Instruction.

own town , since a lodge of instruction had been formed there had been a wonderful improvement . It was no longer felt that an incoming Master had merely to open and close the lodge , but he usually performed the work with credit to himself and the lodge . It was not always thus , for he remembered about 20 years ago , when the P . Ms , ruled the lodge with a rod of iron , and woe betide the young Mason who attempted to do any work . Some of the results of lodges of instruction were greater uniformity , a more intelligent working and greater dignity . No only in the ritual had they done great work , but in

the Charities . He wasoneof those who believed that the whole foundation of their Masonic structure rested upon their Charities . He objected to the word " Charities "because it implied almsgiving . Charity was a duty instilled into them upon their initiation but one he was afraid some Masons did not alway recognise . Some of them who had served as Stewards knew there were many who never gave anything , and some were like the lady who , buying a wedding present , asked " How little can I give and not be considered mean r" If every Mason contributed the same to the Charities as he did to his lodge ,

what great results they would have , and what great anxieties the Charities would be relieved from . They could spend all they could get in helping the boys by scholarships to get into the Universities . The Kirby Lodge had recently founded a Benevolent Association and had already raised 250 guineas . An example worthy to be emulated . The lodge of instruction formed a common meeting place where religious and political opinions were excluded , and that was one of the things which helped very greatly to influence Masonry . He congratulated this lodge of instruction oa its SUCCJSS and hoped it would continue .

Bro . George Rankin , Preceptor , replying , said that by the courtesy of the Committee it again fell to his lot to answer this toast . For the third year his name had been accepted as Preceptor ,. although all the members of the Committee were qualified for the post . They were proud of the increasing success of the lodge , and could only acknowledge that that success was due to heir close connection with the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . It was quite usual to find the workers at the Emulation were members of the Kirby . Through the kindness of Bro . Sudlow this lodge of instruction

seemed to be regarded as the preparatory school for the Emulation . This festival brought them many recruits , and they were very fortunate in securing such eminent Masons to preside . These included Bros . Sir J . Dimsdale , the Grand Secretary , the Archdeacon of London , C . E . Keyser , R . C . Sudlow , and Sir Forrest Fulton . He thanked the Stewards for making the festival a success . In conclusion , as was their usual custom , he would give them a silent toast to the memory of their first Precepto ., Bro . Wm . Hy . Kirby .

Bro . P . Nairn , P . D . G . D . C . proposed "The Kirby Lodge , " replied to by Bro . Sir Forrest Fulton , P . D . G . R . ; and Bro . Barnard gave " The Bank of England Lodge , " from which the lodge of instruction obtained its warrant , answered to by Bro . H . Pritchard , the Secretary of that lodge . Bros . Owens and Bennett kindly contributed several musical items .

STRAND LODGE , No . 19 S 7 . The usual weekly meeting of this lodge was held on the 20 th instant , at the Salisbury , Strand , when there were present : Bros . W . Rapley , P . M ., Preceptor ; Camillas Pastorelli , W . M . ; Sparks , S . W . ;; Blake , J . W . ; Nott , S . D . ; Westcott , J . D . |; Pugh , I . G . ; Kibbtewhite , Sec . ; Lisle , and Thomas . Bro . Lacey was a visitor . The lodge was opened and the minutes read and confirmed . The W . M . then announced his intention of rehearsing the ceremony of initiation , Bro . Lacey acting as candidate . This was duly performed , and the W . M . vacated the chair in favour of Bro .

Lacey , who announced his intention of rehearsing the Second Degree . Bro . Pastorelli offered himself as candidate , and having answered the usual questions , the lodge was opened in the Second Degree , and the ceremony rehearsed . The lodge was then resumed in the First Degree , Bro . Pastorelli returning to the chair , when the ballot was taken for Bro . Lacey , who was declared uninamously elected a member of the lodge . Bro . Sparks was elected W . M . for the ensuing meeting , and announced his intention of working the Third Degree , officers in rotation . A hearty vote of thanks to Bro . Pastorelli for the excellent way in which he had for the first time discharged his duties concluded the proceedings , and the lodge was closed .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The quarterly meeting of the General Committee of Grand Lodge and the monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence were held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . J . H . Matthews , President of the Board of Benevolence , presided . Bro . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-Presi - dent , and Bro . Henry Garrod , Junior Vice-President , were in their

accustomed chairs . Bros . E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; W . Lake , Asst . G . Sec . ; W . Dodd , G . S , Recknell , and H . Sadler , G . Tyler , represented the Grand Secretary ' s department . There were also

present—Bros . W . Fisher , W . M . Bywater , James , Block , Felix Kite , Thomas Jones , F . W . Hancock , Thomas J . Railing , A . W . Duret , E . W . Nightingale , Charles Pulman , Charles J , R . Tijou , R . W . Ker , VV . Kipps , S . H . Goldschmidt , John Ellinger , Alan de Tatton Egerton , W . H . Caton , E . Ernest B . Blount , Charles Henry Stone , Arthur Blenkarn , S . Potter , William H . Storks , Charles E . Ward , Edgar E . Bond , Joseph Cohen , Lorenzo Faull , H . Massey , F . J . Clarke , G . M ,

E . Hamilton , Charles H . Lawrence , Edward Blinkhorn , Frank L . Palmer , F . W . Golby , E . D . Homewood , George Fagg , F . Robinson , John Attley , J . W . Burgess , R . W . Barber , F . C . D . Fenn , Charles Robinson , F . Arthur King , James Printon , W . H . Lascelles , Frederick R . Wortham , Frank Lockett , Samuel Vickers , J . Campbell , Frank Barrett , J . Austin Carpenter , J . H . Cooper , and A . ] . Swash .

At the General Committee of Grand Lodge , the paper of business for the next Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge of December s was laid beforethe brethren . The Board of Benevolence was then opened . Bro . D . D . MERCER , Junior Vice-President , rose , and said that before proceeding with the business of the Board of Benevolence it was his privilege and very great pleasure indeed to move a vote of thanks to the

President of the Board . It was the only way in which the brethren of this Board could mark their appreciation of their President for his past services . ( Hear , hear . ) He was quite sure that every one present at the Board would agree with him that they were very happy to have such a brother as they had at the present time as their President . His hope was , and the hope of every one present was , that Bro . Matthews might be spared to them to occupy the honourable position lor many years

to come . He did not think it necessary to say very much , because this was not a formal vote . He was going to move this expression of feeling of every member of the Board , and he trusted as such their President would receive it . Without further remarks he would move , " That a most hearty and cordial vote of thanks be given to V . W . Bro . James Henry Matthews for the very able , kind , and courteous manner in which he has discharged the duties of President of this Board during the past 12 months . "

Bro . HENRY GARROD , Junior Vice-President , in seconding the motion , said it was unnecessary for him to make any lengthy statement on account of the happy teelings existing between the President and the Board itself , and he should content himself with simply seconding the resolution so ably put forward by Bro . Mercer ,

Board Of Benevolence.

The motion was carried unanimously . Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS , President , said : My hearty good wishes to you ; I thank you for your very kind expressions , and I can only hope that I may continue to have your assistance , for without your support I should not be able to get on with the business .

The brethren then proceeded with the business of the Board of Benevolence . They first confirmed recommendations made to the Grand Master at the October meeting to the extent of ^ 530 . The new list contained the 29 petitioners , who were qualified through lodges in the London district , and the Grand Lodge of Scotland , the Grand Lodge of Victoria , Castlemain ( Victoria ) , and Worksop , Dunmow , Dukinfield , Bourne , Sutton Bridge , Secunderabad , Feltham ,

Croydon-Thame , Honiton , Broxbourne , East Molesey , Bloemfontein , and Bury St . Edmunds . Two of these were deferred and one dismissed . A total of £ ¦ 720 was voted to the remainder . Grand Lodge was recommended to approve of £ 75 in one case , and £ 50 in three cases . The Grand Master was recommended to sanction £ 40 in each of four instances , and £ 30 in the same number of cases . Eight grants of £ 20 each , five of £ 10 each , and one grant was made , of £ 5 .

Scotland.

Scotland .

THE PRECEPTORY OF THE TEMPLE IN GLASGOW

*¦*—The annual meeting was held on Wednesday , the 14 th instant , in the Masonic Hall . Frater Sir Alex . Muir Mackenzie , Bart ., of Delvine , the Preceptor , presided , and among those present were Sir Jas . Buchanan , Bart ., J . Dalrymple Duncan , Provost Kirkwood , R . H . B . Thomson , J . M . Riss , and Major F . W . Allan , Secretary .. The minutes being read and approved of , three aspirants were introduced and installed as Novices , Esquires , and Knights .

The following office bearers were elected for the ensuing year : Frater Sir Alex . Muir Mackenzie , Bart .... ... Preceptor . „ R . King Stewart ... ... ... Past Preceptor ,, James A . Reid ... ... ... Sub-Preceptor . „ Sir James Buchanan , Bart . ... ... Marischal . ,, A . A . Spiers ... ... ... Chancellor .

„ James Boyd ... ... ... Almoner . „ F . W . Allan ... ... ... Secretary . „ R . M . Mann ... ... ... Treasurer . ,, Rev . Principal Story , D . D . ... ... Chaplain . ,, Sheriff Mark Davidson ,... .. ... BauceniiTer . „ H . G . Fenton-Newall ... ... ... Br . of the Vex . Bel

,, William Bilsland ... ... ... Chamberlain . „ J . Cunningham Kay ... ... ... Steward . „ Rees Price ... ... ist Aide-de-Camp . ,, J . Guthrie Smith ... ... ... 2 nd Aide-de-Camp . The fratres , on the preceptory being closed , adjourned to the Windsor Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet was partaken of , the Preceptor being chairman , and the Secretary , Croupier .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . GEORGE GREEN SYMONS . P . M . AND J . 45 . Bro . George Green Symons has passed from amongst us . The name we little thought of , but it designated one whom we are not likely to forget , a manly presence , a clear and vigorous speaker standing firmly on the threshold of right , a sympathetic friend , and a Mason with whom every member of the Strong Man Lodge and countless others were proud to be associated . A Freemason who devoted a great part of his leisure hours to the pursuit of Masonry , he became an

epoch maker in the Strong Man Lodge , even among strong men . For a quarter * of a century , he was the pulse of the ' * dear old lodge , " a term loved by him and echoed by the brethren , who strained to catch the characteristic intonation of their devoted Past Master's voice , to note eagerly the affection and solicitude betokened by his loving eloquence , and to mark with reverence those qualities which stamped him as a leader . His whole heart was with his mother lodge , where he had installed no fewer than 14 Masters , and the words of

a recent speaker in the lodge , " the rapturous enthusiasm tempered with patriarchal * dignity , " with which he performed the ceremony was something to be remembered A fearless advocate armed with the courage of his convictions , the righteousness of his motives was patent even to those who differed from his views . No public man of any strength of character ever treads an unopposed path , and at the present moment , when the gavel of the Great Architect has called the worker to his rest , the writer ponders , reflectively and lovingly , on the many issues on which

our dear departed brother and himself have entered , "' for and against , " in Masonic matters , both in lodge and private conversation . Though often " platform enemies , " the welfare of the lodge was their common aim . For many years Bro . Symons filled the office of Director of Ceremonies , and afterwards that of Treasurer of the lodge , always with credit to himself and satisfaction to the brethren . He was also one of the founders of the Strong Man Chapter , and at the time of his death occupied the chair of Third Principal . He was a frequent

representative of his lodge at the Festivals of the Benevolent Institutions , and an arduous worker in the sacred cause of charity . At the banquet-table he was a genial companion , a pleasant and ready speaker , and a vocalist of no mean ordei . Outside the sphere of Masonry , Bro . Symons took a keen interest in social and political questions ; an ardent loyalist , he served for years as a volunteer , and his bearing was soldier-like to the end . Fond of athletics , he

excelled in rowing , and in tbe autumn of his life his leisure was largely spent " up the river . " The many friends who mourn his loss will long remember his manly presence , his genial smile and kindly advice , while the lodge which occupied his thoughts to so large an extent , and to which he devoted so much energy , will long have reason to deplore his loss . He was born in 1839 , died on the ioth inst ., and was interred at Brompton Cemetery on the 14 th instant .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES ' S HOSPITAL FUND FOR LONDON . — The General Council in their third annual report state that during 1899 the receipts were £ 48 , S 3 < 5 15 s . 4 d ., as against £ 39 . 272 3 * . 5 d . in the previous year ; while the sum distributed was £ 42 , 000 , ot which £ 26 , 250 was given in annual grants , and the balance in donations . The cost of management and collection was about 3 ' 2 d . per cent ., as compared with 6 id . for 189 S .