The Boys' School Pension Indemnity Fund.

close , and the Provisional Committee , the General Committee , the General Court and their officers , both principal and subordinate , will be in a position to work harmoniously together for

the general good of the Institution . For these reasons we are g lad that steps were taken on Saturday last , as will be seen from the full report we publish in another part of our columns , which will determine once for all the present state of deadlock .

The Bengal Masonic Educational Association.

THE BENGAL MASONIC EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION .

This Institution was established in 186 9 , and the Report of the Committee of Management for the half year to the 31 st December , 1889 , shows not only that exceptionally good progress was made during that period , but also that financially it is in a sound and prosperous condition . The receipts from all

sources amounted to upwards of 37 6 7 rupees , of which over 1418 rupees , came in the shape of interest on securities , 1040 rupees as capitation assessment from the lodges in the district , and 1 309 rupees , being the amount collected by the Stewards of the Charity . To this must be added a further sum of 2304 rupees ,

collected by the Stewards as donations to capital account for permanent investment , and of this 2000 rupees has been invested in 5 per Cent . Calcutta Municipal Debentures , the result being that the permanently invested fund of the Association now stands at 72 , 500 rupees , while over 1000 rupees remains to

the credit of the same account for investment during the half year now current . On the revenue account there is shown to be a small deficit of 14 8 rupees , but the Report states that this has been more than covered by subscriptions received from the Stewards subsequently to the 31 st December , and , therefore , too

late to be included in the half year ' s account . The number of children borne on the establishment of the Association _ is 30 , four children having been elected at the half-yearly meeting on the 23 rd January last , instead of three , in consequence of the receipts having been so satisfactory , and the sum expended on

the education of an equal number of children during the period of this account is stated as over 5321 rupees , while the working expenses amount to only a fraction in excess of 176 rupees . It

is evident , therefore , that the affairs of the Association must be administered in such a manner as to effect the greatest amount of good at the least possible cost . It is worthy of mention that the Association has lost the services of Bro . JAMES MUMFORD , who

had performed the duties of Honorary Treasurer for the three preceding years , and under whose able management the invested capital of the Association increased from 59 , 500 rupees to 72 , 500 rupees , while the number of children provided for had been proportionately augmented . Such services as these

deserve the encomiums paid to Bro . MUAIFORD by the Hon . H . T . PRINSEP , Dist . G . Master , and President of the Association , and Bro . J . Louis , one of the Honorary Secretaries , and we both hope and believe that under the management of Bro . A . B .

WESTERHOUT , his successor in office , the prosperous state of the funds will be equally well maintained . We congratulate our Bengal brethren on their success in organising an Association which has been productive of so much good to the children of their deceased and indigent members .

The Craft In New Zealand.

THE CRAFT IN NEW ZEALAND .

It appears from a circular dated the 3 rd February last , and addressed to sundry lodges scattered about New Zealand , that , though the brethren in that distant colony are very far from displaying anything like unanimity in the movement for establishing a Grand Lodge of New Zealand , those who have signified

their assent to the proposal are determined on pressing it forward . They already speak of the lodges assembled at a certain convention held on the nth September , i 88 y , as having constituted such Grand Lodge from and after the gth November . A postponement for three months of the day fixed was made at the instance

of one or two of the English District Grand Masters in order to ascertain if it mig ht not be possible to bring about practical unanimity in favour of the scheme . However , this most desirable consummation does not seem to have been arrived at , and in the circular we have referred to it is announced that a

first communication of the new Grand Lodge was to be held on Monday , the 10 th March , when a resolution would be laid before the brethren relating to the election of a Grand Master . Therefore , by tin ' s time , we must assume that this Grand Lodge of New Zealand has started on its career , or is preparing to do so very

shortly , though the body soconstitutect will consist ot only 8 g lodges out of the 154 established in the colony ; while the distinguished brother—the Right Hon . the Earl of ONSLOW , Past S . G . W . of

hngland— -who is the Governor of the colony , and was , in the first instance , invited to become Grand Master , having undertaken to do so only in the event of the brethren being practically unanimous , will not be elected to preside over its fortunes . Thus

The Craft In New Zealand.

the case of New Zealand stands on quite a different footing from those of South Australia , New South Wales , and Victoria . The brethren in those three colonies were , with only a few exceptions , unanimous in their desire to have each of them a separate and independent Grand Lodge . And they have them , and the Grand

Lodge of England has most cordially recognised the three new bodies conditionally that they allow lodges to remain in their old allegiance which may be desirous of so remaining . But as regards New Zealand , we gather from this circular that only 73 lodges—namely , 39 English , 26 Scotch , and eight

Irish—committed themselves by their delegates to the declaration of the nth September in favour of establishing a Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and that the resolution in favour of the movement by 16 other lodges—eight English , six Scotch , and two Irisharrived too late for them to be represented at the convention .

Thus , there are altogether 8 9 lodges favourable to a Grand Lodge , of which 47 are English , 32 Scotch , and 10 Irish , out of a total of 154 lodges , of which 8 9 are English , 50 Scotch , and 15 Irish . Therefore there remained unfavourable to the movement at the date of this circular—3 rd February last—42 English ,

18 Scotch , and five Irish lodges , or , taking them together , 65 lodges . We presume these figures will not be accepted as representative of anything like practical unanimity on the part of the Craft in New Zealand in favour of a local Grand Lodge . There is a majority of a little more than four to three in favour

of the change , but unless a good many more of the outstanding lodges give in their adhesion to the proposed change , it is very clear that the establishment of a new Grand Lodge will have no other effect than that of making what the colonists appear to regard as confusion still worse confounded , and of embittering the

relations between the very strong minority which remains faithful to its allegiance and the majority which has resolved on going forward with the new movement . There will be—indeed , there may already be—four concurrent jurisdictions instead of three , and what that means to the well-being of Freemasonry we

have already heard from the Pro Grand Master when he visited New South Wales . We presume our New Zealand brethren do not desire that the interests of Freemasonry should suffer merely

because a considerable number—but by no means a considerable majority—of their lodges desire to live independently of the Grand Lodges which granted them life . The resolution of Bro . the Earl of ONSLOW to decline the office of Grand Master unless

the brethren were practically unanimous should have induced the Committee or convention to spare no effort to bring about such a result , and in the event of their efforts proving unsuccessful , to lay aside their project until the times were more propitious and the feeling in favour of an independent Grand Lodge

more general . However , we suppose the Committee of delegates , being an ambitious body , will pursue the course they have entered upon and prefer their own aggrandisement to the welfare of the Craft . In that case , we hope the Grand Lodge in the Old Country will decline to recognise the new body .

Consecration Of The Angloamerican Chapter, No. 2191.

CONSECRATION OF THE ANGLOAMERICAN CHAPTER , No . 2191 .

It was in the natural order of things that , after the success which has attended the Anglo-American Lodge , the members should desire to have a chapter attached . A charter was applied for , and , in course of time , granted by H . R . H . the Grand Z . of the Order , and a chapter , styled the Anglo-American Chapter , No . 2 igr , was duly consecrated on Monday , the 31 st ult ., at the Holborn Restaurant . In the regrettable absence of Comp . Co ! . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . S . E ., through

indisposition , the ceremony was performed by Comp . Frank Richardson , G . D . of C , assisted by Comps . Rev . R . W . M . Pope , P . G . Chap ., as H . ; Rev . R . J . Simpson , as J . ; J . IT . Matthews , P . G . D . of C , as D . C ; and George Cooper , as S . N . It must be a matter for sincere congratulation amongst Royal Arch Masons that two companions—each holding the rank of G . D . of C . in the Grand Chapter—could be found to perform this important ceremony at a moment ' s notice , and carry it through vvith such conspicuous success .

The founders present were Comps . Major Geo . Lambert , P . Z ., P . G . D . C . ; Brackstone Baker , P . A . G . S . ; Adolphus Clark , P . Z ., M . E . Z . designate ; J . J . Woolley , H . designate ; Capt . H . C . Lambert , P . Z ., J . designate ; E . Stimson , J . B . Gumming , Dr . J . j . Wedgwood , and Major F . W . Frigout . The visitors present included Comps . A . A . Pendlebury , Asst . G . S . E . ; Richard Eve , P . G . Treasurer ; Gilead

Smith , 2 , New York ; H . W . Schartau ; Dr . 1 . Zacharie , P . Z ., California ; H . Sadler , Grand Janitor ; S . Jacobs , F . Bevan , E . L . Home , P . Z . 7 ; j . Beresford Ryley , P . P . G . J . ; R . L . Verley , 63 ; H . W . Roberts , P . G . Reg . Middx . ; T . G . Nicholson , P . S . 91 ; C . James , 1624 ; W . J . Towers , 1275 ; A . Kenningham , 19 ; H . Carter , P . Z . 92 ; H . Wilkie Jones , S 90 ; C . L . Walford , 227 ; J . Castello , P . S . 227 ; John C . New , Consul-General U . S . A . ; A . A . Frigout , S . VV . 25 ; T . BugJer , 1572 ; W . H . Kempster , P . Z . 7 66 ; E . Canderlie , C . R . J . Evans , M . E . Z . 1269 ; G . Winch , 21 S 2 ; and W . W . Lee , 1524 .

The chapter having been opened , the CONSECRATING PRINCIPAL , addressing the companions , said : Before commencing the consecration of a chapter it is usual for the Consecrating Officer to make some observations on the nature of the meeting , but before doing so I am satisfied you will bear with me when I express the great regret that I have personally for being in this chair , not because I do not feel proud of it , but from the cause , namely , the illness of our esteemed

companion the G . S . E . So late as Friday last I had a letter from him asking me to assist in the consecration ofa lodge , and making the final arrangements forto-day , and it is most unexpected that he should have been struck down , for he intended being here almost to the last moment . I would suggest that we should express our great regret , and if , when the consecration is over , we send him a telegram , it mig ht soothe him in the pains he is enduring , and if that meets vvith your wishes , I will do it . It is necessary I should say something about the new Masonic child