Masonic Temples.

MASONIC TEMPLES .

T ¥ 7 B have often been struck with the enthusiasm displayed '' * by the Brethren of Scotland in the matter of providing Masonic Temples or special Lodge rooms for their regular meetings , and have spoken from time to time of the comparative ease with which bhey raise large sums of money

for this purpose , whereas in England the number of successful Masonic Halls or Temples might probably be counted on the fingers—we were going to say of one hand , but certainly if

the two were brought into service , —and we must confess that as time goes on our surprise is added to by the erection or proposal to erect new buildings .

The latest example of this trait among our Scottish Brethren is the new Hall recently completed at Glasgow , and which was thrown open for public inspection on Saturday last , when the Chairman and Directors of the Company

entertained a number of Ladies and Brethren to tea , and afterwards conducted them round the establishment . The total expenditure on the ground , the buildings , and their decoration has been £ 16 , 000 , which sum , it is stated , was

speedily subscribed when the Limited Liability Company started for the purpose was advertised . We cannot help wondering how a similar project would have fared in this

country , where it is quite the exception for the members of a Lodge to own their own premises , while in Scotland there are very many which are so circumstanced .

It is not our intention on the present occasion to discuss the advautages or otherwise of Lodges meeting in private buildings in preference to Hotels or hired rooms ; the question has been treated in our columns quite recently , but there is

good reason for pointing out what is possible in Scotland , and asking the question how it is our Brethren there , who have generally been regarded as somewhat beneath their Brethren south of the Tweed , can , and do , raise such large sums to build and maintain their own Masonic buildings ?

The Cost Of Our Charities.

THE COST OF OUR CHARITIES .

"TX 7 B fully expected our correspondent CBITIC to answer our * » remarks of last week , and although we cannot endorse all his arguments we think he has introduced a very telling item into the controversy . He points out that while the three

Institutions receive about equal amounts year by year , the Benevolent Institution is able to assist upwards of 470 old people while the Girls School has but 267 pupils , and the Boys School 279 , figures that demonstrate , in the most forcible

manner , the excessive expenditure on the orphans , as compared with what is paid to Aged Brethren or their widows . It must be borne in mind , however , there are many special expenses in connection with children , if they are to be fully provided for .

Our correspondent will not be alone in arguing that what is good enough for the aged of the Craft should be made to suffice for the orphans , and we think his suggestion a very

The Cost Of Our Charities.

good one when he proposes that each of the three funds should endeavour to have a roll of beneficiaries numbering 500 . Of course this cannot bo done if present ideas in regard to what is necessary in connection with the Educational

Institutions are to continue , and we may at once confess that we regard any prosposition to create outside scholarshipsmuch as we believe they would be appreciated—as decidedly premature .

Whether the central Institutions will wait until outside funds

have drained them of their resources , or set to work to provide benefits for which there is a . manifest demand at the present time , the future alone can prove . So far as we are concerned

we can only repeat what has often been said before , the pages of the FBEEMASON ' S GHBONICLE will be open to the discussion of the two sides of the question .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

THE March meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on the 24 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall . The attendance was large . Bro . James Henry Matthews President of the Board , Bro . David Dixon Mercer Senior Vice-President , and

Bro . Charles Alexander Cottebrune Junior Vice-President , occupied the three principal chairs . Grand Secretary ' s department was represented by Bro . E . Letchworth G . S ., Bro . W . Lake Assistant G . S ., Bro . W . Dodd , Bro . G . S . Eecknell , and Bro . H . Sadler G . Tyler .

The Brethren first confirmed the recommendations made to

the Grand Master at the February meeting of grants above £ 20 and below £ 50 , and then proceeded with the new list , which contained the names of fifty-one petitioners . To forty of these in the course of the meeting a total of £ 1 , 135 was voted ; nine cases were adjourned , and two dismissed . The grants were three of £ 75 each , two of , £ 60 each , one of £ 50 , five of £ 40 each , seven of £ 30 each , eleven of £ 20 each , one of £ 15 , nine of £ 10 each , and one of £ 5 .

West Yorkshire.

WEST YORKSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge and the investiture of Officers took place on Wednesday afternoon , at the Technical College , Bradford , at the invitation of the Brethren of Hope Lodge , No . 302 . In the absence of the Eight Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master , who was detained in London , the chair was occupied by the Deputy

Provincial Grand Master Bro . J . C . Malcolm . The agenda contained several items of more than usual interest , including the ratification of the draft bye-laws of the proposed West Yorkshire Educational and Benevolent Institution . There was a large attendance , only two Lodges in the Province being unrepresented .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master thanked the Brethren for the fraternal way in which they had received him since he took his present position . During che past year he had paid 73 official visits to Lodges at the invitation of the Worshipful

Masters . There were 310 new members enrolled in the Province during 1896 , as compared with 308 in the previous year , making , after allowing for resignations , deaths , & c , 3 , 950 members as against 3 , 850 .

With regard to the celebration of . the long reign of the Queen , the Provincial Grand Master had been in communication with the Grand Lodge , for the purpose of ascertaining what form the celebration would take , but no intimation had yet been received . He suggested that the Brethren should appoint a Committee to act as soon as information was obtained .