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the few vacancies that may occur iu the interim through the death of present Annuitants . While these figures show thafc one candidate out of each four will be admitted , they also prove fchafc eighty old

people will have to be disappointed for at least another year—perhaps some of fchem never to come forward again because the hand of death will first claim them—and in doing this they supply the very best argument that can be

adduced in support of this noble Institution . Nofc only does ifc require fche means to satisfy its large regular army of 470 Annuitants , but it also needs funds for the relief of some of these eighty old people who will be shut out

after the election of fche present year , and all of whom , we- are convinced , the Committee would willingly take on at once if the funds to create the Annuities , and fair prospects of subscriptions to maintain them , were supplied by the members of the Graft .

Happily the roll of Stewards for next week ' s Festival has considerably increased of late , so much so that a total of three hundred has been exceeded , and before the Secretarial

announcement is made by Bro . Terry on Wednesday we hope there will be at least 320 active workers in the good cause , who , we trust , will not only have done their best for the present year but will have been so satisfied wifch

the immediate recognition of their labours as to decide to work again in the same cause at an early date , and sound the praises of the Benevolent Institution wherever and whenever fchey have the opportunity .

In addition to all this there is yefc one other argument we may use in urging the Stewards to work diligently in the few hours remaining before the Festival . Lord Dungarvan , the Chairman of the year , is a young man , one of the

youngest of our Provincial Grand Masters , and as such should be favourably impressed thus early in his career with the sincerity of those he has promised to lead . Early impressions have much to do with one ' s future , and as the Craft must

hope to secure the services of Viscount Dungarvan on many other occasions in the future , it is well to convince him that his Brethren are ready and willing fco support

him as far as lies m their power . With best wishes for a brilliant success we leave the subject until next week , when we hope to have to add our congratulations to all who bore a share of the work connected with the Festival .

The annual assembly of the Grand Imperial Conclave of the Masonic and Military Orders of Knights of Rome and of the Eed Cross of Constantino , K . H . S ., and St . John the Evangelist , will be held at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen Street , W . C , on Monday , 4 th prox ., at five o ' clock , the business including :

Election and Enthronement of Grand Sovereign , Election and Consecration of Grand Viceroy , Election of Grand Treasurer , Appointment of Members of the Grand Council , Appointment of Six Grand Senators , Election of Twelve Grand Senators , Appointment of a President and One Member on the Executive

Committee , Election of Five Present or Past Sovereigns on the Executive Committee ; Election of Three Present or Past Sovereigns on the Committee of the Grand High Almoner's Fund , Election of Grand Sentinel , & c . At the conclusion of the business of the Grand Council , a Commandery of St . John the

Evangelist will be held , and the Orders of K . H . S . and St . John will be conferred on all eligible Candidates who may notify their intention to the Begistrar-General not later than the 1 st prox . A Banquet will be provided at seven o ' clock , at which the M . 111 . G . Sovereign will preside . The following Notice of Motion by

W . F . Lamonby P . S . 36 will be considered at the Grand Conclave ; " That a Committee be appointed to report on the present condition of fche Order , and thafc the M . I . Grand Sovereign be respectfully requested to summon a Special Conclave , to receive and consider such report . "

Our contemporary " Woman " takes a very sensible view of the excitement that has sprung up lately in regard to Women Freemasons , and asks why so many energetic women waste

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their time on movements inspired apparently more by a desire to do what men do than to do what women might do ? There is a grand opening , says our contemporary , for a great national oganisation of women anxious to benefit their fellow women , and ifc is in the realisation of such a work that the paper of the

fair sex very rightly considers the efforts of our " sisters" should be directed . A compliment is paid to the Craft when it is said that such a combination as that just referred to might do worse than follow the spirit and the general organisation of Freemasonry , without its name or its mysteries , for " the latter

are merely incidental , and have been handed down from semibarbaric ages . " Our contemporary prefaces these remarks with the following , which is as " level-headed " a way of explaining the case as any we have seen : " The lady who in amusing herself by getting up a little Freemason ' s Lodge for ladies only

has reckoned without her host . ' Grand Lodge , ' as the fountain head of British Masonry is termed , does not recognise women Masons . Whether it will be induced to do so in the future we cannot tell , but just now a Woman ' s Lodge would be as remotely connected with Freemasonry as the drilling class of a girls' school is with the British army . "

Freemasonry in Benares is again nourishing after being in abeyance since 1888 . Lodge Fraternity and Perseverence , No . 1746 ( E . C . ) was resuscitated about two and half years back by Bro . J . R . Muirhead P . M . and P . D . G . A . D . C . Bengal , and that Craft Lodge is now one of the strongest in the Province . During

the past year it was decided to again re-open Lodge Cyprus , No . 232 ( E . G . ) " of Mark Masters , and it was formally opened in November last , Bro . J . E . Muirhead P . M . and P . D . G . S . B . being elected Worshipful Master of Mark Masons for 1895 , and he was duly installed on the 12 th instant by Bro . Paxton , who came

specially from Allahabad for the installation . This is the third time that Bro . Muirhead has been honoured by the Brethren in selecting him as their Worshipful Master , and as the Lodge has started with some twenty-four Mark Masters ifc promises also to be a strong Lodge . Bro . Dr . W . Venis P . M . and Bro . N . M .

Eoy P . M . have been very energetic in Masonic affairs , and devoted a considerable amount of time and trouble to it , hence its signal success . At the Installation Banquet some thirty sat down , and both Bros . Paxton and Muirhead were loudly applauded when their healths were proposed and drunk with full Masonic honours . —Correspondent of the " Pioneer Mail . "

The initiation of the Head-Master of Weymouth College , at a recent meeting of the All Souls Lodge , No . 170 , suggested to Sir R . N . Howard P . G . D ., who was a Visitor on the occasion , the desirability of founding a Masonic Scholarship at the College for sons of Freemasons . It is recorded that the suggestion- was

very favourably received , and a considerable sum subscribed at the moment—sufficient , in fact , to lead to the hope that the Lodge will ere long be in the proud position of having a scholarship at its disposal in what is locally described as a valuable

Institution . While we commend Lodges for taking steps to secure privileges for themselves at a lower cost than it is possible to do in connection with the central Charities , we can but share the alarm that is felt as to the ultimate effect these independent efforts may have on the contributions to the three Institutions .

New Music.

NEW MUSIC .

( From W . MORLEY AND Co ., 127 Regent Street , London , W . ) Two Voices . Words by Lesser Columbus , Music by C . Francis Lloyd . Wayfarers . Words by Lesser Columbus , Music by C . Francis Lloyd .

The Chords of Life . Words by Maurice Henry , Musio by C . Francis Lloyd . Across the Crystal Sea . Words by Clifton Bingham , Music by C . Francis Lloyd . Land Ahead . Words by Clifton Bingham , Music by C . Francis Lloyd .

These five pieces , the composition of Mr . C . Francis Lloyd , make a welcome addition to the already numerous high class works of Messrs . Morley , tlie enterprising musical publishers . The two first named are Vocal duets , words by "Lesser Columbus , " and will doubtless win favour among those who strive to entertain their fellows . " Two Voices " has a charming

melody , coupled with a pretty and effective accompaniment , while " Wayfarers" affords opportunity for effective and dramatic display . " The Chords of Life" is a well worked out composition , set to the pleasing words of Maurice Henry ; the Violin , ' Cello , and Organ accompaniments ( ad lib ) adding much to its attractiveness .

" Across the Crystal Sea , " much on the same lines , is set to the words of Glifton Bingham , and should become popular , as it affords good scope for effect . " Land Ahead" is a bright nautical song , with plenty of " go , " and is likely to command attention , as being of the class usually calling for an encore . Tho words of this are also by Clifton Bingham . Each of the solos is published in several keys so as to suit different voices .