Grand Officers Royal Arch.

founding the Ferrum Lodge , No . 1 S 4 S , but though he has served as Secretary , Director of Ceremonies , and is the present Treasurer , he ! has persistently declined election to the chair , so long as there are eligible brethren coming forward . He is also an honorary member of the Orde Powlett Lodge ,. No . 23 QI , and the Humber InstalledMasters Lodge , No . 2494 , Hull , and joined the Correspondence Circle of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , in iSSS . He has been

twice recipient of Provincial honours , viz . in 1881 when he was appointed Prov . G . Registrar , and again in 1894 , when he was made Prov . S : G . W . He was exalted in the Marwood Chapter , No . 602 , on the 17 th September , 1 S 73 , and for two years running—in 1 S 83 and 1884—occupied the chair of First Principal . In 1880 he was appointed Prov . Assistant Grand Sojourner and 10 years later to the chair of Prov . Grand J . He was advanced in the Darlington Mark

Lodge , No . 250 , on the 7 th February , 1881 , shortly after which he became founder and first J . W . ' of the Middlesborough Lodge / No . 27 6 , and was elected and installed its W . Jt . in 1883 . In the November of that year , he was appointed Prov . S . G . Warden , and has for several years held the office of Prov . G . D . of Ceremonies . He was appointed G . I . G . in 1890-1 . In the Order of the Temple , he was installed K . T . in the Ancient Ebor Preceptory , T . I ., in iSS 4 , and E . P . in

1 S 87 , and last year was appointed Prov . G . Constable in the Prov . Priory of N . and E . Yorkshire . He is a member of the Allied Degrees , and was perfected Rose Croix in the Hilda Chapter Rose Croix , on the 22 nd May , 1 S 90 , and installed M . W . S . in 1895 . He is a Knight of the Royal Order of Scotland , and was a founder and first Senior G . Guardian of the Prov . G . Lodge of Yorkshire , in July , 1886 . In the Society of Rosicrucians , he holds Grade VII . and is Past Celebrant

of the York College . In connection with our Masonic Institutions , both local and general , his services have been very prominent . He is a Life Governor of the Schools and R . M . B . I ., and has served several Stewardships in' their behalf ; was a founder in 1 S 80 of the N . and E . Yorkshire Charities Association ; is a Patron of the Educational Fund of the same Province , and for the last six years has been the Charity Representative of the Province . ¦

Comp . J AMES STEPHENS , who now ranks as Past Grand Standard Bearer in Supreme Grand Chapter , has had a long and brilliant career in Masonay . He was initiated in the Hyde Park Lodge , No . 1425 , on the 10 th January , 1878 , was installed W . M . in May , 1885 , and is now its Treasurer . In 1886 he was founder and first S . W . of the Tivoli Lodge , No . 2150 , and the year following was inducted into the chair as its second W . M . In 188 9 he helped to found the Viator

Lodge , No . 2308 , and having served as J . D . and in other offices in due course was elected to the chair . He was founder and first Secretary of the Cricklewood Lodge , No . 2361 , founder and first W . M . of the Ferdinand de Rothschild Lodge , No . 2420 , Waddesdon , Bucks , founder and first J . W . of the Carrington Lodge , No . 2421 , Amersham , and founder and first and present Secretary of the Fellowship Ledge , No . 2535 . Among the lodges of which he has been elected a joining

member may be mentioned the Domatic , No . 177 , the Phcenix , No . 173 , and the Kilbum , No . 1608 , and he is honorary member of sundry other lodges which he assisted in consecrating . For his services to the Craft in Buckinghamshire he had the collar of Prov . S . G . Deacon conferred upon him in 18 93 . In Royal Arch Masonry , to which he was exalted in the Prince Frederick William Chapter , No . 753 , in October , 1885 , he is a P . Z . of No . 753 , and of the Belgrave and Hornsey

Chapters , Nos . 749 and 890 respectively , and a founder and JScribe E . of St . Leonard ' s Chapter , No . 1766 . He was advanced in St . Mark ' s Lodge , No . 1 , in 1886 , and is both W . M . of that and W . C . N , of the Royal Ark Mariners Lodge , which is moored to it , as well as a founder and P . M . of the Prince Frederick William Mark Lodge , No . 458 . He was perfected Rose Croix in the Palestine Chapter in 1891 , installed a K . T . in the Kemeys Tynte and Temple Cressing Preceptory in 1893 , and is S . W . of the Shirley Conclave of the Order of the Secret

Monitor . He is , moreover , a member of the Board of General Purposes and of the Colonial Board , and a member of the General Committee of Grand Chapter , is a Vice-Patron of both Schools and the Benevolent Institution , and a Vice-President of the Mark Benevolent Fund , while the Stewardships he has served are five for the Girls' School , six for the Boys' School—of the Board of Management of which he is a member—five for the Benevolent Institution , and two for the Mark Benevolent Fund .

Comp . J . J . THOMAS , upon whom has been conferred the brevet rank of P . G . Standard Bearer , was initiated in the Prince Frederick William Lodge , No . 753 , in 1881 , was installed W . M . in 1886 , and since 1889 has held the important office of Secretary . In 1886 , he was a founder and first J . D . of the Tivoli Lodge , No . 2150 , and was installed W . M . in J 890 ; and , in 1892 , a founder and first Treasurer of the Carrington Lodge , No . ' 4 , Amersham , of which he was

installed Master two years later . For his services in connection with his lodge , he was , in June , 1895 , elected Prov . G . Treasurer of Buckinghamshire . He is also a member of the Correspondence Circle of Lodge Quatuor Coronati , No . 2076 . He was exalted as a Royal Arch Mason in the Belgrave Chapter , No . 749 , in 1882 , attained the . chair of Z . in 1890 , and was elected Treasurer the following year . He is also a P . Z . of the Prince Frederick William Chapter , No . 753 , which he

joined in 1886 , a joining member of the Buckingham Chapter , No . 591 , Aylesbury , and a founder and first S . E ., firstly , of the Studholme Brownrigg Chapter , No . 2 4 21 , Amersham , and a short while since of the Fellowship Chapter , No . 2535 ^ In the Mark Degree , to which he was advanced iii St . Mark ' s Lodge , No . i , in May , 1882 , he is a P . M . of his mother lodge , a founder and first W . M . of the Prince Frederick William Lodge , No . 458 , and was last year appointed a Grand

Steward , and since then he has been elected a member of the Grand Stewards ' Lodge . He is also a P . C . N , of the Royal Ark Mariners Lodge attached to No . I , and has served three Stewardships for the Mark Benevolent Fund . He was perfected Rose Croix in the Palestine Chapter , No . 29 , in 1885 , and was installed M . W . S . in February of last year . He is likewise a member of Grand Master ' s Council , No . 1 , Royal and Select Masters , and , in April , 1895 , was installed Celebrant of the Metropolitan College of the Soc . Rosic . in Anglia . For his services

as Secretary of the Prince Frederick William Lodge of Instruction , he was , in 1890 , presented with a very handsome testimonial and illuminated vote of thanks , and up to the present time has served in that office for the long period of 13 J years . Lastly , he has been a member of the Board of General Purposes since 18 91 , and is a Vice-President and member of the Board of Management of the Boys' School , a Vice-President of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and a Life Governor of the Girls' School , having further served live times as Steward for the Boys' School and twice for each of the other Institutions .

Comp . WILLIAM V INCENT , upon whom has been conferred the rank of P . A . G . D . C ., was initiated in the ViUiers Lodge , No . 1194 , Hampton Court , on the 2 nd May , 1874 , was installed W . M . in 1885 , and for some years has held the office of Treasurer , his services to the lodge being further recognised by his appointment to the post of Prov . G . S . B . Middlesex . He was likewise one of the founders ,

and is a P . M ., of the Eccleston Lodge , No . 1624 . He was exalted as a R . A . Mason in the Stockwell Chapter , No . 1339 , on the 5 th March , 18 7 8 , and is a P . Z . and S . E . both of his mother chapter and of the Wanderers Chapter , No . 1 G 04 , as well as a founder and P . Z . of the Eccleston Chapter , No . 1624 . He was advanced to the Mark Degree in the Panmure Lodge , No . 139 , of which he is at the present time P . M . and Treasurer , is an honorary member of several lodges , and , above all , Preceptor of the Grand Master ' s Lodge of Instruction ; while as a Royal Ark

Grand Officers Royal Arch.

Mariner , to which he was elevated on the 3 rd November , 1879 , he is a P . C . N and T reasurer of the Panmure Lodge , No . 139 , and is an elected member of the Grand Master's Royal Ark Council . He is , too , a P . P . G . M . O . of the late Province of Middlesex and Surrey . anda P . A . G . D . C . in the Mark Grand Lodge . He was per fected Rose Croix in the Adoniram Chapter on the 12 th February , 18 S 7 and is

, now . ist . General . He is a Royal and Select Master , P . T . I . M . and Recorder of the . CqnstantineCouncil , No . 2 , P . G . D . C . of Grand Council , and a member of the Allied 'Degrees , W . M . of the Metropolitan and Rose and Lily Councils , and G D of C . in Grand Council . Lastly , he is a Life Governor of all three Institutions and has five times acted as Steward in their behalf . '

London, Edinburgh, And Glasgow Assurance Company, Limited.

LONDON , EDINBURGH , AND GLASGOW ASSURANCE COMPANY , LIMITED .

The 15 th annual report of this company is brimful of interest , disclosing , as it does an exceedingly successful year ' s operations and a businesslike and vigorous administration , as well as a bold determination to stand in the front rank of insurance enterprise . That the formula of the office is in high public estimation is best proved by the following statement of the progress made in the last three years : In 1 S 95 the number of policies entertained in the ordinary life department was 1435 , assuring £ 130 , 260 , and the new premium income realised £ 7115 13 s . Sd ., the corresponding figures in 1894 having been " 53 . £ 'oS , 5 6 S , £ s 7 G 3 16 s . nd ., and , again , in 1893 , 774 , £ 72 , 6 So , JL , 3 S 6 : 14 s . od . The following table will show the working of

THE INDUSTRIAL DEPARTMENT . 1 S 95 1 S 94 1803

Number of new policies issued 23 S , oS 8 224 , 284 218 , 041 Annual premiums thereon £ 130 , 993 ios . 6 d . £ n 6 , 2 So os . 4 d . £ 104 , 525 12 s . Sd . ACCIDENT DEPARTMENT . ' 1 S 95 iSg 4 1 S 93

New policies issued 1112 95 S 670 New premium income £ 2863 5 s . 7 d . £ 2465 05 . 4 d . £ 1867 Total number of policies issued 240 , 645 226 , 395 219 , 485 During the past year a premium income in all departments was realised amounting to £ 268 , 399 5 s . 3 ^ d ., an increase over 18940 ! £ 23 , 568 17 s . 7 ? d ., when the total was £ 244 , 830 7 s . 7 ld ., which , in its turn , was an advance upon that of 18 93 , when the total was . £ 228 , 742 5 s . 6 jd . In the matterof claims , grants , and matured endowments , 13 , 829 claims were paid amounting to £ 120 , 317 w . id ., making the total paid in claims an-t

grants since the establishment of the company £ 954 , 589 15 s . gjd- The funds realised an accretion of £ 7655 6 s . iod . on the year , and these now amount to £ 114 , 172 55 . 8 d . It is stated that the industrial branch of endowment assurances for children under 16 years of age has been received with much public approval since the scheme was inaugurated in 1890 ; and there can be no question about it , that if such provision for old age as is involved under this scheme were encouraged by philanthropists and teachers , the social condition of the people would be infinitely improved , and the cry for State intervention rendered unnecessary and unsuited to the character and independence of the British nation .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Forfarshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF FORFARSHIRE .

The Quarterly Communication of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held in Dundee , on Tuesday , the 28 th ult . Bro . James Berry , Prov . G . M ., occu . pied the chair . . There was a large attendance of brethren , including Bros , the Hon * . C . M . Ramsay , P . G . S . M . ; ex-Provost Anderson , Prov . G . Sec . ; and ex-Bailie Herald , Prov . G . Treas . The PROV . GRAND MASTER reported the completion of the visitation of the

whole of the lodges within the province . He regretted that , in consequence of being prohibited from attending evening meetings , he had been unable to visit all the lodges himself , but Bro . the Hon . C . M . Ramsay had kindly undertaken the visitation of the lodges which he had been unable to overtake . The province had added 337 members to the roll during the year , as compared with 352 for 1 S 94 . The report was considered satisfactory .

Bro . BERRY thereafter alluded to the discussion which had taken place over the laying of the foundation-stone of the Dundee Post Office . He stated that he had had the greatest pleasure in agreeing that the foundation-stone should be laid by Lord Provost Sir James Low . Circumstances had , however , arisen whereby the ceremony had been cancelled , and his reply—so far as Masonic turnout was concerned—was final . . ( Applause . ) He hoped that what he ha-l done was for the vindication of the Craft of Forfarshire . ( Applause ) .

Bro . LINDSAY , Carnoustie , moved a vote of thanks to the Provincial Gr . ind Master for his action in the matter , and this was carried amidst acclamation . Bro . SPRUNT moved— "That all members of Provincial Grand Lodge should pay annually a test fee of not less than 2 s ., and that no one should be eligible for office in the Provincial Grand Lodge " until the fee was paid . " The motion was seconded by Bro . LINDSAY , Carnoustie .

Bro . OVENSTONE , Dundee , moved a direct negative , and Bro . ALB XAN » ER I Dundee , seconded . The amendment was carried by a large majority . On the motion of the PROV . GRAND TREASURER , ir was remitted to the Office-bearers of the Prov . Grand Lodge as a Committee to collect subscriptions among the brethren and lodges in the province for a gold jewel and chain of office for the Prov . Grand Master . The suggestion was made , and heartily approve ! of , that each lodge shouid pay the cost of one link in the chain .

Bro . the Hon . C . M . RAMSAY brought under the notice of the Prov . Gran . Lodge the necessity of individual lodges increasing their test fee , in order that they might be placed in the position of carrying out more fully the true aim 0 Masonry—viz ., philanthropy—without making undue clmaims upon indiviJu . il Office-bearers .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

Farnngdon Without Chapter , No . 1745 . A meeting of this chapter was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on the 271 > ult . Among those present were Comps . Plummer , M . E . Z . ; G . Herbert , P . Z ., as 1 •> ] . Young , P . Z ., as I .. ; Capt . T . C . Walls , P . Z ., P . D . G . D . C , S . E . ; H . l- ^ fl P . Z ., P . P . G . S . B ., Treas . ; Murphy , P . S . ; T . Simpson , P . Z . ; N . Prower , M . A ., 1 •' - ' and E . Mallett , P . Z . 1623 , Janitor . _ . t The minutes of the previous convocation were read and confirmed . The electi Principals and officers resulted as follows : Comos . H . Herbert , M . E . Z .: T . bimP 5 U '

P . Z ., H . ; G . Herbert , P . Z ., | . ; Capt . Walls , P . Z ., S . E . ; Murphy , S . N . J 'VLardncr , P . Z ., Treas . ; J . D . Webb , P . S . ; P . Weinel , ist A . S . ; G . Newell , 2 nd A . , < and E . Mallett , Janitor . A Past Principal's jewel was voted to the M . E . Z . for BIs » - vices during the past year . Apol 'gies for non-attendance were received from <^ ° H . Herbert and J . D . Webb . The chapter was then closed , and a banquet followed . , mQ ^ , A few toasts were given , and the remainder of the evening was devoted to harm in which Comps . Plummer , G . Herbert , and J . Young took part .