Irish Freemasonry In 1898.

Orphan Schools , and the circumstances in which they wen placed . As regards the Girls' School , in which there , were , as many as 104 children , the year bad been a record one , tin educational progress it had made being shown not only by the

results of the examinations held by the Intermediate Education Board , but also by the fact that among the successes achieved three Exhibitions had been gained , and that the Results Fees had risen from /" i 7 6 in 18 97 to £ i \ q . In the . case of the Boys '

School f . hc year had been less successful , because at its commencement there had been an outbreak of scarlatina , and though there had been no fatal case , and the boys had all recovered , it had greatly interfered with the work . Hence

fewer beys had been entered for the Intermediate Examinations , there being , however , this gratilying result , by way of compensation for the paucity of can didates , that their School was one of the very few whose

candidates had all of them secured passes , while one Exhibition and two book prizes had been gained . Steps were also . being - taken to extend the curriculum by introducing technical and industrial training , and it was in contemplation to enlarge the School

and class-rooms , for which purpose it was proposed to hold a "Century Bazaar" in 1900 , conditionally that the Duchess of ABERCORN should consent to interest herself in it , and that the grounds of the Royal Dublin Society at Ball's Bridge could be

obtained for the purpose . As for the Victoria Jubilee Annuitj Fund , the Dep . G . Master regretted that up to ( he present time it had not received that measure of support which it deserved .

It provided annuities for 10 ageel brethren and 12 widows at £ 15 each , but more subscriptions were needed , especially trom individual brethren , of whom so far there were- only 130 who contributed towards its support .

The statement presented by the Dep . ( i . Master must have been very gratifying to those who heard , and we must hope that the opportunity will be allowed us in future years to lay before

our reaelers an annual review of the doings of the Irish Craft . There is , however , just one remark it is our duty to add We 'rather from a circular we have received , that the Commiltei

in charge of the arrangements for the Century Bazaar 111 1900 in aid of the Boys' School , having learned since : the delivery of the Deputy Grand Master ' s address the terms on which the Royal Dublin Society is prepared to grant the use of their grounds at

Ball's Bridge , are of opinion that they are so excessive , that they have resolved to drop the scheme altogether , and will endeavour to raise the > necessary funds by subscriptions among the Cralt . The Committee were unanimous in coniin < r to this conclusion ,

and , though there were only 11 members present when the resolution was adopted , just to show the sincerity of ( heir deter initiation , they raised amongst themselves no less than / . 500 to wards the proposed Fund .

The Order Of Rome And The Red Cross Of Constantine.

THE ORDER OF ROME AND THE RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE .

\ Vc have often wondered how and why if is that this chivalric Oreler does not exh . bit a greater amount of vitality . It has undoubted merits and attractions , and it has a legeiul

dating from a respectable antiquity . It has for its Supreme Ruler no less a personage than Sir Knight the Earl of FUSION , who is known everywhere throughout the Craft for the active interest lie takes in everything Masonic ; while his second in

command , Sir Knight Viscount Db'NGARVAN ' , Ihe Vicrnn Eiicsbius , is , like his chief , dee-ply imbued with the love ol Masonry and its several branches . Its Grand Recorder is none other than the- redoubtable Sir Knight (' . F . MA'IIER , to whom

the arduous and responsible duties of ( he ehiel executive oflicci of man ) ' Masonic Orders and Degrees an- but an every day pastime . If we : turn lei the Cosiii . ifhililaii Cii ' eiti ' itr we line ! that in ( he matter of orLfanisalion it is admirably furnished . Il

has a Grand Imperial Council , a Grand Senale . andan Executive Committee . . It has quile a brave array of Chief Inlenilant Generals and Inlendant Generals of Division ; and lasl , bul not

least , it has between So and < jo private conclaves , so that its membership should be , if il is not , pretty considerable . . And yet we hear comparatively but lillle of its doings . Its Premier Con-

The Order Of Rome And The Red Cross Of Constantine.

clave is apparently an acliveand energetic bod }" , which meets regularly , and doesoooelwork when it eloes meet ; and there are sundry other conclaves which meet from lime to time , and also , as far aswe are able to judge from the reports with which we arc favoured ,

do good service . ft does not , of course , follow that because only a few reports of meetings appear in our columns , the general body of the Oreler is conspicuous for its inactivity , but , as a rule , the more frequeiit the meetings , the- oflener are we

invited to publish their proceedings ; but reports of Rome and the Reel Cross are , as we have said , only very occasionally to be met with in this journal . For this reason is it that the account we gave two weeks since ol the annual mee-ting of the G . Imperial

Conclave of the ( Irder on the fith instant afforded so much pleasure . It conveyed to us , and doubtless to our readers likewise , the ielea that the Red Cross must be le-neling towarels a condition of improve-d and improving prosperity . The report of

the Executive Commilte-e , as presented by the Grand Recorder , was pleasant reading . Financially the ( irand Conclave : is comfortably circumstanced , with balances in hand on the General and Grand High Almoner ' s Fund ol £ 113 in respect of the : formei

anil / , 'nS for the latter . During the past year a new conclave was sanctioned in Ce- \ lon , and an Intendant-General appointed to preside over the fortunes of the Order in I hat island . Moreover , the number of certificates issued elurin "

the year , both for the Reel Cross and the K . I 1 . S . and St . John , showiul a considerable aelvance over the previous year . Above all , on the invitation of the G . Imperial Conclaveof Scotland , a conference of delegates from the two was held in Edinburgh

111 April last , when many matters ol importance were discussed , from which , no doubt , material benefit tei ( he Oreler may be anlicipated in tin- near future . We trust that successive annual meetings will exhibit an e-ven more , prosperous condition . There

is no reason why an Order , so well organised as that of Rome : and the Red Cross of Constantine , anel with men of such known energy and ability in charge of its interests , should not flourish root and branch .

Annual Supper Of The Selwyn Lodge Of Instruction, No. 1901.

ANNUAL SUPPER OF THE SELWYN LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 1901 .

The annual supper of this very successful lodge of inslructioi tnjk pi ice a , the Moatpelier Hotel , Choumert-road , Beckham , S . E ., on Fri . liy . fie 17 th nil . The chair was taken by the able Preceptor , Bro . J . M . Wimble , P . \[ ., supported by Bros . Anderson , P . M . 1901 ; J . Lightfoot , P . M . 1901 ; [<" . K . IV . v , P . M KJOI ; Dr . Thomas , W . M . elect 19 m ; Pointon , J . W . iyii ; Er . impton , Bolton , Hayward , Howard , j . Dicl ; ason , Woodgate , Merrill , Wib ^ rg , II irt , I *' . Shepherd , P . M . 3 ; Francis , P . M . iSfii Channon , P . M . 1 . 17 ^ ; j- KIMntjor .

P . M . 222 . - : ; Braik , P . M . 2310 ; Page , P . M . 21 S 2 ; Jennings , W . M . 7 , 1 ; Cooper , S . W . 1475 ; Tayler , 136 4 ; Tuck , J . D . 1364 ; L . Faull , J . W . 619 ; Iluddart , J . W . 15 ; B . Faull , Org . 1625 ; Greenaway , I . G . 619 ; Munday , M 75 ; BonsaN , 2272 ; T . R . Di-rkason , S . D . 1861 ; W . T . Greenland , J . D . iSfii ; II . R . Gurncy , 1 S 61 ; H . P . White , I . G . 1541 ; II . Moseley , 214 ( 1 ; T . Bond , S 02 ; Westmoreland , w , II . Pitt , 1441 ; S . Jennings , 7 ^; J . Bailey , o . lS- Toffts , 144 6 ; and C . 11 . Stone , P . M . 507 , S . W . ifVii .

The minutes of the previous weekly meeting having been confirmed , and members elected , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent supper supplied and personally superintended by the worthy host , Bro . F . li . Pow ,

P . M . On the removal of the clot It , the loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured .

Bro . J . Ei . u . s ' iacK , P . M ., in eloquent terms , presented the toast of the evening , " Success to the Selwyn Lodge of Instruction , " coupled with the name of the Excellent Preceptor , Bro . J . M . Wimble , P . M ., the worthy President of the evening . The lodge of instruction had done excellent service to the brethren of South London , and had becjme renowned for its capable workers . It . LMghteJ

him to be able to bear such testimony and also to the love and esteem of th > brethren for their worthy Preceptor . He wished for its future prosperity ami that the health of Bro . J . M . Wimble , P . M ., might continue all that could i » di sired , so that he might be able to carry out his important duties and be amom them for long to come . The toast was received with acclamation .

In reply , Bro . WiMr . i . K s :: id il was the first time that he had had the honour of replying fur the Selwyn Lodge of Instruction as ics Preceptor , and he cordial !)' thanked the brethren tor their lioirty co-operation and rillying round th •' evening . He had received their hearty support in the lodge , and so long as he

had their sull rages he hoped tin ; s line success would continue . 1 here was an excellent working body of brethren , and most hearty good fellowship prevail 1 ' ' among them , which was exunpl . / ied nowhere more than in the . Selwyn L-jdge of Instruction . He expressed his most hearty thanks for the very kind sentiment' * expiesseil towards him .

The PKKSIUKNT next gave the toast of " The Olivers of the Lodge of j" " stnir . tion , " who , lie said , were most efficient and assiduous in their respective duties in furthering the interests of the lodge . Bro . I- ' . K . Po \ v , P . M . 1901 , Treas ., said il was an honour to reply as ' ** Treasurer , and it gratified him to hold such a confidential position . The iinarcp * were sound , over £ lu balance to the good , The greatest pleasure he had was " 1