Masonic Benevolence In 1898.

On comparing the above table witli that which appeared in our issue of the Sth January , 18 9 8 , it will be seen that while in 18 97 there was a reduction in thc number of " Cases Relieved "

from 375 the previous year to 330 , and an increase in the "Amount" distributed from £ 8722 to £ 8835 , there has been a slight increase from 330 to 337 in the number of cases , and of £ 270 in the amount from £ 8835 to £ 9105 . The Mark Benevolent Fund Festival which was held on the

13 th July last under the presidency of Bro . thc Mon . ALAN DE TATTON EGERTON , M . P ., Prov . G . M . M . Cheshire , yielded £ 173 6 , while as regards the work clone during the year by the different Provincial Charitable Institutions , tlie necessary particulars will be found in our last Christinas number in our review of " Freemasonry in 18 9 8 . "

Masonic Charity.

MASONIC CHARITY .

The following true story is from the pen of our ever versatile Bro . Major E . Sl-IERMAN , 33 , in " Fifty Years of Masonry in California " : Salinas Lodge , No . 204 , F . and A . M . Cal . In connection with this lodge a matter of Masonic historical incident

is worth of perpetuation . During thc morning session of the Grand Lodge , on October II , 1871 , the news was received of the destruction of Chicago by fire . Bro . MORRIS M . ESTER offered a resolution , to which Bro . J AMES LAIDI . EY presented a

substitute , which was accepted by Bro . ESTEE , as follows " Resolved , That 5000 dollars in coin of the funds of this Grand , now in the hands of the Trustees of the Reserve Fund , be donated and immediately forwarded by telegragli to the Grand

Master of Illinois , in aid of thc sufferers by the late conflagration in Chicago . " The resolution was unanimously adopted . Bro . WILLIAM I-I . HILL offered the lollowing resolution , which was also adopted : " Resolved , That as a further evidence of 0111

practical sympathy , the box of Masonic Charity be placed upon the altar at 2 o ' clock this afternoon , and that the brethren be requested then to cast their offerings therein as God has blessed and favoured them , and that the moneys thus contributed

be also transmitted by our Grand Master without delay to the Grand Master of Illinois , to be disbursed , according to his own judgment , for thc relief of destitute Masons and their families . " Immediately following the adoption of thc last resolution ,

Bro . LAIDLEY ( " Uncle Jimmy , " as he was affectionately called ) ,, weighing about 300 pounds , arose at the Grand Treasurer ' s desk and said he would give loo dollars as a starter , and as much as any other brother present would drop in the box on the altar .

A brother present , but unknown , said he would accept his offer , and go him 100 dollars better . This was unexpected lo Uncle Jimmy , and he perspired freely . At the hour appointed thc box was placed upon the altar , and as the brethren came in they dropped in their contributions .

Every few minutes until three o clock Uncle Jimmy would rise at his place and say , " Here is my two hundred dollars " ( chinking the twenty-dollar gold pieces in his hands ); " where is that brother who was going to cover my one hundred dollars and

go me one hundred dollars better ? " This he repeated as every belated brother came in and saluted the altar . At last a plain farmer-looking sort of fellow , in rough grey clothes , entered , and as he approached the altar and made his salutation , Uncle

Jimmy again arose and asked , " Where is that brother who said he would cover my one hundred dollars and go me one hundred dollars better ? " The brother at the altar looked up and said , " I am your man ¦ come here . " A murmur of applause echoed

through thc hall , which was packed by about 700 or more present . Bro . LAIDLEY lcoked a little curious and waddled to the altar , where all eyes were centered on these two brethren . " Go ahead , " said the country brother to Uncle Jimmy , who proceeded

to drop into the box five twenty-dollar gold gieces . The brother then dropped in his five twenties and said , " Go ahead . " Bro . LAIDLEY then dropped in live more twenties , and was promptl y followed by the zealous brother with his live twenties . He them reached down into his bitrousers pocket and pulled ¦ Vl ^ ^ v ^ j

g .,, ^| ,.. UV ... ^ „ « ~ . . „ .... pv ^ . ^ v ... . . . .. ...,, v . v out a tiBj , old-fashioned buckskin bag well filled and said to Bro . LAIDLEY , " You said that you would drop as much into the box as any brother present ; now I'll go you 200 dollars better and I want you to cover it ! " Bro . LAIDLEY turned pale and replied ,

Masonic Charity.

" I haven't thc money here but I will draw a cheque for the amount and . stop at that . " So , between the two , they contributed 800 dollars , while the Grand , Lodge was in an uproar of applause at this remarkable exhibition of Masonic liberality and charity ; and the sum of 1005 dollars in coin was found to have

been contributed by members of the Grand Lodge of California , making 6005 dollars contributed to the sufferers by the disaster at Chicago . The farmer brother who contributed his 400 dollars and made Bro . LAIDLEY , the Grand Treasurer , do the same , was

the good Bro . CARLISLE S . ABBOTT , the first Master ancl the Senior Past Master of Salinas Lodge , who with Bro . WILLIAM VANDERHURST , the Senior Warden , represented that lodge at that time . It was a joyous scene , and will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it .

Salinas Lodge , Masonically speaking , may truly be said to be composed of thc " salt of the earth . " M . W . Grand Master LEONIDAS E . PRATT , upon re-election , recognised such a noble

spirit of Charity possessed by Bro . ABBOTT , then Master of this lodge , appointed him Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge for the year commencing October , 18 71 , and ending October , 1 S 72 . —Freemason , Los Angelos , Cal .

Grand Lodge Of Ireland.

GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND .

The following is a complete list of the brethren who have been appointed to hold office in the Grand Lodge of Ireland during the present year ( 1 S 99 I namely : Bros . The Duke of Abercorn K . G . ... ... M . W . G . M . „ James Creed Meredith , LL . D . ... ... R . W . D . G . M . ,, Viscount Templetown ... ... ... G . S . W . „ Sir John T . Banks , K . C . B . ... ... G . J . W . „ R . Keating Clay , J . P .... ... ... G . Treas . ,, Lord Castletown .,. ... ... G . Sec .

,, Rev . Benjamin Gibson , M . A . ... ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ) r rv , „ Rev Bishop of Down and Connor ... ... j * - P - „ William G . Huband ... ... ... G . S . D .

„ George Drury ... ... ... G . J . D . „ Wm . Spence , CE . ... ... ... G . Supt . of Wks . „ James M . Lowry ... ... ... G . D . C . „ William McGee , J . P . ... ... ... G . Stwd . ,, George Scriven , M . D .... ... ... G . S . B . ,, Thomas R . G . Joze , Mus . D . ... ... G . Org .

„ Fox Goodman , J . P . ... ... ... G . I . G . ,, W . J . Chetwode Crawley ... ... G . Sec . G . Lodge In . ,, Henry E . Flavelle , ... ... ... G . Dep . Sec . & I ' reas . „ Henry C . Shellard ... ... ... G . Clerk . ,, John Frost ... ... ... ... G . Tyler . „ William Bodeil ... ... ... A . G . Tyler .

Apple Dumplings.

APPLE DUMPLINGS .

borne 40 years ago , in a small town 111 Suffolk , there was a longestablished , old-fashioned boarding school , at the head of which presided Mr . Owen Swift . By the strange contrariety which often occurs where the character and temperament of a man do not carry out the nam : he bears , Mr . Swift was slow and lethargic in his nature . His taste forstuty , fostered by his University life , little fitted him to undertake the multifarious

cares of his profession . Before he succeeded his father , Westbury School had achieved a high reputation for good and sound tuition . It was , therefore , no very difficult matter for him to keep it up to its high standard by providing efficient assistant masters to carry out the work of the school . By this means he was able to devote a large portion of his time to more congenial pursuits . His masters most efficiently performed their duties in

the school , whilst the domestic arrangements were under the care of his housekeeper , Mrs . Graham , a widow of rather prepossessing appearance . Thus Mr . Swift , so long as he was not troubled , was perfectly satisfied , She spared no pains to minister to his tastes , readily anticipated his wants , and , in short , she became so essential to him that he consulted her on every important occasion . Among Mrs . Graham ' s multifarious duties she

superintended the boarding arrangements of the establishment . Although she did this to her own satisfaction , it was by no means reciprocated by those for whom she catered . The under-masters , and especially the pupils , were far from being contented with the rigid economy she exercised . She always had a good table for Mr . Swift , the . senior masters , and herself , but the mid-day meal forthe junior teachers and the pupils was far from being liberally

provided , * it was customary to commence the dinner with apple dumplings , two being set before each pupil . These being naturally very filling , were well calculated to blunt the keen edge of a schoolboy's appetite , and leave little room for the meat which followed . Great dissatisfaction had for some time been expressed because the apples had not been sufficiently sweetened . Complaints had often been made by the pupils , through the under-masters , to Mrs . Graham , but she gave no heed to them . As forthebojs , she

looked on them as her natural enemies , and , as may easily be imagined , the mutual feelings entertained were not very friendly . On one occasion ( a Wednesday half-holiday ) , when the apples at dinner were more sour than usual , and the sugar had been conspicuous by its absence , an indignation meeting largely attended was held in the playground . The presiding spirit was Tom Ward , the caplain of the school—his companions clustered round h ' m .

" Well , you fellows , " said he , " I hoped you enjoyed your apple dumplings to-day ; nice and sweet , eh ? Old Mother Graham must be saving a great deal at our expense ; are we going to stand this any longer ? " " No ! no I " was said by all .