Correspondence.

Masonic signature since 1765 that 1 could not identify—very few know what this means . If I had no further interest than the 19 th century collectors I should burn these duplicates to increase their-scarcity ; in short , the autographs f offer are not rubbish , but such as I should have once valued myself . I do not say they

arc of any great value , that depends upon the why and wherefore a person wants them or does not care for them as in any other collecting , but I know they arc valued , because I have been more than once cordially thanked for supplying them ; how far this interest extends I am not , of course , prepared to say . —Yours fraternally

J . RAMSDEN RILEY . "OUR BROTHER'S BED . " To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , " Hospital " Sunday is with us again , and this time it falls on the day on which our beloved Sovereign , the Patroness of the Order , completes the sixtieth year of her reign .

Those of us who had the privilege of being present at the Albert Hall , on the 14 th inst ., heard the testimony borne by H . R . H . the Grand Master to the noble gifts made by the Craft in honour of this Diamond Jubilee , no less a sum than . £ 5500 having recently been added to the Prince of Wales ' s Fund , and this does not include a vast number of individual and lodge gifts . This sum would endow five beds in perpetuity at any of the London hospitals , and some of the best managed of them do not participate in this fund .

I would venture to remind our brethren that " Our Brother ' s" Bed in the Free Home for the Dying , at Clapham , has already done good service for members of our Order , and while sincerely thanking those lodges and brethre n who so liberally contributed last year , would ask your readers to bear in mind , to- morrow , that nothing special has been done for this trul y National Charity—the on ly Free Home for the Dying—and would ask tbem to send their donations either to t he Secretary , Miss Grace Murray , at the Church House , Westminster , or to you rs fraternally , W . PORTLOCK-DADSON , P . G . D ., 33 , Golden-square , W ., P . M . 1771 . June 17 th .

Diamond Jubilee Commemoration Banquet Of Worshipful Masters Of London Lodges.

DIAMOND JUBILEE COMMEMORATION BANQUET OF WORSHIPFUL MASTERS OF LONDON LODGES .

Amongst the many festivities which have marked the Diamond Jubilee year , the Commemoration Banquet of Worshi pful Masters of London Lodges will take a foremost place . The unique idea having been conceived , a Committee was specially formed , and resulted in a splendid success , no less than 120 W . Masters banqueting together at Earl ' s Court Exhibition , after the great gathering at the Albert Hall . Bro . the Earl of Euston , Prov . G . Master Norths and Hunts , presided , and the Committee consisted of Bros . Sir Geo . Harris , W . M . London

County Council Lodge , P . G . D . ; Col . Wm . Campbell , W . Deputy Master Navy Lodge , P . G . D . ; Gordon Miller , W . M . Grafton Lodge ; J . A . Harrison , W . M Eccentric Lodge ; Imre Kiralfy , W . M . Empress Lodge ; J . R . Cleave , W . M . Marcians Lodge ; W . S . Hooper , W . M . Strand Lodge ; C . O . Burgess , W . M . Holborn Lodge ; and F . C . Van Duzer , W . M . Columbia Lodge . Bro . Thomson Lyon undertook the Secretarial duties , and no small praise is due to him for the successful result of his exertions .

After banquet , the CHAIRMAN proposed " The Queen , " and said that those present at the Albert Hall had heard what an ovation not only their M . W . G . M . received , but also the proposition of a vote of address to the Queen . The Albert Hall meeting was unique of its sort , but he ventured to say that the present gathering was absolutely unique , nothing of the kind having been previously held . He asked them to drink to the health , long life , and prosperity of her Majesty , and " God bless her . "

The CHAIRMAN next gave " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " remarking that his Royal Highness would come among them more often if possible , and when he did , he gave them all a lesson of how to conduct a large and great ceremony . His Royal Highness worked hard in many ways , and it could be honestly said that during his Grand Mastership Masonry had increased a thousand fold .

Bro . HENRY NEVILLE , W . M . 2127 , said he had been asked to propose the next toast . When he came he was not prepared to make a speech , but , like the Irishman , if he had known he was to be called upon for an extempore speech he would have prepared one . The toast was "The Grand Officers . " Those who had assisted at the glorious ceremony that day could not but be impressed by the magnificence of the Grand Ollicers . Although he had been a Mason for 20 years and perhaps longer , he had no idea there were so many Grand Officers , and when the brethren reflected on their good work- they must agree that these

Grand Officers not only considered Masonry a religion but made it a reli gion of deeds , When they also reflected that his Royal Highness was at the head of the Order and what a Grand Ofiicer he had proved himself to be , it would give them a greater respect , a greater admiration , and a greater reverence for Masonry in general . He might , perhaps , digress and say it was a happy thought to have this meeting and bring together the Masters of London lodges . Their numbers were a little interfered with by another little entertainment , but when they had such men as Bro . Kiralfy , the event would , doubtless , become an established thing .

Bro . GoiiiiON MILLER , P . G . D ., W . M . 2347 , in response , said the Grand Officers from the highest to the lowest would be delighted to hear that it had been possible to bring together such an important gathering as the ) had that evening . It was the first of its kind and he was going to say might be repeated . This meeting gave them an idea of how things passed away , for at this time next year they would all have passed to the position of I . P . M . It was a great pleasure to

them to occupy the chair , and it was possible that as they had such an enterprising brother as Bro . Thomson Lyon—whose indefatigable zeal had brought them together—it might be an inducement to some brethren to go into office again . Having only had Grand Lodge honours conferred upon him that day , he could not tell them much about the Grand Officers . He felt there was a kindly feeling existing between the brethren and the Grand Officers , and that was good for Freemasonry .

Bro . ALI- ' KED COOI-EK , P . G . D ., W . M . Rahere Lodge , proposed "The Chair , man , " and said that no man had Masonry more at heart , or had done more for Freemasonry than Lord Kuston . The presence of Bro . Neville reminded him that two years ago he saw . 1 play at the Adelphi Theatre called " One of the Best . " ' Lord Euston was "one of the best , " and he had much pleasure in proposing his health .

liro . the Earl of EUSTON , Prov . G . M . Norths and Hunts , returned thanks , and said that to a certain extent he was a London Mason , having been initiated in London , but what little work he had done had been in the country . He was only too pleased to be present , as he was still Master o f a London lodge—the Royal Alpha ,

Diamond Jubilee Commemoration Banquet Of Worshipful Masters Of London Lodges.

That was not the first chair of a lodge he had filled , but it would probably be the last . They could not go on doing everything and he found it was difficult to be in two places at once . He was perfectly willing to do all he could for Freemasonry and if any body of Masons came to him and asked for help he should be pleased to give it if he had notice . They had met that day in a way that had never been done before in Masonry and he hoped it would be done again . It was not a bad idea that the Masters of London lodges should

meet on certain oocasions but if they also included the Past Masters there would be no place capable of holding them . He thanked them for the numbers in which they had attended the banquet , for it was a proud thing for him to say that he had presided over such a body of Masters . It was quite a different thing to preside over an ordinary meeting of Masons , but he was presiding over brethren who ruled over lodges and who had done him the honour to ask him to take the chair . A remark had been made that every Master might this year receive

honours . He did not agree with that remark , for if every Master of a lodge received honours there would be 2500 more Grand Officers , and where could they put them ? As a Provincial Grand Master , he knew the difficulty , and he never made a brother a Provincial Grand Officer until he had passed the chair and until he had proved he was still working for Masonry . All those Coo brethren who had received Grand Lodge honours that day would ftel they had had a high honour

conferred upon them . They ought all not to think so much of Grand Office . Those who got it must have worked for it , and must be thankful that their services had been appreciated , whilst those who did not receive those honours would at least have the consciousness that they had done their duty . As a soldier , he simply tried to do his duty , and wculd always do it , and he was at their service if he could at any time help them .

Bro . THOMSON LYON responded for " The Committee , " and said his task was easy when the Earl of Euston kindly consented to preside . There had been difficulties , but they had been supported by the one man in London—Bro . Imre Kiralfy—who could carry out that programme . It had been a pleasure to undertake the work , and he had been recompensed by the large attendance . Bro . J . A . HARRISON , W . M . Eccentric Lodge , proposed , and Bro . IMRE KIRALFY , W . M . Empress Lodge , seconded— "That the Masters o ^ London lodges during the Jubilee year should form themselves into a Special Lodge , and meet once or twice a year to commemorate the wonderful occasion . "

The CHAIRMAN having briefly supported the idea , it was unanimously carried . The arrangements were left in the hands of the Committee , and the pleasant proceedings terminated . Telegrams of congratulation were received from the Masters of the Empire and Queen's Westminster Lodges .

Ireland.

Ireland .

THE MASONIC SCHOOLS OF IRELAND ,

EXCURSION FROM BELFAST . Saturday , the 5 th instant , was a red-letter day in the annals of the Masonic Orphan Schools of Ireland , the occasion being the visit to these Institutions of several members of the Order from the Province of Antrim , accompanied by thtir lady friends , the party altogether numbering 400 . The day was beautifully fine , and the visit was thoroughly enjoyed by the Northern excursionists , who were conveyed to Dublin by special train , which left Belfast at 8 . 30 a . m ., the guard and driver of " the special" being members of the Masonic body .

The Committee in charge of the excursion party included Bros . James Barr , Prov . S . G . W . ; J . H . Woods , Prov . J . G . W . ; William Rankin , Prov . G . Treas . ; Robert J . Hilton , Prov . G . Sec ; Robert M'Master , Prov . S . G . D . ; William M'Larnon , Prov . J . G . D . ; Harold R . Smyth , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . James M'Connell , Local Treasurer of the Girls' Schools ; Richard Stevenson , P . M ., Local Treasurer of the Boys' School ; and F . Robinson , P . M . The Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Antrim ( Bro . Thomas Valentine ) and the Prov . J . G . W . ( Bro . 'J . H . Woods ) were unavoidably absent .

The special tram was , after arrival at Amiens-street , shunted on to the Dublin , Wicklow , and Wexford system , and proceeded to Sandymount Sta' . ion , which is within two minutes' walk of the Female School at Ballsbridge . Here the visitors were received by Bro . Dr . J . C . Meredith , Deputy Grand Master , attended by Bros . Benjamin Gibson , Grand Chaplain ; Wm . Comyn , G . D . of C . ; and Dr . Chetwode Crawley , P . S . G . D ., Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Instruction .

The general body of Metropolitan brethren who supported the Deputy Grand Master included Bros , the Right Hon . Lord Justice Fitzgibbon ; Graves S . Eves , Hon . Sec . of the Female School ; Oliver Fry , Hon . Sec . of the Boys' School ; Thomas W . Kinahan ; the Rev . J . M . Hamilton , Presbyterian Chaplain to the Female School ; A . D . Kennedy , Joseph H . Wordsworth , J . (' . Earls , and other members of the School Committees , besides the Rev . Dr . Fuller , Representative

of the Grand Lodge of Hamburg ; Sir Henry Cochrane , D . L ., Representative of the Grand Lodge of Georgia ; Colonel Davoren , Representative of the Grand Lodge of Spain ; W . Comyns , Representative of the Grand Lodge of Florida ; M . E . Solomons , Representative of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin ; Dr . Harley , medical attendant of the School ; Robert O'Brien Furlong ; Thomas Drew , R . H . A . ; J . Fox Goodman , Deputy Grand King , G . R . A . C ; Wm . White ; H . Flavelle , Assistant Sec . of the Grand Lodge of Ireland ; M . Ds Groot , sen . ;

Laurence De Groot ; j . H . Moxham ; E . Phillips ; Thomas Butler ; James Crozier , J . P . ; J . Hurford ; T . J . Hayes ; John E . Oram , M . A . ; Francis H . Wayland , Representative of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota ; G 50 . Drimmie , and J . M'Cormac . The party from Belfast was accompanied by Bros . Alexander Tate , P . P . G . Sec . Antrim ; David Allen , P . P . J . G . W . ; John Kirkwood , P . P . J . G . W . ; O'Connel Shaw , P . P . S . G . W . ; S . Leighton , P . S . G . W . ; Alderman William Johnston ; and many others .

An inspection of the buildings having taken place , the company assembled in the Drill Hall for the purpose of witnessing a display of calisthenics by the pupils , 100 of whom were present in charge of Mrs . Neal , the Matron . The DEPUTY GRAND MASTER , on taking the chair , speaking on behalf of the Governors , bade the visitors a hearty welcome . It was a source of great gratification to himself , and , he was sure , all Dublin Masons , to have amongst

them on that happy occasion so many members of the Order from the Province of Antrim . He regretted that the Duke of Abercorn , the Grand Master , was not able to be present to receive them , but his Grace was himself a northern Mason , and well known in the North of Ireland , and he ( the Deputy Grand Master ) was sure they would all join with him in giving a hearty salute to the Duke of Abercorn . Tho Grand Master was then saluted according to ancient custom .