Cornwall Charity.

CORNWALL CHARITY .

HHHE fifteenth annual meeting of the Cornwall Charity J _ Association was held at the Masonic Rooms , Truro , on Wednesday , 7 th inst ., when Bro . Bernard F . Edyvean Prov . G . Sec . Vice-President was in the chair . The Hon . Treasurer and Secretary Bro . G . B . Pearce reported the receipt of subscriptions amounting to 284 guineas ,

an advance of twenty-nine guineas on last year , and making , with a balance of nine guineas brought forward from last year , 293 guineas . It was resolved to distribute a sum of 280 guineas , viz ., 190 guineas to Class A subscribers , and ninety guineas to Class B subscribers . The ballot was taken accordingly , with the following results : —

Class A—Falmouth , H . J . Atwell , W . W . J . Sharpe Penzance , Percy T . Chirgwin , Chas . Trevithick , F . W . Mitchell ; Truro ( Fortitude ) , Mrs . Rowe ; Helston , A . E . Ratcliffe , Thomas B . Tames , B . C . Kendall . William Staple .

Edward Quentrall ; Bodmin , B . F . Edyvean , Mrs . Winter , the Rev . W . Humphreys , Lieutenant E . J . Eary ; Hayle , W . J . Hosken , W . Wagner , Francis Craze , J . V . Thomas , Thomas Wills , T . A . Taylor ; St . Austell , Dr . Mason ; Liskeard , Richard Faull , Dr . T . W . Gill : Redruth . W .

Wales , S . M . Abbott , and E . W . Newton ; Launceston , G . H . Trethewey ; Millbrook , ] . D . Pearn and J . W . Harris ; Saltash , E . R . Heard , John Lander ; St . Germans , Dr . Kerswill ; Newquay , Colonel Parkyn , Mrs . Parkyn ; Camborne , Stephen Williams ; St . Ives , Dr . Staff ; Calstock , Miss Shanks .

Class B—Falmouth , Love and Honour ; Helston , True and Faithful ( twenty guineas ) ; Hayle , Cornubian ; Liskeard , St . Martin Chapter ; Chacewater , Boscawen ; Lostwithiel , Restormel ; Millbrook , Meridian ; and Camborne , Mount Edgcumbe .

Bro . P . Colville Smith Dep . Prov . G . Master was elected to succeed as Vice-President Bro . Sir Charles Graves Sawle , Bart ., resigned ; and the following were elected as Committee for the ensuing year : Bros . Faull , Vial , Willev . F . A .

Rawling , G . B . Treverton , and J . C . R . Crewes . Votes of thanks were accorded to Bro . Pearce for his services , and to Bro . Edyvean for presiding .

Lancashire Charity.

LANCASHIRE CHARITY .

THE annual meeting of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution was held on Tuesday , 30 th ult ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , Bro . C . D . Cheetham in the chair , supported by Bros . Capt . C . R . N . Beswicke-Royds Deputy Provincial Grand Master , T . J . Hooper , F . W . Lean , Fred Hilton , and others .

The chairman apologised for the absence of Bro . Lord Stanley Provincial Grand Master who , obeying his country ' s call , had gone to the front attached to the staff of General Lord Roberts . When told that the late Col . Starkie had not been absent from these meetings once during a period of

twenty-eight years their Provincial Grand Master had expressed a desire to emulate his action in this respect , and , but for the war in the Transvaal , which demanded his

services , would undoubtedly have been present that day . Bro . Cheetham spoke very enthusiastically of Lord Stanley , and sincerely hoped the G . A . O . T . U . would spare him to return among them .

The agenda was a formidable one , containing a score of items , and included resolutions to adopt reports of the Finance and Audit and Almoners' Committees , the Treasurer ' s Accounts and Balance Sheet , and the Election of fifteen donors or subscribers upon the General Committee .

Votes of thanks were accorded to Bros . William Jaffrey Treasurer , C . D . Cheetham Chairman , and T . J . Hooper Vice-Chairman , who were all re-elected , and who expressed their appreciation of the honour conferred upon them . Bro . Jaffrey stated that he was always willing to place

his services at the disposal of the Institution , and had endeavoured to please the Brethren . Bro . Cheetham , in acknowledging the vote of thanks for the third time , said it

was gratifying to find their work in connection with the Institution was thus recognised ; whilst Bro . Hooper admitted that he was satisfied to follow in the footsteps of the Chairman , whose full confidence he possessed .

On the motion of Bro . Hooper an alteration of Rule 41 was adopted , which will have an important bearing upon the age limit of candidates elected to the Institution . A series of regulations as to Festival Stewardships , not

Lancashire Charity.

hitherto provided for in the general rules , was adopted , being a prelude to a suggestion made by Bro . Capt . Barlow , and seconded by Bro . W . Goldthorpe , "that in consequence of

the absence from England of the Provincial Grand Master , and the claims made upon the members by the war and other circumstances , the Festival proposed to be held in May next be postponed for another vear . "

A very temperate discussion ensued , the general consensus of opinion being that it was advisable to forego the Festival , worthy though its object was , so that the patriotism of the Brethren might be allowed to override even their Masonic calls to dut }' , a decision which induced a gratefulness that the noble and excellent character of our ceremonials can thus

teach Brethren not to be strangers to the exercise of resolute disinterestness . Bro . Cheetham , in putting the matter to the vote , explained that though •the Festival might be deferred until 1901 , the various arrangements already made would stand .

A vote of thanks to the Manchester Masonic Hall Co ., Limited , and to the Freemasons' Club , for the use of the rooms for the general meetings of the Institution , brought the proceedings to a close .

Charity Concert At Plymouth.

CHARITY CONCERT AT PLYMOUTH .

rgHHE annual concert on behalf of the Aged Widows _ L Annuity Fund , to be held in Plymouth Guildhall on Wednesday , 14 th March , promises to be very successful , in

spite of many counter attractions . On the eve of his departure for India , the Provincial Grand Master Lord Northcote of Exeter was waited upon , and consented to be patron of the concert . The Treasurer of the Fund Bro . F . B . Westlake

has obtained promises from the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Major G . C . Davie and the Provincial Grand Secretary that they will attend the concert , which , by dispensation , will be under the banner of the senior local Lodge , St . John ,

No . 70 . The borough Organist Bro . H . Moreton , Mus . Baa , has placed his services at the disposal of the Concert Committee , and has been requested by them to arrange and conduct the whole of the musical programme . A rich musical treat may therefore be anticipated .

New Temple At Ilfracombe.

NEW TEMPLE AT ILFRACOMBE .

THE new Masonic Temple at Ilfracombe was dedicated on Wednesday , 14 th inst ., by Bro . G . C . Davie P . A . G . D . C . of England Deputy Provincial Grand Master , assisted by Bros . F . B . Westlake P . S . G . W . P . D . G . D . C . England , Rev . T . Russell P . P . J . G . W ., Rev . R . W . J . Smart P . P . G . Chap ., and Jno . Stocker Prov . G . Secretary .

The Temple is situate in Northfield Road , and its front of Bath stone ashlar work is classic in design , with the five orders of architecture intermixed . The four main columns

supporting the entablature are of the Tuscan and Doric orders , and the six smaller columns which flank the doorway and windows are of the Ionic , Corinthian , and composite orders . In the tympanum of the massive moulded pediment is carved the emblem of the square and compass , with date

of erection . The Lodge is entered by a lobby with black and white tesselated pavement . A large ante-room is inside the front hall , from which the Lodge is entered by two elaborately decorated doors , whose top panels contain in faithful colours the coats of arms of Devon and Ilfracombe . The ceiling ,

which is arched and divided into panels , is of a pretty shade of sky blue , on which are represented the constellations of the Zodiac , while in the triangular panels near the dome are the northern crown , Herschell ' s telescope , Medusa ' s head , and the Dolphin constellation . In the east end of the Lodge is

depicted Saturn , Jupiter , Mars , Venus , and Mercury . The walls are surmounted by a large cornice neatly painted in cream , blue , and salmon . The frieze underneath is ornamented with various Masonic emblems . Around the Lodge is a dado in red , with black panel lines and fluted uprights

dividing same . In the centre of each panel , in blue and black , are tastefully painted the insignia of the respective Offices . In the east of the handsome hall is an elaborate representation in gold of the rising sun , while in the south it is at its meridian , and setting in the west . The decorations of the

Temple , which are of a high order , were designed and executed by Bro . J . C . Clarke , and the whole work reflects on him the greatest credit . He has exhibited in it much skill and ability . The portraits of the Past Masters hung around the walls are the gift of Bro . E . D . Percival . The beautiful