Freemasonry In 1884.

them , such as the East and West Lancashire , the Cheshire , Devon and Durham , are known beyond the immediate limits in which they carry out their beneficent operations , but a brief account of one of them—the West Lancashire Educational Institution—must suffice on the present occasion . During the last year £ 1160 was expended in the education , clothing , and

advancement in life of 168 children . The balance remaining in hand was not far short of £ 1850 , and the total invested capital of the Institution was £ 17 , 786 . Hitherto the children it has assisted have been educated only ; but a law recently passed enables the Court of Governors to send children to schools where ihey will be maintained and clothed as

well , the case of the two girls who were only the other day accepted as pupils at our Girls' School , under the altered conditions of purchase by annual payments , being the most recent and therefore the most familiar illustration of the working of the new rule . This is the kind of help which is given by the class of local

organisation we are referring to , and it will be allowed that it is precisely the kind of help of which so much is needed , and of which those who render it have great reason to be proud . Another kind of local charitable association which finds especial favour with many lodges and in various provinces is that which distributes its funds among its subscribers , by ballot or otherwise ,

in the form of Life-Governorships or Life-Subscriberships to our principal Institutions . To these associations the latter are very greatly indebted , as will be seen from the following brief summary of the last report of the Metropolitan Masonic Benevolent Association , as submitted at its annual meeting at Anderton ' s Hotel on the 7 th November last . The sum received during

the year by Bro . W . W . Snelling , Honorary Secretary , was over £ 1531 , of which £ 472 was paid to the Male Fund , and £ 300 to the Female Fund of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ; £ 310 to the Girls' School ; and £ 367 ios . to the Boys' School , making a total of each payments amounting in round figures to £ 1450 . The expenses slightly exceeded £ 22 for printing ,

postage , See , and after all there remained a balance in bank of somewhat less than £ 60 . Of course , the difference between the two classes of association is very marked . One , of which we have given the W . Lancashire Charity Fund as a specimen , is supported locally , and it assists the families

of local brethren ; the other , of which the Metropolitan Benevolent Association is an illustration , gives its support wholly and directly to the central Institution . Both , however , do an almost incalculable amount of good , and our survey of the year would have been sadly incomplete had we allowed this serviceable aid to pass unnoticed and uncommended .

BOARD OP BENEVOLENCE . We should lay ourselves open to the charge of boastfulness on behalf of the Fraternity we represent if we did more than place before our readers the monthly statistics of the work delegated by Grand Lodge to be done by its Board of Benevolence . The figures which follow say all that need be said

on ihe subject . In December , 1883 , there were 33 petitioners relieved with £ 775 ; in January , 18 S 4 , 16 petitioners with £ 535 ; in February , 21 petitioners with £ 490 ; in March , 32 petitioners with £ 890 ; in April , 29 petitioners with £ 1000 ; in May , 33 petitioners with £ 1075 ; in June , 22 petitioners with £ 855 ; in July , 26 petitioners with £ 615 ; in August , 16

petitioners with £ 535 ; in September , 19 petitioners with £ 560 ; in October , 34 petitioners with £ 1160 ; and in November , 37 petitioners with £ 710 ; making a total for the 12 months of 318 petitioners relieved with £ 9200 , in

sums ranging from £ 5 upwards . And yet there are those who say that the Society of Freemasons which disburses all these moneys in order to maintain its Institutions for the aged and the orphan , and in affording temporary help to its poorer members is steeped in infamy 1

MASONIC LITERATURE . A sketch of our proceedings would be incomplete which did not include some mention of the literary productions of the year . These are not numerous , perhaps , but certain of them will occupy a foremost place in our standard literature as long as Freemasonry itself exists . It is probable the

wish was father to the thought that the fourth volume of Bro . R . F . Gould ' s " History of Freemasonry" would be published before the end of 1884 . At all events the promised volume has not as yet made its appearance as we were led to expect , and the work has advanced only one stage nearer completion ; but the stage in question covers some of the most difficult ground which it

will be the author s duty to traverse , and though he has not succeeded in winning for all his theories thecordial acquiescence of his critics , it is generally allowed that he has exhibited in his third volume most of the qualities by which his preceding volumes were characterised , though some think he has not done so with quite the same degree of success . This is not surprising ,

if we bear in mind the difficulties we have just recited as inevitable in any attempt to deal completely and conscientiously , as Bro . Gould has done , with the subject of Early English Masonry . But it is right the general reader should have this pointed out to him , because , if he takes the critics as his sole guide , there will be some chance of his running into the absurd

idea that Bro . Gould ' s work does not increase in trustworthiness as it advances nearer to the 1717 epoch . We have expressed our disagreement with some of his conclusions , but it is impossible such differences of opinion can have the effect of disestablishing his history from its pride of place as the first real attempt to trace the rise and progress of our ancient Craft . A

work of a less ambitious , because of a more circumscribed character , but of its kind equally meritorious , is Bro . Hughan ' s newest contribution on the "Origin of the English Rite of Freemasonry . " Here again there has been some divergence of opinion between ourselves and the author in respect of

certain of his opinions , and here also—and for a similar reason—it is desirable the reader should form his own conclusions ; but he must do so only after he has become acquainted with those of Bro . Hughan , instead of being guided , as so many are , by what the critics say . A third work , of considerable interest , is Bro . Fort ' s essay on the " Mediaeval Builders , " a study

Freemasonry In 1884.

worthy in all respect of the learned author of the " Antiquities of Freemasonry . " There have also appeared in these columns the histories of two out of our three principal Charities , one of which , that of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , has already been re-published separately , while the other , that of the Boys' School , is on the eve of re-publication . The other literary work of the Fraternity has been chiefly of an ephemeral character ,

the most noteworthy , perhaps , being the essays and pamphlets which Pope Leo XIII . ' s denunciation of Freemasonry was certain to evoke . It may be as well to add that very great progress has been made in the tedious process of archaeological investigation . As far as possible we have made a poin t of describing the more important results of such labours in that portion

of the Freemason which is assigned to the discussion of this kind of question . In fine , we are far too inquisitive a generation of beings to rest satisfied with the works of writers of the old school , and , under the able guidance of Bros . Hughan , Gould , Woodford , and others , we may justly claim to have done much to elevate the tone and character of Masonic literature .

OBITUARY . The deaths that have occurred since we published our last Annual Summary of Events are more formidable than usual in respect of number , and even more formidable still if we take into account the rank and attainments of very many of our deceased brethren . The familiar places thus made vacant it has in many cases been found extremely difficult to fill .

Many others are still vacant , while as regards those who have died most recently , we are hardly yet in a position to form anything like a just estimate of the loss to the Craft our deprivation of their services will prove . First and foremost on the roll of our departed worthies stands the name of the Duke of Albany , who , although a young Mason , had shown an aptitude as well as a predilection for Masonic duty which , it is no mere stereotyped

expression ot compliment to say , have been rarely equalled and never surpassed . Out of respect to his memory , those among the positions he held which involved the performance by him personally of certain functions have been Ieftunoccupiedforthe present . When his successors have been appointed they will have a grand encouragement to the strict yet courteous discharge of their duties in the brilliant example set them by His Royal Highness . Next

in point ot estimation must be mentioned Col . J . A . Lloyd-Philipps , P . G . M . of the Western Division of South Wales , and the Marquis of Londonderry , P . G . M . of Durham , both of whom had rendered valuable services to Freemasonry , and were deservedly esteemed and respected by the brethren , not only of the provinces they ruled . but of the country generally . Among the other leaders of the Craft whose places in Grand Lodge and Chapter will know

them no more we have to lament the deaths of Bros . John Havers , P . G . J . W ., Captain W . Piatt , P . G . J . W ., Sir Michael Costa , P . G . J . W . and P . G . O ., the Rev . A . R . Ward , M . A ., P . G . Chaplain , Lieut .-Col . Creaton , P . G . Treas ., Treasurer of the Giris' School , and one of the Trustees of all three Institutions ; W . Hickman , P . G . A . D . C , D . P . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight ; H . S . Alpass , P . G . Std . Br . and Prov . G . Sec . West Lancashire ; Sir

Erasmus Wilson , P . G . D . ; H . C . Levander , P . G . D . ; E . P . Albert , P . G . P . ; and Donald M . Dewar , Assistant Grand Secretary of the Mark Grand Lodge . But these are only a part , though undoubtedly they constitute the most distinguished part , of our losses . Among other well-known brethren there have died such tried or promising Craftsmen as Bros . John Southwood , P . M . and Sec , and P . Z . of the John Hervey Lodge and Chapter , 1260 ; John

Bellerby , P . G . Stwd . ; E . B . Grabham , P . P . G . S . W . Middx . ; J . W . J . Fowler , P . P . G . D . C . West Lancashire ; S . Oldfield Bailey , a prominent figure among our West Yorkshire brethren ; T . Chenery , Editor of the Times ; James Milledge , P . P . G . S . W . Dorsetshire ; the entertaining and genial master of song , George Buckland , P . M . 1319 ; S . Smout , P . M . 1642 , and M . E . Z . 1642 ; A . D . Loewenstark , P . M ., P . Z . ; Sergeant-Major Geo . Scarfe ,

P . M . ; W . P . Phillips , P . M . Doric Lodge , 81 , Suffolk ; Frank Adlard , P . M . 712 ; W . S . Vines , P . P . G . D . C . West Lancashire ; Richard Wright , P . M . 22 ; M . Pearson ; John Walker , P . M . 27 ; J . McCandlish Gardner , 1505 ; F . W . Barnes , P . M . 1380 ; R . Pearcy , P . M . 228 , who not so very long before his decease was one of the best known and most popular Preceptors in the north of London ; W . Stapleton , W . M . Corinthian Lodge , No .

1382 ; J . W . McWean , P . M . 1035 ; Robert Bridge , P . M . 266 ; F . J , Stimpson ; S . Rosenthal , the portrait painter ; Captain J . Birkin , P . M . 262 ; W . H . Gregory , 18 97 ; T . Haigh , 1299 ; C Lowther Kemp , W . M . elect 1924 ; James Gibbs ; S . Chester , of the Derwent , No . 40 , Hastings ; Joseph Skeaf , W . M . 2042 , P . P . G . D . West Lancashire ; J . Lewis Oates

P . M . 304 ; J . R . Goepel , P . P . G . D . C . West Lancashire ; and H . S . Cooper , an old P . M . of 228 . This is a terribly long list , and includes the names of brethren whose death we shall not cease regretting for many a long day to come . Most of them , however , have left behind them some valuable memory of loyal service rendered to lodge or chapter , while the few who have not were taken from us before they had time to prove their worth .

IRELAND . We have often had occasion to remark on the scarcity of the Masonic news we obtain from Ireland , and the past year can claim no exemption from the complaint . Yet the little we have to say speaks well for the zeal and energy of our Irish brethren . We wish we could see the Masonic Orphan Schools in Dublin more liberally supported , especially by the provincial brethren . Still , a slight improvement in this respect has been

noticeable during the past twelve months , and probably the improvement would have been greater had the political state of the country been less disturbed . A successful entertainment in aid of the Institution took place in Derry , under the auspices of Bro . Dr . Hime , in April , and towards the close of November there was held , with the same object and under very distinguished patronage , a grand Masonic bazaar and fancy fair in the city of Armagh . No doubt other demonstrations of a similar character will have been made

at other times and in other places . In October a new Masonic Hall was consecrated in Mountmellick by the Earl of Huntington , Prov . G . M . of the Midland Counties , and in August the memorial stone of the parish church of Coleraine was laid Masonically by Sir J . W . Ellis , Bart ., P . G . J . W . England , when on a visit to the Irish landed estates belonging to the

Corporation of the City of London . It is also worthy of note that the brethren of the district celebrated St . John the Evangelist's Day ( 27 th December ) , 1883 , in St . Fin Barre ' s Cathedral , at Cork . 'J'he brethren mustered in force , there was a vast concourse of spectators to witness the unaccustomed gathering , the brethren being in their full regalia ; and after full choral service , a most eloquent sermon was preached , partly in defence of Freemasonry , and