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Freemasonry In 1896.
which are constantly being formed in London , for the most part in connection with Lodges of Instruction for enabling brethren to become , by means of small subscriptions , Life Governors or Life Subscribers of the two Schools and the Benevolent Institution , but more particularly those of a similar
but more endnnng character which have been established m sundry of our Provinces . Conspicuous amongst these latter are the Charitable Associations of Leicestershire and Rutland , Cambridgeshire and Staffordshire , which last celebrated the 25 th anniversary of its formation by a grand fete , held , by the kind
permission of the Duke of Sutherland , in the grounds of Trentham Hall , on , the 5 th July . The brethren of the Province dispensed a generous hospitality on the occasion and , under the auspicies of the Prov . G . Master , everything passed off
satisfactorily . As regards the other class of Masonic Associations , namely , those which have been established in Provinces in order to assist their poorer members and the widows and children of deceased brethren in need of succour the number
has been augmented during the present year , while those already in existence , thanks to the increased measure of support they have received , are in a better position to dispense their benefits . The Province of West Lancashire can boast of having three of these associations , of which the Educational Institution has
under its charge some 200 children of deceased or poor West Lancashire Masons , and the assistance it renders by educating them at schools in their own neighbourhoods , and advancing their interests when their scholastie career is ended is very material , and , we need hardly add , very greatly appreciated .
The Hamar and Alpass Institutions provide annuities for aged brethren and widows , and though these are of more recent establishment , they do a very large amount of good .. All these Institutions are open only to the members of the Province , and many a ball , dramatic performance , concert , or Church Service is held
in their behalf annually . Cheshire rejoices in two such institutions , one of which was founde'd about 33 years ago for the education of children of both sexes ; while the other , only dating from about 18 93 , is a miniature R . M . Benevolent Institution , and does on a small scale , suitable to the requiremente of this
single province , what the Benevolent Institution does for the aged poor brethren and widows from the whole of England . On behalf of these two Provincial Charities , there was held a Festival at Knutsford on the 25 th July , at which Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , Prov . G . M ., occupied the chair , and donations and subscriptions were
announced amounting to close on £ 1200 . East Lancashire has its Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution , which has been established for many years , and does material service in assisting poor brethren , their widows and children , and in its behalf several local meetings have been held from time to
time ; but as its Festivals arc triennial , we must wait till 18 98 to know whether the grand success of last year will be repeated . Other Provinces which have started Funds of Uiesame kind arc North and East Yorkshire and Durham , with their Educational Institutions , Cornwall , with its Annuity and Educational Funds ,
Devonshire , which has this year started a Widows' Annuity Fund , in addition to its other local Charities ; and Dorsetshire , and-Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , which maintain Educational Funds . To these must now be added the Benevolent and Educational Institution which the Province of West Yorkshire at
the recent annual meeting of its Provincial Grand Lodge determined upon establishing . At an earl y date we , may expect lo hear that the rules and regulations for the government of this local Charity have been framed , and , probably before another vear has passed , that a very successful Festival has been held
in its behalf . Nor must we forget to mention the Province of Lincolnshire , which can boast of its "Oliver" and other local Charities , or that of Leicestershire and Rutland , which is in the very act of establishing its " Kelly Memorial Fund " in honour of that respected and distinguished Mason , the late Bro .
William Kelly , Past Prov . G . Master and G . Superintendent of the Province . All these and others , such as the Leeds Masonic Association , which we have not enumerated , have been able lo render material service in the cause of Charily , nor do we think that if the Provinces which possessthem holdfast to the original
idea of keeping them subsidiary to the Central Institutions , we shall ever have any real reason for regretting their establishment . For ourselves , we have faith in the old homel y proverb " Charity begins at home , " nor are we aware of any good and sufficient reason why , if strong and influential Provinces such as
the two Lancashircs and \\ est Yorkshire are minded to give their first attention lo their own poor brethren , & c , they should not also be able to raise ample funds and to spare for the use of those Central Charities which , as their designation betokens , arc at the service—as they are likewise the pride—of the whole English Craft .
Freemasonry In 1896.
BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . The operations of this Board , which is charged with the administration of the Charity Fund of Grand Lodge , have been conducted in the usual manner—that is to say , with every desire to give material aid to those brethren or their widows and families who may be in temporary distress , and , at the same
time , with a proper regard for economy . The following is a record of the cases relieved month by month by this Board , with the amounts distributed amongst them . In December , 18 95 , there were 43 cases relieved with £ 925 ; in January , 1896 , 3 8 cases relieved with £ 892 ; in February , 34 cases , with £ 935 ; in
March , 36 cases , with £ 850 ; in April , 39 cases , with £ 9 60 ; in May , 28 cases , with £ 570 ; in June , 23 cases , with £ 575 ; in July , 26 cases , with £ 310 ; in August , 10 cases , with £ 150 ; in September , 18 cases , with £ 555 ; in October , 34 cases , with £ 7 85 ; and in November , 43 cases , with £ 995 . Total
from ist December , 1895 , to the 30 th November , 18 9 6 , 372 cases , relieved with £ 8502 . For the period from 1 st December , 18 94 to 30 th November , 1895 , the total number of cases relieved was 370 , and the amount distributed amongst them £ 8890 . Thus , for the last 12 months , when compared with the previous
corresponding period , the number of cases exhibits a sli ght increase from 370 to 272 , while the sum distributed has been appreciably reduced from £ 8890 to £ 8502 . This speaks well for the pains which the Board takes to investigate the petitions which are laid before them , and the care with which it administers
the funds at its disposal . It remains for us to add that a change among the principal officers has taken place during the present year , Bro . James Brett having retired from the office of Senior Vice-President , and been succeeded by Bro . D . D . Mercer , Past A . G . Purst .
MASONIC LITERATURE .
We are afraid the record of the present year under this head will compare very unfavourably with that of 18 95 . Some good general work has been done , and sundry Lodge Histories have been published which merit commendation for the care and trouble with which they have been compiled , and the
information , more or less valuable , which they contain . But it is not every year in our Masonic Calendar that can point with pride tothe publication of three such important works as the second editions of Bro . John Lane ' s " Masonic Records" and Bro . Hughan's " Old Charges of British Freemasons , " and Part I . of Bro .
Chetwode Crawley's " Cementana Hibernica . ' Works of this kind can only be undertaken by the most laborious of students , and even among them it is not given to many to be able to withstand the mental strain which the compilation of such books entails . Yet we have every reason to be gratified with the chief work of
1 S 9 6 , the " History of Freemasonry in Norfolk , " by Bro . Hamon Le Strange , Past G . Deacon of England and Dep . G . Master of his Province , who has handled his subject in true scholarly fashion , and , what is of still greater importance , has taken an infinity of pains in grappling—and , we may justly add , successfully
grappling—with the difficulties which arc incident to the compilation of nearly all our Lodge and Provincial Histories , namely , the difficulty of obtaining authentic data for his work , and the still more serious difficulty of reconciling the apparently irreconcilable statements which are
so often to be met with 111 such authentic data . However , Bro . Le Strange has done his work admirably , and both he and his Province , as well as the ever-increasing array of Masonic Students , have every reason to be proud of his History . There is also another book of a similar character , namely , the " History
of Freemasonry on the Coast of Coromandel " by Bro . the Rev . C 11 . Maiden , P . M ., V . Z ., & c , which , though it was published towards the close of last , did not reach us till early in the current year . This also , is a valuable addition lo our store of local Historical Books and we can hardly do better in
speaking of its author than repeat almost verbatim what we have said of Bro . Le Strange , namely , that Bro . Maiden has written in true scholarly fashion and taken infinite pains to overcome the difficulties he must have experienced in obtaining the necessary authentic materials for his Historv . Among other books which
claim a place in this record are the Histories of the two Lodges in West Yorkshire , the Prince Frederick , No . 307 , Hcbden Bridge , and Prince George , No . 308 , Leeds , which have this year celebrated the Centenary of their constitution . Wc are not quite sure as to these having been published in book form , but we
have reason to believe that brief historical sketches were read at the Centenary Celebrations , and wc are under the impression that it was in contemplation to enlarge and publish either one or both of them at an early date . Then there are the Histories of the Stewart Lodge , No . i 960 , Rawal Pindi , and Murrec , from 18 S 1 to 1 S 96 , by Bro . Major J .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In 1896.
which are constantly being formed in London , for the most part in connection with Lodges of Instruction for enabling brethren to become , by means of small subscriptions , Life Governors or Life Subscribers of the two Schools and the Benevolent Institution , but more particularly those of a similar
but more endnnng character which have been established m sundry of our Provinces . Conspicuous amongst these latter are the Charitable Associations of Leicestershire and Rutland , Cambridgeshire and Staffordshire , which last celebrated the 25 th anniversary of its formation by a grand fete , held , by the kind
permission of the Duke of Sutherland , in the grounds of Trentham Hall , on , the 5 th July . The brethren of the Province dispensed a generous hospitality on the occasion and , under the auspicies of the Prov . G . Master , everything passed off
satisfactorily . As regards the other class of Masonic Associations , namely , those which have been established in Provinces in order to assist their poorer members and the widows and children of deceased brethren in need of succour the number
has been augmented during the present year , while those already in existence , thanks to the increased measure of support they have received , are in a better position to dispense their benefits . The Province of West Lancashire can boast of having three of these associations , of which the Educational Institution has
under its charge some 200 children of deceased or poor West Lancashire Masons , and the assistance it renders by educating them at schools in their own neighbourhoods , and advancing their interests when their scholastie career is ended is very material , and , we need hardly add , very greatly appreciated .
The Hamar and Alpass Institutions provide annuities for aged brethren and widows , and though these are of more recent establishment , they do a very large amount of good .. All these Institutions are open only to the members of the Province , and many a ball , dramatic performance , concert , or Church Service is held
in their behalf annually . Cheshire rejoices in two such institutions , one of which was founde'd about 33 years ago for the education of children of both sexes ; while the other , only dating from about 18 93 , is a miniature R . M . Benevolent Institution , and does on a small scale , suitable to the requiremente of this
single province , what the Benevolent Institution does for the aged poor brethren and widows from the whole of England . On behalf of these two Provincial Charities , there was held a Festival at Knutsford on the 25 th July , at which Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , Prov . G . M ., occupied the chair , and donations and subscriptions were
announced amounting to close on £ 1200 . East Lancashire has its Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution , which has been established for many years , and does material service in assisting poor brethren , their widows and children , and in its behalf several local meetings have been held from time to
time ; but as its Festivals arc triennial , we must wait till 18 98 to know whether the grand success of last year will be repeated . Other Provinces which have started Funds of Uiesame kind arc North and East Yorkshire and Durham , with their Educational Institutions , Cornwall , with its Annuity and Educational Funds ,
Devonshire , which has this year started a Widows' Annuity Fund , in addition to its other local Charities ; and Dorsetshire , and-Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , which maintain Educational Funds . To these must now be added the Benevolent and Educational Institution which the Province of West Yorkshire at
the recent annual meeting of its Provincial Grand Lodge determined upon establishing . At an earl y date we , may expect lo hear that the rules and regulations for the government of this local Charity have been framed , and , probably before another vear has passed , that a very successful Festival has been held
in its behalf . Nor must we forget to mention the Province of Lincolnshire , which can boast of its "Oliver" and other local Charities , or that of Leicestershire and Rutland , which is in the very act of establishing its " Kelly Memorial Fund " in honour of that respected and distinguished Mason , the late Bro .
William Kelly , Past Prov . G . Master and G . Superintendent of the Province . All these and others , such as the Leeds Masonic Association , which we have not enumerated , have been able lo render material service in the cause of Charily , nor do we think that if the Provinces which possessthem holdfast to the original
idea of keeping them subsidiary to the Central Institutions , we shall ever have any real reason for regretting their establishment . For ourselves , we have faith in the old homel y proverb " Charity begins at home , " nor are we aware of any good and sufficient reason why , if strong and influential Provinces such as
the two Lancashircs and \\ est Yorkshire are minded to give their first attention lo their own poor brethren , & c , they should not also be able to raise ample funds and to spare for the use of those Central Charities which , as their designation betokens , arc at the service—as they are likewise the pride—of the whole English Craft .
Freemasonry In 1896.
BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . The operations of this Board , which is charged with the administration of the Charity Fund of Grand Lodge , have been conducted in the usual manner—that is to say , with every desire to give material aid to those brethren or their widows and families who may be in temporary distress , and , at the same
time , with a proper regard for economy . The following is a record of the cases relieved month by month by this Board , with the amounts distributed amongst them . In December , 18 95 , there were 43 cases relieved with £ 925 ; in January , 1896 , 3 8 cases relieved with £ 892 ; in February , 34 cases , with £ 935 ; in
March , 36 cases , with £ 850 ; in April , 39 cases , with £ 9 60 ; in May , 28 cases , with £ 570 ; in June , 23 cases , with £ 575 ; in July , 26 cases , with £ 310 ; in August , 10 cases , with £ 150 ; in September , 18 cases , with £ 555 ; in October , 34 cases , with £ 7 85 ; and in November , 43 cases , with £ 995 . Total
from ist December , 1895 , to the 30 th November , 18 9 6 , 372 cases , relieved with £ 8502 . For the period from 1 st December , 18 94 to 30 th November , 1895 , the total number of cases relieved was 370 , and the amount distributed amongst them £ 8890 . Thus , for the last 12 months , when compared with the previous
corresponding period , the number of cases exhibits a sli ght increase from 370 to 272 , while the sum distributed has been appreciably reduced from £ 8890 to £ 8502 . This speaks well for the pains which the Board takes to investigate the petitions which are laid before them , and the care with which it administers
the funds at its disposal . It remains for us to add that a change among the principal officers has taken place during the present year , Bro . James Brett having retired from the office of Senior Vice-President , and been succeeded by Bro . D . D . Mercer , Past A . G . Purst .
MASONIC LITERATURE .
We are afraid the record of the present year under this head will compare very unfavourably with that of 18 95 . Some good general work has been done , and sundry Lodge Histories have been published which merit commendation for the care and trouble with which they have been compiled , and the
information , more or less valuable , which they contain . But it is not every year in our Masonic Calendar that can point with pride tothe publication of three such important works as the second editions of Bro . John Lane ' s " Masonic Records" and Bro . Hughan's " Old Charges of British Freemasons , " and Part I . of Bro .
Chetwode Crawley's " Cementana Hibernica . ' Works of this kind can only be undertaken by the most laborious of students , and even among them it is not given to many to be able to withstand the mental strain which the compilation of such books entails . Yet we have every reason to be gratified with the chief work of
1 S 9 6 , the " History of Freemasonry in Norfolk , " by Bro . Hamon Le Strange , Past G . Deacon of England and Dep . G . Master of his Province , who has handled his subject in true scholarly fashion , and , what is of still greater importance , has taken an infinity of pains in grappling—and , we may justly add , successfully
grappling—with the difficulties which arc incident to the compilation of nearly all our Lodge and Provincial Histories , namely , the difficulty of obtaining authentic data for his work , and the still more serious difficulty of reconciling the apparently irreconcilable statements which are
so often to be met with 111 such authentic data . However , Bro . Le Strange has done his work admirably , and both he and his Province , as well as the ever-increasing array of Masonic Students , have every reason to be proud of his History . There is also another book of a similar character , namely , the " History
of Freemasonry on the Coast of Coromandel " by Bro . the Rev . C 11 . Maiden , P . M ., V . Z ., & c , which , though it was published towards the close of last , did not reach us till early in the current year . This also , is a valuable addition lo our store of local Historical Books and we can hardly do better in
speaking of its author than repeat almost verbatim what we have said of Bro . Le Strange , namely , that Bro . Maiden has written in true scholarly fashion and taken infinite pains to overcome the difficulties he must have experienced in obtaining the necessary authentic materials for his Historv . Among other books which
claim a place in this record are the Histories of the two Lodges in West Yorkshire , the Prince Frederick , No . 307 , Hcbden Bridge , and Prince George , No . 308 , Leeds , which have this year celebrated the Centenary of their constitution . Wc are not quite sure as to these having been published in book form , but we
have reason to believe that brief historical sketches were read at the Centenary Celebrations , and wc are under the impression that it was in contemplation to enlarge and publish either one or both of them at an early date . Then there are the Histories of the Stewart Lodge , No . i 960 , Rawal Pindi , and Murrec , from 18 S 1 to 1 S 96 , by Bro . Major J .