with a valuable diamond ring

Bro . Davies , in making the presentation , alluded to the unusual circumstance of Bro . Tunstall having twice served the office of W . M . of his Lodge , and stated that during his membership he had gained the respect and personal esteem of the whole of the Brethren .

Bro . Tunstall responded in feeling terms , and thanked the Brethren for their many kindnesses in the past and for the handsome presents made that day to his wife and himself . A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the W . M ., Hon . Sec .

and Honorary Treasurer for carrying out the arrangements so successfully , A very happy and pleasant day was spent , fine weather prevailed , and the company returned to Liverpool highly satisfied with their visit to the lovely vale .

o o o JUMNA LODGE , No . 1394 . THE members gave a farewell banquet last month to Lieutenant-Colonel C . F . Massy District Grand Master of the Punjab , at the Freemasons' Hall , Delhi . The banquet was well attended , almost every Mason in the station being present to bid farewell to the District Grand Master , who is held in high

esteem by them all . The Masons have abundant cause to regret Colonel Massy's departure , as during his stay he has done much for the Order . Colonel Massy completed the occasion by an address to the Brethren present . The mf mbers of the Lodge also presented Mrs . Massy with a tea set .

THOMAS RALLING LODGE , No . 2508 . THE Earl of Warwick Provincial Grand Master of Essex was present at a meeting of this Lodge on the 30 th ult ., when work was transacted , and a pleasant hour was spent at the social board .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — PATRIOTIC CHAPTER , No . 51 . THE Quarterly meeting was held on Thursday , 9 th inst ., when the following Companions were appointed as Officers for the ensuing year : —R . Haward Ives M . E . Z ., John G . Renshaw H ., Edmund Goweis J ., Thos . J . Railing S . E ., H . J . Skingley S . N ., J . J . C . Turner Treas ., A . J . H . Waid P . S ., S . D . C . Ablitt and 11 Giles Assistants , A . Wright Janitor .

Mark Masonry.

MARK . MASONRY .

— : o : — LEWIS LODGE , No . 391 . THE Annual meeting was held at Freemasons' Hall , Lewes , on Tuesday , 7 th inst . During the past year sixteen new members have joined , and tho financial condition of the Lodge is very satisfactory . Bro . W . Wright the retiring W . M . presided , there being a good attendance . Bro . A . F . Lamette was installed as Master for the ensuing year , and he appointed his Officers .

A Past Master ' s gold jewel was presented to Bro . W . Wright in appreciation of the marked ability and energy displayed by him during his occupancy of the chair . The formal business ended tho Brethren adjourned to the Bear Hotel , where Mrs . Whitcomb served an excellent banquet . The usual toasts were drunk .

Miss Hopper and Mr . A . Barnard were the vocalists on the occasion , Mr . A . J . Hopper accompanying . Their exertions were greatly appreciated and warmly applauded , especially the singing of Miss Hopper .

Referring to the marriage of the Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire Lord Egerton of Tatton with the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos , the " Eastern Daily Press " says the event possesses some interest from an East Midland point of view , as the bride and bridegroom passed their honeymoon at Quidenham Hall , Norfolk .

The Quidenham estate was bestowed by William III . upon Keppel , one of his faithful Dutch adherents . " It was never a very valuable property , the soil being poor and light , and it may be said to have received its coup de grace , so far as the Keppels are concerned

when the present lamentablo depression in agriculture set in . The estate has now passed under the control of Lord Egerton of Tatton , who has brought Lancashire wealth to bear upon it ; but unless agriculture revives it will take all the ingenuity even of Lancashiro capitalists to make very much out of landed property . "

Masonic Relief.

MASONIC RELIEF .

IN our last issue we commented upon the principle of Masonic Relief , and showed how often that relief is abused . We propose now to discuss the . duty of Lodges in the matter of recommending cases . As a rule , when a Brother dies , the widow applies to the Lodge to which he belonged , and the Lodge sends on the petition to the Board of General Purposes with a letter of recommendation . In many cases little or no enquiry is made into

the circumstances of the case . The deceased Brother was a Mason , and his widow asks for assistance . This is often quite enough to cause a Lodge to pass a vote recommending the case . When the Board of General Purposes meet to consider the cases that come before them , they may perhaps be able to investigate the cases which have occurred in the Presidency Town . But in cases of application from the mofussil , they must rely upon the report of the local Lodge .

At a recent meeting of the Madras Board of General Purposes , several cases were considered , in which it was evident that the recommending Lodges had failed to make the proper enquiries before recommending the petitions . In one case a petitioner was found to be in receipt of a Government pension , about which nothing had been said . It cannot be too strongly urged that Masonic Relief should only be given in cases of absolute necessity .

There are many calls upon the Masonic Charity Fund , and it is not right that pensions should be given to those who are in comparatively comfortable circumstances . In most cases a widow cannot expect to be left in as affluent a position as she was when her husband was drawing a good salary . But it should be remembered that Masonic Relief is not intended to supply the luxuries , but the necessaries of life .

No Lodge ought to write a letter of recommendation until the case has been thoroughly well investigated upon the spot , and until it is proved that the Masonic Relief asked for is absolutely necessary . It would be a good thing also if the pension system could be discontinued except in very special circumstances . It would be far better in every case to grant a lump sum , which should vary

according to the Masonic qualifications of the deceased Brother . A life pension of even a small monthly sum represents the interest of a comparatively large sum of money . And it would be possible to do far more in the way of Masonic Relief if the pension system were discontinued . Payments for the education of children should also , as far as possible , be made direct to the school or college , and not be paid to tho parent .

We trust that these fow remarks will not be considered as personal by any particular Lodge , but that all the Lodges will endeavour to be more circumspect in their treatment of the petitions for Masonic Relief which come before them . —> " Indian Masonic Review . "

Criterion Theatre . —The farcial comedy " Hot Water" was revived on Wednesday at this house , where it was originally produced some eighteen years since . Later on we shall give a more extended notice of the revival , which is supported by Mr . Charles Hawtrey , Mr . Edward Righton , Mr . George Giddens , Mr . Blakeley ,

Mr . Sydney Valentine , Mr . J . G . Taylor , Mr . Wyes , Miss Edith Chester , Miss Miriam Clements , and Miss Alice de Winton . Judging from the reception on the first night the revival has every- chance of a renewal of the popularity that attended ita original production .