Presentation To Bro. H. J. Atkins At Bournemouth.

Bro . Atkins , although retiring from active work , would still be amongst them . This presentation was the unanimous wish of the officers and brethren of the lodge , as the wording of the address would show . He hoped he mig ht be long spared to give them help in the future from the store of his Masonic knowledge . Bro . ATKINS , in reply , said he was deeply gratified

at receiving such a mark of fraternal affection and esteem from the officers and brethren of the lodge ; it was one he deeply valued and appreciated . He would not have been able to do what he had for the lodge without the cordial assistance of the Past Masters and the officers and brethren themselves . He should always remember with pleasure the advance the lodge had

made in the working of the various ceremonies , and more especially by the addition of the musical portion , which he was glad to find had been so much appreciated . He had no hesitation in saying the working of the lodge now was second to none . Another important feature was the firm basis on which the Charity funds had been placed . During the last eig ht years the

lodge had contributed to the great Masonic Chanties an amount equal to that contributed since its constitution in 1770 , and the voting power correspondingly increased . He trusted that the system which had worked so well would be continued in the future , and the lodge placed in the proud position of having votes at its command which would not only be a credit

to itself but an honour to the province to which it belonged . He could not conclude without thanking the members of the Committee for their great kindness in undertaking the work which had been delegated to them by the members , and he could assure the brethren of the lodge that , although he had resigned active workhe should be ever willing to render any

assist-, ance in his power , and he had no fear but that the lodge would maintain its efficiency . The address is as follows : "To Bro . H . J . Atkins , P . M . Eleanor Cross Lodge No . 1764 , P . P . S . G . W . Northants and Hunts , Craft ; P . Z . Hengist Chapter , No . 195 , & c , & c "The Worshipful Master , Past Masters , Wardens ,

Officers , and Brethren of the ' Lodge of Hengist , ' No . 195 , Bournemouth , in the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , offer to you their sincere and grateful thanks for the great and valuable services rendered by you at all times , and under all circumstances , to the Holy cause of Freemasonry ; and especially to the Officers and Brethren of this Lodge during

the time you have sojourned amongst them . " We unanimously beg your acceptance of this illuminated address on your resignation of the office of Director of Ceremonies of this Lodge , and trust that although the state of your health compels you to give up the active work hitherto so willingly , most wisely ,

and ably given , you may be spared for many years to give out of the store of your mature Masonic knowledge the benefit of your counsel and advice . " And that when you may be called from your path on Earth you may be received into those Heavenly Mansions where the World ' s Great Architect lives and

reigns for evermore . " Signed on behalf of the Brethren of the Lodge - W . H . Vye , W . M . ; A . Redfearn , S . W . ; W . Humphry J . W . ; W . B . Rogers , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., PZ . 19 , P . P . G Prin . Soj . ; J . Harvey , P . M . 694 , P . P . S . G . D ., P . Z . 195 , P . P . G . Soj . " Bournemouth , December 7 th , 1893 . "

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The Board of Benevolence held its last meeting for the year 1 893 on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons ' Hall , when Bro . Robert Grey , P . G . D ., President of the Board , presided . Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., Senior Vice-President , and Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President , occupied their respective seats . Bros . 1 dward L > tchworth , G . Sec . ; A . A . Pendlebury ,

A . G . Sec ; W . Dodd , and Neville Green attended from Grand Secret irv ' s office ; and the other brethren who altendi d were Bros . Charles Dairy , Charles J . R . Tijou , W . Fisher , Clement Godson , Wm . P . Brown , W . M . Bywater , S . V . Abraham , S . H . Goldschmidt , Admiral Sir E . A . lnglefield , J . H . Matthews , Geo . R . I . angley , E . C . Mulvey , Walter Martin , Ciptain T . C . Walk R .

A . Gowan , Captain S . G . Homfray , C . F . Hogard . P . G . Std . Br . ; A . Lefeber , F . Craggs , H . Tatton Sykes , A . Gorier , H . Massey , G . F . Marshall , S T . Klingenstein , G . P . Carter , G . A . Pickering , W . H . Jeffries , Thomas E . Rigby , Edward Triggs , John Wynn , A . J . Searing , A . M . Cohen W . H . Poole , James Clark , B . Cundick , A . C . Dandri ' dge , R . La Feuillade , W . H . Hook , John

Elhnger , Francis W . Freyet , Henry Cox , J . Pickett , M . D ., Max Mendelssohn , H . W . Willis , P . Shepherd , J . H . Frye , R . A . Marshall , W . J . Collins , R . Kimpton , and H . Sadler , G . Tyler . After the Board had been formally opened the PRESIDENT said the brethren might like to know before they began to work , indeed it was right they should

know , the position the Fund of Benevolence stood in , Last year the Board voted away . £ 8400 . Up to the present time they had voted , £ 8650 . He did not wish in anyway to curtail the benevolence of the brethren ; but he thought it only right they should know how their finances stood .

The brethren then confirmed recommendations to the Grand Master made at the November meeting , to the amount of £ 630 . There were 48 new cases on the list qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Antigua , Gloucester , Newport ( Mon . ) , Newport ( I . of W . ) , Swansea , Crowle , Bombay , Afford , Stonehouse , Belvedere , Basingstoke , Burslem , Kingston-on-Thames ,

Board Of Benevolence.

Fowey , Brighton , Stockport , Great Yarmouth , Liverpool , Stoke ( Devonport ) , Twickenham , Dorking , Belgium , Switzerland , Eye , and Haverfordwest . The longest period in any one case tha' subscriptions to lodges had been continued was 36 years ; other periods were 26 , 25 , 24 , 22 , 21 , 18 , 17 , 14 , 13 , 12 , and down to three years . Five of these cases were deferred , two

were dismissed , and one case was withdrawn . The remainder were relieved with a total of ^ 915 . There was one recommendation to Grand Lodge for , £ 60 , and one for ; £ 50 ; there were five recommendations to the Grand Master for ^ 40 each , and six for ^ 30 each ;

while there were 15 grants of £ 20 each , one of £ 15 , eight of . £ 10 each , and two of , £ 5 each . Hearty reciprocation between the President and others who attended of "A Merry Chiistmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year , " closed the proceedings .

The Templar Toast (Christmas).

THE TEMPLAR TOAST ( CHRISTMAS ) .

"Head-Quarters of the Grand Master of Knights Templar , U . S . A . Corunna , Michigan , December 25 th , 1893 . To All Knights Templar : Greeting : Returning ( thanks to Our Father in Heaven for the privilege which He has vouchsafed to us , in

permitting us again to assemble on this gladsome day around our mystic triangle ; and with hearts strung in sweetest harmony with the new life of this gracious day , we thank you for the toast you offer us . ' To our Most Eminent Grand Master Hugh McCurdy : A hundred thousand Knights Templar send greetings , ¦ wishinir him a Merry Christmas , with peace , health and

happiness . Christmas , the day of days , the Birthday of Him whose Coming gave a new meininir to the words of your Christmas greeting , peace , health and happiness . Of each of these , and of every word dear to man ' s heart , His life must for ever stand as the true exponent . He defined words by living them . To know

His definitions and to live them , this alone is life , this alone is Templarism . To the true Templar , the Incarnation is the centre and heart of all worship , obedience and morality . . Words which are only the names for peace , health and happiness . For Him at Bethlehem's Cradle , peace , health and happiness had their birth ; there everything

that was old came to an end ; everything that was new had its beginning . Thus Knights Templar must ever give to Christmas Day , with its song of peace and goodwill to men , a sovereign place . Immanuel , God with us , this is the essence of peace , health and happiness ; this the magic word which opens wide the doors to the grandest possibilites of human nature .

God with us , as man with a heart human in its sympathy and brotherhood . This new presence signified new knowledge , new hopes , new powers , new laws . To us the Christ-Child was born to reach the perfection for which he was made . My fratres , is this great truth to us a doctrine , a tradition , a philosophy , or is it

a life as His life was ? Are we so learning this truth that our manhood is developing into a complete self ? The more like Him we become , the more ourselves are we We are only truly manly when we share the completeness of His character . From a hundred thousand Knights Templar , to whom the story of the Cradle , the Cross , the Sepulchre

and the Mount of Ascension is as familiar as dear household words—from a hundred thousand manly men comes to me once again the Christmas greeting of peace , health and happiness . It is the life men live that gives value to their wishes and words . In this your good wish for me , it is not you who speak , it is the Manger at Bethlehem speaking

of life—larger , nobler , more divine , of character Kingly , of service filled with its gifts of gold , frank-incense and myrrh . A good wish has value only as it embodies the principles wrapped in the manger . It has thus its highest value when coming from men , who in their earthly pilgrimage are guided by the star in the East , as was the wise men of the Orient , bringing their best

offering to the Christ-Child . A life of peace , health and happiness is the best wish that man can offer for his brother man . Such a life is a continual Christmas greeting . Such a life it is the aim of every Knight Templar to live . That this is your aim , Sir Knights , is to me your best wish for my Merry Christmas , peace , health and hippiness .

' The greatest gift a hero leaves his race Is to have been a hero . ' The best wish f : r a brother ' s peace , health and happiness , is man ' s own peaceful , healthful , happy life . ' 'Tis that compels the elements , and wrings A human music from the indifferent air . '

Thebest offering that theSonof Man made forman was His peaceful , happy , healthful life . His was the most peaceful , most healthful , happiest life ever . lived on earth . To live such a life , Sir Knights , is to wield your swords in defence of the Christian reli gion . If every man who wears the Christian armour will go forth from the cradle at Bethlehem thus to plead the cause of the Christ-child , whose love steals into the heart of man as

the balm of flowers into the pulses of a summer ' s evening , we shall soon see the enemies of man ' s peace , health , and happiness put to flight . It is only under the benign influence of such warfare that men are to beat their swords into ploughshares , their spears into pruning hooks , and to learn war no more . We live in an age in which not onl y well wishing , but well doing is a colossal virtue , an age in which

The Templar Toast (Christmas).

' It is the heart , and not the brain , That to the highest doth attain . ' Like the pilgrims in Dante , who climbed up a moun . tain on whose sides there was a mysterious music , ever growing sweeter . And thus , as we go on through life greeting one another each Christmas Day , we learn more and more the truth that the kingdom over which

the heart is king , is an ever expanding kingdom—the greatest kingdom upon earth . Earth ' s greatest gospel is man ' s love for his brother man . Neither ocean nor mountain , nor lapse of time can separate man from his fellows . Let us hasten to invade this kingdom and master it . It is a goodly land . As we go up to possess it , following in the footsteps of our divine Lord

from His cradle to the Mount of His Ascension , we shall , as faithful pilgrims , hear that angel song of peace and goodwill to men ever growing sweeter , until at last we reach the height of all heights , the hope of all hopes , the joy of all joys—the Supreme God—in whose empire of boundless goodwill to men no faithful human heart can cherish a wish of peace , health , and happiness too blessed to be true .

' There above noise and danger Sweet peace sits crowned with smiles . And one born in a manger Commands the beauteous files . ' Sir Knights , I have the honour to propose this toast , and ask you to participate . To the Valiant Sir Knights of the Nineteenth

Century , one hundred thousand strong : Noble sons of illustrious ancestors , whose knightly lives shed increasing lustre upon a glorious past and illumine the present with the inspiring hope of a brighter future . HUGH MCCURDY , Grand Master . " [ The above Response by Grand Master McCurdy to

the "Templar Christmas Greeting" has been kindly forwarded to us by Bro . Hughan , of Torquay , the Representative for England . All Knights Templars are asked to participate in this toast , at 5 p . m . Greenwich time . Bro . Hughan tells us that many annually do so in this country . —ED . F . M . ~\

St. John's Card Of The Quatuor Coronati Lodge.

ST . JOHN'S CARD OF THE QUATUOR CORONATI LODGE .

The St . John ' s Card for the 27 th inst . of the Lodge " Quatuor Coronati , " No . 2076 , is a most remakable work and increase year by year in volume and interest . It now extends to 52 pages , and is from first to last

of a most remarkable character . The present W . M . is Dr . Westcott . P . M . ; and the two Wardens are the Rev . Charles J . Ball , M . A ., and Edward Macbean ; the Treasurer Walter Besant , M . A ., and the Secretary , of course , George William Speth . There are seven Past Masters of thisllodge , four of whom areFounders , the

others being also four in number as Founders but not served in the chair of No . 2076 . There are 28 members of the lodge itself with two propostions accepted by the Committee and duly nominated , but there are 215 governing bodies , lodges , chapters , & c ., and 1375 members besides of the

Correspondence Circle , " making a grand total | of 1618 . Surely these are startling figures , and prove how widespread and important is the work being done by this national and international lodge . There are full particulars of the Masonic standing of all these brethren , as well as the names of local Secretaries at home and abroad ; literally world-wide ,

for the roll includes Craftsmen from Europe , Asia , Africa , America , and Australasia . The Secretary gives a capital index and other aids , for he does nothing by halves ; and the astute Past Master of the lodge , Bro . William Simpson , K . I ., M . R . A . S ., & c , has contributed an illustration of the arms of William of Wykeham

and two views of Winchester College . Finally let it be noted that half-a-guinea per annum , sent to Bro . Speth , at Lancaster-place , Margate , and election by the Lodge will secure membership in this truiy Masonic Fellowship ( Outer Circle ) and obtain a volume of Transactions in due course as well as a copy of the St . John ' s card .

Masonic Literature In Court.

MASONIC LITERATURE IN COURT .

At the Bow County Court of Middlesex , on Friday afternoon , the 15 th inst ., a number of cases of great importance to all Freemasons were adjudicated upon by his Honour , Judge Horton-Smith . AH the defendants in the actions are well-known Masons residing in the

neighbourhood of West Ham , and , from one or two loud expressions of feeling , during the hearings , from the public in the body of the court , it was evident that there were many other Masons present who were smarting under a sense of injustice . The first case heard was that of " Erskine v .

Vallance , " in which A . Erskine and Co ., publishers , of Martineau-street , Birmingham , claimed £ 1 15 s . from Dr . E . Vallance , who has an extensive practice , and resides at " The Deanery , " Romford-road , Stratford , for goods , viz ., a book entitled "The History of Freemasonry , " alleged to have been sold to him by contract . Mr . Kenneth Wood ( instructed by Mr . Hutchinson ) appeared for the plaintiff company ; Mr . Abinger

( instructed by Mr . G . A . Haynes ) for the defendant . COUNSEL for plaintiffs , in opening , explained that this was a test case , and one of " simple contract . " COUNSEL for defendant , in answer to his Honour , stated that the defence was a misdescription of the goods , by which they were induced to enter into the contract , and false representations on the part of plaintiffs' agent .