Our Watchword.

OUR WATCHWORD .

A NY member of our Craft who can look back ¦ **¦ Masonically for twenty-four years , and call to mind the position of the Order at the time when H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , having iust been installed

Grand Master of the , English Freemasons , made the famous pronouncement that the two watchwords of the Craft were Loyalty and Charity , can but be struck with the very great difference existing to-day in

connection with the work carried on by the Craft in furtherence of the latter of those two Watchwords ' , as compared with what was being done when the Grand Master made his first reply as head of the English Brotherhood .

At that time we had the Girls , the Boys , and the Benevolent Institutions , just as we have now , but the number of independent Provincial Funds could probably have been counted on the fingers of one hand , in those

earlier days , whereas at the present time it is the exception for a Province to be without some special local organisation , established for the purpose of supplementing the good work done by the Central

Institutions ; while in several cases there are now two and even three such independent combinations in a Province , all running side by side with the older Institutions , and zealously acting up to the Masonic

Watchword of Charity . But it is not alone in the matter of quantity that the last twenty-four years has witnessed such marked progress , as will be seen if we compare the three chief Festival announcements of

1875 with those of the present year ; even though it must be particularly borne in mind that this year is regarded as certain to be below the average , as a " sad ¦

year of distress " for the Boys School , perhaps as a natural sequence to the marvellous good fortune which attended the celebration of its Centenary twelve months back .

We find that in the first year of the Grand Mastership of the Prince of Wales the receipts at the Festivals of the three Central Institutions showed a total of about ^ 26 , 600 ; made up of £ 6 , 630 13 s 6 d

announced by Bro . Terry on behalf of the Old People , ^ 7 , 26 9 3 s announced by Bro . Little as contributed for the Girls , and , £ 12 , 700 which fell to the lot of Bro . Binckes to proclaim as Secretary of the Boys School

the marked difference in this latter total , as compared with the other two , being in great measure explained by the fact that the then Pro Grand Master of England , the much respected Earl of Carnarvon , took the chair as President of its Anniversary Festival .

These figures sink into comparative insignificance when compared side by side with the totals of . the current year , the two Festivals so far held beinp- alone

answerable for an aggregate of ^ 39 , 261 ; £ 18 , 216 8 s 6 d being announced by Bro . Terry on- behalf of the Benevolent Institution in February last , and ^ 21 , 045 ty

Our Watchword.

Bro . Hedges on behalf of the Girls School in May . The very problematic total yet to be announced on behalf of the Boys School—in all , the agony of distress variously estimated by its supporters at

any amount between five thousand and twenty thousand pounds—remains to complete the total , which , without being over sanguine , we may safely say will not be far short of double the amount which was announced

less than a quarter of a century back , under what were then regarded as most favourable conditions , and at a time , too , as we have said , when the three Central

Institutions were , to all intents and purposes , the sole outward and visible signs of Masonic Charity in this country , very different to what is the case now , when we have local Funds in all parts .

It is , however , no use standing still and admiring the splendid records of the past—much has been done , it is true ; but we have the present with us , and the future to look forward to , and whichever way we regard

the matter we must recognise the necessity 01 meeting the claims of the one , and , as far as possible , make provision for the other . This view of the case explains the position which makes it imperative to issue another

appeal to . the English Craft , and hold yet another Anniversary Festival on behalf of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , despite the fact that last year it achieved so much , and secured so handsome a donation under the presiaency of the Grand Master .

This stupendous glory of the past is a fine thing to admire , even at this distance , but we are afraid the three hundred lads wbo are being maintained by the supporters of the Boys School would feel rather faint

if they had it served cold for breakfast , warmed up for dinner , and' given as a delicacy for tea—no , more substantial fare is imperative , and it is in the hope of enlisting the sympathy of our readers on behalf of the

Institution , either to-day , or m the near future , that we have undertaken this appeal on its behalf , and now express the hope there will be a sufficiently strong following in support of Bro . C . E . Keyser P . G . D .

Patron and Treasurer of the Institution—who has kindly consented to preside at the Anniversary Festival to be held on Wednesday next , at Brighton—to render the working of the Institution easy for the current year ,

and put the Charity once more on the steady road of progress , after the enormous lift , and consequent disorganisation , associated with its Centenary celebration of last year .

R. M. I. B. Prize Day.

R . M . I . B . PRIZE DAY .

riPHE annual visit of Stewards to the Schools ofthe Royal JL Masonic Institution for Boys , at Wood Green , will take place on Tuesday next , when Mrs . Charles E . Keyser will present the prizes , and the usual entertainment will be provided . The proceedings' will commence at 3 o ' clock , admission being by ticket only , issued by the Secretary to the Stewards and their friends .