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Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

Next week will be an unusually busy one in the region round about Freemasons' Tavern . First of all , there will be held at the Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday , the iSth instant , the noth Anniversary Festival in behalf of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . The chair will be taken by R . W . Bro . Alderman SATURDAY , . MAY 14 , 18 9 S .

Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., Past G . Warden of England , Patron and Treasurer of the Institution , and the Board of Stewards which will support him will not greatly exceed in number about 200 ladies and brethren . We have more than once expressed our regret at the paucity of Stewards , and the discouraging

prospects which appear to await the School on this occasion . We have explained why it is the Stewards are so few , and the outlook so unpromising . We need not do more , therefore , than express the hope thai , after all , we may prove lobe a conspicuous failure

HI thc role of prophet . We do not anticipate that thc Iiitls' School will fare belter than the Benevolent institution , which is the first in order of time of the three Institutions to celebrate its annual Festival , and the latter only succeeded in then obtaining about the half of what it annually expends ; or , to put it some-

Masonic Notes.

what differently , only about two-thirds of the deficiency it has to make good , and it had a Board of over 250 Stewards . If the Girls' School Festival turns out to be proportionately more productive , we shall be delighted beyond measure .

* * * Of one thing we are certain—that the Chairman and the Board of Stewards will do all in their power in order to ensure a satisfactory result , nor will it be their fault if the Donations and Subscriptions are materially less than in ordinary years . As for the distribution of prizes and calisthenic display , the day

appointed for this part of the annual fete is Monday , the 16 th instant , when the prizes will be distributed by Lady Hanson . In this case , of course , anything in the way of shortcoming is out of the question . All that is needed to enhance its attractiveness as usual is plenty of bright sunshine , and we must hope that the Clerk of the Weather will be considerate in this

respect . # # * Two days later , that is , on Friday , the 20 th instant , the Annual General Meeting of the Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will be held at the same Freemasons' Tavern .

The first business will be the presentation of the Report of the Committee of Management for the past year . This will not occupy the meeting for long , but there will , in all probability , be a discussion over the motion of which Bro . VV . C Parsons has given notice , namely , that two of what are known as the three "deferred annuities ' shall be reserved for the

two candidates who have been longest on the list , if they are considered worthy of the same ; or , in the event of this not being carried , that the names of candidates who fail to receive election within six years shall be removed from the lists , but they shall be

eligible for re-nomination if worthy . We have already furnished reasons why , in our opinios ! , it is undesirable that either of these motions should be adopted , and we trust those reasons will have weight with the Governors and Subscribers present at the meeting .

• * * 'There is , however , one point in connection with the the second , or alternative proposal , which appears to have escaped the notice of Bro . Parsons . It occurs to us that in the event of any candidates whose names

are thus removed from the lists , being re-nominated and accepted , they will be virtually new candidates , and will lose the votes polled for them during their previous six years' candidature . Will it not be wiser if for no other reason than this , to let them remain on the list :

* * As for the elections , which will commence at 1 p . m . or as soon as the regular business has been disposed of and close at 3 p . m ., there are 57 male candidates and 14 vacancies of which 11 arc immediate and three deferred ; while on the Widows' Fund there are 62

candidates for eight vacancies—five immediate and three deferred . Of the Male candidates 35 remain from last year and 22 have been added since ; while of the Widow candidates 24 were on last year ' s list and 3 8 have been added since . On both Funds there are several of the Old People who have been unfortunately before the electors for perijds ranging from six to 15

years , but we do not see that anybody is to be blamed for their successive failures , and , as we have before said , we do not think it desirable that any change should be made in the existing laws of the Institution . Everybody must sympathise with people who are so unfortunately circumstanced as to be unable to secure election , but it is not in anyone ' s power to compel people to vote for them .

Freemasonry has just sustained a serious loss through the death of his Grace the Duke of St . Albans , Past Prov . G . Master of Nottinghamshire . Latterly , owing to the malady from which he was suffering he had taken no very active part in the affairs of the Craft , but he was Provincial Grand Master , firstly of Lincolnshire and then of Nottinghamshire for 35 years , and

resigned the latter office only towards the end jf 11 st year . He was greatly and justly respected by the brethren in the Provinces he had successively presided over , and we tender our most respectful sympathy to the widowed Duchess of St . Albans ; his son , the Earl of Burford , who succeeds to the title and estate ; and thc other members of his Grace's family .

» It does not often happen that we are privileged to report thc consecration of so many new London lodges as we have done during the present year . In the earlier days there were the Arcadia and the Italia , not long ago it was the Old Masonians , and last week it was the Playgoers' Lodge , which . starts under most

Masonic Notes.

favourable auspices . There was a goodly muster of Grand Officers to witness and , in some cases , take part in the ceremonies of consecration and installation , while a very large number of candidates for initiation and membership were proposed , so that there is every

reason to anticipate for it a long and prosperous career . We need hardly be at the trouble of adding that the new lodge has our sincerest wishes for its success . We shall at all times be ready to lend it a helping hand .

* * * The April number of the Canadian Craftsman contains a brief description of the Jubilee Address of thc Grand Lodge of Quebec to the Queen . Thc Committee charged with the duty of preparing the Address was appointed about a year ago ; but it was not

presented during the Diamond Jubilee year because the Committee were desirous of first submitting it for the approval of Grand Lodge , which did not hold its annual meeting till early in the present year . From the account given it would appear to be a most

beautiful work . The Address proper covers seven pages of illuminated text , the prevailing colour of the ornamentation being sky blue , while the general contrasting shade is pink , the whole being enriched by the plentiful employment of gold leaf . * * *

The frontispiece is a water-colour sketch of the City of Montreal , in which the Grand Lodge has its headquarters , and on the page that follows are the Royal Arms , the Imperial Crown , and the monogram V . R . A Canadian character is given the illumination by the introduction of late autumnal maple leaves on one of

the pages , and here and there are to be seen a few Masonic emblems . The binding is described as being most artistic , the front cover being an elaborate gold decoration on Russia leather , while the gold clasps are formed of the Square and Compasses , with the letter " G " in the centre .

* * * We call attention to the fatal accident which occurred to one of the pupils of the Royal Misonic Institution for Boys on Monday , the 2 nd inst ., as described in Bro . McLeod ' s letter which appears in our correspondence columns . It is difficult to realise a sadder

picture than that of a generous and promising boy , one moment in the full enjoyment of the highest spirits and the next moment lying prone on the ground with every spark of his young life crushed out of him by the unwieldy implement he had been helping to

draw . That it was a case of misadventure , which no amount of care on the part of those in charge of the boys at the time could have prevented , is clear enough , but the pain wc all must feel at so calamitous an occurrence is intensified by its suddenness .

* * * It is at least a mournful satisfaction to know that everything was done that could be done both by the Head Master , Bros . J . Glass and S . Attenborough , of the Board of Management , and Bro . McLeod , the

Secretary of the Institution , to show respect to the boy thus rudely snatched from the very midst of life into death , and we reiterate the sympathy they have already so kindly expressed to the bereaved mother and the sorrowing sister and other sorrowing relatives .

* * * As some misconception appears to exist with regard to the nature and contents of Bro . Sadler ' s new work , recently heralded in these columns , we deem it advisable to inform our readers that in addition to the two rare pamphlets mentioned in the prospectus now being

issued , the value of which will be greatly enhanced b y a copious Introduction from the masterly pen of Bro . Dr . Chetwode Crawley , about half the book will be written by Bro . Sadler himself in his happiest and most telling style . It will also contain fresh evidence

bearing on the origin of the Ancient Grand Lodge , together with the names and lodges of the officers and stewards of that remarkable body , and a facsimile of a characteristic letter written by the celebrated Laurence Dermott , their clever and energetic Grand Secretary , afterwards Deputy Grand Master .

» * * Rochester Cathedral will be the scene of an imposing Masonic function on Saturday , the 25 th June , when Bro . thc Very Rev . S . Reynolds Hole , Dean of Rochester , will celebrate his appointment , last year , to the oflicc of Grand Chaplain and thc sGth

anniversary of his having been made a Mason . The occasion will be made still more interesting hy the fact that our Very Rev . Brother will take the opportunity of adding to the fund for the restoration of the Cathedra !—an object on which , as will have been judged from hi : s speech at Grand Festival , he has religiously set his

heart . It is expected that in addition to Bro . Earl Amherst , Dep . G . Master and Prov . G . M . of Kent , many Prov . G . Masters and Grand Officers will be present , while the arrangements will be in charge of Bro . Thomas Fenn , P . G . W ., as Acting Grand Director of Ceremonies .