Hospital Sunday At Devonpo Rt.

to the homes of the less fortunate of their Christian brethren , knew only too well the meaning of that sinister combination of words , " the sick poor . " Hard was tbe lot of tho honest poor man , whose toil did not gain sufficient for the common waots of his household ; bat how deplorably mast his misery be increased when sickness visited his home . When the chief breadwinner himself was smitten

down and laid aside , he lacked , perhaps , everything that could restore the body or soothe the mind , and , looking forth from hia couch of penury , he saw ia idea and fancy his wife a widow and his ohildren orphans , soon to be left to the cold pity of an unfeeling world . It not nnfreqaently hoppened that those to whom the noblo Royal Albert Hospital extended its sheltering care inoarred an accident or

contracted a disease in some one of the hazardous , unhealthy , or over-laborious employments whioh ministered to the luxury and comfort of their more prosperous brethren . It was not then in accordance with justice to leave them without the means of recovery , to abandon them to languish in their squalid rooms without proper accommodation , proper diet , and proper nursing , to sink under the

aggravated miseries of life into an untimely end . On the nob , disease and sickness fell with no such distressing accompaniments . Let them remember how many were languishing under the same disorders without any such alleviations or remedies , and , cultivating tho habit of systematic benevolence , extend to their poorer brethren in Christ , through that valuable hospital , that comfort which they

bad found so soothing in their hour of weakness and dependence . To them , npon whom the duty and privilege of giving were so . powerfully and peculiarly impressed at the very outset of their Masonio career , who were taught that the relief of the distressed was one of the three great principles of their noblt Order , it surely only nseded the brief reminder of a brother to call forth that spontaneous

outburst of charitable giving for which Masons were so distinguished . This was evidenced by the recent Jubilee Festival of the Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution for agod Masons and Masons' widows , when the magnificent sum of £ 60 , 000—the largest ever brought up at any charitable festival , and since increased to over £ 70 , 000— was announced by the chairman as the result of the exertions of the

1 , 400 Stewards . Many Lodges in the Three Towns nobly responded to his appeal at that time as a Steward for that Institution , as for the Festivals of the other two great Masonio Charities , showing that , though they were not in any sense a benefit sooiety , charitable giving lay deep down in Masons' hearts , and only required the ocoasion to call forth its exercise , either by votes of money from Lodge fonds , or

by individual donatiooi . He claimed their grateful acknowledgment of the fact that through this hospital , by merely contributing to it of their substance , they might , without enoroaohing oh their ordinary business , alleviate the sufferings of their poorer brethren . There , under tbe management of a zealous committee , thejioould supply the strengthening cordial to a sick heart , and the-pooling potiou to the

feverish frame ; they could help to mitigate the agonies of the living and to smooth the pillow of the dying . The offertory at the olose of the service amounted to £ 7 18 s . Collections were taken at other ohnrohes and chapels at Devonport on Sunday iu aid of the Royal Albert Hospital . At Stoke Church harvest festival services two weeks ago the offertories amounted to £ 22 .

Tlie monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall , Urother Robert Grey President . Bros . James Brett Senior Vice-President , 0 . A . Cottebrnue Junior Vice-President , E . Letchworth Grand Secretary , A . A . Peudlebury Assistant

Grand Secretary , W . Dodd , W . H . Lee , and H . Sadler Grand Tyler occupied their official positions . Among the other members of the Board present were : —Bros . William Vincent , S . V . Ahrabam , S . Vallentine , A . Lacking , Geo . B . Chapmau , Charles Dairy , T . W . Wliitmarsh , John

King , H . J . Strong , M . D ., W . P . Brown , T . 0 . Newson , Henry Garrod , E . 0 . Mulvey , Geo . R . Langley , D . D . Mercer , J . H . Matthews , Charles J . R . Tijou , George Read , J . S . Brownrigg , Geo . Coop , James Bunker , J . U . Streater , C . N . Mclntyre North , J . Gnlfc Fisher , George Bird , J . K .

Pitt , R . Willoughby , J . W . Mash , George Flint W . M . 1287 , Orlton Cooper W . M . 211 , J . M . Moore , Edwin Veuner , T . Gleeman , Louis Doser , Charles Coleman , J . C . Stone , E . Brooks , Walter Dersham , Robert Gooding , G . Brown , H . G . Pitt , G . Bolton , H . E . Joyce , Dick Radcliffe , Walter

Martin , J . McLeod , Joseph Young , John Marshall , E . J . Williams , Bradshaw Browu , John L . Anderson , Henry J . Ansel ! , A . G . Duck and J . Duncan . Recommendations to the Grand Master at the September meeting to the extent of £ 100 were confirmed ; after which the list of new

petitions were considered . There were thirty-seven cases on this list , and the brethren relieved , or recommended for relief thirty-five , deferring the consideration of two for further particulars . The total sum voted was £ 845 . Grand Lodge was recommended to confirm one of £ 75 , and two of

£ 50 each ; and there were besides four recommendations to the Grand Master of £ 40 each , and four of £ 30 each . There was a strong run on the £ 20 grant , there being no less than sixteen recipients of £ 20 each . One grant was for £ 15 ; there were four grants of £ 10 , and three of £ 5 each .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Lincolnshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF LINCOLNSHIRE .

ON the 13 th inst ., at the Gainsborough Masonic Hall , tho Lincolnshire Provincial Chapter assembled in annual conclavo for the election of Officers and other business . Comp . Alfred Kirk Provincial Grand Treasurer acted as Deputy Provincial Grand Superinteudant , and a substantial sum of money having been voted to the Masonic Charities invested tho Officers , as follow : —

Comp . Mojor Smyth ... ... 1 st Prinoipal C . F . Livorsidge ... ... H . T . Stainforth ... ... J . Viokers ... ... ... Scribe E . Constable ... ... ... Scribe N .

C . R . Farmer ... ... Principal Soj . W . Mason ... ... ... 1 st Assistant Soj . W . Beard ... ... ... 2 nd Assistant Soj . A . Kirk ... ... ... Treasurer Scorer ... ... ... Registrar

J . Moxon ... ... ... Sword Bearer S . Beaumont ... ... Standard Bearer R . G . Pearson ... ... Director of Ceremouies W . Dawson .. ... ... Organist Donner ... ... ... Janitor The companions afterwards held a banquet , at which the usual toasts were proposed .

The Fortescue Annuity Fund.

THE FORTESCUE ANNUITY FUND .

A SPECIAL meeting of the subscribers to the Fortescae Annuity Fund was bold at the Freemasons' Hall , Qandy Street , Exeter , on the 4 th inst . Bro . W . G . Rogers tho Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Chairman of the Fund , presided . Several brethren from Plymouth , Torquay , and other parts of the county attended . There

were five oandidotes , of whom Bro . Winsor , of Dartmouth , was suooessful , he receiving 231 votes , which , with 136 previously standing to his credit , brought tho total to 367 . Bro . Pengelly polled 138 , whioh will be carried forward .

Masonic Courtesies.

MASONIC COURTESIES .

To the Editor of the Newcastle Daily Journal . SIK , —All Freemasons in this Proviuoe have doubtless been gratified at the visit ; of the representatives of Irish Lodges to Newcastle , and tbe warm greeting extended to them . The letter of which I enclose copy is conceived in a similar spirit . Coming from

the Antipodes , it cannot fail to be of deepest mterest to every member of the Craft , and I need scarcely say that I feel highly highly honoured iu being the recipient of such a cordial expression of good fellowship to the Alnwick Lodge , aud to myself personally , from so distinguished n body us the Grand Lodgo of Victoria and its M . VV . Grand Master Sir William Clarke .

I am , & c , WM . T . UINDMARSH . Alubunk , Alnwick , 11 th October , 1892 .

[ C OPY . ] Grand Secretary's Office , Freomasons' JJal ) , 25 Collins Street , Melbourne . 30 th August 1892 . Bro . W . T . Hind marsh , solicitor , Alnwiok .

DEAKSIKAND BKOTIIBR , —I havo beau requested by the M . W . Grand Master , Sir W . J . Clarke , Bart ., to convey to tbe members of the fraternity in Alnwick his appreciation of the kindii 88 S and attention shown to brethreu from Victoria by tho momb < rd of the Craft in yonr

town , more especially with respect to our highly esteemed brother , J . B . Patterson P . G . Master . I can assure you that the brethren of Victoria wonld bo delighted in having nu opportunity of reciprocating the kindness siiowu by the brethren of Aluwick to members of the Fraternity hailiug from

Victoria . I wonld mention that we have one of the finest Masouic Clubs in tho world , it U our custom to make Masonio visitors from nil parts hon . members—the latter would have all tbo comforts of a home , with

tho opportunity of af soai iting with the best members of thi Craft in Vict nil . Should , you know of any brother coming to Melbourne , your introduction would at all times have tho greatest consideration . Wishing you continued good health and advancement to tho hig her distinctions iu our Order . I remain , yours fraternally , P . U . LEMI'IUKKB , P . D . G . M . P . Sd . Br . England , Grand Seoretary .

Freemasonry iu England may he a " Uigh-clti ^ s sort of Goose-Club , " ( is the Idle Cardinal Manning was wont to nssuro tho Pop " , but in Fiauco it its doomod to spetwly extinction . Tho net result of ther'cent General Conference of the Freemasons of Frauce uppoara to bo , that all French Masons , in future , must leave instiMOtiona when dead to bo civilly barisd , must always vote forHhe separation of Chuich aud State , tbe suppression of tho JJudget of Public Worship , aud the withdrawal of the French Kmbassy to the Yaticau .