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ROYAL Masonic Institution for Girls CLAPHAM JUNCTION , S . W . INSTITUTED 1788 . CHIEF PATRONESS : HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN . GRAND PATBON AND PRESIDENT : H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., & c , M . W . G . M . GBAND PATBONESS : H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES . A GENERAL COURT of the GOVERNORS and SUBSCRIBERS of > this Institution will be held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , Lincoln ' s Inn Fields , London , W . C , on THURSDAY , 11 TH JANUARY 1900 , at Twelve o ' clock precisely , on the General Business of the Institution ; to approve and declare the List of Candidates for the Election on the 21 st of April next ; and to declare the number of Girls then to be elected . F . R . W . HEDGES , Secretary . 5 Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , W . C , 30 th December 1899 . * * The 112 th Anniversary Festival will be held on Wednesday , 16 th May next , under the distinguished Presidency of the RT . HON . THE EABI , DARTMOUTH , R . W . Prov . G . M . Staffordshire . Brethren willing to act as Stewards ' ou this important occasion are earnestly solicted to send in their names to the Secretary as early as convenient .

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j ^^^^ ta ^^^^^ g SATUBDAY , 30 TH DECEMBER 1899 .

R. M. Benevolent Institution.

R . M . BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE New Year ' s entertainment to the residents of the Institution at Croydon will take place on Wednesday next , 3 rd January , at 2 p . m ., when we expect a number of the well-wishers of the Institution will assemble and do their best to entertain the old folk whom fortune has placed in this world-renowned home of the Craft .

The Mayor of Bradford , Bro . William C . Lupton Chairman of the West Yorkshire Charity Committee , besides providing the Christmas dinners at the principal local hospitals , and distributing over £ 100 among the Bradford

charities , has , with the consent of the War Office , despatched fifty dozen bottles of whisky to our troops in South Africa . The West Yorkshire soldiers are to be especially favoured . All honour to our worthy Brother !

The annual Christmas party in connection with the St . Germain Lodge , No . 566 , was held on Thursday evening , 21 st inst ., in the Public Rooms , Selby , when there was a

large attendance . After tea Bro . Cheesman gave a lantern entertainment . During the evening presents were distributed among the children from an immense Christmas tree .

The old folks of Cleckheaton assembled in large numbers on Thursday afternoon and evening of last week , at the Town Hall , at the invitation of the members of the Zetland

and Friendship Lodges , and were served with a substantial tea , the ladies presiding at the tables being the wives and daughters of the Brethren .

At Richmond ( Yorks ) the Marquis and Marchioness of Zetland on Thursday entertained to a Christmas dinner the whole of the aged people above sixty , and the wives and families of the Reservists who have gone to fight in South Africa .

Are Masonic Meetings Religiousp

ARE MASONIC MEETINGS RELIGIOUSP

AT the fortnighty meeting ot the Coventry City Council , on the 5 th inst ., Alderman Tomson brought up a scale of charges for St . Mary's Hall , in which religious and literary meetings were to get lower rates than those for concerts and other engagements of an enterprising character .

Mr . Callaghan asked if Masonic meetings would be considered of a religious character ? Alderman Tomson hoped he was not asked the question personally , but , in the opinion ofthe Committee , Masonic meetings would not come under the designation " religious" for the purposes ofthe Hall charges .

Long Service Presentation.

LONG SERVICE PRESENTATION .

THE members of the Lodge of the Nine Muses , No . 235 , recently paid a compliment to one of their number , Bro . Francis J . Heseltine , presenting him

with a handsome gilt silver loving-cup , to commemorate the thirtieth year of his membership . The cup , of which we are able to give an

illustration , is beautiful in design , and is the workmanship of Messrs . Elkington and Co ., the famous silversmiths , of Regent Street ,

London . The cover is of carved ivory , bears finely executed figures of the nine muses , and is surmounted by a statuette ' of Apollo .

We compliment our worthy Brother on this mark of favour at the hands of his fellow members , and hope he may live to put the loving

cup to good use in celebration of his golden jubilee as a member of the famous

Lodge which has adopted this means of honouring one of its number , after thirty years membership .

The Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire Lord Stanley , M . P ., was present at the installation meeting of the Alexandra Lodge , No . 993 , at Levenshulme . In the course of his remarks to the Brethren , his Lordship stated that this

was the first Lodge he had visited since his installation ; and he visited the Alexandra Lodge first because of the very high position it held in the Province , not only in regard to the excellence of its working , but also on account of its very

large contributions to the Masonic Chanties , and having as one of its Past Masters Bro . Chas . D . Cheetham P . P . G . J . W ., who occupied the proud and important position of Chairman of their Board of Benevolence .

In connection with this item we can but express regret that the new brooms of the Craft—in the shape of newly installed Provincial Grand Masters—so speedily wear out , as far as regards visits on their part to private Lodges ! After

all , we suppose many people consider it an " awful bore to be expected to entertain grandees ; or is it that our ' * grandees ' ¦ ' get tired of being so enthusiastically received as they generally are ?

The annual ball of the Duke of Edinburgh Lodge , No . 1259 , is to be held at the Cannon Street Hotel , E . C , on Tuesday , 16 th prox . The wearing of Masonic clothing will be dispensed with on the occasion , and non-Masons will be cordially welcomed .

It was recently decided , at a meeting of the True and Faithful Lodge , No . 318 , Helston , to commence the decorating and refurnishing of the Lodge quarters , at a cost of £ 150 .