The Craft Abroad.

will be continued by his Majesty the King , who has , for so many years , guided the destinies of the Craft as its Grand Master . To attempt to extol the virtues of Queen Victoria would be presumptuous as well as useless on my part , but I may be permitted to say that she was a model of all that is virtuous , womanly , and motherly in woman , and these attributes have perhaps more endeared her to her people and to all the nations of the world

than those sterner virtues which characterised her great Saxon ancestor , Boedig , the first Victoria , known to us as Queen Boadicea , could possibly have done . As a Sovereign , she is without an equal in all that pertains to sovereignty . Perfect as it is possible for humanity to be , she has earned for herself a crown of glory far more effulgent than that which she has for so many years worn and adorned . And if ever the prayers of a people

have'met with favour at the Throne of Grace , we believe that they have in Queen Victoria ' s case , and that it has not been in vain that the British nation has for over 60 years prayed " God save the Queen . " With as great sincerity , earnestness , and patriotism we pray and proclaim aloud to-day " God save the King ! " In seconding the motion you will all , I am sure , exclaim with me " So mote it be . "

The motion was then put by the Dep . Dist . G . Master , and cartied in silence , the whole assemblage standing . It was resolved , on the suggestion of the Dep . Dist . G . Master , that the motion should be at once cabled to his Majesty the King . The solemn hymn , " Days and moments quickly fly , " and a prayer by the Chaplain closed the proceedings , the Dist . G . Lodge and the brethren marching in procession around and out of the temple while the Dead March in " Saul " was played .

Memorial Services In Natal.

MEMORIAL SERVICES IN NATAL .

The news of the death . of our late beloved Queen was received with the most profound sorrow by the Freemasons in Natal , whose cabled expressions of sympathy were most graciously acknowledged by the King and Royal Family , through his Excellency the Governor . On Saturday , the 2 nd ult ., the day of the funeral , special Masonic Services were held both in Pieterm ' aritzburg and Durban , the former under the

presidency of the R . W . the District Grand Master , Bro . W . Francis , and the latter under the presidency of the Deputy District Grand Master , Bro . Geo . Russell . Both services were very largely attended by Masons of all Constitutions , and the proceedings were most solemnly impressive . At the City service the following oration was delivered by the D . G . Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . J . GOULD SMITH :

Whether in respect of the occasion of her lamented death considered in itself , or of the high character of our late Sovereign , the service for which we are to-night assembled my be regarded as altogether unique . The performance of the last office to the dead is in any case ever a solemn function , a sacred duty . In the present instance the function is invested with more than ordinary significance by reason of the exalted rank and the singularly attractive personality of

her whose passing away has evoked such a spontaneous and universal expression of deep and genuine sorrow . Though we recognise , and gladly acknowledge , the conspicuous position she so long and so worthily filled in the political councils of the nations , as one whose enormous influence and rare and distinguished capacity exercised a wise and powerful and beneficent sway in all matters of State , yet she was our own , and had been our own for so long , and that in no mere

official sense , but our in the bonds of such a devoted and reverent affection , as to give to her death the character not only of a national calamity , but that of the loss of a personal friend . It is hardly possible for us , so accustomed had we become to regard her as the centre and spring of all that was best in the national character and life , indispensable to its stability and well-being , to realise that she has gone from us . But " God fulfils himself in many ways , lest one good custom

should corrupt the world . " And that in the person of our late Sovereign which has moved all hearts as by one impulse is not so much the commanding genius which she brought to the discharge of her official duties , but the true and loving sympathy which she evinced with her subjects , without distinction of rank , in their personal losses and trials . She never forgot the claims of humanity amid the glare and circumstance of royalty or the exacting labours of her high estate , so

that whether moving on the high level and engaged on the graver concerns of statecraft , or in the humbler but no less honourable service of ministering relief and consolation by the bedside of some lowly cottager in her Highland home , it is the genuine touch and true womanhood that emerges under all guises that we mostly revere , and which has endeared her to the hearts of her people , and which

we shall continue , now that she is no longer with us , to enshrine her memory in a halo of undying gratitude and affection of that unparalleled union of intellect and energy which characterised her long and brilliant reign ; of that tireless industry which day after day kept her steadfast to the high ideals which she ever set before her ; of her generous appreciation of honest worth and noble effort in

Memorial Services In Natal.

all departments or culture and reform ; of her keen and sustained interest in , as well as her active and substantial encouragement to , the talents of the humblest aspirants for fame in the exposition of their varied arts ; of that sane and sure insight into , and discrimination of , human character which enabled her to select and surround herself with those in whose wisdom she could confide , and upon whose loyalty and support in all the details of government she could firmly rely . Of these and such like qualities it is not for us to speak . They are matters of

history , and are amongst those outstanding qualities which have made her the most beloved Sovereign of her people , and her rule the admiration and envy of the nations of the earth . But there is one trait of her character to which I wish in one word to refer in closing this brief and imperfect tribute to her gracious memory ; and that is the womanly tact by which she at once dispelled , by the grace and charm of her manner , the fears and apprehensions with which one was filled in anticipation of entering her presence , whereby all trepidation

incidental to the trying ordeal was speedily dissipated , and the Queen whose approach was anticipated with something like awe was lost sight of in the naturalness and ascendancy of the woman . Brethren , in the solemn hush which by reason of her death has so suddenly fallen upon the traffic of the world we would not be unmindful of the claims of our late beloved Sovereign to other expressions than those of unmitigated grief . It is due from us , and specially from us as Freemasons , that we give expression to

that feeling of profound gratitude to God to which even our sorrow for her loss cannot altogether make us insensible . She embodied in a transcending measure in her person and character , and translated into all the details of hev government those excellent virtues of piety and humanity upon which our ancient and honourable Order is founded . And , therefore , it is that though with bated breath , yet with grateful hearts , we give thanks where thanks are due . And surely we cannot

fail to see not only how great is our debt of gratitude for such a Queen , but how heavy is our responsibility . Let us realise our high calling to live worthil y of such a glorious heritage , so that our Craft shall continue to reflect honour upon her distinguished patronage by binding us in a firmer brotherhood which shall more increasingly commend itself to the support and approval of him into whose hand the sceptre of royalty now passes , and who is at once the crowned King of England and the honoured head ot the Craft .

The memorial service in Durban was equally well attended and impressively conducted , under the presidency of the Deputy District Grand Master , Bro . Geo . Russell . Bro . the Rev . C . D . Tonkin , P . D . G . Chap ,, conducted the service , and delivered a touching funeral oration . During the morning wreaths were placed at the foot of the Queen ' s statues respectively in Maritzburg and Durban , as from the District Grand Lodge of Natal , the Freemasons of Maritzburg , and the Freemasons of Durban .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . J . H . Matthews , President , occupied the President ' s chair ; Bro . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President , and Bro . Henry Garrod , Junior Vice-President , occupied their respective positions . Bros . E . Letchworth , Grand Secretary , VV . Lake , Assistant Grand Secretary , W . Dodd , G . S . Recknell , and Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler , represented the Grand Secretary ' s department . Among other brethren present were—

-Bros . E . W . Nightingale , W . F . Lamonby , S . H . Goldschmidt , Rev . E . R . Gains , P . G . C . ; John Ellinger , R . W . Kerr , Charles J . R . Tijou , F . W . Hancock , E . M . E . Hamilton , J . S . Pointon , Charles Henry Stone , P . Colville Smith , Henry Weigal , E . VV . Pullinger , W . \ I . Bywater , James Kew , T . W . Emblel . on Thomas , James W . Burgess , H . Massey , William H . Stocks , T . W . Wardell ,

Lorenzo FauII , W . M . 619 ; W . J . R . Littlewood , Alexander John Taylor , N . Dick-ins , Frank Richardson , W . M . 55 ; Henry Cornford , W . M . 1320 ; W . J . Dyer , A . W . Dyke , Alfred J . Walklin , J . Campbell , W . M . 1366 ; H . Smith , VV . M . 177 ; VV . Powell , S . J . Cowley , W . M . 22 ; E . I . Davey , Sidney VV . Fell , W . M . 193 ; and F . St . itzer , W . M . 238 .

Ihe brethren first confirmed the approvals by the Grand Master of recommendations made to him at the February meeting to the extent of ^ 210 . The list of new cases contained no less than 43 petitions , which were qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Chatham , Sandhurst ( Victoria ) , Leicester , Bangalore , Famham , Margate , Newton Abbot , Dover , Spilsby , Bacup , New Malton , Weymouth , Halifax , Fowey , Paignton , Durban , Grand Lodge Ireland , Battle , Hull , Wellington ,

N . Z ., Kimberley , Sandridge ( Victoria ) , Warrington , York Town , Bicester , Bishop Auckland , and Grand Lodge New South Wales . Of these cases three were deferred , one was withdrawn , and one was dismissed . The remainder were voted , £ 925 in the whole . Grand Lodge was recommended to approve of ^ 100 being given in one case , and ^ 50 in each of two cases . The Grand Master was recommended to approve of £ 40 being given in each of live cases , and £ 30 in each of eight cases . Eight sums of / . ' 20 each were voted , 11 of £ 10 each , and three of £ s each .

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113THANNIVERSARYFESTIVAL Will be held on WEDNESDAY , the 8 th MAY , IOOI , TheMOSTWORSHIPFULPROGRANDMASTER, THE RIGHT HON . EAEL AMHERST , R . W . Provincial Grand Master of Kent , IN THE CHAIR . _ . ivtl . r . - - . i willing to acl _ as Stewards on this wry important ( J . casioa arc earnestl y solicited to send in their names to i ^' Secretary , as earl y as convenient . Stewards are imicli needed , and their services will bo gratefull y received . lur - r ' li . 1 i ¦ T iv r ' ' F > R ' W < 11 EDGES > Secretary . ( Jllice—5 , I' recniasons Mall , London , \ v . C ,