Next Week's Festival.

NEXT WEEK'S FESTIVAL .

WEDNESDAY next will witness the climax of the efforts that have been put forth during the past few months in connection with the first Anniversary Festival of the year and we sincerely hope for a satisfactory result on that occasion .

Fortunately the prospects are most encouraging , and we think we are hardly adopting a too sanguine view when we say that the success of this year ' s Festival for the Benevolent Institution , under the chairmanship of the Eight Hon . Lord

George Hamilton , M . P ., is virtually assured , although in doing so we do not wish to imply there is no need for further effort , for even at this hour it is not too late to add to the total of the occasion , and , it may be , provide * sufficient to influence the

Committee to recommend an extension of the benefits of the Fund , ere the election takes place in May , when , as we have previously said , the number of candidates will be so largely in excess of the possible vacancies .

Although we should very much like to say a great deal on this occasion , on behalf of the splendid Fund to be supported next Wednesday , there is little can be said more forcible than a recapitulatien of the actual figures showing what is being done .

At the present time two hundred aged Masons are receiving an annuity of £ 40 a year each , two hundred and forty-two Widows of Freemasons are being paid £ 32 a year each , and some thirty others are in receipt of half of their late husband ' s

pension , the amount actually paid in Annuities totaling up to no less than £ 16 , 264 , only a small proportion of which is provided by permanent income . It is to secure the remainder for the

current year that next week ' s Festival has been arranged , and we hope the result may be all that is desired . The object may truly be described as a most worthy one .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

THE monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , at the Freemasons' Hall . The quarterly meeting of the Board of Masters was held previously , and the paper of business to be transacted in Grand Lodge dn 4 th March was read to the Brethren .

Bro . Eobert Grey presided , Bro . D . D . Mercer and Bro . G . A . Cottebrune took their seats respectively as Senior and Junior Vice-Presidents . Bros . Letchworth G . S ., "W . Lake Assist . G . S ., W . Dodd , W . H . Lee and Sadler represented the office of Grand Secretary . The Eev . J . S . Brownrigg , Bros . J . H . Matthews ,

Major Gen . F . Gadsden , Eev . W . Vincent , George Eead , T . W . Whitmarsh , Augustus F . Godson , Henry Garrod , S . Vallentine , S . V . Abraham , Thomas Minstrell , John Newton , Charles J . E . Tijou , and the elected members of the Board , Bros . Charles Dairy , George E . Langley , S . H . Goldschmidt , W . Fisher , E . H .

Grant , Walter Martin and James Bunker also attended . Among the general body of W . Ms , and P . Ms , were Bros . Eobert Brookman , Edwd , Hambridge , H . J . Hunter , George Parrett , Charles G . Marcus , Eobert Davison , Geo . W . Dixon , S . A . Eothschild , E . D . Bradford , J . B . Green , G . H . Newington Bridges , S . H .

Jordan , H . Grant , Edwin J . Davey , Francis W . S . Wicksteed , Alfred A . Drew , John West , John Berlyn , E . Horton , J . C . Underwood , W . J . Stahlschmidt , C . A . Harrison , J . D . Wilkinson , Col . Howlaud Eoberts Deputy Master to the Duke of Connaught , London Irish Eifies Lodge , No . 2312 , J . Leach Barrett , H . S .

Board Of Benevolence.

Timpson , John Skinner , Thomas B . Fullwood , C . F . Jenkins , Tom Best , S . N . C . Eumball , Charles Leonard Plant , Walter Sykes , Frederick Jackson , William Green , G . Wilkinson , C . J . Scales , William G . Smith , J . Gait Fisher , J . Eushforth , W . F . Lamonby , Louis E . Wilson and Henry Massey .

The Brethren confirmed last meeting ' s recommendations to the Grand Master to the amount of £ 450 . Of the forty casea on the new list , one was withdrawn , one was dismissed , and three were deferred . One petitioner had died . One petitioner

was recommended to Grand Lodge for £ 100 , and two for £ 50 each . Five were recommended to the Grand Master for £ 40 each , and ten for £ 30 each . £ 20 was granted in seven instances , £ 15 in two , and £ 10 in six ; £ 5 was granted to one petitioner .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

WE are glad to observe that out of thirty-two boys entered for the new " Preliminary " section of the Cambridge University Local Examinations , December 1895 , thirty passedone boy receiving the " Distinction " mark for Geography .

The average age of the entered boys being only thirteen , years , five months , this result must be considered extremely satisfactory , and argues well for the sound educational training being given to " our boys . " The results in the " Junior " and " Senior" sections will not be known for two or three weeks .

We had just written the above when we received the gratifying intelligence that E . J . Coupland , the senior boy of the School , had passed the London Matriculation Examination in the first division . We understand this youth is only 16 f years old , and this capital result of the " retention scheme " instituted by

the Board of Management for deserving pupils will be welcomed by all the friends of the Institution . We believe this is the first occasion the School has been able to enter this highest of all examinations , and we trust the initial success is only a forerunner of many to follow .

Centenary At Eastwood.

CENTENARY AT EASTWOOD .

IT is expected the Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., Prov . G . M . will take part in the celebration of the centenary of the Prince George Lodge , No . 308 , on the 2 nd March . In connection with this event the " Todmorden Advertiser" says an application , by Mr . Craven , solicitor , was made at the Todmorden Court ,

before Messrs . J . A . Ingham ( chairman ) and William Sutcliffe . Mr . Craven asked , in behalf of Mr . Widdup , of the Station House Hotel , Bottoms , for an occasional licence for the 2 nd March , to extend to midnight , the occasion being a public dinner which was to be held at the Co-operative Hall , Dale Street , Todmorden , to celebrate the centenary of the Freemason ' s Lodge

at Eastwood . There would be many visitors , including the Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., Leeds , and other gentlemen from Leeds , Halifax , Huddersfield , and probably from the direction of Manchester . Dinner would commence about six o ' clock , and he ( Mr . Craven ) asked their worships if they would grant an occasional licence to supply wines and spirits up to twelve o'clock .

The Chairman : This will not occur again for a century ? Mr . Craven said that was so . It was the first application of the kind in connection with this Lodge , and he thought he might safely promise not to apply again under similar circumstances .

The Chairman observed that the Company concerned constituted such an honourable body that he thought the Magistrates might grant the licence without asking the Superintendent anything about the matter . Superintendent Fearnside assured the Bench that he had no objection . The licence was issued .