The School Accounts For 1895.

their charge a middle-class training , such as will enable them to fig ht the battle of life , when they arrive at man ' s estate , with a reasonable prospect of success , wc say unhesitatingly that the Expenditure , both as a whole and in all its several parts , is fullv

justified . Wc ; trust this , also , will have its due wei ght and influence with the Stewards and intending donors and subscribers when this year ' s Festival is celebrated in the month of June .

The District Grand Lodge Of Northern China.

THE DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF NORTHERN CHINA .

It is always pleasant to read about the doings of the Craft in the remoter Districts which hold under the Grand Lodge of England . Their lodges may be few in number , and the aggregate membership limited to a few hundreds , or not more than is

often to be found m a single lodge in sundry of the jurisdictions in the United States . But , be their lodges and members few or many , it is gratifying to us to know that their meetings are held regularly ; that their appointed duties fulfilled with care and

circumspection , notwithstanding the difficulties with which , in these outlying stations , they are frequently beset ; and that their monetary resources are , at all events , sufficient for their requirements .

On the other hand , it must be equally satisfactory to them , and must encourage them to the observance of this greater care and regularity , when they find that their proceedings are the subject of favourable comment in the Metropolis of English

Freemasonry . The District of Northern China has but five lodges on the roll of its District Grand Lodge , namely , the Royal Sussex , No . 501 , dating from the year 1841 ; the Northern Lodge of

China , No . 570 , founded in 18 49 ; and the Tuscan Lodge , No . 1027 , which dates from 1 S 64—all meeting in Shanghai ; the Doric , No . 1433 , Chinkiang ; and the Union , No . 1951 , Tientsin , constituted in 1 SS 1 . These lodges , or such of them as were in

existence , were formed into a District Grand Lodge in 18 77 , under the presidency of Bro . CORNELIUS THORNE as District Grand Master . In 1886 , he retired from office , and was succeeded

by the present District Grand Master , Bro . JOHN IRVYIN MILLER . Under the rule of both these brethren the duties of the various lodges have been faithfully and regularly carried out , while the District Grand Lodsrc authorities have looked after the interests

of those under their charge in a manner which entitles them to the highest commendation . On the 7 th January the District Grand Lodge held its regular Communication at the Masonic Hall , Shanghai . In the unavoidable absence , through

longcontinued illness , of the District Grand Master , Bro . LEWIS MOORE , Deputy District Grand Master , occupied the chair , and was supported by a majority of the District Grand Officers and the representatives of the three local lodges as well as by Past

District Grand Master C . THORNE and Past Deputy District Grand Master T . W . KlNGSMlLL , Past A . G . D . C . of England . The Reports of the District Board of General Purposes at its Special and Regular Meetings in November and December

respectively were taken as read , adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes , there 1 / eing nothing worthy of notice in the proceedings at either of the meetings , except that at the Special Meeting a difficulty which had arisen in the Doric Lodge

as to the regularity of the election of the W . M . and officers was carefully considered and satisfactorily adjusted . The District Grand Treasurer ' s Statement of Accounts was on the whole satisfactory . There was a slight falling off in the Income as

compared with that of 18 94 , while , as in that year , the Receipts were exceeded to a small extent by the Expenditure , but there remained a comfortable balance of 215 . 88 taels to the good as against 2 ^ 4 . 94 taels at the close of the previous

account . After the election of a District Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year and the appointment and investiture of the new District Grand Officers , the District Grand Master in the chair read the address to the brethren which he had received

from the District Grand Master , who , as we have said , was prevented from being in his place by serious illness , but who , nevertheless , took the opportunity of congratulating his District

Grand Lodge on the prosperous condition of Masonry in Northern China , and the lodges on the satisfactory manner in which they had performed their duties . We cordially echo the

The District Grand Lodge Of Northern China.

wish expressed by the District Grand Master in the chair when he had finished reading the District Grand Master ' s address that the latter may be speedily restored to health , and that m the future the prosperity and efficiency of the lodges in the District may be maintained , and even increased , to the general good of the whole body of English . Masonry .

Freemasonry In New Mexico.

FREEMASONRY IN NEW MEXICO .

From time to tune wc are able to afford our readers an insight into the proceedings of one or other of the more influential of the Grand Lodges in North America , so that they may be in a position to judge for themselves to what extent there is a community of theory and practice in Freemasonry in the United

States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . But there are some 50 Grand Lodges under the Stars and Stripes , and from the opportunities we have of learning something about their proceedings in some of those jurisdictions which have been more recently established , it is evident that the

brethren have very crude ideas about Freemasonry and its organisation and principles . Let us take , for instance , the Grand Lodge of New Mexico , which was founded in 18 77 , and held its 1 Sth Annual Communication in October last . It has 21 lodges on its roll , with an aggregate membership of 88 3 . From

the review of the proceedings at its annual meeting , which is to be found in the Voice of Masonry for the current month , it appears that on the evening of the first day ' s session , the Grand Master dedicated the new Hall of Temple Lodge , No . 6 , and that many ladies to whom invitations tobe present on the occasion had

been sent , witnessed the performance of the ceremony . In the report on Correspondence , Bro . MAX FROST , who edited or compiled it , lays down one or two doctrines which to the ears of an English Mason sound passing strange . Thus as regards non-affiliates , he considers that a Mason becomes such

either because he has a fancied grievance against the Institution or some of its members , or because he has ceased to feel for it any general interest . In either case he would rather have him remain a non-affiliate than become a member of his own lodge on the ground that " he cannot in the nature of things do any

good . " This mode of disposing of the non-affiliate which so seriously vexes some of the American Grand Lodges undoubtedly has the merit of originality , but as our contemporary points out , there are many good men who would speedily afliiliate if circumstances permitted , while as regards the failure of a

Mason ' s general interest in the Craft , it remarks that the proper way to overcome this is to make every reasonable effort " to revive his interest . " We also gather from this review that in the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New Mexico a ballot is necessary for each of the three Degrees , and we are told that

Bro . FROST upholds this custom , contending that " an Entered Apprentice has no right ; that he is a probationer only ; and that his only obligation is one of secrecy . " We hope that ere many years have passed the Masons in New Mexico will know more about Freemasonry than they do at present .

The Masonic Veterans'. Associations And General J. C. Smith, P.G.M.

THE MASONIC VETERANS ' . ASSOCIATIONS AND GENERAL J . C . SMITH , P . G . M .

One of the most appropriate and successful of modern Masonic Associations is that of the Veterans , peculiar to the United States of America , and which originated in that great country . When and precisely where and by whom Masonic Veterans were formed into an Association I have not

discovered , but any way , several have been started and are now very vigorous organisations . Before me are Transactions of the M . V . A . of the District of Columbia , from 18 79 to 1890 , in two parts , the Society having been inaugurated 20 th August ,

1879 . General Albert Pike was elected the lirst President , with Dr . Albert G . Mackey , second in command , the meetings being numerous and of considerable interest , a special feature being the remarkable Addresses of the lamented Chief , whose an "

was " to strengthen the tics of brotherhood , to promote intimate social intercourse , lo encourage younger Masons to be zealous and faithful in the work , and to give each other counsel and comfort , " according to the basis of the Association . Another pamphlet before me contains an account of vw